Sunday, August 30, 2009

Anticipation

Well, it's finally here. We leave tomorrow for 21 days in China and the only word I can use to describe my feelings is anticipation. I have thought about, talked about, planned and dreamed about this trip for a long, long time, and now all I have left to do is anticipate - anticipate the beauty, the culture, the countryside, the people, the ancient history and the crowded cities. It's going to be a wonderful trip and I, for one, can't wait to get started.

Last week, I bought a magazine that I don't normally purchase and in the first article, it had the artist's favorite quote. I thought it was quite appropriate for the way I feel about this trip and life in general:

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

-Mark Twain

Zai jian





Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Latest Work at Embellish




















Before we left the cabin, I was busy making the button bracelets using vintage buttons, some collages, and several fall decor items. Once I delivered them to the store, I took some pictures of the displays. I also changed the display of the glass pendants by hanging them from the old wooden shuters. The "Pumpkins" and "Harvest" blocks as well as the "Harvest Thyme", "Autumn", and "Pumpkin Pickin'" signs on the bench are mine. I hope to teach a class on the canvas collage sometime this fall, if not, then next spring or summer.


By the time we left, I was filling the large hummingbird feeders once a day and the smaller window ones 3 times a day. I wonder what they are eating now - poor things? I brought most of my art supplies home with me since our return to the mountains may be short trips. We do hope to make our annual fall pie and leaf tour though! Can't miss that!


Probably, my next post will be after we return from our trip to China! WOW, I can't believe it's happening!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Friends - Old & New

It's been a busy few weeks, but now we are back in the cool (and hopefully rainy soon!) mountains. First we had a visit up here from my dearest and oldest friends, Lee and Carlanda (AKA BFF). We have been friends for over 20 years. We drank chocolate martinis & beer (not at the same time!), solved all of our problems and the problems of the world in just a few short nights. Isn't that amazing? She also attended her first (but not last, I hope!) yoga class. We even played Bananagrams so that our brains didn't go stagnant. What a fun weekend we had!

After they left, we headed for Tucson. I spent the next weekend with a wonderful group of women at a lovely historic resort in Tucson, The Arizona Inn. The pictures here, show just a glimpse of the lovely grounds. We drank, ate, and laughed our way through the weekend. It was so nice to feel so welcomed by a group of women that had known one another for over 30 years. I was definitely the newcomer, but sure didn't feel that way. Thank you all.

Finally, while in Tucson, I got to visit with two dear friends that I often meet for coffee, cribbage, a day of playing, shopping, or just to chat. We had a great visit and were even able to get in a "game night" with our husbands as well. What would we do without all of our friends? I am so lucky to have so many people that I can call my friend.

Now I have returned the the mountains along with bags of art supplies and I know many of them will never be used, but when the inspiration comes, you just have to have the right stuff, don't you? I am going to try to get a few collages and some button bracelets done before we leave again to put on consignment at Embellish. I am still struggling with the gel pendants and have one more thing to try before I officially give up.