Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

Samhain

Before today was Halloween, it was All Souls Day and before that....it was Samhain    (pronounced SOW-en).  It was believed that the veil between the living and dead was thinnest on this night.  So special care was taken to honor those who had passed.  It's a special time for pausing and reflecting - winding down and turning inward.  For a woman my age, it's a fitting season, as I am in my "autumn" as it were.  I find myself turning inward more often than ever, reflecting on the meaning of my life.  It's a very peaceful experience.

Of course, Sunday is also the Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos. I love the traditions that are celebrated in Mexico.  So every year, I make my own ofrenda or altar to honor our loved ones who are gone.  Here is a picture of the early stage of the ofrenda for my parents and my husband's mother.  I have the special foods to add, the candles and the marigolds.  I'll post the finished one for you on Sunday.

Halloween

Don't you love this time of year?  I'm a midwest girl transplanted to California lo so many years ago.  But I still remember and long for those crunchy leaves in those great tones and the crisp chill of the air.  I suppose the closest I can get to that is to decorate for Halloween!  And the colors of this season are my absolute favorites...dusky orange, deep black reds, mossy greens, subdued yellows...ah.....

Does anyone really need this much candy?  But it sure looks seasonal.

Last year, I participated in Gina Armfield's Halloween swap and got the best stuff!  I pulled it all out and made this pseudo chandelier for the porch.  OOoooo...time to get out those Trick or Treat earrings.

Here's the laboratory display in our kitchen.  That's the playful cat quilt my sister Chris made for me.  Isn't she great? Oops....more candy....

Happy Halloween!

Chaos

What is it about us and our "stuff"?  It's so easy to just move it around and organize it and not so easy sometimes to actually use it.

So, I am once again reorganizing my studio, but I actually have a good reason, or several.

First, I have no room to work, so I have to get rid of a large flat file.  I know, I know..it's blasphemy!  I waited for so long and longed for so long to have a flat file.  Found one at a yard sale for $50 and have enjoyed it for a few years.  But, my art has changed since then.  I no longer keep stacks of large watercolor paper for painting.  And, Kelly Kilmer converted me to ripping up my paper when I buy it so that I will actually USE it (what a concept!).

So now, I don't really need huge flat spaces to store paper.  So...out it goes! 

Second, I have just accepted a large commission for an edition of 30 books, hand-bound by yours truly.  And THAT is a production that is going to take a big table!

So, I am nesting in my studio and will post pictures soon.  Until then...here's a different kind of nest, picture courtesy of my brother Jay.

Paris on my Mind

This is a book purse I made for my sister, Lisa.  She loves all things parisienne and goes to Paris every year to help my brother Tom with a tradeshow.  Lucky gal!  She's also a very "pink" person, so I chose those colors.  I marked some of the pages with rub-ons or stamps or labels, just to complete the french theme.

A Typical Beginning

OMG.

Do all first blog posts begin this way?  I think perhaps they do.

My first intention of the New Year was to begin a blog. 10 months later, after much procrastinating, it sort of exists.  Sort of...because there's nothing actually ON it. But, there will be as soon as I push this publish button.

Seems pretty typical.  Like the first page of a new blank journal, the first blog post strikes terror into the heart of the neophyte. It must be meaningful, it must be earth shattering, it must be BIG!

Well, it must be SOMETHING. So here it is. Something. It will evolve into its own something over time and I must just learn patience. Of course, if you are reading this, it appears that YOU will have to learn patience as well. If it makes you feel any better, I think it will be worth it.