Hope

2" x 3" mixed media collage
-with the following ingredients, some hope and imagination:

collage image
a piece rubber shelf lining (painted with *Modern Options)
aluminum sheet (run through crimper)
picture hanger
Radio Shack resistor
multi-color seed beeds
cool button
metal heart(painted with *Modern Options)
wave crimper
"hope" metal ephemera
brads
wire 24g
metal slide
knock out seal(painted with *Modern Options)

As you see here "Hope" comes in all shapes and sizes.

Here's a photo I took off of Highway 67 in Ramona, CA just after the Cedar Fires in 2003. I wasn't living here then, but we had happened to take a weekend drive and I came upon this photo op. It was fitting for the time and it seems fitting now.


Hope for 2008.
we find each other in good health
we are surrounded by loved ones
we continue to share with others
we reach out to those in need
we practice kindness
we find forgiveness
we practice peace
in this spirit, we are happy

To my friends, Happy New Year! 2008 ... thanks for the visits and your kind words on my blogs :"The Way I See It" and "The Artful Eye"

SuRpRisE!

4X4 canvas Golden Fluid acrylics, gel medium,
7 gypsies-rubber stamps Alpha Stamps - collage sheet

"Surprise"! another from my clown series. I will be posting more from this series in the upcoming weeks.

It's been a cold day here for San Diego, CA. I don't believe the temp has gone above 55 degrees. and I'm enjoying the fact that it feels a bit wintry. Now I'm sure my sunny socal friends would shoot me for saying this and my midwest/eastcoast friends are laughing because these temps are balmy... but this is what I miss about the seasons. Now if it would just snow a teeny, weensy bit.

I guess I need to head back to Julian, CA for snow. Don't forget to stop by my other blogspot for news just in from : "The Way I See It"

Rear View Mirror

8 x 11 journal page  

rubber stamped image from "Paperbag Studios"

Rear view mirrors are interesting, they exist and

people rarely use them.  We pass miles of road, sometimes

daydreaming and not realizing what is now behind us.

Are you ever tempted to look back?

Reflecting back hopefully gives us insight to 

what lies ahead.  Our experiences past and present, 

prepare us for the future.

Today becomes tomorrow.

What will we take away from this moment?

Ever notice in your rear view mirror the etched statement-

"Objects in mirror are closer than they appear"

This notice reminds me that I need to pay attention because 

the answers are right here in front of me.

for next Friday's journal challenge:  "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night..."

Feel free to stop by my other blogspot: "The Way I See It"

OuT Of My gOuRd- Part II

In an earlier post I had mentioned this gourd art medium was new to me. I think I surprised myself in how things turned out. This is the second of three I've completed so far. Closed coil and yarn wrapped coil, embellished with turquoise scarab, shells, beach rock and seagrass.

Another view.

Thanks for stopping by!

I leave you with this "Glimpse of the Day" by Sogyal Rinpoche

"Doubt is not a disease but merely a symptom of a lack of what we in our tradition call the View, which is the realization of the nature of mind, and so of the nature of reality. When the View is there completely, there will be no possibility for the slightest trace of doubt, for then we'll be looking at reality through its own eyes. But until we reach enlightenment there will inevitable be doubts, because doubt is a fundamental activity of the unenlightened mind,

and "the only way to deal with doubts is neither to suppress nor indulge them.""

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to take a glimpse

at my other blog "The Way I See It"

Sunflower

The image of this sunflower calms me.

It brings back a memory of quiet and stillness.

I've been going through a learning curve with my new 

IMAC and I'm not sure it's a curve anymore, it's more like a cliff.

Lot's to learn about this new OS, but I'm sure once I get it down- I'll be a screamin' mimi.

Have a great day!

Take a stroll over to: "The Way I See It" my other blogspot.

"EyE kNoW tHerE pLenTy oF fiSh iN The SeA"

8 X 11 black gesso'd cardstock, golden fluid acrylics
gel pens, stamps, collage imagery, fishing swivels

I had mentioned a challenge a friend and I had commenced upon

in a recent post. The topic for this week was "What I know about fishing..."

What I know about fishing is that it is very relaxing until you get caught fishing without a license. Yup.. Dillion Reservoir, Breckenridge, Colorado. I like fishing but I have a problem with removing the fish once I've caught it. Now to some this may not be a problem, but to the 'lil ole fish, this puts them in an awful predicament.

I have my own graphite rod, a fishing vest with all sorts of gadgets, hooks, fish eggs, spinners, lures, and weights and I've always wanted my very own creel basket. (Don't have one.) and I have not done much fishing lately.

How bad do you want to make your buddies feel on your next fishing trip? Well here's a 'fishy tale' for y'all about "the big one" or should I say the basket o' fish I had caught on a fishing trip in the Maroon Bells in Aspen, CO. (area was just like this)

My friends and I parted ways to what we each thought were better fishing locals. While on my own path, I had met a couple who had caught a whole bunch o'fish but were not interested in eating them so they offered them up to me. I put them in my bucket on ice and trekked back to our campsite and awaited my friends return. When they showed up empty handed, I presented them with my bounty (never disclosing how I actually got them). In the end... my story unraveled and we all had some great laughs and so that is my tale.

One day before I transition from this life, I'd like to try fly fishing in Montana standing in a 'cool river' with full set of hip waders, casting my fly rod into the chilly waters, as I gaze into the great blue yonder, hair blowin' in the wind, surrounded by puffy white clouds- that look like this...

Oh.. and did I mention I like "Fish and Chips."

Remember every week Friday we'll pick a topic and set upon on separate ways to create a journal page on this randomly chosen topic. No rules. Feel free to join in and post a link to your collage in the comments.

The topic for next week's Friday collage is "Rear view mirrors"

Please stop on by my other blogspot "The Way I See It" Thanks for visiting!

Hey.. I can make that

I know as artists we've all stumbled upon this quandry at one time or another where you see something you like and think, "Hey I can make that.. then the next question is, "But will I really?" and do I have time etc. etc. You know what I mean. Well this was one of those times for me. A friend of mine had come to work with this really cool vinyl bag and I immediately fell in love. Then after some precise fondling and carefully perusing over the details of how this bag was made I immediately sprung into action. I went to my desk, sketched the details and went to work. I already had the newspaper, I had collage material, I needed large grommets a sewing machine and aquarium tubing and ViOLa! A vinyl bag was born.

Another view and both sides are collaged.

So when the urge strikes, just do it!
(Now do I have to pay Nike for this?)

Oh.. and for those inquiring minds the store where my friend
purchased her bag was Anthropologie a fine purveyor of drygoods.

Thanks for stopping by. My other blogspot: "The Way I See It"

Questions for the Dalai Lama

Vineyard Haven, MA on Martha's Vineyard

"In the present circumstances, no one can afford to assume that someone else will solve their problems. Every individual has a responsibility to help guide our global family in the right direction. Good wishes are not sufficient; we must become actively engaged."-- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

If you had a question for the Dalai Lama what would it be?

My other blogspot: "The Way I See It"

Wheee..

I wish there was snow.. because I love sledding
and you just can't do it without the white stuff.

Here's another acrylic block 2"X 5 ". Reverse painting, collage imagery, gel medium. I'm telling you these are so fun and rewarding you must give this technique a try.

Feel free to stroll on by my other spot: "The Way I See It"