JUST WHEN I BEGIN TO JOURNAL AGAIN

SOMETHING SO UNBEARABLE
STEPS IN FRONT OF ME

BECOMING THE FIRST ENTRY

OVER PAGES THAT WERE PREPARED
WITH SUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS
ONLY ONE WEEK AGO.

In a blink of an eye
In less time required to take a breath

or take a life

My little sister is taken away

My heart is so heavy and in so much pain
that every and any task seems impossible

Our little sister,

my friend and confidant,

youngest daughter,

devoted and beloved mother

Murdered by the man? who did not deserve to be called

Husband

Father

Human

Our hearts are torn apart

Our spirits broken

~~~~~

BEAUTIFUL MAIL

Look at the stunning and rich color of this card!! This beauty came from Lyn yesterday and I am just loving it! Look at the sparkly seaweed and the cute "bubbles". The fish and beautiful mermaid were actually colored by hand and cut out perfectly and adhered to this card. I am just in awe.

I hope it brings a smile to you as it does to me.
Thank you, thank you, Lynnie!!!

And with this piece of art I will share from the much admired Kalil Gibran:

And a youth said, Speak to us of Friendship.
And he answered, saying:
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
and he is your board and your fireside.
for you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.
When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind,
nor do you withhold the "ay."
And when he is silent your heart cease not
to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires,
all expectations are born and shared,
with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence,
as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of it's own mystery
is not love but a net caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know it's flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there
be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds it's morning and is refreshed.

ONE OF OUR FRIENDS IS HURTING

one of my favortie pieces of DJ'S

If you can take a moment to visit sweet DJ
and leave her a word of comfort
Her heart is so heavy

A VERY SPECIAL GIFT

I love that my children share my love of the arts and music.
It's totally fun to talk with them about different artists and it's a most amazing thrill when they pick something up and send it my way because they are positive I will love it.

They are ALWAYS right.

I've received some of the most amazing postcards from my daughter, Renee, on her many adventures and there is always something quite artistic about each one she chooses. My collections of these is growing. I pull them out from time to time and just enjoy them and remember perfectly when and why she sent them.

This past week I received this gorgeous Giclee from my son, Ryan.






He and his love, Alicia were strolling through some galleries in Rockport, Mass., and when they came into the Corey Tevan Gallery (he doesn't have a web page as of yet) they both agreed that I would love Corey and his gallery.

They spoke with Corey and Ryan told him about his 'Faerie Mom' and even shared the blog with him.

How cool is that?

So, here I have yet another piece of most perfect art, with the added treat of the artist's personal note and signature.



It's an amazing blessing that my children "get" me; that they enjoy visiting and talking with their whacky mom.

PRICELESS!!!

FRIENDS AND MAIL

A short time ago I was surprised with this gorgeous piece of mail art from Sharon.
It's the biggest tag I've ever seen and the colors are stunning!!
The birds are so cool and this was mailed just like this!!
It's stamped on the other side
A giant postcard!
I bet the mail person loved it.
Lucky for me they took good care in the delivery of it.



This Friday I returned home late and a little package was at my door.
Inside was the most amazing collection of Faerie Bling.
Kim, a fellow faerie, sent these sparkly bracelets.


She may have made them!!!!
I have not found that out yet,
but I sure love them.

And if that wasn't enough, the cutest pink bag with a baggie of glitter
was included.

Faeriegirls cannot have too much glitter.

Now for something I have not seen before.
A brush, with self contained

BLUSHING GLITTER!!

I put some on right away and sparkled all night :) :)




Thank you, both, so very much for making
two separate days, very, very special.

Visit their blogs and be prepared for a treat. Sharon and Kim both
are delightful, caring, and generous of spirit.

SOCIETY OF SECRET FAERIES
TEA SWAP

This is my first swap of Society of Secret Faeries.

A tea swap, and my secret partner was Em who was more than generous with her lovely packet. It was especially endearing as Em had
suffered a terrible loss quite recently and I truly did not expect her to be up to anything, anytime soon. What a dear.

I will confess that she also included a delicious sampling of biscotti, shortbread, and another wonderful butter cookie..........BUT BEFORE I COULD GET BATTERIES IN MY CAMERA, THEY WERE MAGICALLY GONE!!!!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Thank you, sweet Em.
I love the gorgeous card and note and all the wonderful goodies.

GYPSY FORTUNE TELLER DOLL FROM ART UNRAVELED WORKSHOP

I think I may add more to her as time goes by
but for now, here she is

It's hard to see how shimmery the silk is.
The Fujifilm camera leaves a lot to be desired.

She seems so kind and wise, doesn't she?
The paper inside the crystal ball reads:

"The door to the heart opens from the inside"

The class was so awesome. Every single one of us finished our dolls and they all were
so incredibly different. I did not have my camera for the class, but it's possible I will get some shots from classmates soon. Lisa Renner is a wonderful teacher and I highly recommend taking
a class with her if you ever have the opportunity.
The face is one of her special molds. She had several to choose from
and I just really loved this particular one.
The body is dowel, foil, batting and wire.
This is all covered in strips of silk
then wrapped with fibers.
The hands we had to sculpt ourselves.
I have done hands many times in the past,
but all very small.
It was actually a challenge to make
big hands!!

I would need to sculpt the face from scratch if and when i do another doll and it
will be interesting to see as these faces are
way bigger than my mothies!!

~ ~ ~

A GIFT FROM MY LITTLE BIRD

Captured while hiking in Big Bend on Lost Mine Trail.
Nature's heart,
touches her's
and reminds her of me.

How lucky am I?

rd 7.07

beware, tenderness hides here

BACK HOME AND SO HAPPY TO BE HERE

It is a good thing to venture out of the nest once in a while. Go some place beside the desk job that allows me the lovliness of a quiet place to live. Better yet, to come back to the place I love to be.

Still a bit exhausted which leaves me unable to say much here except that I so enjoyed some time with Lyn. Girl talk and lots of laughter and "Show and Tell" played each day. Mostly by Lyn who took several classes and made the most divine art. Great conversation and catching up with Carol and Jim (and some purchases from their FANTASTIC set up as the "in house store" A few warm Maija hugs. A little MOO card trading. And shopping day. Thank goodness I only had under two hours since my class was the same day.

I didn't make it in time for one of my classes on Friday, but so enjoyed the wonderful Lisa Renner and her daughter on Saturday, who, despite the unbearable temperature INSIDE the building, (yes, inside) was gracious, and fun and such a lovely teacher. A few classmates were totally fun.. (Carol G. from Austin :) )

Here is a peek at my creation which I seem to still be working on. I loved this class...and my art doll. I'm making some changes and I cannot wait to show her in all her glory.

But for now, this is all I can show you.

She stands about 19" and is all lovliness in several gorgeous silks that I have been saving since our trip last year to Taos.

ART UNRAVELED.......HERE I COME


I'm packing up and preparing for my little adventure.

From Friday until Monday morning I will be

HERE

It's a mixed bag of tricks, really.
I'm a quirky gal who actually enjoys
solitude; and I guess that is a good thing
as that is the case the majority of my time outside of the office.

Eating alone at a restaurant has never been a problem.

wandering through a bookstore sans companion seems normal
Ahhhh, there's that word again.

NORMAL

I will meeting up with a dear, East coast friend, Lyn.

It has becomean annual event. A bit of art, a lot of catching up.
Lyn is taking several classes; all of
which I believe SHE could teach and I kid her about that all the time.

I am taking ONE class with
Lisa Renner.

A Gypsy Fortune Teller art doll.
I think it will be fun to share with like minds
the fun of polymer clay and fashioning art dolls. I've been playing with clay
for several years by myself, so it will be rewarding to learn and maybe share
techniques.

I've gathered my tools and some fabulous silk fabrics to design a doll to my liking.
I hope to have something to share with you next week when the dust settles.

The most fun is putting faces to names.

I have my MOO cards ready to trade and now
all I need to do is put some clothes and products in a suitcase.

I'm fortunate that I do not have
to get on a plane or train......it's happening right here in Arizona.

Maybe YOU can come next year!!!!

~ ~ ~

I CAN'T SEEM TO PICK JUST ONE MORE BLOG
EVERYONE ON MY SIDE BAR TOTALLY ROCKS TO ME
IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

I KNOW THAT SEEMS LIKE A 'WHIMP OUT', BUT
IT'S REALLY TRUE!!

PLUS,

THERE
ARE SO MANY MORE BLOGS I DELIGHTFULLY
STUMBLE UPON EVERY DAY.

EVERYONE SHARES
A LITTLE PIECE OF THEMSELVES
AND MANY SHARE EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUDE YOU ALL
FOR BRINGING EACH OF US WHO VIIST

A SMILE,

A HUG,

AND SOMETIMES, A SNORTING GOOD LAUGH OUT LOUD.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER BLOG

BLOG: Gentle Whipering Hues
By: D.J. Pettit

This is one amazing artist who generously shares the many steps of her process.
Her 'girls' are easy to spot as she has developed a certain look; and yet they are
all so different and dramatic at times. I find myself just staring for the longest bit
of time at each face. Such spirit!

But not only do we see amazing pieces, one right after another, but the photos
that D.J. shares with us around and about her home, filled
with nature and her pets, are just as lovely.

Truly a day does not go by that I don't hop over to Gentle Whispering Hues to see
what this gal has been up to.

AND, I love how the blog banner changes....always with some of her artwork.

She is one busy gal and yet she takes the time to take photos and share the process
with us.

Next in a long list of favorite blogs

Blog: Ornamental
By: Nina Bagley



Artist, photographer, teacher, writer, visionary.

Like a deep, refreshing drink of water when you
find yourself smothered, surrounded in the less than real.

This is how I described a visit at Ornamental.

"I sit before the screen, drinking in the richness of each post..
...always with a photo
to embellish the beautiful picture she has already painted with
her words.
She is a women close to my age it seems and it's possible that
endears her to me; but more likely it is the sharing of her
soul that allows for a feeling of kinship that crosses all
ages or any preconceived set point".

Her posts can be like a deep, cleansing breath.
Other times
It is a necessary pause to reflect.

Always it is memorable.

Nina shares it all and
I would encourage visiting often.

The next amazing blog



Blog: Ullabenulla
By: Ulla

Ulla's blog is a jam-packed trip to far away places, incredible artists, and so much gorgeousness that you need a whole day to visit.

I stumbled upon Ulla's blog early on and was so delighted that it almost took my breath away. Selflessly she introduces us to artists and their work we may never have discovered without her kindness. Add to that amazing generosity, is her very own work...DIVINE.

She is a true teacher, gifted artist, and a beautiful soul.

Grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back and be prepared to be amazed.

ROCKIN GIRL BLOGS


As promised, I am back to share with you some fabulous blogs.

I have traveled far and wide over the past year or so in blogland and feel I have only skimmed the surface. So it is with that thought I share a few blogs that have caused me to pause, reflect, smile, and generally come away enriched and happy to have visited.
Some may have already been 'nominated', but that will not stop me.

In no particular order I begin.


Blog: Open Door
By: Jennifer Black

Jennifer's blog is both delicious eye candy and food for the soul. She takes you on journeys that will make you smile, sometimes cry, and very often fill a small corner of your heart that you might not have been aware needing filling. Her photographs are stunning. Her artwork, that can be purchased as lovely note cards, is a treat. The poetry always moving.

All in all, Open Door is just that. A lovely, welcoming, wide open door. I encourage you to visit and visit often.

I will be back with more, but it's fun to list them one at a time to allow you the opportunity to savour each and every one without the distraction of the rest of my humble list.

I'VE BEEN SWEETLY HONORED

One of my favorite places to visit
is Tricia Scott's
lovely blog filled to the brim with beautiful poetry,
photographs and posts that just knock my socks off and really cause me to think long and hard.

When the 'Rockin' Girl Blogger' award began to show up on several blogs, I remember thinking, "there are several blogs I would instantly bestow (In my little Queendom) that title upon........and Tricia's was tops on the list.

So this week when I saw the bright pink icon on her blog I did a little jig.
But surpise of surprise to me as I continued reading I found my little name listed. Since Tricia had to now choose 5 blogs, she colored outside the lines and decided to choose 10. That made me laugh.
YOU TOTALLY ROCK, GIRL!!

So here I am with this very sweet honor
and I need to list 5 blogs that I
choose for the Rockin' Girl Blogger

This will be hard.

So hard, that I will be thinking on it for the next day or two.
So many blogs, so little time.

But I promise to get back to it and keep the ball rolling.

I needed another 'mini vacation' today
So I opened my photos and traveled
to
Santa Fe, New Mexico

May 2006

The courtyard outside the main house
we rented here

Blissful week
of roses,
the smell of pinon wood fire
burning in both fireplaces,
the gentle movement of
delicate Aspen leaves,
hot coffee ~ chilly mornings.

The beauty of photos.
In a nanosecond
you can revisit places
that soothe your soul
and refresh your spirit.

For some reason this whole post
is rather huge
like I am shouting
and I cannot change it
:(

A 'MIXED BAG OF TRICKS'
THAT IS WHAT I WOULD CALL TODAY

It was a great mail day

First

the next art doll arrived

This is Amalie

She is the next to last of the dolls in the Round Robin

I am just smitten with her

Her little book/passport that accompanies her
is just a lovely piece of gorgeousness that Bev
assembled from heavy watercolor paper


I'm not sure what I will add
but I AM sure it will be fun.

*
*
then another pair of beautiful wings arrived

from Christine

They will become part of a new Mothie soon.


GREAT mail

*
Then
^..^

*
*
A phone call from J.

..
_ "rut, ro"


Evidently

Ms. Morganstein chewed through the power cord

of the laptop
^..^

as he was working on

cafe business

and for a brief moment I am guessing his heart did a flip

thinking the rather new computer

crashed.

Soooooooo

Off I fly during my lunch hour to the nearest Best Buy

to pick up this


and may I just say

there is no such thing as a FREE kitten.

$110 later (a very expensive lunch hour)

I am heading back to the office

while tallying up in my head

what this kitten who has been with me three months

has cost me so far.

$
I can't even type it.

So that was MY day

and let's not forget the crazy job.