WEATHER-YA GOTTA LOVE IT....

"Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in awhile, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation." - Kin Hubbard

Hello friends! I just spent the last two weeks, first in Florida, visiting some friends and then home.......shoveling and playing in the snow, snow, snow, snow and more snow.

Thanks to the weather, my flight was canceled home from Florida.....oh, yeah..... I spent two extra days in the sunshine.


Compare and contrast....where would you rather be? Are you are warm weather blogger or a cold weather blogger? Do you care?









Harley loves the snow and it loves her hair. It's a pain in the butt for us both. Reminds me of marshmallows.





What's a girl to do if there is no mountain to ski? Ever try snow shadow dancing?






The photo below is my attempt to get my profile in shadow. I was struck by the incredible likeness, even though it is just my shadow.


Below- My friends and I in Florida after a few frozen margaritas and lot's of laughter. I will take the warm weather and a frozen margarita anytime.

From left to right, Karen, Dara, me, and my friend Paula, who we think looks a bit like Sarah Palin.........definitely doesn't think like her.

Happy Valentines Day to all!!!

EYE HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT...........

.......the people of Haiti. Having given donations to a variety of organizations, but feeling like I want to do more. Wishing that the distribution of aide could be more organized and fluid.

I was in New York on business the other day and became entranced by the rooftops. Which then prompted me to think of the lack of roof tops in Haiti.

How lucky are we?












Eye have been thinking..........

ASEMIC MANDALAS

My latest project is a book round robin. I love the collaborative process. My theme? ASEMIC MANDALAS.



I am entranced by circular design and I have been really enjoying using the written word as a basis for the lines that I draw into my work, so I decided to combine the two for my theme.


It's all in the details.


Truly mixed media. Above, felt that has been stitched, painted and melted.


I have been so excited by the lines my sewing machine makes..... have never sewn more than a hem in my life, I made a bag to hold the project.


May the sacred circle of life help the people of Haiti come back from this terrible disaster. My heart is heavy.

COLOR THE NEW YEAR RED

Neck piece...in the works. Photo taken with "color accent" mode.


"Red is the ultimate cure for sadness."- Bill Blass

"Artists can color the sky red because they know it is blue. Those of us that are not artists must color things the way they are, or people might think we are stupid." -Jules Feiffer

Happy new year everyone!! I am starting off this year by thanking people. It "bloggles" my mind when I look at the counter on this blog, how many people have looked here. A HUGE THANKS to all of you that leave comments. I feel truly blessed.

There are some of you where a thank you is particularly overdue.


There is red in Vermont. Elizabeth Bunson made an amazing journal for me that I commisioned , with a back pack. I would Be, Dream and Play with her anytime.



Emphasizing the red on a studio shelf. Love those old books and clock parts....and there is the Scarlet Letter, just noticed it!!!



The clasp for my backpack.



My happy muppet self. A gift from my husband......not really sure why I added this but she looks so happy, so it's keeping with the theme.



This is something that I should have done MANYmoons ago. Dear and talented Lynne Hoppe, sent me some tree flags that have been gracing the trees in my woods. Thank you so much Lynne!! I very much apologize for the delay.






Stephanie from vlaDtheBatsattic in Belgium sent me these great earrings. I have been blogging with her from day one, just about. Check out her wonderful jewelry. Thank you Steph.



There is red on my messy studio table......everything is messy at the moment, I dare not show you.





"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

"The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to." ~P.J. O'Rourke

"The merry year is born
Like the bright berry from the naked thorn."
~Hartley Coleridge

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right". ~Oprah Winfrey

"People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas." ~Author Unknown


For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"




Harley says Happy New Year and bring on the snow...........errrr, show.

42 DAYS

Where have I been, what am I doing and what will be next?

It's difficult to believe that it has been so long since I have posted. I have been here. 24/7. We have a retail business. A great one. One that some people call a "mom and pop" operation. The kind that is a pleasure to shop. Sales staff that have been with us a long time. That care. That know everything about the product. NOT a "big box" store, where you are just a number. The economy has brought me back to work. Those big box stores are trying to crush us, but they won't succeed. Now it's all about the discount. Does anyone care about quality and service anymore? We do.

Did you know that in the 50's , 60's and 70's, only about 5% of items were ever discounted. People cared about the quality of an item. If it would last and could they count on a merchant to stand behind what they sold. In the 80's and 90's it became all about how fast can you get rid of something......just discount it and throw it away.

I could go on, but I know one looses their audience quickly here. My point is that I have too busy working to post, let alone visit anyone. It's been making me crazy.

Below are some photos of where I have been spending my time. Visit our website www.wwstereo.com, you'll see what we do.




I have been getting into my studio at night. Between 10 and midnight I created some gifts for my family. Below is a tribute to my mother in law for my husband. She is a dear soul who was a miracle worker in the kitchen, especially when it came to holiday ravioli.

Painted and photoshopped portrait with copper, fabric, stitching, found objects, acrylic medium, antique brass ravioli cutters found in Italy, acrylic paint.






I am thrilled to say that I will soon be appearing in L K Ludwigs new book "Creative Wildfire". I feel honored to be a part of such a talented group of artists. You can pre-order at Amazon.com.


I am currently appearing in Artful Journaling by Stampington. the article is about travel journaling. I also have work in the holiday issue of Somerset Studio.



I am also thrilled that my work has been juried into the show "Contemporary Voices" which will be opening at the Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia in January.

May all of you experience a healthy, joyful, creative and peaceful New Year.

With love,
Karen