tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10981139719130621092024-03-04T23:51:49.992-08:00.....i make rust on purposerustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-85335333405024247372013-01-11T14:37:00.000-08:002013-01-11T14:37:00.060-08:00Advent Windows, part 3 (the end)<div style="text-align: center;">
the words on the pages from the rest of my altered book advent window pages for the month (i didn't get as far as making them art):</div>
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day 14: PERMIT</div>
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<i>gentle</i></div>
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<i>edged in a little closer to hear</i></div>
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<i>noticed my fire</i></div>
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<i>permit</i></div>
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<i>permit</i></div>
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<i>permit</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(seriously - that word was on there 3 times! on just the next page in the book! #secretmessage for sure)</span></div>
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day 15: INVITE</div>
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<i>now </i></div>
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<i>learn how to be</i></div>
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<i>the big wide dare</i></div>
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<i>rest</i></div>
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<i>paint a little.</i></div>
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day 16: SOAK</div>
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<i>"We'll do that right now."</i></div>
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<i>some paint and a little brush</i></div>
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<i>good for melody, a tune or two</i></div>
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<i>kind of dreamy-like chase</i></div>
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day 17: MOVE</div>
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this was another profound day for me. i immediately resisted the word when i drew it in the morning, as all i was wanting to do was sit and drink coffee, and my first thought when i saw it was "exercise, ew." but then i watched <a href="http://photographsbyanjuli.com/blog/?p=9628">this video.</a> and i got out joey's drums and tambourine and harmonica and started MOVE-ing! turned on a little gungor and danced and sang and beat that drum and played that harmonica. it was amazingly refreshing and i drew near in worship. the first song that played begins with the lyrics </div>
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"my soul cries out, my soul cries out for you... </div>
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these bones cry out, these dry bones cry for you - to live and MOVE" </div>
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<i>yes, please.</i></div>
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i carried the harmonica around with me all day, playing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(delightfully horribly)</span> along with the radio... i even demoed it for my sister in a store <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(which she did not appreciate, giving me the "put that thing away! i can't take you anywhere!" look - haha, sorry sis.)</span></div>
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and then, unbelievably, the next page in my book had harmonica-playing in it!?</div>
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<i>had his new mouth harp</i></div>
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<i>and began to play</i></div>
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<i>{danced} side to side, listening</i></div>
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<i>tried two or three times to pick up the tunes</i></div>
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<i>sense the window</i></div>
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<i>big shadows swinging along</i></div>
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and excerpts from days 18-31 (i didn't even get as far as labeling the pages with the day's word:</div>
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<i>first gray light </i></div>
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<i>on a cold trail</i></div>
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<i>firelight dreams uncorked</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>songbird</i></div>
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<i>long silvery call</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>baying, fresh and strong</i></div>
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<i>wings</i></div>
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<i>mighty lonesome and out of heart</i></div>
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<i>shame, my own</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>the next day, wide and white </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(this was christmas eve, which amused me)</span></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>forlorn in the afternoon, facing you</i></div>
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<i>morning razor-change toward somebody chasing them</i></div>
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<i>i wish these days young</i></div>
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<i>wind swept over me, lifted my head</i></div>
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<i>yellowish eyes in the daylight</i></div>
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<b>"on fear and God" </b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(some more refining in the process of getting to the point of starting <a href="http://thebraveone.blogspot.com/">my new blog)</a></span></div>
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<i>i didn't move</i></div>
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<i>i looked at the rock again, a glance</i></div>
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<i>more scared than ever</i></div>
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<i>it came to me then how alone i was</i></div>
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<i>fear, a cold ball</i></div>
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<i>near it, i guard myself, but i never leap</i></div>
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<i>solid rock,</i></div>
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<i>my life,</i></div>
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<i>tangled together and fighting in mid-air</i></div>
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<i>the surface coming</i></div>
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<i>i hit the water and was deep under</i></div>
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rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-41937670991393781552013-01-10T19:32:00.000-08:002013-01-10T19:32:00.103-08:00advent windows, part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: LucidaGrande; font-size: 12px;"></span></div>
<h1 class="boxtitle" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">
VOUS ÊTES MON CŒUR (you are my heart)</h1>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcXkb9beDxU">gungor</a> has been my constant companion ever since i "discovered" them the day my son was born four months ago. <b>what artistry, what truth</b>. when i saw the word <i>courage</i> on this page, i remembered i'd heard the word for "heart" in french came from the same root, and then this song proceeded to play on repeat in my heart for days <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(not a bad thing, in this case ;)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfHbPYfnq8XACsl6IUGLLBNMJtV0jd6jBq-S95DvH3L6Ps84cf2jYItDRrQXZDyGQbmH8c4wcveuDd3E_cllq-cs7UK_wPLuQ7ZbH27yMtCYuhTk4RXX5ZB_UKO7kzXOFy2YpXo8Z0KbF/s1600/advent+windows_22a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfHbPYfnq8XACsl6IUGLLBNMJtV0jd6jBq-S95DvH3L6Ps84cf2jYItDRrQXZDyGQbmH8c4wcveuDd3E_cllq-cs7UK_wPLuQ7ZbH27yMtCYuhTk4RXX5ZB_UKO7kzXOFy2YpXo8Z0KbF/s400/advent+windows_22a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 7: PLAY<br />
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<i>chase courage<br />a guitar she'd already been playing</i><br />
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this "found poem" actually initiated my thinking about bravery, which eventually led to starting my <a href="http://thebraveone.blogspot.com/">new blog</a>, and being ever so brave.<br />
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the opposite page held scattered across it the words:<br />
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<i>i found hope<br />in a wooden chest<br />loaded onto the wagon<br />looking mighty</i><br />
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(but i hate the way the page turned out, so you don't get to see it unless we are very dear friends in real life, and you beg)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjgXofmLc7aLnEM8MTi0_v4kBE8oTQyxd_P6zvxnwRqOA2yBOlGj3zmi4a8wHB1RAiqXQqQ5uBIy0ZXNqWIJj8W_a6xvBumFAL-CTovRz8iOnkWIEkVQ_4EEDbAYmk4iyLFViUuRa-1Tf/s1600/advent+windows_26a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjgXofmLc7aLnEM8MTi0_v4kBE8oTQyxd_P6zvxnwRqOA2yBOlGj3zmi4a8wHB1RAiqXQqQ5uBIy0ZXNqWIJj8W_a6xvBumFAL-CTovRz8iOnkWIEkVQ_4EEDbAYmk4iyLFViUuRa-1Tf/s640/advent+windows_26a.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 8: ENVISION<br />
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this day was sweet. i felt like God was inviting me more into my identity, made art plans and played. most significantly, i began to dream up a little headpiece/crown lovely celebration of who i am in his eyes (which reminds me - i need to work on/finish/wear that thing! and whirl in it as my <a href="http://prudychick.com/">prudychick</a> friend suggested, seeing the word on the page ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RiF8rncvja652fEC4AyBnejzBL8iMfgI0jwJqlnMIZAdHD2w9BWeuR3P-S8K19GelYhb6UOTQE4qtvJ1CzmeN9usAA7KlOhrY0Rm3BIwsawdK2kGhSMCbyR-UzMFLBU3Xxl7X6zfW6Ys/s1600/advent+windows_32a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RiF8rncvja652fEC4AyBnejzBL8iMfgI0jwJqlnMIZAdHD2w9BWeuR3P-S8K19GelYhb6UOTQE4qtvJ1CzmeN9usAA7KlOhrY0Rm3BIwsawdK2kGhSMCbyR-UzMFLBU3Xxl7X6zfW6Ys/s400/advent+windows_32a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 9: CREATE<br />
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the day i {heard} that my story needs to be told. that i need to write. let people see. share the beauty and the mess. another tiny step towards what became my new blog (and the story-coaching session i will be having tomorrow night with <a href="http://www.eloranicole.com/">Elora</a>!)<br />
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<i>bound up<br />bucking just like a wild horse, down<br />nailed to the ground<br /><br />the bloom caught<br />tore loose</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGCLYEeQVY_0DeoWBwzX4U5u0Ap6NJKlHDX5gPCP2GZyM8DcHcUyx1xPOkms0oAbR95v2qp0-th5koeHVLoGOUW_Kfr2dVC_jwE7jIyLUnkboDAg8ZUD7t1liwx77c6DW5ye-0WkMdXGH/s1600/advent+windows_28a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGCLYEeQVY_0DeoWBwzX4U5u0Ap6NJKlHDX5gPCP2GZyM8DcHcUyx1xPOkms0oAbR95v2qp0-th5koeHVLoGOUW_Kfr2dVC_jwE7jIyLUnkboDAg8ZUD7t1liwx77c6DW5ye-0WkMdXGH/s400/advent+windows_28a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZFs05cf6iW5LoPxjj1FwxvFnMQT66b3BQaVqWegw6hwSdfKNY_YqDLwEzscY3slsfGgZfwnDSpoTgmGnpcXXA-qkO82ZSSPbH8Tl-FVNQ5mXiuwSsWYX2WIG7pqmtuUBmWGeTY__r0yx/s1600/advent+windows_31a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZFs05cf6iW5LoPxjj1FwxvFnMQT66b3BQaVqWegw6hwSdfKNY_YqDLwEzscY3slsfGgZfwnDSpoTgmGnpcXXA-qkO82ZSSPbH8Tl-FVNQ5mXiuwSsWYX2WIG7pqmtuUBmWGeTY__r0yx/s400/advent+windows_31a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>protect, find<br />in the air like a bird in flight,<br />sail daylight<br /><br />she woke out of her doze and took off<br />wind holding ground<br />finally able to talk<br />laugh<br />shed</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WAhuf-wJZvLRQcg1HNsfa4ydxHoCzOWlizsWNgD4pxPEDklAyzI4vYXOOOR_zW2yqFCnzyUMEbwCqAaxWSBsfRDKlg87G-wv2OrHTuu5lma8b4Lj7BokzlGc7a1WWeYlJL59d-bY-Yi2/s1600/advent+windows_40a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WAhuf-wJZvLRQcg1HNsfa4ydxHoCzOWlizsWNgD4pxPEDklAyzI4vYXOOOR_zW2yqFCnzyUMEbwCqAaxWSBsfRDKlg87G-wv2OrHTuu5lma8b4Lj7BokzlGc7a1WWeYlJL59d-bY-Yi2/s400/advent+windows_40a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 10: ACCEPT<br />
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this was another rich day for me. just deciding to ACCEPT {me} was a huge step, still in process. i also ACCEPTed an etsy package from turkey, holding a lovely crocheted peter pan collar :) also, stay tuned for a glimpse of all the things i'm ACCEPTing in the january art journaler prompts, all circling around ACCEPTance.<br />
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<i>mighty soul melody<br />open filled lungs</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8baDjhxPWISqFcW7hH2J89dt5LJLKyioLQpecvvoUfLnzPj33PeJpMee5iZOfa-8CyzKn69htVPoznzSH5e5asMkKW8lfmM7CrpLvfUpemp_3ijJCoyM53VvIPJNqNYJjFJevuqcPgAOd/s1600/advent+windows_43a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8baDjhxPWISqFcW7hH2J89dt5LJLKyioLQpecvvoUfLnzPj33PeJpMee5iZOfa-8CyzKn69htVPoznzSH5e5asMkKW8lfmM7CrpLvfUpemp_3ijJCoyM53VvIPJNqNYJjFJevuqcPgAOd/s400/advent+windows_43a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 11: READ<br /><br />i was amazed. i opened a hundred-year-old book of collected poetry this day and found words that <i>resonated</i> on the first page i read! i had never been one for poetry. in my former life of uncreativity, i just couldn't handle the non-concrete nature of them. now i adore that very quality. writing them, reading them... i have found a new love. and after i made this page, i realized how much that doodle looks like a pregnant woman about to give birth... LOVE. i have just given birth to my second <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(likely last)</span> child, and now i am giving new life, birth to my story. in the form of thebraveone.blogspot.com or art or writing or storytelling...<br /></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">day 12: REMEMBER</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">i don't REMEMBER what happened, and why i have no proof of this day, but this word followed me around in my wallet for a week, and every time i saw it, i REMEMBERed to be present, engage with life and God and advent and promptings and love.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 13: FLIRT<br /><br />i had been dreading this day, but it ended up being one of the best. <br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i hung the mistletoe,</span> <br />asked my 3-year-old out on a date, and went on one with my love, made googly-love-eyes at my 3-month-old... and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">received flowers</span> and starbucks special delivery on my front porch midday (thanks to jason's special helper), and enjoyed little <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">kisses from the creator </span>in the form of lovely leaves and nature...</td></tr>
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<br />rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-72274945757882105222013-01-09T20:17:00.000-08:002013-01-09T20:17:00.591-08:00advent windows, part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
this december, i found myself longing to go <b>deeper into advent</b> this year, a longing to be pierced with christmas; to be fully aware and fully present to what the time held for my heart... so when i saw an eBook by the amazing mandy steward called <i>"come thou long expected"</i>, i jumped on the opportunity! and i got <b>even more</b> than i bargained for. the journey was amazing, with daily "word" prompts for art journaling, combined with images and a few quotes each day... but the part that i didn't know i was getting myself into was the community... posting glimpses of our days on instagram <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(& now facebook, since i've joined "<a href="http://www.theartjournaler.com/">the art journaler</a>" community officially)</span>, it was like we were walking together, affirming each other on the way. so good. so needed.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
so my process involved altering a book and using the pages to "art journal". i'd read through and pick out a secret story just for my heart and where i was processing. this was my first time doing this daily, and i loved it. having this little ritual of choosing a word, opening myself to God in it as i began my day with a hot drink... i just might continue this forever.<br />
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some favorite excerpts from my art journaling advent journey:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHLfEKpKsOULfZ4aqHPFM29jTnoWHoncg9L8McKl1AzOnlgwpuHuqQMnmTgiFkX1KeKZxFrpMMm5zIAknExmMTJgpTukKbDu9cXERSy2v9IOghD4IFWEOoJ3uqYeTS65lvN84D_jQHS06/s1600/advent+windows_7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHLfEKpKsOULfZ4aqHPFM29jTnoWHoncg9L8McKl1AzOnlgwpuHuqQMnmTgiFkX1KeKZxFrpMMm5zIAknExmMTJgpTukKbDu9cXERSy2v9IOghD4IFWEOoJ3uqYeTS65lvN84D_jQHS06/s400/advent+windows_7.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 1: ASK<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">this first day, i found a growing awareness of my longings and my questions, <br />and that it is in the "not asking" that the "not receiving" comes</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Py-yteMVgaqqP-cP9Er0nKuo1YhL2JnEyc50xL4SqkA5Nk2yKPXHYCeiND6rFvLDgWyvcggVkB2gGS0amFq4ip1qqUQZu1ZLZ9RPVCr6_kuEjZUaNrxtLRsYU70UxORVZA4kMgAP4yrn/s1600/advent+windows_11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Py-yteMVgaqqP-cP9Er0nKuo1YhL2JnEyc50xL4SqkA5Nk2yKPXHYCeiND6rFvLDgWyvcggVkB2gGS0amFq4ip1qqUQZu1ZLZ9RPVCr6_kuEjZUaNrxtLRsYU70UxORVZA4kMgAP4yrn/s400/advent+windows_11.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 2: VISIT</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK7u3utf21Sie0AAJbMZngpkpY5mbPN14TApFoBTMx78cxvwnKrQI5RL_DFhPUyqL95hlIPH1-4Vesw9dWYSIP3XbdowYaXzU5Zk7qiY8CKGmuGBAuD7Uqr9lQIKo-q9ftAhoaLRWPkeq/s1600/advent+windows_13a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK7u3utf21Sie0AAJbMZngpkpY5mbPN14TApFoBTMx78cxvwnKrQI5RL_DFhPUyqL95hlIPH1-4Vesw9dWYSIP3XbdowYaXzU5Zk7qiY8CKGmuGBAuD7Uqr9lQIKo-q9ftAhoaLRWPkeq/s400/advent+windows_13a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 3: BELIEVE<br />
a day that i realized shame was a lie, despite what my soul often believes... <br />
and the words on the page contained:<br />
<br />
<i>find<br />all at once, a broken wing<br />young hurt</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeYHREx7idbWvqzu8OvZNqf8SgUS6EMwYo_uXKoh-KuqaRwx2cjRLoSWNLgB_a4wOsZfN-gwo_kg_VN4Ox6ZhDMHTr_pW0Yr10DnBMFdmMM8Xt6-_Lo89r5iSmUe3FFtg-faEczN_LPc1/s1600/sapphires.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeYHREx7idbWvqzu8OvZNqf8SgUS6EMwYo_uXKoh-KuqaRwx2cjRLoSWNLgB_a4wOsZfN-gwo_kg_VN4Ox6ZhDMHTr_pW0Yr10DnBMFdmMM8Xt6-_Lo89r5iSmUe3FFtg-faEczN_LPc1/s400/sapphires.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEQ2aUdiJiuyOAg7rkE_5SHgGXbQDfuYQeupP-y64iiqV9McsXxBOBwQfVJ-OakIPgqIheYy-YQxMTOjQXdL0x2Kp84wjqEoEYGkuFcTUuYNII1-Bmy1UMnctzRf6NRFPeYAzashLqQu_/s1600/advent+windows_16a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEQ2aUdiJiuyOAg7rkE_5SHgGXbQDfuYQeupP-y64iiqV9McsXxBOBwQfVJ-OakIPgqIheYy-YQxMTOjQXdL0x2Kp84wjqEoEYGkuFcTUuYNII1-Bmy1UMnctzRf6NRFPeYAzashLqQu_/s400/advent+windows_16a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 4: SEARCH<br />
<br />
found words on the page:<br />
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<i>gaze<br />followed me<br />studying glassy eyes inside<br />waited,<br />asked me my name</i><br />
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(and my answer was {<b>sapphire</b>}, a name given me by a lovely woman two years ago... so when i photographed the page, i did so with some tiny sapphires strewn across the page - a birthday gift to myself as i was looking to accept this name/identity)<br />
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also, as i was on my way to begin working on my journal page this day, i was driving toward the sunset, and had the distinct sense that i wanted to "chase the light", and when i came to the pages for the day, they were there:<br />
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<i>chase light</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcyw6LMuV9vj7q5p_d3kCUOCkvA6T1mQjiAmYus7_DeNcSQgkJN4CY9UCWQ6Notlg4Ax-4gz4ZpcDIO8Z58vyfwqjdyZCsteQp0NkIhyphenhyphenOtsKSIxko99HKtrqpj_zAd2ZrVYpfiaY-V3y7/s1600/advent+windows_17a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcyw6LMuV9vj7q5p_d3kCUOCkvA6T1mQjiAmYus7_DeNcSQgkJN4CY9UCWQ6Notlg4Ax-4gz4ZpcDIO8Z58vyfwqjdyZCsteQp0NkIhyphenhyphenOtsKSIxko99HKtrqpj_zAd2ZrVYpfiaY-V3y7/s400/advent+windows_17a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">day 5: EXPLORE; day 6: GIVE<br /><br />it was amazing to me the difference between how my soul interpreted SEARCH and EXPLORE. i had them on two consecutive days, and SEARCH felt more stressful, shouldsy, like i'm failing if i haven't found it yet... whatever "it" is. SEARCHing implies that you know what you're looking for. then i got EXPLORE, and it felt like a {breath}. i felt free to wander, look around, find what i found, see what <b>is</b>... rather than try to force what <b>is</b> into the category of <i>whatever it is i'm looking for... </i>i spent this evening wandering around savers thrift store, EXPLORing colors and textures and patterns, which found their way into my journal page later</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEsWtdntTwBw0_2ST8cxo3OMeZaSfY2Vwoo8aK1H9zUioSQZJnkyqLuu5FjiHTdKGX3ZAlvKuL2-2Gpat1tRt5gSjofEhxM74_VdqbtBdX0faSbgtyd0uY4uRpQiIelKUkqSZs0nGUb5q/s1600/IMG_7412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEsWtdntTwBw0_2ST8cxo3OMeZaSfY2Vwoo8aK1H9zUioSQZJnkyqLuu5FjiHTdKGX3ZAlvKuL2-2Gpat1tRt5gSjofEhxM74_VdqbtBdX0faSbgtyd0uY4uRpQiIelKUkqSZs0nGUb5q/s200/IMG_7412.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5_exzQ2TtJmlY9qTj7ugJSr50CVHB6jFx_gOdpz2KJWznlvopQuP62qv5HQubn3EwI8QTopCm67OkOp9I3P-HBv4yr9-47cdOTvLXvUZTivNzozt8sy-5Jqxcq5vfVspA357mrS31cMI/s1600/IMG_7411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5_exzQ2TtJmlY9qTj7ugJSr50CVHB6jFx_gOdpz2KJWznlvopQuP62qv5HQubn3EwI8QTopCm67OkOp9I3P-HBv4yr9-47cdOTvLXvUZTivNzozt8sy-5Jqxcq5vfVspA357mrS31cMI/s200/IMG_7411.jpg" width="149" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkgUaJ9_-zevW0Kjzc-91CjCy90KHPLJ-KOy9NfI0O3aMRtGR4E8da6RXy6pRnudJWwpFycy6Es1x5RCiSnK_Tj0wc35Prxt91q3t0HGP7oAgz_cDRHIs_UT9IG2hWKopgK3HmdRYbSOs/s1600/advent+windows_18a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkgUaJ9_-zevW0Kjzc-91CjCy90KHPLJ-KOy9NfI0O3aMRtGR4E8da6RXy6pRnudJWwpFycy6Es1x5RCiSnK_Tj0wc35Prxt91q3t0HGP7oAgz_cDRHIs_UT9IG2hWKopgK3HmdRYbSOs/s400/advent+windows_18a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i love the words that found themselves in this final page<br /><br /><i>fresh sprawled<br />mighty<br />a lone woman<br />{warrior}<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></td></tr>
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rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-18855702129031812162012-07-03T21:23:00.000-07:002012-07-03T21:23:04.592-07:00FAIL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr27-qcno-18d7LdyxI9kYMifzU08h0OsXV71giM84z9a21g5Dsj6P6nmZDFYZnS6mXpMV1DuXXx6v2b_ayUm7Kk8f6hjK6E5YjZbJywmTXYvVc1e8KVSzP-n9ihFwSn8DslSgo-adIuE/s1600/failskirt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr27-qcno-18d7LdyxI9kYMifzU08h0OsXV71giM84z9a21g5Dsj6P6nmZDFYZnS6mXpMV1DuXXx6v2b_ayUm7Kk8f6hjK6E5YjZbJywmTXYvVc1e8KVSzP-n9ihFwSn8DslSgo-adIuE/s320/failskirt1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
so i have discovered something about myself. when i <i>fail</i>, when another <i>confronts me</i>, when i <i>cannot</i> and believe i should be able to... i go immediately to that old enemy <b>shame</b>. i am learning to have the same grace for myself that my all-compassionate God <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(who knows my frame, that i am dust... Psalm 103)</span> has. i do not fail his expectations, disappoint him. he is on my side, <i><b>against</b></i> my accusers that try to lure me back to shame and self-contempt. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
so, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">as an example of this cycle</span>, i was sorting through pictures and realized that there were a few catalysts to what has been a fairly dry creative period the last couple of months. it started with this skirt (<a href="http://rustyartist.blogspot.com/2012/06/i-have-been-really-drawn-to-all-things.html">here</a> is its story). after the whole designing process, i discovered more stains on the back that were not feasibly coverable. so it got put on the "<b>fail</b>" pile.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdnCVZAwq2A0GKDBk4QibZhy61hJNNH7oGxOYL9xwM8kVOf3yG25gATUxY6ITrcezpyaggYKU_7TR5ZLyY70JzUEJyUOJsS2AbScC-9R3kyDxQPu9xd9gylzJ4PAf1mZn67T9Wf4sBiSm/s1600/failskirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdnCVZAwq2A0GKDBk4QibZhy61hJNNH7oGxOYL9xwM8kVOf3yG25gATUxY6ITrcezpyaggYKU_7TR5ZLyY70JzUEJyUOJsS2AbScC-9R3kyDxQPu9xd9gylzJ4PAf1mZn67T9Wf4sBiSm/s320/failskirt.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XM5oUdGOiXnKYP7KJPavxp4d-SVH_AS45oj0iDpipIYqz13hq-lLe55cFhxUCltRSTNpGy3FRp0npZWEI2OL0EgOYZX-2sx7FByLSIlIQqSpVNeqE4ptK-AiG-k1eIAjss_IrZU_TeK2/s1600/failshorts5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XM5oUdGOiXnKYP7KJPavxp4d-SVH_AS45oj0iDpipIYqz13hq-lLe55cFhxUCltRSTNpGy3FRp0npZWEI2OL0EgOYZX-2sx7FByLSIlIQqSpVNeqE4ptK-AiG-k1eIAjss_IrZU_TeK2/s320/failshorts5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>followed immediately by this pair of shorts.</b></div>
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i wanted a pair of those gathered shorts that are so cute, and thought, <i>"hey, i can figure out how to make some, right?"</i> so set out with this step-by-step documenting of the process...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_2aYJHEaEyh8Ry-twLUdFEB9gdaHNzHeXlYWKXhJm5cBYCzJLUAAn39uvN6VZwKNUPLPSPiZg0QdhPrYqzQnOqgnws1dw1XDImPh1kxSERu8fIP69hAU6tFXtBxGncvinzxmON7uqK_U/s1600/failshorts2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_2aYJHEaEyh8Ry-twLUdFEB9gdaHNzHeXlYWKXhJm5cBYCzJLUAAn39uvN6VZwKNUPLPSPiZg0QdhPrYqzQnOqgnws1dw1XDImPh1kxSERu8fIP69hAU6tFXtBxGncvinzxmON7uqK_U/s400/failshorts2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPpiEHVLlOkQagRB7ygghB8FC-N8u9b14NKMgruTAhoNqd79EGXjH4rbrjUWNAzxe9CKL1fzKynPqT_Ro9t438E5bO21L5soGNURFQVhWfWrRi1agE07rmNuzE5a9gsVypHbGh-PqGG_5/s1600/failshorts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPpiEHVLlOkQagRB7ygghB8FC-N8u9b14NKMgruTAhoNqd79EGXjH4rbrjUWNAzxe9CKL1fzKynPqT_Ro9t438E5bO21L5soGNURFQVhWfWrRi1agE07rmNuzE5a9gsVypHbGh-PqGG_5/s400/failshorts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
not bad shots, right? giving a close-up of what i mean by a "basting stitch", <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">or whatever term this non-sewing-expert decides to use to describe the process ;)</span> it all went basically as expected <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(though, of course, imperfectly, as i was in no way following a pattern - just kinda making stuff up as i went along).</span> but then i tried them on at the end... and they were <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">too tight</span>. like, <i>they cut off my circulation to my lower extremities, unless i let them sag a bit lower on my thighs</i> tight... they were uncomfortable. exactly what this pregnant girl was NOT looking for. i still wore them a couple of times...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHrdjx8h_YqJusfE7F9Fng8HNpNa_o3NCq0mKs3q5ke5duQH9wXU7qVi8WdmSyoH2fsRpfFL3DqD1FbG7Ho0TEYL9k901Rqi2jhR9Se7wIBY8PJe17_yLtK6gHOTHgrE6ec93YxxmuCca/s1600/shortsfail6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHrdjx8h_YqJusfE7F9Fng8HNpNa_o3NCq0mKs3q5ke5duQH9wXU7qVi8WdmSyoH2fsRpfFL3DqD1FbG7Ho0TEYL9k901Rqi2jhR9Se7wIBY8PJe17_yLtK6gHOTHgrE6ec93YxxmuCca/s400/shortsfail6.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1s0GdRNseivHrTzJhkXilgzBpM0zICBhY8BGS2n_H0RhcWNZGvUnr6j_yeBAojZqBcOIfoBRs6GeDQgN6QStXzu0kXTM6HpD5nJeQeBDcuZC_31Y7kgdS5THNCmtQY3eVrc8JLGHUMTS/s1600/failshorts7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1s0GdRNseivHrTzJhkXilgzBpM0zICBhY8BGS2n_H0RhcWNZGvUnr6j_yeBAojZqBcOIfoBRs6GeDQgN6QStXzu0kXTM6HpD5nJeQeBDcuZC_31Y7kgdS5THNCmtQY3eVrc8JLGHUMTS/s640/failshorts7.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
but now they have a huge oily-looking stain on them, and it's just not worth it to try to wear an uncomfortable, stained piece of clothing, no matter how much painstaking heart-and-hands-effort went into making them. but i noticed that <u>i stopped making stuff after that.</u> stopped altering and embellishing. stopped going to my studio in general...tried "pulling myself out of it" a few times, moving forward with my online art class painting projects...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTMmxrbe7q5AhEcuLc-t3HjE7gyiigPQzVAyZwPi1QxCowf7bGPnlO5tP1INgI3nZZm_SRb9sUZfQbOCnzhcCgfeHugNhhtGMezUdI4_WGboi_zJlG-347Dl8_3-6kLxdt71ZdV_KYlJu/s1600/painting2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTMmxrbe7q5AhEcuLc-t3HjE7gyiigPQzVAyZwPi1QxCowf7bGPnlO5tP1INgI3nZZm_SRb9sUZfQbOCnzhcCgfeHugNhhtGMezUdI4_WGboi_zJlG-347Dl8_3-6kLxdt71ZdV_KYlJu/s640/painting2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XjAbNqVoliSJ6o6RvlQkIsbN_wsbC0FcU15MsJ95BEaq9FIsicKeprZEFrzpHpey17_oS76luAVWhdNhQ3mtxj8IiVuKMa5AlOdU3iO2hO2Mr_j7GJx2DyRUg6Y_oO4NGn3xx8uz6L50/s1600/painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XjAbNqVoliSJ6o6RvlQkIsbN_wsbC0FcU15MsJ95BEaq9FIsicKeprZEFrzpHpey17_oS76luAVWhdNhQ3mtxj8IiVuKMa5AlOdU3iO2hO2Mr_j7GJx2DyRUg6Y_oO4NGn3xx8uz6L50/s640/painting.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv80jbe5sZpYQ7taByo8rXJ7CNrtDE62hGz_DKoxyC8ZWxKXat-z-kwxI9HouGOvNAlqskBi7da_URW7w32q77Gfl4GmqtFnIIvKxuHZcU6xKN0ZcvSWMLVhfXFgZMmoxsVwzdHZPTaLfx/s1600/painting1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv80jbe5sZpYQ7taByo8rXJ7CNrtDE62hGz_DKoxyC8ZWxKXat-z-kwxI9HouGOvNAlqskBi7da_URW7w32q77Gfl4GmqtFnIIvKxuHZcU6xKN0ZcvSWMLVhfXFgZMmoxsVwzdHZPTaLfx/s640/painting1.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVsdBclacKsgvM8uH-qAZMD-rtWUYUpwi4jy9p5YZtFHSL9yKgTmRbJDnRnkqeGlWpgbENLtIhJiCHJrKfb9uzrri6GDBL8JWJZs0omF-CH_dK7s8_9CRY5dj2-wSs1KDWmY4F16fiJ42/s1600/painting4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVsdBclacKsgvM8uH-qAZMD-rtWUYUpwi4jy9p5YZtFHSL9yKgTmRbJDnRnkqeGlWpgbENLtIhJiCHJrKfb9uzrri6GDBL8JWJZs0omF-CH_dK7s8_9CRY5dj2-wSs1KDWmY4F16fiJ42/s640/painting4.jpg" width="486" /></a></div>
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some of the time alongside my joey <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(please excuse the nudity - it was his first day of potty training, and we let him run around naked for 3 days - he loved it... AND figured out how to go to the potty! ;)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vep3S922FOuciTSLQGMgHxus9ga7SbSQfEDSHXfu7NcWTudXVKlxK9hcc5zFOXR32zM0DhznLEEsleXxL8KhvbhuBgc5Gbm8vBXrI-F1WyLMnFCW2xa1GI5CFg78tmtjHW0qVMGUWi0k/s1600/painting5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Vep3S922FOuciTSLQGMgHxus9ga7SbSQfEDSHXfu7NcWTudXVKlxK9hcc5zFOXR32zM0DhznLEEsleXxL8KhvbhuBgc5Gbm8vBXrI-F1WyLMnFCW2xa1GI5CFg78tmtjHW0qVMGUWi0k/s320/painting5.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-OGW90z7AvCUgR3MO7nVzqbJj6D-3VajW0Navq1wwTCDbu_cVvdwf3i7jc2CdOP_sI3kJrBy7klKpmbhyVACcoSGtHzKK9SqMwOyLXauXC96LDYob81FfbSOcBBcnwYw9nEl0pZhdmXa/s1600/painting6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-OGW90z7AvCUgR3MO7nVzqbJj6D-3VajW0Navq1wwTCDbu_cVvdwf3i7jc2CdOP_sI3kJrBy7klKpmbhyVACcoSGtHzKK9SqMwOyLXauXC96LDYob81FfbSOcBBcnwYw9nEl0pZhdmXa/s320/painting6.jpg" width="243" /></a><br />
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<b>but i hated every piece i was making.</b> so i quit <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(again)</span>. </div>
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i haven't been painting <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(or even writing)</span> for weeks now. but then, THEN. God reminded me of his grace.<br />
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i'm preparing for a project we'll be doing with my artsycrafty club this week, and we all had a worksheet to fill out, processing and meditating... and he reminded me. <i>i am not a disappointment. i am his, and he loves when i risk stepping out toward him, toward freedom, toward creating, toward loving.</i><br />
the project we're making is supposed to be a physical reminder of the life He has waiting for us to step into, and i pray it will be just that! i am not so good at talking myself out of the self-contempt. but if i remember how he sees me... with love as high as the sky <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(also psalm 103 - a favorite right now :)</span>... i know He can work his grace into my heart, slowly but surely.<br />
<br />rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-82723295314353468912012-06-16T17:52:00.001-07:002012-06-16T17:52:39.333-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
i have been really drawn to all things <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">blue and white</span> lately, as you can see by some of my recent estate sale purchases...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wQHfFKBGSJaWwGM3W8NBJ8L9SnI08ROaUQIcGKjrLAmiKNoOGDlz6WSvWdquJAqiLlVPidIZojc5g5-gOVskLp6ZbDq3Sg5VlYH6oNa_wYnhcAuAfVeQvbnxd6iWAoJptgG5n0W2ID0a/s1600/IMG_3310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wQHfFKBGSJaWwGM3W8NBJ8L9SnI08ROaUQIcGKjrLAmiKNoOGDlz6WSvWdquJAqiLlVPidIZojc5g5-gOVskLp6ZbDq3Sg5VlYH6oNa_wYnhcAuAfVeQvbnxd6iWAoJptgG5n0W2ID0a/s400/IMG_3310.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhscRI2qi9OB_BIadM6x8t8n4aS9phUV6kPebOX0zJPoIZj4xcOvd8EfcUl-exkWHIRVNJ12lkwFuDl-2Y0GXv4AWcn9n8UfPLouRBZ76z0bSV0cikVn2sSd7vj5KhqqR9efO5heY0ega/s1600/estatesale11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhscRI2qi9OB_BIadM6x8t8n4aS9phUV6kPebOX0zJPoIZj4xcOvd8EfcUl-exkWHIRVNJ12lkwFuDl-2Y0GXv4AWcn9n8UfPLouRBZ76z0bSV0cikVn2sSd7vj5KhqqR9efO5heY0ega/s200/estatesale11.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2inMPa_lhHqr3WoXqUdxHsp7pE3P204n5n61oDmfQQ4NwLbbie5qptecRjHmaZaQK2K5Ivm8Jt1HlAdUhyphenhyphengMz-aee6mi_Db40GWbKvv7BxHdviwBHKxzZ6jXO1QQAYEp3ihzKFX1n5AtX/s1600/estatesale10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2inMPa_lhHqr3WoXqUdxHsp7pE3P204n5n61oDmfQQ4NwLbbie5qptecRjHmaZaQK2K5Ivm8Jt1HlAdUhyphenhyphengMz-aee6mi_Db40GWbKvv7BxHdviwBHKxzZ6jXO1QQAYEp3ihzKFX1n5AtX/s200/estatesale10.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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a couple weeks ago, i found this bright blue vintage pleated skirt, and lovely blue & white handmade linens, and bought them without a second glance <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(at 25-50 cents each, you can't really go wrong)</span>. i got them home and discovered <i>stains</i>. but i loved them so much! so i decided to work on patching over the stains on the skirt with one of the napkins, also stained, and then cover those stains with some lace, which also ended up being stained... some buttons were my final touch, and finally all the stains were hidden... but then my sewing machine stopped cooperating, and<i> i gave up</i>. here's how far i got:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NggDcmvdpqL7Q_rI8OEnSDFwk0q6E0zwvAF1zVqp_K_6Ypr-aFI21FfgHLsoscZLQyRYFnQAj0NMeLKP-HnfTtolMdKNQHz4KdSNiagFryO0ENkSngbf-mNjH1JrlD8csl8nTOOw5lR_/s1600/blueskirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NggDcmvdpqL7Q_rI8OEnSDFwk0q6E0zwvAF1zVqp_K_6Ypr-aFI21FfgHLsoscZLQyRYFnQAj0NMeLKP-HnfTtolMdKNQHz4KdSNiagFryO0ENkSngbf-mNjH1JrlD8csl8nTOOw5lR_/s320/blueskirt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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and below is that project this weekend. do you see the <i><b>spiderweb attached to it</b></i>???! yeah, that made me decide it was <b>time</b> to get back into the studio and create <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(coupled with the fact that jason took joey to his parents' house for the day ;)</span>!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zd2HwxxoNAwKAf8QatIFCBvX7n2xQ4Za8j8IABk9JbYocmnAvyiBmYDxZ-moTQ9GHw1385qEBVy3cy7QqqMS2QparjDEngFitiCPPIJClQnfU1hG8VKCY3RYGDFIZcU4mC_P79Z7SeOt/s1600/spiderweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zd2HwxxoNAwKAf8QatIFCBvX7n2xQ4Za8j8IABk9JbYocmnAvyiBmYDxZ-moTQ9GHw1385qEBVy3cy7QqqMS2QparjDEngFitiCPPIJClQnfU1hG8VKCY3RYGDFIZcU4mC_P79Z7SeOt/s320/spiderweb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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so i got back into my Misty Mawn Open Studio class, and started... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">painting</span>!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCG2SMHU9nofA1Qj5xmPmfAYMaJuKv4WZ5ptDeoWz4hrjVcYFTdwEJA6Jou7wYDOInAdMeRp2ba69rF4J_qYjGcdX3UUixCKDz-urfImX3zVHhCFS2ivk09AbyTolyN7dY_57iqgcz29p/s1600/photo-68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCG2SMHU9nofA1Qj5xmPmfAYMaJuKv4WZ5ptDeoWz4hrjVcYFTdwEJA6Jou7wYDOInAdMeRp2ba69rF4J_qYjGcdX3UUixCKDz-urfImX3zVHhCFS2ivk09AbyTolyN7dY_57iqgcz29p/s640/photo-68.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<b>above</b>: the underpainting; <b>below</b>: the final painting <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(amazing how much the same painting can morph into something so different! i'm actually not sure which i like better...)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiaiFmKsZk4h9ycvhCzDv5hZCt0qzn8vuf4OrRRErR3Ruy8U6sr9RTKxKRJE-yXwe-j3dFK22HN202udm2mC9Vt7ZfNm5CFmMkT9eZRcpkkUdexFnzQnnzqKyhAfs-tZ5R_haPRecg-zZ/s1600/photo-67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiaiFmKsZk4h9ycvhCzDv5hZCt0qzn8vuf4OrRRErR3Ruy8U6sr9RTKxKRJE-yXwe-j3dFK22HN202udm2mC9Vt7ZfNm5CFmMkT9eZRcpkkUdexFnzQnnzqKyhAfs-tZ5R_haPRecg-zZ/s640/photo-67.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
i have been doing this first week of assignments basically in order <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(on day 3 now, finally!)</span>. i think it's too much of one thing at a time, though, so after i finish week 1, i think i'm gonna go week-by-week. so i'm not writing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(and you're not seeing)</span> all poetry for forever, and then all portraits, etc. <i>capiche?</i><br />
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<b>and now for some more things i have been thankful for the last few weeks:</b><br />
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<i>66. fever snuggles</i><br />
<i>67. people like <a href="http://www.elizabethesther.com/">elizabeth esther</a> and <a href="http://www.sarahmarkley.com/">sarah markley</a> who share their stories and struggles online, making so many feel less alone.</i><br />
<i>68. photoshop, and the potential to learn so much more</i><br />
<i>69. acrylic paint</i><br />
<i>70. bright color</i><br />
<i>71. muted color</i><br />
<i>72. black and white</i><br />
<i>73. cardamom</i><br />
<i>74. fresh basil</i><br />
<i>75. the pairing of sweet and salty/savory: chicken & waffles, s'fa, salted caramel hot chocolate</i><br />
<i>76. TUMS</i><br />
<i>77. hearing the baby's heart beating strong</i>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-72587215658321365022012-06-14T21:19:00.000-07:002012-06-14T21:19:14.466-07:00estate sale spoils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5RR9O164LOYpLNn125bYviLGiqsK0nrtR7L1i33mBwFcvlC_RtkVYLsj-AVUsTJ76AJ2yPfs55cyjLJgLhDonc06sjTnN2hK5Ov2Ezjfwcx6CJPcXQ6E6IRk1fYKKa8LfnH4DqqSxOGz/s1600/estatesale11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5RR9O164LOYpLNn125bYviLGiqsK0nrtR7L1i33mBwFcvlC_RtkVYLsj-AVUsTJ76AJ2yPfs55cyjLJgLhDonc06sjTnN2hK5Ov2Ezjfwcx6CJPcXQ6E6IRk1fYKKa8LfnH4DqqSxOGz/s320/estatesale11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
i got so many texts asking what treasures i found this weekend estate saling, i thought i'd better let you all have a glimpse...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHwzCM2W2BcJ1XRWmQBHb0c1YhTSRUgHi2NT3gNAIIZdyfGNUsnaR_ezihug1UIHWJnAXU30MTSDP-e_xuYjziYeYHGxrcAxn9fmCbBAk6Px52TVdl-CZAR6azpSuMCulWPXP1e8RefiK/s1600/estatesale1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbTEpppSzu2NUNixBTSTmELICjZfPJIWmRgAt41MsHRTQBu0-fZ3gDymKxUkfnXs-M3JlF1R6MMZuvL-d_kYsYF2TqzlaGJ32Mioz0XY0wAIeq6i61Gvcbam_oDDH4wThJ74H_XVQOjNp/s1600/estatesale7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbTEpppSzu2NUNixBTSTmELICjZfPJIWmRgAt41MsHRTQBu0-fZ3gDymKxUkfnXs-M3JlF1R6MMZuvL-d_kYsYF2TqzlaGJ32Mioz0XY0wAIeq6i61Gvcbam_oDDH4wThJ74H_XVQOjNp/s200/estatesale7.jpg" width="133" /></a><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHwzCM2W2BcJ1XRWmQBHb0c1YhTSRUgHi2NT3gNAIIZdyfGNUsnaR_ezihug1UIHWJnAXU30MTSDP-e_xuYjziYeYHGxrcAxn9fmCbBAk6Px52TVdl-CZAR6azpSuMCulWPXP1e8RefiK/s200/estatesale1.jpg" width="180" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl-FtedelH6-eSoDb6IgFphBfIEkiQ8qbeqlJU2B2sMi7pD_A-NFC7XWNPZnM0uXvox6lRXf35ZAYvvgqOhYfMfYYsILYxS1eNGvXiFlpCiQeaD_BUnrZoC48dCnzNKOSWo8tnK30RIj8/s1600/estatesale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUOOm5KFPZM-C28bJS38GdIfmtisWXjbYLxzJorp90GLKO7mKfKEopxsWssSnW9j22CB-jaxJrHhgkVaezJz0iwEz8-k8kQrAJkhKeOPdbWYWVQBh0WD7yHfDZoTfs-GN7HChigysjIH9/s1600/estatesale10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUOOm5KFPZM-C28bJS38GdIfmtisWXjbYLxzJorp90GLKO7mKfKEopxsWssSnW9j22CB-jaxJrHhgkVaezJz0iwEz8-k8kQrAJkhKeOPdbWYWVQBh0WD7yHfDZoTfs-GN7HChigysjIH9/s200/estatesale10.jpg" width="133" /></a><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl-FtedelH6-eSoDb6IgFphBfIEkiQ8qbeqlJU2B2sMi7pD_A-NFC7XWNPZnM0uXvox6lRXf35ZAYvvgqOhYfMfYYsILYxS1eNGvXiFlpCiQeaD_BUnrZoC48dCnzNKOSWo8tnK30RIj8/s200/estatesale.jpg" width="186" /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94ByRaYaWy21FSaHVbAAIorFuOgG_lZjuJyz7V3P6lnUSltQlnuEm3-04Mx3nG79zMB6-NAXZRVdNMnyLoohKpVxCijh8Fs4PcchxroPFJiPYJDKzrhGc2uLamOcb9H_pO8NtObOrfEk1/s1600/estatesale2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94ByRaYaWy21FSaHVbAAIorFuOgG_lZjuJyz7V3P6lnUSltQlnuEm3-04Mx3nG79zMB6-NAXZRVdNMnyLoohKpVxCijh8Fs4PcchxroPFJiPYJDKzrhGc2uLamOcb9H_pO8NtObOrfEk1/s400/estatesale2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this old propeller was my favorite find - how could you go wrong for a dollar??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PZV74pMMAvCmvrj13x98q5YAyo-17WV1Rb9JmtnPrYOBJ7aUKaFkC34VysnntoZlvlq8QQmryXAFwf3oCloed2gJr3S2cg00PmHHXtrQHmkPlLZnKMwdBXl5GWQRlG3xNW3JXJC1QBzO/s1600/estatesale13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PZV74pMMAvCmvrj13x98q5YAyo-17WV1Rb9JmtnPrYOBJ7aUKaFkC34VysnntoZlvlq8QQmryXAFwf3oCloed2gJr3S2cg00PmHHXtrQHmkPlLZnKMwdBXl5GWQRlG3xNW3JXJC1QBzO/s200/estatesale13.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sewing basket and all its contents</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEvjaKgUjFbJJX77tfHvsKjPewgGgbor6eh76OVn7fOGQmCOndd0Chf6mbOeRDKO-TKx4dcmqPInLra6_tZWCpSKgSyVWGwi2aOZXLm5TxAJdEak0uAnkMAevae8XcKWXzGJ1yvagx2Xu/s1600/estatesale14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEvjaKgUjFbJJX77tfHvsKjPewgGgbor6eh76OVn7fOGQmCOndd0Chf6mbOeRDKO-TKx4dcmqPInLra6_tZWCpSKgSyVWGwi2aOZXLm5TxAJdEak0uAnkMAevae8XcKWXzGJ1yvagx2Xu/s200/estatesale14.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">handmade afghan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeVY_fA6gEs3oVKByZeIb5ThdxMGIcjoJv5KOEsQxv2HSaRInZqVtXghHhq7QzZ8pWXlCS0jKcAE3_Zs8EfEk-VskMS9EO1kFRrDsqOfuyueCNbFnsKfoIJnkJFwiLfH1LSuvaaWtDWP7/s1600/estatesale8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeVY_fA6gEs3oVKByZeIb5ThdxMGIcjoJv5KOEsQxv2HSaRInZqVtXghHhq7QzZ8pWXlCS0jKcAE3_Zs8EfEk-VskMS9EO1kFRrDsqOfuyueCNbFnsKfoIJnkJFwiLfH1LSuvaaWtDWP7/s200/estatesale8.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtw3M06OmDBNYG75rmPTUAG1sCV8hW4gZOSn9H0uGnGDbUGVTm3IzneqVEkaZOAIQqCKTR17qGkVzuzf9NLIIFcfyE_kEKkbXzvgWPUD0FAFcHr0bGgEp372ySLuXD_LnZSdHjzZXp_iJP/s1600/estatesale9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtw3M06OmDBNYG75rmPTUAG1sCV8hW4gZOSn9H0uGnGDbUGVTm3IzneqVEkaZOAIQqCKTR17qGkVzuzf9NLIIFcfyE_kEKkbXzvgWPUD0FAFcHr0bGgEp372ySLuXD_LnZSdHjzZXp_iJP/s200/estatesale9.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> the inside and outside of a sweet little hand-crocheted clutch</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4n6IBqnCjOK8oECxp7eKRHW4onM5PIdQifALhUN69F3PfezoYR8YyvS4wr9yfsG9e6jlVgI_WBqhSxZjXHXCGtZug0fOAbnfdA3qvlVv8MQC0PUPlm1nYcxd5VywmZWmJ9DV_QKYYCRk_/s1600/estatesale3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4n6IBqnCjOK8oECxp7eKRHW4onM5PIdQifALhUN69F3PfezoYR8YyvS4wr9yfsG9e6jlVgI_WBqhSxZjXHXCGtZug0fOAbnfdA3qvlVv8MQC0PUPlm1nYcxd5VywmZWmJ9DV_QKYYCRk_/s200/estatesale3.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAtvb76zpPiOznEREQAsyL2NF_XFqj6Q6oHmftFdSxCkgJgOd9E2HwX2Uh5C6n2k67Vc0vTOVr8dtn9aur-6rWQ4Yaffo4Io7TBf9yKBrMbe7iIEUQYmyY97_DPgU3ILlUH6XQkENYbtJ/s1600/estatesale5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAtvb76zpPiOznEREQAsyL2NF_XFqj6Q6oHmftFdSxCkgJgOd9E2HwX2Uh5C6n2k67Vc0vTOVr8dtn9aur-6rWQ4Yaffo4Io7TBf9yKBrMbe7iIEUQYmyY97_DPgU3ILlUH6XQkENYbtJ/s200/estatesale5.jpg" width="164" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">another great find: hand-carved wooden block stamp (the guy who sold it to me for a dollar said it was from india in the 1920s and he thought it was to pattern wallpaper :)</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDb3Ww2H_SGvy-AHJ23hGCjpYFmAw6rCz0h38sO18eodemYoW3x54zXPy9YSQ1hAqwkoSPDcnhUGl2OZon8iZTWjiB9GcZLuorgTApFn8SJL27PAOEMoNbtoqh2mBSb4OrYoM8UaGMNbdC/s1600/estatesale4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDb3Ww2H_SGvy-AHJ23hGCjpYFmAw6rCz0h38sO18eodemYoW3x54zXPy9YSQ1hAqwkoSPDcnhUGl2OZon8iZTWjiB9GcZLuorgTApFn8SJL27PAOEMoNbtoqh2mBSb4OrYoM8UaGMNbdC/s200/estatesale4.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful napkin ring</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2_NGz7nOoJ4cstgX1tCUmkZqR0MGTVL91ajlwWtUs21CYrnuLbH-W4Nr8zJvPRN57DhEh-8IYEyVXZ8oddlaQ-FbySV2xzoOw8aF8QYxgbE_ogLMVgVc_fr1A8l0zWK_-qGXHAxqn_SJ/s1600/estatesale12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2_NGz7nOoJ4cstgX1tCUmkZqR0MGTVL91ajlwWtUs21CYrnuLbH-W4Nr8zJvPRN57DhEh-8IYEyVXZ8oddlaQ-FbySV2xzoOw8aF8QYxgbE_ogLMVgVc_fr1A8l0zWK_-qGXHAxqn_SJ/s200/estatesale12.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">nightlight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnPP9KDObZ_ZqPfBJJvwBwLly7XHaDusQMnUHVRRFlPUnKPmN8CeeGNG1E7thGU4SeTcmtolP8Vr5LHlt_A6XnNCx-Zc1AO6p30pAIg9MvIsNkLWMG9hYQiOFDyasKc2NPR7UbtID-ZSE/s1600/estatesale6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnPP9KDObZ_ZqPfBJJvwBwLly7XHaDusQMnUHVRRFlPUnKPmN8CeeGNG1E7thGU4SeTcmtolP8Vr5LHlt_A6XnNCx-Zc1AO6p30pAIg9MvIsNkLWMG9hYQiOFDyasKc2NPR7UbtID-ZSE/s400/estatesale6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">prettiest little teacup and saucer i ever saw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
all those came to a grand total of $13!! <b>i love estate sales.</b> they are so much better than yard sales because they sell EVERYTHING. the <i>junk</i> most people wouldn't put out at a normal yard sale 'cause they figure no one would want it <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(but i do!! drawers full of rusty old tools and bolts?? yes, please!) </span>AND the most <i>precious</i> beautiful stuff, too! at this estate sale, they were selling a vintage refrigerator <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(50s-70s?) </span>that was <i><b>upholstered</b></i> in aqua, green, and gold fabric; and had a <i><b>beer tap</b></i> coming out of the side! the person who bought it <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(while i was deliberating)</span> hauled it away for $12.50!!<br />
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i also scored a bunch of vintage clothes, which i plan to get posted for sale on my etsy site this summer <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(so i won't tell you how much i paid for them ;)...</span> here's a little glimpse from my favorite angle to shoot clothes :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90LMrYS6pTkK7_gnNAikSs42aZ2Ao8980MAg_GlGf_GzSP-irBMD2JWGHm2klWRqwzrVmm6A9I17dRfV-GF62vSbSOT34T812YOXbWIRaimBZa2NfWfyO2q09suO__h-wNIWp9K8lDQeZ/s1600/estatesale15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90LMrYS6pTkK7_gnNAikSs42aZ2Ao8980MAg_GlGf_GzSP-irBMD2JWGHm2klWRqwzrVmm6A9I17dRfV-GF62vSbSOT34T812YOXbWIRaimBZa2NfWfyO2q09suO__h-wNIWp9K8lDQeZ/s400/estatesale15.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>p.s. there's an estate sale in whittier this weekend that's put on by my favorite (read: cheap) estate sale hosts... 13946 trumball st... come join me if you're in the area, and let's see what we can find!</b><br />
<br />rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-65737511934124646812012-06-07T19:45:00.002-07:002012-06-07T19:47:29.288-07:00in that house...<br />
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<b>the LAST assignment from Day 2 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(of 25)</span> of my class!! </b>find a picture of yourself, and write a story about the person you see in the photo... <i>i suppose i could have created a fictional account centering on one of these details, but i love the truth of these little scattered memories i could recall from age 4-8, when we lived on Bakeman Lane. </i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(there are, of course, many more, but i want to save some to tell you about when we get to know each other... or when i write my memoirs ;</span><i>)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRnSQKMLhBJjNpD3UCqC7dI0beYucuIQEnlDTEmUN5-O1HC3F7Ib6QO6F4EnNBy08F6Iew8Skfxhy5_GhXwOuH_2-qoklJl55X1Gnu85VzMPy0ZBZPE7mdxSwqnb7dA7EbNvC91awXcC2/s1600/littleme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRnSQKMLhBJjNpD3UCqC7dI0beYucuIQEnlDTEmUN5-O1HC3F7Ib6QO6F4EnNBy08F6Iew8Skfxhy5_GhXwOuH_2-qoklJl55X1Gnu85VzMPy0ZBZPE7mdxSwqnb7dA7EbNvC91awXcC2/s400/littleme.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>in that house...</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
My dad taught me trigonometry at
age five, describing imaginary triangular planes stretching from me to him to the
mantel above the fireplace. Sitting on his lap in the orange comfy chair from
the 70s,<i> I saw it. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
My mom dressed up like a clown for
my birthday, and we got to dance to music and jump high to pop balloons, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">filled each with a candy or little note</span>, strung
across the living room. She let me make up my own recipes, and try baking them <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(sometimes she'd help adjust my 3 cups of salt, or 100 degree ovens, but she let me make strawberry cake that was no such thing!)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
My three sisters and I shared one
of the two bedrooms. I had my very own desk, painted sky blue, turtle green,
and baby pink. It held my treasures and was my own little world when I opened
it to write songs or thank you notes on my rainbow hot-air balloon notepad.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
We could play outside, swinging
from the tree, collecting snails and seedpods for a penny apiece. But we
couldn’t go past the telephone pole in front of Stuart’s house. We could smell
the old lady’s many-colored roses but not touch them. There were dozens of
bees on the tiny pink flowers on our bush in the front, a porcelain deer
resting below. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
My parents had a walk-in closet
where Mom would spend some alone time with God each morning, and we knew we
weren’t to interrupt. We also watched old home movies in there – using a reel
and projector, lying on the floor all in each others' laps. And we drew pictures with neon crayons and took them in
there to watch them glow in the blacklight. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
We camped in the backyard with a tent made of sheets strung house to fence, and slept in cozy sleeping bags, and ate dry cereal when we woke up in the dewy morning hours.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It seems to me that it was a
different person that lived those memories. When life was simpler, before I turned
eight and we moved. Not that it got a whole lot more complicated quickly, but I
lived in that next house through the rougher years, too; so the “me” I imagine
there is older, <i>more emotional,</i> than the young me with pigtails I see in the
house on Bakeman Lane.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>woohoooo! on to painting!!!</b></span></div>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-60003099247038979172012-06-06T14:59:00.000-07:002012-06-06T14:59:35.018-07:00thankful<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
one of the writing assignments from <a href="http://mistymawn.typepad.com/">misty</a>'s Open Studio class involved writing a list of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(at least 100)</span> things we were thankful for, and then turning that into a poem. she encouraged us to start a "gratitude journal". which coincided perfectly with reading <i><a href="http://onethousandgifts.com/">One Thousand Gifts</a></i> this spring. i waited till i made it to 100 to write my poem. i decided to just pull out the ones that were about joey, and write a poem about him at this age. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGn7JfnWsDMtYhUWAbY3rig0M422HmfrYGZnbsPHgVTDtBcd1HC8UjNJIgi61OL6S_2KtvDnsxITSRvOY35UQU-RCcz3xzUqdXHdhLaxxhcMkRVAoWh_2mZ2lnBYYQEyZGXA3dhxJ1HKS/s1600/joey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGn7JfnWsDMtYhUWAbY3rig0M422HmfrYGZnbsPHgVTDtBcd1HC8UjNJIgi61OL6S_2KtvDnsxITSRvOY35UQU-RCcz3xzUqdXHdhLaxxhcMkRVAoWh_2mZ2lnBYYQEyZGXA3dhxJ1HKS/s400/joey1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>at two and a half</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>part whirlwind<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>blond curls and<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>fever snuggles<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>cuddly-jammied lullabies<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I learn truth in the song<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>the paint you choose<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>One more book<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Boy laughter floating<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>helping daddy<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>gentle delight in babies<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>worrying about your brother even before he is born<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Kisses to “feel better, mommy”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>routine-loving change-hater<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>kitchen-aid operator extraordinaire<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>sleeping all night<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>all-boy, healthy<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>trains, fire trucks, airplanes<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>you have opened my heart</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QaQCl5T8oERNXm5PPkTijoMNN_LXGHcCBPAeAkSRjsWTdGR4uCZmKv2v2w_-25PqMH5v_qygtwFuM3uPlLWNN5-dTdJw3vAMQ8hRzYEmwGNs9tz22vVtthzszb5dhJNdbwBM8V-BiF13/s1600/joey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QaQCl5T8oERNXm5PPkTijoMNN_LXGHcCBPAeAkSRjsWTdGR4uCZmKv2v2w_-25PqMH5v_qygtwFuM3uPlLWNN5-dTdJw3vAMQ8hRzYEmwGNs9tz22vVtthzszb5dhJNdbwBM8V-BiF13/s640/joey2.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
reading this, i suddenly want to do this for all my kids <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(however many that is ;)</span> every year. i used to be a crazy chronological record-every-moment-scrapbooker. and i have felt like i've <i><b>missed so much</b></i> these last 2 1/2 years of not recording faithfully the moments of joey's young life. but keeping little lists like this gratitude journal gives me a glimpse into this life as it's lived over days and months. i think this will not be a quickly-abandoned habit. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">also, instagram ;)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2ZYFSKfT8Vj9AmlrFZc2fC8ZVaklpdqxxCjV9LbGjIRimCIYOSobQb2aiKjZ0iclPqXoYIcLeGbOdREbz70otwDMDhHufR4njF_2c46M5BY6Ck7tzIHfrxOS1b72mbSofcjERNOtuVY-/s1600/joey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2ZYFSKfT8Vj9AmlrFZc2fC8ZVaklpdqxxCjV9LbGjIRimCIYOSobQb2aiKjZ0iclPqXoYIcLeGbOdREbz70otwDMDhHufR4njF_2c46M5BY6Ck7tzIHfrxOS1b72mbSofcjERNOtuVY-/s400/joey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">you've seen the first 65 of my list, and i'll keep adding them as time goes on...</span></div>
<br /></div>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-71897658778204935152012-06-04T15:22:00.000-07:002012-06-04T16:10:30.205-07:00poetry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>The fern, it curls itself<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Into the shape of my love<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>People ask me what it is<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>But I don’t tell them – not really<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>They think it’s a scorpion<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Or some other many-legged thing<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>But, no.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>All resin and wire<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>A bird winging its way behind<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The wood grain<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>It holds eight years<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Houses the memory<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Of a day all soft and lovely<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Resting on my chest</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuJIG0R3zTbP7I8DlhuUE2puFYSwO1Mdt2Pb9f_TnhCwcO8sRGjnkfE9VWDUZx1ZVHzFQl-G5tiEodexq6mGmbPLJ8fAs7Ng4LyB0_zBBaK8xMD8ghaM4Cu5E8g1XVCJLKUhUC9s3kjtX/s1600/photo-61.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuJIG0R3zTbP7I8DlhuUE2puFYSwO1Mdt2Pb9f_TnhCwcO8sRGjnkfE9VWDUZx1ZVHzFQl-G5tiEodexq6mGmbPLJ8fAs7Ng4LyB0_zBBaK8xMD8ghaM4Cu5E8g1XVCJLKUhUC9s3kjtX/s400/photo-61.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the assignment was to write a sonnet about a beloved "talisman"... <br />
not sure i really have something like that, so i kept it simple and abstract :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
thankful for...<br />
<i>56. <a href="http://www.emilywierenga.com/">canvaschild</a>, <a href="http://www.the-lifeartist.com/">thelifeartist</a>, <a href="http://www.anamcara.com/">anamcara</a>, <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/">aholyexperience</a>... that breathe truth to my jesus-seeker-lover-artist soul</i><br />
<i>57. a community i can engage with more than once a week</i><br />
<i>58. a husband who cares enough about the deep-heart-things of life to work through the sucky conversations it takes to get there</i><br />
<i>59. art awakening my soul to its long-lost shape and to the desire to create and love</i><br />
<i>60. kicks that are more than flutters - moving my belly visibly and warning of the active-boy that is to come!</i><br />
<i>61. the chance to sit quietly in a coffee shop and read, write, flip through art magazines</i><br />
<i>62. painting alongside joey</i><br />
<i>63. eight months of finally (after 2+ years) sleeping through the night before baby #2 comes</i><br />
<i>64. an invitation to fight for the hearts of women</i><br />
<i>65. the details - lace on a top, embossed tiny flowers on a mug, a flower in the hair</i>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-49118953530360160252012-05-31T16:59:00.000-07:002012-05-31T16:59:27.578-07:00summer poem<i><br /></i><br />
<i>summer</i><br />
<i>and a yellow suitcase by the door</i><br />
<i>chai tea and naps</i><br />
<i>baby kicks and gardens</i><br />
<i>all sweet and spicy</i><br />
<i>and savory</i><br />
<i>with anticipation</i><i> </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiungsW8QzJBv1HMOIiJ8GZFK0vAhsuulX4ICvY81JmAW7403JcDjTd2NDTBforwEc0KEP87fYI0sLpcCUqTsU7wcWqyWf1CL42XTTNwjsDKqnFFe4AUQjz8LOty5wyyOXM3QYkQ2C_27IJ/s1600/memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiungsW8QzJBv1HMOIiJ8GZFK0vAhsuulX4ICvY81JmAW7403JcDjTd2NDTBforwEc0KEP87fYI0sLpcCUqTsU7wcWqyWf1CL42XTTNwjsDKqnFFe4AUQjz8LOty5wyyOXM3QYkQ2C_27IJ/s400/memorial.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">homemade patriotic ice cream sandwiches we shared with our life group on monday - <br />summer is here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-70493232871521142342012-05-30T11:23:00.001-07:002012-05-30T11:23:39.854-07:00shape poemthe prompt: "what shape are you in today?"<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>may 25.2012</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
too hot...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
sweaty even</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
wishing for</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
an air-</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
conditioner</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
that worked.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
i have to pee</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
but do not risk</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
hardwood floors</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
squeaking... and</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
rousing my boy</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
from slumber</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
i long</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
for a</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
break</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
some</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
space</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
to be</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
just</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
me.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
sit.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
rest.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
and then<br />
love so well</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_cNulsPrKC_tbeq4k1nD0T6tkdjIU4Mufp_9y9K5iPGyL4W5xKT4b-bOyUcxjmZvqC0WKW9fFjBqy3Cm9YWkBTYI0xVeZmwWCYzyfqo230MHh1g2J3m1ePoJPEIGfL5Xv3GoUkIY4FPk/s1600/24+weeks_15edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_cNulsPrKC_tbeq4k1nD0T6tkdjIU4Mufp_9y9K5iPGyL4W5xKT4b-bOyUcxjmZvqC0WKW9fFjBqy3Cm9YWkBTYI0xVeZmwWCYzyfqo230MHh1g2J3m1ePoJPEIGfL5Xv3GoUkIY4FPk/s640/24+weeks_15edit.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i took it literally...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>doesn't it look like me?</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-74390458670563514562012-05-29T17:42:00.000-07:002012-05-29T17:42:51.231-07:00as promised...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
jason read my last couple of blog posts yesterday and said "you need to finish that piece and post it!" so i did :) i don't love it, but i had fun working within the guidelines of our <a href="http://rustyartist.blogspot.com/2012/05/glimpses-of-community.html">grid project</a> from last week & seeing what happened! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n0PaU7wzG36ytk09-M6I2ougilji-3dSVaxMe0bGrUorTWI9qQ2ASjxmZG_w61hZ29GmuuopkjJzEFbAor5lHdnjEbLifCLWcr3h9ED4pDMF25VifPKtQsOZgN2gxeMwtJ-ySLQazkrg/s1600/awaketrue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n0PaU7wzG36ytk09-M6I2ougilji-3dSVaxMe0bGrUorTWI9qQ2ASjxmZG_w61hZ29GmuuopkjJzEFbAor5lHdnjEbLifCLWcr3h9ED4pDMF25VifPKtQsOZgN2gxeMwtJ-ySLQazkrg/s400/awaketrue.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>and some more thankfulnesses:</b><br />
<br />
<i>41. a husband that enjoys fixing things</i><br />
<i>42. a boy that LOVES to help daddy</i><br />
<i>43. the voice of God showing up to my heart through song lyrics and lovely music</i><br />
<i>44. my spiritual director</i><br />
<i>45. how much joey ADORES babies, and is so gentle with them - he is really looking forward to his baby brother's arrival</i><br />
<i>46. watching how a 2-year-old mind works - he was a little worried about the baby yesterday: "he's <u>stuck</u> in your belly!! he needs to come out!" - no, gotta wait till he's a little bigger, buddy...</i><br />
<i>47. my sister's<a href="http://ilovehondo.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-mom.html"> blog post</a> about my mom, reminding me once again how blessed i have been to grow up in <u>that</u> home</i><br />
<i>48. joey's curls</i><br />
<i>49. jason's eyes</i><br />
<i>50. that he thinks i'm beautiful when i'm pregnant</i><br />
<i>51. grey toenail polish - i especially think it's comical that my boy doesn't like it - "i need it off, mommy!"</i><br />
<i>52. perfectly ripe fruit</i><br />
<i>53. the ability to feel actual hunger now, and not just nausea-needing-to-be-fed-to-stop</i><br />
<i>54. insurance and good doctors</i><br />
<i>55. flower rings (and bracelets and necklaces...)</i>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-32812342046991919262012-05-24T21:19:00.001-07:002012-05-24T21:19:20.060-07:00"new" coffee table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2YC1emfgWs-uriSI8p4B0F7is_wXF4Q5VQWILYDOMN8YbADpyhpRsQuEYrAQCKK9SEiTXnoVejMBCVzouloOPVp2tqoRWUJEsnliSQS5mJN87AGH70p-uClxEyMoii-wevcyfUdRV_y7/s1600/coffeetable1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2YC1emfgWs-uriSI8p4B0F7is_wXF4Q5VQWILYDOMN8YbADpyhpRsQuEYrAQCKK9SEiTXnoVejMBCVzouloOPVp2tqoRWUJEsnliSQS5mJN87AGH70p-uClxEyMoii-wevcyfUdRV_y7/s400/coffeetable1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
so we've been saying for months that we need a new coffee table... this one's surface is all bubbly for some reason <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(water damage or something? who knows).</span> it's a cheap laminate/particle board ikea table we've had for years, and it has been on it's way out for a while... but i saw this DIY on <a href="http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/09/how-to-make-a-lace-patterned-coffee-table-.html">a beautiful mess</a> forever ago, and finally thought we should do it to this one! i love how it turned out, and it was SO EASY. just masked off what i didn't want painted, taped down a large piece of lace <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(thanks, April!)</span> and spray-painted it! and the new visual texture totally hides those surface imperfections! yay!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rF2XyhIuFa6_0vwKQYA_lujSid2IcVt3aysKKBCRNG4K8tkxZ1quJUDyri_1KrAUcI4_RdZ2YiQd5sw6FKMKIwRIb-6bqbamM6z5Vz3-QQkihE8IW61UI8-F1qoRT6gE2tCu768AfZIk/s1600/coffeetable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rF2XyhIuFa6_0vwKQYA_lujSid2IcVt3aysKKBCRNG4K8tkxZ1quJUDyri_1KrAUcI4_RdZ2YiQd5sw6FKMKIwRIb-6bqbamM6z5Vz3-QQkihE8IW61UI8-F1qoRT6gE2tCu768AfZIk/s640/coffeetable.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">joey wasted no time in "trying out" the new table as a race track ;)</span><br /><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">thankful this month for:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>26. distant shadow-leaves dancing in the wind at sunset</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>27. a morning of treasure-hunting, returning with a vintage jewelry box, </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>lovely mugs, a toddler bed, and a gift for a friend.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>28. naptime chance to reflect, write, share...</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>29. joey has the best auntie(s) in the world</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>30. that i felt better enough to go to the screenprinting class - happy </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>mother's day to me!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>31. baklava</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>32. coffee shop employees that ask if you want that decaf (looking at me, </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>8pm and pregnant) - YES!! i do!!!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>33. an evening ALONE with a (decaf ;) white mocha at a bookstore</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>34. a longer-than-usual talk with a dear friend while our 2-year-olds </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>entertain each other</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>35. being seen</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>36. new friend with hard stories and an open heart</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>37. baking with joey</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>38. lovely ranunculus from my love</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>39. a week and a half till summer, and jason HOME! and potty training, </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>big boy beds, growing belly, family time (recorded 5.16 - now it's </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>TOMORROW!!)</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>40. my morning chai</i></span></div>
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<br />rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-88317794884519376112012-05-21T20:52:00.001-07:002012-05-21T20:52:20.071-07:00glimpses of community<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A_G8w_8EQ9nolMOOY3yDv1mW21xhO02ISsKKqprFCDJUduSMaxbtaB-zs3rwkwMxe_jadrRLoHaWwQwb05QK-ZgUCogg-p9ZqyHm3595896Xcsj9EIs_3nlwtzF7vyUwZD8FfOYd3YvE/s1600/acc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A_G8w_8EQ9nolMOOY3yDv1mW21xhO02ISsKKqprFCDJUduSMaxbtaB-zs3rwkwMxe_jadrRLoHaWwQwb05QK-ZgUCogg-p9ZqyHm3595896Xcsj9EIs_3nlwtzF7vyUwZD8FfOYd3YvE/s640/acc3.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a corner of erica's gray-and-yellow beauty</td></tr>
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so i have some wonderful friends who <strike>humor</strike> love me by coming over a couple evenings a month and "being creative" with me. we call it <b>"artsycrafty club"</b>.<i> i love it.</i> just getting to share my studio space and introduce them to a little of my art-world... most of them claim to be "<u>NOT</u> creative". <i>but they come play anyways </i>:) and this week, i thought i'd share some glimpses of the 3-dimensional collages they made friday night...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7flfe1TNglJ2vNfSSgO69xBnILWiBffgqk_ZnihBAFTTL30AcrV_86BBJ4YyFoGhb0nlx9u7BlfRZLiOcmq3tQ_7K7k7Y2NJtMNRjjpmDxphhSqf1I_3CTjwWXALYx0u31O82BbSOkrdg/s1600/acc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7flfe1TNglJ2vNfSSgO69xBnILWiBffgqk_ZnihBAFTTL30AcrV_86BBJ4YyFoGhb0nlx9u7BlfRZLiOcmq3tQ_7K7k7Y2NJtMNRjjpmDxphhSqf1I_3CTjwWXALYx0u31O82BbSOkrdg/s400/acc.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my sister kimmy's "random" piece - i think it came together so lovely and bright and fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Y0LhT6MaH033SeMJ9XuGzSmjWeqDUpHNtAyBhIfwEI-B_3ey3e5CV5KTrl9u5vAFa1z_B0Ry53Va2Wl_pKidolK3HCFOryhx62yPNKvi-U1MhTXtUUGolz0gDQ34Hd6WU54uWzu2Xx5X/s1600/acc4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Y0LhT6MaH033SeMJ9XuGzSmjWeqDUpHNtAyBhIfwEI-B_3ey3e5CV5KTrl9u5vAFa1z_B0Ry53Va2Wl_pKidolK3HCFOryhx62yPNKvi-U1MhTXtUUGolz0gDQ34Hd6WU54uWzu2Xx5X/s400/acc4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blayne, our recently moved from portland friend, put a bird on it ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9h1k7jLCYGUlk2cU7pxHZmlSP-VGrmurQMVxytNNQBOkCACf1OZ4odAM_XOx9OLz9s6lCRaug-BXwUdK-tO4c7kbFG8Mv6V8Sus7rlvnAmgGZW5-1GjMZzzbVk_AuPCp0ZMaKGuFuWo9/s1600/acc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9h1k7jLCYGUlk2cU7pxHZmlSP-VGrmurQMVxytNNQBOkCACf1OZ4odAM_XOx9OLz9s6lCRaug-BXwUdK-tO4c7kbFG8Mv6V8Sus7rlvnAmgGZW5-1GjMZzzbVk_AuPCp0ZMaKGuFuWo9/s400/acc2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">allison made me crop her name out of the shot of the piece (but i put it here anyway ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zKitY6IoIDbNBBcp4i1pXOIPQFFtZFky4cKhejTSKapkAnN5hW6_HBBIqL6lKeZLp4V9Q05oFE4LULtLJtDxyINA8KafzyZ3kUg9WN6zS4Q_4DRBDC3WSkssnLt57Ds8t37dGP2iyCWA/s1600/acc5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zKitY6IoIDbNBBcp4i1pXOIPQFFtZFky4cKhejTSKapkAnN5hW6_HBBIqL6lKeZLp4V9Q05oFE4LULtLJtDxyINA8KafzyZ3kUg9WN6zS4Q_4DRBDC3WSkssnLt57Ds8t37dGP2iyCWA/s400/acc5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> i loved how maura picked so many of my little "finds" that i most adore, and put them all together!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEv8q1y5_FISrtJ9o_vSH9uY7qxC20NTzw0-E0wl-sWCQovaFiG1yDgensLhrvr0IDNAbiWrKZJsdbsrhT9xnJ6B4YjmughfbYcvyMwE-NucFGg8b55OE0AfYAOtMpykbkMWZLKJvHGMn/s1600/acc6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEv8q1y5_FISrtJ9o_vSH9uY7qxC20NTzw0-E0wl-sWCQovaFiG1yDgensLhrvr0IDNAbiWrKZJsdbsrhT9xnJ6B4YjmughfbYcvyMwE-NucFGg8b55OE0AfYAOtMpykbkMWZLKJvHGMn/s400/acc6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">jan totally departed from the 4x4 grid idea... she's an artist, so i figured she'd "break the rules" ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-FVTEzc0in17zwJKr4XGV4u_4Ym8vV2xqxLQcf07RyH8lc7DithuccejrRJyLqchxAAKd-Imsp2rX0dzi6-QQp08JjeN1U9-rjjvgtSt3ElOORXqJb9Gjtu133gbssk1QMg-TNtKBjNP/s1600/acc7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-FVTEzc0in17zwJKr4XGV4u_4Ym8vV2xqxLQcf07RyH8lc7DithuccejrRJyLqchxAAKd-Imsp2rX0dzi6-QQp08JjeN1U9-rjjvgtSt3ElOORXqJb9Gjtu133gbssk1QMg-TNtKBjNP/s400/acc7.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rachel's serengeti sunset loveliness </td></tr>
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somehow, i never end up finding a chance to actually <i>make</i> something on these nights that i'm hosting... but i got inspired by having all my little bits of found "things" everywhere, so i'm working on my own piece now... maybe you'll see it soon ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4ccwKpKQln3EM-9t7ZZtBpyNn2A1KcIllWxSls394Ot38H-An_aWA9lJA3YgjqUJZaJWcbp0tE0tmuhAFFau3erBheJsKfAcyjSk6qieZhRMDbW-gQib__HgjR07dt0s0AbvDG-CMN43/s1600/acc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4ccwKpKQln3EM-9t7ZZtBpyNn2A1KcIllWxSls394Ot38H-An_aWA9lJA3YgjqUJZaJWcbp0tE0tmuhAFFau3erBheJsKfAcyjSk6qieZhRMDbW-gQib__HgjR07dt0s0AbvDG-CMN43/s400/acc1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the one thing i DID make that night- baked brie with basil and blackberries and apple wedges (thanks to <a href="http://www.adoredaustin.com/2012/05/easy-recipe-twelve-minute-honey-baked.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+adoredaustin%2FZMAz+%28www.AdoredAustin.com%29">indiana</a> for the recipe! :)</td></tr>
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<br />
and some glimpses of what i've been thankful for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(completing the the rest of april)</span>...<br />
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<i>15. rain on a tin roof</i><br />
<i>16. boy laughter floating in from the backyard</i><br />
<i>17. a movie that brings unexpected tears</i><br />
<i>18. a blog post full of comments from seekers like me, making me feel less alone</i><br />
<i>19. a <a href="http://www.the-lifeartist.com/">woman</a> who writes so beautifully, it stirs my soul every time</i><br />
<i>20. a lone gull winging its way through dark grey sky over slow freeway traffic</i><br />
<i>21. unisom sleeptabs</i><br />
<i>22. feeling better today (4.16)</i><br />
<i>23. my boy begging me to read him "one more" book, as if it's not my favorite thing in the world to do</i><br />
<i>24. joey taking a nap today (4.27), allowing me to take one, since i ended up having to work a 12-hour shift unexpectedly tonight!</i><br />
<i>25. pink-striped skies and wind on my surprise drive into Los Angeles for work</i><br />
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<br />rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-36462793443067064392012-05-17T20:03:00.001-07:002012-05-17T20:03:37.869-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ29U3yy0d2uNWipHwRpjN5kC8JalEF3Q93Jxmjbl-CbDxcmo-59p0wLtcfxJZZJt_wrQhoBtrtXu5ZlHc5r4qE4697ULa2iBEe86A28YaOvFiFf2JoLrMCnLO6jWkoBz9BB93B58Zu7yG/s1600/daylight3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ29U3yy0d2uNWipHwRpjN5kC8JalEF3Q93Jxmjbl-CbDxcmo-59p0wLtcfxJZZJt_wrQhoBtrtXu5ZlHc5r4qE4697ULa2iBEe86A28YaOvFiFf2JoLrMCnLO6jWkoBz9BB93B58Zu7yG/s400/daylight3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b> yeah, you can pin that.</b> ha. i actually stole this DIY entirely from <a href="http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/08/song-lyric-wall-art-diy-project.html">A Beautiful Mess</a>, so please feel free to give them proper credit ;) just thought i'd let you see how mine went step-by-step.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhwTPw5CwCc6Ik3PPrc2TcqwZ26vn_DFNy1uhf2PkWCfhaDSpKt6NKgpqMDRwbcFGy8cdQ88p19iVM6c5LE2gZ1p7OQL90MQ4Eei5H-PSe_tYdMezzHtf7bT2spGJ1Di3cKA5x4Q85umB/s1600/daylight1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhwTPw5CwCc6Ik3PPrc2TcqwZ26vn_DFNy1uhf2PkWCfhaDSpKt6NKgpqMDRwbcFGy8cdQ88p19iVM6c5LE2gZ1p7OQL90MQ4Eei5H-PSe_tYdMezzHtf7bT2spGJ1Di3cKA5x4Q85umB/s320/daylight1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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i started with a bright warhol-style self-portrait done in a painting class a few years ago.<i> it was always too bold for me to display as-is... just looking at a 30" x 30" picture of myself all day... not my thing ;)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINikU9F_vxwrqYC7ORNYC2dbIDvdTmbRxT47LY7EpVGNpv9GCisKMOsC7rr-DEgGB8RaL0ozMg4WQenjTyjlrnQicvyo1OxXgYOYvhZ_deHxOzynYd-437oOMqXJn0CLltN422MN8g8Gd/s1600/daylight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINikU9F_vxwrqYC7ORNYC2dbIDvdTmbRxT47LY7EpVGNpv9GCisKMOsC7rr-DEgGB8RaL0ozMg4WQenjTyjlrnQicvyo1OxXgYOYvhZ_deHxOzynYd-437oOMqXJn0CLltN422MN8g8Gd/s320/daylight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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i applied letter stickers to spell out some song lyrics that have been deeply placed in my soul as part of my journey with God over the last couple of years <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(from a Ten Shekel Shirt song called "over the room")</span>. </div>
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<b>note</b>: the "<u>repositionable</u>" stickers stuck to the canvas much better than the "<u>permanent</u>" adhesive ones for some reason, giving a much crisper edge to the letters.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuW9qzLlWVhuyjL3yaUUgNyQW6TAyfyu2UT3QEJn8f-MjEe3sd5lMbVjuBMkplvuioMGnN8QbV4kBluQxh9wz3waBD6Kevb_-xNfSjL5lxvUALVnCDxh8JjXUhGh4wQiHKDh6PFHsqfvH/s1600/daylight4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuW9qzLlWVhuyjL3yaUUgNyQW6TAyfyu2UT3QEJn8f-MjEe3sd5lMbVjuBMkplvuioMGnN8QbV4kBluQxh9wz3waBD6Kevb_-xNfSjL5lxvUALVnCDxh8JjXUhGh4wQiHKDh6PFHsqfvH/s320/daylight4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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then, per elsie's recommendations, i used <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">spray paint</span> <i>(we did this project at artsycrafty club last week, and used craft paint then, with brushes, and i wanted to see how superior the spray paint really came out)</i> and covered the whole canvas. it actually was no better than with brushes... i think the trick is more<b> how well-adhered the stickers are before you paint. </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJsafnRGbh5l22E3Ww-m5DxirByt7XTQrbtw0rjulwAPvsDFwNqr156P5SPTlg9MBUxmZRPol9gPh6UHOI7V0TcjT33mwxpQ4GOPf-c6P6fK0csJCSQx5QgoukCCPbi1SsgCt1OcAGtrh/s1600/daylight5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJsafnRGbh5l22E3Ww-m5DxirByt7XTQrbtw0rjulwAPvsDFwNqr156P5SPTlg9MBUxmZRPol9gPh6UHOI7V0TcjT33mwxpQ4GOPf-c6P6fK0csJCSQx5QgoukCCPbi1SsgCt1OcAGtrh/s320/daylight5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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but i love how it turned out <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(and you know me - never disappointed by the little "imperfections" - love the character imprecision brings :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVPKC225NNZDucH2qYKACoPdWvtZCYyHm4FFARCfw8DF2ENnhQTHsdhmz4I6WDMlEIp0w6eSbqsqyz-8HEt4L4dUx2c4ggGLkEzHlgj28KH8FtAT10ryXkLDiN7ICS9aedOr0PG4TiDoB/s1600/daylight2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVPKC225NNZDucH2qYKACoPdWvtZCYyHm4FFARCfw8DF2ENnhQTHsdhmz4I6WDMlEIp0w6eSbqsqyz-8HEt4L4dUx2c4ggGLkEzHlgj28KH8FtAT10ryXkLDiN7ICS9aedOr0PG4TiDoB/s400/daylight2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>here is an instagram shot of one of the girls' canvases from last friday - she started with a landscape painting and used blue instead of white - turned out so fun!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR61_B0gXWgA4w_QzEfLmVL277REMMNzfLq5ewct-7XDd2ERTxeqd4CmD7OCXWj8uQ5gdHp9GemsPbCwF5zN-rEoirif4ZXDbDGMzSqZpsAl_VVMVgtkWAruK7dVI5iekS4O5XlJ-AAL5O/s1600/jana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR61_B0gXWgA4w_QzEfLmVL277REMMNzfLq5ewct-7XDd2ERTxeqd4CmD7OCXWj8uQ5gdHp9GemsPbCwF5zN-rEoirif4ZXDbDGMzSqZpsAl_VVMVgtkWAruK7dVI5iekS4O5XlJ-AAL5O/s400/jana.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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and this is such an <u>easy</u> project, i tried it the next day with my 2-year-old. i just applied the stickers for him and let him go at it painting all over the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (white, in this case) </span>canvas - now he has new wall art for his room! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdjfawyS1y-sgjVHlDUgnZmp3igzcJuFMODjdZqVLoOm_9CO9jmvZHT3l2YOoyQL7Fq2BbtSnPQWg4OS5jVzfGmQ4lcXHM5-RB2V_gEIqPvu2sL_rOHNxUd1ENd1EzbmRLEupgd5L_14O/s1600/numbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdjfawyS1y-sgjVHlDUgnZmp3igzcJuFMODjdZqVLoOm_9CO9jmvZHT3l2YOoyQL7Fq2BbtSnPQWg4OS5jVzfGmQ4lcXHM5-RB2V_gEIqPvu2sL_rOHNxUd1ENd1EzbmRLEupgd5L_14O/s400/numbers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>and then the project started evolving</i>. if you saw<a href="http://rustyartist.blogspot.com/2012/05/poetry-heptastich.html"> my post</a> earlier this week, you saw we broke out of just letters into the wide world of stickers in general... </div>
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the only caution i have is do not try this on paper. haha. i thought it'd be cool to send some of joey's "art" out to friends and family in the mail, so i took some watercolor postcards and did the same process... no good. it just pulled the paper up with the stickers, ruining whatever design we were trying to accomplish...</div>
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but try it with a canvas! and have fun!</div>
<br />rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-72898538514780526232012-05-16T12:51:00.000-07:002012-05-16T12:51:10.736-07:00poetry: skin deep<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>orange-peel smooth</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>as cool and calm as wildfire</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>cloudy-sky clear</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>matte as rainy-day sidewalk</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>volcanoes waiting</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>i hate you</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and hide you... and wish i didn't.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0rtpPOnxOySoZcwtAZ_lYjk7Jmy2QnyBSS3lc7_G5hwcs2MjIiFZLBdE-iGcJkcKAVR51mFsok7SuGNkHN-rkfK5-OSPexa6jKykvduct40fA6XTGajyVVkQV4PHjkemAx3oBonv9chm/s1600/oranges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0rtpPOnxOySoZcwtAZ_lYjk7Jmy2QnyBSS3lc7_G5hwcs2MjIiFZLBdE-iGcJkcKAVR51mFsok7SuGNkHN-rkfK5-OSPexa6jKykvduct40fA6XTGajyVVkQV4PHjkemAx3oBonv9chm/s320/oranges.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(another heptastich - poem of 7 lines)</span></div>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-5305381612389622472012-05-15T20:31:00.001-07:002012-05-15T20:31:13.703-07:00poetry: mindfulness<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">learning to be truly aware in the tiny things. i spent 15 or 20 minutes being "mindful" in this experience, and then wrote about it...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">mindfulness</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>i chose what was near me</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>a christmas gift</i></div>
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<i>dark chocolate-covered edamame</i></div>
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<i>and drank in all the texture</i></div>
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<i>and color and sound of movement</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>babbling like a brook</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>as my hand explored their depth</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>the richness of something</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>never-before-head-of</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>surprised me as i tasted</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>so many layers</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>of melting and breaking</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>a deformed one at first bothered me</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>until i saw its shape</i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>then i knew: it was a gift</i></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKYiai_E6y4h-9bbgK3NGC9X5fGbfg4YXgvubnYW9yTu59IA6Ni9DGLkOKzblrnagIobTU5tB4J2irjThlBUUMPLzueC3tCniCksq2biEiccHfj9tg1qwF_ZyWPFKZB84CDxsxhNtjHqO/s1600/edamame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKYiai_E6y4h-9bbgK3NGC9X5fGbfg4YXgvubnYW9yTu59IA6Ni9DGLkOKzblrnagIobTU5tB4J2irjThlBUUMPLzueC3tCniCksq2biEiccHfj9tg1qwF_ZyWPFKZB84CDxsxhNtjHqO/s320/edamame.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i></div>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-82997137425130637092012-05-14T20:00:00.000-07:002012-05-14T20:00:07.736-07:00poetry: a heptastich<div style="text-align: center;">
a <b>heptastich</b> <i>(poem of 7 lines)</i> written the day i found out i was pregnant with my second child... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
i posted it in our Open Studio facebook group as my announcement</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>my body, cradling another</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>deep within, a seed</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>unwitnessed</i></div>
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<i>erupts with furious growth</i></div>
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<i>swelling, dividing, proliferating</i></div>
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<i>maturing until autumn</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>unknown until today</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtRKn9a_YxNVoclxAtHXCYWTYKpkPxziXac29dNWVFd2CdondReyx0qHzRVOVXd6cy42XgNp6M7oX_UrYVCtvaHpbzh3TrP9z713CFApVGgkJlpfi-N1HehIchU4dCG34UPsjXfs3N_I-/s1600/pom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtRKn9a_YxNVoclxAtHXCYWTYKpkPxziXac29dNWVFd2CdondReyx0qHzRVOVXd6cy42XgNp6M7oX_UrYVCtvaHpbzh3TrP9z713CFApVGgkJlpfi-N1HehIchU4dCG34UPsjXfs3N_I-/s400/pom.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ever since i took a photo of one hollowed pomegranate cradling another, i've thought how much that looked like pregnancy... now i finally painted it! i made it colors that would match the boys' room...</td></tr>
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and while i was painting the above piece this afternoon, joey was painting this one...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOKzSvXBC9ms2dxSdQKMYNdKgtSBnxjJkx5EQxVIzu_ZNsh68hzEhvYA1csHS_HNIMbPF3rtNDou7JvhBrBPXQGAcEJzQ6P5QItgWx391Hga5EaBzDdqS6s9KEREHkgCmuunzZ_J6OI8v/s1600/pink1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOKzSvXBC9ms2dxSdQKMYNdKgtSBnxjJkx5EQxVIzu_ZNsh68hzEhvYA1csHS_HNIMbPF3rtNDou7JvhBrBPXQGAcEJzQ6P5QItgWx391Hga5EaBzDdqS6s9KEREHkgCmuunzZ_J6OI8v/s400/pink1.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
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ok, so mommy <i>may</i> have put the stickers on the canvas before, and taken them off at the end, but <b>he chose all the colors and did the actual painting</b>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">determined to give it to auntie kristi once it was complete!</span> <u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">he's TWO, folks</span></u> - there <b><i>are</i></b> non-cheesy projects you can do with a toddler! :)</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ6IEFnf_kXgsQsik8L3mNQbwDBFhTTSR9T20XNdk0iv0Qd4oIyu12dyjLqqgPtZTSR8F5-rfy8zcxTvk6xQZoCR6EAHtE00nOZj7sJPLUPyYPNli0vdbSCm_BtIr8qmLlaIq-wrxLiDs/s1600/pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ6IEFnf_kXgsQsik8L3mNQbwDBFhTTSR9T20XNdk0iv0Qd4oIyu12dyjLqqgPtZTSR8F5-rfy8zcxTvk6xQZoCR6EAHtE00nOZj7sJPLUPyYPNli0vdbSCm_BtIr8qmLlaIq-wrxLiDs/s400/pink.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">his desk setup right next to mommy's studio area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><br /></i></div>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-56049021638668686652012-05-12T18:22:00.000-07:002012-05-12T18:22:20.159-07:00poetry: i am here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
so i finished <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">day 1</span> of Open Studio Workshop! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(only 24 left ;)</span> </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">day 2</span> was our first lesson on writing... mostly in the vein of poetry.</div>
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i'll be sharing those poems as i get a chance to write this week... </div>
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but to start off, i wanted to share the pre-class poem she had us write, with "i am here..." as our prompt/title.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BHnrxbMSp-OQBTWeE010GK-iNLYhJhS9LxEJjmq9OzmglePXxBef-nUGlcNOESuoSxXi6BmZZYP-ECEVXcmgvYypespqmTyowwTVl5SiucXUvPUcO_ZllzCvS25rgqI3HR7j9sgc6Cd5/s1600/light+feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BHnrxbMSp-OQBTWeE010GK-iNLYhJhS9LxEJjmq9OzmglePXxBef-nUGlcNOESuoSxXi6BmZZYP-ECEVXcmgvYypespqmTyowwTVl5SiucXUvPUcO_ZllzCvS25rgqI3HR7j9sgc6Cd5/s640/light+feet.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">i am here...</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>i am here</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>in the chaos</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>in the true and the questions</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>in moments of quiet soul-space</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and soft longing</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and big dreams</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>in the midst of a life full</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>of sweet two-year-old boy voice</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and strong man-arms</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and the running</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>it never seems to stop</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>the moments are rare when</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>awake and quiet intersect</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and depth and lightheartedness</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>dance</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>but i crave it</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and he fights for it with me</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>my beloved</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and i flourish</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>as the chaos fades into paint</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and paper and rust</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>and my heart shows up</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-76956668402587446062012-05-11T13:26:00.000-07:002012-05-11T13:26:00.741-07:00back to the drawing board...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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...literally!! these past few months, as i have felt so sick, and been on the couch much of the time, i haven't even felt "up to" trying to keep up with art in any form. <b>i have had a very uncreative three months.</b> and while it's not entirely true that i haven't been drawing <i>at ALL... </i></div>
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i don't think "draw something"s really count ;)<br />
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but<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> i'm finally feeling better</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (and even starting to wean off my med!)</span> so i've been able the last couple days to get back in my studio! i am still planning to complete the Open Studio Workshop assignments from Misty Mawn's class i took online for 5 weeks in january/february... so i started where i left off... on <b>day 1</b>! the next assignment was to draw an expressive portrait using as many dry mediums as you can. since it had been months away from the drawing board, i definitely thought drawing from a reference would be the best... so i did a self-portrait.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB282zZ6JT8wQRcShdnZjHiloVedjLUZ9Jgjg3aQTDSBs32D885uZD5BFAmhL5B6mxHmVIfMP8jo6fh8N-8_WZwRdYM_VnLv3QTT4SObqog2dWjA8WGDQ12kxm4gN7uGk4JcFC4EuSiHx/s1600/day+1+drawing_9edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB282zZ6JT8wQRcShdnZjHiloVedjLUZ9Jgjg3aQTDSBs32D885uZD5BFAmhL5B6mxHmVIfMP8jo6fh8N-8_WZwRdYM_VnLv3QTT4SObqog2dWjA8WGDQ12kxm4gN7uGk4JcFC4EuSiHx/s400/day+1+drawing_9edit.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">i don't love it.</span> and i couldn't figure out how to work well with the pastels... so i went back and watched all the lesson videos - and came out <i>inspired</i>! :) i had forgotten hoe much i love watching Misty work. it always makes me laugh when i think the drawing is just about perfect and she goes in and "<b>messes</b>" with it again, almost to the point of starting over <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(i need to be able to learn to do that with my own work - i have a hard time reworking it... usually just give up instead, as seen in this next portrait, where i just did not have enough patience to try to get the hands right, so i gave up on finishing the whole thing...)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8kK1nNnn6LcV6ETIAuv5WvMNOL-Zdfgtq6eCylVnbexsCp8idCITrdPb1xUOnxGsImir1lvu_DcJmJW2OWsK9-lK0chQeKoFrqvkzLRONKWgB-BYJN-p3-DjdTPbpCw4Z-QNeKzo2l3s/s1600/day+1+drawing_6edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8kK1nNnn6LcV6ETIAuv5WvMNOL-Zdfgtq6eCylVnbexsCp8idCITrdPb1xUOnxGsImir1lvu_DcJmJW2OWsK9-lK0chQeKoFrqvkzLRONKWgB-BYJN-p3-DjdTPbpCw4Z-QNeKzo2l3s/s640/day+1+drawing_6edit.jpg" width="484" /></a><br />
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i decided i need a LOT more practice, and am super-inspired to <u>draw regularly</u> in a sketchbook.<i> just so many possibilities when you can draw a portrait or figure with the expression you're looking for...</i> this next one was done with no reference - just drew a face. it's my favorite of these <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(though of course i see glaring imperfections that i would definitely "fix" if it was to be used for something specific)...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBYD_66K4HSx8tuG3WdY6M9Q7290npty4c9dtYLXmkHqBqrxxCmbENju9Stv0bk55q6IMMSkGm2i8AWCeLHkH3sVZUt5Kp3ZRMq9sjgizX0s3Dw4iM8vIk53BfFdoIXO9y0NubFty4GqS/s1600/day+1+drawing_4edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBYD_66K4HSx8tuG3WdY6M9Q7290npty4c9dtYLXmkHqBqrxxCmbENju9Stv0bk55q6IMMSkGm2i8AWCeLHkH3sVZUt5Kp3ZRMq9sjgizX0s3Dw4iM8vIk53BfFdoIXO9y0NubFty4GqS/s640/day+1+drawing_4edit.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>
and the last <b>(the LAST!!!)</b> assignment of DAY ONE <b>(!) </b>was to draw your body as you feel it, not as you see it. so i used no reference and just drew this growing belly-body... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">my legs are too short & head is too big... but it wasn't supposed to be a good likeness anyways :)</span><br />
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do you feel like i'm looking at you?? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(disapprovingly? ;)</span> i decided to title this one "<b>the skeptic</b>", and purposely introduced NO color into the eye area framed by the glasses...<i> i'm watching you...</i><br />
<br />rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-34252250164773447142012-05-05T16:16:00.001-07:002012-05-05T16:16:06.604-07:00upolu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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finally, a month later, i am getting to post shots and thoughts from our trip to hawaii to visit my parents! they live in kona, on the Big Island, and there are so many lovely places to drink in. </div>
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<b>my favorite place <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(so far) </span>on the planet</b> is here... </div>
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a little dirt road near a tiny airstrip leads you to this staggering view. red and black lava cliffs descend into rough gorgeous water. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquvWfRLu3q_3qr5tJs6BR_c-c0fdbzALqjq-AvLEuqc-jWST3EGCpHbCU4x6Wg-4OaTKUZRTW2tEj42p8yNGwy7NfYT7Y2ztz8VH2hqv6nxJA3ByTGeLkQHB6MlcBbvafB22jKOZkDhp5/s1600/Hawaii+blog+shots_4edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquvWfRLu3q_3qr5tJs6BR_c-c0fdbzALqjq-AvLEuqc-jWST3EGCpHbCU4x6Wg-4OaTKUZRTW2tEj42p8yNGwy7NfYT7Y2ztz8VH2hqv6nxJA3ByTGeLkQHB6MlcBbvafB22jKOZkDhp5/s400/Hawaii+blog+shots_4edit.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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here is a bit from my journal as i sat alone in this beauty and just drank...</div>
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<i>it's like this place was made just for me. </i><i>my dad loves it because it's almost always clear blue and windy... but there's <u>more</u> waiting for my heart. </i></div>
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<i>you come to the edge of the cliffs and look over to wild, untamed tumultuous beauty, the sea so blue, heaving this way and that, waves crashing on the black lava, sending spray twenty feet in the air and gently misting my face. </i></div>
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<i>but then you turn around and look at the cliffs themselves. and they are embedded with a thousand rusty things, so much a part of them now that it's hard to tell if it's the dirt that's red, or the disintegrated rusty metal making it so. there must be whole cars rusting here. millions of shards of glass... vintage shapes, decorative elements... melted, twisted in some fire... </i></div>
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<i>but oh, the shapes of the red iron equipment against the backdrop of pure turquoise turbulence. </i></div>
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<i><b>i am in awe. </b></i></div>
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<i>so if all of it is grace, and every gift points to christ, i sit wondering how. this thrill in my heart as blue explodes into white, and rock joins with rust... what does it all mean? eucharisteo before i understand </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">[referring to Ann Voskamp's <i>One Thousand Gifts</i>]</span><i>. i think i would be happy if i died here.</i></div>
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<i>usually my favorite "beauty" involves the quiet solitude of the mountains with its pine-fresh air... but <b>nothing comes close to this</b>. i feel like i could stay here all my days and never tire of exploring the beauty.</i></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">it's your love for me.</span></b></i></div>
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<i>the rocks push back ferociously but nothing can keep it at bay. the wave ever coming, over and over again to lavish itself, bring life to the terrain, refresh the tidepools on its surface.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4B3HBWD_xNirjuOPt4YoDK4sPrZkpGhwA_CmBTaa_QimSaBd94zRxMuoOtcfWv2fhL_nnOIgu9JzMWCbs81IfGLWJedrM0mzsTjeLYOxyN-jabV6FrSWhJoX9t0v9kI3ziSGLlTylT1i/s1600/Hawaii+blog+shots_3edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4B3HBWD_xNirjuOPt4YoDK4sPrZkpGhwA_CmBTaa_QimSaBd94zRxMuoOtcfWv2fhL_nnOIgu9JzMWCbs81IfGLWJedrM0mzsTjeLYOxyN-jabV6FrSWhJoX9t0v9kI3ziSGLlTylT1i/s400/Hawaii+blog+shots_3edit.jpg" width="400" /></a><i></i></div>
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<i>for the first time i understand the C.S. Lewis quote:</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 24px;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #373737;">“We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words – to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves.” – C.S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory)</span></em></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>a couple more journal pages</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq91kztHSmJ-TMOG_YeK9QlqV3FnVrd5iEwpM-_zJIQ6fZNiG0xHXD7oLfdoZVqQbFdPoHO4sta_Xk0QPwYyD6x8JTpZK1UfmAynao4vzGpgMNwXHATDIqVP2kMFnvuGiJHinNWtwkpPxf/s1600/Hawaii+blog+shots_7edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq91kztHSmJ-TMOG_YeK9QlqV3FnVrd5iEwpM-_zJIQ6fZNiG0xHXD7oLfdoZVqQbFdPoHO4sta_Xk0QPwYyD6x8JTpZK1UfmAynao4vzGpgMNwXHATDIqVP2kMFnvuGiJHinNWtwkpPxf/s400/Hawaii+blog+shots_7edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUv7zUQZEWxiQR_CP42Iqhr7IKgKdP5WTDAx2lC8uYXZLoHSWqV3p_OvIK0s625JEka9-3EK9e-3yOfeF2MVD_DtrNKt-X897R8kIpk8JrVfx68YjCJoHaeIWeCk5F4lsRRLo4pi-dOnm/s1600/Hawaii+blog+shots_8edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUv7zUQZEWxiQR_CP42Iqhr7IKgKdP5WTDAx2lC8uYXZLoHSWqV3p_OvIK0s625JEka9-3EK9e-3yOfeF2MVD_DtrNKt-X897R8kIpk8JrVfx68YjCJoHaeIWeCk5F4lsRRLo4pi-dOnm/s400/Hawaii+blog+shots_8edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my love with me at upolu point</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45lAu_RgMzTLSem-hPq96WkypetGVX8rpHE-jEMaP1IfIJ8aKj5o-1G6mLQswga8NLtapa9p5gIiAx39m3wXlF8uIfxmQtJA5YQBUH_iQRzCSr3-Vf3SHuawKP4w1cDP-uEbSYc5Ye2-a/s1600/Hawaii+blog+shots_11edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45lAu_RgMzTLSem-hPq96WkypetGVX8rpHE-jEMaP1IfIJ8aKj5o-1G6mLQswga8NLtapa9p5gIiAx39m3wXlF8uIfxmQtJA5YQBUH_iQRzCSr3-Vf3SHuawKP4w1cDP-uEbSYc5Ye2-a/s400/Hawaii+blog+shots_11edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">exploring more wild majesty as a family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWTgjH48Dt6q9YNpQFSdqw14shKBd4XRBKFWOBh62qmk5Nt0ttudg6Pj314n3qj9YHby3aJ0ZMuxnN1Qc_a0N1ae6Urpg9goDsBbyfswWegxPJmvD6rleF6PJHXLeeOHJpkIfDGy9RlZr/s1600/Hawaii+blog+shots_10edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWTgjH48Dt6q9YNpQFSdqw14shKBd4XRBKFWOBh62qmk5Nt0ttudg6Pj314n3qj9YHby3aJ0ZMuxnN1Qc_a0N1ae6Urpg9goDsBbyfswWegxPJmvD6rleF6PJHXLeeOHJpkIfDGy9RlZr/s400/Hawaii+blog+shots_10edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>joey sandwich!!!!!!!!!!!!</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL89sPjDvIzm2eHCAWk1vE8ENtO2mECWSvalRMTXl0S2eaoAmYhpWlmqKJ22a3gO91YDzJiBm0Ip8V2SN0TA4VvqPE-PrmLCk0uHNuh5RxrdUTrKbd79F2YxQMETzivNNebxZ35euZ6Gyu/s1600/Hawaii+blog+shots_12edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL89sPjDvIzm2eHCAWk1vE8ENtO2mECWSvalRMTXl0S2eaoAmYhpWlmqKJ22a3gO91YDzJiBm0Ip8V2SN0TA4VvqPE-PrmLCk0uHNuh5RxrdUTrKbd79F2YxQMETzivNNebxZ35euZ6Gyu/s400/Hawaii+blog+shots_12edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mima & sleepy joey on our drive around the island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZVZf-RiPRQ-rMbbQCBWjTC6uEUHciVrOy4jsOupjkGqCJyJZ3Q7giMhbQwXuXa1T4YmmRs3u9kTE-nHAkRd3r3bsAREOpCOr6bPhssb7gpBAKNCC80otBgDKUu8o1FCS85cMDVGWXVf2/s1600/Hawaii+blog+shots_14edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZVZf-RiPRQ-rMbbQCBWjTC6uEUHciVrOy4jsOupjkGqCJyJZ3Q7giMhbQwXuXa1T4YmmRs3u9kTE-nHAkRd3r3bsAREOpCOr6bPhssb7gpBAKNCC80otBgDKUu8o1FCS85cMDVGWXVf2/s400/Hawaii+blog+shots_14edit.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">joey with his papa</td></tr>
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<b>more thankfulness in our trip:</b><br />
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<i>10. unexpected honu (sea turtles) when we ended up at a different beach than planned</i><br />
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<i>11. the wild majesty of upolu point, the Big Island of Hawaii</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNeAHOTm4yOVgD_TzvZGS1Pmmbyub-_OOhrL7dRMAsnLMZUMZ_kpf9DuxZ3MuUgqIAa6jJUNnWU0-BjT9kau7BWnqw-4g5I0DQ-GFqmog9Ggo-Dr10otRPU9-42pCjtgqDxjTvnYN598d/s1600/hawaii6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNeAHOTm4yOVgD_TzvZGS1Pmmbyub-_OOhrL7dRMAsnLMZUMZ_kpf9DuxZ3MuUgqIAa6jJUNnWU0-BjT9kau7BWnqw-4g5I0DQ-GFqmog9Ggo-Dr10otRPU9-42pCjtgqDxjTvnYN598d/s400/hawaii6.jpg" width="298" /></i></a></div>
<i>12.love-rust-embedded cliffs just for me</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x6dpbTNg1VltMZ_Kuicbc3B3dD5-X1JPSfMXRLRiNe8Bk7E9bbD3M-eIgTQV6hXeqpERvQJu0Jlq_6WxQkXF2fm6LrUzzcyj5LVBqtbXJ1VBaz1bWTrmcg2YxObscMsjHpzFu5BUzeuE/s1600/hawaii7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x6dpbTNg1VltMZ_Kuicbc3B3dD5-X1JPSfMXRLRiNe8Bk7E9bbD3M-eIgTQV6hXeqpERvQJu0Jlq_6WxQkXF2fm6LrUzzcyj5LVBqtbXJ1VBaz1bWTrmcg2YxObscMsjHpzFu5BUzeuE/s640/hawaii7.jpg" width="478" /></i></a></div>
<i>13. feeling suddenly alive as i found this perfect coral pendant in the sand</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGX0n_OMRgpIF_Fg_7oJfVGXu4Z-2okGRWj22bt0TZGiLghvC7z_pmwqBMsRkdti9nua1Pb9y4tr01NrDzxnL3RJMtWR_9GAtMX2o2JceZbOvcVyMEm5ILiwsXLXsHeZomU1KtG_TKFaI/s1600/coral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGX0n_OMRgpIF_Fg_7oJfVGXu4Z-2okGRWj22bt0TZGiLghvC7z_pmwqBMsRkdti9nua1Pb9y4tr01NrDzxnL3RJMtWR_9GAtMX2o2JceZbOvcVyMEm5ILiwsXLXsHeZomU1KtG_TKFaI/s320/coral.jpg" width="223" /></i></a></div>
<i>14. coming home from vacation at 1am to a clean house and flowers and blueberry coffee cake on the counter, all anonymous!</i>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-49902783494374414872012-04-25T20:30:00.001-07:002012-04-25T20:30:59.130-07:00but what about those days when "enjoying" him seem so hard? those days when he destroys things you love, and pulls hair, and hits and kicks <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(his mother!)</span>, does the opposite of whatever you tell him, despite numerous "<i>disciplinings</i>"... those days, like today, when he refuses to nap, but spends 2 hours in bed calling for mommy in between crying and happily talking to himself. for some reason, i cannot seem to "cope" on those days. not on top of the nausea and exhaustion...<br />
and then it becomes a choice, even when it doesn't feel like it. a choice to love like jesus in the midst of it. i thought that today - <i>that this must be how it feels to keep pursuing and loving someone (like me) who isn't always very lovable... </i>and i have one of the most adorable boys in the world <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(no bias here ;)</span>! i look at these pictures and think of all the sweet moments, too. he really is the best.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79Ve8enSFL8GFdlp4O1VcD72D_dDiooMoUIhYqV-x61d4pxQ0ErckmfOnAjQn1t8TAAz9h0MkgODynbvVoRXmD0w8C4tODovApWtsbnqMd4-k4sh0wxVRng-hbYkrhr46K7pWYdaQnJBj/s1600/photo-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79Ve8enSFL8GFdlp4O1VcD72D_dDiooMoUIhYqV-x61d4pxQ0ErckmfOnAjQn1t8TAAz9h0MkgODynbvVoRXmD0w8C4tODovApWtsbnqMd4-k4sh0wxVRng-hbYkrhr46K7pWYdaQnJBj/s320/photo-37.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiGuvT-XjdmS2mfiXz1NWd9mT93sIcpcaVjwJZXO2XSFk01l4WeiWg91r_Zpxw0XSxsKzEDFYaMO1bcQM53hXMNE4nBAU7YK17kXeOCif8G4mkI2i1MAP-heSf7uaYqNbT7XGuNImN8WO/s1600/photo-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiGuvT-XjdmS2mfiXz1NWd9mT93sIcpcaVjwJZXO2XSFk01l4WeiWg91r_Zpxw0XSxsKzEDFYaMO1bcQM53hXMNE4nBAU7YK17kXeOCif8G4mkI2i1MAP-heSf7uaYqNbT7XGuNImN8WO/s320/photo-39.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i wanna do a mustache, mom! just ONE.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Dv3Fhr5SuhU6kAqyn31VjFcxNsEWo2mE7NqhX13JqvDjYpOuVA96JESoXVbiNpXs_kgc9rWz0Q5YYjndWzkOrhlpH04XNcUt630hC6gZ8ibLn1EE-c9wpxLexqOZrSKJqFWBS-hVo7Ry/s1600/photo-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Dv3Fhr5SuhU6kAqyn31VjFcxNsEWo2mE7NqhX13JqvDjYpOuVA96JESoXVbiNpXs_kgc9rWz0Q5YYjndWzkOrhlpH04XNcUt630hC6gZ8ibLn1EE-c9wpxLexqOZrSKJqFWBS-hVo7Ry/s640/photo-36.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the outfit he insisted on wearing yesterday haha</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4tX3ZypaiQbN59Z7LLBO-nD7_7iZYC6vu53Zt-w7VhSno6jpIrl-sN2MLsdhyEcprHqgfxCZ_95UhHt8ldVgFB0iqPOppMtanHLySqYFgQ0V31i5qs3UfZHioPZyzdw__S39MwGnVK0e/s1600/photo-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4tX3ZypaiQbN59Z7LLBO-nD7_7iZYC6vu53Zt-w7VhSno6jpIrl-sN2MLsdhyEcprHqgfxCZ_95UhHt8ldVgFB0iqPOppMtanHLySqYFgQ0V31i5qs3UfZHioPZyzdw__S39MwGnVK0e/s320/photo-41.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">every time he wears glasses, i think he looks like ralphie from A Christmas story</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snuggling with my preggo belly</td></tr>
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<i>so why am i posting midafternoon on facebook:</i> <b>"anyone want a really cute 2-year-old?"</b> because i forget. that motherhood has never claimed to be easy. that just surviving can "get you through", but you both lose something in the process. that <i>eucharisteo</i> can be hard but always brings joy <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(can you tell i read Ann Voskamp's "One thousand Gifts" recently? :) </span>i started a gratitude journal <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(because of <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/">Ann</a> & <a href="http://mistymawn.typepad.com/">Misty</a>) </span>last month while i was in Hawaii <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(so it was not one that was erased by the rain :)</span>, and thought i'd let you all thank God with me in them... here's the first few, the ones from march:</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>1. prose that reads like poetry to my deepest soul, awakening what has been hardened and hidden</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>2. moments of quiet rest, when my little whirlwind is asleep or cared for by another</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>3. my little whirlwind </i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>4. being mothered when i'm sick - food brought and kisses on the head</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>5. an invitation to an abundant life</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>6. my cuddly-jammied 2-year old still wants me to hold him and sing to him before bed</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>7. the truth that comes to me even in kids' songs... every night i sing "the thankfulness song" to my boy, and never really listened to it until last night after starting my eucharisteo journal</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>8. "you don't feel good, mommy?" no, buddy. *kiss* "you feel better?" over and over again...</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>9. cuddly naps with joey (and baby monkey and flopper and bear and blanket... ;) their rarity increases their preciousness</i></div>
<br />
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</div>rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-69147560324206275092012-04-23T19:36:00.000-07:002012-04-23T19:36:01.989-07:00a little perspective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times;">these months have been long and hard and all about
surviving… and not so much thriving. although i have asked those near me to
pray otherwise, i have only been able to focus on “making it through” this
time, realizing it is a season, and will be over in just a few months. <i>i can
make it to September</i>, i think aloud, but then <i>“but i will just have to put my
heart on hold until then”</i> follows subconsciously. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">and that’s exactly what i
have done. i haven’t spent any time creating, art, writing, poetry, even journaling.
how can i, when i can’t even meet my family’s basic needs. my poor husband has
had to pick up so much slack these many weeks as far as cooking, cleaning,
caring for our son… he’s had to stay home from work at times because i’ve been
unable to care for <i>myself</i>, much less the constant needs of my little joey. and
so it seems i cannot get past the basics to the deeper things. it has felt
impossible, and at times even wrong because <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">what about them?</span></i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">so i stay on my
couch most of the day, making it through with only a little puking <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">in the midst
of a lot of nausea.</span> naps every day during his… </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">unable to stir my heart to the
surface when i have even my cherished alone time, i end up watching movies or
playing dumb games on my iphone, all the while feeling that i don’t even have
the option to connect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">every once in a while, i remember –<i> i need this</i>.
<b>they</b> need me to engage my heart. it would be better for everyone if i could
just get myself to start again, creating. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">i become such a better lover when my
heart is alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and then little "tragedies" stop me in my tracks,
keep me at bay.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">when we got home a couple weeks ago from visiting
my parents in hawaii <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(which was awesome, see below ;)</span>, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br />
i discovered that a bag filled with all of my favorite
books had been left on the floor in a corner that leaks when it rains hard <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(we
need to fix that ;)</span> - which it did while we were gone. <b>as i took each book out,
one by one, i felt my heart dropping...</b> <i>Unfurling</i> by Misty Mawn, <i>Inner
Excavation</i> by Liz Lamoreaux, <i>The Artist's Way</i> by Julia Cameron, the best issue
ever of <i>Artful Blogging</i> (may/june/july 2011)... but as jason pointed out, those
are all <b>replaceable</b>. the worst part was the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">journals</span>. i had two written journals
and two art journals/sketchbooks in that bag.<br />
<br />
those didn't fare well<i>, and
there's nothing i can do to replace them. </i><br />
<br />
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in one, <b>more than three-quarters of
my journaling was washed completely off the pages</b>. i set them carefully out to
dry, and could not bear to return to my studio space for days.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">once they dried out, and i could see the extent of
the damage, i finally took the time to <b><i>grieve</i></b> over the losses. it seems a
little silly, but these were <b>beautiful, connecting parts of my days when i
would flip through, exercise my creative spirit, write, create, respond... and
it needed to be mourned</b>. then, one by one, i made decisions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"><i>The artist's way:
</i>toss. it was soaked, and it had been hanging over my head as "something to
complete" <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(i'd done 9 of the 12 weeks about a year ago and always intended
to finish, but one of the assignments was to reread all your journaled "morning
pages", and take notes about what it was you were experiencing, desiring,
hating, etc and that was taking FOREVER. <b>plus, most of those morning pages just
got washed away in the rain anyway </b>- nothing to show for all those weeks!). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">Misty Mawn's book actually came out pretty well - none of the pages stuck
together, and it was barely wrinkly at all. the cover a bit faded now, but
still definitely readable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"><i>I</i></span><i>nner excavation</i> and <i>Artful Blogging</i> magazine not so
much. they are beyond repair. so many stuck together pages, tearing off pieces
of each other as they are dislocated from each other... they're not in the
trash yet, since i fully intend to replace them <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(and am afraid i'll forget -
you know, pregnancy brain and all - if i don't leave them out till i do it). </span><br />
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but oh, the journals. i will save them forever, even though most of their
content has been erased.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> maybe that is grace?</span> all that time of writing down
stream-of-consciousness, both beauty and frustration... this gives me a chance
to start over. wiped clean, if you will. maybe i'll even redeem those (emptied)
pages into some art sometime.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;">all that to say, i find only a few moments here and there, in the midst
of being nauseous and exhausted, that i can steal away to create. and with all
that destruction, i became <i><b>disheartened</b></i>. couldn't even make it into that space
to try to begin. just stayed in that space of feeling lost and unable to
even try.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;">until about a week ago, when i found a little perspective. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;">a dear friend was praying for me in the midst of all this hard, and some
of her words were to the effect <i>that i would enjoy these last few months i’ll
have with only joey and jason, because life will change yet again once this
new little one is born</i>. i hadn’t really thought about it like that, not in a
while, at least. for some reason, it was
like a light went on in my head and i suddenly remembered: <u>make the MOST of
your time! </u>love on these guys now, ‘cause it won’t always be like this… </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">and
then this week i read <a href="http://www.twitlonger.com/show/h242kc">indiana’s post </a>about anticipating her second child, and
immediately afterwards, <a href="http://gratefulgarcias.blogspot.com/2012/03/holy-smokes-how-time-flies.html">jessica’s</a> about how life has changed since her second
was born. <b>and it all hit me.</b> <i>how blessed i am right now</i>, to be able to be home
with my irresistibly adorable two-year-old, spending all this time getting to
know each other, learning together, playing and reading and cuddling. oh how i
will miss spending all that time dedicated just to the two of us <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(i had only really thought before about how <b>he</b> would miss <b>me</b> with my divided attention, not vice versa)</span>! i’m sure
three will bring its own delights<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (and sorrows)</span>, but i have suddenly found
myself intensely desiring to cherish every moment with joey. and Jason. our
dates, little bits of time just the two or three of us… i’m not taking it for
granted anymore. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;">and that all translates over into also remembering the importance of
connecting with my own heart and God’s even in <i>this</i> time, too. i feel more
healthy, more like i want all the beauty and truth and hard stuff that comes
with really living again. i was given a new perspective, and am so thankful
that it was while i still have plenty of time to engage in this place. so i’d
say expect more posts, more art, and more of my heart to show up! <i>no, you know
what?</i> don’t expect anything – just wait and see… ;)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-79007987990943183372012-04-11T16:16:00.000-07:002012-04-11T16:16:04.879-07:00and i'm here<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
i breathe in blogged beauty, <i>and i am inspired</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
to write. to let my heart become available once again. be seen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
loved or rejected, to be me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
these last few months of silence have been… hard. so much sick, so much tired, so much feeling like i’ve lost my own self in trying to successfully nurture life within and take care of the gifts of man and son i’ve already been given. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
my man, he is wonderful… i call him on his lunch break to let him know how my day has been, and inevitably it sounds like “i’ve been sick, the boy is whiney and driving me crazy, and i can’t get off the couch, much less do the shopping and cooking and cleaning that needs to be done. i can’t even find the energy for a shower.” <i>and his response is all love to my soul.</i> “your job right now is to take care of that baby growing inside and our boy. are they fed? alive? then you’re doing a great job.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
but they need more than i can give right now and the tears fall more often these days. and in the midst of feeling like i can’t <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(and should be able to) </span>do it all, that old enemy shame creeps in unnoticed. if i <i>notice</i>, i can take a truth-stand. but it has so many years been the shape of my soul, to know the deeply-something-wrong-with-me feeling, that i so often don’t see it. i’ll notice a day or two <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(or month)</span> later that i feel disconnected from people, God, life, my own heart. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
these past three months have just been so full of nausea and exhaustion that i rarely find a moment to even take stock, so it builds. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
until some miraculous moment that is God, even when i think it’s not.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
like reading comments on a blog post for an hour yesterday that suddenly made me feel less alone. that i’m not crazy. that really engaging my heart with life <b>is</b> the way i can best love Jesus… not the “shoulds”.<span> </span>even if that looks messy for now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
or what was supposed to be a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0191754/">“romantic comedy”</a> being something else entirely to my heart, honing in on these painful messages of shame that continue to haunt me in the moments i am unaware and leave up no defense; ending up in sobbing tears while folding laundry afterwards, as i remember the woman who could not ask for help, and said to her sister “I’m sorry i make it impossible to love me”…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
<span> </span>or a beautiful post about somebody’s mama that makes me see that being the most me-ish i can be, free and unfettered, is not selfishness, but truly worship of the One who made me that way and delights.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
so i come back to my blog, unsure. what it’s about, what it needs to be about, what my heart needs to say… how my words and images can be love to the One and to the ones who need him, too. to connect with the alone-feelers, the shame-fighters, the worshipers, the beauty-delighters, the artists, the recovering perfection-addicts…<span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
i guess my blog is going to remain a little undefined right now… art? beauty? style? God? maybe. but who i am, my heart experiencing life, really? yes, i think so.</div>
<br />
<!--EndFragment-->rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098113971913062109.post-68567275684708689702012-02-23T20:51:00.001-08:002012-02-23T20:51:36.986-08:00i'm "published"!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">O...M...G...!!! i have been waiting every day for this to come and it finally arrived today in my mailbox... my march/april issue of cloth paper scissors... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>t</b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">hat</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> has an article <i>I WROTE</i> in it!!!</span></b> they requested a write-up for this piece after i submitted it for the artisan 2012 contest - here is the first page of it </span>(it's not legal for me to publish any more of it - take it as a "teaser" to go buy a copy... if you ask me nicely, i'll order it wholesale for you ;) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">i seriously have <i>every</i> issue of this magazine <i>ever</i> made, and it is so amazing to me to be featured in it! it's been on my "dream" to-do list for the last two years <i>"write an article for CPS"</i> and now i finally had the honor. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmE-yETmaEJgxbQclOm1QldGH2GiVEKUQNjuGua2zljCxB8KKz12QxnWiRWYYHP2gUjs6fVy1q2lWK2kyt1i3o0yrghNuMiI2Qi0SiEMbFL707x3SPbCllqcW4zf-IVtJA_SyZt710CSt/s1600/i+made+this" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmE-yETmaEJgxbQclOm1QldGH2GiVEKUQNjuGua2zljCxB8KKz12QxnWiRWYYHP2gUjs6fVy1q2lWK2kyt1i3o0yrghNuMiI2Qi0SiEMbFL707x3SPbCllqcW4zf-IVtJA_SyZt710CSt/s400/i+made+this" width="323" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">AAAAAHHHHHH!!! so crazy! :D </span>thanks for letting me celebrate here! :)</div>
<br />rustyartisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07742624476276670891noreply@blogger.com3