I think communication starts when words are not present. I think we put so much emphasis on language, silence is so much more important. - Marina Abramovic
Listening
falling in love
searching for meaning
Lost in the woods,
I snapped off a dark branch
and, lifted its murmur, in thirst, to my lips:
perhaps the weeping voice of the rain,
a shattered bell, or a broken heart.
It came to me, something out of far distance,
deeply concealed, and hidden by Earth,
a cry, defeated by immense autumns,
by half-opened moistness of shadowy leaves.
But waking out of the wood’s dream there,
that hazel branch sang under my tongue,
and its vagrant perfume rose to my mind
as if suddenly roots I had long abandoned
searched me, the lost domains of childhood,
and held me, wounded by wandering fragrance.
- Pablo Neruda
it all depends on which way you are going
my heart is an open door, no need to knock
nothing gold can stay
trust me
another word for hinge
everything hinges on how you look at things. - henry miller
bow to the earth
The Dream of Now
When you wake to the dream of now
from night and its other dream,
you carry day out of the dark
like a flame.
When spring comes north, and flowers
unfold from earth and its even sleep,
you lift summer on with your breath
lest it be lost ever so deep.
Your life you live by the light you find
and follow it on as well as you can,
carrying through darkness wherever you go
your one little fire that will start again.
~ William Stafford
another place in time
luxury in simplicity
untie loose ends
something from nothing
showing up
My Love For All Things...
My Love For All Things Warm and Breathing
- William Kloefkorn
I have seldom loved more than one thing at a time,
yet this morning I feel myself expanding, each
part of me soft and glandular, and under my skin
is room enough now for the loving of many things,
and all of them at once, these students especially,
not only the girl in the yellow sweater, whose
name, Laura Buxton, is somehow the girl herself,
Laura for the coy green mellowing eyes, Buxton
for all the rest, but also the simple girl in blue
on the back row, her mouth sad beyond all reasonable
inducements, and the boy with the weight problem,
his teeth at work even now on his lower lip, and
the grand profusion of hair and nails and hands and
legs and tongues and thighs and fingertips and
wrists and throats, yes, of throats especially,
throats through which passes the breath that joins
the air that enters through these ancient windows,
that exits, that takes with it my own breath, inside
this room just now my love for all things warm and
breathing, that lifts it high to scatter it fine and
enormous into the trees and the grass, into the heat
beneath the earth beneath the stone, into the
boundless lust of all things bound but gathering.
Speaking of love... it's concord grape season here! Besides grape juice, my favorite thing to make with them is Rosemary Grape Focaccia Bread. It's a winner in our house, there are never any leftovers. I first saw this recipe on Smitten Kitchen years ago, and have been making a similar version ever since. If you have a source of concord grapes I highly recommend making it.
A few pictures from my morning walks with my moni girl. I am constantly in awe of the world around me. It's always changing and I love being able to capture a few moments here and there with my phone/camera...if Moni allows me to stop for a minute.
This summer we finally ventured out for an overnight hiking trip as a family. It's been 15+ years since we have spent nights out on the trail. It was fun, hot, hard, buggy, exhausting, and invigorating. Coming home we all felt like we had accomplished something great, even if it was only for one night... we survived the wilderness. Next time maybe we'll take on two nights. ;)
Deep sigh... I am trying very hard to be patient when it comes to getting back into pottery. My clay studio has a brand new beautiful floor, but it has no windows, or doors, or stairs to my glaze ingredients. So, for now I have a wheel in our dining room, where I am quietly sulking about not have a functional space to throw clay around in, but for now it will have to do.
A few other things...
I just finished a wonderful book. I loved it! Mao's Last Dancer. This book really made me think about life and how lucky I am to live where I have so much freedom to do, say, and feel as I please. I highly recommend it. The movie was okay, but nowhere near as good as the book...as usual.
This new episode of This American Life ranks pretty high up there with some of my other favorites.
If you are looking for a good mix to listen to I have many on my spotify account that are public...
If you are not on my mailing list then you missed my online course announcement. I will be teaching a new online course this January... two actually! One Fine Arts workshop and one art journaling workshop. I am still working out the details, but I will post more about both in the next month or so.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you are doing well!
Summer Workshop + Other News
Saturday June 18th + Sunday June 19th 9:00- 4:00
Location: TopSail, North Carolina
Come spend two days painting your heart out on the beautiful coast of North Carolina. In this two day Mixed Media Art Workshop I will guide you through a series of art journaling prompts, mixed media techniques, portrait exercises, and more... to see what you can discover as you prepare for creating a 16" x 20" nature inspired portrait done in acrylics that you will take home with you.
This workshop is for all levels.
This will be a smaller, more personal workshop, with more one on one time during studio hours. Space is limited.
The workshop will be held at the private home of Kim Wood Beller. Please email her for any concerns or questions about the studio and/or accommodations: Kim's email: kim@bigstronggirldesigns.com
Price: $360.00 : WORKSHOP IS FULL
Kit Fee (payable to teacher in class) : $30 Will cover all of your supplies for the weekend. all you will need to bring is an apron.
A light and healthy vegetarian lunch will be provided both days.
Deposit of 50% to hold your spot in the class and the remaining 50% due by June 1st. Cancellation policy: You will receive a 50% refund if you cancel before June 1st. No refunds will be given after June 1st.
In the event of an unexpected emergency for Kim or myself all payments will be refunded.
Other News:
The latest issue of Spirituality and Health is out, and like usual, it is full of such beautiful artwork and life shifting articles. I am so honored to have a piece of my work in this issue. A piece that will be in the summer auction I mention below.
Stephanie Gagos invited me to have a solo online art Auction this summer, and I said YES!!! 30 + New Original Paintings will be part of this Auction on July 22nd + July 23rd. You can check it out here. I am so looking forward to this, as I feel it will be a shift into the new work I want to create.
My Clay studio is getting a make over! I. AM. THRILLED. I cannot wait to get back into making pottery... hopefully full time once my studio is finished. Until then I have set up my wheel in our little mudroom and am switching over to a new, higher firing clay. New clay + new glazes + new studio = Happy Potter (not harry or hairy… happy ;)
My daughter has been busy with many cool projects, one is silkscreening onto t-shirts a "shop local" design she created. It's a part of the whole "He Grew - She Drew" project she and my son are cultivating. You can check it out here, if you would like.
Other than that I've been gardening with my family, hiking with Ramona, and trying to twist my husbands arm into getting chickens... I think I almost have him convinced. Until next time. x
Make a list, check.
WIP
Life has been a string of checklists lately (always). Move back to Virginia, check. Create another online course, check. Plants seeds for this year's garden, check. Walk and cuddle Ramona, check. Turn 40, check. Celebrate in NYC, check. Go to the MOMA, check. Blog more, create a new line of work, learn final cut pro, meet Patti Smith, make pottery, paint my studio, ummmm.... so, I have a lot of things not checked off just yet...
I continue to keep up with Instagram and getting back into posting on Vine and I do hope to post more here and update my whole website soon.
Lots of great things about to happen...
my mind is as clear as water - so peaceful, nothing troubles me. such is the state of leaving the self and all things behind. i pour myself a cup of tea and drink; it is sweet indeed. - Korean Tea Poem
The peach blossoms came and went too quickly, as they usually do, but oh how lovely they were.
On Turning 37
by Kareem Tayyar
Today you remind yourself that although Buddy Holly was 17
When he first sang “Peggy Sue”,
And that Fitzgerald was 24 when he published This Side of Paradise,
And that Dylan was only 21 when he composed
“Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands”
In the studio while the other musicians shot pool and played cards,
Whitman was 37 when he wrote “Song of Myself”,
Rousseau was 40 when he first picked up a paintbrush in his Paris apartment
And began creating those indelible images of the African jungles
That were largely responsible for the birth of Modern Art,
And even J.F.K,
He of that perpetual youth and beauty that signaled a departure from
The grandfather-politics of men like Eisenhower and Truman,
Was 43 when he took the oath of office for the Presidency.
In other words,
Go back to sleep, buddy.
There is still plenty of time to climb the mountain,
And there is no reason to think that your best days are already behind you.
Hello, it's me...
Sorry #notsorry. I couldn't help myself. I fell into Adele's new song pretty hard. It took me several weeks to get it out of my head. Of course, whenever I hear it I do what every other person who knows about love, lose, and regret does... I turn up the volume to the max, loose myself in the song, and sing my heart out. And then there's Justin Bieber's new album, no wait... I best move on before you get the wrong impression of me. 😁
It's been a few months now since my family and I have moved back to Virginia. After a year in Pittsburgh we were ready to be back... it's a long story that's best shared with a hot cuppa or glass of wine, but we are back and completely taking advantage of the beautiful nature that surrounds us. I don't think I will ever tire of such scenes.
I got to fly over these beauties just over a month ago on my way to teach at She Matter’s retreat with Christy Tomlinson. It was a wonderful experience, with lots of incredible food, art, and laughs. If she does decide to host another retreat in her house (or anywhere) I highly recommend it.
I feel very lucky to have had the year of teaching that I had, sharing time with some pretty amazing people. My life truly feels richer from it. Next year I have two retreats scheduled so far. The first is at Erin Faith Allen's retreat at Ghost Ranch, where I will be teaching with my dear friend Katie Kendrick. Then, late summer I will be heading to NC to teach at Donna Downey’s studio.
We have a new addition in our family...
Meet Cutie, the hedgehog.
When my son was three years old he got a stuffed Webkinz hedgehog and named it Cutie. Ever since he has loved hedgehogs and wanted a real one. He finally has one of his own, after a friend of ours was looking for a home for her. She very sweet and fun, even Ruby thinks so.
Ramona is so excited about Christmas this year! ;)
Wishing you a very Happy Holiday!
My Etsy shop has finally been updated. Until the end of the November I am offering 15% off to my readers as a small thank you. Use code: THANKYOU15
More Prints are available here.
I will be back soon to share about what's new in my little world, a few upcoming workshops and a new "online" course. :) Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you are having a beautiful day!
Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!
"You will not find wi-fi in the forest, but you will find a better connection. " - unknown
I recently read the above quote somewhere online (I love the irony) and visualized myself heaving my phone far off into the busy street. Lately, that action has become a kind of small fantasy, but I collect myself by picturing the act of slowly walking to retrieve my defective phone, the screen shattered, the case imprinted with gravel from my own bout of rage, all my "connections" lost, as I pick it up, then regretting my spontaneous burst of animosity towards the way the world has lead us, into this deep ravine of lost connections, tangled phone cord chargers, and vast digital worlds of intangible life. I am guilty. I spend way more time looking at my phone than I should... Way more time looking at my phone than I want to, I admit it, I am a cell phone addict. It's a bad habit that I indulge many times a day, I am constantly checking in on everyone else's life, sometimes more than my own. But no matter how much time I spend emailing… checking instagram, FB, Pinterest, SnapChat, Vine, Words, and twitter I can never seem to feel caught up, ever. It's a vicious cycle to keep up with…
So, what to do? What to do? Stay on the same path that continues to throw me down the rabbit hole? Or change my ways?! I know it will be easier if I just stay on this path, doing what I know, but what will I gain from that? The older I get the more I feel like time really is slipping away and I want more, more, more. Not more in the sense of material goods, honestly, I want/need less material things, things aren't what interest me, it's knowledge and experiences and memories that I want and I know I won't get those by sitting alone by myself looking at my phone.
Even though I feel tempted at times, I am not going to go cold turkey with my phone or the internet, I would have to move to the middle of the woods, way off the grid somewhere before I do that, there are many, many positive things about both that I greatly benefit from, but I am going to do some weeding of the distractions that aren't enhancing my life in one way or another.
Books like Into the Wild, A walk in the Woods, and Wild make me hungry for a life away from civilization, songs like Society resonate with me more and more and I wonder if I could handle the kind of experience where you are far from the suburbs, far from art stores, far from city libraries, and far from art museums or made to order sushi. Part of me wonders and part of me fears that kind of solitude, even though I know I would find new ways to entertain myself. That's just it, isn't it? Life is about finding ways to entertain ourselves while we are here, hopefully in useful ways that help ourselves and benefit others. So for now I feel the desire to pull away from certain forms of entertainment so I can pay more attention to other things that, for now feel more nurturing and beneficial. Next week? Who know, nobody knows, life is exciting that way. For now drawing in the treehouse, foraging for Chanterelles in the thick of the forest, hanging out on hay bales in the afternoon sun, playing scrabble on a real life board with our neighbor, and spending long mornings in the library reading about fermentation, encaustics, and Andrew Wyeth are filling me up! There's no app for that!
Ah, summer, I love you, I love you, I love you!
Ramona, taking me for a walk.
Stole a little time in the studio to paint…
What is this mess?
Vegetarian sausage pizza and half of a seitan melt with hot sauce on a paper plate - am i dreaming?
This just happens to be the best thing in Pittsburgh, aka -> SPAK brothers Pizza.
Recently, The New York Times came out with an article "36 hours in Pittsburgh". The list completely left out all of my favorites, so here they are...
SPAK brothers pizza - The best grub you can sink your teeth into! It's a take out kind of place with a few stools and a bar, we cannot wait to take it home, so we devour it right there.
The Warhol - My most favorite place to hang out in the city! I have grown very fond of Andy Warhol in the past year. Just being near his work inspires me greatly. The exhibits are wonderful, too… and so is the Chai Tea Latte at the cafe.
Carnegie Museum Of Art - I could spend every day here and never tire of it! Plus it's connected to the city library, a huge bonus!
Carnegie Library - I love it here! Chock full of the best art books! I love spending mornings/afternoons strolling around the aisles… and there's a bubble tea/sushi vendor across the lawn if you grow weary.
Dobra Tea - The perfect place to linger alone or with friends. Take your shoes off, find a little cushioned nook, pore over the menu (book) of lovely teas + treats, & ring the bell to be served!
Lili Cafe in Polish Hill - The best hipster place and fun neighborhood to walk around. The soy matcha latte is dreamy and perfect accompaniment of Punk Toast!
Franktuary - A classy little place with a great variety of franks and beer… vegan dogs and beet balls, oh my!
Espresso A Mano - Classy little coffee stop in Lawrenceville that makes a great macchiato! Not far from the Franktuary. It's open later than most coffee shops in Pittsburgh.
Cathedral of Learning - This place is just amazing, educational & great for strolling around.
The Cafe at Frick & Gallery (Fancy Schmancy + worth it) - A wonderful menu and wonderful atmosphere, but it's small inside, try to get there early.
Mattress Factory - If you love art and interacting with art you will LOVE this place! Check out Randyland near by - just for the fun of it. He's a cool guy with lots of stories! :)
Montour Trail - Perfect spot for running with headphones! Goes on for miles and miles and miles!
El Burro - If you visit the Warhol this is the perfect place to go to afterwards for lunch/dinner! It's far better than the generic fast food chain!
Schenely Park (just get lost…it's the best way to explore this park) - It's hard to believe the city is surrounding you when you are wandering around in this park, that's what I love about it… hop off the trail and you are in the heart of Pittsburgh.
Phipps - Plants, Butterflies, Chihuly art, all inside amazing greenhouses - you can't go wrong!
Artist & Craftsman Supply Store - A really great art store loaded with all kinds of supplies you want, even though you don't need. It's a dangerous place for your wallet! It's close to Dobra Tea house!
Warhol's Grave Site - A very humble graveyard & perfect place for a picnic!
Earth inspired salads - Only open on weekdays, a brilliant little place to grab a healthy lunch! Take it to go and head over to Market Square for great people watching!
Trader Jack's Flea Market - An interesting experience for sure! Rather Ripped Records is tucked inside and by far the best record shop around! The owner is so cool and full of knowledge and stories! He met Patti Smith before she was a legend!
Sushi Fuku - Sushi Burritos are going to be "the next big thing", I just know it. YUM!
Amazing cafe - A healthy little cafe with freshly made juices! Pricey, but so good!