A fallen angel

Last week a friend lost her son in a tragic drunk driving accident. He was struck and killed and in an amazing act of forgiveness, she asked our community to pray for the family of the young man who took Chris from them. This so speaks to the person that is Mary Ann and I know that her son was like her. I never met him, but through her stories and her tears, I feel like I knew him and I feel the loss too. I was inspired to create something so that she would know that I will never forget her young man. I began, simply and it struck me that she is not the only one that I want to make something for. Chris left a brother and a daughter and a father and a step-father. I know others who have lost children as well and that gives me much to think about and adds to my list of must create projects.
Most importantly, I will hold each child in my heart, forever.

Valentine's day is coming

And so we are back to cards - wherever I wander, I come back to my cards.
We've gotten settled in our new place and I'm ready to start classes again -
January 29 - 10 to 12
Here are the cards we'll be making!

2011 - new year, new attitude

It's 2011 and with the new year, I've adopted a new attitude about this blog - everything counts! Everything gets logged and blogged!

I used to make excuses for not blogging - the latest being that I couldn't find my camera. If I couldn't take pictures, certainly I could not blog about my art. But there's so much more - my ideas, my creative process, etc.

I am taking a drawing class from my friend Claudia. I LOVE it and I am terrified at the same time. Somewhere in my head, I got the idea that drawing should be easy if I'm an artist - that it should come naturally. Ha ha - it's not easy. Sometimes it is difficult and frustrating that things don't look "just right" but I will keep plugging away at this and I do look forward to my time with Claudia. If we aren't actually drawing, we are discussing ideas, concepts. It is wonderful to be able to pitch an idea and have someone understand what I am talking about - someone to add to the idea or steer me in a completely different direction with just a few words.

So there you go - perhaps I will even get brave enough to post a few of my drawings here. Ok, I WILL post some of my drawing here - next week -

Birthdays

July is the month of my birth, and my mother's and my grandmother's and several good friends, so it follows that I've been thinking a lot about birthdays recently and making a few cards.

Birthdays are special to me - they are a time to celebrate your friend or family member or even yourself. I've always made a really big deal out of birthdays - here are some cards I've been working on to celebrate my friends and family.

There is also one to say thanks for the friends who remembered my birthday!

Happy Birthday America!

It's almost that time - time for BBQs and fireworks and the good old red, white and blue!
I love the 4th of July for a lot of reasons - I'm proud to live here, where I can say and do as I please without fear. I love to see the red, white and blue and I love birthday parties. And what could be bigger than a birthday party for the whole country?

This weekend, I'll be thinking about how blessed we all are to be here - even in the midst of turmoil.
I'll watch the fireworks, grill a hot dog and have some watermelon and remember that this country is a wonderful place to live!
Here is my card to celebrate the birth of our great nation.

Hoarding or collecting?

I've been working on my studio- getting rid of things so that there is more room to create and as I do, I wonder, how did I get all this STUFF? Somethings I saved, thinking, "I will use this some day" but put it away and promptly forgot about it.

When does my collection of lovely rubber stamps turn into hoarding? I have a LOT of stamps.
I also have a LOT of paper and ink pads and ...
No other room in my home is as crazy full as my studio - yet, it's very organized and I use almost all the stuff in it.
I'm pretty sure that I could do MORE if I had LESS. And yet, when something is on sale or is discarded by someone else, the urge to grab it is almost overwhelming!

Let's see how my productivity increases as the shelves empty.
If you're interested - I'm having a Studio Sale on Saturday June 26. If you need to build up your supplies - come see what you can get at bargain prices! 9 AM to 1 PM.
Lots and lots to choose from!

Fathers' Day

Fathers' Day is coming and as I work on some cards for the occasion, I stop frequently to think about my own dad and the father of my children. My relationship with my dad was tumultuous at best. He had three boys before I came along and just had no idea what to do with this girl. I had been raised for so long by a single mom and had no idea what to do with this man. So we danced a strange, awkward dance for years and years. He's been gone for almost 13 years and I still miss him. I miss his smile and his amazing, squinty blue eyes. I miss watching him work in the yard and I miss the look on his face when one of my own children climbed into his lap.

I wonder how my children reflect upon their childhoods and what they remember about their grandfathers (both are gone now) and the times they spent with their dad. I know the sharp edges will become less defined with time and smiles and laughter will happen as they talk about those times.

What are your special memories about your dad? Remember some of the fun times and the words of wisdom that he had for you. Send him a card, give him a call.

Here are some cards that I made for Father's Day