Inspired by a photograph of a marble! I love the textures and portal feeling of this piece I did tonight. I was experiencing painting withdrawal...hadn't done anything all week...so I came home sketched this out and proceeded to add the pastels. Layer upon layer of pastels.

Ups and Downs

Another in what seems to be my ongoing love affair with hearts and portals. There are so many hills and valleys in our lives. Let's hope this one doesn't become a mess like the last painting did. Seems that hills and valleys occur in creative expression too...so...my advice to all of you is to just keep on keeping on!

Second Cairns - Inukshuk

My first cairns inspired 4x6 art quilt was sold yesterday. This photo shows the second in this series of hand appliqued pieces using my own hand dyed fabrics and was inspired by the Inuksuks of the Canadian Arctic.

These markers vary in shape and size, and were (are) created to perform different functions. They are symbols with deep roots in the Inuit culture of the far north. Obviously they serve as directional markers but are also considered beacons and portals that signify safety, hope and friendship.

Beautiful Sunday Morning

Clear, sunny and cool seems to be on tap for the weather today....absolutely gorgeous! Sept and Oct are my favorite months of the year. I am not a beach person - more a wood fire, homemade soup person. No doubt this blog will have at least one posting showing a bonfire that we will have out at our pond sometime in the next few weeks. You are all invited as long as you bring the marshmallows!

I made this 4x6er last night from hand dyed & painted fabric that was further embellished with foils. The other elements are rolled cloth that was secured together with gel medium and wrapped with beads and wires. I call it Ancient Ruins and is further exploration of this cairns, portal, standing stones series I've been busy with.

Oh...and....the class Thurs night went great (at least that was my take on it). I believe I realized some success in my mission to only provide inspiration and encouragement to design creatively rather than instruction on specific construction methods. Part 2 will be this Thursday. I hope the participants are all as enthusiastic as they were last week.

Craft Fair

This wonderful, funkdified necklace was made by my friend, Deb. She makes these great necklaces that sell like hotcakes to women of all ages. They are colorful, fun and vibrant. We are going out to dinner tonight to discuss a date for our next open house. She sells her necklaces and earrings and I sell my art quilts. This year I think I'm also going to dye some silk scarves and offer them too. Experience tells me that us ladies love to adorn ourselves as much as we do our walls!

The bottom piece is a work in progress in my cairns series.