Beelieve

Bee Spotting 9/30/8

It is fall in the Adirondacks and time to harvest some art as delicious as honey.  First I would like the world to know "I finally got a bird (with bee) from Jeanette Janson.  I have been missing them right and left and finally, with help from Jeanette, I have one (thanks again for the 100th time Jeanette).  These birds are cute!  Check out her Etsy Store for more wonderful artwork. She lists every Saturday!

Finding all sorts of wonderful bees at Debra Tennison's blog n2theblue.  She let me know in an email that Debra means "bee" so she tends to use them in her art journals to represent herself.  I can relate to that.  Debra is also trading ATC's, take a look.  Guess who has traded  for this blue bee???

If you sign up for Many Maniacs, link or button below.  You will enter an amazing world of art journals and see many, many more lovely bees from Debra.  A nice group of artists reside there and even if you have no clue what you are doing you are invited...just let me know!

View my page on Many Maniacs Creating Art

I Love this one from Debra.

Next a photo from Zen Crafting in a post from a bee-utiful day with her kids. What a swell mom!    Another brilliant blog filled with nature photos galore! The photos are only half the fun, some great crafts ideas too.  An all around fun trip!

Look out for Rowena and her "Flying Girl", my latest addiction.  My morning ritual consists of coffee, email and checking out what Flying Girl is up to!  So symbolic, so much depth so truly unique.  Please visit and see what I am talking about.  My opinion after seeing a few paintings of "Flying Girl" is they should all be put into a "wordless" book.  One where the reader young or old has to tell the story of what is going on.  Something to force our imaginations to work.  However you will be impressed with Rowena's side of the story as well.  Now, can you imagine how my heart skipped a beat when I sat down and found a post about this Flying Girl picture?  Rowena talks about the lesson and what the bee might be telling Flying Girl, but there was a great comment there saying maybe the bee is the one listening.  Love it all, every last word of that post!

Maybe  we heard "Bee Thoughtful" from ~*~Patty at Magpie's Nest where I found this great 3x5 canvas (below) she almost threw out...almost...whew!  Thank goodness she has such a creative eye.  ~*~Patty always has something wonderful to post about and then a few more tidbits of information in her "thoughtful" email responses as well.  That reminds me, there was "someone" who mentioned "Hot Toddies" with German honey liqueur, hee hee.

Gaye at The Paris Salon is having some fun with these cute little neighborhoods she is making.  All the buildings are business card size and quite unique.  There I found in the East village a little housing  co-op where the bees are living their traditional hive-style in...what word is that?  It is the buzz word of the week..."HARMONY".

If you are on the hunt for some bee-ccessories, you might want to make something with one of these great bee-uties found at Papibeads .  Thank you Tif for linking me on to this.

Or you could just buy this gorgeous one from Adornments NYC.  Lots of fun, classy and unique bling there!

I always have to hit that search button just once when I arrive at Etsy and would ya look at what I just found.  A BLUE BEE necklace from Sweet Pea Cottage

I think I also have to have this tiny stamp from Nora Jane!

Well that's a wrap.  I am saving a photo and a few more goodies for next week. This is a very special post to me and I hope whenever you feel a loss for inspiration you listen for the bee and the bee will listen to you!

Running a bit beehind

Every week I say to myself "draft the Bee-spotting" post as the beauty comes in.  Every week, I don't listen to myself...or more like computer time is very limited.  This week is no different.  I am off this morning, very early, to chaperone an apple orchard field trip! I promise when I return to finish and post bee-spotting for today.  So enjoy this big bumble in the mean time.

I am the guest host!

Remember this picture from a few weeks ago?  Well the time to show it is now.  I have been waiting to show the world my "HARMONY"

This week starting September 29, 2008 am honored to be selected by Diane at Mixed Media Monday as the guest host for the theme of the week.  My inspiration for "HARMONY" comes from...nothing fancy, just life, the desire for balance and to bee happy with my choices of what I do and when.

I will let you in on the secret of how I ended up with the look of "Harmony".   I was flipping through a hip athletic clothing catalog for some comfy pants that do not feature paint as the sole embellishment.  My new role as parent of "kindergarten Pajama Girl" mandates public appearance at a time a day we should not even have a shower yet, let alone undergarments and full makeup. I was praying that Stacy and Clinton from TLC's "What not to Wear" would not show up before I had something that resembles clothing for my morning coffee toting drives to school.  There, in the catalog was "miss yoga" of the world.  This chic was who I wanted to be.  If I buy the pants will I be as balanced as she...not for that price... but I can don my paint splatted pants and paint a picture as pretty as she was. So that is exactly what I did.

It has been crazy around here since kindergarten started.  I needed to find balance, or more eloquently... "HARMONY".  The day I started this piece I had such a feeling I was going to release who I am becoming.  Who any mother has become and who any women has become.  "Multi-task" is nothing if you have that "XX" chromosome thing going on.  I was beginning to surface again and prioritizing.  I realized there is the weight of the world some days but there is the lightness of my loved ones which fuels me. "Harmony" began with ease as I found the perfect papers again for the background and an interesting one to position just so for the shirt.  There is even and old perscription in there for the fun of it.

I even tried a new technique I learned from Kelly Rae's new book "Taking Flight". The glopping on heavy gel or molding paste and stamping bubble wrap in to it for texture to bee exact.  I like to wrap my bubble wrap around a stamp when I use it.  It pushed the bubbles out more for better effect.

There is even a blue bee sealed in bees wax in the lower right corner with my signature.  This is another 12x12" extra deep canvas.  That really is a size and depth I enjoy working with.

I submitted to Mixed Media Monday because I know there will be amazing art to follow with the wide range of definitions.

Here is what I wrote to Diane.

Harmony can be translated many different ways, musically, spiritually, or just in harmony with the new art piece calling from the inside to come out. Harmony can be how objects, and colors relate.  I found it looking in thesaurus for another word for “balance” but look at all the definitions of the word

har·mo·ny

*har·mo·ny *[hrmənee]
(/plural/ *har·mo·nies*)
/n/
*1. *     *friendly agreement: *a situation in which there is friendly agreement or accord
*2. *     *pleasing combination of sounds: *a pleasing combination of musical sounds
*3. *     *notes sung or played together: *a combination of notes that are sung or played at the same time.
Changing harmony is one of the most characteristic features of Western music, providing momentum and richness to the melody.
*4. *     *study of chords in music: *the study of the way in which musical chords are constructed and function in relation to one another
*5. *     *pleasantness in arrangement: *a pleasing effect produced by an arrangement of things, parts, or colors
*6. *     *study of texts: *a study or collation of the similarities in parallel texts, especially the four Gospels
*7. *
*parallel text: *a book or manuscript in which several versions of the same text, often a biblical text, are laid out in parallel columns

Ok, since it is Monday "across the pond" already I am sending this in now and then going to go sit for a while...and do nothing.  I can because the world and it's demands have reached an agreement with the lightness of bee-ing!

Bee Aware

When we look in the mirror we soon find some flaws, some dislikes, and even signs of the years behind us. What we often do not see is our own reflection, literally.  Are we missing the purpose of the mirror.  We are blessed to see a reflection quite frankly.  We are here today for a reason and that is all that matters, nothing else. 

October is breast cancer awareness month and fall is a time I have dedicated to return to some more art with depth, reason, and purpose.  I am blessed with good health and a family in good health.  What I do see the days I work the "cage" are families that handle their blessings differently.  Families facing themselves and their cancer in the mirror.  Once their initial fear dissipates there is a remarkable aura of strength around them.  "One day at a time" is usually served with a smile by these patients.  The hope they have found is based on where we are at today in cancer research and treatments.  This might not have been the case many years ago at all.  Cancer WAS such a doom and gloom word.  Today it does not have to be.  Today these patients are able to offer gratitude.  Today we can continue to support groups which fund treatments and cures.  Today I am sharing my 12x12" offering to raise money. 

This is done on one of those deep canvases.  The head scarf has a heart tied in tissue paper and adhered to the canvas, then many layers of paint and pigment powders, there is some nice illumination to it and the colors are much crisper and clearer than the picture above.  Below is a scan which might show some better detail.

(scan is still not the best at capturing the color and illumination)

The background started as usual, some beautiful papers and a special postcard, and a seed package.  The seed packaged based on "Just Bee-cause".

The mirror is the one in our bedroom on a vanity from my grandparents set of gorgeous bedroom furniture.  The inspiration stemmed from a picture I took a while ago with the old camera I gave Lauren, since the batteries were charging in mine.  I grabbed the camera trying to get a haircut shot and a "model" for shoulders and neck.  The lighting was bad, the camera flash was crazy  but I loved the image of the light coming from the mirror and the image of the rosary beads which hang from the top of the mirror.

 

Now I need your help.  I will sell or auction this in October.  Trying to find the best venue to do so.  If anyone has some ideas please let me know.

I will also use the image of my painting to make pocket mirrors to sell on Etsy and a portion of the proceeds will go to breast cancer research.  I figured a pocket mirror of this image might remind women to keep up in their self breast exams.  Plus with it beeing Breast Cancer awareness month I can officially start a "Blue Bee for Boobies" campaign!  (been wanting to say that for a while!)

Odds and ends

Today was one of those days to catch up on things around here.  I finished up another art piece which I will post about tomorrow.  It is one I intend on selling or auctioning for October, breast cancer awareness month.  It is not necessarily just for breast cancer, you will have to let me know tomorrow what you think and maybe the best way to sell it.

     One of my favorite "stare out the window" spots used to be blocked by an annoying "nook" when we bought the house.We needed to gut and completely rebuild the kitchen so good-bye nook, hello "staring out the window".   My secret little ground cover area, where the birds dive in and out (and into the window so that is why the "fake panes grid" looks like it is just leaning against the window...sort of forgot I did that).  There is a good picture of the ground cover from the spring here.  Anyway, fall is here and the view gets better every day...or I notice less weeds and more color.  Virginia Creeper can be very hard to control but this time of year I "fall" in love with it.  The rich red is one of the first colors we see, in fact at one point a friend driving by wanted to know what kid of red flowers we had everywhere.  I just love the color against the dark greens and the hint of those purple mini daisy looking flowers.

My handyman was working hard today as well with a hand drill from my grandpa.  He is putting up a screw to hang the piece I bought from Nancy Lefko.

Looks great hung in our kitchen right above the whole new "get ready for school" area below.  There is one of those bench seats below with 3 baskets for storage, shoes, bags, etc.  I might also add it is not as vast as it looks, the walls are a peachy color and that is about the extent of the space in what you see below.

 

Then Pajama Girl entertained us for a while....if she only knew what that door knob tag said!

The rest of the day was dedicated to having fun with Pajama Girl.  We went on a nature walk for leaves for school and started some fun background papers for a bigger project of hers.

ATC 000007

I can safely post 000007 now because the recipient has received it.  I traded for one of the first ATC's from m.heart .  Based on theme for her first ATC's and the crazy comment conversation, it was only fitting to cut all images on this ATC (minus the background) out of a 1964 field guide of the stars and planets.  I also based a bit of my theme on that old phrase that is something like "the road between friends is never long". 

Yesterday I received my ATC from m, with a cute little buddy.  If you have ever read my "About me" page, you know I am a fan of "snail mail", so here is the little note care that came with.

and the missing "A" trading card.

Thanks again m!

Bee-coming Human

Yesterday in the "cage" one of my patients/friends was in and said she and her friend read my blog every day and it nice to have some of you who I see on a regular basis know who I really am...see me through those special glasses.  We will never really know about everybody but to put it in perspective I felt this clip should help those who see it bee-come a little more human.  They may not have their glasses on, but you can wear yours.

Thank you Bonnie and Louise for seeing me as I bee!  See, I did find something to post today :)

(pause the playlist to hear this)

Thank you to Suzan for linking to Pinch me to see if you're dreaming and this video clip.

ATC 000008

I needed to skip right over ATC 000007 because the recipient wants to be surprised.  It is in the mail so as soon as I get the word I will post it.

Yesterday I had some left over paint so I chose to paint this little bird again.

If it looks familiar, it was not that long ago you saw the first one in my "mixed media Monday, numbers post".  Another cute bird, a bluebird of happiness that is.   I wasn't sure how to add a blue bee in the above ATC so it may just hang out on the back and let the bluebird bee in the spotlight.

ATC 000008 is up for trade pending the choice of someone who I am in a swap with and her decision between this and 2 others.

"Good Stuff"

I just recently read in a post from Rowena ( at the end of all her fun kid pictures) about Martha Stewart's give away .  It is not for her "blogging studio"  though, bummer.  It is for a chance to have your link on her blog. Why not, I could bee her extreme opposite...the random girl who follows no rules! 

The other Martha post really enjoyed was "a day in Prague..." .  I am of Czechoslovakian decent, 100% and would love to visit Prague someday and tool around the Czech Republic and Slovakia.  Especially the Bojnice Castle in Slovakia.  My two dream goals as a child I hold dear are to visit Australia and a beautiful castle.

Bee Spotting 9/23/8

Is it really Tuesday again?  Time buzzes by like a bee when you are having fun.  Thank you to everyone who helps out with these posts...my bee search minutes are numbered lately.

Lets get started with a new-bee.  Thank you to m. heart again for forwarding me Debra Tennison's blog n2theblue.  Friends who are really in tune seem to know what you like and I really like Debra's art and pictures.  Even her blog is so fresh and clean, she lets her art speak for itself.  To my delight I found some bees there.  I won't show all of the bees now but this I really love.  From the comforting blue and the honey comb design to the hand with hand writing, it is all very elegant.

I scrolled around a bit and realized Debra also has a "hand" at taking great photos as well, again all simple and elegant like in this post  and the rest of this brilliant photo anthology.

m. heart   also sent me a another great photo she took below from her weekend of bee-chasing...hmmm...who was chasing who?  At least she caught this cutie loving her oregano.  I have been trying to capture a very large bumble bee on my sunflower but every time I appear with my camera it is gone!

If you are updating your bee library m. sent me a link to one that looks pretty interesting as well called Bees: Nature's Little Wonders by Candace Savage.

I don't remember if I found this next one from Etsy shop Pink Flamingo 61 or if someone sent me the link but it is one funky necklace.  I am thinking Leah from Creative Every Day  might have sent it but not sure.  If that was a blue "b", I might have to have it.  Feel the need to get a little more fun and funky fashion.

Or I could go for any one of these bee artifact necklaces  from Fringe Lore's shop on Etsy.  Some fabulous pieces there, many with bees too!

One more jewelry piece for today. This one is a photo Lawatha took of a bee in her garden and fused in glass.  Very cool.   You can check out her Etsy shop and blog as soon as you are done here.  Another nice blog by the way and bee sure to at least look at this duck's face...too cute!

Getting ready to close this post with another new-bee to me.  I found this super sweet painting on Etsy in a fun shop called Little Glimpses .  There your can find "oodles of merrie art by Mystele" (rhymes with Michele).   Mystele's art and style is as unique as her name...which I love by the way!  As if this was not cute enough, Mystele coated it with beeswax...can you stand it????  Please stop by and visit her, you will not bee sorry.

UPDATE AT 11AM...I just bought this super sweet painting!  Our 2 goals for next year are the bee-keeping and Pajama Girl's pumpkin patch business.  I guess it took me a while to wake up!

wow...how do I do it????  Well actually...I would bee lost without all of you wonderful bee spotters and artists out there.  Please feel free to spot a bee and send to mee!  Bees bee with you!