What I did on my winter vacation, Part 2

ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS OF VACATION LEFT (if you count today, which I certainly do!). I need to make the most of it, so this post will be be quick!

I am:

in love with snow

experimenting

learning some new things

maybe possibly gonna finally make up this pattern I've had for ... 25? ... 30? years

playing with dolls and making faces

writing up resolutions

looking forward to January journaling with Misty Mawn

and CHEERING for MY DUCKS in the ROSE BOWL!

GO DUCKS!!!

: ) Happy New Year to all!

xoxo lulu

What I did on my winter vacation, Part 1

Oh my goodness! Would you look at that - it's December 31st already. Where does the time go? I'm suddenly filled with the idea that I should do a special issue - My Year in Review - like Life magazine, but I'm still too busy cramming in as much artsy activity in the last few days of my vacation as I can. So, since I've already uploaded these photos (and because I've been so naughty about posting much of anything lately), I'll just review this lovely holiday season.

We started off with the Westside's production of The Nutcracker, starring Willow Bean as one of the Spanish dancers. (Note how the graininess of the photo makes it look like a modern Impressionist painting!) ; )

I played with clay, doing bits and pieces for my Oaxaca shrine.

I participated in an ornament exchange. I made these little princess angels, and got some very cool ornaments in return!

I worked in my journal now and then.

I ate way too many cookies. (But can you blame me? Look at those delectably grandiose morsels of chocolate!)

I made presents.

I finally got around to putting up some Christmas decor! Time for you to get off that box, Charlene.

I enjoyed Christmas morning with my girls and their Grandma Kathleen. (And Shoobie, too!)

I lounged around in my new snuggy - HA! (A gift from one of my students - they are quite cozy, you know...) (I think I should use this for my new eHarmony photo, don't you? Nothing says "Come hither" quite like a zebra print snuggy!)

Celebrated with my family. (Pobrecito Bryan doesn't look too festive, does he?)

Celebrated Mom's 76th birthday!

Isn't she lovely!?

Coming in Part 2: The Crunch is on!

grateful

It's cold but the sun is shining. I am feeling so grateful for both my daughters. Yesterday I spent the day with Emily in the studio. She wanted to learn how to make the dolls with the paper clay heads, so we sat together, working, chatting, listening to music. When the sitting had become too long, we walked to the store - I felt so happy to have a daughter who likes to walk! We returned and continued our artwork - I tried to help her through her frustration when she couldn't get the mouth quite right. This is what moms try to do, I guess - soothe our frustrations and lend a shoulder to cry on when needed. Emily needed the latter in the evening as she hit one of life's less wonderful milestones.

I had been feeling wistful myself earlier in the day, sad that she only has one week left before she returns to Savannah, and it's her dad's week. A big part of me wants to keep her here so that we could share many more afternoons like yesterday. But after last night's events, I know I have to follow nature and help my little birdie out of the nest so that she can learn to fly. This is hard, feeling your child's pain, fear, and loneliness, but knowing that she has to go on this journey. If I selfishly keep her in the nest, I know that she will not reach her dreams and fulfill her potential.

How do you mend a broken heart? With stitches of love from dear friends and family, time, and a healthy dose of self-love. All the sage advice I have received over the years I now pass on to her. She is so lucky to have wonderful friends, a loving sister, a strong father, and a mother who is now healthy enough to be there for her. I am filled with gratitude.

Holly jolly?

Grandma Kathleen will be coming to stay for a bit as her house undergoes deconstruction. I'm trying to tidy up a bit, but it looks like it's been months since I've tidied up... The worst is the mail that piles up, much of it unread. Seriously. Just like in my little picture here. It's a problem. (But drawing the little picture is FUN!)

The Christmas decor is going ever so slowly this year - not sure what's up with that. The box of ornaments is sitting here, ornaments still snugly inside, and kitty Charlene perched cozily on top of that. The girls aren't even urging me to get on with it. S T R A N G E . . .

I am busy making presents for the nieces and nephews, though - YAY!

One World One Heart 2010 will be coming up soon (January 25th)! For anyone who hasn't participated before, this is a great way to connect with many other bloggers. All the bloggers think up something to give away, and then you sign up at their post for a chance to win. In the meantime, you get to see so many wonderful blogs and make new friends around the world.

Hmmm, what should I give away this year? I'll think about it and post it later! I hope you'll consider participating, too!

All the details regarding the 2010 event can be found here: http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/one-world-one-heart.html

In progress: journal page

The thing I love about working and reworking a piece is that it can start out so normal and boring, but as you push it, it becomes something else.

When I was an art student I was afraid of painting classes. After all, if I couldn't draw, most likely I couldn't paint, either. But I guess I was required to take one or two painting classes. One of my teachers said I drew in a very painterly way. Another said I painted in a very - drawerly? - way. He wanted me to let go, let loose and let the paint be free. Whee! I never did get there back then, I just stopped painting.

But this little journal page looks painterly, to me, which I guess means that you can sense the paint - texture and brush stroke. I like that. Maybe I will try to paint some more.

Reading the signs

Ever have one of those mornings? I had two events to go to today, but early in the a.m. my little corner of the world was icy and slippery, and I am not a good ice driver. So, hmmm... how to get to Crafty Wonderland this morning? I could take the MAX, no problem. But then I wouldn't be able to get to my afternoon gathering without being very late. Delay, hesitation. Another delay. By the time I start heading for the MAX I notice the roads aren't so bad, so back home I go to get the car and then I'll be able to go to the afternoon thing, too. Had to go back into the house for something, then back out to get in the car - oops. I just locked myself out of the house. Luckily I have my cell phone and my car key so I can call Willow and ask to borrow her house key. I drive over to her dad's apartment with the full intention of heading on over to Crafty Wonderland after I get the key. Thanks, Willow. I'll give it back to you tomorrow. Bye. What the...? I have a flat tire? Are you kidding me? Ugh, I don't want to put the spare on here. OH! I'll just drive the half block to the gas station and put air in it. What's going on at the gas station? Oh my gosh! It's closed and they're digging up the old holding tanks. Well, the tire shop isn't very far. (I drive carefully on my low tire.) Great - of course, the tire shop is closed. Does this gas station have air hoses? No? I crawl back home (across the street and down the lane - you see, I do actually know that I'm not supposed to drive on a flat tire). Ok, ok ok - I get it! It's a sign!

LULU, THIS IS GOD/YOUR HIGHER POWER (and the divinity within - or at the very least, your intuition) SPEAKING: STAY HOME!

Whatever it is that sends these messages, I've got to start learning to hear them and take heed.

But now I want to know why - why am I supposed to stay home today? I feel like I'm supposed to figure something out - my direction. Where am I heading with my art? I don't think I'm supposed to do production work. I did that before and it was boring for me. But I want to be able to do art full time, and that means it needs to support me and my kids, so...

SO HELLO, GOD! I AM TRYING REALLY HARD TO HEAR YOU. How do I do this? What exactly is it that I'm supposed to do? I know that this is what we in education call disequilibrium - that difficult moment when we think we can't figure it out, but we push on and try different solutions and then we have a breakthrough - but I'm impatient and often thick-headed when the solution presents itself, so PLEASE, smack me in the face with the answers so there will be no doubt. I DO need your help.

Thank you.
Lulu

The Nutcracker

In honor of Willow's dance school doing its annual production of The Nutcracker Suite, I played with some collage and paints, then added some shiny stamping, et voilà! The Nutcracker and the Rat King, previously seen here in their unfinished state, are finished at last! I've posted them in my Etsy shop - my first paintings to go in there!

I have to say they were a lot of fun to create, and they've given me a taste of what it would be like to be an illustrator - one of my fantasy jobs. I really enjoyed doing the hand-lettering, too - something I used to do a lot of in the past.

A c-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-l-d wind is blowing today, but it's sunny, so I decided I'd better get the holiday lights put up outside. I do love turning on those lights when it gets dark so early in winter. Time for some warm cocoa and thawing my toes in front of the fire. Happy Sunday!

xoxo lulu