Synchronicity and Chronos

(Synchronicity- here are those same 2 birds again!
Chronos--the clock!)


A painting I did last summer....in the working stages here...I was trying to decide what time to put on the clock..

What 2 birds are in this painting????....a house wren and a blackbird. It is as if the birds I encountered this past weekend are reminding me to resume my paintings!

"Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird..."


I made it out of the house this evening to attend an Artist's Reception! (one of my favorite things to do)

[Reception for Alice Lynn Greenwood at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall Gallery, 224 N. East Ave. in Fayetteville.]
Greenwood, paints with gouache, which gives deep, rich color to her work....her art is like a journal into a spiritual quest..(I guess most real artists do that, intentionally or not...think of Frida Kahlo!)

There were many pieces to enjoy...one about St. Brigid's cross...which of course goes back to legends about a Celtic goddess! Totem animals, and symbolism from women's spirituality show up often. In addition to paintings, there were some collage pieces and wonderful "altars". These were not just rectangular shadow boxes, but some had interesting animal shapes...The Whale Rider ....
She also does commissioned portraits of people and their beloved pets....the art show is called, "All Creatures Great and Small".
I bought this small framed print of the blackbird with a broken heart in it's beak. "Sacre Couer" (Sacred Heart) by Alice Lynn, 2001.


On the way home just now, I spotted a blackbird coming towards me across a lawn! Wow!

I know I bought the right piece for me!


Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world
----old hymn (Cat Stevens made it very popular!)

Animal Allies


(taken from "By Oak, Ash, & Thorn" by D.J. Conway)

Nearly all shamanic cultures believe in Animal Allies or helpers. These creatures have the appearance and many of the characteristics and behaviour patterns of ordinary animals, birds, and fish, but they can communicate with the shaman. Sometimes these animals become protectors and guides for the shaman, both while she/he is journeying in the Otherworlds and in the physical realm.

The Celts believed in individual Animal Allies or helpers, as shown by their legends, but they also had clan animals. Many of the Celtic clan names reflected this. Among the Native Americans these would be called totem animals. The Celtic clans had banners on which were displayed the picture or symbol of their clan animal, as with the banners of the Fianna. Individual devices were painted on shields and sometimes tattooed on the body. This may well be the origin of the heraldic devices that became so popular in later times.

Clan animals, like the individual Animal Allies, choose you; you do not choose them. The ancient shamanic way of finding an Animal Ally was to go on a journey to the Otherworld. There, the shaman watched it carefully; when she/he saw an animal, bird, fish, or other creature three or more times during the journey, the shaman knew she/he had been accepted by that creature. Although a shaman usually has one very important Animal Ally who is a close companion and protector during journeying, it is common to have several others who help with certain kinds of problems.


Blackbird (Druid-dhubh, Lon Dubh): Legend says that the birds of Rhiannon are three blackbirds, which sit and sing in the World Tree of the Otherworlds. Their singing puts the listener in to a sleep or trance which enables her/him to go to the Otherworlds. It was said to impart mystic secrets.

This is truly a wonderful morning in May!
I spent a couple of hours pulling weeds and puttering around our yard...I was enjoying the very pleasant company of 4 or 5 robins, scattered over our property...hopping around and cocking their little heads just so!

We have many song birds in the area...mockingbirds, cardinals, and my current delightful discovery, the little house wren! One has lived in a small bird house I have just under my eaves off the sunporch. What a singer! A small bird with a loud voice! Read more house wren stories and see a link to a video here!

Art Journal Pages.......

No spring cleaning being done here.....not while I have a blank page, scissors, and a glue stick! The images I clipped from magazines a few weeks ago are coming together in new ways!
A good way to let your right brain collect images which may come out in your art work later....I'm thinking,"Hmmmm, maybe I need to find some way to incorporate an occasional chicken into my compositions for paintings?"
I also love the apricot poppy ...the tissue like texture and the wide-open "face"!

The postman just came.......

I was delighted to receive a box from Julie!

In a brown parcel with lovely Victorian flower children stickers, I found some accordian folded "scrap" books, and more! I have scanned some of it here.

You can see a handmade necklace with a charm which is a robin's nest. The beads on the necklace are "robin" colors....red-breast red and robin's egg blue. The artist, included the legend of the robin with the lovely jewelry! [Contact Julie for info on her hometown artist, Lila(!), of Dog Day Designs in Bismarck, ND]

I'm off to have a great day wearing my treasure, with a robin to guide "new growth and new beginnings"!

(Later....well it is a "new beginning" of sorts....the foot doctor is having me stay off my inflammed -tedonitis, we think- foot for a few days...so I won't be going to "in" to work for a week or so....more time to play..."Oh no!"...I can get caught up on my "Finding Water" study! except no walks or Artist Dates on my feet!)

The month of May being a time for new beginnings (and the full moon today!), I am making a fresh start.....


I have started a new blog to focus on my paintings....I hope this will help me to grow as an artist and maybe even to sell on-line!

I do so enjoy being a dilettante and dabbler...perhaps this will help me to find direction and to stay the course!

Our "birthday girl", Laura, is 29+1, today!!!!!!!!


A few photos from the years when she was our little girl, and then a young lady and then a young bride (in Jamaica).

Laura is a travel agent specializing in the Caribbean. As a child she was extrememly interested in geography and other cultures....and in organizing and keeping us all on track...(the oldest child).
so now those skills help earn her a living!


This next photo was taken when I was visiting her last week!

We are more than a little proud of you, sweetie! Happy Birthday!!!!!

"I must gather knots of flowers and buds and garlands gay..."

(art doll by Charity's Dolls...not by Lila!)

The May Queen
Alfred Tennyson
YOU must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear;To-morrow ’ill be the happiest time of all the glad New-year;Of all the glad New-year, mother, the maddest merriest day,For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.
There’s many a black, black eye, they say, but none so bright as mine;There’s Margaret and Mary, there’s Kate and Caroline;But none so fair as little Alice in all the land they say,So I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.
I sleep so sound all night, mother, that I shall never wake,If you do not call me loud when the day begins to break;But I must gather knots of flowers, and buds and garlands gay,For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

It is after sundown on April 30th...so we can say that the May festivities can begin!


May 1st or May Day has the lovely tradition of May baskets...baskets of flowers left to delight your friends and neighbors. This year, I exchanged May Baskets with Jamie...from a swap on Artsy Mama's blog.
As you can see, I received a delightful basket with a teatime for birds! The table is set with a tiny china tea service, under and arch of white/ pale pink roses! I love the little "chintz" table cover!
Thank-you Jamie!

I especially love May Day because it is the day that my first child was born! My daughter, Laura.

These are two quilt blocks of a May Basket quilt I made when she was turning 16. (BTW, that year, quilting was my therapy as I was a bit of a "basket case" from dealing with her teenage trials!)

This is a pastel floral patchwork quilt in the small size called a lap robe or nap quilt.

It features many floral print fabrics...basket blocks alternate with traditional 9-patch blocks, all set "on point".

Still the same!


?What more do you need to know????.....

Rod was in top form!

A wonderful entertainer....putting his heart into his performance and we loved it!

Go to the concert if his tour comes to a city near you! His music may not be all the cutting edge and critic pleasing, but his personality and the showmanship are captivating!

Personally, I love that gravelly voice and his accent!

Tonight's the Night....(some words from Rod...)
Stay away from my windowStay away from my back door tooDisconnect the telephone lineRelax baby and draw that blindKick off your shoes and sit right downLoosen off that pretty French gownLet me pour you a good long drinkOoh baby don't you hesitate causeTonights the night It's gonna be alrightCause I love you girlAin't nobody gonna stop us nowC'mon angel my hearts on fireDon't deny your man's desireYou'd be a fool to stop this tideSpread your wings and let me come inside Tonights the nightIt's gonna be alrightCause I love you girlAin't nobody gonna stop us nowDon't say a word my virgin childJust let your inhibitions run wildThe secret is about to unfoldUpstairs before the night's too oldTonights the nightIt's gonna be alrightCause I love you womanAin't nobody gonna stop us now

My drive yesterday started in the rain on GA hwy 120, heading from my daughter's house to a well known quilt shop........

Little Quilts in Marietta ,GA!!!!

(To make the 600 mile drive into a bit of fun, I felt that stopping here would be a "must"! I had owned a quilt shop for over 10 years, but now good quilting fabrics are harder to find....)

This shop is famous for popularizing quilting through the making of small...almost doll size quilts. They have had their own line of patterns and even fabric....very traditional and charming.


Today they have a broad range of fabrics to sell and classes to offer.
I found fabric for a baby quilt...for a friend who is adopting a baby girl from China.

(My daughter is expecting a baby --November 14th....I will update you when I design the quilt for this little one! she will be having an ultra sound this summer and we'll know more then!)


My choice for myself was some more fabric from Rowan....designed by Kaffe Fassett. This is Kaffe at International Quilt Festival, standing beside a quilt made with his fabircs. They are very bold, rich and romantic. So I collected a few more of those, and will soon start a lucious quilt with rich patterns and color!

Having these new creative companions (the new fabrics) on the passenger seat, made the rest of the journey (via interstates) a bit more pleasant! I reached Little Rock just as the sun was setting over the Arkansas River....yes!

OH, and tonight we go to the Rod Stewart concert! Whoo-hoo!

Yesterday, we went to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
They are having a special showing of art works from the Louvre in Paris!

This painting by Diego Velazquez is one of the most lovely there...and is used on the poster for the exhibit. Velazquez painted this little girl, for the Queen of France....Marie Antoinette's mother-in-law. He did pure painting with no preliminary drawing on the canvas! Her skin is translucent!

Also part of this exhibit were the decorative arts of the time just before the French Revolution. I was amazed and delighted to see paper costumes for Marie Antoinette (Queen) and Louis (king) created by Isabelle de Borchgrave. These images from the Internet are similar to the dress I saw. However, the head dress for queen Marie Antoinette included a clipper-type sailing ship.... done in paper. Her husband's costume of powdered wig, short pants and jacket worn with a shirt featuring sheer filagree lace ruffles were also done entirely in paper.



You can learn more about Isabelle and see a video of her studio on her website....(above) I had seen this video a few weeks ago after Loretta of Pomegranates and Paper posted about Isabelle and her painting! I might have overlooked the beauty of the papaer costumes, had I not known about Isabelle...thanks, Loretta!

Finding blue (indigo) in the Deep South......

Today, my son-in-law took me to visit the home and studio of Jamacian artist, Elgo Lewis. It was a wonderful experience! Read more about Elgo Lewis here. Elgo is a master of color and light!
Elgo gave me a signed print of a quick watercolor he did once to go with a poem which he had written about the blue bottle tree. Read more about bottle trees and their meaning here.
[The photo here is from an article by Charlotte Connor on a website,www. usadeepsouth.com]
I will try to scan or photograph the print of his painting of the blue bottles when I return.....

Report from the Arkansas Interstate ........

(photos from Google images....)

Wild flowers are abundant on stretches of the road to my mom's!

Imagine these two flowers growing together, clumps of pink Mexican primroses mixed in with abundant Indian paintbrush......rosy pink interspersed with areas of orange red....and of course green!

I got to see it twice because I forgot something which I really wanted to take to Georgia....so I "kidnapped" my mom from her home in Little Rock and drove back home yesterday. (Lots of great visiting time in the car with her)....back to mly own bed...and starting out again this morning.....

Today we traveled several backroads....including a scenic highway with hairpin curves, through the Ozarks....I love to see old barns and homeplaces....the vanishing world of the small farm.

Then closer to Little Rock, the interstate is planted with dark red clover.....(the first

photo)...I'm looking forward to what I may see in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia....

One more old "curly hair" photo...bear with me here!

This one is from a yellowed newspaper article in the 1980's. (A larger copy is on my Lila's Quilts blog.)

Being a very private person, back then, I think I was a difficult interview...so she sort of wrote a story of her own to go with the photo....that's when I learned to take the media with a grain of salt.

The floral dress/jumper was a look we loved in the days of Laura Ashley dresses!

A few more old photos......

The first year we were married, we often did weekend camping. This was a spring -time canoe trip on the Buffalo National River. My husband loves to take photos, and he took this one of me resting in the canoe on a gravel bar.... springtime, about 33 years ago.

1982, building a lego house with my daughter and her baby brother....we followed the lego plans!

The "curly perm" years of the late 1980's...now my daughter is the "bossy" older sister in glasses! A photo taken for my husband to keep on his desk at work...

The next photo is one he took when we were at a football game. Sunny autumn day!

At an Arkansas craft and music festival with 2 house guests...Paul from the Congo and Maurice from Madagascar. About 1992. (After all those curls, I went for a new short haircut!)

Now I'm starting my "vacation" by reading a new novel given to me by a dear friend,

"Sleeping with Schubert" by Bonnie Marson. A charming tale of creative "possession"!

More mail!!!

I found a package waiting when I got home from work on Saturday night! It was filled with a lovely notecard, papers for collage and altered art projects and 3, ATC's done by Janet! They are good examples of different techniques for ATC artworks. The stitchery one has a very different appeal and "feel" !

Now I am really inspired to get busy and try some more ATC's and 4x4's!

Thank-you, Janet!











We are posting old photos of ourselves...these are what I found, easily ( as they were sitting here in frames and easy to scan).

The photo of 4 children from the 1950's shows me as the oldest (bossy?) sister. One little sister and 2 younger brothers completed our bunch! I was very proud of my glasses which I thought made me look grown up like my mom and grandmother!

Below is a college photo from the late 1960's. By then, hating my glasses, I was so happy that contacts were invented! I was an art and math major ( my father was a mathmetics professor).



Perhaps, we are "supposed" to be posting photos from 20 years ago (mine are much older!)....that I can do after I go thorough some albums...have to run to work now....My last day before a vacation!!!







I must say, no matter how I plan and do this layout, the preview and published versions are always a surprise...!!!

Hoping Blogger keeps this in some kind of order!

Look what just came in the mail!!!!

A surprise from Robyn in New South Wales....with beads, lace and vintage fabric. Charming! She is ready to be hung in my studio.

It doesn't take much to make me happy!

I've lost the will to resist....I'm out of control.....a friend offered me a box of magazines to go through.....this may lead to a delightful day of following my bliss, clipping and collecting images rather than doing anything "responsible" !

(Of course, I do have to clock in at my job at 6:00 p.m. this evening so that will probably "save" me!)

I also couldn't resist following my bliss regarding May Baskets! I signed up for a May Basket swap over at Artsy Mama !

My daughter was born on May 1st (30 years ago...yikes!) so I have a special reason to like May baskets...besides loving to learn about all ancient traditions.

Little Rock was dressed in her Easter best!!!!!



We went for a walk in our old neighborhood on Easter morning......It was positively delightful and a literal trip down memory lane!


(Azalea flickr photo by billums)

This neighborhood feels like a time capsule, from the minute we turn down the street where we lived for 15 years, it seems like going home......

We park our car and begin walking our, digital camera at hand!

This is an older historic neighborhood, most of the homes were built in the 1920's.

Following the sidewalk, as the street winds and curves going slightly downhill, we note that the homes have great variety of architectural style...(and not a single one looks like a tract house or imitation French chateau....) we see stucco bungalows , English Tudors , 2-story Colonials and others with a mix of Craftsman elements. These homes were built in the days of porches. Porches on the front to socialize with the neighbors and more porches on the back called sleeping porches. These were used on the hottest nights of summer before the days of air conditioning.

Most of these houses sit up just a bit from the sidewalk. They have well-kept gardens. Landscaping is very important in Little Rock.

Magnolias and Japanese maples are very popular. Azaleas and iris are blooming.

We note one bungalow with classic striped awnings.

Our former house is the sage green 2-story stucco with the large Bradford pear tree in front and coral azaleas in bloom around the front. (The azaleas, dogwood and the pear tree were planted by my husband.)

We also put the Pella windows in the front "music" room. They are still in good shape.

I like how the current owners have maintained it!

It was a house full of light...large windows, hardwood floors and French doors.

This is a house which still occurs in my dreams...

The tall trees cast shadows on the sidewalk, a Japanese maple and a rock garden add interest to the yard of this stucco home.

This shot was taken looking up the street, across the neighbor's yards.... It is a street of tall, older trees.

Several of Arkansas's governors lived in this neighborhood when they were not in the governor's mansion.

Bill and Hillary lived in the neighborhood for a couple of years (when he lost his bid for a second term here as governor.) After the next election, the Clintons invited the whole neighborhood to a Christmas caroling party at the Governor's Mansion...



It was a neighborhood of children visiting up and down the street and carpooling to school.

In the late afternoon, several of us (mothers) would sit and visit enjoying wine or coffee on the deck while the children played in the yard.

Today our deck is still there...however now there is no swing set or sandbox in the backyard....this is a photo my husband took from the alley. (Through a crack in the fence!!!!)

I can look at this and see the "ghosts" of my children and their friends at play here!