I'm in beautiful denver with this sweet little family... goodbye for now!

the next moment traveling over the clouds and mountains inside a huge metal bird

 then later that same day, walking the dogs by the river on our favorite path. The speed and distances we get used to traveling in a single day we often take for granted, but remain truly amazing.

Violet, Ethan, Lilyanne 

Yesterday, less than 24 hours after getting home, Walter and I drove over to Heather and Jeff's brand new house they are renting, and they prepared the most delectable dinner - grilled maihi maihi, grilled asparagus, warm bread, salad....yumm!  Violet and Ethan played outside most of the time and I got to catch up with the littlest, Lilyanne.  She always has lots to show us and adventures to take me on like sliding down the carpeted stairs on my rear, side by side with her, roaring giggles at each sychronized "thump" of our bottoms!

So today I start the massive cleanup and reorganization of the house, I feel spring in the air and I want to clean, and organize, and just redo. Problem is I don't have the time to get it all done, but I'll work away, bit by bit, and see how far I can get during the week before my next adventure which is centered around this sweet friend begins on Friday. Then I have the pleasure of several dear friends coming to stay here with me for a few days, see why I have so much to do?? Send over the elves, please... 

and now for my big announcement..... TaDaaaa....

I will be taking next year off entirely from teaching - NO teaching gigs at all for katie in 2011!!!  I made this decision several months ago, and it feels so right and necessary and I began telling students and event promoters at the New Year, but never made the official announcement here on my blog. It will allow me time for me to delve into projects I've only had time to ponder, to do more writing, to experiment with ideas and materials in a carefree-no exprectations- way, to spend more time with family, friends, gardening, and myself. So, if you've been wanting to take one of my classes or workshops, I would suggest that you do it this year.

I will be highlighting the workshops, one by one, in the coming days - the most upcoming ones will be featured first. That said, this one is a lovely 3-day workshop I'm teaching on May 21-23 and I'm getting really excited about it! The atmosphere of beauty and total pampering is unsurpassed in this truly unique environment, all set in the bucolic countryside of Wisconsin. Yes, I'm talking about Valley Ridge Art Studio where I'm teaching  Untold Tales; A Big and Tall Book. Here are sample photos of what we'll be creating:

I know there are still a few spots open so if you've been wanting a mini art vaction where you will create a gorgeous and unique big and tall book, I hope you'll follow the link and sign yourself up - you won't regret it!

During the next week, I'll be highlighting  3 individual classes I'll be teaching over a long weekend the latter part of June, just an hour away from beautiful Denver, Colorado, at the Artist's Nook in Bellvue, CO.

Until then may you enjoy a beautiful spring!

proud  meema - amazing new little life 

  snuggle time with Jackson 

the happy parents - I've never seen Marissa glow so brightly

I'm here in Denver with Marissa, Mick, and my baby grandson Jackson. Walter and I came one week ago, just on the heels of my return from teaching in Las Vegas at Art and Soul. Walter was able to stay for a nice long weekend and I'm staying on for a total of 2 weeks, savoring my moments with my baby-now-full-grown- daughter Marissa, whom I miss so very much, watching her and husband Mick be the wonderful parents they naturally are to beautiful baby Jackson. I pinch myself - could life be sweeter? 

a walk in the park, perfect cloud gazing weather 

 this is what i saw 

renegade ducks 

there is a story here, my imagination runs rampant 

I think (no, I know) that I have turned into a terrible blogger. I don't know exactly when it happened or why, but it's clear that I don't share here as much as I used to. I feel more private these days at the same time so aware and appreciative of all the close friendships and relationships that my presence online has birthed. Still, I find myself distancing myself from all things computer and internet, turning my attention in different directions. I don't want to let go of my presence here, but I accept that I may not post as often as I once did, months ago now....

Looking Back - my time in Las Vegas 

 The students in both of my Art & Soul classes I taught were absolutely awesome - I wish I'd have thought to take photos as some beautiful artwork was created. A case of being in the moments vs. documenting the moments.

  Leighanna and I in the lobby of the Mirage, waiting to get in to see Cirque du Soleil performance "Love", Beatles music - fabulous!! 

My youngest daugher Marissa with baby Jackson, moments after delivery. He decided to come three weeks early, luckily he was already a big baby for his age, weighing 6 pound 12 ounces. 

I can't wait to meet him and cuddle him in my arms

Happy Valentines Day, my newest little valentine! xoxo from your meema  

with hands cradling my heart i call to her

i wait with intent, there must be intent.

breathe in, breathe out, practicing the art of staying soft.

she comes in on the pineapple express

warmth moving up my body

to coax a shy tree or a lone rose 

through solid ice and snow

frozen ground.

she came with an ice auger on Sunday

drilling through layers of my past

to gather up abandoned eggs  one by one

to reach the place of moving water 

where fish swim in the dynamic flow

where new leaves pluse with life

they nestle in the warmth of my heart

a safe place to bloom. 

I am in a state of grief and shock today with the news that my favorite living singer, Lhasa de Sela, died of breast cancer on Jan 1. I have posted her music here on my blog before and two of her three CD's are listed in my sidebar favorites. I feel like a dear friend has died as she spoke to my soul through her music in a way few others ever have. She will be deeply missed...

And a new day, and a new moment, every moment. I love reminding myself that every moment is an opportunity for a fresh start. The end of the calendar year is a time of reflection, what I've done, where I'm going, where I want to go. It reminds me of the list I write when I go grocery shopping or do errands; the things I need to do/buy/remember in the present moment to allow me to do the activities I plan in the future, like cooking, household projects, creating art, etc. That list is extremely helpful for that present moment/moments but may not be exactly what is needed for the following day. That is how I feel now about New Years resolutions - they are wonderful for the days they are appropriate for, when they cease to bring me joy and move me in the direction of growth, then their usefulness to me has expired.  

I think that reasoning is why when I read this quote by Aisha Elderwyn I felt a resonance with it: 

"Every new year people make resolutions to change aspects of themselves they believe are negative. A majority of people revert back to how they were before and feel like failures. This year I challenge you to a new resolution. I challenge you to just be yourself."

There is a fairly new tradition I've witnessed others do but haven't done myself where you choose a word instead of a resolution.  I wasn't planning on doing it, but little beknownst to me, the universe was. Yesterday a word came sailing in and landed smack dab in my lap of my consciousness, whispering in my ear "choose me, choose me". The word was flow.........   I thought about it awhile and decided yes, I choose you too flow, to be my word for 2010. Makes perfect sense as i think about it -  I do live on a river after all.

I leave you with pages from my 2010 journal...

to a place i never tire of wandering

through every season

pieces of the river disguised as twirling snowflakes

or ice taking a rock heart prisoner

seeing firsthand there is a flow, even under the frozen places

flowing all around the frozen parts, melting them

big enough to hold everything just as it is

 
ever changing patterns and textures

my touchstone to the nature of impermanence

the occupier of each shape

every form and space

all sentient beings

and all nonsentient beings

i love watching the changes i see here

it reminds me to open wide, to see every moment with fresh eyes.   

After weeks of feeling dry as a bone creatively, last night I felt some juiciness again and now find myself wanting to hole up in the studio and do nothing but paint. It's unrealistic but the drive is so strong when it desends on me - there is rarely a half-way when it comes to passion.  

It may look like this site has gone vacant - it's been forever it seems since i posted. But I'm still here and quite occupied, happy, busy, and hopeful that I can get back to some form of regular writing soon. I have weeks laid out ahead of me, full of time and space, room to breathe, paint, and enjoy my life. So many choices I often get overwhelmed, make several starts, and stick with the ones that have deadlines or clammer for my attention. I've been ripping my house apart - it feels outdated and I find myself longing for a home that reflects me in it somewhere, the heart of me. It's going to be a huge project that will take a long time (will it ever be finished?) and I'm hopeful that some of my talented decorating friends will give me tips along the way.

I will be back soon (really) with more. Thanks for coming back, for not giving up on me - I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment, I really do.  xox

Registration opens Monday, December 7th, 2009, at 9:00 AM CST for all workshops at Valley Ridge Art Studio. I am so happy to to be going back to Kathy and Bill's "little piece of heaven" for my third year in 2010, this time to teach a 3 day workshop entitled "A Big and Tall Book", where students will learn how to create a gorgeous book from scratch using cardboard and a combination of mixed media materials and experimenting with variety of techniques with paint, collage, encaustic, and faux encaustic.

i just took a walk outside inbetween cloudbursts, and this is what i saw...trees in the leaves

trees scattered among their leaves

last leaves

a raging river, swollen with raindrops 

very close to cresting it's bank in places

while our fingers stay crossed

we scurry back to the house ahead of the cloud burst and after an hour i see this out my studio window

a rainbow, i wanted to share with you.

and this artist i just discovered and am enjoying her newest cd very much, and i love this song about trees and this one.

I just tidied up the studio and thought it would be a good time to take some photos. See...I've kept it clean and organized for months now and it's so much more pleasant to work when I know where things are. i can't count on my memory so lots of things are labeled. I love my easel (thank you jim!) and use it a lot. The basket on the left is full of journals i work in, on the right is a pile of unfinished/work in progress (it's only the tip of the iceberg too).

Heather, Jeff and family came over on Sunday and she, Jeff, and Walter worked together to wrap me in duck tape - I finally got the dress form made that I've longed for. The old round metal stand in front is where I'm going to mount it. It will be finished by the weeked if all goes according to plan.

It's a funky space but it's big and feels like home. When Walter retires, in the next year or two, he has mentioned he'd like to build me a detached building for my studio, now that would be really nice!

okay, that's it for now. later alligator.

off to get a massage, my teeth cleaned, and other errands in town.  (I picked up a package in town with goodies created from my art - thank you, mysterious gift giver, it was a lovely surprise and it arrived on a day when I more than ever appreciated this kind gesture :-)

getting ideas for future art projects...they seem to hit me more than ever when I'm on this stretch of road.

back home again, a walk with the dogs at twilight.

some of the leaves on this black cottonwood are as big as a plate, see...?

the eagles have arrived just in time for the salmon run - i hope they find some.

i love the contrasting colors this time of year, the textures too are so vivid.

trees next to the river

tress.......

somebody's halloween pumkin

our house in the distance

this year there are no apples scattered on the ground, they disappear by morning, replaced by huge "piles" - evidence we have a bear roaming the fields. i like that they are still around...

I'm listening to this,  this and  this silly video tickled my funny bone and gave me a good chuckle over a cup of tea this morning.  

watching time pass

I'm feeling inspired to work in a series about time, aging, and the generations before and after me. It's so interesting  to reflect on how each time period in my life find brings me to new issues to explore more deeply, places that all of a sudden I can relate to in a new light. Ever since turning 50, with all the changes of body, mind, and energy entering this age brings, my focus is turned more directly towards the autumn of life, looking closely to see and appreciate the subtleties as well as engage with the obvious. Being a part of the movement and being a watcher of the movement.  Creating in general and painting in particular, has allowed me a voice to sing as well as an ear to listen to my song. I feel grateful.

Registration opens today at noon Pacific Time for the 3-day workshop I will be teaching at An Artful Journey in Los Gatos, CA, from July 18-22. The workshop is entitled Dream Narratives and during that time we will be exploring a variety of surface design techniques on fabric. These photos show examples of some of them.

If 3 days of painting and playing on fabric at a beautiful retreat center in the woods outside of Santa Cruz California sounds like something you'd enjoy, I hope you'll sign up and join me there.

this is the same large painting, still in progress, but it has now morphed into this.... this fluid process, watching everything change form in the swish of brush loaded with color is what brings me to painting each day with renewed curiosity and enthusiasm. I have no idea how it will end up, when i will know it is finished. (cross your fingers for me that I will know and stop in time, i think i'm getting close).

i spent much of the day putting together a journal, ala teesha moore. If you haven't seen the series of video tutorials she and tracy have put together, you must check them out on her blog. It's like sitting next to her and hearing her thought process as she creates - what could be better? 

Her video demonstrates how to make a 16 page journal out of one piece of 22" x 30" watercolor paper. I wanted more pages so I used 4 pieces of watercolor paper to make mine, 3 signatures of 4/3/4 pages.  I used two different colors of electrical tape for the trim, brown and black, and covered the back with clear packing tape. I learned that tape does not stick to paper that has been painted with clear gesso.  The tape kept coming up at the edges so I resorted to sewing everything down good with a zig zag stitch.

   
I sewed the flaps down on the inside edges so I'll have two places I can still little papers I want to keep loosely in my journal. Today I look forward to making my first entry.  Yay for new journals!

Beautiful foggy mornings here in the northwest seem to reflect my foggy thoughts of late. At 52 years old, you would think I should know myself well enough to remember that after ANY big event, anything that is far and away from my usual quiet routine here out in the country, it will take my brain - chock full of experience and sensation - a bit of time to catch up with myself and my plans upon my return. And during that "catch-up" time, no matter how much I tempt myself, encourage myself, or scold myself into hurrying up the process, it doesn't/won't happen. All I can do is be patient or impatient while I navel gaze, paint and draw rubbish, relax, and wait for the pace to pick up again, for my thinking to gain clarity once more,  for the slowness to meld into a quicker pace. Why then I continue to agree to an arm wrestling match of sorts with this part of me, knowing full well that I will lose again,  baffles me. Maybe I've learned it this time, I think, maybe next time I will choose to just relax and not struggle, to let it be okay for me to do the backfloat and look up at the sky while everyone around passes me by doing the american crawl at top speed. Maybe I get it now...

look at the crisp winter apples, juicy and sweet after the frosts, ready for picking and eating

I have bunch of photos to share. I'll start with those images of places just outside my door, a diary of beautiful windy days, of trees letting go of leaves, one by one, and dozen by dozen, and carpets of golden yellow and orange carpeting tufts of green field grass.

Attending JournalFest was just exactly what I needed, in every way. I was there as a student, invisible if i wanted to be, running late if I needed to be, being spontaneous with my time and my schedule. What a wonderful freedom that is - to soak up everything, to not talk if i didn't want to, to give back through  my often quiet but sometimes bubbly energy merging with the collective creative energy of the group.

time to walk the beach

to soak in the sounds and smell and colors of the water and sky

to draw and paint and write in my journal in the company of friends. Here is dear Alex who was my instructor for a an experimental water color class, just the kind of learn-about-the-tools-break-the-rules-kind-of-class i love. she is a fabulous painter - one of my very favorite in the world artists, and i would love to be a fly on the wall somewhere (except flies annoy me - i don't like flies at all, maybe i'll be a  spider) and just watch her work.  i don't have much to show from the class  i'm sorry to say, as I was so busy and happy experimenting with this new-to-me-medium with all it's variations of application/papers/and mediums that i just never got around to pulling "shapes out of the clouds" from my paintings. But I am the kind of person that enjoys drawing out and savoring a surprise, so even though I haven't done it yet, I do know they are all in there playing, and lollygagging, and that in itself brings me continuous delight. The photo of the one piece I finished is towards the bottom of this post. It got taped into a very very special journal .... (curious?keep reading)

to take fabulous classes - all three - from gifted teachers. Judy and I got someone to take our picture with Theo Ellsworth, one of the instructors we both took a class from. He draws, and draws, and draws, and draws...and then draws some more and adds some words when he has them. This is what he shared with us, how he does this. 

 It was wonderful, I had a blast. I also didn't follow the directions exactly (he didn't demand it, thankfully) and I added some color after a few hours of strictly pen (whew, what a relief!). My tree hangers aren't nearly finished of course, but i'm sure they'll be happy to hang here till I get back to work on them.

The third class I took was from Anahata Katkin, one that I'd always wanted to take and felt lucky to get the chance. She gave us several exercises to do, experiments, loved that. Of course I didn't always follow the directions (as if i could even remember them half the time) but i did try lots of techniques she suggested in some variation, and plan to incorporate things I learned and new ways to work into my own art experiments. Here is some of what i did there:

working with a strong focal point and lots of empty space

a strong anahata influence here - i followed directions :-)

anahata said i had a graffitti style, i think that is pretty accurate

i incorporated a blue drawing by violet into this journal spread

this piece i drew the night of the journal party, the music was awesome and really influenced the "how" and "what" of my images. words still coming on many of these. i carry thoughts of my pregnant daughter Marissa with me everywhere I go, and baby Jackson...yes, he's in there. and no, she doesn't wear dreads :-)

And one of the most MOST exciting things to transpire was: I got to work in one of the 1000 Journals

 journal # 381 to be precise. having this opportunity was really a dream come true for me, i was so thrilled!!!

this spread is my contribution; the person on the right was created in Alex's class, the one thing i finishes, and I added collage images and words on the left.

Well, I think I've caught you up on the big stuff anyway. I'm working on proposals for classes, as well as a special-secret-something i'm working on that I'll announce here within the next week.

Thank you for stopping by and coming back. I appreciate your presence and your comments when you leave them. Until next time, enjoy the weekend and may all good things come your way. 

It's been awhile since I've shared my art so I though I'd show you what I've been working on lately. This piece is a painting I did using Shiva Oil Stiks on fabric. I love oil stiks on fabric coupled with thread painting and fabric piecing. I did the detail work on the face with a black micron pen, some of the face shading with prismacolor pencils, and the bright red letters with a paint pen. I heat set everything with my iron after drying 24 hours (alright, I was impatient and pushed that part) and once heat set, did some thread painting on my sewing machine. I am just loving this whole medium and can't wait to do more, more, more! If this process sounds intriguing, I will be sharing these techniques and several others in a 3 day workshop I'll be teaching at An Artful Journey on July 18-22, 2010.