I Am At The Beach!

THE room I have here is very large for one person. (Please note: The photo at the left does not depict the motel. Keep reading.) There is a fold-out couch and king-size bed. Three pillows plus my dependable one from home. Gas fireplace. Windows all around. (No ocean view, but I do overlook the courtyard on one side and the next door pub's back yard, which like everything in Cannon Beach is planted with the most wonderful, gigantic flowers. (The calla lilies are in bloom: can you hear the Katharine Hepburn in my voice?) The most wonderful smells come from the pub. Not beer, but garlicky, oniony somethings frying in a pan.
It was pure glorious May sunshine for the trip over, which was nice for driving the rough roads that have just been patched and cleaned up (a bit) since the horrible, awful, ghastly winter snowstorms. When I arrived the coastline was overcast - not unusual at all - and around 6 p.m. the "mist" began.
There is a television and DVD player here, with free movies in the lobby to pick up, but so far I've avoided that flickering box and devoted my time to tea and finishing "Eat, Pray, Love." It was an OK book. I'm going down to the car soon to find "Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress." I think it might be more my speed than following someone from continent to continent as they search for their next boyfriend. (I'm being really mean. Gilbert's descriptions of Balinese ceremonies and way of life were great. Her description of the Yogic path was terrific! "We have failed to recognize our deeper divine character. ... Yoga is the effort to experience one's divinity personally and then to hold on to that experience forever." However, I do think the book could have been shorter.)
Well, on to other things: I brought all of my art journaling supplies with me but didn't anticipate such a long haul from the car to the second story room I have. Not much table space and I wonder if the maids will "report" me tomorrow when they find the area covered with newspaper and gesso drying? Oh, well, I paid good money for the room and I'll be careful.
And regarding the photo above: When I left home I stopped on the journey (actually turned around and went back!) to take a picture of a truly majestic leaning barn amidst a field of red clover. However, the cord to get that photo onto this computer from my camera does not work, so you will have to make do with Carl Sandburg's cousin's nephew's barn - femminismo

PHOTO: Old barn on Charlie Kran's farm, a cousin of the poet Carl Sandburg. Taken by photographer Allan Grant, February 1953, in Galesburg, Illinois. Published in Life magazine.

Marathon Art Journaling Class.

DID I mention I was teaching an art journaling class on Saturday, May 16? Well, it happened! From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. three students and I joined together to make paint fly. Using techniques I discovered on my own, some from a Judy Wise workshop and others from discoveries on other blogs, we had a great deal of fun. From the over view of our art area you can tell we had plenty to work from.
Sue, Jo Ann, Merrie and I talked and exchanged ideas and discussed the merits of all sorts of paint and whether gesso or matte gel was best for our purpose. I posted the very few "rules" for art journaling in this picture and Merrie awarded me a "Hot Flash" lady for doing the class. Thank you! She's very cute!
I had an annual report folder that I had begun working on at home and decided to bring this "repurposed" folder to show what could be done with mail that' unwanted and unneeded but too darn good to throw away. The juices and thoughts and pictures and inspiration just took over and everything seemed to fall into line with what has been on my mind lately. I want to add a lot more to this and I think I'll be working on it when I'm not walking on the beach during vacation this week. I leave for the Oregon coast tomorrow.
Note: I altered this post a bit. At the top, on the left-hand sidebar, is a slide show on Picasa, of the "Anticipated Stranger" journal. When you click on it it will open the Picasa album. You can see the pictures by sliding the magnification bar at the top of the Picasa page. (It's small; look hard.)
And here are some images Sue in our class did, detailing the romantic first days she and her husband were getting to know each other.
I think everyone had fun. I know I did - femminismo
p.s. After class I went to our Creative Inspirations and carved stamps with Dawn Sellers. It was great fun. Click on her name above and see the stamps she did. We are meeting now at Art on a Lark in Hillsboro, a wonderful store/gallery full of paper, stamps, art classes and more.

More Art Journaling ... Somewhere In Here!

YES indeedy! Somewhere on this table there is art journaling going on. I am hard at work turning the book on Beethoven into a book on Me. (Christy had asked about the self-portrait in it that looked like Beethoven. "If it's a book about Beethoven, isn't it OK if it looks like him. Actually, you were correct in adding "unless it's supposed to look like you." It was supposed to be me, but I think it looks rather mannish. Oh, well, I'm working on self-portraits. It will all come about in due time, I suppose.) And the book is - again, I say - very heavy. I will weigh it tomorrow and record the poundage - before it's finished sometime in 2011. Then I'll weigh it again after!
And somewhere else on this table (look hard and you will see) is a packet addressed to Candace. Her scarf - her swag - is atop it and, Candace, I really am trying to keep it clean for you! I know you need it. What is the temperature there? Is it 70 degrees F? You poor thing.
Well, hopefully tomorrow it will be in the mail if all the ink is dry.
Today, in the mail for me, two books showed up: "Taking Flight," by Kelly Rae Roberts, and "Mixed Media Self-Portraits," by Cate Coulacos Prato. (Free shipping since I spent enough buckaroos.) I'm saving so much money here I might be able to buy myself more flowers.
I want to set aside some time to sit and really read these books and not just flip through them.
Also, my good friend, Barb, in Michigan, sent me some pictures of the bags she makes from recycled wool clothing. I am hoping to get one of these someday. I have no patience for material and sewing. She, however, is very talented at this! She sent me several pictures, but I love the colors on this one especially.
Well, guess what? It's time to go. Nice talking with you - femminismo