Finally...artwork!

As promised, I made some artwork with Florence, my new photo friend. I belong to a group of mixed media artists known as the Portland Art Collective. Today was the annual picnic. It was also my first in-person meeting. I've belonged to the Yahoo group for a while, but getting up to Portland to the monthly meetings has been difficult for me. Today, all the stars aligned and I made it. It was worth the drive and more! Of course, I got lost on the way back to work, so it took me twice as long to get there. It was still worth the drive!

We each made a shrine with a wood box. We all started out with the same size box. We had no theme or instructions. Just make a shrine. It was wonderful to see all the creativity! I've seen many of the other member's work and I was a little nervous going into it. Everyone was warm and friendly, though. We swapped the shrines by drawing names from a hat. I truly would have been happy with ANY of the shrines. I was lucky enough to get Diane Downs' shrine. It has all kinds of wonderful bits in it. It is truly a treasure.

This piece started out with blue, green and purple paisley paper for my inspiration. What, you don't see the paper? lol. It didn't end up in the finished piece. Isn't it funny how art takes on a mind of it's own sometimes?

Loveliness

Isn't she beautiful? According to the back, she is Florence Birnbaum Parker and is about 22 years old in this photo. I found her at a little antique store today. I love to go through the old cabinet cards there. I alter them and give them new stories, since their original history has been lost.

The look on her face spoke to me, so for a mere $2., she is my new friend. What is it about her face that makes me want to know her? I bought several other cabinet cards today, but this one is special. And I love the long, slender format. It fits the graceful way she holds herself. By the way, that is not a halo above her (or is it?). It's the reflection from the bump left from the glue used all those years ago.

I've scanned and printed her image on a transparency. I'm going to try to give her some color with acrylic paint. I've been wanting to try that technique for a while now.

I'm going to make some art with Flo. I'll post it when I get it done.

A little late

Isn't this a beautiful photo? Mike took it last winter when he was in
Afghanistan. That flag is HUGE! The doorway it's in is the hanger Mike
lived and worked in. Some professional wrestlers came to Bagram to do a
show for them. We weren't fans of pro wrestling before this, but Mike
said they were all really polite, generous people. Every time a soldier
thanked a wrestler for coming all the way to Afghanistan, the wrestler
would correct them and say, "No. THANK-YOU." Gotta give them credit for
that and making that loooooong trip at Christmas time.

So, this is my late, but heartfelt Independence Day photo. It's an
extra special holiday to us now. Last July, Mike got the deployment
news less than a month before his departure. It was an uncertain time
for us. Now he's back and we are very appreciative of it. I wish they
could all come home NOW.

Long time, no blog

I have sadly neglected my new toy here. But, I have a good excuse! We've been prepping and painting our rental house. Ugh. Mike and I have vowed to NEVER own another house with cedar shake siding. The paint failed on two sides of the house and we had to scrape it down to the bare wood on most of those two sides. Not a pleasant or easy task with combed shakes! But, the house looks fabulous, if I do say so myself.

This is a photo of the front door, sans the brass mail slot and peep hole, which is more like a peep door! It's truly a little doll house. We live next door and have decided to sell this little gem. I hope we get nice neighbors that appreciate that little house. I'll post more pictures of it when we get the new gutters installed and the bark dust down.

Would you like to be my neighbor?

Tomorrow, I'm straightening out our home and making art!