A Little Lip Gloss And I'm Ready to Go

The other day I read an article regarding the difficulties of working at home. I imagine there are many people who think it would be fabulous to be at home all day and it is to some degree. The difficulty lies in treating your day as a day at work rather than a day at home. Staying disciplined is probably the hardest part. Lately I know I have completely fallen off the "discipline wagon". I've been surfing the net way too much......I see this as a form of procrastination...I really don't need nor am I interested in what Tom or Brittany are doing. I also have been spending a great deal of my time doing everything from laundry to dishes.... more procrastination and neglecting my own studio time.

So after reading this article I decided to shake things up a bit. Today I've begun scheduling my entire work day. This morning I was up, showered and dressed as well as a little lip gloss ........why not........by 7:00am. I made out my list of errands for the day, scheduled in studio time, yoga and meditation (a must or I'd go insane) errands I need to run, gallery stuff etc. etc. I even penciled in my blog. No where did I write down dishes or laundry........that can wait until my work day ends at 4:30. So I'm hoping to do this daily. Perhaps I shouldn't say "hope" as that seems to wishy washy.......I'm going to do this daily.

I have so much studio work to catch up on and so many avenues I am interested in pursuing with my artwork that if I hope to get work done I do need to be more scheduled and I must say, that little bit of lip gloss did make me feel much more put together.

On a side note, I heard Oprah picked Eckhart Tolle's book "A New Earth" as this month's book pick. I read it when it first came out as I loved "The Power of Now". It is a life changing read if your ready for it. It is one of the top five books I have ever read.

Morning Ski

Today Kelly, Rob, John and I headed out for a morning ski. There was fresh snow and warm temperatures and that sun felt like heaven on my face. We are very fortunate to live in a small village by the lake in which we can cross country ski right out our backdoor to the many trails that are available. Today I was feeling the gratitude in a "big" way. Here are a few pictures of the morning.

My guy

Yikes!!

Although I am ashamed to say it, this is the closet in my studio. Lately I've just been opening it and jamming things in because the thought of actually organizing it seems daunting in the least. When I was looking through it yesterday I found some silk dyes which I haven't used in about 8 years. Why I still have them is beyond me. So tomorrow my job will be (if I choose to accept it.....ok, lame attempt at Mission Impossible) to take everything out and only put back what I am currently using. This is obviously not something I am looking forward to.

My oldest daughter asked me today if she could have a party at our house after her last exam ........for 12 of her closest friends. As always I sigh and grind my teeth. She is a good kid so I'm pretty lucky but the idea of having boys here as well as girls is not sitting with me too well. I told her both her dad and I would be here at which she rolled her eyes and said, "but you won't be coming downstairs will you?" Again I sigh. "And dad won't be embarrasing will he?" By that she means he will not be doing this funky little dance he does when he hears "Hung Up" by Madonna. Ok, I agree it is rather embarrassing even to me. But at this point in our lives if we can't embarass our children....where's the fun!
Hope your week has been a good one

Eat, Pray, Love.....Reflections on Friends and Food

I think last night will stay with me for quite sometime. It was to say the least an extremely memorable evening. I don't think you can go wrong when you bring together friends, good food and thought provoking conversation. And thought provoking it was. If you've read "Eat, Pray, Love" you will be aware that there is an endless source of "stuff" up for discussion. Everything from faith, hope, love, balance......it runs the gambit and I do believe last night we covered all of it. Everyone had very strong opinions on all of those subjects which made for such interesting dialogue between us.....

We all ooohed and ahhhed over the delicious food..........the ultimate in yummy. Kelly's tiramisu was the best I've ever eaten.....and yes I did have two servings as well as a couple of mouthfuls standing at the kitchen counter pretending I was cleaning up.

It all wrapped up around 12:30 and with a smile on my face I fell into bed. Exhausted but so very pleased.

Much thanks to:

1. Liz for your fascinating insights
2. Marilyn for your strong convictions
3. Judy for the random acts of kindness you perform all day long
4. Anna for always being a strong supporter (cheerleader) for everyone
5. Amy for your interest in all things spiritual
6. Sarah Jane for your unshakeable belief
7. Joan for your honesty and reflections on life
8. Kelly for your wicked sense of humour that never fails to crack me up.

Speaking of thanks......much gratitude goes out to Andrea Pratt for her kind mention of my work on her fabulous blog. Yes, Andrea we will get together whether it be in Toronto or Vancouver for that glass of wine.

New Ramblings

Talked with Carol from the Carriage House Gallery today and it looks like we may schedule the show for July. She has spoken with designer Annie Thompson as to her interest and she is coming up to check out the gallery space some time soon. There may be a theme for the show but we haven't gotten that far yet. I have promised 10 new pieces which will be considerably bigger than the format I've been working in lately. Yikes ........note to self.....stop reading about Tom Cruise online and get into the studio more.

Yesterday I was shovelling snow...yuck. I think the older I've gotten the more I crave the warm weather. Fifteen years ago I could never understand how anyone in their right mind would ever want to head down south for the winter........now I can.... but that just may mean I am not be in my "right mind" anymore.

Finished The Other Boleyn Girl last night and loved it. Kelly, Judy and I will make a girls night of it when the movie comes out. I also want to see Juno which is being billed as the little movie that could. Similar to when Little Miss Sunshine came out which I watched three times.
The piece I've posted just came back from the framers and looks great. I love that we went with a black matt rather than the classic white as it just pops the yellows right out of the work.

A Weekend of Rest, Movies and Books

The weekend that just past was extremely relaxing for us and I can't say I really accomplished anything at all which was fine by me. I did get caught up on Lost which I am now officially addicted to. I never began watching this series until about a year ago but still only pretty much off and on. Then we started renting the third season and that was it. Will have to finish up before January 31st as Kelly tells me that is when season 4 begins.
I'm also reading this fabulous book "The Other Boleyn Girl". I just can't put it down....talk about a page turner. Read about the book and the movie here www.sonypictures.com/movies/theotherboleyngirl
Highly recommended
We also watched "The Village" on television while we ate Salt & Pepper potato chips (yes, I know this is so bad for my waistline but it was fun at the time). I heard it got very poor reviews but I genuinely liked it. I thought it said a lot about how fear can basically immobilize people and how easy it is to control others through the use of fear. Interesting concept and a great look at the human condition.
Today I'm back in the studio with two other pieces in the works.

The Blue Door

I just completed this piece a couple of hours ago and have decided on the name "The Blue Door" maybe not too creative but descriptive none the less. I've thought about doing an entire series on just doors. Something so intriguing about what may or may not be behind them. This was inspired by a photo I took of a doorway in Sinta, Portugal. I love the rough, textured look of the stone on the walls and the beautiful potted flowers on the stoop. So very welcoming!

Today the sun is finally shining which always puts me in a good mood. I heard snow and ice were on the way tonight but in this moment I see sun and I'm hangin on to that.

I'm also figuring out my dinner party that I had elluded to last post. I read Eat, Pray Love before it became the sensation it is now and loved it. Since everyone I know is now reading it, I decided to have a dinner party for eight of my friends who are just finishing the book. All women from a variety of backgrounds and careers but all good friends for sure. Kelly will be there of course (anyone who has been following along with my blog will know Kelly), Judy who works in management for the actors union in Toronto, Joan who is finishing up her PhD in archeology, Liz works with troubled teens, Anna owns the local newspaper, Sarah Jane works in career counselling, Amy works for an engineering firm and Marilyn is the founder of the Livingstone Theatre Project and who is also leaving for Africa at the end of this month. What an interesting group.
Everyone will be assigned a dish to bring for dinner. The meal plan will revolve around the three places Liz Gilbert visited during her year long trip...... Italy, India and Bali. I will be making the pasta (ok, Tre Sorelle will be making the pasta, I'll just be picking it up), Kelly is bringing Tiramisu, Joan will prepare a Balinese appetizer, hoping Liz can do her fabulous Indian Curry. That's as far as I've gotten but will throw the rest of it together today. I absolutely love dinner parties..........delicious food, good wine and a continual flow of great conversation. Cheers,

Sleepless Nights, New Ideas, Great Dinner Parties

Last night I tossed and turned for what felt like hours. My head was just buzzing with new ideas and possibilities for work which was of course good just not at 11pm. So as I lay there I tried the "deep relaxation breath"...nope, still not feeling tired after 82 of them. It crossed my mind to try counting sheep but come on.....does that really work? When I eventually got around to trying to visualize the only visualization I could summon up at that moment was me working in my studio so at around midnight I gave up the fight and headed in to work.

I received an email from Carol Currie yesterday at the Carriage House Gallery. A textile collector bought my piece "Two" on Saturday night and would like me to contact her with the possibility of acquiring more work. Fabulous!!!! Carol also wants me to think about either participating in a group show or doing a solo show with the gallery this year. No wonder I couldn't sleep.

I also started thinking about what piece I would enter into the Zephyr Gallery's "International Women's Day Show" which is fast approaching as well as a juried show I'm interested in at the ACA Gallery in Toronto. "Bend, Fold and Manipulate" is an exhibit in which textile artists, through their work, will suggest the possible steps in a plan for how we, today, can be coaxed into turning in a new direction so that tomorrow we learn to lay together and interlace our freedoms to handle and manage and live in global peace. I love the ACA Gallery because of their commitment to change in the world. Much of the commission they collect from sold work goes to support social and egological projects. That is something most of us can get behind.

Next post I'll blog a bit about an "Eat, Pray, Love" dinner party I'm giving for eight of my friends at the end of January. Should be a blast. Whatever you do today........ enjoy!

And Then There Were Oils

I had been happily playing around with my acrylic paints last week when a friend of mine called to ask if I wanted her oil paints as she just didn't have the time or desire to use them anymore. Being a hoarder of all materials pertaining to art, I of course said yes. Well let me tell you ......... oils are just wonderful. Unlike acrylics they simply glide onto the canvas......just like butter and the colours...... oh don't get me started. It is simply a feast for the eyes.
So once again I find myself preoccupied with something other than my own work..... but am I having fun.

I have on more than one occasion glanced over and seen the piece I am halfway through completing and then I feel guilty because I know I need to get to it. I feel as if I am in this wildly exciting period where I've actually taken time to experiment. I'm figuring that everything I'm learning right now will in some round about way contribute to my own art when I get back to it.