Muertos Promenade

Last year at this time I was in Albuquerque in the Dia de Muertos parade. It was stellar; an experience to remember. This year I wanted to see how it would go in my small town. Two friends joined me. We carried handsome info cards as educational tools as well as parasols edged with pompoms.
I love an event! I love making life special. Its what I did as a children's librarian and hope to continue as I transition to a full time artist-maker.
Its back to making next week. I think mosaics need my attention. Lots of fish to grout.

I don't know until I try!

Is what I say when I try something and it doesn't work. Yesterday I tried sauteing radishes because I read that they can taste like potatoes. (I really miss potatoes but now I am a Keto-Eater and potatoes have too many carbohydrates) THEY DON'T TASTE LIKE POTATOES! So all that good butter right in to the compost! Ah well the microorganisms will enjoy them!
Same with the brilliant idea I have to re-make a wide-brim-inexpensive-straw hat into a Boater.

Its because I want to wear one and I had the straw hat and found a tutorial and I love to make...so...The Boater is not done. But maybe it will work, but if I didn't try I wouldn't know.

Today's journal page led to new discoveries about surfaces! I love when that happens! I've been using stencils in unusual ways to add depth to plain paper backgrounds. I have been inking the stencil, misting the page and burnishing the stencil to transfer the negative area of the stencil. Its so beautiful to me.

Frida Dog calendar is nearly ready for photos! Its a low-tech job as is most everything I do.

Zip Pouches

50!
50 colorful zippers from Amazon! I shared half with my brilliant sister. She makes zip pouches of the most beautiful sort and inspired me to give it a try. Thought I could make pouches from my mountains of scrap fabric but it turns out I like to buy fabric that would make lovely zip pouches!
To get really good at something I must make about 50. Am only half way.
Fully lined.
Sweet. Sweet.

POOF! Journal Entry # 3997

Am visited by negative voices that tell me yuck about myself and my work. It seems to be a common occurrence. I understand the usefulness of such insights but many times its unproductive and dangerous. I really don't want to censor my ideas. I'd rather let them see the light of day and make them better.
Made a journal entry about it.
My creative energy (purple poof) has sent it scurrying!
Frida Dog calendar is all printed. I am waiting for the binding rings to come so I can bind them together.

My Dream Halloween

I have such high expectations of a deliriously fun Halloween. But I don't know what that looks like so I decided to ask myself and this is today's answer.

My Dream Halloween

It starts at the beginning of the month when we meet to talk about costume we want to make for ourselves. We make drawings and share ideas.

I decorate the house starting at the beginning of the month; designing the walled garden space as a spooky space where I can make a fire and enjoy the autumn weather when it finally breaks through.

Part of the Dream Halloween is story telling somewhere. It’s the opportunity to read Widow’s Broom by Chris van Allsburg.

On October 31, we would have dinner together, just a few people in costumes. We talk and laugh and enjoy each other’s company. We eat very delicious food. Then we walk around town. We walk through the cemetery. We walk the streets watching the littles trick or treating. When we are tired of walking we come back and sit around the fire in the dark chilly weather with wine and music.

That’s all.

Its nothing really is it? Its doable. 

Walking amongst the Bogies

Walking/living amongst the Bogies:
guilt 
fear 
sadness

Ghostification

The narratives of my work often include alternate planes. I like that idea.
There was a time when there seemed to be lots of hype about this sacred place and that sacred place and people were making pilgrimages to these "sacred" places. I guess to experience a transformation of consciousness. That hype  enraged me because, again, it shut lots of people OUT. Me included. Elitism.
Perhaps it was Joseph Campbell who started me thinking about the ever present opportunity for the transcendent. It was practical, free and available at all times to EVERYONE!
No commodification. Isn't that funny? Commodification of the sacred?

Last year's journal page.
I've never experienced a ghost. Ghosts are like characters in a story. I do know people who claim to have personal experiences with ghosts. Wait! Sometimes I find myself responding to something I hear my grandma saying or my father saying. Or old friends who have died.
But I've never seen a ghost.
Only heard them I guess.