spiral floor cloth

This is the picture I've been promising of the floorcloth I made at ArtFest this year. Cool, huh? I really like it and can't wait to have a space to put it where I can admire it on a regular basis.

In case you can't read the quote, it says: "Moment to moment, surrender is the choice to open up to what is actually going on inside us and around us. It is the most profound form of alignment with reality -- and it opens us to love."

I got a chance to do some art this afternoon. It is to be a gift for one of my AOE teammates. I'm 90% done with it. I think she's going to like it. I'm liking it at this point. I wanted to get started on it right away so that I could put it in the mail to my team coach before next Saturday's meeting. I'll try to remember to scan it before I mail it off.

Rob's making a quick chili for dinner tonight. It smells divine. I think I'll go offer him a beer for his troubles and keep him company in the kitchen.

the weekend

Whew, home from the weekend in Issaquah. Even though we got home Monday evening, I still feel like I am playing catch up. Good thing it's a three day weekend in a few days.

It was a good weekend. Challenging at times, good support and much laughter, too. Tiika seemed to enjoy her stay at the spa. It sure makes it easier to leave her knowing she likes it there with Lora. Not that we like leaving her, it just makes it less worrisome.

The rivers around here are at, or near, flood stage due to the hot weather over the weekend and the rain yesterday. All that lovely snow melted mighty fast over a 48 hour period. It will put a little "sog" in the Memorial Day weekend for some people.

We haven't made any grand plans. I have a team call on Saturday morning but then we are "free to move about the cabin." Actually, we'll probably run in to the Farmer's Market first thing and I'll make my call from the cell phone. Rob's call isn't until Tuesday.

That about does it for now. Time for a cup of hot tea!

ttfn

mother's day

Yesterday was a lovely day. I was acknowledged by all three of my girls and my husband. E-cards, phone message, a Go Fetch! baseball cap and the promise of a massage and pedicure in my near future. Many thanks to all. To start the day, Rob made me breakfast. Then we went out and spent a gift card I've had since Christmas (thanks Aunt Pat and Uncle Scott!). We were dog sitting Tiika's boyfriend, Fella, for the weekend so we also took them for a nice hike in Pattee Canyon.

Before day's end I got to chat with my mom and hear about the fine day she had at the beach with my brother and his family. Rob's mom had homemade spaghetti dinner at her house with his sister and brother-in-law. It sounds like there was much love being shared yesterday. Good stuff.

This is going to be a busy week as we prepare to head back to Seattle/Issaquah on Friday after work. I'm looking forward to reconnecting with my team in person. This phone conference thing works as far as it goes but I am discovering how much physical presence means to me.

Again, thanks to Gretchen, Teal, Tiika and Rob for making yesterday such a pleasure. Love you all.

hey, I still have a reader!

Well what do you know? At least one someone not related to me is still reading this here blog. Thanks for the comment Bob! Glad to know I'm not writing into a total void. =) (Yes, Mom, I know you're still reading!!)

Anyway, to reply to Bob's comment, about my back pain, I think the answer is two-fold. One, I have a predisposition to back issues due to my scoliosis so it's not entirely surprising that I would experience this situation at some point in my life.

And two, this is something Jean (acupuncturist) and I talked about a bit. The pain is very low in my back, extending into my bottom, sometimes radiating into my hips. If you believe in chakras, this would be an area associated with home, foundation, survival, connection to others and the ability to deal with change. This would correlate conveniently with the issues I'm currently working out. Also, I seem to see the color coral everywhere right now which is, to my mind's eye, a lovely combination of the red and orange associated with the two lowest chakras. Interesting, no?

Now, for the practical bits, I will check out Bob's book suggestion, Healing Back Pain, and I have phoned the chiropractor for a referral to a physical therapist. It can't hurt to look at this from multiple perspectives for healing.

ttfn

gonna miss her & other stuff

Yesterday I went for my first acupuncture treatment in months. I felt in need of a tune up. It was really great to see my acupuncturist, Jean. She's like a friend, easy to talk to and a good listener. I will definitely miss her when we move. I always smile, usually laugh and sometimes cry, all in the span of 15 minutes, during our check-in before she begins placing the needles. In looking to see if they had a website, I discovered an article about the clinic she and her husband own, click here to read it.

The session left me feeling very tired. Apparently, I had a lot of things going on that she was able to touch. She also strongly recommended I see a physical therapist for my back. I've been having a fair amount of pain in my low, low back and haven't been able to attribute it to anything. She thinks a PT will be able to look at it and give me a routine to strengthen it. I tried a chiropractor for a few sessions but just wasn't convinced it was the right path for me. I guess we'll see what the PT has to say.

Work has been busy. We've hired someone to replace Tom. He won't start until June 2. I think this is a good thing. I'm still adjusting to the first new guy in our department. And, I've been working on the resume. I think it's just about finished. Whew! It's been a challenge though I've had lots of support to get it in shape.

This morning I went for my second run this week. It had more moments of feeling good than Monday did, but it still isn't anywhere near the length I'd like it to be. I'll get there. I have to. My clothes aren't fitting the way I'd like them to and I refuse to buy anything new right now.

I guess that's it for now.

monthly report

Um, yeah, I can't even honestly say I am posting monthly right now. I think about it often and then just don't put the energy into do it. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I'm thinking about it.

In the meantime, I want to share a couple of pictures from ArtFest. I am still so completely happy with the pieces I created this year. In many ways, it was an even better experience than last year. I had an art buddy/friend in each of my classes which definitely enhanced my experience. I also had way less angst about our upcoming move so my mood in general was more upbeat. What a difference a year makes.

The first class I took was from Anahata Katkin called Mixed Media Mandalas. We worked on 24" x 24" canvases. This is the largest I have ever worked and was nervous about it. I didn't need to be. Anahata is a great teacher and the class was fast paced with no time to worry about how to fill the space. (She is also behind the fabulous company, Papaya! that she runs with her mom from Ashland, OR. You've probably seen her work at your favorite independent card store.)

What do you think of my finished piece? We are still trying to decide where to hang it. I'm still lovin' it.

My second class was with Lynne Perrella, a perennial favorite at ArtFest. She offers the same class all three days and they are always full. My first book purchase when I began doing collage art was Alphabetica so I was thrilled to get into her class this year.

This was another large canvas day, more along the lines of 40" x 30". Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of that piece. It is kind of dark and chaotic but colorful with lots of movement and texture. It it's easier to show in person and travels fairly easily so I can bring it on our next road trip.

My third and final class was a floor covering class with Judy Wise, an artist out of Canby, OR. Honestly, that was part of my draw when I started reading her blog, the fact that she lives in Oregon. I continue reading because I enjoy her art, her art journaling and her story telling.

And again, I found myself working large in this class. The canvases she prepared for us were, I believe, 28" x 34". I amazed myself with how I filled the space without too much worrying. The hardest part for me was the placement of the words. I wish I had done it slightly different than the final result but I love it anyway. It all worked out just fine. (That was my mantra, btw, for the whole time I was at ArtFest. You can ask Joanne and Elisabeth, I muttered it quite a bit.)

There is a great photo of my floorcovering on Judy's blog (ArtFest 4, I think) but it seems to have gotten corrupted or something and I can't get it right now. If I can get it, I'll come back and post it later, like, probably next week. To build the suspense, enjoy the shot of Elisabeth (sitting, in pink) and I working away, side by side.

So there, now you know something about ArtFest this year. You feel all caught up, don't you? Ok, I don't either but I'm done being in front of the computer for now.

ttfn