Thankful Thursday: My Raven Sister

One day in October, 2008 I got a comment from someone new who signed her post, ""Love, Renee xoxo."

I wondered who this person was. And why did she sign it "Love, Renee?" We didn't know each other. I don't sign "love" unless I have known the recipient of my affection for some time.

Again, more "Love, Renee xoxo" comments came in before I had a chance to pay her a visit. It didn't take me long to know who she was and it certainly didn't take me long to love her back.

Yes, her profile says that she's living with stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer, but that's not who she is, that's what she has. Her disease does not define her or hold her back.

To me, Renee is pure love. X's and O's are her personal alphabet. I'll never send or receive them again without thinking of her.

Renee has such a way of reaching out to the Universe with the most honest-to-God-no-bullshit vibes, it's viral. Her love is contagious. Her heart is stretched beyond capacity yet she always makes room for one more.

She loves the ravens that I often paint so one day she declared that we are Raven Sisters. I love that!

I could write a book about Renee and what she means to me. Another day perhaps.

Today I just want to be thankful for her. She'll probably never know how much she has helped me and how much influence she still has in my life.

I keep yellow flowers in the studio now. Yellow is her favorite color. Two of my ravens given to me by wonderful friends are standing vigil. The framed angel, another gift from a dear friend is there because Renee herself is an angel. The 'kiss' tile is a blown kiss to her every time I walk by.

We all know this is probably the end of her long battle. She'll leave a legacy of love and X's and O's, har'hars and many F-bombs!

She's Grace with a capital G and I miss her deeply.

Gentle journey Raven Sister.

I know I'll see you again.

love, Lolo xoxo 

Animal Wednesday: Whoooooo, Us?

I was looking around Etsy yesterday to get some ideas of what's hot out there even though I hate hate hate following trends! But I also hate being unemployed. I see owls everywhere lately but the real stylized, cutesy kind which isn't my thing. (Although I do have a really cute notepad!) Anyway, I sat down and did a couple of miniature paintings in a new series I'll be doing called "Me And My Peeps."  Just little cropped views of owls. Maybe another type of bird will sneak in there too, but there are already two artists on Etsy doing that and I don't like to copy/steal/borrow ideas. But I didn't see any realistic owls, so yay! My new series begins.

Happy Animal Wednesday! 

Illustration Friday: Propagate

There's a flock of ravens in the Northeast that are referred to as the "Kimono Corvids."

Their taste for fine silks has been passed down through many generations.

No one knows who their seamstress is. We all know ravens know how to use tools, but needle and thread?

The mystery remains.

My chosen definition for Propagate is: To transmit (characteristics) from one generation to another.

Acrylic paint and colored pencil on patterned paper

Animal Wednesday: Arctic Fox

For those who don't follow the ABC ATC group I'm in, this was for the letter "F."

With Bloggers new formatting I can't seem to link you to it so I brought Mr. Fox here.

As cold and snowy as it's been for so many of us, I hope his eyes warm you up a bit.

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Cactus Monday: Commercial

Are you tired of  the long winter and this being your view?

Are your windows frosty and dull?

Does the grey go on forever and ever?

Well, what you need is the Cactus Mitten!!

It will warm up your view with it's vibrant colors and just chase those winter blues away!

So go ahead! What are you waiting for?

Buy one or two for yourself, and don't forget your friends!!

JUST $99.95 plus tax, shipping and handling where applied.

Decorations on pots may vary. Not responsible for people (or cats) getting pricked by those sharp things.

Fourteen on the 14th

KJ put out the sweetest challenge the other day when she walked around her house taking pictures of things with hearts. She asked us to do the same thing, promising we'd be amazed at how many we have! During my little stroll around the abode I noticed I also have a couple of "Love" items that are important to me so I've included them as well. Ready? Let's go for a walk.

Every day I wake up to my wonderful birth mandala made by my dear friend Marianne in the Netherlands.

This has 33 hearts of gold on it!

This is the sign on my studio door. No grumpy people are allowed in there. Only positive energy!

Still in my studio, I walk over to my memo board and zoom in on a card from my dear 75 year old second cousin whom I've never met. We've been writing for 10 years!

The wonderful raven ATC is from Marianne. Her presence is everywhere :)

Next up is a valentine present I bought for myself on Etsy. I just wish he came with my initial!

The people made a mistake and sent me another one but they told me to keep it and enjoy it when I offered to send it back.

 

Here's the other one. I should send it to my sister Pam :)

Speaking of my sister Pam, she bought this limited edition sculpture for me years ago.

She sits in my studio making sure I choose my colors right!

Lastly in my studio I happen to have a few heart items on my messy table.

Stickers for Valentines that never got sent out, and postage stamps of my Bloggy Doggy!

Let's pop into the kitchen on the way upstairs. Oh look! Healthy cereal! My husband must eat at least a box a day. I'm not a big cereal fan but I do like this one.

This sweet drawing was done by my 7 year old Great Niece, Alexandra who loves to draw with me ;)

I love to draw and color with her too!

My new workout socks and the cute (blurry) tag.

From my bedroom bookshelf. I recommend it!

This little pillow was given to me by my niece when I had to put one of my old kitties to sleep.

He was her favorite. His name was Forehead and he was a sweet boy ;)

This painting was given to me on my birthday by my dear friend Mary Helen. It's one of Rebecca Emanuel's "100 Pieces of Love" inspired in part by Dr. Masaru Emoto's research and photographs of water. He discovered that our thoughts, words and feelings have an effect on the water's molecules.

Rebecca's feeling is if we add the visual word "love" to our everyday space then it will have a significant impact on our consciousness. Her intention is to look at these 100 paintings as one piece scattered in many different directions, carrying with it the "chi" of love.

And finally, this tiny little wooden angel who hangs from my kitchen window reminding me that angels are everywhere;)

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Thanks for visiting!

Illustration Friday: Adrift 1 and 2

Awww, I know what you're thinking. How sweet! He's reaching out to her.

Here's how it's really playing out.

"Hon, toss me the sunscreen would ya?"

"Whaaaaaat?? I thought you brought it!"

Being adrift at sea can make you just a little pink.

Just a little ;)

 

This is an ATC I did for my friend Mim in our trading group, ABC ATC's Around the World.

This is "D" is for Dinghys.

Adrift, of course!

Happy Weekend everyone!

Skywatch Friday: Good Morning Sunshine

The sun greets me every morning through the bare winter trees.

This is my favorite window in this old house, only shown partially here because it's dirty ;)

I love the way the light plays of the old apothecary bottles. It makes me smile every day.

For more sky shots around the globe, click on Skywatch Friday!

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Thankful Thursday: Catching Up

I've missed a couple of Thankful Thursday posts lately so today I'm here to catch up!

A couple of weeks ago Mim sent this adorable ATC because she said it reminded her of my dog Emma who is pretty much a reddish color. I just love the punched-out bone shape, the torn edge, and of course the MIM dog card it came in! Thanks Mim! Emma is waiting by the door ;)

Then Julie of "A Succulent Garden" totally surprised me with this wonderful owl atc sitting on a "Lolo" branch! It's hand-stitched and made if bright felt colors and it came in a matching card! Thanks Julie, I love it ;)

Miss Margaret of Waterblossoms sent me a sweet Valentine with one of her wonderful Heartangles. The message was "May your new roots allow your artistic muse to flourish!" What a treasure. Thanks Margaret! ;)

And finally Marianne sent me my "G" abc/atc which I can't show yet but she also sent me this exquisitely rich paper and envelopes with real flower petals and leaves which she brought back from Bangkok. I'll have to try to come up with something special to make from these! Thanks Marianne, wow! ;)

Thank you all for your wonderful, thoughtful gifts! May your blessings be many!

Global Greetings Mail Art blog

Hi There...yes, eleven friends from around the globe have started another blog!
This time we're doing mail art in the form of postcards with an inspirational quote or saying written somewhere on the card. It can be incorporated into the art or just simply be the written message. As we receive them, we'll post them. The fun will begin soon so stay tuned! I'll try to do a sidebar link thingy.
Marianne designed the header for us which I think is awesome!
I hope you follow us. This should be lots of fun!
See you at Global Greetings!

Illustration Friday: Muddy Start

In Egyptian art, many royal representatives were depicted holding sacred lotuses, members of the water lily family, and the gods were also associated with water lilies. In Buddhism, the lotus is an important symbol of enlightenment because it illustrates beauty rising through mud and water to bloom. Because many species tightly furl their blossoms at light, the lotus is also a symbol of opening to the light.

The roots of water lilies are embedded in the mud, well below the water line. The mud keeps the roots moist and provides a source of nutrition, while richly oxygenated water seeps into the roots.

I love the analogy of rising above muddy beginnings and blooming in spite of it all!

The lillies and stems were painted a base color and then finished with colored pencils. The lily pads are exposed patterned paper.

Birthday Wishes to Jossie!

Well typical me, late to the party!!

It took me a while to find my party hat and my raven's party hat so we could throw a big bash for our dear friend Joss, aka Soulbrush!

She has been my true blogger friend longer than anyone else I believe. We've laughed and cried and shared private things through letters and over the phone.

She brightens my days with her sweet smile, her colorful and vibrant art and her warm heart.

Happiest of birthdays to you my dear friend. I know we'll meet one day! Love you lots! xoxo

Cactus Monday: Kaleidoscope

Often times I have a picture in my head of what I'd like to draw or paint.

And often times it comes out nothing at all like the image in my head.

I guess at the very least I could call today's attempt 'a day of coloring!'

I just couldn't for the life of me get this one right.

Happy Cactus Monday anyhoodle!