Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Annual Fund Raiser

For the past 3 years our Visual Arts group has been doing a fund raiser to provide an art scholarship for local high school students. The first year we did it we painted piggy piggy banks. Of course I did not get a photo of my adorable piggy which I called 'Swine Lake', yes she was a ballerina and was very cute.

Last year we did tea pots. Mine was a pyramid shape which turned into a little red barn, once again no photo. I was running late on the deadline so once finished they were rushed out the door.

This year we are doing vases. And I did not wait until the last minute to get mine done this year....so yippee I got some photos. So this year I did 'Spirit Pony'. And here are the photos.

Front:



Back:



They have been so much fun to work on and I really like the way this vase turned out.
Hope it helps raise lots of money this year.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Mary Ley 1946 (I think) - 2008



This wonderful, charming, beautiful, caring, sweet, amazing woman will be sorely missed by so so many people. Mary lost her long battle with breast cancer late last night.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Another addition of The Pulse

Over on Seth's blog The Altered Page

Seven questions put to an amazing group of artist's. So much fun.

And here is a happy little Sunflower to start your day.



Good news (finally). J's job pays more than we thought it was going to. I had an unproductive yesterday so my search continues.

Will finally be getting around to listing some things on Etsy. A small hand made journal and some prints. So stay tuned.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Where have I been?

Did a show a few weekends ago at Carmela Winery. This is the view from the window that I was set up next to.



This is my booth display.



And this was one of my newer pieces I displayed. The photo is a little on the dark side.



Another pear painting. This one I did for my friend Angie for her birthday. I really like this one, just love the way it turned out.



And this was done for Mary. My friend who is now battling brain cancer.



Mary came for a visit (Angie is her daughter) and has ended up in the hospital. She cannot swallow and seems the cancer is shutting down everything in her throat. It was so hard going to the hospital to see her. Seems I've spend way to much time in hospital's this year.

These past few weeks it has been really hard for me to keep from falling into depression, and maybe I already have. Job rejections, friends illnesses, daughter across the world and other things that are looming on the horizon that are not going to be nice. Some days I just feel like hands are pulling me down and the struggle to stay up seems to be getting harder.

Put things are looking up. My husband got a job and he will be going to get his A&P license in September. It's something he's been wanting to do for years and should have done it a long time ago. This license will allow him to work on aircraft and hopefully find better employment and something he loves doing.

Saturday, August 02, 2008

It's 6:16 AM in Hekinan, Japan

I was going to call this post "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly". But didn't. But I will use the titles for this post.

The Good.

My daughters dream of living and working in Japan has finally come into being. She flew the nest on July 31st and landed in her new country on August 1st. She will be living in Hekinan Japan just outside of Nagoya for the next year. She has wanted this since junior high school. She has always been fascinated by Japan and most things Japanese since she was in grade school. The first time went to Japan she said she felt like she had finally found her home.

When I asked if her apartment had a washer and dryer she said she had a japanese dryer. Here is her japanese dryer.



I told my husband I want to get a clock to hang on the wall next to our regular clock and set it to Japan time so that I will always know what time it is there. My daughter and I are very close, she is my only child and I will worry (as usual) but I know that this is the best thing for her and a wonderful experience and opportunity. And I am so very proud of her, going off to a foreign country where she knows no one, barely knows the language and starting the adventure and journey of a lifetime.

The Bad

We are still both unemployed. And as much as I am enjoying not having to go to a job every day our funds are starting to run low. I'm really surprised that as many reject letters, e-mails, etc I'm not feeling as depressed or rejected as some folks seem to think I should. But I still have faith that something will appear for both of us and we will be okay.

The Ugly

this could have also been posted in the bad. My dear friend Mary who has been battling breast cancer for over 4 years found last week that the cancer has moved into her brain. This is the 3rd close family/friend to have had brain cancer this year in my life. What are the odds of that? What the fuck!!!!!!!! In her e-mail she said that the doctors told her 2-6 months. I am just heartsick for her, her family and her friends. She is one of the kindest, gentlest people I have ever known. It just does not make sense to me. I am sad that she lives so far from here and wish there were more I could do for her and her family. I will do the best I can.