Call My Name, I'll come Runnin'

Call My Name ATC - Not Standard Size
Originally uploaded by Staci G

I just love this new artist I found on Flickr. We are trading a few ATCS and I looked through hers and just couldn't decide among them all. This one just got to me heart since, in spite of the twins, dogs are my favorites. And the words she picked to go with the ATC are perfect. I aslo signed up for a challenge in late August with Nimbles so lots of projecects coming up.

I am trying to take the time to free-write since I have lost so much practice over the years with my switch to visual. Reading through Artful Blogging Magazine I laughed so much at the whimsey and word play some of you out there come up with.

Speaking of Artful Blogging , it is my new favorite Somerset Studio Magazine together with Artful Living. I also bought Cloth, Paper, Scissors' editor in chiefs new book 1000 ATCS and signed up for the 1001 Art journals Project. I hope I get one in the mail from the artist I contacted in Santa Barbara.

NUNQUAM NON PARATUS

Mixed Media Fabric ATC ACEO traded with Staci G
Originally uploaded by peregrine blue

My schedules are all mixed up. Have been falling asleep close to 3 in the morning since during the day I have no time to create at all. What with the twin cats now having taken over the house. They require most of our attention and love. Today was their first bath and this alone took over two hours since they get so cold and shivery and one needs to cuddle them in a warm blanket afterwards.

The house too was in dire straits and needed some attention. If not it's really going to start to look like a Starving Artist's shack instead of a home.

The there's the planning for CONVENZIONE and another big event in November. My school (The Grange) celebrates its 80th year and people are coming from all over the world to pay tribute to prove our motto Nunquam Non Paratus. I'm so excited to be able to go. Martin is probably coming too and I'm going to try to convince my Dad who lives in Australia to come since he is probably from the first generations and a true OLD BOY.

Learning new tricks

Visual Addiction

Now you know why I'm an Artist. EVERYTHING can be seen in a much better light when you see them through the artist's prism. And now that we have the net, we can virtually go to a modern museum anytime, anywhere. I love it.

Once Upon a Time

GOD got creative

and gave me permission to enjoy the goods.

Images courtesy of "Not on the High Street" UK and "Zurza" a store in Santiago, Chile, "

Paper Bag Studios

I'm in love again! Looking through Morena Che's Flickr photos I realized shw was using mostly rubber stamps to create her ATCS and ACEOS so got curious as to what Paper ag Studios meant. Well, it happens to be this awesome site that sells rubber stamps. I love them. Actually I have never been good with rubber stamps, really need to learn the chalking better and will look for a tutorial on UTube. Everybody must own at least one rubber stamp from them, they are so different.

Artwork by Audrey Hernandez of Paper Bag Studios

....and the beat goes on......

Something's in the air. Changes, Hope with capital letters. I feel it in the streets, when I go to an eatery and see people coming alive again. Our country needs it so deperately=the human element after a diseased addiction to consumption and a rancid philosophy of greed versus deed.

Bernardita came to spend the weekend. Because of the gas crisis she decided to take the train. How refreshing, plus I have an Amtrak station so close to home. And then we hopped in my car and went everywhere, did everything we could in three days (Garage sales, Thrift Stores,

Bookstore, Japanese Restaurant, back to bookstore for Coffee and Carrot Cake, Craft Store, Mexican restaurant, then to my bed where we listened to oldies on the cassette player (Raul Di Blasio) and got all nostalgic about Chile and decided to drink to it. Salud.

LIFE IS GOOD. And tomorrow will be even better since I finally get my bottom teeth. It has taken two years of surgeries and casts and molds and finally they will be in for good tomorrow. I am so happy. I will eat cashew nuts at last.

And a couple more messy ones

Boy does it get messy when I'm creating mixed media journal pages. Not only that, but the array of stuff scattered all over my floor, work table and surroundings makes me realize how much I have invested in this manic obsession. I must have every rubber stamp, Luminarc paint bottle, ribbon, paper and medium ever put out there (for beginners) because I see new stuff coming into the market all the time. Ofcourse my favorite sites for online shopping are no help Artchix and Joggles and now Paper Whimsey. And ofcourse there are two stores in town, Scrap It and Michael's of which I should probably be a stock holder at this point. JoAnna also came out with her new line of paper doll dresses and printed digitals, so it's scary.
I just have to stay within the limits of what I can accomplish rather than all those ideas that keep popping up in my head.

It's getting better all the time

So what I have been up to? Something weird is happening, I have this voracious appetite and have been eating more than I usually do. I'm hungry all the time, unusual for me who always eats bird-sized meals. I sure hope it doesn't settle in all the wrong places.

Well, went for the interview yesterday and in two weeks I will know if I have been selected for round 2 which would mean another interview with the Board of Directors. I am crossing my fingers, I really want this job. It is perfect for me.

Thanks to www.jperegrineart.typepad.com/ I have picked up my art journal again and have been painting and collaging away. It is so challenging to see other people's work. It makes you say, I CAN DO THAT. My room, being so cluttered, has suffered with all the papers and paints spread out over the floor but it's been worth it. I really love some of the things that have resulted. I guess it's OK to give myself a pat on the back, isn't it?

Letters from Claudia and Peter and Lucy and Sourdoughs #7 with Richard keep me happy. Scott is back from Chile and that makes him happy.

Martin and Andrea are planning a camping trip in about two weeks and I so want to come. I haven't gone camping in years. Apparently Erika and Tyler and other members of the family will be coming so it will be fun.

This urge to spread CULTURA

Los Hermanos

Yo tengo tantos hermanos que nos los puedo contar;
en el valle, en la montaña,en la pampa y en el mar.
Cada cual con sus trabajos,con sus sueños cada cual,
con la esperanza delante,con los recuerdos detrás.
Yo tengo tantos hermanos que no los puedo contar.
Gente de mano caliente por eso de la amistad;
con un lloro pa'llorarlo,con un rezo, pa' rezar.
Con un horizonte abierto que siempre esta mas allá y esa fuerza pa' buscarlo con tesón y voluntad.
Cuando parece mas cerca es cuando se aleja mas,
yo tengo tantos hermanosque no los puedo contar.
Y así seguimos andando curtidos de soledad;
nos perdemos por el mundo nos volvemos a encontrar.
Y así nos reconocemos, por el lejano mirar;
por las coplas que mordmos, semillas de inmensidad.
Y así seguimos andando curtidos de soledad; y en nosotros nuestros muertos pa' que nadie quede atrás
Yo tengo hermanos que no los puedo contar,y una hermana muy hermosa que se llama Libertad.

Where I want to be

It has been such a stimulating, positive, good week. Not only did I get the call for the interview I've been waiting for but I have felt renewed and optimistic about the changes coming up. It just feels like life IS taking me in the right direction. I just needed to get rid of some unresolved issues.

My Facebook friends have swelled to over 100. I have re-encountered so so many friends young and old, family members and have gotten to see photos of the years in between. I never realized how exciting Facebook was. I feel like a kid browsing through all the profiles of my friends.

Creatively, I am at a standstill. This happens once in awhile. I just have to let it go. I just don't know what medium to pick up. My fingers are tired of sewing and the pricks show. So right now just trading and playing around with Photoscape.

Writing to Peter in Czechoslovakia as he starts a new duo with Jana, funny friendship building yet hard to see how we can possibly meet.

Still planning a possible trip to Chile for the reunion of The Grange School. I so want to attend the 82nd. anniversary of the school and see who will be there. I am thinking of contributing some ideas for videos and music, slideshows and readings.
Nunquam non Paratus

ZNE CONVENZIONE

I get to go! I am ecstatic that I get to meet at least 160 of them. Yes, I am going to the ZNE CONVENZIONE at the end of August up in Pleasanton, CA. I've wanted to meet all my ZNE friends for years now. We got started about nine years ago and the group has grown to over 800 members over the years. God knows how many works of art by zners I own. As a matter of fact I just bought one more from Lani Kent a couple of days ago and am bidding on her "Masquerade" ATC on e-bay. It will be so awesome to meet her since she will be there too.

I found this vacation home for rent on the net; up on a hill, a 4.5 acre ranch that we will (hopefully) be sharing with 7 of the instructors. The house looks perfect and the view paradisiacal.

I just can't wait. I signed up for Susan Tuttle's workshop. It was a tough decision since so many great instructors will be there amongst them Joanna of Moss Hill Studio and Joanna Pettit. Wish I could take all of them.

Here are some pictures of the house. And we get it for a steal a piece, about $50 a night. Ok now to make lots of memories.

¡Correo!

¡Correo!
Originally uploaded by Gustavo Aimar

I discovered this amazing artist through Flickr. I just love everything about his imagination. Look at this envelope he is sending someone in Italy. On top of that, his whole world is imbued with the things I like. He lives in Buenos Aires. I think I'll present him to my friend Milagros; they would really get along.

Ademas es de toda mi onda o no?

Esta es una de mis ultimas obras.

My latest Trio of Trees

My latest Trio of Trees
Originally uploaded by peregrine blue

Between going to the swimming pool and uploading tons of family photos to Facebook for the family scattered around the world, my hands return to needle and thread.

The past two weeks have been fabric inspired again. I have opted to trade them rather than selling them since fabric ATCs don't seem to have the broad appeal paper ATCs have. In the process I have met some awesome online friends in Finland, England and Brazil.

The week has been an explosion of passion. What with talking to Jorge at midnight and sipping brandy over Chopin while talking to Armando, calling Anita on Skype and talking for over an hour and a half and finding Mario and Mairene and Lucy and Yoly, my head has been spinning with memories.

I want to go to Chile again. This time on a real vacation. The last trip was all responsibility with the occasional fun at night. I want to go for a long walk and eat raspberry ice cream cones with my hairy-chested friend, go swimming in the river naked with Anita, drink tons of Pisco Sours and get really tipsy and talk silly.

I want to put Chaos........
into chaos within chaos
Am I going crazy on a whim?

To be continued.....

I will put Chaos into fourteen lines

And keep him there; and let him thence escape

If he be lucky; let him twist, and ape

Flood, fire, and demon --- his adroit designs

Will strain to nothing in the strict confines

Of this sweet order, where, in pious rape,

I hold his essence and amorphous shape,

Till he with Order mingles and combines.

Past are the hours, the years of our duress,

His arrogance, our awful servitude:

I have him. He is nothing more nor less

Than something simple not yet understood;

I shall not even force him to confess;

Or answer. I will only make him good.
Edna St. Vincent Millay