Feeling Better, Baking and Journaling

Orange Pecan Muffins

     So far so good. I keep feeling better each day and thanks to my Mom and family, I think I'll be in great shape by next weekend for my daughter's graduation party. The morning seems to be the roughest time for me, the incisions ache then, but after some motrin and moving around, they feel much better by noon. Since I have to spend time upright, but can't go far, I spent some time baking today. Orange Pecan Muffins and a "cherry" version of Carrot Raisin Bread, both recipes featured in the October 1998 issue of "Cooking Light" magazine. Although both recipes are low in fat, I think the Carrot Raisin Cherry bread came out much better than the muffins. I replaced the raisins in the bread with dried cherries from Benjamin Twiggs

Cherry Carrot Quick Bread

and used Eggbeaters in place of the one egg in both recipes. The bread tasted a lot like carrot cake, my hubby loved it! The muffins were just ok, kind of on the dry side and not very flavorful, maybe they needed the fat from that one yolk. Still, I made an orange glaze for the muffins and that did make them better. It tired me out though, I had to go lay down after all that baking!
     I pulled out my visual journal train case full of art supplies for a while today. I worked on some of my pages in the journal I created in Teesha Moore's class. It felt good to play again. I hope to start using it daily now that I'm feeling up to it. So many things I want to do, this surgery stuff is so very inconvenient! Also need to get ready for the Wine, Food and Art show on the 21st this month. Right after my daugher's party I'll be in jewerly fabrication mode. So short post today, off to work on the "Honey-Pecan Crusted Chicken" with my mom...hope it tastes as good as it looks...

Teesha, Thunderstom and Page Updates

     Day three of Teesha Moore's class and we worked on lettering and actually writing in our journals. I was still wrapped up in "collage" mode and had a hard time switching to writing. I wanted to write on my pages after I got home, when it is harder to do collage but easy to write with the time and space I have. Teesha was very kind and gave me lots of positive feedback, so I feel like I am on the right track. She very tolerantly allowed me to have a photo taken, something she does not enjoy, lol, but I can be a pain in the patootie when I want something. The woman with us is Sue. We are both staying at the bed and breakfast and met there the first night. We have been sitting next to each other in class and working on our journals back at the B&B each evening. She has taken a bazillion classes in all sorts of collage and visual journal type

techniques. She knows all the teachers and has participated in ATC swaps for quite a while and has a big collection. I really enjoyed hearing about all her experiences. A very talented and generous person I'm very glad to have met!
     I'm posting a few more photos of journal pages that I further embellished. It was fun to add the pen and marker details, though I always feel like I am not "done."  I only wrote a few things on a couple pages, so they will still develop further after I get home. If you ever have the chance to take a class with Teesha, I highly recommend it. She is a little on the shy side and does not really socialize with students over lunch or dinner, but she is very generous with her gifts and talents and shares it all. What more could a student ask for?

     After we got back to the ranch, a storm blew in over Lake Erie. It was very cool, though I couldn't catch any of the lightening with my camera. The clouds were still very scary though.  I could see the sheets of rain falling over the lake in the distance, like curtains, it was very cool. The front that came though brought a big wind too, knocking over the lounge chairs that were empty next to us. But did we run inside? No way, didn't want to miss the show of course. After the storm moved on, there was a fabulous rainbow and a stunning sunset. There is something so magical about a colorful sunset. It is awe inspiring as well as creative soul food. I wanted to swim in the colors that appeared tonight, though that may sound silly, that is the thought that popped into my head at the time.

     Lastly tonight, I finished up my first ATC, artist trading card, for my first swap, which has to be mailed out tomorrow! Talk about cutting it close. I had fun with it and will post photos next week. I have to wait till the recipient receives it before I can share a photo. So all in all, a tremendous day full of art, fun and beauty...life it good.
   

     And a Happy Birthday to my brother Rick!

Class, China Gate and Early Pages

     Today's second class with Teesha Moore was spent adding collage to the painted pages of our journals. I had cut up lots of pages and images before I left home, so I was well prepared. We also spent time learning about using various markers, pencils and Panpastels. The Sharpie Poster Paint markers are Teesha's favorites and of course I had zero of those. However, she brought some for us to work with and after class I headed over to Michael's craft store and bought a couple to use. We had homework tonight. To add lots of details with markers, gel pens, sharpies and pencils. I worked on a couple pages, but felt so fried, I didn't get as far as I would have liked. More tomorrow though.

     For lunch a few of us went to Mark Pi's China Gate, which was just a short walk from our class. The food was excellent, we all agreed. Very fresh and beautifully presented. I ordered Chicken and Snow Peas with some brown rice. The restaurant sign was really cool though. A light up mask that resembles a Mexican "luchador." My photos of the sign and food came out fuzzy, sorry about that, but my flash is not charging properly and the darker photos are not so crisp. Or I was moving when I took the photos, either way, they are fuzzy.

     I'm posting a few pages from the new journal before they have any shading, pen/marker details or words. So when you see them tomorrow, you'll see how much more was added to really bring them to life. I love this part, adding all the details and designs to modify the collage and really make it something more personal and vibrant. These should all be finished or almost finished by tomorrow night.
     A couple things about what we learned today. The Panpastels are cool, but expensive and some of the markers that Teesha likes do not write well on top of them. I have been using the Caran d'Arche Neocolor II Artist Crayons to add the shading to my pre-Teesha class journal pages with no problems adding any marker or pen details, so I think I am going to keep using what

works for me. I adore these crayons now that I have discovered then and hope to have the entire palette
someday, but they are pricey. I notice that a lot of the nicer art supplies are on the pricey side, but I really believe that for the most part, you get what you pay for.
     Teesha also talked about Derwent colorsoft pencils, which I also do not have, but will purchase tomorrow with my lucky 40% off coupon. She wasn't a huge fan of Prismacolors, although my son left his entire set at home that I could easily confiscate. Another point Teesha made was not to "overthink" the collage pieces. She works instinctively and because of that, she works fast! It was great to see how her mind was working as she created pieces as examples for the rest of us. You really have to let go of "shoulds" and "shouldn't," and just play, have fun and go crazy...

at least that is what I got out of it. This is a perfect activity for someone who doesn't like to do the same thing over and over. And there is so much potential in everything. Menus, cards, newspapers, magazines programs, you name it, you can cut if up and use it. Of course, you don't want to become a "hoarder!"
     Lastly, the rain came this evening. Lots of dark clouds rolled in and I could see the rain falling over Lake Erie in the distance, it was very cool. Then the lightening jumped in and lit up the sky. Lucky for us, no power loss or other weather related problems. Hope weather is all cleared up for my drive home on Monday...

Teesha, Thai and Sunsets

     So today's class with Teesha Moore  started with the process of bookbinding. I have never done this before and it was challenging for a newbie, a labor of love is what I'm calling it. I'm sure it will get easier each time I make one, though I don't know how many I'll make, I may just continue to create visual journal pages and bind them up at a later date in a different way, we'll see. This first photo is the front of my new journal and the second photo is the back. I don't know if you can tell, but it is very dimensional. Several of the images, though not all, were glued to foam, just plain black fun foam, and then cut out and glued to the surface. They look very cool in person, I love it!

There are several of my own lampwork glass beads dangling as charms on the side. So glad I could incorporate some of them. We also painted as many of the interior pages as we could get to in the time allotted. I got fourteen pages, front and back painted, but still have one more page left. And although I have taken these photos of the journal covers, they are not quite finished. I still have embellishing to do using some markers and gel pens. Dots, swirls and stripes...so I'll be updating these photos eventually.
     We had a little escape for lunch, headed over to a most excellent little Thai restaurant called Thai Chili. I had an order of fresh basil rolls, similar to 

Vietnamese spring rolls, but with lots of fresh basil and no red meat. With a side of rice and a glass of cool Jasmine ice tea, it was a perfect lunch. I met a very nice woman from Paw Paw, Michigan and we walked over to have lunch together with another group of women in the class. They haven't taken any time to introduce everyone, I wish they would. Although we have name tags, we don't know where everyone is from or anything about what they do, it would be nice.

     Finally, got back to the B & B, had my half sandwich from last night's dinner for dinner with a glass of Chianti and then watched the sun go down. What a gorgeous sunset!  The sun became the most intense shade of neon orange as it hit the horizon, a color I've never seen before in all the sunsets I've watched in Traverse City and Austin. It was absolutely surreal. Sue, another student staying at the B & B agreed, so it isn't just me. I hope I get to see another one tomorrow and maybe at least one sunrise? Though that probably happens on the other side of the house. We'll see if I can get my booty up out of bed at 5:30 a.m....can't wait for tomorrow's class!

Road Trip to Teesha Moore's Class

     So I left yesterday afternoon for Avon Lake, Ohio. Spent the night in Royal Oak, Michigan with one of my best friends, got up and did some garage "sailing" this a.m. and then got back on the road around 1:30. Thrilled to see the "Welcome to Ohio" sign since that meant only another 2 hours to go. The total trip is about 7 hours. After I got on the 80/90 Turnpike, it was pretty smooth sailing. Thank goodness I rented a car with good gas mileage and A/C, it was 95 degrees! The CD player did not work, but the radio was great, found lots of stations with music I like to sing a long with while driving. No accidents or major construction, how cool, right?

     So I made my way to the lovely Sunset Shores B&B in Avon Lake and I was greeted by this lovely tree lined canopy, I just love it! Something magical about driving or walking though a canopy of trees. We try to drive along this gorgeous winding and canopied road in the fall when the colors are peak up in Harbor Springs, it is breathtaking. But enough of the fall, I'm in no rush to go there, though it is my favorite season. My room is lovely, furnished with art deco waterfall furniture and with two great views of Lake Erie. The deck is perfect to watch a sunset or sunrise, which I plan on taking advantage of tonight! Don't you wish you were here? Teesha Moore's class starts at 10 a.m. tomorrow, I hope I can sleep, I'm soooo excited!!!

Her husband Tracy Moore is also teaching a class and both are full, so I'll get to meet a lot of new artsy type people this weekend. Big thanks to Ginny of Small Studio Productions for hosting such wonderful classes this year to celebrate her birthday all year long!

Home, Kindness and Packing up

     Home is one of my latest visual journal pages. I've been practicing using some of the supplies I bought for my class with Teesha Moore this weekend. I think I may do a darker color wash over the roof, it needs it, lol. I wish my house could fly around with me, like my parents motor home, I think it is just the coolest thing to travel with your home, like a snail. I am beyond excited about my upcoming roadtrip and class with Teesha. Ginny of Small Studio Productions is hosting this wonderful class, so major bowing down in her direction. I have packed up most of the art supplies for the class, now I just have to pack up my stuff, pj's, toothbrush and those sorts of things. I hope I don't forget anything.

     Kindess is another of my new journal pages, though I feel like I have a lot more to do with this page. Saving a lot of work for the class, where I can use some new techniques to finish some pages up. Going to burn some travel CD's tonight too. If you pass a woman singing her heart out in the car next to you, it is probably me, lol, I love to sing in the car.

Cherry Festival

     It's that time of year again here in Traverse City. The National Cherry Festival is under way and the population swells! Took my brother my nephew to see the Blue Angels who make an appearance every other year. Fun show, though I have a hard time with the cost of the fuel to fly those babies. But they are incredible and since my son is now in the Navy, I gotta show some pride here! We walked around town after the show and then hit the classic car show. Now I'm not into the classic cars, though I appreciate their beauty and history.

However, there was the coolest Rockabilly band there and we sat and enjoyed the music in the shade and took a much needed rest since it was a hot and humid day. The band's female lead singer was so cool. She had on a red strapless cowgirl dress with black cowboy boots and she played the most gorgeous upright bass I've ever seen. She had long black hair with those Betty Page bangs and she could sing! A couple Patsy Cline songs and a great rendition of Johnny Cash' "Ring of Fire," it was a great little concert.
     My new "reading parlour" is coming along nicely. The second coat of paint is on and I've installed eight of the twelve built in shelves so far. I've never attempted to create a built in bookcase, but I am happy to report that I am thrilled with what I've got so far. I have to buy one more wide board and one more little one and have them cut to finish it out, but thankfully, Home Depot cuts at no charge! I still need to paint them or cover them, haven't decided just yet what I want to do. I am considering covering them with newsprint, but also considering priming and painting them the turquoise to match the walls and then writing some much loved quotes along the front edges. Decisions decisions. I have been taking photos as I go along so I will have a great before and after series to post later. My flash is misbehaving, I think the battery is low, so I will have to fix them in photoshop, but that is great practice for me. I have to prime the railing and paint it, hang a new chandelier in place of the current blah fixture and then remove the paint spots from the floor. I think I have at least another week to go before it is totally finished, although the chandelier won't be in until August, everything else I can do myself. I am sooo happy to have this small space to call my own, TV free and full of the things I love. Although it is small, it suits me just fine.
     Counting down the days until my workshop with Teesha Moore....ten days to go, woo hoo! I can't wait to just dive in and really immerse myself in the art of visual journal creation. I have all my supplies and have practiced using some of them too, so I shouldn't be too green when I get there. Lol, who am I kidding? I'm such a total newbie at it, but I am a lover of journeys and have every intention of learning all I can when I'm there. Alrighty, off to make some new visual journal pages and then I'll work on some photos from Cherry Festival and my "reading parlour" to share with you. Cheers!

Happy Birthday Julie!

     My friend Julie turned the big 5-0 this week and we threw her a surprise cocktail party. We had vintage photos from her childhood along with more recent ones plastered around a big photo from her childhood that everyone could sign. We also had some balloons in the tropical bright colors she and I both love, turquoise, pink, orange, lime green and red, forgot the purple though. The cosmo is her favorite cocktail and she had enough to keep her happy and cute all night long. I made this card for her using the visual journal techniques I've picked up, especially influenced by Teesha Moore, of course. My friend is among other things, a survivor of breast cancer, a wonderful mother of 3 smart and good looking kids, supreme knitter, seamstress, photographer, crafter, boss lady and generous friend. I feel so lucky to have her in my life and delighted in celebrating such a milestone birthday! Happy Birthday my friend!
     And it was after the party that I had my ridiculous gall bladder attack, can you believe it?

Art Attack

Where do I begin? I grew up feeling like I had no artistic talent because I could not stay in the lines when coloring, lol, which I've since learned is something that has plagued a lot of other people. I dabbled with crafts of all sorts, cross stitch, sewing, quilting, collage and more, always moving on after a while, falling in love with some new craft or medium. About 14 years ago I discovered beads and beading. And then I started making jewelry using beach glass and stained glass equipment. My friends called me an artist before I could call myself one. But eventually, I embraced it and love being an artist. I learned to make glass beads, lampworking, about 9 or 10 years ago and incorporated my beads into my jewelry designs. I started buying more "artsy" clothing to wear to art shows and buying art and fun things that appealed to the artist in me for my home. I even played with some pieces of furniture. And then a few years ago, I stopped decorating my house with "artsy" finds or things that I embellished. My house became less creative and more traditional. And I've lived with it like that for the last several years. Until this week. I spent some time watching a few Teesha Moore videos on Youtube. I thought it would be fun to get a little prepared for my upcoming workshop with her...but I got more out of it than I had imagined. I loved the how-to videos and began to use some of the new art supplies I purchased just for the class to create some visual journal pages. The process of painting, collage, pen, pencil, crayon and writing has gripped me and my consciousness like nothing else! I've been immersed in creating my own pages for the last couple days, going so far as to create a travel case of supplies so I can work on the go. So far I've worked in the Dr.'s office, at my daughter's piano lesson and during intermission at my other daughter's high school play. My head is filled with so many things, I feel like it will spin right off! And now I want to start adding color and layers to my house!!! To bring pleasure to me and my family without worrying what anyone else with think. I feel like some chains of convention have just been broken and discarded...I feel so liberated!!!!!!! Can't wait to start working as soon as I get up and whenever I can find even a few minutes. Can you hear me purring?

Ready, Set, Blog!

I am drawn to art both as a consumer of art and as an artist. Jewelry, glass, collage, mixed media and cooking are my favorite mediums, but I dabble in fiber(sewing)and other mediums that happen to get too close! Although my favorite color is white, I love lots of color, especially shades of turquoise, purples, oranges, pinks and greens. And even though I am a lampworker, capable of melting glass to create my own beads, I still have quite a collection of beads from all over the world and from other lampwork artists. I am especially passionate about pearls, bali silver and turquoise(of course!) My favorite design inspirations include Rachel Ashwell's "Shabby Chic," Frida Kahlo, Teesha Moore, Char Bickel, The Real Nancy Drew and Julie Pearson. Currently, I am also pursuing a Web Developer career, taking classes at the local community college. I hope to keep track of my work from here on out, whether with beads, jewelry, visual journalling, cooking and other mediums. And...I have a weakness for the following: chocolate, footwear, Van Gogh, tools, sparkly anything, bunnies, mermaids, maps, pedicures, vintage wall mirrors, Jane Austin, Greece(though I've never been), autographed cookbooks, vintage ephemera, block optic depression glass and vintage pansy dinnerware...among others.

So a big welcome to you, please comment, share your own works or inspirations, including cooking and food, I love company!