iHanna Postcard Swap

It was so much fun making and sending little works of art around the world.  It was even more fun to receive little works of art from around the world.  A HUGE "Thank You!" to Hanna Andersson for coordinating the effort. You can look at a flickr stream of all the cards here.  So much variety and whimsy in these creations! My cards are below.  For me, it was sewn collage cards, again...still an obsession of mine.

First Video Tutorial EVER! (by me, that is)

Enjoy my first effort to make a video using iMovie.  Mccabe's right, this takes A LOT of time.  But you do lose track after a while, and at times you give yourself goosebumps!  Just click on the link...having a little difficulty uploading it here, so you'll find it on Vimeo:  http://www.vimeo.com/user6139231/videos

http://www.vimeo.com/user6139231/videos

Breathe In

Really having a blast with layers and collage.  Completed this on Saturday at RAW.  It was such a nice night of art and conversation with my friends.  Lost track of time and chatted until one o'clock in the morning!  A definite liminal moment.

Everything I've been reading and listening to lately is about being present, cultivating mindfulness and awareness of the moment.  The Eneagram, Quantum Mechanics/Physics, Ellen J. Langer (Mindfulness), Montagne, Thich Nhat Hanh...all pointing me down this path toward joy.  I just can't help but share a couple of the treasures I find along the way.  Come walk with me!

Sewn Collage Cards

I love making these cards!  I have to say, I'm a bit obsessed right now.  I just love how all these bits and pieces of old magazines and scraps of art paper and scrapbooking supplies come together in unexpected ways.  The process is fun and very meditative, from clipping the magazines to gluing the collage to sewing the collage and sewing the cards.  It takes a bit of time, but each step produces a new result and lots of satisfaction.  I used Tyvec envelopes as the collage backing, as it is light but strong.  My sewing machine appreciates that!  I'm thinking of making a few sets and starting up an etsy page...what do you think?

The Key to Happiness

I have used this card generator a couple times since iHanna referenced it on her blog...so cool!  This is the one my daughter made and I really think it just says it all, doesn't it?  Here's the link if you want to generate one of your own:  http://www.blyberg.net/card-generator/

Don't be afraid to shine!  

Birds of a Feather

My friend told me that it seems like I am a leader to other women in my life.  I hope I'm on a path that they would like to follow.  I believe life is an evolutionary process...that's what we are here for...to be the true, whole and expansive soul we are meant to be.  After childhood, I think this gets a lot more challenging!  It's like we forget, as we get older...the outside world leads us away from ourselves...and we have to find the way back.  Maybe I'm helping my friends find their way back as I find mine.  I know that I have come to a place in my own life where being with others that want to go there is really important to me.  So I'm gathering my birds of a feather so we can help each other and enjoy the flight.

Breakfast Salad

I was inspired by our volunteer tomato plant to make something for breakfast that used them...they are Sweet 100's, we think.  The plant grew from under our deck out into the front planter next to our triangle palm.  And these volunteers are amazingly sweet and flavorful.  And it's more of a community plant...passersby and neighbors helping themselves to the bounty!

What's a Breakfast Salad, you may wonder?  Two hardboiled eggs, at least 10 Sweet 100's or other tomato from the vine, halved, preferably not refrigerated, roasted and salted sunflower seeds, fresh thyme leaves, salt, pepper and homemade shallot vinaigrette.  Peel and cut your eggs and make this while they are still warm.  Yum!