Monday, May 29, 2006

Remembering...

These lilies were over five feet tall!
Today was a quiet Memorial Day, spent with my mum and keeping my dad close in little ways throughout the day...laughing over the joke he would have loved ...realizing that he would have loved the fish and chips at Ivar's ...shaking our heads at how he put together the papers my mum would need when he passed away, but forgot to show to her ...laughing at finally finding the strongbox keys he so carefully hid and then failed to tell mum where they were ....seeing the folded flag behind his urn and remembering he was a Korean War vet ...sniffing the beautiful irises in mum's garden and remembering how much he loved to watch the buds until they bloomed. Mum called him her "Iris Voyeur." Every day he would go out first thing in the morning to check the buds and then report to her about every one that had bloomed. Sometimes she'd even catch him out in the garden with a flashlight in the evening, checking he buds!

Each little thing remembered today - so like my dad, and so helpful at bringing him closer. It is those little things that make up remembrances of those we love. I pray you found many little ways to remember the veterans who have blessed your lives.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Anticipation...

...is looking forward to seeing a faraway friend in less than a month. My friend Heather is coming for the Art Fiber Fest in four weeks! I cannot wait to see her, as it has been over a year and a half since we last saw each other. Heather and I met online and we became friends online. When we first met in November 2004 at a Bead Art retreat, we knew instantly who the other one was. What a wonderfully funny time we had at that retreat! Since then, we talk to each other and watch our favorite TV shows via Instant Messenger at least twice or three times a week. It has been a wonderful and inspiring and supportive friendship. Getting to spend some time together while she is here will mean so much to me...

And - and - I get to meet Joleen, because she's coming to AFF too! Heather and Joleen are partners in crime, and the editors and creators of Portals. Portals is an art zine, full of ideas and inspiring articles by all kinds of artists. The second edition is coming soon. Which reminds me...I better go order mine...


...and then I better get cracking on this mess of an apartment I call home. Let's see...where to start?? AGH! Would that I were wealthy and had a "staff" to help me clean. As it is, all I have is Annie, and she ain't helping much!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

I Have a Secret...

I was going to blog about my stooopid car today, but I just get too bummed whenever I think about it. Instead, I thought I'd share a little secret....

I realized the other day that I really love being helpful to people. I was thinking about this as I walked to the bus stop this morning, and I believe I've discovered the secret to paying it forward. It's not about getting any recognition, nor is it about getting anything back from the person I've helped. For me, it's simply that wonderful warm glow that comes when I just made someone else's day a wee bit brighter. It's kind of like a hug I give myself!

I don't even have to do anything huge, like giving away money. The simplest things that make someone's life easier can be so wonderful. Flagging down a school bus for the little girl desperately chasing after it... Picking up an item that someone doesn't even realize they dropped and handing it to them... How cool is that? Perhaps these are one of those "best things in life" that are free!

Now Sassy's Mum says...Sayings from my English mother that really need to be written down somewhere!

Well, my dear...needs must when the old man drives! (one of my personal favorites)

Monday, May 22, 2006

UFOs* (No, Not the Flying Kind!)

Hellebore rock *Unfinished objects

I'm one of those creative types who have lots of projects in various stages of completion. Some I am anxious about finishing as soon as possible, and some I wonder if I will ever complete. Perhaps this head full of ideas is some type of ADD; I seem to be so easily distracted by bright and sparkly things. I get excited about an idea, and I must explore it immediately. I have never been one who could finish one thing at a time! That's too organized and efficient for me!

So - my question is, if I share a UFO (unfinished object) here on my blog, will it give me more incentive to complete it? Will it make me feel responsible to my audience (assuming I eventually have one) to have something to show for myself? Or will I come to resent the thing as it stares back at me each time I look at it...unfinished, incomplete, laughing at my inability to see the thing through...

Hmmm...I'll have to try it and see what happens! I'd also love to know if anyone else has any thoughts about this idea. For now, however, I'll show you a picture of one of my completed projects. This is actually a rock, which I covered with peyote-stitched beads. Then I made the hellebore flower for the top. The rock now resides in a silver artist's home, in a shrine of precious objects. I traded him for a beautiful silver and lampwork glass necklace. It was my first trade, and I felt so flattered that someone would think so much of my little piece that they would want to trade with me!

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Hey, It's Me!


OK - after much procrastinating, and much nagging by my online friends (you know who you are!), I am finally taking the plunge and joining the blogging crowd. I don't know if I have anything momentous to say, but I often have random thoughts that it would be nice to put down somewhere. I am also a prolific beader, and I dabble a lot in mixed media projects. If it's OK with everyone, I will share my results, as I am often very pleased with what I made! I also like to take pictures with my digital camera, especially of gardens and flowers.

In my other life, I am a technical writer. Now, being adept at technical writing does not necessarily mean I am a great creative writer, but perhaps blogging on a fairly regular basis will help me polish my skills...we shall see, eh?

So - here goes... these are lillies in my mum's garden, just one of the many she has planted. Aren't they lovely? Later this week, I will try to get a picture of some of her peonies that just bloomed...they are just beautiful!