I Hoard Paper or I Heart Paper? (both)

I've been collecting scraps of paper, playing cards, old tickets, stamps, appliance manuals, and on and on for the last 20 years.
My treasure is housed in 20 drawers, all neatly labeled and sorted.

All these interesting paper bits make me feel quite rich.

I'm gathering up a big envelope full to take to Nebraska.
I feel this kind of open excitement, kind of the thrill one gets before you have struggled with the images in the painting. It feels like anything can happen, there is an open space for "it" to happen. I'm getting tired of getting ready. I just want to go.
Hope it's sunny where you are...

What do you want?

After 57 Christmas holidays on this planet I am sure of one thing... "wanting" is a complex emotion. This year I had two strong experiences of "wanting". I had an overwhelming desire to have everyone I cared about, both living and deceased to be present with me for a few hours. I just MISSED everyone. Really missed everyone.

"Wanting" number two involved pacing up and down the grocery aisle looking at the cute puffy white guy on the cinnamon roll package. I just wanted to unroll the package and see the little buns pop out. This is exactly the type of thing my mom wouldn't buy when we were kids. Ginger is so good to me, she just looked at them and silently preheated the oven.

What did you want, logical or illogical this Christmas?

How to make a puppet (and me) happy...

Olive got amazing gifts in the mail yesterday. Mona made her the cutest little hat and scarf that fit PERFECTLY!

And... a boa that has all the dolls in the studio vying for a try on. Good thing Olive is sweet and generous and will share with all.

And... she loves her warm little grey shawl with a pretty turquoise clasp.

Olive is only a little puppet living in the large world. She's missing paint on her hair and most of her little felt hands. She doesn't seem to mind these indignities. She has this inner glow and sweet smile that makes me happy.

Oh, Mona, what an amazing present.
Olive will be so well dressed for the Nebraska weather and photo opportunities.
Thank you so much!

A very happy puppet tonight!

Olive is always happy, but tonight she is really happy! I won't say much more except to say there will be photos tomorrow eve.
Let's just say that now she is ready to go to Nebraska!!!

Now this was fun!

Happy 13th birthday Ms. M.!!!
I save most scraps of paper, greeting cards and ephemera that comes my way. I LOVE when I have an opportunity to use my materials stash. I made M. this banner of collages last night.
For you Eugene folks did you know MECCA collects materials like these and re-uses them for all kinds of projects with kids and adults? It's such a great organization. I keep an ongoing MECCA bag and I drop in interesting pieces of un-recyclable plastic, yogurt containers, old cards I'm not going to use, strange pieces of metal and wood I find and on and on.

The Holiday Season

It rains and rains and we haven't seen the sun for a few days. Monty is so bored, I know he is saying "aren't we ever going for a walk?"

Our funny little fake tree is up. It's lights help a lot to brighten my mood.

This is a message to myself to slow down. I'm trying to get "everything" done at work and at home before I leave in January. Impossible!

Latest Book Obsessions

Probably most who are reading this have read the Anne Rice vampire novels. I always seem to come late to good things...
I don't like scary books. I don't read mysteries because I don't want to be afraid when I go to bed at night. These novels aren't frightening, they are just delicious and amazing.

Here is what she says about her books:
"My vampire novels and other novels I’ve written... are attempting to be transformative stories… All these novels involve a strong moral compass. Evil is never glorified in these books; on the contrary, the continuing battle against evil is the subject of the work."

Rich, rich, rich... ok who out there has read the Vampire Chronicles and what did you think?

Ginger's positive attitude

Up until today it was freezing here... lows in the single digits. It was a great opportunity to try out my new long underwear, fleece lined shoes, and Mona's wonderful hats and scarves.

Today I'm looking out the studio windows at this bag sitting on the fence and remembering Ginger's words... "you know, it's really easy to pick up frozen dog poop". Truly, it's the small things in life that can make your day.

I haven't been making art the last couple weeks. But I am "getting ready" and gathering supplies which is a lot of fun. The words that friends have been sending me are sparking lots of ideas. If you haven't sent me a noun, a verb and an adjective (they don't have to make sense or be a sentence) I'd love to have them. (are you there A?)

Oh my! It's a pink Barbie tree!

W found this 3 foot, sparkly Barbie tree at a garage sale for two dollars. It does win the prize for the wildest birthday gift! Today it came to work with me where it will decorate our office. L gave me great colored glass balls to hang on it. The tin was from Aggie and says "Wonderful" on the front and is filled with all kinds of cookies.
I'm still enjoying my birthday...

Short timer's syndrome

Christmas? Holidays? oh, yes... the here and now? work? I am having a bit of a hard time focusing on the here and now. Except for today... it was so cold here the high was 32 and the low tonight is supposed to be 11 degrees! yikes! I think the universe may be making me practice for staying warm in Nebraska. Here I am wearing the coolest little scarf that my friend Mona made me. And... as Ms. Mona suggested, it won't fall into the paint. And, amazing, it's made me feel nice and toasty. Thank you Mona!

Only 3 more years until I am 60!

Ahh... what a lovely 57th birthday I am having. I had a very fun time making this LARGE german chocolate cake with at least 5,000 grams of fat per serving.
Tomorrow, photos of amazing gifts.
I feel very blessed and fortunate.