Energize...

So, what is your source of energy?

For me, in the summer, in more relaxed times, it is my morning routine.

Wake up early,
read in bed with a cup of coffee..
take a 30 minute walk, listening to a book on tape (and presently, it is Jane Austin's Northanger Abbey)
Eat breakfast,
Play piano,
Shower, and then begin my work day. All hopefully before 9:30 a.m.

What about you?

Walk in Nature... for Inspiration

Yesterday, we went for a walk in the local area of Huntsville, Utah. We were to take shots of the plants, and later we would paint similar plant life in watercolor. The walk was simply good for the soul. The beauty of Utah and the open space can't be expressed easily, even with photographs.

Here is info from Huntsville's home page. (http://huntsvilletown.com/about.html)
Huntsville is located twelve miles east of Ogden City up Ogden Canyon. Its elevation is just under 5,000 feet. At the south west end of the valley, a shimmering man-made lake “Pineview” forms a mirror for the mountains above. More history.

Population facts

As of the 2010, 717 people, 218 households, and 174 families reside in the town.Huntsville is rich in Pioneer history including the women who trekked into the valley.

Here are some shots from our walk.

Pushing Myself... Watercolor Workshop with Jane Lafazio

OK.. time to push. I have never taken a true drawing class. But, here I am in Utah, learning how to sketch and create water color journal art. Talk about stretchiiinnnngggg.







Look at the environment. The view from the 'cabin'.


So, meet Jane Lafazio (www.plainjanestudio.com). Jane is our amazing instructor, who is guiding our way. Dianne Streifer is our host, Creative Mountain Retreats.

So... bit by bit, I'm finding my way. Thus far, I've done three pieces, and am losing the fear. Here is the class.


Our first sketch/water color, was to take a faux bird and sketch it. Then, ink it in, and then, paint it. Here are a few images.


Today, we went to 'town' and found objects at a boutique to sketch. Things like... a bird's nest.

Last Weekend for the Fabric-Free Fashion Exhibit

Local San Diegans...

It is the last weekend for the Fabric-Free Fashion exhibit at the Vision Art Museum in San Diego. If you haven't seen it yet, please make a trip to Liberty Station in Point Loma.

Vision Art Museum
2825 Dewey Road, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: 619-546-4872
http://www.quiltvisions.org

Below... two garments by Osbaldo Ahumada. The one on the left is made from white plastic forks while the one on the right is constructed of lottery tickets.

Last weekend I had the pleasure to walk a group of people through the exhibit and share tidbits about the artists and their work.
Here is Beth Smith and I. Beth is the Museum Director of the Vision Art Museum.
Here I am, walking through the show prior to my lecture, enjoying all the wonderful creativity.
Try to get to the show. It closes on the 24th of this month.

Fast Food Signs

It's hard to think of fast food in Italy. But, every now and then, you run into a sign that suggests that it exists. This one made me smile.

Lace.... It is all in how you see it.

Creativity is learning to look at the world with "peripheral eyes". So, let's take a look at lace. How do you see lace in the world around you? Here are some suggestions from Venice.

Beginnings of the Word Series... No Stress

My interests vary and change over periods of time. This summer, an area of focus for me was paying attention to interesting words "on the street" as I traveled. It is amazing how attuned you become to seeing things you would never notice before.

So here you have "No Stress". This was posted on the wall of a home, in a small village called Vigo di Cadore, in the north of Italy. I went here with my cousin Laurie, in search of her family roots. If you could see the village, you would wonder why one would ever think there could be stress in a place as lovely as this.

btw.. We did find some of Laurie's family, and were able to trace her family roots back to the mid 1600's. It was an adventure!

Here is a view of the area. No stress, for sure.