Monthly Archives: October 2011

METAMORPHOSIS

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I finished my latest sculpture and I have been inspired to call it, “Metamorphosis”, especially after reading this……. (written by a beautiful woman, named Pearl, from Magnolia Pearl website).

“As a woman, I believe we only get better as we get older.  However, there is a fragile time for women right before we evolve into our “soul power” stage.  I am 47 and it’s starting to become quite evident that A -something beautiful is about to happen or B – I might lose my mind.  I’m at a fragile place in life where I feel like a Monarch butterfly in a rainstorm.  The rain has washed all the powder from my wings leaving me raw and exposed to the elements and life.  Keeping my grace as a butterfly in this space is not easy, but I’ll find the closest flower, hang on tight and hope that the wind doesn’t carry me away.”

I think there are many women who feel this way, especially when women are in their forties or fifties, but what I have come to know is, that the “fragile” time she speaks of, doesn’t have to last long at all.  We only stay “fragile” until we make the decision to start setting ourselves free of anxiety and fear.  This is the best time to grow into our truest selves, by drop old ways of thinking and being.  A metamorphosis into loving ourselves and our changing bodies.

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IMAGINATION TAKES A PLAYFUL PATH

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I have mentioned how much imagination plays a part in our creative choices.  You never know just where it will lead you if you are willing to just “go” with it.  However, when connecting with other imaginations (as in, women helping women),  your wildest dreams can really come ALIVE!

This year, imagination took me unexpectedly on a delightful, playful ride into the world of fantasy dress up….and along with me for the ride, came my dear friend Leah

and my wonderful daughter, Kim.

It all started out innocently enough one day last winter, when Leah and I were visiting thrift stores, looking for some flashy material that I could use on one of my figurative sculptures.  We wandered into our favorite little shop, “Vintage and Vogue”, where Carrie, the generous owner, upon hearing what we were looking for, started bequeathing us, vintage prom dresses she couldn’t use in her shop because of damage, and a big bag of vintage hats!  Carrie, is a whirlwind of creative energy, who has the most incredible vintage store, stuffed with exquisite clothing and jewellery.    (Her website is on my links page.)

The dresses she gave us were so beautiful, we couldn’t imagine cutting them up for a sculpture!  The question was….What could we do with all this bounty!!??

Well, two imaginations are better than one.  We thought how fun it might be to combine the wedding and prom dresses we were given, with other clothes we had in our own closets.  I revamped part of my studio into a “dressing room”…. Leah, our fashionista, started dreaming up outfits, and I started embellishing hats and crowns!

After designing and modeling various outfits, we courageously decided to take a few pictures of ourselves.  And since three imaginations are better than two, we asked Kim to join us to become our photographer and another model.  Then the fun really began to happen!

Here are a few pictures of us!

The photos below are of my niece and her 12 year old sweetie pie daughter.  This was such a memorable summer’s afternoon, of mother and daughter playing dressup together.

What I have taken away from this experience of “big girl dress up” is, that it feels good to be playful no matter what age you are.  There is a wonderful sense of joy and freedom when using your imagination to tap into another side of one’s feminine nature.   But most of all, it is about the bonding relationships that  happen when vulnerability and trust come together, in front of one another and in front of a camera.   What beautiful memories we created!

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WOMEN HELPING WOMEN!

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What would we do without one another?!!!  We need each other that is for sure!Certainly I wouldn’t be as far along in my creative life, or spiritual life without the help of close friends, daughters, and even the women I don’t know, but have found on websites.

These are my soul sisters that recently gave me the support and courage to launch myself and my art into web world.  They embody all the best attributes of women who are authentic, who are empowered, and who are endlessly supportive and creative.

I just had to put a picture of these sweetie pies in here!

My sweetie pies

There are certainly others in my life that inspire and support me as well.  Everyday, my daughters do that…..  profound life lessons learned from them.  They are the most loving, strong, creative, artists and entrepreneurs.  I am so proud of them!

My cutie pies

I am in awe of many artists that I have found online, such artful generous souls.  I have listed some on my links page. But the one that has made the most impact on my recent art work is doll artist, Marilyn Radzat.  I finally wrote to her this morning, thanking her and letting her know how much I appreciate how generously she shares herself and her art with so many people.  Getting to follow her blog, and being mentored by her, has helped me become a better doll artist. 

Women helping women get better at what they do, and support who they are, well what better calling is there, for any of us?  Coming together with this kind of support……..we can change the world!!!!

A CREATIVE LIFE

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Today, the learning curve on creating a new blog post, hit a few snags!  But I will perserver and hopefully posting pictures gets easier!   The following photos are  samples of the kinds of projects that have captured my interest over the last few years.

I love all the color and transparency of smooth fused glass……the more, the better.

Little spirit dolls, driftwood, bits of fabric, and a soulful message.

Over the years I have made so many dolls, I can’t even begin to count them.  I’ve enjoyed giving many “Soul Doll Workshops” in the past.  I loved watching women  discover their own artist within, through this intuitive art form process.

And then some times my creativity dips into paint and collage, and inevitably, the feminine face appears again…..

 My love of glass and sparkle returned in the form of what I call, “SPIRIT VESSELS”.  I am the kind of artist, that when I am inspired to make something, I don’t come up for air for weeks……or until I have made so many, I run out of space to put them!

A slight obsession with crown making and mannequin head painting took hold, and at times continues to still hold my interest….

 

More recently, I am engrossed in creating feminine figurative glass sculptures. This type of image making is so satisfying to me right now.  I feel that working on larger figures in this particular medium, has expanded not only my artistic confidence, but also my imagination.  Imagination is the deepest voice of my soul.  It always engages my intuition and opens the doors for an internal dialogue with my truest self.

The most important ingredient in my creative life is when I ask myself the question, “ is what I am creating, meaningful to me” and I am able to answer that, with a loud “Yes!”     Let’s inspire and help one another to live fully in our creativity… in whatever area that may be!

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STEPPING OUT!

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Well, here I go….stepping out into the great unknown, my very first web post!  I have to remind myself that what I say, doesn’t have to be “perfect” or eloquent, I just have to be authentic and trust that putting my art and myself “out there” will be above all…. FUN!

The first thing I would like to share with you, are a couple of pictures that show the view  from the home I share with my sweetie pie husband, and our cute little bearded collie.   We live on the edge of a canyon, surrounded by nature’s beauty.  This is the view from the  window in the room where I do my art.  It is breathtakingly beautiful in the Fall.

The view to the left

The view to the right

We live by a beautiful lake in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, on the side of a mountain.  After living in a city most of my life, moving to this place 6 years ago, has me waking up in the morning and saying to myself, “Unbelievable!  How blessed we are to have ended up here!”   We enjoy, warm weather, beaches, trails, wine country, a little village, amazing artisans, wonderful people!  Best of all, our daughters live close by.

Here’s our scruffy little dog, who likes to hide in the juniper bushes.  I get to see her sweet face every day, and watch her diligently patrolling her property. She’s a cuddly, friendly, little dog who is full of Joy!

Dixie

This next photo is of  my studio, where I can dream up projects, listen to music, and create my art.   Lots of things happen in this room, such as, good soulful discussions with best friends, a bit of big girl dressup, and an occasional art tutorial.  My studio is eclectic, colorful, comfortable, and crammed full of all the crafts I get up to!

For just the pure fun of it, I love making crowns, and especially enjoy when friends come over, having them try them on!  There is something so beautiful about a woman crowning her glory!

Queen of Everything

Beauty Queens

And even little Queens in training…………..

Cutie Queen

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