Old Friends, New Seasons

I've been working on some jewelry lately. It's funny that when I started making art again about two years ago, I started with jewelry. I collected every jewelry and beading magazine I could get my hands on. And then my artistic interests took me on a whirlwind adventure in stamping, card making, mixed media, and collage.

And now I'm back where I started. It feels good to return to a familiar activity. I feel a connection to the beads, wire, fibers and doo-dads that I combine into wearable art. It's like I've reconnected with an old friend and we've just picked up where we left off like no time had passed at all.

Today was a scorcher (for November) at 77 degrees! Stranger things have happened. (Like snow in March...and we're only 85 feet above sea level!) A stroll to the park with some friends from the neighborhood was just what a day like today called for. I sat barefoot in the grass and chatted with the moms while Maya collected acorns with her girlfriends.

The evenings are still cool and require fuzzy socks and extra layers. So it's kinda sorta maybe lookin' like Fall...but today was like Fall trying on Summer for a change. So does that make it Fummer or Sall? But nothing beats a warm, sleeping kitty (and a cute little monkey) to snuggle up to. I know there's a song to sing when you want the rain to go away or the sun to come out, but is there a "go away summer" song I can sing? ;)

Tagged!

Ok, this is new to me. I've been tagged by Catherine, who I met at Convenzione in Pleasanton (we took Lisa Kaus' class and I had a great time chatting with her!) I'm a new blogger and have never been tagged and I don't even think I know seven other bloggers (other than those blogs that I follow and don't have the courage to comment on! I'm shy.) but here goes...

Here are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Ok, 7 random facts:

1. I am 31 with a 6 year old daughter, 15 year old stepson, 13 year old stepdaughter and another one on the way (due May 14, 2009)
2. I am a night owl and I loathe the early morning!
3. I am Japanese, Italian, and Irish
4. I love soft, furry things and once owned a fuzzy blue sweater that was so soft I had to touch it at least once a day (it is now replacec by a white fuzzy scarf that I love!)
5. I curse like a sailor (especially in the car on the freeway. crazy $#@! drivers!!)
6. I was president of my school in the 6th grade
7. I believe there is life out in outerspace (like, aliens! E.T. and Contact are my favorite movies!)

Ok, now you're it:

Kisa
Layla
Jenny
Kelsi

Have fun! :)

Happy Halloween!

Another Halloween has come and gone! Maya was a bat this year.


She had a blast trick-or-treating with her grandma and grandpa from Arizona.


Cesar, our cat, enjoyed his traditional spot as the "head" of Freaky Freddy.


Even Zach got into the spirit of the holiday and dressed up in his dad's old army uniform. He was the spitting image of a younger Raul. ;) Zach had the idea to lay down in a cardboard "coffin" we had set up on the front porch originally intended for our dear, headless Freaky Freddy. He managed to scare the bats out of a lot of trick-or-treaters just by laying there! They didn't know if he was going to spring up at any moment, or if he was even a real person. I didn't snap a photo because the image of my young stepson in an army outfit laying in a coffin just didn't seem like the kind of kodak moment I wanted to share. Call it a weird mom thing, but the image was just too close to my worst nightmare! But he had a fun time, and we give him such a hard time for being so anti-social that it was fun to have him share in on the Halloween hi-jinx.

I carved a little politics into my pumpkin this year. ;) I don't think it is a spitting image, but all the kids who came to our door last night shouted with excitement, "Obama! Look, mom! It's Obama!" We'll see tomorrow how this all turns out. If you haven't already, please go and VOTE! Even if you're not in a "swing" state, it's still important that your vote is counted. And even if the lines are long...no excuses! Just do it. Be a part of history. Nomatter who you're voting for, just vote. :)

File under M for Miscellaneous

I had a blast at Anahata Katkin's two-class retreat in Cardiff (near San Diego, CA). I learned so much and really pushed myself creatively. I feel like I walked away with some great ideas and new techniques. Raul went with me, so I didn't have to drive the 18 hours (round trip!) alone. He was stuck at the hotel with no internet connection the first day--poor guy! But that night, we went out for dinner at a lovely Thai restauraunt in Encinitas and strolled around the artsy and touristy shops before heading back to the hotel.


The next day, we ran into another dilemma--check out was at noon, so where was the poor guy to go all day? We got up early, took an early AM stroll on the beach and had breakfast at a cute little diner in Encinitas. Then he hung around the town all day while I attended the second workshop with Anahata (Funky Wall Paper People!). Between the book store and the coffee shop (with wireless connection!), he was all set. I left class a little early on Sunday so we could get back home at a relatively reasonable time. So it all worked out! I met some amazing women at the retreat and saw some wonderful art. It was fun walking around to get ideas from others and to just admire the work of my fellow artists!

Maya and I have been walking around the neighborhood in the evenings. It is the best time to go for a little stroll. Great light for photos, and every one else is out and about walking their dogs or watering their yards.


It's mid-fall now, but some days it still feels like SUMMER. (And some folks STILL think global warming is just something liberals made up for just for the heck of it?) It is cooler at night which is a great reason to break out the flannel sheets and warm blankets, so at least in some way it kinda, sorta feels like fall. But I'm still wearing flip flops during the day...crunching on fall leaves in flip flops--it's weird. ;)


I'm getting excited for Halloween now that it is, indeed, October (and not mid-summer! See previous post!). I made these cards for a tag swap with my Bay Area Art Sisters--a group of ladies from the Bay Area who met at Artfest and decided to continue getting together once a month to make art.


I'll be missing our next meet-up which will be at the Book Arts Jam at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Ca--I'm so sad I'll miss it! But I look forward to our November meet-up. These gals are an inspiration and a lot of fun. It's nice to know there are artsy women that are in the area that I can meet with in real life. I love the internet for it's instant interconnectivity and convenience, but NOTHING beats meeting with folks face to face and that essential human interaction we all need.

I'm ready for crunchy leaves, rainy days, the smell of decay, pumpkin carving, and cold, smoky, moonlit nights. I'll even start wearing regular shoes if Fall finally decides to show up!

Artfest 2009, Here I Come!!!

I got my registration packet today and I am so thrilled at the thought of another Artfest! I was going to post a picture of the beautiful cover art but then I realized that not everyone has received their packets yet and I didn't want to spoil any part of the surprise! So I took a photo of one of Maya's little octopus toys (which, coincidentally, the same toy appears in the inside of the registration packet!) And here's this year's logo:

Maya asked if she could go to Artfest this year and I told her I'd take her when she was a teenager--to which she replied, "Awww! No fair!" ;) She is a little Artfester at heart and I can't wait for the day she is old enough and we can go together as mom and daughter! This event is something I hold so dear to me and with so little "rites of passages" these days, I am excited at the thought of being able to take Maya one day. I think if I would've known about Artfest as a teen or college freshman, I would've knocked away all the worries and "what-ifs" and just been an art major or gone off to some funky art school somewhere instead of majoring in something "practical" and struggling to make every job I had more "artsy". ;) Oh well, you live and learn! And that's just all part of the fun of life.

I've got flowers on my mind and striking color combos. I kept passing this fire-bright flower every day this summer on the way back and forth to Maya's swim lesson, and I always thought, "I should bring my camera next time." I remembered to bring my camera yesterday on a little walk and I snapped the above photo. I also like those two colors together: a bright crimson and a darkish tealish blue. Might just have to use that somewhere again...

And I've got Mandalas on the brain, too...I'm preparing for Anahata Katkin's Mixed Media Mandalas class which I will be attending next weekend in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. I saw this cactus-like plant full of these Mandala blooms and had to snap a photo. It is also strangely reminiscent of a sea creature, too, with tentacle-looking tendrils flowing from behind. A coincidence that Sea Creatures is this year's Artfest theme? Hmmmm....I don't believe in coincidence. Everything seems to be connected in one lovely way or another.

Welcome to the world...

...Satchmo James McMartin!!!

Born September 4, 2008 at 12:02 am
8 lbs 9 oz, 21.5 inches long
Cute as a button.

Parents Kelsi and Jeff McMartin are so proud! And we are proud of them, too. They made a beautiful little angel together. Mama Kelsi labored all day--her strength and peaceful state were inspirational! And papa Jeff was right by her side the whole time with gentle words and a comforting touch. Satchmo came into this world a peaceful, happy baby. At only a week old, he's already looking around with much wonder and he seems ready to move around! We are so happy you are finally here, little man!

Art Life...New Beginnings

I took this amazing class at Convenzione called "Gridlocked" with Lisa Kaus last weekend. We worked with fluid acrylics, water soluble oil pastels, found objects and other fun stuff. I just wanted to share my work-in-progress. The final step is to coat it with a yummy smelling layer of beeswax. It never appealed to me to work on a wood substrate before this class. I think it's the best surface to adhere big, chunky found objects to--another thing I didn't quite get to finish yet; the chunky bits will get some tiny nails and wire attachments to keep 'em on there for good. ;)


What else is goin' on? Maya stared First Grade last week. She came home from the first day proclaiming that it was just too long of a day and that I could pick her up around lunch time. ;) I hear ya' little one. I didn't like how much school cut into my free time--how much time it took from me in general! I don't do too well with structured, scheduled blobs of time.


I think that's part of the reason I did something really scary and wild last week: I quit my job. I do enjoy teaching art to kids, but it's not my passion. It is my "security net" job. What I really want to do is be an artist full time. It's no coincidence that this decision was made soon after I received Kelly Rae Roberts' new book, "Taking Flight" last week! I have also embarked on a new adventure with Kelsi where I will be facilitating art experiences with new and expectant moms. It was perfect timing. The new venture is called "Expressive Arts Play" (or "Mama Love"). The blog is up and running, we've got three exciting, nurturing classes planned...now we're hunting for the right space. ;) Updates soon! We expect our first classes to start in October.

Oh, and today was the first day to send out Artfest registrations for next year's gathering in Port Townsend, Washington. I am SO excited. I can't wait to see what classes I get this year. I'm also considering driving out this time. AND I just signed up today for Anahata Katkin's weekend workshop in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Ca! I get to take two classes of hers that she taught at Artfest last year--Mixed Media Mandalas and Funky Wallpaper People. I couldn't be more thrilled! Hooray for the creative, fearless, artful life!

Life 101

Take a walk down your street a little before sunset. Take your camera with you and snap little photos here and there--whatever catches your eye: funky colors, pretty flowers, interesting textures...

...ballerina bunny shadows...

Take a walk with a loved one to the park, or to get an ice cream cone or pearl tea.


Take along a small satchel of art essentials, spread out a blanket and just doodle.

Take your shoes off and plant your feet in the grass (or mud or sand or dirt).


Or just lay in the grass and look for bugs, or roll down a hill, or look up at the sky through the tree leaves.


Most of all, just love where you live and explore it every once in a while. I dream of moving to far away places--the high deserts of New Mexico, the coast of Maine, the Redwoods of California (ok, not that far, I guess)--but why dream away your life? Why not just live away your dream?

MOO

My moo cards arrived the other day in a cute little box. I was curious about these little art cards so I visited moo.com and had a great time shrinking my art to fit on little cards. I even made a little sticker book (photos soon!).

Making the actual art the first time was fun and slicing them and reducing them to smaller slivers was even funner (not a word, I know but the only word I know to describe this process!). Each little moo card became a whole new work of art.
It was like a whole new art project. And I was amazed that I actually had a ton of work to choose from. I didn't realize that I had actually made a whole bunch of stuff in this short time since I started blogging several months ago. Just goes to show what you can accomplish if you just start now! ;) A year ago, I wasn't making as much art as I am now and it feels pretty darn good.

I'll be sharing these at Convenzione (less than two weeks away!) along with some little goodie bags filled with fun(ky) stuff for swaps.

P.S. on the back of the cards, I got to add my name and contact info and I even dared to say that I was a photographer! ;) I felt a little shy about this after I got the cards back but I thought I'd put it out there and let that be my next goal this year.

It's too soon for Halloween

Don't get me wrong--I absolutely LOVE putting up Halloween decorations, figuring out our costumes each year, going to the pumpkin patch for that perfect pumpkin, handing out candy and listening to Michael Jackson's Thriller. But I DON'T want to see Halloween stuff at the store in the middle of summer!! (Actually, we've come to the beginning of the END of summer...and if you were to determine the season by visiting a local retail store, it's been Back-to-School since the week after school got OUT!!! and now, they've decided to just SKIP the last bits of summer altogether and head straight for Halloween. Who once said that pretty soon we really will be having Christmas in July? ) Why can't we just live in the now? I know that stores have to sell stuff a little bit in advance but give me a break! The aisles at Michael's are already stocked and ready for Halloween with big blow-up ghosts that howl and black-orange-and-purple colored crafts and decorations. I think by the time Halloween actually arrives I might just not be in the mood anymore. And come to think of it--that's exactly how I felt last year. It just sort of came and went and the excitement just wasn't there like in years past. I had thought maybe it was because I turned 30 and maybe I finally "grew up" or something weird like that. But I think the real reason is because I had been marketed to DEATH and by the time Halloween had arrived, I'd already gotten over it somewhere around mid-August. :( I am also tired of trying to find summer clothes in the middle of summer only to find a small rack of SUMMER DISCOUNTS surrounded by a sea of the NEW FALL FASHION! I don't know about you, but I'm not about to buy a peacoat when it's 90 degrees out. Nor a bathing suit in February! But that's how it goes. I guess I could live in a cave. Or just shop on line--which I end up doing anyway, and ooh, look! 90% off Christmas Decorations! I guess they've got me either way.

Burd Pendant by Jade Adams

Isn't this pendant just adorable? It is handmade by Jade Adams of Jade's Funki Junk. Check out her site for some awesome inspiration! She also has an Etsy store where you can purchase her amazing, handmade and custom made jewelry. Very cute!!

Road Trip

July 19-22, 2008

Raul, Zach and Lola/Lithia Park in Ashland, Oregon

Crater Lake, Oregon


Lola admiring the view on the way to Crater Lake



Hiking down to Enderts Beach near Crescent City, California

Brielle, Maya and Zach/Enderts Beach

Me and Raul/Enderts Beach

Maya combing the beach for treasures--she finds a crab claw!

Summer days....Art adventures...

I've been away for a while. Summer is finally here and I've been out enjoying every minute of it! :) It's nice to have summers off--I can't imagine having any other profession except being a full time, traveling/teaching artist! So these summer day have been filled with gardening in the back yard,


going out for evening strolls around the block, reading art magazines on the porch while Maya draws on the front steps with sidewalk chalk.

And art, of course!

Last month, I met with the Bay Area Art Sisters (a Yahoo group for Bay Area artists who've connected through Artfest) and we completed an amazing collage project by Julianna Coles from the book Kaleidoscope.


It was an awesome experience I highly recommend for every artist! This activity pushed me to try new techniques and the end result really surprised me! I used colors I never would've thought to use before. And there's that word: "thought". Sometimes over-thinking can be an artist's worst enemy!


Anyway, I was so excited, I shared the activity with some friends the next day and even shared some of the steps with my daughter. It sounds unbelievable, but even a child is sometimes blocked by what they've learned at school. As an art teacher, I see it all the time. Kids are afraid to do something "wrong", they're afraid to just scribble and doodle and use "weird" colors like they did as babies or toddlers (if they were even given any art materials at that age! I've seen that, too: parents too afraid to let their babies squish paint between their fingers or let their toddlers paint with their fingers or paint at all!) But it didn't take Maya very long before she could just make layer after layer. She wasn't afraid to paint over what she had just collaged. She was fearless! It was inspiring! She would make an incredible, layered, funky piece and then paint over the layers and then peel away some of the collage images to reveal other layers underneath.
(Maya's collage:)


(This is kind of turning into two different posts! Oh well...) ;) Back to our previously scheduled program:

Where was I? Oh! Summer...Every day we walk down to the nearby college campus for Maya's swim lessons. After only eight lessons, she's totally swimming now! Head under water, "big arm" strokes and everything. She's a lot more confident in the water and that makes me feel so proud and a little more relieved--one less thing I have to worry about as she grows up and away from my protective arms!


Most days this week, we've been escaping the heat and visiting grandma and grandpa Austin who have a lagoon-like pool complete with waterfall! It is our little oasis in this urban desert! (It's supposed to be cooling off the next few days--let's keep our fingers crossed! We've got Maya's birthday party on Saturday and Kelsi's baby shower on Sunday. And only shade trees and fans to keep us cool!) Here's to long summer days and cool summer nights, Popsicles (cherry and orange cream and rootbeer!), hopscotch, ice tea, fireworks, flip flops,

(bare feet--even better!)

cute summer dresses, ice cream trucks, bright summer flowers, sprinklers...couldn't summer be 6 months a year? ;)