Red warms the heart...

soothes the soul.....

calms the mind.....

feels like home.....

and at same time,

it can be 

the perfect 

color.

Like that 

mug, warming with 

freshly boiled water,

as the coffee steeps in the french press... 

or the cardinal that smiles at you from afar....

only to suprise you with his strange cross-beaked bite....

forgive the fuzziness....

this was taken with a long lenses,

but I just couldn't resist the 

beak....normal for him, but disconcerting for me...

And then 

there is this guy...

who appears to be giving me a rather rude 

gesture....but in reality, I caught him 

with 

"his pants down", so to speak...
but check out his
red cap!

We are thawing out around my town...

but there are still piles of snow and ice around in shady spots...

Red

catches my eye...

and reminds me that my favorite holiday is coming up!

Valentines Day is 

just around the corner.

Do you send Valentines?

Do you make them?

Do you receive them from the people you love?

Would you like to?

I absolutely adore making 

Valentines, and have stocked up this year on supplies.

I will document some crafty stuff this coming week,

and will post it.

If you make Valentines,

please share!

I would love to see what you do....

Perhaps you would be willing to post photos, too!

and then come back here and let me know where to find you.

I should warn you,

as much as I enjoy the process, 

my Valentines are, well....

sort of basic,

elementary,

uncomplicated,

but

they 

are filled

with 

LOVE!

smiles......

Sewing Adventures....

Yes!

They are finally finished....

those 3 silk blouses that I agonized over...

and squirmed each time I looked at the folded

fine silk laying on my sewing desk.

I worried,

stewed,

bargained (in my head)

and looked very hard for someone who would take on the task

of transforming the luscious threads into something 

wearable.

then I gave up, or in.....

and sought out patterns to make for myself.

YIPES!

Curtains, yes...

pillows, yes....

handbags, yes....

clothing, Oh *#&# no!

But 

I started slow,

and prayed each and every time 

that I put the presser foot down.

and finally,

I have finished.

And 

I just might start wearing them next week....

This first one was a bear!

I tackled it last,

and I am very glad too,

the "cross-over" neckline had me flummoxed....

I had to take out the two front seams, twice...

this one was a breeze, it is simply

2 squares (front) and one rectangle (back).

but this is my favorite!

I love paisley...

and this fabric is especially yummy,

thick, heavy as cream, silk

that worked very easily.

Not the simplest thing I have ever done, 

but probably the most satisfying.

And because the fabric was so expensive,

I didn't throw one scrap away,

I simple started sewing them all together and made a 

couple of scarfs...crazy quilt style....

smiles.

These are my Christmas gift to me...

Show your heart.....

Thank you Nancy!

Saved by the sweet idea you've offered..

Well, here goes...

The tag reads -- With as much creativity as you can muster,

show your heart in a picture, poem,

a song (or a piece of music), a phrase (or quote),

an item of clothing, a place and

(just for fun) a Disney Princess.

Picture;

See above,

This is my sweet little Michael..

He will be 21 yrs old on Sat.

This is how I will always see him.

Poem;

The 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my shepard...

you know the one.

I am not a religious person..

however, I memorized this psalm

as a child.

It comes to me automatically when I am in

"deep poop".

Song;

"From a distance"

by

Bette Midler...

the words bring tears to my eyes

everytime.

Phrase/Quote

"What goes around....

you know this one too,

I am sure.

Well...I have seen it in action.

(instant karma?)

Item of clothing;

A designer shirt that I bought with

a gift certificate given to me

by my first heart (see above)

I think how proud I am of him

everytime I wear it.

Place:

My heart

belongs to the Carolina Beaches....

I've got sand in my shoes....

Disney Princess;

Well,

I would have to say that Cinderella

and I must have signed up for the same

strange life....

we walked thru hell...

and then by the strangest of circumstances...

along came Prince Charming.

If ever you loose your muse.....

and the windshield wipers don't do the trick...

and the fog gets thicker and thicker...

Consider this....

The Artist's Way that I mentioned previously

is like a road map...

one that you don't even realize that you are following.

First, it is a book...

You can read and do the exercises on your own.

OR

Even better, get a group of fellow artists,

writers, painters, photographers, jewelry makers,

potters, collage artist...you get the picture (no pun intended..)

Anyway, a bunch of artists...

everyone buy the book,

you can find many used copies online.

Decide on a meeting place and a day of the week to meet.

Agree to do one chapter at a time.

Now, here is the thing...

artists are rarely disciplined...

it is very difficult to "herd" us...

So, have an incentive...

like dinner (potluck is good!)

When you meet,

make sure there is a designated

"leader" to keep the conversation going....

No hard fast rules, really...

Except one..

There should be no room for judgment of one another's

opinions...this is a journey...everyone has a right to their

current place on the path...

Julia Cameron has spelled out the steps to take...

it is really easy,

but requires a commitment...

There will be tough spots along the way...

some will want to drop out...

let them....

Be prepared for new and exciting insight into

your creative self.

This is truly one of the most important

things I have ever done to improve my

creativity.....

and open myself up to my talent.

If you have lost your muse...

no worries...

allow fellow artists to walk with you

on your journey...

they will inspire you,

challenge you...

and

allow your muse to return..

Smiles