My Wandering Imagination

Friday

2011-11-18T16:35:00.001-08:00

Gosh I get so involved in stuff I forget to post on here. Sorry. Mainly I think it's because I'm so used to "thinking" inside my own head, I rarely talk out loud. Posting here is like I have to think up words in my head first, which is quite difficult and very left-brained from what I'm used to in my basement studio where I work in silence with maybe a little quiet background Celtic music playing. So anyway, here I am again, if you're still coming here to see something, I have nothing new.... well, I have new stuff, just no pics. I am taking Sharon Tomlinson's newest class, Collage Faces, which is really fun. Anxious for LIFE BOOK to begin on Willowing
I'll try to remember to take some pics tomorrow. Until then...how do you like my background, I just love her graphics

studio pics today

2011-09-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Well I need to clean my studio, it's getting a little cluttered and hard to find stuff. Thought I'd share how it is today so when I get it cleaned up you can see the difference. I am taking Rhomany's FREE class starting October 1st for cleaning up our studios and making them inspiring places to be. You can sign up here, it's FREE:
Willowing

This may look organized already and it once was! But there's so much stuff on the floor in the way I can't reach my cupboards anymore. I'm not even sure what's in them!

Mehndi Designs

2011-09-08T17:50:00.001-07:00

I recently saw some great mehndi designs and thought I'd try making some of my own. I did this last night while watching American's Got Talent. Wouldn't this look great as a rubber stamp!

My New Journal

2011-09-08T17:46:00.001-07:00

I am so loving my new journal, I finally learned to do the coptic stitch from Googie in Suzi's new journal class. Take a peek!

More Space

2011-08-08T13:37:00.001-07:00

Well I was getting really tired of having my table so full of art supplies that I only had an itty bitty space to work in. So I decided to improve my tiny formica table (from our kitchen 40-some years ago) by building a little shelf and cubbies to hopefully keep me more tidy and organized. The shelf is built with 1x8 pine boards and the little drawers are 1x6 pine with scrap paneling for the bottoms. The green knobs I've had in my stash for ages and I love the bright green with the black. The cutting/painting matt is purple not pink as it looks in the picture. I cannot WAIT to fill it all up with my supplies! It's funny, I always seem to build something when my dh is out of town. He's coming back tonight and I'm done! Not that he bothers me or anything, he just likes to give advice and I prefer doing it my way, even if things are not engineering-ly perfect. I'm so happy how it turned out.

New Class

2011-07-27T17:55:00.001-07:00

This painting was created in a class I'm taking at Artful Gathering taught by Shiloh Sophia. It is painted on a gallery wrapped canvass. Loved the class and it's not too late to sign up. This saturday is the last day you can get in. Check out the link...lots more classes too.

New Journal

2011-07-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

I found this cool journal at Goodwill, it has tissue paper over each page so my sketches won't smudge. Yay! This is what I painted on the cover. It was all black, but I like this much better. Been drooling over all the cool studios atWhere Bloggers Create and it got me in the mood to clean up my studio and make it look more fun and get my supplies more accessable. Hope to have pics to share soon!

Finally summer is here in the Pacific Northwest, but I have to say, I have really enjoyed the RAIN! I'm a forest girl all the way!
Have a great week!

What I Want

2011-03-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

I avoid coming here! I think it's because it feels a little like coming on stage where I have to perform in front of zillions of viewers. Why I can't think of this as just a place to chat and have fun? I don't know. All I know is, I feel pressure whenever I think about this 4-months-since-I-posted-last blog. I love to write, but somehow avoid the very place where I can do so. Well I have been writing, just not to you...sorry. You see I have been retired from selling my artwork for almost, hmmm...I can't even remember now but it's been a few years. Since retiring I feel so free, no obligations, no pressure, no stress and it feels so good. But this blog is a reminder of all the online pals and gals I've met and love and think about, but yet I avoid it (this blog) like the plague. So, are you interested in what I've been writing? No? (stop reading here)
Well if you're still reading, to start with I made a list. A list of things I want to do or be.
I want to start clippings of my favorite plants and make new baby flowers for my garden
I want to art journal every day
I want to knit and sew a new wardrobe for myself
I want to collect and restore and display antiques
I want an antique shop
I want a little shop on our property that's only open like 12-4 on Sunday afternoons where I can sell plants, antiques and art
I want to create my own art journal books
I want to illustrate my bff's poetry and make one of a kind books
I want to visit my best cyber-pal in person
I want to dance in worship
I want to sing a big choir again like when I sang at the Billy Graham Crusade many years ago
I want to build a bird and fish sanctuary with jungle vines and reflecting pools for meditation
I want to create a reading, knitting, meditation, (fill in the blank) garden
I want to make pillows for my garden house
I want other artists to visit here and be inspired and refreshed
I want to make dangly things from crooked driftwood with beads and sparkly things that glitter and twinkle in the sun
I want to make kitten cottage where they can run and play and jump without hurting anything or themselves
I want to live a quiet life.
Now see. I do have things to write about, but why I avoid writing them here I don't know. I think basically I hate technology. I've had a brand new cell phone for at least a month and have yet to even turn it on. But I've been knitting up a storm and have finished my first (learn how to knit a sweater) doll sweater class and started one for ME. My hubby has been in Mexico on a mission trip for a couple weeks so I've had lots of uninterrupted time to play with yarn. When I figure out how to upload pics from my new camera I'll post pictures. But again, that's more technology so don't hold your breath. Actually not totally uninterrupted time. I've had to do all of hubby's chores, feeding HIS chickens (which I asked him NOT to buy) collecting eggs, putting them out in the box for sale, collecting the daily newspaper which HE subscribed to even after I told him I don't WANT a daily paper (although they do make good fire starters) and yes bring in my own firewood and build and keep a fire all day and night cuz it's still cold here in the Pacific Northwest. At least I'm getting a little exercise and fresh air every day. Well it's late afternoon now and all my chores (and HIS chores) are done and it's time to sit and knit for a while. No telling when I'll be back here so have a great life and take time to enjoy the little things.

Learning to Knit!

2011-01-04T11:05:00.001-08:00

This is a little knitted choker with a crochet border and a vintage button closure. I'm not very accomplished at all the knitting stitch varieties yet, so these hats are mostly a combo of knit/purl and crochet

I'm having so much fun, and the weather here has been soooo cold I love wearing my hats and scarves out and about, I even have one that I wear to feed the chickens, it's got bits of hay that somehow got stuck in it *LOL* Also remaking and altering some clothes from my closet into more of a mori style. I've always loved the layered look, this just gives me more of an excuse to indulge in it even more!

Wandering for sure...

2010-12-01T10:49:00.000-08:00

From mermaids to mori girls, how did I get here? I haven't posted anything since August??????? Eeeeps! Where has the time gone? Well to catch you up, I never really got into mermaids that much, I'd much rather paint fairies in the deep woods, with little critters at their feet and their hair tangled and flowing with flowers, nuts and twigs; their gown a little thread bare from traipsing around in the forest for so long. But alas, I'm getting off track. Now I'm interested in Mori Girls

I have joined a new class taught by mori girl Natalie Neumann. We are altering our own clothes to make them more artsy and woodsy. If you're interested check out her youtube trailer HERE
In the first live chat she shows us how to sketch mori girl fashions and I'm so excited. I love things with a formula! I even bought myself a new little journal at the thrift store, see? It was all brown but I added vintage text inside the heart shape and painted some of the twine and added flowers and beads. Inside are my mori girl fashion sketches.

My Mermaid Journal

2010-08-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

Yay! I have my new journal all ready for class next Monday, I'm so excited I can hardly wait. I love Suzi Blu Classes!

Turning over a new leaf

2010-08-10T14:44:00.000-07:00

Well I did it, I finally did it. I've been paying for a website for 3 years beyond when I quit selling anything so I took the bull by the horns yesterday and QUIT. No more verlenebrooks.com. At least for now, or until I change my mind, which I don't plan on doing but it's out there in case I panic one day and realize what I've done. I've been talking about this to myself and others for 3 years so this isn't a spontaneous decision. It's something I've given a lot of thought to and besides when I first got a a website in 1994 we didn't have blogs and facebook and etsy and all these other options for making ourselves known on the world wide web. But now it's different. I don't need a site that I have to pay for every month. At first I was thrilled to have my name in "lights" verlenebrooks.com. That made me feel special. But I've grown up a lot in the last 15 years, not just in years but in confidence and independent thinking.It feels ok now to just be me, I don't have anything to prove anymore. I just want to have fun, make stuff, collect stuff and play art with my friends. Having my dh retired was a big factor too. It's hard to run a home business when someone wants to chat all day and run around town and visit and make phone calls and ask "what's for lunch?" Do I sound like I'm trying to justify my decision? Maybe I am, maybe I'm little afraid I will regret it and I'm trying to convince myself of all the reason why I did the right thing. Well whether I did or didn't, it's done and I'm free. No more deadlines, ever again, when it comes to making art.

Wandering Thoughts on Prim

2010-05-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

I really like the new name I picked for my blog, it sure suits me!! I see by my last post I was addicted to making shrines. Well for the past month I have been addicted to something else. See, my studio and basement is all halloween/gypsy/autumn frenzy with beads and baubles and glitters and bright colors and dangly things. But my upstairs is another story. It's kinda dark with redwood walls in the living room and tan floral stripe wallpaper in the kitchen/dining area. Well that last shrine I made featuring my grandparents inspired me to start re-doing my upstairs a little. I wish I had an old farmhouse but I don't, so I do the best I can with prim decorating.

This is my hubby's grandma's old wood cook stove. When dh and I were newly weds we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house every Sunday for dinner which was prepared on this stove. Remind me sometime to tell you about the punkin pies we had for a Thanksgiving dinner that had sat in the warming ovens above for 2 days before T-giving!

I built this long shelf for my old books and small pewter collection, I painted to try and match the redwood, it's pretty close.

This was an empty closet we never finished when we built our house in the 70's. We just got busy raising babies and never got back to finishing it. So last weekend I put in new shelves to house my crockery and wooden bowl collection. I made a little blue tie-back curtain and just love how it turned out.

I built the 2 little shelves and had a dream about displaying my old keys like this on a chain. At night with the lamp on the keys make wonderful squiggly shadows on the wall behind them. Also my little collection of old whisk brooms and bells.

This is a big old pie safe I found on the street years ago. We keep all our photos and games in here. The big basket came from Grandma's house. That empty closet below the pewter shelf is where I built my new pantry.

This is our dining area, outside on the porch is stuff we're getting ready to sell at a big garage we're having the first weekend in June.

This is a corner of our dining area where the computer is. I wish I had a really big roll top desk to hide it in but oh well. I built the 3 shelves above it and keep my chicken stuff and more old tins up there. Well that's what I've been up to this past month. I'm going to finish up the living room and then take more pics. Like I said I wish I had an old farmhouse, but I doing the best I can with what I've got. I also wish I lived on EAST coast instead of the west coast so I had access to more old stuff!

Pierson Shrine

2010-03-25T10:42:00.001-07:00

I am sooo addicted to making these shrines I can't stop. I want one in every theme! Here is one I created in honor of my maternal grandparents, Fred and Pearl Pierson.

You can make them with just about anything, wood, foam core, old cigar boxes, jewelry boxes or balsawood. I have a new one started to fit between 2 matching windows in my garden house, this one is going to have a fairy theme. I can't wait to fill up all those little cubbies with fun fairy stuff. But first I have to clean up the basement, my dh is coming home from Mexico in a few days and he'll want his table back! oops....

Ophelia Shrine

2010-03-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my shrine, my theme is Ophelia.

The image is a print from a William Waterhorse rendition of Ophelia. This is a really fun class, Thanks to Zinnia!

I altered a tiny vintage bottle and put her name on the front label.

The rolled script is sealed with a tiny vintage wax seal.

On the top shelf is a little bitty broken egg I found in my garden house. Next class is tomorrow and I can't wait. If you want to join visit Roses on my Table

Hand Made Shrine

2010-03-08T09:48:00.000-08:00

I am so excited I just made my first little shrine with foamcore!

I can't wait for the next lesson to start decorating it! I'm taking Zinnia's Class she's such a great teacher and I love her old world style. I'm so pumped, I want to make more! I've thinking it would be fun to make some out of wood for the garden, I could hang them on my garden house or on a tree, of course they would be decorated like a garden shrine with moss and bark and all the fun dried stuff I've collected for years. I have a huge tub in the basement FULL of dried pods and forest gatherings...it's so fun to dig thru it and find just the right pieces. Well I'm off to play again today. Have a great week! - verlene

More ATCS

2010-02-19T19:08:00.000-08:00

You must get tired of me talking about my ATCs but I'm having so much fun I cannot contain my enthusiasm. These are for a fairy garden swap. I've all but forgotten about my art journal...ooops.

Baby Chicks

2010-02-19T19:01:00.000-08:00

Look what my hubby brought home today! 18 little fluff balls of goodness! Oh my I had forgotten how tiny they are at one day old.

We used to raise chickens when our kids were little but we haven't had any in about 15 years. So this was quite a surprise when my hubby walked in today with a peeping box in his arms! to your mouth and breathe on it...watch out. It will walk right into your mouth. *LOL* I must remember to watch Gracie Mae! My kitty! Never fear she is safely locked in my studio tonight. She might be just a tad bit jealous. Ya think?

Whimsical Owls

2010-02-14T14:17:00.001-08:00

Ya know, there's something about learning to draw faces that has given me the confidence to try drawing other things too. I recently signed up for a whimsical owl swap on ATCs for All just to challenge myself to see if I could do it. I'm really surprised how they turned out, I actually LIKE them! *LOL* They make me smile. Now I'm off to see what else I can draw. Hubby is sleeping in front of the tv, he ate too many of my chocolate hearts he gave me! *LOL*
Happy Valentines Day!

All Norah's Art

2010-02-11T09:47:00.001-08:00

Well I'm taking Sharon's class and trying once again to paint in a more impressionist style. I just can't do it. I always have to "fix" something *LOL* Well here's my first week's work...I love the flowers and the house tranfer! These are 5x5 paint and collage on wood. Sharon did hers on canvass but I couldn't find that size so I cut pine 1x6 into 5x5 chunks. So it's about 5 1/2 x 5.

Thank You!

2010-02-03T14:43:00.000-08:00

I'm so grateful to those of you who replied to my last post, I was really in a quandary of what to do and you all gave me the "push" I needed to make a change. Thank you so much! I tried to open a new blog but it said my email addy was already in use, so not being the technical sort, I gave up on that and decided to just change the template and colors for now and even the title! I need a new banner but all in good time. Right now I'm so excited about my new ATCs. You know that new Somerset magazine called......... oh darn, now the name has slipped my mind. See what I mean about wandering imagination? Anyway it's that one with all the soft little critters with the funny faces. Well I was looking at it in Joann's the other day and it inspired this little set of ATCs. It was really fun, something different that human faces.

Frog Prince
Kitty Love
Bunnykins
Chickiepoo

I want a new blog

2010-02-02T14:59:00.001-08:00

I guess I'm thinking out loud today, so excuse me while I mutter to myself. I find I'm really procrastinating coming here to post a new entry and I'm wondering if it's because I started this blog while I was still grieving over the loss of our daughter, Alison. Of course a parent never stops grieving a loss like that, however, I am feeling much better these days (for the most part) and coming here only reminds me again of my loss and how I felt then. I really need a new blog with a new background and lighter more uplifting colors, not pastel, yuk! I hate pastel. But maybe some vibrant gypsy colors or something like that. Or maybe I can just change this one but I don't know if I can change the name or not. Does anyone know? Like I said I'm thinking out loud today, I really want a change but not sure how to go about it. Maybe I'll sleep on it...or go paint something. If you have any thoughts I love to hear them. Thanks.

2010-01-29T18:11:00.000-08:00

Oh it's great to be retired! I have been making ATCs all week with my quickie background technique. I love love love working on a full sheet of watercolor paper, the opportunities are limitless! I tried something else today I had never done before. I added Titan buff to several colors and I really like how it mutes the shade and makes them slightly opaque. Here's my newest batch.

Brainstorm!

2010-01-16T11:14:00.000-08:00

I got the coolest idea yesterday while my BFF was over for an art day in my studio. I got a full sheet of watercolor paper and started layering on colors and textures and just having fun playing. Once it was dry I cut it up into ATC sizes and rounded the corners and now I have a whole set ready to embellish with whimsical fairy faces!

And the reason I need all these cards is because I recently joined two trading groups:

Ilustrated ATCs for All

and

ATCs for All

Now I'm really having fun! ATCs for all is free to join if you like making ATCS. The illustrated one is juried and you need to send them your flickr or web site to show your work. And if you want to trade with me, let me know!

ATCs

2010-01-13T23:06:00.000-08:00

I don't know where I've been all this time but I'm just now getting hooked on making ATCs...little tiny works of art that you can make in an hour. How fun. I just joined illustratedatcs.com and wow some of their work is amazing. I can't wait to trade for some hand painted birds or flowers! Here's the ones I've been making. And man am I having fun! I even took one to my hair dresser today when I went in for a trim and I got my bangs trimmed for free! That's a trade, right *LOL*

New Year New Journal

2010-01-05T08:12:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! I know, I am a bad blogger, it's been ages since I've posted anything and I'm feeling terribly guilty right now. But alas my resolution for this year is to feel no remorse. I will do what I can do and not beat myself up over what doesn't get done. So moving on...here is my new art journal for this year. It isn't very big so it may only last a month or so but I wanted to use my new handmade book I made this past summer in Julie's land of lost luggage class.

And speaking of classes...The lettering on this page, I learned from Martha Lever in another workshop. Doesn't it look fun!

This one says, Art Fulfills my every Whim, then over her head I put I have a lot of whims. Then I added some affirmative words and put "Approved" under her chin. If we don't approve of ourselves who will?

And I love this page, the little snowman faces were so fun to make.

Well I'm off to catch up...it's day 5 and I only have up to day 3. I'm following Art Journal January with Milliande on ning, trying to make a page a day for the month of January. Make some art today and have fun! - verlene

My new camera

2009-11-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

I have been so frustrated with the new camera my hubby bought me for my birthday a couple months ago. I keep taking blurry pictures. I can't hold my hands still enough to press the button down halfway while it automatically focuses, and then all the way down to finally take the pic. I think I need a manual camera! I did finally manage to get 3 good pics from about 100 this morning. Gracie Mae is now 6 months old and very much a part of our family. She has learned to meow at the studio window when she wants to come inside, and in the morning she can't WAIT to go back outside to play with the barn kitties and climb our old apple tree. I've been taking a few online classes just for fun but I'm not happy with what I've done yet. I'm still working on finding my own style I think. I want to paint faces, not draw them. Mine still look drawn. Oh well, winter is upon us and a good time to hunker down in my basement studio with a big blazing fire in the stove and practice painting! I also want to do some 3-D art...like something in a box! And I'm missing clay lately, I may try sculpting again but not complete dolls, just faces. Still thinking on that. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Art & Soul in Portland

2009-09-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited...Art & Soul starts tomorrow and I can hardly wait! I am taking 3 classes, one with Misty Mawn and 2 with Juliana Coles. Sorry I can't linke their names to their sites I'm not sure how to at the moment, I've totally forgotten. I'm close enough to the hotels to drive and come home every night, I love sleeping in my own little bed. Until I get back with some awesome new pics, please take a peek at the little friend I had visit me last night.

He must have flown in when I let Gracie mae in for the night. I had just settled down to watch a movie when he started flying around our vaulted ceiling. And of course hubby was out of town. Well he's safely outside now in the oak tree (the bat not hubby) but I snapped his pic just before he woke up enough to fly away.

Back in Business

2009-09-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

Gosh I can't believe it's been a whole month since I last posted anything. I've been so busy having fun in my studio, and playing with my kitties. Then our son's computer crashed and he's been using ours so I've had to share again, not only with hubby but son too. Well they're both out today so here I am with the computer all to myself. I have finally made a decision and it feels really good! I have taken a 2 year break from selling and I think I am ready to start again. I have joined the fabulous Arts a Flutter online magazine and will begin my listings for October. Yay! I'm so excited. And I'm revamping my web site at verlenebrooks.com. I only wish I had started this 2 months ago but oh well. I'm retired and I want this to be fun. No pressure. Just fun, making art, and finishing something! Wheee!

Painting Addiction

2009-08-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

If you haven't guessed by now I am totally addicted to painting faces. I keep thinking I'll get back into sculpting faces in clay but I just can't seem to pry myself away from the pencil and paper! Here's my latest, it needs some words with it but my mind is a blank...I'll look at it for a while and maybe something will come to me.

Acrylic Ink!

2009-08-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

I love the new acrylic inks by Liquitex, I found mine at Art Media in Portland. In this lesson we made abstract hair with dribbles of ink. The we added our own poetry. Mine says:
Autumns misty morning dew
Mingle with ashen tears
Bittersweet her memories
Of childhoods dreaming years

Portrait in Blue

2009-08-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

In this lesson we could only use one color, I found it really challenging since I love LOTS of colors! *LOL* But I'm pleased with how it turned out. The verse from Psalms says, The Lord will light my candle and enlighten my darkness. I love my new candle stamp!

Lesson 2 Color!

2009-07-22T18:38:00.000-07:00

Well here's my face for lesson 2 with colored pencil over the gray sketch. She's not done yet, this is all we're supposed to do for this week. Think I'll make more fantasy folks..tee hee. I've never been able to follow instructions very well, I find my mind wandering off into dark forests where I find imaginative creatures to draw! I'm addicted, I can't stop!

Imagine That!

2009-07-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited, went to B & N this morning and bought a new moleskin just for my fairies and clowns! I just finished decorating the cover and I'm so happy with how it turned out!

Fairy faces are more fun!

2009-07-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

When I was sculpting doll faces I always enjoyed making fairies and witches more than just regular people. I'm finding the same is true in drawing. If it looks too human it bores me. Here are a few sketches I did this weekend. Am I having fun yet? You bet I am! *LOL*

Portrait Class

2009-07-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well I've started my portrait class with Suzi Blu and I'm having so much fun! Here are my first sketches in gray tones. Can you tell I'm excited? *LOL* I can't think about anything else! This is really fun! I think you can still sign up until the 22nd, just go to her ning site.

Moleskin Journal

2009-07-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

EEEK! I only have 3 more pages in my moleskin journal and it will be full! It's so exciting to have a FULL journal now, this is my very first one! Then I get to start a new one! Here's some recent pages, it's more art than journaling but that's what I'm enjoying at the moment.

Commission!

2009-07-07T17:20:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited! I got my first commission! My doctor is going to India in 2 weeks, he is a psychologist going there to teach other doctors how to counsel people. India has the highest teen suicide rate in the world. How could I tell him, I can't do it? I couldn't. So I said, God, you've gotta help me with this and boy he sure did. Thank you God! I'm so pleased with how it turned out. The dr. wanted me to portray someone who is trapped in their past and can't move forward into healing. So here is the painting, Trapped in the Past.

Gracie Mae

2009-07-07T17:13:00.001-07:00

Gracie Mae is 10 weeks old now and she's so fun! I keep her in my studio to keep me company. She's getting to a feisty stage where she wants to grab my arm with front claws and kick with her hind feet. OUCH! So I stuffed an old black sock and tied a knot in the ankle and now she has to fight with the sock, not me! My arms are all scratched up from her play times. But then when she's tired, she is such a little cupcake...she crawl up the front of my shirt and curls up right under my chin and goes to sleep. Anways...these are progression pics... from the sock, to my lap, to her bed on my painting table. Isn't she just adorable!

Art Journaling

2009-07-07T17:03:00.001-07:00

Sorry I haven't been around for a while, I've been down the rabbit-hole playing with my kitty, Gracie Mae, and working in my art journal. I thought I'd share a few pages with you all. God has been blessing me so much in the area of overcoming fears and healing my heart of past hurts. These pages reflect my love for Jesus and how he's brought such healing to my heart.

Bubbles

2009-06-23T18:15:00.001-07:00

Sorry I've been so long without posting. I'm having fun with my new kitty and creating new pages in my art journal. Here's a layout I did today, thinking of bubbles as a spontaneously flow of God's love for us. I really like how the page turned out. I used Stickles glitter glue on each bubble after a light white wash of acrylic paint. I really feel the freedom in this piece, hope you do too. - verlene

Happy Anniversary 41

2009-06-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

Forty-one years today my hubby and I have been married. It feels like forever, and yet it feels just like yesterday. I tell myself I'm not old enough to be married that long *LOL* We went out for Chinese food tonight, then came home and walked around the garden. I thought you might like to see my "writer's nook" I created in the corner of a flower bed.

Also I discovered something today. I took of piece of corrugated cardboard and separated the layers so I had one side with the ridges. I coated it with gel medium on both sides and let dry. Then applied paint to the ridges and stamped them on my prepared journal page and it made perfect little horizontal lines for writing on. I just love how it turned out...I'll try to get a pic tomorrow.

Gracie Mae

2009-06-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

Ever since I found the new kittens in the barn, the momma has moved them UNDER the chicken house. Last Thursday I set about catching a baby and here she is...a spoiled little ball of fluff who is sitting in my lap as I type, trying to attack my fingers! I just love her! If you look closely in the 2nd picture you can see that her left foot is slightly pink. Well you see, I was painting today with her in my lap and she reached up to jump onto the table and put her paw right into my red paint and before I could stop her she had it on her ear, her lower leg and her tummy. After a nice warm bath, she's still a little tinted but warm and snuggly again. Needless to say I'm not getting much painting done for the time being.

Vintage Pink Windows

2009-06-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

These are the windows of a little shop we pass on our way to CA, between Grants Pass and Crescent City. The shop never seem to be open so this time I took pictures of what I could see thru the windows. It's looks quite tantalizing and I love imagining what I would find inside! And of course I just adore the vintage pink windows!

Heart Ache

2009-06-07T19:23:00.000-07:00

If you're a mom, you know that when your kids hurt, you hurt too. Well that's how I'm feeling tonight. Wish I could help but I can't. So I draw. - verlene

Home from Camping!

2009-06-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

So glad to be home! Had a wonderful trip!

Here is a little robin's nest, I watched the DADDY gathering dried grasses, I didn't know they were that involved but sure enough, he was the one gathering the grass and flying with it in his beak to the pine tree by the lake where Mama was waiting for him.

I used my dh's old fishing guide book 2003, for images on this page.

This is my JOY page.

Back journal cover.

Front journal cover.

Here I drew a little map of our camp site.

I am the camping queen, I love to camp and build fires, and roast hot dogs and marshmallows over the coals!

I saw so many birds I had to do a bird page, there was still bits of snow around the lake the temps were warming up and the birdies were everywhere digging worms and building nests!

I really like the green on this page, I love forest colors!
We had such a wonderful time, every kind of mountain weather imaginable from 85 to hail, thunder, wind and rain!

This is my little art table in the shade of the trees. The bright white background is the sun on the lake, too bright for the photo. Well it's nice to be home, the laundry is washed, and the camper is tucked away for now and my new kittens are almost 6 weeks old and sooooo cute! I need to get a pic soon. Bye for now...verlene

Going on Vacation

2009-05-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite photos, the reflection on the lake is so clear it's hard to tell which is water and which is sky. Our camper is packed, the fishing stuff is loaded in the boat, and my art supplies are tucked away in a vintage suitcase along with a couple of mystery novels. We plan to be back the 1st week of June. Make lots of art while I'm gone, I can't wait to see what you've created! bye for now - verlene

Broken People

2009-05-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

I have been involved with a group of artists for the past 10 months while we learned to draw and paint pretty girls. I have made many friends during this time, besides finding out I really can draw. But now it seems my snug little group of friends are at odds with one another and I feel pulled in two directions, as I have friends in both groups. What is a girl to do? I know one thing. We are all broken people, not one among us is perfect. My son happens to be bi-polar. That is his medical diagnosis. But that is not who he is. He is a person, a son, a brother, a friend, a computer software designer and a genius. He loves to play chess and scrabble and basketball and take hikes in the mountains of eastern Oregon. To label him, bi-polar, and put him in a category with all other bi-polars would not be fair to who he is as a person, nor would it be an accurate description of him, as his attributes are not exactly like anyone else's, neither are mine or yours. When my son is on top of the world, he makes plans and then doesn't fulfill them because he crashed. Does this make him a liar? No. If he promises something and then gets too flighty to accomplish it, is he a criminal? No. Someone once said, "he who is without sin cast the first stone". I'm not holding any rocks in my backpack. How about you? What is a girl to do? I've made my choice. And it does not involve burning someone at the stake because they made a few mistakes. Life is so short, why spend time rehearsing negativity, for one thing it's not good for your health. There is so much about life to love. Be a positive influence wherever you are, spread a little sunshine and let people know they are loved. - verlene

New Kittens

2009-05-14T14:26:00.001-07:00

I knew we had new kittens somewhere but I couldn't find them. The mama is wild you see, she was born in the wheel well of our pickup when the camper was on it so it was nice and dark and hidden. We didn't know about her (the new mama) until she was 6 weeks old, stalking towards the food bowl with her stomach to the ground and ears layed back. She won't even eat if our feet are anywhere in sight. Anyway, she finally had babies and hid them away in the dark recesses of the barn where hubby parks the tractor, behind a little rototiller, under the chicken nesting boxes in the hay with wire fencing rolls on all sides of her. While she was eating today I sneaked down with my camera determined the find them AHA! I do love the little girl with one white ear, she has a perfect black diamond on her nose and her other ear is all black. They are all girls except for a tiny little boy, the runt, who is just adorable. When I hold him he digs himself into the crook of my elbow to hide his face. All the others will look at me with their wide little kitty eyes. We have an awesome God don't we, just look how perfect these little baby jewels are, right down to the tips of their furry little tails. Want one? - verlene

Muse of the Woods

2009-05-11T17:08:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for the lovely comments over my recent post. I do appreciate every one them and continue to read them over and over. Thank you.

Ever since we moved to Oregon (from California) in 1968, I have fallen in love with the woods of the Pacific Northwest. Between the woods and my little garden, inspiration is never lacking. I hope you like her, this was a really fun piece and I'm sooo in love with layers! - verlene

Posies

2009-05-08T16:12:00.001-07:00

I just finished this little gal today, finally. At one point I thought I'd gone too far with the layering but I kept adding more until I think she's ok now. A little cluttered maybe, I'm just not sure. I like her dress and posies! - verlene

Blogging... or to Blog

2009-05-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

Blogging is a verb as I'm understanding, just like journaling has now become a verb, an ongoing diary of a personal nature, including opinions and thoughts, photos, art, poetry.... an online connection with others of like mindedness where comments and ideas can be shared and lone souls can find friendship. The idea is good I think, but somehow I feel we've missed the boat. I'm usually quite shy and very hesitant to share my opinion especially if it might be controversial. I'm not here to argue with anyone, I'm just sharing what I believe and what I know. Take it or leave it.

I have many artist friends who used to have their own web sites, who are now using their blog as a selling venue because it's free. I know money is tight these days, I feel the crunch as well as the next guy. I know fears can overtake common sense sometimes and we don't always say or do the appropriate things. But let's get real here. We are all affected by the economy. We all could use a few extra bucks. But at what cost? I won't say "never" because that's dangerous, but I will say I do not plan to sell my soul for the cost of a doll or a painting, especially if I copied it from someone else! But that's another story. Back to blogging, I enjoy the bloggers that talk to me, not chit chat but real talk. I don't want shallow relationships in my life, I have no time for that. I absolutely hate clicks (not spelled right) because they exclude people and talk about them behind their backs. I don't want people in my life who play games and pretend to have it altogether or stand with eyebrows raised like they think they're better than I am. I know they aren't, because none of us are. I came from a very dysfunctional family and married a dysfunctional man, we raised 3 dysfunctional children and shed buckets of tears over our own mistakes and theirs. We live in a dysfunctional society in a dysfunctional world. We lost our daughter to suicide 6 years ago due to some bad meds, and if that isn't cause for anger and depression I don't know what is. But you know what? I have taken Tascha Tudors advice to "choose joy". I remember stomping across the kitchen floor 6 years ago, screaming, you will not take me down with this! I refuse to go down! I choose joy this minute and for the moments of this one day, I could only take one day at a time, one moment at a time. That's all we can ever take, this one moment, this one day. Yes God is healing me, and without Him I could not have made this journey and survive. I walk with Him daily, He is my friend, my father, my brother, my Lord. But I still must make a decision to choose joy. I know many Christians who are weary and negative and judgmental, and not fun to be around. Where is their joy? It is a choice my friend. No matter what you've been thru or what you're living thru right now, happiness is a choice that only you can make. Take control of your life. Choose joy. Trust God. Love people. Be true to yourself and others. Live with integrity!

June 16, 2009, is our daughter's anniversary, her name is Alison, and I know her heart sings because she accepted God's gift of salvation and we will see her again one day. This is a hard time of year for us but we continue to be strong, trust God, and choose joy. We plant flowers and veggies and take vacations together, and sing! I hope and pray that you can make this choice with me today, and together we can make the world a prettier place with our words and with our art. - verlene

In my dreams...

2009-05-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

I'm not feeling very good today so I've just been sitting here watching youtube. I sure would love to be able to paint like
THIS
- verlene

Inspiration

2009-05-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

Today I watched a short video clip by Maureen White on Gritty Jane about inspiration. That got me thinking about why I am not trying to currently sell any of my paintings. I have been creating and selling my own art work for 30 years, but it was all my own original stuff, from wood work and carving, to sculpted clay dolls, and cloth doll patterns. I taught myself how to do each of these things, and the designs and ideas were my own. However, last August I took my first online class on how to paint a pretty little girls face. From that class I took another and another and continued to learn what I could not teach myself. Six months later I now feel confident in drawing and painting a face but yet I'm still not ready to offer anything for sale because...and now I think I know why... it's because I want to make sure the dolls I draw and paint are MY faces, not someone else's. I want to be known for always having my own style just like in the past. I'm not sure I have that yet, my own look when it comes to drawing, so I keep practicing and drawing and maybe one day the time will come where I have the confidence to present my OWN little girl faces on ebay or etsy. But until then I am content to play and experiment and find my own way. Blessings dear friends, have a wonderful weekend. - verlene

Rock Head Part 2

2009-04-21T15:30:00.001-07:00

Yay! Isn't he just the most adorable little gremlin you ever did see! I had such fun dressing him today in dried forest findings and he even smells wonderful. I had his "clothing" in a large tub with potpourri oils so he's quite fragrant. Such fun, I may need to make more. *LOL* - verlene

Playing with Rocks

2009-04-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd try something a little different, sculpting with a rock. This is kinda fun, I used Aves Apoxie Sculpt and wire. I'm thinking of making him a little leather vest and adding moss and twigs around his ears and neck. I'm please with how he's going so far...I love his big bat ears! *LOL* - verlene

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A Blog Award for Me!!!!

2009-04-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

This is a very special day for me, I got my very first BLOG AWARD! How very exciting! And thank you to Shonna for thinking of me!

This Renee award was created by Bella and Ces in honor of their friend Renee.
In Bella's own words "this is a brand new award and I have the pleasure and honor of spreading the seed, watching it grow. I hope it finds it's way to those who are like Renee: the acorn, a small package becoming a tall and sturdy oak, giving more acorns, becoming tall and sturdy oaks, giving acorns..."

And now I get to pass this along to other artists I admire! And this is going to be hard because I love soooo many I can't list them all! So here goes:

Miriam

Jane

Rimi

Cat

Sharon

Enjoy browsing these fun blogs! - verlene

Angel of Abundance

2009-04-16T18:02:00.001-07:00

I'm having so much fun painting since I learned how to draw a face! Thank you, Suziblu! It feels like spring today and I've been in my studio puttering around and playing a little...this is my art offering for today, Angel of Abundance. I know it's barely spring time but I'm seriously thinking Halloween! I am not fond of pastel colors and although I love kitties and bunnies in real life, I can only take so much of them in the stores all fluffy and pastel and pink. I think that's why Halloween intrigues me so, the mystery of the dark colors and the fantasy of the holiday in general. Hmmm...I'm thinking about my next painting, or maybe it's a sculpture, I haven't played with clay in such a long time, I'm getting a taste for it again. We'll see! - Think Creatively - verlene

Procrastination with Excuses

2009-04-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

I still have a bad cold, feel like sleeping all the time, sneezing, coughing, itchy watering eyes, gosh I feel like a commercial *LOL* can't even think about making art, I feel awful physically but emotionally I'm on top of the world with so many ideas in my head I can't wait to feel better! Well so I thought I'd share some pics with you of what I used to make before I learned to draw and paint.

I made these little dragon wings with wire and fantasy film. Can you tell I used to be really into BLACK? I'm better now, thank God. Hope you have a wonderful day, think creatively! - verlene

A Brighter Monday

2009-04-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Well I'm feeling better now and I just wanted to thank all of you who responded, Shonna, Rhomany, Blaiz, Jennifer & Nina, and all the private notes I received too. Thank you! Holidays seem to be an emotional trigger for me, unconsciously reminding me of childhood times that were less than joyful. I always breathe a big sigh of relief when the holiday is over. I used to do ok when our kids were little because there was so much activity I didn't have time to think about how I felt. Now the kids are grown and on their own and it was just me and hubby yesterday, it felt kinda lonely. But I have a giant head cold anyway so it was kinda nice just laying on the sofa watching NBA basketball and Nora Roberts marathon all day, gosh I love her movies, I need to read her books!

This little guy makes me happy, I just thought I'd post his picture today cuz I don't have him anymore. My good friend Kelley won him in a drawing I had last year and that's how we became friends! Hi Kelley!

I did change the colors on my web site and thought of some new things I could make, ornaments and adornments! I have so many ideas I can't wait til my headache is gone and I can breathe again to start working on them. I have been collecting the supplies for years and just now have become inspired to make something with them. Maybe the sunshine helps...well sorta...it's between the clouds today.
Think creatively - verlene

Brown Wednesday

2009-04-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

I don't know where I'm going with this post, I'm just going to start typing and hopefully my thoughts will come out making sense. I am hating my web site (verlenebrooks.com) the purple is about to gag me. I don't know who did that but I hate it. Actually I made the graphics, but I don't know what I was thinking because now I hate them. I want dark, subdued browns and blacks, no more bright purples, oranges and reds and yellows! No more happy smiley girlies in my paintings, I need shadows and hidden places and dark cubby holes to hide in. I get scared, well that's not the word, it's not scared really, maybe it's just shy, extreemly shy. I was about to delete this whole blog today but my good friend talked me out of it and suggested I talk to you all and be totally honest. So here I am, honest as the day is long, I want to run away and hide. Sorry I have no art to share, I have an argument going on in my head about what colors to use! I do struggle with depression some but my meds should be taking care of that, so I don't think it's depression. Maybe it's the threat of the looming hot summer before me...... that could do it! So anyway, I'm being totally honest here, don't feel obligated to reply. I'm just letting you know I'm here and my happy-go-lucky self isn't. ttyl - verlene

Much better day - Thank you!

2009-04-02T18:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much for all your notes of encouragement, you made my day, knowing I'm not the only inept soul among us. We must hang together you and me and we'll all go nuts together. *LOL* I've had a much better few days and even finished a painting, not the ocean sketch I had start but a new one. I have recently been researching some of the old "masters" of paint and I have fallen madly in love with Adolph William Bouguereau. His paintings of peasants have captured my heart and this is how I want to paint! Today I did a sketch of a little girl, somewhat like Cinderalla, in ragged clothes with an old string mop in her hands as she gazes off into space dreaming of her prince in shining armor. Well....I'm getting way off track. Here is the painting I did yesterday and I really REALLY love the stone arch and bench. I think I'm going to do more of this! I used little squares and rectangles of card stock to make the stones and I really love how textured if makes this piece. - catch ya later, verlene

Not a good day

2009-03-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

This has NOT been a good day. I got in my car this morning to go to the store. It started just fine (the car) but as I started down the road it began to quiver and shake so bad I actually found myself getting car sick. I stopped at a tire place on the way to see if I was imbalanced. Well...not me, the car. They said my tires were fine and they checked the U joint, whatever that is and said it was fine too and I should get a tune up. Well on the way home with groceries in the car I stopped at our little local mechanic who soon discovered it was the fuel injection thingie going haywire. He wouldn't even let me drive it home and come back at a more convenient time. Good thing I had my book with me, The Alchemyst, or I would have gone stir crazy. 3 hours later he gives me the keys to a LOANER with a stick shift! And then hands the lady behind me the keys to an automatic. Hey I says to him, you had an automatic and you didn't offer it to me? Ooops, he says, sorry. Rats. So...a new fuel injector...I'm looking at $900-$1000! And of course my hubby is in Mexico with no phone service so I can't ask his advice. I never should have tried to fix my blog tonight with a new sparkling slide show of my past art, I think it's all screwed up now. I can't even find my pics on picture trail anymore. See...it's not been a good day all the way around. I need cake. Chocolate.

Just call me confused

2009-03-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

Ok...see the thing is, I'm trying to add a flicker slide show to this blog but it keeps putting it as a new post. I don't know what I'm doing wrong...I told it to go at the bottom of the page. I give up. - verlene, who is going off to read The Alchemyst.

Alison's Heart Sings

2009-03-24T19:27:00.001-07:00

Not so easy...

2009-03-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

...but leave it to me to try something new. I wanted to paint an iconic angel like the ones I see on youtube, not draw it first, but just start painting. It wasn't near as easy as I had expected but here is my first (and last) attempt.

I know she has very sad eyes, I tried to correct that but I couldn't no matter how hard I tried. I thought she had a rather compassionate expression actually so I named her Compassion and she'll go on my wall with a sticky note that reads "draw it next time!" I think she's kinda pretty in a way, I do love her purple gown.

My husband is away on a missions trip to Mexico and I have way too much time on my hands I think. - verlene

Creative Textures

2009-03-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about a new group I've just joined called Creative Textures Check it out for some amazing artists! Here is my first project using one of their techniques, the prompt was a HAND. This was really fun and I love how it turned out. I'm thinking the hand and heart need some crackle tho.

Sorry I haven't been around lately, too much going on here at home. First the IRS wrote and said we owed more money, seems we messed up on ONE little number but now it's all ok again. Next a small tree fell on our barn and the water heater started leaking inside the garage (which is adjacent to my basement studio) Very scarey! And then my dh's uncle passed away and between all this I haven't been too inspired to paint. But I'm back, things have calmed down, dh is in Mexico on a missions trip and I'm alone painting! Yay!!!!!! - verlene

Map Table Done!

2009-03-06T18:07:00.001-08:00

Well remember my old coffee table find. Here it is all junked up with my collage supplies! I also added all my studio pics to flickr if you're interested.

My Art Studio on Flickr

2009-03-06T14:28:00.001-08:00

Being retired is so much fun...we just got back from a 2 week trip to northern California, we shopped, rummaged for treasures on secluded beaches and junky 2nd hand stores, and visited little funky art galleries. I am sooo inspired. I did take minimal art supplies along with me and here is what I made, 24 little squares of wood, 3"x3", for ornaments over my studio windows. Did I tell you I’m going to hang garlands of greenery and golden twinkle lights over each window and hang these little girls as ornaments. I’m going to add little wire hangers and some shiny whimsical danglies along the bottom edge. I had such fun....wait til you see what I make next...I shouldn’t even tell you this much cuz who knows how long before I actually make it. *LOL* Oh well....it’s nice to be home in my own little bed and my own STUDIO! I did read one book during the trip, The Magician by Michael Scott. I know, it’s book 2 of a series but I didn’t know that when I started reading it. Magical book, the best I’ve read since the Harry Potter series. Now I’m pestering the post man every day for book one from amazon! Book 3 is due out in May, The Sorceress! I can’t wait! Anyway here’s my art project. Oh, the crow at the top is the lid to a wooden box I'm making.

Same song 2nd verse

2009-02-09T17:30:00.000-08:00

Or something like that....my same doll-maker studio re-done to accommodate all my mixed media supplies which I've been hoarding upstairs in the dining room. This is the south end of the room and my sewing/mixed media table. The map table is still in progress...I never should have collaged that old map on it cuz now I'm going to hide it all with more little drawers and cubbies for my supplies. Oh well....enjoy the pics so far. - verlene

My New Map Table

2009-02-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling quite a bit better now, after my mishap in the attic. The ceiling is patched and we can hardly notice where it broke. Good job hubby! Well I have a little story to share about my need for a little table. Check out this pic and read the story below.
I have been trying to move all my collage supplies downstairs to my studio but I was running out of room. I have this long narrow space in front of my big window and it usually just got junked up with miscellaneous stuff. So I cleared it all out and prayed for a table to fit that spot. I set off for Goodwill last Friday morning and after browsing 2 stores and finding nothing, I finally found this wonderful old table from the 60's! Thank you God...it was (drum roll please) $7.99! It had water marks, ciggy burns, and candle wax scattered over a very dark brown finish. I scraped off the wax and sanded lightly. Dry brushed off white paint, and applied (collage style) a vintage map of Medieval England on the top. After several washes and stamped images and scrolls I think I'm about done. I have a couple other vintage images I'd like to add and then give it one more overall stain to blend all the colors. There is a long shelf underneath plus a little cubbie hole with a door on it. Lots of room for color pencils, watercolor crayons, papers, punches, stamps, inks, papers, ephemera and other tidbits. I'm anxious to get moved down there so I can start painting again...I've really missed it! Thanks for all your well wishes, I'm doing much better! Thank you! - verlene

Clumsy Me

2009-01-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

Ya know that little voice inside your head that says, "uh- are you sure about this"? I will always listen to that voice from now on! Last week, I was climbing the drop-down stairs to the attic to get a purple shelf to help organize my studio, when this little voice in my head said, "ahem...if you get hurt up there, no one is home to rescue you". "Oh I'm not going to get hurt, I've been up here a million times and nothing has ever happened", I argued, as I got to the top of the ladder. Ah there's my shelf...right behind that old wooden kitchen chair. Well I picked up the chair to move it out of the way and one leg of the chair caught on a rafter and threw me off balance. I knew the top of the stairs was right behind me and I didn't want to fall all the way down them (all this in one split second) I put my right foot backwards to steady myself and I stepped off the flooring and right into the insulation and thru the dry wall board of the hallway ceiling. Needless to say I'm a bit sore, I'm bruised from my knee to my hip and haven't been able to sit much for the past week. The Dr. says I was in shock after, because I can't remember how I got out of the hole and down the ladder. The next thing I remember I was vacuuming the stairs! When I realized what I was doing and how much pain I was in, I stopped cleaning and fell into an over-stuffed chair where I waited for our son AJ to come home, my hubby was on a trip and was midway between CA and OR. Anyway I'm fine now, just a bit sore yet, and finally able to SIT...and tomorrow I PAINT! Yay!!!!! - verlene

Royalty

2009-01-04T21:28:00.000-08:00

I am taking a class with Suzi Blu and this painting was inspired by our recent lesson about honoring our position was women. This is a mixed media painting to symbolize our royal passage as daughters of God. I used real pressed pansies on her robe and tiny rhinestones on her dress. Textured background is accented with gold leaf. I had such fun creating this piece today, just had to share. Have a lovely evening. - verlene

Pursuing the Art of Listening

2009-01-04T14:57:00.000-08:00

I think this will be my goal for 2009, pursuing the art of listening. Listening to my own inner voice, listening to my insecurities and vulnerabilities and responding with compassion, gentleness and encouragement, listening to the murmerings of God in my heart and knowing his love for me can surpass anything this world can throw at me, listening to the voices of those I love and really hearing their message so I can better be a friend to them, and finally listening to the cries of my heart for those who don't know the way and relying on and fully trusting God to meet their needs and mine.

~ Listen ~

Happy New Year 2009

2009-01-01T16:39:00.001-08:00

Ta-DAH! I am so excited...today I bought my first ever MOLESKIN journal with wonderful thick pages that I can paint and write on! I have never kept an art journal before but thanks to inspiration from Suzi Blu, Milliande, and Misty Mawn, I am on my way into the wonderful wacky soulful world of art journaling! I'm so excited I hardly know how to start my first page but I'm determined that by the time I go to bed tonight I will have one page done. If it is worthy of public viewing I will post it here.

Happy New Year to all!

- verlene

Christmas Snow & Art !

2008-12-29T12:11:00.000-08:00

Even since we moved from California to Oregon 40 years ago, I have craved a white Christmas! Well I got my wish this year, boy did I ever!!!!! We had 18" inches of luscious white goodness and even tho we were without power for 5 days over Christmas, I still love snow!

This is my little garden house, Bittersweet Retreat, barely visible behind my weeping willow tree. There is a piece of corrugated tin over a small pile of firewood that wouldn't fit in the wood shed, you can see the depth of the snow there...just awesome! Remember this is the Pacific Northwest! We never get this much snow, maybe an inch or 2 but it melts the next days. This stuff it still around and it's been almost 2 weeks. It helps that we have a northern exposure.

I did get a couple paintings done over the holidays, Midnight Snow and Snow Play.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are making plans for your brand spanking new year ahead. If you come up with a New Year's Resolution that does not involve dieting or getting organized let me know. I need something fun and artsy or it will never get done! *LOL* Happy New Year dear friends.

- verlene

Love is Sacred

2008-12-19T15:02:00.000-08:00

Divine Heritage

2008-12-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

I found this lovely lady in a black and white painting by Alexander Cabonel in a very old book with no date. I knew I had to capture her in color. This is my rendition of his painting and to me it symbolizes my sacred position as a child of God. - verlene

Christmas Angel

2008-12-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

I don't know how much painting I'm going to get done during the next couple of weeks, so I just wanted to leave you with this new Christmas Angel.

I wish you all ... peace of mind and heart. ~ verlene

Ornaments

2008-12-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

I got the idea the other night to cut some wood into 3" x 3" squares and make little ornaments out of them. Here's my first one and I love how fast it goes together...a background paper, a painted paper doll face, some music wings, ribbon, stickers and a special word. Easy and fun!

Reflection

2008-12-08T13:09:00.000-08:00

I often find myself doing a lot of internal dialog while I’m creating art and sometimes things come to my mind that prompt further probing. One of the things I’ve been mulling around in my head lately is how so often we look up to certain people and wish we could be like them. We look at movie stars or prominent people in society, or idols of the past, and we see attributes in them we’d like to emulate. We tend to copy the hair styles, clothing trends, verbal expressions, world views and even spiritual beliefs. Do we think that somehow we could love ourselves better if we were more like someone else? Would the world love us better? Would our families love us more? Could we be more accepting of ourselves if indeed we could be more like our idols?

I have a little pond just outside my studio window. My kitties love to sit on the rocks and watch for the goldfish, but are often distracted by their own reflection on the surface of the water. Their reflection looks just like them, they can see their little green eyes, their fluffy fur and the sparkly jeweled collar around their neck. But that reflection does not have the ability to walk away and live its own life apart from the kitty. The reflection is just that, an image, not the real kitty. When the kitty walks away, the reflection doesn’t follow, it just disappears.

In my life, I want to be the real me, not a reflection. I want to be authentically me..hang ups and all. Of course I want to grow and develop and continue learning and maturing, but I don’t want to be like someone else. I want to be me. If I was going emulate anyone, I would want that person to be perfect. But earthly speaking, that is not impossible. So it looks like I’m stuck with just being me.

There is a lot of talk today about being authentic. That is an honorable quest, but how we do that exactly?

I think that’s going to be my goal for 2009,

pursuing the art of authenticity.

I want to be who God intended me to be, when he created me. In 1948, when God decided to breathe life into a tiny fertile seed, I know he had something in mind. That is who I want to be, God’s idea of me.

As I see it, that’s the only surefire way of being truly authentic.

Star Angel

2008-12-06T15:44:00.001-08:00

I painted this Star Angel a couple weeks ago and the more I looked at her the more I didn't like her background...it was all just too plain and not enough going on. So today I printed off a nice color copy and and made this, I like it sooo much better now and I love the multi-layers! The face looks a little faded because it's a print but I still love it.

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Oxymorons

2008-12-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

Ever since I picked up a pencil for the very first time, as a child of 3 or 4, and learned that my crude markings could create images whereby I could express myself, I have become captivated and totally addicted to the act of writing. Besides painting and sculpting, there isn’t anything I’d rather spend my time doing than putting my thoughts and musings down on paper.

So here we go...today I feel like talking about “oxymorons” - two words that seem to contradict each other. I know it didn’t start out this way, but in today’s hectic, high stress, fast-moving pace of life, and with the dysfunction of our families and broken relationships, the words “happy holidays” has become more of an oxymoron than a cheerful seasonal greeting. What has happened to the happiness and why do the holidays bring such dread to our over-exhausted minds?

I have found that my happiness comes from somewhere very deep in my soul. It is not influenced by situations, people or events. It is not dependent on whether my kids love me or not, or if my husband remembers my birthday and our anniversary. It comes from somewhere so profound and supernatural that the world cannot disturb it, change it, or remove it. The happiness I have in my heart is more like a peace of mind, a contentment, a belief and assurance that I am taken care of and nothing will happen to me that that I can't handle with God's help.

Jesus said in John 14:7, “I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. My peace I give you.”

I know we each have to make our own choices and decisions regarding our spiritual convictions, and this is my personal belief. With all the stressed out, angry, hurting, discouraged and suicidal people in the world, wouldn’t it be an awesome December if we could all experience peace of mind and heart. Then it truly would be a Happy Holiday.

The Resurrection of Hannah Higgs

2008-12-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

As you may recall, I started this piece before Thanksgiving and finally got around to finishing it today. I needed/wanted a piece in these colors for our living room, which is decorated in "old farmhouse". *LOL*

I found the article about Hannah Higgs in a c. 1900 Harper's Weekly and just knew I had to incorporate it into a collage. The 3 girls represent the farmer's daughters as they listen in rapt attention to the mysterious tale.

Wise Words

2008-12-02T08:26:00.000-08:00

It's been a really busy weekend and I have no new art to share....yet. But just wanted to stop in and leave you with a word of wisdom for today. Hope to have new pics soon! Make it a great day! - verlene

A word wisely spoken is like fresh golden apples in a silver plate. Proverbs 25:11

Thanksgiving Sunday

2008-11-30T18:30:00.000-08:00

Good evening friends, I hope you all had a lovely holiday and lots to eat. I'm not much of a cook so once the meal was done and the dishes washed and put away, I was back to my art supplies. I found an old brown scrapbook at Goodwill with blank pages last week! What a find! I painted the covers with black Gesso, then black paint which I stained with alcohol inks and rubbed dry.The lovely girl balancing on the tree is a picture I found and I love her sense of composure, confidence and poise.

I added her picture to a black background with a purple cardstock 2nd background. I stamped small scrolls and added texture with molding paste and more scrolls. I want to add some beaded ribbon to the edges yet, but I have my first page done. I am thankful for...and then I listed all my blessings and glued them on the girls dress. Her wings represent the freedom I have in God, the flowers and the dove in her hair are for the beauty and mystery of all creation. And the vintage photos represent my heritage of faith. I had a lot of fun creating this page and can't wait to do another one! It's such a nice big book there's lots of room to play and journal. - verlene

Angel of Abundance

2008-11-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

Gratitude Attitude

2008-11-24T10:53:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in life it’s really hard to find something to be thankful for. Stress and dysfunction cloud our thinking and create a fog in our brain where thankfulness is hidden beneath the dark rubble. I have been in this place before, where finding something to be thankful for was beyond my reach. I was stuck in the quicksand of life’s trauma and could barely reach a hand up to cry for help. God did help me that day. He showed me that being thankful is not about things or people or events. Thankfulness is an attitude of the heart. It’s about acceptance and forgiveness. I didn’t learn this in that one moment, in that one day, in fact I am still learning it. Five years ago, when my heart was the lowest it has ever been, I could only be thankful for the smell of garden dirt. Every day in the garden, as I cried on my knees, holding the soft soil cupped in my hands, its coolness pressed to my lips, I repeated the words, God thank you for the dirt. In my darkest hour, through the sweet fragrance of dirt, I learned thankfulness...a grateful heart. Yes, I could make a long list of “things” I’m thankful for today. But when it comes right down to it, I’m thankful that God has taught me how to have a grateful heart...to see the little miracles every day that other people pass by and never notice...to hear the repetitive tapping of the rain against the tin roof of the garden cottage and know that God is just as persistent in his love for me. I am thankful for the joy He has put in my heart and for the gift of creativity, for the sisterhood of other artists, and for the hope of living eternally with Him. Thank you, Father.

The Resurrection of Hannah Higgs

2008-11-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

I have a few copies of the old magazine Harpers Weekly dated 1900. I was browsing thru one of them last night and ran across a torn page with part of this story, The Resurrection of Hannah Higgs. My brain started clicking and I got the idea of painting 3 farmer's daughters who come upon the resurrected Hannah Higgs and become frozen in their steps as old Hannah approaches them. Here's what I have so far, I glued part of the story at the top of the board and painted the 3 girls below it, can't wait to do the background!

I'm having a little trouble with my found box, I got the chickens and picket fence out ok but the 2 little stumps the chickens were sitting on are NOT coming out! I tried pliers and a screw driver but it felt like the whole back and side of the box was coming too. I guess I'll have to break out my dremel, I've never used that little cutting wheel but I bet it would do the trick. Well I'm off to experiment. Have a great weekend. - verlene

Bittersweet

2008-11-20T15:38:00.000-08:00

I took a little wander down to the garden this morning to check out all my little flora babies and see how they are surviving our cold autumn nights lately. They look like they are all tucked in for winter, fallen leaves have created lovely rusty-colored quilts to keep them warm and cozy, and my bittersweet is in full bloom with tiny golden berries ripening to pop open next month and reveal their vibrant red jewel inside, I love bittersweet. And that is what inspired my little poem for today...enjoy. - verlene

Bittersweet the memories

Old Souls together meet

Visions of the past

November's sweet retreat

Rose Colored Glasses

2008-11-19T19:23:00.000-08:00

Now before I show this picture, you need to know that I have a tendency to see the potential in things, rather than their actual qualities. When we were looking for property to build a house on (30 years ago) I found all kinds of little abandoned shacks with darling shabby shutters hanging off one very rusty hinge, old wood stoves rusting into rotted floors, and old porcelain sinks still in their hand made counter tops just sitting there waiting for some warm sudsy water to bring it back to life. But in my mind I always saw a lovely little cottage in the woods with a white picket fence and fluttery pink curtains billowing out of the open windows...drove my husband nuts! *LOL* Ok I'm getting off track. Today I went shabby shopping with my soul sister, Sophia. We stopped in this primitive little 2nd hand shop and began the famous "hunt". When I found this I KNEW I could make it into something awesome...cover it in papers and paint stuff on it...make a clay doll for inside for added dimension, hang stuff on it, cool inks and stamps and fun dangly things and make it really cool. Now I've committed myself...you all know I bought this so you have to hold me accountable to make something out of it and not just stash it in my basement with all my other collection of stuff that I plan to make into art. Ok ok...I've kept you in suspense long enough. Now don't you think this would make an awesome 3-D assemblage?

I just need to get some pliers and rip out all the insides and start gluing and painting! I think I'll turn it the other way and make it vertical so a doll can stand inside it. - verlene

Kelly Rae Roberts Book

2008-11-19T08:20:00.000-08:00

I've received many questions about her book so I thought I would just post the link here..enjoy. - verlene

Kelly's Book

Rose of Sharon

2008-11-18T22:15:00.000-08:00

I should have gone to bed hours ago, but I got started on this and just couldn't put it down. Once again, I tried Kelly Rae Roberts layered paper background technique and I'm really pleased how this turned out. Hope you have a great day! - verlene

Prose in the Garden

2008-11-17T14:16:00.000-08:00

My best friend and soul sister visited me last week and she left me a little gift on my old weathered potting table. I just wanted to share it with you all and hope it brings a touch of peace to your heart today... - verlene

All in the Details....

2008-11-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

Good morning, I am reading The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. I just love the story on pg 52-53 about the grandma. I want to be that kind of person. I want to find beauty in the little things, in the mundane, in the everyday aspects of life I want to find that one thing, that one little miracle, that brings joy to my heart. I think I do that a little but I want to do it more. I have a local girlfriend that I've known for 27 years. We call ourselves "sisters" because that's how we feel about each other. We have gone thru the births of our 6 children together, she has 3 and I have 3, all the same ages and sex, we've gone thru the stress of unemployment, rebellious teenagers, a lost son, car accidents, death, depression and suicide. We have been there for each other always and thru it all we are determined to find beauty in life...in the lone butterfly wing on the cold grey sidewalk, in the sweet reflection of my kitty's face on the surface of the fish pond, in the faces of the puffy pink clouds and the glistening green hummingbird that hovers just above my head. Is this asking too much? Am I asking the impossible? To see life's beauty in spite of the pain? To create art that brings me joy where there is no joy? I think not. I think I must. I don't want to just survive. I want to over come! Join me? - verlene

Winter Wonderland

2008-11-14T23:37:00.001-08:00

I just finished this little gal tonight, I should be in bed it's almost midnight. But I just couldn't stop until she was finished. I love the little embossed snowflakes! Well I'm off to sleep and dream now, can't keep my eyes open another minute. - v

Introduction

2008-11-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my brand new blog. I thought I would show you a little bit of where I create and paint. I have a studio in the basement where I've sculpted and made art dolls for the last 15 years, but I sketch and paint upstairs on the kitchen table beside Grandma's old wood cookstove, Dixie.

And here is what the kitchen table looks like most days, I do clean it off every night for dinner...really I do!

And now that the introductions are done, I can move on to the business at hand - ART! ART! ART! I hope you enjoy.... - verlene of Alison's Heart Sings