Random Thoughts: Feb. 15 to Feb. 21: Currently On Parole

Feb. 15:

Last Night I was accused of Murder.  Yep I was handcuffed and taken away.  Freed a few minutes later because I had get home and get ready for church.

Last night I had the wonderful opportunity of participating in a Murder Mystery Dinner, Who Killed Tom Dooley.  Set in 1959, I played the role of beauty Queen Tiara Diamond and her twin sister Hope.  Tom Dooley was my fiancé (I dumped Chubby Cheese for him).  Tom had developed a roving eye of late and Tiara was devastated. I suffered a nervous breakdown from the stress and my twin Hope in a moment of rage killed Tom as he was cooking chicken on the grill.

I have to tell you dear readers, I had so much fun.  I had never been to an event like this before and really did not know what to expect, but it was something everyone should try at least once if they have the opportunity.  You will have a great time, trust me on that.

Then as if things could not get better, I went to Mixed Media 2.0 class today.  It was a great class. Each month we learn a new technique.  Today it was making mold and using resin to make ephemera to put on an art journal page.  The mold product we used was a 2 parter that when mixed together and roles into a ball became a source for making images with a variety of media.  We used children's wooden blocks and low odor resin to complete the process.  The mold mixture was placed over the child's block with initials in order to have a mold I could use for making the ephemera with my initial.  The resin is also a two part process and you have to measure equal amounts.  This proved be a challenge so something that should have taken 5 to 10 minutes to cure is still curing.  I am going to let it set overnight to see how hard it will get.

We painted a page that will receive the initial square once it is cured and painted.

WIP art journal page

my mold....isn't it cute

February 16:

Completed 2 page spread from class

Worked on my pages today.  Painted my tile, added some stabilo black around the words and the white tag and activated with water.  The "smudge" really adds depth and texture.  I like the outcome of this page.  I cannot wait until the next Mixed Media 2.0 class.

Today was a pretty quiet day and I am really starting to like these days.

February 17:

Watched the videos for Lifebook.  I am trying to watch them through before I decide if it is a project that calls to me.  I really like the one for this week.  The teacher used a canvas instead of paper and I think that I am going to use a canvas also.  I may try to use more canvases just for a change of pace.

Small Church Community tonight, conversation was exceptional.

February 18:

Today is the first day of Lent.  This is a time in the church calendar that I love.  It is a time of reflection and renewal.  I am trying to understand where the Holy Spirit is leading me as I journey through the next 47 days,

I was lector at the 12;15 pm Liturgy of the Word service.  I love being a lector and proclaiming the word to the congregation.  It is truly an honor to read the words and hope that somehow they will touch their spirit as the Lord intends.

February 19:


Today was a really cool day.  I visited a friend that is in Las Vegas on vacation.  I have not seen her in over 14 years.  We worked together at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for many years.  She retired in 2000 and I retired in 2003.  We reconnected on Facebook and the opportunity to just sit and reminisce for a while was a sheer delight.

The Midori travel notebook is all the rage now.  I have been watching videos on making a fauxdori and wanted to use my old Passport cover for the base of my faux passport size travel book.  I am going to spend a couple of weeks working on my concept.  Here's hoping it all works out.

One last thing for today. It is Chinese New year and I was able to go over to the Bellagio and see the Chinese New Year exhibit in the Conservatory area.  The exhibit has been on display since December and truthfully I had forgotten about it.  I do not go down to the Strip often, but I have decided that I need to do it more often, there is so much to see. It is like sensory overload.  But when you live 15 minutes by car or about an hour by bus (my mode of transport) away, you have to take advantage of it (did you hear that Glenda?)

Below are photos taken at the Bellagio Conservatory commemorating Chinese New Year.  I love these displays.

February 20:

Another socially active day.  BFF Velcia came to visit.  We live about 15 minutes from each other and have not seen each other since November.  I have been that busy.  Whew, I really need to slow down. So this weekend is a stay at home weekend.  I am going to try and have at least one weekend each month where I stay home and chill.  Let's see if it really happens.

February 21:

Jammy day!!!!!  Have some projects to work on today and it is perfect day to get them done. I am feeling relaxed this morning.

Had to write this thought while I was thinking about it.  I love watching PBS and here in Henderson/Las Vegas we have sub channels such as Create TV.  Today is a celebration of Chinese New Year and it is amazing to see places that I visited in 2013. It still blows my mind that I have been blessed to travel so many places in my life.

Spending the evening working on my document life week 7 and thinking about what I want to do for week 8.

This was a very busy week, whew.  However, it was really enjoyable.  Visiting with friends, working on art projects, spending time in reflection for Lent, and I am still on parole.

Until next week....pilgrim

Random Thoughts: Feb. 8 to Feb 14--Poetry and Murder Mysteries

February 8:

Life's Highway

Life's highway is tricky, full of potholes and curves
I trudge along dodging deadens and detours.
As I make the journey I look over my shoulder,
just a quick glance
to make sure you are still there.
Because as I travel this long, long road
I often think how lonely the trip would be
without you.

For many years (from the age of 15 actually) I wrote poetry.  Some were just my thoughts and feelings and others were commissions from family and friends.  Life's Highway was written around 1990 and I have always loved it because it can relate to anyone from God to your best friend, to your spouse.

February 9:

Still working on my under papers painting.  There has been a significant amount of drying time.  This really teaches patience,  Today I added lines using Pebeo cane liner and then filled in the spaces with Liquitex Pouring Liquid.  I had never used this medium before and I was nervous, but I love the results.  You will see what I mean when I post the picture.  Really looks like glass.

This is a busy week starting with Bible study tonight.  Group shared great conversation.

February 10:

I am going to take a few minutes to vent.  I cannot understand why some drivers have so little regard for pedestrians.  By my own choice I do not drive, as a result I do a lot of walking.  This morning I walked to UPS  Store to mail a letter and then to Smith's to pick up cupcakes for tonight's Small Church Community meeting.  There is a corner, Corporate Circle and Green Valley Parkway, that I just hate.  People block cross walks, turn before you can clear the crosswalk, just so many instances of poor driving.

This morning, on my return home, a big truck blocked the crosswalk so  decided to just miss the light and wait.  Now I had the right of way, but you can meet your maker, insisting you have the right of way,  Anyway, there was a young lady crossing from the other side, she was on her phone, clearly had the right of way was walked behind the big truck.  Another truck approached the intersection and proceeded to make a left turn.  The driver could not see the lady but I did and shouted for her to stop. It took about three shouts before I could get her attention, well she stopped just as the other truck was completing his left turn.  He then saw her and slammed on the breaks, if she had not stopped and jumped back she would have been hit. She thanked me for shouting to her and getting her to stop.  Scared me and I just shook my head.  Drivers, pedestrians are people too and when we are in the crosswalk, please pay attention.  Ok, vent over...

Busy day, pouring liquid is completely dry, not much arting today.

Under Papers in Faux Stained Glass

February 11:

Spent the morning preparing lesson for MOMS meeting tonight.  Next couple of hours worked on Week 6 DLP prompt, Layers....Used Kaila Givehand's deck of mixed media prompts to develop my layers.  I have had the cards for over a year and this is the first I have used them.  They are wonderful.  I pulled out 15 cards and have used 12 of them so far so that means I have 12 layers on my page.  Never worked with this much layering and it is interesting.

February 12:

Completed Week 6 of DLP - Layering, don't stop till you get enough.  Truth, started not to do this one
because I always feel I am not good at layering.  But....since this year is the year of using what I have and getting use out of all of the tools I have purchased over the years, I thought about the Mixed Media Cards I purchased from Kiala Givehand.  They look like a deck of cards and you shuffle them and pick randomly.  I picked 15 cards and used all of them to form various layers.  The page started out with layer of gesso and layer of collage papers.  Then I used the mixed media cards.  The last 5 layers include a Patti Tolley Parrish stencil, drips from a tooth brush, and brass ephemera.  Still feel a little stiff, need to learn to loosen up more.

Layer upon Layer

February 13:

Friday the 13th one of my favorite days of the year.  I spent today relaxing and cleaning.  The temperature is in the high 70's.  I watched Tam's videos for making the Seeds of Love Painting.  Think I will work on it soon, just not today.

Decided to go to the Mixed Media 2.0 class on Sunday, since I do not have any meetings at church.  I really like these classes.  Great price and learn some great techniques.

February 14:

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

BE KIND TO......

City of Love

The card front is a rubber stamp image of an apple, painted with water colors and the photo is of the Arche De Triumphe in Paris.  Hope both of these pictures remind you to be kind and love all you meet.

Hope you had a wonderful day.  Me?  I am going to a barbecue murder mystery party, should be fun.

until next week.....pilgrim

Random thoughts: February 1 to February 7, 2015

Learning to be Free

February 1:

I think this week is going to be about learning and growing.  Sometimes it is not easy and sometimes you have to peel back many layers to get to a place where the lessons become clear.  Today I worked hard at church getting signups for Small Church Community.  Over the course of 5 Masses we got 9 sign ups.  Not a lot, but at least it was something and for that I am grateful.

I serve on the Core Team for Small Church and I have this nagging feeling that after 5 years it is time to step down.  I realized that what is needed is fresh blood on the team.  Getting ego out of the way, it is really time to step down and do other things.  I feel more drawn in a different direction.

Watched snippets of the Super Bowl, at my chili and wanted to walk through the TV at the last play.


February 2:

Bible Study this evening.  The discussion was fantastic.  I feel that when we discuss scripture it is important to look at it from the standpoint of how the words can relate to our lives today.  There is a message that will help with the ups and downs of today's life.  The Bible is timeless and the message personal.

The Grand Canal in Venice

February 3:

I did it, I put together my Lifebook Book of Paintings.  It was really emotional to see the first painting and how I progressed over time.  It took me 2 1/2 years to make this book.  What should I do?  I did not want to bind it, so I found a sketchbook large enough to hold 9x12 pages and glued them in.  I left  blank pages to write notes and feelings and I now have to decorate the pates (minimally so as not to take a way from the painting).  It is truly amazing when you realize that you have a body of work.

Time to work on DLP week 5.  It will be interesting to see what I do.

Feb. 4:

Today is the birthday of two very special men in my life.  My grandfather John Eddie Young (Daddy John).  My grandfather was a great man.  He was humble, hardworking, loving and funny.  He and my grandmother Zelma Lee Young were married 57 years and he was devoted to you everyday of those 57 years.  They were very young then they married Dec. 17, 1929.  He was 18 and she was 15.  my mother was their first born and I was the first born grandchild.  I so loved to be with them.  They were down to earth everyday people with a great love for the Lord.

The second very special man is William Allen King.  He taught me so much about life, raising children and taking care of myself(that lesson I am still learning).  I had known Mr. King since I was 6 years old.  He was the neighborhood champion and civic leader.  He and my mother helped to work with politicians in the area of Southwest Detroit.  Mr. King will always have a special place in my heart.

Memories made this day very special

Feb. 5:

Today has been a pretty quiet day.  Mailed cards and ATC's that I made, studied Confirmation lesson and relaxed.  Had a meeting at church and the bus fare box ate up my brand new 30 day bus pass.  Had to buy another while I want for a replacement.

Feb. 6:

Another quiet day, did not do a lot of art today, just was not in the mood.  There are times when I have to really think about how I want to work with a prompt and this week was such a time.  I finally decided my plan of action for using under papers in my art.  Since most of my under papers are deli papers, I decided to make a faux stained glass collage.  I am loving it.

Feb. 7:

Helped at church this morning and then to the art supply store to get some Pebeo paints.  I have an idea for enhancing my stained glass collage with these paints.  The project is a work in progress, cannot wait to see the finished product.

This was a good week filled with happy memories, good thoughts and an art project I am really excited about.

Looking forward to next week......until then,  pilgrim.