Doin' the Happy Dance....

I was VERY excited to find that I'd won 2 awards at the ArtCenter Traverse City's "It's Not Just Material" show.... Don and I went to the opening last night...(after we enjoyed our very first "slabtown burgers". Ooooo La La! I had the Olive burger... delish!)


"Keep Climbing"
22 x 22
Acrylic and pencil on paper
$375
Honorable Mention




"Showing Restraint"
30 x 22
$1130
5th place

Needless to say... a really really fun evening. :)

Daffy Collage...work in progress

"Daffodils... work in progress"
12 x 12 ~ collage and acrylic

Still playing with collage... It's a slow, but satisfying process.
Messy too! And I love messy. :)

Bouquet in the Grass... Collage!

"Bouquet in the Grass"
6 x 6
Acrylic and Collage on paper

My good friend Sarnia Sue has been my "Food and Drink" magazine supplier for quite a few years. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) puts out these beautiful magazines about 6 times a year. They are full of gorgeous recipes for food and drinks...the photography is fantastic. They even suggest music that you might want to listen to while you eat and drink! My kind of publication...and here's the best part... They are free to anyone that pops into the LCBO stores.

So, what does all that have to do with anything?... Well, the above collage paper was taken from my treasured Food and Drink magazines. Can you spy the onion ring flowers? :) I've saved each and every one she's sent... And since I'm beginning to realize that I can't hold onto EVERYTHING (moving does that to a person).... I've compromised with myself here. I'll be turning my "Food and Drinks" into small collages. :)

Thanks again Sue!

ps... Here's a link to an online version of Food and Drink.... enjoy!

Tra La La La Trillium....

"Tra La La La Trillium"
Collage and acrylic ~ 6.5 x 6.5 inches

Back in the studio feels so good... even if I'm surrounded by boxes (still) and haven't hired the electrician to get the lighting right.

My friend, Kim Santini (fabulous painter) has been playing around with collage, and she inspired me to do the same. This process reminds me of quilting....and I love it!

Most of my collage experience has been non-representational (abstract)... but I sure had fun with this representational piece. I'll be playing around with these for a while me thinks.

Back to WORK!

All is calm....but not bright!

Humid, calm and peaceful here at Platte Lake this morning...

I'm looking forward to a day of painting... with a little bit of cake baking thrown in. (It's my sister's birthday...Happy Birthday, Sue!)

There's been no painting from me for the last few weeks as we go through moving boxes and try to figure out where to put all our stuff.... But today, I'm getting the brushes wet!

Yeeeee Haw!

I would scare me.

At the end of Peterson Rd. in Sleeping Bear Dune National Lake Shore Park.

I've written often about my almost daily walks...When I'm up here in Honor, MI, I hardly ever see another person. Yesterday, as I was walking back to the house... a car passed me...and I suddenly became aware of what I looked like....

• broken reading glasses (blue) with one lens out... perched on top of my not combed head
• too small sunglasses on my face
• paint covered too short black pants...snug in the WRONG places
• one blue and one black sock (don't ask)
• my shoes are actually pretty cool...but not cool enough to trump the odd socks.
• paint covered bright golden yellow Iowa t-shirt
• ipod in pants pocket
• cell phone in pants pocket
• kleenex in pants pocket
• small camera in pants pocket
• pen and small notebook in pants pocket
• all that "in the pocket" activity did not make for a smooth silhouette
• my husband's coat...(the coats I have up here are too heavy or too light)

"What not to Wear" would think it was a set-up. Understandably, I don't want to show a picture of this....And I probably won't change my work wardrobe any time too soon... but I've read that awareness is the first step toward change. :)

Unexpected Gifts....

Yesterday, I received a note from someone that I don't know. It was a gift. She wanted me to know that she liked my work, my website and my attitude. Wow. Everybody should receive a note like this...unexpected and so kind.

I have been known to do this sort of thing too...but not often enough. So, I'm vowing to send an unexpected card or email once a week...

Spread the love baby.