Peace and Quiet

We took a few days to go upstate for some relaxation. This was a real do nothing get away. Sitting on the porch watching clouds go by. Listening to the sounds of nature. Watching and observing birds, rabbits... feeling the breeze. It was perfect weather. Very condusive to bringing me into bliss-state.
I did a little mandala art... a LOT of reading... a little shopping in Woodstock.. and eating the most delicious corn and salmon.. Thanks Jake :-)

Taking some walks by the "creek" to listen to the water, watching some tubers and these ducks. They were so cute and very fast.. especially when the tubers came!

This rabbit hung around almost every day. We shared space together, quietly.

Going into nature to spend some time is one of the most healing things we could have done. John was definitely more revitalized by it. A deep appreciation for this gift of time.. time to share with my son and his girlfriend... for John and me to share together without distractions - or not too many anyway...

peace and quiet.. what we need to give to ourselves more often.

No tv. No phone.

Away from doing.

Just being.

quiet.

Art Saves... Ily's journal

This is my page in Ily's canvas journal.
It took a while to get to but I finally had a day "off" from most obligations, work, appointments... and was determined to get some art done.
Our theme of "Art Saves.." has had me mostly focused on how it saves me, but with this I have been more focused on how it has saved us.. We who inhabit this amazing and beautiful planet.
We humans have always created some form of art and so that tells me Art is here for a reason. We need it in our lives. From the earliest cave drawings to our modern digital art and all of it in between... art has saved us.
It helps us to deal with all the external stuff that surrounds us.. all the chaos.. all painful experiences. But it also helps us with grasping the beauty that surrounds us, trying the capture and hold on to it.. Assimilate it into our being.
Art is not just for artists but it is for everyone. How can we not live with art in our lives?
Unimaginable.
So, this page, for Ily, is my message of art spreading out to the four corners of the earth, radiating with love for all of us.. for all of the earth.
May art in all it's magic always be a part of your life.
Namaste'

10x10 RR for Valeria

I added a rhinestone in the middle... didn't delete the bottom picture though...
Val sent a really nice watercolor book and some watercolors as well... but... I used my twinkling H2O's instead. I haven't used them in a while and just love them. What won't show up is the glimmer that have. I added a bit of gel pen too for some added sparkle and I'm also thinking that white spot in the middle may need a tiny rhinestone. I took out the pan pastels for the edges and on top of the writing. For you Valeria, hope you enjoy it. It is a window for you. Open it up and let all the beauty of the world flow in to you.
And may love always be there no matter what direction you travel.
Namaste'
Doreen

Carmen's book

I spent some time last night working in Carmen's book, finally getting to finish it. I find it kind of funny how I waited for her book because I had these intentions of what I was going to do...but you know how that goes! With all that was going on, my idea went south on me, so I decided to start with a mandala and work from there and just allow it to unfold. Isn't that the best way to approach art anyway :-)
Of course the sparkle won't show as well here.. but enjoy it my friend. Carmen is my inspiration in following my dreams and this work was a message for me to keep doing just that!

10x10 For Ily

Of course I made this in Ily's book and it is for her, but it is also for me. The hardest part of doing these books is making a decision on what to do, what materials to use. I've been in a collage mode lately, so I went with it. No matter what medium, there is always a message revealed to me later on. Someone else may get something else out of it, but I found certain things amusing - what my subconscious had to say...
After painting the background and spraying it with a bit of glittery spray which no doubt will not show here.. and then I ripped images, just stuff, randomly, but what I found interesting as well.
As I began layering and fitting things together, I tried to make it flow. I moved and rearranged things quite a few times until I found or it found its place.
Then the messages appeared.
The cycle of life, the different stages of existence. I found a paper mache' tree and put the paper bag "house" there on top. We owe our lives to trees. Our breath and so much more...
I guess it's mostly about transforming. We change. From our youthful days where time didn't matter to aging and holding on to our appearances. Painting our hair, surrounding ourselves in beauty. Everything changes.. new growth and then eventually death.
How do we remain calm, serene and how do we maintain the state of wonder, observing the miraculous life all around us.. Amazing beauty, amazing world we live in.. and then chaos strikes. Let's not forget that mind-boggeling chaos that surrounds us and we work so hard at figuring it all out. We lose our balance for awhile... and then, we come back home to ourselves. We see a bigger picture. We move through the fears and grow a deeper faith. There is a light, a divine light that enters us... touches us and it brings us back to the wonder and the miraculous life once again.
Trust. It is my message to trust the Universe.
It all flows together. We all feed off one another. We are touched by serendipitous moments... messages that call to us. Yes. You are on the path. You are ok. Trust.

Flow with it - don't resist. Play while you are here for it is a short journey.
Create.
Love.
Enjoy it all.
Namaste'

10x10 in Shay's book

I couldn't scan this as it cut off the edge, so I took a picture and not a very good one... oh well. Hopefully it's in Coby's hands at this point. Waiting for the next book.... I was torn on this and what I felt like doing, so I doodled around the edge and then just HAD to do a flower mandala.. Fireblossom :-) If it were still in my hands, I'd probably keep filling in the space. click on it for a closer look....

Art Saves RR - Gemma's book

A mandala for Gemma. Not totally sure I'm done with this, but I'm also trying not to clutter it up too much... I used metallic and pearl paint and added a bit of glitter glaze to the outside part, so I am sure this picture won't give the full impact of that. A clear heart gem for the center.
I focused on the heart chakra for this.. heart and hand. I almost used the daVinci quote: "Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art". Instead I spoke from my own heart :-)
Hope you enjoy this Gemma... and now to work on your tag.

The Reception

When the work is up and it's time to celebrate, this too becomes a favorite moment. I get to share with parents the joy of "playing" with their children.

They are so proud of their work. This municipal building holds two floors of their art and the kids get so excited going from floor to floor, finding their art and photos.

A budding romance???

I wonder who gets more joy... me or the kids...

Children's art show

These are a few of the boards that will be part of the children's art show this month. This is part of week of the young child. I hold art classes for preschoolers, and while working with them, I take photos of them.. because it's really all about the process. Along with the art and photos are quotes. If you click on the picture, you might be able to read them. These are only 4 of 32.. plus sculptures in a case. I so enjoy working with these children, capturing their moments of creative expression... one of the highlights of my work.

I give them black circles and shapes and let them explore... some are so typical of the mandala stage of their drawings.

Playing with clay is one of my favorites.. and beading. Such concentration in their faces. And the pure joy of discovering new things.

and then there is this printing project. I give them soft blocks in various shapes and let them "build" on paper. Of course being a messy project, this usually turns out the be one of the projects that produce the best pictures of colorful hands. Those I will save for the next post :-)

Today is our reception... looking forward to seeing these cutie-pies and their excitment. Kind of cool having your art exhibited at 3 years old!

10x10 Round Robin Journal

This is another, yes, a different round robin that I also joined. It has gotten me into the back room.. the art room that needs a major cleaning up! These get mailed out Monday for Coby to create in... "Have fun Coby" and then will move on to 8 more creative souls. I'll be posting here on this blog as books come through. It will be hard to do just one page, but will refrain myself. Sometimes it is just so hard to stop.

The problem lies in what to do.. which medium to choose. I started out painting, but also wanted to collage... but the pen, the zentangle/mandalas help to get me centered. They quiet my mind from the worlds distractions.

Thanks Ileana for inviting me to play. I needed it.

For Karen

In our RR canvas journals "Art Saves", I have received Karen's book. She did a page with a Klimt images and I love Klimt. It was immediately inspired when I saw her page and I knew I would use gold. My original idea though was something different.
Instead, it turned into the "klimt-style" tree. Unfortunately, metallic paint and glittery accents don't show up so nicely so you'll get to see it much better when it reaches your hands. (those participating, anyway)
I took a walk yesterday and it was so nice to see crocuses.. white, purple and tiny buds on the trees. I was thinking about how much I appreciate Spring after a challenging Winter.. You who live in paradise type environments where the weather is mild most of the year... I wonder if you take it for granted. Do you lose the magic of these small buds.. these tiny miracles of life!
I am in awe all over again. GREEEEEN!!!!! COLOR!!! LIFE!!
It's actually happening. Today I welcome Spring with wide open arms today at 1:32 pm.

A use for a box

This box held some yummy chocolate crunchy cookies given to me by a yoga student... best was the box! It has a magnetic clasp to hold it shut and it was a perfect size to hold the canvas book. It also contains a bag of "goodies" that you, the participants can draw from for whatever your heart desires to use it for.... and the sign in tag. It's not attached. I used a coffee filter for the pocket to hold colorful cards with various words on them. Pick one and sign in and play :-)
I put the box into a bag... one of those padded things from the PO, but "you" do what ever you need to do to send it, but I do want the box to stay nice... Maybe I'll paint it when it returns home.

Looking forward to the next journal................

RR - open spread and links :-)

Here's the second page in the RR canvas book. Needing some color, I think this is the antidote to Winter :-) This actually triggered the paint response in me.. I needed to keep painting, so I did. Picked up another canvas I started and then another.. I'll post those later on.
Snow day yesterday = art day.
Others participating... take a look :-)
Susie/Angie http://crinkleroot.blogspot.com/

Gemma/Linda http://gemmasjournal.blogspot.com/

shari http://teainbohemia.blogspot.com/

Serena http://dreamwiththefishes.blogspot.com/

Karen http://deldino.blogspot.com/

Lila http://artycollagesanddolls.blogspot.com/

Scarlet/Ileana http://littleredhare.blogspot.com/

Carmen http://heartandsoulgardening.blogspot.com/

Art Saves Lives - Round Robin

I'm participating in a Round Robin again... (getting over my fear of lost art)
I love doing this, but it broke my heart when another book disappeared with the last RR..
(But I'm over it :-)
and it's because art heals and it can save your life!
This is one page, the other is still in progress.
First some gesso and then I painted and I just HAD to use that stamp. I was in a painting mood mostly, but I did add fabric for the dress and the sign is stamped on card stock.
I'm not sure about the cover yet. Not sure if I want to do it now or later.
Now would mean it would be less bulky and most likely easier to deal with, but I may want to see the overall book and the flavor of it.. to tie it all in.
Still up in the air about it.
Most certainly, I will have fun with it!

Two sides of the coin

This is titled, "Angry Bird, Happy Fish"
Go ahead and find each one of them... maybe with just a tilt of the head.
Living this life of duality, we come upon situations and it is our response to them that brings about that feeling of peacefullness, contentment, the allowing and going with the flow... OR we resist, kick, scream, have a tantrum, worry, fear and move into doubt and want to hide under the covers.
Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it not. Why is it that at one time, I can easily accept, while other times I just cannot. I get frustrated, angry, become fearful, doubtful and wonder what the heck I am doing here?????????????
And then... shift... someone comes along and helps you... oh, life IS good again. It is a lesson in patience sometimes.. sometimes, faith, trust.
Sometimes the lesson is deeper and more time consuming. It causes us to slow down and take a look within. Something we haven't done in awhile. It makes us humble.
We needed to change our perspective.. we needed to grow.
What we once saw as the wrong side of the coin, was some blessing (in disquise) and it brought good changes. We just couldn't see it at the time.
We were too caught up in fear.
My prayer: to have fearless bliss.
But in order to move towards it, we need to move t h r o u g h the fear and come out the other side. Ok, it's scary, but I'll do it anyway... that kind of thing.
Two sides: love and fear... same coin. Have you loved something so deeply, but feared not having it, being rejected, losing it...
Maybe we need to love our fears. Tend to them, cradled them and bless them... say, "it's ok, but we are going to try anyway, because I love much more than I fear."
Today I am a happy fish :-)

I am back :-)

So there! you nasty little mean thing that was hidden in the computer.. take that! I now have an amazing computer guru....Thanks Hugo :-)

Miss you blogger

I have not fallen off the face of the earth.. I just don't have my computer and even when I did have it, I could not get onto blogger.. why? I haven't a clue. I sure don't like not having access either. I will persist, though.
Until I figure this out.. have fun out there :-)

Return to the Sacred

I decided to return to the practice of Sacred Life Sundays. It's been pretty crazy for awhile and blogging hasn't been the top priority, even though I love it.

One issue has been the computer itself. I'm not going to dwell on all the "wrong" stuff.. or let's say the challenges.

Rather, I will be thankful for all the good that goes on in my life.

Here's one of them.. my work.

The ultimate pleasure of watching children create.. discovering that the spiral fits perfectly inside that hole in the square! How joyful it is watching children play, explore, and allowing the messiness of it all.

How blessed my life is to be doing work with these children.

It is the time of the year to look back and see how many blessing I have actually had..

The art show with my husband who sold his first piece of art.

Not bad for his first showing!!!!

Getting closer to family. With the death of my sister in law, I have come to know my mother in law on a much deeper level and have had the blessing of her wisdom bestowed on us.

Being grateful and saying thank you to all of it.. even the stuff that is challenging, because that is where we grow.

My brother stayed at my mom's awhile, and it was so nice to have him around. I love talking to my brother, sharing our ideas, experiences.. helping each other work through "stuff".

It was so great having him here, helping with the caretaking of our mom.

And that is only the beginning....

A new venue...

The work is down from the gallery and now it moves on to the town house.. into the case in the lobby. Anyone living in Harrison, NY or the surrounding area can take a peek if they missed the first show... Recycle into Art, the reincarnation of the cigar box...

The Show is up :-)

Art Exhibit pictures are here

A quick update...

Since we've gotten back from vacation, dear hubby and I have been focused on our collaborative exhibit.
It's at Masterpiece Framing on Halstead Ave. in Harrison... just in case you're nearby and would like to stop by.
After the show, I'll put up the pictures of my work. They are assemblages and shrines and I am having a blast in creating them. Ideas transform, each morphing into something else - inspiring even more ideas. LOVE IT!
I've begun my art classes and I'm back to yoga as well, both holding some surprises for me.
Expect the unexpected... Uranus... opposing Saturn. Still holding on to some old "stuff".
But life is good.. moving along in an interesting manner.
Merc being in retrograde will be blamed for me not getting on my blogs again. I'm at my MIL's house using the computer there. Thus, no pictures.
I really don't like blogging without pictures, and I rather not blog at all without them.
BUT... these blogs need an update, b a d l y.... and here I am.
so... get off the computer and go create something :-)

Woodstock

Where else?

"Talisman" store window (one of my favorite stores in Woodstock)

a most colorful town. a fun place, but I have been saddened by some of the "missing" stores. Bead store is gone :-(

but a new photography gallery opened up :-)

Changes.

Hanging out :-)
Having fun, eating great food at Oriole 9 and finding the best books at Maribai.


Peace.

Done.

Camp was a struggle for me this year.. too many things going on, with little "down" time for myself. The time we all need to restore and renew ourselves.. It had it's moments though....

It was when I had fun creating with the kids. We made power sticks. I told them with these "sticks" came the responsibility to take care of the Earth. They created the sticks with intention, using animal skin paper to represent the different energies that they represented to them and each feather represented a different element... I love working with children and watching the power that play has on them. Allowing them to create and to be able to play. It's wonderful to watch... and I found myself getting pulled into it myself. Playing.. yelling out "POWER!"

and teaching them how important it was to take care of the Earth.. Water.. Air..

Talking and listening to them.. what their favorite animal was, the use of Sun as power.

This is where my heart lies. This is what I've come to realize this summer: That my heart lies in teaching, healing, creating with children... on my own terms. More on that later.

Vacation beckons me now. I am off to restore in the mountains and by the stream, finding my balance again.

I'm baaaaaaaaaackk

I've been doing a mandala a day now.. not sure how many day's but it's been steady and haven't skipped a day. They're small but sometimes so intricate they take a bit of time and other times, quick.
Yesterday, I went back to some and added to them. I love mandalas. They bring peace to me. Quiet. A stillness that I can use to help me center.
The above is called, A gift for you and done in sharpies. They smell too much and don't really like using them, but I love the smoothness of the color applied.

This is called Showering you with love. Unfolding my love - unraveling it, opening up to you and showering down upon you all that love that fills my heart. I think we are not always aware of how much love we have stored inside until we open up and let loose and we surprise ourself.. More.. more... keep it flowing. Feed the seeds and let those blooms open up and shower even more love.
So now, I have more blogs than I can probably handle but right now, I am soo very happy!!!

Moved :-)

Come see me at http://doegrozart.wordpress.com for the main blogging and for my art, mandalas mostly... go to http://mandalas4me.wordpress.com
I really miss these blogs but until I figure out what I did and fix it, I'll be blogging over at wordpress... and hey, I may just stay there...
I cannot access my blogs, accept (or deny) any comments either on my own computer. I'm at the library which is why I am here.
Come by to say hi... I'm still figuring out the new blog, but I did put up my felted bag, so come see. It's at the mandala blog.

Mercury Retrograde!

Most of the retrogrades, I get by without too much of a problem, but I've been WHAMED! by this one.... I'm not on my own computer which is why I can access it. I cannot sign in... what comes up is that it cannot be displayed. Tried all sorts of ways, but no dice!
Yeah. this #%@*!
First my car died, then the computer had this bogus virus detector that I couldn't get rid of. It sounded like a wild chicken and scared the shit out of you... had to mute it :-)
I did get rid of it by restoring the computer and am thinking maybe that is what I need to do again. ... very frustrating.
I won't go into too much of the other stuff happening in life, but just wanted you all to know, I miss my blogging and I'm not giving up!
Life!
If you leave me a comment, I can get it in my email, but won't be able to add the comment - approve it... but hey, you out there in blogland.. if you know of any way to get my blogs back, try to leave the comment and we'll see what happens.
May Mercury be kind to you!
Peace and Love

Missing something...

This is my cousin "driving" the elephant. I haven't been blogging for awhile, mostly because I've been busy working on projects, teaching classes, taking care of family. I try to sneak in some art here and there, but what I have right now are a bunch of half-finished projects sitting in the art room... waiting patiently for my return. For the most part, it's because my room became too cluttered.
I did go back there yesterday, but it was mostly to excavate my closet. The path to it was blocked with bags of stuff. Stuff from classes, bags of paints from various client's projects, bags of stuff from camp!
I found stuff :-) my ribbon hole punch that I wondered where it was. I found more paint, fabric, beads, and all sorts of bits of stuff.
Good news is I probably don't need to do any more shopping for classes for the rest of the school year and doing this cleansing triggered the creative mind. I can also get to my closet.
Maybe that is why I was "clogged"... physically (nose congestion) and creatively! (This is the creativity center- Feng Shui)
So many projects came to a halt and just sat there.
Something is missing.. but what?
I'm missing adventure what my thought.
I told John I needed to do something exciting. When he asked me what I thouht it was, I felt at loss for what it is I actually want.. is it travel? or is it just the need for some major project to be passionate about. (like the art show that I just did)
This time last year and the year before I was with my friend in Peru. I love Peru, but I don't think I need to go back there... and not sure if there is another place calling me.
Maybe it is art I'm missing.
I had visions of painting off and on during the night.. not sure if I were dreaming or just having visions, but I think it is a call that needs to be answered. I'm sure I'll find the answers there as I usually do... I'm pretty sure it's not driving an elephant though.

Thank you for your beauty

Are you here?

Are you finally here???
I think I have never appreciated Spring more in my entire life!

And now, it is time to face the sun and move forward.

Awaken from the deep slumber of winter and gather up all those thoughts and ideas and manifest them into the most amazing works of art!

YES!

You ARE here!

Uncle Sal

My Uncle Sal died on Ash Wednesday at 98 years old. His beloved wife had gone before him, leaving him alone (kind of) and I think he waited for this day to finally be with her.

Together again.

I looked for a picture I had of him, holding me as a young child.

I remember dancing with him in my grandmother's living room, me standing on his shoes, carrying me along with each step.

He told me once that he liked being with me when he came here because he did not speak english and I hardly spoke at all, but I always agreed with him.

He smiled a lot. Laughed a lot.. always had the smoothest skin.

And he, like my grandfather had figs.

They were the master gardeners, always giving us surprises from their gardens...

but the figs, they were the best!

So, I decided to post pictures of the figs.

You will always be remembered as being as sweet as they were.

Yes, that's a NO

Yes comes out of my mouth more often than not... thus, I usually overcommit. Yes is good and nice and friendly and a part of the wanting experience. I want to try everything (safe :-) and saying yes also helps me to push the boundaries and try to reach out of my safety zone regarding art. I'm not a risk-taker physically.
Sometimes No means yes... Yes to myself. How appropriate this came in my mailbox this morning from Susan Gregg:
"If we can't say no to people we aren't really able to say yes either. If we aren't comfortable putting ourselves first, if we aren't willing to love ourselves enough to do say no, we can't freely say yes. If we don't love ourselves we can't really love others either. Give yourself permission to say NO so you can say yes to the magic and wonders of life.
With love and aloha,
Susan
"This stuff seems like brainwashing," said the student."Your brain needs washing," replied the teacher.http://susangregg.com/meditationvideo.htm

She headed it with "No is a complete sentence". Love it. Simple. No explanations or whining.. just say no. No meaning yes.. to me that is.
This morning I gave myself a little bit of yes time.
and the ideas and inspiration came flooding in.
centered.
focused.
being with myself.
such a wonderful gift....
today give yourself some YES or No.. depends on how you look at it.
Love and Light,
Doreen

Full Moon

Coming out of Traders, this big luminous moon followed us home. Beautiful watching it peak behind trees and pinkish clouds, balance on house tops and light up our bedroom last night.
A lunar eclipse too happened this morning. It actually happened in my 12th house..at 21 degrees Leo...
What mysteries will be unveiled with this moon?? This is the house of secrets. It's also the house of the mystical and spiritual... tonight I receive the DayKeeper's Rite, the 5th of the Munay Ki rites. The house of emotions rather than the head, so I'm expecting to "get it" on a deeper emotional level.
May your day be FULL of blessed events.

Solar Return

My very cute husband knocked on the door yesterday evening.. holding a dozen roses and a chocolate cake :-) Today is my birthday and I get to look at these beauties all day long...
I'm feeling that this year will be an exceptionally good one. Jupiter is in Aquarius for the year and in my 5th house of creativity hanging out with my sun... Expansion is key word for Jupiter.
So my goals are to be expansive in my art.. to be courageously colorful.. fully expressive. As art should be.
I've got lots going on.. dolls, mandalas, art journals, oil painting and a "green" project that I'll share later on. My classes are expanding and I may even open up a new preschool class. People still call me for yoga classes.. EXPANSION!
Yesterday, I was at a client's house exploring various ideas in creating in her home. Lots of work there for me.. and fun stuff.
I had someone ask me if I was being effected by the economy.. I looked at her and said "in a good way"... my classes grew from last session. I have a belief. Live rightly. Do the best you can. Be honest. Offer something for the good of humanity and don't rip people off.
I am rich in love and friendships and work that I love and that is all that matters.
I'm working on my abundance dolls... yes, two. Mostly because it allows me options to try stuff that I may not do if I only had one.. and I may make more.
New class in Shrines is next with Chaska.
and now to go smell the roses............

Allow

In Mandala Oasis group, we discussed choosing a word for the new year.. simple one word or small phrase.

Mine is Allow. I chose it because it helps me to be more in the present moment and not resist what is going on in the present time. Being here Now and not regretting or worrying which takes one into the past and future.

I tend to be more future oriented. There have been times when I truly regretted stuff, and could get stuck in the past here and there, but for the most part, I drop it.

I am more into wanting to know, wanting to prepare as best I can for the future... and we all know how THAT goes :-)

"Man plans, God laughs" by some wise person.

Allowing helps me to Be. It's that state one gets into when creating, so absorbed, all else fades into the background. Time becomes no-time.

It's interesting how when one focuses on something, the Universe responds in like... all the more reason to focus on the good stuff. Today I opened an email from yesterdays extremely busy mailbox. It is an Abraham-Hicks quotes:

We would like you to release the word "achieve" or "earn" from your vocabulary and from your understanding, altogether, and we would like you to replace those words with the word "allow". You're wanting to allow your Well-being, not achieve it. It's not something that you need to earn. All you have to do is decide what it is you would like to experience, and then allow it in order to achieve it. It isn't something you have to struggle for or try for. You are all worthy beings. You are deserving of this Well-being.

I chose allow to keep me grounded and not feel overwhelmed by stuff. When I look at the big picture, seeing all that needs to be done, anxiety creeps in.. Allowing helps me put one foot in front of the other. Be with what I am doing. The rest takes care of itself.

No sense in worrying about tomorrow and what I have to do before then, because sometimes the Universe throws us a curve ball and gives us a blizzard instead.

Allowing releases stress. It brings acceptance. It helps to bring one to appreciate the cycles of life, following the seasons, resting when it's appropriate and moving when it's time.

Allowing helps me to be who I am. Allowing my Self to Be - To Shine......