Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

Olivia

2012-01-24T00:06:00.000-05:00

I was recently blessed with the arrival of another granddaughter.

Another perfectly beautiful baby - even with her "ernst."

A perfect addition to the family.

Thankful for . . .

2011-11-23T11:06:00.000-05:00

"Where stone, that mystic symbol of permanence, nobility, and enduring strength, has been transformed by nature's sculptors into a grand display of three-dimensional artistry in rock unmatched for variety anywhere else." ~Ward Roylance

I've been to the most beautiful place.

With the most amazing light and color.

Zion National Park.

And making art around the table with friends. (Michael deMeng had a book like this when I took his workshop a few weeks ago.)
Yes, I'm thankful.

Six Days Old

2011-10-12T21:23:00.003-04:00

I feel blessed to be there to capture a part of this little guy's first week.

Gosh, I love taking photos of these fresh ones.

Baby A was such a perfect subject.

So easy to pose.

And so stinking cute!

You've seen them before

2011-10-07T23:32:00.001-04:00

You may recognize these little beauties.

Their mom is my sons' cousin and one of my first photo fans. And someone I love chatting with any time.

And these girls. . . Really what else could I say!

Baby N One More Time

2011-08-23T16:34:00.002-04:00

Today, he's a month old . . .

And cute as a button.

India Flint's Landskin

2011-08-16T14:05:00.004-04:00

photos by India Flint

Nothing compares with the color of cloth infused with the soul of nature... Hundreds of plants, grasses, barks, and metals surrender their essence to cloth — causing it to take on new color characteristics when combined with water and heat. While one gentle process bleeds color throughout the material, another may transform the plant into a delicate print, an exact representation of the flora.

No one knows more about identifying these plants, choosing the best process, and working the finished “landskin” into an object d’art than India Flint. An accomplished artist whose work has been exhibited in collections on two hemispheres, India travels the world, teaching her techniques, and sharing her expertise with artists who embrace a more natural philosophy.

The $500 registration fee includes windfall-leaf collecting walks to gather material, as well as using a supplemental harvest of green waste from the florist and discards from the green grocer. Classes and demonstrations will include:

Creating a dye-sampler, to be applied over pre-felt, to create a one-of-kind comforter.
A dialogue on the effects of scrap metals, different waters and other easily sourced ingredients to influence dye outcomes as well as discussing a range of methods for plant dye application.
And a clever technique to ease the cutting which occurs during the felting process.

The greatest benefit of this class is the opportunity to discuss every aspect of the combined process with India Flint, in an intimate one-on-one setting, limited to a small number of artists.

This is a rare opportunity to meet a world-class artist of international renown, at a price determined by the economy. Space is extremely limited, but it is still possible to reserve your place and get a great travel deal from the airlines.

Dates: September 7 – 11, 2011 (5 days)

Time: 9:00 am – 4 pm

Location: West Chester, PA

Fee: $500 Does not include accommodations or meals

Contact: Leslie Marsh at 610-952-0763 or LeslieMarsh@mac.com

At this date, payment in full is required for registration.

Baby N

2011-08-07T22:14:00.003-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of shooting photos of Baby N . . .

. . . and his mom too.

Oh, the People You'll Meet!

2011-08-01T21:10:00.002-04:00

There are two creative urges that fight for my attention every single day. There's the urge to create something. And there's the urge to capture something with my camera.

That urge to capture something won when I started my 1,000 People blog.

I created this blog as an exercise -- I wanted to get more comfortable taking photos of strangers, and I also wanted to gain more experience setting up portraits and stretching my post processing skills.

I'm loving the collection of portraits I've collected already, and I have about 935 left to collect!

I guess it's going to take a while, but no worries.

I'm having a great time!

Ridley Creek

2011-07-25T22:07:00.003-04:00

There is a wonderful park close to me and I frequently walk its 5-mile multi-use trail. Ridley Creek State Park covers more than 2,600 acres, the creek itself, which runs along that trail for part of the loop, is a nice little trout stream, and there are 12 miles of hiking trails through the woods too.

There is also a stable operating out of the park and a nearly 5-mile trail for horseback-riding.

Within the park boundaries was an 18th-century village that grew up around a mill, and today it is dotted with ruins and houses that are private residences. The park office is located in the Hunting Hill mansion, built in 1914 around a 1789 Pennsylvania stone farmhouse. The grounds are amazing, and their gardens and fountains are frequently the site for weddings.

The other day, I took some photos of the lovely Mary Kate and her brothers on those grounds.

It's a magical place, and I will return with my camera many more times.

Dear Photograph . . .

2011-06-27T22:15:00.002-04:00

I love this blog. There must be something I can add to it. How about you?

India Flint. In Pennsylvania. In the Fall.

2011-06-19T22:17:00.001-04:00

Are you up for an eco-dyeing adventure?

I am so excited that India Flint will be teaching her Landskin workshop here (West Chester, Pennsylvania) September 7-11.

It was last summer at this time that I discovered India and her work while taking a workshop at Shakerag in Tennessee. I bought her first book on site, and have pre-ordered her second book.

I am a big fan. If you are too, and are interested in taking her Landskin workshop this fall, please e-mail me at LeslieMarsh@mac.com. There are just a few spots left for this workshop.

I've outlined more of the details here.

Debbie Herd attended India's Landskin workshop, and described her experience here. Her photos and description are amazing! Thanks, Debbie, for permission to link to your blog!

The cost for the five-day workshop is $500, but a $100 deposit will hold your place!

A Drive Through Pennsylvania Dutch Country

2011-06-09T23:00:00.006-04:00

With temperatures reaching nearly 100° for the second day, J and I jumped in the car to get out of the air-conditioned house for a while. A short 45-minute drive west delivers us to a world that seems to have been frozen in time 100 years ago -- Pennsylvania Dutch country.

But, wait. This farmer is pulling something behind his team that looks like it could just as easily be pulled by a modern John Deere tractor.

In fact, it most likely was built to be pulled by a tractor and was adapted to be pulled by his horses.

This generation of Amish have negotiated a way to incorporate aspects of the modern world without overstepping the ethical boundaries of their faith. There are quite a few Amish enterprises selling quilts, wooden yard furniture, produce and crafts to tourists in the Lancaster area -- but never on a Sunday.

Several years ago, my roof was replaced by an Amish roofer who went home to a house with no electricity at the end of the day. When I developed a leak after a strong storm several months later, he came out on a Saturday, removed a large section of roof, only to find it dry beneath. He discovered that the leak was, in fact, caused by hairline cracks in my stucco and a driving rain. He replaced the roof he had removed, sealed every inch of my stucco, and wouldn't accept a dime for his time. I haven't had a problem since.

Did I mention it was nearly 100° today?

By the way, I did ask before taking this man's photos. It's the polite thing to do.

Every Once In a While Inspiration Hits You . . . And Lightening Can Strike Twice

2011-06-02T07:45:00.017-04:00

Driven by the inspiration of others, I started two new blogs this week.

I know. What the heck was I thinking.

The first is a 365 Gratitude blog. Yes. I will post every single day for one year. You can find it here.

The other blog is filled with portraits. I have given myself no timeline, but eventually, I will have 1,000 people's photos on this blog.

My intentions are good and my resolve is strong.

I just thought I'd say that now, because I'll probably need to look back on this post on Week 26 or maybe Week 2.

Guest book

2011-05-25T21:51:00.000-04:00

A guest book for the bride and groom. . .

. . . who are going to live at 311.

I'm bound to be in New Jersey in July

2011-05-22T20:51:00.004-04:00

It would be great if you could join me there for a coptic-bound metal book class at Kecia's fun studio in Wall, New Jersey.

You'll learn how bits and pieces of metal that all start out looking more or less like this. . .

. . . can become these!

This is the book we'll make in class,

but I'll share many more techniques with you.

The class will be held July 9 from 11 am - 5 pm, and the fee is $75. I hope to see you there!

Spring Snapshots

2011-05-13T21:32:00.006-04:00

Purple abounds in my spring garden.

As always, click twice on the pictures for a closer look.

Three-year-olds on a bench on Grandparents Day. Mine is the cutest, of course.

And this little cutie gathering 'flowers.'

Montana bound

2011-05-09T19:06:00.001-04:00

I've been working on some books that are heading to Talc -- my good friend, Keli's gallery/coffee shop in Missoula.

I found some great elements for the books here.

And, I'm dreaming about this workshop with India Flint.

Going Green . . . and Yellow, and Brown, and Red . . .

2011-05-04T22:28:00.007-04:00

India Flint is coming to Pennsylvania, and a lucky few of you will share the week with her (and me).

You may remember me waxing on about India’s workshop (not the one I was taking) last summer. Or practicing her techniques last fall.

This fall, India will be sharing her techniques and wit in West Chester, PA. During these five days -- September 7-11-- she will be teaching her “Landskin” workshop HERE from 9 – 4.

Cost: $500

In India's words:
“Working with bio-regional dye sources, felting and gentle stitching during an explorative journey in felt, stitch and colour.

In the construction of our ‘landskin’ we will colour cloth using very simple ingredients; leaves, water and heat. We will work with bio-regional dye sources, windfall bundle dyeing techniques and gentle meditative stitching. We’ll make soft pieces of pre-felt.

Together we shall take windfall-leaf collecting walks to gather material and supplement the harvest with green waste from the florist as well as discards from the green grocer. During the class we will create beautiful dye samplers, gradually piecing them together over the prefelt to construct an exquisite composite textile that can keep us warm on our further travels.

We will harness the effects of scrap metals, different waters and other easily sourced ingredients to influence dye outcomes as well as discussing a range of methods for plant dye application. Involves a nice bit of trick cutting during the felting process.”

Space is limited. For more information or to sign up, contact me at LeslieMarsh@mac.com

An Unusual Package

2011-05-03T11:39:00.000-04:00

This isn't normally the way my mail looks, but this package was delivered by my mailman on Friday.

All the way from Ukraine. What an interesting tag!

I had some help opening this package.

Lots of help.

Inside, I found this great old camera case, and inside of that, this awesome old camera!

After the workshop in California with Sean, I want to keep making tin types. This large format camera made in the former Soviet Union will allow me to make larger photos more easily.

Once I figure out how to use it.

Crowns All Around

2011-04-29T23:29:00.000-04:00

Princesses are not just in England.

My good friend M's son took his MCATs today, and I thought she deserved a crown.

I made her one.

She made me dinner.

Good deal.

Tie-Dyed Eggs

2011-04-23T15:59:00.007-04:00

I dyed eggs with The Littles on Thursday, which prompted me to come home and try something I saw on Kelly's Facebook page.

I gathered up some silk ties from the thrift store . . .

wrapped eggs in the silk and the tie lining, boiled them for 20 minutes . . .

and got these tie-dyed eggs!

I'm going to try for better results later today! (I'd like to see more pattern, less white.) But, this was a fun, easy way to dye eggs. (I wouldn't eat them though, as the dyes aren't food-safe.)

SECOND TRY

I'm happier with this batch. I used old sari silk this time (not that I think it was better), wet the fabric before I wrapped, and didn't allow so much overwrap. Clearly, the more contact the silk has with the egg, the better the transfer.

History, Metal and a Camera

2011-04-13T00:18:00.007-04:00

Gosh, I love a good old photo with a story. The vintage family photos I have been blessed to own or have access to are treasures to me.

Unfortunately, my family was not in a position to capture daguerreotype, ambrotype, nor tintype images when these photography methods were being practiced in the mid 1800's.

However, last weekend, I was able to learn how these images were created, and how to reproduce my own, thanks to the knowledge and gentle teaching style of Sean Kochel -- a charming young man from Missoula, Montana.

It is a craft I will use again and again. Actually, the fact that I can do this might become part of family legend in itself!

It's a complicated process and not at all precise. There are very many variables. Seconds to count off, solutions to mix correctly. Humidity, heat and human mess-ups all decide the outcome.

These are two that I took during the weekend workshop, hosted by Dede Warren. Mine were not perfect at all.

Not even close to perfect, but fascinating (to me) nonetheless, and enough to lure me into the craft.

Stay tuned.

And check out this and this.

A New Tradition -- Ring One

2011-03-17T22:02:00.010-04:00

Sophie recently turned One.

And her dad decided that for every year of her life, he would give her a ring.

Ring One.

AND I'll be teaching in New Jersey in July

2011-03-15T09:53:00.004-04:00

Kecia has kindly invited me back to teach at her charming home in Wall, New Jersey, on July 9. So, if you can't join me in Fullerton next month, I hope to see you here.

Fullerton, here I come!

2011-03-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

I recently completed a couple of new metal books.

But, this time they're for class samples.

I'm teaching two classes at Gilding the Lily in Fullerton, California, next month.

I'll be teaching this small Coptic-bound book class on Saturday, April 2.

And this even smaller book necklace on Sunday, April, 3.

I hope to see you there!

A Mystery and the Difference Between a Daguerreotype, an Ambrotype and a Tintype

2011-03-03T12:36:00.009-05:00

One of the family heirlooms I treasure most is this little half of a Union Case that holds a photograph of my grandmother as a child. In the photo, she is wearing a set of beads, which I also have and cherish. However, I know that my grandmother's image couldn't have been the original photograph in the case for two reasons.

The obvious reason is that I can see another picture peeking from behind, but also because my grandmother was born in 1908. She was too modern to have had her image captured as either a daguerreotype or an ambrotype -- the two types of images most commonly protected by a Union case and made between 1840 and 1865.

So, who is under my grandmother's image?

This morning, I carefully pried the image out of the case and pulled the foil away from the glass sandwich. Behind the first piece of glass and my grandmother's image, I found an ambrotype.

I love the way an ambrotype looks so ghostly before a dark surface is placed behind it.

In this case, simply holding the glass image over my dark countertop brings the woman/girl into focus . . . even her soft pink (tinted) cheeks!

But, who was she? Am I related to her? I may never know.

There was another image tucked into the bottom of the case.

Who was the child in this now-eroded daguerreotype? Again, I may never know.

After taking several photos of each image, I wrapped them up carefully and tucked them back into the half case -- made even more precious by their presence.

Taken from The Daguerreian Society web site:

Daguerreotypes (1840-1855) are on polished silver so they are very reflective, like a mirror. Since they are on silver and subject to tarnish, daguerreotypes were put behind glass and sealed with paper tape so air cannot tarnish the plate (there often is some tarnish around the edges of the picture). This was then put into a small hinged case, similar to a woman's compact. But, the easiest way to tell if you have a daguerreotype is to see if it has that reflection, just like a mirror. You have to tilt it back and forth to see the image.

The second type of photograph, ambrotypes, (1855-1865) also came in hinged cases but in these there is a photographic emulsion that has been coated onto glass so they do not have that "shiny mirror" reflection (but, being on glass they are somewhat reflective). If you take an ambrotype out of a case and hold it up to the light you can usually see through the picture (since it's on glass). Ambrotypes don't tarnish but the black paint painted on the backside of the glass often dries out, cracks, and then peels off. The second biggest problem is the emulsion turns dark making the image look dark. This problem is similar in appearance to when a daguerreotype's silver plate is tarnishing but that (the tarnish) has a bluish tint to it.

Tintypes (1855 through the turn of the century) are made using the same photographic emulsion as the ambrotypes but, rather than coated onto glass, the emulsion has been coated onto black-painted tin and then exposed. Since they are not on silver they do not have the reflection and, since they were not fragile, are not usually found in cases. Early tintypes are sometimes found in cases as that was still the convention at the time but most often they're loose or have been placed in photo albums along with later paper photographs. These are usually about the size of a business card and, in fact, the paper photos that size are called CDVs for the French term Carte de Visite, or "calling card" as people would give them to their friends when the visited. Sometimes they dropped them in a basket in the parlor and the friend would then collect them in an album.

Flea Market Finds

2011-02-28T18:47:00.000-05:00

Saturday I went to Renninger's Mid-Winter Classic Antique Show with Kecia. We found some great stuff. One of my favorite finds was this child's Morris chair with the original pads. It even reclines - just like my full-sized version.

This art nouveau note pad was another. I came back to it twice before giving in.

And this Big Ben that still works!

Boys Night Out

2011-02-24T23:06:00.008-05:00

Double-click on any of these photos for even more fun.

Tonight was boys night out . . .

And I'm still a lucky girl . . .

Because I got to tag along . . .

And witness all of this fun.

Memaw's privilege.

Philadelphia Rock Gym

I'm a lucky girl!

2011-02-17T18:21:00.000-05:00

Last week I won one of Kathy Dorfer's wonderful Alala paintings! Alala On a Heart Felt Journey. The color in my photo doesn't do it justice, so go see it on her blog. It is beautiful!

And since it was Valentine's Day, she included this lovely little heart bead that she made!

I'm a lucky girl!

A Journey Completed and the Delaware Museum of Natural History

2011-02-13T18:02:00.005-05:00

It is such a nice feeling to complete a project . . .

To check it off of my "to do" list . . .

And to spend a morning with The Littles at the Delaware Museum of Natural History exploring the exhibits.

We enjoyed the museum's dinosaur display . . .

Always a favorite.

And we visited an African water hole . . .

We looked under the sea . . .

But, the things we really came to see (but were afraid to look at) were the hairy spiders.

We tackeled our fears and discovered that tarantulas are not deadly to humans.

And then we had to face some other fears . . .

Like walking across the glass floor over the Great Barrier Reef (well, not the real one).

It's easier to overcome your fears when someone holds your hand.

Written over my heart

2011-02-07T21:59:00.005-05:00

I haven't made a metal journal since before Christmas, but now there are seven on my work table. The covers for this one -- with the bullet pencil tucked into part of a vintage hinge -- is the one I like best.

I can't step away from sewing though, and I love the hearts patched together from old sari fabric on vintage feed sacks.

The hearts and other blocks I've been sewing (and will sew) will eventually become a table cloth.

Releasing the Photographic Soul of Tin

2011-02-05T01:30:00.006-05:00

I am so excited about this workshop. I will bring home the knowledge, tools and camera to make more tintypes.

A Tintype Workshop in Southern California

2011-02-03T15:49:00.001-05:00

I met Sean last fall in Montana while vacationing with Dede Warren and Keli Hansen. We were drawn to the tintypes and ambrotypes he had created with his vintage cameras. We were excited when he came over and gave us a mini-tutorial about his processes AND took our photos. And we are thrilled that he has agreed to come to California and teach this two-day workshop in the spring.

You should join us for what's sure to be a fun-filled and informative two days in Southern California! More information will be posted soon.

The Conversation

2011-02-02T20:30:00.000-05:00

I regret the exposure on this one, but not the moment.

I heart Hearts . . .

2011-01-31T12:25:00.001-05:00

. . . at least this week.

Collections

2011-01-30T01:15:00.005-05:00

I do not know anyone who is better at community building than Seth Apter.

Every Sunday, for years, he has featured and linked to the work of other artists. There is a wealth of information stashed on his blog.

This Sunday, he is featuring the collections of various artists. You should go there.

I'd use adjectives like incredible, brilliant, and fascinating to describe these people . . . except . . . well, I'm one of them!

And you might think less of me for that.

We Love Snow

2011-01-28T18:21:00.006-05:00

There is no denying that a heavy snowfall brings extra work for everyone. Driveways to plow. Cars to unbury. School closings.

But, it also offers an excuse to stay inside and drink hot chocolate, a nice surface to sled on, and incredible photo opportunities, which I love.

There is another aspect to a wet and heavy snow that is appreciated around here. My poorly insulated studio roof is just the right environment for farming Atticus' favorite crop.

Ice bones.

Yep. We love snow.

I couldn't share these with you before

2011-01-26T22:58:00.002-05:00

This book was made for my sister, Dani, for Christmas. That's her cute little kid mug in the lamp part bezel.

This book necklace was made for Jack's daughter.

It doesn't have to be difficult

2011-01-23T21:51:00.011-05:00

I am still happily stitching away on the cloth I started in Jude Hill's Cloth to Cloth workshop.

Even though the next workshop -- the one that focuses on modern woven boro -- has begun. . .

I love the way her workshops are structured, as I can follow at my own pace and not worry that the video instruction is going to disappear after a few weeks.

I am slurping up all of the stuff she posts and marveling at the things other folks are creating under her guidance. And I'm not stressed one bit.

In fact, I'm loving the cloth. I love the texture and feel of the different fabrics. I love the peace that hand-stitching brings. And I love the new awareness that this obsession has thrust on me. I want to feel what folks are wearing. I want to look at the back of fabrics.

I discovered shot cotton, as well as the joy found in fixing the things you have. The satisfaction in making good choices the first time and then caring for them.

The cloth has become more than simply something I picked up at JoAnn's. Spirit Cloth, Jude calls it. Oh yes.

This afternoon I dyed yards of cotton in potassium permanganate and then released some of that dye with a paint brush dipped in lemon juice. Potassium permanganate is used as a disinfectant, an antiseptic, and as water treatment. Creating the pieces above was quick, easy, cheap, and done in my kitchen. I'll be doing more experiments with this stuff!

* After reading further, I discovered that precautions should be taken when using this oxidizer. It can be toxic if large amounts are swallowed and is a mild irritant if inhaled, so keep the crystals away from children and pets. Read this for safety information.

Covering My Bases

2011-01-16T22:52:00.012-05:00

Because I'm doing it like breathing these days, here are more images of my stitching in between Jude's classes.

I am having trouble holding a pencil or a glass lately though. I guess my opposing thumb is out of shape.

And then we spent the morning with Sophie. "Oh, Atticus, I found your tennis ball!"

"Here it is!"

"One for you and one for me."

Right here is where I was supposed to yell, "Don't put that in your mouth!" except I pressed the shutter release first. My instincts are all messed up.

Here are a few snaps of a project I just finished . . .

. . . except I can only share peeks now.

Sorry!

The Dog You Never See

2011-01-10T20:54:00.004-05:00

You may have read about this seldom captured dog of mine before. Maybe you even saw the rare photo of her. Scout hates the camera -- and a thousand other things -- so, it is very rare that she appears on my blog.

But my Christmas long lens may change all of that . . . until she catches on.

My Snowflake. My Scooter Pie. My Scout.

All. Year. Long.

2011-01-02T18:20:00.011-05:00

This morning, my good friend Bonnie quoted her grandmother who said, "Be careful how you spend the first day of the year. What you do on that day, you will find yourself doing all the year long. "

I wish Bonnie had posted this yesterday, or the day before. It would have been nice to have had a little more warning. My grandmothers never said this, and I didn't know.

So, I feel really lucky/wise that I got up early, and without a hangover.

Walked Atticus, had dinner with good friends, and went to bed early . . .

And in between, played with fabric.

It's going to be a good year.

The Littles and Atticus

2010-12-21T20:26:00.009-05:00

The Littles were here today.

This is Sophie sitting in the rocking chair that belonged to my grandmother's cousin. . . the one that's been passed down maternal lines. The chair sitting in my family room.

Some of you have asked about Atticus.

He's here, always, with his blanket, where the kids are . . . where everyone is.

He loves when the Littles come, because they sometimes drop food. Actually, they always drop food.

See the rugs and yoga mats? They're in my kitchen because Atticus has been having trouble with his hips and knees. He's on a diet, and he's getting laser treatments and supplements, and he's doing better.

Kiran and Jack went to the basement to play with Jack's model trains today, and unless I learn about breakdown cars and cabooses, I may have lost him forever.

See this look of indifference?

Oh, deer

2010-12-19T02:00:00.003-05:00

This little light of mine

2010-12-16T20:30:00.007-05:00

I never forget how fortunate I am to live so close to two of my grandkids and to be able to share in the events of their lives, like Kiran's holiday program at preschool today.

The kids were all very serious about their performance. Kiran barely cracked a smile, but he (and the kids around him) were good at their hugging.

He has two cousins who go to school with him.

Willow was very serious about her singing.

And Taylor Grace . . . well, she was sort of serious about being bored. Definitely not as serious about singing as the boys around her.

But, Miss Sophie was seriously cute and fashionable in her role as audience member.

Another book and a test

2010-12-15T16:22:00.004-05:00

I wondered what would happen if I changed the white background to black, but I'm thinking I should have worked harder on that photo fringe. the lighting is just not right with a black background.

Trot on over for a closer look

2010-12-10T19:15:00.000-05:00

I've been working on presents these days, along with other projects, and am loving that white box for photographing my work.

Loving this yummy book chain too.

White Box

2010-12-06T19:46:00.009-05:00

I made a white box today so that I could photograph a project that I won't be able to share with you for a while.

Weekend flea-market find

But the white box is like a puppy I can't put down! I'm looking around the house for things that it can chew on.

Letter opener made in Richard Salley's class at Artfest 2009

I am so excited with the possibilities.

Doll made by Akira Blount

I guess this would be more impressive if my blog had a white background!

The Must-Dos and the Want-To-Dos

2010-11-27T20:47:00.002-05:00

I'm working on both of them.

And really . . .

I can't tell one from the other.

They both bring me pleasure.

Farm-raised

2010-11-23T20:15:00.005-05:00

We drove out to the country today to pick up our free-range turkey for Thursday's dinner. (This one apparently has a pardon for now.)

It was a beautiful afternoon here with temperatures in the mid-60's, and on the way we crossed a charming intersection where I just had to hop out when I saw this tractor . . .

And this building . . .

And this covered bridge.

This goose has another month . . . and then . . . well, you know.

Wishing you all a blessed and bountiful Thanksgiving!

Returning to my roots . . .

2010-11-21T03:32:00.007-05:00

There is a quilt top that hangs in my stairwell. It was made by my great, great grandmother. My grandmother had it for years and tried to quilt it, but the fabric was too brittle. When she gave it to me, I framed it under plexiglass.

It's made up of bits and pieces of my great, great grandmother's dresses, my great, great grandfather's shirts and drawers, and my grandmother's scraps (She did some repair work.). It's a composition taken from the scraps of their lives. It's a treasure that I marvel at every day.

Recycling the bits and pieces from my life is a concept that appeals to me in a big way. Committing the 'now' into something that my grandchildren and their offspring will look at and perhaps cherish gives me goosebumps.

I developed a thing for eco-dyed fabric when I wandered into the classroom where India Flint was teaching magic during Shakerag last summer. I bought her book, came home, and began experimenting with the plants that grew in my yard, my neighbors yards, and . . . well, the entire county. Just last night I started a brew with Japanese maple leaves from my son's yard to see if the red leaves give a different tint than the green summer leaves.

Update: They do.

And then I discovered Jude Hill and her Spirit Cloth blog and signed up for her Cloth to Cloth workshop, and I find myself checking it daily, reading and re-reading her instructions, marking my calendar for the next lesson. I am so wanting to sit with cloth, needle and thread and create in this softer way. And I'm delighted to incorporate the eco-dyed fabric from summer into my winter obsession.

And the old feed sacks from another summer's collection.

And I feel like I'm returning to my roots.

It feels good.

Never underestimate the power of Photoshop

2010-11-20T00:01:00.004-05:00

I was recently at a family party where I took this photo of my granddaughter and my aunt.

I love this picture of the two of them, but I wanted to focus the shot on my granddaughter.

I am currently running Photoshop CS 5 which made it so easy to remove my beloved aunt from the photo and to boost the image of my granddaughter.

Hold tight

2010-11-08T18:59:00.002-05:00

A good idea, and a recent work.

A B C's

2010-11-05T20:27:00.008-04:00

Three years ago, I made these letters for Kiran. . .

Which led to these for Sophie, that I worked on with her mom. . .

And then I made these for Lily. . .

And this one for Taylor. . .

And this one. . .

Which is one of Nadia's letters, that are not yet hung.

I have one more set that I hope to finish right pronto.

I buy my letters from DAmboiseDesigns and my embellishments from all over.

Little Girls

2010-10-27T17:28:00.001-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of spending time with these two cuties.

Don't they look like they just stepped off the pages of a Matilda Jane catalog?

What fun!

Halloween in Amish country

2010-10-24T16:12:00.000-04:00

I went trick-or-treating at Dutch Wonderland with two of my favorite characters yesterday.

Blown out, but I'm still feeling the love

2010-10-17T23:11:00.007-04:00

Popeye's Diary

2010-10-05T19:24:00.003-04:00

At 20 years of age, my great grandfather left San Francisco Bay for the Philippines during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Remarkably, the diary he kept during this time remains in the family and is still in pretty good shape. I've scanned the pages of his journal and posted them here. Regardless of one's feelings about this particular war or the words my great grandfather chose to use, this document reflects his daily experiences during a controversial war.

I am working on an art project based on these pages.

Big Sky

2010-09-25T20:03:00.006-04:00

Montana is truly the land of the big sky. And it's a big beautiful sky.

One week really wasn't enough time to spend under it.

Still, I feel blessed to have spent a measly seven days there with my gracious hostess and buddy Keli and our mutual friend Dede.

Keli is an amazing artist and a wonderful hostess and tour guide. I could have spent the entire week exploring her studio in Missoula, and another going through stuff at her studio in her cabin at the lake. And still another week taking photos of the incredible setting.

Clearly, the next time we get together, it's going to need to be for a month.

Keli shared her love of wool and her ample supply and knowledge with us. You may not know that Keli has co-authored several books on the subject. She's amazing that way.

And then there are the cool folks who live in her neighborhood.

I'd love to spend more time expounding on my vacation under the big sky, but I was fortunate to be invited to participate in the West Chester Gallery Walk, and that's coming up next week. The dust is flying in my little studio.

Travels in time

2010-09-22T21:49:00.006-04:00

I've been to Montana . . .

Where I spent good times with friends and learned about some very cool things . . .

Then I went to northern California where I saw some beautiful stuff. I have a lot of photos to edit.

I caught up with family out there, where I saw still more amazing things.

This is a page out of my great grandfather's diary.

The one he kept while in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War in 1898-'99.

I hope he doesn't mind that I intend to put his diary on the internet.

There is nothing scandalous in these pages . . . only some interesting history penned by a soldier.

Just in case you might be coming back for the intrigue.

What to do with falling leaves

2010-09-07T00:37:00.076-04:00

I spent a wonderful weekend collecting leaves in my yard.

You're probably wondering how "wonderful weekend" and "collecting leaves" can appear in the same sentence.

It's what we did with the leaves after we collected them that was so great.

My friend Patricia came up from Maryland for the weekend, and we attempted to recreate the beautiful effects that India Flint achieves in her eco-dyeing processes.

Armed with India's book, Patricia's pots, knowledge and hot plate; as well as some eucalyptus she got from a friend in Florida, we conducted some backyard research.

Some of our experiments turned out well, and others did not. (I'm not sharing those.)

Emboldened by our results -- and frankly running out of fabric -- I pulled an old favorite linen shirt from my closet and loaded it up with windfall and onion skins.

This is what came out of the dye pot.

I'm pretty happy with the results and will definitely wear this shirt with its new design.

When the weekend was over, Patricia and I celebrated our successes, our mistakes, and a beautiful weekend shared, with lunch at Terrain, before she headed south.

I love this image of her taken at lunch, but did you notice her hands? And this was after a shower.

They look like time well spent to me.

Oops

2010-08-27T23:53:00.008-04:00

I forgot to include this doorplate that I resined in Susan's class in my last post. It will be added to the cover of a book.

Big surprise.

And I did make a pod.

Bead Fest

2010-08-24T19:10:00.009-04:00

Last week -- for the very first time -- I attended Bead Fest at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

The first class I took was a resin course with Susan Lenart Kazmer of Objects and Elements. Resin is not new to me, but still, I learned some things about using resin that I didn't know before. Susan taught a lot of metal-working techniques too. She was a very generous teacher.

This triangular resin-paper cover will eventually have pages inside and will be a book. The idea was that it would be a book necklace, but I think mine is a bit large for that.

Someone else in the class made this pod pendant. I loved hers, and I will be working on my own pod very soon.

On Sunday, I attended Linda Larson's Journal Necklace workshop. She also works with Objects and Elements. I love their . . . I was searching for some new words here . . . but, I love their objects and elements.

One of the (many) things I loved about this workshop was learning to rivet -- tube rivets and wire rivets -- and of course, the hinge.

It was a good weekend.

It was fun to share the event with my buddy Kecia.

These things are always better shared.

We're All From Somewhere

2010-08-17T00:16:00.030-04:00

I started blogging to create a visual, if verbally spare, history of the events that make up my life. Those events are pretty much non-events to most people, but my family, close friends, and the rest of you lovely people seem to get a kick out of my life from time to time.

I'm also a photographer. I can honestly say I would be a photographer even if I didn't blog, but it helps to have a place to display my photographs. My blog has become my very own gallery — the place where I can show my work and detail my history.

That history was also something I was interested in before I started blogging.Next month I'll be on the West Coast with a handful of family members picking the brain of my father's cousin. He's the one who knows the most about my dad's people. My grandfather died when my father was just 11, so that line didn't extend very far back in their memories.
There are photos we just can't identify. We think this was my grandfather's maternal grandmother, but we don't know for sure, and wouldn't know her first name even then. I've always loved this photograph and would like to sit on this porch in a matching Stickley rocker and chat with her.I use family images in my art much of the time.

I have to be careful about that though, because I get pretty attached to the pieces, and it's hard to let them go.
Things are a little more clear on my grandmother's side of the family. We know that this tiny-waisted woman was Mary Ellen O'Bryan Jones, and that she was my grandmother's paternal grandmother. I loved recently learning her story: She met her husband Joseph Devereau Jones, a Union soldier in the 1st Louisiana infantry, while he was guarding her father, who was a Confederate prisoner of war in New Orleans. (Thank you Michael McGinnis!)

Our heritage has a way of following us even if we don't follow it. Above are photos of my grandfather, my father and my son.

My grandfather — I learned not long ago — was a photographer. I'm grateful for the wonderful pictures of his family left behind.

My dad too was a photographer in the army.
(Well, I guess not. I learned from my dad today that while he was stationed at the Army's European headquarters for photography in Germany in '54-'55, he was working behind a desk and not taking Army photos.)

Are such things in the blood?
My great, great grandmother -- Mary Ellen O'Bryan Jones -- let out her waistband a little here in this photo with daughters Evelyn and Aurilla and my grandmother (the child) Irvilla.Where do you come from?

A Walk in the Woods

2010-08-08T21:24:00.015-04:00

Yesterday I visited Tyler Aboretum's Nature's Enchantment display with the Littles and their folks.
Nestled in the trees we discovered the homes of woodland gnomes . . .
And other wee folks.
We saw miniature flowers . . .
Explored a crooked goblin house . . .
. . . filled with gargoyles, bats and giant spiders. (To someone's delight.)
We knocked on the door of the troll's house under the bridge . . .
And when he wouldn't answer, we looked for him from the top of the bridge.
We heard the summer sound of cicadas in the trees . . .
And found one to study more closely.
We saw black swallowtail butterflies . . .
And Eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies.
In the butterfly house, we saw monarch butterflies. We didn't see them outside of the protected area. The population has been devastated because of storms in their winter home in Mexico.
We saw this caterpillar that will turn into a monarch, and we saw several chrysalises.
It was nice to see them.
Kiran thought it was fun to blow on them and watch them fly.
photo by Kim Marsh

As usual, I took lots of photos.
With some interesting results!

Class notes

2010-08-02T21:25:00.029-04:00

Yesterday I taught my Binding Memories class at Kecia's Lemoncholy Studio , where magic can be found in every corner . . .
In every nook . . .On every windowsill . . .
In the garden . . .

And in her studio.

Kecia is a wonderfully gracious hostess who didn't flinch when it started to rain.
She just moved our bleaching station and drying racks into her kitchen, and covered her floor with towels.She was not concerned by 120+ bleached pages drying over her kitchen floor, not the bleached spots on her towels, not the piles of bleach-soaked leaves and flowers on her table.
In this laid-back and inspiring venue, we bleached pages using natural materials and then bound them into books.
I loved seeing the work everyone produced.
Spending the afternoon with old friends and new.

Attaching faces and voices to folks I've known only through their blogs.
And was so satisfied seeing the stack of beautiful books created in a single afternoon and the smiling faces around me.

Good neighbors

2010-07-16T06:43:00.017-04:00

Kiran and Sophie are very lucky to live in a house where the garage is filled with toys.
Lots of toys.
And to live in a neighborhood filled with lots of kids.
Kids that they like. (Lucky for this guy.)
Interesting kids (and lots of dogs).
Kids that fascinate me.

I like to think that I was this girl -- and that perhaps a little of her remains in who I am. Her scarf, dress, and bare feet on the scooter are scary dangerous though (think Isadora Duncan).

Still, check out the band-aids on her left arm. She said her mom put them there to keep her from scratching mosquito bites.

Ride on little sister! (Take off that scarf and try to get over the fact that Kiran's memaw relates to you.)
Not to exclude other interesting neighbors. This girl is wearing a pair of 2008 glasses on her forehead. I can't help but wonder why.
And of course, there's Kiran, reminding us to buy local.
Yes, it's a good neighborhood

I'd say that Kiran and Sophie will grow well here.

Mica pages in my wooden book

2010-07-13T19:32:00.020-04:00

A few weeks ago I posted about my experience at Shakerag, and the book I made in Daniel Essig's workshop. I loved every single thing about the workshop. (Maybe I shouldn't share how much I loved that workshop, as I want to make sure I get a spot next year!)

But, I did love it. And I want to show you the inside of my book.
Unlike most of the books I make, this one has mica pages in addition to the blank pages.
But, not simply mica pages . . . (yeah, that bent end-page bugs me too)
Mica pages that have been constructed.
Elements have been added . . . like this locust wing that I found last summer.
I knew it would come in handy.
Like this page from the front of a German song book in which someone wrote their own music and this feather . . .
Like this bit of lace that I got from my friend Joanna.
The lace came from a book she got from her Nana.
It was the perfect thing to nestle between pages.
I found quite a few treasures to display between those mica pages.
Yep. Stuff. We all have it.
This workshop at Shakerag was awesome.

And Daniel Essig was an amazing teacher. I found this venue by following him.

Binding Memories in Black and White: I'm teaching a class!

2010-07-09T16:18:00.024-04:00

There is a book in every direction, every nook and crany, every shelf, and every flat area in my house. Most I've read or will read. Some of those books are filled with images, some with recipes, some hold only lists. My favorites keep paintings, photographs, secrets and dreams.I love knowing how to create the vessels that will house the stuff of my life. You’re going to love it too.In this class, we will use items found in our yards to create bleached images that form the pages we bind into vintage books to be used as photo albums and journals. Vessels that will hold the information of our lives.You will leave with a bound book ready to house your photographs, journal entries, sketches or paintings, as well as the knowledge that will enable you to make other long-stitch books.

It would be great if you could join us at Lemoncholy's Studio in Wall, New Jersey, on August 1.

Spaghetti night and some art details

2010-07-06T23:26:00.004-04:00

Freedom

2010-07-04T15:09:00.002-04:00

"Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty."

~ Louis D. Brandeis

Weighed down

2010-07-02T23:00:00.008-04:00

I have some stuff to share, but there are a few things weighing me down right now.

(Sort of like this overachieving bee)

Macro lens love. Oh yeah.

Shakerag Workshops 2

2010-06-22T23:02:00.015-04:00

Besides my own classroom at Shakerag, the one I couldn't stay away from was that of India Flint.
The work going on in her room was so visually pleasing to me . . .
. . . and the fragrance that leaked through that door drew me in every time I passed by.
I can smell it now just looking at these images.
Earthy -- the essence of the woods boiled into color.
Oh yes, the color.
And the stitching.
I bought her book, and I'll be dying Easter eggs differently next year.
Oh, and this is what I made in Daniel Essig's class.

Please don't think I was wishing I was in India's class.

I wasn't.

I have been wanted to take a class from Daniel for a long time, and it was everything and more than I expected.
This book is the best I've ever made. I love it.
It's just those earthy smells . . .

Shakerag Workshops 1

2010-06-19T22:44:00.014-04:00

I've been away to a magical place.
I thought I was the only one, but other people knew about this place. A few anyway.
People who came to make books.
People who came to turn computer code into art.
People who came to spin color into art.
Well, to stitch it into art anyway.
People who came to turn windfall into the most amazing fabric.
People who came to turn clay into usable vessels.

Others came to stitch willow branches into fun shapes.
And, all the while, kids, parents, dogs and wonderful light bathed the campus of St. Andrews Sewanee during Shakerag.
I met the most interesting people.
Yes, I did.
And I saw magic everywhere I looked.

Go ahead. Shake a Rag. I'll be there for the moonshine and the magic next year myself.

Just What I Needed . . .

2010-06-11T22:06:00.012-04:00

A morning spent with my favorite 2-year-old.
Whenever Kiran comes over, he wants to do all of the things that we've ever done here.

This day started with toy trains, but quickly moved on to Play-Doh.
Play-Doh hair is part of the routine.
Today we had some . . . ahem . . . interesting results after the haircut.
So, we went outside to water flowers.
Atticus has always been fascinated by the hose.
There is no watering without A biting the water as it comes out of the hose. I've gotten used to it.
Fortunately, Kiran gets the joke too.
Oh, and no one got out of this dry.
Next: Kiran's road race at the Dub C.

Thank you

2010-06-08T22:43:00.005-04:00

Thank you all for your kind comments and e-mails after my mother's passing.

Family and friends are a wonderful blessing at times like this, and you are all included in that group. The outpouring of support and warm feelings I've received from you has made me smile . . . and okay, cry a little (but in a good way).

Thank you.
I received this in a note from Kit. I love this poem, and will have it memorized before the month ends. I've printed it out, and it will remain always with the memorabilia from my mother's funeral.

And this one came from Nancy. Also with my mom's stuff.

“Perfection Wasted”
by John Updike

And another regrettable thing about death

is the ceasing of your own brand of magic,

which took a whole life to develop and market –

the quips, the witticisms, the slant

adjusted to a few, those loved ones nearest

to the lip of the stage, their soft faces blanched

in the footlight glow, their laughter close to tears,

their tears confused with their diamond earrings,

their warm pooled breath in and out with your heartbeat,

their response and your performance twinned.

The jokes over the phone. The memories packed

in the rapid-access file. The whole act.

Who will do it again? That’s it; no one;

imitators and descendants aren’t the same.

Broken Heartland

2010-05-30T22:27:00.028-04:00

I've been in Nebraska for the last two weeks.

It's where I was born.

It's where both of my parents were born.

My sisters and my daughter live there with their families.
Nebraska is also where I spent my mother's final days.
It's where we buried her on Thursday.
It's where I'll always see her in my mind . . .
Her grave is next to her parents -- my grandparents -- and two of her siblings. There are nearly 30 members of our family buried there close to her.
Her grave looks over a Nebraska field.
Jordan and I explored her new neighborhood the night after we buried her.

We were fortunate to watch the full moon rise over her resting place.

Now that we have tied up most of the details, the reality that we will miss her in ways that we can't yet imagine is settling uncomfortably.

But, I feel like she is home.

More adventures in macro

2010-05-16T16:58:00.017-04:00

I am fascinated by the images I am able to capture with my new macro lens.
Probably because my eyes aren't what they once were, and I just don't see things this well without reading glasses, and even then . . .
So, if you are like me, you may enjoy a closer look at things blooming in the garden.

He's probably looking for this.

Come a Little Bit Closer . . .

2010-05-10T16:23:00.007-04:00

I've had my eye on a macro lens for months. Today I bought it, and could hardly wait to take it out of the box and put it on the camera.
See the 'dust' on this bud? It's pollen.
It is pretty breezy here -- not terrific for crisp captures in the garden -- although I like what the wind did to this image.
Oh, this is going to be such fun.
I hear it's good for portraits too.

I was supposed to be taking pictures of a baseball game . . .

2010-05-05T22:33:00.004-04:00

And then I saw the shadow of my dad and his grandson.

Sugar and Spice, School Swaps, and one Tough Mudder

2010-04-29T15:54:00.006-04:00

A thoughtful Miss Sophie spent the morning with us. She's an entirely different baby than her brother was at this age. She's watchful, sensitive . . . soft. Even Atticus seems to notice the difference. He still waits eagerly at the door for her arrival on Thursday mornings, but he doesn't get up in her face like he did with Kiran. . .
Who, at two, is trading silly bandz with neighborhood kids and kids at school.
Their dad is participating in this event over the weekend.
I'll be there for that too. Life is good.

Making the most of a beautiful spring day

2010-04-20T13:41:00.006-04:00

It's a sunny 61° here right now.
And I'm working in the garden.
But, I just took a break for photos.
One should always break for photos.

Violets, tears and going straight

2010-04-15T22:31:00.008-04:00

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

~ Mark Twain

Except no one crushed these violets. They were a happy surprise in my backyard, safely hidden behind the pines and in the shadow of the spruce.One might think that someone crushed Miss Sophie's violets today.
But, some days a girl just isn't happy.
I'm happy though. With the keratin treatment that makes my fuzzy, frizzy hair lay down nicely.

Getting Arboreal in the Spring

2010-04-11T20:54:00.010-04:00

This is the third view of my tree for Julie's Getting Arboreal. I'm late again. Sigh.

But, over the last months, as I've watched this tree in its summer glory, then lose it's leaves and now grow new ones, I've grown very attached to it. Even though this photo history is wrapping up with this installment, I will continue to watch 'my tree.'

We're connected now.

It's a special place. A place of new growth.
This cluster of mushrooms must have sensed that when it chose the nook of my tree's roots to set up camp.

See my other posts here and here.

Kiran's private 'stache'

2010-04-08T22:19:00.012-04:00

These wonderful photos are brought to you by Kiran's mom. I could make up some captions, but why. (Kiran with his grandfather.)Kiran and Sophie wear their moustaches so well.
And the only thing missing from this photo is the burning car in the background (caption thanks to Kiran's dad).

A good way to start the weekend . . .

2010-04-02T22:47:00.008-04:00

Between Artfest and spring break, I didn't see the kiddos for two weeks, and I missed them.So yesterday I visited them at their house, and watched as Kiran worked in the garden.Then we went in to bake cookies, but the oven wasn't cooperating.
Kiran was very disappointed.
Sophie did her best to show sympathy. After all, her cookies come from a box these days.
But this happy girl can't hold down a smile for long.

(Kiran's mom did get the oven working and we all had cookies before nap time.)

Artfest projects

2010-03-30T19:57:00.010-04:00

There were so many great classes to choose from at this year's Artfest, but I've had metal on my mind recently.
Day One I took Richard Salley's Etched Copper Letter Opener class. I really enjoyed working with the copper and Fauxbone.
Days Two and Three I was in Keith Lo Bue's Lasting Impression class where I learned several techniques for etching metal.
That and many other techniques and skills that I will use again and again.
I feel like I've come home with a great arsenal of tricks and techniques.
And I look forward to getting back in my studio and creating!

Artfest

2010-03-29T18:24:00.007-04:00

I'm just home from a wonderful week in Port Townsend, Washington, and Artfest. And I find that I'm missing so many things already. . .
I heard that some people actually move to the area after attending.

(This photo is my iPhone Photo Friday submission.)
I can believe it.
I'll be pining for this sweet little town for a while. . .
And for these fun and talented ladies!

More soon . . .

They're back!

2010-03-14T20:18:00.006-04:00

Image from the internet

The snow has melted, the rain is letting up, and these guys are singing, in the yard.

The peepers and daylight savings. Yay!

I. Can't. Stop.

2010-03-10T18:37:00.004-05:00

I love these little metal books.

You may have noticed that books have become my first love.

Well, after my people and my dogs.

I think it's because books are functional. You can fill a book with quotes or dreams or grocery lists.
You better not need much if you're shopping out of this one.

It seems like just yesterday . . .

2010-03-02T07:11:00.005-05:00

but it was Friday, when Kiran and I were hanging out in the fort under his dining room table.
photo by Kiran's mom

And then he got his hair cut, and the girls starting calling.

Sigh.

The Flying Tomato

2010-02-24T20:24:00.034-05:00

The grocery store was the last place I wanted to be today. They said we were getting another substantial snowfall, and my cupboard was bare. Even the dogs had no food. So I parked in a spot which could not have been farther from the store and maneuvered my way through Genuardi's with the rest of the"Flurricane" survivalists.

There was traffic getting to the supermarket . . . There was traffic in the supermarket . . . And there was traffic heading back from the supermarket. On the ride home, I heard the folks on our local news calling for people to name the storm. I had several names to suggest, none of which were poetic nor even polite. Did I mention I was starving?

My usual patience — already compromised — completely evaporated as I pulled up to the door. I saw that the man who shares my house had missed the driveway and tracked his truck through the garden — as he always does — on his way out. But after 30 hours of rain, today's result was mud covering both the driveway and the leftover snow in the yard. Inside the house, the earlier immaculate countertop was covered with a sticky film of sugar, spilled coffee and crumbs... And he was out to lunch. It was not how I had left the kitchen nor the driveway.

I was ravenous and a little ticked at this point. I unloaded just enough of the groceries to find the Tuscan Tomato and Basil Bisque (that I was so glad wasn't yet in my cart when I crossed paths with the nutritionist from the gym in Genuardi's vegetable isle). While "tomato" and "basil" might sound like the foundation for a healthy soup, I think that the second ingredient is actually cream.

Ignoring the items that should go into the refrigerator, I opted instead to tear into the soup and start it warming. The goods were sealed under a film that wouldn't just peel off, so I grabbed a knife and hacked away like a serial killer. The entire container shot off the counter, and three cups of tomato soup exploded in the kitchen — sending a red surge 20 feet in all directions.

I was vaguely aware of Scout — my dysfunctionally timid, camera-shy dog — who bolted as the soup hit the floor. I fired my entire arsenal of curse words into the kitchen, and Atticus moved in for a free meal. I thought about letting him take care of the mess, but then I remembered the cream, the onions, the garlic, and the cayenne (the stuff that makes this soup tastes so good and yet acts as a canine laxative). I might be cleaning up this mess twice if I didn't put Atticus in the yard.

By that time, I was laughing to myself about the state of the kitchen as I wiped up globs of bisque from the floor, the cabinets, the appliances . . . and I was a little surprised to see that the soup seemed to have made a 90-degree turn around the island. Wow. Did it go over the island? This trail extended another 15 feet . . .

And then I remembered the white dog, who'd taken off when the soup exploded.

I climbed the stairs to find Scout licking her lips and wiping the tomato soup from her shoulder into the carpet. She looked like a leopard with red spots.

I finished cleaning up Scout and the carpet just as Jack came in from his lunch. Remember the cream in that soup? Well, it had coated the floor like butter, and I hadn't yet mopped. I hit the bottom of the stairs just as he hit the kitchen . . . floor.

There is justice.

That last part only happened in my mind. The rest of the story is completely true.

Metalicious

2010-02-22T07:02:00.007-05:00

In January, I bought this luscious book from Stephanie Lee. I had been coveting it since before Christmas.
I've purchased several things from Stephanie. I love her work. And this particular little book . . . well, I just had to buy it.

The colors! Could you just roll in the olive and turquoise?

I'm having a hard time seeing any other colors. I may be forced to redecorate.
I am a proud and frequent dog-earring owner of Stephanie's book Semiprecious Salvage.

In 2008, I made lots of pendants from the instructions she shared there.

The pages in the book up there are made from plaster. Stephanie and Judy Wise are working on a book of plaster techniques. I, for one, can hardly wait.
Over the weekend, I made this book filled with watercolor paper rather than plaster. Two-needle coptic binding.

I love the way these little books feel in my hands.

The potential capacity of the human heart

2010-02-14T18:43:00.005-05:00

"The widest thing in the universe is not space, it is the potential capacity of the human heart."

--a.w. tozer

Seriously? Again?

2010-02-10T19:43:00.020-05:00

I remember the first time I saw snow.
I was five years old and my family was moving from Southern California to New Mexico.

Along the route, my father stopped the car and headed down an embankment as the rest of us waited at the car. He came back with a large handful of snow. It was my introduction to a marvel of nature that would play an important role in my formative years.
My father was a biochemist working for the Atomic Energy Commission in Los Alamos.
At least during the week.
On weekends, he was a ski instructor at Pajarito Mountain.
He began teaching me to ski when I was five, but it took a couple of years before either of us was comfortable with the process.
I skied that mountain from the time it opened until closing every weekend all winter long for years.
I remember lacing my leather boots (inside and outside laces), whacking the snow from the bottom of my boots with my poles, snapping my feet into Cubco bindings, and using the rope tow gripper to get myself up the mountain (imagine a nut cracker that would attach to the moving rope).
Once I graduated to the bigger hills, I’d ride the T-bar and ski the longer slopes of Pajarito.
I skied in Lange boots that I’d inherited from my mom, and I thought that Jet Stix were going to help me ride the moguls like a pro.
I joined the ski team and started racing on the weekends when I was 12, with varied results. There used to be a few trophies around here from those years.
For many of my adult years, I spent six weeks each winter skiing in British Columbia at Whistler/Blackcomb. The Olympics are going to be held there this year.
I’ll be watching.
*photos from our most recent snow storm (16 inches)

It's snowing here today . . .

2010-02-06T14:07:00.006-05:00

It's snowing a LOT.
So much, that some of us refused to go any farther than the door until a path was shoveled.
But then the games began.

Until I brought out the camera and took this picture of Atticus chasing the elusive Scout - who hates the camera - and she hasn't gone out since.

We all have our things.
None of us will be traveling very far today.

It's a great day to watch the wonders of the world from home.

I forgive myself . . .

2010-02-03T18:50:00.008-05:00

I'm beginning my second week of Misty Mawn's Drawing and Painting Portraits workshop.

This exercise was with a Stabilo pencil and white acrylic paint. I'm not thrilled with my results, but it is my first attempt.

So, I forgive myself.

Next I'll be painting white on black. I'll need even more mercy with that one.

A very special day

2010-02-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

It's someone's birthday . . .
But, thankfully not the birthday when he grabs the keys and says, 'Bye.'

Oh, wait, he did that.

Except he didn't really leave.
This birthday (his second) is more about sharing with friends.
And family.
And thinking up new ways to entertain us during the coming year.

Happy Birthday Kiran!

A little sketchy . . .

2010-01-25T16:23:00.008-05:00

My drawing talent I mean.I've always admired those artists who could fill art journals with sketches of people, places and things.

I'm not one of those people.So, I recently signed up for Misty Mawn's online workshop Drawing and Painting Portraits.And suddenly, an eye kind of looks like an eye! A nose, a little like a nose . . . and a mouth . . . well, you get the picture.This is probably only impressive when you know that three days ago, the faces I drew looked like this.

(The blue marks are because these sketches are part of my class notes.)

There's still time. Sign up here.

Meanwhile, back at the Nile . . .

2010-01-14T17:05:00.013-05:00

Three years ago, before I started blogging -- I cannot believe that I haven't been doing this for decades -- my dad and I took a trip to Fiji and New Zealand with his alumni group from USC.

On our way west, we spent several days as guests of my father's friend at his home in Rancho Mirage. Tony, who had recently returned from a trip to Egypt, could not have been more gracious.
I intended to come home from our vacation and put together a little gift for Tony using photographs from his trip . . .

Except I didn't.
It took me three years to get around to this project. And it will be the most overdue 'thank-you' a person has ever received. I'm pretty sure of that.

Anyway . . . this little Egyptian cigarette tin holds a small coptic-bound book that is filled with Tony's photos and room to record his thoughts about the trip. I just hope he remembers the details after so long!
This is another glimpse of the round robin I've been working on.

Mandalas. That's the theme.