Where have I been?

Over a year since I posted to my blog. Life has really thrown us some curves this last year.
So without going into great detail I will say this; we've had illnesses and we've had some bad times but we've been given a new grandchild, our daughter's home is getting closer to being finished,
our place in Yuma is coming along, and through all our adversities, we've found the that family and friends gather around you, and surround you with love and support.

Life is good when you have family and friends to share it with.

Hope to post some art in the next few days. I have my Halloween Fatbook pages finished for
my Altered_stART group on yahoo.
I'll be starting on my Halloween tags for that swap in the next few days.

Really could use some art to help heal my soul, right about NOW.

For Dee

Two and a half years ago, I met my friend Dee. We met at a shoebox party. There we were,
crafting the day away, in different rooms of a mutual acquaintance's home, when I noticed Dee
was wearing a Harley-Davidson sweatshirt. I told her I like her sweatshirt and that we should
be friends. She thought I was weird! Knowing her as well as I do now, I know what that look meant.

We exchanged numbers, and I thought, heck, she'll never call me. But she did. We ended up getting together to go stamp store shopping in a town about 30 miles away. We had a good time. Had lunch, got to know each other and it just felt good to be around her.

She invited me to go to a stamp convention with her, then to her house for another shoebox party to celebrate her birthday. She found out mine was three days later, and she included me in her celebration. We've been buds, ever since. Our daughters are about the same age, they too, like to do the same type of art and we just have a great time.
Dee always makes me the most wonderful gifts for all occasions that call for one. Her books are wonderful and she just has a great time making all sorts of different types of books and holders for fun things. Not always being sure of my own talent and art, I've been very hesitant to make her too many things. I made her a Christmas house for that holiday this year, and she loved it, so
I thought I would try my hand a something I really like to do, collage. This is what I made her this year for her birthday. I made it to match her new studio. She loves her gift, and I'm thrilled
that she does. Her friendship has meant the world to me. I feel very fortunate.

This is paper, paints and ribbon on canvas.

Life has regained some semblance of normalcy. We are better!

Now I can get on with life in general and my art.
To kick start this, I'm going to join in on ' pay it forward blog project'.

As part of the deal, in order to participate, I am offering this on my blog...I get something from someone with a promise to pass along the thought, so here are the rules:

The first 5 (five) people to respond will get something made by me.

This offer does have some limitations and restrictions, so please read carefully.

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
2. What I make will be just for you, with love.
3. It'll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any idea what it will be. I will not give hints. It will be something handmade by me and will be a real tangible thing. It may very well be kooky or strange.
5. I reserve the right to make it as strange as I like, if I so desire.
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) and make 5 (five) things for the first 5 (five) folks to respond.
7. Send me your mailing address--after I contact you. I MUST have a way to contact you. If you are on blogger, please make sure you have your email address in your profile. Please make this as easy on me as possible, I am a very busy woman these days.

Important: This offer is null and void if I do not see your post on your blog to pay this forward.

The loss of a my brother

The picture to the right of this space is a picture of my
baby brother, Ernie and I in Monterey CA, 1955.
He always made me laugh. He was so funny when he
was little. Always had some way to entertain us.
We were such good friends, growing up. He changed when
he became a teenager.
We had a rough time at home and we relied on each other
for support, on a daily basis.

Yesterday was by far the worse day of my life.
I received a phone call from my sister-in-law, Jackie.
My brother had taken his own life the night before.
He was only 57, but he was a tortured soul and had
been, most of his life.
My heart is broken. Not only because he's gone, but
because there was nothing anyone could do. He wouldn't
help himself and any help we tried to give him, he rejected.
I could tell he was going deeper and deeper into depression.
Most of it brought on by alcohol abuse, an abusive relationship
with a girlfriend (he and his wife were estranged).

Hey, Ern, what was so terrible that you couldn't hang on and
make things work out? What was so wrong that it couldn't be
fixed? What was so wrong that you couldn't call me and let me
talk you out of what you did?

I will miss you so much. I can't believe you won't call me this week
and tell me about work or about your plans to move.
And we had just begun to be friends, again. Now its gone. I have
no brother, Julie has no uncle, and Jackie has lost her best friend.

Our hearts are broken, and are lives left in pieces, because
you are gone.

Be at peace, little brother, be at peace.
I love you,
Sis

Kings & Queens RR Altered Book 2

This is the second spread I did. This one came to
me at the last minute. Kept thinking I wanted to
do something a little different. I had actually thought of
doing another queen spread, then I thought "King of the Road"!
Roger Miller!
There is a very interesting bio on the net, by his wife. I read
every bit of it. Got the lyrics and had way too much stuff for
two pages. So I added a page in between the spread.

Lots of stamps, and ink. This is one of my favorite spreads
in this RR. I think it's because of the subject. He always made
me smile with his music and his wit.

People who knew him said he was a musical genius, and I
believe it.

Hope Dee likes her pages.

Kings & Queens RR Altered Book

This is the first set of pages in this book.
Queens? Beauty Queens! There's some
great information and photos out there
about the Miss America pageant. Lots
of history and after I was done with this
layout, I wish I had included more of it.
But, I didn't, just some of the winners
over the years.
The background is done in quoache, then
dry brushed with iridescent red. I stamped
it with my swirl stamps to give the background
some punch.

Friday 4x4 Challenge

With an Asian theme, I couldn't resist.
The challenge is here: 4x4 Friday
This is Josh paper, & an image I stamped on Origami
paper, colored in then cut-out. I stamped the
background with three different stamps, then glued
the coin charms to the piece.
I like it. Thinking it would look nice in a small frame,
mounted on some red matte board with black trim.