2/11/08

Life Calls

I am taking this opportunity, this lenten time of reflection, to take a break from the blog and the homeschooling boards. I intend to focus more on all the little, and non-virtual, parts of my life that I keep putting on the back burner. The goals I have for this electronic break are:

More time in the studio
Sell some of my hoards of homeschooling materials that we are finished with
Exercise
Read more
Order garden seeds

I have some obligations coming up too that I have to prepare for, like the Pysanky Workshop I'm teaching in March and the Etsy shop I intend to open, eventually.

I will miss conversing with everyone, both here, on the hs boards, and on your blogs, and look forward to once again reading your words of wisdom and reflection and sharing my humble thoughts. Until then-

Blessings to all and I'll see you after Easter!

2/6/08

Wordless (Ash) Wednesday


The Return of the Prodigal Son
Rembrandt
1669

2/5/08

A Nice Surprise

Barb-Harmony Art Mom over at Handbook of Nature Study surprised me with this award today. Thanks so much, Barb!

I will gladly pass it along to these fellow bloggers whose blogs I think rate "E" for excellent:





1. A Fuego Lento: Life on the Mississippi (My Niece Vanessa's blog)






Great blogs, and great ladies, one and all. Be sure to check them out.

2/4/08

Over the Weekend

The first thing I did this weekend was to come down with a nasty cold. I spared you a pic of my hoard of used, wadded tissues! I figured Earle shouldn't have to suffer alone, so now we are suffering together.


Since we were contagious we stayed home from church on Sunday. Julia and Shawn worshipped with friends at their church then spent the afternoon hiking in the snow. When they all headed back to "the sickie house" we met them with a big pot of homemade beef stew, mashed potatoes, peas, and chunky applesauce with cinnamon. Later that evening we cheered for New England in the Superbowl until their untimely loss at which point Earle, a Maine-iac by birth, decided it was OK for NY to claim a victory as he was officially a New Yorker now. He has actually lived in NY longer than Maine by about a year. I'm thinkin' he'll never really convert though. You can take the boy out of Maine...you know the rest. Anyway, we munched on some other yummy snacks during the game: homemade potato skins (these were a BIG hit!), homemade guacamole with chips, and breaded cheese sticks. It was nice to have an excuse for consuming so many foods of questionable nutritional value! When the post-game chatter died down it was time for a special episode of House. Wow, he may have some redeeming qualities after all. Did you catch the show?

Since I was quaranteened the whole weekend, I actually spent some time in the studio working on polymer clay projects. I am designing an assortment of spoons with decorative clay handles. A friend of mine used to sell these creations for me in her cyber-cafe, but she went out of business last year. My next adventure is to open an Etsy shop where I can once again market some of my wares. I'll let you know when it's up and running.


Wouldn't you just love to dish up some fruit dip at a summer picnic with this spoon?

Also on Saturday, my order came for new Pysanky supplies. I will be holding a Pysanky class as well as teaching a few friends how to make these beautiful Ukranian eggs. New dyes, chunks of wonderful smelling beeswax, and kistkas.

One of my favorite eggs. It is still intact inside though I made it several years ago. I decided not to blow it out, but to let it dry out over time. I think the "wholeness" of the egg helps to symbolize the Easter promise of new birth and a new life in Christ.

What did you do this weekend?

2/3/08

Art Truth


"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection."


-Michelangelo

2/1/08

Julia's Art

"The Ice Queen"

"Serenity"


"Wolf in Clouds"


"Valadil"

"Tuck"


My daughter, Julia is an artist in her own right. I thought I'd highlight some of her photomanipulations today. She uses Adobe photoshop and a Wacom drawing tablet. Her finished pieces have so many layers and textures and such fine detail added, I don't know how she keeps track of it all! I think her work is dreamy and thought-provoking. I hope you enjoy it as well.

To see more of Julia's photomanipulations, visit her online gallery here: Ezrill