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!