Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 210

Daily Journal Page Challenge --Day 210: Meditate on This

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 209

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 209: Wherever You Go in the World

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 208

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 208: Stiletto to the Metal

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 207

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 207: Where Vibrant Cultures Are Unveiled

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 206

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 206: Journey Beyond the Familiar

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 205

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 205: Every So Often

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 204

Daily Journal Pages -- Day 204: I Am Alive

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 203

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 203: Muscle Man

Charles Atlas tearing apart the phone book. Living the male American dream of animal strength. No sand in his face.

"Tiny Dancer" Oriel Pendants

Modern U

Dream Girl

Tango Dream

Ballet Green

Audrey Hep Jazz

I am excited to announce a new line of oriels -- Tiny Dancers -- that I have created exclusively for Stage Dor Dance Studio and Performance Space in Sausalito, CA. I have been dancing with the owner, Doree Clark, for over 20 years. Doree is an inspiring teacher who believes that anyone can dance if they have the desire to! And if you look at the people who come to her studios -- you realize that this is true -- they come from all walks of life, have different careers as well as unlikely ones, varying degrees of talent -- yet they all have the desire to move to music. It's a wonderful mix and many of us perform in front of the public several times a year with the Don't Quit Your Day Job Dancers under her direction.

Doree loves my jewelry, and asked me to create a line of oriels that features dancers from various dance disciplines. The dance styles featured (so far) cover: Lyrical Jazz, Ballroom, Tango, Cabaret, Broadway, Modern, Hip Hop, Belly Dance and more -- most of which are taught joyously at Stage Dor! If you are in the area, drop by and see my Tiny Dancer necklaces, try out a dance class, or come see our November show: Earth Girls Are Easy!

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 202

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 202: Old Blue

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 202

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 202: From the Sky Looking Down

I started using watercolors while out visiting my sister. We stopped by JoAnne's and picked up a very inexpensive set -- $4.99! And they are great! I've never taken color theory or watercolor technique classes, I'm kind of operating blind -- but I'm having fun experimenting!

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 202

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 202: Capturing the Moment

Backyard Art

I just love my sister and I love her art studio. You wander out to this green box surrounded by gardens and tall, tall trees -- and as you sit in front of the table, you can smell the outdoors and hear the birds, and feel and hear the wind move through the trees. It is painted a lovely green to blend into the surroundings and my sister placed beautiful hammered tin mermaids on the sliding doors. There are sliding screens to keep out summer bugs, and the building is insulated so the space heater makes it cozy inside during the cold months. But mostly it is a haven to create art -- no phone calls, no TV, no neighbors knocking on the doors (usually), just you and the art supplies and maybe the dogs Tippit or Charlie to keep you company. And we just get down to it. We talk, or we are silent for hours, or we make sounds, or we laugh or we cry -- all while making art.

I love creating in the outdoors, and think about how I could replicate something like this out here in California. Maybe I could set up a soldering studio in the barn. Maybe I could add French doors into one wall of my studio in the house. Somehow, I am determined to do this. Angelina would be my companion I think -- and all I would need to make it perfect would be my sister's company from time to time!

Collage: Where the Boys Are

Where the Boys Are

I made this collage yesterday morning before my sister took me to the airport. After breakfast at the Farmer's Market we went out to her little backyard art studio to get in some final art creating time before I had to leave. My intention was again to create a collage that filled the entire page of the big journal I was working in, and to not think so much about the images I was picking, nor where I placed them on the page. I was again, uncomfortable creating this -- feeling a bit out of control.

This one really surprised me. And it turned out that it features "boys" -- except for the one woman climber (who I guess represents the female me). I suppose it's speaking to my maleness or male energy. The tough little boys, the surfers watching and waiting for the Big One, the expeditioners climbing and facing the elements, the vintage car that I never owned but desired to (El Camino 1971-72, baby), even the Komodo dragon with all of its reptilian top predator aggression. My sister said that this one was probably the most artistic collage I did all week -- it was much looser and freer. I don't know about that, but it definitely felt satisfying to create it!

Daily Journal Page...Day 201

Daily Journal Page...Day 201: Sisters

This page definitely reflects how my sister Mary and I love creating with one another.

Daily Journal Page...Day 201

Daily Journal Page...Day 201: Totem

This dreamy collage page was actually a combined effort of my sister Mary and me.

Daily Journal Page...Day 201

Daily Journal Page...Day 201: You Simply Won't See

Collage: It's Crowded in Here

Collage: It's Crowded in Here

For the past 200 days I've been creating my simple journal page collages, one a day. I always try to leave a blank space in the middle, so I can write a journal entry, or a to-do list, or a one-day list. I love this technique I've developed, but I also feel a bit constrained by it. Years ago, I used to create assemblages and collages, then stopped for many, many years. And now, I think it's been 2 years since I did a full page collage. So out in my sister's art studio the other day I created a collage with the intention of covering the entire surface. I was a bit uncomfortable, but I just kept picking images, tearing, and gluing. I like the result, even if it feels a bit crowded and unbalanced. As I study the piece I realized I had picked images that all represented parts of myself -- the red-haired titan, the cheetah standing over the sleeping Buddha, the green shoot, the watcher (eyes), my sister, my mother. All sides of myself that often feel like they are jostling for attention. No wonder this collage seems crowded -- it's crowded in here!

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 200

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 200: Remember

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 199

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 199: When the Lava Finally Cools

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 199

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 199: The Fastest Way to Expand Your Horizons

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 198

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 198: I Acted Bad

I am visiting my sister in Philadelphia. Whenever we get together to do art, and because my sister is a fine artist (and an art therapist), when we are creating in the same space together it's very stimulating and there's a terrific give and take between us. However, I am always pushed beyond my comfort zones in my art. But that's where growth lies, right? Not very comfortable, but something positive or forward moving always seems to happen out of the chaos and feeling out of control.

This is a photo of Bonnie Parker, sans Clyde. The chicken -- well, I thought of the old chicken joke "Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side." And in a way it answers the question -- why did Bonnie get all caught up in her crime spree with Clyde Barrow? -- to get to the other side, perhaps. But I stretched myself a bit using bright orange and red oil pastels instead of my little Cats Eyes ink pads, left very little room to write, and threw in some Klee-style shapes. What was most cool is that as I was finishing up, I saw this little bit of paper that had fallen on the page from some image trimming that said: "I act bad" -- how serendipitous! I love stuff like that!

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 197

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 197: Savor Every Second
First day in the art studio with my sister. Oh, oh. Stretching the boundaries.

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 196

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 196: Flat-Out Sexy

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 195

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 195: A Personal Journey

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 194

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 194: I'm Listening...

My Mane Blowing in the Wind

I just finished up taking a Madelyn Mulvaney's 5-week photography e-course: Persisting Stars -- Bones of a Poet. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it helped me to get a bit more creative with my photography and to see that my little Canon point and shoot is perfectly fine for taking most photos. It was cool to see that I naturally have been doing some of the same things we were asked to do, and some techniques that were new to me. The last assignment was to take your self-portrait. This kind of stumped me. I don't have a tripod,nor a fancy camera, I didn't have the energy to stage it or get all dressed up. So I just did a few shootings, here in my home and on the trail at Deer Island. The results were OK, not real exciting -- except I loved this one, above. It was a late afternoon on the trail, a breeze had come up and I tried to get my hair streaming behind me. Got it! More photos from the Bones of a Poet course assignments here, if you care to browse.

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 193

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 183: Expanding Universe

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 192

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 182: Time Waits for No One

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 191

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 191: And Drink and Howl

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 190

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 190: Blowing in the Wind

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 189

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 189: Mystery of Origin

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 188

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 188: Opening

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 187

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 187: Live

Custom Oriel: Golden Eagle Totem

Custom Golden Eagle Animal Totem (Front)

I am excited to announce that I will soon be launching a new series of oriels that features animals as shamanic totems. There is no doubt in my mind that animals reflect to us basic truths about our relationship to nature, our inner nature, and our hopes and dreams. Our cultural myths and symbolism through the centuries describe and support these associated traits and energies.

Along the same lines, I was asked to create a custom oriel pendant of an eagle for a friend's birthday. Thinking about this person, I felt that the golden eagle was a good choice: powerful, perceptive, clear of vision. The golden eagle has the ability to see things clearly and it soars joyfully and powerfully through the skies inspiring those around it. It also reflects the sun's light, giving it a magical appearance. Yes, that pretty much describes my friend Bonnie.

I found two powerful images of golden eagles and placed them each on golden embroidered brown ribbons. On one of the photos I added Swavorski crystal rhinestones as a "halo" for the profile photo. The dangle below consists of a silver bird charm, Swavorski crystal beads in complementary colors, and to top it off, a beautiful Hint charm, "Eagle Spirit". The artist Beth Himmila of says of her charm: "Wear an eagle’s feather to empower and support your vision for the future...(the) feathers of an eagle represent your soul’s light and shadow. As a messenger to the Great Spirit, eagle offers healing medicine from the Creator. Eagle gives you permission to love both darkness and light, opening a door to unconditional love and an opportunity to reclaim your personal power." I was happy with the result: a beautiful, powerful pendant for a beautiful, powerful woman.

Custom Golden Eagle Animal Totem (Back)

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 186

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 186: What Mood Am I in Today?

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 185

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 185: Start Your Creative Future Now!

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 184

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 184: Underneath the Skin You See

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 183

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 183: My Own Drive-In Movie Theater

Sometimes life gets so ridiculous. You go for years living a certain way, crafting and honing a way of thinking, perceiving life. That is, unless you are a dramatist, a self-ascribed thespian who has a flare for exaggerating everything. I mean, the scenarios I have set up in my life are ridiculous! Who in their right mind would have done some the things I've done? I suppose I make it happen that way, because somewhere I think that if I didn't make a lot of noise, things would be pretty drab. But that's a trap -- and very, very victim-oriented. But the one thing I can do is watch my participation in the scenarios that I have chosen to play in. That gives me a little bit of breathing space. And on top of it all -- it makes me smile to think that I have my own private, drive-in movie theater. I'll have butter on my popcorn, please!

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 182

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 182: Can't We All Be Friends?

And with these last two entries, I am now caught up to the present with my Daily Journal Page Challenge that I started earlier in the year. Somehow this month has been a rough one to keep on top of this creative goal. But I know enough by now that this space of spinning your wheels is always a creative one. So I'll start looking to see what exciting things emerge in the days ahead!

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 182

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 182: Have the Good Taste

Hmmm, a bit of the vampyre in me is leaking out....

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 181

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 181: In Search of Character and Calling