* Still experimenting

Made another couple of hearts today. I like the size much better. Sewed some more milagros on, which I really like.

What is your preference for size?  (Focus on the hearts please. :o)

Thanks for dropping in.  Sorry all the sangria was gone - Habibi, Habibi, Habibi!  Loves the stuff.

“Success is not fame or money or the power to bewitch. It is to have created something valuable from your own individuality and skill – a garden, an embroidery, a painting, a cake, a life.” ~ Charlotte Gray

 

Textile Hearts

They make beautiful textiles here in Mexico. I can drool a lot when I'm around them. A couple of old purses I had were finished their duty as money carriers and as I looked at them today I saw hearts. So I experimented with one. I didn't get the curves on the top of the heart done very well, but I can see they have possibilities. I used the fringe from the bottom of the bag as the hanger and sewed some milagros on. I think  I might make another couple.  Here's my first attempt.

That's it for today.  Nice seeing you here.  Take care.

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."
-- Robert Frost

 

* Souvenir d'Amour

I had a plan when I began this painting. The painting looks nothing like the plan. HA! I don't know about you, however, this happens to me all the time.

The heart is bleeding, obviously healing from being broken. It's not always romantic love that breaks our hearts, it can be so many different kinds of love. There is good news in this painting though. The heart has developed wings and is flying in a new direction. The healing seems to be taking place rapidly, with only a small area to become whole again at the bottom.

In this case, however, it was LOVE that did it. *sigh* If you look closely on the wings you will see the words "Souvenir d'Amour". I have done a close up so you can observe it. None of us ever go through pain without learning something and the pearls represent 'pearls of wisdom' we gain as we traverse this path of life.

Souvenir d'Amour

The crown with pearl on the wing denotes we deserve a medal for this work.  Oh, no one ever thinks in those terms, however, it's hard work putting shattered hearts back together and learning ways to avoid doing it again.  I think we all deserve a crown to remind us that we are and have indeed moved forward in a big way.

The painting, for whatever reason, was very hard to photograph.  I think because it has a high gloss varnish on it, and you cannot see the shading in the heart.  Gold in the middle which gives it volume.  Ah well - you get the drift.  :o)

Thanks for dropping in.  I've been enjoying all your blogs.  You are so creative, inventive and very clever.  Take care.  I am so happy you are in my life in this way.  You inspire me.

ADDING ON:  I was so restless today I found this tiny canvas - probably 8 X 8 so thought I would experiment.  Little Lamb resulted.  Nothing to write home about, however it kept me amused for about one half hour!

HA!

“No man is worth your tears and when you find the 

one who is, he will never make you cry.” - 

Anonymous

 

What to do?

As I told you restlessness has settled in. As a result I have a nice little batch of Easter cards ready to go today.

You dropped by again today - how lovely of you!  Hope there was still some sangria left when you arrived.  What am I up to tomorrow?  Don't know yet.  I'll keep you posted.

“There is nothing more genuine than breaking 

away from the chorus to learn the sound of 

your own voice.“ – Po Bronson

 

Passing the time

Honestly, in between paintings, I get to restless! Does that happen to any of you? I pace about not knowing what to do with myself. Tidy the studio. Look at the paper. Stare at empty tags and cards. Go through my bits and pieces. No inspiration ... non at all. That's what it was like today. I managed one itsy bitsy tag.

Just wanted to show you my bottle brush tree in the back yard.  It is so full of blooms.  The leaves come later.  A sure sign of spring.

Thanks for dropping in.  Hope your weekend is going to be spectacular.  I'm hoping a painting will come to me so I can stop being restless!  Take care and have fun creating something gorgeous.

“It may be that those who do most, dream most.” – Stephen Butler Leacock

 

* A couple of things ...

I've been working on this Frida Nicho for months. Not really. I did the entire first step in a day, didn't like it, and it's been sitting there for months waiting for something inspiring to happen. Nothing has come to me. Today in desperation, I dropped alcohol ink everywhere and covered it all with a gloss glaze, put some white roses in the case with Frida, and I'm calling it a day. Not one of my favorite pieces, however, it is out of the way .... finally. I made a folded contraption out of a large envelope, covered it in pretty paper which left 3 pockets to fill. It's to one of my mail art friends, so I wrote a letter, made two tags, one shrine, popped in a pretty paper sack, wrapped it up so it looked like an ordinary letter, and totally forgot to take photographs for the blog! RATTS! How am I supposed to keep you entertained if I keep this up. Here's my attempt at
Frida's Nicho.

And here's the folded contraption.  It was actually fun to make and the tags and shrine I made to put in it were more fun.  Sadly, you will never see them.  :o)

That's all for today my Lovlies.  Thanks for the answers I received about yesterday's blog.  I have learned even more, and believe me, I think it's imperative I get a watermark which is not easily removed.  I'll be working on that.  In the mean time - try and have some fun and do something crazy.  I am in need of craziness these days myself.  Any bright ideas?  Take care.

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

 .

URGENT: Blogger issues which are making me nervous ...I'd love your input

I've been searching Blogger help these last few days. I've come up with no satisfactory answers. So I wondered if you'd like to compare notes on a few questions I have on the stats that are available to us. I usually keep an eye on the stats just to see who's poking their nose into my blog that I would rather not see there. For instance, these days, there are a list of unsavories which I don't have a clue how to block. I'm not even sure IF there is a way to block them.  From what I can gleen from the web, we are not to click on them for they can spread a virus into your computer lickity split. 

Who has the following hits:  These are all  "traffic sources"
http://www.zombiestat.com http://vampirestat.com http://www.vampirestat.com http://magnetfox.com/ http://plastum.ru/ http://www.spy-sts.com/ https://www.google.com/ http://adsensewatchdog.com http://candle.ucoz.ua/

The following suspects are "entry"  Warning:  DO NOT click on any of these because they are 'live'.  I don't know why that is either.

www.zombiestat.com	19
vampirestat.com	15
www.vampirestat.com	10
donnadidit.net	9
magnetfox.com	6
plastum.ru	6
www.dispatchfromla.com	6
www.spy-sts.com	6
www.facebook.com

 In this case, Donna did it, dispatchfromla, facebook are OK, however the rest are dangerous. They are spy ware and malware. They can spread a virus in your computer in seconds if you click on them to see what the heck they are all about.  They can take your blog content and print it elsewhere.  Other than google, I have no idea who the rest of these drop in's are. They might make up to 20 hits a day on my blog (each).

The other thing I've noticed is where my audience is coming from.  In the last couple of days, China has reached the astonishing number of 1493 hits on my blog!  What's that all about.  I can almost guarantee it's not good.

As I said - let's compare notes.  What's happening with your stats?  Do you understand what is going on?  Do you know how to block some of these sites?  I don't.  I also can't find the proper information on what to do and how to handle these hits.  As long as we don't click on them 'cause we are curious, does that make it safe?  I don't have the answers and I can't find them on the web or in blogger information.

I was wondering if any of you had information which would be of value to all of us.  If you do have any good information or at least understand some of these things I've mentioned I think perhaps it would be a great thing to discuss and exchange information.  What do you think?

I'd really love to hear from you on this topic.  Thanks.

Thanks so much for dropping in.  Thanks for commenting on any concerns you may have regarding the material above.  If you can shine any light on any of it - that would be wonderful!

 

It's too hot tonght!  Even though it's 55 degrees, I'm finding it hot to sleep - how crazy is that.  Today it's going up to 86 degrees!  I do believe spring has sprung.

Mary and I finished her portrait today. She wanted heart milagros in the sky. I coloured them with alcohol ink and touched them up with Lumier. She seems quite pleased with the effect. In case you didn't see the post, here is the lovely message she left with the world.

"The days grow short my child. Cherish each heart and hold it dear, for each heart is your heart. Another's heart is yours and your heart is another's. Hearts cradle dreams and nurture miracles. Hearts are the seat of the soul. Cherish each one as you would your own for it is yours, my child.  We are all connected. We are all one. Ponder this truth and allow it to be so." 

... here is the painting, completed.

Thanks for stopping in.  I do wish I could blow some warm winds your way.  It is so lovely here.  The sun is shining and my bottle brush tree is in full bloom.  The humming birds adore it.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you 

haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” –Steve Jobs

 

* A little more progress (82 degrees) ha ha

Slowly and surely, Mary is making her way into the world. Still another day of two until she's complete.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hope you are having a lovely weekend.  Mary and I are.  Habibi is too.  He's just lazing on the terrace or in the studio.  The good life.

“Just because I liked something at one point in time doesn’t 

mean I’ll always like it, or that I have to go on liking it at all 

points in time as an unthinking act of loyalty to who I am as  

a person, based solely on who I was as a person. To be loyal to 

myself is to allow myself to grow and change, and challenge 

who I am and what I think. The only thing I am for sure is 

unsure, and this means I’m growing, and not stagnant or 

shrinking.” 

― Jarod Kintz, 

 

* In the Studio with Mary ...

Is that like in the kitchen with Mr. Green? Oh no, that's right - totally different.

We spent a long day together, and actually I'm tired tonight. A couple of days ago on my way to a lecture on Gypsy's, I stepped out of the car to ring Miss Sylvia's door bell and my knee went very bad. OUCH! I almost went down. I made it to the lecture, the man running the show practically carried me in and plunked me down in a huge rocking chair. I felt like Lily Tomlin on Laugh In! Yesterday, I went to my Dr. in SMA who is aware of what it is, and after some discussion we have concluded I might as well go and have the surgery. Why wait for spring - do it now - right? Well, needless to say, I'm not amused, however on the other hand it will be wonderful to have it all behind me and just simply get on with my life. I'm still scared -- such a scardy cat am I. I'll keep you posted.

It was slow arduous work with Mary today for some reason - however, I am happy with how it's going so far. Who knows what will happen tomorrow.  She wants to say hi.

Once again, thanks so much for visiting us.  Mary is quiet pleased when you drop by and say nice things about her.  :o)

”Happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. 

Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them 

company to the end of the day." -- Winston Churchill. 

 

* Mary finally talked to me ...

It's happened with this series of paintings before. Some of the women don't speak for a long time, and sometimes they say little. Others chatter the whole time I'm painting. This morning I've had some time in the studio. I was painting the hearts on her head dress, which she had asked for. Here's what I heard.

"The days grow short my child. Cherish each heart and hold it dear, for each heart is your heart. Another's heart is yours and your heart is another's. Hearts cradle dreams and nurture miracles. Hearts are the seat of the soul. Cherish each one as you would your own for it is yours, my child.  We are all connected. We are all one. Ponder this truth and allow it to be so." 

 That was worth waiting for!  We did some more work today, so here she is.

Thanks for coming on over.  I know it's a bit of a hike and I appreciate it. Sun feels good today though doesn't it?  Worth the trip for you if it's cold where you live.  Sangria is on the terrace if I'm not home.  Help yourself.

Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with
whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along Napoleon Hill

 

* Mary, Mary, quite contrary ...

I know nothing more than I did yesterday. She seems to be the strong silent type. All I know is she wanted the heart she's carrying made bigger and the sheep demanded hearts around their necks. They've been fun to paint. Lots of personality and cheeky too.  My favorite Scottish sheep - well, my version anyway. Didn't get to far today - however progress is being made. Here she is. Perhaps she will talk to you.  HA!

To Marie - yes I am sorry we were piglets!  Next time we will leave you some nibbles.  Lebanese food too ... sorry about that!

Thanks for dropping by.  Let me know if you hear anything.  The rest of the week I have some commitments which will take me away from the studio - so perhaps she will get lonely and want to talk by the time I get back.  Take care.  Go create something magnificent!

This is the true joy of life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. George Bernard Shaw

  

* Mystery Girl

I know nothing. Honest! She showed up on the canvas, carrying a heart, wearing a halo with two sheep following her. Hasn't said a word. Not. A. Word. "Mary had a little lamb?", I asked with a giggle. hmmmmm .... no answer. So, your guess is as good as mine at this point. She is very roughly blocked in. I started with head and shoulders when she told me she wanted to be almost full figure. Ok, so she did say something! Here she is, the mystery girl herself ... TA DA ...

Hope spring is coming to an area near you.  Thanks for dropping by.  Nice to see you here.

Kaethe Kollwitz, German artist

I am gradually approaching the period in my life when 

work comes first. No longer diverted by other 

emotions, I work the way a cow grazes.

Sometimes I actually feel like this when I'm painting!