Ode To Spring

Home & Garden Altered Book

It's amazing how just a little touch of spring outside can energize you on many levels.  I sat down last night knowing that I wanted to do something in this book....but what???  Since it's Easter Sunday...I wanted to see flowers blooming.  My sister gave me a roll of duct tape for Christmas...I know that sounds funny, but it's the checkerboard pattern in this art work.  It's been calling to me but I wasn't sure where I wanted to use it...until last night.  

If you've ever used duct tape around the house (and who hasn't), you know that in a instant, you could end up with a kink or crease in it...it's very sticky.

I didn't want to end up with it ruining my page, because once I put it on the page....I knew that would be it.  So...I got smart!  I took a piece of copy paper and laid down two strips...clean and perfect!  And then I cut the shapes I wanted and glued them to the page.  Perfect solution and they clearly are the "statement" on these pages.  And I used a hole punch and cut some of the leftovers and glued dots.  The big circles are from a page that I did with my Gelliart plate and cut with a  punch. Am I finished with this?  Never sure...I could end up adding a bumble bee or butterfly...but one thing I do know...it makes me feel as if spring has arrived.

Closer views...

MUSIC LEGEND

"There is no life I know

to compare with

pure imagination..."

   Judy Collins

Art Journal

I haven't been able to stop thinking and talking about seeing Judy Collins in concert last week.  I don't know why I've never seen her before...but I knew it was now or never!  So my friend Jan and & went for a gal's night out.   OMG.  I've seen her on PBS, but there's nothing like hearing a person's music live.  Her voice is still as pure and clear as ever....she can still hit the high notes.  And...her songs tell such wonderful stories.  That's what folk singers do.  And in between the songs, she would share little snippets of her life....her classical training and more.  

So when I am really inspired by something...I have to get out my paints and get my feelings on the paper.  I don't need words although sometimes I use them.  I have my ticket stub collaged on the page.  And I love the words from one of her songs...."There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination..." her songs, her music....inspire me on my artful journey.  The picture is my attempt at capturing her in my "folk art" sort of way, the distinguishing feature being her long locks of hair.  So, you may have an old cd of hers covered in dust....treat yourself....listen to her magical words and she'll take you on a trip.....

TOM'S 25th BIRTHDAY....

Blowing out the candles on his 6th birthday

 And today, I finally finished the 

Red, White & Blue Journal....

Some childhood memories here...

and I love my jigsaw puzzle pieces

that form the American flag above 

which I have written...

Life is a Puzzle..... 

I haven't posted all of the art from this book, but I can say that for the last 2 years....it's been a labor of love.  And it seems the more I got into the book, the more it became about...Tom.  He's my inspiration!  I could do Red, White & Blue, Vol. II...I have a lot to say.  So this will be his book now and I've imparted lots of little wisdoms here and there.  I hope he shares it with his family some day and will remember my sense of humor and my words of encouragement and he will always know how much I love him and how proud I am of him.  (Kleenex, please).  

The note inside this page reminds him that, on occasion, something might come unglued in this book and to just glue it back in and that in life, it's similar....when things become "unglued" which they can....you can put them back together.

HAPPY 25TH TOM!

A Good Read - Without Reservations

I love Friday nights.  It's the best night of the week.  My work week is done and the entire weekend stretches out in front of me.  I'm too tired to do art work, but I'm looking forward to hooking up with my latest book, Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach.  

This is a very light "read"...great bedtime reading.  I want to share this....I've shared this with a lot of people this week....because it's a book about someone taking that "risk" and doing something that's outside their comfort zone.  It's something I think many of us  (women) think about doing...but would never do.  So, as you're reading this book about a woman (50's+) who takes a leave of absence from her job as a reporter...to live abroad for a year...imagine yourself walking through the neighborhoods of Paris and taking a class at Oxford and in Italy...well, I'm still in Italy! I haven't finished the book yet.  I almost don't want to finish the book!  I wish I had highlighted some of the lines I liked best but since I'll probably share this book, I think the reader should not be influenced by what resonated with me.  Suffice to say....and we all do it....we don't live in the moment.  We're always wishing time away, i.e., "the week is half over...it's closer to the weekend"  instead of just living our lives now...in the moment.  I'm always procrastinating about creating the art I want to create...never enough TIME!  You have to make the time for what you love. It's not so easy.