I created this fabric transfer during KC’s class and coupled her image with vibrant blues and represented the blooming roses through the golden roses beneath her.  And in the script that appeared below her, I wrote “Let go of the negative.  And there will be more space for the positive.” This mantra came to me during one of my runs and I have been focused on it for about the last month.

The mantra has helped me to realize the importance of moving on after a disaster, heart break, or disappointment.  And through KC’s class I could express this mantra through fabric with Our Lady Guadalupe.  How cool is that/  KC’s class has inspired me at a level that is hard to convey.  But, what I will say is that the mantra is true in that by letting go of some of life’s craziness, I have been blessed with the chance to meet KC Willis and move my art to a different and more compelling level for me.

I hope my mantra can inspires you as well.

All the best…

Recently I booked a plane ticket for an arrival date a few days earlier than I needed to be there.  Then I booked the wrong time on the plane ticket, because the cheapest flights are super late and highlighted at the top versus super early flights are at the bottom of the selection list.  And unfortunately, I needed to be there early.  But, I must say Frontier Airlines were awesome and change the flight time to an earlier flight and just charged the difference versus the difference and a $150 change fee.  At that point, I should have started to work out that there was a lesson in all this.  But, no I didn’t quite get it.  So to make sure I got the lesson, there was my race on Saturday. 

I trained diligently for the Heart Center of the Rockies Half Marathon.  It was to be my third half marathon this year.  But, here is where I missed the lesson.  The race had three start locations.  The half marathon was several miles away from the 10K and 5K.  I mistakenly drove to the 10K, because I just wasn’t paying attention to the instructions of where the half marathon started.  By the time I worked it out, it was too late to get back to the start of the half marathon.  

The bottom line is that with all that has been going on, I just wasn’t Present.  So, to say I was tremendously disappointed is an understatement.  On Saturday morning, I was inconsolable.  I finally stopped feeling hurt, disappointed, sad, and embarrassed about it sometime yesterday (probably when I started making art and writing yesterday’s post).  My husband kept saying, “no one died and no one is injured”.  And this is extremely true; the problem is that the running is helping me manage the pressure and stress I’ve been under over the last year.  And instead of eating, I have chosen/committed to run.  

So, I finished this collage tonight to remind me of the criticality of being Present.  To be Present can only serve me at every level in my life.  And for that, Saturday’s events were a valuable lesson.  Now I need to find one more ½ marathon for 2009. 

To my family and friends who have written or commented on my Facebook and blog, thanks for all the support.  I am Thankful for all of you.  

All the very best…

With that said, I could sit here and dwell on my disappointment or I could be thankful instead for the blessing of family, friends, and art.  These things, combined with running have made a devastating year, manageable and almost tolerable.  So, with that thought I wanted to share this piece I did in KC Willis’ class last month.  

This little girl has such joy, considering she grew up in a time when we were not allowed to vote, lived in a segregated society, and could at best dream of becoming a maid.  She exudes joyfulness and makes anyone that sees her smile.  So, I thought I would reflect on her smile and remember there will be other opportunities and other disappointments much more powerful than a missed race.  And if I can just stay focused on positive thought, I may not be able to avoid the disappointments, but I can keep focused on my blessings and be thankful for what I have.  And that will make what ever the difficulty, better faster than I could hope. 

All the best…

It has been an uplifting and distressing year.  It has been marked with pain from two car accidents, awe that the USA would actually elect Barack Obama, sorrow for two families that lost their young children, disappointment that I gained almost 30 lbs, awe in watching my little boy compete and place in gymnastics, fear that I would have to endure surgery for my work induced carpal tunnel, reclusion as I worked at shredding the weight and running through the traffic accident’s pain, distress when the minister’s dogs did $1600 of damage to my car and he declined to pay for the repair, pride when my daughter performed in her first school musical, joy when I ran my 20^th Bay to Breakers, Bolder Boulder, and finally my first ½ marathon in six years, distress seeing our dear friend struggle through physical issues that had befallen him, disappointment with those that I truly thought were my friends, thankfulness for my mother, family, and my real friends, and the realization that I must live this life with Intention.  That in a nutshell was my 48^th year.

 And during my 48^th year, I did four pieces in the span of a few weeks.  As I struggled through the year, I came to the realization that I needed to count my blessings.  When I started to do that, I started to realize that all I can do is stay focused on the goal and not get distracted by the obstacles.  I forget that from time to time this lesson.  But at the end of the day, this particular art piece reminds me that I am truly blessed.  It reminds me to do the best I can by living this life with true intention.  As my goal is to get on the bus to heaven, whenever that day comes, I need to focus on making my 49^th year an intentional and good one.

As artists, we know that one of the greatest gifts we have is our hands.  With that said, one of the most positive things that came out of January was a confirmation about my hands.  I spent the tale-end of December, January, and February doing physical therapy for my hand.  My right hand has had issues since 1988.  And with recent work changes, my workload had jumped exponentially.  Because of that, I just didn’t have enough sense to take breaks during the work day.  So, I would just pound away, hour upon hour upon hour, trying to get everything done.  But, my hand knew there was a problem with that.  And in early December, I started back doing physical therapy twice per week (through the holidays and into the New Year). 

As this had been a long term issue, I had to take a test at the end of January.  It was an EMG.  One of the most painful things I have ever had to do.  As they tested both hands, they hurt for two days after the testing that went on for a full 30 minutes.  The singular positive thing was at the end I had a diagnosis and the knowledge that I don’t have to have surgery!!!  YES!!! 

Because I had been doing all this physical therapy, I have done limited art work over the last several months.  But, this art piece due to the image and subject matter, truly resonated with me today.  And I wanted to share it with you.  I created only two, one for my dear friend Kelly Kilmer and one for myself.  Kelly loves hands and is very knowledgeable about the politics of the day.  I think she is awesome and I enjoyed making this transfer collage for her.  

With that said, this art is now much more symbolic for me about being a mother, wanting peace for my children, and wanting peace for myself.  Now that I know I don’t have to have surgery, I have found a little Peace.

Two fun challenges in a row!!  I really liked this week’s challenge.  I originally was going to do a more traditional ornament.  But, I was so taken by my class last week with Kelly last week and all that has happened this month; I decided to do a Little Book of Hope.  

I picked some of my most festive decorative papers.  Then I created the cover using two cool papers and adding this little piece of left over fringe for the bottom.  I then stitched the book together to create a Fukoro Toji (see last week’s Mixed Media post).  Right before I stitched the book together I placed ribbon down the middle to create the hanger for the book.  As I commented a few months ago, “your thoughts create your future”.  As such, inside of my little book of Hope, I am collaging all the things that I hope for now and in the future.  This just puts a smile on my face and lifts my spirit.

What a cool challenge for the week.  I hope all of you have a great week!

This is my first time posting to Sunday Postcard Art.  I found the site several months ago, but just never could get it together.  So I was bound and determined to post this weekend.  And although it is late on Sunday, I am going to do it. 

I loved the idea of a hat and I am really focused on Asian images right now.  So, I searched for an image that might have a hat and I found this fabulous image from ARTchix Studio.  Helga has fabulous images and this one is one of my favorites. 

I used decorative papers as the background for her and laid that on top of a tea stand postcard from a Japanese restaurant catalog.  Then I used ribbon to pick up the color in her kimono and create a focal point.  Then finally, I used metal bits from Creative Underground to anchor the collage.

The piece came out pretty cool.  I am going to mount it on a larger canvas ultimately.  How fun!!!

I have missed posting in Mixed Media Monday.  So, while I was in Kelly Kilmer’s class this weekend, I worked on my submission.  I created a journal page in my new Fukoro Toji we made during class.  At first, I was really spun up with doing something anatomical based on the description.  Then it occurred to me, I could create something with body parts!! 

So, I found this amazing shot of Beyonce.  And I loved this page from an old French book.  I thought we could look behind the eyes to see secrets, hence the title selection.  I used decorative paper tape that I backed with paper and then cut out the beautiful lacy scallops that reach beyond the page. 

I am so thrilled I could take her class and create my first entry in a long time, it was a very good day!

I have had one of the best weekends, outside of the Obama Rally a few weeks ago.  It was great.  I took three classes from Kelly Kilmer.  I mentioned her earlier this week.  She teaches awesome, creative, innovative classes all around journal making and journaling.  She has been published several times and teaches all over the US. 

I took Snippets – A Unique Artist Book, Goin’ Postal, and Fukoro Toji or Little Bound Book.  She brings practically everything (i.e. paints, papers, images,  pens, awls, gel medium, stamps, super cool tapes, and awesome Japanese pens, etc.)  So it makes taking classes super easy from her. 

I am showing one of the two postcards I made in Goin’ Postal.  It is a really symbolic for me.  Since the car accident in August, I have been unable to do art.  Between doctor visits, physical therapy, company restructuring, general life stuff, I just haven’t had the ability to do any art.  I would have ideas, but just couldn’t do anything with them.  And I have been truly distressed about it. 

Somehow I knew that if I could get started creating again, I would feel so much better.  Every since Kelly taught at the Artists’ Nook in 2004, I have taken classes from her every single year.  She always brings something fresh and knew, every year.  And this year was no exception.  And I knew that if I could take a class from her, it would be a great way to restart creating.  And I was right.  I feel so much better, I can not tell you how blessed I feel that she was here this weekend.

If you ever get a chance to take a class from her, do it!  She is awesome whether you are a novice or an advanced artist.  You will love it AND Kelly too!!

I dedicate this post to my mother.  Lucy Mae was born the day the stock market crashed in 1929.  She still recalls growing up in the segregated south quite vividly.   She remembers going to segregated schools and having to step off the sidewalk when a white person would be coming down the sidewalk. Her grandmother raised her and her cousins.  She reinforced over the years, that if Lucy Mae could get through school and college she would make something of herself.  And my mother was relentless.  She got funds from church, she cleaned houses, and she worked until she graduated from college.  She would go on to be a nurse, a special ed teacher, a school counselor, and administrator.  All the while she would endure set backs and prejudice, that are still too painful and many to recount here, but with all of that, she continued to instill us with the belief that if we went to school and college, we would have a better life.  We too could succeed.

The night before the election, I called her.  I said “Mama we are going to be voting for history in the morning.”  She said she would be there bright and early on the 4^th .  She walked right up the street to the Catholic School in our neighborhood.  I wish I could have been there to see her vote.  I wish I could have seen that smile on her face and her proclaim “God is Good, all the time!!!”  And finally to see pump her hand in the air for victory.  Victory for all of us is to see this day, when we all stood up and said it is time for us to have HOPE again. 

As I said last night, it is a great great day!!!  Lucy Mae got to vote for History!!  I am so happy my mother, my dad, and my kids could see this History. 

God Bless America for having the courage to change direction and retake control of her own destiny.