Which Came First the.....

The Egg
or
The Egg Head

Good question?  I think that is an appropriate name for this work of art I created at Michelle Ward's workshop at Valley Ridge Art Studio. I have to admit that Michelle had to "push" me to get to this "bravo" moment. I would almost say she "shamed" me into this. The last day she wanted us to do a painting. I have never "really" done a painting. I decided I would work on journal pages. She asked again if I really didn't want to do a painting. I said "no" - just the journal pages. Well here is the product and I have to admit this was one of the most fulfilling art creations I have ever done.....

I just kept building on what I had done and putting together techniques I had learned and utilized over the first two days. This three day workshop was well worth the time and the cost. I can't believe how much I grew. And of course, I was in my special spiritual place - Valley Ridge and the Murphey's Farm house enjoying moments and times with my best buds - some of whom I had just met and others that I have come to know and love - Judy, Michelle, Michelle's Mom, Katherine....... Jean and Mike. This was a little more special this year since the year before I was living with the knowledge that I would be undergoing a needle biopsy when I returned home. None of them knew that. This was my return to Camelot "all better."

This creation came together without me over thinking it. It was like throw on the paint and roll with it! LOL

This art could also be titled, "the end of the world as we know it." This painting just has more hidden meanings than I know - it was created from the subconscious mind - had to be.... Love the little egghead nerd. He is a cutie.

The sentence says:

"The day was a busy one" - my response, No kidding, Sherlock!  Anyway, just wanted to share this with you. I've been busy once again with work, workouts, and tennis. I did make a huge slide to the dark side by deciding to abandon my BlackBerry and order a new iPhone 4s.  Don't have it yet, BUT, managed to create my own case using pieces of this painting. Julie Prichard led me to this site:  Case-Mate. I used the lower left hand part of the painting (from the top of post it is the second photo).  When it arrives I will show you, for those of you who friend me on FaceBook - there is a photo of it downloaded from Case-Mate.  Have a great day tomorrow and once again I make a promise that I won't be gone as long....... holy moly - cross my heart, really! Hugs

Really, really, and we can't forget what time of the year this is! Ahhhh, my October, I so love you.

We are Walking Hope

Yes, we are walking hope and there are many of us out there.

"Our stories arise from our

hearts and our souls.

In this sense,

telling our stories 

becomes a sacred

gesture,

opening a clear way to

that deep, ecstatic center

where we are most

uniquely ourselves,

individual and unique

yet joined together at the

heart."

Susan Wittig Albert

Wylde Women's Wisdom

Not the post I was going to write but then, today, I discovered a small journal from last year and decided that I just needed to honor October 8, 2010, the day the doctor called to say I had breast cancer. That day will always be with me as will my "cancer birthday" - the day it was all taken out:  January 12, 2012. Another push to write this post was my email from Wylde Women's Wisdom - and yes, it was the quote above. I do listen to the universe when it sends me messages. LOL.....

Do you know that they are on the verge of developing a vaccine for breast cancer. Yes, a vaccination you can get to protect you against this disease. WoW -- within 5 years. Please, when asked, donate to breast cancer research. Just saying - there can be a world without this disease. WoooHooo. OK, the next post will be the post I meant to post today...... a little redundant but what the heck. A peek:

Think Pink - October Is .....

"The simple act of telling

someone that you care, 

why you care, 

why they too might care,

can cause mountains to

move

We should never be

afraid to simply speak of

what we love, 

from the place in us

which has loved.

It can make a difference."

Renee Askins

(Wylde Women's Wisdom)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and, as many of you know I am compelled to ask everyone to honor this month and remember the importance of early detection. As you know, one year ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage one, and went through 18 rounds of radiation. By the Grace of God and you, my friends, and my loving family, I came through this journey a stronger person.

Two weeks ago I had my first mammogram after the surgeries and radiation, and I am pleased to say, Me and the Girls passed with flying colors. Now I have to admit this..... OK, it is just my odd attitude about some stuff.  My thoughts when walking into the Fairfax Radiology Clinic was, will my left boobie be so sensitive I am like gonna just grit my teeth and try to bear the "pain" - dramatic - you betcha, but that's me. Was I even thinking the test might come back with problems. Nope, just thinking about my crunched boobie and me..... I told someone that and they said, You gotta be kidding, that was all you were thinking about and not stressing about the outcome.  NOPE. I think this is a lesson in life. . .

I owe all of you a lot and I hope I can repay you and the Universe. One way, is to help others who are beginning this journey. Which is what exactly a specific number of you did with me. And I have been able to do that. But I want to urge you to beware that this cancer now is very treatable and curable and is not a death sentence. You can dance your way through it with a song in your heart and early detection.

Is this Pollyanna - oh why the hell not? It beats the other side of the coin. Was I always my own Pollyanna - hell no. I had the dark thoughts, the dark days, and the "I just wanna kick something."  That was normal. But with my trusty Harley who went to all 18 radiology sessions with me and is now a little worn with love, we got through this phase of our life-journey.

And in closing this blog post, I wish that all of you, hang in there. Trust your God and your Angels (I also add my Jesus to these other two) and your life-walk will be easier no matter what that journey will entail. Oh, shucks, just dance with style!

Some people go through life......

Some people go through life trying to find out

what the world holds for them -

only to find out too late

that it's what they bring to the world

that really counts.

Lucy Maud Montgomery

That was one of my "Today's Wylde Women's Wisdom" last week. Always provides a thought-provoking moment when they are received in the email and I did need "thought-provoking" working at work and working at fighting my cold. I can safely say that as of today, I am feeling a little better. I did absolutely nothing yesterday, kinda, but

I did make a crock-pot full of stew and a wonderful navy bean soup along with some cross-stitching and

catching up on the 1st Season of Haven! Yes, I was pampering my "sickly" (looking for some sympathy here peeps) along with some chores, like laundry, and, OK, having a great day. Don't you love these kind of unplanned days?

Now to some creations..... At my retreat last week, I mentioned that we created a Journal with Michelle along with a painting. The Journal started out with us painting gesso on all of the pages. While pages were drying, we did paint the drum sticks which you saw in the previous post. Michelle, in her marvelous, way guided us through the concepts which would take us from Brave to Bravo.....

We then began our adventures in visual composition, shapes, stencils (innies and outies, later dudes), water marks, and just down right fun! 9 Circles to this page along with committing to a background and working with those colors. Using stencils - in and out - and I can honestly say the painting and creating of backgrounds was a marvelous adventure:

The transfers

Even an old newspaper bit from, of all places, Mexico,

This was a fun page to create......  and the next post . . .  Composition......

oh my, there the little one goes walking on eggs! LOL