Happy Birthday Fur Baby

Lily is eleven today. Here is a picture of her as a puppy snoozing on my winter coat. I was wearing it the day we brought her home. The breeder suggested I put her inside my coat and snuggle her up next to my heart. (Even though I always looked like a football player in a snowstorm when I wore that coat, I still have it because it’s like my wedding dress—the symbol of a happy memory I don’t want to forget).
We have nothing special planned for Lily’s birthday. I could throw her a party and invite her best fur buds, but she doesn’t have any. Large or small, she will chase off any dog that invades her territory. (And don’t get me started on the cat thing). So what I have planned is a special birthday dinner of steamed veggies and Kraft Dinner. Do they put something in KD that makes it addictive? Whatever it is, Lily just goes mental over it.
Then again she loves anything foodish: avocado, peanut butter, cheese, banana, pancakes…the list is endless. She even broke into some chocolates one Christmas morning and didn’t miss a beat even though chocolates are supposed to be poisonous to dogs. I’m sure if I baked her a cake, she’d go for that too. But you have to draw the line somewhere. When you can.
Lily has slowed down some in the last couple of years. But she still climbs stairs easily, jumps up on the furniture, and chases squirrels and airplanes. You couldn’t ask for a more loyal and loving friend. I’m going to sign off now and hold her close to my heart.

Artist Trading Cards

Back in August, Carmi did an ATC a day and posted the results to her blog faithfully. I did the same thing a year ago, but I wasn’t as ambitious as Carmi. She used all sorts of different techniques, while I did everything in Photoshop. But I’ve started thinking about doing an ATC a day for a month again soon…and then putting everything in a Moleskine journal.
What got me started thinking about this—and looking at Carmi’s August blog entries—was talking to Barbara at Bizzy B’s yesterday. Barbara is looking for ATCs to submit to Canadian Scrapbooker. Other than the size, the only rule is that the card must include a photo. The deadline is November 26th, and I know I don’t have time to do something new. But I immediately thought of the ATCs I’d done of my cousin Ann last year.
Ann passed away in March 2005, and for her celebration (she didn’t want a funeral), I made up two large photomontages of her as a child. These images stayed with me, and I started playing around with them in Photoshop. This one shows Ann in her back garden as a child in the late 1940s. Of course the original photo was in black and white, but I just had to give her a pink dress and bow. And I’m probably overdoing the constellation thing, but it’s my blog and fly if I want to. (Yeah, I know, I know. I always liked Lesley Gore, but I’m probably dating myself big time).

Busy in a Different Way Today

I spent yesterday on my own, but today was just the opposite. I went to Susan Wilkie’s for lunch, and then we headed off to Bizzy Bee’s for the first Altered Book/Journal Club hosted by the store. There were nine people there, and I think most of them had taken Mary’s altered book class like me. (I’ve actually taken it twice, and I know I’m not the only one).
Mary brought her mother lode, which we all dived into…or is it dove? And come to think of it: can you even dive into a mother lode? In any case, it was inspiring to have all Mary’s books to look at. I’d never seen her journal before, and it was fantastic. She also gave us a handout and talked about the basic principles of collage.
I have to admit that I did absolutely nothing but gab to everyone and troll the store. Susan and I agreed that we can’t work as well in a crowd as we can on our own. But I noticed she actually applied herself while I foraged like a madwoman through a new shipment of 7 Gypsies embellishments and looked for Christmas presents for myself. (That sounds a little tacky doesn’t it?)
Mary brought the angel book for Susan who is next on the list, so I got to see her contribution and Carmi’s. Their work is just luscious, and it’s hard to believe we’re almost at the halfway point.
When I got home, I phoned Emma who got back from Barcelona last night. She met her friend Emily there earlier this week, and they went to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Gaudi’s cathedral, the Miro Museum and some early city ruins. Since Emma’s been in Europe, she’s really become interested in art. She told me tonight that she wants to do art some projects with me. This will be FUN! (Here’s a picture of Emma in Luxembourg that I have on my computer screen).

A Productive Day

John and David were out all day so I got a lot done. Not that they’re demanding, but when I have no interruptions—other than Lily—I really seem to be able to focus.
I worked for hours on a new digital art piece, but I don’t know whether or not I like it. My style is definitely changing, and I’m not sure where it’s going. Next on the agenda is buying a Wacom tablet. Jeanne Schedler has one and says it makes all those Photoshop tasks go so much easier. (It would also be fun to draw with it too).
One thing I did finish today that I’m happy about is a second collage sheet with color wheels. One of my obsessions is color theory and earlier this year I read Goethe’s writings on the subject. So there’s some Goethe here, a Newton sketch of how music relates to color (I can’t figure it out though), Chevruel’s 19th century color wheel—and my personal favorite: the one designed by scientist and naturalist Moses Harris in 1770. I’d love to have a copy of Charles Henry’s Aesthetic Protractor, but finding it is proving difficult. Henry believed that color could be used to express certain emotions when combined with the angle and direction of a line, and apparently Seurat used his theories to develop pointillism. For some reason, protractors have always intrigued me—I have several—so I hope I’ll be able to get a good look at Henry’s one day.
I had wanted to get another ten collage sheets together for the Holly Jolly Craft Sale, but realistically, I won’t be able to do this—I’m just too busy with freelance work right now. I already have 51 sheets available on four CDs (or printed up on matte heavyweight paper), and 20 sheets of perforated artistamps, so I have plenty of things to sell. Oh, and my digital collages as well.

Beth Barany

Faces fascinate me. My niece Claire looks like a Renaissance Madonna, and I want to take some pictures of her and play with them in Photoshop. I also love this photo of my writing coach Beth Barany that I scooped from her website and then incorporated into a collage that includes one of Christina’s digital brocades and a a couple of flower photos.
I’ve been thinking about Beth today because I know I wouldn’t have finished my book as quickly—and dare I say: as well—if I hadn’t spent several months working with her first.
I don’t think you can be proactive unless you truly understand what motivates you, and that’s just one of the things Beth helped me to do. She also gave me insights into the way I work, plus the confidence and support I needed to do the book my way—and stick with it too.
As you’ve probably guessed, I’m a big fan of coaching. If there’s a dream you have that’s not happening for you, personal coaching could make a big difference in your life. We’re apt to think we’re lazy or just not talented enough when there are plenty of other factors we should be considering. The coaching process is always geared to personal insights and practical action to get you to where you want to go.

A Busy Day

Today was the deadline I’d set for completing the first draft of my book. I’m actually ahead of the game because John finished copyediting it last night, and as a writer I once worked with used to say, “There’s tons o’ changes.”
John made some really great suggestions and noticed all sorts of groaners. But he said it was better than a first draft, and that he really liked my book. It’s made enough of an impression on him that he’s started quoting me if he feels I’m not taking my own advice!
One funny thing about John’s copyedit was that he thought the conclusion was the preface! I had to laugh about that because the end often seems like the beginning, doesn’t it? Fortunately my book isn’t a linear take on things. But yes, I still have to write the preface…or more accurately, the introduction, and tomorrow I’ll start the rewriting, which I know from experience, will be a lot of work. Rewriting lacks the excitement of starting from scratch. At this point though, I’m just happy I’ve come this far.
I worked on my website today and started some new digital collages for Holly Jolly. This one is a collabo between David and me: his glass brick and my Photoshop-ing. Oh, and I can’t leave Christina out…the groovy circle is one of her Sketchy Evidence brushes.
I’d never heard the word “collabo” until David suggested that we do more of them. Apparently it’s rap speak for a couple of performers who do a song together.

Leaving Comments

I’ve had several people ask me recently how they can leave comments on my blog if they’re not a Blogspot member. What you do is go to the bottom of the entry. You’ll see a line that reads “Posted by Susan Williamson…” and right next to it “Comments.” You click on “Comments” and it takes you to a pop up screen where it says: “Choose an identity.” You can put your name in the space provided or leave it out. Then you type your message in the box above and click “Publish Your Comment.”
I really find choose your identity hilarious given that most of us seem to have multiple personalities going on inside our heads. Or maybe it’s just me.

Brian's Invention

Last night at the family birthdays, my brother in law Brian showed me his latest invention. It’s a walker (built of ABS piping with industrial castors) that he constructed after about 40 hours of experimenting with his idea.
For those of you who don’t know Brian, he was diagnosed with MS a year ago, and he loves to play volleyball. Another person might have decided to sit back and feel sorry for himself, but not Brian. He’s been playing volleyball every Monday night for years, and in June he hosts the Pond Scum Beach Volleyball Cup at his cottage up in Meaford. There was no way he was going to stop doing something he loved.
This volleywalker (Pam christened it The Tantalus because it reminds her of a spider) allows Brian to move around on the court and play without losing his balance. Brian goes for five hours of physical therapy every week, and his physiotherapist – a volleyball player herself – says it works much better than anything else she’s seen. She and Brian actually play together each week.
We don’t ask for bad things to happen to us, so it’s really inspiring when someone like Brian meets the challenge head on and ends up with an invention that will help other people too.

Christina's New Photoshop Brushes

After a few days of really intense freelance work, it was time to play with the two new Photoshop brushes I’d ordered from Lazar StudioWERX the other night. I treated myself to the Florishoodled and Poloroid Transfer sets to start with, and they were even better than I expected (Jeanne – you must have these brushes!!!) I used one of John’s sky photos, added some lettering, and then went to town.
Saying that I “went to town” makes it sound like there was a lot of effort involved, when it was actually the lettering that took 90 per cent of my time. The brushwork was pure digital gratification.
I’m always interested in anything new that Christina Lazar-Schuler comes up with. She’s one of the most creative people I know: fine artist, digital whiz, savvy businesswoman and great teacher. How can I resist ordering her other two sets? I won’t be able to...obviously.

David's Website

David has his website up now. He went for a minimalist look and features some of his sketches, and his stationary and suspended forms. He did the whole thing in GoLive, which is what I’m using too, so I know he will be able to give me some tips.
I think David’s glass bricks are really cool, and my favorites of the work he has done so far. Many of them have little windows so the light can shine through. He’s sold several of them already. Right now he’s working on more complicated pieces that almost look like conceptual puzzles. He builds molds out of clay set in sand, and then pours in the molten glass. It takes about 48 hours for the glass to cool down completely, and then he can polish or roughen them up.
The other day David heard from Galerie Elena Lee in Montreal. They want him to be part of a group exhibition in March next year. This is very exciting for him (us too). If you go to their website you can see a great cross section of glass art. I really enjoyed looking at everyone’s work and found it very inspiring.

The Dollar Store

Debbie and I went to The Dollar Store this afternoon where I bought a rubber mallet (yes, I need this to flatten bottle caps), some cheesecloth and two measuring cups. We also went to Michaels. Debbie wanted to buy a wood-burning tool, but she’d forgotten her coupon. I hadn’t so I got a few things for the Holly Jolly pictures I’m working on. Then we both bought Halloween candy. As soon as I got home, John and David raided my stash. Okay, so I did too and I’m feeling a little sick after eating several Mars and Snickers mini bars. Serves me right, and now I have to buy more candy.
But back to The Dollar Store. I’m a complete addict. I’ve scored more bargains there than anywhere else. My absolute favorite buy was – or rather were – eleven really good pieces of a nativity set. I can’t recall when I’ve been more excited. I rushed home, set them up, congratulated myself and then said to myself: “What am I thinking? Why didn’t I buy nativity sets for all my friends? Pam would love one too.” So I rushed back and they were gone! In the space of an hour, The Dollar Store was sold out of several hundred figurines. The moral of this story is: if it’s too good to be true, buy everything.
The altered puzzle shown above was a club challenge from last year. I bought the wooden puzzles at The Dollar Store in Meaford. It may be a small town, but there’s no better dollar store anywhere. It’s awesome.

Paul's Book

I’ve done some interesting freelance work this year, and my favorite by far was doing this cover for Paul Godin’s science fiction book The Program. Paul and I discussed what he was after visually, but he basically left it up to me. After reading his book, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
I did a Luna Lights painting for the top of the cover, and used a picture I’d taken of the sky up at Meaford along with a scan of some computer circuits. The biggest challenge by far was finding a face I thought reflected the essence of the hero (as I pictured him in my mind). I ended up buying a stock photo, and after plenty of experimentation with the various elements in Photoshop, I ended up with what you see here.
The interesting part of this project for me was the type. Originally I’d chosen a simple sans-serif font, but Paul wasn’t sure about this. I sent him a selection of typefaces to look at and tossed in some jazzier fonts I would never have chosen myself. Paul chose one of these, and lo and behold it was perfect. Paul is a photographer and writer, and he now has a website designed by his wife Carmi. If you check it out, you can read a page from The Program and his other book, Na Gren.

Website Matters

I’m sure I have the wrong temperament for doing a website. Because I like everything to fit together and make sense, it’s turning into a nightmare. If I could afford it, I’d hire someone to do my website, but I’d probably drive them mad. I spent a few hours earlier reading through my book and making corrections. Compared to the website, it seemed easy – and I never thought I’d say that!
I hit a real low point yesterday afternoon. There is just so much to do I can’t imagine ever getting it done. For instance, a lot of my work still needs to be photographed, but since I have better luck taking pictures outside and it was raining, I had to comb through the photos I already have instead. (Here are two tins from my Bia Box I won’t have room to include). Today I was all set to take pictures again but the wind is so strong it even blew some of the shells I’d brought back from Cape Cod off the porch. Am I whining or what?

Our Club Challenge

For this meeting we had to alter a fan. John had the bright idea of turning it into a crossword puzzle. I didn’t do this because it would have taken too much work, so I decided to turn it into a fetish object or mask instead. I’m not crazy about what I did, although there are parts I do like. My plan is to dismantle what I’ve done and incorporate some of the pieces into other projects.
David agreed to model it for me. The poor guy has been really sick all week, and I dragged him away from his place on the couch (where he was watching Lord of the Rings) and took him outside. You can’t see his eyes because this mask needs someone with widely spaced eyes like Kate Moss for it to really work.
Carolyn taught us how to do embossing on metal tonight. She’d been to a class in Texas and came back with this huge array of tools – her stash would be the envy of any dentist – and we all made a dog tag. I was sitting next to Mary who told me that metal embossing is addictive. Even though she had already shown me how to do it, I just can’t seem to “get” into the spirit of things, metallically speaking.
Mary is in downsizing mode and she gave me some great art and map books, a few little canvases and a bag of dolls. When I got home, John and I watched Alias, and I started removing doll heads and arms. I’ve always loved dolls, and I felt guilty dismantling them, but I do feel an assemblage coming on…

Why Bother Sleeping?

It’s not that I don’t like to sleep because I do, but I wish I could be awake 24 hours a day. Life is just so interesting that I hate to miss any of it. Tonight I’ve had a grand time preparing little canvases for Holly Jolly. While I was waiting for them to dry, I decided to play around in Photoshop. I’m really missing Emma, so I looked through all sorts of digital photos I’ve taken of her and found this one I like. I wanted to call her Starr when she was born, but John really dug in his heels on that one. I suppose Starr is a trailer trash kind of name. Sigh. Anyway, nothing is stopping me from providing her with her own constellation now. Thanks Photoshop.

That Marketing Thing

I have a hang up about marketing myself. Not that I think I’m above it all…I’m below it actually. But lately I’ve been facing facts. I do have to do this if I want to make money. I notice that artists like Claudine Hellmuth do commissions. This is something I think I would really like doing.
Here’s a picture I did of my sister Pam and her husband Brian. I used a photo I’d taken of them at a party and sandwiched it with another photo I’d taken at their cottage and the scan of a map. It’s one of the most ambitious things I’ve ever done in Photoshop because I used multiple layers and techniques in order to get the slightly surreal look I was after. (This is version twelve).
I’ve also been working on my website. Carmi has inspired me to do this. Somehow when a friend can do it, it seems real and possible to me too. I’ve been learning GoLive from the tutorials on Lynda.com, and now I actually think I can do it. The problem is the gazillion images I need to organize and all the photos I have to take…plus the writing of course. But I have to stop vacillating and just get it done. I’d like to get my website up by the Holly Jolly Holiday Sale if I can. Nothing like picking an arbitrary deadline to galvanize me!
I’ve also started working on some new things for the sale, and I’m enjoying it. Last year I was anxious because I didn’t know what to expect. This year is different. I’m doing some pictures on wood supports and canvas. I don’t know whether or not they will appeal to people, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. It would be nice if it was more gain than venture though!

Creativity

Emma emailed me today to say that she’d read my blog about Marion Zimmer Bradley, and that I’d never mentioned this to her before. Up until now, I’ve only told a couple of people. Not because I’m embarrassed…I’m sure being trashed by MZB and that Woman’s World editor means I’m in good company! These things hurt, but you have to get past it. I’ve been thinking a lot about creativity for the last few months though because of my book, and all sorts of things have surfaced. To me, talent is more about persistence than anything else. However, when something negative happens, it does make it harder to “carry on” (to quote Tim Gunn).
Emma went on to say: “That makes me wonder if, when people like Marion criticize others that are aspiring to pursue artistic careers, they aren't dealing with more personal issues - e.g. a sense of personal failure despite external "success," or perhaps a subjective sense of being "all-knowing" or "above" other creative people. Really, those people's actions have nothing to do with you and your creative talent.”
After reading this, I started thinking about why some people are hard on others. Is it a power trip, a sense of superiority or simply a cruel streak? (Not that the repercussions of a cruel streak are ever simple). One thing experience has taught me is that people who are nasty usually have do have issues. You can spend a lot of time trying to analyze their actions and justifying your own, but the bottom line is: if someone is cruel to you, step out of the line of fire and regroup.
I’ve been reading this book called The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler, which is about the mythic basis of storytelling. He mentions Threshold Guardians that bar the gateway to the hero’s journey. They test the hero’s fitness for the trip ahead. To me, MZB played that kind of role for someone like me. You have to pursue your vision, whatever it is, and just get past them. On a personal level, I’ve been an editor and I would never treat a fellow writer or artist that way. People continually surprise you, so it’s always best to relate to the best self in others and see them as they really are: full of promise and potential.

Looking backward...looking forward

There was a time in my life where I was really into writing short stories, and I even had some of them published. There were lots of rejections though. One in particular I’ve never forgotten. I’d submitted a story to Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Fantasy Magazine, and received a really vitriolic letter back from Herself in which she basically told me I was a no-talent wannabe and should give up writing fiction immediately!
Shortly afterwards, I took a workshop with the science fiction writer Judith Merrill. She was a gravel-voiced, no-nonsense person who frankly scared me because she never smiled. But I decided: “What the heck, I’ll submit the same story because I like it.”
Then Judith called Edo Van Belkom and me in for chat. She asked me about my life, and then she said: “What does your husband think about living with a novelist?” And I told her he was actually very supportive and a lot more domesticated than I was. “That’s good news Susan because you can do it,” she replied. I haven’t of course. I mean I have written a novel and parts of few others, but I haven’t had one published. Edo, however, has gone on to publish at least two horror novels that I know of.
Another hostile rejection I received was from the fiction editor of Woman’s World. I’d submitted a romantic short story and she sent me an extremely hostile letter saying she didn’t think much of my mini mystery. Huh? At least MZB took the time to carefully read and trash my story, but I’m sure the Woman’s World virago didn’t even bother. Don’t these babes realize that writers who submit stories to their magazines actually buy and read them? Not that I read Woman’s World anymore, that’s for sure.
Oh well, any fiction writer has to be a gambler, and I’m definitely that. For the past couple of days I’ve been rereading my short stories. Of the fifteen or so I looked through, I’d say one is really good (not the one I expected either), two are good and the rest, while serviceable, shouldn’t be pursued. While I’m no longer interested in writing short stories, I think I just might submit the ones I do like to some writing contests still open right now.
P.S. The collage shown above was rejected from a juried show.

Relax? I don’t think so!

My plan to take it easy for a couple of days has collapsed. I tried to kick back by doing some art, and now my room is in a chaotic state once again. I’m incapable of working in an orderly, linear manner. I wish I could, but I just can’t.
Yesterday I completed my challenge for Carmi’s Commandos in just a few hours. My goal is not to mad dog these projects or to get worked up about them. When I told John I’d finished, he was taken aback. “Really?” he said. “You have?” I can’t say I’m that happy with what I’ve done, but it’s done. (I’ll post a photo on Friday). David really likes it, but personally, I think it’s the weakest one I’ve done so far. I can live with the results though, which is progress.
After I’d finished last night, I started thinking about Holly Jolly. Here’s one of the 8 x 10” prints I’ll be selling. This year I’m only going to sell things I really like – not that I didn’t like everything I sold last year – but I’m at the stage now where I think some of my images should be gracefully retired. I also want to make room for new stuff, and some little mixed media pieces.
About midnight, I started taking bits and pieces out of boxes and just generally brainstorming. By the time I went to bed, well let’s just say that even Lily was having problems trying to find a place to lay her weary head. She actually barked at me a couple of times to let me know that she was annoyed that her/my chair was stacked with boxes. I ended up taking off my dressing gown and making an informal dog bed for her on the floor where she snored like a truck driver.

Exploring the Possibilities

Beverly and I had a great eating, gabbing and trolling the booths at the Creativfestival. The reason I’ve never gone before is I thought it was all about sewing, and years ago I made the decision not to get involved with this because there are so many other things I want to do. As it turned out there was plenty of inspiration for someone who prefers paper crafts like me.
Bizzy Bee’s had a terrific booth with a really interesting selection of merchandise. We visited with Daniza – she always knows what I like – and I bought some flowers (see photo) that I don’t have a clue what to do with, but I’ll figure it out.
Then we stopped by Carmi’s booth, which was like looking into a little jewel box. I picked up some Dove of the East charms which are beautifully made, and chatted to Carmi and June Hayter who is helping her at the festival. (June says she reads my blog, but can’t leave comments because Blogger won’t let her. This is the third time this week someone has told me this, and I’m not sure what to do about it).
What I like about going to something like the Creativfestival is seeing friends you haven’t seen for a while, making new ones and being exposed to all sorts of things that fire your imagination. When I got home, my mind was buzzing with possibilities. What I need to do now is explore them!

Create is a Verb

I can’t believe it, but I actually finished the first draft of my book tonight. I’m not sure how it happened, but it did. All 150 pages are now printed up and ready for John to start reading tomorrow. I still need to write the preface, but I’d planned to leave it to the end anyway just in case the book needs a major overhaul, which it undoubtedly will.
I’m sure John will notice plenty of things that need to be expressed more clearly. He can be a real nitpicker, but this always works to my advantage because I trust his judgment. I remember writing a booklet for the mail art show I curated at The Art Gallery of Peel a few years ago. John thought the first several pages were weak, and I was really annoyed at him – mainly because I was fed up with how complicated curating an art show turned out to be, and I didn’t know how to do justice to the hundreds of people who participated. Nevertheless, I started over again and ended up with a credible piece of work.
I hope he’s not too hard on me this time, but at least I’m prepared for it. Already I can see a lot of things that need changing. The beginning of the book should be stronger for a start, and I think I’ll probably end up dropping some pages, or combining them, and there’s at least eight layouts that need work…plus all sorts of bits and pieces that have to be added.
On the whole, I’d say the illustrations are fine. The real chore will be in the rewriting and there will be plenty of that. I just looked through my print outs now and there are way more graphics than straight copy. But it was the writing that was the real challenge for me. Somehow writing fiction comes more easily. (Then again, writing about something non-linear like creativity would be a challenge for anyone).
Tomorrow I’m taking a break. Beverly and I are going to the Creativfestival in Toronto, and I know I’m going to really enjoy it because I’ve accomplished something worthwhile this week.

This and That

Jeanne sent me this much appreciated link today which has a photo of the painter Francis Bacon’s studio. My theory is that he didn’t need a place to stand; he levitated to paint. And Mary, you will appreciate this: a team of archeologists went through Bacon’s studio and labeled everything (all 7,000 pieces) before it was relocated to a gallery.
I was thinking about Bacon’s studio off and on all day while I worked on my book. By dinnertime, I’d accomplished zip – I hate days like this – and so I decided to redeem myself by cleaning up. To be honest, I haven’t finished yet, but I did find a crushed bottle cap that would be perfect for a set up. Now that I have some space, maybe I’ll actually accomplish something creative tomorrow.

Checking in from the Pigpen

I keep telling myself I need to get organized. Right now I’m in the middle of several different projects…then again, I always am. But as usual, I’ve used every inch of available space with nothing to show for it. Even my bathroom has things going on in it. My thinking is that if I actually post these pictures to my blog, it will shame me into tidying up. Believe me, it’s been way, way worse than this. It’s at the point now though where it’s crossing the line to the chaotic. Help!!!

Missing Emma

Here’s a picture of Emma advertising the Jeep we rented to go to Meaford about this time last year. I really miss her laughter and high jinks. Yesterday we had a long talk on the phone, and she wants me to go on a trip with her to Spain, Italy, Greece and Morocco when she finishes articling in the summer of 2008. I can’t wait! (But I guess I’ll have to).
Emma has been gone seven weeks, and so far she’s visited Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Poland and The Czech Republic. She’s also going to England, Spain and Italy.
Did I mention that she’s there to study? Well, she’s managing to squeeze it in. At her age I had absolutely no self-discipline. I’d have probably bailed out of school after the first couple of weeks, and gone to Findhorn with the bass player of a second-rate band to talk to plants.

Another Book Update

It’s hard to believe but I’m almost finished the first draft of my book. I’m not sure how long it will end up being because there are some things I’ve already decided to leave out. So far I have 146 pages and another eight or so to write, plus all the extra bits and pieces that go into doing a book, like acknowledgements, picture credits, contents and so on. My guess is that it will end up being 160 pages or so.
I’ve decided that I am going to try and get an agent and/or a publisher before I start rewriting. If I can’t, I’ll publish it myself. Marketing introduces a whole new challenge, and while I do have some ideas, it’s not really my forte. One good thing is that Teesha Moore says she’d like to run an excerpt in Art and Life, so that’s exciting for me.
To be honest, I’m really not looking forward to rewriting. It’s not that I’m fed up with the subject of creativity, but I’m worried that I may not have covered the subject properly. Actually, that sounds ridiculous now that I think about it. How could any one person do justice to the topic? Let’s just say, I hope I’ve done as good a good a job as I personally can.
Some of the edge has been taken off thinking about this because I’ve already started working on my next book. I’d thought about doing one on journaling, and maybe I still will, but right now I’m engrossed in planning my novel about angels. I don’t know whether or not it will fly, so to speak, but it looks promising.

My Ideas Journal

I’ve been keeping this journal since January and I’m almost finished. I have over 150 pages of ideas, but fortunately there’s lots of repetition, which means that I’m not as much of a grab-bagger as I think I am. The problem of implementing them remains, however.
Yesterday afternoon David and I went to Toronto to see a glass art show, and to pick up some of his work. Then we went to Pages Bookstore on Queen Street and had a great time looking at art books. The reason I like the art section at Pages is because they have a lot of funky books by artists I’ve never heard of before. I particularly like the ones with artist sketches and notebooks.
There was a very cool book on Paul Klee’s puppets too. Apparently Klee made them for his son when he was a child. David found them very freaky, but I really liked the idea that Klee did his own sewing and carving. I was tempted to buy the book, but resisted and got David a couple of novels instead because he’s on a reading jag.
As we were leaving I suddenly remembered that Pages carries Moleskines, and I’ll need a new ideas journal soon. I’m not sure why I like working on graph paper, but I do. The good thing about keeping this journal is that I’m not worried about whether or not it looks finished. Keeping an art journal is all very well, but it has a habit of stealing time and energy that might be put to better use somplace else.
Afterwards, David took me out for dinner to a Chinese buffet. The waiter was very attentive…to me. When David pulled out his credit card, the waiter was really taken aback, and then amused. He couldn’t seem to believe that the child – well, not that David has ever really been a child – would actually treat his mother to dinner.

The Art of Play

Einstein says that play is the highest form of research, and who am I to disagree with Albert? I’ve always been fascinated by the equipment needed to play any kind of game whether it’s a spinner, a deck of cards, a board or a personal marker. At one point I even came up with an idea for a fiction writing game, which I could still do something with come to think of it.
Anyway, John recently taught me how to play Bezique, a card game for two players that was developed in France in the 17th century. John is an absolute whiz at cards, but I managed to win one hand without understanding how I actually did it. Although we didn’t use a special scoreboard, I downloaded this one from the Internet and then played with it in Photoshop. It would be fun to come up with designs for games that don’t even exist – but might.

My groove goes AWOL

I’m not wishing I was still in Cape Cod, but somewhere along the way my mind took a vacation and isn’t ready to come back yet. All I want to do right now is to look at art books and read mythology. Is this the byproduct of over-focusing for so long? Could be.
There’s so much emphasis on producing in our society. You feel compelled to keep justifying your existence in one way or another, and then when you take a break from doing this, you start questioning why you started doing it in the first place.
I feel it’s part of my purpose to write a book on creativity, but why the big hurry, I wonder? It seems as if I’m continually setting myself new challenges – and meeting them – but then another challenge takes its place, so I never really feel like I’ve arrived. Pondering this has started me thinking that it’s probably more important to embrace the process than it is to focus one’s energy on producing results.

We're back

I haven’t blogged for 9 days now and it feels strange getting back to it. Quite frankly, I didn’t have time – too busy eating, talking, reading, sight-seeing, playing cards, taking pictures, collecting shells and going on hikes with John. I did nothing on my travel journal either, and I feel guilty about it. All that time I spent getting my art supplies together beforehand, and I didn’t even use them. I could have saved myself the trouble.
What I did do, though, was to come up with an idea for a novel – and I owe it all to John. One night in bed he kept tossing and turning. I’d almost be asleep when he’d suddenly twitch and wake me up. I finally decided to forget about sleeping and just think. All sorts of ideas came to me, and I ended up getting my notebook and writing away in the dark.
It feels good to have a new project I’m excited about. My novel will be a fantasy – not a Lord of the Rings kind of thing – but an alternative and contemporary reality. For a while now I’ve been researching angels. I’m not sure if this research will fit in with what I’m trying to do, but I hope it will. One thing I’ve learned is that you have to let your ideas take you where they want you to go. And quite often they lead you somewhere you never thought of going.

Cape Cod Count Down

Here is a picture of the house we will be staying in on Cape Cod. Apparently it’s only 200 yards from the ocean, so I’m looking forward to doing some heavy duty beach combing, or mud larking as John calls it. (Apparently mud larks were little children who played in the mud beside the Thames and went paddling in it).
Emma called just now and I was so relieved to hear from her. She was standing outside a “sketchy” nightclub in Plzen in the Czech Republic having just arrived there from Prague. The reception was really bad so we couldn’t talk for long, but Emma is having an “awesome” time. She made me laugh when she said the hotel where they’re staying tonight is like something straight out of The Shining. I just hope that Jack Torrance isn’t anywhere nearby!
I still have a lot to do before we go, but I don’t feel like doing much of anything because I’m feeling so tired. Maybe I should start packing my art supplies. That should revive me. Only twelve hours to go!

That Packing Thing...

Trying to get everything done before we go away is a challenge. Plenty of tasks are still uncompleted, plus there are piles of stuff everywhere: notes, clothes, stuff for my journal, toiletries, books…I just wish everything was done so I could stop thinking about it. The one good thing is that we can just toss everything into the car.
But what if I forget something? That’s no big deal really. It’s not like we’re going on an Outward Bound trip. From what I’ve heard, the house in Cape Cod is better equipped than our house, and I always take way too much stuff anyway.
Fortunately this week has been better than last when it comes to my book. I have finished 140 pages, and with only 30 or so to go, the end is in sight. What’s left is mainly writing which always tougher for me than doing illustrations. I doubt I’ll get much done down in Cape Cod though because I want to spend time with my parents.
What I am going to do is to print out what I’ve done so far and see which areas need to be changed before I start rewriting. I think the thing that’s surprised me most is just how much time and energy this book has required of me, so I’m looking forward to taking a break from it. John and I always enjoy doing things together, and a vacation with my parents will be fun too. This holiday might just give me a much needed boost as I head into the home stretch.

Brenda and Mary

I wrote an article on Brenda Shackleford for RubberStampMadness last year, and I was wowed by her just-go-for-it approach to life and art. One of the things Brenda told me was that when she travels, she always packs a fresh journal and her basic artist’s tool kit. She glues in things that she finds and generally riffs (is that a word?) about what she’s experiencing.
Just before Mary left for Cuba in June, she told me that she didn’t think she would have time for art while she was there. Mary being Mary, I couldn’t imagine her going a day without doing something creative, so I told her about the Brenda approach to travel. And Mary being Mary loved the idea.
I’m laughing as I write this, but here’s the thing…Mary started working in her Cuba journal on the flight down. Had the plane even taken off, I wonder? By the time she got home she’d finished her journal of course. Now I haven’t been to Cuba, but Mary’s journal gave me an idea of what it would be like…full of color and light.
Mary brought me back a dear little blank book that she bought from a guy on the beach in Cuba. I’ve been thinking about what to do with it, and I’ve decided that it’s going to be my Cape Cod journal. I glued this heart on the cover and painted all the pages inside the same color. Will I be able to work on it while I’m away? I’m going to try. I’m not as spontaneous as Brenda and Mary, but hopefully I can just enjoy playing in it without over thinking things like I usually do.

On Writing...sort of

I’m writing an article on Photoshop right now and enjoying the process because it isn’t my book. After writing over 130 pages on creativity, I can see I’ve fallen into all sorts of bad writing habits over the years. You’d think after being a professional writer for so long I’d have it all figured out. But I don’t. It’s always onward and upward. Then again, this is probably a good thing for me or else I’d go stale.
To unwind last night, I read Wedding Song by Vicki Lewis Thompson. Now there’s a woman who can write! Even though I love romances, so many of them are groaners. I remember reading one where the heroine kept licking her lips. I would have tossed the book aside except I was hooked on whether or not there would be any more lip licking. It was like reading a Where’s Waldo book and trying to find the Chap Stick.
Speaking of romances, David told me today that he’d like to read the unpublished one I wrote back in the mid 90s. I was really taken aback by this. He explained that he’d been thinking about the fact that even though we’re close, there was a lot he didn’t know about me and he wanted to learn more. Of course there’s sex in the book, so this is a little weird but my mother said she enjoyed it, and…well, actually I haven’t made up my mind about this yet.
Have I mentioned that when John was living in Amsterdam he taught himself Dutch by reading his girlfriend’s Harlequins? He’s even read a few of mine. Most men wouldn’t be caught dead reading a romance. But not my guys. From what I’ve seen though, David’s girlfriends seem to prefer writers like Ayn Rand.
I checked out Vicki Lewis Thompson’s website tonight, and apparently she has a thing for Colin Firth. I remember watching him on A&E in Pride and Prejudice. After the first installment was shown, my mother and sister both called to say they thought John looked like Colin Firth. Maybe I should email Vicki this picture of John – and mention that he has a darling Scottish accent.

Perfectionism

I’m sorry I had to miss the Red Hat Stampers annual weekend this year. If I hadn’t been heading off to Cape Cod in a week, I would have gone for sure. There’s something really inspiring about spending time up north doing art with your friends. I hope they’re all enjoying themselves for me.
As it is, I have to work every day all day in order to get everything done before I go. But last night I had a mental meltdown while working on an article at two in the morning. I just could not think. It was like all the circuits in my brain were fried.
Part of the problem is that I’ve hit a wall with my book. While I know I’ll have a lot of rewriting to do when I finish, there’s nothing worse than trying to rework something that didn’t get done properly in the first place.
The section I’m struggling with is perfectionism. I’ve been working on it for the last couple of weeks, and now I’m behind on my book. When David asked me how things were going this morning and I told him that I was having problems with perfectionism, he burst out laughing. I know people think I’m a perfectionist, but in all fairness to myself, I get a lot done for someone who’s continually hung up on doing things right.
Anyway, I’m finding this a difficult subject to write about. On the one hand, I think perfectionistic tendencies are good because you want to take something as far as it can go. On the other hand, when you think you should do things perfectly, it destroys your spontaneity and makes it difficult to work. Now that I think of it, that’s really what I’m trying to say, so maybe I will be able to finish this section after all.

My Propeller Set Up

The challenge for our September club meeting was to alter an Altoids tin that Sharon Ginsberg had sent each one of us. I lost the lid to my tin almost immediately, and it’s never turned up. This was probably good for me though because I ended up doing something I wouldn’t have done otherwise.
The last time Mary and I went on one of our bin rummaging sprees at Active Surplus, I picked up this nifty propeller and two sets of gears to use in my challenge. The whole thing came together quickly for me, so I really enjoyed this project. (Just don’t ask what it means).
My favorite part of each meeting is seeing what everyone has done with their challenge, and being inspired by their creativity. For example, Marissa took off the lid and built a frame around the rest of the tin so it looked like a shrine. This is something I’d never though of myself, but I definitely want to try it.
Carmi gave me a couple of books for my birthday – a bio on Robert Rauschenberg and Tracy Bautista’s Collage Unleashed. I didn’t know about either of these books, so I was thrilled. Unexpected gifts are always the best.

A Year Ago Today

Last September I did at least one trading card sized image every day in Photoshop. Here’s the one for September 21st, 2005. By the end of that month I was starting to get fed up with the push to accomplish something each day. Not that it was taking the joy out of it for me, but that self-imposed pressure tended to take over and by the end of the month I’d had enough.
It was one of the best things I’ve ever done creatively though because it forced me to learn things in Photoshop I hadn’t before. I read a quote somewhere that said: “Repetition is the mother of all skill,” or something like that. All those trading cards I did in Photoshop weren’t necessarily repetition – more like practice really – but the work that came afterwards was a lot better than anything I’d done before. The one-a-day habit is definitely an apprenticeship, if you stick with it.

My place in the scheme of things

When I was talking to Carmi the other night, she told me that her two Goldens – Shadow and Shamus spend more time on the couch than she does. I thought this was really funny, so I decided to post a picture of Lily in her typical position on the chair in front of my computer. X marks the spot where I get to park my posterior. Actually I find it surprisingly comfortable because I have to keep my back straight in order to sit this way.
One of the enjoyable things about talking to Carmi is that I can run on and on about Lily without having to feel guilty about it. Most of the people I know don’t have a dog, and you can see them getting restless when you’re sharing yet another cute story about your furry beloved.
Last year Carmi had Claudine Hellmuth do the design for her Christmas card using Shadow and Shamus. This prompted David and me to put on some doll-sized antlers on Lily, and a couple of large doll legs that I have on her front paws. She just sat there serenely until we were laughing so hard her dog dignity took over and she wanted out. This would make a fun card though, if I can just find those antlers again.

Thinking about the past

For the last year or so, I’ve been doing a lot of my digital work in black and white because of my book. So far I have 54 illustrations completed and incorporated into my layouts. I don’t know how many I’ve rejected, but it’s probably close to the same number.
When I think of illustration, I tend to think in terms of watercolor paintings or line drawings, and mine are all digital collages. I never thought I’d end up doing something like this even though I’ve been experimenting with black and white for as long as I can remember. My plan was always to become a famous painter and have a big loft in New York City.
Back in my early twenties – and after I’d done my B.A. in English – I decided that I wanted to go to art college because that had always been my dream. A friend of mine was dating a well-known Canadian artist, so I took my portfolio to him for feedback. He told me that I didn’t have the talent to be a painter and to forget about it – advice I might add that I took to heart.
Twenty-five years later I met this guy again at a party. He asked me what I’d done with my art. Thanks to him, I’d chosen to focus more on writing than art, so I was taken aback when he said he’d always thought I’d be a great illustrator.
This was a major life turning point for me. He had never said a thing to me about this originally. In fact, I was so devastated when he trashed my portfolio that I gave up the idea of going to art school full-time.
But this experience really made me think about whom we should trust with our dreams, and the importance of self-confidence. It had never occurred to me at the time that he might be wrong, or have his own twisted, personal agenda. (After all, he was a so-called artist of substance and I was just another wannabe).
That’s why I now believe that if you want to something that’s reason enough to pursue it. And give it your all no matter what anyone else thinks about your talent…including yourself!

Sunday Update

Okay, so it’s officially Monday, but since I haven’t gone to bed yet, it still feels like Sunday. I’m hoping this week won’t be as hellish as the last one because I’ve literally spent twelve hours a day every day trying to get back on track with everything I needed to do. Nevertheless, I managed to squeeze in time to work on my book which means I’m still keeping to my self-imposed schedule.
Last night I took a quick look at the pages I’ve already done. I don’t think I’ll have to rewrite everything, but changes definitely need to be made – hopefully for the better. Because we’re going to Cape Cod in October, I won’t get much done while I’m away, so I basically have six weeks to finish my first draft – although it’s not really a first draft in the true sense of the word since each page is as finished as I could get it at the time.
While I was reading through the copy and looking at the illustrations, I had the strangest feeling. It was like I was holding someone else’s book. But that feeling would soon vanish when I came across things where I’d slipped up.
Tonight I also played with a picture of two statues Emma sent me from her trip to Luxembourg last weekend. I am using another one of her as my screen background, but I’m thinking about changing it because every time I look at her sweet face I feel homesick for her.

No Time for Art (or Fred)

When I was working as a layout artist at Sears back in the Pleistocene age, I was really green. One of the first things I had to do was to pick up some pictures for a layout I was working on. My supervisor told me to go over to Old Art. Of course I thought Old Art was an eccentric older guy hidden away in some cubicle…kind of like Malcolm Waddems in Office Space now that I think about it. Well, at any rate I was hunting around all over the place for him when I finally discovered that Old Art was actually the place where the catalogue transparencies were filed. Naturally everyone thought this was hilarious.
But I’ve been thinking about Old Art this week because I’ve been seeing plenty of it while trying to straighten out my files. Here’s one I did from a photo of my dad and grandparents taken back in the 1930s. I guess doing something three or four years ago doesn’t really qualify as “old,” but in Photoshop years it just might be.
One thing I don’t like about the reformatting and Adobe Bridge is that I can no longer see pictures of my files on the folder icons like I used to be able to do. All I needed was the visual with Photoshop 6 and I knew what was going on inside. Now I’m forced to read the titles and I really hate this because I have 810 file folders – and I can’t do it in Explorer anymore either.
I discovered this week that I’m not the only Photoshop user who is unhappy with this. There doesn’t seem to be a solution however, so I suspect Adobe is saving the picture icon feature for a future version of Bridge. Leaving it out must have been deliberate when you consider that Adobe is marketing their software to people who are geared to the visual…artists, photographers and graphic designers.

My computer is consuming me

For the past few days my life has been focused on trying to deal with the repercussions of having a new computer workspace. I’m overwhelmed by the chaos of my various file systems, software conflicts and so on.
Speaking of software conflicts, it reminds me of the personality clashes that sometimes happen in a group. You have a common goal in mind, but personal inclinations and agendas tend to get in the way. So why should software be any different just because it’s mechanical? Everything that happens on the road of life is a reflection of who we really are.
That said, I’m trying to get back to normal because I have two articles and a book to finish. Before I went to bed last night, I did some writing, and you know what? It seemed like a breeze after all the digital soul-searching I’ve been forced to do lately.

Portrait of Moi

I’m transferring a gazillion files to my new workspace from our external backup and finding all sorts of projects in Photoshop that never got off the ground. Not that I feel guilty. How can you feel guilty about things you’ve completely forgotten about?
But I decided to take a break and complete this one anyway so I could play with CS2. It’s a picture of me taken in my early twenties by an old boyfriend. I remember the day it was taken because I’d just finished looking at my grocery bill and a large tub of peach yogurt cost me 39 cents. Now why would I remember that?
The best thing about going through my files is discovering so many photos we’ve taken that I’d like to work with. But why did I save our 25th wedding anniversary pictures SIX times? Guess I didn’t want to lose them. Still, it shows how disorganized I am – I definitely need to be more on the ball.

Mona, no longer moaning

You get so used to the way you set things up on your computer that when there’s a big change you feel like you’re suddenly in an alien landscape. Still, it’s a good thing because I’m being forced to really think about how I want to organize my files. They have been in a chaotic state for months, so it will probably take me several days to do this. Plus I have to install more programs, calibrate my monitor and iron out several bugs as well.
Photoshop CS2 doesn’t seem that different from Photoshop 6 so far. The workspace is fancier, and obviously there are more features, but I was able to reduce this digital collage of Mona without any problems. Adobe Bridge is a cool new program included with Creative Suite that allows you to scroll through your images without having to open them up in Photoshop. I love being able to do this!!
I now have Illustrator and In-Design too, although the thought of learning two new programs is daunting. I actually used Illustrator back in January to draw a spiral for a theatre poster I designed, but I found things very difficult to figure out. I guess it helps when you actually take the trouble to learn the basics instead of just winging it.

Computer Problems

At the moment I am quietly freaking out. The Speedos...not the swimsuits but John and David...are reformatting my computer. It's crashed several times over the last few days, so hopefully this will fix things. Meanwhile I'm computerless and using David's right now.
I really wish I was doing the reformatting myself. I think I could handle it if I took my time because at one point they got totally stuck and called all their friends. No one was home, so I went on the Internet and found the information they needed to get started again.
Maybe computers aren't supposed to be a chick thing, but I have to disagree. Guys go all gnarly and macho when it comes to computers, and it's really a pain.
Who knows how long it will be before everything is sorted out? I know it will take me a few days to reorganize my files...they were in such a mess anyway. The good thing is that I will have Photoshop CS2. Yipee! (On the other hand, do I really need yet another learning curve right now?)
Book-wise it was also a grueling week. Last night I finished page 121 of my book, and I probably have another 40-50 pages to go, plus rewriting.
I spent 12 hours one day working on two pages which was awful. I've learned from experience the pages I have the most trouble with continue to be the most trouble. Somehow you either get it or you don't, and when you don't, your words keep on harassing you until you do.

John's Dream

Last night John had a dream that he was eating this collage piece by piece, and when he woke up he could still taste it.
For some reason I keep the picture in my bathroom…I guess it’s because I like maps so much, and I want to remind myself to do more with it at some point. (Yes, even my bathroom is filled with stuff).
Anyway, this map collage was one of our in-club projects. Carmi gave us instructions, but I was so busy yakking to Mary and Cherri – and so involved in ripping and gluing everything down – that I mixed up the instructions. Carmi’s plan was to have all twelve of us collage inside the borders of our individual maps; then she would assemble everything and photograph it as an art quilt. Such a cool idea, but I ruined it. Did I apologize to you Carmi? I hope so.

Jeanne's Collages

Jeanne Schedler sent me a CD of her latest Photoshop collages, and since I always like put my friends’ work up on my blog, I thought I’d share a couple of them with you. It’s great to have a fellow Photoshop addict to share things with, so thank you Jeanne.
The CD also cheered me up because I’ve been feeling down for the last couple of days. I made the decision not to go to Artfest 2007 solely based on financial reasons, but I haven’t quite come to terms with it yet. I wished I lived close by, and then it would be a lot cheaper to make the trip. Last year I took an online quiz about where your ideal place is geographically. For some reason, I got Portland, Oregon. When I mentioned this to Carmi, she said she could see me living there too. (Portland would be close enough to Artfest, wouldn’t it?)
Speaking of Carmi, I just received an email from her to say the angel book has arrived safe and sound. Now that she has it, the whole project suddenly seems real to me. I can’t wait to see what everyone does

Done and Dusted

As Mick Jagger would say, the angel book is “done and dusted.” For me, anyway. There’s nothing like a deadline to keep you motivated. I finished off my pages this afternoon, and then sent the book to Carmi.
I’ve never worked on a collaborative project like this one before, and what was running through my mind most of the time was curiosity. I wondered what everyone else would do with their pages, or how they’d work with my raw material if they had the opportunity. Something completely different, I’m sure. I can’t wait to see what this talented bunch of women will bring to the book.
What I’d pictured in my mind for my pages, and what actually transpired were miles apart. I’d planned to do a lot more stamping than I did, but I couldn’t find my box of angel images. At least I had my collection of wings handy, but most of them didn’t fit, so I ended up doing most of my work in Photoshop (using images I’ve used before and that I like). I can see now why artists do series. There are some images that stay with you no matter how often you use them.
On Sunday morning I had this wonderful dream about a winged heart. But it wasn’t something I could easily translate to the angel book. It’s interesting how boundaries help you to focus, yet at the same time also rule other things out. I keep promising myself I’m going to paint and to work larger – and I keep not doing it. I don’t think it’s because I’m lazy or hesitant. Rather, I think that I know what a stretch it will be for me artistically, and most of my stretch is going into my creativity book at the moment.

Amsterdam Update

I love the Internet! I just received a long email from Emma with pictures, and she’s having a ball. The photos above show the view out her window. It sure doesn’t look like Brampton, does it?
On Saturday Emma went to Ikea with some of her new buddies, and bought a rug, tea towels, a blanket and some bedding. In her words: “My room is fab.” But she says she’s definitely having culture shock. In cafes, people smoke “with their babies…the babies themselves weren’t smoking, but you know what I mean.”
Another thing Emma has noticed is that there doesn’t seem to be a celebrity culture going on in Holland. People are not hung up on how they look, and no one checks out what she’s wearing. Emma says she hadn’t realized how much people do it here.
She’s addicted to cheese now (there’s a great cheese shop just around the corner), and today she’s buying a bicycle because that’s how everyone gets around. My mother phoned me last night to say that she had just called Emma and was really upset when Emma told her that no one wears a bicycle helmet in Holland!
Emma says that European guys are more relaxed and not as concerned with being manly. “For example two guys in my group – one from Italy, the other from Greece – were arguing over whether Italian or French is the language of love and passion. They all double kiss too. It's hilarious. You can tell who the North Americans are because we are wearing similar clothing and are a little more standoffish…”
So far, she’s met several people from Poland, Russia, South Africa that she’s sure she’ll become friends with, plus a couple of people from law school she knew, but had never spent any time with. Her only complaint? “I am dying for more novels to read since English books here are really expensive, and I foresee spending a lot of time reading at corner cafes and stuff.” Obviously we’re going to have to send her a care package, and pronto.
Today is Emma’s first day at the University of Amsterdam, so I keep thinking about her. But since she’s six hours ahead of us, she’s probably eating cheese right now and admiring her new bicycle.

Arrrgh!

Even though I used to do a lot of bookbinding and taught all sorts of classes, I gave it up because it drove me MENTAL. Bookbinding is absolutely the wrong, wrong, wrong craft for a first-class nitpicker like me.
I was reminded of this tonight when I had the bright idea of covering the inside of the angel book because I didn’t think painting would work. How could I have forgotten that paper stretches when wet? Why didn’t I think of testing how the paper would take glue first? Naturally, it refused to. In the end I managed to salvage it, but just barely.
I do have a question for the angel of art though. Couldn’t I just have one project that didn’t have a steep learning curve? What’s the deal here? (Feel free to answer immediately).
It was a pretty good day otherwise. Debbie, Gerry and I went to a craft store in Dundas, and then on to The Ink Spot in Oakville, which is a lovely new stamp store on Lakeshore. I really got the urge to get out my rubber and experiment when I got home. Well, okay, I chose about fifty stamps and then decided it would be more fun to email Jeanne. But it’s the thought that counts…isn’t it?

Angel Thoughts

I did more work on the angel book tonight and enjoyed it. I wish I could do my favorite thing last, which is painting the backgrounds. I visualize this like rewinding a video so the beginning becomes the end of it all.
Even though my backgrounds are plain, the act of smoothing paint on paper is soothing to me. In fact, I prefer paper to canvas hands down. I’m glad I chose a Moleskine for this project because it takes paint really well, and the book is a sturdy one – not like my Pilgrim’s Progress altered book which will definitely need some first aid, and soon.
I have to admit I’m a little intimidated because I’m the first artist to work in The Angel Book. This is my first real experience with a collaborative project too, and…well, I don’t really know why I should be intimidated, come to think of it. It’s probably because I hesitate before doing just about anything. Will I be able to pull “it” off? What if I mess up?
But I’ve already done this. I had a paint accident tonight and had to improvise. John says it happened because I didn’t leave myself enough space to work, and he’s right. Why does my drafting table shrink to the size of postage stamp whenever I start working?