Madeleine L'engle

While I was gone to Charleston it appears that Madeleine L'engle died, she was 88. She is best known for her children's fantasy trilogy, A Wrinkle in Time, A wind at the Door and the A Swiftly Tilting Planet. She wrote numerous other books for young adults and some also for adults. Her four part Crosswicks journal series is very good. She was truly gifted and the only writer who ever wrote me back after I had written them. She will be missed.



I came to know her by reading the book a Ring of Endless Light. The heroine in the book speaks telepathically to Dolphins so you can see why I liked it. This led me to read all her other books which I loved. I truly wished I had found them as a child but alas I did not read until I was an adult. I loved her books because besides the wonderful stories she had such strong female characters. There were several books about each family and sometimes you would meet an old character in a new series. It was like having an old friend appear. I have wanted to write for young adults because of her. I made sure that Sarah had copies of the books to read while she was growing up. They are really good.

Pam's Paris Book

When I went to Charleston I wanted to bring something fun for Pam so I made this little book. It is made out of a paper bag. I got the idea from a trade I got from the Artnest retreat. The design is by Diana Frey she is a wonderful jewelry designer and collage artist. Her bag had just 4 pages but I made mine bigger by sewing 2 bags together.


















This is the cover where I used stamps, the decoration was a pipe cleaner with space dyed chenille yarn wrapped around it and then embellished with beads.


















I had a pull out piece that was a passport and I added Pam picture and details
















On the following pages I used memorabilia from my own trip to Paris along with stickers and maps and so forth. I also made a pocket and made a copy of the hotel brochure from where I stayed in Rue Cler.



















































Here I am at the Beach, I am just loving this place.














Here is Miss Pamela.














A view down the beach showing all the beach houses, I'd love to stay at the beach next time.














Our self portaits.

It's Fall around here

I have the Internet back temporarily, there is still something wrong with my wireless card that I have to get fixed but I can at least get on line.

We are having Fall like weather, cool in the mornings and evenings and about 70 degrees during the day. I went in the backyard and saw my sheep looking so photogenic, so i had to take a few pictures.















This is Emily just sitting around and then sweet Gabrielle.














Here are the shoes I painted. I used purple lumiere on the shoes and then stamped dragonfly's on them. A couple smeared so I may have to re do them but I still think that they are lots of fun. I used a stamp pad for the dragonfly's and I think the next time I will use paint. I need to put some sort of sealer on them next.


























I will write some about the Charleston trip tomorrow, I know you are waiting to see pictures and hear all the little details.

Still not working

Yesterday I waited all day for a technician who never called and didn't show up. I called again this morning and they assured me that someone was coming, by 4:30 no one had called. I called them back and was not very nice, they told me that their techs work until dark and seemed annoyed at my complaint. I got so mad, I mean I have a life or at least I used to have one before I was confined to the house. Dave wanted to go out to dinner and we couldn't go because the tech might come. It was 7:00 when I left to come to the library and get on line. Of course they did not call. When I was on the phone with them I got so mad that I hung up on them. I don't do those kind of things. Deprive me of the internet much longer and it could get really ugly.

On another note I did manage to do some artistic things, I made 5 birthday cards and painted my shoes. I painted an old pair of birkenstocks with purple lumiere paint and used a dragonfly stamp and stamped teal and silver dragonfly's all over. I think they look cute. Someday I will be able to post pictures again.

I could use some positive internet vibes or something. I really can not believe it is taking so long. I am missing reading blogs and commenting and all. I am thinking of all of you even thought it seems like I have disappeared.

A Quick Check In

I am at the library on the computer, no internet yet but a techie will be coming out Monday, I hope to fix things. As soon as I am up an running I'll get back to blogging all about my recent advetures. I am missing you all.

Charleston here we come

I leave tomorrow for that beautiful Southern City Charleston. Am I ready, no am I packed no, am I excited, you bet. I won't be back to a computer in the morning unless mine gets magically fixed which seems unlikely. This will be my last post for awhile.

I have been talking about this trip for so long that it is really amazing that it is finally here. I think to see the entire Thread Project displayed is really going to be quite incredible. I don't really think I can imagine how that is going to feel. After that whirlwind of activity I get to meet another Internet friend, Pam and that is really going to be so much fun. I think I will be inspired for months afterwards.

I will be gone until next Thursday. I hope by then Dave has fixed the computer by then. I'll be back with lots of pictures and wonderful stories to tell.

I hate computers

This weekend Dave bought a new router thinking that was the problem. He could not get it to work at all. He put the old router back, figuring we could just connect by ethernet cable and now that does not work either.

So today I took my laptop to the Villa Coffee house to see if I could connect there and nothing happens once more. Both our computers are doing the same thing, we both have HP laptops, that is why we figure it was the router. I am my friend Amy's house now and it will not work here either. I think we may call the Geek Squad to fix this because we are running out of ideas. It is so annoying...

Some movies and decorating

I went to see Hairspray last night and oh it sure was fun. If you need a laugh opr a pick me up this is the movie for you. John Travolta is of course fantastic as a woman but there are many other funny things and situations. Newcomer Niclole Blonsky is a delight. I just love the idea that she was working in an ice cream parlor right before she got the role.


I also ended up renting Miss Potter this weekend. Renee Zelwegger plays Beatrix Potter in the story of her life. She definetly was a woman before her time. It is filmed in the Lake District in England and the scenery is so fantastic. Its is beautifully done and such a wonderful story of an incredible life.

Decorating

I haven's showed all the decorating I have done so I guess its time for pictures.
First is the quilt I bought for the bed. Its Called Tea Garden and it looks very nice with the color scheme.














Next is the nightstand and lamp as you can see its already getting some use.



















This print I found at a thrift store, it was already matted and I just added the frame. Its a little collage of beach items, simple but evokes a nice mood.















This is a print I found at Michaels, I like to think that is my chair and I am just going off for a walk on the beach. I don't know what that blob is in the background, I don't see it when I look at the picture, perhaps it is something on the glass.

Coming Full Circle With The Thread Project

I am trying to get some things ready for my trip next week. For the Thread Project events they asked that we bring pictures and newspaper clippings and so forth. So I dug out my file and then came across the stories. As I read some of them I traveled back to the time when I met some of the people who participated. I recalled how this was what made it all worthwhile.

Since I have new readers now perhaps I should tell you a little about the Thread Project itself. It was started by a woman named Terry Helwig. She felt lost and isolated after 9/11 and wanted to do something. She felt the world was hanging by a thread, then she realized maybe a thread was all we needed. She came up with this ideas to collect threads from all over the world and have them woven in cloth to celebrate our diversity as well as out one ness. There are seven cloths and each has 7 panels in it. I wove one of the panels for the cloth called "Weaving Reconciliation". This is a picture of my panel. The other panels are called.

Hope Materializing - Purple
Threaded harmony - Red
Ariadne Prayers - Indigo
Dawn Looming - Orange
Lienzo Luminoso (Cloth of Light) Yellow
Sophia's Mantle - Blue

Although the cloths were displayed at St. Paul's Cathedral in New York City last September, the real official unveiling is this year in Charleston, South Carolina. There will be two events at a gallery in Charleston. One is a night to meet the weavers and the other is the official opening. Not all the weavers are coming unfortunately. They are from all over the world, I believe the ones from Canada and the US will represent the whole. It is bound to be an exciting adventure. My friend Pam lives there so I will stay with her and she get the opportunity to attend these events too.

If you find the whole idea interesting you can read more at the Thread Project website

Let me end with a excerpt from Sue Monk Kidd entry in "Following the Thread" on the website. It was reading her article in a newsletter she sends out that got me involved in the first place.

"When you stand in the presence of these cloths it is like stepping into the epicenter of hope. The cloths inspire a sense of how potent and majestic a symbol can be when it erupts from the great heart of the people of the earth. It is very possible that these cloths are the most diverse tapestries ever woven. Aesthetically they are intricate and beautiful to look at, genuine works of grassroots art. But most of all, they are contemporary parables that speak powerfully about unity amidst diversity, about tolerance and hope and compassionate community". - Sue Monk Kidd

The Heroes DVD is out!

Yesterday Dave got me this. For the fans out there you get to see the original pilot that has not been shown on TV. It is very interesting to see what they initially had in mind and how they changed it. The deleted scenes are fun to see also. I am looking forward to watching the commentaries next. By the time I am done with all of it the new season will have started so that is perfect for me.






I got my release from restrictions concerning my back and now I am doing physical therapy 3 times a week. I am sore but it feels good to be doing something again.

On the computer front, I can only get on the net when I am plugged into the router. Dave thinks the router is the problem. It looks like we may need to get a new one. Previously the internet company replaced them but it doesn't appear that they are doing so anymore.

The trip to Missoula went just fine, Sarah's apartment is small but it should work out great for her. She is right on the edge of a mountain, you can see deer on the hillside right outside her door. We spent the 2 days shopping and getting all those things she needed.

Of course I managed to hit a yarn shop, stamping store and the Art Dept at the bookstore. I picked up some silk yarn for socks, a copy of Artful Blogging, some sheets of watercolor paper and a collection of Shiva Painsticks. I had bought some of the metallics before but this time got some basic colors.

It has just dawned on me that I will be in South Carolina this time next week.Wow I will be visiting Miss Pamela in less than a week... and I think it will be an awesome time.

Computer Problems

I have been having computer problems again. I don't know if I will be able to get on the Internet again or not. I was on with tech support but I am not sure that it is fixed yet. I may be back later to post a real entry or not for awhile.

Off to Missoula

I'll be gone for a few days, I am taking Sarah back up to college. I will be heading to the UM bookstore Art Department so who knows what kind of danger I can get into. Then there is the import store which is always fun and maybe Rocking Rudy's too. Hopefully there will be new things to share and fun adventures. I heard that all the fires are making Missoula smoky, I hope it clears up a little before we get there. I'll be back Friday with new tales to tell.

Artnest Retreat Day 3

I was going to post this before my surgery but here I am a month and a half later. Our third class was with Kristin Steiner and it was a Fabric book entitled I am a Woman Who. I don't seem to have any pictures of Kristin teaching but here is one of her with Misty.


























These are pictures of the class sample that Kristin made.

Blogger just doesn't want to load pics today so I will post now and edit later to add the rest of the pictures.

I never did finish my book by that time my back was so bad I spent part the class back in my room lying on a heating pad. I loved the class and the books and I will make my own and post it here eventually. I connected with Kristin right away, she is such a delight. If you get a chance to learn from her go for it.

Judi"s Gifts

I have had these for some time but had issues with blogger uploading the pictures so now I had better get them posted.

I received this box in the mail. my friend Judi Redhead sent them as a thank you gift for the 1967 copy of the Wizard of Oz that I sent her. On the box she took some art I had posted and put my face on it. I was really tickled at that idea.

































She sent this lovely card and decorated envelope.















Here is a piece of cake, glitter style.
















She also included this leather bound journal. It is really nice, it has gold edged pages and the spine makes it look like an old book. I think I will decorate the cover with something brighter that the brown marbling.














Here are the first few pages that she decorated to get the book started. As you can see she is one special person. One that I am really looking forward to meeting next April in Sedona.

There be Pirates Here

Due to my back surgery I missed this movie when it came out. I thought it was gone from the theaters. I found out it was a the cheap theater, they get movies later and tickets are only 3.50 and treats are affordable. Anyways I loved seeing the movie and I just found out it comes out on DVD on the 4th of December. Yippee.

My friends Amy and Ginger are getting ready for a bike ride next week. Its 45 miles, so they bike out to my house for practice. I didn't even know they were coming, it was about 9 Sat morning and they said they wanted breakfast when the cirled back to my house on their route. So I made a nice breakfast and used my new placemats and fiesta ware and it looked lovely if I must say so myself. Anyways it reminded me that I was going to make napkins to match. So I stopped at JoAnn's and got 4 colors, yellow, red, turquoise and navy. I am just going to cut them to size and hem them on my machine and they will be perfect.

I need to get that heart book finished and I went to do all the gluing last night only to discover all the copies I made were not 4 x 4. So of course when I went to print more, my print cartridge died. So I picked one up late last night and will be making more copies today and gluing them to watercolor paper and then add the finishing touches to them. I wanted to mail tomorrow but that might not happen unless I get moving on them. On that note I should publish this and get off the computer.

Its hot again

Well we got the hot weather back 96 degrees yuck, too hot for me. I have been busy painting the floor in the bedroom. Now I need to do a touch up on walls and molding and that will be done. Since I have been moving the furniture around I haven't decided just where I want things to be. If I could move the furniture myself it would be easier. Once its done I will post some pictures.













I am a big Stargate fan and decided that I would do a marathon. I know I have missed some episodes so this is a way to see them. We have them all on dvd so I can watch at my leisure. I think it may take quite some time since there are 10 years of episodes. Its a fun way to while away the lazy days of summer when its too hot to do anything. I can spin or knit while watching so I don't feel like I am really wasting time.

A walk with my dog

Today feels momentous I took Flynn down to Freeman Park for a walk along the river. Its the first time I have done that, first time I felt I could handle any tugging on the leash. He did really well and I had a great time. In the morning you have to dodge the sprinklers in the park of you will get drenched. Then there comes a time where you want to get wet since you are so hot.


I finally got a copy of this book. My friend Pam has mentioned it several times so I had put it on my list of books to buy. Its a page a day type book and has narrative and then affirmations for the day. Today's is "People love to give me money" Now there is an idea I like. The book is very good if you are trying to create more abundance in your life.

It looks like the Glitter Gathering is shaping up nicely. Gemma has found us a wonderful hotel that is pretty reasonable and gorgeous to boot. Its called The Sky Ranch Lodge. Take a look and dream with me. I haven't decided if I should just go with one of the inexpensive garden rooms or get one with a view and share it with someone.

Swimming with Dolphins

One of the things on my life list is to swim with dolphins, I decided it was time to start doing some research to make this goal a reality. If you don't have a life list now is the time to start. An easy place to do one is here. Now the decision to make is where to go. It appears, Hawaii, Mexico, California , the Caribbean and Florida have programs on this.

(This fun picture is from here)

Over at Superhero Journal Andrea talks about her experience at Sea World. So I could go to San Diego but I am looking at all options. If any of you have done this before please email me about your experiences or leave a comment.

I really encourage you to make a life list, sometimes this is the only way we can manage to do the things our heart desires. Put it in writing and then take steps to set it in motion. Just think what wonderful adventures you could be having.

Quote of the Day: “The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.” - Joseph Campbell

The New Me

Well here I am in the new haircut, I chopped the top of my head off but this is the best picture I have been able to take.















After Stardust I came home and watched some old Firefly episodes while I spun some Tussah Silk. The colors in the top just made me want to keep spinning. There are greens and aqua, subtle pinks and yellows. I called the top "A walk in the jungle". The pic show some of the more muted shades. I stayed up till 2am. That was silly but I still enjoyed myself.














I tried out printing photos on the new printer and many have come out with a blue cast. Has anyone ever had this problem before? I bought some more paper to play with and photo ink cartridge so I'll be printing some more, I just don't want to waste it all on blue photos and you don't know they are blue until you've printed them out.

It looks like another beautiful day, sunny and low 8o's. It looks like we are getting July's weather in August which after a sweltering July this is bliss. I hope you can find a few moments this weekend to spend in nature's splendor.


Quote of the Day: If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~Raymond Inmon

Stardust

I know all of you are waiting to hear about Stardust so here goes. I went to see Stardust this evening and I was pleasantly surprised. The special effects are wonderful, the story engaging, of course I love fantasy so it isn't hard to entertain me but I did not realize it would be so funny. I went with my friend Ginger and we both enjoyed it immensely. It was filmed in Scotland and Iceland so the scenery is exquisite. The music was great too. Its not a show for kids as there are some scary scenes. I hope the make up artists were well paid since they did a wonderful job making Michelle Pfeiffer old and ugly. Robert DeNiro was excellent. I say 3*** out of 4. I think I will have to go again and take Sarah this time. She will really like it.