Bearly Noted

3 Pages a Day: On to Jan. 30

2012-01-30T05:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, I Was Beautiful Back in 2011

Greetings-

Yes, it's hard to change horses in mid-stream. No, I've never tried it, but it seems reasonable. This month I changed Challenge in early-stream, though not on purpose. The brain started out almost O.K., I did make soon Brave (for me) moves, and then Forgot to Remember The Task....

What did start in early January, and has continued steadily, has been scribbling something (3 pages) in the Marvel Superheroes journal every day. Yes, persistence in at least one area of life! Woo hoo! The writing is not brilliant, some is bitchy moany, some is Yes, I've Decided to Live. Some is the noting that, yes, a frozen tea bag will help bring down the puffiness under one's eyes - whew, some is listing of You Tube subjects that keep me semi-happy: Chuck Close interviews, Monthy Pithon stuff, Hank Williams, Dire Straits, Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, Tim Burton inverviews, Jim Dine interviews, TED Talks, etc etc. My life is etc.-ery. that's just the way it is. And noting of the addiction to the Roz Wound Up blog.

The first meeting of our "What We Need Is Here" group is scheduled for 9 - 12 this morning. A fine group of multi-purposed folks take over a room at The Phipps Center for the Arts. Each meeting is different and usually excellent, thanks to fearless leader, Anastasia. The group has been around for four years - this will be my second as a member. We have learned to make journals, how to ask and listen, learned from experts in a variety of fields, read and discussed two books, took some field-trips, and all in all had a fine high-quality time. I feel lucky to be part of the gang.

Have the Courage to Bloom in New Ways This Year!!

I should be heading out soon, just because I like to spend a bit of time at a Hudson coffee-shop before heading to the Phipps. A few minutes sitting with coffee, paper, pen, and no pressure. And the thought that I could buy a pastry if I wanted one. This will not happen today because the typing is going along O.K. (I'm settling for lots of O.K.s in life lately, because they are better than "badly.") "If I'm not dead I'm O.K." - one of my new mottos. Now to live up to it.

These Giant Guys Perked Up Our Patio in 2011

Gardening is both a long and short time away. These photos are posted to give up Hope. There are so many kinds of plants. Some for eating. Some to simply enjoy or bring awe. This year I plan to increase plantings of sunflowers, and maybe even more basils. (Now that I can make a decent pesto. Thanks to an artist friend with a lovely pesto recipe.)

On To The Grand Adventure

So.... no, I haven't written the three pages yet today. But they will get done. Just like business stuff that is impatiently waiting. And the pastels, finished and unfinished. And February is as good a month to be Brave as any.

On to it!

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

3 Pages a Day - Keeping at It

2012-01-24T07:29:00.000-08:00

Greetings -

Yes, I know. This month's 30 Day Challenge is Bravery. I may have to write EPIC FAIL at the end of 30 days or know that there were a few Braver Days and lots of couch time listening to never-ending chiming in right ear. Blah blah blah.

What HAS been continued, though not as real challenge, was to write three pages in a journal every day. Not in one of my "real" journals - filled with real journal stuff and all those Green Bay Packers WINS and rare but heart-breaking losses, not in any of the many sketchbooks, or The Journal of Power and Grace or the Vintage kind of art journal or the real art journal, but the Marvel Heroes Journal. Yes, since January 7, 2012 this hero-y book has been written in every day. Three pages, and today, four. Not always in the morning, as Julia Cameron would suggest, but every day. Once or twice a sketch happened to fill up space, but the pages are mainly filled with words. I didn't cheat by WRITING BIG either. It was to be a discipline rather than a challenge. To see if one could simply Continue Without Stopping. So far so good. Now if I could be Brave every day without stopping, well, wouldn't that be a "Woo Hoo!!" Crawling toward working up to baby steps?

In the front of the book are some quotes from when it was to serve a different purpose.

One by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche: The world does need your help so badly. And so on behalf of this world, I would like to invite you to come and do something about it.

Another, from ZEN MIND, BEGINNER'S MIND: In order not to leave any traces, when you do something, you should do it with your whole body and mind; you should be concentrated on what you do. You should do it completely, like a good bonfire... Zen activity is activity which is completely burned out, with nothing remaining but ashes.

Time to keep preparing for the Leonard Baskin & Edward Gorey presentation for this coming Thursday night at The Bikery's Van Gogh Cafe. I will not be at my best and feistiest, but the show must go on. I sure do like good drawers and people who draw well - haha. Got to cheerlead those who used great lines and the occasional color wash to create those wonderful spaces on flat paper for us to explore. And for folks like Mr. Gorey - size didn't matter. Small is good. Baskin? Well, whatever worked.

They were artists who kept at it. Creating books, art, sculptures, theater sets, and prints.

Keep at it.

Good Luck!

Sue

Oven Timer Miracle Worker

2012-01-18T05:22:00.000-08:00

Greetings -

As you may know, I am mostly self-employed. Four days a month I put on the retail smile and work at American Gothic Antiques, and that is well and good. But especially during Winter and Early Spring the motivation to do a thing or many things has got to come from The Inner Boss.

Having not punched a real Time Card since about 1980, one must create ways in which to be aware of Time and What Gets Done. Lists and the Oven Timer seem to do the trick here - most of the time.

Lists? Oh, so many through the years. In the past they were separate pieces of paper that would get lost in purse or under the table or in The Stacks of paper stuff that wasn't lists or might be a pile of lists.... Oh, the memories of tossed out backs of envelopes with pertinent info now recycled into nothingness. Oh, the finding of little pieces of paper from 1998 from which items must yet to be crossed off. No more of that - now the things that still need to be crossed off are in small notebooks of various kinds - in semi-chronoligical order. Lots crossed, some not crossed. But now, if one is brave enough to thumb back through the pages, one is immediately aware of done/not done. Decisions can be re-decided. Priorities revised. And on those Bad Days you can simply admire the many tasks checked off when you'd thought "Oh, my life has been completely wasted." No, You DID pay those bills, you did enter those art festivals, you did "enjoy the day." Gotta love those little notebooks.

I also love my Oven Timer. It times the bread. It times the muffins. Pizzas. And me. I need structure - even during good times of Flow (just keep re-setting timer). A forced fifteen minutes of "You can only work on business stuff" is short enough to not set off business nerves, but can even lead to another 15 minutes. Sometimes an hour. Woo hoo! Most of the time the timer is set for an hour. An hour is a good-sized block in an artist's life. Enough to focus on Serious Art or Serious Cleaning the Studio. At least when the timer goes off I usually know that I didn't start washing dishes, doing laundry, or cleaning the living room. Artists get turned off the artist path Really Easily. Especially when working at home. The Timer is my Boss. Then it's a good idea for We Who Do Not Remember to note the time that has been used to good stead. In our little notebook.

It's time to make a cup of tea, fry an egg, toast some home-made bread, and then pop that little external prompt. First task: figure out the order of the tasks, projects, missions, moments to relax and enjoy. Gotta find that notebook!

Fare-thee-well,

Be Braver,

Sue

Hibiscus Hooray & Public Speaking

2012-01-17T14:32:00.000-08:00

Greetings -

Some long time ago, let's say, Summer, let's say early July, of, ummm, 2011, the camera took control and snapped way too many photos of many magnificent Hibiscus. Almost all pink, all in varying degrees of bud and bloom. The close-up lens became beguiled with line and texture. I knew there was a purpose for all the images, but as of yet I haven't thought of the one true one.

So today's liney pinky picture is put up simply because it recalls a warm day in a different state with beloved family, and also because it so reminds me of a costume that daughter, Tara, made. From real pink fabric for a real fake character who she sometimes portrays.

My 30 Day Challenge to be More Brave is not going so well. There IS almost half a month left, so there is hope. I have a presentation on Edward Gorey and Leonard Baskin scheduled for later in the month. In the olden days this would lead to solid sweating panic and fear. I used to get the occasional Failing Grade (E or F) for refusing to stand in from of a class and doing an oral book report. This was GREAT! I'd walk back to my seat after watching the teacher put the mark in the grading book, heave that old sigh of relief, and get on with the rest of the day. Now, and I truly don't know when/why, I seldom fear speaking in public. Now, if I'm on a roll, I may be even too long and loud. Who have guessed? Me? Never. Oh well. Another Life Mystery.

Speaking of speaking - a great tip learned long ago was "really know your topic." And "Use props." And "project your voice." And "have time for questions and answers." If I had my way almost all my presentations would be mostly Q and A. I want to present what people want to know. And it's fun to invite folks who might know even more about the topic to add to the discussion. We'll see how the Baskin/Gorey goes.

Anyway, a few weird health issues still persist. I hope I'm "in the pink" pretty soon. Summer is coming. Gardening books are sitting here not wanting to be ignored. The three giant "Mr. Jade" plants look longingly out to the patio. But this morning's temp would not have been to their liking. And the last bloom dropped off the tiny brave Christmas cactus. I drew two of it's blossoms in the visual journal so will recall the charm of their rich pink petals. Drawing always seems to be good for what ails ya. Perhaps focusing on something other than one's whiney wimpy self for an hour rests and relaxes the brain, as well as exercises it's ability to tell the eyes and hands what to do. That's quite the blithering paragraph, but a paragraph it is.

On to Brave. On to Pink. On to Public Speaking. On to wondering if the box elder bug crawling over my Things to Do journal would offer to help Pack Tee-shirt Order. Probably not. A box elder bug's gotta do what a box elder bug's gotta do. And we do, too.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Jan. 13 - Pump 13 - Friday

2012-01-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

LUCK?

It leaves me confused.

Good leads to bad. Bad leads to good. Then there is all the simply Indifferent stuff we roam in from day to day.

May today hold the luck you would wish it to have, and if things don't happen quite that way - well, perhaps your path will lead to new and more and better.

Physics and choices seem to have more influence around here than good ol' luck.

Except when the number 4 is involved - hahahaha ha.

Must attempt accomplishing the continued sorting of the pastels. Just because.

"Take your life in your own hands and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame."

- Erica Jong

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Jan. 7, 2012: Quickstep

2012-01-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

Another of our favorite pairs - secure in their expertise and sense of purpose in the universe.

Like so many of our bears they are here to dance in moonlight - as long as the music or stamina lasts.

I'm a little jealous. I can watch dancers, I can read about dancers, I can dance in my brain. In real space, in real time, on a real floor - well, no. Hell was surviving a Jazz Dance class in college. I have fond memories of certain soundtracks. "Blues Brothers" and "All That Jazz." No good memories of actual physical attempts of movement, keeping count, memorizing routines. It's a mystery? To me, yes.

The shelves hold a number of dance-related texts. I read the words of Twyla Tharp. I appreciate Edward Gorey's obsession with the New York City Ballet. But my own legs & arms remain confused and bewildered.

That's O.K. We all have our gifts and faults. I'm going keep dancing the pastels around the studio. And stay awed and amazed by those who actually Dance.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

1-5-12 - On To It!

2012-01-05T07:07:00.000-08:00

Sheesh. Focus . Do.

These sound so simply easy to do - but the bag of sugar needs returning to the correct cupboard, Facebook Friends need propping up, one must glance out to see if the birds & squirrels are re-using/recycling, & yes, there are bits of stuff in floor corners that will have to be swept up if one is to live slightly less free of house-work guilt.

Light Latin Jazz is helping..... One small pastel has been finished this week, as well as some small sketches. I admit to spending way too much time with Roz Wound Up blogs, but there are so many excellent posts to catch up on. Then Roz sends one down other darned fascinating paths, one looks up, and oops, the early morning is all used up.

So, today I will FOCUS one hour (30 minutes?) on serious business doings - laugh, you Serious Business Sorts, but we artists at home must put really thick blinkers on our brains & not consider sketching the jade plants right now, or experimenting with the raku clay that we keep forgetting we want to play with, or writing that long-over due letter to a favorite aunt.

The oven timer has become a great friend in The Focus. Even 30 minutes of "You can no nothing else but (fill in blank)" helps immensely. Although self-employed, I do have that inner boss. But in winter I tend to sneak off for really long rest-room breaks. And I really don't want to do what the boss wants me to do. Sigh and huff. And if one hides in the mental rest-room long enough, well, it's time for 10 AM coffee break. And so it goes.

30 Day Challenge: 30 minutes actually doing Bear Business. On to it!

If you have advice for the focus-impaired feel free to share! Millions of folks are accomplishing wonderful things today. Whew!

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

30 Day Challenge - 2012

2012-01-02T06:08:00.000-08:00

"Pudge"

Woo hoo and on to The New Year.

Some health stuff is still "argh"ing me. Others - well, just had to make the decision to Move On and Deal with the Day.

This month's Challenge: Focus on Getting the Bears out into The Universe. In professional manners, goofing off attempts, asking people to considering adding them to shops and galleries, more drawing in public, etc, etc, etc and more etc.

No Excuses.

Do the Deed. Do the Deeds.

Now is the time to put stuff on Deviant Art, MN Artists - the sites I join but don't DO anything in. DO STUFF. Almost every day.

The bears can't make folks smile and sigh if they stay hidden on shelves, in sketchbooks, and inside a computer's hard-drive. They can't type themselves out into the universe. They are depending on you to hit those keys.

Keep working on Pudge's brother. Yes, I know. He doesn't like the working title of "Pretty Bertie," but, darn - he IS a good-looking bruin. And it's fun to mess with pastels again.

After blocking this new guy in I chose 15 pastels as the only ones to finish the work. Creating boundaries often helps The Deciding. The deciding has already been done. Now one must simply work with the tools set out. On to Values - Darks & Lights. Oh, I love those darks and lights. And then the fun working with subtle "not-real-bear" tones. These bears are sculptured emotions. (Am I blithering here? - doesn't matter) 3-D folks on a 2-D surface. Must remember basics: squint, mirror, make some marks, step back and consider. There is no rush.

Have been reading CLASSICAL DRAWING ATELIER, by Juliette Aristides, published by Watson-Guptill Publications. We forget the great value of learning the skills of academic drawing. Might be the basis of another 30 day Challenge - although this book outlines the beginning of a serious four-year study course!

So - on to the picking up some broken shards of 2011 Hopes & Plans, and on to the creations of 2012.

May you find time today to draw, paint, write a letter, bake bread, walk the best dog in the whole wide world, or smile at a person that might need a smile.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Okie Dokie

2011-12-31T11:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Last Day of Old Year. My head is buzzing less, but hasn't stopped buzzing. Tinnitus is becoming more interesting than mostly maddening. Hip hoorah.

Anyway, here are two images from Autumn. Loud and quiet? Frenzied and calm? Both contain much mystery and can be points of contemplation. You get to decide how to put them to use. As to the drawing - I was slightly disappointed in it, and remembered all the musical instruments I've wasted in this life. On the other hand, a friend was Excited and plans to use a drawing inspired by this piece as a party invitation. Ya just never know. Draw on!

The crows, ravens, black birds (?) were perched on a wire outside my son's Duluth, Minnesota apartment on an early October morning. I was waiting outside and looking up. Birds on wires.

Two. For a long time. They would move a bit - mostly their heads, and become more abstract geometric forms than their actual selves. The digital camera got a workout, as did my decision making. Will I ever use these images? I'm hoping so. They became sort of a short-hand bird alphabet on how to sit on a narrow wire filled with electricity. They were calm. I was a little nervous. But having fun and hoping that they'd still a bit longer. They stayed longer than I stayed interested. Birds; 1, Sue:0

Who knows? Its the last day of December and they might still be on line.

On to the next 30 Day Challenge. Deviant Art? Etsy? Writing personal letters in long-hand on PAPER and mailing the envelope with a STAMP? Choosing deadline is at hand. Fork in road is being stared at.

Happy New Year to one and all, young and old, friend and foe, rich and poor, ill and healthy.

Preview

On to working on Pudge's pastel brother - so far he's named "Pretty Bertie" - whether he'll put up with this is another matter.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue Rowe

Getting Back in Practice

2011-12-17T06:40:00.000-08:00

It's been an interesting bunch of weeks, with no end in sight. As a usually really healthy person I am getting bored with tinnitus, lack of get-up-and-go, that one ER trip in the middle of the night where Panic Attack was diagnosed, and other stuff.

However, I now feel EPATHY for folks dealing with tinnitus, fatigue, panic attacks, and other stuff. And the spouses and friends who keep hanging around.

Friends have shared life stories I'd not heard before. Some good. Some bad.

I have to Buck Up, Little Soldier, and head into this possible New Normal. Gotta get funny. Gotta get to work.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, and please don't mention bells around my head.

- Fare-thee-well,

Sue

30 x 30: Da Challenge is Done & Done

2011-11-24T05:29:00.000-08:00

Good morning on Thanksgiving Day!

And good-bye not so good page of llama sketches from Llama Magic booth time last May. Yup. This page was number 900 - more or less - really more - of the 30 Day Challenge to rid home of at least an average of 30 things for 30 days. All noted on reused sheets of paper folded and stapled for just this purpose. Two days and four pages for more cleansing and recollecting.

Note - some artists/journalers would balk at the tossing of a sketch or 12. Judgement? Well, a llama's gotta go when a llama's gotta go. There ARE other drawings of the lovely creatures, & photos & memories. And this sheet of drawings didn't scream "Nooooooo!!!!" as it headed for the waste-basket. That is always a sure test. I have ripped bear drawings into quarters - a ritual sort of thing for drawings-to-go-away - with my saying "Sorry, Steve, ya didn't make the cut." And the bear crying out - silently - in chunks - as it headed for the trash. This sheet had no soul. Again, Judgement on my part. A llama fan may have disagreed, or may have tossed the drawing months ago. We will never know.

A month of appraisals and considerings and choices is coming to an end. I'm glad to have done it, and glad to get onto a different 30 Day attempt. Stuff will continue to be culled, and new things will come home. Some cleaned and organized spaces are yet to be touched. Do I fear the spell of un-hoarding will be broken? Will we put something in those newly opened spaces soon, or ever? Should I take photographs? Which areas still need attention, and will we budget the time? Christmas is coming. A time for getting, yes, but maybe a time for the givings to outnumber the gettings. THAT might be an on-the-side Extra Challenge. Hmmmmm. To have the house emptier, on purpose, at year's end? "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave away...."

Happy Thanksgiving, one and all. No fighting - no biting. May the best team win.

GO PACK!!!!

- Sue

30 x 30: Day 26 - Records Are Made to be Sorted

2011-11-22T08:16:00.000-08:00

30 x 30 Challenge is taking me places I seldom go. Like into the shelf in one closet holding a shelf-worth of semi-vintage vinyl. One stash among several, but an easy one to tackle.

Let's see who might be hiding in their jackets. Hello, Johnny Cash. Hi, Steve Goodman. Hey, Steve, thanks for making our college Metals studio time so much easier to survive. Karen of NZ & I could still harmonize on a bunch of your fine tunes. Don't worry - all your big old platters are safe here for some while. Same with your singer/songwriter compatriots, John Prine & Neil Young. Cat Stevens and Gordon Lightfoot, too. Can't get rid of the words or the tunes. Got me through the many days of old teenage and young twenties. You were all doubled up on 8-track or cassette tapes; some munched by the '66 Metallic Blue Mustang, sorry, but still in fine form as records.

Cat and Gordon accompanied me on those daily trips back and forth from Gurney to Hurley. And Bill Withers, too. Holiday Inn maid days. Years and years on northern Wisconsin's part of U.S. 2. Could push the 8-track tape buttons just so - repeat, skip, skip, repeat. The interior of a Ford Mustang is not very big and the speakers really could fill the air with solid sound. No, I didn't speed much... but the engine was always whispering that it was able if I was willing.

But back to the reality of records. With the invention of CDs, well, our large vinylly buddies starting showing up at garage sales not in small stacks but often in large boxes. Kind of like their friends the complete set of whatever encyclopedia your family could afford. (Our family never afforded any, but that's a whole other story.) Well, if I could get a box of records for almost free or FREE it was time to ad to the collection. In fact, the availability of wide types of music led to my increased interest in same. I had heard of Lionel Hampton and Buddy Guy and Charlie Parker but our family's taste ran to Johnny Cash, Andy Williams, and a children's version of "Robinson Crusoe" that right now is playing in my brain. We were brought up on Kitty Wells and Eddie Arnold. Now I can listen to lovely Ella and Duke and Pete Fontaine. But also Winnie the Pooh and The Point and many many Miles Davis and Dave Brubecks. Thank you, thank you, garage sale folks.

Anyway, on to the sorting..... "Christmas at Liberace's" with a lovely piece by his mom, Frances, on the back cover - keep. "Christmas with Colonel Sanders" - go. All the Dire Straits - keep. Most of the Bill Cosbys - go. Duplicate Blues Brothers? One can stay, one can go. Every albun touched, moved, sorted, debated. About twenty have been chosen to go. And yet I have mixed emotions. Maybe a semi-hoarder's sense of history, or potential use, or, heaven knows...... Gotta fight the hoarder that is hiding for a moment. Gotta cultivate the organizing get-rid-of-er.

Total Challenge Stuff be-goned to date: 888

Then to chose another Challenge or continue to the end of the 30 days or over-lap the two.

We shall se what we shall see.

Fare-thee-well,

Enjoy some tunes!

Sue

30 x 30: Day 24 - Over 800

2011-11-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

Sunday, Nov. 20 , 2011

Today I attacked the CD music basket. Judge and jury. Sorry, Irish Tenors - we won't see you on the flip side. Bye bye, "Santa & His Mighty Elves" - still sealed in your plastic. Toodle-loo, Telemann. Sorry, Pinky Zukerman. Will send these and eight other discs to more appreciative homes - cross fingers.

Safe are some Bachs, Stevie Ray Vaughns, and even a few operas. Oddly, I didn't have many CDs. Since childhood I have stayed true to the big black vinyl things - the things with grooves that needles read. Record players, from Mono on live solidly in memory, and the darned decent system found years ago at a garage-sale still does the trick when I want music old school. In fact, I have way too many albums, and duplicates of Dire Straits, Johnny Cash, Moody Blues, and others because at garage sales and fleas I go into protective mother hen mode. I must save this plastic from a worse fate then being stacked next to Walter Brennan and Paul Harvey in their own odd albums. Miles Davis and Lionel Hampton share shelf space with Winnie the Pooh, Oblio and Arrow. Just because.

Art magazines also took a hit today. I was thrilled that the stack brought to the latest Van Gogh Cafe all went to new homes. A new stack of old magazines is being assembled. Yes, a few articles were culled, but most of the periodicals are being offered intact. Because basic techniques and tips seldom go out of date most of the magazines should be of use to someone. Whew. Even included some Art Calendar issues - out of date in part, but still inspiration-filled.

So.... drumroll......... Today's thirty items bring total to: 811. 811. Yup. And you'd never know a thing was gone. Does make one aware of just how much a normal 3-bedroom split-level home can hold. Even one room...... even one drawer..........

Keeping a written tally has been essential. I know exactly what IS gone. I know what has been judged un-needed.

On to tomorrow. Harder? Easier? Each item debated is different. But at least it's being considered. On to the sorting. Dare to begin?

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Be

2011-11-17T02:20:00.000-08:00

one day

I was walking

home from the Farmers Market.

The mind was on other things.

Pondering parts.

Enjoying the the walk.

Perfect Fall mornings don't happen every day.

The sign said Holcombe.

What the brain picked out was be.

I was

We are

Maybe take a walk

today

instead of guilt

make time for joy

bebebebebebe

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

30 x 30: Day 14 - Taking It Easy

2011-11-10T05:39:00.000-08:00

Excuses, excuses......?

Actually, no.

Yesterday's tally came to 20 items - including a long black velvet skirt, one pair of heels from long ago, and a bunch of ancient receipt books from the early art fair days.

However, I admit to taking it easy. Will plead ill health and major day at dentist on Tuesday. "You have longer roots than most people," she says. Oh goody. Thanks to iPod, lots of Glenn Gould playing lots of Bach, and other forms of relaxation, I am now again able to think unfuzzy thoughts concerning items stashed in house. Today the thoughts are papery.

Paper. Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots (you get the idea) and lots of paper. "My name is Sue and I am a paper-oholic." Since the days of salivating over the sounds of Captain Kangaroo removing thick sheets of construction paper from his own art supply stash, I have been in love with the stuff. Any size, any weight, and color. Doesn't matter. If it's big enough to mark or glue it's good enough to keep around. We (I?) have paper in filing cabinets, under the bed, under couches, in doors, drawers, underneath and on top of tables. Paper in plastic bags, paper in portfolios, paper in everything except a large flat file. Boy, I would love to have a large flat file.... Cheap copy paper to expensive printing and watercolor and pastel papers. Handmade paper from Todd's college days to handmade paper from excellent artisan paper makers. Paper that too good to use - hahahahahahaha. Sigh. And those used mistakes or scraps still too good to toss. AND those pieces still in progress from 2000 and 2005 and 2009 and yesterday. Oh, and THE JOURNALS and SKETCHBOOKS. Filled, half-filled and new.

So.... today's easy little treat was sitting down in from of the card drawer in one hutch and pulling about 60 pieces out to toss or give away. Charity holiday list packs, orphaned envelopes, etc. Gone and gone. Can you tell? A little. This drawer will gladly give up quite a few more pieces. However, it also holds some lovely greeting cards purchased from artist friends, and beautiful commercially-made cards to share with friends and family. Another 30 Day Challenge? Actually write to a person, attach stamp to envelope, and send a greeting to a far-away (or local) someone???? Hmmm.

Anyway - Day 14's tossing came to more than the 38 listed, but we will go with 38.

30 Day Tossing/Giving: 511

It's time to reflect on first half of challenge and rest up for last half. Yes, I know that this challenge could go on for the next four months, but that sounds like Drudgery. I don't like Drudgery. I like paper. And for now I like moving a few hundred pieces somewhere other than here.

Clean Happy!

Sue

30 x 30: Day 12

2011-11-08T05:41:00.000-08:00

No, I haven't been typing here.

Yes, the ridding home of 30 things a day has merrily - ha - been going on.

Work desk drawer is almost pretty. Adhesives/tape shelf is all organized and neat.

File cabinets were attacked early this morning. The recycling bin got a nice work-out, and there's lots of paper left to the task.

One item that was hard to part with was a large colorful hardcover cookbook. Titled "The Encyclopedia of Creative Cooking", it was edited by Charlottle Turgeon and published by Weathervane Books. It looks like I probably bought it at Savers for $2.99. A long time ago......

It's a wonderful book - filled with 2000 recipes and 800 full-color photos. Says so right on the cover.

I don't think I ever cooked or baked anything from a recipe in this tome. However, in son Tyler's pre-school days, we spent many hours turning the pages and playing "Yuck and Yum." Soda scones? Yum. Birthday cake on page 125? Yum. Pickled mackerel in a lovely glass jar? Definitely Yuck. Most often we had similar tastes, but differed on green pea soup (page 645) and ham hocks in sauerkraut ( page 412). This book holds many more Yums than Yucks and if I come upon another in a bookstore or antique shop I'' certainly give it a knowing pat.

Total to date: 441

On to the next -

Sue

30 x 30: Day 6, 7

2011-11-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

Greetings -

Days 6 & 7 were not the greatest for the tossing and the ridding.

They were spent mainly prepping for, and delivering stuff to a large holiday boutique.

Not a bad thing, but not a keeping-on-task thing.

But because of 30 x 30 the bookcase is no longer in my bedroom closet, there are fewer un-used cookbooks in the kitchen, and I am more aware of Stuff. And duplicates and triplicates of Same.

Though not lots of stuff has moved physically, it HAS been in the mind lots. Even while working on other projects I think about particular spots in the house, or particular things, and debate merits of keeping or ridding. This is important. Often we get things, put things in a place, and, well, there they stay. Enjoyed? Maybe. Maybe not. They become part of the house's landscape (house-scape?) and blend into the daily indifference. I don't really know what's in that stack of magazines. I only know that they where important enough to keep - at least once upon a time.

Times change. A ba-drillion years ago I owned years of magazines relating to horses, miniatures, miniature horses, quilting, art, more art, bicycling, farming, & other far-flung interests. If I really wanted to hoard particular things they would probably be magazines. But through life's moving on most of these magazines did, too. Parting with the paper was not easy, but now the paper is seldom missed. It helps to remind ones-self of items no longer possessed, and even miss them a bit, but then smile and know that they were a part of living one chunk of life. Life holds so many chunks.

So this weekend holds lots more debating, choosing, and recalling. I hadn't known how much time it takes to simply think about A Thing, much less Thousands of Things. Maybe I will photograph a few goodies. Maybe photographs will be some of the stuff chosen to go....

Just for fun, even if not in the mood to be moving stuff on take ten minutes to just look carefully at your won goodies and wonder if they are usually ignored, tolerated, needed, enjoyed, or loved. And Why. Your awareness of walls, shelves, drawers, and doors will be changed for the experience. Thinking about The Stuff.

Total stuff moved on: 250

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

30 x 30: Day 5

2011-11-02T04:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings -

Day 6 of the Adventure is upon our little home. Oddly, I have kept "on task" for five whole days. Even with work obligations, yes, heading out to drink coffee now and then, and watching a weekend of football, the 30 plus items per each day have been chosen and relieved of their house-al duties.

And even more.

Individual papers and bits remain a joy to toss, but a guilt to count. A semi-happy medium gets figured into every measure into trash. If and when you decide to do the ridding you will have to do the choosing. It's interesting to weigh the importance of the sheet of stuff to how it figures as A Thing. You will have to be The Decider.

A Miracle of The Ridding: Riding Boots. Once upon a time I rode horses. Semi-seriously. Over low fences and through basic dressage tests. Some day we will write about Seat Bones. Anyway, two pair of boots existed in my universe. But where? No sign of them for many years. In fact I thought that only one pair was still around. But where? I even told Tara she could use them because they would be her size. Didn't really matter, though, because we could never find them. So.....

While ridding bookcase in bedroom closet of, gasp, books, I had to pry open the doors on either side of shelves. Right side door? Early edition of "Native Son" with dust-jacket? Check. Pry open left hand door. TWO PAIR OF RIDING BOOTS. One vinyl, one leather. Doesn't everybody store riding boots in the bookcase in the bedroom closet? Tara tried on the no maker but made in England pair. Fit! Old vinyls didn't whisper of their long-ago Fargo, North Dakota daily horse-y dramas, Blood, sweat, tears? Ya sure, you betcha. Both pair are sitting in the kitchen now. Found and found.

Now to decide about The Bookcase. I'd not considered moving this bit of childhood home out of life. Todd did. Argh.

On to our daily choosings and decidings.

Five day total: 232

On to this one and only Nov. 2, 1011 -

Sue

30 x 30: Day 2

2011-10-30T05:17:00.000-07:00

A day of paper and cloth.

Goodwill is getting a lovely plain black sweatshirt, a pair of never-worn black denim shorts, and re-getting a never-worn navy blue wool Ralph Lauren skirt(yes, purchased for 3.99 at Goodwill). Some day I will be a Business Woman, but I won't be wearing that skirt.....

The garbage can got a small piece of blue denim waved for mended a yet un-mended pair of favorite jeans.

Old business papers - OLD business papers - have been set aside to be destroyed. I did not count each piece of paper as a separate item. That would have been too easy. So each envelope of paper items was The Unit. Still, they added up nicely. Try it!

One Monkey Mask on a stick (planned as a Christmas gift) was tossed.

Stick broke while moving vast amounts of stuff out of small closet in preparation for re-insulating our attic. Woo hoo! New insulation AND forced awareness of closet-y things. The cross-roads of 30 x 30 and moving stuff out of closet - Luck? Fate? Miracle? Now to see if closet is remarkably different when stuff is sorted. All the coats, jackets, and Coach purses are whispering "Don't pick me. You can't pick ME." They are probably right. I am not a Shoe Person. I AM a Cool Coat-and-or-Jacket Person. I semi-hoard Coach purses - all found at garage sales for $4.00 or less. (Sister & I have personal code of Coaches - never pay more than $4.00) (Daughter Tara gave me three she lucked into one day - all in a FREE box) I have too many Coaches, but so far they are safe here. And except for the utilitarian goose-down jackets, all the other garments are too nifty in their own rights to give up right now. Please don't hate me (O.K., go ahead) because of the vintage fur and leather beauties waiting for their chance to warm and charm. Some-one had to love them, and right now that girl is me. And the 1950's Chimayo woolen jacket that Dear Sis gave me, after those few times I got to wear it while visiting here Out West, well, I so don't want to spoil it that it mostly stays unworn. Sad. True. MUST WEAR JACKET MUCH MORE OFTEN.

Calendars? Well, two large art types from 1999 & 1994 are gone. AND the mystery is solved of "Where in the heck is that 2008 Extreme Sports calendar????? Bought and put away, for safe-keeping, in late 2007, of course. For a while my calendar of choice was scary doings by brave people - especially rock climbers. I Am Not a Rock Climber. But that winter I had to settle for people doing other scary things like surfing, snow-boarding, & the like. January 2008 comes around - hmmmm - time to hang the new year. But the paper new year has been disappeared. Forever. Until now. It had slipped into a narrow space between bookcase (doesn't everybody have a bookcase in their closet) & a file box of old journals, & is now pretty darned worthless. I did cut two scary photos from it before adding 'er to the out-pile. Note to self - Hang 2012 calendar immediately upon getting it in house.

Also attacked was a drawer in the work desk - actually an antique kitchen work desk - full of drawers & doors yearning to be peered into and purged. Noooooooo. Yes. O.K. Here, because the 30-per-day challenge had already been reached, I gave the tally sheet the fun of counting each piece of paper. Out went directions to art fairs that no longer exist, directions to folks' homes that I finally remember how to get to, newspaper articles no longer useful (it happens!), etc, etc, and more etc. 30 total right there. Yippee!

Day's adventure: 84

Total to date: 123

Ya can't tell...

- Sue

PS - The NIKE sneakers got sneaked out of trash can - and became useful - at least for one night of usefulness. But I'd not thought of using them unless they'd been tossed out. A minor miracle of the 30 x 30.

30 x 30:51

2011-10-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

Fifty one (plus) things are gone.

You can't even tell.

But I DID find the still-in-plastic Brand New 2008 Extreme Sports calendar. Yup. Found out why I couldn't find it. Closets keep being mysterious beasts.

Ever onward-

Time to watch some college football. Am cheering for Arkansas in honor of Auntie Mck.

Sue

30 -32:Hoarding?

2011-10-29T05:18:00.000-07:00

To hoard or not to hoard?

"Boxes equal security," a friend told me long ago. I was signing a copy of JUST NORTH ENOUGH for her. If you get a signature you get a bear. Her bear had LOTS of boxes. A hoarding bear or simply a more-secure bear? Perhaps a less secure bar?

Monks and nuns come to mind. Can they be hoarding inward things?

I would tend to hoard paper. Yesterday Tara and I walked to a garage-sale. I bought a book on 1930's Fashion for her, a 1904 receipt journal for me (it was $1.00 for somebody's lived life in 1904....), and then "had" to buy a small un-used receipt journal for fifty cents. However, I passed on buying MUCH more stuff I wanted to buy - just because it was paper. Particularly, types of paper I do not own. Sad ANDProud? You betcha.

The old journal holds information "From May 1st, 1904 to May 1st, 1905."

Hmmm.... just now really checking it out. What's this? A verse written vertically in the margin of the long thin page.

Let us be unashamed of soul

How is it under our control

To love, or not to love?

Along the page noting purchases including

tobacco .25

seeds .15

5 1/2 yds print .27 1/2

wagon grease .25

It's been a really long long time since most of us have bought a bit of wagon grease.

Do you think that folks hoarded a fair share of wagon grease in 1904? Or tobacco?

Probably.

Folks in the Stone Age probably hoarded rocks. Rocks equalled security.

Off to today's ridding home of 30 things. And then fighting urge to hit the garage-sale circuit in search of more security. But must go visit this morning's Stillwater Farmers Market. Wagon grease? No - caramel roll.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

30 - 32: 30 Things - 1

2011-10-28T15:52:00.000-07:00

So. Yes. Today was day one of the deciding to sell, toss, or donate 30 things. Things be Gone!

I stayed in the kitchen for the first task -

What left? Actually - OVER 30 things, including, but not limited to:

15 - knives, forks, cups

1 - small capped container for paint

9 - misc. paper items

3 - walkie-talkies

1 - old toothbrush

1 - large jar

1 - gold label

3 - packs of shoe-laces

1 - book (a book!!!)

and misc. bits and pieces of junk-drawer misc.

total: 35+

Yes, I had a few hoardery moments - but they passed. Hooray!

Next challenge? Bedroom closet - woo hoo! Yes, a couple Green Bay Packer sweatshirts might (might) have to make tomorrow's list....

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

30-31:30 Things Times 30 Days

2011-10-28T04:07:00.000-07:00

Greetings-

O.K., here goes.

This might be tough, but who needs an easy challenge?

Today begins the ridding of home of 30 things times 30 days.

Will we notice the going away of 900 things?

I sure hope so.

And where and how does one begin?

I'm heading for the kitchen.

Wish me luck.

And if this challenge inspires you to to do same - Good Luck with the lifting!

-Sue

30 - 30: The Doing - Done

2011-10-27T21:02:00.001-07:00

O.K.

Deed done.

Not a great bunch of blogs, but blogs none-the-less.

As in If you write you are a writer.

As in If you paint you are a painter.

Quality is not the issue.

It is simply The Doing.

The Texas Rangers keep doing.

The St. Louis Cardinals keep doing.

The innings and outs go on and on.

On to our Challenges.

Go Texas!!!!!

On to tomorrow.

Goodnight,

Sue

30 - 29: Tara's Suggestion

2011-10-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

Tara's Suggestion.

To type: Go Texas!

Go Texas!!

St. Louis broke our Brewer-fan baseball hearts way back in 1982.

Part's of my heart still ain't over it.

So - to cheer against the Cardinals just comes easy.

Plus, maybe it's just Texas' turn to be great.

I hate seeing athletes lose.

I love seeing athletes DO.

Texas: 7 St. Louis: 4

So far.

On to "God Bless America."

And a couple more innings.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

Go Rangers!

30 - 28: The Next Doing

2011-10-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

Greetings -

So many possibilities for November.....

Write a letter every day?

Train for a 5-K?

Nope.

Probably the Challenge is the Ridding from Home 30 Items for 30 Days.

I'm almost excited.

And planning parts of the attack.

And dreaming of empty spaces.

Ready for nothing to begin and everything possible.

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

30 - 27: The Homestretch?

2011-10-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

Greetings-

With this posting, there are "only" three to go in the 30 Day Challenge.

However, today IS the day.

And tonight holds both The Van Gogh Cafe get-together (subject: Winslow Homer) and The World Series. Go Rangers!!

So it'll come down to discipline.

That darned discipline.

And Wanting to Succeed.

And maybe it's already been missed by a day.

I'm not going to do the math.

27 to 27.

That was the plan.

27 possible pitches in perfect game.

How many sentences in perfect blog?

Fare-the-well,

Sue

30 - 26: 4

2011-10-27T02:04:00.001-07:00

4. Four.

A minute ago it was 4:04. In the morning. I am up and typing. Bleah, as old Snoopy would say.

But, nonetheless, just a short note noting that "four" and/or "4" is my favorite number. Yes, even before Brett Favre.

I don't know why. Maybe because of balance of even-ness? Maybe because I was born in April?

4 was even part of a self-portrait painting we had to do once upon a time in college.

Do you have a particular number that you are most fond of?

Do you know why?

Fourly,

at 4:12,

Sue

30 - 25: Yup

2011-10-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

"If grief deprives us of laughter, we are in trouble."- Clifford Kuhn. M.D.

30 - 24: On To It!

2011-10-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Greetings -

It's time to hunker down and type!

So posts might be boring but they will exist in the universe.

Baby typing steps?

What ever it takes.

Gave beautiful Swiss Chard to a friend this morning.

It is sad to have the garden still hinting at the bountiful green spot it was this summer & fall.

Now it's Swiss Chard and a few struggling brussel sprouts.

Better a bit of green than none.

Better a bit of effort than none?

On to tasks.

And the choosing of the next 30 Days Challenge.

Dare to join the fun?

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

30 - 23: A Little Hike

2011-10-25T05:46:00.000-07:00

Greetings-

It's a nippy day, but it's a new day.

It's time to get back into Exercise Mode.

It's time to decide on one mile or three miles.

Walk-man or IPod.

Robert Johnson is singing and blues-guitaring on "American Routes" radio.

Maybe the devil is standing at the cross-roads of Greeley and Pine right now.

That's just a half a mile down the hill.

Hmmm. And on to finding out.

May your day be devil-free,

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

30 - 22: Another Day - Another Bear

2011-10-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time these were the only bears I knew of:

Goldilocks' three

Captain Kangaroo's Dancing Bear

Yogi and Boo-boo

real ones who wrecked our farm's oats crop and ransacked our town's garbage dump.

Then, in October of 1997, I happened to sketch a bad copy of a calm grizzly bear's head done as a woodcut illustration for a 1920's hunting magazine.

Who knew?

May you, too, luck unto the pathway to another of your life's many livings.

It only takes one paying-attention to just one different and possible path.

On to finding invisible trails!

Fare-thee-well,

- Sue

30 - 21: Shallow

2011-10-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

Yup, I'm shallow.

The Packers beat the Vikings.

(The Husband/Dad team)

It's was almost scary close.

Mr. Ponder will be good.

But the game is over.

Packers are 7 and 0.

Tara & I could drink our beer

& listen to the thre-hour post-game chat

worn out but happy.

And we fans can rest up

in the bye week.

Go Pack!

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

30 - 20: Something New

2011-10-22T04:06:00.000-07:00

Wow. Twenty typings so far. Ten to go.

This is now almost a habit.

But my habits seem to come and go.

So this must simply be continued.

So it WILL be a habit.

Once upon a time

One habit was

to ride

a bicycle

miles

every day.

6 in the morning

after helping

milk the cows

and the rest

after milking

from about 6:30

till eight

in the Wisconsin

summer evening

Sometimes

the habit

didn't want to be

but the rule was

Get On the Bike

And Start Up the Hill

and by the time I'd gotten to the top

of Gurney Hill the rest of the

miles

came

easy.

- Sue

30 - 19: Baking

2011-10-21T10:19:00.000-07:00

Greetings -

Three minutes to two loaves of home-made bread. Hot. Crusty. To set alongside the 24 banana-walnut muffins. Or 22 if some of the family has grabbed onto them.

I am compelled to bake bread. The kneading? The needing? The Thanks from family? The memories of hot ovens long ago? The knowing of the basic recipe? The muffins get made to not waste hot oven. They get timed to leave as bread sits waiting for stove to hike up that extra 25 degrees.

Beep beep beep!

Time's up-

Sue

30 - 18: Sunflowers

2011-10-20T06:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings -

Sorry, tiny spiders, and other wispy beings that had been napping cozily in between the sunflower seeds still outdoors on chilly but tough little heads.

This morning was harvest time for the five stalks out by the fireplace. The much larger specimens out in the actual garden dropped their bounty weeks ago. I had no warning and, judging from the empty husks on the ground, the rodents/birds must have eaten their fill. Sigh and oh well. They were grown to be consumed and consumed they were. Some days we have no voice in what happens to our plans. Plan anyway! And plant anyway!

And plant any way. This year we grew garden goodies in real garden, Hansel egg plant in flower bed, sage and basil here and there. Experimented with peppers/tomatoes in some spots where they did not thrive. Sorry, plants. Even now, with frosts all around, one brave pepper is sporting lots of potential blossoms. It's finally hoping to do the growing-produce it was bred and planted to do. Sorry, pepper. Seeded lettuces in large flower pots lorded over by magnificent giant huge red coleus. I thought that the color combos would be fun, plus harvesting salad greens from patio would be fun. No fun. Lettuces didn't have a chance.

What thrived? Basils of several kinds, sunflowers, Swiss Chard, cauliflower, tomatoes. Even the green beans produced well. They just didn't know that I still don't love green beans and thus somewhat ignored their filling plants. Sorry, green beans.

I'd hoped to harvest the huge lovely sunflowers that backed the garden. Sigh. One day the heads were full of plump goodness and soon afterward the ground was covered with empty husks. Why and how? I do not know. Should I have cut the heads off earlier and left them to dry somewhere "safe"? Will have to ask around.

And now the Brussel Sprouts are finally sprouting. It was our first time playing with these guys, and reports all around spoke of no sprouts or late sprouts. I was comforted to know that it wasn't just me as novice sprout gardener. Now the stalks are sporting a number of teeny lumps and clumps, so we shall see. I have the courage to attempt them next year.

Ahhh. On to next year.......

Thanks, sunflowers!

May your day be seeded with sunshine.

- Sue

30 - 17: Oct. 27

2011-10-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

Hmmm. Home. And with a week to go in the first 30-day challenge.

So far - so good. Kind of.

Must post 13 more times in the coming week. Will any be interesting? I will try. Yoda: There is no try. There is only do.

We have learned that in three days away many things can be seen, learned, accomplished, heard, tasted, eaten, watched, sampled, dreamed of, jotted, laughed over, sighed about.

We have been cold, hot, wet, excited, sad, happy, full, tired, enlightened, and over-joyed.

Through odd circumstance, and a convenient gas-station vacuum hose, the car's interior is cleaner now than when we left home.

And we are now home. To recall happy memories, yet learn that life can become death in one moment. And mourn the passing of a young man we didn't even know, except through news our daughter Tara would report.

Journeys can take many forms and homes many shapes. May you be happy on yours and also in yours.

Ever onward and so it goes.......

Sue

30 - 16: Lambeau

2011-10-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

Greetings-

It's grey and wet and cold, and breezy in Green Bay, Wisconsin; we are warm and dry and watching reality-TV shows on antiques and junk and estate sales in a motel room spittin' distance from Lambeau Field.

Last night we got some good bar food to go from Stadium Grill. Watched Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed get married. It's fun being shallow now and then.

Hoping to get to Lambeau Field later. First, we must clean out the car, meet RT for coffee, and see what the day brings.

I did a little journaling early this morning - mainly to the point of needing to allow myself to relax and have fun with the images and words again. To not think of "pressure" and "must do" and "should do." When fun goes out of art it shows. Boring starts. And dull, and not-caring. The bears know when I'm trying too hard-not hard enough. I have to give art supplies and themes due respect. And also simply clear the brain to allow fingers to scribble at will. No rules. That's hard these days. Or New Rules. Or Different. When the bears get boring the bears get bad.

NO BORING BEARS!!!

On it it-

oh, and of course, GO PACK!

- Sue

30 - 15:Vacation

2011-10-17T04:47:00.000-07:00

VACATION

Not as a concept. As a tiny short happy fact. Weather won't matter. Grey, windy, cold, wet have all been dealt with before. Destination is iffy. We have a map and a general direction. No specific plans. Except to Vacate.

The scary part is dealing with Not Bringing Any Materials With Which to Make Product.
On purpose. Bringing art supplies, A NOVEL, radio headphones, a few tasks, and the hope to learn how to relax - if even for tiny short moments.

Wish me luck.

Fare-thee-well, and may you, too, vacate early and often.
- Sue

30 - 14: Pencils

2011-10-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

Today was a day of getting pencils.

Tara and I went to the Stillwater High School Choir "Garage Sale." She donated clothes and she bought clothes.

I stuck with the art/office theme - buying 4 cardboard mailing tubes, a bunch of Post-It notes, a bundle of new pencils, a journal, 2 books on Scouting, for resale, and a book on the history of knitting in America. I do not knit. By tradition I am a crocheter . However, this was the one book I had to buy. No reason. Left the Tiger Mother book for another buyer. I guess Tiger Moms and Stillwater kids are not a good mix.

Then Todd called from a garage sale out of town. Would I be interested in over 100 pastel/colored pencils for $5.00? Yes, I think so. Actually, there were probably closer to 150 - including charcoal pencils, French pastels, and two different brands of water-color pencils. Heck of a deal? Ya sure, ya betcha. Oh, plus a very good little pencil sharpener.

Gotta go draw?
Yup.
Pencilly yours,
Sue

30 - 13: Wow

2011-10-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year that leaves me most with mixed emotions. Spring happened so long ago that if it were not for photos of Spring flooding and young green plants I'd have forgotten it had happened. Summer was a wonderful blur of art fairs, wildly successful (for us) gardening, and a bit a travel and other fun. Days were long, but not long enough.

Now by nine PM the sky has been dark for two hours. Skies seem ominous even when simply Fallish. It's hard to find the ambition for all the Autumn's tasks. The hammock mocks..... I think it get used a total of less than twenty times all summer - combined total by all who live here. That's kind of sad. I want to take a hammock nap NOW. But it's cool and dark and quite breezy outside. Not the warm calm sunny sort of evening that a person has now misses forever. Forever!

One great thing about now, though, is the possibility of The Dramatic Sunset. If you see one appreciate it. That one is a one-of-a-kind. All sunsets are. And all sunrises, and all noons. Dramatic or calmly-not-memorable, each part of every day is the only one. If I don't jot down a bit about the day, that day vanishes - sunset or no sunset. The weeks have been rushing by - the busy ones that should be noted. And, darn, those weeks are the least recorded.

So on to the next posting, the next sunrise, the next drawing. And the next remembering to whisper "Wow" every now and then.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

30 - 12: Baseball

2011-10-14T04:40:00.000-07:00

Greetings-
I am shallow.

Watched Detriot Tigers win while sitting on bed, sipping tea, and matting bear pastel reproductions. If cheering for a particular team, even as a fair-weather fan, I can get almost as nervous as when "our" Green Bay Packers are in a close football game.

The natural cycle of hits by Tigers was fun to see. Little weird spot of history.

Facial expressions of players, coaches, and fans, are as fascinating as the game. Indifference, anxiety, joy, calm determination, prayer, sadness, anger - all at the same time.

So on to the continuing play-offs. Let the games begin -

Go Tigers! Go Brewers!

- Fare-thee-well,
Sue

30 - 11:

2011-10-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

Greetings -
Bread is rising and it's time to sit and think about being Thankful.
Today Thankful for: (go for 30 & in no particular order)
1- friends at coffee
2- 3 Mr. Jade plant are still thriving
3-working computers
4- family getting along
5- beautiful weather
6-rain in forecast
7- apples for baking
8-people wanting to buy my art
9-friends commenting on Facebook
10-Steve Jobs' imagination
11- TED talks
12-Green Bay Packers
13-potential vacation time
14- Stillwater, MN being kind of "cool" again
15- radio stations of many kinds
16 - basil still growing
17- doing a 30 Day Challenge
18- the Lily Lake tennis courts
19 - books in general
20- quantum physics
21- "free" CDs and books from Stillwater library
22 - having "fixers" in the family
23 - not needing to buy fashionable clothes very often - hahahaha
24 - a cleaner studio area
25 - the post office
26 - tea
27 - cookies
28 - ESPN Radio
29 - sunflowers
30 - the ability to walk
31 - chickadees
and so much more.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

30- 10: Home

2011-10-12T03:57:00.000-07:00

Greetings -
It is good to be home. Spent a big chuck of last week doing the Bayfield Apple Festival. Drove up on Thursday and set up booth. We were a few spaces closer to the gazebo than usual. Didn't have an asphalt park path running through our space this time! Weather forecast was for normal weather, with standable winds. This is always good - though not to be trusted!

After getting things from truck to booth - with only one minor tip-over (the park is notorious for it's subtle ups and downs), I headed up the hill to Eckels' Pottery. Dede and crew were busy selling ceramic goodies and other of their offerings. I picked through a dish of wonderful large ceramic buttons - choosing three for fashion-designer daughter, Tara. Stayed with hues of pale green, blue, yellow, white - all in different patterns. Met a lady who often buys my cards at Dede's shop. We talked about Life, of course - ha! It always comes back to Life.

Will add more about the wonderful weekend later. Now it's time to clear off a few horizontal surfaces. Wish me luck!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

30 -9? Bayfield Apple fest

2011-10-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

this is year 50.

30 - 9: Kinda Cheating

2011-10-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

Here is some typing to say that typing's been done.
Off to Lake Superior, Bayfield Apple Fest, and more of The Grand Adventure!

Fare-thee-ever-well,
Sue

30 - 8: Failing Up

2011-10-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

So sorry to hear of the death of Steve Jobs. He and Apple crew helped bring semi-high-tech to us millions of masses. I draw funny bears for a few thousand folks. And show them off from Apple products. Thank you, Mr. Jobs. Your imagination, far thinking, and making things work for so many "normal" folks.

Today held finishing an acrylic painting on wooden board that, in view of it's creation, is titled "So Bad I'm Almost Good." I'd planned for the bear to be a lovely "portrait" in blue and black tones. Bits of yellow, red, and lots of white. A classy bear. However, through layers of trial and error, he became a laughing stock and something of a wasted effort. Or so it seemed. When I looked into his failed-efforts-of-eyes the phrase came to mind: I'm So Bad I'm Almost Good.

Well then.... stubborn sets it. Back out come the paints - go in with brushes and fingers. Keep mucking about. Touch here, wash there. Hmmm, a bit of life? A little hope? Why, yes, perhaps. Amazingly, after failing and failing Bad Good is turning out O.K. Hooray!

Life lesson? Once again the power of goofing off has paid off. If you have some work that seems beyond hope - paint, paint again!

RIP Steve Jobs.......

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

30- 7: Just a Note

2011-10-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

Oh oh. Almost forgot about the 30 Day Challenge!

Ta da!

Back to working on products. Several new black and white card and magnet designs.

Good night -
Sue

30-6: Big "Really?"

2011-10-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

This large pastel in really titled Big "Really?" Yes. Really. In honor of oldest younger brother, Rick. REALLY.
Traditional in our family now, when listening to almost any tale Rick is telling, is for someone, some time, to note whether, at any point in the story, Rick has stated "really." If not, well, "facts" perhaps, are not to be trusted.

This pastel piece really exists, but I don't know if actual bears ever frolic upright on the shore. Doesn't matter. This one does.

Take some time to have some fun, challenge yourself to a big Something New, maybe even dance on the beach. Now or soon. Really! On to the Grand Adventure.

- Sue

30-5:Football

2011-10-02T04:36:00.000-07:00

Greetings -

Sunday is the day I go shallow. Football rules through into winter. KFAN radio allows one hour a week of Packer talk on its station, so the headphones will be on from 8-9 this morning. This weekend we have a booth at the Stillwater Art and Jazz Festival (66), near the banks of the St. Croix River. Weather was perfect yesterday, and is priming for more perfect today. LOTS of ambitious folks will be hoofing the Twin Cities Marathon in fifteen minutes or so. BEST of LUCK to one and all. While you are fighting for your breath and urge to quit I will probably be chewing on a lovely muffin from The Daily Grind and sketching the goings-on in Lowell Park. Listening to pre-game points and plans. Keeping the thousands and thousands and thousands of dedicated runners in back of mind as some bit of life inspiration.

Football is like that, too. Great care in planning, training, effort toward the victory. Sometimes stuff go well, nobody gets seriously injured, plays are completed as planned. But often, well, crap happens. The center muffs the snap, a great player gets carted off the field, "your" team loses. Amazingly, life goes on. Usually there is a next week - practice, get better, don't give up. Love it, hate it? Doesn't matter. Just show up and do the work.

Plus, focusing on one thing for three hours is fun. When possible, I journal the games played by the Green Bay Packers. Every play, my reactions, lots of commentary by radio guys Wayne and Larry, a bit of TV stuff, notes on other day's doings. This is crazy - but also great fun. One must stay focused. Open to action, emotion, and how the ink and paper are holding out (& batteries for radio headphones!). It's not so much about the outcome as the practice of doing. Natalie Goldberg might consider it three hours of Zen writing practice. I consider it a weird compulsion that I freely admit to scribbling. I also curse much more freely on paper than in person....

So, on to the day. Yesterday score: Michigan over Minnesota: 58-0??? Memorable radio comment: "Two Wolverines and a Gopher are tussling by near side-line."

May your day be tussle-free.
GO PACK!!!
- Sue

30 -4: Stillwater

2011-09-30T15:55:00.000-07:00

Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2, the Stillwater, MN Fall Art and Jazz Festival will be going on near the banks of the Scenic St. Croix. This afternoon when we set up our booth the show organizer stated that we "will be facing the river." This is a good thing. I live in Stillwater. A nice 30-minute hike down the hill. The river is always there, but I usually manage to get down to appreciate it about four or five times a year.

This is sort of sad.

People come to town from all over the world to appreciate the water and land where we live. To watch the lift-bridge go up and down (except when it mal-functions and traffic backs up more than the usual back up during usual bridge ups-and-downs). To visit The Historic Courthouse up on 4th and Pine, or check out The Warden's House near the location of the old prison. To ride a paddleboat down the river or ride a hot-air balloon over the river.

This weekend holds the opportunity to look out over the St. Croix Valley and see it as both a local and a tourist. We will hope to be busy in our little white art fair home, but if not, to take some deep breaths, look up and out, and give thanks for being able to take the view for granted.

Fare-thee-well,
and go appreciate a local landmark!

-Sue

30-3: Van Gogh Cafe

2011-09-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

Sept. 29 - A new arts group came together in Stillwater, Minnesota tonight. Called "The Van Gogh Cafe," in honor of our first subject, it consisted of a room full of folks - all women - interested in convening for talk of art, life, and a bunch of et cetera.

After sitting down with the beverage of our choice we listened to a presentation on Vincent van Gogh illustrated with examples of his work, both well-known and obscure. A vase of fresh sunflowers on our table was a great added touch, though at least one folk's allergies were set off by same. Oh, the price one pays for being in the presence of a little bit of beauty. Following the presentation we shared questions and possible answers regarding Vincent's life. Was he perhaps affected by chemicals present in his paints and solvents? How was his work presented and marketed after his death? How much of his life is myth? Fact? One recent visitor to France spoke of one region's artists seemingly to work only in the style of van Gogh's bold style.

Chat following the main topic ranged freely - and time zoomed toward our 8:30PM adjourning. Heading out the door we agreed that The Van Gogh Cafe is very much a welcomed addition to Stillwater's arts activities.

Winslow Homer will be the topic of next month's meeting: Thursday, Act. 27th - from 6:30 - 8 PM, at The Bikery, 904 4th Street. All are welcomed, and there are no costs above the price of a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, and maybe a tasty treat or two. For more information contact: The Van Gogh Cafe@aol.com

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

2 - 30 Day challenge

2011-09-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

A bit from my second book, ROUGH TERRAIN:

So now Al was alone at the lake.

Mallards quacked at his feet - hoping for crackers and bread.

Al kicked the drake into the water. A calm, lovely, high arching kick.
Plop! Swim swim.
The duck was fine.
And Al was better.
These days it didn't take much.

------------------------------
I have no idea why Al is at the lake, if he knows these ducks, or why he decides to make the drake fly a slightly different way. Thinking in snap-shot form is my usual way of working. I am in awe of the novelist's way. What? You can see more than one picture? Your characters are in view for more than a minute? How do you do that?
------------------------------

Anyway, back to work. Pastels or acrylics? Business or art? Greeting cards or new stuff? The afternoon is zooming past, and the patio will too soon be in complete shadow. Time to head for some art supplies and see what happens.
------------------------------

If needing a heady dose of inspiration, check out the blog untitled "Roz Wound Up." You'll not be disappointed!
------------------------------
Fare-the-well,
Sue

Year-long 30 Day Challenge

2011-09-27T03:03:00.000-07:00

Good Morning -
It's 5:04 AM. As a challenge, and in honor of TED Talks, it's the first day of following Matt Cutts' suggestion to try doing something new for 30 days. Big, little - it doesn't mater. It's the doing.

So. For the next 30 days I'm challenging myself to post 30 blogs. Maybe not one per day - but a total of 30.

You may want to try something, too.

1) Today's topic is: Cayenne Shortbread. This is a "savory, not sweet" cookie offered by A Gourmet Thyme Too and available at The Golden Fig shop on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, MN. A sleeve of these cookies is almost reason enough to hop in car and head to Grand. )And while on good ole Grand stop in at Wet Paint and buy an art supply or twelve.)

Why? Although a small cookie - each bite packs flour, butter, sugar, heat, and a crunch of Kosher salt into a wonderful mouth treat. One cookie is just enough. But it's lovely to know that there are others waiting. (Not anymore...) Note - Some folks I offered a taste to thought the pepper was too peppery for their taste. More for the rest of us!

The package's hang-tag read: Wonderful as an hors d'oeuvre base. Press some goat cheese in place; top with your favorite pesto, hummus or chutney. Simply enjoy plain with a sip of wine or expresso.

I munched all of mine plain and with a spot of tea. I wish I'd purchased two sleeves.....

On to the day's Grand Adventures -
Sue

Home. Alone.

2011-09-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

Wow. A quiet house. This truly hardly ever happens. And I don't know if I like it. Todd's bowling, Tara is off at a wedding rehersal, and I just got back from walking up the hill from downtown Stillwater. I'd thought the art crawl was going on tonight, but, nope...., it's next Friday.

One week off is not too bad. Some things in life - especially art-wise - are one YEAR or more "off." Then there are the notes one should write, the notes one wants to write, the vegetables to be harvested, the clothes to be folded. The plans one plans to plan. All the while we ARE doing stuff, and even wonderful things. However they zoom out of mind so quickly, only to be replaced by big clunking chunks of Nagging Guilt. Hmmm. A year already. That cannot be possible. But, yes, it's been twelve months since the Fall Edina art fair, and, yes, you have just put up the booth for this weekend's festival at Marine-on-the-Saint-Croix. The Green Bay Packers are done playing practice games and have already won their first "real" contest. A year has truly passed.

Sigh. So now the choices are: relax and read a book, work on greeting card orders, or start a new acrylic bruin "just for fun." First, it's tea time, and list-making time, and looking-out-the-window-at-darkening-sky time. Sigh.

I'm glad that there is still a wee bit of moment awareness - and a half-hour of silence - every now and then. Sit back and try five minutes.... It may be hard, but it might get easy. And even though we are weeks and years "off" on somethings, it might help to give yourself a five-minutes-right-now every now and then. Today the five minutes found a goldfinch at the bird-feeder. It might be a year before one comes again. We will hope time doesn't fly quite that fast. So on to a few more silent minutes, than back to the joys of sound. Tonight I think Jim Morrison and The Doors will break the silence well. Or Bach. Or Buddy Holly. I'm home alone. And the ears are missing their music.

On to the evening. On to some art. On to the joys of tea and toast. A toast to days and weeks and years and lives of sound and silence.
Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Dealin' With the ADD...

2011-09-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

Boo. Hoo. The almost-finished post just went away.............

Just writing about dealing with the friendly-foey ADD stuff today. One can not make bread without finishing the deed. So. Bread. Got. Mixed. Kneaded. Raised. Panned. Raised. Baked. Sliced. Eaten. Wow. One task accomplished while batting around so many others. Did. Play. Tennis. Too. didn't take headphones. So. Was. Distracted. By. Large. Slowly-flying. Bird.

And now I can't find my car keys. Am. Hoping. They. Were. Left. At. Post-office. Yesterday.

Did finally maybe name the events I'd love to have a go at. Round tables of interesting people talking, creating, sharing, eating, drinking. Without butting heads, arguing points, etc etc. A safe haven sort of event. Gotta do some. Gotta dare to fail. Gotta have more fun.

Gotta keep going on the actual "to do" lists and the invisible ones as well.

Time to cross off "blog" - whew.
Yesterday's learning - If you give a friend a tiny inexpensive notebook she might appreciate it more than one would guess.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

September 12

2011-09-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

These hot days in the Upper Midwest will be coming to an end soon. I am not complaining about the heat, but am pretending the days are simply extra hot short days we have hooked on to the end of an especially short-feeling Summer.

At the U.S. Tennis Open Rafa Nadal is having a tough time this late afternoon. I admire the great effort of both men. Sports can seem shallow in light of Sept. 11, but often they can inspire.

It's time to go buy art supplies. Treat yourself to a bit of something new every now and then. Don't wait till Winter. And make an effort to enjoy at least a bit of every shortening day -

-Ever onward-
Sue and crew

Summer's Almost Over

2011-08-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

Wow. 2011's Summer is almost at an end.
Did you do all that you had planned?
Not us.
But we did do lots, and other stuff than first was "planned."

Some folks like to live all figured out. Some folks enjoy the take-what-the-day-brings approach.

We are in the midst of both.
So some days are too interesting.
Most are at least not boring.

Now that we are superbly busy our garden has decided to explode with produce. I have learned to make pesto. We are still waiting for the huge globs of tomatoes to ripen. Our first try at cauliflowers is looking good. The sunflowers will inspire the planting of many more next Spring.

The new acrylic bear paintings are sold. Red Charlie and Nine Blue Thomas went to new homes from last week's Artstreet show in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

We learned that it's possible to drive a manual transmissioned truck home across Wisconsin without a clutch. It's possible - but not recommended.

So one to September's adventures. May yours be good ones.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Just for Fun

2011-08-16T06:14:00.000-07:00

Early this morning I chalked It's all downhill from Here. on our sidewalk, because from there, in that direction, it simply is.

May your day go in the direction that you choose!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

* Dare to do something today Just for Fun.*

Art Fair Time - Stockholm, WI

2011-07-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

So....., Saturday, July 16, 2011, didn't really dawn. It boomed and crackled and blew and poured, and I thought Todd and my last words would be "Wow!!" Mr. T was simply driving out of Stillwater - heading for the Stockholm Art Festival. Weather forecasts promised a fine, if humid, day - if we didn't run into power lines or have a tree drop on our precious old red Ford truck. Thunder-lightning-way-too-close was our companion for most of the drive, but skies lifted and rain stopped as we slopped our way past River Falls,Ellsworth, Bay City and the like. Whew and whew.

The park grounds at Stockholm were darned damp but O.K. to drive in. Booths raised the night before appeared fine and dandy. Life was potentially good. We got our goodies out of the truck and up under the trees. Time for coffee and scones - Thanks to the festival folks. Thanks, festival folks!

As the photo above shows - I believe in the power of plastic..... The day was hot and muggy, and downpours often felt just-around-the-next-dark-cloud, but we survived the moisture early and settled in for a day Stockholm Festival shoppers. The small town fills up fast, and I have no idea where people end up parking. But they come early and stay late - a point we always appreciate. When one can make sales before the official opening of a show - ye ha!

We met people from all over the U. S., solved the UWRF Beck/Beckham confusion, and discussed possibilities for chat/art/eating event that's always in the back of my mind. People laughed and chatted and bought and laughed.

After a lovely evening plate of tasty goodies provided by the staff we parted ways with good buddies, gambled a bit at the casino, and napped - thunder and lightning free. A rare "free" summer Sunday was next. I spent it on the couch........ but that's another story.

Thanks, Stockholm - now, on to Ely!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

A Summer Morning - July 4th, 2011

2011-07-04T04:25:00.000-07:00

The garden looks like we know what we're doing.

Peppers and brussel sprouts and basils that we grew from seed look like they'll make the transition from babe to adult. That's exciting in almost any species!

I still don't know the varieties of perrenials that are growing from seed. Help, serious gardeners????

Art fair adventures are rolling in think and fast. I WILL post pictures. I WILL type details.

Lake Superior has been "friendly" toward our little white tents so far this year. It's got a few more chances this summer to do differently.

Appreciate each summer day, and fall, and winter, and spring? Some mornings it's a challenge - to relax into the possibilities instead of trying to steer most minutes into one's plans.

It's OK to relax. It'sOK to relax.

Relax?

OK.

hahahahahahahahah-

Have a safe and wonderfully sparkly 4th of July.
Thanks, Founding Moms and Dads and Aunts & Uncles!!!!!

Fare-the-well,
Sue

Small Pleasures - Tiny Cows

2011-06-17T05:54:00.000-07:00

An artists can't live by pastels alone. Lately, some companions have been a small handfull of tiny cows. They are items left from a former life and only come upon by a chance deep cleaning of a closet. Ya yust neffer know.

So some live out in the patio garden, some stay in the house, and some come on our travels.

The above duo are trying out the acoustics at the Lakefront Park amphitheater in Hudson, Wisconsin. No, they are NOT doing "Moooooon River."

Later they took in the view from the bridge just south of the park. Folks were enjoying a day of sailing on the St. Croix River. The cows were content to stay on dry ground.

If one cow is good, are three cows better? I don't know, and they're not telling.

These strange little adventures will probably not end up as great art, but it appears that the Holsteins will be being hauled along for the rest of the summer.

Go clean a closet - you might be inspired by the mysteries you'll find there!

This weekend it's off to Virginia, MN and The Land of the Loons Festival for the bruins and me.

June 25 - 26 we will be at the Art Fair at beautiful Park Point in Duluth, Minnesota. If you make the trek "Up North" check out our goodies atBlue Lake Gallery in Duluth's Canal Park.

And Best of Luck to all you Grandma's Marathon -ers!!!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Sky

2011-06-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Bayfield, Wisconsin, on an early October, early A.M. Our efforts can be to enjoy our foggy days or do something to make them go away.

A great sunset is hard to beat. However, serious fogs have also had me mouthing "Wow."
May the atmosphere surrounding you today be what you hoped it'd be.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Fun with Fringe

2011-06-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

Pastels back then -

2011-06-02T17:24:00.000-07:00

While cleaning out a nook or a cranny I came upon this box of antique art-making stuff.
Have not taken the time to research the exact era, but I'm guessing 1930's?
(Oops, was I wrong - According to CrayonCollecting.com these little beauties were made only from 1905 to 1909!)

Although these pastel crayons are "for every use" I haven't had the heart to put one to use. They have survived this long - and they will a little longer.

These muted colors will never give the Terry Ludwig Dark collection a run for the money, but I hope that their original owner made some lovely work. On to making ours!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Pastel Magic

2011-05-26T04:46:00.000-07:00

Some days pastels have to be loved for themselves.....

Having a bit of fun with a five by seven inch space, fuzzy board, and favorite shapes.

Playing with color. Playing with shapes. You have your own favorites. Use them - or dare to put a triangle where you'd always put a square!
I don't know why a sentence/thought will pop into the head, but I always try to write it down if it shows up. Ya never know if it might lead to the whole new next series.

These marks were made with some of the softest pastels on the table. Mostly Terry Ludwig goodies.

The marks ruled the composition. I tried to stay out of forcing anything. Play play pop pop. Very few areas of layering. The intensity of colors and their relationship to neighbors' colors and shapes became the main point of this little piece. Don't know if it's finished. But I do know that it's fun.

Goof off for even the tiniest part of your day today. In art, in taking a short walk, in ordering a different kind of coffee. In seeing how long you can hold your breath; dare to skip two, or maybe three skips down the sidewalk. It might be when the Magic happens!

Fare-thee-well and Good Luck!
Sue

Protection?

2011-05-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Teddy Wedged-Badly

2011-05-18T04:18:00.001-07:00

OADMD - in Honor of Karen Grimm

2011-05-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

The One-A-Day-Motivational-Drawing is today inspired by a remarkable woman. Karen Grimm lived a too-short, but really big life. Others will have different words to share. I wanted to gather inspiration from her long-time joy of life and ability to do well in many worlds.

This little page is a reminder that one can accomplish amazing stuff - if a person stays true to the quest. Hard work and heart can do tons. They can't do the impossible..... and that's a sad fact.

Thanks, Karen, for all you did in your many worlds - model horses, real Appaloosas, and flying - to name a few. A few of us will live differently from today - at least for a while. Touching folks' lives is kind of a big deal, and you touched so many. Here's hoping that these little scribbles keep reminding us of how some kind words or acts can make another's day or week or year.

Most often we take our days for granted. Cliche? Yup. But this day is all we might have. If we spend it bitching or angry we have spent that one more minute, hour, day bitching or angry. If we spend it joyful - it will have been spent joyful. too simple? Perhaps. Today is being spent sad yet joyful. And appreciating being able to see one more chickadee, admire one more baby lupine, and wash one more bowl.

Here in Minnesota May is that hard month of in-be-tween-ness. Lots of fields are still cold and empty. We want to see more green and feel more sunshine. But we have to learn to live with the day we have today. May it be a day of growth and a day filled with thankfulness.

Thanks again, Karen. Peter and your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
On to your next Grand Adventure!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

OADMD - Llamas

2011-05-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

Ah yes. Still with the llama theme. Oh well. At least I'm not still "seeing" them when I close my eyes. We must continue on with OADMD attempt to use up pencil bits. Llama inspiration? Ya sure, ya betcha.

Playing with our old friend OADMD April 26 (Frugal) permits us the adding of llamas and reflections upon these Fibery folks. Hour after hour the penned crew remained mainly calm and oddly interested and upbeat. Llamas are built much differently than our usual farm friends - in particular, their body part ratios do not compute to those of horses. We who have memorized equine proportions must retrain our eyes and hands. Heads, ears, necks, barrels, legs, tails - yes, the features add up properly, but their relationships are distinctly llama-y. More about this in a later post.

Yes, one can be both Relaxed and Alert. Maybe it's in the hay........

Goofing off time. Decorative features morph into llamas. This is madness. But the pencil chips ARE getting smaller. Do not forget the point of this post. We are using up pencil points - and still have quite the way to go. It's both exciting and dis-heartening to realize how much use can still be made of those tiny bits of used-to-be pencil. Next......? Inspirational fibers, of course.

To be continued............

Sue

Another Day - Another Llama

2011-05-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

Llama Magic 2011

2011-05-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

Look ma - no legs! Only kidding. Plenty of the short-hocked, two-toed, woolly shanked underpinning - just neated folded and out of the way.

Yes, I know. These two guys are not llamas. The ram is a sort of vintage English breed. As with some llamas and this sheep, well, the gate-way "drug" seems to be joining 4-H. Hoorah for 4-H!

Attitude is not a feature lacking in llamas. All present in the barn we were in seemed to practice a relaxed interest, yet not REALLY caring about what was going on around them. Perhaps we humans could learn from their example? Only late on the second day did a quiet resignation/boredom seem to set in. Well, with humans and animals alike.

Wake me when it's time to go home......

More wild llama action to follow. Kidding..... Only one bit of adventure on Sunday when an adult fleecy type tried to make a break for freedom. Enough calm and savvy humans were on hand to prevent escape and/or injury. Brought back loose cow/break-away draft horse/errant ewe adventures long set back in my city-fied brain.

Yes, many more photos of our new furry friends remain to be displayed and discussed. And then - let the drawing fun begin!

Looking out at daffodils - hip hip hooray!
And looking forward to vending our bear goodies at the 8th Annual Dolls in Spring doll and teddy bear show May 15th, at the Mermaid Event Center, 2200 Hwy 10, Mounds View, MN (corner of Cty Rd H & Hwy 10 just of of 35W). For more info: www.CPromotionsPlus.com

We will have some new images as well as our "classics." Come visit!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

OADMD - Frugality

2011-04-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm a bit crazed. Broken pencil points can make me sad, angry, and, especially, disappointed. Disappointed in the tip breaking off, not wanting to trust the pencil OR the pencil sharpener. Disappointed in the shorter life span of less-long pencil. Sigh. Yes, I can be seriously shallow.
Yesterday and today included an exercise in hope and frugality. Just how much expression is left in a quarter-inch pencil lead? The drawing portion is still as long as it would be if attached to it's former pencil-self. Gather those literal bits and pieces from the bottom of the bag and give them a chance at making their mark!
First, I went for color symbolism. Free association. Questions. Possibilities. The leads hold up quite well. My fingers - not so much. Come on vise-pinkies, you can do this!

Because only a few colored leads were available at the moment, I had to rely on limited lines, shapes, and patterns to kick-start the imagination. The page was going to be warmly-hued whether I liked it or not. The ever-present Sharpie Marker added a bit of weight to words, but was not allowed to mix with pencil. Leads dragged on their sides made color blocks, leads on end could add the smallest detail. Blending was allowed.

On these pages rules are made, adhered to, and changed. This page was started at The Bikery, continued at home (Thanks, Neil Young, for your You Tube inspiration!), and is still a work in progress. It's messy now and gonna get messier. The pencil bits are far from used up and there is still white paper showing.

1) MAKE UP A FEW RULES. 2) Follow Through. DON'T BE AFRAID TO WASTE TIME OR PAPER. That sentence was really hard to write. However, when chatting with folks who say that they want to start drawing I always say "Don't be afraid to waste paper." It's the waste time part that I'm bad at. Reading books on walking and being idle have helped the brain get over that hurdle. Some of us have to muck through a time of long fuzzy to come up with The Good Idea. We have a hard time allowing ourselves this chunk of day, even if it might be the most "profitable" in the end. Start small. Five minutes. Build to an hour. Maybe chance a day.

Look at bits of art supplies as really tiny toys. (I will so appreciate the complete pencils after this page...)

Neil Young keeps being innovative and powerful in his playing: "Hey Hey, My My.... Rock and Roll will never die..."

Lesson for the day: Lack of art supplies is No Excuse. Use what you have. Make a sand painting. Trace a cloud. Draw a house plant. Go ahead Use your big stuff. but know that if put to the task a tiny tip can probably get your message across. So far so good. And more to come 'cause hardly any pencil bits were worn off in the making of this drawing.

To be continued........

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

OADMD - "O" magazine

2011-04-22T16:35:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, I walked downtown to work a day at American Gothic Antiques. Stillwater was being snowed on, the daffodils at the Veterans' Memorial were being snowed on, the flag flying at half-staff was being snowed on, the Historic Stillwater Lift Bridge was being snowed on. April 22.... The Daily Grind Coffee Shop beckoned. I had a little money for coffee and a little time to drip dry. They had a pile of recent magazines. I had a backpack full of art supplies. Doesn't everyone? Out came a red Sharpie marker. O.K. The dream sentence came out of nowhere. On to Oprah. February, 2011.

Today I learned that Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher (AD 55 - AD 135). Once upon a time he'd been a slave. Now he is the source of a number of our words to live by. One of his ideas: First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. If that ain't motivatin' I don't know what is. Make a decision and follow through. It's lots easier to type than to do.

Back to "O". I kept reading and quoting - and listening to guys discussing the recent TV coverage of politicians and reporters regarding the Stillwater lift bridge. "I was watching them walking on the ice under the bridge." "No, no." Yup. I love coffee shops.

Donna Brazile says "Laugh at the opposition." Epictetus suggested: Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly. Both may be good advice, though I prefer a hearty chuckle - even on a dark hard day. Laughs or no laughs, time was hinting that the skimming "O" and the scribbling was going to have to end. Read read write write. Decide what to ignore, decide what to include. There was no time to get out the Altoid box of really short colored pencils. This would be a page of words. There was no time for flourishes - only for focus. 9:56, 9:57, 9:58.

Filled paper. Lots to ponder. And actually more in the issue that I want to explore. Thanks, Oprah, writers, and the owners of the Daily Grind. I'll be back soon. This snowy weather is no laughing matter. But sunshine's in my little heart and I've discovered an ancient Stoic. Gotta go with what we've got.

On to The Grand Adventure,
Sue

OADMD - Peachy Pie

2011-04-20T05:31:00.000-07:00

On Sunday Tara and I went to The Bikery for coffee. Though arriving before noon, we were "late." Few objects of desire were sheltered in the pastry case. Boo hoo? Boo hoo?

But, lo! Several large slices of peach pie called out "We're still here! We are peachy!" We decided to share one thick slice, got two forks, sat at an interior table corner (all the lovely window tables were taken - boo hoo), and bit on in. Crust was good and crusty, filling was peachy-keen. Definitely a sharing size.
To prolong the enjoyment I draw pie. Fun free-form angles and curves. Pies are angles. Pies are curves. The sketch is sort of cubist as the actual pie changed shape and size as penciling proceeded. Forks become abstract pokey things. Crust and filling meld into peachy tanny goldenroddy mass.

The peaches at the paper's bottom are a daydream of Summer. I tried to reach one's Inner Peach.

By drawing and eating turn by turn a sketcher can enjoy pie a wee bit longer than the usual eater. Look carefully, hunt for the appropriate colored pencil, scribble a bit, repeat. Inspect the geometry of a particular peach slice. Decide to shade or not to shade. Discuss life with daughter. Go get more coffee. Repeat. If words come to mind write some of them down.

Still haven't worked on the Sharing Theme. Maybe today.

The Star-Tribune Sunday paper holds quote from guitar great Jeff Beck - he is motivated by "Pushing and challenging myself musically to create new sounds and new music." Challenge. Challenge. I gotta remember the challenge part...... and must remember to draw with darker colors and higher contrast.

Lines from the pie day: draw faster looser slower freer
"Peach" Prismacolor is far pinker than these peaches.
One can be inspired by pie's shape (changing), color, sparkle, and charm.
I do so love a Charming Pie.

Today will probably be pie-free. But I'm thinking about French Onion Soup for lunch....

It's snowing out - now and forever.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Waltzing With Sargent

2011-04-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

Now most of us will never be compared to the great painter John Singer Sargent. However, a lovely lesson we all can learn from his work is how much can be inferred by a dash or a dab or a squiggle. We can practice our dots and dashes, symbolic flicks and bits, to help the viewer along with the seeing while actually forcing him or her to do a tad of imagining. Examine Sargent's work and note the abstract shapes and lines and dobs he uses to depict a head or hand. A fashionable dress is actually a series of thickly laid slashes.

This is a work in progress.... Major gestures have been decided and the "Sargent-squiggles" are starting to appear. I tend to either ignore detail or put too much in. A Sargent-style of painting allows the artist to hint rather than clobber. To lead rather than lecture. One can play in a number of areas with a wide variety of colored ticks that add up only when seen as a whole. I like to create jazzy bits of interplay - some bold, others subtle. Improve is the name of the game once the basic composition is drawn. This does not always work out for the best; it's simply how I prefer to create. As a reformed pen-and-ink girl, my using pastels spontaneously doesn't come easily! And messes do occur. But the forgiving nature of pastels lets us "try, try again." As Martha would say, That's a good thing."

Producing images that conform to one's ideas and plans takes study, practice, and persistence. Serious stuff. We have to do our home-work now so later we can communicate with ease. So keep at it. And have fun. Play with dabs, and globs, and smears, but have them lean toward meaning something. Maybe some day, like John Sargent Singer, we'll get the hang of using those dots and dashes to get our message just right. On to the painting dance.

Waltzing in my mind -
Sue

OADMD - April 12 - Tedtalk Motivation

2011-04-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

The One a Day Motivational Drawing was done early this morning while watching a TEDtalk by David Christian. I am taking a bit of motivation from the words Challenges and Opportunities.

Oops.... the dangers of listening/drawing/listening/drawing. The quote should be "Not too much, not too little, just enough." Time to cross out and correct.... Proof-read. Porff-read. Ha. Right beats - wrong words. "The real beauty of DNA is in its imperfections." Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of flaws in typing quotes correctly.

Good Luck to us all!
Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Motivational Drawing April 6

2011-04-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

When bored, uninspired, etc etc etc, and if able, Visit Your Local Library! Millions of books, audio books, picture books, instruction books, biographies, atlases, childrens' books, books on business, spiritual matters, recipes, gardening, music, poetry, ART exist - for us - in neat rows, and willing and able to be used as we choose.

Kind of exciting, yes?

It will probably include a few lovely quiet places to sit and rest or think or draw or write. Or read. Take advantage of the opportunity. Stake a claim for your space at a table or desk, with or without a window view. (Some times a view is just what one needs, other times it distracts from one's mission - you will have to have the courage to make the correct decision.)

An hour in the library can make a year of difference. On to the Grand Adventure!

- Sue

Bulbs

2011-04-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

Hip hooray! The local rodents didn't gnaw up all the bulbs. We have crocus blooming and the more serious sorts of other Springy greenery peeking through the snow-packed mulch.

The cacti in the front yard are braving up their little prickly-pear pads, and the sage next to them is dry yet sagey.

The late cold has crimped the urge to start indoor seeds, but perhaps in the next day or two we will put some soil into containers and some seeds into the soil. Sweet basil and some cherry tomatoes for now. Do want to try brussel sprouts this year, and more kinds of peppers. Friend Jill has talked me into growing beans. My family will laugh at this..... I am not a "Bean Person."

On to the sunny day. This afternoon holds drawing at Croixdale, an assisted cared center in Bayport, Minnesota. We have a good time, and never know what adventures lie in store for those big sheets of paper and that lovely box of colored markers. Easter themes will probably prevail, but one truly never knows. Once upon a time a giraffe poked her head through a kitchen window. Another day brought an angry skunk leading a parade. Bears fill in when other animals get bored or tired. I'll post an image or two later.

So - Best of luck to gardeners everywhere, plant a smile when you can!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Guinea Pigs

2011-04-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time daughter Tara brought home Gingersnap the Best Guinea Pig in the Whole World. He lived a pretty good (we think) seven years with us. Romaine lettuce and green peppers and dandilions (and kibble) fueled his day. We all cried when he died, and he is buried in an oak cuspidor in our flower garden....

Sam and Max came later and left sooner. Such is fate.
We are pig-less at present, and this is OK. Maybe some day we will share our floors and vegetables with others.

Now we buy salad fixings for only us humans. But Gingersnap's excited whistles when he heard us bringing in the grocery bags are forever in the memory. And we have giant soft spots in our hearts for his furry chirping fun.

I miss bringing in that first Spring dandilion for the contented chomping. An odd tradition but a traditional none-the-less. Thanks, pigs, for sharing some time with us. And teaching us to eat more veggies...

Fare-thee-well,

Sue

I Still Don't Know About Eyes

2011-03-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

Realization and/or Resignation? Plan or gamble? Put a piece of pastel in my hand and I still don't know what will come of the adventure. Here are two close-ups of particular bears made with no thumb-nail sketches or certainty in outcome. The top guy became "Mystery 3" and the bottom dude is "Martin." Both are looking at the world from long experience, but each would give a different story on how he thinks life might end up.

For the time being they both keep most of their thoughts to themselves. Maybe some day I'll have the guts to put one or both up on the wall and have a long chat. If you have any idea of what they might be thinking feel free to let me know. We can ask them if we're Hot or Cold... and see if they will open up a tad. Maybe tell a few bad bear jokes or sing some bawdy bear songs. Recall a mom's favorite recipe for venison? Hear a different version of "Goldilocks"....

Beware the quiet thinking bear.

Another day closer to Real Spring -

Sue
Look for our bears at the following Spring Boutiques:

* Chickadee Boutique - Shoreview, MN - most Thursdays through Sundays - Mar. 31 - May 15
* Northwoods Boutique - Braemar Golf Course Club House, Edina, MN - April 5 - 17
* Candleberry on the Lakes - Centennial Lakes Park Centrum, Edina, MN - April 6 - 17

Fern Frenzy

2011-03-22T18:20:00.001-07:00

This little adventure is part of the Collaborations action combining poets and artists for an exhibition at The Crossing in Zumbrota, MN.

A line in the poem chosen spoke of the tightly wound ways of fern fronds. I so love ferns of many kinds - young and old alike, and had photographed a number of the varieties in our back garden though-out 2010. The photos are kinda "artsy" because I used black or blue photo box covers as backgrounds to the plants. This resulted in some fern images becoming oddly jewel-like.

We prepped a Masonite surface and let the madness begin!! Acrylic washes, acrylic mediums of different kinds, ball-point pen.... Whatever might work.
I must say - this experiment has actually been lots of fun. Flow has been happening. Hours pass. I see more and more. Often rules are dismissed. I am almost hopeful.

The project is due quite shortly. There is a way to go before I'll feel it's finished. And even if the final piece isn't wonderful the time spent creating it has been. Wow. Who knew?

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Larry in the Rough

2011-03-12T17:17:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time I was a Sculpture Major in college. However, the wax dude here was not roughed out by me, but by my trusty husband, Todd. The Larry is inspired by the drawing of "Why Larry Talked to the Lake," still, the finished bruin has an aura of his own. He's been about two years in the making, and looks not much at all like the part pictured. As a good wife/drawer of the original it was hard for me to critique along the way, and just as hard for hubby to hear it.

I was a wee bit testy at times because Larry the drawing is "mine" and I wanted the sculpture to be THAT Larry. Todd the Patient did go along with many (some) of my suggestions, but was just as stubborn as I am, or more so, when he wanted the wax to go his way.... I did sneak downstairs once or twice to tweak a detail or two.

Now that the guy is finished we are pouring some waxes and deciding what path of casting to take. On to the Grand Adventure!

A bunch of bears are heading for the Majestic Oaks Boutique, at the Majestic Oaks Golf Course, near Ham Lake, Minnesota. Dates are March 16 - 27. It will be our first time exhibiting here, and we hope that the bruins will cause many chuckles and guffaws.

Lots of snow still on the ground here. Sigh and sigh. No flooding yet, but plans for much sand-bagging downtown Stillwater near St. Croix River. Thoughts are with those dealing with the earthquake in Japan, too.
Ever-onward and
Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Caramel Roll - The Bikery

2011-02-11T13:41:00.001-08:00

Hudson Hot Air Affair

2011-02-04T09:57:00.000-08:00

We are excited to be part of Hudson, Wisconsin's Hudson Hot Air Affair!! This large hot air balloon festival is said to be the largest of it's kind in the Midwest, and weather looks to be cooperating this year.

Our bears will be available all day at the Marketplace in the gymnasium of the E.P. Rock Elementary School, 340 13th St. S., Hudson.

This is a close-up of one of our newest pieces. His name is "Pudge." I don't know why.

Come join the frosty fun in Hudson this weekend!

Then on to the Super bowl insanity....
GO PACK!!!!

- Sue

Packermania

2011-02-01T03:20:00.000-08:00

Life will return to "normal" some time next week. This week the Green Bay Packers are in The Super Bowl. THE PACKERS ARE IN THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am shallow. I am a fan. I am an observer of human nature - of talented human sports types (players/coaches/etc/etc), of those who get paid to talk about them, and of those of us who follow the annual professional football adventure.

For several years now I often spend the game sort of watching TV, definitely listening to radio coverage (Walkman headphones clamped over at least one ear & additional free-standing radio tuned to the wisdom of Wayne and Larry), and journaling almost every play on almost every down. Noting thoughts, emotions high and low, in tiny printing, occasional obscenities (not nice - but true), and giant scribbles. It's now an automatic doing. A writing discipline in observation, quickness of noting, using abbreviations, clock times and heart beats to add to the scene.

These high days come infrequently for many fans. Enjoying the whole deal because it goes by so quickly is part of the fun. Enjoying the thrill. Enjoying the panic. Enjoying knowing one has cheered for that other team when one's own team ain't in The Big Game. Enjoying the bonding with folks one doesn't know because of a Green and Gold sweatshirt or jacket or cap.

Soon life will go on. Bart Era. Brett Era. And now on to Aaron. And smiling with Coach Mike, Donald, Clay, A. J., B. J., and the rest of the NFC Best. Focus, follow through, hang onto that ball. Make the tackles and the field-goals. Inches and seconds count. Extra effort in every action.
I watch the games to get inspired. I watch the games and worry about pain. I watch the games and ponder metaphor verses reality. I am a fan of the universe........

Lombardi and Lambeau - "Go Pack Go!!!!"

- Fare-thee-well,
Sue

New Views of an Old Lady

2011-01-25T19:04:00.001-08:00

This simple exercise in drawing is starting to grow into something bigger. I don't know what yet.

Drawing for Discipline - Part 2

2011-01-18T16:29:00.001-08:00

After about 30 minutes of concentrated attention our lady is coming along.... The pencils keep making tiny marks, mostly tiny circles. I have a bad habit of not stopping to note incorrect dimensions. Today I try to stay aware of ratios, directions, shapes, values, shadows versus physical features. The goal is to create a pleasing image, staying respectful of the original subject, while not needing to depict an exact copy. Choosing to use color forces me to make a number of decisions not necessary if simply copying the photograph. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that the pencil colors are not from my "best" bag, but a third "not exactly my favorites" bunch. I do my best, choosing from a variety of pencils ranging from beige to violet blue. An Apple Green and a few different oranges add a little interest.

After a number of passes I feel the tell-tale gliding sensation of waxy build-up. Sometimes this gets me cranky, but today I decide to think of it as a way to sculpt the woman's features. Back and forth, back and forth. Hmmmmm. She's becoming somebody one might have a nice chat with. Good. Will her lips be an issue? Trust the pencils? O.K., good enough. Time keeps zooming by.
Time to tackle hair? Her partner?

On to part 3 - we shall see what we shall see.

- Sue

Drawing for Discipline

2011-01-17T17:01:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, perhaps 30 short years ago, I bought a studio photograph of an infant in a wonderful Christening gown. Now the vintage photograph collection includes 19th century schoolyard kids, old folks on various couches, a whole album of two sisters' train trip across Canada, and whole lots of images that simply proved too fascinating to not rescue from antique shops, estate and/or garage sales. Real people, real lives, living on paper, whether in black and white or fading shades of color.

On a recent drawing-at-coffee-shop adventure I decided to use a photo chosen at random as a bit of focus and inspiration, and to see what my brain would tell me to do with it.

Starting with a sheet of heavy black paper I "knew" the images would begin as a value study. Look, scribble, look, measure, scribble, compare, re-measure, scribble. I "knew" the drawing would focus only on the subjects' heads. These decisions appear to come unbidden, the thoughts simply are. Then I have to agree to play by each new rule. So far, so good. Go for one hour - see what happens. Even with years of life drawing classes, I've never been secure in being able to depict humans, especially faces. But if faces are made of shapes, well, perhaps results won't be a complete disaster. Be brave in the attempt. Strive for focus, not for perfection. HAVE FUN.

It's amazing how quickly new rules pop up. Sorry, guy, you've been blocked in, but now you're going to be blocked out. It's mom's, auntie's, grandma's turn to shine. Immediately the mind ignores the left side of the paper.

On to the drawing adventure - (to be continued)

Sue

Old Tomatoes

2011-01-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

Shortly, yes, shortly the huge mounds of snow will melt, mud will happen, and green will appear in our backyards. But I want to pick ripe tomatoes NOW.

In honor of a pretty good, for me, gardening year, and with hope of having those last green tomatoes turning red and yummy, I saved four of the little rascals and watched to see what happened. In time they did fight the good fight, sort of turned to a reddish hue, and then just became kitchen decor.

Recently I took a small nibble and realized that in this case redder was not better...... Sigh and sigh. But I just couldn't toss out these four pieces of last year's fun quite yet- they deserved a tiny bit of honor for hanging in there and trying their best. Out came the camera and on to tomato inspiration!

Now they sit inside of the computer, all warm and cozy and ready for their close-ups. We will return to them shortly and dare to find ways of making these little orbs even more immortal. Mere old tomatoes - ha! They're the best we've got for months -

Artists - appreciate your own versions of "old tomatoes" - boxes of family photos, stuff in the refrigerator, the scene right outside the window. If it's dull or icky - well, not too icky, that's O.K. Simply use what you've got to take your mind, pencil or paint somewhere even just slightly new.

The first week of the new year is behind us - TO TOMATOES.... AND BEYOND!!!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Older Polars

2011-01-05T10:40:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's nice not to sell originals. These two guys are done in oil pastel back when I was afraid of the powdery stuff.
They have their own quirky power - even in repose. One is actually napping. The other - not so much.
Today feels like a napping day. But no - too much to do - so on to a cup of Earl Grey tea, a small gingerbread bear, and geting on with the hours left in this Wednesday.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Motivational Scone

2011-01-03T16:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! and on to the Best Year Ever - Part the Fifth:

Once again the One-A-Day Motivational Drawing (Dec. 29) finds me at Stillwater's The Bikery. A recent exercise is bravely putting my hand into the bag of colored pencils - mostly Prismacolor goodies - and being willing to draw with the four pulled out, regardless of hue, plus the beloved Sharpie Marker. Eeek. What to work with today? Medium grey, dark umber, a peachy sort, and grass green. Not exactly the most vibrant in the bag. But self-imposed rules are self-imposed rules.

Soon the paper holds words: Yuck! DON'T BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE..., Do Something fast-Intensely-Focused Non-stop For an Hour Almost Every Day.

I tentatively do a few passes with the colors - they sort of blend into a late-afternoon high sky landscape. Hmmm... there are possibilities. I don't hate these pencils quite as much as I did when they first appeared. Heck, it's not their fault they're today's team. Let's buck up and make the best of it. Hmmm - have to remember that for real life. Ya sure - ya betcha.

All this time a fresh cranberry scone has been sitting quietly on it's plate. Complete. Un-chomped..... On to seeing - on to drawing. Oddly, the chosen pencils work out fine - and the Sharpie is just the thing for the darkest of shadows. Look- draw - look - draw. Most fun is recreating the pointy black shadows thrown by innocent sugar crystals sitting atop scone. Play with values - from white plate to inky shadow - all enhanced by brilliant sunshine.

A few more scribbled remarks and the page is complete. Last sentence: I love drawing.

Yup. And eating good scones.
Try a Motivational Drawing. Or even a Not Motivational Drawing. Start with drawing tools you truly enjoy using, and some day dare to use what ends up in your hand!

On to The Grand Adventure -

Sue

"Fuzzy Stick" Fun

2010-12-09T16:52:00.000-08:00

So.... I'm old...... but have finally come around to know the joy of "Fuzzy Sticks."

Springing into Winter

2010-12-08T17:49:00.000-08:00

Saturday, Dec. 4, Tara and I trekked back to St. Paul, MN for the final day of the Landmark Center Holiday Bazaar.
We needed a bagel fix so braved the sidewalks and roadways leading to the local Bruegger's Bagels shop. The paths were semi-well shoveled, so in some places the snow was piled high.
Unlike outside, the bagel shop was warm and cozy, the coffee was good and hot, as were the bagels. Eventually we knew we'd have to return to Landmark - so we did.

Here is Tara heading to Bruegger's. I couldn't juggle coffee, bagel bag, purse, and camera well enough to photograph return trip. Her 12-foot-long Dr. Who-inspired scarf was doings its best at keeping her warm.

Here is a little guy who was commissioned as a God-father gift to a recently-born lad. Customer G. picked him up at Landmark - Thanks! I hope cub and lad make everybody happy almost all the time! (A seasoned mom can at least cross her paws.) He wasn't around the studio very long and I miss him already. Maybe I'll make him a brother some day.
Working on this colorful cubby helped keep me from looking out onto all the new white stuff. I'm from Big Snow Country in NORTHERN Wisconsin - think Lake Superior - but have lived here in "southern" Minnesota long enough to be spoiled by snowfalls of "only" 4 - 8 inches.

Did plant the daffodils and iris before this storm hit so can finally look forward to Spring - whew. Planted in the dark and pouring rain but did the deed. Even put chicken-wire barriers over the fresh mud spots. Take that! - you smarty-pants squirrels. I'm not really counting on having out-smarted them - but am slightly proud of actually making the attempt.

Art events are mostly over for 2010 - maybe one last thing at a co-op in Rochester, MN - and now it's time to spruce up the studio & catch up on life. (Stuff is always at American Gothic in Stillwater & other shops around the land.) Gotta crank up the carols, try to ignore the cookies, and get crackin' on those cards to customers, family and friends.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Landmark Center Holiday Bazaar - Dec. 2- 4

2010-12-03T05:26:00.000-08:00

Greetings on this Brisk and Nippy Morning -

We will be off shortly to St. Paul, MN for the second day of the Landmark Center Holiday Bazaar. The grand old building is festooned in finest holiday cheer, and customers & craftsfolk alike get carolled to enough to make most of us fairly jolly and of good cheer. The free food samples sure help, too!

The building is also home to a beautiful woodworking museum - the gift shop has exquisite work from baubles made of exotic woods to funky awesome purses.

Yesterday's crowd was a mix of super busy to nobody in the booths - we took it upon ourselves to entertain by way of making stuff from pipe-cleaners - or Fuzzy Sticks - as the bag was titled. Tara, I, and the lovely Loren created things not seen before in the universe - my creature began as a bear, of course, but quickly - well, not really quickly...., through the afternoon - morphed into the beginnings of a fine giraffe, then a genetic mutate giraffe- chicken thing, and is beginning to become a serious giraffe again. Tara made anime creatures, and a fine flamingo - quickly adopted by Loren to perch on her shoulder. Loren made and shared some gorgeous fuzzy bracelets. Fun was had by all. some simple pleasures are the best. If you are bored go buy a bag of Fuzzy Sticks. Life will be oddly but pleasantly different.

So it's back on the road and on to the day. If you're in the area come join in the festivities!

Stay warm - don't fall,
Sue

Baking

2010-11-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Day Greetings -

Every so often our yeast, flour, sugar, and all the other goodies that go into whipping up a batch of dough come together and heat up the kitchen. I'm compelled to make two loaves of whole-wheat white flour bread each week. Almost a ritual - mainly to knead. It helps that our oven can now be trusted.The bears were made for our Open House. The white sugar ones never made it to the shop.
They were cut from with the same cutters. Gingerbread stays so much more true to original shaping. Both were delicious. Good old Betty Crocker Cookbook.

On to the family festivities. I made a version of cinnamon apples in honor of Grandma Clara Reich to bring to our usual feast. Not the same recipe, hers used whole apples, but cinnamony. We'll see what her children think of the daughter-in-law's brave attempt.

On to the Grand Adventure!
Then back to sending out cards and magnets to shops, and working on commissions. Giving Thanks to all our customers, family, and friends!

- Sue

Open House: Nov. 19 - 21

2010-11-18T05:16:00.000-08:00

The snow is slowly melting, cookies and other goodies are being rounded up, and our booth area upstairs in American Gothic Antiques (236 S. Main St., Stillwater, MN) is being readied for our Open House. Fri- Sat: 10 - 5; Sun: 11-5.
We have found some vintage bear goodies including one-of-a-kind hand-drawn cards starting from 1998, oil pastels from when I wasn't brave enough to pick up the soft pastels, and pen-and-ink drawings of bears pre-Larry and Bob. We will have older sketchbooks on view, hard as they are to see, and Pearl the Bear will make an appearance - if we can replace her lower jaw....

Fresh gingerbread bears will be there for the munching. Their friends, the sugar-cookie bears, have almost all been eaten already. Not on purpose - really. Just to check for flavor and texture. Crunch... flavor - yum.... texture....excellent.

Friday and Sunday you can me at find the shop. Saturday, you can walk among the Stillwater bears Sue-free as I'll be vending at the CPC Craft Boutique - Christ Presbyterian Church - located at 70th St. & Hwy 100 in Edina, MN. It will be our first time attending this event but we have that it's a fun way to spend the day. Hours are 9 - 4.

Time to get back to the work-a-day stuff of being an artist. Tara and I are heading for coffee!

Packers play the Vikings in Minnesota on Sunday.......... Go PACK!!!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Options

2010-10-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

Fun and games in the Northland. And playing around with the sky. Once upon a time I was a crazed basketball fan and here are a few borealis bruins going at a game. Maybe.
This is my kind of art sky - full of textures, subtle colors, dramatic shapes, and more than enough "jumping-off" points.

These clouds are long gone now - but the image reminds us to appreciate The Moment - whether caught or not.

Not enough time to reflect on moments at the moment. This sky will have to wait a bit longer to be appreciated or used. Such is the blessing and curse of the artist's life.

Windy day today equals short choppy thoughts.

Open House for us at American Gothic

2010-10-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

Winter is on it's way and there's no avoiding it. But "Hudson" here and lots more of the bruin crew want to help us ease our way into the grey days ahead with a bit of furry fun -

November 19, 20, and 21 will find lots of bears hanging out where the first one was created. We will host an Open House at American Gothic Antiques, 236 S. Main Street, Stillwater, MN and see what happens.

The little brown desk is still there, though Marshall's magazine rack is long gone. Hard to believe that since the first furry guys came out of the pencil how many have shown up - and, knock wood cross fingers, and no end in sight.

We will have old bears and new bears, bad, better, and excellent bears. Bear-shaped cookies (thanks to the cutter found down the block at the great shop, The Chef's Gallery), paw-print cookies (thanks to a recent yard-sale find), and other edible goodies. We may display a few of our sketchbooks and piles of idea stacks to show folks some of the stuff that seldom sees light of day. And maybe even rip of a pile - that's hard and fun at the same time!

If you need/want a bear card, magnet, tee-shirt, book, painting, or print come to American Gothic Antiques and climb up the stairs. If you need/want a cookie help yourself. Explore Stillwater, remember where you parked, and enjoy the day - grey or sunny.

On to THIS gorgeous day - it's back to playing with the pastels again. Bears - come!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue and crew

It Don't Take Much

2010-10-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

It don't take much more to get started than a piece of something to draw on and something to do the drawing. However, when those two things aren't quite enough I head for a local coffee shop.

It helps if the place has recent copies of The New Yorker. Even sitting in Stillwater, MN I can read a few pages and recall Manhattan in October..... two years ago when my good hubby "forced" me to finally hit the big city. We in turn tortured daughter Tara - at the time busy in Chicago earning her degree in Fashion Design. Project Runway? Haha - we're in Bryant Park. Haha - we're standing on the sidewalk outside Parsons. Walked through wonderful notions shops - tiny rooms filled to the rafters with buttons, zippers, and trims galore. Fashionable kilts for guys filled the windows - I wonder what the in mens-wear item is for Fall 2010.

We did bring sketchbooks on the trip, but my odd bit of souvenir is a collection of photo images done in restrooms. The curved wall in the Guggenheim, the OCC logo at Orange County Choppers in Montgomery, NY, my "new" vintage bomber jacket hanging on hooks in various resting places out East.

Can you tell that I'm ranging far from drawing. We will simply blame the power and the glory that is NY. Now back to basics:
Although I don't save them all, those lovely Altoid tins are a great size for traveling colored pencils. Favorite Prismacolor beauties get worn down to nubby-sized things. But MANY drawings can be done with a half-inch-long lead - especially when out-fitted with a holder for such tiny bits - (check your fav art-supply store - our choice in the Twin Cities is usually West Paint on St. Paul's Grand Avenue). Not wanting to break pencils to fit I make do with an odd assortment of hues and look upon the mix as a sort of discipline. I also try to fit a single-edged razor blade in the box - for sharpening pencils or adding in some way to the day's adventure..... The above drawings were messing-around-with-possible-ideas. How many piles of those do YOU have? Nothing finished, but brain cells firing.

But The New Yorker was lying there.... with a marvelous poem and a couple of solid quotes that might help one get through a day some day. Whipping out the small spiral notebook I copied a bunch of words dealing with Dizzy Gillespie and Rudolph Nureyev. And thanks to poet E. J. Thribb "cheeks" will never be thought of the same way again.

So, no excuses. Grab something to write/draw with and something to write/draw on. Be cheeky.

Later a clerk came by with a sample chocolate truffle. Trying to build a bit of coffee-shop loyalty? Works for me. Coffee and chocolate and paper - oh my.

On to the grand adventure!

- Sue