Will they prevail?

...and it finally rained. I just stood there in awe,watching the little drops fall on the grass. Then I stood in it, then I purposely invented a reason to go drive in it. I love the sound of the rain on my hood and the wheels slushing through it and running for cover with a smile on my face. Two days of it, still not enough but a gift for now. Everything crisp and clean, the greens greener, the auburns more intense, the smells of rosemary and pine and eucalyptus seeping out of the leaves. Thanksgiving indeed!

The process of embroidering this Mandala has been a lesson in patience. The time put into it, the waiting for a spark of imagination and the combination of colors plus all the sequins and beads involved has made the giving birth to this creation one of my most challenging projects. I have re-learned patience and the meaning of a process, a work in progress rather than rushing through and ultimately getting a mediocre result.

Look what I missed

These are the days I wish wish wish I were back in Chile. Last Friday my school (THE GRANGE) celebrated it's 80 year anniversary and all the promotions were invited. I had planned to attend but couldn't at the last minute, SNIF. So talking to everybody yesterady and today who got to go, looking through all the photos just put me in one of those melancholy moods and reminiscing way back when. I even found an old photo of my class at SANTIAGO COLLEGE, a school I got kicked out of for being too rebellious. Actually, I remembered the whole incident and it was all about some silliness defending a girl who wore Keds sneakers to school rather than the mandatory uniform shoes. One thing led to another and out I went in 8th grade. Blessing in disguise since I ended up at my brother's British school which had just merged with Dunalastair after the Allende elections. The Grange School is the best school I could have asked for human being wise. My Principal Mr. Lowe and then Mr. Varley, imported directly from England were relatives of Sir Edward Hilary. They quickly became my parents' friends and we even took them to our house in El Quisco. Then all my companeras from Dunalastair, so well educated by Mrs. Carmichael's British standards. Wish I had completely skipped the Santiago College years where all the waspy Santiago girls went. Never ever felt I belonged in that school; there was so much elitism and a competition for status, unlike the Grange where it was all goofing around.
SIP, Nunquam Non Paratus

Some weeks are so prolific; last week I was all over the creating spectrum challenged by mixed media groups I've joined over the months. One day I will look back and say, did I really make all those things? Funny thing, I like them more and more and have a hard time parting with them. I now have over a dozen pieces on my walls saying.... maybe it's time to show and tell. Wishful thinking, it takes a lot of courage to do that and I'm not ready though the works might be.

YES I CAN

When I approach the act of creating something that seems impossible or too hard what a great slogan YES I CAN is, how full of Hope and Belief and possibility. The best thing about it though is that it also encourages EXCELLENCE. I am now committed to saying Yes, I Can more often, being less self-critical and giving myself more pats on the back. At least I endeavor to give Life, look around me and see Life, see the possibilities around me for making my surroundings more beautiful.

Ironic as it may seem, this economic crunch motivates me even more. "Necessity is truly the Mother of Invention" and I dig for materials I already have to make things, twigs from the garden, rocks and pebbles, seashells and leaves, old jars and found objects collected over the years.

All for inner peace, a relaxing mantra as I bring my needle and thread over and under in a flight of the imagination.

My two favorite fabric artists and what they're up to: Cathy Cullis & Spirit Cloth

That's the fabric admiration, but what about?............

Indianartdolworks created this beauty from what other would consider trash

EveCrowe created this masterpiece from salvage too, and what about Collette Copeland's Bird on vintage book page? And what about those Tilesmiles little hands that make tiles with all sorts of words or ClaudiaBegins and Ravenwolfs Digital collages right and below?WHAT CAN I SAY but YES THEY CERTAINLY COULD!

On the Wings of Love

My tiny little world, no more than a few hundred square feet and a garden yet so plentiful. I've come full circle, or almost, to where I really found that "Happiness fits in but one suitcase". With the exception ofcourse of Nature's expanse. I don't know what I'd do without Nature. I an Pantheistic to the core yet still believe that all was created by the Creator of Creators.

I cooked for Jon and Tatiana today, the Fajitas I love to savour with the help of that perfect line of World Harvest sauces I use for just about everything. Had the craving for corn, so gorgeous a vegetable. LIFE IS GOOD!