* Back at the Easel

Had a little time today to work on "Expect Miracles".  Still lots to do, however did make some headway on her head dress.  Not nearly finished.

Hope you are all doing something wonderfully creative ... from what I see on your blogs you are all brilliant. :o) Take care and thanks for dropping by.  xxoo Donna

I am realistic, I expect miracles. ~ Wayne Dyer

* She's here ...

.. she's big, she's bold and she'd RED!  I love it.  I was going to name her after another famous woman photographer, however, couldn't find one I liked as much as Annie Leibovitz.  So ... I thought "Annie II" .... BUT WAIT ... a little research revealed AL's second name was Lou.  Consequently, my new camera's name is Annie Lou.  Sigh.  She has a GPS ... does this mean I won't get lost? ha!

So, without further adieu, here's whats been happening in my journals ..

Full Tilt Boogie Journal

Full Tilt Boogie ... a place to keep some of the gorgeous mail art I receive.

Double spread .. Book of Days.

Double spread - Book of Days.

Annie Lou and I are absolutely delighted to be together.  We are once again able to share and play.  Do hope you are all having a lovely day.  Thanks so much for dropping by.  xoxo Donna

All true artists, whether they know it or not, create from a place of no-mind, from inner stillness. ~ Eckhart Tolle

* Camera Report ...

OMG, whoever thought I would be reporting on the whereabouts of my camera on order!!  It has definitely become an extension of me and I am definitely longing for reconnection!  So ...

Wait for  it ....

Right!  This is Mexico!  It's not here yet.  ... Alas and Alak!  However, it definitely is in Laredo, Texas as of yesterday.  There is definitely a good (well at least half way decent) chance it might be here by Saturday.  For an extra $25.00 US I could have guaranteed it would be here by Saturday, but somehow I'm sick of paying to speed things up.  After all it's free for me to slow down a little!  HA!

There is probably a better half way decent chance it will be here by next week sometime.  Yes, I am reminding myself it's free for me to slow down and .... b r e a t h e!

I've just come home from a dinner party at Miss Sylvias.  Spectacular as usual, however without a camera, how am I supposed to share that spectaularedness (??) with you!  Frustrating. 

OK!  So goodnight with no photographs ... hopefully soon.  I've done some work on my journals as well which I will share when you know who gets here. 

Take care.  Thanks for stopping by.  xxooDonna

 Waiting for the spark from heaven to fall.   (Also waiting for my camera to arrive in San Miguel - I wonder which will arrive first?)

* I like this ...

Sigh!  Something to think about.  For me, it's definitely living in the NOW, being PRESENT in the moment.   Which one speaks loudest for you?

Take care.  CAMERA is definitely in LAREDO!  YEAH.  Now the question is, how long does it take to get a camera from Laredo to San Miguel.  :o)  Thanks for stopping by.  xxoo  Donna

The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.  ~ Oprah Winfrey

* Book of Days and Tag for a friend ...

Borrowed Kathleen's camera again and took a couple of shots.  Mine just might make it here by the end of this week, however, I'm not holding my breath.  I will be sooooo happy when it arrives!

Monday, double spread.  This week on "Love", the romantic kind.

"Fly away home' tag for a friend.

Short post today.  Hope all is well with you.  Thanks for stopping by.  xxoo  Donna

"Distance is not for the fearful, it is for the bold. It's for those who are willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for a little time with the one they love. It's for those knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they don't see it nearly enough..."

* Around Town ...

I attended a meditation group at Life Path this morning which was just what I needed.  When I came out, Kathleen and Ivan were waiting for me which was  absolutely just what I needed.  We all went for a wonderful breakfast at Monet's, which was definitely just what we needed. 

Kathleen and I stayed down town and strolled here and there, enjoying each other's company, the sunshine and the shops.

A few photo's of interesting places, shops, and people.

Kathleen's favorite humming bird feeder.

Some 'grumpy woman' at the humming bird feeder store.  HA!

Interesting people.

A jewelry maker who also makes the fabulous hats she is wearing.

Couldn't resist a second shot, she was so charming.

More interesting people.

Did I tell you my new camera is ordered?  I think so.  Now I am begging my mail service office to please get it out of Laredo FAST!  I can't wait six to eight weeks -- please, please, please!  So .. here's hoping.  

That's it for today.  Take care .. make art ... be happy.  Thanks for stopping by.  xxoo  Donna

"I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or
catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit."

Dawna Markova

* A couple of things ...

Doesn't look good for getting a camera fixed in San Miguel.  I've ordered a new one - same camera - from ebay.  Hope it does not take forever to get here.  In the meantime, Kathleen brought her camera over today, and on our way out for dinner I took photographs on a couple of things I completed today.

One of my mail art friends sent 12 people a blank calendar.  Each day, we were to fill it in with 'something' ... 'anything' we chose.  She's thinking about making a yearly calendar out of the pieces she gets back.  Could be interesting.  Here's mine ...

I did get carried away and do some 3D squares!  But then what did she expect if she asked me to do one????

Also made one more valentine today ... a 'funny valentine' ... but I think she's kind of cute.

Talk about 'wearing your heart on your sleeve' ...

That's it for today everyone.  Thanks so much for dropping in.  Take care.  xxoo  Donna

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover – Mark Twain.

* Day in Delores ...

A beautiful day for a drive in the country (which I miss terribly) and a day out in Delores Hidalgo, the talavera town.  Wendy's friend is here from the US, so off we went to explore a couple of shops and have lunch at one of Wendy's favorite restaurants where Gorge serenades on Sunday afternoons.

We had a wonderful day.  Huge buffet (ate too much), ice cream in the square, fresh strawberries from the market.

Only a couple of things darkened the day.  Gorge was not there today!  We had to console Wendy.  No serenades for us.  After comida we walked in the square enjoying our ice cream.  My camera slipped out of my hands and landed on the pavement.  OUCH!  It is inoperable at the moment.  I am sick.  Currently looking for information on repair here in San Miguel.  I'll keep you posted. 

So, only a couple photographs today ...

The last shot as she was 'going down'.  

Hope you are all well and happy.  Enjoy your day and thanks for dropping by.  xxoo  Donna

I have to share with you, I named my camera "Annie", because I love her photography so much.  I couldn't agree more about a "subtle difference".  The 'subtle difference' in the  photograph above is simply that I am not holding the camera in my hands.  It's in 'free fall' mode!  A very subtle difference.

A very subtle difference can make the picture or not.
Annie Leibovitz

* Artisans Fair and Art Show Reception ...

Kathleen and I spent a lovely day yesterday poking around the artisans fair, having a lovely lunch and generally having fun.  We both bought new hats.  My off white panama is on the way out, and Kathleen looked so wonderful in the hat she tried on -- well you know how it is, she just had to have it!

How gorgeous!

The glands under my chin are so swollen I look like I'm smuggling walnuts!  he he

In the evening we were off to Ezshwan Winding's one woman show of her wonderful encaustic paintings.  It was fun, and as usual, Ezshwan's work is quite spectacular.  It was a show of her more abstract modern pieces.  She also does incredible portraiture, which I'm in love with.  I hope to take Kathleen on a studio tour so she too can appreciate it.

Ezshwan and me.

One of Ezshwan's pieces I particularly like.

For whatever reason, the photo's I took yesterday did not turn out great - so that's it for today.  We had a grand time and met lots of very interesting people, some of which we hope to see again.

Hope you are having a great day.  Your visits mean a lot to me, and I adore your comments.  Take care.  xxoo  Donna

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.  The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb

* Valentine's day is approaching ....

... and Mexican mail is slow.  Thought I should get started.  I don't send many out, however, it's fun to include one in a letter or mail art.

Hope you are all having a good day.  Thanks so much for the visit.  xoxo  Donna

Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

Franklin P. Jones

* Out and About and more Christmas packages

Big book sale today at the library.  Found some great stuff for collage, backgrounds, etc.  In fact, in the end, I had to put the pile of books down and make choices.  An old art book, one on the history of print (fabulous graphics), two beautiful old covers for journals, and a vintage hymn book full of music.  I'm happy!

We then walked across the street Juan's for breakfast.  YUM.  Such a great place to sit out in the courtyard, enjoying the sun and fresh air, eating a wonderful yummy breakfast enjoying each others company.

 

Stopped for the mail after wandering the streets and doing a little shopping.  My mail box was full, and among the things which arrived was Valerie's Christmas gift from Germany!  Thank you dear Valerie.  You spoil me.  

Isn't that fun?  I especially love the tag.  The TH trees are so impressive!  Included is a package of special stamping paper by la Blanche.  I've never tried that before, so I'm interested to see how it is.

Arrived home and cleaned up the studio.  It was a pretty big mess and I simply can't begin another project in the chaos of an old project.  I might even get back to my painting ... I think "Expect Miracles" is getting a little impatient!

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you are having wonderful creative times in your lives.  By the looks of your blogs, you are!  xxoo  Donna

Those who wish to sing always find a song.
Swedish proverb 

* New Year Spread Complete ...

A short post today.  I'm pretty well caught up with this project.  Now it is the day to day posting, which I won't be sharing.  I will, however, want to share the larger spreads I do, where there will be a topic, a word, a prompt or some such thing.  I think that will be a little more interesting to blog about.  Effy encourages us to do a larger spread at the beginning of every week, then go back to the day to day posting.  Seems like a good idea to me..   No pressure.

Thanks for stopping by.  Take care.  xxoo  Donna

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” Edith Lovejoy Pierce

* New Year Spread

Worked on a double spread with a tip in for New Year 2012 today.  Didn't finish ... here it is so far.

Notice the "N" in New and the "Y" in Year are completely backwards.  Nope, I did not do it intentionally!  So what do you think that means?  I don't know either .. ha ha

That's it for today my dears.  Thanks for the visit.  xxoo  Donna

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." ~ Oprah Winfrey

* Farewell 2011, Welcome Fair 2012

My Book of Days is coming along.  I began the regular posts today, and also worked on the farewell to 2011 and welcome to 2012.  I was in my "Elizabethan" mood, thus the wording on the hearts.  When I wrote the greeting for 2012, I felt I should welcome her as a fair year.  It's like a person, when you first meet them, everything about them is fair because we do not know what is yet to come.   As we get to know each other, little kinks and quirks turn up in all of us, we accept them - they make us human.  As with the year - I am greeting her as 'fair' until she reveals herself for whom she truly is ... some good .... some not so good, but on the whole an interesting and uplifting experience.

Letters will be written to both years.  2011 I have much to let go of and release.  I think it will be good therapy.  2012, I will greet as fair, because as yet she is unknown.  I will tell her what I am willing to receive from her this year.  I am making a 'secret pocket' where hopes and dreams can be kept as they arise. 

That's all I know for today.  Hope this finds you well and happy.  Take care.  xxoo  Donna

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
- Havelock Ellis

* Book of Days ....

I have joined a group who are doing what is called the "Book of Days".  I'm a little behind (although they say you can't be behind) ...   It's a record of your year ... a diary/art journal if you will.  I have chosen to alter an existing book instead of using a sketch book, mole skin or other empty vessel ... however that's an option.  I've completed the cover.  The next two pages are devoted to my word for the year, which is PRESENT, as in here and now.  After that there will be a page releasing 2011, and a page welcoming 2012.

The plan is to record as much or as little of the next year as you wish.  Effy suggests a larger spread on Mondays and 'important' days, and splitting perhaps two pages into small posts for the rest of the week.  There are videos, live broadcasts every Sunday where Effy Wild teaches real time ... techniques etc. for art journaling and keeping a diary.  A FB page has been set up as well as a flicker group for posting photographs.  I refuse to put a lot of pressure on myself to write every day, however I am hoping I will be inspired enough that by the end of the year, I can look back and see what this year has been all about.  Time will tell and I'll keep you posted.

Here are the cover and the inside two pages containing my 'word' which as I said is "Present".  I think nature is very present.  Doing only what is needed that day and moving onto the next, thus getting everything done which is required to move gracefully through the seasons.  I need to live in the 'now' this year and I'm hoping this reminder will be helpful.

Effy also hosts a ning site called Wild Precious Studio.     

As Effy puts it, an online sanctuary for mixed media and art journaling.  Check it out, there is tons of stuff going over there.

So, that's it for today.  Hope you all had a lovely weekend.  Thanks for stopping in.  xxoo  Donna

"Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin.
Beginning makes the conditions perfect."
~Alan Cohen~

* Finally ...

Getting some time to photograph and share all the wonderful mail which has been landing on my doorstop throughout the holiday season.  So much fun.  Here goes ... it's a photo essay ...

My neighbour, Wendy, does these fantastic miniature paintings. 

Hand stitched from Kelly, a good mail day friend.

Hand made by CAROLYN.  Just like a stained glass window!

My dear friend in Canada, Diane's distinctive style.

Collage card by Jane.  I love her style.

CAROLYN made these beautiful golden houses from scratch.  I felt so fortunate to receive one.  It will inspire me the whole year through.  A place to go and dream. 

This shot was taken by LENNA and made into a beautiful post card.  Gratitude dancing on the beach.  How fabulous.

Christmas post card from my good mail day friend, Kelly.

Kelly knows how I love the Greek Islands.  This is a great mail art envelope - also dig the earrings!

A Christmas ornament especially painted with Habibi's portrait!  Isn't it fabulous.  Also, a real wish bone, for me to make a New Year's wish.  Also from my dear Kelly.

From another mail art friend, Millicent.  She found these gorgeous little tins of cookies.  Let the kidlets eat all the cookies.

Made them into mail art and sent them out! ...

... stuffed with lots of little arty goodies.  Just adore this idea.  She added a gold elastic to the tin so it could be used as an ornament.

Lots of love mail art from LENNA.

From my mail art friend in Canada ... Colleen.

Full of things she knows I love, hand preserved maple leaves, Royal goodies and a recipe for a great cocktail.

From Kelly, a hand made 'bin' which folds flat and pops up into a square.  I'm using it for unanswered mail.  I WANT THE PATTERN.  Isn't it cool?

A great mail art envelope from Millicent.

I also received this fabulous book from CAROLYN.  She knows I love Frida.

My winnings from NANCY.  I adore this magazine.  It was part of a very generous giveaway.  thanks Nancy!

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of the goodies I have received.  People are so wonderful and I adore hand made things.  Thank you everyone.  You do bring smiles to my face!  Thanks for stopping in.  Have a great day.  xxoo  Donna

It took me a very long time to learn what the quote below has to say.  I think it's important.

"Gracious acceptance is an art - an art which
most never bother to cultivate. We think that we have
to learn how to give, but we forget about accepting
things, which can be much harder than giving...
Accepting another person's gift is allowing
to express his feelings for you."
- Alexander McCall Smith