...a tiny tour

Out my window..a gray day.

A little sprinkling of rain in the very dry CA. foothills.

What keeps me warm.

A gift.

A thought.

Self portrait.

On the wall.

A start.

In the cupboard.

A resting place...

Something to do...

She has something to say...

Inspiration....

A stack of inspiration....

My nest...

The Trickster...with wings
photo by artist joyce Wycoff.

Someone To Tell it To

Almost done..

My divine muse...

....things that speak

Our theme at Timberline Gallery in Oakhurst this month and next is Animal Totems..
If you come to Timberline on January 14, you will be able to meet some of the artists..
Me, I'll be there for a few hours..





Turtle Woman


The turtle is my totem...and yes, it's a lot about being slow, but it's also about getting ''there''. 


 The Turtle is my always with me totem...

and when things get upside down she reminds me to breathe, meditate...

slow down

...take my time but keep moving...

Turtle is the oldest symbol for the Earth.
 It is the personification of goddess energy and the eternal Earth itself.
If you have a Turtle totem, you must be mindful of returning to the Earth what she has given you. 
Honor the creative source within you.
Use water and earth energies to create a harmonious flow in your life.
Ask the Earth for assistance and her riches will pour forth.
If a Turtle totem shows up in your life, slow down the pace of your life. 
Bigger, stronger, faster are not always the best ways to reach your goals.
Turtle is fine teacher of the art of grounding.When you learn to ground yourself to Earth's power and strength, you place focus on your thoughts and actions and use the Earth's limitless energies rather than your own to accomplish your will...and I know this about me and the Earth....me and Mother.  I can go to her when I am anxious or feeling out of balance...when I walk or sit on the Earth, or best of all lay down on Her, I always feel better...and when I already feel good I am better.

Turtle is also the keeper of doors and one of the ways into the Faerie Realm, so it's no wonder I also find inspiration while out in nature.

This figure is not part of the Animal Totem show...

She is ''The Gift''

and she is at Timberline

Miko's

A wonderful Totem piece by Valerie Runningwolf

''I am Woman''

The Shaman

Valerie's gourds

My work and Janet Wycoff's mixed

I love this owl...

Zygmund Zee

''Finding Center''

with a beautiful woven piece by Jacqueline Kurtt

Click on the story of Tex and it will be large enough to read.
He resides with artist Carolyn Hartling.

Did you know, that it's perfectly OK, even highly ideal, to claim all is well amongst doubt and confusion?  To be happy in spite of challenges?  To laugh at problems? Dance without a partner?  Sing without a rhyme?  Talk to inanimate objects?
Oddly most don't.
Yous so rock!!
The Universe
www.tut.com

......????

Wow!  The last few months have been so busy...

Sierra Art Trails in Oct.

Then I had a little Money Doll workshop in November, hosted by the lovely and talented digital artist joyce Whycoff 

We gathered at her mountain home.

She made us homemade veggie soup...how sweet is that?

Everyone was busy every minute and I'm pretty sure they had a lot of fun.
I made new friends...
Everyone seemed really happy with what they created.
When we finished it was late and I wanted to get off and home before it was too dark.
 Winding mountain roads and all..so I took no photos....
but joyce did...


http://joycewycoff.blogspot.com/2011/11/money-dolls-work.html


 joyce's colorful little Money Doll





This little duo below went to the KPFA Art and Crafts Show in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago and speaks to how much easier a dream or desire comes into being when sharing it with another who wants the same thing.
They found a home.

This show is the biggest I do all year...

My half of the booth that I shared with joyce...

We really did well together..

the travel..

the evenings..

the set-up and break-down..

our time in the booth..

Shows can be a bit of a challenge...emotionally and physically.

It's really cool to have had it go so smoothly and create good memories.

Joyce's half..

My belief about shows is that if you go just for money you will miss a lot.

Of course money needs to exchange hands.

there are booth fees..

travel to and from..

hotel room..

food..

materials for new creations..

and always new items to use for display, etc.

So yes, we working artists need to sell our creations...find them homes....so we can keep doing what we are called to do.

But in there too is the opportunity to share why we do what we love....

and that is an amazing high.

Talking to the people who FEEL what my Muse and I offer.

It's hard for me to explain but something happens...magic..

joyce shared this on her blog...

As Saturday began, I started to see the effect of her art on others.  Time after time, women stopped by to tell her which of her spirit figures they had and how important they were in their lives.  I saw women spontaneously begin to weep when they entered our booth, touched by julie and her spirit and the figures that embody that spirit.  It was a great reminder to me of what art can be..more than a decorative object...

a talisman of connection between people and the universal spirit that connect us all..

http://joycewycoff.blogspot.com/2011/12/veni-vidi-no-vici.html

I am honored by her words...and by the women who open to my figures...

 and who share their stories with me.  

What a blessing.

Fun

Custom shoes

amazing craftsmanship

Georgeous

Stunning jewelry

Friendly neighbor all the way from Idaho

Friend and inspiration

the lovely Maggi Belle who comes and plays for both days every year.

We....Maggi, joyce, my daughter jillian, our friends Brian and Shane all headed for Market Street Saturday night when the show closed to share a meal at a tiny vegan restaurant.  Best burger ever!  

Yummy..

and what a joy to break bread with people I enjoy so much!!

These were show stoppers....just wonderful!

Food and coffee are upstairs...

on my way down with a cup of caffeine on Sunday the massage lady said..."deep discount for artists"

sounded good....

but no time and didn't want to miss anyone who might stop by to say hi.

She is called, 'It all leads back to you...'

....and now what?

2011 has been a year of reflection...

...and a year of many changes.

So, now what?

I like to start a new year with direction. 

 A vision.

....and right now I don't have that focus....not  for my personal life or my art...

So many things are interconnected...as you wise readers know...

nothing stands alone

 I am a believer that thoughts become things, that the more I focus, and the more steps taken in the direction I want to go, the more likely I will  experience what it is I call.

Yes, I know that sounds like a no brainer and it is..

 and that's why the need for a clear vision...

gotta get my 2 cents in...

need to let the Universe know my desires....

not just drift. 

 Drifting causes me anxiety.

And I have been experiencing that.  

Maybe everyone is..

The state of the world could definitely cause a bit of anxiety. 

 It's scary here on the little Blue Planet.

I read somewhere that WWW3 has already begun...and it's Man vs Mother Earth.

It's a war we can't win...

She will go on without us.

I know change is coming...and I know it can blow in from many directions....and a wise woman would be getting a little more centered and start moving in the direction of her dreams.

The direction that feels supported and as though the wind will blow against my back.

Focus.

Wishing you all a new year with the wind against your back, 

blowing you in the direction of your dreams.

xoxo

Happy New Year

....this and that

This is my favorite news guy....

he is brilliant at explaining world affairs and knows our Constitution backwards and forwards.  And he is entertaining. 

You can find his show on LinkTV & Free Speech TV and you can stream him online...I promise you will be more aware.

and I ponder this...

Fox News viewers
are less informed 
than people who don't watch any news at all...

a new poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

I had the pleasure of leading a Money Doll workshop a few weeks ago.  It was hosted by my friend and fellow artist joyce Whycoff

There were six attendees and they sat at her dinning table as I led them through the process...

What fun we had.

These Money Dolls have a five dollar bill and 20 cents as part of their construction. 

 Seed money...

The one above is joyce's...sitting on her little altar.

This little golden one is on of mine....

We honored Lakshmi the Hindu Goddess of abundance

There is a little ritual that goes along with the dolls

Lighting candles, ringing bells and chanting the mantra below for ten minutes a day for 40 days....with you need in mind.  

“Om Shrim Maha Lakshmiyei Swaha”.
Actually when I find that I drop my resistance and truly open for abundance the process works much quicker.

"Babies"

the movie

Watch it...it will make you smile..

In the late 60's I was a peace activist...

I still am, but then I was really active.

I watched this documentary the other day about the Weather Underground...a group of radicals who split from the Students for a Democratic Society.  They advocated that the only way to get a violent government to pay attention, change, end the war, was through violence.   To be clear, I don't advocate violence...but I do understand why it is almost impossible to have a peaceful revolution.  

And I do understand the frustrations of people living under governments that are corrupt and violent and don't serve the people.  That indeed seem to be intent on destroying any sort of quality of life for the people who live under them.

This is an interesting documentary.  

Not so much has changed in all the years since the Vietnam War or the civil rights movement, of which I was also a part of by registering voters in Texas. 

 A very scary time...scarier now I think.

 We have more war now, and elections are being made more and more difficult for voters to actually vote.

You might enjoy the doc...

History.

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable...

John F. Kennedy

xoxo

....going to Berkeley

http://www.liveoakparkfair.com/pages/preview.html

I'm happy and excited  to say I will be at this show with my Spirit Figures.  

This show is presented by jan Etre, who was the force behind the KPFA Arts and Crafts show I was part of in December.  I know this is going to be a lovely, fun, experience for exhibtors and visitors alike.  
There will be good food, good music,
 and the amazing art will be a feast for the eyes...

I hope you'll stop by and spend a little time...I'll be booth in #77 come and  see what me and my muse  have been up too..
Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new...xo

Mother

Dreamweaver..Inner Child...let her out!!

.Peace Seeds