San Francisco, Here I Come!

Hiya! (That's my new greeting as of late... I'm not sure where it came from.)

Steve and I are leaving tomorrow for San Francisco, and I can't wait. We're flying this time, which will be a bit of a luxury compared with the usual 5-hour drive. It will also be nice to side-step those $30/night parking rates. Geez!

I've lined up no less than 20 art, bead, and fiber shops for us to visit. Steve is a good sport about it all. But like I keep telling you, if it weren't for me, what would he do with his time?!? We've got tickets to see "Chicago" on Sunday night. Huey Lewis is in the starring role, so that should be fun.

Today I'm just rattling around trying to do all of those last minute things that seem to pop up right before you leave. And of course, I'm doing yet another couple of loads of laundry. I don't understand how two people can have so much? Isn't it weird how in the days right before you leave to go on vacation, it suddenly seems like you've never needed one more?

Yesterday I was able to phone the Arizona state government office of something or other. After 4 calls to computer-land, I was finally able to find a real person and they gave me my new tax license number over the phone! This means I can mail in my completed application for Arizona's "The Great Fair" before I leave. Yea for the state government over there! I can't believe it actually worked out.

I'll be back online Thursday of next week. Be sure to tune back in because Friday I'll be announcing a little contest. Ahhh, the suspense....

Have a terrific week, everyone!

Movin' Right Along

You may laugh, but yesterday I went out and bought the book "The Prestige"! Okay, laugh... I'm laughing at myself. I just really, really liked this movie.

Here's a picture of the Day of the Dead swap piece I received from Suz this week. Believe me, the colors in this picture are lousy. The green is a bright lime green and all of the other colors are brighter and more intense as well. Didn't she do a terrific job decorating?!?! And she made those sugar skulls from scratch. It was all I could do to keep Bentley from licking it to death. (Pun intended... It's going to be one of those posts!)

As I mentioned before, I've given myself permission to take a break from art this week and just work on myself. This has been wonderful for three reasons:
1. I'm looking better, if I do say so myself.
2. It makes me long for art, which is a great feeling when it is possible to get "burnt out" from time to time.
3. I'm plowing through all this other "business" stuff that's been pushed to the side for sooooo long.

An example in support of #3 is that yesterday, I devoted nearly the entire day to updating my website. The changes took me a long time, but they're finished! Most notably, I got all of my fabric collages on my "For Sale" pages. They're here, if you're interested in taking a look. (Be kind because those are sure hard to photograph well!) I also removed everything that has sold. It feels so good to be making such progress on this housecleaning-type stuff!

"The Prestige"

Okay... this is probably the best movie I've seen in years. It's called "The Prestige". (Sorry for the tiny photo.) But oh my goodness, it's so well-crafted and intelligent! The creators and actors take you on an incredible ride. And they keep you guessing until the very end. It's worth seeing in a theatre if you're at all inclined. Steve and I saw it this weekend and we just loved it. (And you know this is true because I don't normally write about the movies we see on my blog!)

Finally Finished!

The incredibly talented and equally generous Mary Stanley taught me how to rug hook. This is my first attempt. I started it... about a year ago now? Geez. At least I finished it, though. I turned it into a little pillow, and now it belongs to my friend Edina. If you want to see some "real" hooking that will just knock your socks off with it's creativity and originality, do take a gander at Mary's blog.

This is the week before we leave for San Francisco, so I've given myself the week "off," so to speak. I'm keeping up with my computer work, but most of the week I've devoted to just getting ready. Of course, I need to do the usual things like clean, pack, laundry, errands, etc. But I also need to do loooonnngg-overdo self maintenance. Yesterday I did my highlights and today I will do the cut. Tomorrow is fingernails and toenails. Thursday is brow waxing. (I used to be a hair stylist, by the way... So don't worry, I'm a professional! It just takes me 5 times as long when working on myself.)

I did change the header on my website yesterday. I'm trying to get a more uniform feel amongst my site, my blog, etsy, and my business cards. There's always something to be done, isn't there...???

"The Dance"

Here is a photo of my latest painting. I finished it last week, and it's entitled "The Dance". It measures 12"x16".

This detail shows, what I hope is the romance of a couple dancing under the moonlight.



And here's a close-up of three cathedral windows. I had painted pretty much everything, including the figure in the window, but I just couldn't rest. For four solid days, I kept pacing past this piece. I couldn't shake the feeling that there needed to be a noose. Now, I'm not sure where that sinister desire comes from... Maybe I don't want to know? But at the end of four days, I couldn't ignore that relentless urge any longer, so the noose was added, and "The Dance" then somehow seemed complete.

I will admit that I think the addition of that deadly bit of rope makes for a much more interesting story between these three figures. And as Steve points out, it's not something that the viewer realizes is there until he/she inspects the work more closely. One of the music collage pieces in the upper left has text which reads "Oh dear!" Pure serendipity, but isn't that perfect?!?!

On another note, what wonderful comments I received in response to Friday's post about rejection! You know, I was thinking about this all weekend. It seems to me that it was actually harder for me to publicly write about being rejected than it was for me to get the rejection in the first place! No matter how strong you are, announcing it to the world is a hard one to swallow. It would have been so easy to quietly file my letter in the trash and pretend like it never happened. No one would ever know.

But you all lifted me up and made it okay. Some of you have faced your own rejections and some of you haven't reached that particular bump in the road. But all of you expressed your gratitude and support at my having written that particular post. If I was able to inspire even one person to "keep on truckin'" regardless, then that means the world to me! I promise you that I will always write honestly about both the good and the bad. You've shown me that it's okay to be human. It's odd to feel so humbled and so safe in the context of this giant world we call the internet. How can I possibly thank you all for that?

Gesso Is My Friend

Remember I told you yesterday about those two collages for "Ripped and Torn" that were off to a slow start? Well, by the end of the day, here's what they look like. Yup... that's right... gessoed right over them. If you look closely, you'll see the culprit right behind the canvas. I added a touch of yellow paint and scraped around a bit with a plastic card so that a tad of the original paint/collage work still shows through. Makes me feel like it wasn't all for naught. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

In an effort to always write honestly, I have to report that I got rejected from the "Fiberarts" show in Sebastapol yesterday. I had submitted photos of one of my "With Love" fabric collages for their consideration. But in that same vein of honesty, I will tell you that it truly is getting easier and easier. My friend MaryBeth laughed with me the other day on the phone when I told her "I'm emboldened by my rejection." And it's the truth. The more I get rejected, the more I feel like submitting. I've had enough experience to accept that something will get accepted somewhere along the line. For me, I find great comfort in the knowledge that I've found my place in this world. Sure, I have insecurities like all artists do, but I'm never insecure about how much I love what I'm doing. And that, I'm convinced, is the most precious gift of all - rejection or not!

Also in that same batch of mail, I received the most WONDERFUL charm bracelet from the most AMAZING group of women. This bracelet is a result of a swap I participated in, hosted by Ruth Rae. Here's a photo of the finished bracelet, which Ruth designed and assembled herself.

She even created a blog about the entire thing, complete with instructions from every participant. The artwork is amazing! And truly, it's one of the best swaps I've had the honor of being a part of. Thank you, ladies!

I actually have a few charms left over, which I'm going to be giving away in a contest in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned for the details... especially if you didn't have a chance to participate in this swap!

Have a terrific weekend, everyone!

This is Bentley

I felt like you needed a picture today... so you get Bentley. This is "his" chair. It's where he spends most of the day. If he hears a noise worthy of woofing at, nine times out of ten, he won't even get out of his chair for that. He woofs right from his seat. Sometimes when we come home from being out and about, he won't even leave his beloved perch to say hello. Bentley loves his chair.

I usually write my blog posts pretty early in the morning. Steve gets up for work at 4:30 am. He's out the door by 5:00 am and I do my computer work and/or work out. It's still very dark. I share this with you because if I am to post new photos of my work for you, I need to remember to take them the day before, when I have adequate light. That doesn't always happen. So... today you get Bentley!

I did get my Tax License form for AZ filled out yesterday. It will go in the mail this morning. I'm pretty positive I won't have the number I need for my application to Arizona's "The Great Fair" by the time I need to mail that in, which is next Friday. I plan to call them towards the end of next week, but I may just have to write "in process" on my app. Oh well, that's the best I can do. At least once I get it, I'll have it. Those permits - they're called something different in every state, but they essentially give you the legal right to sell - are good for life. Unless you do something bad, of course. Imagine that... the government not taking the opportunity to charge you again every year. I'm not complaining!

I finished a piece yesterday afternoon called "The Dance". I'll photograph it this weekend and have pictures for you early next week. Today I need to get going on two pieces that are off to a slow start. The Collage Artists of America (an LA-based group I belong to) is having a call for entries for their upcoming fall/winter show. The theme is "Ripped and Torn". I may have mentioned it before? I honestly can't remember. But the judging is coming up in mid-November, so I need to get crackin' on that.

Check Out This Artist!

So... I went to this mini art fair in Pasadena on Sunday. While there, I stumbled upon this truly amazing artist. Her name is Jaime Zollars and her website is here. I find her work to be a delight - the composition and colors will immediately catch your eye. But then as you look further, you're drawn into the details of her slightly scary world. If you click on the "news" button, you'll see even more of her work. And if you click on "fun", you'll find an incredible step-by-step look at her process. I say "incredible" because I would never in a million years have guessed that she uses so much collage in her creations. It was a pleasure to find her.

Here it is Wednesday, and I'm still writing about the weekend! I dabbled a little with my paints yesterday, but didn't accomplish much. I worked on the computer a fair amount and actually... I'll admit it... watched a movie! Then Steve came home and we watched another movie last night after I made dinner. I guess yesterday was a "couch potato" day.

The second movie, "Take the Lead", had a great line in it. I'm paraphrasing, but it went something like this: "Not everyone gets what they want in life. But those who do are those who step up and go after it." Isn't that just so true?!?

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Seven years ago today, I married the man of my dreams...

I'll never forget the way you looked at me when you saw me for the first time at the top of the aisle. The memory of your expression makes my eyes begin to well up even now. Reciting the vows we wrote to one another, sharing just a few private moments in the bridal cottage following the ceremony, feeling so safe in your arms while we danced to "I Can't Help Falling in Love", and escaping to the elegant Beverly Hills Hotel. The night was nothing short of a fairy tale. And my dreams haven't stopped coming true since that day.

I love you with everything that I am. Happy Anniversary, sweetheart.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Did I tell you...???

Didn't I tell you I was a "book-aholic"?!?! I devoured my "Where Women Create" book this weekend. (Yeah, yeah, I know... so much for waiting to savor it on my trip, right?!?!) It was simply the best! I didn't expect it to get me thinking so much, which was a nice surprise.

It seems that there are two types of creators. (And this is my own conclusion after reading the pages and drooling over the pictures.) There are those who like minimalism, neatness, and order. Those people find inspiration when their work area is completely free of anything not relating to the task at hand. And then there are the other creators who thrive off of a sort of visual chaos. They need to see and be able to interact with their treasures... often all at once. Which type are you?

I, most certainly, am the latter. From time to time, I do put things in my studio away for the sake of cleanliness. But when I'm in the midst of a project, it's like a giant explosion went off. I used to feel bad about this... like a despondent child who couldn't follow simple rules such as "put your toys away when you are finished using them." But now I realize that's not true. The chaos and disorder are an integral part of my creative process. If things are shut away in a drawer, I forget about them entirely. I enjoy the intuitive dialogue that happens when my eyes feast on my treasures and a composition is built before I've even picked up the glue or paint. It is an interaction and a discourse that evolves entirely because of the mess.

I am so thrilled to finally give myself this simple permission. And moreover, I realize that my studio is not set up to support this creative "type". I really want to work on amassing decorative glass jars and containers where my found objects and ephemera can be displayed and seen. I want it housed, but out there. Do you know what I'm trying to say? Now I just need a bigger studio...

Here's the link the book again, in case you're interested...

Friday the 13th

I'm so happy it's Friday the 13th! Lately, 13 has been my lucky number. (You may recall that I was accepted into the juried competition with the theme of "Lucky 13" AND my room at Artfest is #13.) So, I'm excited for the day to unfold...

I received two books from Amazon last night. I've only just had a chance to flip through their pages, but they seem really awesome! The first is "Where Women Create". It's a sumptuous look at the private studios of some of the most creative women. The way in which each has displayed her materials is truly inspirational. Even if you don't make art, you will appreciate the utter celebration of the beauty in "odds and ends". And of course, the illustrious Wendy Addison opens her "Theatre of Dreams" studio to us, which is one of the primary reasons I bought the book.



The second book I ordered was Sally Jean Alexander's new book entitled, "Pretty Little Things". It seems to be filled with a wide assortment of projects, most of them soldering-based in nature. (No surprise there, if you are familiar with Sally Jean's wonderful artwork.) I am on the verge of jumping into this world myself, and I think her writing will serve as a great tutorial to help me learn on my own. There are also photos of her studio as well. The photography is a feast, and it's all flavored with her signature turquoise.



I'm certainly a self-proclaimed "Book Addict", so I'm just thrilled to add these two to my collection. I'm hoping to take them with me on our trip at the end of the month. I always enjoy savoring the contents when I have no demands whatsoever on my time!

Have a terrific, happy, lucky day everyone! And a wonderful weekend, too!!

12 Days of Christmas Swap

Does is seem like I'm a little too into the holidays perhaps a little too early this year???.... I think I'm worse than the malls! Anyway...

I'm participating in a swap called "The 12 Days of Christmas" hosted by the wonderful Lelainia. Each person is assigned a number, 1 through 12. All of the participants make 12 gifts and label them with our designated number. Then we send our handmade items to all of the other participants. On each of the 12 days before Christmas, we are to open one gift, in numerical order. Isn't this just the sweetest, most nostalgic idea? Anyway, since the gift itself needs to be a surprise, you're getting a picture of the outside. I'm putting them in the mail today.

My friend Edina posted a link to this website a while back. The artist, Catia Chien, just completely captured my imagination. I find her work both intriguing and beautifully haunting. Her art is just wonderful. Anyway, Catia's going to be showing at an art fair in Pasadena this weekend, which I have plans to drag Steve to. I simply cannot wait!

And last but not least, if you'd like some more inspiration and eye candy, please visit Pam Garrison's blog if you haven't already. Oh my goodness, her recent posts about her trip north sound like heaven on earth to me. I've made notes of her stops and have already informed Steve that we WILL be following in her footsteps at some point next year. The Alameda swap meet alone sounds worth the trip! Lucky for me, I have the sweetest, most supportive husband on the planet. But really, if it weren't for me, what would he do with his time?

Workin' Away...

A while back, I posted about being published for the first time in Teesha Moore's Art & Life. I received more than a couple requests from people who didn't subscribe but still wanted to read my article. Well, better late than never, I developed a new page on my website yesterday. The entire article, "Life on the Edge: Building My Website" is published there. You can get to it by going to the home page and clicking on the bottom text that says, "Click here to see..." Thank you to everyone who showed such an interest!

In the same zine, Art & Life, Diana Trout writes an amazing piece pretty much each and every issue. Her writing is always inspiring and her work and website are worth checking out. This month she highlights the artist Heide Murray. I just adore her felted creatures - they have such character!

Artwise, I did manage to finish these two journals yesterday. They are two of five which will be a part of The Folk Tree Collection's "Hearts and Flowers" show in January-February.

And I guess that's about it. I spent a great deal of yesterday researching outdoor art fairs for the 2007 season. The day just sortof slipped by me. Those applications are pretty intensive... and each one demands something more specific and different than the last. I'm happy I'm getting a good jump on things, though!

"Christmas Blessings" on Etsy

Good Morning!

I've got my "Christmas Blessings" fabric collages listed in my Etsy Shop now. If you're interested, or you know someone who may be interested, please send them my way. They would make really lovely gifts for the holidays. Here's a picture of what they look like.

And a big thank you to all of you who posted such wonderful comments of praise and support for "A Measure of Peace". I may not be able to respond to each and every one of you, but I read everything you have to say and it lifts me up. Again, I humbly thank you!!

I worked a lot yesterday on some new journals for the Folk Tree Collection's show in January. They're coming along. I'll post photos of those once I'm finished.

I ended up devoting a lot of time yesterday to various computer and paperwork tasks. Nothing too exciting, but necessary, nonetheless. I really am finding the need to get Excel... and a laptop, for that matter. Why does everything on our wish list as adults cost so much more than when we were young? Have you ever noticed that?

Cats and Birds

Well... how do I put this? There's no real way to save face here. Apparently, Montgomery is a Master Thespian. I was dead wrong. My only defense is that I am a loving and slightly crazy-paranoid mother? I phoned the vet on Friday and was able to speak directly with him. Montgomery never had an IV for his surgery. The anesthetic was through injection which his doctor performed himself. There was no way for a shunt to have been left in his arm. "Armed" with this new information (hey... it's hard to be funny at 5:30 am!) I resumed my poking and prodding. This time no reaction whatsoever. And both Steve and I could feel the same thing in both arms this time. So it must just be... I don't know? Something that's supposed to be there, I guess. Like I said... Master Thespian. My apologies to the vet and his staff.

I did manage to finish this piece on Friday. It's entitled "A Measure of Peace" and it's 12"x16". I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. I think it marks the "turning of the corner" that I've been lamenting about in my recent posts. It certainly is different than my previous work, although I think it still looks like "mine" somehow. It will be the first piece in a new body of work, the details of which are still floating around in my head. Basically, I just want to paint more realism and less "images as symbols" if that makes any sense. Perhaps you'll all have to just sit tight and enjoy the ride while I figure everything out. The inside of my head can be a frightening place sometimes.... lots of stuff just flying by with no real rhyme or reason. Be warned.

Anyway, because I'm proud of the fact that I actually painted something which I think most of you will be able to identify as a bird, here's a detail. (The large green thing, by the way, is a tree.) Baby steps. I didn't use a drawing or photograph for reference either. I just went for it. You're probably not that impressed, but I assure you... for me, this is a BIG deal.

I hope to have copies of this piece printed for use in our Christmas cards. I'd like to affix this image to the front of an ivory card. The recipients would be able to remove the artwork if they so desire and discard the rest. That's the plan... I'll keep you updated.

This weekend I also visited two different art fairs in an effort to estimate their worthiness. (I'm not really that high-and-mighty... just in a weird mood this Monday morning.) The first was really, really lame... only MAYBE 10 booths total! I'm glad I went to see that as it was touted as being something completely different. The second was an utter delight. It was set in the park in Studio City and the booths were all interspersed among the trees. It was like an idyllic walk in the forest in the middle of the city. There were approximately 140 booths and it was all high-quality art. And there was a good range from the serious to the funky. This show will definitely go on my list of shows for which I plan to apply in 2007.

My Baby

This is Mont- gomery. He is, other than Steve, the absolute love of my life. In fact, he's been in my life longer than Steve. He is 12 and a half and he is the epitome of unconditional love. (Of course, he can get grumpy with anyone who is NOT his mommy... which makes him all the more dear to me.) He rules both Bentley (our Welsh Corgi) and Audrey (our Himalayan) like he was born to be king. Here, he's demonstrating his presidential pose. He always sits with his legs crossed like that... just so regal. Yesterday he was extra needy and wanted to be held literally ALL day long.

I've been watching him because about two months ago, Montgomery had a little cut on his forearm. It scabbed over and seemed to heal. The past couple of weeks, I've noticed he's still really licking that area. I keep watching it.... sometimes he's fine with my fiddling and sometimes he pulls away. Well, last night, Steve and I really got in there and felt. Finally, it dawned on us... We think that the stint from his surgery in August is STILL possibly in there! Now that we've made the connection, you can feel it - clear as day!!!

I'm angry, and I feel like the most horrible mother in the world! Why didn't I figure this out sooner!?!? How come I didn't know??? We're taking him to the vet on Saturday morning. I hope and pray they don't have to put him under again just to get in there and look. I hate having to put Montgomery through this. It breaks my heart and I want to scream. The only "good" thing, I suppose, is that he's not really in any pain that we can see... he just gets annoyed when we start rubbing his arm. Montgomery, I love you with my WHOLE heart.... please forgive me.

To change subjects, thank you to all of you who wrote such kind, supportive, uplifting comments in response to yesterday's post. I think the source of my frustration stems from a desire to paint, what I will call for lack of a better term, "pseudo-reality". I don't want to do "realism," per se, but I would like to be able to paint a simple table and not have it look like Montgomery did it (although he IS very good). I guess like everything else, it will come only through doing the work and practicing. I know that. But I appreciate hearing the encouragement. It helps to know I'm not out here in some sort of artistic void, toiling alone. It helps to know that my struggles are more universal and are understood by all of you. What did we ever do with the artistic angst before the age of the internet?? Before we could just reach out across time and space to connect with friends we NEVER would have met otherwise? I know what we did... we cut off our ears and sent them via snail mail. Thank God I don't have to do that, dear friends!!

Being Honest

It's been a difficult week, I think...

The desire and enthusiasm to paint is there. But I just keep freezing... and getting distracted. It's ironic that I just finished my upcoming article on "Procrastination" for Artitude's winter issue. It occurs to me that I am doing exactly what I warn other people off doing in my article. And it all stems from fear.

I feel myself being pulled to create the type of art that I know will be accepted and revered in my altered art circle. I also feel a need to make art that I think other people will buy. As is the case for any artist, I just want my art to be liked.

Now, before you start, I already know what you are going to say... "You have to make art that is authentically you and that comes from your heart. Don't worry about what everyone else thinks! Make art that is real and people will love it." I know the dialogue. I've written or spoken those words myself perhaps a thousand times.

The freeze comes into play because I'm pretty sure I can't execute the type of art that I have in my head. It's not for lack of wanting it or having the time or the right supplies. I just don't have the technical skills to be able to paint a gorgeous painting. Lately I feel as though I rely on collage and hearts and birds and large images as a sort of a crutch.

Again, don't get me wrong... I have loved the process and the art that I've created on this journey of mine. All of the themes I have used have (and always will have) tremendous personal significance for me. I guess I'm just ready to turn a corner and do something new. Maybe that's what's called "creating a new body of work". I never really understood that phrase before. It seemed like all the work would just kind of blend together. But now I think I understand the importance of delving deep into a certain idea until you have learned and grown and made progress. When the time is right to let it go and look to something new, you'll know it. It will be there waiting for you like a dew-covered morning... full of promise. I suppose that's where I am now. But where I want to go feels like a universe away...

It seems surreal to me that my own writings would give me the answers for which I search. Maybe I have more intuitive knowledge than I ever realized? Anyway, I've just got to get in there and do. Maybe the first 100 paintings will be crap, but 101.... oh boy, look out! That could be the gem. There simply is no other way to get from point A to point B. And the first 100? Guess I'd better order more gesso...

Day to Day Minutiae

I got to the "create a post" part of blogger yesterday and for the life of me, couldn't figure out what to type. I'm feeling pretty much the same today, but I thought I'd at least offer an explanation...

Monday and Tuesday have been errand-filled days. And I finally got to the point that I had to do something about the dust. So I've been doing house stuff: cleaning, grocery shopping, errands, etc. Nothing too exciting but all stuff that needs to get done. With three pets, the hair-factor is pretty incredible. We take the hose from the vacuum and run it around the perimeter and under all the furniture as a sort of temporary solution when we don't feel like cleaning yet. Steve did that just five days ago. You'd be amazed at the amount of hair I still swept up! Mopping got even more. The house is about 80 percent clean now... just a few rooms left. So that's a good feeling. Friday it will be dirty again. I'm sure you all know the pattern...

In between all the domestic stuff, I have done a little painting. I float in and add a layer to my background and then move on to other stuff while that dries... for 3 hours. So, I'm not getting much art done, but I am doing something.

I did finish my pieces for the "12 Days of Christmas" swap, and I'd dearly love to post a photo. However, it's meant to be a surprise... so I can't! Did I tell you this already? I can't even remember... geez!

As for the Day Fire, I'm thrilled to report that it's 100 percent contained! That has been the fifth largest fire in California's history! I'm not sure when the heavy blanket of smoke still clinging to the mountains will finally lift though.

We lost power for a few hours on Monday afternoon. A transformer blew which, of course, started a brush fire. Luckily they got that out pretty quickly.

Well, for not having much to write, that's several paragraphs worth of boring domestic updates, huh? Not all of life can be a thrill ride... I guess we need the calmer, more hum-drum days to make the more exceptional days stand out. I'm not complaining, mind you. I'm so, so blessed to lead the life that I do... dust and all!

Happy October!

Well, this photo really isn't anything except a test. We downgraded the resolution on our "good" camera slightly to see if it would be enough for photos to be accepted by Blogger. Guess it worked, since this one uploaded successfully. I was going to delete it... I didn't make this or anything. It's just a Halloween ornament I picked up recently because the black cat reminded me of Montgomery. But then I decided, "What the heck? Why not give you something to look at in this post!?!"

I had a productive weekend, largely because I finished all of the pieces for the "12 Days of Christmas" swap I'm in. Yea! Check one more thing off the list. They still need to be packaged and wrapped and mailed, but the difficult part is behind me now. I also got my pieces for the "Lucky 13" show on their way to Mesquite. (Fingers crossed!)

The best news I can report, however, is that yesterday it DRIZZLED!!! I'm not sure where we are with the Day Fire this morning, but that weather HAD to have helped. I had dreams last night of even more fire... closer to home. I was running and flagging down motorists, asking them to them to call 911. I was the only one in a panic though. I ran and ran... then ended up at an audition being held in some weird, eerie, half-constructed building with scaffolding and flapping plastic and everything. Maybe I've been watching too much CSI...