Moonflower Musing

IF: Forward

2012-01-28T12:06:00.001-07:00

Last night we went into Dolores and met up with some of our forward thinking neighbors to attend a fundraiser for our local land conservancy group- which helps ranchers and other landholders preserve the great open spaces so important to Colorado and all of the West where the word "subdividing" is a very, very bad word.

The focus of the evening was the Wild and Scenic Film Festival, a series of film shorts highlighting such things as the Snake River Salmon run and the fish's coming demise due to four dams they have to navigate up.

Sadly, we are protecting less than 1% of the height of the salmon population experienced by Lewis and Clark on their exploration of the Northwest and they are predicted to become extinct in our generation.
On the other hand, is the livelihood of those dependent on the water and power generated by the dams. Definitely on of those issues that there is no good solution. I hope that some very clever ingenious people can think of a true solution and compromise between fish and man!

Other films in the series were several very funny shorts on Animals saving the Planet

The main film of the night was Bag It!

Interestingly, actually from a film maker just up the canyon in Telluride. I already had a "rap" for hating all things plastic and "disposable", and in the middle of the film, Jon leaned over and said "You're gonna be impossible to live with, aren't you?"
The film was funny, the host trying to use his own containers at the Taco Bell drive through. The very said part if what plastic is doing to our oceans, where it is ground into tiny bits and marine life is eating more and more of it and dying from it.
Another said part,that unlike metal and glass recycling that happens in the US and can be done over and over, plastic recycling is actually shipped to China where the poor, the old and young children, sift through it and very little is reused and then probably only once.
But the film was also great in that it was not for radical environmentalist, and really by all of us changing a few habits, like bringing our own bags, which I keep two extremely light, compact ones in the bottom of my purse and have a whole sack of them in the car for the big grocery store runs. Another change is to stop buying bottled water, Period. It takes like two cups of petroleum to manufacture and transport water to you in a bottle that you can get free from a tap. Take your own "to go" mugs to get coffee- it actually tastes better.
These things do not have to be political, highly charged issues. The last ones I suppose is, but I was convicted last night to send a few emails to Washington to address the issue of plastic consumption in this country and that would be a deciding factor on who I voted for this coming November. We have only one planet and like I always say, "Crap in, Crap out" or as the film said last night "We throw things away, but there is no away!"

Valentines from the past...

2012-01-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

Last time we were up at my mom's, I finally convinced her to let me dig through some boxes of my great aunt Roberta's, containing many wonderful photos and other "tidbits" of life we tend to want to keep but do not really know what to do with.
Roberta was my grandfather sister and her husband Luman was my grandmother brother, such a thing happened often in small farm community back then, siblings marrying siblings, at least in Freeborn County Minnesota. In fact three of the four Conns siblings married into the Jensen clan of thirteen children and there was another two siblings, the Sorlies, who also married into the large family, all around the time of the Great Depression.
But enough of my weird family tree, my Aunt Roberta and Uncle Luman never had children so my mom became the keeper of all their treasures and in my digging I found and probably because my mother was somewhat annoyed I had unpacked the boxes on her kitchen table while she was trying to get supper cooked, she yielded to me claiming for my own, quite a wonderful little treasure box, that got put away when I got home until I realized that Valentine's Day was right around the corner and I had intended to share its contents on the blog.

Some things she had given me permission to keep and a few, I took with the understanding I would make copies of them and return, though me and my sister have always maintained the golden rule with my mother is that if you can get it out of the house, you are pretty safe in she has so much it is hard for her to keep track of it all, though if she asks I will dutifully return it....or reads this blog!
The little box is not of my Aunt Roberta's things, but of my Uncle Lumans, from his school days at the District 110 school house and must contain thirty valentines over a span of several years as near as I can tell around 1915. There are several years worth for the same signatures on more than one valentine and several teacher's valentines. I'm certain that he, like my grandmother and my mother, through their primary years attended a one room schoolhouse with only one teacher.

The box also contains teachers notes, art projects, a watercolor set, compositions notebooks full of his not so great penmanship, but several wonderful little watercolors of ships, flags and Pilgrims, some with accompanying poems he copied.

Growing up, my mother always seemed to believe that her uncle Luman didn't do very well in school but the reports cards marked in fancy script seem to say differently. I wonder if he and I had two things in common, being an artist and having dyslexia, it can be hereditary and I think he was horrible at math.

My Uncle Luman was one of the youngest of six boys and my Grandmother was the middle of six girls. My Great Grandparents, James and Christine Jensen had a happy, healthy family of thirteen children only loosing their last child, James Jr. when he was a toddler. James was the first of his Danish family to be born in America and Christine made the journey when she was twelve from Denmark.
I assume Luman and some of my other uncles are up on this roof for any number of "boyish" reasons that I have learned being a teacher myself to ranch boys at a one room school house!
Now the real mystery- why were these things saved? I don't have one valentine from my school days and very little essays and artwork and I am a Girl!! And not like number ten in a long line of children a mother has to keep track off. I have two girls and can barely remember to tuck away their school treasures.
Two things I can guess- and I am only guessing...I think that my great grandmother was more nostalgic with Luman because he was one of the youngest of the children. I know I don't want to let go of my last baby.
Second, Luman had to tuck some of this stuff away himself, it had to at least get home safe and that believe me is a feat, making it from the school down the country lanes on a bus or walking to home, where kids, dogs, getting the mail, petting the cow, playing in the mud might happen before school books are laid on the kitchen table. Again, I know this from being the teacher on one end and a mom on the other!

Luman was a quiet man. Of course I knew him in his later years, and he always took a backseat to my Aunt Roberta who probably was one of the first to wear man's pants and took command around her at all times. Luman loved dogs, working in his garden or being in his workhop that smelled like wood chips and was alway neat and tidy.
I wonder if amongst being one of the boys "on the place", working the land with my grandfather James and all his brothers...

Here are two of the older brothers, believe me there was a peeking order and Luman was never at the top of it, so doubt he was the one who got to drive the team and that has to be my Great Grandfather James on the right. Love the pipe, could be my Great Uncle Clive, who I sure liked and is the only uncle I remember with a pipe, though my mom could figure out better who all these are.

The boy on the end could be Luman, for the way he is sitting...

Look at all that hay! picked up by hand, with a pitch fork no less!

The relics of the past are sure interesting but there is no way we can understand completely the people who left them behind. But this box makes me wonder, that perhaps in a family so known for their hard work and being practical "Danes", maybe my Uncle Luman was a bit of a quiet dreamer.
As an art teacher of "ranch boys", I can tell you there is no rhyme or reason for which ones will think making them do art is sure torture or which ones will loose themselves for an hour painting away before they go out to recess and wrestling someone in the dirt for no good reason!

IF: Twirl

2012-01-20T16:27:00.002-07:00

I don't know about your dogs, but with snow finally coming to Colorado, our dogs won't even take a twirl around the backyard before they are demanding to come back in, the big dogs bashing themselves against the door and the little bouncy one jumping up and down like a poogoo stick to peer throug the window!!

Finally!!

2012-01-16T09:56:00.001-07:00

Finally, we woke up to snow- the whiteish reflection evident in the bedroom when the sun was coming up! None too soon, took a hike yesterday and were amazed at the bareness of the Blues in Utah and the San Juans, here in Colorado surounding us on the horizion!
Now, we can complain about all the incoviences snow brings with it, like, "ahhhhh, I wanted to go to town and now need to shovel off the car... and the roads!!!"

IF: Grounded

2012-01-10T06:42:00.001-07:00

These guys and gals better be grounded, before they try and take another step. Got to say that Ice Climbing has to be a sport that I do not understand- but it is awful exciting to watch, so colorful for the eye!
Each time they take a step, they kick seveal time with their crampons, metal teeth attached to their boots and make darn sure they are secure and grounded!
The little mining town of Ouray is a mecca for ice climbers. It's on the other side of the San Juan Mountains- literally- you make a loop- Durango, over Hesperus Pass, Dolores, over Lizardhead Pass, Telluride, over Dallas Divide, Ridgeway and Ouray, over Red Mountain Pass, Silverton, over Molas and Coalbank Pass and then back to Durango- you can do it in a day and still stop somewhere and walk around and grab a bite. The trip is like a slow moving rollercoaster, with 1,000 foot drop off, but some view!
We don't get much past Telluride, but Ouray is pretty amazing too, way more rugged than the ski resort and not so glamorfied!

We do need to get over there this winter to take watch the ice climbers. They actually have an ice park, where in a deep rocky raven, the city sprays the sides of the rock walls with water until it is a ice climbing playground!

Since it rigt below one of the main roads, you can easily watches these guys (and gals)...who maybe are not that well "mentally grounded" now that I think about it!!!

Happy New Year from 8,700 Feet

2012-01-01T08:59:00.002-07:00

We were here New Year's Eve Day, up the canyon at Telluride...

to meet up with Daughter #1 and The Boyfriend and The Boyfriend's family for lunch, which was very enjoyable and then it was up the mountain to watch the kids " shred some nard." whatever that means...

Then since parents are such a downer to a day of "Nard shredding" we let them loose, warmed up with some hot chocolate, and headed back down...

to the old mining town's main street, that has to be one of the prettiest in Colorado...what an amazing undertaking for the merchants who came to sell to the miners so far back in such a desolate place.

By 2 o'clock, the sun had already given up on the south side of the canyon, where ice had claimed the roads and alleys...

And would not be melting until Spring. Snow on the other hand was late in coming to this ski resort along with the whole of Southwest Colorado. The north slope still covered with its Fall brown blanket...

and Colorado Street barren of snow...

But Christmas had definitely come and gone, the merchants of Telluride making sure that the store fronts were properly decorated and a glow to entice the chilled passerbyers to come in out of the cold...

Of course it is Telluride so at the end of December there were more than a few bikes around. See those grey lines on the tires...

snow chains, no kidding!

And there was a dog, tied up in front of Steaming Bean Coffee...

waiting for someone to come out. We went in, chilly after walking around and this time got some hot, hot tea...

and perused my Christmas gift from Jon, a Kindle Fire. Actually, Jon perused it, I watched life go by and got inspired to do an illustration from inside the Steaming Bean, which still has the Victorian stamped tin ceiling and high windows that provided another interesting view of the lab waiting outside and the passerbyers. I loved the warm glow of the coffee shop, against the cold darkening street outside- might be kind of interesting in a fabric collage...

But since it is just a gleamer of an idea this last day of 2011, it will have to get in line behind the pieces waiting on my work table- Migration through Moab, Rush Hour on the Rez and the more formed idea resting in the files of my computer- View From a Tent.

May 2012 bring this illustrations and many more to completion and may you also have a lovely and productive year!

IF: Highlight

2011-12-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Prompted by this weeks Illustration Friday theme of Highlight, I thought I would look back over the year and pick the illustration that was na extra special to me. What I found was that I really did not produce very much last year, kind of depressing. For whatever reason, I am in the famine side of freelancing and so was looking for other avenues- i.e. galleries - so put a lot of effort into larger pieces or should I say piece, yup, one piece.
It's something like 25" x 40 and it is impressive and of my daughter at the double arches at Moab and if I can figure out how to finish it, it is destined for juried art shows, etc, but right now it is more of a pile of fabric on my work table and a huge blockage to more work. Or was- until about the start of the winter, when I was working on it and my daughter walked by and said- "you have been working on that for what like a year?" I responded "No!", than realized she was right.
Now looking over my portfolio for 2011, I realize at what sacrifice a big piece like that demands. The illustration above was probably my last small work and it was a joy- recreating the famous Japans print was fun and the girl is based on one of Daughter #2's stances, and was a highlight.
I also looked at my post for this blog last year- half what I did in 2010 and my movie blog, which I really thoroughly enjoy- dusty.
Why?
Well I think the dry spell in the freelance work is key. I had a food allergy that left my feeling crappy and a little depressed till we figured that out, much better now. Change of life's season always makes me less productive ( see Christmas post) , pressure of $$$ for Daughter #1 college coming up made me debate getting a really job and then the teaching opportunity came up, which is probably the world's best compromise between having to work out of the studio and still having time in it, but it takes some balancing that is for sure!
But I think it comes to what I always struggle with as an artist and I don't know if this universal or it is just one more thing that makes me kind of "odd". I feel like I need to get permission to do this, that someone needs to tell me to "go ahead," or to make sure everyone else and anything else is taken care of first and then whatever time is left over is fine to do Art.
Daughter #1 did track in Middle School. She ran the 800, which they start "mob style", just a big clump of kids at the starting line and then the gun goes off and they run. Problem was she was too nice and lost about 5 seconds of her time because she would let everyone else around get going before she did. Believe me, her coach and we teased her for that, " Oh no, you go, really, you go first..."
Well for whatever reason the thing that did NOT go first in 2011 was my art and my writing. Which is so silly because it is something that gives me such joy. I have come to a conclusion in this end of the year reflection- that really apart from my kids and my husband ( who is pretty low maintenance- it is kind of an understanding we have- each wanting time to do "our thing") and my commitments to my kids at school and our Youth group which we are the leaders- it's my Art.
I don't know if more commissions will come in 2012, if a first draft of my novel will be completed, if I will see my work in print again, if they will hang in gallery or perish the thought someone buys something. But I do know that if I don't raise the priority of being in that studio and my hands on the keyboard writing, my sanity might be in questions at the end of 2012.

A Change of Season...

2011-12-26T07:59:00.002-07:00

Due to only having a day to think about our family's Christmas festivities, the school Christmas program went really well, the kids were so cute in their pretty dresses and a few of the boys even had fancy suit coats, but Friday found me sitting on my bed, laptop in hand, searching the web for some last minute ideas for our Christmas menu.

In the end, I went back to our family's simple favorites-I did make breakfast burritos, having just learned from Molina, my fellow teacher and Navajo, how to make homemade tortillas, then we did our family favorite- Fondue for Christmas Eve dinner- the oil kind with cubed raw steak, shrimp and mushrooms to fry and a cheese fondue with cubed bread and asparagus spears to dip with all kinds of yummy dips.

We also uncorked and dispersed Jon's wild plum rum to friends and enjoyed it ourselves Christmas Eve. Our old homestead has a long hedge of wild plums and thanks to one of the wonderful blogs I read from England, where I found this recipe for what they call Damsons - I put the idea of plum rum in Jon's head and he ran with it! Yum- this is our second batch and we made sure to make more of it for ourselves then last year because everyone wanted it!

I also divided and conquered, assigning cooking duties to other members of the family members even though I could hear the objections of all my grandmothers in my head. Yes the kitchen was a little messy- but I got to sit down and enjoy the day which was beautiful and warm and I just kept loading and running the dishwasher and wiping down counters.

Christmas morning- I had planned to make sausage, fried potatoes and eggs, but a friend gave us the most yummy bread birdies, sweet roll knots, with one end clipped to look like tail feather and the other complete with an almond beak- and we still had daughter #2's cheese ball and I had everything to make my mom's Tipsy Dogs...

Sauce

1 cup Bourbon

1 cup ketchup

1 cup brown sugar

simmer sauce until it reduces slightly and then add quartered good hot dogs or those mini sausage links for about 30 minutes.

My kids wanted to eat everything off a plate with toothpicks in little cups while playing with their Christmas toys!

Today, after Daughter #1 makes crepes, I told the family we are observing Boxing Day- and purging of a lot of out grown clothes, unwanted items and recycling- which we will box up, take over to Durango, with a boyfriend in tow and drop off at the thrift stores and recycling center and then it is off to the movies where I think everyone is splitting up, and then down to downtown to wander a great old mining town main street, find a good place for dinner, browse a book, magazine store and then end it with a trip to the coffee shop. Nice way to end the holiday!

And then I don't know about you...but come Tuesday and two weeks of school break, I am devoting it to my studio- which now resemble more of a large junk room- everyone discovered a long time ago my large work table makes a mighty fine gift wrapping station!

Hope you all had a wonderful time with your family this Holiday Season! This year felt like such a transition year with a kid going off to college, a boyfriend part of our family mix, me teaching again and not home when the kids are done with school. I'd trade it all back, to be home with my two sweet little girls, didn't seem like enough time.

It is like a really big chapter of our life is closing and a new on is starting- which mean we need to think about what is important and what needs to change. We still have Daughter #2 at home and with Grandpa, who lives in another house on the homestead and is 86, we can't make any drastic changes quite yet, but my thoughts more and more often go to dreaming of moving- possible to Santa Fe or back over to Durango where we went to college or traveling- I am starting to look at Artist Residency programs on the East Coast and Europe, short ones and long term ones. I keep telling Jon he has to figure out how to do this lawyer thing over the internet so he can come with me and do some of the writing he always talks about.

His thoughts have gone to apples, saving what is left of the orchard on our property and helping to replant some of the heirloom varieties that are dying out in Southwest Colorado, once a thriving fruit producer about the turn of the twentieth century. It is just plain weird to start to think past kids- since for two decades they seemed to be our only thought- making a nest to raise our babies- which I think we made a pretty good nest and have two pretty awesome girls to show for it, but they are thinking about flying away and I got to think about what I'll be doing next!

Getting ready for Christmas...

2011-12-20T07:14:00.002-07:00

Since this Christmas falls on a Sunday, the powers that be decided the holiday break for school should start actually on the 26th, I teach in the neighboring district to where my girls go ( which decide to let the kiddos out after Wednesday half day). My district is a four day week anyway so the kids are finishing out the week and not getting out until Friday- literally one day before Christmas Eve.

After Santa Claus himself, this time of year has to be the busiest to the lowly Art and Music teacher! Here is my list and I have checked in more than twice!!

1. Make Christmas ornaments for 37 children including.... handmade beads to go into the bead and wire star for the older class.

2. Glue together about 80 popsicle stick frames hoping will get 37 usable ones to make frames ( which is a good thing, since made the mistake of stacking them together too soon, did not account for kindergartners love of glue...lots and lots of glue.)

3. make sure I have taken photo of 37 children, need to still get pics on thumb drive and go to Walmart at a time when no one else wants to be there in order to get prints made a picture kiosk.

4. Practice - Little Drummer Boy with drums for the little guys, Jingle Bells with chimes, wood and bells with the big guys, Must be Santa, 12 Days of Christmas, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas and practice playing Silent Night as it is sung in Navajo- yup Navajo.

5. Wear old clothes for the "Day of Glue!!!" where above mentioned frames will be covered in glue and colored sand. ( which for some reason the school has a ton of, literally, I could do sand and glue projects all year and not run out? Hum, Art supply of Christmas pasts?

6. Make gift bags and tags for 37 children- teach older kids how to cut out a snowflake- realize there is no way for the little guys to do it so go to plan B- coloring Christmas scenes and character on bag- pretty cute!

7. Practice, Practice Practice songs- did I mention accompanying on the piano to Silent Night in Navajo.

8. Try to figure out if the convention hall where program will be even has a piano and if not what my plan B will be- got a key board that might work if power cord or right size batteries can be tracked down and the machine can be powered up..... maybe should think of a plan C!

9. After getting pics made, construct the picture frames.... do I make sample to test the projects in my head...............................no.

9. Find one more easy, kindergarten -first grade level ornament to have the kiddos make- which probably means one more trip to................Walmart!

10. did I mention playing Silent Night in Navajo, I don't understand Navajo.

As I write this Jon come in and asks " Did we settle on a Christmas Dinner...... fondue, turkey, elk stew?"

I give him a look and say....."Ask me after Thursday."

Would I trade the glue fingers, sand covered art room, pounding little drummer and bell players, sugar high little darlings for a Martha Stewart Christmas this year....nay, but..Ask me after Thursday!!

IF: Sink

2011-12-17T07:56:00.004-07:00

How many polar bears does it take to sink an iceberg?
( yeah...I like polar bears!)

IF: Separated

2011-12-11T08:33:00.001-07:00

Like all little ones (most of the time), they know to stay close to their mamma so they don't get separated!

Santa Fe by Snow

2011-12-03T21:13:00.001-07:00

Had to be in Santa Fe this weekend for a karate conference. Since we were free until the afternoon, we hurried to the Square for breakfast at Pascals, our favorite restaurant where usually we have to wait upwards of a half hour. But because of a snow storm, a few inches at the most, which would be nothing in Colorado, but here people are not use to it, one happy result is we got one of the best booths in the tiny restaurant with no wait.

My two eggs, home fries and homemade English muffin with raspberry jam was as yummy as ever- fresh off the truck, literally!

Our tummy warm and full, we meandered down the snow covered sidewalks and window shopped.

Skipping in a few stores to get warm and took the time to pick up a few unplanned Christmas presents....

Ahhh, it is a wonderful thing to not be looking for a gift and find the perfect one in a beautiful store!

What is also wonderful on a snowy Saturday morning, is to slipped into a great bookstore, which must be a weekly routine for this dad and daughter, who tromped in from the snow the same time we did and plopped down in the children's section...

Of course we had to bare the cold to see St. Francis Cathedral....

After a peek inside where they were getting ready for Saturday morning Mass, we went around the corner to see the Loretta Chapel in the snow...

It did not disappoint! We mosied back around to the square and over to where the Native Americans sell their handmade jewelery in the protection of the porch of the Palace of the Governors....

Across the way from where the Native Americans sell their wares is the San Juan Trading building, one of the prettiest Santa Fe...

The girls were antsy to get to the Karate conference, so we said goodbye to the Square...

But since I was driving, we did meander up Canyon Road, and took a few more picks from the car...

IF: Round

2011-11-26T08:32:00.001-07:00

What could be easier, rolling a few round balls of snow and stacking them on top of each other to make a snowan. Wonder when we will get enough snow here at the house to make one, let alone a snowball. Just came over the pass from Denver and the ski slopes are open, if just a few runs and daughter #1 headed up to Telluride to snowboard with friends, though down here at the bottom of the canyon it is still very brown and windy.

IF: Silent

2011-11-11T10:15:00.001-07:00

Today's theme for Illustration Friday is "Silent", which seems appropriate since today, here in the US it is also Veteran's Day. So here is a moment of silence.........for all the brave men and women who have fought and defend us in wars. Much of Europe also celebrates with Armistice Day or Remembrance Day.
Interestingly, Armistice Day marks the official end of World War One..." Starting on the Eleventh hour, on the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month", now, today it will be celebrated on the eleventh year of the new millennium.
My grandmother was a War Mother, an organization of mothers whose son's were soldiers. With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, you again see the the blue stars banners on the back of cars and in store fronts. In my grandmother's time, my uncle was in Vietnam, but many of the War Mother's sons fought in World War 2, blue stars were hung in the windows of the houses. A blue star for each son fighting. A silver star for each son wounded and a gold star for each son killed. My grandmother was a Gold Star Mother.
Poppies also are the flower of remembrance both in the US and in Europe.

When I was little, every year I would sit at my grandma's house and help her make tissue paper poppies in preparation of Veteran's Day.
To make, use a cardboard template- I think my grandma's pattern might of been five points, but four is way easier and don't think it will make that much difference once the layers are crunched up. We made little poppies to wear, maybe 1 and 1/2 inch, to give to people when they made a donation, the ladies would set up downtown for the day....these are bigger, but basically trace a circle and then cut the petal divisions, pinking or scalloping the edges.

I would be in charge of stacking squares of red tissue paper, I believe it was five, she would count when she was crumpling the layers and let me know if I got it wrong. We used tissue paper, I happen to have some pretty handmade red paper.

From the back, staple through all five layers, sandwiching a stick for a stem in the center- there was a knack on the tiny poppies we were making, to get the staple in the right place, we used pipe cleaners for the stems, I recall. I am using a craft stick, so not only did I stapled it, but put a dot of glue there are well.

Flip the poppy over and one layer at a time, scrunch them up, when you get done adjust to make it look like a poppy!

Adding my own flair, I stitched in three black buttons for the center, and there you have it!

The Blue Star embroidery, I picked up at a yard sale, for like 50cents. Mabe me sad that it was discarded like that and I adopted it, as it's keeper for whoever's mother stitched it, probably by the style of it from before World War 2, I have it in my studio and I won't forget, nor let my children!

IF: Striped

2011-11-04T11:48:00.002-06:00

This is an old illustration and the only original illustration anyone has asked to buy. I was so taken back when the husband of a friend called and asked to buy it for his wife, I gave it to him! I know- I am such a great marketer!!
The title is Harvesting Poles. The Ute Indians go up in the mountain and harvest a bunch of the long lodge pole pines, to be used for their tepees they put up during the multi tribal pow wows festivals. Sometimes when we are up in the mountains, we will find a stash of long lodge pole pines that they keep up there, much easier to just bring up just the canvas when they are camping.
The striped blanket is actually stitched because I wanted to control the curve of their bodies under it. That did take a long time and don't know if it was worth it.
Looking at it, I would do so many things differently now- but it is definitely one of people's favorite. Of course I like it because it is my favorite subject- a guy and a girl!

IF: Scary

2011-10-28T09:58:00.001-06:00

This is an old one, but I still like it.

What is really scary for me right now is Blogspot.com. I have had so much "techy" trouble with this blog as of late. First, some one was able to attach their own links to the end of my comments- how

un-nice is that!

Then Google wouldn't let me post on others blogs- kept telling me my username did not have permission and to use a different one.- which all meant with my now limited time, due to teaching- I have not been posting and commenting on the blogs I like to read- I have been Googling solutions to take care of all these hiccups and debating switching to Typepad or Wordpress which I do not want to do and do not have the time to learn a new system!

What I want to do, when I find a few hours before after teaching or on the days I don't is to post interesting things and comment on other's interesting blogs- #$#*$^!

So here's finger's crossed I have sorted through the problems and can start actively posting again- could you possible try posting- even if all you say is "boo"- and if you can NOT and have the time- let me know you still can't through my profile email- thank you thank you!

Going Back to Aspen...

2011-10-08T11:13:00.001-06:00

This last weekend, I took my daughters back to Aspen, Colorado to meet up with my mom. Over forty years ago, we had lived there, before it was so posh, with the downtown lined with designer store fronts like Gucci and Dior and beautiful people with their high falotting dogs walking the streets and fighting for parking spots with their huge Suburbans and Porsches. No joke it was like "Road Rage"! I guess a parking complex on such pricey land is out of the question and would be an eye sore?

When we lived there, it looked more like this-

taken from Wikipedia Commons- as were the downtown pictures, the rest are mine.
We lived there in the late 60's and early 70's when it was the "hippy" capitol of the world, or so it seemed to my father, who was the District Ranger for the Forest Service...

(this picture more from the mid 50's)

and who's responsibility it was to keep in check the "free love" that was happening in the National Forest that surrounded the tiny mountain town at the end of the Roaring Fork Valley.

In fact, we lived right at the Aspen Ranger Station, which is situated at one of the first intersections as you come into town.

Just around the visitor entrance, where my sister, brother and I were the first to grab every publication, coloring book, poster, pencil, rule or anything else put out by Smoky the Bear or Woodsy Owl...

There is a sidewalk, around the corner, which led to the house next door, still situated on NFS land...

That in the 70's was the District Rangers house....

I was five when we left, but I remember many things about living there like the curved archways, seeing my mom play solitaire at the round bear claw dining room table and the long set of stairs that went down to the basements where my dad kept his stash of antiques bottles found at clean up sites in the National Forest, i.e.- from trash heaps in abandoned mining towns up in the mountains of Colorado. Often we kids would sleep down there, on NFS cots, in smelly, leaking NFS down sleeping bags.
After my mom and dad divorced and she took us to Loveland to live with our grandparents, I still visited Aspen and that is when I learned about another piece of equipment important to families of those who took care of the NF, a radio- before cell towers and phones, the only form of communication for those out deep in the wilderness and those at home. My stepmother explained that to me. More critical, though my father did not do as much as our friends, when your loved ones were out fighting forest fires, a dangerous but profitable part of working for the NFS. We have friends who define what they will be able to do in a year, not by $ but by how many fires there might be.

Disappointing to see now, the back of the buildings is now a parking lot, but when I was a kid, it was a jungle, with streams, hiding places and the horse corral, where I never passed up an opportunity to climb the thick NFS brown fence and offer the horses some of the more chose green grass on my side.

The horses were there to be used in packing equipment and manpower into the forest when needed.

Pack Strings are still used today- both my dad and my father-in-law who are involved in Backcountry Horseman, still regularly work with the NFS when they bring their pack strings in to work on a Wilderness trail, where absolutely No motorized vehicles are allowed, so the horses are still needed.

On our trip this last weekend, my mom got to tell my daughters of how their grandpa's saddle and saddle bags were stolen and how my father track down the thief because he had the saddlebags custom made to fit his clipboard he used in his grass management.

Behind the horse corral, there were other outbuildings including a workshop, where my dad would make me simple wooden toys like a piece of 2x4 we painted and stapled a shawl onto. There was a bunkhouse for the seasonal hands and smoke jumpers perhaps, college boys who were around every summer, oh I was way to young to appreciate that.... but I still think of the time in Aspen during fire season when they are stationed around the Four Corners, with there bright red and yellow trucks and all of them wearing olive green cargo pants and heavy workbooks.

Next door to our house in Aspen, was an elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins. They had been ranchers in the area, and were bought out when the rich started to move in, so they lived out their years in this little Victorian house. He always wore overalls and a felt hat and she wore dresses and aprons made out of calico, wore cat eye glasses and little white socks with her shoes, or so I remember.

One day, I do remember watching their house from our side window and not being allowed to go outside until Mr. Jenkins caught and drowned the skunks in trash cans that had taken up residence under their porch.

We also drove up Castle Canyon to enjoy the changing colors and to walk around the ghost town of Ashcroft....

My Apologies

2011-10-07T11:12:00.002-06:00

Apparently, a parasite attached itself to my blog, adding countless links to their illustrator website to the end of all my posts, below the comments. I think it is a new trend where by attaching your link to my blog, your site can go up in the search engines or something. Ahhhh.... the things pale faced people in dark little rooms who should go out in the sun on occasion can think up on how to take advantage of other's work on the web- oh! isn't that the definition of a parasite?

Also, Apparently I am not without fault- the new blogger interface include a box that somehow was checked to allow such inpoliteness- well I finally unchecked it and hopefully that is the end of it, because I love blogger and don't want to have to move. If anyone knows more about how people can leave a sneaky link on other's blog sites and how to stop them, please, please post. And so sorry to you readers to have to look at such things on my posts!!

I'm up at the Telluride Film Festival again...

2011-09-03T19:38:00.001-06:00

It's Labor Day Weekend, so that means my kiddos and husband are camping in Utah and I am here, with very gracious friends, who have house, for one of the best film festivals in the US. George Clooney is here, Glenn Close is here, Jennifer Garner is here, George Harrison's widow is here and Johnny Depp is rumored to be here. Jump over to my other blog On Popcorn and Movies for the weekend's play by play.

IF: Disguise

2011-08-27T09:42:00.001-06:00

This is old, but fits the theme well. Could Fall be right around the corner. I am so ready for cooler weather, golden leaves, life slowing down with all our schedules less crazy- though opposite of that, I took, or retook my teaching job at Battlerock Charter School- to teach art, music and now a reading and writing enrichment program to rural and Native American Children. I was down there for six years until the administration and parent's board changed and they chose to drop the Art program. Well, now three year forward and a new administration has brought back many of the teachers that taught with me and whalla- life can work that way.

Of course, now I am in this freelance mode of working at home.....staring at my dogs....talking to my dogs....too many days wearing sweats......so working twenty hours a week down at the school probably is a good thing for me. I will still have the mornings to write, I'll work in the afternoons, and have all of Thursday and Friday in my studio, and the weekends. Plus with a kiddo going off to college next year, the extra $$$ is a good thing.

Battlerock is a one room school house, down McElmo Canyon, right below Sleeping Ute Mountain and near the border with Utah and very close to both the Navajo and Ute reservations. Well, one thing is certain, I will have a lot to blog about this school year!

Getting to the SCBWI

2011-08-10T23:29:00.033-06:00

Making my way to the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrator's Annual International conference in Los Angeles, my husband drove me through the Navajo Reservation Wednesday afternoon, to the train depot in Gallup New Mexico, where the depot attendent, an old Hispanic man, complete with a long grey braid down his back and tatoos and turqoise on his arms, announced the train would be an hour late.

Since the "Rez" is not a place you want to drive through at night if you can help it, I sent Jon home and waited with the half a dozen other people. I was the only Anglo, and since everyone was speaking Spanish or Navajo, I busied myself on my phone playing Solitaire and walking around the little depot, where great public service cardboard displays advertised the struggles the Navajo's are still dealing with in this "Modern Age"...

Third World living conditions in faulty houses and trailers with dangerous kerosine stoves. When I was teaching at Battle Rock, one Navajo girl told me how her little cousin had just fallen in an open stove and was in the hospital...

Severe proverty- especially the elderly and the young- not every Navajo man is a drunk, but the lack of "fathers" on the Rez, is taking it's toll.

And as is true with all proverty- Education.

Finally after over two hours, the train came into the station and we were headed West into the sunset. The train woul get into LA about 8 in the morning. To pass the time and because I was on a tight deadline for a "call for entry" for a fine art publication, I stitched the boarder of a fabric collage, aka art quilt...

Come morning and past Kingman AZ and Death Valley, we started to drop passengers off at station after station in California...

I was headed to the end of the line....

Union Station. Tired and probably a little stinky, I still took time to take some pics of the fabulous architecture of this iconic train station.

Then I rode a subway...

then a bus....

to finally get here.... the Hyatt Regency Centruy City Hotel, right next to Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive

did I mention I was here, less than 24 hours ago!

ahhhhhh........

starving, I cleanded, up and headed over to the food court in the mall across the street...where I had sushi and texted my teenagers the pic to prove it, my daughters response " Not cool!"

Coming back to the hotel, I could not get my keycard to work on my room door, and I must of looked pathtic, because two gentleman, dressed in nice suits stopped by and turned out to be both managers of different departments of the hotel. They kindly told me I was actually on the wrong floor and it "happens all the time." I sheepishly thanked them and they must of took pity on me, wondering if "some" wine might help after my long train ride.

Well, less than a half hour later, resting in my correct room, not a glass of wine was delivered, but a whole white linen cart and silver bucket, with a lovely 2009 Pinot Grigo from Italy.

I actually never drank it, Mohitos seemed to be more what I drank down at the hotel bar- ( like one a night- which is a lot for me) so did not also have the desire for wine. So I just enjoyed looking at the bottle, in the pretty silver bucket over the four days and carefully packed it amoungst my clothes and got it home safe, to enjoy at a later date when we have friends over for dinner and I can tell them the story of my adventures on the train, subway to get to probably one of the nicest hotels I will ever stay at.

IF: Obsession

2011-07-30T07:45:00.002-06:00

We all need our own personal obsessions. Mine is Art, always has been, but my daughter's is karate. I often take my sketch book with me and sketch away at the beautiful movements they are learning to well, pummel some bad guy in a dark alley if they need to. As their mother, I am also trying to teach them to stay out of dark alleys- but also glad they both have the ability to defend themselves if need be.

Karate is definitely an Art- a skill that takes great dedication, practice and a large amount of obsession! You need to live, eat and breath it! .....Kind of like Art!

The painting in the backgorund is The Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). It was fun recreating a beautiful piece of artwork in fabric- might have to do that again!

Heading to the SCBWI conference in LA on Wednesday. Will be in the portfolio showcase again and this is my postcard image- then when get back will do a mail with it to Art Directors.

Lesson learned from an ant

2011-07-19T09:18:00.001-06:00

We camped here this weekend- well actually over there on the other side, above Moab Utah on Sand Flats. The front side of the pic is Dead Horse Point. Pretty grand impressive vistas, very God inspiring. But this post is about one tiny ant who resides near the camp site we stayed at.

In the morning he found a bit of chocolate wrapper under the picnic table, dropped from the s'more making the night before and proceed to carry it back to his ant hill at the edge of the campsite. We noticed him because the wrapper was like three times his size. We were dully impressed. Than all of a sudden, he put down the wrapper and picked up a rock, well a pebble, but a rock to him and started to carry it the opposite direction. We were concluding he must actually be a pretty stupid ant, until he dropped the rock and came back to the wrapper, picked it up and continued towards the ant hill. Before our eyes, an ant had the presence of mind to remove an obstacle in front of him, that was inhibiting his goal of getting his goods to his anthill!!

Wow- if we could only learn to do such things. Made me think- sometimes we do need to persist, keep on keeping on- but I think we get encouraged to persist more often than we do to evaluate our situation and remove the obstacles that are blocking our way, because sometime slightly changing our course of action, or taking the time to remove the obstacles has bigger results.

In all the conference, workshop, etc. I have attended and purusing the internet's art and writing groups- there is more encouragement to "keep doing what you are doing" and surely, eventually it will all work out- and not so much encouragement to do some "self evaluation".

I have listen so often to a new writers or artist express their frustration with the biz and how "unfair" it all is. I also have seen the large steel door fall over their eyes as the sirens start to blare and red flashing lights start to spin over their heads when I suggest they might want to think of switching genres, take some classes or consider some critique of their work. To take a line from The Princess Bride, "it is inconceivable," proving "that ant" is smarter than they are.

I was in a critique workshop with a really talented writer, very descriptive in her settings and characters, who was convinced she should write picturebook, though everyone told her she had to pare down her lovely descriptive words- but she had not interest in considering writing chapter books.

I am dumbfounded by writers who are offended by even the idea of learning what three act structure, plotting, set ups and pay off, etc. ARE, let alone using them to create a better story.

Or in Art- have no interest in learning the Design rules or considering others critique. That ant is smarter!

Yes I have some natural talent in Art- but my success comes from evaluation, mine and others- and changing- or a better word would be learning- which directly came from teaching- meaning I had to take others advice- it really is not the horrid thing some think.

I am not doing exactly what I dreamed of doing- I wanted to create illustrations like Maurice Sendek- pen and ink and water color- I could still be doing that- and be frustrated as hell , unpublished, but seek solace in going to writer and art boards on the web and getting comfort by being told to "keep on keeping on" and that Ant would be smarter than me! Don't worry- there are plenty areas of my life that ant is way smarter than me! And my road to illustrating and writing children's book is still an uphill battle- but at least the trail is clear.

IF: Stay

2011-07-09T09:11:00.003-06:00

My dogs never "stays" for me to get a picture of them, the second they see a camera,

they come over to sniff it out! How about yours?

To see more illustrions for this weeks theme "Stay" go to
Illustration Friday's website

Girl Power

2011-06-30T11:42:00.000-06:00

I've been here for the last couple of days, where above on the billboards, below on play bills stuck to the melting asphalt and posed on the the back of taxi cabs are advertisements of barely clad, full bodied faceless girls. Being here is down right depressing, if not for the reason we find ourselves in this cement clad desert oasis in 100 degree temperature. Last night, my oldest daughter fought her way to earning her third degree brown belt in Kenpo Karate 5.0

Accomplishing such an achievement in this town is a more than a little ironic. She is only 17, and for the last several years has been trained by some amazing teachers- thank you Mr. S, Mr. P and Mr. T!

She goes for her first degree black belt next year- and should have it right after she graduates from High School- which is somewhat of a comfort for me- since I have no idea how to let go of my baby and let her go off into the big bad world. Yesterday, watching her hold her own in a room with at least fifty Brown and Black belts, being one of maybe five women, like all mothers, this is the face I saw.

proud of you, Bunny!

IF: Whooooo?

2011-06-25T09:24:00.001-06:00

This is almost my first attempt at fabric collage from way back when- using mixed media- wire for the house's screen door and lantern.

Ohhh to finally feel like it is truly summer here in Colorado- if not a slightly cool one.

IF: Launch

2011-06-19T20:18:00.000-06:00

What kid does not love to be launched into the sky by their dads.

Happy Father's Day

There Really Are No New Ideas!

2011-06-19T19:19:00.000-06:00

It is such a hardship, but I had to take daughter #1 to Santa Fe a few days ago. She is going to be testing for her third degree Brown belt in karate soon and she needed to work with her head instructor. It's about a 5 hour drive from SW Colorado, so we stayed over one night.

What is a mom to do all day in Santa Fe New Mexico? I didn't hang around the karate studio, I'll tell you that. Instead, I headed up to Museum Hill and browsed the textiles at the International Folk Art Museum.

There was an interesting exhibit on the folk art of the Andes region in South America.

Apparently, "Made in China" knock offs are nothing new. Way back in the mid 1800's, Peruvian Folk Art was sent to China to be replicated and returned to South America for souvenirs for the growing tourist trade!

How does an Arabic style bag called an al-khurj finds its way to the high mountains of South America? Well, In the Crusades, Spain took on much of its Muslim conquers, and brought the Arabic influence with them when they conquered the New World.

This is a huge embroidered tapestry (2007) from the village of Chijnaya in Puno, Peru, depicting daily life. Note the Catholic church's road side alters and the local festival depicted.

Okay.... what kind of loom are these ladies using- I always assumed that an upright loom was used in South America like the Navajo looms- this looks like some kind of a floor loom- anyone knowledgeable?

The Spanish conquers also deemed the tradition dress of the Natives inappropriate and encouraged them to dress like lower class pheasants from Spain. Of course local styles did not go away entirely, so now the local dress of the women of the Andes, still has a little of their original culture. I always wondered the origins of the little ladies in Mexico who sell the boxes of chicklets- though from a different region of South America I think - they are very similar to this lady's dress.

And the embroidery!! Gorgeous !

Also adopted from their Spanish conquers, but then adapted to their own culture.

Also learned that "Bring your own bag" is also nothing new!

Ladies will carry these little squares of fabric and use them to bundle things at the market, or to lay down on the ground for picnics. Kinda of reminds me of the Girl Scout bandanas we were encouraged to carry which could be tied to a hobo stick, used in first aid, protects your head from the sun, etc, etc, etc.

And bigger sacks are needed to transport anything on a llama!

Never Forgetting

2011-05-30T12:19:00.001-06:00

Daughter #2 and I came up to Loveland for Memorial Day. The rest of the family had other obligations.
Because of the rain, Mom didn't have much blooming in the yard, so my sister and I brought some store bought flowers. It gave me an excuse to head up to Whole Foods- yum! and found some beautiful Daisies and a few sunflowers.

I snapped this through the window screen- several little vases are also filled for ladies of mostly my grandmother that my mom still likes to put bouquets on their grave markers.

A few years ago I wrote about our family's tradition of taking flowers out to the cemetery. You can read it Here. Today in Minnesota, I am sure the graves of my great and great great grandparents are being decorated by my aunts. Later in the week, they and my mom will chat on the phone and get a report of how the peonies, the lilacs and other cutting flowers fared this year.

Our family plot is out at the newer cemetery, out of town towards Fort Collins. Mom brought the old tarp, water jug, and clippers and instructed her granddaughters in washing off and filling the vases that slide out from the tombstones, as an elderly Veteran stood over a grave also marked with a small flag. I wonder if he likes us chatting about Donny, my Grandparents and Great Uncle and Aunts while we filedl the vases with flowers or wished the surrounding were more serene.

I also wondered how my daughter and nieces feel leaving memorials to family members they had never met. There is a certain eeriness to it- I have always felt that, my Uncle Donny was killed in Vietnam only a year before I was born, but I feel I know him.

My Grandmother and now my mom take his flag, that draped his coffin when he was buried, now flies somewhere around the cemetery. We will go out tomorrow and retrieve it.

Remembering out of respect is important and I'm certain, my sister and I and then our daughters will bring flowers out when my mom is gone, but when is it that memories fade away and the reason behind something is forgotten. I know my feelings towards my Grandma, who is now buried beside my Grandpa, who died when I was four- is much different because I knew her. I loved her, I have my own memories of her sitting in her favorite chair, in the afternoon sun, drinking her coffee and nibbling on a small piece of a snicker bar, a whole one would last her a week- telling me stories of having to go find Donny when he was a kid at the lake where he was fishing because he lost track of time or how she decided to burn most of his things after he was killed because she couldn't give them away.

SAQA Conference: The Textile Gallery at the DAM

2011-05-26T09:44:00.002-06:00

On Sunday, many of us met up at the Denver Art Museum, getting a very informative tour of their Native American textile holdings, including the Button Blankets of the NorthWest...

used to show the clans wealth in the Potlatch gatherings, a day of feasting and gift giving.

It was fun to see the textile of the Southwest, displayed in such honor...even though I am surround by them here in the Four Corners. There was a great display of cradle boards and I told the others that I still see the Ute Mountain Ute mom's have their little ones in cradle boards in our local grocery store- propped up in the shopping cart!

and then the gorgeous beading and leather work of the Plains Indians...

Then we took a break in the Museum's cozy library, where I clicked through some of the art at the Louvre- don't you love the World Wide Web!

Before meeting up withDr. Zrebiec for a tour of the Textile Gallery.

Where we got to see, amongst my favorites...

DAM Crazy

Jane Matthews

Literally made from recycled museum calnders, and flyers.

I also loved...

Lia Cook

whose work is so amazing and I could not begin to explain her process so here is her website.

Carol Shinn

Another artist I couldn't begin to explain so here is her website

But my favorite and apparently also a lot of the school children's who come through the DAM on school field trips is this one- which I can't tell you who the artist is because I can not find the print out Dr. Zrebiec gave us- that is horrible- anyone reading this who knows the artist name please comment!

The quilt is rather large- and the detail- a story is being told all over it. Some day I might make something this big........of course Dr. Zrebiec mentioned all the ailments of the hands and shoulders these ladies are enduring, so.....maybe I will stay small!

SAQA Conference: Golden Gallery Tours

2011-05-25T08:07:00.002-06:00

Part of the SAQA conference was a tour of some local textile galleries, including the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, in Golden, Colorado's famous Washington Ave.

Everyone carpooled over from the Brown Palace, except me- since I would be continuing to head North from Golden to my mom's in Loveland, I didn't want to back track. But, oh the sight of such wonderful quilt on display- and the food!! We were all starving and I don't know who, but there was such yummy finger goodies for us to nibble on while we looked at all the lushes quilts!

Here are some of my favorites. Whether abstract or realistic, these quilts all show strong uses of design and color- what takes any work of Art from pleasing to powerful.

Security Blanket #1

Ruth Briggs

Chromo Study II: Blue and Red

Diedra Adams

Diedra was on the Colorado Artist panel on compiling a body of work and she had some absolutely wonderful abstract quilts, inspired by the rusty sides of train cars and abandoned building!

The Road Less Traveled

Mary Rowen Quinn

Native Faces I

Lea McComas

all I can say is Wow....Actually Double Wow!!

SAQA Conference: Spoiled at the Brown Palace

2011-05-24T13:47:00.001-06:00

So I was here for the last four days, attending the Studio Art Quilt Association's (SAQA) National Conference.

It was downtown Denver, at the Brown Palace Hotel ...

where a valet took and brought me my car from Thursday to Saturday...

and then Sunday at the Denver Art Museum, just kaddy corner from the State Capitol...

We got to have a private tour of the Textile Gallery with Dr. Alice Zrediec, its Curator, and then I stood in front of a Monet...

a Homer...

and a Matisse.

Now I am back here. ..

Yesterday, driving back the 9 hours, through sleet, hail and rain to come home to a messy kitchen and a whole stack of pizza boxes on the dining room table. I read or heard one time that one should easy off from paradise slowly, so instead of diving in to straightening up the house right away when the kids headed off to school, I came in for my Pilate's class, thinking it would help resupply my energy and am now sitting at a coffee shop to post some of the highlights of my trip

Don't get me wrong, I love the Four Corners, if I could rewind my life I would pick the man and the place and the children I have spent my life with again in a heartbeat- my art is of sagebrush, far horizons and red dirt, not gilted gold staircases and fine china.

But oh man, the Brown Palace has the best Hot Chocolate and twisted pretzels you ever had for a pick me up in-between sessions- so I am sitting here today, in withdrawal and drinking a Hot Chocolate that is almost as good to easy off the luxury slowly.

So here is a bit of history of the Brown Palace- cause if you know me, you know that is what it is all about!

It was built in 1892, the second oldest hotel in Denver. It was designed by architect Frank Edbrooke and it is literally shaped like the pie wedges from a Trivia Pursuit game.

The center of the hotel is called the Atrium ...

and from there you can look up past the six floors, all open and ornate in perfect Victorian style...

to the massive stained glass ceiling that tops off the atrium.

The Brown Palace is the center of high society celebration in Downtown Denver and while we were there, ladies in their finest, young and old an even a assistence dog -hurried across the street,

for the afternoon tea the Brown Palace is known for.

I even caught a glimpse of a bride and groom coming over for their wedding in the beautiful stone Trinity Church across the way for their reception.

A breezeway connects the Brown Palace's second floor from the Comfort Inn ballrooms across the street and there is where the SAQA general sessions were.

The first featured a Colorado Artists Panel on compiling a body of work, with Deidra Adams, Carol Watkins and Charlotte Ziebarth.

Another was on 3D art, still defined as a quilt, with three layers of material held together with stitching.

The breakout sessions were wonderful. I attended the one on managing your artist's life, often so sedentary with Monica A Dixon- yes you have to fuel your body and exercise if you want your creativity to flow!

Also got great tips from Gregory Case- Thank you Thank you - on how to photography my artwork better! Lighting for 3D surfaces needs to be at a 90 degree angle instead of 45- ahhhhh- good to know!

The Managing Editor of Quilter's Newsletter, gave great advise on how to start writing for the Quilt magazine- something I am considering. Each one has it's own flavor and it is important to study each one!

And the Self Promotion with Pizzazz was great- where Regina Benson encourged us to make up our own postcards with our name on them, instead of sending out the provided group show postcards.

And the closing general session was given by Dr. Alice Zrediec...

the acting Curator of the Textile Gallery at the Denver Art Museum. (Another blog to follow on the tour we got to take through the DAM on Sunday.

Of course my head is swimming- and met so many wonderful giving ladies-

many with beautiful silver hair- I was one of the youngest- and I am now inspired to for- go what my grandmother would call being a "painted lady" and show off my salt and pepper hair- which I am pretty sure is under the color ! - wow- that would be a lot of $ to put towards lush fabrics!!

And speaking of fabric- I won both fabric giveaways at the Lunch on Friday- thank you Sykdyes! And then again at the dinner Satuday night and the dear ladies at my table above wouldn't let me excuse myself- so thank you to them and to Lunn Fabrics!

IF: Safari

2011-05-13T21:10:00.000-06:00

Well that was easy enough! This is an old illustration- back when I still was trying to use felt as a backing instead of quilt batting and fabric. Still like it- it is one of those illustrations that really wasn't that complicated, but just worked. If memory served me right it came from some illustrations ideas for church we were attending at the time, for their Vacation Bible School or kids program somehow.

Too Tired For Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T08:01:00.000-06:00

Over 700 riders contragated below Mesa Verde National Park at Montezuma County Fairgrounds for this year's 12 Hours of Mesa Verde Mountain Bike Endurance Race.

The Fairgrounds just happens to be across the highway from Phil's Word- a labrinth of top notch single track trails.

The theme this year the Wild West, so I took a break from my fabric and thread this last week and turned to sculpting with newspaper, cardboard, wire and masking tape...

making Vultures, Tombstones with Old West sayings like " Here Lies Bill Blake, We Hung Him By Mistake" and even pinned together two pairs of cowboy boots, old Wranglers, shirts and made "scarecrow" cowboys to stage for a shoot out.

On Friday, local High School Students and teachers joined me to decorate the Tunnel, an underpass between the fairgrounds and Phils, that is the start of the race course. The kids were very talented and the tunnel looked fantastic....

Racers were doing practice rides on Friday- so we had to keep an eye out and yell "Biker" to let everyone know to move to the side.

Race started at 7 o'clock in the morning on Saturday and I worked the time table with about twenty other volunteers. We kept track of all the racers times......

fed them......

and well since this was an endurance race and the solo winner this year did 8 laps, that is over 12 hours of pedaling- the volunteers also had to somewhat "Mother" the racers-

I even had to tell my husband, who was on a team, when he got a little cranky with me, that he needed to go "eat some salt" - these guys and gals sweat so much, the favored snack after all is done is actually a cold beer and Lays potatoes chips- cheap and salty.

It's all for a good cause, the proceeds- think last year we raised something like $30,000- all goes to support local charities!

So Happy Mother's Day- I feel like I have been mothering about 700 "beings" or so as of late- and today- I'm just tired. I'm sure my kiddos and hubby have something planned but to be honest the best day I could have is NOT to see a bike or have anyone talk about a bike ride for at least a day- thank goodness Jon and Daughter #1 are also tired and sore so maybe might get to the weekdays before the B word is mentioned!!

IF: Beginner

2011-05-07T21:56:00.000-06:00

"He could only dream of being big enough to begin surfing the big waves."

IF: Bicycle

2011-04-26T09:52:00.000-06:00

Of course we are gearing up ( pun intended) for the 12 Hour Mesa Verde ride where teams or singles ride the track out at Phil's in SW Colorado- continously for 12 hours and whoever rides the most times is the winner. Again this year both my husband and daughter #1 will be competing, so I will be at the Montezuma County fairgrounds all day- working the time table.
Last year there was 600 riders- expecting the same this year as well.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-25T08:47:00.000-06:00

IF: Journey

2011-04-18T10:25:00.001-06:00

The Earth journeys around the Sun and since we are along for the ride it seems be a good idea if it didn't break down anytime soon!

Sending postcards out this week to Art Directors. Doing double duty with Earth Day on Friday

and Easter Weekend following, so this image is early, post the Easter image later in the week.

Printed them side by side on an 8.5 x11 sheet and cut in half. Sending them out today- selectedly

of course- picking which AD would like which one!

IF: Toy

2011-03-25T13:12:00.001-06:00

Soon all the pool toys, sports equipment, bikes and other stuff will be dusted off and left out to enjoy a long spring and summer of Sun! One can only hope!! Well actually tomorrow we will be in Grand Junction for a regional track meet- so spring is here- just don't know if the weather knows it- I hope the sun shines and the wind does not blow!!

IF: Cultivate

2011-03-18T22:20:00.000-06:00

This summer sunflowers will be cultivated along Hwy. 491 through such stops along the road as Yellowjacket, Cahone and Dovecreek, just a few miles from the Colorado/ Utah border. The dry land amongst the feed elevators dotting the highway for many years has produced beans, with no need of irrigation, but now the fields are blooming yellow with hopes of profits in products like sunflower oil and even biodiesel.

IF: Stir

2011-03-14T20:21:00.000-06:00

" Blue was stirred by the sound of the beating drums and watching

the dancers twist and turn under the night sky. "

IF: Swarm

2011-03-01T07:49:00.002-07:00

A group of crows is not a "swarm" but called a "murder". Apparently I like illustrating crows because I also have them in another piece illustrating the parable of the 4 Seeds.

My husband and I were in Santa Fe, stopped at a park to hike and there were a dozen or so crows in amongst the cottonwoods, they were so interesting to watch and boy were they noisy. I wanted to stay and photograph them, but hubby doesn't like fluttery birds and wanted to head out of there- he thinks my interest in such a bird is kind of odd!

IF: "Layer"

2011-02-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

I did this illustration for the Tomie dePaola Illustration Contest for the SCBWI Winter Conference in New York, end of Janruary. Alas it did not win- you can check out the winner on the SCBWI blog- here.

We had to illustrate the first few paragraphs of the classic story "Heidi" which describes her being taken up the mountain to stay with her crotchety grandfather- wearing "layers and layers" of her dresses in the summer sun.

This is NOT my favorite illustration- it isn't dynamic enough- the perspective is straight on, there isn't really anything exciting about it. I pulled back too far to get the village, the mountains, the flowers- I was so hooked on including all the "things" in the description, I forgot about the composition and the design.

Well..."lesson learned"!

The New Yorker illustration contest...

2011-01-29T19:20:00.001-07:00

Every year The New Yorker magazine on their anniversary -celebrates their iconic character Eustice Tilley by sending out a call to illustrate him in a unique way. Winner will get their images on a bookbag.

Here is mine- Tilley vacationing in Telluride Colorado and here is a link to The New Yorker's blog where you can see it again and other illustrators interruption.

New Yorker Blog

Feeding the Spirit

2011-01-27T12:53:00.002-07:00

Today, I am working here, in a coffee shop- still deep in winter the walls of the studio just felt like they were closing in the last couple of days and decided I needed to be looking at people instead of my dogs, cause I think I was talking to them a little bit too much!

My attention was brought to the counter when the owner was trying to hand out samples of a new rich velvet cake he was thinking of selling- and well everyone was turning it down- declaring they just couldn't. Now these slices consisted of about three bites, four if you took tiny ones, and I had to laugh, as I enjoyed my little sample- at the fact that everyone else in the room declared they just couldn't, as they ordered their skim milk lattes and wheat bagels with just a skim of butter were MEN!!

What have we come to here in the US- where people talk in terms of proteins, carb and glutens- instead of in well food!

Remember food- the bounty that we partake in with those we love or at least like sitting around us. Gifts from God for our "daily bread" with no clarification it is or is not gluten free. The bounty of fields, orchards and gardens, enjoying the sight, smell and taste of it with out guilt.

Now we can drink our fiber without eating fruit, pop a handful of pills to get our daily vitamins, and save time and get the one meal we do chew, instead of drink, out of a box or smashed together in a protein bar.

But what have we lost- I think a lot- I think that many souls are starving, that a little slice of Red Velvet Cake can help heal. That a little perfect chocolate fudge sundae, if eaten without guilt but savored might make one sleep better that night- instead of popping a sleeping pill, which seems to also be on the rise.

That days spent working hard, should be rewarded with night spent in the company of friends enjoying delicious food- for a platter of hot goodness will feed more then our physical bodies.

There was a new article out on yahoo- this morning on that Carbs- slow starches are back- and should be 65% of your diet.

I know I could find an article saying the exact thing about protein.

I think about my mom and my grandma's cooking- where the plate consisted of starch- potatoes usually, good farm food, bread, vegetables, some over cooked and some pickled- and a little meat- you were considered rude to not fill your plate with mostly the starches- the meat was a condiment- but you know what sitting around the table together the food feed the soul- and the craving for more wasn't so strong.

Think how good you feel when you walk into somewhere were you can smell something good cooking, or wake up to the smell of breakfast - people usually physically react in joy to such smells- I just think protein bars and fiber powders and shot blocks will never feed the soul like Red Velvet Cake.

IF: "Dusty"

2011-01-24T07:40:00.001-07:00

Moab, Utah is "dusty", covered in red dirt, ground from the red rocks that surround the Colorado River as it meanders down through twisting Canyon in the southeast part of the state.

Eventually the river opens up in a valley and there is where the little town is nestled, once the center of the great "Uranium" boom of the 50's and 60's.

When we go to Moab to bike, hike and camp, only about two hours from where we are in Colorado- the only choice is to accept the red dust. So does everyone else, everyone stained with it on their shoes, clothes, merchants actually sell tshirt, dyed in the red dust of the area. Every one walking into City Market, has red tinted unruly hair because of the wind and the dust. Moab is not a place for those who desire to be prefectly coiffed- the land is to wild and strong to not be under its authority- literally it will kill you if you are not.

Not really a New Year

2011-01-01T11:33:00.002-07:00

Now for two days, I've been thinking I should post a "Happy New Year" something on my blog- but was at a loss or just wasn't in the mood. after a month of Christmas cheer- Christmas movies, lights, carols, gifts and good food. I came to the conclusion this Holiday Season that we have almost taken all resemblance of God out of what should be the mostly Godly of season and are actually quite happy with what I will call the "residual leftover of his power and love. We like that "feeling of good cheer" without any of the responsibility.

No more arrogant than this day, when we declare with any authority what 2011 will bring to us. 2011 will bring what God choose to bring to us and sometime joy is poured down on the wicked and the blessed and sometime grief is poured down on the wicked and the blessed.

I was finally inpsired looking out from my bedroom windows in the loft of our cabin at the pinon trees surrounding our house- two to three hundred year old pinon trees, according to an arborist who came out to access their health, an arborist who by his excitement, hadn't seen many pinons older or taller than these, dwarfing the power poles in our front drive. Pinon trees older then this country, older then any record keeping and from a time when we humans had a little bit more respect for the power of God and his creation because we didn't think we knew as much as we think we know now!

This view give me hope because God's creation reminds me of his everlasting love and comfort, whether we acknowledge it or not.

Many animals have found shelter and substance under the protection of these great pinons this holiday season, right before Christmas a herd of lose wandering horses and donkeys found our yard a nice place to graze, our stack of hay bales too inviting.

Yesterday, a herd of deer also sought shelter and went to nibbling.

What a powerful thing God's creation is, it goes by no calendar or resets itself every January 1st- but the reminiscing of years past good or bad held inside the great pinon's tree rings of years of drought, years of rain and it's bark holding the scares of lightning strikes and wire fencing.

Seasons come and go, but the pinons just stand as sentries over the passing of time never losing their leaves like other evergreens, another symbol of God's everlasting love for his people. Since bad times come to both the wicked and the blessed, all we can do is be wise like the animals who this winter sheltered under the old pinons in my yard, and abide in God's protection because storm and sunshine are going to come in 2011.

IF: "Winter"

2010-12-27T07:44:00.001-07:00

Winter has come to the East Coast and to Europe it seems, but not to Colorado! For the first time in three years we did not have a White Christmas- instead a wet, brown one, the horses and pastures soggy and on Christmas Day, to make more room for feasting we headed down McElmo to Sand Canyon to do a littel hiking with the dogs.

hope you are warm and cozy with the ones you love- no matter where you are!

IF: "Mail"

2010-12-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

I just got done mailing off 100 of these postcards to magazine, children's and general book publishers and AD agencies art directors- wishing them a very Merry Christmas-

and

Merry Christmas to my blog followers- may you have a wonderful, snowy (just enough) holiday season surrounded by the ones you love and the time to remember the Reason for the Season- that a babe was born unto us to become a king that died on the cross to save this world!!

IF:"Phenomenon"

2010-12-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

Outside of Salt Lake City,Utah traveling west on Interstate 80 you drive through "Phenomenon" of the Salt Flats.

Where in July it looks like it there is snow on the ground. But then as you stare out the window-( when someone else is driving) you start to think that little piles of the salt are actually floating in the air- but they are not- there is just a few inches of water covering most of the flats and the sun reflects the mountain range in the distance and the sky on the puddles of water and where the salt is mounded by the wind- it looks like it is floating above. The whole valley is just weird- and makes one feel like they are in another world. But it inspired this illustration for a sample Young Adult novel about a girl on some kind of a journey.

I had to show a close up of the girl- which is my oldest daughter- I had fun with all the embroidery on the purse and virtual tattoo- yes I virtually tattooed my daughter- and the bead work for her bracelet- this detail demand a huge canvas- think it was like 22 inches wide- but it is necessary to get any likeness in the face or be able to add rich embellishment.

I'm pretty happy with it- the illustration is set for a mailing for AD of chapter and YA books to try and get some cover work- all to go out after the holiday!

IF: " Savour"

2010-11-26T07:42:00.001-07:00

Had to go to the dictionary for this one- cause all I could think about was food-

thanks to

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

savour US, savor [ˈseɪvə]n

1. the quality in a substance that is perceived by the sense of taste or smell

2. a specific taste or smell the savour of lime

3. a slight but distinctive quality or trace

4. the power to excite interest the -savour of wit has been lost

5. Archaic reputation

I picked #4- "the power to excite and interest -----" like this boy is watching the sky!"

IF: "Sneaky"

2010-11-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

We shall Never Forget...

2010-11-11T08:27:00.001-07:00

Toady we celebrate Veteran's day. The girls are both dressed up and they will be bused a few blocks from their school to the community center to honor the Veteran's we have in our community.
The men in my family have always served their country.
The first thing James Burns did stepping off the boat from Ireland was to fight in the Civil War- how willingly as an immigrant he joined the conflict, I don't know.
My great Uncle Edward, fought in World War 2 and was captured by the Japanese, enduring the infamous Death March, he was in the belly of a prison ship the US bombed and though he could of been left behind, a Japanese soldier unlocked his cell and got him to the deck and on a raft. For that my uncle gave him his watch.
Right before my brother was born, my uncle Donny, just out of high school, joined the Marines before he could be drafted, and went to Vietnam. Assigned to reconnaissance, he was sneaking back into camp and was shot by another Marine who thought he was the enemy, killed by "friendly fire"- a stupid term.
I never met Donny, he was killed before I was born, but the stories my grandma and great aunt would tell of him, usually over a piece of pie or cake I know him.
I have honored the Veterans of this country my whole life, the flag draped over my uncles coffin now flying over the cemetery where he is buried.Every Memorial Day we take flowers to the graves, my family's plot is easy to find, his military stone so different from those around.
My family has always served, my father and brother as well, though not in a time of war. We are a family that has not always agreed with what our country has done, or agreed with each other.
The right to have an opinion, the right to speak it- isn't that the most important right in this country and isn't all our voices part of the "check and balance" of our government.
We can disagree with our government, but we should never not support our troops, the men and women who come home or forget the ones who do not.
Here is to honoring all the Veteran's of this country.

It Snowed...correction...It's snowing!

2010-11-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning to white- just a dusting, but white. Jon said he saw the elk had moved down from the mountains to the rancher's fields next to us. They will stay there for the winter, the canyon a hidden throughfare for them to move as they feed off the left over dried alfalfa in the fields-taking it from the cattle also down from the mountains.
The cows and horses are extra fuzzy, who knows if in anticipation of another harsh winter. I hope not, I hope the winter will bring lots of snow and water, but the sun will shine as well.
It's a good time to stay home and wrtie and do art- I hope that I can!

IF: " Afterwards"

2010-11-05T09:39:00.000-06:00

Do you ever plan out a very involved illustrations, sketch it out, start on the final, spend hours and hour on it and then only "Afterwards"- see the really big, perspective boo boo- that you should of seen in the sketch out! where is the fence and side walk on the back side of the train- Chagall- known for his wild perspective would be agast at this!! Like the dad and kid- thank goodness you can crop things out now with Photoshop!

My NANO..MD

2010-11-04T09:14:00.003-06:00

November is National Novel Writing Month- a fun "kick in the pants", with a lot of interaction from other NANO writers both locally and internationally, to just get that first draft down and fill the white pages- you can track your word count and if you get to 50,000 words in the month, the average of a novel, you can post an award on your site! I tried it last year- puttered out about half way through- this year- I was deep in outlining a YA, so am not participating- since NANO wants you to start with a fresh idea first of the month.I am doing NANOMD- Get the ...NOTES and NOTES OFF MY DOOR month. You know that technique- plotting out your outline on note cards, laying them on the floor, so that you can move things around, get the bird's eye view of your novel. Well I have a little problem keeping track of a bunch of little pieces of paper-wind drafts and big dog tails tend to make them go flutter...i.e. you tape them to the back of your door! Brilliant, except eventually the tape loses its grip and I have to go looking for where key plot points went fluttering to.
I recently had my own "kick in the pants" to finally get serious to writing this novel that has been swimming around in my head for a very,very long time. I was up in the Denver area to speak at the RMC SCBWI Fall Conference on a panel of First Published Writers and Illustrators with the fun Jean Reidy and Lindsay Eland, both writers and I was the illustrator, well the day before, I had a rock the size of a grapefruit go into the car' windshield going about 50 mph down the highway-

the force of the impact covered my mom and I with glass dust and blew out my entire back window- thank God -we and no one else around us was hurt. Well needless to say, I had a hard time going to sleep that night, God and I had a little conversation and you know- I felt pretty good about my life- being a mom, a wife, my service to Him, in the church, but what went to the front of my mind was this Novel! That I hadn't written it! That I hadn't put my all towards my art and my writing! Not saying the "World need me to write this novel" more it has become a blockage in my creative pipes- I'm constipated and need to blow this "Monstrosity" out of my head to be able to move forward!! Thus why my door is covered white- it is all there- it has been there for, well I don't want to admit how long this thing has been perfectly laid out in my head- getting it on the paper- that first draft- that first "crappy" draft- that is what my hope for November is- no matter how crappy it is! FYI- after all that- the YA is set in Utah during World War 2- centered around the young daughter of a Polygamist and about a little known fact that the Manhattan Project was secretly searching for Uranium for the Bombs in Utah.

Pie for Dinner?

2010-11-02T15:35:00.002-06:00

There is a reason our grandparents could have dessert with every "high carb" meal they ate- they worked really, really hard!
I spent a good part of the day, stripping and airing out linens, and "beating" the rug under our bed- and wipping down walls by hand, and sweeping out the corner of our wood floor- I think I burned way more calories then a work out at the gym.
I have often heard those who do a lot of "treadmill" "exercise bikes" or " cardio" classes bemoan that it didn't seem to help when they found themselves in "day to day" hard labor and I believe it- My grandma would talk of days starting at 5 am to milk the cows, feed the livestock, stack the wood, do the laundry and dishes manually, sweeping, mopping by hand, cleaning with rags, etc- but also their dinner tables were always covered in bread, gravies and desserts- humm?
Today we seem to frantically seek out ways to make our lives eaiser- better washers, dryers, diswashers, mops, dust devices, etc- that also will eventually fill up the landfills or use more electricity- but that is another post- and then we go to the gym and work out- how about moving a wood pile, hanging our wet clothes out on an oldfashion clothes line, beating rugs or washing floors on hands and knees? Hey it is better for the environment, our houses are cleaner really and we can have our pie guilt free!

IF: "Spent"

2010-10-29T09:28:00.002-06:00

I have "Spent" a lot of time in the mountains of Colorado. My dad was a Forest Ranger, we literally went " over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go." My mom, bought property full of dirt, stream and deer where we climbed the hills and avoided the rattlesnakes. Our church groups went to a camp called "Wilderness Ranch" where more rattlesnakes had to be avoided- and a few were caught by one of the dads- and cooked over an open fire- it tastes like chicken if you are wondering. I was a Girl Scout I know how to build a fire starting with a teepee of dry sticks.

My Step Dad had a cabin- that we were always at- where the elk roamed right below Long Peak and Estes Park- where now old enough I could drive myself, through the meandering canyons of the Rockies foothills- where I discovered a mountain chapel- nestled by black rocks and behind the infamous Stanley Hotel- the inspiration for Steven Kings- "The Shining"- Well years later when Jon, leaning against the back of a pick up truck- nestled in a hidden valley, near the elk and deer and below Kenosha Pass- and asked me to marry him- I remembered that chapel- and that winter we were married there- Elk graving outside the windows.

Now- well you know where I am now- looking out at red dirt and sage- far south of where I grew up, but still up against the Rockies- the names replaced from French- like the Cache La Poudre river near Wyoming, meaning "hide the powder"- were I spent a lot of my childhood- - - now the river are in Spanish- "Rio de las Animas Perdidas" which means "River of Lost Souls" and Florida is not pronounced like the State- but Flor-E-Da as in Spanish.

Where you spend you time- changes you- I can dream of California and the ocean- or Europe- when other bloggers show me moss covered church and wooded lanes- I can "pine" for culture and other parts of the world- but this is where I have spent my life- this is what is in my bones and my soul and so this is what is my art.

IF: "Running"

2010-10-22T21:55:00.001-06:00

" The water was running so fast that they could never get across"

This is actually a new illustration- in my attempt to market towards covers for chapter books- but it also is some what grounded in reality!

My grandmother lived through the Big Thompson flood in Colorado back in 1976- don't hold me to the exact year- I was like in 3rd grade.

A large amount of rain sent a 60 foot wall of water through the narrow canyon which heads West- up to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park- and 70 + people were killed because they did not heed the warnings of the police officers telling them to get out- two officers lost their lives trying to save people.

My grandpa- a carpenter- had actually built many of the cabins in the Big Thompson Canyon- that literally got swept away in the rushing water- but for his cabin, he built it high on a hill- he died when I was four-but my grandma spent that terrible night safe listening to people's screams and the explosion of propane tanks, thanks to his hynesight- a strip motel which over hung the river right below her cabin was totally taken away along with the family that had climb on top of the roof for safety instead of climbing the hill to safety- people do crazy things in crisis.

The next morning- she walked down to the river- now piled high with gigantic boulders and debris and watched neighbors save a man- stranded in the middle of the river, his clothes ripped from his body.

she had called us in the middle of the night- but then the phone went dead- we lived down the canyon in the larger town of Loveland and so the next day- my mom borrowed a 4x4 and was driving over rough mountain access roadsto come save her but literally met her 4x4 driving her 1967 Chevy Caprice out with other neighbors- the road the only way out- since the main highway was ripped apart, another neighbor was actually trying to get out in a RV!

Grandma only spent a few days with us and then wanted to get back to her cabin, concerned about looting- so she went with a pistol and was a lady who knew how to use it. She also had spent a great deal of her life without electricity, running water and knew how to use the cook stove residing in the stone basement of her cabin- we supplied her with a generator- but it was too noisy and she only fired it up to brew her morning coffee.

My brother and I, when we were allowed to come and stay with her- hiked high up on the hill and the vision of the ripped apart black road was the inspiration for the illustration- though not the exact view- or my brother and I. I wish I could of added more- the overturned cars and the helicoptors hovering in the air-looking for survivors- can still hear my bossy older brother telling me not to wave at them in fear they would think we need help.

She did have one run in with some looter, two men came knocking at her door one night and she waited patiently on the othe side of the door- the pistol load- but they never broken in- the next day she tracked them to the neighbors house- that was vacant and discovered a broken window and blood where they had gained access to the cabin and had stolen items.

People were always impressed by her sticking it out- up there- after my grandfather died and staying through the flood's aftermath- she would always laugh and tell them it reminded her of "keeping house" for her farmer brothers when she was a young girl and lived in a isolated farm had to sweep snakes out of the house . Her younger sisters wanted a chance to housekeep for their brother that were farming away from the larger family farm- but with a prideful laugh- Grandma would tells us they never lasted long and soon she was back- the only one tough enough to handle it.

Boy do I miss her!!

IF: "Spooky"

2010-10-15T14:30:00.000-06:00

Not really the spookiest spider in the world-but actually have a new illustration ready for season-I put it on postcards for a promo mailing- hopefully that will get done and out before Halloween- since sending Art Directors a Halloween postcard after Halloween would be "Spooky" or "Tacky"

Road Trip: Santa Fe

2010-10-10T14:21:00.001-06:00

Got to go to Santa Fe this weekend, with daughter #1, who is looking at colleges- (whole'nother blog)- but we ended the weekend meandering Santa Fe, the narrow adobe streets were in shadows as we hurried to our favorite breakfast place, the morning sun not high enough yet to warm them up ....

We always seem to be at the big communal table, in the middle, but always meet interesting people, and the food.... there is a reason everyone comes here and will wait, and wait- til almost lunch for their breakfast.

The sun started shining, by the time we got to the square...

and warmed up the long porch of the Palace of the Governors where the Pueblo Indians sell wonderful jewelery.

Still needing a little warmth and caffine, I headed to the Starbucks, somehow "cooler" in Santa Fe!

And then we meandered up Canyon Road- lined on both sides with Art Galleries.....

and then father up, adobe walls and cool gates only hint at the wonderful sucluded haciendas behind and artist studio, that make me tempted to convince Jon we need to retire here...

Then driving home, we stopped at Abiqui, the village in the Rio Grande valley that Georgia O'Keefe renovated a house and is known for its "penitent worshippers and "Christ in the Desert" monastery and Ghost Ranch.

And then another little village along the way, can't remember which one, I thook this picture....

Just because I love the old house and want to use it in a illustrations. Santa Fe, Road trip with my daugher, just me and her, it was a very good weekend!!

IF: "Transportation"

2010-10-08T17:19:00.003-06:00

This is from a long time ago- when we drove around the island of Maui, with good friends that were there for 3 months for their business. The island is small and much of the roads teeter between hilly land and sea.We meandered the "upcountry " of villages and pastures full of black cows, feral chickens and a few junked out cars.

IF: "Beneath"

2010-10-01T09:21:00.003-06:00

Isn't "Beneath" a blanket, snuggled near someone you love a nice way to spend the fall! Hope you can go see the Colors this weekend- we are here in Colordo!

IF: "Old Fashion"

2010-09-25T08:14:00.002-06:00

Hans Christian Anderson wrote The Red Shoes over 150 years ago (1845)- but amazing we still all know the stoy- like we know...
Town Mouse Country Mouse written by Aesop 6th Century BC and illustrated by Milo Winter, 1919

Old Mother Goose, whos "rep" started to grow in the 1660's and became an American icon with Blanche Fisher Wright's illustration in 1916

or my husband and daughter favorite- Kippling's "Just So stories", including

"How the Rino got His Skin" published in 1902

illustrated by Rudyard Kipling himself in woodcut.

All might be Old Fashioned- but they still sit on the shelves of every bookstore we go into- and are still read, cuddled up before bed- the true test of any book.

That's it- from Telluride

2010-09-08T11:18:00.001-06:00

The Festival is over, good thing because it has been raining here now stop since I drove back down the canyon to home.

It was a whirlwind- to be milling around with movie stars and directors....but really- apart from their $300 dollar cotton shirts, levis, and expensive watches, sunglasses and cowboy boots- they are just like us!

It was fun to see Geoffrey Rush ( a.k.a Captian Barbosa) hurrying down the main street, by himself, getting from one venue to the next.

So that is it for the Telluride Film Festival- go to On Popcorn and Movies for full coverage or for some recommandations for movies to see this fall and winter. I have a great need to not think or write for a while and just stitch something!

Still up in Telluride...

2010-09-05T17:08:00.002-06:00

and was running around so much I posted a lot yesterday but forgot to post over on this blog to direct you there. So far my favorites are a seven part series on the history of Hollywood to be aired in November called "Moguls and Movie Stars" on the TCM channel and the world first view, the film still wet of Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush in "The King's Speech. Click on over to "On Popcorn and Movies" for the full run down or start following it for play by play the rest of the weekend and here is something to tempt you.... do you know who this is?

I will be posting about him tomorrow- hint- he use to be Spidey's best friend and then arch enemy and now he is getting intimate with a big boulder in his new movie!

More to come from Telluride- off to another movie! Happy Labor Day Weekend!!

Telluride Film Festival: Day One

2010-09-03T11:33:00.000-06:00

Not much happening yet, but jump on over to ...On Popcorn and Movies, if you want to read up on the beginings of probably the only festival you will see the big namers in grunchy tshirts and jeans- or start following my other blog for continous updates.

Telluride Film Festival:

2010-09-02T13:25:00.000-06:00

Looking forward to this one, if reports are true...

News, sightings and line up of movies are already pouring out of cyberspace, if you are interested in such thing jump over to my other blog, ...On Popcorn and Movies or become a follower- will try to post daily on all the news direct from Telluride.

Headed to the Telluride Film Festival...

2010-09-01T09:25:00.001-06:00

I will be here this labor day weekend, abandoning my family, who believe me-won't be suffering - backbacking in Utah...humm? backpacking, carrying all the contents you need for three days on your back or watching like ten films in a weekend- that really is not as hard as a decision as it should be- sorry Honey ( for hubby who might be reading this)

I'm heading out tomorrow to spend four days at the Telluride Film Festival...

The actual list of films are still up to speculation, they do not release the names of the films showing until the Friday- the first day of the festival.

I will be posting daily- on my other blog- On Popcorn and Movies, with links from here- covering the films and street life up there, always interesting- with many Q and A panel discussions- with the writers, directors and actors.

Whatever you are up to this last weekend of the summer- hope it is wonderful!!

The Light Is Tilting...

2010-08-31T08:48:00.000-06:00

We hiked up to Colorado's only real geyser, up the West Fork near Dunton. The dogs ran, the girls goofed with each other while they hiked up the trail, and then sat around the stinky milky pool of water until it bubbled up...

then it was down the aspen clad hill collecting firewood to go cook hotdogs over and then the summer was over.

Today, the house is quiet, the dogs are sleeping and the light is beginning to tilt sideways...Fall is thinking about coming and I'm ready!

IF: Atmosphere

2010-08-20T20:47:00.000-06:00

"Mothergoose flying up through the atmosphere to the moon"Actually this is my entry to the Rocky Mountain SCBWI conference mid September for the brochure and merchandizing on the book bags and coffee mugs. It is the Denver skyline looking towards the Rockies. It did not win, but got another portfolio piece for the Portfolio Showcase at the National SCBWI Conference in LA a few weeks ago.
I will be on a first book panel discussion at the Rocky Mountain Conference. My first -doing the illustration packaging for Group, working with NPR and Babybug this year. Check out the brochure here.

Interesting....

2010-08-19T09:42:00.001-06:00

I read the book, well actually listened, twice, driving this way and that to Denver and Las Vegas this summer. I find reading books I might not agree with...well, interesting and Eat, Pray, Love, is definitely interesting.
It is a book about a women, who basically does a one- eighty on everything domestic- her husband, the plan to have children, her entire life.
Contrary to the movie, if you haven't read the book- she came to this realization during an artist's friends open house- scheduled just weeks after the artist gave birth- so for Elizabeth- it was the image of the artist, literally leaking breast milk through her cocktail dress and trying to take care of her newborn -trying to sell her art in her home, with her unhelpful husband that was the turning point for Elizabeth Gilbert-- who had many a panic attack in her bathroom- before she broke away from her life.
Yes she ate pasta in Italy, amongst sexy Italians, and then searched her soul in India, but the end result for her and now what I would bet many a lonely woman are now holding on to across the country, making their own pilgrimages to see the movie, with copies of the book on their nightstand- is that just maybe, oh maybe- the universe that desperately wants to throw out good things to all who ask- might after a year of self discovery, give all who ask their own sexy, romantic, already had children and neutered Brazilian who wants nothing more than to worship the ground you walked on, sing your praises and meet your every desire.
Now there is a dose of reality for ya!
On a side note, just read this morning that her husband who was so horribly portrayed in the film- actually took his own journey of healing and discovery- traveling to third world countries and did humanitarian work. Elizabeth did email all her friend and raised enough money to build a needy friend in Indonesia a new home.
Do I think Elizabeth Gilbert should not of chosen the life she did- of course not. Or that she should of not changed her mind midstream- not for me to judge. I hope the best for her- she is a gifted writer and speaker and obviously I enjoy reading her work.
But, my whole philosophy of life apparently runs opposite of hers- I am a wife, going on twenty years, I am a mother, going on seventeen, I am an artist and I am a writer and yes I have given up things, not done things, not gone places both literally and figuratively because of my....here is the thing I think Elizabeth decided she did not want- commitments.
Before I got married, I had dreams of Paris, and art, New York and publishing, or LA and flim- and frankly I think I could of done well- been successful- but where am I?
I am in sagebrush and red dirt, living where the man I love- grew up, raising his children and tolerating his aging father who lives next door and often smells like the horse and often track mud into my house. But, now with my girls older and in less need of me, I am trying to stretch as far as I can towards LA and New York, and do something else , express myself somehow.
It all reminds me of a long time ago, when daughter #1 was just a baby and we decide to go camping- and we took all the baby gear we could fit in our jeep and headed to the mountains. Well, apparently we decided we needed something else, so stopped in a grocery store in Telluride, Colorado and I ran in, while they waited in the car.
It was surreal, me walking down an aisle as a women my age came towards me. She looked at me and I looked at her- frosted blonde hair, perfectly applied makeup, a white slip dress, high heeled shoes- we passed each other- me thinking, "who the heck comes to the grocery store looking like that?", I could tell she was also questioning me, though it was not until I headed to the grocery store restroom, that I realized that still nursing, I was engorged and my sweatshirt was soaked with breast milk.
Yes, I was probably the epiphany for another woman's decision Not to have children!
But for me- motherhood is the great gift and the great act I can do on this earth. It is the greatest privilege I have- to literally create life inside me. My arms still sometime ache, wishing to hold my babies again.
Yes, women have been beat up throughout history, entrapped in lives they did not want- I quoted little Lucy- in my previous blog- who at a young age defined her fate as a wife in how many tiny stitches she would have to put in her future husband's coat and pantaloons.
The few post before that is Rapunzel, saving herself, not needing a prince. An interesting fact in Eat, Pray,Love is that apparently Elizabeth had never gone more than two weeks, without being involved with a man and she had the tendency to morph into whoever she was with and lose herself.
Something we as women can do- easily- but I just think it is time to celebrate what makes us unique as woman- we are creators of life, nurtures and often more connected to the spiritual and emotional worlds, while also celebrating what makes men unique as well in their bravery and strength, their ability to focus and ability to protect to their own deaths. The steadiness they can give us- Jon is my rock, I call him a glacier- but he allows me to go here and there because I am always anchored to him.
I could never raise my girls without him- to be complete - they need the attributes he gives them- fathers are NOT a optional accessory, contrary to a lot of well known actress who are fueling the $%#$# idea they can do motherhood on their own.
It is the coming together of the separate but equal enmities that is....sorry for those that think the universe just spits out good things.... what God intended.
Nurturing and Protecting- the heart and the head- these are the attributes of God- which are brought forth in Male and Female.
But I digress..
I just hate this "polarization" we do in America- Eat, Pray, Love is an extreme solution to what many, many women struggle with, feeling like they are trapped in a life, with hopes and desires they might never realize.
I had a heart to heart with a friend not that long ago- who feels imprisoned by her life, but unlike Elizabeth, having children and no book deal to fund it, she did not have the freedom to travel the world to figure things out.
We didn't solve her conundrum- but each having daughter- we agreed they needed the freedom to come into their own, do a little exploring both literally and figuratively before making their own decision about what they wanted out of life.
I am not going lie- I hope for my daughters that includes being a mother and a wife...eventually.

Nonfiction Monday: Anonymous Was A Women by Mirra Banks

2010-08-16T09:30:00.001-06:00

From Lucy Larcom, A New England Girlhood. 1889

" The thought came over me with sudden dread one Sabbeth morning when I was a toddling thing, led along by my sister, behind my father and mother. As they walked arm in arm before me, I lifted my eyes from my father's heels to his head, and mused: "How tall he is! And how long his coat and pantaloons! And I suppose I have got to grow up and have a husband, and put all those little stitches into his coats and pantaloons. Oh, I never, never can do it!"

I love this book and love this quote- that a little girl could already grasp her fate- that there was no other option for her other than to be a wife and mother- for her sheer survival- and little Lucy, was gauging that by how many stitches she would have to put in her future husbands clothers-!

Anonymous Was A Women, might of been created in the late 1970's, with words from a hundred years before that- and wonderful images of these girls piece work- but the hopes and emotions that come through in their diaries- still echoes today!

Go To - Tammy's Flander's blog- Apples With Many Seeds for a blog roll of other great Nonfiction Books.

IF: "Star Gazing"

2010-08-14T07:45:00.000-06:00

" Blue Boy also dreamed of the stars, swirling in the night sky, and the dancers, swaying to the drums, by the light of the flickering fires."

NF Monday: Restless Spirit- the Life and Works of Dorothea Lange

2010-08-09T08:29:00.003-06:00

I wanted to start participating in "Nonfiction Monday- (blog links over at Mom Inspired Learning this week) featuring bloggers picks of the best of todays Nonfiction which is an exciting market in Publishing at the moment- especially in Children's Publishing and since I just got back from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators National Conference in LA- I have lots to choose from and so today I pick one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Partridge, at the conference from which I took a great photo research workshop from.

Several years ago, Elizabeth did a book on Dorothea Lange, a wonderful photographer from the Great Depression that took the most soulful photo's of our country's hardships. Ms. Lange also happened to be Elizabeth's Godmother.

IF- "Caged"

2010-08-06T20:47:00.000-06:00

This is literally a reposting from the previous post on my trip to LA for the SCBWI Conference- but I just realized it fits the theme of "Caged" perfectly- or better what you should do when you realize you are in a cage- which, can come in deceiving pleasant packaging- with white horses and princes- it just accord to me to ask why if a Hero could climb up to save her, why she never just didn't climb down- Do you have an answer?

Here's what I learned...

2010-08-06T10:35:00.004-06:00

Just got back from my yearly pilgrimage to LA for the Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators Conference...wow!

From Jon Scieszka, ...

I laughed till my sides hurt and was reminded of all the somewhat "disturbing" children's books from our era like one involving a rather voyeristic chat through a bathroom window!

M.T. Anderson made me laugh too...

and he could of been a broadway singer and dancer or can really put together an impromto preformance on the State of Delaware.

Deborah Heiligman...

in her breakout session on Nonfiction- "You can' make this stuff up" prompted me to go out and buy a kids book on Darwin ( because hers was already sold out at the conference book shop)

Loren Long...

reminded me both in his keynote and in his breakouts for illusrators that instead of getting overwhelmed with the big huge project- just remember you need to do "one sketch a day"

William Low..

gave me some Photoshop tips that will be worth their weight in gold- lots of "ahh ha" moments in his techy breakout session.

Elizabeth Partridge....

probably inspired me the most and was the nicest lady! Her book on Dorthea Lange, that took the most moving photo in the Great Depression and was Elizabeth's godmother- is the one I desperately want to find and pour over. Elizaebeth gave the most wonderful break out on photo research and the power of photography in nonfiction.

Paul Fleischman....

gave some great tips in how to organize the great mass of information you acquire in writing a YA novel

EB Lewis...

gave a wonderful ketnote, coming into Children's Publishing, from the Fine Arts. He talked alot about how he shoots reference photos and later that day, just by chance we sat together in the pool lounge and had dinner- and talked about Mesa Verde, researching archives, train rides- mine to LA and his in Africa- and another friend at the table, Keisha- had us laughing listening to her adventure involving chickens, riding on the bus in Africa. This is what is so wonderful about this conference the interesting, really nice people, you meet from all over the world.

Gail Carson Levine...

also gave some wonderful tips on how to map out your idea and cover all the bases before you dive into the meat of writing your first draft- and discovered she has a great blog for writers too- where she takes questions.

I had an imprompt chat in the hall wih my friend Richard Jesse Waston, (we met through our blogs)

his son ,Jesse Watson

and their friend Steve Bjorkman-

all well established illustrators who could not of been more encouraging to me- someone just starting out- Thank you!!

As usual, the conference made me feel like my head was going to explode- not just the keynotes and the workshops, but the mornings and evening spent just sitting around the hotel lounge and letting "serendipity" bring people to talk to and learn from. Actually it wasn't "chance" it was a blessing from God- and I am ever greatful! Also did the Portfolio Showcase and here is a new illustration I got ready for it- my website is on the list to "spit shine" - it is in great need , but have some new ideas of directions to go- from the conference and as Loren Long said- I need to just think of the thing I need to do today!

IF- "Double"

2010-07-24T09:56:00.001-06:00

The Illustration Friday theme this week is "Double". This is a very old illustration I used for a Valentine's Day card, which is good, because I am up to my eyeballs on getting ready to go to LA for the SCBWI National Conference- Anybody else going?

A Pollyanna look at rejection...

2010-07-22T09:31:00.001-06:00

So on a whim, I entered my screenplay on the beginning of archeology and tourism at Mesa Verde in the late 1800's into the Nicholl Fellowship Screenwriting Contest., considered one of the few competition for new writers that Hollywood takes slightly seriously. 5 Fellows are chosen from over 6,000 applicants, given $30,000 dollars and a year to write another script, which Hollywood insiders pay attention to, something a lot of writing contest can't claim.
Well, I didn't win.
But I'm actually kind of excited....
6,300 scripts were submitted this year- each was read one time, if it received a favorable read- it went on to a second read.
Mine, went on for a second read- so the playing field went from 6,300 to 2,900, which tells me.... I can actually write a script, not talking about a brilliant script, but I know the structure of screenplay writing, can create a story with a beginning, middle and end, have enough of a grasp of grammar that some underpaid reader in Hollywood didn't cringe and toss the script onto the reject pile like in 15 seconds!
The scripts are read a second time, so the playing field went from 2,900 to 900- and guess what I got another favorable read! Which means my standing in 6,300 scripts was 15%- ( gosh, I feel like this would make a great word problem in Math class!) 15% tells me- hey- I can write a decent story- that is somewhat interesting and is exciting enough to hold a reader's attention that is basically locked in a very small room like the girl in Rumplestilkin, with a very large pile of scripts and she can't have lunch till she reads them all, I'll take that!
Well, these 900 scripts were read again and this time instead of getting a pass or fail, they were scored, and well, no go, my script did not hit the 20% off the 900 scripts need to go to the next stage, which is the top 180 out of 6,300 scripts.
The 180 scripts will be cut to 30 scripts and then to 5 Fellows.
Sure, I had ideas of grandeur, that standing in the long line of "want to be" script writes, a slick back dark haired Hollywood type executive with a big bodyguard, all dressed in black of course with the dark sunglasses would mosey right towards me, unclip the velvet rope barricade, inform me I could go into the V.I.P. section of glory and well, go all around the monopoly board and collect my $30,000 dollars.
But I kind of knew that wasn't going to happen.
What I really hoped for, and think was confirmed- was that the two lowly readers that read my 120 pages of words and ideas pulled from somewhere in the back of my head, did not laugh themselves silly with my delusions of being a writer and head to their favorite coffee shop and continue to have a good laugh with all their other reader type friends over my expanse.
It might be "Pollyanna-ish" - But I am happy I'm in the pack, not at the front of it, but at least I am in the pack.

So.....yeah..Fire?

2010-07-15T08:21:00.001-06:00

So, Monday I was up here...

In Telluride, Colorado, about 70 miles away from my home. A friend who has a house up there, invited me up to just hang. So took my work and really didn't do much of it, instead just hung out looking at the amazing San Miguel mountains and breathed in the air at like 8500 ft.

It was a glorious day, until Jon called, " Sooo...just in theory, but what do you want me to take out of the house, incase we have to evacuate because of the fire?"

me- "Fire?"

Jon- "It a small fire at the bottom of the canyon, at least a fourth of a mile away."

Me- " ahhhhhhhhhh? Fire?"

Jon- "They have a bomber ( i.e. a big belly plane that drops chemicals on the fire) circling in the air but haven't used it yet. And the foam truck ( which they can encase an entire house with if need be) just went down the road....I'm sure it is fine, but what do you want me to take if they evacuate us?"

Me- " ahhhh the kid's pictures and my artwork"

Which I realized was all in the same place, in the far corner of my studio- the farthest room from any exit out of the house- that is smart.

Jon- " ok, got to go soak the tree break with the irrigation water"

Apparently all the neighbor were turning their water on towards the rim of the canyon- we are on top at the start of a flat mesa.

I get off the phone, and wander down towards the coffee shop, should I race home? Then I remember one more thing that would be heartbreaking to lose in a fire, so I call back.

Me- "the quilts"

We have two of Jon's granmothers quilts, circa 1920s, hand stitched.

Me-" the rugs"

And we have several Navajo rugs circa 1960 and 70s from his parents buying days traveling the Southwest to supply their Western Tac store in Chicago .

Jon- "okay- it looks like they are getting it under control, probably fine now."

Me- "Okay?"

By the time I get home, the fire is out, it rains the next night and with the windows open the house stinks, fire smell is on of those smells that stays with you.

So yesterday I walk down the canyon with the dog and take pics of the damage.

This was an apple tree.

So walking back up the canyon, I see a growing column of smoke coming from a pile of brush the firefighters had piled up, and poof, it burst into flames while I watched, so yeah, called 911 and a crew came out and took care of the hot spot. Fire Season is just starting around here....yeah!

I'm really good at this promotion thing...

2010-07-07T09:02:00.001-06:00

I got in Babybug and totally forgot to tell anyone about it- Actually I was really hyped to first of May- the issue is the May/June and my poem was called Tickle, about a little Polynesian girl who finds an exotic bird feather and tickles her brother with it.I would go to Magpie Newstand Cafe over in Durango, first of every week looking for it and since I have been traveling been checking the various Barnes and Nobles bookstores along the way. Apparently when it is a two month span for the magazine, they are not so quick to get the next edition out. Well, I probably found it the eighth time I had head into a magazine shop in anticipation, but finally there it was and I opened it to find..... the color sucked!
Not Baybug's fault at all, they were an absolute delight to work with- it was my fault- I did the color editing and that wasn't even the problem, what was- the fabric- I should of known better, I knew better, that super saturated colors do NOT photograph well, muted midtone colors with just a little bit of highlight and extreme darks look so much better, but it was Hawaii and all I could think of, apparently, was the bright colors of Hawaii. grrrrr. I hope they are happy with it and learned my lesson, even restarted a illustration I am doing for a promotion in the Fall over- when I realized the how crappy the blue in the sky had looked in Babybug- and was using the same blue fabric.
I have learned that usually if I put something like that aside for a while and look at it again- it is not as bad as it seems like the first time. Here is hoping! And here is the illustrations-

SF Trip: Muir Woods

2010-06-28T09:18:00.001-06:00

We drove up the curvy and dippy HWY 1 North up the coast from San Francisco, apparently it takes not being able to see the perilous drop off into the sea because of fog to get me car sick- Colorado's winding mountain roads don't usually bother me, because I can see the 1000 foot drop off to death.
We perused the little villages along the way, watched the committed surfers in their full wet suits brave the waves and on the way back down stopped at Muir Woods National Monument.

SF Trip: China Town

2010-06-28T08:26:00.000-06:00

SF Trip: Not what I expected to see...

2010-06-14T11:46:00.002-06:00

After we got turned around and drove back and forth over the Golden Gate Bridge again, and pay the toll again, we made our way through the fog to Pacifica Beach where our hotel was right on the very misty, noicey ocean- well I think we were on the ocean, couldn't see very far and come to find out Pacifica was the eppa center of the San Francisco earthquake in 1906! Yeah!!

Once settled we headed up HWY 1 in search of some really fresh sea food and on the advice of a local went into Ketch Joanne in Princeton -by-the-Sea where we feasted on Crab, Squid, Shrimp or Cod and Chips and were entertained by the large group of men fresh off the shrimp boats, clad in Carheart and Ball caps looking for some love,trying to pick up the few unattached women, during happy hour- next time I need to emphasize we do have children with us- when getting advice from the locals.

After filling our bellies, we headed down to the harbor...

We didn't expect to see Goats! Being trained for their FFA projects!!

SF Trip: Napa Valley, but I don't even like Wine?

2010-06-11T09:27:00.003-06:00

Once over the Sierra Nevadas and on through Sacramento, we did a loop through Napa Valley, even though Jon is a pretty dedicated micro beer drinker and I am a "tea tottler", when I do have a glass I actually like really cheap, really sweet wine.

Later in the trip once in San Francisco, at a cafe in Little Italy, I got berated by the waiter in Italian, who I think was informing me that sweet dessert wine was basically a sacrilege to be paired with my crab ravioli- but it was really good to my "undignified palette".

We usually travel with friends that are wine coinsures and just follow their lead in wine tasting at the vineyards, but this time we were alone. We did stopped at one vineyard and tasted a few samples, bought some yummy dessert wine I am savoring now, and a few bottles for friends, but most importantly got directions to the real treasure of Napa- a vineyard that also makes Olive Oil- now you're talking!!

Oh my....I think Jacuzzi Vineyard sells wine, but to be honest I went right to the Olive Oil room, where just like a Wine Tasting room, there was several Olive Oil tasting bars, with pump bottles and cube bread, you could wander around and taste......ohhhhhhh ohhhh! Bread and Olive Oil- what could be better?

Fruit? A extra surprise was the most glorious fruit stand on the lush winding highway back towards San Francisco- Bing Cherries- my all time favorite food, just coming into season, and apricots were feasted on as we made our way to the Golden Gate bridge and did not see our first glimpses of the Bay- which was fogged.

Mark Twain once said "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco" I tend to agree!!

Mirages and Cannibalism

2010-06-07T21:25:00.001-06:00

Are you intrigued? Or do I just have such an off the wall reputation you are not surprised, but believe it or not these two things do have something in common.

We just got back from a week in San Francisco and so here I am to share what I thought were the odd and the interesting sights and sounds of the trip....

Don't feel sorry for me this is NOT snow, that has finally melted -this Salt Flats, outside of Salt Lake City, along I-80 going towards Nevada.
Now Jon would tell you all the geological mumbo jumbo of how this massive dead valley, surrounded by mountain ranges was once an ocean and point out that you, or at least he, can still see the lines of the ancient shore lines on all the foothills. He would also point out the train tracks and the distant mining operations that are about the only thing viable that could come from such a desolate place, I did get excited when I saw the Morton's Salt icon of the little girl with the umbrella on one of the warehouse we passed... but the geology of such a place does not really hold me for very long.
What does hold me is how weird it was to drive and drive and drive through what could be described as a Dali painting, all melt-y and surreal.

There is a white salt crust, on both sides of the interstate, above that is probably just a foot of water, which looks like a mirror, so it reflects the sky above or the mountain ranges in the distance, so when there is a mound of salt, it looks like it is hovering above the water.
Periodically there are large blue signs, telling fatigued drives to pull over and rest and apparently many do, going out to make their mark in the salt, where the wind hardly blows, digging up dark rocks to form letters or smiley faces. Sometimes bottle are stuck down in the salt, and designs are made, though driving 75 mph, most messages can't be read going that speed.

Which brings me to Cannibalism, for I-80 is mostly along one of the most famous Overland trial used by pioneers making their way to California, though according to a historical marker at one of the rest stops, it would of taken then two weeks to travel the distance we had that morning, in an air condition car sipping our iced Starbucks. 3 miles is what the pioneers averaged on a good day, 1.5 was as fast as they went a day over the Salt Flats.

Timing was everything for the pioneers trying to make it to California. Timing between having enough grass along the way and making it over the passes before winter, but not getting stuck behind swelling rivers from the spring runoff.
And as today, there were plenty of self professed guides to point the way or publish books declaring the shortest distances, or before GPS leave notes on the trial declaring cut off that would save time and distance.

One such self professed guide was Lanford Hasting, whose advice taken by a group of pioneers now know as the Donner Party, would have devastating and infamous consequences. HERE is the link to read all about the famous winter of 1846-47 on Wikipedia-

We did, driving up into the Sierra Nevedas, off my Smartphone, my children and husband were transfixed and I a little car sick trying to read on such a small phone - about the delays the party made trying to follow the Hasting Cut Off, or get through the Salt Flats, about all the poor choices and arrogance that landed them almost at the top of the Pass that now bears their names...

and how thanks to detailed diary accounts we have a glimpse of how a human being gets to place to decide to survive they will eat another human being, being careful to keep track of the meat so no one had to eat a family member...below shows the height of the snow that came early that winter, gauged by how far down the party could cut the trees.

In the comfort of our car, going about 65 mph driving down the pass into Sacramento, our consensus was that if these pioneers had banded together, listened to the Indians, instead of literally eating them, and learned how to fish, since the lakes they were near had fish in them, they probably would of done much better.
We also wondered how a group, today, equipped with light weight gear, Gortex and modern know how would fair, and wondered with the stupid reality shows such a idea had not occurred to anyone.

No disrespect intended- I felt very sorry for the survivors in the accounts of the years that followed- how some admitted what they had done, how there was questions of whether the members who were eaten were really dead or murdered- and why some of the survivors focused on clearing their names and lied or changed their stories. Also what was very interesting was that there was a 66% death rate amongst the males who waited out the winter in the Sierra Nevedas. Only 9 women died. Why- many reasons- including women have more fat cells and can gain energy from our bodies longer, and men are the most likely to give up rations for their families, and use energy to take care of their families, etc.

And alas once in California, we really didn't enjoy our In and Out Burgers as much as we had been looking forward to.

The Well is Dry....for now

2010-05-24T10:48:00.000-06:00

The last month is a blur- completing the biggest writing and illustration projects I have ever done- both spec- but will keep you updated and then a week focused on the 12 Hour Mesa Verde Bike race- right before a week in Boulder, Colorado for the Big Sur in the Rockies writer's conference put on by the Andrea Brown Agency, where after the conference was over , I waited a day to come home and sat in my mother's bedroom at a cardtable to finish a requested illustration sample by a publisher, so I wouldn't lose a day on the road driving back, overnighting it from Loveland, which apparently is actually two days to Maine- and now a week home to regroup get another illustration done, spec for another conference in the Fall- before a week in San Franciso- and that is just the start of the summer!! Was I whining about wanting summer to come- shame on me!

I have a lot to tell, but frankly after a week in Boulder, writing and critquing manuscripts and being critiqued...I got nothing. Will fill you in on all the adventures, when the words can flow.

12 Hours of Mesa Verde

2010-05-10T10:39:00.001-06:00

6 A.M. and getting ready for the race, warming up.

Race meeting, all 600 racers couldn't fit in the building- rules? basically be nice and courteous, most through the day did...

since it was Mother's Day weekend we honored the moms with pink ribbons.

First lap racers had to run to their bikes to spread out the pack..

Lap = a 17 mile loop out in Phil's World at the base of Mesa Verde.

Racers checked in at time table, either heading out again or trading off to the next rider on the team.

No serious injuries this year, one guy flipped into a pond, another came to the time table missing half of his helmet, the stryofoam gone from an endo ( over the handle bars)

Waiting for the riders to come in.

Many faithful dogs!

And lots and lots of pasta eaten from one of the days sponsors- Lotsa Pasta in Cortez Colorado.

Coming in...

Another successful race, 600 racers- all proceeds to benefit the Montezuma Partners Program.

To see racer results or think about coming next year- see 12 Hours of Mesa Verde

What is your Magnum Opus?

2010-05-10T09:04:00.000-06:00

So spent this weekend working the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde mountain bike endurance race, both my husband and daughter were racing. It is out at Phil's World, a 17 mile single track mountain bike trail at the base of Mesa Verde National Park and from 7 in the morning to 7 at night, racers see how many times they can ride it. Winner this year rode it 8 times I think, that is 136 miles if you are wondering.
Friday we check in 600 racers, including the top names in the circuit, from places as far as way as Bozeman, Montana. Since it was Mother's Day weekend, we had little pink ribbons for the moms to tie on their handle bars at the registration table, finding out who the mother's were got downright dangerous.

I would say out of 600 riders, about one fourth were women and out of that one fourth, only one fourth were mothers. The mother's we did find got teary eyed about the ribbons, the others...oh my!
Now the demographic of mountain bike racers is healthy ( very!), educated, and financial secure, and many let us know in no uncertain terms that motherhood was a path of life they had no desire to go down, with comments like "I am a mother of a dog," and my favorite "I have a mother, and have no desire to be one." All the more funny or sad in the fact that all of at the table working to register them were mothers!
Apparently motherhood is not condusive to Endurance Bike Racing. Got me thinking about "Magnum Opus", achieving a great work, a work that tales will be told about - and how much motherhood gets in the way of it!
Please consider these women who achieved a Magnum Opus and the fact......none of them were mothers!

Jane Austen, novalist of Pride and Prejudice and several more and not a mother.

All three Bronte sister, authors of such works as Wethering Heights and Jane Eyre and none of them mothers!

Mary Cassett, friend to the Impressionist and most famous women artist from that time and....not a mother, but is know for her mother and child paintings!!

Georgia O'Keefe, not a mother!

Betrix Potter, not a mother.

Margret Wise Brown, author of many beloved childrens books, but not a mother!

Mothers....are you depressed now? Don't be, never forget that your "Magnum Opus"- your greatest work, is one or many living breathing human beings that your gave life and love to, whatever else you do is just icing on the cake!

This is one of my "Magnum Opus" finishing her second lap- that is 34 miles for the day!

Okay this is cool!!!

2010-05-05T13:09:00.000-06:00

I have been checking the Group Publishing website to see whe they are releasing their Summer 2010 cirriculum- guess what....it is out- my major effort this winter, the Preschool Editon Amen, themed on the Sermon on the Mount. Worked with a grea great art director, who really knew how to get the best out of me, Paul Povolni, I hope I can work with him again. Have not received my comp copy, when I do I will show you some more detail. Check out Group's catalog here.

IF- "Cacoon"

2010-05-02T09:05:00.001-06:00

I am not this butterfly, I am still in my "Cacoon" partly because this is what greeted me this morning...

for the record...snow on the morning of May 2, 2010.

No butterflies, saw one hummingbird a few days ago, hope they are still alive.Apricots are all gone...maybe Spring will come about the time Summer begins?

Also feel like am in a Cacoon because I took on a big, BIG writing all consuming project at the same time I took on the biggest illustration I've done. Finished writing project last night, should finish the illustration today, sense it's deadline is tomorrow. But luckily stitching uses an entirely different part of the brain that is exhausted from writing!