The 7' Pink Christmas Tree

Before Christmas, I passed by this pink tree every time I went to Borders. It was in the lobby across from a purple one. I would stop, look at it and I took pictures of it. (Obviously, here is one of them) We talked about it. My daughter Valerie and I discussed it. "Mom, did you see that pink tree at Borders?" Me:"Yes, isn't it awesome?" We agreed that we loved it. Loved it. Yes I can honestly say that. I loved it. That thought/feeling went out into the universe. Imagine my shock when I received that tree as a present on Christmas Eve. Wow! I was speechless. We all were!

My daughter-in-law (who also loved the tree) decided to surprise me with it. The only person who is not happy is my husband. He doesn't like the pink tree. We are talking about where to put it next year and do we need to buy new ornaments? What do you put on a pink tree? I don't know but I think I'll figure it out.......

Making Christmas Cards

Every year I make Christmas cards. I have a love/hate relationship with the process. It would be so easy to buy some cards but there is something inside me that holds me back, won't let me do it. Sometimes I'll make an exception and buy religious cards. The museum kind. I need them because my cards aren't the usual variety. One year I had an alien on the card. It was standing next to a Christmas tree and the message was Peace. I've also done pink flamingoes. Last year I made 50 one of a kind cards. I was possessed. The process goes like this: cut and fold the scrapbook paper; look through the boxes of old Christmas "stuff" and find just the right picture and/or message; glitter it up etc. Sometimes I'll make all the same card. I call them my "limited editions". So far I've made 13 cards and I'm designing the 2010 limited edition. It's almost done!! It's a great feeling of relief when I mail them.... and then I start thinking that maybe next year I'll just buy some cards!!!!!

Validated By the Exterminator

I hate to admit that I called the exterminator. The mice were having a party in the basement. Frank assures me that the mice will not suffer, but I still feel bad about the whole thing. We had an appointment at noon. While he was busy in the garage I was sitting at my newly beautified table in the living room. Frank enters the room and I start to explain "It's kind of messy in here". Frank says "You're an artist and this looks exactly like every other artists' space. Do you think that Robert Motherwell and Peter Max had neat spaces?" Wow! I have the exterminator to the stars!! Frank actually knew Robert Motherwell and Peter Max. Unbelievable!! He was their exterminator. We had a nice conversation about Robert Motherwell's art and then he finished the job and left. I went back to work with a spring in my step! Frank made my day! But not the mice....

A Disaster Becomes an Opportunity

Last Wednesday night disaster struck. I have my studio space in my living room and I was consolidating it in preparation for Thanksgiving. I love my space - and the room. While moving my table, the leg fell off and all my stuff (pens, markers, rulers, glue etc.) fell on the floor. Yikes! After the shock wore off we put all my stuff in boxes and hid them under the table. Thanksgiving was wonderful and unless you looked behind and/or under the table there was no indication of the mess that was on the floor. Then I had a thought - this might be a good time to paint the table. I did, and then I had another thought, why not decorate it? Right now I am in the process applying a "damask" style design. The metal legs are next and I'm going to really jazz them up. Painting the table has brought me back to myself - I'm doing something that I love to do. Paint furniture! Now when I think about this whole experience it makes me smile. If the table hadn't collapsed I never would have thought about painting it again. There was too much stuff on it. My disaster was an opportunity in disguise!

Saturday's Adventure

Yesterday my friend and I went out for our usual Saturday adventure - Tag Sales! We were really excited because the town of Bridgewater was having a town wide sale. It started at the firehouse where we picked up a list and a map. There were over 20! It was freezing but we didn't care. I am the navigator and have to plan the route. We used to travel with a bag of maps, but since I have my iphone I use it to find the sales. Alas, there was no service in Bridgewater! Back to the maps! Even though we were cold, the morning was beautiful and I was thankful for the opportunity of traveling around and just soaking up the atmosphere. I found some neat stuff: a couple of bracelets, a pair of earrings and the lamps in the picture. I got them for a song and love the way they look in my dining room. It was a lovely way to spend the morning!

The Jacket

I've always wanted a fringed jacket. The kind that a cowgirl would wear. The "Annie get your gun" kind. I found one on Saturday and it was in my favorite color, aqua. The price was $5. There was no hesitation. I bought it. When I modeled it for my family, they were aghast! You can't wear that out! The color is awful! You look like the 70's. I was deflated! What was I thinking? I discussed it with my niece Laura and she told me that she has a fringed jacket too. She only wears it in her room. Maybe I'll just wear it in my room too. I still like it and it makes me feel good and for that reason it was worth at least $5.

A Relaxing Afternoon

I found myself with some free time today. There is an art store in New Milford that was my destination. On my way I unloaded a carful of stuff at the Good Will store. After the art stop I went to another favorite place "Connecticut Memories". The owner is going out of business and is having a huge sale. It's actually been going on for a couple of months but there's no rush! I found some old photos and vintage Christmas cards. On my way home I drove past a little house that was surrounded by Sunflowers! I parked my car and walked to the house to take some photos of these awesome flowers. This one is from my phone using the Hipstamatic app. Taking pictures of these beautiful flowers was, for me, a centering experience. I felt on top of the world. I am blessed to know that I always have the means and the opportunities to take pictures every day! Thank You God!

United Through Art

This past weekend was our "Saratoga" weekend. For over 30 years we've been going upstate to my Uncle & Aunt's house for a weekend in August. Some would go to the racetrack, some would go shopping (I was in the shopping group). This past weekend some went to the track and some went shopping but -

my uncle died in May and my aunt is now in an assisted living facility. The house is for sale and almost empty. There are a few items scattered in the house and some boxes in the garage. My cousins had taken what they wanted and the boxes in the garage were for "us". It was really painful to look at the assorted items in the boxes. There were cookbooks, kitchen tools and the ubiquitous Christmas ornaments. We went through the items and picked what we could use. For me the most important things were in the piles of old paintings that were there. I found a small painting of my Aunt's from 1955. It's a scene with a chair next to a window, a tv and curtains. I have a picture that my grandmother painted of my grandfather sitting in a chair by a window with curtains. My cousin Amy did a woodcut of a chair, by a window, with curtains, years ago as a present for my grandmother. This is all coincidence but there is a thread. I found some paintings that my Uncle did back in the 50's and was grateful to have them. Another favorite find is the painting of Sonny & Cher done by my cousin Beth in school. She graciously gave it to me. I love it. It brings back the good old days, the days of Sonny and Cher. Chastity is there too. I value all the paintings that I have from my family. They are priceless!

Dream Vacations

I painted this page for the Explorations class with Laure Ferlita. The assignment was to do a page for our journal that would be a "companion", a page where we could jot down notes, a calendar or a place where we could keep track of our creativity. Since the theme of my journal is Beauty, I couldn't think of a page that would fit. For some strange reason lately I've been thinking about the Ice Hotel. (maybe because it's been so hot) I have to confess that I don't actually want to sleep in the Ice Hotel, but I would love to visit. I've also longed to go the The View Hotel in Monument Valley. It just looks so breathtaking in the photos. I can't imagine what it would be like to sit and be surrounded by the colors! Wow! Tied for third is Paris and Barcelona! What more can I say? I've always been fascinated by architecture and either one of these cities would qualify. So there you have it, my list of Dream Vacations - I'll send you a postcard.....

My Phone - Part 2

This picture was taken with my new hipstamatic app on my iphone. It is so clever. It's so fun! Since I got the new phone, I hardly take pictures with my real camera anymore. It's just so easy with the iphone and it's always with me. I have quite a few photography apps. Right now I'm considering purchasing the Camera+ app. I feel like a kid in a candy store. I received a itunes gift card for my birthday and used it right away. One of the purchases that I made was for the show "Work of Art". I love this show. Tonight is the finale and I'll be watching. I like each of the three finalists so I don't really have a favorite. Last week they eliminated two artists and I was on the edge of my seat! I will be tonight as well. I know that I've meanderer a bit here - now back to the phone. It's working fine, I have no complaints. Yesterday I met another phonie and we compared notes about the phone. We also talk about phones at work, but I'm outnumbered there. Two Droids vs. me. I can handle it!

It's Yellow!!

I just started a new class "Explorations" with Laure Ferlita. This is my 4th class with Laure and it's awesome. One of things that we had to do for the class was pick a signature color. That wasn't easy. I narrowed my colors down to 3: Cobalt Green (aqua), Opera Pink and Isoindoline Yellow. The pink was eliminated first but then I couldn't decide between the aqua & yellow. I asked a couple of family members for their opinion. They both said aqua! (because currently it's my favorite color) In the end, I picked the yellow. Why? I've always, always loved yellow. I couldn't not pick it. I have to use yellow in all the work that I do in the class. Yikes! I'm doing ok so far but I think it'll be challenging.....

Painful Experience

Something happened last week that was very painful for me. If I tell you what it was, you will think "it's no big deal". It was for me. I actually had a pain. It was the pain of embarrassment, of feeling like a fool. The pain/feeling stayed with me all weekend. It was there. Actually it's still there but I've accepted it and I'm living with it, waiting for it to go away. I'm also adjusting my thinking about it. Anyway what I really want to say here is that I decided to paint how I felt. As soon as I put the brush to the page I felt better! The feeling flowed with the paint and there was some relief. I feel very blessed that I can paint.

An Upgrade

As you can see from the photo, I recently upgraded to the iphone4. I tried to pre-order it but the order didn't go through. On launch day I went to the Mall and waited in line for about an hour. They ran out quickly and I was put on a priority list. Four days later I got an email that my phone was in. I was dismayed to read about all the problems with the "death grip". After a couple of days I realized that I needed a case for it. Even though I love the feel of the glass, I could see myself either dropping it and/or scratching it. I haven't had any problems with the reception except in the AT&T dead zones. My only complaint so far is with the camera. I took a picture of some beautiful purple clematis (photo above) but phone read it as dark blueish color. The phone is a lot quicker and I have a some of new apps. More about that later.....

My Year So Far

Tomorrow is the end of June and the start of the rest of the year. I've been taking painting classes with Laure Ferlita since January. It's been amazing. I love watercolors! My grandmother was a watercolorist and I remember her painting flowers. She took classes at the New York Botanical Gardens and every week she'd come home with a new painting. My mother was an artist too, but she preferred oils and pastels. When I was a child everyone was painting!

Marilyn & Uncle Bill

I painted this from a photo that was at my uncle's memorial service. It doesn't really look like them but I love the photo. I've been thinking about them a lot...

Happy Days!

Today summer begins for me! I love all the things that it brings, especially the heat. (I know you must think I'm crazy) I love to sit on the deck and drink iced tea. I love to feel the soft breezes from the ceiling fan. I love to watch the birds, and from a distance the bees, and all the little critters that wander through my yard. I am thankful for all the blessings that I have received in my life and for another summer day!

Le Citron

I am currently taking a Journal Class with Laure Ferlita. This page was one of the assignments. It was really challenging for me because one of my biggest struggles as an artist has been with making the darks, dark! Could the lemons be darker? Probably, but I think they look ok. I have a new appreciation of lemons!

Memories

My friend Deanne & I went out to a bunch of tag sales last Saturday. This bride doll was on a bed with a wedding gown, a scrapbook of cards received and other wedding related items. When I was married, my best friend Rose had a bride doll custom made for me as a present. It sat on our bed for years. I don't remember it being as pretty as this doll. I finally gave it away. When I saw this doll I felt a little sad about the one I gave away. It doesn't really feel that long ago but we'll be celebrating our 42nd anniversary this month.

Church

On Saturday night there was a father and daughter sitting in the pew front of me. I couldn't help thinking about the relationship they obviously had. The girl would lean into her father's arm. He, in turn, would put his arm around her. I was thinking about my father - and wishing for a relationship that never was.

The Poppy

Today I found this flower and I had to bring it home! I couldn't get enough of it. This is one of the many photos that I took. I can see why this flower is associated with drugs. Once I had it I craved more. I was intoxicated by the colors. It set my mood for the rest of the day.

Mr. Bee

The front of Paul & Debbie's house is covered in Rose Hips. The bees were very busy today doing what bees do best! Here's one of them.

Farewell England!

The trip to England is over. It was a blast! I will have some free time now until June 1 when I start a journal class with Laure. It'll keep me busy for awhile. I can't believe how much I like painting with watercolors! When I was painting in oils I never painted at home, only in the painting class. Now I know that I can do it any time, even on a trip.

A Meeting of the Minds

My Imaginary class is almost over. It's been an awesome trip. Here's my latest painting. I named it "A Meeting of the Minds" because of the way the man & goose are staring at each other. There's no explanation needed!

Country Road

One of the delights of my painting class is writing a little story to go with my painting. When I first started, I thought it was annoying to do it. I had an attitude adjustment and now I'm into it. Here's my "Country Road Story". The ITTE tour bus is a van, since we don't have enough to fill a bus. It's fun to ride around the English countryside this way. On this particular day we were caught in a downpour. This was the perfect time to pull off the road and have some tea. Our hotel had provided us each with a thermos! We enjoyed this time to look at each others sketches. I'm always interested to see what everyone is working on. After the rain subsided, we continued on our way. The road was very misty and we couldn't see what lay ahead. Since it was unusually warm for England we needed some air. The windows opened and we enjoyed the feeling of the warm air on our faces.

Stonehenge

I just finished this painting for my class. It was challenging to paint all the colors in the stones. I think I captured the depth and the chiaroscuro. What do you think?

Charleston, England

I am fascinated with the Bloomsbury artists and their house Charleston, in Sussex, England. They lived their art and painted murals, fabrics, furniture & tiles. Here is my collage of some of their creations.

Just for Squares

Today I mailed our entries for the Just for Squares show. This is my painting "Henry Moore's Goslar Warrior". The opening is Mother's Day weekend. It'll be fun to go.

Ancient Ruins

That time of year thou mayst in me behold

When yellow leaves, or none, or few do hang

Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,

Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 73

The Ruffle Dress

When I was in High School I had a ruffle dress. I loved it! Last night while shopping at the Mall, I found a blouse that was the same fabric as my ruffle dress. I had to have it just for old times sake. My dress was purple gingham. It was a straight shirt style dress with buttons & a ruffle down the front. I remember how good I felt when I wore it. Now you understand why I had to buy the blouse that reminded me of my ruffle dress. Who says you can't go home again?

Henry Moore at Kew Gardens

While on my Imaginary Trip we went to Kew Gardens. I have to confess I'm not a gardener. I love flowers and gardens, but I don't garden. I buy flowers. When this assignment came I looked at all the garden pictures on the Kew Gardens website. I was more excited by the buildings. Then I found pictures of an exhibit of Henry Moore's sculptures. Wow! I had a hard time picking one to paint. I loved this picture because it reminded me of one of the paintings of Giorgio De Chirico.

The Cross Keys Pub

This is my painting of the Cross Keys Pub. I did some research about it and found out that it is in Covent Garden. The pub dates back to the 19th century and is decorated with posters and memorabilia from the theater. The cross keys are the keys of St. Peter who is the keeper of the gates of Heaven. I enjoyed painting this picture and had to make myself stop! Our next stop is Kew Gardens. Whenever I hear Kew Gardens I think of Queens, NY. We used to go shopping there when I was a kid.

Imaginary Trip to London

I'm so excited to be on another Imaginary Trip! I've always wanted to go to London - one way or another. I've decided to change my blog a bit. Instead of the Daily Photos, I'm going to post different things. I want to write more so this is the first post of my new, improved blog.

PA-14 Everything is beautiful at the ballet...

In our travels today we went to a ballet studio. I did some quick paintings of one of the girls. She was lovely! Rita

Attack of the Flat People

More From Lush

Portal

Where does this take you?

Pizza Clock

This awesome clock was made by an 8 year old!

Puppies!

These two puppies were sleeping peacefully in an art supply store.

Reminisicing

We're a family of Mets fans!

Lily Pollen

What a Find!

These delicious little books were only $4.00 at Borders! They're awesome!

Favorite Complimentary Colors

Dot's Shoes

Not for the Faint-hearted

dormant

A Touch of Red

Mother Nature sure knows how to decorate!

What a Crowd!

I did a double take when I saw this crowd at the Apple store.

Neil's Moose

Meet Willow