Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I am still down with the infection, no more pain, but just feeling not good, everyone says it is the antibiotics, which I have not had for 37 years. I have 3 more days to go.
I am grateful for many things though, healthy family and friends and furbabies, a friend bought me new memory on my computer and it has made all the difference! Snow and a few days off. Pain free.
I was not able to get cards or gifts out this year, but don't think I have forgotten you. Have a wonderful Holiday! XOXO

What's on My Mind

This from my Tumblr blog:

When wealth is passed off as merit, bad luck is seen as bad character. This is how ideologues justify punishing the sick and the poor. But poverty is neither a crime nor a character flaw. Stigmatise those who let people die, not those who struggle to live.

—Sarah Kendzior, A government shutdown, a social breakdown (via theyoungradical)

As one who has little money, and has worked hard my whole life, this strikes me where I live.
I am much better with the sinus infection (see post below), I eventually went to Urgent Care, it cost a small fortune for me, and I am hoping I can make it up, but thanks to Obama I  won't have to worry about it next time. Love your thoughts. XOXO

Gratitude

I have been away from my blog for a while, right after Thanksgiving I had a series of unfortunate things happen, first to avoid hitting a man walking on an icy dirt road, I went into a ditch, that was a first for me and I complained bitterly :-), then I got struck with a sinus infection that has been so painful I cannot remember having so much pain in my life, not having money to go to the doctor (my Obama Care has not kicked in yet), I have been treating it myself and now I am on the other side of it, pain level went from 15 to an 8.
One thing I can tell you I learned from this is that things can get worse. I don't mean that in a negative way, I mean that no matter what you are going through things can be worse and if you look at it that way there is so much to be grateful for! The pain taught me to be grateful when there was no pain even if my car is in a ditch :-). Being pain free is such a deep blessing that even my chronic back and shoulder pain does not even register as pain now, not in comparison with really bad  pain. Life looks new and I see so much to be happy about, I wanted to share this blessing with you. XOXO

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am wishing you all a very wonderful and happy Thanksgiving.
To show gratitude for all I have I am having a black Friday sale in my ETSY shop.
10% off all items in my shop through December 6Th, to get the discount just enter BlackFridaySale in the coupon window at check out. I will be loading new items for the next week.
Love and hugs to you all. XOXO

New Pendant

This is a new pendant in my ETSY shop. 19" long. I have a zillion earrings and things to photograph and list before next week as I will be having a Black Friday sale and I will also be featured in an article on ETSY sellers in Taos next week in the local paper, not sure what will come of it, but I want to be ready :-).
I am also working on a painting so don't think I am giving up on my true love.
Love your thoughts. XOXO

Earrings

Due to the lack of comments in my last post I must assume that my new venture in jewelry making is not very interesting to most of my bloggers, or maybe no one blogs anymore? I did get 36 people coming to the post, but only one comment! I need feedback, are they not interesting, bad photos, too much money? These are new earrings and I am putting one pair on my ETSY site and the rest are going into a shop in town, so if you want a pair let me know this weekend. I take paypal and will take a check. 30, 25,20,20 dollars Top to bottom, 3.00 shipping in the US, twice that for international. Maybe they will do better in the shop in town, it is worth a try.  XOXO

New Jewelry

These are my newest pieces. I went into a bead shop and I was shocked with how much beads cost these days. I needed to know what I had, and I have some really good stuff :-). All these pieces will be going to my ETSY shop this week. I am also starting a new painting today I always love your thoughts.
 Happy creating. xoxo

Catch up and Something Completely Different

Remember when I said a client and friend passed away a couple months ago? Well, she was a beader and she left me all her beads and findings, at first I was going to give them away, but then I thought since my art sales are not exactly good right now, I might try my hand at beading. I did it in my 20's, so I am a bit rusty, but like riding a bike it comes back to you. These are my first efforts and I am sure I will get much more creative as I go, it is great fun and very addictive. I will be putting them in my ETSY shop this week, but if you would like anything here let me know, I take paypal or a check. I am not sure of what I have, some brass, glass and plastic beads for sure. Prices are 25 for the top two and 20 for the bottom two pairs, I can't get a great photo of the necklace, but here I have a close up in the last photo. I will be beading all November and will be sharing with you my efforts.
I have been busy, one of my best friends from the bay area came for a long overdo visit, M is pictured here, we ate out a lot and my favorites were the Love Apple (the photo of the steeple) and The Old Martina's Hall, (the bar pictured above), out of this world great food. We took a trip to Santa Fe and these photos are of buildings and things we saw around Canyon Road. We had so much fun and now I miss her more than ever. She brought me the best gift, a juicer! I have been making yummy juice all week. I love you dear one.
The last photo is of our first snow last week.
That is about it for me. Let me know what you think of the jewelery! XOXO

New Work

I finally finished my large 40"x 40" collage. It saved my sanity this Summer. So much bad news and more coming, but this painting brought me so much joy and I think it is my best work to date. I included many close ups because as anyone who has seen my work in person will tell you the photos don't do them justice. This piece was too big for my light box, so I had to rely on natural light outside for the best shot. This is titled, "Hydra, Ode to Leonard Cohen" , mixed media, venetian plaster, oil, rust stained paper, thread, micro pen, graphite, cold wax on board.
In other news the show came and went, I was not able to take photos, sorry, they did not allow cameras inside. There were very few sold paintings and I did not sell my ravens. They are going to my ETSY shop for now if anyone is interested.
I always love to know your thoughts.
XOXO

My Hikes with Bella

 This is where I hike with my dog Bella, we go here two or three times a week, I took these photos about a month ago, the blooms are no longer on the cactus and we are in Fall here, which if I had to choose is my favorite season. I am doing much better, thank you for all your virtual hugs and love, I appreciate it so much.

Happy Autumn. XOXO

Hope Or Acceptance

I am sorry I have been away so long, Much heartache and sadness has been going on as well as working on getting my paintings in a gallery, which has been disappointing and heartbreaking on its own not to mention time consuming. I have had two friends pass away who I loved very much, one was expected, one was not. Also two other friends in bad shape. It has been a very hard Summer. The only thing that really keeps me sane is my art. I have nothing to show as I am working on a big 40" x 40". My work is labor intensive, so it won't be done for a while. I don't have much positive to share, but I wanted to check in and tell you I am still here, with a broken heart, but it is still beating. XOXO “It’s funny how artistic we become when our hearts are broken.” —  Hotel Books, I Always Thought I Would Be Okay

My Ravens are in!

The jury picked both my entries for the Taos Selects Fall Arts Show. I am also invited to bring a miniature of my choosing, the jurors pick from hundreds of entries, so I feel gratitude to be picked . The show will be held September 27Th- Oct 6Th. I will give a full report, but they don't allow cameras inside so I won't be able to show you anything. I am hoping to sell these pieces! Yay!
That's all for now. Happy Labor Day! XOXO