Happy Valentines day!

I originally made this and told my husband it was for him - he said "too girlie!"
So then I came up with this ...

And then...

I've been doing a lot of digital stuff lately because my studio looks like this...

New, built in shelves! I'm sweeping up sawdust and rearranging stuff. Isn't time for spring cleaning?

It's been a while...

After being torn from my creative life by the "grim world of the day job" I slowly feel some creativity returning. I'm taking an online class called Hello Soul Hello Business which is certainly helping to refocus on what's important - my art! We were asked to envision our business as a person and the lady above is my vision. May I introduce you to Amaranthine Violet? She's sitting next to a lily pond for reflection, with flowers for delight. There's a flowering tree in the background, with roots in the ground and branches that reach high; the Divine Mother guides and protects and a butterfly is the agent transformation. All very symbolic right now, but dreams are the stuff out of which reality is made!

Happy Winter!

Winter has finally arrived in Arizona. Mountain roads...



lead into the mist...

And when the clouds lift...

Mingus Mountain is wearing his winter best.

Woodchute Mountain has an outfit to match with Jerome nestled at the foot of Cleopatra Hill. The horizontal stripes above Jerome are the 300 level...

which has a dusting of snow. Off in the hazy distance...

stand the San Francisco Peaks. Closer to home...

the frost came and all the fall leaves fell at once, overnight. Brownie made himself a cozy nest; I hope you're all snuggled in your cozy nest - with a nice, warm cup of cocoa!

Texture Tuesday - Gratitude

I'm grateful for so many things! But the beauty of nature is way up on the list - to see such majesty is a blessing. This is looking toward Sycamore Canyon from Clarkdale, Arizona. Fall is just starting in the cottonwood trees and mesquite.

I have been absent from my blog for a while - I have a day job that occasionally knocks the stuffing out of me. Hopefully all the stuffing will be gathered up and replaced by mid-December!

Finding Your Wings

Greetings fellow flyers!



This is a group from Kelly Rae Roberts' class "Flying Lessons", if you didn't take the class - please fly along anyway! We are a flock of creative birds, spreading our wings to fulfill our creative destinies and we will create those destinies along with our artwork.

For me the important message in the class was "be yourself", something dificult to find and often hard to do. So many influences in this world tell us what we should be and how to think - the message "think for yourself" got through to me years ago, courtesy of Timothy Leary. He said it so clearly I could hear it, and I listened. But to "be" yourself  requires being - taking action.  But my, how rewarding when you do. So here's to all who are being and doing...

Find those wings and dare to fly!

Here is a list of participants, please visit, and thanks to Kris Lanae Binsfeld of Cherish Designs for putting this together.

Amaranthine Violet: http://magic-gypsy.blogspot.com/

Amy Hillenbrand: http://amyhillenbrand.blogspot.com

Beatriz Peñas B.: http://beatrizbepe.blogspot.com/

Beth Cougler Blom: http://sobliss.wordpress.com/

Carmen Patti: http://carmenpattistudio.com/wordpress/

Carol Bray: http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com

Christina Fajardo: http://christinafajardo.blogspot.com/

Cindy Jones Lantier: http://www.lantier.org

Connie Rawlins : http://www.dabblinginlife.blogspot.com/

Dana Brock: http://www.dzynbydana.blogspot.com

Deborah Velásquez : http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com

Elissa Brown: http://thefreckledarmy.blogspot.com

Hillary Courson: http://www.hillarycourson.com

Jacquie Williamson: http://www.jacquiewilliamson.blogspot.com/

Jane Paynting: http://inkspiredwings.wordpress.com

Janet Forrest: http://tatterednworn.wordpress.com/

Jennifer DeVille: http://jenniferdeville.com/blog/

Jill Lambert : http://www.jill-lambert.blogspot.com/

Julie Hamilton: http://spaark.wordpress.com

Kanchan Mahon: http://Kanchan-Mahon.blogspot.com/

Karen Claverie: http://giddyupletsride.blogspot.com

Kari DeSaulnier: http://karidesi.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Conard : http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/

Kathleen McKinnon: http://harmonyschoolhouse.com/expressions-blog.html

Kathy May: http://kathymaydesigns.org

Kelley Miller: http://www.kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/

Kelly Corso: http://birdinatreecreations.blogspot.com/

Kelly Hoernig: http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com/

Kim Hyer: http://www.apaperaddict.com/

Kris Lanae Binsfeld: http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com

Lenore Angela: http://www.lenoreangela.blogspot.com/

Linda Barutha: http://lindabaruthadesigns.blogspot.com

Lisa Michele Products: http://www.lisamicheleproducts.blogspot.com/

Liza Zeni Baker: http://lizazeni.wordpress.com/

Lynn Richards: http://alittlebluesky.blogspot.com

Lori Leissner: http://leissnerart.blogspot.com

Lori Moon: http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com

Mary Cottingham: http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com/

Mary Sterk: http://justmarydesigns.wordpress.com

Megan Schmitt: http://www.schmittenwithwords.blogspot.com/

Melanie Douthit: www.douthitgallery.blogspot.com

Michelle Dwyer: http://www.magnetisedbylife.com/

Michelle Reynolds: http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/

Rachél Payne (Rae): http://collectingyourself.wordpress.com/

Rain Hannah: http://honeyandollie.com/

Rhiannon Connelly: http://www.starrybluesky.wordpress.com

Ruth-Mary Smith: http://patchworkfamilieshub.blogspot.com

Sherry Richert Belul: http://simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup

Shirley Ann: http://leonardarenaissancewoman.blogspot.com/

Stacey Chadwick Brown: http://staceybrownarts.blogspot.com/

Susan M. Walls-Beverly: http://www.susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com

Teresa Cash-Czech: http://www.asmilemaker.com/

Tina Carlborg: http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com/

Tonya Love: http://passport2creativity.com/

Ursula Smith: http://www.EasyScraps.com/blog

Zulma Cadena: http://edustory.wordpress.com/

Mary Cottingham http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com

Time for Tea!

Welcome and Merry Meet! It's time for Halloween tea.

It's such a lovely time of year - let's take a stroll through the woods...

Down the path...

Over the stream...

Look - a fairy house! I hear giggling, watch out. The last time I came by they chased a skunk onto the path, this group is rather naughty.

Ah, here we are. And the lights are on! Do you see them twinkling?

Tasty treats! The cupcakes with purple frosting are "Wytches Brew", made it myself, and those with green frosting are "Poisonous Toadstool", the toadstools are fresh from my garden. And the tea has a special ingredient - Black Cat Magic! To help you see better on dark nights and vanish into the shadows when you don't want to be seen. Now help yourself to as much as you'd like!

Oberon and I out gathering some Black Cat Magic.

"Only the best!", says Oberon.

Tasty treats and magical tea bring sweet dreams...

For more Halloween Tea Parties please visit Witches Tea Party and have a Happy Halloween!

Boo! Halloween Party!

It's time for some spooky fun so grab your broom, cat, cup of tea and read on...

Alice wanted to visit Aunt Opal before returning to college so she wrote, and Aunt Opal replied. It was arranged that she would meet Alice at a certain spot and show her the way, but Alice was late. The directions said "Turn left at Cemetery Road", and late in the afternoon she found it...

She turned left, down the dirt road and found Aunt Opal waiting for her. "Your late, my dear, they've locked the gates early this evening, you'll have to park and we'll walk down." Aunt Opal was her father's odd sister, the one who lived in a run-down house with her black and white cat. She stood in the dirt road looking as much a part of the desert as the cactus, a bit dusty and faded.

We'll have to sneak around...

We must hurry - the sun has set and shadows fill the valley.

Yes, Alice, we have to go through the cemetery. Now don't trip!

Come along!

That's only the wind...

We're almost there.

Here it is - the gate...

Hurry through, down a bit and then you'll see the house.

No the house isn't haunted, well, not usually. Come on in, we'll close the door, turn on the light and lock out the night!

Here, have a seat - oh - just move the cat.

Her name is Titania and yes, she looks at everyone like that. She's the black and white cat of Dargaz, the Butterfly Goddess, our protector. Now have a seat and I'll fix us some tea.

What? You heard clanging? The rock falls are haunted...

The headframes moan and shudder on windless nights. Pay no never-mind to chains that rattle and wheels that turn, the long-dead miners toil in caverns deep to dig the phantom ore. You've had a long day, rest and I'll be back with tea.

Wake up, Alice. You had a dream, tell me...



Ah - Dargaz the Butterfly Goddess. From darkness to light.

Dargaz, Butterfly Goddess
Through dark, into light
Lady of the wood and meadow
Protect us on this blackest night

Now off to bed to my dear, and head no nightly noises!

I hope you've enjoyed a bit of spooky magic! Alice enjoyed her stay with Aunt Opal, and butterflies followed her always.

For more fun continue the party at A Fanciful Twist , and Thank You Vanessa Valencia for being our gracious hostess!