Valentines

Did you know that Valentine's Day will arrive in a couple of weeks? I used to work in a flower shop and it was amazing how many folks were actually surprised when the day arrived. They were the last minute shoppers who would spend "anything" to have their ordered delivered by personal currier. After I took their money I would say "Didn't you go to kindergarten? How did you become this big executive without adequate knowledge of major holidays?" Anyway, I have just made some very simple Valentine's for my family by recycling old art. I just cut a piece of unused art to fit an envelope and then cut out a heart shape from another piece of art. I dab a little glue to keep it in place and then zig-zag around with my sewing machine. VOILA! ....a personal, handmade, keepsake valentine....


These are actually 2 Valentines placed over a paper doily atop an envelope for display.

The Art Room

Just thought you might like to see where I spend much of my time. The Art Room is a large and colorful working art studio in Triune Mercy Center in Greenville, SC. We are open twice a week to provide supplies, encouragement, and community to many of the city's poor and homeless population.

Journal Cover

The New Year has arrived replete with resolutions and well meaning "new beginnings." One of mine is to be more proactive in my journaling. With that in mind, I created a new journal, painting canvas for a cover and sewing in pages tied with a flourish. So far, I just look at the luscious colors and design while stroking the cover and plumes of beads and fibers. I am not procrastinating or wasting time. I am pondering with purpose....savoring the moment with anticipation of creation! (well, perhaps I am procrastinating a bit)

Christmas 2010

...and a Happy New Year from my family to yours...

Nothing like a fresh baby for Christmas!

The gift seemed incidental when the "snow" peanuts were released from the box...

For those of you who know our family and know how much we were looking forward to all being together at Christmas (from the utter most parts of the world), here we are!!!

Orphaned

"Left-over" Christmas trees always sadden me. I think of all the time and energy and yes, love (I presume), that has gone into nurturing and caring for them, to grow them up to become evergreen specimens ready and willing to grace a home or business with their fragrance and beauty. Even before Thanksgiving dishes are washed and put away, the trees have been cut, severed from their life source, and shipped out. I know they are expectant, filled with dreams of tinsel and lights and presents. Perhaps someone has told them what is ahead, their purpose in life, their destiny. And it is made to sound so good and noble and fine. Many are adopted, selected and taken home, but there are those who remain in the lots. Under lock and key there is no escape. I know there are much worse things to contemplate, but today I think and record my thoughts on the orphaned trees, the "left-overs."



yesterday I saw
a flock of evergreens
ensconced in a
Christmas tree lot
crowded together
pushing and shoving
jostling for position
tightly against
a chain-link fence
topped with razor wire
confined with
no way of escape
incarcerated
through no fault
of their own
looking like puppies
up for adoption
anxiously peering
hopefully expectant
eyes pleading

choose me
pick me
please
take me home
with you

Pick Me!

Trust

Because of the techniques I used in coloring the text around the center, this image may be difficult to read. Here are the words written around the central text: "...and then a most curious thing happens...peace comes...creeping in as relentless as the tide...unapologetic, washing over my soul followed by great leaps of waves of HOPE as trust MOST graciously settles in..."

Twirling

While on our Thanksgiving camping trip, I became infatuated with the rustling falling leaves. So many had already flown off of their branches while others seemed flighty and anxious to be moving on. Many were still attached and wavered like a loose tooth. Non appeared reticent, attempting to hold on, but rather wiggled around boldly facing forward into their new season. I liked that and put it on this page.