Welcomes! and A Peek At My *Doodle~Time*

First things first; we have a few new followers at El Milagro and I would like to extend big and hearty WELCOMES to them! You never know what will be found on these pages; it is about as mixed up a media as you can possibly get! LOL!

Second, I have to thank Roberta at rcs creations~just a girl and her art for the inspiration to start this project. The link above takes you to the page of her journal project.

I had never started an art journal for many reasons...one being I really do not sketch, two being everyone else is doing them (which means I have to dance to the different drummer), three was I had seen so many that looked alike I was utterly discouraged with the thought of it. Roberta's project changed my mind. And that's not easy!

Well, we e-mailed about it, and I thought, hmmmm, I should be able to paste papers into a book, just to clear my head and also use some of the POUNDS of scrapbook paper I have acquired. (dirty little secret.....I love the stuff! I love all paper; that's the problem!)

But when I sat to start, I just stared at that blank journal page and nothing at all happened.
For several days.
Finally one evening, in a fit of pique (or just a good old FIT!) I took a couple of drawers of paper junk, slapped it on the floor, started cutting and tearing and somehow, out of some dark recesses of this thing I call a mind, I made the piece above.
I have called it "Creation" due to the fact that with the Hebrew writing, I was immediately struck by the text in Genesis about the creation of the world and the seperation of light from dark. And that was how I felt getting it done; I had created something and stepped from the shadows back into the light. Click on it to enlarge it to see a bit more detail.
This is not "ART". This is *art*. No pretense, no planning, just letting the creative mind wander and see what it comes up with.

What I used in this:
♦ glue sticks
♦ prismacolor pencils
♦ permanent markers
♦ gel pens
♦ assorted papers (save everything!)
♦ a foil candy wrapper that looks like a coin
♦ a die that cuts the rounded corners like the journal pages

The beautiful thing about a small project like this is there are no rules. You can use tidbits, you can plan if you really feel you need to---I don't. You can experiment with color combinations you like--or ones you normally don't like. You have no obligation to fill the book, though once you start, there is a delight at a page being done and then those scraps for another.....and another.....and another!
If you are in a state of creative block, this is a good, relaxing, nonthreatening way to get the artist skills awake and moving. It let's you attain *the zone* without a lot of effort. It really is a meditative process.
And, it is FUN.
Just plain fun.
So why not give it a try? I dare ya! Go ahead.
HAVE FUN. (and let me know if you do!)

Pax....

My Shining Lights......

First off, I am so grossly overdue on new WELCOMES to the blog, I am quite mortified! Normally I have that up after one or two new faces join......and I do apologize with all my heart. It has been extremely hectic here, and yes, Blogger still is throwing me curveballs whenever it is most inconvenient!!! Please make yourselves at home....we sometimes lose our marbles, but eventually they are found through a lot of laughter!

As I have been too lax of late with my blog and visiting others, this post is dedicated to my blog friends. The ones who, without any cajoling, visit and comment even when I am in a blur of too much to do. The hearty souls who have been with me since day one and still continue on this wondrous and delightful ride called BLOGGING! The people who may wonder if I will ever post art again, but come back anyway for the brain dribblings in between. Those who know my taciturn moments and send me a silly e-mail to make me laugh until my sides split. Those who really know me, deeper than the words on this blog page because they can see past the words on the blog page. Those who respect my silence and know that there is something going on either in real life or in my studio that demands my full attention (which, by the way, seems to be getting shorter as I age!). Those who have respect for me as I have for them; that indeed, it is a two way street. Those who hold me up when I need it most, even if I don't really know I need it!

Friends are treasures more valuable than any precious metal, warmer than the crackle of a winter fireplace, more delightful than a summer's night with the moon illuminating the landscape and fireflies dancing in the velvet darkness.

Friends are my compass, my plumb line, my sounding board.

And above all, they are the bright lights in my life.

I am blessed.

And perhaps I do not say *thank you* enough, because everything else gets in the way......which is no excuse.

So for you all, thank you for being my true, honest friends here at El Milagro. And in e-mail. And on the phone. And through art we share. And letters. And Facebook. And just being there!

You are blessings.

Mille Grazie!

Pax....

Shameless Self Promotion......and WELCOMES!!!

I know......it's not polite to brag about your own work. And that's what I'm doing. And I guess it is not just bragging, but promoting, at which I have never been good.

But I am soooooo excited about the things I just got up on my Zazzle store that I hope you will forgive me this once....or twice.....or, as the case may be here THREE TIMES! ;-)

I had a ball with the theme of "Love Knows No Boundaries" and hope that others find this as appealing as I do. I really believe it. Real love transcends boundaries....thus these three items. A full wrap mug (which you can customize of course!)......

....Designed into a multi-purpose greeting card available in two sizes, (and I will probably end up buying some of these myself...sigh...there goes any potential profit!......)

......and a T-shirt design that can be put on a multitude of different styles. Prices vary, so it is affordable in one style or the other. And the sizes run the spectrum, so hopefully, everyone is covered! (bad pun....sorry....)

And a big hug and thanks to Tristan who already purchased one of the mugs! You made me smile on a very frustrating day!!!

Now, to proper WELCOMES!!! New faces on the blog and I am so delighted to have you here! Thanks to recent folks joining this merry ship, El Milagro Studio has hit the magic number of 100 Followers, so I am thinking about a give-away.

What would you like??? You, who show up and read my brain drivel, comment kindly when I am ranting and make me laugh when I don't know which end is up.

What do you think? An original piece of art? A print on canvas? Drop some ideas here, and when I get this week a bit more under control, we'll get this party started!

Thank you all for supporting this blog and the crazy blog-mistress......you are appreciated very much, from follower #1 to follower #100---you are all Number One to me!

Pax.

Welcomes, An "I WON!" Moment, and a Belated Mothers Day Story

(...or, Anne rambles all over the place on this blog post.......LOL!!! that's a better title!)

I had all the best intentions this past weekend of getting a lot of art done and doing an art post this morning (or late last evening.....for posting this morning). You know that line about "The best laid plans of mice and men...."??? Yep. That was the weekend.

First off, big warm WELCOMES!!! to new followers! I am six away from 100 and I suppose I will have to think up a give-away at that point. I'm also getting closer and closer to a 500th post, which I think HAS to be a give-away mark, so maybe the two will coincide and I can get my brain in gear on what would be a good prize, yes?

Speaking of prizes, I managed to win a good one over at Tristan's blog by captioning the picture below with:

"The Schlitz family realized early in life the bonding potential of daily 'Evening Family Beer Time'. It also helped to distract them from Father, who had most untoward desires and fantasies about the family pet parrot, Caligula.

"Father frequently tried to get Caligula drunk and coax him away from his perch, but thankfully, the parrot was the smart one of the bunch."

All I can say kiddies is THAT ONE was right up my alley!!! Especially the parrot.......  ;-)

And now for the reverant, kind, humane part of today's rambling blogpost.

Yesterday DH decided to wash my car for me, which was very nice but it was cold out and I was not of much help. I was standing around being useless when I noticed a robin with a mouth full of food flying about in the magnolia by the drive. I knew there wasn't a nest there, so I watched and watched until it finally felt safe enough to head to the nest.

Take a gander below.......

This is on the second floor of our house, above the family room (which is over the garage). That robin has sat there through wind strong enough to take the power down, rain so bad it made everything white and hail. There are at least two babies, as I could see their thin little beaks backlighted by the sinking sun, but by the time I got the camera, Mama Robin was having no part in showing off her brood. She hunkered down and was keeping them warm and safe from the unseasonably cold breezes we had yesterday.
If that isn't the one who should have received a Mother's Day bouquet (or worms) then I don't know who is!
Here's to a good week, everyone, and hopefully I will get a chance to check back in on the robin family, with camera!

Pax.

A Quick Good Morning and Welcomes!

(do take a moment to click on the photo and see all the detail!)

Just popping in for a quick Hello, to say welcome to new followers---and I apologize for being so slow about doing that and say THANKS to some new faces that have dropped by to comment! Hope everyone finds something entertaining in the blog.
I had not planned a post this morning; I am in *part two* of a migraine, but when I went out and got this photo of the sunrise through the wisteria, I could not resist putting it up. The plant is in full, glorious bloom.......and we, of course, are scheduled for thunderstorms. (this always happens...always!) So I shot off several images and enjoyed the scent a bit in the damp cold air, then hustled back inside before anyone saw me out wandering in well worn night clothes. I don't want to be arrested, ya know......
I will have a post as weather allows about the art probably over the weekend, providing I can see straight to actually WORK! LOL!!! It could be Monday.......
So have a good weekend and do something creative, or get out and enjoy all the wonderful things happening in nature right now! Quick....before they're gone.

Pax.

Monday, Monday......and Welcomes too!

A quick *Good Morning* before I hop off to finishing errands undone over the weekend, and putting the header hanging sleeves on the banners and then saying THEY ARE DONE!!!! (can you detect excitement here????)
I have had a lot of great comments here in the few days I took off; some my regular faces popping in, some new voices and new followers and I say WELCOME! I am sorry I am in the midst of this work-a-thon and cannot entertain you properly, but I am sure some of the previous comments would, should you choose to read.
I normally don't go MIA for a while, but it did yield some time for thought, creatively and also related to work and life.......so all in all, it was good.
Spring is still being a tease here. Mostly cold rain now that we are receiving and while there are leaves of things bulbous that will eventually bloom, nothing yet. I am far beyond impatient. My lone crocus appears to have become chipmunk food.......which does NOT make me happy! Mr. Chippy needs to go find another home, NOW.
Thankfully, the lilacs, magnolias and wisteria have not begun to bud out. Usually they do far too early and then are treated to the freezing wrath of the Last Indiana Cold Spell, thus ruining any hope of bloom.
And now I am off to the tables, to finish this daunting project. Yes, there will be photos.
I am thinking I should have done a *Before* and *After* photo of myself, as it would have been amusing to see the decline mentally and physically. I am at raving lunatic point at the moment! SNARF!!! "I have only one mind to lose......."
Hope y'all have a good week with lots of fun projects ahead.....that Spring gently arrives to your neighborhood and brings with it the delight of blossoms and sun.
I'll be back with the pith and humor you are accustomed to soon...
For now, I bid you.....

Pax.

Color Abounding--Hard Crops of the Studio Flotsom, and WELCOMES To New Followers!

First off, before I become lost in this post, which is completely possible with my swiss-cheese-for-brains state...LOL!!.....  WELCOME to my new readers! Hope you have a good time here; jump in, comment, ask questions, or if you have something you want to inquire about privately, click the *more about me* (or whatever it is on the side) and e-mail.

Happy to chat, happy you've found the studio! :-)

Yesterday, after working the amount I felt safe with doing and not having myself in deep *You-Know* with both DH and the upcoming visit to the Surgeon, I took a quick look around the studio and realized that right under my nose was all this color.

You have to understand that I can walk into a wall and not pay much attention to it if my mind is in creative mode, which thankfully it has been, so I knew the studio had a lot of *stuff* out, because I had been tripping over it and shoving it from pillar to post, but I was not looking at it.

Seeing, but not looking, is the greatest sin of the artist, or anyone who wishes to put more creativity into their lives. I don't care what you do, what medium you work in or what you would like to try, learning to see is vital. Basically, unless you live in a white cube, there is always something of visual interest about you. It is a matter of honing in with a different view.

One of the simplest things you can do, and it's fun, is to take a piece of cardstock and cut two *L* shaped pieces (about 2" thick strips), hold them so there is a hole in the center and there you have it; your own private viewfinder to the world! It is a simple tool, fun to use, and let's you rethink the overlooked in your personal space.

Thank heavens for cameras and computers to crop our photos with! Above are pieces I had tossed into my scrap basket during one of my emergency table cleaning escapades. Just sitting and waiting......Suddenly the mundane becomes sublime. You start looking. You start seeing. Life gets interesting!

Everything I have photographed was out in the studio, photographed as is and the only manipulations were to move a piece of junk if it was obscuring the frame or to go in and crop. That's all.

That means I have a lot of junk out in here---a lot.

A LOT.

I discovered that the Christmas bows I had not put away were extremely difficult to focus with an auto-focus digital. The abundance of color made up for the lack of clarity and sharp edges, so this one snuck in..... I know, I know; I should have tougher standards but I am not a professional photographer, and I don't think the *photography police* are going to pay me a visit! (and if they do, good luck getting in the door....HA!)

A simple close up of a cigar box shrine I made several years ago.....I happened to look only at the bottom...cropping everything else out mentally and decided I liked the possibility. I really am fond of that little segment, all by its self.

Last, and certainly not least, my pencils and markers on the table. This was both a close up and hard crop to remove a lot of distracting items and leave the sharp focus of the implements and the nice soft focus of color and pattern in the background. Also, the matte covering on the right container shows nothing, but the glass holder reflects pattern around it.

Maybe I should have recommended sunglasses at the beginning of the post, or put up a dislaimer of my love of bright, intense, saturated color!

I'm hoping you'll forgive me......

Now go make art, or at least take a walk about and try and look at your surroundings a little differently!

Pax.

Welcome Aboards and Why I Need Custodial Care.......

First off, Welcome to new followers that I have neglected to post a happy and heart Hello to! Forgive me....age and cabin fever are taking their toll.

This is, for the most part, an artless post, other than the photos, taken at approximately 11:00 a.m. yesterday. The snow was coming down very heavily, and I, in my infinite wisdom, found it too hard to resist just walking on the porch to snag a few images. Up by the house it was clear; how could this hurt? What trouble could I get into?

My favorite vista, across the road....quickly becoming obscured from the snow swirling in from the East. Beautiful, but I know those Nor'Easters bring lots of the white stuff.....

My glass hummingbird feeder, that should be in the house, wearing a lovely white topknot and a bit of a white kiss on the feeding flower. This, this bright bit of red, was what drew me out. It must have been my inner-magpie responding to the shiny tid-bit......

Then I got brave and decided to walk on around the porch (large, L shaped) where there was snow, but hey.....I have a cane and I am being careful, right? No harm.....just take my time. The pines really showed off the weather continuing to roll in at an alarming pace.

And not to be forgotten, my favorite tulip tree, covering with snow. I was at the very end of the porch, having naughty thoughts about stepping off and going out in the yard. As the title says, I need custodial care. I need a leash that only lets me go so far and then reels me back in.

Quickly.

Before more stupid ideas come, and they always do......

What stopped me from further *adventures* was the fact that the bottom of my shoes were so caked with snow, I was having trouble balancing, even with the cane. So it was back indoors for me.

And now the fun part. Why, you may ask, do I want to see a photo of your shoes?

Because, gentle readers, I stepped in and my feet immediately FROZE TO THE DOORMAT. Yep, couldn't move. Couldn't get the shoes off, couldn't get the snow off, did NOT have the phone (all thebraincells were obviously not working)---I stood there, stuck, in every sense of the word! And I knew if DH got wind of this, I would be in deep something-or-other, because I'm not---repeat NOT---supposed to be out when he isn't here, or someone semi-competent.

There I stood, cussing, and working up enough hot air that something must have loosened the shoes from the grabby doormat. I immediately stepped over to my good, wool, hall runner and did a backwards scoot that looked much like a pooch when it has a nether region that needs scratching. It was ugly. It was funny. It was on my BEST RUG!!!!

So the lesson is, maybe I should listen to DH.

Or get the leash with the choke collar.

I am thinking he, if he reads this---and sometimes he does, would vote for the second....  :-)

Have a day with all options open to you, and no *getting stuck* in any way!!! LOL!!!

I bid you, from my humble, warm casa/prison.....

Pax.

Welcomes and Work

I've been remiss in welcoming new followers to the blog, so here is the official WELCOME!!! I'm glad everyone is here and bit by bit, others pop in. I am very bad about updating the blog list on the sidebar, and if you aren't on there and want to be, just let me know. Some things I'm right on top of (like the table when taking above photo....) and other things just sort of slip into the ether....

After fighting with the 12 feet of lined fabric and the weight of it all, it was time for a break, so here we are and yes, I am still looking for a Studio Pixie who just wants to help and enjoy the company.......LOL!!!

Posting a few photos so you can get an idea of what I have been dealing with, such as the above tassels. They started out being only the small purple part, without beads, trim, or bullion fringe. I basically build them for each set of banners. Premade tassels the size needed are far too expensive and never match anything I'm working on.....such is this life!

I did luck out on the candles not looking lost on the large background fabric and also, in the never-ending stash of fabric, found a sheer for the stars that allows the pattern of the b.g. fabric to show through subtly. I was afraid I was going to have to SHOP for something, and with my recent luck in getting junk, I was not looking forward to it.

Here are a couple of the other candles; the color is fairly accurate on them, though the fourth darker purple is out of the picture frame.

Physically and mentally, I will be glad when these are done as I am exhausted from the weight of all the fabric and batting. These have turned out to be pretty much like working with a stubborn quilt, especially the freemotion work required to put the candles on.

On the other hand, I like the design as it reminds me of some of the work I saw when I was a child in Europe, and there is a nice, reminiscing quality to dealing with them. Stars on Christmas cards were almost always the six pointed variety over there. It seemed a natural to do the same on these.

Well, enough......there's fabric calling me, and it's not calling me nice names! LOL! Yes, that's where we're at in this project relationship---calling each other names. Baptism by fire.......

I really do like them. Shhhhh........don't tell!!!

Hope everyone is having a good time and working on something that is not trying to throttle them! Have a good one; I bid you all......

Pax.

Welcomes From The Lazy Blog-Mistress.....

(golden moments....they pass us by too quickly, on the road to bare landscapes and warm coats...)

Two more WELCOMES officially to followers of the blog! Greetings and salutations and happy you are here!

Alas, this sleeping in business is getting addictive! I did not get to a post yesterday evening due to the couch and knitting needles calling my name, and the fact that I had spent too much time on the leg and it was calling out a few things too....none of which can or should be repeated here!

DH was looking at the final collage from the tutorial I had posted here and thought it was lovely. I looked at it guiltily, thinking, I need to post those shots and then a link to the original tute. It seems there are a lot of things that need doing today, the least of which is the restocking of the groceries and I detest that job worse than cleaning up after the raccoons that delight in trashing my porch.

Halloween is almost upon me and I have not had the time to drag out the old horror films and watch them......one of my favorite things. Sorry, all this new cinema can't compare with the pre-digital effects days where make up and true acting and atmosphere and camera technique MADE you chill and shiver! Sometimes it was as much what you didn't see as what you did. Sweeping scores that weren't mixed in so loud that they would blow you out of the room, that one moment when the screech of violins stopped and the full THUD of the orchestra made an exclamation point as the monster appeared! Ah, and black and white......the art of making up and dressing for the camera, so the greys would be appropriate. What skill.

Instead, as with the rest of the world, it's work, work, work........of course I've not helped that situation myself, but dang. October should be a month of Holiday to prepare and savour the time of ghosties and ghoulies and the gentle transition to Fall.

I spent the evening trying to get shots of the lights on my banister, with the camera secured to the tripod. We'll see today how those worked out. I am not, repeat...NOT a night time photographer. That is another skill all together.

Instead, I am closing quickly as I mentally prep myself for the zombies and other slow moving monsters filling the grocery aisles, and trying to remind myself that even in my present condition, and with a cart full too, I can out run them!!!! ;-) (I really hate grocery shopping....could you tell???)

Thus, I bid you adieu, and to have a frightfully creative day....even if you are fighting the store zombies on cell phones! LOL!!!

Pax.

A Quick and Late Good Morning......(it is still morning, right?)

Before I forget......the delight of a few more WELCOMES to new followers!

Happy y'all are here!

A bit of an admission to start......I have a friend who feels the need to call me at unholy hours of the morning. Lately I have told her I need SLEEP, thinking that would sink in....... Now, don't get me wrong. I love my friends, I love being up for sunrise photos like the one above, but ever since the surgery last March, there are days when I need rest and lots of sleep, then I am up and at 'em and doing exciting things like fighting with the hand mixer and dreaming of posting some ART here again! (yes, I have some in the cellar studio....) Of course, that admission pretty well sums up my lack of a social life, but we're all friends here.....we run in our pajamas with wild abandon!!!
Anyway, I holed up in the family room, shut the door last night, made the big leather sofa into a comfy bed with hand made quilts and a down pillow and turned off the ringer on the phone.
And I slept.
A whole night of uninterrupted sleep. Utter bliss...........
That's why this is a quickie this morning because I am back to banner number two today, and need to get a lot done. I still have neglected to check the liturgical calender to see what Sunday these must be done for....I am thinking it is a week earlier than what I thought previously, which would be par for the course! So while you enjoy the lovely photo of a sunrise across the fields behind my house, know that my studio faces that field and that's where I am, stitching away like a mad woman!
I did get some couch time yesterday and knitting on the current socks; the wool, bamboo, nylon blend that I lovingly refer to as *the socks from HELL*. What is odd is once the yarn is off the needles, the fabric is soft and stretchy....just no negative ease. I think I will like them, but not sure if I will like them enough to knit with it again. They feel like they would be very good warm weather socks......kind of soft and breathy----that's a word, yes? And the blueberry/soft sky color is exceptionally appealing, so I keep knitting. They'll be posted here.
I also had someone ask about the jeans I wore in the virtual Studio Tour, and when I get a spare moment, I want to photograph them and post them.
Not today......or this weekend. Monday (or possibly Sunday---I need to check!) is DH's birthday and you girls know what I'll be doing....in the kitchen again! Maybe crawfish and jambalaya!!!
And now, to the salt mines I go.......I hope you all have a fun, productive, creative day!!!

Pax.