Art of the Day...

In keeping with today's game theme...
This is a mixed media collage on wood and coated in wax.

Bit-o-Wisdom...

In honor of the scrabble game I am, at this moment, playing with my daughter and her friend Lauren, I would like to tell you that:

Sometimes, its OK to buy a vowel.

Nate took new pictures for me....

but they are still in his camera. You will just have to make do with my photography!

Actually, these pictures were taken by Nate's brother Luke. He caught his friend Joel hitting on my girl Jezebel, while Tina looks on jealously...

Have a happy day!

Bit-o-Wisdom...

In honor of having my kids at home and getting to spend 2 hours in the Mall yesterday, here is a fun little exercise for you. Please forgive whatever copyright I may be infringing upon...I have no idea where this came from!

Shopping at the Values Mall

You are going shopping at the Values Mall. All of the experiences or qualities that you buy will be part of your life. Those that you do not buy will be absent from your life. There are seven stores in the mall. In a given store, you can buy as many items as you like or none at all. However, you have exactly $100 to spend. Circle the values as you “buy them” and keep a running total of how much you have spent. All of the prices have been randomly assigned.
Happy shopping!

Leisure and Learning Lane

Traveling $6
Learning new things $8
Relaxation and meditation $7
Enjoying a hobby of sport $5
Enjoying art, music or literature $6

The Family and Friends Store

Helping loved ones in need $9
Hanging out/laughing w/loved ones $8
Closeness with family/friends $6
Meeting new people $7
Belonging to a club or group $5

The Love Boutique

Long term commitment and fidelity $8
Companionship and shared interests $5
Physical and sexual intimacy $7
Romance and excitement $8
Emotional connection with partner $9


Career Mart

Making a lot of money $8
Work that is rewarding $7
Job helping others $8
Flexibility and autonomy $5
Low stress and easy work $9

The Spirituality Shop

Prayer and meditation $7
Studying spiritual writings $7
Practicing a specific religion $9
Belonging to a spiritual community $5
Being connected to a higher power $6

Community Corner

Being politically aware and involved $8
Volunteering to help others $6
Protecting the environment $6
Patriotism $5
Being ethical and fair $7

The Mind-Body Connection

Eating healthy foods $7
Exercising regularly $9
Self awareness and mental health $6
Managing stress well $7
Living as long as possible $6

Please review the contents of your “cart.”
What values are reflected in your purchases?
Which values emerge as more or less significant to you?


Thank you for Shopping!

Today's Art

Here's a piece to "honor" my doll group. I call it "Tools of the Trade"

And here's another piece to express my joy about Lindsay coming home!!

Bit-o-Wisdom...

"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans." John Lennon

Sigh, what else can I say...?

Gonna Be a Great Day!

Because...first, I get to go to my "Doll Group" and then a quick couple of fun clients and then Lindsay and my FSIL are coming home for the weekend!! YAY! Details: My doll group is a very interesting collection of women: a school bus driver, a couple of Saturday Market sellers, a house-cleaner, retired homemakers, church leaders, a wine maker, a women who works in a fabric store...It's a very diverse, creative and generous group of women! and I am grateful that they keep me around because its called "Stitchin Time" (I think) and I haven't touched my sewing machine in several years now!! Oh, today we are sending off "pin dolls" (figure it out) to exchange with another group in Australia. Here's a photo of the pins I am sending (although, renegade that I am, I am sending necklaces...:)...) 4 like the one on the top. I was gonna crop the photo for you, but then I realized that the Lucy pin had a bonus BOW...check it out.

OK, back to the days details...My patients: kidding!

And then Lindsay and FSIL ...he informed me on FB-jokingly, i hope- that he wasn't comfortable with that term. I ask you, is it a son-in-laws job to be comfortable with his mother-in-law? I think not...Consider it training!!. They arrive at 6 tonite, and since Lindsay did not answer her phone last night, there are no less than 10 other people waiting to see "what's happening" tonite! and of course, guess who they expect knows the answer?

Which leads me to todays BOW...

Here are two of my personal favorites (does that sound arrogant?). Making these dolls is a little like giving birth...I mean, it feels weird to say "Thank you" when someone tells me that my kids are great. All I did was give them food and water and a safe place to be while they turned into themselves...My dolls feel similar in that I go into my very messy studio (Jim keeps asking when he can come up and vacuum--like there will never be treasure all over the floor?) turn on background noise, and regain consciousness a few hours later and wa-la, there's a doll!!

Nuff said...

Bit-o-Wisdom...

Someone said: "I used to think that my brain was my most amazing organ...then I realized who was telling me that!" So today's BOW is: Just because you think it doesn't make it true...
Remember this when you find yourself thinking things that are most likely untrue, like "I'm so stupid," "I'm fat," "This is hopeless," "I can't do this," etc...

Nuff said...

Too Lazy to Go to Bed...

So I will post just a few more photos!

Bit-o-Wisdom...

I have MANY more photos to come, but for tonite, here is my first bit of Shrink Wisdom for you...


Grant me the serenity to
accept the people I cannot change,
The courage to change the person I can,
And the wisdom to know that its me.

Lately I have been having a lot of fun making dolls out of recycled mixed media. Here are a few of my latest. My daughter, Lindsay and my future son-in-law (FSIL), Nate are coming home on Thursday. Nate has an amazing camera and I am hoping he will take better pictures. But in the meantime...