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I have been a very neglectful blogger

Life has been crazier than usual around here.  Trying to cram all of the holiday happenings into an already packed schedule can be quite a challenge.

I was going to write a post about being thankful but then hearing that four police officers were gunned down while having coffee and starting their shift really made me angry more than thankful.  The incident happened near Tacoma, WA - just a bit north of here but really this could happen anywhere.  There are so many crazy and violent people in this world I just don't get it.  We have had 5 murder/suicides in the local area over the last month one of which was at a location owned by the company I work for.  I try to keep this blog positive but with all of this craziness going on, it is difficult.  We then had a drugged out guy start shooting in traffic just up the street from our businesses, killed an innocent person then drove off, shooting at the police during the chase.  He ended up being killed by police officers, they found a mescaline lab in his apartment. 

So, I guess that is my reason for being absent from here, just nothing but mayhem to report.

There hasn't been any art making going on at all.  I have taken the lead on revamping our downtown Art Walk and that has consumed much of my free time.  I am enjoying it and am thrilled to be able to contribute to my community in this way.  Things are going well so far and I am working on sponsorships and writing a couple of grants.  March will be the start of the new Art Walk season.  I am also helping one of the local galleries with their fundraising campaign.

I did take a knitting design class at the beginning of the month at my favorite LYS (local yarn store) Twisted.  It totally inspired me and cleared up some of the mystery of designing knit patterns.  While the class focused on socks it really translates into any knit project.  I have already completed a pattern and swatch that I'll be sumitting for publishing consideration on a pattern website and I am now working on a hat pattern that is turning out really well (if I do say so myself!)  I have always wanted to design my own patterns and I'm glad I finally have taken that step.

This morning on the news I heard mention of flurries this Saturday and maybe some snow by Wednesday.  YAY!  I hope it happens, I could really use a snow day to re-focus and re-energize with some hot cocoa and puppy snuggling.  I'll leave you with this picture of our adorable little baby beans, they are growing so fast and I am enjoying every minute with them.

I have been very busy . . .

With these:

I can't keep my hands off of them.  So adorable.  Cocoa is a very good mama as I expected.

So the art work and Poe postings will have to resume later.  For now I'm enjoying every second that I am home with these little Chihuahua puppies.
 
 

Poe Day Six

The gift for Day Six had me so curious from the beginning.  I couldn't wait to see what was hidden in the paper, the dangling black Raven's feather was tempting me to open the gift.

What a wonderful surprise!  Mija must have spent days on these gifties.  They are little pouches to be worn around the neck.  Needle felted and beaded, even the string was needle felted.  Mija just happens to have a new blog too, so be sure to stop by and tell her how amazing these black Ravens are.

Poe Day Five

A couple of things have side tracked me over the last few days but I want to get back to sharing my wonderful Edgar Allen Poe gift exchange gifties with you.

Day Five brought a little box from Kelly Snelling. 

Inside was a wonderful black clay heart with a shiny black and white bead dangling from it.  Attached to a piece of tattered silk to wear around my neck.  I love this necklace and it goes with just about everything I wear so I have been wearing it a lot lately.  Thanks Kelly!

Poe Day Four

Day four brings a little fabric bag from Terrie Lightfoot.  The fabric bag is just fantastic, love the feel of the fabric and the colors.  I am guessing that Terrie created this fabric herself. 

 

Inside the beautiful bag I find this little tiny shrine necklace made with the same images as those on the fabric bag and the tag!  So creative and clever.

 

And there is Edgar on the back of the shrine.

 

I immediately put the necklace on with the one from day 1.  They go great together, don't you think?

Poe Day Three

Day three brings this little box.  It looks like Edgar is ready for a party.  I love how Saundra James decorated and embellished the box.

And look inside!  The most beautiful little clay heart pin.  Beautifully creepy that is.  Textured and painted.  I just love it Saundra, thank you.

Poe Day Two

Day two of the Poe gift exchange brings a flat package wrapped in black tissue paper and an image of an old cemetery from Linda Duffy.

 

A wonderfully created wall hanging collage with carefully selected images and text.

 

Thanks Linda, I will hang it on my art room wall and be reminded of this wonderfully exchange everytime I glance at it.

13 Days of Edgar Allen Poe - Day One

I finally have a chance to sit down and blog about the amazing  project that has been going on with the Altered Guild.  Thirteen of us are exchanging little gifts based on the stories and poetry of Edgar Allen Poe.  

Each day as I open a little gift I am truly in awe of the talent of these artists.  I am never disappointed in an exchange in the Altered Guild and am always excited to sign up for the next project.  I've been photographing them all and now have a little time to share each in a post for you.

The first gift came in a decorated star box from Tami Roth.  I love the colors and texture Tami used on the box and the detail of the text, ribbon and tag she included.

 

Then inside the box, my oh my!  A wonderful soldered glass pendant featuring The Raven and Edgar himself, hanging from a ball link chain.  Tami I love this gift and will wear it lots.

   

Random Catching Up

The fall season has arrived and brought with it some of the most amazing colors I can remember seeing.  Is it possible that this is the most beautiful fall ever? Or is just that as I get older I appreciate it more?  This morning’s sky was an amazing combination of orange and pink.  As I drove into it on my way to work, I could see Mt. Hood in the distance, an amazing silhouette against the fiery sky.   I felt lucky to have that time to enjoy nature in what is normally a hectic day.

 

We have been having alternating days of windy, rainy, blustery weather (blustery is my favorite this time of year), with golden leaves swirling all around and clear, cold, sunny days when the orange and red leaves are almost glowing.

 

I’ve been working, as usual.  In these times when it seems many are not working or losing their jobs, I am so swamped at work and we have actually just hired another credentialer (making it 4 total now).  This only means that I will be even busier as I take my turn with the training and orientation.   Unfortunately, we didn’t choose the person that was hired.  After being involved in the entire interview process, providing our feedback and input we were told that when it all came down to it and all the information was in that this other person was the best.  Ha!  So not true.  In her first 3 days of work, it is obvious she misrepresented her experience.  This will be an interesting outcome I’m sure.   I'm holding back on saying "I told you so" too early.  

 

Our downtown area is in for some exciting changes soon.  Some revitalization and new things happening.  I have actually jumped into a couple of projects with both feet.  Like I wasn’t busy enough already . . . . But, I do enjoy working within our community and helping with what I can.

 

I’ve joined the First Tuesday Art Walk committee.  Our Art Walk has never really taken off.  It started about 3 years ago and moved along and grew to the point where it needed an actual committee.  The committee members were business owners and helped the event along until their businesses started to suffer in the economy.  Two of the businesses shut their doors and the third business owner has several health issues so she wasn’t able to do much.  The walk was then picked up by a couple of others who have really been struggling.  Getting the artists and musicians and printing up a few flyers has really maxed them out.  No one has been marketing, fundraising, or connecting with new businesses or new artists.  This has really caused the whole event to just about die.  So, here I come.  All fresh with some new ideas and energy.  Tomorrow I’ll be traveling to McMinnville to visit their Art Walk and see how they have made themselves successful and get some advice and input.  This is going to be a bit of long road to get the event back to where it should be, both quality and promotional –wise.  For any of my local readers, we need volunteers for all kinds of things.  If you have some time email me and I’ll match you up with something fun and rewarding.

 

The other project that I have jumped into is maintaining the business association’s website.  They used to have a paid staff person for that but couldn’t afford to keep her.  Someone volunteered but then had a baby, closed her business and sort of disappeared.  So, that left it basically abandoned.  Well, I’ve been working on it, have it partially done, having a little technical difficulty, and need to have some uninterrupted time to focus.  Hopefully tonight or this weekend.

 

So needless to say, there hasn’t been much art making going on.  I always have good intentions but by the time I get home in the evening I’m just too exhausted to do much of anything but maybe a little knitting in front of the TV until it is time to go to bed.  It is my never ending story it seems.  Ah, some day - some day my time will be mine.

 

I am super excited that it is finally time to open the 13 Days of Poe gifts from the gift exchange that I am participating in.

Actually, today is day 3 but I haven’t had a chance to even open gift #1.  I did bring gifts 1-3 with me today and I plan to take some photos in the daylight and open them so I can get caught up.  Watch for posts starting hopefully tomorrow or maybe Sunday.