BACK TO REALITY

Just returned from a 10 day trip to the Yucatan. The highlight of the trip was visiting the Mayan ruins at Chitzen Itza and Coba. The entire experience was so unbelievable. Almost surreal and spiritual at the same time. I felt like I was transported back to ancient times. We also hiked in the jungle and visited a Mayan village. The Mayan people live such simple
lives. They seem happy and proud of what they have. They live in huts, have no bathrooms, no beds, hardly any electronic devices nor electricity.
The children have the bare essentials to play with. No fancy toys or gadgets. Their pets were animals of the jungle.
The hotel we stayed at was the best accomodations and service I've ever
experienced. The food and drinks were abundant and good. I highly recommend the Hotel Iberostar Parasio Maya in Riviera Maya. I'd go back in a split second.
The weather was perfect every day. I can go on and on.
I love Mexico

Back to crappy, cold and ugly weather.
I need to get into the Christmas spirit. I just don't feel it yet.
Being away made me totally forget the holidays.

ONE MORE

Finished this bracelet the other day and am planning to make more.

This has a right angle beaded base and than embelished with swaroski crystals and more seed beads. My favorite so far.

Got together with some neighbors yesterday. We're starting a Geneology

Group. The lady leading it works at the National Archives in Chicago.

One more thing to add to my list of works in progress. I want to start researching my ancestors. I need to find out my grandparents name before they left Russia. It was changed to Chapman when they came to the USA.

INDIVIDUATION VOW

Individuation Vow
Each day of my life I vow to continue to grow more deeply
Into the precious being that I AM,
A unique expression of the Source,
A guardian of life,
Dedicated to relieving suffering and the cause of suffering,
which is in our minds,
And to bringing love, harmony and beauty into the world.
.R. Birney, MD

I love this vow and wanted to share it with everyone.

DUSTY THE PUPPY

Add one more to the menagarie. Dusty came to stay Thanksgiving Day

He is definitely an active puppy and a peeing machine. I forgot how much work puppies are. I think he is sooo cute.

Gus and Dusty went home last night. Sunny has his peace and quiet back and so do I.

The above bracelets are the newest I've created. I'm trying to teach myself

new beading techniques. Right now I'm working on a right angle weave

bracelet. It's almost done.

GUS AND SUNNY

SUNNY AND GUS

Are they cute or what? They have bonded.

I'm watching Gus for the week while my kids are on a cruise (Lucky them). I get to watch their puppy Dusty tomorrow for the remainder of the week. Three dogs at once . Oh my!

They picked a good week to go since the weather has been so crappy. Snow predicted tonight. Oh well, it is winter.

I'm still beading. Finished two more bracelets. Will post pictures later.

I've been home alot lately. No desire to go out in this gloomy weather.

Bob and I are leaving for Mexico (Riviera Maya} on Dec. 3rd. I am so looking forward to it.

CATERPILLAR BRACELET

My version of a bracelet I saw and thought I bought a kit for.

A few weeks ago, I was at my local bead store and saw a bracelet I wanted to make.

I bought the kit and when I got home, OOPS, I opened it up and realized it was the wrong one. Since the kit was already opened and I couldn't return it, I decided to figure it out myself.

I really enjoyed the challenge.

My friend Sandy bought the same kit by mistake, so she's making one also!

Can't wait to see her bracelet finished.

Again, I made an impulsive purchase without giving it much thought, but this time it was to my advantage. It gave me the chance to be more innovative.

BEAD CRAZY

I'm still beading away. Above are my newest pieces. I'm not bored with
beading yet. Actually, I just started another piece. I'm learning a new
technique and it sure has been a challenge. I won't give up until I learn it.
Not much going on in my creative, domestic or social life.
I've been staying home more. Haven't felt like getting out as much.
It's getting close to winter and I guess I feel like nesting.
I'm planning to tackle the basement soon. I want to make it more conducive to work in. Between better lighting and drywall, I hope I will go down there more often. Slowly but surely, all my art supplies are finding a home upstairs. I had such high hopes for making the basement a studio.
Let's see what happens.

ANOTHER BRACELET

One more piece for my collection . Now what? I guess I'll put it away with all the other finished projects sitting in my closet.

This has been a low key week for me. Didn't do much. I tried to stay away from shopping. I did a good job until yesterday. I ventured out to Jo Ann's and I managed to buy something I didn't need with my coupon.

Now there is a 50% coupon looming over my head. Let's see how long I can hold out. Who am I fooling?

Mia (my niece) came out to visit for two days. She's really going through an identity crisis. She's 22 and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. I am totally confident that she will figure it out. She has so much

going for her. I just wish she believed it.

I'm thinking of creating more soul collage cards on a smaller scale. It will be fun to do in minature , just like the inchies, but not that tiny.

I have all these ideas running thru my head about other projects too! Lets see what comes of it....

ALEX

Just had to share this photo. My grandson Alex and his date for homecoming. I cannot believe how fast he's growing up. He's 16, driving, working, going to school and actively involved with life!
I'm so proud of him and of course ,my son and daughter-in-law for doing such a good job. Am I bragging or what?

BEADING BEADING BEADING

That's all I've been doing the past few weeks. I really love designing my own
jewelry. I guess it has to do with my need to be individualistic.
This week , my desk top computer totally crashed (it's corrupted)
My son ,Keith ,(HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY!) is working on it.
My lap top is new and functioning, but It won't let me use my printer.
I guess it's a compatibilty issue between XP and Vista. I'm being so patient . I didn't run out and buy a new one. I'm waiting for a resolution.
Of course, this has been driving me nuts all week.

Bob and I are going to Mexico in December. I've always wanted to see the Mayan ruins so we decided to go to Riviera Maya in the Yucatan. We'll be staying for 10 days. Can't wait. This will be replacing the winter we were going to spend in Phoenix.

Went to the Quilt Expo the other day in St. Charles. I really didn't see anything new and exciting in quilting. Nothing inspired me.
I did see one booth with kits and supplies for Brazillian embrodiery.(three dimentional)
I would like to learn that eventually.
Met with the ladies yesterday in Warrenville to do art. I just couldn't get into it so I left early and went shopping.
It's certainly grey ,cloudy and yucky outside. Fall is finally here. It almost
seems more like winter. I'm wearing socks and a sweater. I guess this can be called the transition period , neither here nor there.

ACTIVE WEEK

Between Birthday celebrations, going out to dinner with friends ( Shari and Sandy) driving into the city to visit Stampology, and going to see "Across The Universe " twice, I haven't had much time for creativity. I went with Barb during the week before she left for Phoenix and I went with Cindy yesterday. I could actually see it a third time.
I bought the sound track and that's what I have been listening while I'm driving.
I was never much into the Beatles music until now. They changed some of it for the movie and the actor's sang all the songs. Great voices.
This is my new favorite movie.
I believe I am obscessed with it (for now).

I'm trying to finish a needlepoint canvas and am
planning another beaded piece of Jewelry.

I'm not feeling the paper art thing right now.
I can't get motivated to do it . I'm enjoying the feeling of fiber , fabric and beads. I know at some point I will get back to it. I guess I just need a little break.

BEADED BRACELET FINISHED

I'm finally done with my bracelet. It sure was alot of beading. I was determined to finish it, and I Did! Will I ever wear it? Probably not, it's not my style. I am proud of it.
I started out with a vintage button and just went with the flow. I guess it is called free form.

Spent the day with the ladies, doing art. Had a good time. Again, we did more talking than creating. I worked on a needlepoint canvas.

My friend Barb is in town. We've been running around every day shopping and eating out way too much. So what else is new? Haven't stopped at Dairy Queen yet. I'm really surprised.

Tomorrow, Bob and I are having a party to celebrate our 65th birthday. We've invited lots of people, which means FOOD AND DRINK. We are prepared. Our birthdays are only three days apart. I guess turning 65 is an accomplishment. We're still here and in good health and happy too! We have it good!

SAMPLES OF LESLIE ALTMAN CLASS

I Took Leslie's class at Carolina Moon yesterday. We learned how to apply alcohol ink to different substrates. My favorite was using papyrus and vinyl (the two samples on the left).
Had a fun time and learned how to use the inks . Never used them before. Of course, I have had them in my stash for a couple of years. I love the colors, but other than that, I doubt if I will apply this technique to anything I'm doing right now. I'm really focused on other mediums at the moment.
As I said in an earlier post, I'm beading away.

I'm meeting friends at the Naperville River Walk Art Fair today. The weather is perfect for it. Can't wait to see all the new artwork that has been created this year.

LAST ROSE OF SUMMER

It feels like fall. I love this time of year. Too bad winter comes next. That I don't like...

I can't believe I got caught up in making coffee filter roses. I just had to try it and I actually had fun. I'm not sure it looks like a rose, but I think it's kind of pretty. I made a few , but now I'm done!! No MORE

I've been busy beading away on my free form bracelet. It's keeping me busy at night while I'm watching TV. If I ever finish it, it will be a conversation piece. I think beading is very Zen like. It's calming to me.
Between that and Yoga, I should be a new person.

There is alot going on this week-end. The Quilt Show in St. Charles(too close to miss), A class Saturday with Leslie Altman, Riverwalk Art fair in Napervilleand the Bead show. I think I'm going to do it all. I hope I can fit two events into one day.

I just dug up some of my colored pencil drawings. I was shocked at what I saw. Not too bad.
I was really getting somewhere with it, but lost interest. Just think, if I would have kept it up I would be much better now. Story of my life. Can't stick to anything too long. Once I learn a technique, I need to move on to the excitement of something new. Oh well, I guess that's part of who I am . I've learned to accept it.

Went to Cantigny today and took lots of pictures . I really needed to commune with nature. It felt so good to walk around and see all the beautiful gardens. Weather was perfect...
I started my bead embroidery project and am happy with the way it's turning out. It's very relaxing.

Went to see the movie "No End In Sight" with our neighbors. It is a documentary about Iraq and all the deception going on with our government. It just confirmed my beliefs and even made them stronger.
YOGA starts tomorrow. Can't wait!

WAITING TO BE FRAMED

These needlepoint canvases are finished and waiting to be framed. It's going to cost me a fortune. No wonder I keep putting it off.


Anyway, these are in my WOMAN series. I"ve done these over the past few years. There are a few more which I'll upload later.





I'm also working on two other canvases right now, A carribean scene and a kitchen saint.

I am feeling a little bit more motivated than last week. I'm beginning to get some ideas for art.
I also have a beading project I want to start.

NO MOTIVATION

It's been over a week since I've been back and I just can't get
myself to create new art.
I have been needlepointing. I guess in a way, it's creative.

I have been a little discouraged about the type of art i've been doing. I think I need to do some fine art to acknowledge the fact that I still enjoy it..
Since Art Unraveled, I've been having a problem with originality. Most of the mixed media art looks the same to me.

The picture on the left is Ann Grigh's paint pallette. I love her style and her original way of creating. She sure is an inspiration to me.

Getting back to real life, not much is happening. I had my grandaughter this week end. She is growing up so fast. She'll be 13 next month. It was fun shopping with her and I enjoyed watching her pick out clothes. She definitly has her own style.
Got together with Pam, Ann and Jean to do art on Saturday. There was more talking than creating. I accomplished nothing.

EATING FRENZY

Phoenix is one big restaurant !!! Aside from eating breakfast and lunch at the hotel, we went out to dinner every night. Of course, I'm not complaining. It was a good opportunity to get together with old and new friends from Art Unraveled.

I spent the second week with my friend Barb and of course we ate out every night.


Still need to come down from the trip.
I haven't done a thing yet.
In retrospect, I really had a fun time, but did not learn much. The only class which I can honestly say was good was Michael Demengs class.(Light Bulb Shrine). The other classes were OK or bad. Unless there are new instructors and new classes, I think I'm done. Time to try something new.

BACK FROM ART UNRAVELED

Home at last.
I can't get my act together. I've been sleeping on and off all day. Need to unpack!
It seemed like a long two weeks. Art Unraveled was wonderul. The second week visiting my friend was OK except for the nasty heat. It's unfit for humans. I did love the sun every day.
I'll go into more detail about Art Unraveled later..
The photo of the Light Bulb shrines and Circus
shrine are the only things I managed to bring home finished.

NAME BADGE FOR ART UNRAVELED

Hope I wear it!