I haven't vanished ... well, not really ...

... I know, I know ... it's been nearly an entire month since my last post ... you close your eyes for just a moment and time refuses to stop for you ... ah well ... so, where have I been?

one lovely concerned blog pal asked that same question not too long ago ... my response? ... "good question; seems like I have been hiding under a rock"

... and it does, too ... let's just chalk this up to an uneventful and non-epiphany filled self imposed hibernation ... have I been creating? uh, no (seriously, T, I haven't forgotten and I do still love you ... great ideas, but no success with them ... I simply suck right now) ... have I discovered any wonderful medical breakthroughs? again, no. how about renovating the entire house ... that would be one great reason & quite exciting, but no ... perhaps I've just been keeping up with the blogs I enjoy so much ... don't I wish! I am over a week behind on even those ... so, what have I been doing? ... honestly, I couldn't tell you ... what i can tell you is that I have been seriously missing this most wonderful of blog communities & doubt I could stay away much longer even if I tried. I really need to do some bragging on some fellow artists as the rock I've been under must be located directly under one of those lucky stars ... you'll see ... hopefully before this weekend is through.

Let's Get This Party Started!

The 2010 Pink Artists Block Party has officially started!

If you saw my previous post, then you know that I started blogging right after joining my very first call to artists ... it was the call to create 2"x2" art squares to be used in the skirt of an art doll being created to raise funds for breast cancer research. Many artists contributed more than a single square, so brilliant Monica decided to send out the extras to a number of brilliant artists. She asked each of them to create a 10"x10" block and then return them to her to be joined into one amazing are quilt ... well, they did their part and she's done hers ... now it's your turn at a chance to make a difference ... and possibly win the AMAZING art quilt ... or a number of other art prizes donated to the cause ... like this:


"Tribute"



an altered tin I created especially for this event



with Love Squared right inside to keep an eye on your dreams,
wishes or other precious little treasures you store inside



the outside is covered in pictures of some art squares that ended up on Love's skirt.

For more information, details on purchasing raffle tickets and a view of the entire prize wheel of awesome offerings, please visit HERE.

You can also help by posting this button:



on your blog sidebar with a link to the post ... every little effort helps!

eenie, meenie, miney, MORE! (a.k.a. Digging Deeper)

(click the above image for the Treasure Map - that's the post with all the participants)

This week I decided to share some of the events that I have happily participated in since starting my blog. It's these events that challenge me on so many levels. Sometimes they allow me to contribute to worthy causes; they also act as a catalyst to a whole new world of artists.

This first flashback is the reason that I am here at all:

Pink Artists Community Doll Project - 4 Squares

I don't even know where I came across the call to artists, but I sure am glad that I did. Did you happen to notice that the post was basically a laundry list and had no mention (other than in the title) of what I made the squares for ... or how I had all of six comments (two from me & one from uber-spouse ... mhmm ... still a keeper) ... funny how a little time can change so much. Many of you reading this know all about the Pink Artist Doll Project, but for those of you hearing about it for the first time, be sure to go HERE ... this is especially timely as there is a really cool Block Party in progress - details can be found on my sidebar.

Next up ...

Two Shrines



Slightly humorous sidenote ... there was a little bit of a bidding war on both shrines (which of course was a HUGE boost to the ego) ... come to find out they were between my mom & my mom-in-law.

(giggles are quite appropriate here)

In case you are wondering, each of them ended up with one.


And because this one actually goes sort of hand in hand with the one above ... AND is going to be the launching pad for this year's Cigar Box Auction, I have to include:

Dia de Bloglandia



I love, love, LOVED everything about this whole event & am really looking forward to this years celebration ... I hope that those of you that were not involved last year consider joining in this time around.

Thanks again for stopping in! ... and don't forget to visit Seth's post HERE ... be prepared to stay a while ... I only had time for a sneak peak, but can tell you there's some real goodness going on over there.

2010 Diary Project

7/31 - My final versions submitted to the 2010 Diary Project:


(click on images for larger versions)

It's nearly 1:30 am, but I did it ...

... I finished my journal page for the 2010 Diary Project hosted by Fantazya ...

... drum roll, please:





In her latest update she mentioned that we could send additional pages (I think she didn't get the 365+ participents that she was hoping for). I sent her two more designs to check out ... this first one is super simple, but I like what it says (it was something that I woke up thinking):


... dream ... believe ... achieve ...





And this one:





I like this last one ... didn't notice it at the time, but there seems to be a heart (if not a sacred heart) hiding in the yin-yang design. Cool.


Thank you to everyone that took the time to comment on my last post. I can't begin to tell you how great it felt to read what everyone said and to see how many people have similar feeling.

When I Grow Up ...

... I want to be a mermaid ... at least that's what I said when I was five ...

ATC - 0709

Recently a comment I read had me thinking about art. Specifically my art ... and if I consider it mine ... or even art. See, I have had a lot of years to form ideas of what I consider to be "real" art. To be honest, what I do doesn't make the grade (try to bear with me ... this really isn't a pity party and I'm pretty sure I'm going somewhere with all this) ... I am uber-perspectively challenged, my color play often looks like some sort of psychedelic trip gone very, very wrong, I can look at a color wheel and STILL not get it, and although I have tried a number of mediums, there isn't a ONE thing-style-type that rocks my world and makes me want to east, sleep, breathe it ...

ATC - 0709

... but I like to make stuff ... more than that ... I

ATC - 0709

LOVE

ATC - 0709

the whole process of creating ... even the random (sometimes often) frustration of things being all wrong ... the motion of it ... the sratch-scrape-slide of pen on paper, the sharp creasing when folding, sticky fingers, paint in my hair and on my clothes ... time vanishing and then reappearing somewhere totally different ... strange stiffness from sitting in one position for far too long (ok, maybe I don't love the way it feels, but there IS satisfaction in it) ... the desire to try something new and the fears that goes along with it ... and then ... pushing those self imposed boundries ... trying it ... and finding out that the new thing opens doors to different worlds - and options - possibilities! ... returning to comfort and safety ... satisfaction of a job well done (even the occassional sadness that happens when a piece is complete) ... the happy surprise when something turns out ten times better than imagined ... all of it ...

ATC - 0709

I no longer want to be a mermaid (I don't really want to grow up, either) ... but last night ... or was that the night before ... anyway, I mentioned to Don, "when I grow up, I want to be an artist".

Guess what

... today I realized ...

I AM an ARTIST

*sighs*

pretty cool, eh?

One (WO)Man's Treasures ...

(click image for original event details)

How does one decide which is trash and which is treasure?

I'm fairly certain it's all a matter of perspective ... so, these are the treasures that I chose:

Stump Pass State Park (FL) Part 1

(Click above for original blog post dated 2.10.08)

Soul Journal - Days 7, 8 & 9 ... Plus a Charmed Sneak Peak

(Click above for original blog post dated 9.04.08)

... and no, this one is not a reference to cranes ...

&

An Earlier Retrospective ... of sorts

(Click above for original blog post dated 11.11.08)

Thank you for stopping by to see what I unearthed! I hope you enjoyed your visit.

I'm off to do some treasure hunting myself ... if you happen to see the girl with the cheesy ear-to-ear grin looking a bit giddy it's probably me. :)

(Click above to be directed to Seth's post ing of crazy good treasure hunting

A special note of thanks to Seth for his terrific idea!!

Buried Treasure

Y'all know Seth, right? If not, you're seriously missing out on some goodness, but don't fret - I have some great news ... he's hosting a day of Buried Treasure. Here's what he said about it:

"Buried Treasure is about digging deep to uncover some hidden gems. The premise is simple. On Thursday July 16 all participating bloggers will re-post one (or more) of their favorite posts from their blog. As you might already know, I don't like too many rules when it comes to art and art collaboratives. So anything goes. Please leave a comment on this post or email me if you would like to participate. Just try and let me know by Tuesday July 14. On July 16, I will post a list of all participating artists so that you can be sure to find all the Buried Treasure. Feel free to let your own readers know about this project by spotlighting it on a post prior to reveal day. Happy hunting! "

So come back on Thursday July 16th for a Flashback ... and think about joining us, too!

A LONG While Back ...

"Nikki" a.k.a Lee Anne from Sun Soul Art had a giveaway for this:



A beautiful glass heart ... and it wasn't even a Valentine's giveaway (though it DID happen this past February) ... and lucky me, I was drawn (does it make a difference that I had a 50/50 chance?) ... you'd think that the heart was enough (I did), but when the package arrived, I was blown away by the goodies Lee Anne had included ...

Everything is set out on a piece of amazing sacred heart paper she'd included ... but take a look at some detail pictures of the treasures I found in the package:



The Dia de los Muertos image is actually a mirror

as is the Frida image below:



There was soooo much heart in the box (literally & figuratively) did you notice the Milagros sitting on the painted ATC ... how about the sea glass or the patina'd metal scared heart?

or

the amazing carved wooden heart stamp resting on the new Juego de Loteria (Mexican Bingo):



There's so much goodness to look at, drool over & to figure out just how to work into new pieces (click on any image for a larger view to see exactly what I am talking about). I have a very strong feeling that some items will turn up in this years offering for:

Dia de Bloglandia

and others may find themselves in this years creation for the

Cigar Box Shrine Auction ...

there are soooo many possibilities!

Sending one HUGE thank you to Lee Anne for trusting me with all these treasures ... after all this time, I still look at everything with such AWE

... exactly how much inspiration can be packed into one box? ...

More than I had ever imagined.

Lee Anne and I have been weaving ourselves in and out of many of the same Blogland events. She is one of those artists that seems to pull magic right from thin air and turns that magic into amazing creations ... for a small sampling of what I am refering to, go:

HERE

HERE

HERE

and how about

HERE

Enjoy your time getting to know Lee Anne! I can honestly say that it has been my pleasure crossing paths with her ... and think you'll feel the same.

aDressing the Situation

(click the image above to be directed to the unique request)


How many people have a special trip to the post office planned for tomorrow?

I do.

... when Monica calls ... I answer ... even when it calls for stretching myself ...

to aDress a Situation

... my dress turned into dresses ...


(front)


(front detail)


(back)


(back detail)

It's not my party, but I can show you the way ...

Come alone ...

(Photo, "Hampster Tea Party" courtesy of SusieShop @ Flikr)

... or with your friends ...

(Photo "Farewell Tea Party" Courtesy of Mindtrigger @ Flikr)

... dress casually ...

(Photo, "...Emma's Tea Party" courtesy of BusyLizzieBee @ Photostream)

... or put on your finest ...

(Photo, "Sayoko Comes to the Tea Party" courtesy of Hvyilnr @ Flikr)

... Just be sure to show up!!

... there will be tea

(and other fine beverages)

of 10,000 varieties ...

(Photo, "Tea Party" courtesy of WinemakersSister @ Flikr)

... and treats to boggle the mind ...

(Photo, "Summer Birthday Virtual Tea Party" courtesy of 3LittleMiracles @ Flikr)

... don't worry, help yourself ...

(Photo, "Summer Birthday Virtual Tea Party" courtesy of 3LittleMiracles @ Flikr)

I promise there will be plenty ...

... and then there will be even MORE!

To find your way to all the gatherings, simply click on the invite below:

Wishing you all the magic your heart can handle!

(Please note: All photo's are linked directly to the photographers Flikr photostream ... also, I am not an official reveler as I decided to do this at the very last second, so you won't find me on the party list and I won't bother Vanessa while she's already got her hands sooooo full, so if you made it here, I thank you for your visit)

KittyFish Ready to Swim ...

That's right ...



she's got beads added to the crown of her head



sequins & seed beads decorate each side



and last but not least, KittyFish got her face

all that's left is sending this little critter to her new home

wishing safe travels & happiness to her new caretaker