Birds of a Feather

I am back in the tundra of St. Louis after quite an eventful trip to the Tampa, St. Petersburg Beach area for five days of gymnastics bonding. This was our fourth year to travel down with Sammi's team and we had a great time, although the weather could have been slightly warmer. Fun was had by all. This season is still surreal since it is Sammi's last under USAG rules so each meet is bittersweet. It was a fun time for her since she had uninterrupted team time and also took home the all around award for the meet after winning bars, beam, floor, and taking second on vault. Add to that the camaraderie of the team, team parents, coaches and just generally the gymnastics world and you come up with the first reason I titled this entry, "Birds of a Feather." Gymnasts are a different breed and those in that world with them all have to stick together. I would guess it is that way for any high level individual competitive sport as well. Well, we did all stick together and it was a memorable time.

I worked on my inchie for the word caring today. I didn't have a clue what I was going to do until I was in front of my bird feeder and saw a male cardinal putting seed into his female's mouth since she couldn't get up to the feeder (the restaurant was quite crowded). Hence, the inchie I made for caring has a pair of birds and the titled phrase. I spent quite a lot of time watching the bird interaction and found it quite amazing.

Powerful

That word means so many things to so many people. For me emotions are the most powerful thing in my life and always have been. This week I experienced a myriad of them....pride, fear, joy, and a little sadness as my daughter began her last competitive gymnastics season unless she chooses to continue in college. All were almost equal in intensity but the joy eclipsed the others when I saw her triumph over some physical and mental challenges. So for me, joy is the emotion I find the most powerful. I celebrate it in my entry for this week's inchie challenge. We leave for Tampa on Wednesday for her to compete again. It will be bittersweet for her since each meet will be her last one with the team. Fourteen years is a long time in a young life.

Eclectic

I noticed an online inchie challenge and decided to have a go. Now whether I will do it every week or not, I guess we'll find out soon enough. But it was very fun to work on this one today for the theme, eclectic. What's more eclectic than a post-Christmas phrase the I added at the end??? Today's "Fa la la" started as a leftover piece of transparency from a local demo last October. It was spot colored with Ranger alcohol inks, texturized with a product called Wood Icing that led to the darker more matte finish, and then gilded with Gildenglitz. I finished it off by backing it to a piece of white cardstock. What a fun time I had with this little piece.

Post Merry Christmas and Happy almost New Year

The rest of fall and holiday season are but a blur now. So much thought, effort, sweat, and sometimes frustration goes into the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas...and then it is but a memory. Our season itself was quite wonderful once we got through senior exams and another college shopping trip to PA the first week in December. We traveled back to PA for Christmas with family and managed to get out of dodge before the blizzard hit the area. My gifts of Christmas were many: time with family, laughter, a peaceful candlelight church service, some treasured gifts that were unexpected. While my family moments were wonderful, my favorite moment came when I was reunited with my best friend in the world for the one year I lived in PA during 8th grade. It was online that I found her, but we hadn't seen each other for 33 years. It was nice to see we could pick up where we left off all those years ago. I hope to see her for years to come.

I have many moments and people to be grateful for in 2010. It was the year of trips for all of us. Lots of gymnastics and college travel in the winter and spring. These trips were soon followed by my nephew's wedding and our summer Japan trip. I will treasure those family moments and the peaceful nature of the Japanese always. More college trips came our way later in the summer and into the fall. Each college had its own flavor and being on these stately campuses made me want to metriculate again...briefly. I took a break from that kind of travel to go on my first trip with my sister in November to the Caribbean. We had a lovely cruise together and enjoyed bonding over jewelry shopping and stingray swimming. I am really blessed to have had all these opportunities this year. Unfortunately, that meant that not a lot of art was done. I am ready to jump back in for 2011! The art above is a little taste...... Happy New Year and a wonderful 2011 to all.

Chills and Thrills

Mike Meador of Coffee Break Designs left us today. I will miss his wit, support, and good-natured demeanor. I feel lucky that I was able to see him at Stampaway and will remember him that way. Although I only saw him sporadically, he was always willing to help when I needed every little thing for classes....yesterday. I took some gentle ribbing, but he always came through. Thanks, Mike...you will be missed by many.

Halloween is rapidly approaching. I finished my cards tonight and managed to do some ATCs to send out as well. Yes, Chills and Thrills is supposed to be askew......I promise.

Willy-Nilly

willy-nilly adv: in a haphazard or spontaneous manner ... That word sums up my September. Maybe my 2010, too. I was pulled in so many directions all month that I got little done on what I really wanted to do and what I did get done was 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there so everything felt disjointed. I got a little of my studio cleaned only to mess it up again so quickly while getting some things out at the last moment. I got Sammi off for her senior year of high school..... and then had a moment after she left that first day. Then I had a week where I realized that I will need to reinvent my life after she goes off to college next fall. Yes, it took a week. I have come to no conclusion on what I want to do....another book? more travel? a job? more studio time? Hmmmmm....... Even my thoughts have been coming and going in a willy nilly fashion. They flit in and flit out and almost get forgotten. It's so fitting that my last artwork of the month celebrates the freedom of willi-nilliness (head nod to Red Lead for the great stamp). I think I will try not to fight it in October, but will embrace the randomness of it all. We'll see how that works.

STAMPAWAY 2010

Well once again it is Stampaway week and it's all happening here at my house. New samples, packing, more packing, more organizing for packing, buying supplies, forgetting supplies and having to go back again and again. But along with that is the excitement to see our small world again, meet incredible students and peer teachers, and get inspired by all the artful discussion all around. I've been going for 15 years and have been teaching for 10 or 11. It is always a week to be remembered.

Hope

It is midsummer and quite tepid here in St. Louis, although Tokyo was not much better. College shopping is in full swing as is prep for Stampaway in two weeks. I am quite looking forward to it. But back to Tokyo....what an experience. It was as if we stepped completely into another world for 8 days. The people were fabulous and the scenery in such a large city was lush and bountiful. We negotiated the subways and learned that just when you think more can't fit...they can. We also managed to handle the lack of English with dignity. Luckily, pointing to food mock ups was socially acceptable.

Summer 2010

Sorry for being in absentia for quite a while. We had a lot of post season gymnastics travel as well as a family wedding, college shopping and, of course, the lousy winter pneumonia scare. It's been quite a busy few months. I am really enjoying the slowing down in summer and have probably done about 10 pieces of art since school let out. I hope to get some of them posted on my main website shortly. This painting was done this morning and was my first foray into using Wood Icing as a texture tool on canvas. It was wonderful to work with after a terrific demo with Mary Beth Shaw last week. I think it is going to become a studio essential. This week was banner since I was able to head to the Collinsville Convention for a few hours with my bff, Tracy. Typical vendors but the day was capped off with an ongoing demo by USArtQuest owner and fabulous artist, Sue Pickering Rothamel. I hadn't seen her for a long time but was entranced as usual with her talent and demo style. She'll be around this summer so be sure to catch her when she's out. It is always worth a few hours.

Scrapbook Page!

I will tell you all that this is about the 6th scrapbook page I have ever done and had no pictures. So I had to do what I do best. My oldest nephew is getting married in May and this is a page to go in a wedding shower album. It was fun to do. I can see why people scrapbook! I am ready for spring now...that's for sure. I love weddings and haven't been to one in a few years. It will be fun.

Lost and Found

I am in the process of trying to find my art muse again. It has been lost for some time now. I still can appreciate art but have not been able to find the desire to produce until last week. I am happy it is here now and am going to try to keep it going.

I never understand why it comes and goes. Part of it is a lack of nurture I guess. Anyone have any suggestions?

It's In the Details

JANUARY 2010

*new year
*new start
*new art
*new honesty
*new resolve

Don Sanderson and David Wilson....you will both be missed. I am lucky to have had you both in my lives, my father and my dear friend.

Fall Musings

Golly....I think St. Louis has been deluged enough over the last month. We've had few days without rain and have seen blue sky rarely. What else is new? Well during the rainy time I did manage to find my desk in the studio and have kept it about 80% clean. I also was lucky enough to have Charla in from Boston for a bit so we were able to have some fun when she wasn't busy working to clean out a house. I had a spider bite that went toxic and within two days my car was totalled (and then totalled reversed) on a poor young deer when my husband was picking me up from a concert because I couldn't walk. Nice run-on sentence from the former English teacher. On a positive note, the husband was able to walk away and I have a new Highlander because of it. Artwise I finally delved into some repousse after having the supplies for two years. Teresa Holt, a longtime friend and incredible artist challenged us to do some metal atcs for the month after demoing it up close and personal. Well, I had a great time doing them and have all sorts of ideas in my head for more. ENJOY ...................................most of the rest of them are on my website

Beginnings and Endings

A heavy post written with a heavy heart. I am blessed to have a core group of people in my life that I love and would do anything for. My life is richer because of these people. I learn daily how to be a better person and thank God every day for teaching me through them. I understand why they have been brought to me. What I don't understand is why those that focus on the negative and tearing people/places down must also be a part of my life? I guess I am supposed to learn from them, too, but these lessons are oh so painful. For me, nothing can hurt worse than the betrayal by someone I considered a friend. It hasn't happened often in my adult life so this took me by surprise. I hope the pain and anguish that is inside subsides for her so she can get on with her life. I will get on with mine. The artwork for today is aptly titled "Life's Beginnings". Happenstance.........

The Perfect Risk

Watching the beginnings of another artist's journey is an intense experience for me. Musicians have always been close to my heart. I have followed my nephew, Jon's, exploration for years and found each phase really interesting. I have admiration for the creativity involved in not only writing the stories in the music but the music itself. What a process it must be. I also have admiration for the songwriter whose lyrics let you see exactly who he/she is in the story. That honesty and vulnerability is at the core of all art. It's simplicity is compelling and the purity of the emotion takes your breath away. I heard a new song by a dear family friend, Eric Sommerhof, last night. Eric spent the last year + with Sammi and his song, The Perfect Risk, will draw you in and make you remember who we should be. Enjoy...........

K A R M A

It has been a jampacked couple of months since I posted anything new. Stampaway was a blast as usual. I had so many wonderful people in my classes and had fun mingling with old and new friends. I couldn't have asked for better weather or company. I stopped back into St. Louis for four days and then left on a 10 trip to the Outer Banks with Jim and Sammi. We met up with my sister and family for a wonderful time. Our house was a former model so it was definitely HGTV perfection. The beach was wonderful and the ocean was peaceful until Bill the Hurricane showed up. But still it was a great trip. School preparation, some teenage drama, and a death in the family of a dear friend dominated the next week before school and then it happened....I have a junior in high school now. Actually one who sometimes thinks she is wise beyond her years. It has been a roller coaster at times. So school is now in session and I am trying to find my studio once again. It looks like a cyclone blew through it. Enjoy this little ATC and I'll try to be back soon.

Diffusion

I have a teenager. Today a driving one with lots of evolving ideas, wants and needs. I feel like I am spending an inordinate amount of time diffusing that teen angst while trying to accept her and foster her growing independence. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Summer 2009

Could it get any hotter in St. Louis? Of course, when it was 70s and beautiful, I was too busy with the last part of Sammi's season so yesterday in the 100 degree heat, Ibought flowers to plant. The three of us planted 5 pots last night and by the end of the half hour I was a drippy, drippy mess. Sammi kept sponging me off...I felt like a surgeon in the middle of surgery. The posted artwork today for the alphabet workshop (letter B) came out of my floral experience last night. The rest of the uploads from today: C, X, S, F can be found on my altered website under the Alphabet Workshop book.

ENJOY!!!!!!!

Nuances

I joined an international artist journal project, Alphabet Discovery Workshop...the first one I have been in besides the calendar since we moved. It is the brainchild of a wildly artistic artist in England, Trish Bee, who has an incredible blog and website.I am so glad I did. I am really enjoying what everyone else is doing and can't wait to have a finished product that expresses where I am at now. Fun!!!!!

Barat

My daughter's sophomore year is coming to a close and each year I do a piece of artwork for the school. This year I went more with graphic doodles. The broken heart symbol is the school's graphic and the words are the ideals they hope they pass on to the students.

Sammi

I celebrate my daughter's tenacity in overcoming injury and family obstacles during her first level 9 season. She represented her gym and her family well at the Western Championships in Bartlesville, OK. In the process, she brought home a medal from beam at both the regional championships and again at Westerns. Well done.....now she gets some much needed rest...........

It's back to art for me now. I haven't been to a store lately but am just dying to get my hands on the new Ranger refillable alcohol ink pens. Anyone have them yet??????

Limbo and beyond

Many times I've wished for a crystal ball but March was definitely a month that I am glad I didn't have one. March was a month of bad weather, of two last minute flights to Pennsylvania, of a wonderful quick trip to Tampa for more tropical gymnastics, and also the month that I spent my last days with my father. I am so grateful for the time that my sister and I were able to spend with him the last few days of March. Hospice said the last sense to go was hearing so we spent lots of time reminiscing and helping him to let go. Donald Munro Sanderson, our dad, a consummate whistler and harmonica player, a tinkerer who could fix everything, a lover of Whitley's peanuts and fettuccini alfredo passed away quietly while we were with him on April 1 and will be missed.

Fiddle Faddle

February is almost over which means we have reached the downward slope of winter. Thank goodness. I spent a lot of time in the studio this month doing this and that. It has been very therapeutic for me. I was very happy with my non-traditional VDay cards this year. I don't think I had done cards for the past couple of years.

Sammi competed her first meet finally after missing three and did about as expected. As a new level 9 and an injured one at that, she isn't going to do any damage until her skills are stronger. We did have about five minutes of drama after she narrowly avoided going down on her neck during vault. You could have heard a pin drop while everyone waited for the medics to allow her to get up. I am not sure I was breathing much. She did finally get up and then proceeded to compete the entire rest of the meet. That's my daughter.

ART NEWS: I was pleased to have an email from Stampington regarding some wall art that they are going to publish in a new specialty publication called Black and White in November. I am currently writing a feature article for that work. And, I am pleased to announce that I will have three classes at Stampaway this year: Elementz, Play it Again, Sam and Resist 2009. More on that to follow.

Will You Be Mine????

It is February and love is all around.....well, it is all around when we get through algebra, gym practice, snow, a puppy who is into pens and is not particular about what kind. You get the drift. I love Valentine's Day and love to doodle so without further adieu, you can peek at one of my cards for 2009. They are all different and fun to do!

On the "must have" front. I am waiting ever so impatiently for Ranger's alcohol ink refillable pens. For more info, take a look at this video and prepare to be intrigued. Be very afraid.

Snow Day

I had some extra time today while nursing Sammi back to health so I uploaded some new art on my main website and one pic for this blog. I had two great classes this weekend at Rock Paper Scissors. I hadn't taught my advanced resist for a while so it was great to get back into it. It is snowing visciously here today so we are bundled up watching The Bachelor. What a day.....................

I've been reading all about CHA and can't wait for a lot of the new products to come out especially Ranger's new refillable pen and the new alcohol inks. Anyone else waiting for anything new???

Elementz

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R !!!!!!!!!!!!! I think the holiday season was a whirlwind for us and I am sure we are not the only ones. We made a quick trip to PA to see family and then came back for the myriad of practices that she had to be at. New Year's was a meal at Shogun followed by Valkyrie and some Korbel. We celebrated with Sammi and ber boyfriend and then took them on New Year's Day to Dave and Busters. Much fun was had. Now it is back to business and reality. The canvas artwork here features Ranger's new stickyback canvas and some mixed media applications. Enjoy....it is the flagship for my Stampaway class in August.

I have two upcoming classes here in St. Louis on January 24 at Rock, Paper, Scissors. Then I am on hiatus traveling with Sammi for her season.

Cherish

There is a lot of hubbub to December for me, especially when Thanksgiving is on the later side as it was this year. We are still decorating, buying, and trying to keep up with all the activity. Some days it goes better than other others. Last week was particularly busy as I was also getting art ready for the Bizarre Bazaar. It was a great show and I was amazed with all the beautiful work when I stopped down there this weekend. We got our tree, Sheldon, up on Saturday and then it promptly fell and shattered a few non-special ornaments. We were very lucky that the special ones remained unscathed. Next on the agenda....Christmas cards and an altered calendar collaboration that I need to get caught up on. And, of course, Stampaway class applications are on the horizon. What a couple of weeks!

Resist

I haven't done a new resist card in a while but really enjoyed revisiting the technique for my classes two weekends ago. Another online group is doing a tutorial of sorts for my book so I thought I would post this for them! It was done with a mixture of Clear Resist, Distress and Nick Bantock inks from Ranger.

On another note.....go see TWILIGHT...you won't be sorry!!!! I saw it this week and was immersed.

I am busy working on artwork to sell at the bazaar the first weekend at Rock Paper Scissors. I am getting pretty excited about doing it and seeing what everyone else has been working on. Fun..........................

Junk

I love to pepper my altered calendars and atcs with junk mail so when an opportunity for a junk mail ATC mingle came, I went for it. For those of you that haven't tried this, take a catalog or sale flyer page and tear out patterns that go together. Then tear strips and glue them down or use some other easy adhesive. Very fun and easy..........Add what you want on top to finish it off and you are good to go. I included some samples in this post.

Classes were great last weekend. I'll be back at RPS on January 24 with two classes. One will be the advanced resist class and the other is as of yet, undecided.

Weekend Classes

I am going back in the classroom this weekend here in St. Louis. I can't believe how long it is since I have taught a whole weekend for a store. I think it will be fun and definitely the cocktail party tonight will be great. I couldn't ask for a better welcome back than I've gotten.

This piece is for my demo tonight! Enjoy......and have a great fall weekend.

Hallowwweeeeennnnn

I found patterned paper and transparency overlays that were born to be used together. I added just a hint of color in between the two layers and used the mini pom poms to and sentiment to finish off this ATC. Chills and Thrills is courtesy of Red Lead Paperworks here in St. Louis. If you haven't visited their site, you should to see all their smaller, interesting stamps. Those are my favorites, although they have a lot of other wonderful stuff.

Remix again

More digital art ........................ tres addicting!!!!!!! These are all the same ceramic tile pieces that have been manipulated. Enjoy!!!!!!

PS: My Missouri classes are doing very well. It will be fun to get back in the local classroom after a few years on hiatus. Dates: November 7-9, 2008 in St. Charles.

Remix

I was lucky enough to be invited in a Photoshop class with a friendly group of quilters this fall. I've had Photoshop for years courtesy of my nephew while he was in college but only knew how to use a small portion of its capability. I am begininng to have fun reworking some of my old artwork using the various adjustments and filters. It is fun seeing my old compositions become something new. The pieces above are the original pointillism piece from my book (bottom) and the transformation into a 5 x 7 with black detailing (top).

Perhaps Yet Again

That word has been my mantra since we moved here last August. I couldn't tell you why except that it signals hope and possibilities to me. Maybe I need that right now. Daily life is chaotic right now as I navigate the back to school pitfalls and preparations for beginning to teach again here in St. Louis. I will be resuming some teaching in November at Rock, Paper, Scissors with some debut weekend surprises. It should be fun and I look forward to it. I have been lucky enough to join a quilter's Photoshop class this fall and I am having fun learning more about the program that I have used for years and only new a tinge about. I guess you are never too old to learn new tricks!!!

Chicago Escapade

I have been fascinated with that word for quite sometime so when I picked a letter for my local ATC guild August project it just had to be an "e". Summer is winding down here and school is about to begin for Sam. She's been in Chicago with a friend from school and her parents for a shopping trip. I think she has had quite a lot of fun but I have missed having her here. It was a glimpse into three years from now when she is off to college. I think I want to retreat into my own little world where she is with us all the time. At least that is where I want to retreat while she is gone and happy with life! So here is some art to toast to your Chicago escapade, Sammi.........

Ebony and Ivory

Well, I am still getting back into the swing of things from Stampaway. It was so fun to see many old friends and make some new ones as well. My classes were filled and full of so many eager and talented people. They were a pleasure to teach. I could have done without the hour and fifteen minute delay from the security alarm, though. I am sure they would echo that sentiment but everyone helped out to get the show on the road and were gracious about it. Shopping was fun at the Preview Party, but I was all but spent before that so sitting was a priority for me. I did a lot of product restock and bought a few new images, but my damages were minimal. Tracy and I went to the antique mall again up in Springfield all day on Saturday. Last year I bought old windows. This year it was an antique birdcage. Go figure....... We had a terrific road trip. Enjoy the posted art. These are 12" x 12" canvases so I would categorize them as wall art. I got quick photos of them before they headed off to CA today.

TUcKEr!!!!

Well, we have entered puppydom with a vengeance. Tucker has been with us for almost a week now. We picked him up about 13 hours after returning from the east coast. He is settling in nicely and as long as I am trained to take him out, we do ok. My studio is definitely off limits for him so I am not getting much done. I was lucky to get my Stampaway supplies ordered this week. He is 10 weeks old and a beautiful mix of black and brown. He is 10 pounds at this point but as furry as can be. I always love the poodle coat before maturation. Will he grow as big as his big brother, Bogart? Only time will tell. He can put his paws on my shoulders when he stands. I am sort of hoping that Tucker will be a little smaller. We'll see! Here are some puppy pics!!!

Impending Puppydom etc......

June is passing by so quickly as we are in the midst of preparation for puppydom. Right now Tucker is the name of choice but he could end up as Truman, Kikkoman or even Blackjack. We'll decide while we are on vacation for the next 10 days. Will our 10 year old Bogart be ready for this????? Hmmm.......and two black standard poodles. Will we be able to tell them apart? I would guess so. Tune in to find out. Enjoy my altered calendar for the month. That will have to keep everyone busy while I am gone to the east coast. I'll eat some Armand's Pizza in Georgetown and some Cincinnati chili on the way. Happy 4th of July to all! We'll be back after that.......

Birds of a Feather

In celebration of our daily birding here in Missouri and an ATC exchange online.....enjoy........! Soon we will be adding a puppy to our household so don't be surprised if somehow there are some furry pictures uploaded in July!

Miracles Happen

I had fun transforming another 4" x 5" canvas that was leftover from a demo from last year. This one started out spot brayered with some Golden Fluid acrylics and Krylon leafing. At least that's what I think was on it last year. To update it and make it into something more than a background I added two noise stamps in eggplant Adirondack and then trees and leaves in black and white. I took a gold Decor It pen and played with the shapes a little and then added the sentiment. It was a fun exercise today.

Expect Great Things

Well, we are into June and school is almost out here in St. Louis. I am so looking forward to summer--hence the title of this entry. Everything is beautiful here right now, mostly due to the 11" of rain we had in May. We are still avidly birding in our backyard and are attracting a wonderful mix of species. We put up hummingbird feeders yesterday and are hoping that the Curry Cafe will attract them as well. I've been working on a watercolor tall book swap for a local group here but took some time last night to rework a canvas I had done in a demo last year sometime. I was pleased with the overall effect. It is so fun to rework something that is just lying around on your desk. This piece started out as a spot brayer demo and ended up showcasing not only acrylics, but gesso, dye inks and metal work. You just never know where things will end up sometimes. That's the fun of these processes.