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Archive for May, 2012

Getting My Mojo Back

Thursday, May 24th, 2012

Did you ever wonder where the term mojo originated? I looked it up on Wikipedia:

Mojo is a magical charm bag used in hoodoo, which has transmuted into a slang word for self-confidence, self-esteem or sex appeal.

Works for me. At least, I have a better energy level. Every year about this time, my allergies get the best of me until I realize what it is. I sometimes think I am finally feeling my age – yikes!, I don’t want to do that.

Anyway, I am happily purging and cleaning my office and studio. I am shredding stuff and clearing my space of unneeded and unwanted crap. My studio and closet are next on the list.

I also got caught up with 3 x 3s.

Here are the other 3.

Sheila wondered if I am beginning to note repeated patterns, motifs, marks  and if it might tell you something about myself or my art. There are definite repetitions and repeats and I always find myself gravitating to dancing or crossing linear shapes. I sometimes have to stop myself and think of something different. Something that I am noticing and enjoying is how colors play with each other.

I was pleased and honored to have the Episcopal Church of the the Ascension in New York City ask to use my Pentecost Banner in their weekly e-mail newsletter. It was the first church built on Fifth Avenue in the city. I was given attribution with a link to my website. Here is the banner which I made for Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa.

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

Tantra Song

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

Last Christmas, Lisa gave Stephanie this book. It is a book of paintings by Hindu tantra devotees from Indian cities like Jodhpur and Chomu, the anonymous heirs to a pictorial tradition that dates to the 1600s. They were painted on salvaged paper and were about 12 inches high. These colorful, simple paintings look so modern. I was so taken with the book, I had to order my own. You can read a NY Times article about them here.

Here are some examples of the paintings:

Apparently, the paintings were used during meditation and as a form of meditation. I find them mesmerizing.

It has been a dark and gloomy day here in Portland. I had to turn the heat back on. I also had to walk the dog in the rain. It is supposed to be nice this week-end. My new planters are arriving Friday so I am planning on some gardening time. Today was a bust for getting much done here at home. I had a couple of appointments and Mr C was in Corvallis for the morning so I didn’t get much done.

I did do some more catch up on green 3 x 3s. I do not spend a lot of time on most of these. I like to see what I can come up with in a few minutes.

Playing Catch-up, Again

Monday, May 21st, 2012

It was a dark and stormy day in Portland — a good day to make progress cleaning up my messy office. I decided to break up the process and not do it all in one day. This afternoon, I got back to work in the studio, to catch up on my green 3 x 3s. I am finding green to be a bit boring!

 

I also washed and ironed the paste resist pieces that I did on our STASH retreat. They were not totally successful because I used Dynaflow paints – to watery and Lumiere – metallic is a problem. I also had the added problem of paint leaking in the bag that I brought my supplies in so their were globs of sulphur green Dynaflow paint on all of my fabric.

Here are some phots:

The second piece was the most successful. It was an off-white background to start.

 

The Metolius River

Saturday, May 19th, 2012

My daughter, Stephanie, has often told me of the beauty of this area of Oregon. She and her family camp there every year. I knew it was near Sisters.

Then, at the art show last week, one of the artists sold a painting titled, Metolius Light. I had not connected it to the place Steph loves until, I had a conversation with the artist about the painting. She told me it was a river near Sisters that she loves. I said I am going up there next week and I hope to go see it.

The magical thing about this river is how it starts as a spring bubbling up out of the moss. You can see it up there. And then, you look to the right and very soon, it has become a river.

You walk through the Ponderosa Pines and fir trees to find this magical spot.

It is quiet and peaceful except for the musical sound of the bubbling spring and the river flowing into the distance. I was entrance by it and could have stayed there for a long time.

We finally walked back to the cars and drove into Camp Sherman, which is located on the Metolius. It is lined by cabins that you can rent.

I came home and told Mr C that we are going to rent one of those cabins so that I can spend some more time on the Metolius.

Today, I planned to do some gardening. I only got as far as planning how to move my herb garden to planters on the deck. This required some internet searching and a trip to a couple of stores with Mr C. We ordered two of the larger ones from Restoration Hardware. They are made from galvanized sheet metal. I think the will look great on the deck.

Tonight, Jack and M and M came over for dinner. Steph is getting back from a week of work  for 3191 with Maria in Maine late tonight. I haven’t posted a photo of M & M for awhile. They are really growing up so fast.

They are engrossed with the Alchemy app on my iPad.