2011 A New Year, A New Beginning

I always love the beginning of a new year. Everything is fresh, a time to reflect on the past, make plans for the future and reevaluate your life. I am not one for making New Year's resolutions, I think they are a waste of my time and energy. I prefer to live everyday to it's fullest in it's ever changing way.
This year is especially a fresh start for me. My divorce was finalized on the 29th day of December, my wonderful job with Hear For You will be coming to an end soon as we close the Rochester offices and I continue to look for a new job in a career that involves customer service and business administration.
For those of you who do not know the wonderful guy in the picture with me, that is the love of my life, my son Brian Russell Horn. Brian has embarked on his own journey this year, as his studies have taken him to London, England for the semester. He is a Political Science and American Studies double major at Hobart William Smith College in Geneva, NY. He left on the 5th of Jan. to study for four months in England and he is loving exploring "Brit" style.  We knew that we were a small part English and love all the pictures of  the word Russell in England!

Brian and I are looking forward to beginning this new year with adventure, wonderment and whatever 2011 holds for us. I am sure it won't be filled with all goodness and light but we have learned how to weather the storms and keep on fighting through to find the positive and good in our lives. We are truly blessed to have each other, our family and our friends.
May you all look forward to 2011 and have a Healthy and Happy New Year.
Namaste
Di

What Will Be, Will Be

My mother always used to tell me "What will be, will be". I always hated when she said that because I never could figure out what it meant. It's taken me 30 years, multiple heartaches, times of great joy and downright depression and grief, but I have finally figured it out. I'm sure my mom is sitting by the ocean in heaven (That's where I get my passion for water) and smiling, thinking, "She's finally got it, my Diane". She always called me "my Diane", words that I would give anything to hear just one more time. And my Dad is sitting next to her saying "Christ, it took her long enough!".



They say "Time heals all wounds". They say "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". They say "Give it time, things will turn around". And they are always right.Now if I can just figure out who "they" are....

My life hit a rough patch about 16 months ago, well let's be honest, it pretty much went spiraling out of control. Or at least, out of MY control. I lost my job on Feb 4, 2009 due to the economy. A few hours later I drove my Dad to Strong Hospital for what was to be an overnight stay for him to have a test run. We left 8 weeks later with a terminal diagnosis. I continued to take care of him, watch him suffer and slowly he lost strength and use of his limbs, and 8 weeks after coming back from Strong, he died a peaceful death at Hildebrandt, the Hospice center in Rochester with my brother Bobby and I watching over him throughout the long night, into his favorite tee time: 6;55am.



Then a few weeks after that, of mutual agreement, my husband left our home and marriage of 29 years.In a matter of months I had lost my Dad, my husband, my job, my happiness, my world.  We put our house on the market and that was just one more loss. I had sunk pretty low and had a hard time pulling myself out of bed in the morning. The only thing that kept me going was my faith, my son, my family and my friends. Now as I face the 1 year anniversary of my Dad's death,I realize how right my Mom was,"What will be, will be".

I lost total control of my life last year and still haven't gotten it back. But I realize now that I never did or ever will have total control of my life. I didn't realize until today, that losing control was why I hated when my Mom used that saying. But she was wise beyond her years, something I wish that she would have shared with me before she died.  But I know now that it is a lesson that we must all learn on our own. And it is a lesson that is frustrating, hurtful, sad, but one what we must all learn.

We do not control our destiny, We can do things to "steer the ship" called our life, through our actions, words, thoughts and the way we choose to live our lives. BUT total control is impossibleand now that I realize that, it's not such a bad thing. If I have a strong faith and trust that I am doing what I feel is right, then that is all I can ask for out of life.  The higher powers that be, have a plan and I can only pray, meditate and trust. And that my friends, is EVERYTHING.

Farewell Art Is...2010, Looking Forward to Art Is...2011

Art Is...2010

The East Coast Retreat for all Artists

I just got back from Art Is...2010, held this past weekend in Danbury Ct. As always it was a huge success. Days spent teaching or taking classes in every art medium from painting to doll making to jewelry design. Nights spent with various events, the BabyFace Silent Auction, a fabulous banquet with inspiring guest speaker Jo Peckham, hanging out with old friends, making new friends, having Flamingo races at 2am, eating fabulous food and creating fabulous art.

 

One might think that this is the "norm" at an art retreat but they would be very, very wrong.

Something sets Art Is.. Retreats apart from all others and many agree with me on this. You can take the normal ingrediants needed for an art retreat, lots of artists, both students and teachers, a hotel for the event, good food, lots of classes and activities to choose from and this will all add up to a "Good retreat". BUT the HEART AND THE SOUL  of ART IS Retreats comes from it's founders and chairwomen, Ellen Purtill-Legare & Sallianne McClelland. 

Ellen & Sal met when Sal took a class from Ellen, they became fast friends that somehow led to creating this incredible weekend retreat.  Ellen & Sal work tirelessly all year to create the most wonderful art retreat on any coast.  They somehow manage to bring together a very talented group of teachers, artists, sprinkled with magic and love and turn a group of people into a family.  A family that has bonded over the last 5 years of the retreat, always with open arms to new people joining every year.  I am lucky enough to have stumbled upon this group when Sal and I exchanged correspondence over Prayer Flags on a yahoo group.  She had looked at my website and asked if I would be interested in teaching at this retreat in Conneticut on Columbus Day weekend.  What the heck, I love retreats and art and happily agreed.  I am now in my third year of being lucky enough to be part of this Art Family and  I look forward every year, like a kid at Christmas to see what classes to take, what to teach and more importantly seeing my friends.

We spend the year on yahoo groups and FB talking and keeping up with each other's lives.  Getting encouragement when we are down and triumphing in each other's accomplishments.  Some are lucky enough to live near each other and get together throughout the year, but I live about six hours away so I miss out :(

The retreat has grown by leaps and bounds, and it has gone from a extended weekend to a 6 day event.  You can come for the day, two days, or the whole thing.  I guarantee you that if you come to Art Is..., you will be inspired, nutured and will come back year after year.

Namaste

Di

 

VACATION, VACATION, VACATION

VACATION

 VACATION, VACATION, VACATION
Vacation. Something so wonderful and exciting. It is filled with anticipation prior to leaving counting down the days, making lists and checking them twice. Then, relaxation and happiness on your trip basking in the late nights, early mornings and delicious naps. Then it's back home and the beautiful memories that follow, long after everyday life absorbs you.


What is the most important thing to pack?
No, it's not clothes, jewelry, shoes or purses.
Not even sunscreen, makeup, medication or snacks.
It's your ART SUPPLIES of course!

This year our vacation was centered around my niece's wedding in Maryland last weekend. We love being with our family and decided to extend our trip to include extra time for my favorite thing, the beach. Since our family spans from Baltimore to Annapolis to Ocean City, we decided to spend a few extra nights in Ocean City, Md.


I found a great hotel with a balcony that had an ocean view, we packed our bathing suits, sunscreen and other essentials but there was the most important thing missing, MY ART SUPPLIES. We recently moved and my travel art supply kit was no where to be found. My garage is still filled with boxes that need unpacking so we did a quick look through all the boxes remotely resembling anything to do with my studio but could not find the red fold out case full of my treasured supplies.

Needless to say, this reeked major havoc with my packing. I could not focus on anything but where they were and if I needed to quickly replace them, what would I need to buy. After I finally gave up looking (on the morning of our trip), I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to replace some of my precious supplies without breaking the bank.

I grabbed what I could find that was small, a few paint brushes, glue sticks, euphemra, a pad of watercolor paper and some watercolor pencils.  I would make due with what I had (ok, maybe a stop or two to a craft store was in order).


Then it was off to Maryland and Sara & Ryan's wedding. It was a fabulous weekend filled with laughter, love, great food and fun. Spending time with our family is so incredibly special.  We can go for a couple of years without seeing each other, only to be together, sitting around the table, talking and eating like we do this every day.  We have started to call it "the round table" because we have literally spent all day there.  Laughting, sharing stories, reminicing and just being a family.

My niece was radiant, her groom so handsome and an incredible fairy tale wedding, including so much time spent with our wonderful family. 

La Famiglia

There is nothing quite as wonderful as family. They are always there for us, for better or worse, in sickness and in health and until death parts us.  BTW, the above picture was painted by my incredible nephew Chris in his scenic painting class.  He has graduated with a BS in Theate and is a gifted actor, as well as a talented set designer. 

Heaven on Earth

Here I sit in my favorite resort in Canada, The Glen House Resort in Gananaque, Ontario. I'm usually here during the summer when everything is green and lush, surrounded by beautiful flowers and landscaping.
This year Brian and I made a quick winter weekend getaway up here and it is so different, yet so soothing to be here.
The sun is just rising and there is a tiny patch of blue sky trying to peek through the clouds. The water on the 1000 Islands is grey blue and frozen in spots. The river ripples in beautiful shapes in between the ice.
It is spectacular to see and so very quiet that I'm thinking I may prefer winter up here, rather than the hustle bustle of summer.
We have one of the same rooms we always stay in, complete with fireplace, which we used quite a bit (despite my allergic reaction to the wood burning and smoke).
This place that I call "heaven on earth" helps to clear my head and keeps a constant smile on my face. I feel free of worry which is unusual for me. I feel alive and creative (the portable art easel is set up on the table with a work in progress). I hate to have to leave today but they only open the resort on weekends in winter, hence at 12noon Cinderella will turn back into her old life.
I only hope that this break has given me the strength and calmness that I can carry with me throughout the week ( I live week to week, it's less overwhelming that way).
So to my precious "Gan.", I say "Thank you for a weekend filled with love, peace, calm and creativity". I'll be back soon.
This has been a wonderful 36hour vacation. I've had precious time with my son, good food, a massage and best of all a spot away from all my worries and concerns.
That will come soon enough as we head home today.
For right now, I'm enjoying the moment of my Heaven on Earth.

Creative Weekend

This is my creative weekend and I'm loving it.
My girlfriend Lin and I are embarking on new techniques
including making fabric out of paper and ribbons.
I'll post pictures when we are done.
I always look forward to learning new techniques
Because then it is my time to fly and say "What if?"
So wish me luck and away I go
into my inner muse