My greatest accomplishment

Like most mothers, I'm a wee bit prejiduce when it comes to my son
He is my greatest joy, love and accomplishment
His name is Brian and he is a "first year" student in college
His hopes, dreams and aspirations
are amazing for someone so young
And he is by far the best thing that has ever happened to me.
Being an only child (and not by choice) it was
very hard to let him go when it was time for college.
Lucky for me he did not go far.
We searched up to seven hours from home
but in the end he fell in love with Hobart College
on Seneca Lake, about 45 minutes from home
He's far enough away that I don't drop in
But close enough if we have an emergency or
he decides to pop home for a short visit.
It's hard to believe that his school year is over in ten days
and he'll be home for the summer.
I'm sure there will be many days that we will both hate it, the "rules of the house",
rolling of the eyes, messy rooms and checking in at nighttime
But all in all I truly cannot wait for him to be home
So we will all enjoy these last few days apart,
then it's back to one happy family unit.
God help us!

Not enough hours in the day for art.....

I wish I could spend all my time in my studio and
focus on the kind of art and jewelry that I really want to make.
I get sidetracked so easily (ADD or old age?) and I find myself not making
the type of jewelry that I sketch in my journal.
I really feel the need to be true to myself
and my passion lies in unusual pieces with
found objects.

So today, I will carve out some time to make Art or Jewelry
that reflects my personality
I will put aside my worries if only for a short time
and create.
BTW: I'll be posting the pics of the crocheted pendants that
I've been cranking out. Insomnia at Dad's is fueling
my need for repetitive motion and crocheted jewelry
is poring out of me! I think it's so soothing.

So have fun today and carve out a little time for your passion!

What a wonderful day!

Today was one of those perfect, but busy days. I started out spending the morning at Rochester Works, taking seminars and lining up appointments for further help and education on my search for a new career. I feel like God is taking my hand and guiding me, but I'm so dense that I practically have to be
hit over the head with help!

Today, I play

It's 5;00am and I awake to the sounds of birds singing, is spring finally here? The trees are starting to bud and the whole world is opening up to create lush leaves and flowers budding.
I feel a sense of awakening. Spring has always been my favorite season, it's when the earth wakes up after a cold snowy winter (at least in upstate NY where I live) and comes alive with sights and sounds that I love.

So today I will play, maybe not all day but I will pick one project to do and
nurture my creative soul. Because days like this give me a sense of renewal.

Will I play with my new Shiva Paint Sticks and my journal? I got the paint sticks all at 70% off at the college book store where my son attends school, talk about the deal of a century!

I'll let you know tomorrow what I do with them.
Just the act of taking a few hours and playing has me so excited.

I always have projects on hand in pretty tote bags or small containers.
That way you can always just pick up the bag and take it with you wherever you go.

I have a bag with gorgeous lush yarns coupled with knitting needles. I plan on making a prayer shawl (a glorified scarf, only longer). I know how to knit, but I can't remember how to pearl. Maybe someone can teach me but in the meantime I'll just knit.

I have many little pencil cases filled with thin colored wire, bags of gorgeous glass beads in beautiful color combos, and a size 5 crochet hook.
I love to crochet with wire and beads.
It is calming, repetitive and soothing to my soul.
. It's amazing how much you can get done in those few minutes here and there throughout you're day. I have ended up making enough strands for a pendent or bracelet in no time.


So today, carve out some time and come play with me, if in spirit only!
Happy Springtime, and have a glorious day!
Di

You can pick your friends but you cannot pick your family

I learned a very important lesson tonight.
There is nothing quite as special as family.
No matter how much we argue
or disagree with each other
When push comes to shove
We always have each others back
When we are hurting, with no one to lean on
We always have our family

We may not have that special of a
relationship with everyone in our family
but sometimes no matter how much
we try, it just is not meant to be.
The key is to realize that some things
cannot be changed and move on.

I feel very fortunate to have
a wonderful family.
I don't know what I would do without
my brothers, sister in laws,
son, husband, nieces, nephews,
aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Because, yes my friends are my family
They say you can pick your friends but
you cannot pick your family.

I feel lucky to have the best of both.
Through thick and thin,
tears and laughter,
through good times and bad,
I thank God for my family

Release your inner child, if only for a few moments

There is nothing like playing with new materials to brighten your day.
Or materials that have been sitting in your studio
for so long that you had forgotten you had them.

This morning I took spray paint (the kind for fabric and paper) and various textured sheets of wallpaper samples (the embossed kind), along with cardboard.
I laid out the wallpaper and weighed down the corners so it laid flat, then I using the cardboard to section off "parts not to be sprayed".
Holding the cardboard in one hand and the spray paint in the other hand, I started spraying various sections of the wallpaper.

It created beautiful colors and sharp lines
and was very abstract and cool.
I don't know what I'll do with it next but I have a few ideas.
I might mat it and frame it as is, or staple it on stretcher frames and add embellishments, or paint circles and flowing lines on it.

The possibilities are endless.

The moral of this story?
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO PLAY.
Don't always think that you have to make a masterpiece,
it stifles the inner child in all of us.

So today, if it's even for a few minutes, get out your stuff and play.
Melt crayons (with an old iron or a mini one from a craft store) on to rocks, or a
Teflon sheets (then quickly stamp in a rubber stamp that has been conditioned first).

Glue an abstract design of plain old string on a wood block. Then roll on paint or stamp pad and stamp a design into various types of paper or fabric.

Just do something fun and quick and believe me, it will be such a stress buster for you, you'll want to spend more time playing.

Just don't let dinner burn, or the clothes sit in the washer for a couple of days.
But by carving out short time spans for yourself to play,
will help release your inner muse
and make you very happy.
Remember if the woman of the house is happy,
then everyone is happy!
Enjoy your day
DI.

All roads lead to "Paradise"

There is nothing quite like spending time in my studio, known as "Paradise" in my house. I love the smell of it, the feel of all the textures in it and yes, even the cluttered mess of it.

When I'm having a bad day I will sometimes just go sit in Paradise and look around at all the creations, supplies, and memorabilia in my room. I have my collection of nuns (yes I went to Catholic school for 12 years), various pieces of art that my friends made for me or I made, a few awards and all the things I hold dear to me.

I'm a bit of a pack rat by nature, just because you never know when inspiration will strike at 3am and you'll need that piece of ephemera that you hopefully didn't toss out on your last cleaning binge.
Sometimes I spend more time cleaning up the studio and trying to bring some semblance of order to all of the treasures that Paradise holds than I do in actual creating.
But even the organizing and clean up brings
peace to my soul.

When I do create, I can actually feel myself shift from my left brain to my right brain (this comes with either mellow music or rockin' REO). And then the fun really begins. Hours go by and I am oblivious to the outside world. Living in my dream world of total creation.

So for the last few days, I've tried desperately to organize and clean up in anticipation of showing my house when it goes up for sale soon.
The Realtor took one look, and bless her heart (she is an artist too), said "This room will be shown as a studio and people can just use their imagination if they want it to be a bedroom".

We instantly bonded.

So I am off once more to Paradise to continue to sort, reminisce and enjoy organizing and touching all the beautiful fabrics, paints, papers, metals, buttons and other things that continue to bring me joy.

If you don't see or hear from me for a few days,

send out a search party.

Life is Fragile, Handle with Care

Life is fragile and very special.

It should not be wasted on negative thoughts & actions.
No one has a crystal ball to know what our future holds, but
if we greet every day with a feeling of positiveness
then we open our hearts and souls
to endless possibilities.

Choose to live your day to the fullest,
seeing the positive in everything you do
that shift in your attitude will make a huge difference in your life.

I believe in taking the day you were given as a gift
and make the most of it because you never know what tomorrow holds.

The way you treat your day
will determine your attitude and frame of mind.
Dread the day, waste the day.
Embrace the day, find endless possibilities.
Seek enjoyment even in the mundane activities of your day
then cherish every moment.

Remember that no matter how hard your life is
you are never alone
Walk in the Light with God by your side
He will get you through the trials and tribulations of life
If He leads you to it, He will help you through it
When things seem at their bleakest
Remember that someone in the universe has life much harder than you

Sneak away everyday, if only for a short while.

Spend time nurturing your soul.

Curl up with a good book and cup of coffee
Journal with written & artistic words
Create a piece of art.

Knit, Crochet, Sew
Make a Artistic Trading Card

Breathe in the quiet

Meditate

Pray

Do something that makes you happy

Life is Fragile, Handle with Care