Spike

I was going to do a Memorial Day post, but there is a little guy in my life named Spike who has a very important day tomorrow and I wanted to ask all of you to say prayers for a miracle.

Spike goes to the vet tomorrow to have blood tests and x-rays. We need to see what is happening with the stone in his bladder and also how he is doing since his kidney failure almost 7 months ago. The vet told me a lot of things and mostly she told me that everything I want the tests to say tomorrow is impossible, however I believe in miracles and I am expecting her to tell me that the stone has disappeared and that he no longer needs sub-Q fluids. At the very least I want her to tell me that the stone has not grown and that he is doing fine. I just won't allow anything else. I love this boy.

I am also remembering all my loved ones that have passed on, all my grandparents, my dad, my cousins, many friends and of course our dear Renee.

Blessings and love to you today. xoxo

Foiled

I thought I better tell all my business supporters that I won't be having a workshop. Poop.
I was thinking of how to structure the class while painting yesterday and realized, sadly that the plaster takes too long to dry. It can take from 5 hours to a whole day and even if we do two paintings as I was planning, what in the heck do we do while they dry? At first I thought we could take a long lunch and work on the collage bit for the paintings, but that won't take long enough and I do multi layers of plaster. It just won't work. Also I found out the space I wanted does not have a sink. I need a sink to wash brushes. Teaching Venetian plaster would work better as a two hour class once a week, but I can't do that, it would not be worth the time and time is what I have precious little of right now. So, for now at least this idea is being shelved. I was sad at first, but then I realized that I need the time for my own creating and that everything works out how it is meant to.
It was a fun idea though.
Happy Sunday! xoxo

Dennis Hopper

(Photo Source)

Dennis Hopper passed away at 74. Being a rebel bohemian I loved him and I have met him many times, he has a house up the street from me. He was not a perfect man, but he was always friendly to me and funny and I am going to miss him, though I know he really isn't gone.

Fly free Dennis. xoxo

What Feeds My Soul

I thought I would write a little post about what makes me joyful, right now. As a way to show deep appreciation. So here is my list:
1.Painting. Art. Making it, reading about it, living it. If you put me on a desert Island with plenty of art supplies I would be happy.
2.My animal boys. My life would be so empty without them in my life. You can't beat unconditional love.
3. Reading. Right now I just finished one of the most beautiful books I have ever read, "Smilla's Sense of Snow". I was sorry to see it end. I am afraid most books will pale in comparison now.
4. "Lost". I know, where have I been? I don't have cable or satellite and in Taos that means no TV reception, which I am happy about as I hate TV, but I love movies, so I have a TV and DVD player. My lovely bloggy friend Nolly gave me the heads up about "Lost", so I have been renting it. I am in the middle of the second season and I love it. I used to hear about the show, but thought it was some boring thing about people stranded on an island, trying to survive. Oh, how silly I was. This show is so much more! I think it is the best show I have ever seen. Bar none. I look forward to watching "Lost" to the conclusion, which I am already sad about :-).
5. Time off. I have today and tomorrow off and instead of cleaning my very dirty house I will be painting, and reading, and loving my boys and of course watching "Lost", being the hermit I am
and loving every minute.
6. Blogging. I love every one of you and I love every minute I spend blogging and visiting your blogs. It is often the highlight of the day. Thank you.
Happy weekend! XOXO

Time

When I get overwhelmed with too much work and not enough play, I get cranky. I forget who I am and what is important. Lately, I have been trying something new, I take each moment as it comes, I don't project into the day or week all I have to do, (well, I do project for a minute and then I feel discomfort which reminds me to stay in the moment) when I stay in the moment I feel like I have plenty of time, and then I relax and things go much smoother. Have you ever found that you get really tired if you think about all you have to do? Instead, just do the task at hand and don't worry about the rest. It all gets done. This has been a hard one for me to get, but I am getting it. I just thought I would share this with all my overworked bloggy friends :-).Happy Thursday. XOXO

Animal Wednesday

My three cat boys all in purple :-). Happy Wednesday! xoxo

New Work and a Little About my Process

(Click on image to enlarge)

I thought it would be fun to take you through this new process. First I start by plastering my board red then I added collage and painting, then I added another color plaster (the creamy yellow) and carved into it, then I embellished the final piece with painting details. As you can see I covered most of the under painting. This piece is bigger than the first two, 20"x 16". I am having fun playing with different elements and experimenting. This piece may stay this way or maybe changed, I have not decided. I will come back to it in a few weeks. I want to move on and try different colors. I am waiting for my pigments to come in the mail, they don't sale them at the art store here. Up to now I have been using acrylics to mix with the plaster, but that is getting costly. The pigments are cheaper and go further.

Thank you everyone for your advice on the classes. I need more help. Do you think it is better to have the classes on the weekend or weekdays? Also should I do 2, 6 hour days or 3, 4 hour days? What would you want in a class?

Thank you for any input on the painting or the classes, I always love hearing your thoughts.

Happy Monday! XOXO

P.S. I have no idea why blogger published this in such a goofy way, with all the huge spaces, I did not do it, blogger seems to have a mind of it's own :-).

*P.S.S Thank you for all the advice. I should have been more clear, the classes will be more like workshops, not on going classes like at school. 12 hours total is about how long I need to get a beginner started.

What's Up

I have been super busy with work this week and thus I have posted very little.
Today, I worked and I have been finishing my organizing of my storage room/office, I thought I would take a little break (any excuse will do) and tell you what has been happening. I have had a grand idea: I want to teach classes about how to paint with Venetian plaster. First problem, I don't have the room at my house for more than one student at a time and my animal kids would make it hard to do as they would want to be involved :-). So, I thought about where I would want to give the classes and I came up with a space in town that is next door to my favorite coffee/lunch spot (Kj, you were there with me, remember?). I happened to run into the owner of said coffee bar/empty space and he is very open to renting it to me. I have to do some research and he has to empty the space out and figure out how much to charge me to use it on the weekends. If it is not cost prohibitive and I can get enough people to commit to it, I am trying this.
It would be so fun to get together with a group of cool people every weekend and create and then take a lunch break and have great food and make a living at the same time. I am thinking of two 6 hour days. How much to charge? Help me with this as I know people who charge anywhere from 75-150 a day for classes. I would provide some of the supplies. What do you pay for a class and what would you pay? Also if I have any readers in Taos or Santa Fe who would be interested in a class, please email me.
Okay, that is what I am up to. Tomorrow I am going to a baby shower!!! I think it has been 25 years since I did that :-).
Happy weekend! XOXO

Animal Wednesday

This sweet guy is Fernando, I am not sure if he is indeed an animal, but I think so. I bought him in Yoborobo's (Pam) ETSY shop and he goes everywhere with me now. In this photo he is overseeing my painting in my kitchen which doubles as my studio. Go check out Pam's other wonderful plush dolls. Happy Wednesday! XOXO

Nature walk

Yesterday, I took a walk with my dog before I finished my friend J pack for his move. I took my camera along so I could share. Taos mountain is my view, a horn toad in the shade, wildflowers and last, a raven (much bigger then it looks here).

Today, is my only day off for another five, so I am going to ignore most of what I need to do and paint. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday! XOXO

Busting Loose Update

I have not posted much because I have been working and helping my friend J pack for a big move, also I was given a big bookcase that I have decided goes in my very small office/ art supply space, and I have been rearranging which means my little room now looks like a bomb exploded :-). I was remembering back in my twenties I could work all day and rearrange my apartment after work and do it in an evening, now it takes me a week :-). I would like to think it is because I own more stuff, but it is most likely that I don't have the energy I used to have. Perhaps it is both.
I decided to take a few minutes and update you on what has been happening since I began my work with the "Busting Loose from the Money Game" book by Robert Scheinfeld. Not much money stuff happening since my sale, except a few small jobs have trickled in, but that is not real news. Most of what has been happening is in my attitude and spiritual life. I have always been very intuitive, but now since doing "The Process" for over 3 weeks I have noticed that I KNOW who is calling me EVERY time the phone rings. I KNOW when a package arrives at my post office for me. I have also noticed that I get intuitions about things and actually heed the voice inside instead of ignoring it :-). Things go much better and run smoother. Also (and I really can't articulate this very well in words) I get ideas, brilliant ideas that help me problem solve like never before. I am more joyful and I have a love for my life, as is without needing anything to change. Yes, I would like some changes to happen, but I no longer NEED them to happen to be happy.
I had a friend who just read the book and we talked today, he was complaining about some things in the book. I want to say that this book is not the best book in the world, not the best written, not the most profound, but what Robert has done, is to make this work simple and effective. I have been a seeker of all things spiritual and self help since I was a teenager and with the processes in this book I have seen more results than in all the others combined in a shorter time period. The funny thing is, is that in this work you forget about results altogether. Ironic huh?
Anyway that is where I am right now in this work.
Let me know if any of you have read the book...I would love to talk.
Happy Thursday! XOXO

Animal Wednesday

This rabbit gets around :-). I just won this wonderful award from Emily over at Kj's. Please go and have a gander. You all may take this award and run with it as I know you all like to roll down hills, eat chocolate and whine, plus you are all nice (those are some of the conditions to winning) :-). Happy Wednesday! XOXO

For my Raven Sisters

This guy was in a bush on a very windy day, yesterday, but he sit still for me to take this photo

:-). It is for all of my wonderful Raven sisters who I love. Renee this is for you. XOXO

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day mom. I love you. Mom won't let me post a photo of her, but trust me when I say she is a great beauty. Happy Mother's Day to all of you bloggers who have children and to all the bloggers who have no children, but have animals :-).
I am posting a day early as I am busy tomorrow visiting a friend in a nursing home and helping a friend pack for a move, so today is my Sunday, my painting day! I am off to create! Love. ♥ XOXO

Animal Wednesday

This is Max, my youngest. He is still a kitten, only 2 years old (I know he is big for his age :-).

He is healthy and very happy and he beats up on his adopted brothers. He came to me from a neighbor who found him in the street, she could not keep him, and I could not turn him away.

Happy Wednesday! XOXO

THANK YOU!

My sale is over and it was a huge success! I want to thank Becky, Joss, Kj, M(M is a friend and does not have a blog) and Kate P. for supporting me in being an artist. I love you and appreciate you all ♥ . Since I have so many things to pack and ship it may take all week. I will be emailing you whenever your package ships out. This sale was such a grand success I may do one every three months or so. Stay tuned.
Have a wonderful Tuesday! XOXO

"Dreaming of Paris #2"

(Click on image to enlarge)

This is my second painting using the new techniques. I did an under painting first that you can see peeking through. This painting is Venetian plaster, acrylics and gouache and pen on board.

12"x 12". Let me know what you think, I love to hear from you. XOXO

P.S. I am having a sale on my ETSY shop just for my bloggers, see post (2) below for details, runs through tomorrow at midnight :-). Thank you Kate P. for your purchase today!

Sunday Wandering Randomness

This is the scene on Taos mountain yesterday. Yes, that is SNOW.

Last night I was in my kitchen (my studio) covered in Venetian plaster.

My newest painting is almost done and I should have photos for you tomorrow. I am thinking of all sorts of nifty things I can do with these new techniques Alexandra taught me. And it is great fun. So today will be spent PAINTING! I LOVE Sundays :-).

As for the money game I am playing, I had the inspired thought to have a sale for you on my ETSY site and many of you wonderful women bought my work! I want you to know the money I made so far will be spent taking my sweet Spike in to the vets for blood tests and x rays so we can see how he is doing thus far in his journey with Kidney failure and that nasty lump in his bladder. If you missed it, the sale is still going on through tomorrow, read post below to see details. I need to go put a few more items on my site today as it is looking lean thanks to Kj, Becky, Joss and M :-). Thank you ladies, I appreciate you so much. ♥

Must go now and get back to my painting...Have a Fabulous Sunday! XOXO