CLICK HERE FOR BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND MYSPACE LAYOUTS »


The Bear and I went to see Avatar in 3d Christmas evening with our children, grandson and a couple of young friends…Although we had advanced tickets Daughter #2, who had gifted us all with tickets, wanted us to get to the theater a couple of hours early so that we could get good seats…in the Middle, Middle…the best place to get the full effect of the 3d. She had already seen Avatar in L.A. and loved it so much she wanted to share it with her family…We did get our Middle Middle seats….


The first thing up was a recruitment video for the National Guard…it was almost futuristic in it’s glorified attempt to add bodies to the war machine…it looked like an action movie were our team never takes a hit..


The trailer was a peek at Alice in Wonderland, the new Tim Burton movie…It’s going 3d ….There are going to be a lot more 3d movies now that there are enough theaters with the capabilities to show them….I can’t wait…I love the movies and 3d is awesome…



Avatar was visually stunning and so much fun…3d is not gimmicky any more…not just things flying out towards like in the early days of 3d…instead it puts you more into the action which, of course, this movie had a lot of…The 10 foot tall blue indigenous “people’ of Pandora and the land they live in are stunning….you want to stay forever running and flying with them through their sacred forest among the magical flora and fauna.


You can even ignore the story and still have a good time. But Avatar has a good story line…It has it’s political statement, and it’s a love story and a war story….It’s part live action and part cgi…Neyliri the heroine, my favorite…is played by Zoe SaldaƱa and is all cgi but I believed she was real…

Even if you’re one of many who only views movies at home I recommend going out and seeing this one it just would not be as rich watching it at home in 2d.…The movie has something for every body. ……even a strong spiritual message…but it’s long, almost 3 hours so you want to go to the most comfortable theater near you.


My movie tip for the year.

....life.



On October 26th babies Phoenix & Haiven were brought early into the world via an emergency c-section. Neither baby weighed more than 1 lb 12 oz…very, very tiny. And their skin so paper thin that I could actually see their hearts flutter.
They had all their finger and toes…and in my mind that meant that they were going live happy, blessed lives because I knew they were in a hospital where they would receive the best of care.

I had no idea, none, of all the many obstacles they would face each and every minute, and the many milestones they needed to meet.

In the neonatal ICU world of lights, beeps, buzzers and numbers on a screen, every second seems like victory…yet you are constantly reminded of how everything is so precarious…
little lives with such a thin cord holding them to us.


It is amazing how quick and easy it is to fall in love with such innocence, it literally happens in a flash of light…babies come into this life as pure love no matter the circumstances. I fell in love as did everyone who was touched by them during their brief time on this plane.


Phoenix, the big brother, left rather quickly…just under 3 days… a little less than 72 hours…We put all our hopes in the Haiven…a lot of hope for such a little boy. He survived heart surgery, and so many changing of tubes and procedures, imaging’s and different combos of medicines to keep infections at bay…and as the 3 week milestone approached we had reason to be hopeful….but his little body experienced a sudden flurry of things that simply went wrong and his parents made the heart wrenching decision to let him pass over.


I have a friend who says they never came to stay…that they indeed were little angels who brought us their gifts and quickly went back from where they came.


We had an Honoring for them.
Ritual is good……
the babies parents were showered in love, compassion and empathy…
they went through so much heartache,
friends and family stood witness to their pain and loss..…
We walked a labyrinth with paths of painted flowers and lit candles in thanks to Phoenix and Haiven for bringing more love into our lives and for bringing us all closer together.


I have asked myself why???? one thousand times.
This has been a crazy with grief, sad time, for everyone who had their hearts opened and softened by the birth of the tiny spirits that were Phoenix and Haiven…our angels. That is the gift they brought an opening up to make room for more love…a bigger, stronger, connection to the people we love…
They softened us towards each other, gave us a greater capacity for compassion.


Right now we are all so tender, the sorrow still comes in such big waves…unexpectedly, totally without warning. As with all pain, time heals…
I know this too will pass, leaving us more in touch with our humanity….closer.

....joy


....little bit of joy garden!

....and more joy


Behind this door is where I work and play...meditate and rock out~
I find joy here!

....more joy please




Joy
It’s a word that stops me in my tracks. It’s never a negative….it’s every color…it’s something we are blessed to experience….


Joy...we all want it and there is plenty to go around
…it should be one of the rules of the road…everyone should experience joy as a regular part of their day.



Joy
is not in things; it is in us.

~Richard Wagner



If Karma is a mix of circumstance and choice…do we....can we,create our own
joy?


May your walls know joy; May every room hold laughter
and every window open to great possibility.
~Maryanne Radmacher-Hershey





The world would be a joy filled place if it was a human right
to be able to follow our dreams...



Winning is important to me, but what brings me real joy is the experience of being fully engaged in whatever I'm doing...
~Phil Jackson



joy's
soul lies in the doing.
~ William Shakespeare



I have a pretty
joy filled life
I experience gratitude all the time
....joy comes in small bundles as well as big ones.
There are times when I forget that….
holding out for big ones to celebrate….
ignoring the small….


I need to take joy breaks during the day….sometimes we have to seek joy out.



Stress of the goings on in the world can sometimes wipe out joy for a few days and then I have to take a news break for several weeks….the worlds in a bit of a mess…we need
more joy.

Wish I knew how to make that happen….


The most profound joy has more of gravity than of gaiety in it.

~Michel de Montaigne



Sometimes I don’t recognize the joy I’m feeling while I’m experiencing it,
it’s the looking back,
the telling of it, that brings it into full focus…



Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with.

~mark Twain


Joy comes to me in whispers….I have to listen..


When all our selfish, agitating desires have been expelled from our mind, what is left is pure joy, pure spirit, of which we have been unaware for all this time.
~eknath easwaran



Things are enjoyable,...I need my stuff...(should I have more than I need?)
but it is the joyful moments of a day that I remember…..



When we break through to the deeper recesses of our consciousness,
our capacity for joy is unlimited..

~eknath easwarn

Just imagine..unlimited joywow!

.....California Fiber Artists @ Arts Visalia


Friend and fabulous artist and teacher Lura Shwartz Smith....
this is the woman who against all odds,
drew enough helpers to put together the Peace Mandala, or thangka, I blogged about several months ago...
Our portion was of the Buddha sitting under the bohdi tree....
I was a leaf maker...there were a lot of leaves
We had one month to put together 36 - 3' x 4' panels, which when joined together was 18' x 25' and the only way we could really view it was to take it to the local telephone company and hang it from their roof.
It was part of a world wide effort to create the life of Buddha in a thangka....
It was an incredible experience.





The other doll artist in our group is janet Coshow....
I love this wonderful figure!



Me and my Walk on the Wild Side Shaman



Me with Maiden and Mother...
Crone didn't get to come...




......cfa member Sherry Kleinman, Kevin Bowman ~ arts visalia curator and a very nice man, CfA member Benita Dodge, Lura and me... Sherry and Benita both traveled for 3 hours to get to the gallery... one from the north and one from the south. We are standing in front of Benita's gorgeous piece. It was so nice to meet California Fiber Artists members...for the most part we only know each other via our yahoo group. The reception was very well attended and the gallery looked fabulous. I have more photos to post later...

.......something we can do




We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors,
we borrow it from our children.


To find out more about Blog Action Day, or to participate in this annual event, go here:
http://www.blogactionday.org/.














I am honored to receive this award from
Sue Barton @ Barton Originals...
she creates the most amazing dolls...
.and shares inspiration
worth a visit for sure...
Thank you Sue for thinking of me!!


This award arrives with some rules:

1. Thank the person who gave this to you.

2. Copy the logo and place it in your blog.

3. Link the person who nominated you.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know.

5. Nominate seven 'Kreativ Bloggers'

6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them.

So, seven things about me that you might not know...

1. I'm a bibliophile
2. I'm a jason Mraz & john Mayer groupie
3. I was a card reader for the Physic Readers Network before I realized that we were mostly taking money from people who could least afford it...but it was a very interesting gig!
4. My guilty pleasure is Gossip Girl on dvd
5. I love Alice Hoffman...favorite,
Illumination Nights
6. I wish I could paint
7. I lived in a tepee in Desolation Valley near Lake Tahoe

Seven blog I enjoy and want to share this award with...


.....Layer Upon Layer


This is where I'll be tonight...the artist reception is from 6 ~ 8 pm.....
I'm honored to be part of this group of fabulous fiber artists...
actually it's a little intimidating.
I'm really looking forward to seeing their work in person.
It's the first show that I've been a part of that is close enough for me to attend.

Arts Visalia is a beautiful gallery
and they really give their artist wonderful receptions...
good food and well attended....so I'm excited!

If any of you are attending please make sure to say hi...I want to meet you!!!

....poor Mother Moon

Well, we've bombed Mother Moon....
but as someone pointed out to me, "We've been bombing Mother Earth for years
so what's the problem?"

......why'd they leave?


I lost a follower...


Now first let me say I'm not losing sleep over this but I wonder why?
I've read a lot of blogs where the authors say they don't care about followers...
and this is something I don't understand.
If you're writing a public blog it would seem to me that you want people to stop
by and read it..

...maybe even look forward to what you will post next.

Anyway, I care. I want followers..
Align Center.
I write to share what's going on in my life and what I think about the world around me.
I like the connection. I like comments.

So I wonder what I did wrong?...

One day I have 48 much loved followers and the next 47
...where did he/she go?

Maybe they were just downsizing their list of blogs to follow and
I was the least interesting?


Or maybe I offended someone...
I really don't want to do that

...I'd like to think that my followers are an open minded group of people who enjoy my Spirit Figures and should I touch upon something they might not agree with we could talk.
My blog isn't particularly political...

yes, I'm anti-war and pro-peace...shouldn't we all be?
I think children should be protected, but don't we all?
I don't mind sharing about Plastic Soup and other such horrors,
you want to know, don't you?


So why did I get dumped?

Do you think they might still sneak back every now and then to see if I improve
my writing or photography or my figures?

eeck!
Maybe they didn't like my figures...now that might cause me some lost sleep.
They are so personal...geez...I hadn't thought about that.


Well, if you're still reading and just not following...
your absence has been noted, you've been missed...

and to those of you who still follow,
thank you for hanging in with me.

......the joy of it all


Ready for company




The Artists...Ellen, Valerie & Kathleen





......browsers & buyers For the most part we were too busy to take many pictures.
People came steadily from 10am - 6pm on Saturday...
with a bit of a slower start on Sunday... .they came in twos and in 20's.....
nice people.
Many left with art, many came to talk about what we do and why we do it.
We had people sign up for workshops,
.
We had a couple come with a video camera....
they were hoping to make it to see all 80 something artist and film a little of each talking about their art,
a photographer from an area newspaper came and took loads of pictures...

we talked and talked and laughed....



...we laughed a lot!


Kathleen and I having a 'dueling blogger' moment...



...Maria, a dear friend and mentor



My studio was graced with goddesses



....bettina and kimee reading tarot cards and being silly


.
...we had a lot of friends come by....


....Ellen with one of her fabulous ceramic pieces...
She brought it Sunday morning. As soon as I saw this wonderful face I felt a strong connection to her. I didn't do anything about it...
at about 3pm a couple fell in love with Ellen's magical pieces and they were buying... when the woman picked this one up my heart actually skipped a beat...
I was so grateful she put it back down, I thought I might have to fight her for it..... ..
....it is so full of Ellen's uniquely wonderful creative energy..
She will hang in my studio of course..
it's where I spend much of my time and looking at her is inspiring...

trails 09 is past....
so many days to get ready and over so quickly.
I want to thank those of you who came by to see us and our offerings...
you're what makes the weekend memorable for us.

......one more day and I'll be ready



I do enjoy being part of Sierra Art Trails, but it's a lot of getting ready....



....but I'm almost there.......
the mess is less




This is another of the 'celebrate' figure...





I hope to get a better photo of Lakshmi above,
I really love her....of course I love them all...
although she is a Hindu goddess I made little prayer flags for her each with it's own mantra...
.one for abundance, one for peace, and bliss, bliss, bliss.....
She is wearing an om mani padme pendant, the symbol for compassion....and she is dressed in katas, scarves that indicate good intentions.


Must go fall in to bed now....
tomorrow will be another very busy day....

Posted by Picasa

....almost ready


One of a series I'm calling, 'celebrate!"......
she's ready for company!



The Art Bomb Explosion.....I had to stop and clean up......I could no longer find space to work...isn't it awful? Geez!



The Empress waits...



A little Christmas Spirit!


Posted by Picasa

......no denying her spirit

Valerie Runningwolf will also be sharing a space with me during Sierra Art Trails....
I remember the first time I saw her work, I loved it....
the second time I begged her to jury into Timberline Gallery.....so I could see her wonderful, heartfelt work on a regular basis....
but also because I wanted her for a friend.





She brings to mind ancient times.....there is wisdom in her work......
she explores both spirit and material.



.....our Diva of Words and Color


My friend, and mixed medium artist artist Kathleen Mattox, will be showing with me at my studio for Sierra Art Trails, our area open studio event this weekend...I'm not ready.......she says, 'come see some new work, older work and one of a kind pieces plus Show Day Specials'.....I can't wait...I'll have those things too.





I've loved her work since first look..
She is the Queen of Color and Words.....


Her work is joyful....like she is....

If you can, come see us
.

........artists reception and butterflys

Me and Peace Seeds at Sierra Art Trails artist reception....



For the life of me I can not remember what it was we were laughing at....

Art receptions are always kind of outer body for me....

I get nervous, butterflies in my tummy....

It's all very high school....

the, 'do I belong' thing.....

and then of course it's the do they like my Spirit Figures?
Parties and group things tend to leave me feeling a bit off center.... most of my life I've felt like I'm the odd one and everyone else fits in.... gatherings always bring up old feelings.... but I am coming to realize that almost everyone feels the same way... they don't necessarily know any more about fitting in than I do...
I think this may be especially true of artists...
we prefer to speak through our art.

All that said...the reception was a lot of fun...
good food, good music, good people and great art!

The show runs through next Sunday, art trails weekend.
It's an opportunity for people to see one representative piece from each of the 90 or so artist participating in trails....Visiting the gallery is a good way to map out the artist
studios they would most enjoy visiting.


I'm hoping to see some of you at mine.
Ellen Carnese
Kathleen Mattox

and

Valerie Runningwolf

will be showing with me.

.......fabulous fairies, fabulous friends




Ellen Carnese,
fabulous artist and creator of these delightfully whimsical works, will be showing at my home studio during Sierra Art Trails open studio tour.
I'm so happy to have her here for the weekend event.
I've loved her ceramic pieces since the moment I laid eyes on them.
They make me smile and think of fairies with attitude working magic in the glen.
I like Ellen a lot too.
She is a beautiful, full of life woman...
She makes me smile.
She lives in Coarsegold and is a member of Timberline Gallery in Oakhurst, CA.








I'm in the final days of preparation....It's crazy all the things I still need to do....mail post cards, make signs, clean my studio & ready it for guests, a bit of gardening (I have no green thumb but I can grow Cosmos),
art, I have to create more Spirit Figures,
plan refreshments, etc.


Although my muse has returned she seems to be sleeping until 3 or 4 in the afternoon before she graces me with her presence.
And for one reason or another my family seems to be in need of me more than usual.

Thank Goddess for friends....I need to get 3 figures to Arts Visalia
(about a 3 hours round trip),
between now and the 28th.
Bless my friend Kathleen for agreeing to do it for me...
I just have to pack them for a short trip and a much kinder one then they would have going ups.....
The say to pack things as though they will be dropped from a 3 story building and then stomped on by elephants....that's harsh and definely causes me to say a few prayers when ever I send a figure off with them.
The reception for Arts Visalia is is on Oct. 9th, 6 ~ 8 pm.
Trails is October 3 &4...10am ~ 6pm.

.......this is the international day of peace


Let's pray for peace on this International Day of Peace
Let's hold in our hearts the brother and sisterhood of all
Let's visualize no war, no hatred, no hunger, no greed

I can't not cry when I listen to this beautiful song...I cry for what could be






.....Tuesday morning blessing, for me & you

Blessing of Change

Bless this day and all who live it
open my eyes to ways of helping
give my heart over to my humanity
connect my spirit and my powers
spur my best self into action

I bless this day and all who live it
touching one heart spreads joy
sharing freely expands my heart
listening to others opens my mind
respecting others fuels my hope

I bless this day and all who live it
in small ways I am growing wise
in quiet ways I am learning now
in openness my spirit grows strong
in sharing, my life makes sense

I bless this day and all who live it
the essence in you is my essence
knowing our similarities frees me
feeling the sameness at our cores
unites us all as family of billions

I bless this day and all who live it
I reach out in kindness and spirit
you may learn to reach back in time
if I keep true and strong to being
the change I want to see in the world

Bless this day and all who live it

~ Abby Willowroot © 2008



....Tarts for the Arts and other fun stuff





Peace Seeds



Here is the 'official' invitation to the opening preview for the kick-off of Sierra Art Trails...I really hope to see you there.
Timberline Gallery will be open too...
we are receiving the, "Keeper of the Flame Award".
The Eva Scow Trio really puts out some good sounds.
And of course there will be 'Tarts for the Arts'.

Stellar Gallery Hosts the Sierra Art Trails Preview Exhibit
Come meet the artists and view their work at a gala opening reception!

The Sierra Art Trails Preview Exhibit
at Stellar Gallery in Oakhurst, CA
is now open to the public.
The exhibit runs for one month prior to the Sierra Art Trails
The opening reception will be held this Saturday
September 12, from 4 to 9 p.m.
Stellar Gallery is located at “Gallery Row,” 40982 Highway 41, Oakhurst, CA.
"Tarts for the Arts" Sierra Art Trails annual fundraiser will take place during the Preview Reception. There will be a silent auction and art raffle and live music by the Eva Scow Trio.
Admission if free!

Sierra Art Trails Open Studio Tour -
October 3 and 4, 2009
Catalogs will be available at the preview exhibit.




.......explorers



This is my Beloved Grandson (front) and his friend playing on the river over Labor Day weekend......
We spent two days just hanging out...
so good for the soul.
The log was pretty waterlogged but some how they made it work...

The river was so clean and clear & icy cold,
Note BG trying to suck up his tummy to avoid getting it wet...
silly boy......
but I did the same when I finally got hot enough to venture in.
This is what childhood should be...
Posted by Picasa

Related Posts with Thumbnails