Hushed Humpdays

tee juice fineliner, acrylics, lumiere acrylics

Bobbi

Thank you all for your prayers, Bobbi made it through surgery and is in a great deal of pain but she is alive. She has long hard road in front of her. So if you wouldn't mind add her to your list when you can and pray some more.
She has had a hard time of this all of her life and is such a trooper. If you want to leave her a message you can do it on the Bead Goes On http://bobbianncook.blogspot.com/

I also would like you to pray for my dear friend Renee, she has been hit with more than anyone should ever have to hold. Her mother, sister and her nephew are going through some very challenging times right now. As well as Renee herself. She is a muse to many and a beautiful soul who is giving all of the time. She is the person the Renee Award was made for and I love her.
You can read about her and leave her messages here:
http://circlingmyhead.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much!!! I am praying with you all. And if you don't pray, do whatever you do! It is all good!

My friend Bobbi at the Bead goes on http://bobbianncook.blogspot.com/
is having surgery tomorrow. Please join with me in prayer, good and healing thoughts, or any thoughts or giving that you can spare for a truly gentle and generous woman, she is a good mother and a great Maw-maw. I am proud to call her friend. I love her.
Thank you for your help.

Madi says...

I just wanted to tell you all that my grandma is trying to get the next giveaway posted but she and I have been so hot, neither one of us want to do anything but sleep and eat. Stay cool out there.

Garlic Hummus

I love Hummus and I love making it. I have finally figured out how to make it the way I like it.
I like my hummus thick, like paste. You can then spread it on sandwiches and tortillas, which is exactly what I do with it sometimes.
It is easy to make, good for you, and soooooooooooooo tasty, yummmmmmm!!

You will need:
1 can of garbanzo beans (chick peas)
2-4 tablespoons of Tahini (ground sesame seeds)
2-4 tablespoons of extra virgin Olive Oil
4 cloves of garlic (this is really personal, I LOVE garlic, 6 or 7 cloves for me, I make this so it burns my nose sometimes when I eat it and I make sure I don't have to go anywhere for awhile or not, if I am feeling like a rebel)
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground Cumin
1 lemon- juice
2 Green Onions sliced
Rinse and drain the garbanzo beans (if you like your hummus runnier, you save this drained off water and add to the hummus when you mix it.)
Add beans to your food processor bowl and then add all the other ingredients.
Pulse the processor until you like the consistency. I prefer it to be completely creamed. No chunks.
Place into a covered bowl and serve chilled with a drizzle of olive oil and some chopped green onions.
I like to eat this with tortilla chips but it is also very good with crackers, pretzels, or vegetables too, like celery, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.
And like I said spread on bread and on an avocado sandwich. It also makes a really great spread for flour tortillas wraps, instead of mayo or dressing.
I have a few variations on this.

Daley Ranch

I love this place, it is in the north county of San Diego and it is beautiful. There are hiking trails all through the hills and valleys of  North East Escondido out by Dixon Lake.  You will run in to all kinds really nice people that all say hi. I love that. There will be bikers and runners all over with just plain walkers of all kinds. It is called Daley Ranch.  Over 3000 acres of loveliness, sage, and scrub brush.

http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/glance/uniquely/daley/index.html            

I went up there with one of my blog buddies, Brittany http://papermoonies.blogspot.com/, for a walk this spring and it is was breath taking. The wild flowers where everywhere. It is similar to the desert in that the beauty is very subtle. I love the desert and I love Daley Ranch. There are small lakes, flat areas with grasses as tall as I am. Ducks, coyotes, redtail hawks, ravens and other assorted wild life everywhere you look. Such a treat. It is also one of those rare places that there are people at that feels like you are the only one out there at all. Right now if you go you should bring water with you and wear a hat. I am not even going to venture out there right now. The first hill in is a bear to get up and in this heat probably not too much fun for me.

And look at this... wouldn't this make a great subject to paint. It is part of the old working part of Daley Ranch and where the out house is if you need it. No toilet paper sometimes. It is on the left side of the road from this.

And this... isn't this great???

There is also a great grassy area under trees right before this that you can throw out a blanket and have a nice lunch or dinner. Or you can use the picnic benches they have out there.

This is probably a mile into the ranch maybe two. So it is a little trek to get to it.

Please, if you do go, don't smoke out there, it is too dangerous to even mess with and take your trash to the cans or with you when you leave.

This is a nice place, let's keep it that way please.

Another beautiful wild flower from the ranch.

Dixon Lake is also a really wonderful place to have a picnic or barbeque.

Tables and little shaded areas that can be reserved for the day.

http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/glance/lakes/dixon/index.html

Burning

There is no fire here or any threat of one. Thank you so much for your concern.
But this is what scares me when the heat does get like this.
The picture below is from a fire that was close to here a couple of years ago.
Again thank you so much for your concern, I love you guys!!! I AM NOT ON FIRE. I JUST FEEL LIKE I AM.


What is to give light must endure burning.


VIKTOR FRANKL

I thought this was metaphorical, but this week it is real.
I know I am not as hot here as some of you.
Today my daughter told me it was 110 this evening (their evening) in Kuwait when she talked to her friend there. I checked the weather it is 1:30 am now there and it is as hot as it is here right now 3:00 pm. Crazy I know, but it is relative and I am melting here my pretties.
But it is a dry heat! LOL!! 
This is why it scares me.
 

8" x 10" Skullie

Plain acrylics, before Lumiere acrylics.

My dearest Jilly

Jilly,
 How are you? How is your Dad doing? Are you having a great time together with out the rest of the kids?
I wanted to write and tell you Happy Birthday, you are 48! Who would have thunk that we would have made it this far, have children of our own and lots of nieces and nephews. Oh by the way you have new great niece, Madisyn, she is Shasta's first daughter and god is she a beauty. OMG!! you would love her. Lacey came to the hospital when Shasta had her and I so wish you could have seen her face, Lacey is beautiful like you and loves children just like you do. Kylie is tall and gorgeous, a bit of a rebel like Shas, but maybe I don't have to tell you any of this, I am hoping you still can see us, I know I feel you near. You would be so proud of your girls, they miss you very much too. I really miss you, so so much! We all do.
Your mom is doing ok. Cancer I guess is going to be her demise too. Still mom though! STNC.
Your brother is doing well after the cancer, he has gained all of  the weight back and we are surviving all of the medical bills, just barely, but he is alive and I am so grateful. My mom and dad are helping us. They are doing well and my sisters too. T misses you very much and W is so tall and very handsome too.
Visit Sunnie's blog she wrote about you too. http://sunnieday216.blogspot.com/2009/07/remembering-auntie.html
Jilly it has been a little hard today and I know you would understand, but then Madi cracks up and she is the beauty here and there is light all around me, but I just wanted to share it with you, oh how I wanted to just share it with you. And next time we do this I am going first.
Happy Brithday to the best sister in love ever,
Love you always and forever,
Do they play freebird up there?

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird lyrics


If I leave here tomorrow

Would you still remember me?
For I must be travelling on, now,
'Cause there's too many places I've got to see.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
'Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.


Bye, bye, its been a sweet love.
Though this feeling I can't change.
But please don't take it badly,
'Cause Lord knows I'm to blame.
But, if I stayed here with you girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you'll never change.
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.
Lord help me, I can't change.

Pulling up the past

Jodi Creager at Creager Studios http://creagerstudios.blogspot.com/ got me to thinking about revisiting my past. Jodi said...

I look at 'older' work as a kick start on the new...it always feeds my artistic direction...just the battery cables I need to jump start my drive...

I loved that, it resonated. Got me to thinking, I need a little jump start.

So I pulled out one of my paintings from 1972, yes 1972! I started oil painting in 1966, I was 10. I like the colors.
What was I thinking here?? Another one of those... "what the hell is that?" I am sure I made up some artsy- fartsy story about why I did it though. About seeing with my nose because I was blinded by the colors and the evolution of the chrysalis, and about how the yellow in my skin is the bile in my mind. Sometimes art is such a crock. After all I was 15 and wanted so badly to be an artist, to fit in with the cool kids.
Probably dreamt this up at night!
Just do it!

I have no idea.
Jodi, some people should just leave the past right where it is. LOL!!!

We interupt this hushed humpday...

I just got this info from my friend Debra at Rubber Stamp Plantation: http://rubberstampplantation.blogspot.com/
you can contact Debra for the info through her Blog or on the
Rubber Stamp Plantation website http://www.rubberstampplantation.com/
Tell her I sent you or not, doesn't matter, if you have been touched by this or feel moved get up and do it.
Or blog about it... please.



I have the go ahead to blog about it. If you know me in the least little bit you will know that Breast cancer issues are very important to me and if you don't...Breast cancer (all cancer really) issues are very important to me. So even if this is hushed humpday I felt it imperitive to impart all of these words to you. This is perfect for you altered art people out there. If you would like to support me, please email me, it is on my blogger profile. As Debra says "Aloha"
 

OMG!!! I love this one

Ok....We’re well on our way!



Support "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer"... Altered Adventure Artful Bra Project!!!!
More information will follow. Just trying to get this all out to you so you can pass it along.


Our goal this year is 35 Bras!!!!!


Bras should be 36C (why not?..with a Jewish accent)


All media welcome...so go for it.


You can find inspiration at http://www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/artfullbras.htm


We have a sponsoring organization for our Artful Bra Project!


The local chapter of American Cancer Society is launching a new program to raise money specifically for Breast Cancer programs and services in here in Hawaii. Funds earmarked “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” (MSABC), will go directly to fund education, support, “look & feel better” programs, screening, mammograms, a funded research position (yes there is one here in Hawaii now!), and more!
Enclosed is a registration and sponsorship form for your bras.


Bras (and monetary $$$ support you’ve collected) are due by Sept. 15, 2009 at designated drop off sites.


At present: Rubber Stamp Plantation (addr below), and Ben Franklin, Mapunapuna on Paa Street.

Please turn your bras in early if possible so they can be used for promotional opportunities!


Bras will be displayed in a “Gallery” at Making Strides, an event planned by ACS on Sat. Oct 3, 2009.


Bras will be auctioned off at a charity event in October, 2009.

Please pass this along to whomever you think may like to join us in this Altered Adventure!

Please let us know if you would like to volunteer, or if you have any ideas that will make this Altered Adventure more exciting!

Can’t wait to see your creations!!!!


Palms waving aloha,


Debra
Check out my new blog...


http://rubberstampplantation.blogspot.com

http://www.RubberStampPlantation.com


Rubber Stamp Plantation
746 Ilaniwai Street (Workshop & Store)
575A Cooke St #1717 (Mailing Addr.)
Honolulu, Hi 96813
808 591-2122
creating fine art stamps for the planet
Hawaiian, Asian, ethnic, fabulous floral and graphic designs.
Rubber Stamp Plantation Stamps
Aloha From Hawaii Vintage Stickers- Acid Free
Auntie's Hawaiian Stickers-Acid Free
Hawaiian Island Decals-Acid Free
Polynesian Temporary Tattoos
Paradise Plate Lei
Tropical Etch, glass etching and craft stencils

Hushed Humpday

This is the rock that I photographed, printed out, that was cut up, and pasted to the canvas, for the rock that La Sirena is sitting on.

http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2009/07/8-x-10-la-sirena-loteria-cards.html

California Dodder

Ever been driving in southern california and seen this by the side of the road and wonder "what the hell is that?"

It is dodder http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/californiadodder.html a parasitic plant. Also known as witches' hair.


You can read more about it here http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plnov99.htm
Scroll down to where you see this beautiful girl.
It is a parasitic member of the morning glory family.



 I thought it was something else all together, I was wrong. And you don't want it in your garden either. It is fond of ivies.
I am curious about naturalized california plants, always have been. When it dries it dries to a beautiful orange straw like substance. I dried some. I am not taking it out of the bag now. I thought I was going to make it in to some mixed media. LOL!!! I am so glad that I looked it up, for the internet, and for smart people.

Mom, look at me, I am learning new things.

8" x 10" La Sirena- Loteria Cards

I am intrigued by the game Loteria. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loter%C3%ADa It is similar to bingo from what I understand, but what I like the most are the images.

Lotería is a tradition that involves art, passion, and culture. The origin of Lotería can be traced back to the 15th century in Italy

Doesn't that sound wonderful?
This one is my version of the La Sirena, the Mermaid


Con los cantos de sirena, no te vayas a marear (With the siren songs, you are not going away to be annoying. From dictionary.com)
Acrylic paint, Lumiere, rhinestones, Cernit, half pearls, parchment paper, and teardrop turquoise opal stones.

Sunday smunday!

I am feeling a little underwhelmed today. I am in somewhat of funk.
No words of wisdom, no special thoughts, no projects, no happy, happy, joy, joy for you from me. Sorry!

But I do have something that Francie Horton over at Life as Art http://burdart.blogspot.com/ did that I think is just brilliant.
Here is the project aboves page http://burdart.blogspot.com/2009/07/what-to-do-with-family-photos-and.html it is even better than this photo.
Go over and check it out, it will be well worth your time and there are tons of photos to look at.
Made me smile.

Cool Journals for practically nothing

I posted a journal making blog over at http://womansworldmagazine.blogspot.com/

The link to the post is http://womansworldmagazine.blogspot.com/2009/07/cool-journals-for-practically-nothing_10.html

The Bella Sinclair award.

This is a very special award and the person it was made for is a very special woman. She is a sister-friend, a talented artist, A great mom, a poet, a mental ninja, a muse, beautiful, a genius, and her friend-sister Ces created it for her.

This is what Ces says about the award...

Read the whole post here.

http://cesandherdishes.blogspot.com/2009/07/bella-sinclair-award.html

"Ces created the Bella Sinclair Award in honor of Bella Sinclair exceptional woman and brilliant artist who epitomizes the concept of the artist as inspiration, of sisterhood, caring and sharing. It is symbolized by the Quercus lobata or Valley Oak, a handsome and graceful tree with a sturdy trunk, up to 5 ft in diameter and 120 feet tall, the largest western deciduous oak."

She also said

"I designed this award to celebrate art in the blogs and to honor the value of friendship, sisterhood, sharing and caring. It is to be awarded to the gifted, accomplished, eloquent and talented blogger whose friendship and influence inspire us to do our best. That I named it after Bella Sinclair is because she epitomizes all of these things. She is an inspiration to many of us.

I have chosen to symbolize this award with the Quercus lobata or Valley Oak. It is a simple and unadorned award but heavy on meaning. The Valley Oak is a large handsome tree with a stout and sturdy trunk and widely spreading branches that form a broad open crown. It can reach up to a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 4 feet, sometimes much greater. It is the largest of the western deciduous oaks and is a handsome and graceful shade tree.

I hope that when Bella returns, this award would have already circulated in the blogs. It is my honor to give this award to the first recipients who I hope will find the same pleasure as I have in spreading its crown, giving shade and the comfort of friendship and caring and of sisterhood by sharing this award with their blog-friends and sisters!

Now here are my babies, go out and pick other sister friends, spread the crown, give shade and comfort and caring to your blog and sister friends.

This is a lovely award!

1. Jodi Creager http://creagerstudios.blogspot.com/

2. Cindy http://oopsdesperateblogger.blogspot.com/

3. Lynda http://claymama1.blogspot.com/

4. Ces http://cesandherdishes.blogspot.com/

5. Purest green http://underthetonguerecipes.blogspot.com/

6. Cornerstoregoddess http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com/

7. Bobbi http://bobbianncook.blogspot.com/

8. SusanC http://susanc-yarnnut.blogspot.com/

9. Susan http://awalkinthepark-susan.blogspot.com/

10. Sarah http://amountainmomma.blogspot.com/

11. Elizabeth http://ginagal.blogspot.com/

12. Donna http://ctbydonna.blogspot.com/

13. Gail http://cupcakesandcutestuff.blogspot.com/

14. Jenny http://kindclay.blogspot.com/

15. Francie http://burdart.blogspot.com/

16. Cindy http://cindypack.blogspot.com/

17. Dawn http://oddfae.blogspot.com/

18. Cassie http://cassymuronaka.wordpress.com/

19. Chris http://prismtrail.blogspot.com/

20. Yvonne http://quote-ching.blogspot.com/

I have an award to give...

I have a very special award to give to someone. I have quite a few awards to give, but I am going to start with this one.


I made this for them.

They have been for many years, leaders in their field and their kindness, prowess, and insight give them right, in my opinion, to have an award all their own. Their mixed media art dolls cross the boundaries of time and space. They bring people joy and laughter and I think that they get a lot of that themselves making these awesome pieces of engineering and craftsmanship.

This is from Jodi's lips, "We have had a great time and good success with our long career of Doll Making…for that we are very thankful …and delighted ...we are also so thankful for all the wonderful people we have met on this journey."
May there be lots and lots more years, dolls, success, and wonderful people.
I thought that it was time that they (Jodi and Richard) go forth and recognize others who have the ability to sculpt and who give kindness and care in the blogging world every day, just like they do.


May this award and Jodi and Richard find people just as deserving as they are.
Jodi and Richard Creager this is for you, extreme sculptors and just all around nice people.
http://creagerstudios.blogspot.com/

Go here to see beautiful things http://www.creagers.com/

TAH-DAH!!!

The rules will be:

Write a blog about your award.

Link to the Jodi and Richard Creager Blog.

Recognize and link to the person that passed the award to you

Answer these questions:

1. What is the theme you choose to work with most and why?

2. Who most influenced your sculpting path?

3. If you could have all the money in world, would you still do this?

4. How does your blogging world help you and others?

This should be in turn passed to 3 others who meet the requirements and can answer the questions.

Thank you Jodi and Richard for your years of dedication and learning, your kindness, and personalities, and most of all the mastery of the magic in your minds, so that all the world benefits.

Hushed Humpday

Madi has an announcement to make...

I love my frog and he has the best eye.

OH and my grandma also wanted me to tell you, her and papa picked the winner for the Bella necklace grandma made.

Grandma and papa are giving away stuff for a year because they are so grateful to be alive and have a business they love. You can read about that here.

http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2009/05/1st-giveaway-thank-you-thank-you-thank.html

First grandma wrote all of the names one at a time on the piece of paper.
Grandma usually does this with a random number generator, but she decided it would be more fun if her and papa did this together.
Then she checked them to make sure the numbers and the names matched.

She cut them all up with the big scissors that I can not play with.

Mixed them up again to be sure. There were 38 of you this time and she read to me what some of you said, so nice of you all. My grandma just loves that part.

Some times she gets a kleenex, but don't tell her I was watching her that close. She thinks I am just a baby, I don't want to spoil her fun.

She folded them up real small and

put them in one of papa's coffee cups.

She took the cup to papa and he couldn't get his hand in there, it is really big, so he had to take his little finger and fold it up so he could reach them and then he swished them around in there again.

Silly grandma didn't tell him she had already done that lots.

He picked out one and gave it to grandma and it was...

#13 ARTGALCRAFTS

Grandma was excited. She said this Bella necklace was going all the way to Australia.

She said that her friend Bella's words and paintings travel all over the world in peoples hearts and minds, so it is only right that the necklace should go faraway too!!!

Grandma says that you all should go look at Bella's art work because she makes cute little girls like me all of the time.

Some of the girls are bigger than me though.

Her blog is here http://bellasinclair.blogspot.com/

ArtGal you need to get in touch with my grandma so she can send the Bella necklace to you. Grandma's email is on her profile page.

Oh and congratulations!

Last Call...

This is a last call of sorts... get your name in to the blog post for the giveaway (not here) before 6 pm pacific daylight time today for a chance to win...

http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2009/06/2nd-giveaway.html

Good Luck to everyone that entered.

Thank you!

You can read about why this madness is happening here.

http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2009/05/1st-giveaway-thank-you-thank-you-thank.html

Happy and safe Holidays to all my American readers and have a GREAT weekend to everyone else!

My Mom's Liberty

My mother used to have a navy blue and white kitchen with dark red accents. To me it is a strange combination and something I myself would never do. My mother can pull this off with panache.

I have always thought she is a class act. Her house is and has always been beautiful and reminds me of home decorating magazines.

She can also make my jewelry look amazing by putting together a whole ensemble to frame the pieces I make.

I made this Liberty for her many, many years ago. It is also one of my favorite pieces.

I am sorry this picture is so bad, but it is all I have.

I have loved and admired both of these ladies , liberty and my mother, and what they portray to me, for many, many years.