Apple of my Eye

I refer to my computer, of course!

When the Queen of Hiking gets left behind

draped villas ( canopies)

Been looking for canopies to raku under, and I have found some surprisingly exotic villas.
I want one of each!

found this charming illustration it just takes me heart!

Illustration friday," ALONE," plus...Spring and Summer Calendar for arts workshops

Madame Butterfly is what happened when I was ,"ALONE", Ever been alone playing, and wondering if anyone was looking? That is what she is wondering....is anybody looking? my 2nd Illustrator attempt...

I have been compiling lists and calendars for the upcoming raku workshops, kids camps, and private students I am taking on beginning May.
I have a 3-month calendar ready, and it looks full. Wow, is it ever easier to make a calendar than what you are proposing, but I would prefer to be in the thick of it.
In May I begin with adult raku workshops, ( 2 evenings a week) and semi private classes of a 9 week duration, ( twice a week). In mid June I add kids camp, twice a day, three days a week to that schedule, for a month extending into July. After that I will be going to Alaska on the ferry for up to 3 weeks, then back for more classes I have not yet scheduled. Last 2 weeks of August I will take on new students again for fall, begin raku again, and do more of my reiki work. And, of course, my art work will be something I will make sometime….during those busy days.
I am looking for a really nice canopy for the back yard for over the raku kiln (since it ”might rain.”) You think?
Am also considering family backpack trips so that people will know hw to take their kids to places that really count this year, and teaching them skills to be out in nature together appreciating nature, and each other. I really look forward to these weekends this summer.
All in all, it appears that it will be a busy summertime, gearing up to fall, and winter when I will have more time to work with students and make lots of art work to sell come spring.

Transformations

Have you ever watched a flower fade? My tulips are fading. I watch them everyday to see the beautiful colorful changes as they become the loveliest colors I could ever behold. I watch the dull pink flower make it’s transformation to a multi colored bloom, becoming shiny, and soft, light and dark, streaked and lovely, all at once, and I imagine a room painted just that color, but it isn’t one color, or one sheen, but many, so exquisite I cannot tell you, but I have photographed them most everyday.


The petals twist and turn, and the once tulip is then transformed into another plant completely. The petals fall, and small black and yellow seeds are left studding the piston. I collect the seeds carefully. In three years they will each become a bulb, the ones that make it, that is, and each bulb a unique variety that has never been seen before.




It brings to mind the small ivory hand of my grandmother as she lay dying, Skin so exquisitely thin it looked like some delicate almost sheer cloth laid over her small bones, draped there, revealing an uncommon beauty.
Beauty comes in so many ways, and we don’t see it most of the time, we are too busy trying to preserve what we have decided is beautiful to allow maturity to manifest itself, in beauty, and look upon it for the wonder it is.

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft, and to thy slender store, two loaves alone to thee are left. Sell one, and with the dole, buy hycinths, to feed they soul! ( unknown poet)

Aboriginal Art Show in Seattle soon

will include work by Mangkaja artist JANANGOO BUTCHER CHEREL

Date of Birth
 c. 1920
Clan
 Homeland
 Gooniyandi
I will try to get gallery information and post it here soon from the contact Ken provided. Check back.
I have been searching Aboriginal Sites
This page has some really nice B&W works ..and you can go through other work from this page..I love Daisy Andrews work!
nice to see art work from Australia.

Anastasia

Anastasia is the first of the work I hope to continue. I love the idea of a dinner table set with porcelain plates, footed bowls, etc. decorated like Anastasia here. It is so fun, and it really does reveal my influence of Wiinblad's work, so this is my Wiinbladisque line. I guess. Or beginning of. Anastasia will be for sale for 250.00. Wouldn't she be adorable with maidenhair fern or persian violets coming out of her head?
I can't wait to get a bunch of this work under my belt. I will accept all encouragement, and opinions concerning price. Each piece will have it's own name, of course!
Merci....

Photo by Ken Ford, Australia, "Outback" Friends... love these happy smiling faces!

Beauty to me....

Daisy Andrews, Lumpu Lumpu, acrylic on canvas cotton. 1950 .00 $aud. beauty has always struck a simple chord in my heart, most of my life I have been holding one desire abover all others, to live with people who are what we refer to as primitive. Simple, spiritual people, who know things we don't because we intellectualize too much, don't trust our ability to know, to intuit.

Maybe Ken Ford is as close as I have come to being in a place that meets that dream of beauty, life. My interest in so piqued that I am that close to one who is living that way. I knew Ken was one that knew aboriginal ways, and I am facinated that he says he is so glad he came thre. I can't wait, simply cannot wait to hear what he is going to share with me about the beauty of that experience. It gives me chill bumps all over just waiting to hear his stories. What a miracle we connected again!

He has sent art work to me and I to him, and we exchanged postcards, letters, nd photos, some years ago, but mostly online writing. Always the unexpected letter or packet made my heart skip a beat. It is so good to receive letters from around the world! I am just delighted!

Old friend from Tasmania writes again!

I received a surprise from an old friend who was living in Tasmania going to art school. I lost touch with him, we met on some clay art forum years ago, and years ago. A web site he works with, I recommend it...He is now in Kimberly, or The Outback, in Austrailia, and he sent a photo that is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen of a children smiling and laughing, and it is soooo lovely. I am so happy to be in touch once again with Ken Ford. He is loving what he does in The Outback, helping artist there to show work worldwide and locally. I can't wait to hear more from him, and I will share that here!

Garma Etching by Stumpy Brown
Maybe I wil go to Austrailia and finally meet my penpal!


For Ken and his friends in The Outback, my Crater Lake shot...

It is tulip time again in Washington!

My indoor tulip garden...one of them. I support tulip growers! I fast so I might.
Here are a few more photos of mine taken at LaConner this last week. The flowers are exquisite, fields of color. I tried to bring them all home!

Chocolate Bliss , Easter tea and swirling saucers

Don't tell a soul, but....this secret is where I get my tea!
secret tea here..and you can buy it for me now, if you wanna. One of my favo's is easter tea. It smells just like easter!
Today is a magical wonderful day; full of bliss, dancing, sweetness in the form of Godiva chocolates, (a gold treasure chest of )... from easter bunny to me, along with tulips, and more candy, french tea in a magical russian china tea cup called swirl....sweet fun music, umm umm um!

I imagined..what if ?( dangeous already, the universe as we know it began like that....when God said, "what if," ouch...this life was created from the ripple of that.)...what if I were chocolate? My heart would be a chocolate covered cherry. Imagine yourself as a chocolate for a good laugh, musings .....

Thank you

Today, I went to church ( we all try to do that Easter Sunday, right?) I have only been to this church a few times, and today, I was late (redundant, huh?) and as I was directed towards a front pew, I kept hearing," Sherry, here," ...Sherry, sit here'. I turned to see 2 friends, I sat with the first that called my name. It was very nice. After church, Randa told me how much she loved the easter basket I gave them at the farm, she said it was so beautiful to look at they had wrapped it back up. She said it made her feel so good, and since her recent birthday was a flop, this as especially welcome. I was so happy they enjoyed it. I only made it because I love doing that, and loved them all so much. I didn't expect such a warm response. My kids never appreciated their baskers that much. Wow!
It is so nice, like a match made in heaven. I am so grateful for that! It has been a really nice day, and I haven't even had Easter dinner yet!

Happy Birthday Daisy, and happy Easter, too!

Daisy is 21 today, Happy birthday sweetie, I still remember you coming into the world backend first, as if you were resisting your first glimpse of life. This year, according to your chart, promises to be a better year than past ones! It may not seem that way today, or it might, but the year is destined to be better than the past years! I am just wishing you a wonderful day today, make it sweet by just accepting what is, if you can, and if you can't..call Me!

I wish I had been thre for your 21st, but I guess I figured you'd be out with friends, and I am sure you'd prefer them to me, (but I am more reliable!) We could have done eggs together, you, me, Jeremy, karen, John, Daph...wow, we could have had fun! Hope to see all of you soon! I love you!

My Easter Eggs this year.... I did these ...all alone..! After years of decorating eggs with kids and friends, I planned on company, but they didn't make it, soo...I had to decorate them all by myself! All 20 of them, all by myself, ALL 20!

Well, worse things happen than getting all the eggs to yourself, but it isn't nearly as inspiring, just seeing your own work there...yet I have to admit, I could do another 20 eggs or so! Here is an Easter basket I made for my farm friends; Jim ( known him 10 years), Kathy (loves Phantom of the Opera, movie, so much, she has single handedly paid for all their revenues, sending people to see it, also has horses), Laurie (new friend, has horses, too), Steve ( helped me build my raku kiln...well, ok, he built it, but I told him how!) Linda, (the astrologer) and Randa, (like myself, a manifestor/healer). I love making easter baskets, this one has 6 little stuffed ducks, all different pastel colors, so my friends can get theri ducks in a row! Also , it has candy rabbits, jelly eggs ( they used to be called beans) and chocolate eggs, and , of course, my easter eggs, cards for each of them, and a jar of fireweed honey for each of them..! I guess that is about it. Easter baskets are so fun...So colorful, and you can use toys; candy, jewerly, butterfly nets, boxes, bubbles...!

Easter, a time of determining which came first, the chicken or the egg...in non-dual terms, there is not a chicken, or an egg! There is no us, so there is no question to be answered, just a dream to awaken from, and we do this by forgiving others, which is the Easter Message. Forgiveness = Love. Love = freedom, freedom from carrying all that garbage around with us, so we can wake up in a new world very moment = Love = Peace on Earth!
The good news is, we can!
Happy Easter!

See Vue

I found this place on the Oregon coastThe See Vue Motel
It has many differnt rooms over looking the sea, it is a wonderful place to stay, and these photos they have on their site do not do justice to the warmth, and imagination of the place.
When I go here, I want to move to the area, and make pots and just live a simple artisans life, poor but happy near the sea.
I hope to return here soon, to poke around the beach, and the smal towns nearby.
The last time we were here, we had a picnic with olive oil crackers, wasabi cheese ( from Austrailia) and pearl saki. It was a real treat. wishing I were there now!

Emergency Room

I Guess I am ordinarily lucky that I have not had to spend much time in the Emergency room. As I sat there waiting for someone to take me to x-ray for the foot I severely twisted when I was cleaning the garage the other night, I was angry with myself for doing such a stupid thing, and putting myself out of commission for awhile. (Even though I had changed every thought that said I could have a broken foot or ankle to one of knowing it was all just fine and would be well in a day or so), it served to bring home a sense of what can happen, and how even a broken anything has never been a part of my life, except maybe for my broken thumb that I have jammed so many times falling skiing or skating,( and, of course, that bundle full of broken hearts that we all have in common). I play just a little too hard.

It was around 10 PM. I had just finished cleaning the garage, I had taken a step up towards the kitchen door when I noticed a cd from Putamayo there out of it’s case that I had seen somewhere earlier, I turned to find the case, and forgot, I guess that I was on a step, as my foot felt for the floor, there was none where I had supposed it would me, my foot turned all the way under itself and I fell to the floor. It Hurt!

I just lie there wondering what to do, feeling the pain and thinking the worst as pain began shooting through my foot and leg.. I began pulling myself up the stairs ( only 3 thank goodness) and into the kitchen.

I called for Michael to help me, but since I have this mini voice, I had to crawl closer to the room where he was watching tv. He came out and saw me there, almost in tears, shaking. I was very thirsty all of a sudden, and I could feel the blood draining from my head, and felt the color of white ……. I lay down before I fainted.

I couldn’t stop shaking. I learned later, just incidentally that when you go into shock the body can become quickly dehydrated. I needed liquids so badly my throat seemed to be dry and sticking together. They used to give IV’s immediately when people went to he emergency room for this reason. Instead, the woman behind the desk told me not to drink anything. No one asked me how anything was feeling except my foot! They noticed I was shaking, so they brought a blanket, But I wasn’t cold. I was hoping for a good looking doctor, "just to take the edge off my suffering." I manifested that quickly enough.."Greg," and I talked about Mexico for a few minutes before he disappeared to "make my air cast." I know now that is why the emergency room takes so long, they make all those gadgets they have to use on you, the ice packs, crutches, etc. I had my own crutches, so if they had noticed I came in on crutches, they wouldn't have had to bother making new ones, and I could have left 2 hours earlier! They weren't busy that night, gee, I would have hated to arrive when they were busy, everyone was strolling around...taking it easy. I guess maybe sometimes it gets very hard, so they are saving their strength! A calmer group of people i have never seen before..so if that is any comfort...!

Three and a half hours later, I was back home, and had an air cast on my foot. Today I am putting weight on my foot, I simply cannot stand using these crutches, they are a hazard!
I will try to put my foot up more today, I was bad about it yesterday. I am not a good patient.

So, remember to watch where you are placing your feet so this doesn’t happen to you and ruin your gorgeous day when you could be skating down the trail with your i-pod! Good news is, I can be all better in a week or so, I can still hike and skate this spring and summer! I am so glad!

Bright day...foggy day.........all indoors!

and introducing aleyna's photos from flickr, I love this one she took at a Turkish bath...I have a place for it!
as soon as I remodel my bathroom!
You must see this!
aaaaa And....sixtoes... I like your 6 toes! I tried to grow a tail! I have an extra vertabrea! And you have not one, but 2 genius toes! ( or is it 4 ?)

so there is other people like me...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/indestructablemind/6490869/in/photostream/

PDF

I wish I could link a PDF I made to my blog. I have been working on this brochure for Linda, my astrologist, and friend. The other day we made a search for the chart of Christ, and found a great link with charts that are amazing. Apparently this planetary configuaration that Christ was born under happens once in 40,000,000 years! I have now included that in the new draft of her PDF flyer. I f you are interested, I can always send this to you in an e-mail.

Linda lost her morning p/t job, and it is just as well, because it was a waste of her talents. She is awesome as an astrologer. I watch her when she reads someones chart for the first time, "Wow, she says," this person is beautiful, I would love to have this saturn in my such and such house! Or, " I have to meet this person, they have a light bubbly personality that is so wonderful to be around, umm, intelligent, and creative, too, I would get along well with this person because we both have such and so in our part of fortune!" Things like that, like she has a crystal ball and can see someone who isn't in the room at all.

She can actually see where this person has conflict, and when reading charts for couples, she can see where they have problems, and where they fit, or don't. Compatibility results. Astrology actually directs ones life. Go figure!

Take a bite out of this...

Apple has a new Imac. It just gets better all the time!

Computers just get smaller and smaller, this imac ,"is," the monitor! and it comes in many sizes.
There is a place in my heart, and in my house, for you!

Ceramic, Easter, Moorehaven

Just in time for Easter. This rabbit goes way back, to China, a long time ago. I found it looking at Alfred ceramic art in a search for Ruth Duckworth's ceramics there on the Alfred Museum site. I think he is wearing converse basketball shoes, isn't he?
It is a comical day already. Outside my window I was seeing a blurb of black moving upward, and then down, up then down.
It was a crow, behaving like a child. He was after the food in the feeder hanging low from a wispy branch, but high enough that he had to jump to see if he could get some goodies. Jumping like a kid trying to see something over his head. I wanted to get his photo, but scared him away. Now the squirrel is out there, eating as much as he can get of the food I placed there for my tweeties.
Promised Moorehaven photos Take a walk Easter and be delighted!

If the sun will come out tomorrow, I-Pod and I

are going skating first thing! The new shuffle I-Pod has added an interesting element to my skating...I dance down the trail now, and I find it to be a better work out than before, just skating, and more fun! It is smaller than a small pack of gum, and it hold about 120 songs..sounds great, too! I don't even need anyone along really, I just boogey on down, all alone. I-Pods are wonderful companions! But, hey, I haven't forgotten my other friends, I just haven't been skating all week long. Pooped now after a long day working on brochures, cards, etc. I am finally saying, "hasta manana," and it's about time!

Snowflake Hat for Daphne

I designed this hat for my daughter, Daphne. I like crocheting hats. I did one in the 70's that was really nice, and I can't remember how to make it. I was very young, and Easy Rider was showing. I had made this hat that I pulled my hair through from all over from the crown down, and into a bun. I was so self conscious, yes, me...but I wore it, and guess what? All the girls in line waiting to get tickets loved it. I was relieved. This coming from a person who wore vintage from age 11! Funny, huh?

Omigosh!!!!

Just found this on the blog of new friend, Wayne ( Vancouver BC web designer) Olympic National Park
Where I spend a lot of my time....so I don't have to post many pics, since many of them are here already. AND, not to mention, you can find all your favo parks here. Wayne designed my friend Canela Michelles site, that I love,the music Wayne chose is so calming, I leave it on sometimes half the day...and she used my flower photos,, thank you Canela! A few Photos today, Catching falling stars, so big, this one and my favorite Dungeness trail,And the Dungeness River, love this photo, if I do say so myself click to see it better, or for a slideshow of some of my photos.

Nifty sites

History of pop up books, I love this Little red Riding Hood book pictured here.

This art of Japan Site is funaand Japan is always close to my heart! These cranes are spectacular Since I am shopping for my own site, I am looking at all the wonder sites offered.... and since I believe in miracles, I think I can have one, too!

Fun site for making collages drag and click shapes, and transparencies too!

leaves

Unlike my Ace, "illustrator," friend, Kim Carney,
I am not versed in this software, but I did receive Creative Suites for; Christmas, Birthday, Valentines Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day (? hello?) x the next few years more than likely. I took an indesign class at my local apple store, but I have forgotten all that was poured into my head that ONE day. I have managed, accidentally, to achieve this in Illustrator, however, and I had to post it here. It will probably look very familiar to many people, as something they, too, accomplished, first.
I spent the day with Kim yesterday. We went to Home Depot and bought, plants! ( Like she needed more of those!) Her yard is brimming with lovely plants, peonies out the kazoo! We tramped the yard looking for an open spot to plant her new offerings, found none, but they will be there when I go back, planted somewhere, and growing! Now if I can just get her over here to this huge yard I have. together, we can make trouble!
I miss our college days together. We worked on projects all the time. My papers! What fun we had working on those! And the giant jack in the box! Remember Kim? Well, we had fun yesterday, just hanging out. She is a really good friend, ( like a sister) and I always enjoy her company.
She is helping me with brochures for my summer workshops in raku, and kids art workshops. I am sure I will look very impressive on a brochure by Kim Carney! For professionalism, I will, " Leave ," it to her....

A Tool to get unstuck

The forcefield Analysis is a great tool to use to resolve any stickiness in your life and with goals, and planning changes. I use it with clients for personal coaching, and it is stunningly clarifying, helping one to manifest. It enables you to see all the pros and cons of a goal, or situation and to note the inhibiting factors, or restraining forces. Forcefield analysis I have made a template in word to do this with if anyone is interested. Just mail me and I will send it.
The best problem solving tool I have come across in awhile. I am using it to resolve my need to get back to my art, and as a way to make a living. Raku workshops, kids workshops, private instruction, these are a few of the ideas that are clarifying as a result.

Miracles happen everyday!

Last night I went for a drive, late, late. It was foggy out, very foggy. I drove out to the country and visited my friends. The fog was enticing. Frogs were croaking, like crazy, a million frogs on a foggy night. Trees were tall and black, still, and casting shadows where eyes could not see. I wanted to camp out! I didn’t want to go indoors! I went in and visited, and it got even foggier outside. It was so thick you had to drive very, very slow, and all the lights were fantastic, the way they glowed soft in the fog, red, green, white, yellow.

I went to the store to buy a Corona to take home, for, I dunno, another day, some enchiladas, maybe. I was carded! Really, I was! Ok, so they do that to everyone just in case you are wearing an ,”old,” mask, I guess! It had been a long long time since I was carded, and I know I look really, really young (right friends?) but even, the objective, I, had to consider this was not a compliment, but for a moment, I have to admit, I let it go to my head!!! OK! Laugh! If it makes you happy, I am only too glad to give you a good laugh!

So this morning I got home maybe 1 o’clock, and then I was awake by 5 again, and the fog was gone, and now it is back again, all the way to my window. ( Tabasco Tea... I promise New work! I promise!!!)

I just love the fog sooo much. It is my favorite thing in the world, as far as moisture goes, well, and snow, too! Well, and drizzle! That is why I live here in the PNW! I wanted to! I wanted to live here, since 1986. I finally got to come here in 1992. Not a bad manifestation! Six years isn’t bad to manifest a new place to live.

I manifested a house once, that took 4 years. I got it for about 25,000.00 cheaper! Good things are worth waiting for!
I manifested baseball tickets once, that took 5 minutes, and they were just there by 1st base. I have witnesses! A complete miracle. I am a Miracle Worker, you see!We all are miracle workers! They happen all the time. I have miracles everyday, we all do!
( winged vessel 2...Split coil construction. I promise new work!) (Sculpted Teapot, all work is mine.) (Rusty Moldy Vessel, Raku fired. I have a new raku kiln!) ( goard)(Winged Vessel 1)

Moorehaven

There is a little known Koi Pond place in Mukilteo, "Moorehaven,"
It is beautiful to enjoy spring and summer. On 5 acres off Beverly Edmonds road, this is a wonderfully refreshing place to escape for a short walk, and enjoy imagination in progress, ( it is always changing) and to see peonies, and tulip trees, and so many Koi and plants, peacocks and turkeys, well, it is a veritable zoo!This wire house is one of my favorite pieces of their art. I will publish more when I get more space for photos. Promise! Their website is not a testament to the art and beauty they create outdoors! It is a highly recommended jaunt to take.

Novica, In Association w/ National Geographic

Batik robes handmade, and lovely in brilliant colors from around the world.
A tremendously creative woman,
she creates imaginative patchwork while ensuring her children's loving upbringing.
A mother of three children, Nyoman Nadri was born on May 2, 1965. She is an artisan of bed covers, pillowcases, sarongs, shawls, and many other textile arts. She started her career in embroidery in 1987, taking orders to make pillowcases and bags from 1989 until 1992. In 1995, she turned to batik when she learned it from a friend. She has worked hard for years to become as skilled as she is now – to have an art workshop and people working with her had never come to mind before. A tremendously creative woman, she creates imaginative ...