Almost autumn

Here in Virginia there is an old saying, “If you don’t like the weather, stick around for 24 hours.”  Yesterday it was hot and humid in the upper 90’s like it has been for most of this horribly hot summer.  There isn’t a hint of fall in the air. 

So why am I talking about the change of the season?  It’s simple, 24 hours from now it will be September 1 and that month signifies to me that summer is officially over.  It doesn’t matter if the thermometer is still in the triple digits; I’m ready for autumn to begin.

Doesn’t it always seem that by the time a particular season is over one is eager for the next one to begin?  When the umpteenth snowstorm has left another 19 inches on the ground, spring flowers beckon. After you’ve sneezed 600 times and rubbed your eyes so much you look like an old wino, you are ready for summer. Finally, while you are sweating like a pig just going 10 feet to the mailbox you realizes that yes, you are ready for fall.  By the time December rolls around you are looking forward to that first flake. 

Even so, there are many people who will bemoan the loss of long, hot days.  They will wish they could be at the beach getting sand stuck in places sand should never be.  To these summer lovers I have but one thing to say…anyone looks good in a fashionable, light jacket.  Can they say the same for a bikini?

Color

I have always been entranced by color.  I am, I believe the human equivalent of the Australian Bower Bird, who gathers and displays colorful items.

 When I was a child I received my first box of 64 count crayons.  As I opened that box my heart leapt with joy.  I had never seen so many different colors.  I didn’t use them right away.  I couldn’t destroy their pristine perfectness even though the box had a sharpener built right in. 

Eventually, though, I had to give in and use them to create something.  My choice was a unicorn.  I drew the outline in Burnt Sienna, added a Blue Green mane and a Carnation Pink tail.  After that I put lemon yellow and cornflower spots all over his body.  I made him trot through an Aquamarine and Blue Violet pond. His horn could be nothing less than gold and silver.  It was childish, it was kind of dumb but it had to be the most beautiful thing I ever created.

That was long ago and that drawing resides now only in the bowers of my mind, along with Orchid, Maize, Thistle, Cadet Blue, Mahogany…

What to do with the buttons from center of horse show ribbon rosettes

As Promised, Mary came over last night and we crafted, mother and daughter.  We decided that the rosettes from the center of the horse show ribbons would make a nice wall decoration in a shadow box.  So we got out the hot glue and the shadow box and spread out all the buttons before us. 

Overlapping them looked the artiest.  The hardest part came when we had to decide what would go side by side.  This color would look good next to that color and how many reds or blues would go in each row, all decisions that had to be made.

All in all I think it turned out pretty nice.  What do you think?  Have a great weekend.

10 ways to jumpstart creativity

Every so often creativity takes a vacation.  When this happens there are several things I do to jumpstart it again.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it takes a bit more but hey, nothing beats a try right?

1.     Go on a Hike.  The mountains around Virginia are invigorating and inspiring.  The scenery and wildlife can be awe inspiring.  The key word is inspired.

2.     Go to an art supply, craft, or home improvement store.  I know it sounds weird that I have included a home improvement store here but honestly the things they stock there can make the mind think outside the box so to speak.

3.     Visit an art gallery or museum.  Sometimes viewing great art and creations start ones own ball rolling in new and different ways.

4.     Get in touch with ones inner child.  Remember the freedom of expression when you were seven and told to create something?  You will never hear a child say they can’t, all children are artists, and there is no right or wrong way to do something. 

5.     Get plenty of rest.  A tired mind cannot think straight much less create.

6.     Leave the stress of daily life somewhere other than your creative spaces. 

7.     Listen to music.  Choose genre’s that soothe rather than rev up.  Let it be an accompaniment and not the main event.

8.     Try a new medium.  I am not only talking about the visual arts here.  If you are cook try a new recipe, an artist a new paint, a writer a new form.  Experiment. 

9.     Be kind to oneself.  Don’t be your own worst critic.  Remember that all creative endeavors are relative. 

10.  Finally, go out and get a new box of 64 crayons.  Open that box and take a whiff of that familiar aroma.  It never fails to create a smile and spark the imagination.

If you have any more tips to add to my list I would love to hear them.  Thanks and I’ll be wishing everyone endless creativity.

Kindle or regular books, electronics vs. good old hard copy

I love books, often reading more than one at a time.  A historical novel is bookmarked on page 129 in the family room, a biography on page 67 in the bedroom.  I may not remember what I had for breakfast but I can keep up with several plot lines at once.  Nothing beats a brand new book, the scent of the pages, the color of the covers all drugs for a read-o-phile like myself.

Which is why when my husband bought me a Kindle for Christmas last year I was a little intimidated.  Electronics and I just don’t get along.  Sometimes I think that I must emit some sort of invisible force that causes devices to quit operation.  I can walk by a computer and it will spontaneously freeze.  In addition, I am a real ninny when it comes to operating anything that plugs in or uses a battery.  Our blue ray player is a real challenge considering I never quite figured out how to operate the VCR.

A kindle can store thousands of books on a device that is smaller and lighter than even my smallest book.  I can bring the bookcase with me, something that is exciting for someone who reads as much as I do. A kindle can read to you!  Yes, audio is available, haven’t tried it yet but its there if I need it. If I stumble upon a word that is foreign to me all I need do its insert the cursor in front of that word and it is defined right there!  And there will be no more flipping back through the pages looking for the entrance of a character in a book with too many characters.  I simply push a button and every mention of that character appears like magic. As an added bonus the cost of books are substantially lower than bookstores.

But I like flipping through the pages.  I never enjoyed having something read aloud to me, and my bookshelves while overflowing, are quite attractive. I discover that while downloading samples is convenient to say the least, it is extremely easy for someone like me to buy a book by mistake.  I’ve never walked in a bookstore and had the salesperson charge me for a book that I just picked up, and kindle smells like, well, nothing.  Real books may cost more but they will remain for years, kindle depends upon batteries and power sources.

I have discovered in the war of electronic vs. hardcopy there are no winners or losers. Each has its pros and cons, so… My bookcases will still receive new additions and sag a little lower and I’ll still check out books on Kindle and count on that “bought by mistake” button.  And I’ll read.

"Books" pencil sketch

Instructions for crocheted case for a kindle

Oh What to do with Horse Show Ribbons

Oh how I remember those lazy, hazy and hot days of summer Horse Shows.  My daughter who is in her 20’s now started showing when she was right around two years old.  She got a blue ribbon in her first lead line class and she beamed with pride.  If I had known that this was just the start of years of expensive shows and horses perhaps I would have stopped it right then and there.  As I Remember her happy face that summer day I realize that, nope, it wasn’t an option.

Now she has moved in her own place and all the ribbons remain in her old room.  When my husband decided he wanted to paint that now unused room, a dilemma arose.  What do we do with hundreds (yes hundreds) of horse show ribbons?  They hang on all four walls from floor to ceiling on wires strung from one side to the other.  She really didn’t want to do the same to her “adult” living space but of course, they are and will always remain special to her. 

How could we use these ribbons in a more useful and adult manner?  Some people create quilts but that is a bit more time consuming than I can manage at the moment.  I chose the next best thing, pillows. You can never have enough pillows.

I whipped up my first pillow in record time and I was pleased with the result.  When I finished preparing all the ribbons I realized that I have enough to make approximately 4,000 pillows.  (I did warn you all that I am prone to exaggerations) So one day I may have to take the time and actually create a quilt that will cover the state.  Until then the more special ones will become a soft and plush remembrance of horse shows past.

Now what to do with all those unique and cool buttons from the centers of the rosettes…coming soon!

The Rodney Dangerfield of mediums

Many artists I know shy away from using pastel as their medium of choice. Could it be the ability of the unfinished piece of artwork to smear at the slightest touch? Is it the fact that if one chooses to use a fixative the resulting tones may change from the one originally intended? On the other hand, could the reason be that when showing said work, it just does not get the respect that say, oils or acrylics receive? When have you ever seen a pastel win a“Best in Show?” No there is just no respect for a good pastel drawing, from neither man nor beast.

My studio is located in my basement. Although a large portion accommodates my work area, a separate section houses various outdoor items. There is a sliding glass door at the far end and, of course, there are those in my household who will use that door frequently. One being a teenager bringing out this bat or that skateboard, or bike often enough as to resemble a revolving door.
Not too long ago, this door remained open a tad too long. Do teenagers ever shut anything?

To a tiny bird, an easel is such a perfect place to perch. Unfortunately, for me, what perches must purge, and purge it did right on the half complete art in progress.

I have found that wrens can be extremely harsh art critics, and birdy doodoo, on pastel paper leaves a stain that is, well, permanent. The tiny interloper must have flown in made his opinion known and then flown out again.

I now cover all works in progress, even if I am using a more respected medium.

"Autumn Palomino" Pastel

"Deja View" Pastel

Drive on...

Drive on…

Let me say that getting on an interstate highway has never been one of my favorite things.  When I took Driver’s Ed in High School the instructor had to force me to get on 95.  The traffic, the cars weaving in and out at 70 plus MPH, the trucks whose wake can force a compact car to fly off the road, all give me the willies.  Perhaps it’s my inability to be aggressive behind the wheel.  I give in, I let people cut me off, and I sometimes drive slowly. 

So I decide to take the interstate and as I reach the entry ramp I see cars barreling towards me at a high rate of speed trying to be in the exact place that I am!  So feeling like I’m one of three stooges, I zigzag my way onto the highway.  Surprisingly I make it on alive so I relax until its time to get off and I have to try and avoid the cars trying to zigzag around me in order to get on get on.

Perhaps we should just all go back to horse and buggies, or maybe just a horse.  No one can move all that fast and the horses can avoid each other.  The only road rage we will experience will be when one horse kicks another and usually the tougher one will win.  Our energy source will no longer pollute the air because it is now hay and grain.  What’s more, the byproduct it produces one can use to, yes, fertilize the ground to make more grain! 

No longer will you have to purchase tires that cost $300 apiece.  Horseshoes are pretty inexpensive and what’s more, they bring you luck!

When you go horse shopping you don’t have to look under any hood, you just have to open his mouth.  And the best benefit of all is that the horse will love you back.  You can’t say that about any car.  And do you know of any car that can create another little car?  It’s a win-win situation.

Ok, so it may take you a few days to go over the hill and through the woods to Grandma’s house.  And vet bills can add up pretty quickly. Come to think of it I never heard of a car spontaneously bucking a person out the window.  And that little vehicle your horse just spit out will not be ready for the road for a few years. So although there are benefits in the war of car vs. horse, I think I’ll just tough it out and continue with a Toyota.  Hmmm, I wonder, are Asian horses better than ones from the states?

Olivia's (the cat) Choice

Olivia showed up one day at my door.  She was just a wisp of a thing and weighed close to nothing.  She meowed and rubbed against my leg.

I have never been what you would call a cat person.  I liked them, don’t get me wrong, but I would keep my distance, considering that I am highly allergic. My siblings and I always had cats when I was young, always picking them out as kittens, but whenever I touched anything feline, my eyes would tear and I would sneeze.   

Here was this supposed half grown kitten looking at me as if I could change her lot in life.  I fed her, my first mistake.  She had no collar and she was starving.  She wasn’t feral and therefore unable to take care of herself after her abandonment.  She was a stray.  Given a home as a kitten and then deserted, left alone. 

There she was every time I opened the door, meowing and rubbing, seeming to say “More Please.”  Since she wasn’t a male, I couldn’t name her Oliver, so I started to call her Olivia.  I knew the old adage that if you feed a stray you will never get rid of it, and if you give it a name, well, then it’s just too late.

I had to find her a home. I visited a local pet store and asked about stray adoptions.  They were more than happy to give me a number to call and I stashed it in my pocket.  Problem solved.

Arriving home I could see Olivia sleeping peacefully on the porch swing, waiting.  When I would appear she would jump down and greet me.  I fingered the slip of paper with the phone number.  I picked her up and carried her inside, allergies be damned.

At first she was fearful.  Who knows what experiences she had in her short life.  I buckled on the pink-belled collar I had purchased, and set up the new litter box in the laundry room.  I filled a bowl with some canned cat food and she started to purr.  She ate till she was full, and then used her new bathroom facilities.  She rubbed against my leg and climbed into the new soft fluffy pink cat bed and stretched.  She slept.

It is one year from the first time Olivia chose me.  Yes it was odd this time.  There was no going to pick out a kitten from a litter.  It was the first time in my life that a cat, had picked me.  The wonders of Zyrtec have kept my once unbearable allergies at bay and Olivia is now the queen of the house.  She walks around as if she has always ruled this realm.

 I know nothing about her life before she walked into mine.  I don’t know what her mother looked like or how many littermates she had.  I don’t even know her exact age only the estimate offered by my vet.  One year, she said, at least one year old. 

As she sits in my lap she stretches and loudly purrs.  This time, the shoe, as they say is on the other foot.  In the past my brothers and sister would go to a house, look at the kittens, and pick the one we liked the best.  This time a cat went to a house, looked at the people, and picked me.  

Things to do while waiting at a traffic light

There is a traffic light near my home that last for centuries.  Sorry, I am prone to slight exaggerations.  Anyway, in order to go anywhere in my town this particular traffic intersection must be navigated. More often than not one must sit through several cycles. In order to keep my sanity, I have come up with several suggestions for passing the time while waiting…

1.  Get to know your neighbors.  By neighbors I am referring to those unfortunate individuals who are in the same boat.  You can learn a lot about people from observing their cars or trucks.  For example you now know whose kid beat up your honor roll student.  You also know for whom the person whose bumper you are staring at voted for in the last election and their favorite sports team.  You even discover how many stick figures live in their homes by order of size and species.  Due to the popularity of vanity plates you can even be on a first name basis. By the time the light has changed you might be able to invite said persons over for a barbeque.

2.  Now would be the time to touch up that lipstick or straighten that tie.

3.  If you are mathematically inclined you might want to figure out exactly how much of your life you are spending at this particular light.  Start counting the seconds and keep a tally, one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three….

4.  You may want to check the map. Is this really where you need to be?

5.  Take a sip of that hot coffee so that you won’t be wearing it after you start moving again.

6.  Look for another station on the radio.  You never know what you will find especially if you have satellite radio.

7.  If you really get bored try waving to the people in the adjacent cars.  Trust me, they will always wave back.  It will drive them crazy the rest of the day trying to figure out who the heck you are.

8.  Pay attention to the light itself.  No point in contributing to someone else’s road rage.

Something you’d better leave for later:

Cell phones unless it is the hands free variety.  Seriously, texting is never a good idea, in a moving or non-moving vehicle when are the one moving it.  You will never get to finish the sentence and you may end up getting closer to your neighbors than you would like.  At the risk of sounding preachy, when I went to get first aid, CPR certified, the instructor made a point of letting the class know that many times EMT’s find cell phones in the hands of serious accident victims.  So it’s no joke.  Ok, preaching done.  Enjoy.

Titled, "Start of a perfect day."