Greencraft Congrats & 1st Place winner [!]

Congrats to Lisa Mallette, Jennifer Carriere-Spock and myself for being the winners of Somerset Studio 

GreenCraft magazine's Repurpose, Reuse & Re-inpsire challenge. Readers were asked to demonstrate what we could make using 2010 Stampington & Co. calendars.

Artist's Lisa created usable 4X6 postcards and Jennifer, the "green entrepreneur" styled beautiful package wrapping & tags. 

I'd like to thank my grandson, Ryan for his complete adorable-ness, for I feel this feature [really] captured the first place prize in the challenge. The accordion book I created will be a treasure for  him one day, showcasing his four-year-old charming self, all using the beauty of Somerset's calendar art & repurposed materials. 

Thank you GreenCraft for the opportunity & challenge, and congrats to Lisa & Jennifer. Well done, all.

Got Generosity?

A holiday [[wish ripple]] -- if you are heart inspired -- please pass along this beautiful film about Generosity. 

I especially love their focus of desiring to "engage in a lifestyle rooted in generosity."


KarmaTube: Be Selfish, Be Generous

last summer wish ...

 

what shall make the final days of my summer wish list?

pondering. contemplating. considering. . .

i believe my top fave five wishes will be: 

#5. thirsting for those sweet slurrppy delicious  fresh strawberry malts all year long.

#4. wishing to freeze frame the joy & sheer silliness of a four year old t-ball game - where kids actually p*l*a*y  -not- just play to win.

#3. sighing for the image of the Queen Ann's Lace popping her beauty lofty and graceful. 

#2. hankering for the summer garden goodies that were grown from seed and proudly became food for my family. 

and for my last summer wish . . .

#1.  aspiring for the energy, glow, & growth of summer to shimmer onward throughout 2010. May the sunny season dance on!

read carefully - it's your story

I just completed a submission project for:
greencraft 
 in which I created an accordion book for my 4 year old grandson, Ryan.
It is undeniable that I am so smitten with him.
The 20 index cards contain 'lessons' of life.  Scripts of text taken from old school books rescued from a trash pile. A few examples of questions that require much care for Ryan:
1. What are three things that you use every day?
answers: Compassion. Peace. Respect.
2. What is an environment?
answers: Mind, body & spirit.
You get my meaning - he may not understand it NOW- but one day he'll totally 'get it'.

Everything in the book is a 3R item. . .  paper, fabric & art scraps, plastic from cards, and assorted miscellany. I didn't have to purchase anything - just hunt & gather for the goodies.Off to mail it [with postage to get it returned, of course!]

amazing wish ripples

m e e t MARY

Meet Mary -my  contributing guardian art doll for the swap & e-book  for True North Arts. Mary is a Shero Doll an Ultimate Creator & Protector. 

She was inspired by the song "Mary" by Patty Griffin -to watch this beautiful video go here:

Mary by Patty Grffin & Natalie Maines

"Mary, she moves behind me

she leaves her fingerprints everywhere

Every time the snow drifts, everywhere the sand shifts

even when the night lifts, she's always there."

Mary needed 2B a paper doll - so I created her from a re-purposed paper envelope. Sewn & collaged with items such as vintage school flash cards, measuring tape, personal snapshots, & television components. My magpie self had a delightful time gathering all the stuff from my stash.  I didn't have to 'buy' a thing - she's created w/ out purchasing any new products. . .

 Mary has long strong arms for cherishment for the times when you feel vulnerable. Being an archetypal feminine divine doll, she has weathered the storms of life and is wise and steadfast. Most off all, Mary is a guardian doll to keep wishes, dreams & aspirations safe and sound in her envelope pouch. 

I just know the person who ends up with Mary will enjoy her as much I did creating her.   AND I can't wait to see what guardian doll arrives in my mail box one day!           

Great Aunt Lillie

Today I attended a 19 second funeral for my Great Aunt Lillie. Her 89 years of celebration of life lasted mere seconds.

Born 10/29/1920.
Married.
Homemaker.
Widowed.

Died 4/21/2010.

The remaining thirty-four minutes and 41 seconds of her service consisted of scriptures, preaching and a final altar call.

This experience has left me saddened. In those few brief seconds, the speaker defined an entire lifetime of a dear woman. Did Aunt Lillie want her life to be measured this way? In the end, it was only her vital stats and titles that mattered. Beyond all of the facts, I wonder, what was her story? What was her passion? What made her weep? That was what I came to hear.

What about us women? We dreamers. Teachers. Healers. The cement of families and communities. What is going to be said about us in the final chapter of our story? Who is going to share all the years of of aspirations, yearnings and accomplishments?

When it is my time to go. I want to have a show and tell. With lots of giggles and beautiful memories. And bubbles, definitely got to have blowing bubbles for everyone.

As a child, I always loved tagging along with my beloved Grandma to visit Aunt Lillie in the hills of Kentucky. Since she had no children of her own, her home was filled with fancy, frilly and fragile lovelies! I recall her cheerful country kitchen always had treats & sweet bananas. Her cutting and vegetable garden was a magical play land.

In her nearly ninety years of life on this earth, the measurement of her life deserves more than the seconds of "now-you-see-her-now-you-don't".

I wish her spirit, gentle flight and her legacy, loving longevity.

l i f e

Can my antennas be any more sensitive right now? Is it the most supreme spring we are experencing?

Is it the solitude and quiet I have gifted myself with?

The daily [[ innercise ]] ?

The healing energy of creativity?

I'm not sure - BUT- I'm overloaded with righteous appreciation for L I F E right now.

I try to carry the lessons from yesterday without too much guilt, LIVE in the present moment, and not lose too much of myself in the future . . .

which is so hard to do - because I am such a dreamer!

My mirror ball has steered me in U-turns, Plan Be's and new directions I never saw coming - BUT - always worked out best for me.

I don't want to predict, plan or over schedule TOO much. I try to balance the present whimsical dreamy wishfull glenda with the future whimsical dreamy wishfull ole crone glenda I know I will become - and make sure I've going to be taking care of...

Click here for a little vid in honor of : l i f e

april [no] fooling

In my blue flower flip flops, I'm stepping out into a brand new me after oh-so-many years of DOing the defined me. But not the re-find me.

April marks the first month of my journey of official "unemployment" - I will no longer be receiving a payroll check for for my expertise, knowledge, advice and full participatory commitment to an employer.

This was all my decision. I could have stayed on for eons just DOing and Doing. Playing it safe.
But the inner voice wouldn't be quieted. I had to ride my wishboat through the waves of uncertainty and fear and row on.

The month of March with my co workers was the most rewarding in my career. I was showered with genuine heart felt appreciation, love and respect. My last week, without a spiritual umbrella and enjoying the tears of gratitude. . .

I came undone with cherishment.

It was amazing and exhausting. I will never forget it.
Now I'm thank-FULL to be here and starting anew. A new BEginning.
My first, really. No fooling.

march = spring thaw 4 super powers

wishing your own personal spring thaw & renewal. let those ""put aside"" dreams & desires get some sunlight. let your super powers grow, hon!

wishing you serious appointment time for silliness with children. and silly sisters too. i ginormously love mine. if you weren't born with one. . . try to borrow, rent or adopt one.

wishing you the imagination of 4 year old boys. be mr. moon. or a pirate. or peter-parker-spider-man. or spider girl. this so rocks. it comes in very handy for that Monday morning office meeting or consultation with a client. aaargh!


wishing you raw heart love. mine is sensitive. open. expressive & messy. engaged in all gears. ready to go.

wishing you people connection. face time. [[hugging]] honest hand shakes. whatever it takes. when was the last time you "skipped to my Lou my darling" holding hands with someone?

March on. truly.

Bricktacular Ladies & Art

Here are just a few of the arted UP bricks from our Bricktacular par-tay 2009 -- for the 8th annual Bricks Along the Journey auction -for Breast Cancer.



This year ALL of the bricks for scavenged, salvaged or donated. A couple old ones from Little Italy in Cleveland, a few from an abandoned house destroyed in the name of urban sprawl, some from a greenhouse and the rest picked up along my travels throughout the year. We even got yelled at and chased by a few-beer-drinking- construction-men, one night, running with a brick, because I thought the house was abandoned - but heck - it was all in the name of benevolence so it isn't wrong....right? ?



I never look at bricks as just a building material any more - they are gorgeous hunks and chunks just crying out for artistic alteration!

"believe" by yours truly

"Witness the Power of Her!" by Terri Parmenter

"evening out" by Loraine Wyatt

"Step Up" by Candace Caplinger

"Soar" by Julie Hensley

All in all, there are 8 bricks being donated from the Bricktacular party from a few weeks ago! If you live in the area come and join the festivities and be a part of a wonderful and creative movement. It is good energy and good people. Buy a brick. Make a difference.

Bricks Along the Journey on Sunday, October 25th in Cincinnati -Ohio. http://www.breastcancerbricks.org/

Meeting Mr. President

What does one say to the President of the United States? What does one do when meeting a person of prestige and honor? I had this recent discussion with myself as I had the greatest distinction of a little tiny how-do-you-do with President Barack Obama a few weeks back. My typical greeting is all fru-fru with mommy-hugs, best wishes and all that. I know the Secret Service protocol enough to know, I didn't want to get arrested for accosting my favorite President.

I also thought about all the thousands of comments, compliments and criticisms he must hear through out an ordinary week of traveling and meeting with others. If I had the opportunity to meet him face to face and have his attention for a few brief seconds, and shake his hand, I wanted my greeting to have some jounce. I wanted something "special" to say at that moment, wouldn't you?

The entire event was beyond exciting and inspiring. His presence had a profound effect on me. When I got the chance to greet him, we shook hands, and I told him, "It is a pleasure to share the planet with you." He looked me in the eyes, gently grabbed both of my hands and looked me in the eyes and said; "Thank, you."

Bliss & Biscuits in Tennessee

Bliss/noun
1.supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment:

2. found at Ms. Brenda Bliss's artsy diggings outside of Nashville

We had ourselves some creative wishful merriment!

Day#1: After exploring all her totally delicious mixed media jewelry we dove right into paint, glitter and ephemera. The 3 of us, Brenda and her delightful bright daugther Makena & I made accordian books --color, words & images - all traded to make our own little book about the day! THEN-

Day#2: after being inspired by a local art shoppe - we painted hearts and flowers on big canvases. Mine are bliss flowers in honor of Brenda and her downhome hospitality.

Biscuit/noun
1.a kind of bread in small, soft cakes, raised with baking powder or soda, or sometimes with yeast.

We went to the Loveless Cafe in Nashville -not once but twice - to check out the jams and hams. See why I was wishin' for more goodies;

http://lovelesscafe.com/extras.html

These scratch biscuits are so famous they won in a showdown w/ Bobby Flay. So. . . a girl can't be blamed for a trip two days in a row to "praise the lard and pass the biscuits."

My Wish for Jamie as you begin your thirtieth year of life.

i wish for you the gentle touch of acceptance as you walk your path.
i wish for you the peace and sweetness of love, friendship & partnership with respect from those you share your life with.
i wish you joy and understanding as you express your authentic gifts and message to the world.
i wish you knew just how much i adore and admire you.

but mostly i thank you for your presence in my life and the aspie mama badge you have helped me earn through the years as we climbed and conquered the mountain of autism.

1 mom = 4 women

My sister, Terri, is an amazing power-full woman. She is sassy, bright, fragile and big-hearted.

She has grown four-baby girls into beautiful tenacious women. It wasn't easy - she sacrificed, laughed and cried a lot through the years. AND - the world is more luminous and promising now that Cori, Kristi, Candace and Kim are here among us.

She is hugging her little darlings forever in her heart and spirit knowing that she wasn't just a mommy, she was a creator of life & chief surveyor of shining potentiality. And, for me, Auntie Glenda, I am overflowing with pride and love. [happy birthday Terri!]

saving the ta-tas with art

What a night of wonder*full wishcrafting. Beautiful handcrafted bricks lined table after table at the 7th annual Breast Cancer Brick Auction on Oct 26th. I had hosted a bricktacular party in July so friends and I had several donated bricks to art up for the cause.

http://www.breastcancerbricks.org/

We grooved to music, noshed on delicious snacks and happily arted up around 12 bricks.

we're saving the ta-tas with art.

get naked - play with paint

I'm catching up on my bloggin here - so forgive the late details -BUT have you ever felt like stripping off all your clothes, getting out the acrylics and just body painting w/ a 2 year old? My inner wild child loved the antics and my Ryan had a blast - even got a few 5X7's out of the frolicking!

Moral of the story- out of chaos comes creativity.

Truth Tellers found on the 4th

On Independence Day, to honor FREEdom & Un-Freedom yet to claimed, I visited the National Underground Museum [Freedom Center] in Cincinnati. I always felt a deep pride for living in my current town of Springboro, founded by abolitionist Quakers who housed people on their way North on the underground railroad. This 4th of July felt like a great day to expand my understanding of freedom and invoke the goodness of the Quaker ancestors buried down the road from where I lay my head every evening.

While visiting, I spent a considerable amount of time breathing in the beauty of the visiting work of Artist Robert Shetterly - Americans Who Tell the Truth exhibit. Whoa...beautiful paintings with hand-scratched quotes of humanity expressing their authentic experience, no matter what the cost of offense & loyalty to societal values- these audacious Americans they live their gospel truth.

Portrait above is:

Terry Tempest Williams N

Naturalist, Writer, Environmental Activist1955 –
"The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are

praying for us to see beyond our own time."

What a validation of Independence Day - forgedda about the cookout & a cold one - these courageous dreamers and citizens were the real celebration for me! Check it out yourself:

http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/

defining religion

I ran into a really striking bulletin board for a church recently -
had to take a snapshot. In case you don't have your bi-focals on, it says:


Religion is GOODNESS with its sleeves rolled up.



It made me think of another quote on religion I like:

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." The Dalai Lama

re·li·gion
1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
2. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
3. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
4. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
5. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Having zeal or devotion to kindness...or goodness...nuff said.

wild & wonder*full West Virginia

I went chasing the sun and kissin' the wind this past wkend on a BMLM [Bare Minimum Last Minute] **trip to W. Virginia. Some wishfull observations:

1. Ohio doesn't have any Biscuit World restaraunts...pity...miss the sweet tea and honey biscuits already.

2. Cicadas provide natural musical serenading as you drive -roll down the windows -turn OFF your stereo and give it a listen...before they're gone.

3. Lop-sided-abandoned-weather-beaten-old-barns are now my new curiosity...maybe...obsession.

4. Queen size sheets spray painted with messages make fantastic community message boards!

5. Listening to live banjo pickin' bluegrass music & eating fresh home cooked organic food is really "almost heaven"...

I wishweaved all the way from Charleston to the New River Gorge Bridge -- evidence by the pics!

**BMLM -Bare Minimum, Last Minute -pronounced - Bim-Lim, -definition- the best way to have a party, live life, take out the fussiness and hassle of ' IT ' -concept invented by SARK
http://www.planetsark.com/