actually my body is better looking covered up...and today the body hurt!!! Headache and cramps...I think I will go to bed early...but I am trying to be a better blogger so I am posting 2 days in a row (martyr?) I am going to be in Silverton tomorrow which is such a pretty little city so I hope my head allows enjoyment....of the eyes...while I clean teeth!!! good illustration of the text HUH??? 
the answer is ALL OVER THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY....I have been working for a temp service since last december and they have had me running to and fro these last couple of weeks...I just barely make it home and then I'm off again...it is really a blessing I don't have those family obligations cause I'd be toast!!! I made it to church today and was inspired...which is what is supposed to happen.....I have been creating some good stuff I think ...just need to settle down and get some photos for you all...I took this photo through my car window on the way to work on Friday morning..I'm going to try and keep the camera with me as the days are getting long enough that there is enough light before and after work to see the beautiful sights we have here....if I'm going to drive all over kingdom come I better record the beauty of said kingdom!!
I hardly know what to post first...I had a giant "finish these" !!! weekend and finished a bunch of pieces that get to the almost done stage ...and then my attention has been caught by some new creative idea....so I really worked hard at staying with it!!! This piece has hand dyed backround...that is hot pink....paper, sheers, and an image of the lights of the sity of Beaverton, taken from my sister's coffee shop, I like it!!!
This is done!!! I added the triangles at the last minute tonight and I think that has it!!! I have to put the sleeve on and have my Dad take some photographs...I'll have to take some pictures of the photo operation he has goin on...he is perfecting a photography set-up so that he can reproduce my Mother's art by printing onto canvas so they can provided prints at lower cost...he is so funny he loves this process of problem solving and learning new things...he is 70 as of the 6th of this month and never stops be enthused by the quest of "knowing"....he will have a wonderful way to digitally capture and reprint art so I will utilize this for sure!!!
The jacket is done ...with a surface designed lining as well...I took the french coin and made it into a button for the closure...on a pin back so the jacket can be reversible..if one wants...this is my Mom ...the model...in her house...also her art studio...she will take the jacket to the art center for the auction on the 4th of March...good deed well done.....
I recieved a phone call from the co-chair of the Salem Art Association last week. It seems they thought my art was worthy of a donation piece to help fund the arts education. I donated last year but had heard that they were limiting the donations to fewer artists this year and they were by invitation only. Since I hadn't recieved an invite i figured I wasn't one of the chosen this year. which was OK as I have enough really, just looking for a new job. Then I got this meesage saying "we are looking forward to recieving your art on the 22nd" which was the due date. I calle dback and said "what????" she said "so sorry must have been a mix-up we have you on our list" ...so I thought about it and looked for some inspiration in the form of a quote on the them ( which is "art on the go" and decided to contribute a wearable art jacket based on the art work and a quote from Mark Rothko. The quote is "Art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can only be explained by those willing to take risks." Appropriate???? So I took a piece of discharged blue denimy cotton and overdyed with purple and painted the whole thing with "road like" swooshes and then I am going to FME these "panels" of Rothko inspiration on the front and the back. Pretty happy with this so far so we will see how much it can raise for art education at the auction. My Mother's painting last year was the top sale to date and she has out-done herself with this years painting and it will be exciting to see if it goes for more. I also added a bit to the creativity bag seen below
I have greatly reduced my time available to be creative and that has made me somewhat crazy ...I bought this craft bag for 2.99 the other day and some modge podge and started applying bits of magazines...been having a good time with this.... rather therapuetic ...I recommend it if you are feeling crazy too!!! It is not done yet I have some E6000 and goodies to apply next.....but back to work this week so you'll have to wait till next weekend when I am home again to see ...
while cleaning out a box of stuff I found the first "art quilt" I started this 9 years ago before I know the art quilt world existed ...it is inspired by the drive I used to have ( before I gave that up to spend more time in the big city with my husband ) there is a wonderful covered bridge that I drove through on the way south towards Corvallis...I got it out and I think I will work on it as a momento piece....I drove through that bridge 3-4 times per week for the last 10 years
this is the piece I am working on for a challenge on the QA list.....I keep "ruining" it but they end up being for the best as the piece evolves....it has a bit to go and I am now trying to decide if I should add the quote that inspired it or not...I already added it once but thought the words too "in focus" so I poured coffee on it...boy that took care of the words...they disappeared!!! but I liked the effect that the coffee had on the whole thing...so thereya go creativity at it's best....
and finally here is Sara who hopped up on the window seat just as I shot the picture..she just can't be left out of anything!!!
My brother, Rob, was born on Christmas eve. He has had to share his birthday with the other celebration stuff that goes on this time of the year. My brother has his own business based on custom made sheaths for weapons of "personal protection" we don't agree on the necessity of this but how wonderful that you can love people even though you might not completey agree on the needs of the world. Here is his website http://www.survivalsheath.com/main/home.htm he has other items for sale as well. Anyway I made him these slippers so his feet can be "protected" all the time also. He liked them but I need a bigger size of slipper, I had no idea his feet were so big.....
I made matching hats and scarves for my kids at the last minute. I didn't do much else, alittle shopping and some minor food making...( It seems they think "dutch babies" are a tradition ) It was good to have them here and all together. They had a long night together as they all seem to have their Fathers "night owlness" I went to bed. I made some slippers for my brother today. He is a weapons guy ( you can even see him on the History channel he is an "expert" ) so I made him some weaponry slippers...I'll post a photo of them on his feet. We will have a combined Birthday and Christmas with him tonight.
Our youngest son is home for Christmas. This is a picture of him in the "Learn to dig a foxhole" class. He looks older and is more sure of himself in the few months he has been away. It seems so amazing how fast they grow when they are newborns but, it keeps happening even when you think they are pretty well grown....they still amaze and astonish you by being more "grown" ...Merry Christmas everyone....
