Sticks and Stones are My Bones

Camping, part II.

I did a lot of sitting by the river, letting the clear mountain water strip away the banality of my stress. And I picked up sticks. Long straight ones, shorts curved ones, all washed clean by the river, all bright shining in the sun.



When my collection was great enough (and yes, they were perfectly organized by size and shape) I began to build. Meditative processes work for me like a labyrinth: As I progress, I leave behind the noise in my head and move toward a state of quiet in which I can acknowledge the spirituality of a place. Distractions no longer exist, in their place a beautiful recognition of space takes over.



When I was finished, the nest remained (through the rest of the week, each day disintegrating a little as the wind striped off the tiniest of twigs) and I was left with internal calm and great thankfulness.

Rejunvinated by Redwoods

With a sigh, I am home. My soul feels full, replenished, but a little saddened by leaving the giant trees which surely house my heart. Because I feel a short of words to tell you about my trip, I will leave a list I wrote one day while camping.



June 19th 2008
Today I...

Listened to the wind ruffling the rhododendrons (and thought of Devon). Thought there is nothing more truthful than a great Redwood. Saw the newest growth of a swordfern, all tiny fingers, kinked and uncurling. Loved the word "opportunist" when applied to a Steller's Jay (who knew they made so many different calls?). Realized how much I was like a Redwood Sorrel, bright and shining in the shade, full of color and stimulation, retreating, folding up when the sun's rays beat down too severely. Felt the welcome of the trees, an embracing of kinship. Felt the warning of the trees, where I did not belong. Counted four footbridges, all rustic. Conversed with a rabbit, greeted a chipmunk, startled a quail, respected a raven.

Mum, this one is for you

Well, I'm off to go explore the wilds of Northern California for a week, to breath deep the ancient redwoods, touch the history of river rocks and eat like there's no tomorrow. And I will do it all with flowers in my hair.

Organization and Toes

I played a game tonight called "How much orange can I see." It may have been biased by my lovely new toes but I was amused all the same.


I've learned about how I learn in this past year (yes, thank you Miss CRM) and it has been oh so interesting. While I am not always the MOST organized person alive, and do suffer from the unending chaos of watercolor paper piled over linen piled over show announcements, piled over random bits that might end up in a painting, I have a selective love of extraordinary order. This comes out in silly places like my bookshelves (yep, every book is color coordinated - and has nothing contextually to do with the books next door) and my closet (a perfect rainbow spectrum) and little vignettes that I create around the house (how many times can I make one in turquoise?).

There is just something so satisfying to me when I can line up colors and shapes and sizes. You really should try it.

Working Girl (part 2)

Today the sun is teasing us with shine and my maple trees are sashaying in the wind. All my projects seem to be floating above like elusive little puffs of ideas, but I am unable to catch any of them. So it must be list time. Here goes.

A few items from my ever revolving list o' life...



1) Get to the studio and finish stretching / gessoing my new canvases - after all, when its time to paint I must be ready.

2) Finish three more pillows for my little etsy shop (oh yeah, did I mention the shop is open for business once again?).

3) Send my sister her birthday gift - better late than never!

4) Print up new pages of paintings for my revamped porfolios - I think they will be fantastic, but I guess the curators I plan on leaving them with will be the ones with the final say!

5) Finalize my outfit for Ladies Night Number 2 - I've got all the elements, just need to make sure its as sassy as I feel.

6) Find a new design book over at Half Price, I am terribly bored with the status quo of our home and have been reading a bit too much of my lovely Emily's blog asa well as sfgirlbybay's amazing blog and must redo SOMETHING!



Ok, I think this has helped already. Time, time, here I go. Wish me luck and creative energy!

Euphorbia love affair

Its a conundrum, why I love euphorbia so. I think its a two part affair, the plant is Dr. Seuss-like oddly beautiful and the name is just so addictive (yep, just wait, you'll be saying it in your head all day long, just waiting to work it into conversation - its almost as fun to say as podacarpus, but now I'm just turning into a botany nerd).

Uhm.... Right

Yeah, this is exactly what it looks like. Sewing machine drama. I tell you truly, there was never an invention that could inspire such emotional upheaval as this. One moment you are nearly cooing with pleasure over a newly finished piece, the next you are eyeing the machine wondering how much you could get from parting it out. Worst of all, its usually (secretly) your own fault (not that I would ever admit to that. Especially publicly. Like on the internet. Oh, wait a minute...)

Ah well, ten minutes later and I was back to a state of delight. The finished pillow, will make its etsy debut in just a few short days, along with some fluffy friends. Soon, soon, I'll let you all know!