Yosemite--Three Rocks

This summer we took a side trip to Yosemite. The Kodak
moments were amazing. HMMM! I wonder what they will call
Kodak moments in the future. The next generation will never
have heard of film and processing. Whatever.



The is the juxtaposition or is superimposition of three
famous Yosemite Rock formations--El Capitan, Half Dome
and Sentinel Rock--filtered, blended and then some.
I think the result is spectacular.

My Buddy

My very best four legged friend died today. He was 15+.
His name was Buddy and he was. Though, he had a lot of
nick names...Boo, the Bud-man, the Budmeister, Mr Dude,
Mr Bud. He was loved.



Everyone in the neighborhood knows Buddy. They have been
watching this gentle soul for a long time. First as a pup
while chasing crows and the neighborhood coyotes. Never
on a leash, he didn't wander or bother others. Later as
his hearing failed him, more cautious. He was kind to people
and other dogs but there was a special place in his heart
for Belle. He always knew when she was passing.

During the last few years, he slowed down and so we took
4-5 very small walks each day. I learned to slow down and
love the colors of the seasons and the birds singing and
the peace there is in silence.

It's hard to say good-bye. But as my son said, "He had a
good run!" He did and we did. He will be missed.



Love you, Mr. Dude!

Capturing the Glory

I love coneflowers and have some in my garden. It is
difficult to get just the right lighting because they
are on the south side of my house and that translates
into full sun most of the day. This first photo is the
actual picture I took.



After running it through Photoshop and applying a burn
technique, I think the flower is presented as a stronger
focal point.



And then, just because I can possibly means that I have to.
Layers and layers later, this flower is blended with the sky
and gradients to become something altogether different.



What do you think?

A Good Read

I just finished a really good book, People of the Book
by Geraldine Brooks. It is a work of fiction inspired
by a true story about the Sarajevo Haggadah, which is
a book of prayer used at a Jewish Seder meal. This
haggadah dates back to 14th century Spain.





The author creates stories in an attempt to trace the
origins of this beautiful old codex over the centuries.
I came to love each of the characters in each of the
stories who added something to the value of this book.
One added beautiful art, one added Jewish script, one
added book bindery skills and several added risk of life.
Their were many Muslims who protected this Jewish tome.

One of the author's most thought provoking statements is:
Ozren says: I have spent many nights, lying awake in this
room thinking that the haggadah came to Sarajevo for a
reason. It was here to test us, to see if there were people
who could see that what united us was more than what
divided us. That to be a human being matters more than
to be a Jew or Muslim, Catholic or Orthodox"

It is a truly captivating and beautiful novel. I highly
recommend you find it at your library.

Adjustments

I am beginning to pull together a Fiber Art show for
the Untied Methodist church women for next year.
The theme will be Portlandia or Portland or home.
Interpretation is up to the fiber artist. With that
in mind, I made a few adjustments to the Portlandia
graphic that I had produced and like this one so much
better. I thought you might like to see it.

Portlandia

There is a statue in my home town of Portland, OR.
It is a woman, made from copper, and she is on the
balcony of a large building, leaning over the edge,
reaching out to all. It is fitting--a woman with
a spear but kneeling and reaching out, tough and
gentle at the same time, fitting of most women
I know. Her name is Portlandia. The following poem
was written to tell her story.



Portlandia
She kneels down
and from the quietness
of copper
reaches out.
We take that stillness
Into ourselves,
And somewhere
deep in the earth
our breath
becomes her city.
If she could speak
this is what
she would say:
Follow that breath
Home is the journey we make.
That is how the world
knows where we are

by Ronald Talney.

I so love this statue and wanted to share
her with you.

Two+ Months But Who Is Counting

I have a new fiber post.


Three of a Kind

It is digitally rendered fiber piece, having been designed
and developed in Photoshop and then printed in layers
using pigment inks on cloth and finally assembled with stitch.
It is 8 x 10 in size.

This piece has been offered to FiberArt for a Cause,
which will auction small art collages to benefit the
American Cancer Society. This was the brainchild of
one woman, Virginia Spiegel, who hoped to raise $200
offering some fiber postcards on-line. I am thinking
it has been five years now that she has taken on this
project and she and her many online friends have raised
$165,000 through 2008. This is the final year and
the goal is to raise $20,000.

This is my gift and as always, I hope it is well received.

Words of Wisdom

Words to inspire in 2009...

2008

December was awesome! All of my adult children--ages 23,21
and 18--were home for the Holidays and a few friends came
with them. The house always seemed filled with the noise
of young people. I like it that way.

The "weather outside was frightful" as it snowed or iced most
every day from about December 14 till Christmas. But only
frightful if you had places to go. We stayed put a bunch and
just enjoyed each other, quiet time and the winter weather.
Caite and Nick actually skiied and snowboarded down the
streets of our neighborhood.





Rick reminded me that I asked for all that snow.
I guess I better watch what I wish for in 2009.

One of the things I always wait for in December is the blooming
of my Christmas Camellia, a gift from a friend shortly after
we moved to Portland. It is getting big and has become
a prolific bloomer.



I share it here with you.

My wish for you is to find both joy and some quiet in 2009.