My Peace of Art

2012-02-07T09:16:00.001-05:00

Guess what my earwig of the day is? . . . . let's have a party, let's have a party . . . . .

BoHo Bliss Workshop

2011-06-14T10:42:00.001-04:00

Deryn Mentock is a fabulous jewelry and mixed-media artist. I would have to say she is my idol :D I adore every piece of Deryn's that I have ever seen.

If you've ever taken a class from Deryn Mentock, then you know what a wealth of information she shares with you. She will teach you everything she knows in a way that will have you twisting and torching comfortably in no time!

And here is a chance to go visit her blog and enter for a chance to win a seat in her newest class!

Well A Good Book Works Too!

2011-06-02T09:14:00.003-04:00

So we have this beautiful day here of weather. I love it when it's in the upper 70s lower 80s. A nice gentle breeze. It sparked my creativity! I had even wedged in some creative time. Finally. And a good thing too, as I am taking an online course called "Texture Town" taught by two very talented artists, Chris Cozens and Julie Pritchard. .

As it always is when I venture into new medias in the art world, I often have to wait for supplies to come. In my little neck of the world, there are no art supply stores, no Michaels down the street to run to. I've never seen a Hobby Lobby, and Joan's Fabric is as far as the nearest Walmart.

I shop the internet. I love the internet. Google is my BFF.

A little time to wait for delivery, but usually not to long . . . . so after a week of waiting and watching videos . . . enough supplies have arrived . . . I've got my errands after work all caught up . . . I've got T I M E!

So here I am, my supplies gathered around me, I've got my Mojo ready and . . . .

The nice weather decided to it was bored with the nice gentle breeze and POOF . . . . it sends lots of blowing wind and BOOM. Out goes the lights.

But hey, the red chair by the window, a good book, a little tea . . . . in the great sunshine we had going on . . . well hey, that works too!

I love spring weather.

Mojo is whispering to me as I sit here on break at work keying this . . . yes MO, I know JO . . . . when I get home tonight . . . yes I can't wait to get into those new paints either!

Crawling Hours and Flying Days

2011-05-03T09:50:00.003-04:00

How could it possibly happen that days fly by when the hours in the day crawl?

It seems like I am at work forever, completing my duties there, while always in my mind is an idea or two from my muse . . . . wishing I were at home in my little corner which I have named "my Studio" . . . because Studio makes me feel so much more like a real artist :D

Then, finally, the time in the day has finally crawled around to end the work day. So I quickly gather my things and run out the door. Only to find myself so busy playing taxi cab driver, short order cook, and task master over homework that by the time the dust settles I have no time left in which to nurture my soul and create my art!

Seems crazy! The hours crawl by from morning until afternoon and then POOF, the day is done.

But it happens :D

Soon my friends, soon things will all fall in to perspective and then my soul will sing again!

La Paix

Judy

Flying Lessons

2011-04-28T13:55:00.002-04:00

I couldn't tell you for sure when I came across Kelly Rae Roberts art or her blog. I've been reading and admiring both for some time now. So when I walked by our gift shop and saw a display of items by her, at Carson City Hospital, in Carson City Michigan, I stopped and said "HEY, I KNOW HER". Well, okay, so we aren't on a first name basis or anything, and she doesn't have a clue who I am . . . . but still . . .

So I began to think longer and harder about my creativity and desires to branch out in the art world. The time I had away from it was enough to let me know that I am more at peace with myself and my world when I am using a creative process to express myself. I always thought I really didn't have any right to enter into the art world so boldly as I have never had any formal art training.

But you know what . . . doesn't mean a thing . . . if I face my fears head on and love and embrace them . . . well who knows . . . could happen . . . won't know unless I give it more of a try now will I?

Inspiration is abounding in me from the first few pages that I have read of Kelly Rae's e-book . . . Flying lesson . . . just follow the box in the side bar of my blog and take a look . . . .

after all . . . nothing ventured, nothing gained . . .

I thank you Kelly Rae for lighting the way!

La Paix,

Judy

As Great As Glitter and Unicorns!

2011-04-22T13:44:00.002-04:00

Before the pen doodles

It has been way to cool here for me to work out in the garage with metals. (Cool is my nice way of saying . . ."colder than a ____") ! I suppose I could have fired up the propane heaters, but really, it doesn't put me in the mood to be out there when it is cold and damp. So what is a girl to do?

Why break out the paper and ink and sign up for an e-class! It's as great as . . . .

Glitter and Unicorns!

I learned a few new tricks and tips from Robin Marie Smith in a very fun and relaxed e-class, Mixed Media Mayhem. Below is a wee sampling of one of my pages for the journal I am putting together.

After the pen doodles

I used recycled file folders from work, and because of HIPPA, they were given to me with names and numbers torn off. But for me, that just makes them all the better! And I like that someone else tore them off for me, as I probably would have sat and contemplated as to where the tears should be! The randomness of these torn off tabs and corners just rocks!

And the odd staple or two in them . . . why to me, it's just added bling!

So you'll have to just have a peek, as I still have several more folders to go before I can reveal the next phase!

And as for the metals, soon enough it will be warm enough. As much as I want to do some work with the hammer and saw, as much as I want to fire up the torch and melt some solder . . . .

I have missed my paper work that much more!

Hoppy Easter to you all!

La Paix!

Judy

What's On Your Desk?

2011-04-15T20:12:00.001-04:00

Time To Get My Hands Stained!

2011-04-12T11:27:00.000-04:00

I've missed working with paper, glue, inks, and paints! I've decided that I need to rotate out all my art media loves. So this week I am dedicating myself to paper arts. Collage and mixed media are my first passion. There is nothing like having glue or gel-medium to peel off your fingers :D

I have decided it is time to get more instruction in these arts. I am so happy that so many great artist are now offering instruction via the internet. This time I will be learning some great mixed-media inky processes from the very talented Robin Marie Smith , via the internet e-class Mixed Media Mayhem . I note there is a little sewing, which as we all know, I don't do, but I do have a very little sewing machine I got just for sewing paper, so perhaps now it will get put to use!

I am very very excited! I have plenty of the supplies, but can always use an excuse to purchase more. Now though, I know for sure I don't have Muslin and Duck Canvas . . . . ssssoooooooo

Off I go to fill yet another shopping cart . . . . after all, I need to do my part to stimulate the economy!

La Paix,

JaWhoDee

What's On Your Desk?

2011-04-09T19:02:00.000-04:00

Before:

After:

And now I am making Resin Paper. I haven't a clue what to expect when these are done, but nothing ventured nothing gained!

Soldering For Virgins

2011-04-08T09:37:00.001-04:00

I've just registered for another e-class. This time with Sally Jean , an artist that I have admired for oh so long! The class is: Soldering For Virgins and I hope thunder and lightening doesn't strike me down as I click on the first day.

I'm no virgin to soldering . . .

But I've never had any instruction before either, so I feel rather virginal about it.

Okay, here's what I'll do . . . .

I won't wear white while I take the class :D

PPfffttttttt

La Paix!

Have You Hugged Your Mojo Today?

2011-04-06T14:00:00.008-04:00

I spent a long time neglecting my blog. Worse yet, I spent a long time neglecting my art. I let my Mojo slip away.

I started an unorganized journey into the WWW world and now am kind of forced to take a step back and restart over. But you know what? That ain't all that bad. I'm willing to step back and begin the journey again. I'm making my map and planning my itinerary!

I'm moving forward again. Gathering my Mojo back into my life. Finding my muse that I have allowed to retreat to the back of my soul. It's not easy sometimes to get lost and find your way back. But slowly, I'm making my way.

Here is a glimpse of the direction my art is taking me. Working with metal and working with a camera.

This necklace was made after learning some metal working skills from Deryn Mentock during an e-course she taught with another artist, Sharon Tomlinson. The class is Towers and Turrets and it is so wonderful. I think I mention it in several blog posts.

I have found that I am rather enjoying traipsing through small cemeteries to find just such patina's to use as a back ground for my copper and brass creations.

I find a calm and peace for my soul as I wander through the quiet and wooded areas that the cemeteries in my area seem to be blessed with.

It feeds my muse.

I think my Mojo is coming back home to me.

Welcome back Mojo.

I didn't realize how much I have missed you and how much you seem to complete my being. I promise myself I will not let me neglect you so completely again!

I give myself permission to explore and express myself with my art as I journey through this world.

Me and my Mojo!

Have you hugged yours today?

Stop on over to SoftFlexGirl blog! She is having a great give away!

A Good Day With Ruth! :D

2011-04-05T14:01:00.008-04:00

Say hello to my best "La Paix d'Art" ever. This is HRETMG, who is now 13. Wow! Does time ever fly.

This is the first picture I took with my new Canon G12. I am in love with the camera! Right out of the box, no setting changes, and wa-la, I have a perfect to me picture.

Now it was time to get serious and take some pictures of my art. I had visions of necklaces laying on the old stone at the cemetery. But alas, the weather was not cooperating to great with us, so although we spent a sunless day traipsing through the cemetery taking pictures, none turned out as spectacular as the photo-shoot I had with Hazel and my mother, Ruth. So I will share these instead.

My mother has Alzheimer's, as many of you may already know. It's been a long long road with the progression of this disease rapidly changing my mother. Every day is always as good as it is ever going to be.

Lately Mom has been seeming distant, uncommunicative, and very angry. Her fun loving nature seemed to have disappeared. It often felt so much like she had forgotten who we were when Hazel and I visited.

But last Sunday, well, it was a gift! We walked in the room and mom was happy to see us, and very talkative and even posed for a picture or two! It was just what my heart that had seemed so sad needed.

So I am sharing them with you now :D

Hazel decided that a heart was in order.

This is mom trying to make the heart :D LOL. Bless her heart!

This is actually a very funny video. Oh yeah, my camera does video! But then I was also able to get a still shot from the video.

How much fun is that!

See, this is my mom! A lady that loves to joke and laugh!

Thank you God for allowing me to have a wonderful day with Mom! (Not that lady that looks like my mom but really isn't!)

La Paix,

Judy

A Twisted Sisters Kind Of Day

2011-03-24T08:43:00.006-04:00

This is Sarah in the pink, Kathy in the blue waving hello to you.

Saturday Kathy invited us over to her very cute little house by a river for a Twisted Sister day.

Love those days! So much fun. I really don't tend to make much, but I love the fellowship :)

And the food. LOL.

Sarah demonstrated to the sisters how to make these spiffy pillow cases. They turned out beautifully, and I don't have a picture. Kathy demonstrated a great wine bottle filled with Christmas lights. I didn't get pictures of those either. I failed as the historian of the day. I was rather busy using my mouth to either yak or eat.

I didn't make one of either, but I did enjoy watching them make theirs. I am rather allergic to sewing machines, so I was busy making a clasp so Sarah could sew it in my Sari Ribbon Necklace . . . . My hands cramp up and I break out in a sweat when I think of threading a machine, arg!

Notice in this picture of Kathy and Sarah the bright and sunny day. The lack of snow outside the window.

Now look at this:

This is Wednesday at my house. 4 days later. Look at all the ice in the tree! I thought it looked awesome and was thinking it would make a great back drop for some jewelry pictures.

Ha! It would have too, if it weren't so freaking cold. LOL.

This is a necklace I made using some techniques I learned from Deryn Mentock in her Build Zone class. Deryn demonstrated to us how to twist wire together and then make jump rings. One of her finishing ideas was to wrap wire over the break in the ring. LOVE the look of this! Deryn is a great teacher. I have only had the opportunity to take instruction from her via the internet, and would love some day to attend a class in person!

Here is a view of a couple of my necklaces as I try to learn how to get some interesting shots outside. I've lots to learn about camera settings. These particular shots have been taken with my Sony ColorPix. I have a new camera coming as a reward from work. (Many years service = new camera. Nice! Seeing as I have been debating over what camera to invest in these last few months!)

Mixed Metal Mania

2011-03-16T13:39:00.002-04:00

LOVE this book! It has so much great information in it. It is very well written with clear and precise directions.

FUN stuff for sure!

Working with metal is such a great way to relieve some stress. I have always enjoyed twisting it. I remember way back into the seventies I had tinkered a bit with making jewelry out of wire.

This being able to pound the crap out of pieces of metal and then take a torch to it and watch it turn a bright red . . . oh how much I enjoy it . . . therapeutically . . . really as I beat on that metal I just imagine it being the frustration I feel in my heart!

Bang bang bang!

Who knows. Maybe if I keep heading with this passion I'll be shoeing the neighbors horses. LOL.

Great DVD for the Metalsmith Beginer

2011-03-08T08:51:00.004-05:00

Metalsmith Essentials: Basic Fabrication with Helen Driggs

I watched this last night with Hazel. What a great beginner

DVD!

Covers everything I needed to learn:

Gauges and thickness of wire and sheet metal
Different ways to find the center
Using different tools to get measurements with
How to load up a saw blade
How to use that saw blade
Texturing metal
and more!

If your like me and haven't the time nor resources to travel to classrooms, this is a great DVD to put in your library. Heck, even if you've had a class, this is great resource to have in your library for reference.

I also gleaned a new quote from Helen Driggs:

"What's life without a few bruises?"

Oh my, there will be a blog post coming with that!

Love ya, Love your art,

La Paix,

Judy

Learning, always learning

2011-03-04T08:29:00.006-05:00

Or perhaps I should just bite the bullet and get something like this :) I have been looking and researching. Seems I've been bitten by the photography bug now. LOL. But it would be a needed distraction and a good investment if I can get some quality photos of artwork and jewelry.

Not to mention, just plan fun!

Starting and Stopping

2011-03-01T10:46:00.005-05:00

Twisted Sisters Gallery

I don't know. I put effort and money into this website, but now I am kind of at a standstill with it. The person who was helping me with this site is no longer able to, and I've lost contact with them it appears, and I'm not sure of the shelf life of the site now. YIKES! I was trying to help a friend help a friend kind of thing. Lesson learned. Nice to help a friend, but harder to help a friend of a friend, because your never sure when the friend of a friend and the friend will part ways! If any of that makes sense! LOL.

I am finding it a little cumbersome to manipulate the web page. Or rather I have the lack of desire to learn right now how to continue with the web page. Should I really be re-creating this wheel?

I'd rather focus on learning new art technique and perfecting the old!

So I'm at a road crossing of sorts. Continue with the website always unsure of how long it will be up? Start a new blog format that may have a few different bells and whistles for me? Stay with this blog and etsy?

My gut is kind of saying the latter.

I do know for certain, either way I go, I will need to learn a few photo techniques, so I am gearing up for that. I've been googling my way around light boxes and black velvet. I think my camera will be okay as I learn a bit more, but I am seriously thinking of upgrading my current and giving this one to Hazel, who has been pestering me for a digital camera for some time. OH SEE, it would be a win-win to get a new one!

I'm eyeing this Cannon nothing real fancy, but I have read all I really need at this point would be Macro function and white balance :)

http://www.twistedsistersgallery.com/

I'd love to hear what camera and set up your using!

And bend my ear on whether you'd continue with a site or not.

Love ya, Love your art

Judy

Forgiveness quote

2011-02-28T11:42:00.001-05:00

"Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different." — Oprah Winfrey

My Love Of Etsy

2010-11-26T10:44:00.003-05:00

My love of Etsy. An obsession actually. I find myself drawn here daily. Not only daily, but often throughout the day. It has been the best place for me, the girl who lives in the middle of a corn field in rural, and I mean rural, Michigan, to purchase supplies to feed my mixed-media art frenzy. I am obsessed with many things, some I speak of freely and openly, others are just a twinkle in my eye and a slight smile on my face, but each obsession is intertwined with in my mind, soul, and heart, and eventually flows out of my fingers into a little "La Paix d'Art" which I hope to share with you!

But on with my Etsy obsession.

I am going to start with a store front from Texas that has so many gems, and not only that, so many BeAuTiFuL gems, my hands itch to hold and feel them. I stand at this virtual window with my nose pressed against the glass, and a look of hunger and longing in my eye! Oh how I wish. But I am a reasonable shopper. I want to keep my art affordable! But sssooooo pretty!

Norah62

But of course, I am just as much in love with this place. And WOW. If I could buy one of each here, I would. I may well be on the way to actually doing that too. Great quality, awesome selections, reasonable prices, and again, fast and reliable shipping! Start here if your interested in beads and want to start daubing in creating with them!

GemmeTresor

Tools. OH MY GOSH. I never ever ever ever in my life dreamed I would have a love of tools. I have this wish in my head that my work bench is not complete without them all. But again, I try to be SOMEwhat practical about this. Quality. Quality over quantity really should be my goal. Sometimes I fall a wee bit short of that, but I do strive for it. This shop, well, this is the BEST supply shop out there for tools. Items are of high quality and they are carefully packaged and shipped! Speaking of which, the shipping rates are always within reason here! I have never been disappointed with the quality and service from this shop!

Romazone

The twisty stuff. Wire. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have some great 20 gauge wire. I most often work with annealed steel wire, but I do love using brass and copper also. This has been a great resource for me. Beautifully oxidized copper or brass. A great selection of gauges. Also found here are some beautiful beads to work with. But here, I mainly come to wire shop! Love this stuff. Again, shipping is reasonable, carefully packaged, and FAST. I have never been disappointed with a purchase from here!

Solivio

and another favorite wire place!

Pantina Queen

Then of course, there is more to creating than just supplies. Hey, a girl has to eat. A little sugar buzz helps to calm the savage soul. Or is that music? I never could keep that straight! But look at all the yummies! Kind of makes that little stash of chocolate granola bars pale in comparison. I think I may actually drool when I look at the caramel here.

YYYuuuummmiiiieeeee

I have many more favorites, and I will try to remember to slip them into future posts. But for now, thank you for taking the time to view a little into my world!

La Paix

Judy

Of Towers and Turrets

2010-08-25T09:25:00.002-04:00

I am so thrilled! Starting Friday, I will be having my first official mixed-media art class! An Art Class!!! I haven't taken such a thing since my freshman year in high school!!!!!! And in honor of this I am using and abusing the explanation point to no end :)

The Class, Of Towers and Turrets, http://allnorahsart.ning.com/, is presented on-line via All Norah'S Art and is a joint venture by Sharon Tomlinson http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com/ and Deryn Mentock http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/ . Both are very creative and talented artists.

Oh my heart! What an opportunity for me, who lives in the middle of the mitten in the middle of a corn field! My traveling to take a class, as much as I would love to, not really much of a reality at this time!

The banner had me hooked immediately! Then my excitment grew even more as I read on. The dates? WOW! For some reason, some time ago, I had planned to take time off, on those very dates. Don't remember why now, but hey, fate has planned I have a little "stay-retreat" right at home! Who am I to argue with fate? I pushed that paypal button immediately when I came to it.

I've been gleaning what I can from Deryn's blog for some time. I consider her my mentor in the wire arts, her work amazes and inspires me. Her sharing of tips and techniques on her blog are generous and have been an indispensable resource for me.

I wasn't as familiar with Sharon's work, but the moment my eye caught her beautiful faces on the banner for this class, I was hooked! Their color and style appeal to my eye and made my fingers itch to grab a brush and begin backgrounds for a collage. I have since been a regular visitor to her blog.

So forgive me my explanation points! They are very needed. Along with this very big grin as I think of the opportunity to pick up brush and spread paint. To cut images and spread gel medium. To learn to cut metal and shape it and solder with a torch.

I am ready for the journey. Won't you join me?!

Love ya, Love your art,

Judy

Building a page of inspiration . . .

2010-08-15T19:32:00.002-04:00

Right now it's short . . . but I've gotten it started . . . inspiration page at Twisted Sisters Gallery . . . I'm starting by adding most of the links found on this blog page . . . if you'd be so kind as to add the www.twistedsistersgallery.com link to your blogs and sites I'd greatly appreciate it! . . . I've been up and at things since early dawn, so it's time for me to retire right now . . . tomorrow the page will grow more . . . light at the end of the tunnel . . . with your support, this website has become a reality for me . . . . thank you all so much!

Love ya, Love your art!

Ja-who-dee

It's Not Twisted . . . It's Art

2010-08-13T13:40:00.004-04:00

After a long absence from the art world I'm back! I am rested, rejuvenated, back in the saddle, whatever you want to call it, I'm coming back full force! I hope you will join me as I develop my new website, Twisted Sisters Gallery http://www.twistedsistersgallery.com/ , where I hope to bring you not only some of my art, but art from many wonderful artist throughout the globe, perhaps a little tutorial, along with maybe a little something to be used in your own art! But most of all, I hope to bring you peace, love, and friendship!

If you are interested in linking up with me, please I'd love to add your link to my inspiration page . . . . . your website, blog, twitter, picturetrail, flickr . . . where ever you share your art!!!! And I would love for you to add my link to yours!!!

Give me a email!

judy@twistedsistersgallery.com

Love ya, Love your Art!

Ja-who-dee

Alzheimer's . . .

2009-05-28T10:47:00.003-04:00

My middle sister sent me a link to HBO specials on Alzheimer's. I haven't had a chance to view them myself, but did do a quick peek to the link. Looks interesting.

I know many of you share the same journey with a loved one that we are, so I thought I would pass it on to you.

http://www.alz.org/news_and_events_16202.asp

or just click on the title to this blog post . . . it should get ya there!

Hope you are all doing well! I hope to be updating better soon :*)

love and kisses and hugs . . .

ja'Who?Dee*

Fairwell Uncle Don

2009-04-23T10:04:00.001-04:00

Today I blog with a heavy heart. Yesterday, my husbands only brother passed away.

It has been a rough road for my husband's family. They lost their sister, then 3 months later their mother. Then less than a year later, at the begining of this year they lost another sister. Now Brother.

Now I understand that God gives us no more than we can handle. But dude, this is a lot.

We mourn that we have lost him in this life, but celebrate that he has gone to join his Father, Mother, and Sisters. To meet again near and distant relatives who passed from this life on the ultimate journey.

Must be one heck of a party.

Love and hugs to you all.

ja-who-dee

I'm A Chiquita Banana . . .

2009-04-15T09:25:00.002-04:00

I’ve been having a twitching eye for the last week. Although my shorter sister says, “eat a banana”, I know what it really is. It isn’t a lack of potassium. It’s a stress related twitch. It’s time for the quarterly meeting at the nursing home that Hester, the lady who looks like my mom but isn’t my mom, lives. She lives there quite happily too, I should add. I love that she is living there. I am thrilled to death that she is very happy there. But I know that there are unpleasant things to talk about at this meeting. Because even though my mom happily lives there, Hester, the lady that looks like my mom, but isn't my mom, lives there too.

There are many emails flying back and forth between nursing home and we siblings. There is a room change looming. My eye starts twitching right after the first email hits my inbox. They want to move mom to the special unit for Alzheimer’s that they have. They want to do this move on Easter. Who wants to spend all day Easter speculating about how this move is going to go for mom My eye starts twitching more. My brother talks to the home, and the move is postponed. Okay, but it still will need to be addressed.

Twitch, twitch, twitchtwitchtwitch, twitch.

There is going to always be a meeting. I know that, I’ve accepted that. But still, it’s rough to hear about her progression with Alzheimer’s. Especially from the people who aren’t going to sugar coat anything for you. Even though you may have read about the different stages, identified some of them yourself, and seen them happen to other people’s parents, you’re never prepared to hear it about your mom. Not really.

Twitch, twitch, twitchtwitchtwitch, twitch

These meetings are double rough because my mom is there. We need to talk about delicate things like bathroom and grooming issues. Or lack of. Not on the facilities part, they try to get Hester, the lady that looks like my mom but really isn’t my mom, to partake in these things. Hester doesn’t see the need to shower or change. Hester doesn’t realize that she has gone to the bathroom, but not in the bathroom. I’m sure you catch my drift. To prove the point, Hester, the lady who looks like my mom, but isn’t my mom, has wet her pants. Even with the soiled pants on her body, she still can continue to deny that she has. Rule number 1, 2, 3, and 4, you can never reason with an Alzheimer's patient. Don't even try.

Twitch, twitch, twitchtwitchtwitch, twitch

Hester, the lady that looks like my mom but really isn’t my mom, has taken to hoarding other peoples belongings. Things like silverware from the dining room, CDs from the library, remotes from her neighbors.

Twitch, twitch, twitchtwitchtwitch, twitch.

Sticks them down her pants or puts them in the pocket of the coat she has taken to constantly wearing. The facility staff will just calmly wait until she is out of her room and then go in and find the missing objects. They are used to residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s doing this. It’s a day to day happening for them. But still, it’s hard to hear about your mother doing this. But of course, this isn’t my mother, this is Hester, the lady that looks like my mother, but isn’t really my mother, that is doing these things.

Alzheimer’s is such a wicked hag.

Twitch, twitch, twitchtwitchtwitch, twitch.

We move on and brooch the subject on the room changes with the staff that is present at the meeting. There are lots of musical room change happenings at the facility. To us, these seems like it could be a very confusing thing to do to Hester, the lady that looks like my mom, but really isn’t my mom.

To be moved to a completely different hall. Oh man, not just a different room, but a whole different hall.

Twitch, twitch, twitchtwitchtwitch, twitch

There is a social pecking order between the residents. I’ve seen it. My sister has seen it. It’s not surprising. It’s just like high school all over again, but with elderly people. The card playing group that she currently hangs with, well, they don’t like the people from the other halls joining in. My mother loves to play cards. Quite frankly, I think it’s what is keeping mom still alive. Otherwise Hester, the lady who looks like my mom, but isn’t my mom, would take completely over.

Twitch, twitch, twitchtwitchtwitch, twitch.

But after hearing about what the move to the different hall could offer mom, well, it’s a good thing. There is a better staff to patient ratio going on. There are actually more group activates organized for the residents on that hall. There are activities designed for physical exercise also. They set aside time during the day and do hair and nails. Heck, it actually sounds more like a girl’s slumber party than a nursing home. I know I’m confident the move is a good thing now that we’ve had a chance to talk with the staff about. Much more so than from getting an email that says we want to move your mom to another room with little explanation. That makes my eye twitch.

Twitch, twitch, twitchtwitchtwitch, twitch.

Good news is, mom is fine with moving. She doesn’t care what room she has. She gets along with everyone. Which is true she does, and that makes life so much easier. So many people I know have had to make living arrangements for their parents other than having them live at their homes alone. We are lucky that my mother wanted to stay at the nursing home. We are very lucky that she loves living at her nursing home. I am counting that as a big blessing. I’m in tune to the fact that we have it easier than some. For now anyway. I think that is what really helps me keep things all in perspective with dealing with Hester, the lady who looks like my mom, but isn’t my mom.

I suppose it’s better I have the twitchy eye than to resort to binge eating. Or binge drinking. Or binge smoking. A few years ago I would have probably done all three when I was faced with such a stressor. Or heck, even a lesser one would have sent me down that path.

Now that the meeting has taken place, decisions have been made, and all is at rest for the moment, by eye has stopped twitching.

Guess I didn’t need that banana after all!

Chiquita Hugs and Kisses,

jaWHOdee

You Mean Your Him Too?

2009-04-03T14:27:00.001-04:00

Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail,
Hippity hoppity,
Easter's on its way

This year at Christmas time I was going to be laid up from having an abdominal hysterectomy a few days before Christmas. I knew I was going to be in no shape to be doing the Santa Claus thing, and knew that my daughter was pretty much sure there wasn't a Santa, but really wasn't ready to NOT believe. Oh I remember when I was at that point.

So anyway, the cat was offically let out of the bag on the Santa gig, or so I thought when we had discussed just getting a Wii and games for the Wii as a family present.

"Haze" I asked her, "you do realize this means that there won't be many presents under the tree"

"But I'll still have my Santa presents" she shyly answered

"Now Hazel, come on, after all this you can't tell me you haven't figured out who Santa is" I answered, "I know you know for sure it isn't your dad!"

She laughed.

"Yeah, but I was kind of hoping it wasn't true" was her reply.

I few days after that conversation I had decided that we all could stand just one more big present to share, and ordered us a nice sized flat screen TV. I'm a very generous Santa. I was telling my husband about it, and Hazel was coming into the room.

I said "now though, we'll also have to think of this as your birthday present, my birthday present, our Easter presents"

"Awe come on" Hazel spouts wide eyed "you mean your the Easter Bunny too?"

At which point we all burst out laughing and I said,

"do you want to know about the Tooth Fairy now?"

Here' comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity
Happy Easter Day.

Happy Birthday Mom . . .

2009-03-10T13:53:00.005-04:00

Today is my mother's birthday. She is 84 years old. Her health is great. Her Alzheimer's unfortunately is getting the better of her.

I honestly don't think she remembers my name anymore. She's very sly about it though. I noticed when I first entered her room after my absence when I had surgery and couldn't get up to see her for a couple weeks that there was a look in her eye. The look that says I should know you. She knows I'm her daughter. Just which name goes with me is the mystery. I also note that now when she introduces me she to others at the home she will just say "This is my daughter". Years ago my mom confessed to me that when she didn't remember some one's name she would often just avoid having to say a name. Instead of saying "Hi Sally, how are you doing?" . . . she would just say "Hi, how have you been?". Simple trick. Used it often myself.

It's sad.

She is happy where she is living. She is well liked there. She is active. She plays lots and lots of cards. I'm happy she's there. The stress level of her living at home alone was too much to bare. Now I'm even off the anti-depressant I started before she moved into the nursing home.

She's taken to wearing her coat all the time. But so what. If she's happy in her coat, then I'm happy with her in her coat. I just would like to get a couple spare coats so we can swap them around so she is in clean coats. She also hides her dirty laundry in the suitcase that is in her closet. I have to say that my mother would be embarrassed to know that she did this. This lady in the coat resembles my mom, but isn't really the same person.

But today is her birthday. I will be going up later to see her. Her friend is taking up a cake this afternoon. Very nice lady who has been the biggest help to our family. Her friend knows all to well the effects of Alzheimer's, as her husband suffered with it for many years. Bless her heart for everything she does for my mother.

Hope the ladies all wore hats, blew noise makers, and ate cake until their bellies burst!

Happy Birthday Hugz

Ja*who*dee

Let's Go Blue!

2009-02-16T08:12:00.002-05:00

Haze's fifth grade basketball season began at the same time I had the H. So I missed all of her games, except the ones yesterday, which also happened to be their last. Awesome it was to watch. I played basketball in high school. We had a great team. My sister Mary was an all conference player. I was more the bench warmer :*) My Freshman and Junior years we were undefeated in our division. We played during a time when doing full court presses and such were a new begining in the girls basketball world. Now days they start out learning about these things from day one! Sweet! When my eldest sis played they actually only played half court . . .

I was very impressed with the officials for the game. These guys actually took the time to explain to the players why the made the calls that they made. Wow. These gals are well on their way to being a great hoops team.

Go Blue!!!

Jewelry Sale

2008-11-17T09:00:00.002-05:00

Bet you all wish I would get my camera working hey? Someday soon, I hope. Time just slips away, as I'm sure you all experience too, especially this time of year.

I was able to make some necklaces and earrings for the employee craft sale that was last Friday (Again, a picture would be nice) and I would like to thank everyone that purchased a piece from me. My La Paix d'Art . . . Peace of Art . . . I love each and every piece that you purchased, and my customers helped to show me that I am down the right creative path with the wire. There are lots of avenues for me to explore with the jewelry making, so next year I will have something perhaps a little the same, and hopefully new and unique for your holiday shopping!

Now I must concentrate on finishing up some collage projects that are long over due. I think I have the perfect visions for them floating in my head now that I have been able to get the last minute thought of selling this jewelry done! It was such a pleasure to create and sell, but it did rather push aside some things!

Just take a look at my house . . . smiles . . . ah well I would rather be remembered for making art than having a clean house anyway!

Love ya, Love your art!

ja-who-dee

Mother of the year award?

2008-11-11T14:03:00.003-05:00

I think not. At least it won't be this year!

My daughter has turned 11. It rather snuck up on me. The girl got lots of presents, but none were wrapped in pretty paper with a fluffy bow. I made her a necklace and braclet which I handed off as soon as they were finished. I had gotten her a little CD player, which she found before I had a chance to wrap it. Then I took her shopping and thus she picked out her presents at the store. Heck, even the book that was for her from a RR of talented artist, Mermania, got presented to her unwrapped . . . ah, such the mom I am.

Do I dare tell you that the cake was a chocolate "Little Debbies"?

Ah, come on, Little Debbies are yummy!

Love ya, love your art . . .

ja-who-dee

My Fairy name . . .

2008-10-22T14:37:00.000-04:00

Your fairy is called Tangle Saturnwand

She is a trouble maker.

She lives at the bottom of tangled gardens and in hedgerows.

She is only seen when the seer holds a four-leafed clover.

She wears tangled dresses of multicoloured petals. She has delicate pale pink wings like a cicada.

I Do Believe . . .

2008-10-16T08:27:00.003-04:00

in Divine Intervention. I have to. I've seen it's results!

As I have mentioned before, my mother has Alzheimer's. She is still in the middle stages. She's lucid. She doesn't really live in the past, although if you asked her the month and year she'd get it wrong. And as for the day . . . well that's questionable too. Usually the answer has been June 2006. But I'm sure as the weather changes she will pick a fall month.

My mother will carry on a conversation with you. As long as you keep the flow going. She won't initiate the conversation. She is very quiet in a large group, as I don't think she can keep up with the conversation. She is a very bright woman and has been able to keep her condition somewhat hidden from those not too close to her. Never for long though. Any conversation over 10 minutes and you'd have picked up that something wasn't just right.

She was at a risk to herself to have her live in her home alone. We had hired aides to come in the morning and then later in the afternoon for a while. It was "okay" for a while, but something that never made me quite comfortable as she was also so alone for most of the day.

Then we had to start locking up medications as she was sometimes double dipping into the next weeks pills.

There was much debate amongst my siblings and I about should we unplug the stove or pull the fuse . . . should we build a door so the upstairs could be locked up . . . should we put a lock on the basement door. My feeling was that if we were unplugging some one's stove it was time to either have 24 hour care at the house or have mom move into the new nursing home.

My sister was always a big advocate for staying at home. I was rather iffy on that. It just didn't feel right. Mom is a social person, and we have effectively made her a recluse. She got out some with friends and us periodically, but she spent a lot of time alone. She had told me she was lonely. I could just picture mom in one room, the aide in the other. I couldn't see the aide doing any of the occupational therapy that the facility would have to offer. The outings, the daily activities, and most of all, lots of people around. Needless to say, we weren't all on the same page as to how to move forward, but knew we needed to make a big change. My prayers to God were always for wisdom to help us make the right decision as to how to take care of mom.

So we had an intervention with my mother. Oh boy. That was a rough meeting. Did we think she was stupid? How did the doctor say she had Alzheimer's? She takes her pills (yes, but not unless someone is there to remind her to take her pills), why would she pay someone to watch her sleep? Oh I'm sure you can imagine. She wasn't ready to go to any nursing home. Then she would repeat the same things she told us over and over. She can't remember that she already made the statements she made.

Now I understand my mother's reluctance to go to a nursing home. When she graduated from nursing school in the later 40's, the day of graduation, right after the ceremony she was taken to be a patient at a TB Sanatorium. Could you imagine . . . the big ward room, the iron beds . . . they had to stay in bed 24/7 . . . and then her only other big experience with a "facility" was when she did nurses training in the later 40's at a mental institution . . . you've all seen "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" I presume?

But the new facility in town is like a 5 star resort. It's beautiful. It's a different world than the older nursing homes around the area. Lots of activities for the residence, and also lots of occupational treatment for those specifically with dementia and Alzheimer's.

But she wasn't having any of it.

Then the Divine Intervention came along. Her hip went out of place, and she had no choice but to go to rehab in that very facility she wanted nothing to do with. She loves it! She said she didn't think she needed to go home. She might just as well stay where she is. She glows again. I am seeing a spark in mother that has long been missing. She is rarely in her room as she is out and about either just visiting others or partaking in whatever daily activity is scheduled.

My Aunt Ethel had said that it was like the place was made for mom. I believe she was right!

And thank you God for always being there to help us.

More and more supplies . . .

2008-10-13T07:17:00.004-04:00

I should learn how to use my camera. You know, the picture is worth a thousand words . . . it's a trueism.

I went on a day long supply trip with my friends Karen and Sarah. Oh my the first bead sto re went to . . . oooohhh tables and tables and wall displays and turnstyle displays and display cases of beads . . . tons and tons of glorious beads! They had a 20% off the entire store sale, which evidently they have twice a year. Then that 20% was off of anything they already had on sale. So one table was actually 70% off! yowsers! It was an adrenaline rush that's for sure! After I rang up and realize I didn't really spend as much as I thought I wanted to go back for more . . . oh my gosh, it is truely an addiction I have going here!

Then we went to the regular Joanne Fabrics, Michaels, Hobby Lobby stores. oh I found something in all of them. I found a Pasta Machine on sale at one of them for 10 BUCKS. I'm not even ready to start that hobby yet, but I bought one because it was such a good deal . . . just means more supplies to buy to go with it . . . yikes! Maybe I'll get Haze the supplies for Christmas . . . and then just use those . . . lol . . . she hasn't even ever expressed a desire for the clay . . but she would love it . . . oh yes, now here is an idea to feed my addiction . . . oh dear, this is bad . . . . yikes.

Then we did a couple Salvation Army stores. I also did make a purchas in each of those too. I got a winter coat for 15 bucks . . . a couple shirts for $5.00. It was werid how they sorted the clothes by color and not size . . . but it was fun to dig through it all . . . .

Now I can't wait for the next trip :*) :*)

See ya next sale!

Ja-who-dee

Don't forget, blog give away comment . . .just a few posts down!

Belle Amore . . .

2008-10-10T13:10:00.004-04:00

I was looking around and googling here and there to find out more about my new passion . . . which I refer to as Twisted Sister . . . Wire Wrapping. As you know, I'm completely self taught, and google is my friend.

But I also draw tons of inspiration for the Queen of Twisted Steel . . . Deryn Mentock http://somethingsublime.typepad.com (wish I knew how to code HML so I could do the fancy click on the name take you there thing)

gosh, rambling again sorry . . .

my point is . . . I actually have some jewelry published in the above magazine . . . and guess who I JUST discovered is right by me in there . . . Oh the Queen of Twisted Steel . . . Deryn! WoooHOoooo . . .

Ah, the little things in life just tickle me the most hey?

love ya, love your art

ja-who-dee

Don't forget to leave a comment on the post in here for my Blog give away . . . a stash of mixed media art supplies from my big destash . . .

BLOG GIVE AWAY!!!

2008-10-09T07:47:00.002-04:00

hi. my name is judy and i'm a supplyaholic. do i think that if i have more supplies i'll be a better artist? what's up with this compulsion to have it all? perhaps i am under the illusion that i have more time than i really do? perhaps i think that in the middle of the night some little elves are going to go to my work table and create the millions of projects i have supplies for? is it a sign if you have 3 pages of "feedbacks" to leave at etsy from 2 days of"browsing" does it mean you've bought to much? can one buy to much? am i alone in this addiction? is there a 12 step program?leave me a post and let me know if your a compulsive hoarder and buy it all and then save it because your still waiting for that "special" project to pop into your brain . . . or like me, just visit the pretty objects and stroke them saying "precious, my precious" . . . . . or do you have a nice and spartan like approach. . . using your supplies and not buying more until the last of the glue stick is gone . . . or is there actually middle ground to this supply business? . . i'll draw a lucky winner for a nice generous surprise package of collage paper and some elements and this and that . . .cause one can never have enough!love ya, love your art . . .ja-who-dee

more twisted sister . . .

2008-10-06T07:37:00.001-04:00

The charm is my Dad's graduation picture. Isn't he handsome :*) I originally had this on a ball chain necklace. I gave it to my sis, she took it off the chain and had it on a string. Kind of drove me nuts, but hey, not everyone likes the ball chain . . . so I got it back from her and made this necklace. It has a fabric bead on it, made from my hubby's jammies . . . all the techniques used in the two necklaces (minus the charm) can be found in A Charming Exchange book by Kelly Snelling and Ruth Rae. I rave about this book all the time . . . I also googled wire wrapping and found tons of inspiration and basic techniques out there. Google is my friend. I am a self taught artist and there never seems to be any classes in my neck of the woods. One of these days I would LLLLOOOOVVVVEEEEE to attend an retreat . . . oh economy, get your act together so I can feel better about spending the $$$

course, if I quit buying every new supplie gizmo and gadget and image sheet and . . . .well, you get my drift . . . I would probably have at least the plane ticket saved in no time. . . .

welp, rambling again, so that's my cue to sign off!

Love ya, love your art

ja-who-dee

Alzheimer Ramble

2008-09-29T12:06:00.004-04:00

Don't tell Trudi and Sandy . . . I should have been collaging . . . but I was stuck on their themes . . . and plus, I have a little tray and such that fits right in my lap and I can sit in my big red chair with my feet up and twist, twist, twist . . . I'd have to get up to do any pounding or such, so I just use the same two techniques in this necklace too . . . but it's a nice thing to keep my hands busy and my mind off of the problems with my mother and her dratted Alzheimer's.

Speaking of Alzheimer's, my brother will be in a walk in Nashville Tennessee and is nearing is goal . . . http://tinyurl.com/6h4oet if you have a couple dollars to spare, it sure is a worthy cause. I know many of you have or are experiencing the same with a loved one too. Nasty monster that Alzheimer's. I also am a wee bit concerned about the genetic links . . . there is Alzheimer's on my mother's side (evidently Grams had it) and on my father's side of the family. A brother. So my chances are pretty high that I too could one day be affected.

Yikes . . .

well here I was, only going to show my necklace and started rambling. So I will leave of now, as there is much work for me to attend to today!

Take care,

love ya, love your art

ja-who-dee

My First Wired Necklace

2008-09-22T13:35:00.002-04:00

I haven't wire wrapped in ages. As a matter of fact, when I first did any of this I was in high school and didn't even know it had a name. I got wire from the hardware down town and some pliers and made earrings and braclets. Some rings. I'd tell ya how long ago that was, but that'd date me. I'll give you a hint though, Mullet's were in style . . . smiles.

I was inspired by the book by Kelly Snelling and Ruth Rae "A Charming Exchange". They did an excellent job! The techniques they use are all cold processes, so you don't have to worry about using a soldering iron!

Gothic Arch Mingle

2008-09-09T07:00:00.002-04:00

Queen P . . .

2008-08-12T07:44:00.003-04:00

LiTTle QUeeN P . . . I LOve tHE lOOk ON thIS liTTle ONes FAce.

some art

2008-08-08T06:57:00.001-04:00

Hazel Goes To Work With Dad . . .

2008-08-04T11:21:00.001-04:00

Dad's new work vehicle to "spread the poop" . . .

Honey I'm Home!

2008-07-15T10:07:00.006-04:00

wE'Re bACk from our anual faMILy VAcaTIon up at HiGGins LAke. GOD deFINetLY HAD a gOOd day wHEn he CReaTEd HiGGins LAke! IT hAs GOT to BE my mOSt fAVorITe plACe in THe WOrld.

Look at Haze waving howdy to you from underwater . . . oooohhhhh how clear that water is. But COLD. Very, very cold!

Every year we try to spend a week with my immediate family. This year it was my mother, my husband and daughter, my brother and children, my sisters and their children, and even my sisters grandchildren . . . a large group, that's for sure! Sometimes that can be a little hairy! But now that I look at the pictures my brother sent, every stressful moment seems worth it!

And I was so darn proud of myself . . .

2008-05-20T15:20:00.002-04:00

that I got one arch done for the many arch projects I've been behind. The work project with the software install is wearing me out, so thus I'm a tired puppy when I get home and get Hazel around in such that art has taken a back burnere . . . but anyway, I got this Shirley Temple arch done and was tickled and made a big dramatic check mark on my list, danced around . . . I got one done . . . I got one done . . . I sang and sang . . . then Hazel and I left the house to go for a walk . . . a Sunday walk mind you, but we hadn't checked Saturday's mail . . . so we checked the box and there was a note from the mail man, package to big left on side porch . . . so we go to the side porch and what was waiting for me . . . a box with two more books to work in . . . so one step forward and two back hey?

But don't worry my arty friends that I owe book pages and arches too . . .

I will get them done . . . Pat, Peggy, Frieda, Michelle, and Heather (I think it's her, someone I know I have I and J for the alphabet) . . . I'm missing someone, I know I am . . . but please, I'll get them to you I promise! OH and don't forget the two RR books I got in the mail also . . . .

I will work them slow and steady and win the race in the long run!

Speaking of running . . .

love ya, love your art

ja-who-dee

My Crazy World

2008-05-13T06:52:00.004-04:00

I've found a moment to blog. It's been far too long. Not that I haven't wanted to, it was just trying to find a spare minute in my crazy buzy days! Wow!

My time first got ate up by the software install the hospital I work at was and still is in the midst of doing. We've started with replacing with the new software company the current packages that we had. That's in and we're still doing some tweeking and adjustments with that. Today is day 13 of the conversion. I work in the IT department, so needless to say, I've been thick in the middle of the conversion. It's very stressful at times, but at the same time very exciting and rewarding to be at work. I've been wanting a change in software for some time now! But needless to say, I'm exhausted when the day is done . . . oh girls just want to have fun . . . sorry, that just popped right into my head.

Then on top of that pressure, I came down with some respiratory crap that just knocked my socks off for a while. Wow. That was something. My chest would burn when I coughed up a woogie . . . oh gross I know, but it was the strangest feeling. This whatever it was sickness ran through our family. I still haven't bounced back 100%, but I am feeling much better. Spent Mother's day weekend sleeping for the most part.

I made these journal pages weeks and weeks ago. They are for Lenna Andrews who's theme is "NEST". It's a mingle of a tingle type of RR, meaning we are just sending pages to each other, but don't know who too from month to month. thus why I was able to make them early but not post nor send them on until now. These pages are by far my favorite art I've created. I sure wish you could see them up close and personal. Tucked behind the stencil letters spelling "nest" are little faces. I love stencils with little pictures peeking out from behind them!

Well enough tooting my own horn, duty calls and I must get back to work.

Love ya, love your art,

ja-who-dee

Happy Birthday

2008-03-11T07:36:00.001-04:00

crownBirthday
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

Happy Birthday Mom, Mary, and Fred! Hope you all have wonderful birthdays this week!

More Snow . . .

2008-02-26T06:51:00.003-05:00

Greetings1a
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

More snow. I suppose this will be really great for all the water levels in the summer, but right now, I'm tired of the stuff. I am finding the older I get, the less I like the snow. I actually think it isn't I don't like the snow, it's more I don't like driving in the snow. Or more to the fact, I don't like driving in the snow and having to share the road with other people! Yep, that's more like it. But if I had my druthers, if it's gonna snow, I'd just as soon stay home covered in a nice warm comforter and watching it build up from my window. yep, that would be perfect.

Longing desperately for spring,

ja-who-dee

about the post art:

making time, less than ten minutes

This is a generic greeting card I made. Love that dragonfly beauty. It is from www.artchixstudio.com The stamps of the splater and rings in from Tim Holtz, but right of hand I can't remember the shopping site. Just google Tim Holtz and you'll get many choices of spots to buy from.

It's a blank "craft" colored paper card to which I stamped, then added the striped paper, then distressed with Tim Holtz distressing ink and used a piece of sequin waste as a stencil. Then I adhered the imgage, and then of course, as most happens when I'm creating, out came the red pencil and the circle templated.

This is a view of the inside of the card. Same steps of paper, image, and distressing done. The image is a smaller version of the one on the front of the card.

Belated Valentine Wishes

2008-02-19T09:52:00.001-05:00

Valentine
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

I made this arch for a mingle I am doing in one of my yahoo-sisterhood groups. A Favorite Holiday was the theme.

I picked Valentines in honor of my father's birthday. It is also my nephew's birthday, lets not forget that!

I love the hand holding the heart with wings. Symbolic in many ways as my father will always hold my heart even though he has left on the Ultimate Journey to be with our Lord. He still is so very close to me in my heart.

Love ya Dad!

And as always, love you all too!

ja-who-dee

Psalm 19:14

2008-01-15T08:52:00.001-05:00

Prayer
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

which goes like this:

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, oh Lord, my Rock, my Redeemer.

This has always been my favorite passage of the Bible. And when Gina wanted to us to use our favorite Bible story or passage, I knew exactly what I wanted to art around.

Now the thing is, this was actually put to the test. on me last night.

I was in town running errands and on my way to my very last spot. I was going to pick up a pizza for dinner as we were all running late. Dale and Hazel were at the dentist, and it was working out that time wise, well heck, with the pizza I should have a couple hours to work in my studio.

Well, not to be. I'm headed east on main street near the corner by my mothers house when all the sudden out of no where is this white car. There was nothing I could do but hit the back end of the car. The driver hadn't even looked to see if traffic was coming from the west before she crossed the street. Oh my. Okay, I'm thinking, my air bags may go off here . . . they didn't . . . I watch as it seems in slow motion that my front driver side bumper is cramming into the back window of this car. I swear I can see every piece of glass crack and break into thousands of pieces. Finally, we come to a stop. I'm all right, no air bags smashing me, I can open my door. I get out and check to make sure the driver of the other vehicle is okay. There was a young gentleman that stopped to make sure we were okay and who called the police for us. We move the cars away out of traffic to my mom's driveway.

All I could think of as this was happening, and I wanted to scream out, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING . . . and . . . . THIS IS MY NEW CAR THAT GOT SMASHED. But my heart and mind told me, now be calm Judy. Dad would say that cars can be fixed, people sometimes can't. Which I did tell the young gal as she looked so upset. I stayed calm. I didn't lose my cool. As many times as I wanted to cry when I looked at my car, I didn't. Although Dale and Hazel made it there before the police, and I could tell my the grin on his face he knew I wanted too. It's true that it is more important no one was hurt.

But man, did I tell you . . .

THIS WAS MY NEW TO ME CAR, MY NEW BABY . . .

sigh. Time to re-read the passage and calm my heart.

love ya, love your art . . .

ja-who-dee

Optical Lense Book Laces

2008-01-09T11:31:00.001-05:00

Optical Lense Book Laces
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

These are my newest Book Laces.

For these I used vintage optical lenses and diamond glaze to hold the small collages in place. the Laces are waxed linen thread and beads ranging from wood to glass.

they are awesome . . .

if'n I say so myself . . . smiles

love ya, ja-who-dee

these are the 'backs' of the laces

Back from Vacation . . .

2008-01-07T15:25:00.001-05:00

RED/BROWN color theme
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

welp, it's back to the ole grindstone. It was hard to get myself around and come into work. Of course, the fog didn't help increase my thrill of driving in this morning . . . Michigan weather . . . or should I blame it on global warming . . . is this how the wooly mamoths felt when all the ice started melting to end the ice age? What was the trigger for that global warming? See, going back to work, it just stirs up all those voices in my head and they ponder such questions . . . . so I have to sing REALLY loud to drown them out . . .

you do realize I'm kidding don't you?

Phew . . .

Anyway, over my little break, I did make some art. This is one of the porjects I did. It's an arch for a RR/mingle I am doing this year. This lovely little arch will go to my friend Cindy Mc in Canada. She is a wonderful gal that I met through the ARTchix ya-ho-sister-hood group

I know I did more projects. Tomorrow I will show some things i made too, but where the heck are all the fruits of my labor . .. I only have a couple scans . . .

perhaps I "vacationed" more than I thought hey?

ah well, them's the breaks . . .

see ya when i see ya!

love

ja-who-dee

On Vacation!

2007-12-31T07:26:00.001-05:00

Ira- My husband's grandfather
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

I've taken the week off of my day job . . . so I will probably not be posting anything new until after I get back to work next Monday :* ) Hopefully I will also have a fresh supply of art to show you too.

Until my next posting!

Love ya, love your art . . .

ja-who-dee

Ride On Uncle Jack

2007-12-29T06:18:00.001-05:00

ride
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

This is a picture of a greeting card I made some time ago. I am blogging it today in honor of a great man and wonderful uncle; Uncle Jack. I choose this picture of my la paix d'art, as he was a collector of antique cars. There is also a story my mom tells, I think, maybe I dreamed it, about Uncle Jack trading a bicycle for a car. I shall find out today if that is true. I dream many strange things. No need to go to the movies when one dreams like I do

I'm getting off subject of my entry. Let me get back on the road, so to say! Today we celebrate Uncle Jack's journey to be with our Lord and Savior. The ultimate journey for Uncle Jack was on Christmas. A bittersweet day for all of us still here on earth, but a day of joy and jubilation for those waiting for him in heaven.

What more can I say than we will miss him now, but meet him again at a later time. Happy trails Uncle Jack!

Loving you,

ja-who-dee

Gothic Arch

2007-12-27T09:47:00.001-05:00

GothicArchFront
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

This is the cover for my book which will be made from a round robin I am doing with some wonderful art friends. My theme is ARTIST CHOICE using the colors of brown and blues. We are all using the same gothic arch template to make one page, front and back with each other.

This time with the RR, we will be sending pages to each other, technically known as a tip-in. And, as we are sending to each other, it must really make this a mingle hey? whatever the PC name for this exchange is, it should produce some wonderful art.

I do believe the days of me sending whole books around may be numbered. The postal costs are just straining my pocket book for RR, and I do love the exchanging of art . . . so this should be a grand alternative for me. I thus far have my hand in . . . one, two, three, four . . . I believe 4 of these tip-in exhanges . . .

it's gonna be a grand new year for me!!!

Happy Horn Blowing Toots and Hugs,

ja-who-dee

This is the inside of the
cover for the book.

Bittersweet Christmas . . .

2007-12-26T08:36:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Christmas with my mother and my sister and her family. Christmas Eve was dinner at the Pasch's and then a short church service at Sis's church.

It was a nice quiet evening. Just as I needed as the day had been filled with work and some radiology diagnostic testing. So after being poked and prodded . . . I was ready to just sit and relax. So once we got home, it was early to bed for this chix!

Christmas morning we woke to find that Santa had come to our house after all! Phew! I had been a little worried about his apperance as Hazel has been wishy-washy about whether he was real or not . . . smiles . . . plus Hazel had been leaning heavily to the "naughty" side of things . . . school work . . . seems some of us don't like to do school work . . . but anyway, Santa arrived on schedule with lots of nice things for us all! I believe in many things, and one is that Jolly Ole' Saint Nick lives within all of us . . . just gotta belive!

Later in the afternoon, we went into my mothers house and had a nice lunch with mom, sis and family. We didn't stay a real long time, I haven't been feeling real perky lately. Hopefully it's all just because I am in need of a nice vacation, which I will have next week.

Now for the bittersweet part. My uncle who has been very sick for a long time passed away Christmas afternoon. It is with sad hearts that we celebrate his journey to heaven. His suffering in this life is over, and his new beginning as started. I will miss his wonderful gift for laughter. He was a very kind and generous soul. Happy Trails Uncle J!

Love you all, and remember . . .

All you need is a little bit of faith . . .

till next posting,

ja-who-dee

What was inside . . .

2007-12-24T07:46:00.000-05:00

those little gifties I posted on Friday? Well, there were book laces . . . 8 little book laces in all! I will give you a quick and dirty low down on how I made these . . . if you would like a full scale tutorial, please go to

http://www.alteredchix.com/

and see featured artist Angie for the full scoop.

Your will need:

Omni Gel
Paint Brush
images
bamboo tiles
foil tape
waxed linen
beads and wire (optional)
tools for the wire if your going to use it!

I used images from Paper Whimsey. These particular ones were from a set that is sold there. I used Omni Gel and applied one coat, let it dry, then added a coat in the opposite direction, let it dry . . . did this about 4 times, changing the direction I painted on the coat each time. When it was all dry, I cut out the images into individual rectangles, then placed them in water. Now, I'm not really hooked on the idea that hot water really makes a difference. I think the biggest thing about the water soaking, is that the longer it soaks, the easier it is to get the backs off. I usually start out with the hot tap water and just let it soak until the water cools as a self timer thing. Don't be too impatient with this step! After your images have soaked a good amount of time, at the very least 10 minutes lets say . . . then take one out of the water, and gently using your finger, rub the paper off the backs. Work patiently and gentley now, as it will tear! If paper seems to be sticking, put it back in the water for a while!
When you have the paper off to your liking, let the artwork dry. Then, using a little of the Omni Gel, adhere it to the bamboo tile. triming as needed. Then, wrap the tile in foil tape, use a pointed tool to poke holes through the tape where the holes are in the bamboo tile, string with waxed linen, and add beads to your liking . . . that easy, peasy . . . you all know I like to make it easy on myself :*) :*)

Anyway, the bamboo tiles can be found at

http://www.collagestuff.com/

or at

http://www.artchixstudio.com/

I shop often (probably WAY to much) at both places, and besides the bamboo tiles, they also have many other wonderful items for sale . . .

Enjoy!!!

ja-who-dee

Little Gifts . . .

2007-12-21T11:52:00.000-05:00

all wrapped up and ready to go. Tonight is the Evitts' Family Christmas. These are just a sampling of my wrapped up gifts, and even the names on them are not necessarily for the Evitts'. . . and this is a similar wrapping I did for the disc ornaments for my co-workers. Simple, yet elegant . . . as the Blakeslee gals would say . . . oh my, that was a little blast from the past there hey Siblings? LOL, I got it from Karen when she received her little ornament!

But anyway, I ran out of time to make one for ALL the Evitts' and was going to restrict to the female gender of the clan. Marv and Ellie had 9 children, who went on to have several children, who then turned around and had more children, so they are a large group. I had to set limits :*) :*) I only had so many supplies too . . . so Dale's sisters that are there will be getting one. Then the others are earmarked for the gals I see at Mom's house on Christmas . . . . I don't have any good male gender items . . . sorry, I'm a sexist crafter this year!!

This year will be a bitter sweet time at the Evitts' gathering. It will be a blessing to be together, and yet we will greatly miss Ellomae and Denise. Such a hard time to lose them both so closely this year. I also know that neither of them would like us to only remember them with sadness. They would want us to remember them with light in our hearts to chase away the darkness of sorrow. And so I shall. But not to say I won't also carry a little tear in the corner of my eye though. I also cry at weddings and school programs . . . I'm such a softy . . .

Now, as to what's in those little gifts . . . well, tune in again on Monday to find out! Now don't peek, or Santa will only leave you coal and reindeer poop in your stocking!

Red Reindeer Nosed Smoochies!

love ya,

ja-who-dee

More Kelly Snelling Inspiration . . .

2007-12-18T07:35:00.000-05:00

As with the Disc Ornaments I created, I also drew some more inspiration from Kelly Snellings wonderful art techniques found on her blog

This time I utlized her idea of using a circle template, charcoal pencil, and paint for the backs of these star ornaments.

http://soulhumming.typepad.com/soul_humming /2007/12/hope.html

The base of these ornaments are a cardboard star form from the craft store.

I covered them with Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paints, and then used the inks to color them. Collaged images on top of a strip of torn strips of vintage music sheets. The red Madona on the left is an Omni Gel transfer.

I made sure to cover the fronts and the backs well with Gel Medium to seal. Especially the backs because of the charcoal.

A couple of times I had just finished darkening areas with the distress inks and it hadn't dried yet. When I put on the gel medium it gave the gel just the slightest hint of color. It was a wonderful "mistake"!

These ornaments have helped to get me into the Christmas spirit!

Holiday Sugar Cookie Crumb Kisses,

ja-who-dee

Ornaments for Co-workers 2007

2007-12-17T08:49:00.000-05:00

Oh the weather outside was frightful . . . but the art inside was delightful . . . and since I'd no place to go . . let me glue, let me glue, let me glue!

Here is the result of MANY of my projects I had cooking up this weekend. I actually got to use my dremel for the first time, and hey, it's only just about a year old!!! These little round disc were so easy to make, and turned out so well. I just used torn pieces of sheet music or old book pages, and then added some color with inks or paint, and then collaged imges and some scrim on some. Finished them off with gold paint on the edges. The backs are simply stamped with PEACE or with the year written on it with a calligraphy pen. A simple ribbon at the top for a hanger.

Easy-Peasy and pretty!

Happy Holidays,

ja-who-dee

I got my inspiration for my disc ornaments from Kelly Snelling. At her blog http://www.soulhumming.typepad.com/ she has a tutorial on how she made her ornaments, plus you get to see several more, as she was in a 12 days of Christmas Ornaments exchange.

If your looking for some inspiration, check it out! Kelly has lots of eye candy to please even every pallette!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments both her and in my email :*)

And a special thanks to Kelly Snelling for the inspiration for the project!

holiday egg nog hugs!

ja-who-dee

Angels We Have Heard On High

2007-12-12T12:24:00.000-05:00

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2007-12-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

Shiver, shiver, shiver . . .

It's cold outside! Actually, last night it was predicted we get more bad weather than what we did. I am ever so grateful, as I have to drive in the early am whilst it is still dark out to get into work . . . and although it isn't a long ways, I know people who commute farther, it sometimes can be a very white knuckle drive to work.

And today I was very sad about going to work. My husband gets to stay home because of the bad weather . . . . and I have to get up and still go to work . . . sigh, very heavy sigh. I can't remember the last time I got to have "a snow day".

. . . ages and ages I tell you . . .

Good thing Santa has Rudolph so he doesn't have to have a snow day too! hey?

Happy Holidays!

ja-who-dee

Yes Hazel, There Is A Santa Claus . . .

2007-12-07T09:25:00.000-05:00

Hazel: Mom, Christine and Mary don’t believe in Santa Claus. They say it’s the mom’s and dad’s that buy all the presents.

Mom: Good grief, you don’t think I’d go out and spend all that money of that stuff do ya? And when have you ever seen your dad go shopping????

Hazel: That’s what I thought.

Mom: Yeah, it’s kind of hard for Santa to be real if you don’t believe.

I THINK THE GIG IS UP!!!!

I remember when I knew there wasn’t a Santa, but I oh so didn’t want to NOT believe. Know what? I still believe in Santa Claus . . . he’s right here in my heart!

We talked about Christmas being about giving, and not just the giving of commercial presents to all our friends and relatives. And how we need to remember that all year round, not just at Christmas. It was a nice talk, yet I still never answered her one way or the other about the man in the red suit.

Remember: If you believe, it’s real.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Ja-who-dee

Count Down to Christmas . . .

2007-12-03T14:27:00.000-05:00

Count down to Christmas is going on at Lisa Vollarth's Studio!!!

http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/index.html

Yummy????

2007-12-02T18:44:00.000-05:00

I have decided that I must cave in to my desire for frosting that I have had for a couple weeks now. Now mind you, it's nasty outside. It snowed, then It rained, now the fog is as thick as pea soup (eeewwwweeee) so it's not like I'm gonna hop in my car and drive into town to the store . . . so I dig around in my cupboards . . . oh a carrot cake mix . . . hhhmmmm, okay, it's a dry good, I rather remember buying this, can't be too old . . . okay, we got eggs, oil. . . good to go . . . Now I wonder if I moved things around enough if I would find Frosting? . . . Oh man, no can of frosting, well, okay, we got powdered sugar, I can do it. Been like 30 years, but I could do some frosting . . . .

Then Dale pipes up . . . my mom . . . yeah, yeah, yeah . . . your mom made the BEST, isn't that what they all say . . . smiles . . . in all fairness she was a very good cook. Had to be, she had nine kids to feed! But anyway, Ellie always made cream cheese frosting for her carrot cake . . . well, I'ms sure she did. . . pretty sure she probably didn't open a box of cake mix to make it to .. . . but I'm game . . . I think I saw some cream cheese in the fridge . . . so I dig around in there.

Wah-la, cream cheese I jump up after only a 10 minute search. HHhhhmmm, I really don't remember buying this . . . wonder how old it is . . . how long does cream cheese last . . . flip the box around looking for the magic date. I start laughing . . . .

Dale says what? oh, the date . . . let me guess, '04 . . . ha! No, nothing that fresh in my fridge . . .

It expired July 2003 . . . I'm pretty sure cream cheese isn't like a fine wine that only improves with age . . . is it? . . . well, no, I didn't even open the package to look at it . . . some things are best left alone . . .
so if you come to my house, don't eat the cream cheese :*) :*)

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Happy Festivus!

2007-11-23T09:44:00.000-05:00

My siblings and families got together yesterday at my mom's house. We have stretched out the Thanksgiving Day celebration to include any other holiday we don't get a chance to be all together on. My bro and family live in Tennessee so thus we see each other live and in person usually in July and Thanksgiving.

Thus we did a big blow out yesterday and had a grand time. Good eats to top off just the pleasure of being all together again.

And that folks, is the best.

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Thanksgiving Greetings

2007-11-20T08:27:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I’m having a need for an attitude adjustment, so I think I will list all the things I am thankful for, and then it will change my outlook today!

My family
My husband’s family
That my mother is healthy. She may not remember what she had for lunch, but she is healthy!
That my daughter is so loving
That we have a house to call our own
That we have jobs
That we have vehicles
That we don’t over do so we don’t live pay check to pay check
That my immediate family will all be together for Thanksgiving again this year!
All the extras that my sister Mary does
That I have so many wonderful friends in this world!
Our health is good.

Okay, there are at least 12 positives. That’s a lot said there.

I always try to think about what is going on that I deem so horrible, and then do a reality check on it all. Makes me realize that although at the moment the event that stressing me out, the reality of the situation is that things could be worse. And, after the late summer we experienced, what with losing sweet Kit and dear Ellie, things can only move forward and more positively!

And it is always so good to be so loved!

Loving hugs and kisses to you!

Ja-who-dee

Then When Jesus Calls Us . . .

2007-11-08T09:51:00.000-05:00

Then when Jesus calls us
to our heavenly home
we would gladly answer
"Savior, Lord, we come"

how ya like them apples

2007-11-05T14:07:00.000-05:00

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Her Royal Highness Judy the Ambidexterous of Lower Beanthrop in the Hedge
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

The Gales Of November

2007-11-05T11:03:00.000-05:00

Hello everybody . . . well it looks like the gales of November are to be upon Lake Superior any time now. Hopefully there will be no sad events for anyone to put to tune. Of course there will never be any recording of the Gitche Gumee like Gordon Lightfoot recorded. Here's a tid bit of it to spark yous memory, Or perhaps yous don't need the spark, hey? I's remember the song well.:

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.

With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

I've seen the lake in winter . . . oh man, when the wind is blowing and the waves are crashing against the rock shore at Presque Isle Park, which is near Marquette Michigan . . . wow, what a site.

I never saw it during as strong of wind as the glale that sunk the Edmund, I can't even begin to imagine the waters then . . . and bbbbbbrrrrrrr talk about cold . . . makes my nose hairs freeze together just thinking about it!

heck, I better go have a hot chocolate now!

Love ya!

ja-who-dee

ELLOMAE EVITTS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007

2007-10-30T13:37:00.000-04:00

Hopefully this will be the last sad news from the Evitts' for a good long while!

Thursday morning after a month long losing battle with ARDS Ellomae passed from this earth to be with her Lord, the Angels, and those who have gone before her. Once again she will be able to dance the polka with her husband, see her daughter's smile, and reunite with her parents and oh so many others that have gone before her. We will miss her greatly, but with sad hearts celebrate that her suffering in her earthbound body is over.

I want to thank you all for the wonderful prayers, comforting thoughts, and heart warming words. You are all such wonderful friends. I am sure God smiles when he looks down upon all of you.

It is nice to know that in this cyber world where you hear of so many scams, threats, and evil doing that there can be and is inexistence a group of truly united cyber friends. I am so proud to call you my cyber-family.

And to all my friends and relatives I actually get to physically hug, thank you so much for all your support, prayers, kind words and deeds. It is truely a blessing to know so many wonderful people.

Love you all,

Ja-who-dee

I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN!

2007-10-22T06:53:00.000-04:00

I haven't forgotten about this blog, just have some life crisis' taking precedence right now!!! Hang in there, I hope to be able to blog sometime soon!

Gone Fishing . . .

2007-10-03T06:48:00.000-04:00

well not really . . . but I will probably be silent for a bit longer . . .

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns . . .

2007-09-24T08:11:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I read a book that sticks with me for various reasons. Sometimes I just have to share when I read such a book, or in this case "books". So for what it is worth, here is my recommendations for reading.

I just finished "Kite Runner" and then "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. Now both of these are not for the reader looking for some "light" nor "comical" reading. Both books are about war and horrific challenges that face the characters in these books. They both are set in Afghanistan through the fall of the monarchy, Soviet invasion, and the regime of the Taliban.

If and when you read the books, I suggest you read them in the order of "Kite Runner" and then "A Thousand Splendid Suns". Not that you have to read them in that order to follow either story. They are actually two different stories of the same horrific events. It is just that is you do read them in that order you should pick up how the two stories cross each others paths. Then let me know if you found the links too.

I warn you again, the books are not easy to read and not feel the horror of the events. I teared up at various times in both books. They are excellently written novels I recommend them highly.

Two Hundred and Ninety Nine Days

2007-09-24T08:09:00.000-04:00

Of non-smoking . . . which calculates to be roughly $2421.90 in some savings, figuring one and a half packs a day at $5.40 a pack. (Yep, cigs are expensive in Michigan, and remember, it's been 299 days since I've purchased, so the price may be higher!) Course the $$ isn't really in my pocket per say, but my new car payment doesn't really hurt so bad, and well, I do have a few new art supplies here and there . . . and well, the diner does make some pretty great coconut cream pie . . .

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Skedaddle

2007-09-18T07:41:00.000-04:00

I’m sad.
I’ve been sad for what seems like forever now.
It’s really only been weeks.
It’s not easy having the grief monkey on your back.
I’ve never had the little fellow hang around so long.
I’ve always before mourned and then moved on to fond remembrances that would make me smile and perhaps form a brief tear in my eye.
It now seems as if I move in a fog of tears.
It’s as if the sadness magnifies and seems bigger than life.
It seems to make me see molehills only as mountains, hurdles to big to overcome.
I’m sweating the small stuff.
I catch myself with free time, only to waste it with mindless activities not dealing with the tasks I need to get done.
I don’t want to start a project, as I’m afraid I won’t find the joy I used to feel when I allowed myself to submerge into them.
I wish the grief monkey would scoot away . . . shoo, be gone, it’s time for you to take your sad organ grinder tune and skedaddle.

My Momma . . .

2007-09-17T12:20:00.000-04:00

always told me if you don't have anything nice to say, then you shouldn't say anything. Therefore I am going to wait a while longer before I blog. Things have just been frustrating for me and I don't want to post something publically that I might wish I didn't later, and since that one issue is on my mind . . . well . . . well . . . well . . .

I will just zip my lip until another time :*) :*)

Just wanted to let ya all know I haven't forgotten to blog!

Love ya,

ja-who-dee

Get Rhythm . . .

2007-09-13T06:48:00.000-04:00

I always hate the thought of leaving you all hanging for days on end. So, I thought I would give you some Johnny Cash to get your toes a tappin' and blast a grin upon your face!

Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Yes a jumpy rhythm makes you feel so fine
It'll shake all the trouble from your worried mind
Get rhythm when you get the blues

Little shoeshine boy never gets low down
But he's got the dirtiest job in town
Bendin' low at the peoples' feet
On the windy corner of the dirty street
Well, I asked him while he shined my shoes
How'd he keep from gettin' the blues
He grinned as he raised his little head
Popped a shoeshine rag and then he said

Get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
It only costs a dime, just a nickel a shoe
Does a million dollars worth of good for you
Get rhythm when you get the blues

Well, I sat down to listen to the shoeshine boy
And I thought I was gonna jump for joy
Slapped on the shoe polish left and right
He took a shoeshine rag and he held it tight
He stopped once to wipe the sweat away
I said you're a mighty little boy to be-a workin' that way
He said I like it with a big wide grin
Kept on a poppin' and he said again

Get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Get a rock 'n' roll feelin' in your bones
Get taps on your toes and get gone
Get rhythm when you get the blues

Stuart Little

2007-09-05T08:19:00.000-04:00

Hazel started 4th grade yesterday. My baby is growing up quickly, too quickly I should add. I'm sure many of you know that feeling with your own children and time. Somedays you wish they would grow up and then the next day you are sad they are growing up so quickly.

Anyway, back to Hazel and the 4th grade. This year Hazel's teacher is Mrs Hoffman. My niece Sarah had Mrs Hoffman when she was in the 4th grade also. She really has rave reviews about her. I brought up Sarah at the teacher meet and greet . . .okay, so the school calls it the "Ice Cream Social", but I like the way meet and greet sounds . . . and Mrs Hoffman said, "Oh yes, I remember Sarah well. I gave her a Stuart Little doll when she graduated so she would remember what is important in life".

Okay, I admit it, I've never read Stuart Little. I of course know who
Stuart Little is, we do own the movie with Michael J Fox being the voice for Stuart Little. I've watched it a couple times, probably coming in and out of the room during various parts, but I couldn't tell you for certain why Stuart would remind any one what is important in life.

Then Hazel comes home yestereday after noon and hands me a letter from the teacher. (It rather makes me sad there is no longer that minugraphed smell on papers from school anymore, I'm sure many of you remember that smell!) and Mrs Hoffman is going to be reading them the book throughout the year.

Okay, so now my curiousity is peeked. I've now ordered Stuart Little by E.B. White to figure out what it's all about. It should be here in a few days. Then I should know . . .

what the heck the important things in life are too!

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Honey I'm Home . . .

2007-09-04T10:05:00.000-04:00

Well, my vacation is over. I'm sure it flew by more quickly for me than it did you . . . smiles . . . I would love to be on vacation for longer . . . as in . . . never have to go back to work . . . okay, reality check . . . glad to have a job, don't get me wrong, but it sure would be nice not to have to have a job know what Imean bean?

It's not like Haze and I did a lot on vacation (Dale was working) . . . we pretty much gadded around here and there and did the girly shopping and hair diddling thing . . . but it was so nice to do what we wanted to when we wanted and not have to worry about schedules and such. Now that was a grand thing.

perhaps I shall stop and buy a lotto ticket on the way home tonight. That would be the answer, win the lottery! Then I could retire early and have enough money to keep me gadding around it style . . . yeppers, that would be so grand . . .

after all, I'm a Thursday child with far to go . . . I do need the funds to get there!

love ya,

ja-who-dee

OFF ON VACATION!

2007-08-24T10:14:00.001-04:00

POST WHEN I GET BACK!

Time In A Bottle . .

2007-08-23T11:30:00.000-04:00

If I had a box just for wishes

And dreams that had never come true

The box would be empty

Except for the memory

Of how they were answered by you

~Time In A Bottle. . . Jim Croce

This is a picture of my dad and I. This was taken back in the later 80's, I think. Pretty sure around then anyway. This was at my parents house for a Hawaiian themed Christmas party.

My dad was the type of dad who truely tried to make sure we had what we needed, when we needed it, and to try his darndest to help us get our wishes. Of course, I know and appreciate that much more now that I am older than I did at the moment. You know, being just a kid and all . . .

My dad was a very good egg. I miss him.

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Now I see the world . .

2007-08-22T08:26:00.000-04:00

Now I see the world as a candy store
with a cigarette smile
saying things you can't ignore . . .

The first time I took the "inner rock star" quiz I chose these as what I would sing. There was another phrase that I was drawn to, and I wanted to answer the quiz with what I would wear if I could, not how I dress now (there ain't no flat stomach to show off folks!). So I went back and redid the quiz. My dress a tad bit differently, and my lyrics now being:

And I use my ddress
to wipe up my drink
I care less and less
what people think . . .

okay, so jumping from "saying things you can't ignore" doesn't necessarily mean I can't "care less and less what people think" . . . does it?

Oh heck, who knows, I'm wacky. I think you've all figured that out by now!

But the result of the change was . . . nothing! My inner rock star is still Ani Difranco, who Kaleigh believes to be awesome, so what the heck, I've ordered up "Not A Pretty Girl" CD by Ani. I'll give you my review after it comes.

I also decided to try to find a good book to read. Right now I am reading the book "The Perks Of Being A Wallflower". Not my favorite of books. Oh, I'll finish it, but I won't give it a rave review. The book reminds me of "Catcher In The Rye" and actually the book is mentioned more than a few times. I favor Wallflower over Catcher. But neither will I ever read again.

I think I shall try a couple books from the author JoAnn Mapson. I am looking at reading "Bad Girl Creek" and "The Owl and Moon Cafe". She has several books, but I thought I'd start with those. Hope they are two thumbs up. I could really use a good book right now!

love ya,

Ja-who-dee

My Inner Rock Star . . .

2007-08-21T11:33:00.001-04:00

From a quiz this is who my inner rock star is I haven't a clue who this is but I will find out

You Are Ani Difranco!

Honest, real, and well liked.
You're not limited by any boundaries.
"And you can call me crazy
But I think you're as lazy as white paint on the wall"

Who's Your Inner Rock Chick?

what European city . . .

2007-08-21T07:44:00.001-04:00

I took a little quiz, this is the European City I belong in.

You Belong in Barcelona

When it comes to Europe, you don't want to decide between culture and fun. You want art by day and a big party by night.
Barcelona is ideal for you. You can check out some Picasso, eat some tapas, take a siesta, and then dance all night!

What European City Do You Belong In?

Where have . . .

2007-08-21T07:27:00.000-04:00

all the days of summer gone? Wow. Yesterday and this morning it has felt like fall is in the air. We've needed rain for some time now, so I'm not complaining about that, but a little warmer temperatures with it sure would be nice.

The art today is a little 3x3 I made for my friend Paula. We are doing a swap with a total of 13 artist. Each artist creates a little 3x3 for the others. Each artist has their own theme, and when you receive all 12 3x3's, you then put them together to create one big collage.

Paula's theme was "white caps" . . . whites and sepia . . . a beach thing. I found the little advertisement for girls camps, and this old photo (the date on the back said 1912) and the gal is in a "sailor suit". And then of course, you have to have shells . . . perhaps this young miss went to one of these camps in her day?

Some Karla today . . .

2007-08-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

I'm in the mood for a little Karla Bonoff today . . .

I've got something I'd like to tell you
Something that happened to me
I'd been feelin' thoroughly lowdown
So I went to see the gypsy

She sat me down by her candle
She said she had the powers that be
And she looked me in the eye and took my hand
And this is what she said to me

She said, now you're flying high
Tomorrow you might be low
The same thing that makes your baby cry
Might make him get up and go

She said this would be all for now
But that you might come back
If you find it hard to understand
Simple little words like that

So I gave her all of my money
And took off for Singapore
But I couldn't unravel those words of hers
So I went back to the gypsy for more

She said, now you're flying high
Tomorrow you might be low
The same thing that makes your baby cry
Might make him get up and go

Well, just about this time my luck changed
And fortune did roll in
Well I learned the meaning of happiness
And the value of a friend

I met a fine young gentleman
As fine as a man can be
But I never forgot that gypsy girl
And what she said to me

She said, now you're flying high
Tomorrow you might be low
The same thing that makes your baby cry
Might make him get up and go

~Flying High . . . Karla Bonoff

Don't Count Your Chickens . . .

2007-08-17T10:36:00.000-04:00

before your egg hatches . . . .

this is an older musing of mine, but I hate the thought of you all coming to visit and there not being anything new! And, with this being Friday, there definetly wouldn't be another posting until Monday.

Keep safe until then!

Love ya

ja-who-dee

Far To Go . . .

2007-08-16T06:46:00.000-04:00

As I have written before, I don't remember much of my childhood. I don't know, perhaps because I was the youngest there are many things my sister Mary would remember that I wouldn't because of the age difference? Who knows. I think it bothers Mary more than it does me sometimes . . . What do you mean you don't remember that?! . . .

Any way, yesterday bits of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" ran through my brain. Today I kept thinking of bits of the childhood poem about the day of a week that a child was born on. Sure I wasn't getting it all right, I had to ask my old friend Google for some help.

This is the poem:

Monday's child is fair of face;
Tuesday's child is full of grace;
Wednesday's child is full of woe;
Thursday's child has far to go;
Friday's child is loving and giving;
Saturday's child works hard for a living.
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
is fair and wise, good and gay

So, I suppose with out looking it up, you all know what day of the week you were born on? Sigh, not I. But poking around on the internet, I found that on the day I was born, it was a Thursday. I guess this is better than a Wednesday and being full of woe . . . But Thursday's child has far to go . . . to where? For what? Am I half way there? Almost there? Just more questions to ponder!

I also found that David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels did a tune titled "Thursday's Child". I haven't a clue how the tune goes. I kind of can't get passed picturing David Bowie in "The Labyrinth" with all the little muppets and puppets. I just really was never a big fan, but the lyrics of the song "Thursday's Child" do interest me enough that I may just have to find a copy on CD to play.

Or actually, probably Mary knows them, she remembers everything ~smiles~

This is the refrain of the song:

(Throw me tomorrow..oh,oh)
Now that I've really got a chance
(Throw me tomorrow..oh,oh)
Everything's falling into place
(Throw me tomorrow..oh,oh)
Seeing my past to let it go
(Yeah, throw me tomorrow..oh,oh)
Only for you I don't regret
That I was Thursday's Child

Enough for now lovies. It's Thursday, I have far to go, so I best get going and get 'er done!

Love ya,

ja-who-dee

Fleetwod Mac is in my head today . . .

2007-08-15T07:51:00.000-04:00

Oh, mirror in the sky

What is love

Can the child within my heart rise above

Can I sail thru the changing ocean tides

Can I handle the seasons of my life

Well, Ive been afraid of changing

cause Ive built my life around you

But time makes you bolder

Children get older

Im getting older too

~Fleetwood Mac . . . Landslide

Mystic Hand . . .

2007-08-10T11:18:00.001-04:00

This is a book thong I recently made. I got the idea from the talented artist Angie http://angiehallhaviland.typepad.com/angiesartfulllife/ she uses a bamboo tile and makes a transfer to lay on the tile. They are ever so awesome!

I gave this particular one to Robin whom I have known forever as my parents and her parents had a lot of grand times together! We actually all have many stories we could share about those times!

My mother's cat, Rosie, is named after Robin's mom as that is who gave mom the cat. Fortunately Rosie the human has a much kinder and gentler way about her than that darn cat!

love you all,

ja-who-dee

romper bomper stomper stu . . .

2007-08-09T13:49:00.001-04:00

Okay, I'm pretty sure that isn't how the "Romper Room" little saying went, but hey, I don't really remember to much from my childhood . . . which drives my sister Mary nuts . . . How can you not remember that . . . she'll say . . . but anyway, it went something like that.

My friend Barb Burkard over at 123 Lavender Lollipop Lane http://www.123lavenderlollipoplane.blogspot.com/

nominated me to be a Rockin' Girl blogger . . . . now I'm suppose to nominate 5, but to tell the truth . . . just about all the blogs I visit regularly already have been honored! What's a girl to do?!

I just think you ALL ROCK, whether you have your own blog or not!

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Takin' Care Of Business

2007-08-09T13:36:00.000-04:00

You get up every morning
From your alarm clock's warning
Take the 8:15 into the city There's a whistle up above
And people pushin',
people shovin'
And the girls who try to look pretty
And if your train's on time
You can get to work by nine

this is a recycled collage. I made this quite some time ago for a lottery drawing at ARTchix Studio Ya-Ya-Sisterhood group. To tell the truth, I don't even remember who I ended up sending it to . . . . someone very awesome I am sure!!!!!!!

Denise Barclay Video

2007-08-07T06:42:00.001-04:00

An on-line obit/video for Kit. It is very nice. Awesome song choices!

http://videos.yourtribute.com/viewtribute.asp?fh=keckcoleman&mv=Denise_E_Barclay.html

Bye Bye Sweet Kitty . .

2007-08-06T12:07:00.000-04:00

My heart swells with grief, but my mind cannot find the path to my hands to type out the words to express my grief. I found comfort in the below poetry, and hope that those of you who knew and loved Kitty can find some quiet peace in it too.

Bye bye sweet Kitty, I will miss you, but know that you are no longer in pain, and you have taken the hand of God and will be waiting for me when I too must take his hand and begin the journey.

Hugs and Kisses,

ja-who-dee

Don't grieve for me,
for now I'm freeI'm following the path God laid for me
I took His hand when I heard Him callI turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,
to laugh,to love, to work or play.
Tasks undone must stay that way
I've found that peace at the close of the day.

If parting has left a void,
then fill itwith remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times,a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all to brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and share with me,
God wants me now,
He set me free.

~

Colors of the Wind . . .

2007-08-03T07:24:00.000-04:00

Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind

Hazel sang the song "Colors Of The Wind" for her very first Talent Show at Fulton Elementary. She was in the first grade. We got her a little white "Indian Dress" and had to put her red hair in braids because "That's how
Pocahontas wears it mom". She was the cutest little red headed Indian :*) :*)

In a few weeks Hazel will be begining the fourth grade. sigh. Time passes by so quickly!

HEALING . . .

2007-08-02T09:10:00.001-04:00

Whatever you ask for in Prayer with faith you will receive.

Matthew 21:22

Hope . . .

2007-08-01T15:00:00.001-04:00

Keeping hope alive is based on remembering how we made it through the past with God's help.

~Sister Joan Chittister

Again, I would like to thank you all for your wonderful emails and prayers during this difficult time for my husbands family. Your prayers are felt and greatly appreciated! I for one am not giving up hope!

Love you all,

Ja-who-dee

Whispered Wishes

2007-07-30T07:38:00.001-04:00

Inside this little house is a little girl with a bottle filled with glittery glass that represent the whispered wishes and prayers for Kitty that Hazel and I uttered inside.

Although I haven't had a chance to answer so many of your emails, know that I feel the love and comfort you have sent. I also can feel the warmth of your wonderful prayers. We are very blessed to have such loving family and friends. Thank you all so much for your continued support in this sad time.

Love, kisses, and hugs

ja-who-dee

thirsty soul

2007-07-26T07:20:00.000-04:00

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"

J.K. ROWLING - Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

The Dirigible Plum

2007-07-25T08:59:00.001-04:00

In JK Rowling's supposible last Harry Potter book . . . Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows . . .

Rowling writes about the drigible plums which are described as looking like orange radishes. These little plums are worn as adornments to . . .

. . . enhance the ability to accept the extraordinary . . .

Oh how I wish I had a bush outside my door!