A relaxing weekend...complete with warm weather

It has been a fun, relaxing weekend filled with plenty of activity, but nothing too strenuous. For the first time in ages, I haven't felt like crap. I think it had something to do with the wonderful weather.

Friday night, otherwise known as "Date Night" in our home, me and the hubby went for dinner at Outback and then a trip to Dick Blick. Dick Blick is having their semi-annual canvas sale, so I bought 20 canvases, mostly small ones (6x8, 9x12...) Dick Blick was followed by a mega-trip to the grocery store. I know, a super-hot date, but it was a good night.

Saturday, aah lovely Saturday, the day the temperature climbed above freezing for the first time in ages. It reached something like 44 or 45 degrees...the warmest we've been since November 6th. I started the morning out in the studio to do a little work. Then in the afternoon I did some running around...driving with the windows down to feel the cool breeze on my face.

Saturday evening we stepped outside our door to watch the Winter Carnival Torchlight parade. St. Paulites like to celebrate winter with not one, but two parades. The first one was last Saturday when it was brutally cold. Ana and I watched that one from the warmth of my 2nd floor studio (which overlooked the parade route). This week it was warm enough to watch the parade outdoors...and Joel & I watched the parade from our doorsteps, along with his 2 kids and my son, Cyrus. It was actually quite fun and hey this particular parade, which is the final event of the Winter Carnival, is supposed to celebrate the end of winter. (We can only wish).

Today was another glorious day. We did not quite reach 44 degrees, but it was still beautiful regardless. Again, I started the day over at the studio. Then this afternoon, Ana and I ran around shopping on Grand Avenue. We hit an antique store, Starbucks, 2 vintage clothing stores, and last, but not least, Cheapo records. I walked out of Cheapo's with a few treasures...including a collection of 70's love songs from Motown. I snatched that CD up once I saw it included the Spinners' One of A Kind (Love Affair). The fact that the CD included 2 Barry White songs was a bonus! Definitely music to paint/dance by.

Tomorrow it will be back to the work week...not so exciting, but it was nice to have such a relaxing weekend.

First Journal Completed

I finished one of the journals I've been working on. I haven't painted facial features in ages, so this was a bit of a stretch for me. I prefer painting on canvas (especially more details), but I was happy with how it turned out. I experimented some with molding paste (on the skirt) and that was great fun! I loved incorporating texture into the piece. Now I want to take this further and start a much larger work on canvas.

Crazy Saturday

Journal cover--Work in Progress

It's been a crazy sort of day. I woke up feeling like I had hit a brick wall. Actually I got up for a little bit and then went back for bed. The fact that the temperature outside was well below zero really didn't help matters. But it was sunny outside, so after a slow breakfast, a diet coke and doing my ritual check of things on the computer, I decided to head over to the studio. I can't stand missing a sunny day at the studio (which is always warm!).

As usual, I put some music on (Norah Jones to start with) and started working. Before long, my daughter (who lives in the same apartment building) called to ask why there was no water. We shortly found out that several pipes had burst in the building. While this thankfully did no damage to either of our apartments, we have spent the day without water. It still is uncertain whether they will be able to turn on the water tonight. Drats.

But I managed to enjoy a productive day at the studio. I worked on some journal covers that I started several weeks ago and I like how they progressed today. I hope to finish them up tomorrow. Well, maybe.

This evening I've been busy listing on Etsy some "valentines" I made. On the one hand, I feel productive. On the other hand, with each new item I list without a sale I feel it's a total time-suck. And very discouraging.

That's it for the night. I'm ready to curl up and read the next chapter of Twelve Steps. Right after I walk over to the studio to use the bathroom!

One of my new Etsy listings...click on pic to go to listing

Week 2: The 12 Secrets of highly creative women

My Studio

Secret 2: Honoring Your Inspirations

Even in the dead of winter, time often seems to go by too quickly--specially when you have a task at hand. Our assignment this week was, in a sense, to "to honor our inspirations"...to take notice of what it is in our life that makes us feel alive, that lights that flame of inspiration, that put a little spring in our step and makes us feel passionate about life...in essence, that moves us to create beautiful things.

I've been kicking this around in my head all week, trying to pay attention to what those things are for me. I think I have a good idea of what those things are for me. This is a hard exercise for me to do in the dead of winter...because it is a time of year when I just want to crawl into a cave and sleep till there is a spring thaw. Really, I crave being alone (I guess that can start my list). But, this is probably a really good time of year to remind myself of what things make me feel alive...so here goes:

• Color: intense, vibrant, deep, rich, bright, dark, purple, fuscia, sage, orange, black...color makes me feel alive. Color speaks to me. I feel it in my bones. When I start painting and start mixing colors...well, that is bliss for me.


• The Sun. Probably is coming to mind so quickly, because it is the dead of winter and I am missing sunshine. I am dreaming of living in a sunnier, warmer climate one day.


• Museums. On a bad day, a visit to a museum, especially favorites such as the Mpls Institute of Arts, can remind me that there is beauty in the world.


• Music. I have to have music playing when I'm painting. There are some paintings that I think should be titled after the song that was playing while I was creating it. BeeGees. Earth, Wind & Fire. David Sanborn. James Taylor. Andrea Bocelli. Old school Motown. I like to dance alittle while I'm creating.


• Family. Relationships mean everything.


• Baking. I love creating by baking. I have favorites that I love to "gift" family and friends with.


• Baseball. Especially Twins baseball. When I step into the stadium, I feel that state of bliss. I have a whole other blog devoted to baseball (badly neglected these days, but spring training begins soon!)


• Chocolate. Especially dark chocolate.


• Diet coke.


• My studio. I love, LOVE being there.


• Given the time and energy (which seemed to be lacking this year), decorating for the Christmas holidays. (I still have to to put those decorations away)


• Traditions. Romance. I am a sentimental fool.


• Nature.


• Long soaks in the tub. I am definitely more of a bath (vs. shower) person.


• Helping others. I know I said I crave being alone...but I'm also the sort that is "fed" by helping others...hence, the social worker in me.

I'm sure as soon as I finish this list, I will remember things I've missed. But this is a good start. These are the things I turn to when I feel depleted, when I'm searching for a little inspiration.

What's on your list?

Vintage valentines & more

"Hello" mixed media piece 6x8 stretched canvas

I've been busy working on various pieces...definitely multi-tasking, moving between different projects. I'm working on a few pieces using vintage valentines. This one is placed on a 6x8 stretched canvas. First I painted the background a rich red that I accented with a bit of gold that I rubbed/wiped off the top. I placed the vintage valentine on top...sort of at it angle. This is definitely a vintage valentine...the edges are a little worn, but I think that just adds to the appeal. I added a ruby heart pendant to the woman's dress...placed where her necklace would have fallen. Finally, I used some gel medium to place some gold ribbon along the top and left edges.




I'm at a "stand back" point now. Not sure what, if anything, I want to add to the piece. (Suggestions/feedback welcome!) I am thinking about adding to the ribbon the words "Call me" or something like that (I keep hearing the blondie song in my head!..."call me, call me anytime, call me"). I did have a thought that it would be a fun piece to customize for someone, by putting their phone number on the piece (for the valentine they're pursuing!) I do sort of want to keep it simple...so as not to "overwhelm" the beauty of the valentine or the richness of the red. But then again, it could be fun to play around with it a little.




I also finished a few new pieces of jewelry for my etsy shop. Please check them out (click on the pic to see the listing)!

Secret 1: Acknowledging Your Creative Self

"Rebirth" acrylic on canvas 16x20

"There cannot be too many glorious women."--Marianne Williamson


Such a wonderful quote to open the book with. I think I'll read that quote each time I open the book...as a reminder that the world is full of so many glorious women just waiting to share their gifts with the world.


Hey world, make room for one more glorious woman!


The first chapter of "The Twelve Secrets of Highly Creative Women" focuses on the first secret: Acknowledging Your Creative Self.

I think we all find our ways to our creative selves by taking different paths. And every now and then, we need to re-connect with our creative self.

I remember when I was just 8-9 years looking at a poster print of a Renoir painting and thinking "I want to do that. I want to paint beautiful things and share that with the world." I wanted to be an artist. I already enjoyed being creative and took pride in school art projects, but I was not the sort of bold girl that would announce that sort of BIG dream to the world. In fact, I announced it to no one.

But over the years, I took all the art classes that I could. I went off to college and initially was a journalism major (writing being another love), but soon I found myself in an art class, and then another, and another...until I was a studio arts major. Still I didn't plan on trying to support myself as an artist.

Over the years I always found ways to be creative. My children's earliest memories include "making art" alongside me, as well as exploring different art museums.

Now that my "children" (ages 24 and 22) are grown and I have a supportive husband, I am able to devote more time and energy to making art. For the first time in my life, I have a studio space dedicated to my artwork. Having that space allows me to do more artwork (I don't have to constantly put my work away), it has also given me "permission" to take my work more seriously. I'm not sure why and I know it's a mental game, but somehow working in the studio makes me feel more professional. (I don't think it should be that way, but it has helped me take myself more seriously. And I also feel I need to "justify" the space by using it).

So I have been painting, creating in my studio for about 2 years. I have opened up my studio during public "art crawls" 3 times now. It's been a process of creating more and also sharing my work more. I have found "marketing" to be nearly as time consuming as making art.

I'm at that point in my life when I feel closer to that little girl's dream than I've ever been. And that is part of why I am participating in this blogger book club. Reading the book will challenge me to think creatively about my art and what my goals/dreams are, and how to accomplish those dreams.


I am ready for the next secret.

My first book club--online no less!

About a week ago I was reading Kelly Rae Roberts' blog and found a mention of a new book club blogging group about to start up...I followed the link to find out more and before I knew it, I had signed up! The title--The Twelve Secrets of Highly Creative Women--sounded intriguing and certainly appropriate for the start of a new year with resolutions still ringing in my ears (if not yet on paper). It felt like one of those opportunities that just lands in your lap at the right time...without you even looking.

This year I want to challenge myself as an artist to Dream Big, to set lofty goals and take the risks necessary to achieve them. I want to put myself out there even more.

This group will give me an avenue to explore some of those issues while also meeting up (in cyperspace) with other creative women.

Only problem: I couldn't find the book! Until tonight, that is. So I'm now set to begin.

About once a week, I will be writing about a new chapter in the book...my thoughts, inspirations, questions that are prompted by reading that week's chapter, listening to the online interview with an artist, and also from reading the blog entries of other participants. I don't think you will need to read the book with me (or the other blogs) to follow this journey, but if you are interested in following along (or joining)--just click on the link on the right sidebar (or the picture above).

I look forward to starting this new venture.