My First Canvas

This is my first canvas piece. Boy, is it different! I love it. It's so much more forgiving than cardstock. I guess that's probably pretty obvious to everyone else but, wow, I am amazed. I really had fun doing this ALL day. I didn't like the first thing I tried so it all came off and got covered up. I'm still not absolutely 100% in love with this one. Something is missing or off but I absolutely got lost in it and had a wonderful day. I imagine this woman as someone who has a husband away at war. I wrote the letter and then burned it and tore it and waxed it. That was fun. The woman came from Flickr photos. I need to start paying attention to who posts the pictures I use. Someone was kind enough to put this up to be used by anyone for collage. I've used 100% of my Flickr space so this is on Photobucket, but tomorrow I get to start all over on Flickr and this will go up there. I am definitely hooked on canvas.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Tim is sick and staying home from work so my day has been more relaxed. (that sounds bad, doesn't it?) Well, I didn't have to get him up and feed him at 4:30pm and pack his "lunch" and all that "work" routine. He's been lying on the couch watching movies and I've only left my crafty space a few times, so a pretty relaxing Saturday.

I feel like I'm beating my head against a brick art wall sometimes...like who am I kidding? But, I enjoy the process so even if it doesn't look like much I'm getting something out of it and that's what counts right?

I have some other collages I've done on card stock but I'm having trouble posting them so I'll come back to it later.

Ms. Ivy

Ms. Ivy
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

Here she is. Ms. Ivy and I have been very close friends over the past few days. I had so much fun creating her. She's a giant doll. Some of you may recognize this fabric. I used it to make an ironing board cover and also used it in my laundry day collage.

She took one full 20 oz bag of polyfil. Her face is hand-drawn and painted. Some things are glued on, some sewn. There is a bird's nest with eggs in it in one of her branches. Maybe you can see it when the photo is enlarged. I think I may put her in my shop. What do you think?

Here she is sitting on my lap. lol

Me-me-me-me

I didn't get tagged for this but I'm doing it anyway. It's one of the more interesting memes I've seen. I've been working on something and I'll post a pic later. It's weird and I'm not sure how I feel about it and will welcome your input. For now...here's my meme. :)

1. Are you happy/satisfied with your blogs content and look?
Never.

2.Does your family know about your blog?
They should. I talk blogging way too much. My stepdaughter and I found a tee shirt that I think of at least once a day. It said "nobody cares about your blog." LOL

3. Do you feel embarrassed to let your friends know about your blog? Do you consider it a private thing?
I like telling my friends about my blog because I feel they would know me better if they looked at it, but I try not to mention it too many times because I don't want to be too obnoxious.

4.Did blogging cause any positive changes in your thoughts?
Oh yes. I am much more willing to take a creative chance because of the supportive but honest blogging friends I've made. I realize how often I've neglected to do something because I thought it wasn't good enough. Blogging has helped me realize that when it comes to expressing yourself in artful ways, there is no such thing as "not good enough." While doing art is personal, chances are that if it comes from your heart it will touch someone else's heart.

5. Do you only open the blogs of those who comment on your blog or do you love to go discover more by yourself?
I LOVE discovering other blogs. I read many blogs of people who have no idea my blog exists. I learn so much from them. It's fun to do a google search on something you love and then type "blog" with it.



6.What does a visitor counter mean to you? Do you like having one on your blog?
I enjoy my visitor counter. I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that people from so far away are reading my words. I love seeing where different people come from, how they got here and where they go afterwards.

7. Do you try to imagine your fellow bloggers or give them real pictures?
I am pleased to see that most people are pretty comfortable putting their pictures on. I like having a face to go with the name. If they don't have a picture I think I eventually construct an image of them in my head, yeah.
.
8. Admit it. Do you feel like there is a real benefit to blogging?
.I do. See #4. Aside from the personal benefit I see, I believe blogs are making an impact slowly but surely in the political realm. It is not as easy to call up a statistic when it doesn't match the number of bloggers and responders on any given issue. It's also not as easy to hide a piece of information in the back pages of the paper because there are bloggers out there who live for that and will flesh it out and put it in our faces. I think that's a benefit. I could go on. I guess I'm a big blogging advocate. lol

9. Do you think that blogger society is isolated from the real world or interaction with events?
Absolutely not. I think most bloggers approach blogging as a hobby or as others watch television. The blogger society is no more isolated from the real world than a religious society, a sewing guild or a group of guys that get together to watch the game every week.


10. Does criticism annoy you or do you think it's normal?
Of course criticism annoys me AND I think it's normal. Criticism has helped me grow. I take from it what I need to change something if I see their point. If I disagree with them, then I take it as a gift because it helped me confirm something for myself and I am that much stronger in my opinion.

11.Do you fear some political blogs and avoid them?
I don't fear political blogs but I find them mostly full of people who like to hear themselves talk or see themselves type. What is the point in listening to people's opinions on news that is purposely leaked and full of inaccurate information?

12. Were you shocked by the arrest of some bloggers?
I was more shocked by the poor guy that got fired a while back because his boss discovered his blog (or coworkers discovered it and ratted him out). A number of people have been arrested in conjunction with their blogs so I'm not sure which incident this refers to, but sadly, it isn't that shocking to see people arrested for exercising free speech these days.

13.What do you think will happen to your blog after you die?
Hmmm, I wonder if heaven has wireless?

14. What song do you like to hear? What song would you like to link to your blog?
I don't want a song to link to my blog. I keep my speakers down so I don't have to hear the music on other people's blogs. lol I like to hear...hmmmm....gosh, song? singular? Ok, "Let's Stay Together" by Al Greene. It always makes me happy when that song comes on.

15. The next victims? :::rubbing hands together::: muahahahahha Elisabeth at Vintage Wine,
Lisa(Ocean Dreamer) and Hulda!

Imagine

Imagine
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

Pictures Pictures Pictures

Doll 2
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

This is my 2nd doll. I made this for a good friend of mine and plan to give it to her tonight.

Here are some pics I just took because the sun is shining and I just wanted to share my surroundings with friends.




This is the view as I stand on my front porch looking out.

I finally learned to cut these all the way back once they die and they come back just like this. Toward the end of August, early September they get these beautiful purple blooms. The previous owner told me what they are but I can't remember.

This is the driveway...on the way out.

See ya later.

Tagged

I was tagged by dear Kai to do this meme. There were no books within arm's length but there is a bookshelf in the dining room where the computer is, so I went (in the dark) and just pulled out a book without looking. How's that? lol

Here are the rules:
1. Grab the book closest to you...NO cheating!
2. Open to page 123.
3. Scroll down to 5th sentence.
4. Post text of next 3 sentences on blog-and name of book and author. Tag 3 people

The book is called A Handbook of Ancient History in Bible Light by Miller
...them in their drag; therefore they rejoice and are glad (Hab. 1:14, 15)
Her Conquests are Divine Judgements. Though God loathed the cruelty of the Babylonians He used them as instruments......

Well, there you have it. My shelves are full of things like this. I don't remember where it came from. Some I have picked up over the years, some belonged to Tim's dad and some I was lucky enough to be given when the Pastor of the church I attend cleaned out his office. lol He got rid of everything he had two of and I was the fortunate recipient. Aha! This one has Tim's name in it so I guess it's just..well..his. LOL

I made another doll. I'll try to have a pic later. Today is "date day." I think we're going to take a walk in the woods instead of shopping today. :) We sort of have all the stuff we need and end up just walking in circles bored, so today we'll walk in the fresh fall air.

Have a great day everyone.

My Pleasure

My Pleasure
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

The assignment for Mixed Media Memoirs this week was "My Pleasures." I'm not sure why, but it has always been so for me that voicing pleasure, expressing pleasure makes the pleasure sweeter.

I wonder why we yearn so to have others know just what it is that we love. If you know what I love, then you understand who I am, maybe.

I try to remember this with my boys. When they want me to listen to their music, they aren't just saying "hey Mom check this out." They're saying, "Mom, this is what I love right now...this is who I am..listen!!" I don't have to like everything they like. What they want is acknowledgment ..a little nod to their heart, mind and soul..that I understand them a little better, know them a little deeper. This is true with many things that they bring to my attention.

Perhaps this is why religion often plays itself out in hateful ways. From the "bless her heart" gossip to full blown war. When we talk about the Creator and Sustainer, no matter our religion or what we call that Creator and Sustainer, we are discussing something that is fundamental to who we are and what we believe. We are human, however, and when our beliefs are dismissed then we feel dismissed. Sometimes we dismiss others quickly before they can dismiss us. We work so hard to prove that what we have, what we believe is so much more worthy and right than what someone else has or believes. We work so hard for something that is not even attainable through work. It's a gift. It's part of us. If we stop chasing the Divine; just stop and breathe, we find that we are completely wrapped up in the Divine. We can't escape it even if we try. It's like a fish swimming in circles, wearing itself out searching for water...and then being angry with the water for not being found...and being angry with other fish who are just enjoying being soaked.

Well, I just wanted to post my little picture. Don't know where all that came from. Self-therapy, I reckon. I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment. I thought my days of feeling spiritually connected were gone. I had resigned myself to a life of "kinda sorta." Now here I am feeling full to the brim. It is grace. I didn't see it coming. I am thankful.

Seasons of Friendship Doll

Seasons of Friendship Doll
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

I made this doll last night. I've been wanting to try my hand at these dolls. Last night I kept sitting down to collage my overwhelming feelings left over from the retreat. I couldn't seem to get it in to a collage. It felt flat. Then I thought of the dolls. So I grabbed a piece of muslin, printed out Violette's instructions and made myself a little pattern..and here she is. I just love her.



This is Reagan showing her who is STILL in charge around here.

Seasons of Friendship

The women's retreat I attended today was really wonderful. Lead by Marjory Zoet Bankson, the retreat was entitled "Seasons of Friendship." (also the name of one of her books). The study is modeled after the story of Naomi and Ruth, who were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Both had been widowed and were pretty much at the end of their stories, or so they thought. Ruth refused to leave her mother-in-law, Naomi and travels with her to her old home place. It's a very interesting story that can be found in the book of Ruth (a short book) in the Old Testament of the Bible.

Dr. Bankson lead us through the different seasons of friendship experienced by Naomi and Ruth, both with each other and with others. With each season she let us break into very small groups and tell of a person in our lives who fit that particular seasonal description.

I do not always enjoy things like this, being slightly self-conscious and shy, but I decided today that whatever she suggested I would do wholly. I loved every moment of it and got to know better some women I already thought I knew and even got to enjoy some time with women I had never had the chance to speak with.

It was wonderful to recall how friends were gifted to me along this journey of my life. Some people came to mind who were surprises to me. I hadn't thought of them as friends but surely they were friends for a brief moment in time. I also remembered what a friend my very own Tim was to me at a time when I wasn't really fit for friends. He didn't care. He saw beyond what I was allowing myself to become at the time. He saw a "shiny heart" (his words back then) that was hidden and blackened. He felt it just needed cleaned up. He was right. It's pretty shiny now, thanks to his encouragement which lead to other things, like going back to church and making other friends and oh so many wonderful things for which I forget all too often to be grateful.

I also thought of many of you. While we may not be able to look each other in the eye or give a hug in the flesh, you are certainly my friends and you affect my soul deeply. I am grateful for you. I am grateful for the comraderie, the encouragement, the questions that challenge me to look deeper and just the fun that we have.

Today I experienced a deepening of faith as the things we learned in the retreat seemed to bind up the various facets of my life and make them more cohesive. There has been a spirituality missing from my life that is often very difficult to find in church. That must sound odd to some, but often we (or at least *I*) focus so much on the heady stuff of scripture and tradition that I lose sight of the Holy Spirit..SPIRIT part of it all. I get hungry for it and am drawn by those who I find exhibiting its attributes. I was thrilled today to be reminded that this wonderful Spirit I am so attracted to in others is the same Holy Spirit who flows through us and guides us and expresses itself through us to one another. That's what makes friendship so important and so wonderful.

I am not trying to preach a sermon. :) I am not even talking about religion. I think the Spirit crosses many lines that we often are uncomfortable allowing it to cross. I think that we may even call this Spirit different things, yet allowing it to enter our hearts and minds is healing to our souls and brings about the same results...faith, hope and love. I am so happy to be mixed up with so many wonderful women and to witness the drawing together of souls who have been through different experiences and lead very different lives in different countries and yet come together for mutual comfort and encouragement.

I want to bring this same sense of sisterhood into my church family. I heard many voices today expressing this same hunger for deep, meaningful and intimate relationships with other women. We questioned the difficulty. How could it be so difficult? What are we missing? I hope to help answer these questions and to help build this sisterhood. It's an exciting thought and perhaps a bit of a calling.

Thank you so much my sister-friends! I hope you know how much I value you. (It's really hard to explain to non-bloggers..they sort of just looked at me like I was speaking of befriending little green men). :)

Much love and peace to you.

Organization

I re-organized my craft desk yesterday. I put a bunch of stuff on top so I could have more room to work on the actual desk. On the left side (as I face it) I have jars with lace and rick rack and glass marbles, a pewter goblet with sharpies and other markers and a hobnail milk glass pedestal dish that holds my new markers. A recent thrift store berry bowl holds my buttons. There are some beads in the little milk glass pedestal thing. In the middle is my metal trunk with laces and ribbons in it, then to the right (in the other pic) is a thrifted treats box that I lined (not sewn or anything) with a thrifted handkerchief and it holds lots of binding, lace, trims and ribbons, a thrifted creamer filled with beads, a thrifted glass creamer filled with faux pearls and the little tin you saw earlier this week. I guess my plan for keeping it camouflaged didn't work out so well, but it makes me smile to have all my stuff within arm's reach and I think it looks kind of pretty. I'll probably hang some of my collages over the desk when I pick up some frames.

I like looking at peoples' craft spaces; particularly when it's limited as mine is, so I thought I'd share mine. Plus, I put a lightbulb in this morning so it was finally light enough. lol

See ya later. :)

Treasure the Moment

treasure
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

This is the last one I worked on yesterday. I have an old calendar with Norman Rockwell prints that I've been wanting to use so after I painted this background, I chose this print. I think it looks like the room is glowing. :) The window is some plastic from packaging (my eyelets I think). I put down some gesso and glitter glue and smashed it down (technical term). Then I remembered that I had some fabric that kind of matches her dress, so I made some wee curtains and used some plastic beads from a thrift store necklace for the tie-backs so the snow could be seen. Don't they look cozy? lol I think it might still need a picture on the wall behind her or something but I'm letting it sit until I'm sure.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. I don't have much planned for today. I walked outside and it feels almost balmy. I'll probably stay in and play, though I might do a little weeding and tidying in the yard.

I awoke early this morning while everyone else was still sleeping. It was so nice to linger over all your blogs with coffee. I feel all caught up. Some of you I have to read on bloglines because my computer now views you as a threat. Sorry. I don't know why my computer is suddenly so paranoid but there are a few blogs that just terminate my online session if I click on them...so I tricked it by going to bloglines and signing up. :) The ones I know for sure off the top of my head are Thimble Thoughts, Be Not Conformed, and Frogs & Fireflies. Bloglines won't allow me to comment but know that I am still reading and wishing you all well.

Sweet Dreams

sweetdreams
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

One more collage. I was on a roll today. (Tim would say " a roll or a biscuit.") hehe It seems to take me forever to come up with one collage and then I can't stop. I really cleaned and organized my space today so I actually have room to work. I'm sure that helped!

Collages

memories
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

Here are a couple of things I've been working on. I've been wanting to experiment with adhering little found things with wax. It was fun and it holds well and gives an interesting texture I think. I also got some new papers from Covet Me that I wanted to play with. I didn't get a chance to do much yesterday because I mowed and that took a big hunk out of the day but the yard finally looks good again.

I don't really have much planned for today. I'm looking forward to the weekend. It sure got here in a hurry.



I hope everyone is well or on the mend. Talk to ya later.

Tin

Tin
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

I'm posting this tin, mostly for Hulda. :) I bought this last week at the little shop near my home. It was one dollar. It holds my little paper flowers and hopefully a couple of other special paper things I ordered last week from Covet Me (ArtbyChrysti's Ebay store). I thought it was sweet and went with the whole collage thing plus it reminded me of Hulda!

Since Hulda has a tin posted on her blog, it reminded me to take a pic and post mine.

Buzzz Buzzzz

I've been a busy bee today. I got some much needed vacuuming, tidying, laundering and shopping done. Not the fun kind..the responsible, grocery type of shopping. I ran the boys around for some things they needed, came home and made dinner and have spent the rest of the evening painting (which I hadn't planned) and working on a card for a friend of mine who tripped and was hurt a bit. She's ok, but has to stay off her feet for a while; not an easy task for her. Not much going on. It's getting close to my bedtime but I just wanted to check in real quick. Maybe I'll have some pics tomorrow. Hmmm, it's date day tomorrow, too. Maybe I'll have some fun finds. Hope everyone is getting ready to have a good night, is having a good night or..had a good night. International friendships are fun! :)

Seasons of Friendship

I bet you're wondering who this is. Her name is Marjory Bankson. You can read more about her at http://www.faithatwork.com/CallToTheSoul/index.html.

I'm writing about her because I am excited that she is coming to the church I attend next Sunday to hold a 3 hour workshop right after church. This particular workshop will be on Seasons of Friendship (I think that's the correct name). I would love to do her workshop on the Call To The Soul. I am excited, though, to be doing the friendship workshop. Through blogging I have come to understand the importance of having women in my life. I have come to love so many who read and comment here at GroggyFroggy and that has taught me the value of such friendships.

I usually don't do these "touchy feely" things...and part of me keeps thinking, "are you kidding me? you volunteered to go to a women's workshop"? But then I think about you dear women who add immeasurable value to my life and I think..."Heck yeah!"

I appreciate your supportive comments after my rather lengthy and self-disclosing post yesterday. It was a little scary putting it out there, but as usual, you all put me at ease and assured me I had done well to trust you. Thanks to all of you.

True Balance

I finished reading the first chapter for our True Balance group. Actually, I finished chapter two as well but we're only discussing chapter one right now. (I couldn't help myself..it's so great and I need help. lol)

Chapter one is all about foundations and support. One example the author used was the tree with its roots far into the earth and it's branches reaching high...the perfect vision of stability and security. She discussed the possibility that the physical difficulties some of us may have with our feet or legs often come from a foundational issue. We might not even be aware of it. It could be something we perceive ourselves lacking because we lacked it in childhood or something. She gave a great example of someone who came from a large family and had to fight for every morsel of food and now that person overeats to compensate for that feeling from childhood.

I can't relate to that one, but there are so many other things that I could relate to.

My dad was abusive. He yelled and hit and threw and drove crazy and even once tried to push my brother out of the car while we were driving. Always over nothing. I was always terrified that he was going to hurt my mom or my brother. He once threw a shovel through the window of our dining room at my mother. The glass shattered every where. She was in front of the window and I was over to the side a bit. If he started yelling, someone was going to get hurt.

I can't stand to hear yelling or even a raised voice. Often Tim speaks very loudly, partly because he can't hear well and partly because it's just his personality. His first reaction is often an overreaction and then he mellows later. With my past, though, all I hear is the yelling and then my heart pounds and I am feeling terror.

Before I got this book, I was having some real issues with my chest hurting and feeling pressure and a sudden sense of doom out of nowhere. Part of that is menopause but it was being fed by my constant fear that Tim was going to yell about something...or that his son was going to. Caleb has decided that all the things he can't say to his mom can be said to me because *I* won't fight back. My spirit has been so low.

That's why the sudden change of direction in creating. I found Violette and looking at her art and reading about her life and her personality made me feel happy. She spends a lot of time telling other people that they CAN paint and create and do what they want. I started sketching and all the panic I was feeling started coming out in pictures and then I went deeper and realized how sad I had been and why...sometimes not until I after I had drawn the "why" did I realize what was wrong. I cannot tell you how therapeutic that was and is for me. I stopped keeping a journal because it would always turn negative and I just didn't want to have all those ugly words written down and thrown out there but drawing allowed me to really express my feelings without verbalizing the details of where those feelings were coming from. Somewhere along the line, I came across collages and those just "fit" somehow. I love looking at them and I love, love, LOVE making them. They come from my heart and no matter how objective I think I'm being, they always, once finished, reflect how I was feeling when I was creating them.

You may wonder what this has to do with the book, but I do think that there is a basic, foundational need to express ourselves and I congratulate myself on finding a healthy, safe way of doing just that. Yay me. :)

Now, the food thing...I don't know why but it seems the more I realize how important the right diet is, the more I eat the things I shouldn't. LOL I don't think there is any deep dark reason for this. I just like junk food. It's good and quick and handy. (and I can hide it from the children muahaha).

I've been mindfully doing things for my foundation this week. I got bills paid that were bugging me. I removed myself from situations that made me uncomfortable rather than trying to be a pillar. I've kept up with the house, dishes and laundry....etc.etc this week and seemed to have even MORE art time, plus a freer mind to create with. I bought a couple of fun novels today at a thrift store. I went to Jo-Anne's Fabric and walked around for an HOUR. Bliss. I spent 44cents. LOL I bought two pieces of felt. I hung my own art with pride. whoohoo. I bought some shower gel today and I plan to pamper myself and give myself a pedicure tonight. (Polish gives Tim a headache so I have to do it when he isn't here..and he just left for work). I did eat some good food. Tim made tabouli last night and he put some of the mint and parsley that *I* planted in it and it was so good. It just felt like we were doing something good for our bodies. I'm praying more. Today when I got in my car, just as I turned the key I heard "You are so beautiful...to me." I wanted to just say, "awww thank you." :) It felt like a special little message just for me. Joe Cocker rocks and he's a great messenger.

I DO feel a little more balanced this week, a little steadier. And I feel better about some areas that I'm already doing a pretty good job in. My relationship with my boys is really healthy. I used to carry so much guilt about the divorce that I couldn't truly enjoy our relationship. But I realize now that the love I give them is what they need and that they're going to be just fine...in fact more than fine.

I've also realized that I'm not responsible for everyone else in the world being balanced!! Whew. That's a load off.

I was tagged.

TECH0010
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

Here's a bit better pic of the front porch. I added a wreath to the back of one of the chairs. It added a little something I think. I was going to hang it on the door but discovered that the door is metal, not wood. lol I'm glad to know because I'm going to paint it and that changes the type of paint I'll choose. I'm going to paint it a nice yummy green to go with the blue.

The main reason I'm posting again already today is that Vintage Wine tagged me for the 4 things meme, so here goes:

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Retail
2. Barista (or is that Bariste?)
3. Interior house painter
4. Magazine writer/copy editor

Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. A River Runs Through It
2. You've Got Mail (I didn't know who you were with) hehehe Fox F-O-X
3. Chocolat
4. French Kiss (I adore Meg Ryan)

Four Places I have lived:
1. Bentree, WV (20 years)
2.Roanoke, VA (21 years)
3.Ask me again in 40 lol
4.

Four things I like to do:
1. Sing
2. Collage, stitch, crochet, knit, sew....depends on my mood, I guess
3. Sit by a fire and talk quietly about nothing in particular.
4. Watch Project Runway

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Avocados plain on crackle bread.
2. Crunchy and salty chips (crunchy and salty anything really)
3. Strawberries
4. Twizzlers
Four places I would like to be right now:
1. The beach...any beach..
2. Spirithaven...a wonderful farm owned by friends that is very well and aptly named.
3. At my mom's.
4. The beach.

Four websites I visit daily:
1. Flickr
2. ViolettesFolkArt.com and all the Glitter Gal Blogs
3. All the blogs that were on my sidebar but I moved to a folder in favorites.
4.Etsy

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Daytona Beach
2. Nassau, Bahamas ( a working vacation during college)
3. Nags Head, Ocracoke Island--really, really want to go back
4. Hilton Head

I have no idea who to tag because I'm pretty sure I'm the last blogger in the world to do this one. lol If you haven't and you want to, consider yourself tagged.

hopesings

hopesings
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

I started this one last night and let it sit while I slept and then I added some things this morning. Sometimes I work until I can't really "see" it anymore and then I end up adding way too much stuff. I'm learning to stop, walk away or start something else and come back. I really am having fun doing the backgrounds first and then coming back to them with the other. I was doing it all at once and it was just too forced.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. It's really nice here today. The sun is shining and it's cool. A perfect September day.

Hope

Hope
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

I did this one a few minutes ago. I framed a couple of others today and that gave me a new appreciation for them. What a difference a mat and frame can make. I'm enjoying hanging my own art in my home. Whodathunkit?

frontporchfall

frontporchfall
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

Gosh, this is a bad picture but I don't have time to run out and take another. I have to get Lois' breakfast.

I got my autumn stuff out for my front porch this morning and wanted to share a pic or two real quick. It's pretty self-explanatory, so I'll just get the pics up and go feed Tim's mom. :)

Yay Fall!!!

laundryday

laundryday
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

Tim bought me these tiny clothes pins so I just had to try them out. The shirt is made from the same fabric I used for the ironing board cover. I thought it looked kinda hippy-ish.

Probably will mow today. It's supposed to be pretty all day. Yay! I have yellow crocuses all over the place. Isn't that funny? I'm glad they're yellow since they decided to come up in September.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Sing

Sing
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

I was draing a face last night and the next thing I knew, I had a mermaid. She just kind of turned up. :) So, of course, I collaged around her. lol It kind of looks like an elementary school art project but that's ok. I had fun putting it together and I learn something every time I make another collage.

I haven't done much today. It's absolutely beautiful out and I don't know how much longer I can put off mowing the grass. It's so hard to drag myself out there because it takes hours and hours to mow it all, but it really needs it. Tim went riding on the Parkway. He really had a nice time. It's so good to see him relax. We are getting along really well this week and oh goodness did I need that. I was about ready to hit the highway.

I read a good bit of my book this morning. It's really great. Very eye-opening. It's basically like reading the psychology books in college. I used to collect text books on sociology and psychology when I was a student. I just loved that stuff, although the classes were stifling.

There's lots of talk about the types of things that can throw you off balance...your upbringing, your past, guilt, food...some are causes and symptoms all at the same time. Our psyche really works hard to protect us. I have already seen some constructive ways that I can become more balanced about my every day needs. I need to eat better food. I make sure to feed my family and then I don't eat sometimes or I eat chips instead of the meal. That's not a way to promote balance and it sets up all sorts of bad habits and consequences and cycles. Reading about what causes people to be off balance can also help when dealing with others that you love. Rather than just thinking "grrr why does he have to be so grumpy???" (ok, a little self-revealing there, but...lol), instead I can think about what may have triggered his grumpiness and if it's something I can help with then I might be able to meet a need for him that will make him less grumpy...or me less grumpy. Yeah, sometimes it's me. Surprise, huh? Um, did I mention I'm a tad menopausal? (Hey, if you're a guy reading this, don't get mad at me. You've never commented so how would I know you're reading it? I'm assuming I'm among women here. K? K.)

I'm weird today. Sorry. I think I'm giddy from the sunshine, the time alone and Tim also ran some errands for me today which was great for me!

ACMoore is having a scrapbook celebration Sunday with demos, make-n-takes, snacks and a 50% coupon for one item. I'm so there. I don't scrapbook, per se, but the info is definitely relevant to collage and altered art and the coupon is great.

Can you tell I don't want to mow? I keep sitting here emptying my mind and making you read it. I really don't have anything else, though...so I'll talk to ya later.

Embrace Glam

Embraceglam
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

I've been in the mood to stitch this week. I can only figure it's the cooler weather. I tried to cross-stitch but my eyes would have none of it! So, I decided to do this little lady that was a freebie pattern. I did her in redwork on a piece of cream felt. I stuck her to a piece of cardstock and collaged around her. I really had fun with this one.

I got lots of new toys today. ACMoore had their canvases on sale, so I got a couple of big ones. I've been really, really wanting some markers but they're so expensive. So, I bought a pretty cheap set with lots of colors to practice with until I'm sure I want to spend the money on the Microns. Let's see...a couple of weeks ago I used my weekly coupon (always at least 40% off) to buy an eyelet setter. Today I finally bought the eyelets..again with the coupon. I picked up some cuties for the Santa and Me Chunky Book Swap, too. I'm getting excited about starting that but I have got to remember to call Mom and ask her to send some pictures of me. I know she has one of me in a red outfit with a big white furry hat, sitting on Santa's lap. He had just given me a lollipop and I was completely engrossed in getting it open. LOL The lollipop was red, too. I'd love to use that one.

My book finally came today. I read a bit while I waited for Nick at school. On the way to the mailbox, I saw a piece of paper in the grass and there was a cardboard bookmark with a frog on it that said "jump into reading." Then I opened the mailbox and there was my book. :) Cool, huh?

I have choir practice tonight. I'm looking forward to it. Afterwards, a few of us usually get together and go out to a local pub and that's a nice relaxing thing. Last week we sat outside and nursed our pints. It was very nice catching up after taking the summer off from choir and it was just a perfect night. One of my choir friends has had a long hiatus...lots of tragic things happened within her family in a short period of time. She and I have planned to go for a nice hike together...take a sandwich and put our feet in a pond at a sweet place called "Happy Hollow." When the boys were small, we used to go there to get (buy) our Christmas tree every year. You know..you pay to cut it..nothing smells better. So pretty there. I'm looking forward to that and I hope we both actually take the time to do it. She's a chef and just got a new job. She's really happy about it.

Alrighty, I reckon I've kept y'all long enough. Talk to ya later.

This is not the prettiest collage ever. lol but it serves a purpose. I am participating with a group of other bloggers in reading True Balance by Sonia Choquette. The book is a common sense guide to balancing your chakras. I am not going to even attempt to explain what little I know about chakras. It's basically a book about getting balance in your life, which is probably something we could all stand a little more of. The group has already started the reading. I am still waiting for my book. I got a late start. To learn more about this, you can check out Be Alive Believe Be You

In addition to reading the book, I decided this week to participate in the Mixed Media Memoirs project which involves creating something that answers the question or thought they choose. This week's thought is "I become off balance when..."

This brings me to my collage. It took me a while. Part of my off balance-ness shows itself in my mind feeling cluttered. I can't seem to grab a thought. Collaging and sketching really does seem to help me process through this more than any other craft or arty thing I've tried. I still enjoy some sewing and crocheting, etc, but collaging has been an incredible outlet-a desperately needed one-and I am grateful to have stumbled on to it. One great thing about collages is that you can pour yourself into creating the images and not so much in vocalizing the problem. In this case, I will explain it because it's sort of the point. This collage is of me...trying to balance all sorts of "boxes." The boxes are labelled with words like "kids, dishes, house, God, Tim, etc, etc" I'm trying to carry all the boxes on one shoulder and there is a world on the other. Meanwhile, my family is standing all around watching me with vacancy signs over their empty shoulders. (they all have a little something on their own shoulders...we all have our own stuf). I become off balance when I think that I am responsible for shouldering all of the responsibilities...or even trying to shoulder my responsibilities equally well or all at the same time. There is no need to do it alone. There are loving family members standing around waiting to help.

The map represents the first thing that came to mind when I thought of being off balance. Other than a short one day visit to my mother's house 3 hours away (once last year, once this year) I have not been anywhere in four years. I have not been out of Roanoke since we moved into this house and started caring for Tim's mother. I am craving a trip..water, new scenery...time away from his mother, time away from always being on guard. Yes, I feel very off balance right now.

Tagged

I was tagged by the lovely Miss*R to do this book thingey.

Open the book to page 123, go to the 5th sentence, post the next three sentences, the book title and the author.

Unless it might be Oswald, the old Reeve,
For, as he was a carpenter by trade,
He was a little angry still and made
Grumbling remarks and scolded for a bit.

From the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

I am not reading this book, actually. It just happened to be the nearest one because Tim bought it at Goodwill the other day and it's still here on the dining room table. I remember reading it in high school. Maybe I'll give it another reading.

So, there you have it. I have not been feeling well the past few days but seem to be feeling some better today. Today is the first day back to church. The regular schedule has returned.

Mike (my 14 year old) and I watched Phantom of the Opera last night. He has loved that movie for quite some time and I hadn't seen it yet so we rented it last night. It was very good. Even though he listens to head-banging music most of the time, I guess he knows the sweet stuff when he hears it. Of course, I guess the "sweet stuff" could be his mother's bias. hehe

We finally got rid of the unsightly junk car that was mucking up the view out the front window. We freecycled it. The guy said it was the nicest junk car he'd ever picked up. lol How's that for a compliment? Tim hated to let it go but it was time. It was driving me crazy. Now I can look at "trashy house" pics on flickr without fear that my home will be there. lol

I've been sketching a lot but nothing really pretty. Pretty much doing visual journaling...and it gets ugly some times. I didn't realize how angry I was. No wonder my jaw has been clenched so much. It does help to put my thoughts into pictures.

Hmm...I almost deleted that last statement because I was feeling that being angry was a bad thing to admit. Interesting, huh? I'm going to leave it because it's ok to be angry. I do try to balance the anger with some good stuff.

Oh, that reminds me. I am reading True Balance with a group of bloggers. Well, I'm not reading it yet. They're a chapter ahead of me. I'm still waiting for mine because I'm cheap and ordered it used. It's a book about maintaining balance in your life. I guess Presbyterians don't usually study chakras but why not? I want to also participate in the Mixed Media Memoirs project and this week the theme is something along the lines of "I feel unbalanced when..." so I might try doing something for that and posting it later today.

I'm struggling lately. Can you tell?

Thanks for all of your encouraging comments. I just love you ladies. I hope there was something prior to blogs for women who were home alone a lot and in need of friends. This community is a God-send to me.

Love

Love
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

Where there is great love, there are always miracles.

Collage

Wings collage
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

I did this collage a couple of days ago. Collaging is new to me and I just love it. Every spare moment (and some not-so-spare) is spent painting, gluing, ripping or searching for something to paint, glue or rip.

I bought a little plastic spirograph type set at the dollar store. I was trying out all the little wheels and that's what the glob i nthe middle is. My son even doodled some faces in the bottom right-hand corner and then for some reason I started painting over it. I know..it's like the ones I said creeped me out. lol But now it doesn't. I can't explain that. I am particularly loving the little one holding the flowers (flowers that I got from ArtbyChristi off Ebay). The wings are cut from this great ribbon I got in a grab bag at ACMoore.

This new passion for collage feels like a gift from heaven. I get so wrapped up in it that I lose track of time. I needed it. My life has been kind of yucky lately and I really think this has helped me keep my sanity and my heart. I am so very grateful. I guess we always get what we need when we need it if we're open to it and aren't always trying to figure out what we need ourselves.

At first I felt I was wasting too much of my art time because I couldn't think of a theme or something for so long but then I read some advice from a collage artist who said to just start ripping paper and putting it down and let it become what it wants to be. I've been doing that and it's amazing what just "happens."

I feel like a good little recycler too because I'm using up all the junk mail and everything! Everything, everything has CP (Collage Potential).

Have a great day everyone.

moi

moi
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

Isabelle mentioned that I should take a pic of my new hair. Here's a couple of shots of the new me.


As usual, the pics are dark but you get the idea.

Thoughts, words and paint

Letterbox
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

I painted this letter box today. I thrifted it a while back and have been using it. It's really handy to keep the bills in. It's the first thing you see when you walk in the back door (which is the one everyone uses) into the kitchen.

I painted it lots of different colors that make me happy. The top says "thoughts become things" and the middle says "choose the good ones." I love that. I read it on the TUT site. It's a phrase used a lot by Mike Dooley. At the bottom are some good thought words. On the sides I stamped a sun and a dragonfly (coz that's what I had lol) and wrote more words...harmony, peace, love, joy, wonder and belief. These are all words I want to see and thoughts I want to be reminded of when I walk in the door of my home or walk out into the big wide world. I threw on some funky fibers, painted a glass pebble and stuck that on and just had a fine old time listening to my Native Spirit tape (yes, I said tape). No, i don't have an ipod. Yes, I have a cd player but I don't have that particular band on cd and I wanted to listen to them. k? k.

Have a wonderful night...or day, whichever the case may be. It's pretty late here but the house is quiet and I want to stay up and enjoy it. I tend to frolic when noone is here. *giggle*

Collage box

Collage box
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

I think this is the tiniest pair I've painted to date. I fretted over starting on them for weeks. They were so adorably small I didn't want to mess them up.

I got this idea from a shabby chic girl's box I saw at glitterandgrunge.com. I thought maybe people will be more inclined to buy the shoes if they're more useful..like on top of a box. lol So, I painted this box and hot glued the shoes on.

I love the rich colors. The guy on top comes from a children's book of fairy tales. The inside of the lid and box and the bottom are decoupaged with children's nursery rhymes.

It has about 3 coats of mod podge over it and then 2-3 more coats of acrylic sealant. I don't think you can see it, but where the shoes are green, they have a yellow design that matches the yellow design on the "East Wind's" green trim.

I really enjoyed doing this. The sides of the box were already painted..by me...a long time ago. I sanded it to repaint but then loved the antiqued/worn effect the sanding left..so I didn't repaint the sides.

I'm also painting a letter holder today. I got it a while back at a yard sale. It's such a nice, cool sunny day and I've really been enjoying sitting out on the porch with the paints.

The poor Fed Ex guy..I didn't hear him come to the door and he had to step over all my paints and the box and mess. lol He brought Tim some motorcycle stuff.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Talk to ya later.

Baby Michael

Baby Michael
Originally uploaded by GroggyFroggy.

Where does the time go? This is my BABY. Today this baby is fourteen years old. I can't believe it.

He still loves watermelon. ;) He's still sweet, smart and loving. I have the highest hopes and dreams for this creative boy who graces my life.

You're a wonderful son, Mike, and I love you with all my heart and then some.