New Creative Obsessions

a few new creative ideas have got me on a roll these days!  i’m still busy creating my regular mixed media pieces, but have added some new stuff and having so much fun with it! 

i discovered this book  through an amazon suggestion and have taken it and run with leaf printing.  i am currently planning a retreat next month for a group of female employees and thinking that this will be the perfect fun, easy, nature-based activity!

so i’m doing a lot of practice so i can at least kind of look like i know what i’m doing.  i think it will be great fun!  the retreat theme is “creative play” and this will fit right in.

i’ve also taken to working with sticks.  just like leaves, they are free and available pretty much everywhere.  i especially like finding them as driftwood or in locations that we may travel to. 

 spirit sticks have a long history and tradition in native american culture and i love that.  they have been used for ceremonies, rituals and blessings.  i feel that when i create them with love, that will translate to blessings for the recipient.  

 

 the possibilities are endless.  they can be painted or wrapped with cord, embroidery floss, twine, etc. and embellished with all kinds of fun things.  each one is totally unique and it is a very intuitive process. 

 i’m very intrigued with and  influenced by native culture.  i recently bought a native American flute!  too soon to call it an obsession, but we’ll see.  i used to play traditional flute, but this is quite different.  i do love the sound, though, so hope to be creating some music soon. 

 hope all is well in your world and that you are enjoying the renewal of spring (or the changes of fall, as the case may be.....)

Entropy

Entropy:

(4)The tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity.

(5) Inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society

this is the word that kept coming to my mind as we walked, once again, through the increasingly deteriorating areas around the salton sea recently.  it’s impactful to see it the first time, but even more so when visiting each year.

 time and weather take their toll, not to mention humans, who seem to think they have to play a part in hastening the demise of the aging structures.

this house right at the edge of the sea had been slowly declining and still contained furniture and many “pieces of life” until a group of young people felt the need to light it on fire.  now there are only the charred remains.

it all got me thinking how sometimes we as humans can feel a bit of entropy too... especially as we age.  some of our roles and functions fall away and we can feel less engaged and less important..... declining.... as we head toward our inevitable doom.

there is a big difference, however.  a HUGE difference. and that is the human spirit.  it’s alive.  and fully capable of renewal.  no matter what.  it’s up to each of us to keep that renewal going.  when things change or end or are disappointing, there are some who feel beaten down and give up.  i have seen it happen.  but it doesn’t need to be that way. 

there is ALWAYS the opportunity for growth, for a change of attitude and for hope.  and there is always the possibility to keep moving forward..... even if it’s only one tiny step at a time.

 still so much beauty there, it keeps calling us back!

I Love the Night

i love the night

no, not everything about it

but i love to be in it

with that as the sole purpose

to be in it

immersed

to wrap myself with it

fall into the yawn of space,

inhaling the moon

and feasting on

the insistent whispers

of the lonely stars

A Season

things have been a little different around here.  ever since november, dealing with stu’s knees has been such a major focus of both of our lives.  as some of you already know, after both knees were replaced, the left one has healed and regained flexibility normally, but the right one has not.

so it’s been therapy, exercise, medication, doctor’s appointments, etc. etc.  last month he had an additional surgery which didn’t seem to help at all.  so then it was intensive daily therapy and hourly exercises and the current approach is steroids (for the scar tissue)….at this moment, things seem a little bit better so we are cautiously optimistic.  neither of us has had much experience dealing with medical “stuff” so it has all been quite a journey!

the other big thing going on around here is continuing home improvements.  our house, deck, shed, patio cover and studio are all made of wood and are aging.  so there is always maintenance needing to be done.  we also decided to tackle the so-called “yard”, which used to be grass, but has fallen prey to the gophers and rabbits.  so it’s hardscape and xeriscape now… low water, low maintenance. 

 i’ve been pretty homebound, since stu is gone a lot and somebody needs to be here “in charge” of  the workers coming and going. .i’ve been able to spend some time in my (new and improved!) studio creating things, which is wonderful, but my grant and my classes have run their course and i do not know what is next in that regard… 

 being ok with the uncertainty of that has been a challenge for me… i am doing a lot of journaling, seeking clarity, wondering which way to direct my energies… in the meantime, it has been a different sort of season.  embracing that and moving forward always, one little step at a time.

 thank you for stopping by!!