HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

More on Zentangle

I really had to think hard about this, but I just couldn't change the name of my blog. My Invisible Muse has so much meaning in my life. It's the inner voice I ignored for so many years. The voice that my inner critic drowned out everytime I tried something new or even leaned towards calling myself an artist. My Invisible Muse is what led me to Zentangle and is the voice that now encourages me and tells me that I can do or be whatever I want.

I have added a new tag line though. Because my blog will be shifting slightly towards my new love of tangling and the art of Zentangle. I will of course continue to talk about any art adventures just because it's fun to share these experiences.

As you read in my last post I recently became a CZT or Certified Zentangle Trainer. I read the best description on Jane Monk's blog about our training she wrote "Going to Rick and Maria's is almost like a pilgrimage, it has certainly changed my outlook and ideas about Zentangle." Such a great description Jane! I can't imagine taking this class anywhere else. So I came up with the following list...if you know me you know I love a good list!

Reasons Why We Tangle in Whitinsville

1. Rick and Maria. Okay they are portable but their house isn't! I thought I took good pictures but they just don't capture the warm, friendly, welcoming feeling of visiting their home and studio. Gracious, loving, wonderful, creative, funny, kind, and generous...I could go on.
2. Oakhurst. Wow. Let's see...history, wood work, huge, gorgeous, lovely, open, patterns, patterns, and patterns! And don't even get me started on the food...more on this later.
3. Terry and Ed. Also portable, but they can't bring Oakhurst with them! They are the ingredient that makes what could be just a huge, empty Victorian mansion feel like home. And speaking of ingredients man can they cook! Delicious food morning, noon and night...and coffee all day long. They were over the top helpful with anything we needed. Wonderful people.
4.Atmosphere. This one is harder to describe. Can I just say that I have been to many conferences and stayed in many hotels where conferences are held...I have never experienced the atmosphere of creativity, shared joy, enthusiasm, and focus like I experienced in Whitinsville. I was sad to leave because I didn't want that feeling to end.
5. Family. Now this one might sound a bit strange. But there was something that made the experience seem more personal. Rick and Maria surround themselves with family. We all met members of their family, talked with them, learned from them, heard stories about them and were helped by them. It creates a feeling of trust and acceptance that can't be replaced and can not be found anywhere else but Whitinsville.

So there's my list. Traveling to Whitinsville is one of the most wonderful art experiences I've ever had and probably ever will. Thank you Rick and Maria for making it possible.

Want to see my Zentangles?

I just had an AMAZING experience in a small town called Whitinsville, MA. Of course I can’t even write the word “amazing” without hearing Kass Hall say it with her lovely Australian accent.

I really can't wait to see where this takes me. I like the idea that it is art for everyone, artist and non-artist alike!

I learned so much about the art of Zentangle and I can't wait to start teaching everyone I know. So you may see me carrying around Micron pens and smallish sheets of paper. If you are interested in learning more about Zentangle let me know!

Here are a few pieces of the work I did while I was there.

What's on your windowsill?

I sometimes think you can learn a lot about a person based on what is on the windowsill in their kitchen. Is it crammed with whatever? Decorated? Empty? Think about it. Does your windowsill have the same things on it your mom's windowsill did? Did you learn that was what people keep there by her example or did her windowsill drive you crazy so now you do something totally different.

I'm not sure what it says about me, but mine is a combination of utilitarian and decorative. I have a collection of old glass bottles that I love. So I keep them on the windowsill organizing them in pleasing arrangements and using them by turns as flower containers or a place to dry my brushes. I happen to like the look of the brushes in the window. It's kind of decorative and at the same time reminds me that I have recently found time in my busy schedule to do the thing I love...art.

One of the jars always contains loose change. You can pretty much tell the financial tides of the month with this jar. The rest of the sill is kind of messy with the collected clutter of the season...a smooth stone I like to pick up and hold in my hand sometimes just because it reminds me that time changes things as much as it keeps things the same. Right now a small collection of shells also sits on the sill. A sign that it's summer and that Meghan hasn't put them away in whatever nook in her room that is, by now, overflowing with shells from many beaches. There is also a tomato sitting there....this was definitely something my mom did. It has something to do with letting them ripen I think. But anytime a get a tomato from someone it goes on the sill.

Feel free to post links to pictures of your windowsills here...I'd love to see what your windowsill says about you!

To Market, To Market

Manteo's Waterfront Farmer's Market...fresh produce, baked goods and art. Hello, does it get any better?

I did not purchase any of the fresh produce even though it looked fabulous. However, the baked goods and art are another matter. Life is an adventure so why not try the weird foods, the stuff you never heard of before. So at a baked goods stand Meghan and I bought some lemon and lavender cookies. I know! Sounds strange...I mean isn't lavendar something you stick in your closet and drawers so your clothes smell nice? Or spray on your pillow so you get a good nights sleep? Well, apparently you can also eat it in a cookie! I have to admit I was expecting it to taste like a mouthful of potpourri...but it was delicious!

Lots of great art. Sea glass jewelry, bags, beaded jewelry, wrist/ankle bands and some cool stuff by the art guild. One of the really neat things we saw were journals made from board games and old books. I was thinking of making some with watercolor paper inside so I could art journal with them. We saw some really pretty and unique items.

I did buy some joint support herbal salve from my favorite herbal remedy shop called Sea Willow Herbs. I year ago I purchased some muscle salve from them and it was the only thing that worked on my shoulder and arm pain. It feels marvelous, smell fabulous and works on the pain!! She has an Etsy shop now so you can check these products out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/seawillowherbs .

I have to say, I love a farmer's market. The stuff is unique, the people are friendly and there is lots of free air to breathe. If you are headed to OBX this summer check out the Manteo Waterfront market, it's worth the short drive. And if you are planning a staycation instead...do a search on Google for farmer's markets in your area!

Sidenote:I came to realize on our trip to Manteo why I can't eat the tomatos we buy in the store. I'm convinced they are cardboard replicas of the real thing. Three tomatos out of my dad's backyard and I was transported back in time to when my mom grew tomatoes in our yard. Red, juicy, full of flavor slices of lycopene heaven. Slice them and top with a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh pepper....yum. Do not spoil the flavor with mayo or bread (although I ate my share of those delicious sandwiches my mom made). I'm thinking next year we will be growing some maters in our yard!

Life Really Is a Beach!

On Mother's Day the choice was mine. Where should we go and what should we do? I decided I wanted to go for a walk on Grandview Beach to look for sea glass. I wanted to find some nice pieces for a Sea Glass Transfer class I'm taking this month at Art and Soul. The weather was absolutely beautiful and although it's a bit of a hike to get to the beach it's well worth it! I have never been on a beach with such variety of fun stuff to look at and collect. Smooth stones, sea shells, interesting sponges, colorful corals, and of course sea glass.

When you first get to the beach it's a little rough looking. You can't get to the water because of the stumps and growth near the water line. You have to keep walking to get to the good stuff. But really even the stumpy growth was neat to look at, just not to walk on!

We kept walking and got to the part where we could walk down to the water with ease. So the hunt began. Steve and Chris took off at a brisk walk and soon we couldn't see them any more. Meghan and I meandered in a zig zag down the beach. Sometimes at the waters edge and sometimes high up in the soft sand near the sea grass. With our heads down in search of glass. We found beautiful shell linings that look like mica, sheer and gold in color. We found smooth round flat stones great for stacking. And lots of sea glass.

We had the best time just finding things and looking around at the scenery. We saw stone patterns in the sand. This one looked like the wings I draw on my signature! We couldn't figure out if they were man made or if the tide just carried them up and left them in that pattern. I like to think the water left them there.

I was thinking about our day and how Meghan and I took so long to make our way along the beach. Most of the time we were looking straight down, looking at the small details in the sand and focusing on one thing at a time, glass or rocks. We almost walked past a small rock island a short distance off shore without seeing it because we were focused and looking down. I realized a lot of the time that's how I live my life. Always looking at the small details and never taking enough time to look up at the big picture. If we hadn't stopped occasionally to look up and look around, we would have missed some beautiful scenery...the big picture. I really should take more time in my day to reflect on the bigger issues and events in my life. Like most things in life it's all about balance. There is no way to avoid the small details of everyday life. I just need to find a better balance. Take a step back to see the big picture and enjoy the scenery or it will all pass me by.

Sometimes it seems just a blink of an eye between my kids being babies and being teenagers now. The small details fill up each day in a frenzy and before you know it the time is gone. I'm setting a goal for myself to slow it down and enjoy the view. Our day at Grandview was one of those occasions...time with my family, slow it down, soak it up and enjoy the view. Enjoy those conversations in the car and at the dinner table. Because in the next blink they will be gone...adults with families of their own.

As far as a beach walk is concerned, there is something to be said for looking down at what's right in front of you from time to time...there are jewels just waiting to be found.

For more wonderful pictures of Grandview view this Slide file. http://www.slide.com/r/fPqg7am8zz8pNfoYJqmKx385mtSC2u6S?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

All photos on this page were taken by Meghan Garrity.

Beautiful Lampwork

Headed over to d'Art Center, which had moved and with the light rail constuction was a nightmare to find. Anyhoo, on this trip I met a lampwork artist by the name of Cathy Jo Ramsey. Truly one of the loveliest people I have ever met. Her space at d'Art is filled with her beautiful glasswork, thousands of glass rods stored in and on antique furniture pieces and her work station. She worked as a PE teacher for 30 years. Retired now, she is following her artist heart to working with glass. She began as a glass blower and has now moved into lampwork. I have to say she was so much fun to watch and speak with. She demonstrated how she makes her signature piece, a glass oyster on the half shell. Take a look at her work here http://www.glass-imaginings.com/index.html . The way she blends the glass color and curls the edges was truly fascinating. She was very encouraging when I spoke with her about trying lampwork myself. I had to say though I would probably end up with a blob of ugly glass! I guess as with any art it takes a lot of practice to become good at what you do. I told her she would be a great vendor at Art and Soul. I'm sure her items would sell like hotcakes. If you are ever at d'Art Center make sure you stop by to see this wonderful lady and stay awhile to watch and chat.

Not much else was open in the d'Art center on a Sunday afternoon but with all glass fronts you could see the work of other artists. Normally they are there working and sell their art. Apparently, during the week they have lunch events with music. It is definitely a place to visit again, perhaps on a Saturday when more artists are around. Check out their website http://www.d-artcenter.org/splash.html. If you park at MacAuthor mall it's just a two block walk. Directions, hours and parking suggestions are listed on the website.

As usual another art adventure leads to lovely things and lovely people!