Flower Collages

While

I am busy in the studio

creating

new things..

dear reader..

 I wanted to make a little 

video...

a quick and fun

summer project for you to make

and 

I will soon be offering classes..

so stay tuned..

and as always,

thank you so very much for your kind

reader and viewership..

your comments mean so much to me..

molto grazie!

xo

Blue Caribbean

Ciao,

gentle readers..

I have not forgotten you.. 

but I did take some much needed time to 

rest and relax with 

family..

which was wonderful..

spending time with daughters and their family

and watching grandkids have 

wonderful experiences..

 The Caribbean is so close to us here in

Florida and it is one of our favorite places to visit..

there is something so peaceful about the color 

blue..

and my camera cannot take it all in...

but I wanted to share as much of it with you as I can..

We traveled to 

Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Jamaica..

and soaked up as much sun and blue

water as possible...

we found lovely spots on the islands

to rent a chair, 

and swim and soak..

we ate octopus ceviche and guacamole..

and many had

drinks that involve

tiny paper umbrella's... 

Azure, slate blue, robins egg, aqua, marine, royal... too many colors to name.. 

In Cozumel

we found a lovely spot..

with so many coconut palms to grant shade...

Jamaica

is also teeming with blue color..

the depth of the water and the light change

the perception..

a divine palate of spectacular blues..

we took a cabin at the back of the ship 

this time, which afforded us a really long deck and gave us

splendid opportunities

for photos..

stunning, right??

but perhaps my favorite island is 

Grand Cayman..

We have been there before, and certainly we will be back..

The beach at 7Mile Beach is gorgeous...

creamy colored sand that has a wonderful texture..

very hard to explain..

the water is pristine..

and the facility is quite good..

with a lovely restaurant..

overlooking the beach 

and the rented chairs and umbrellas, you can

just take two steps up to the bar and order a drink 

or if you prefer the pool,

you can swim up to the bar..

as you can see,

it was a glorious day..

and someone left me a love note..

and he took this shot too.. 

but all good things

end..

nothing came to stay

all things pass away..

but even when the sun sets..

the one thing that remains ..

is 

that gorgeous 

Caribbean blue..

so I am off to the studio..

to prep for my video..

and I am anxious to get back to work..

xo

May Art Journal Pages and a Vacation

May was an amazing month...

I have to admit it 

rushed by in a bit of a blur..

I was working to finish my collection..

get packed and finish deadlines..

so I was very focused on 

the show..

but looking back on the month,

I see that I grew immensely

spiritually...

as I was putting the finishing touches on 

the show and my work..

going home

was amazing..

it has changed considerably 

in the last four years..

the town itself is quite different..

but the friends that I have made 

that are so close as to be family...

are still the same..

so my pages are layered..

and I have painted them

over and over..

worked almost as laboriously

as I did on my Notebook pieces..

Who says you can't go back home?

my pages reveal the blue sky breaking through..

and the world flowering despite

trauma and tragedy..

both personally and universally..

I believe...

Ingredients: Collage, decollage, paper ephemera, acrylic paint, gesso, pencil,  

so dear readers..

it is summer,

and I will be taking a break

to visit with family..

When I return I will film a new YouTube segment

on My Flower Collages,

and I will hopefully ..

have some amazing

Caribbean Blues

for you to see..

thank you all for your kind support..

your uplifting comments..

and understanding..

I am so very grateful..

xo

Torn Edges and Stamp Stories

well dear readers...

it is always great to find your work

in print..

but 

doubly so when you find your work in

two great issues..

Somerset Studio Gallery

and 

Sew Somerset

my torn edges 

art journal spread was featured in

Somerset Studio Gallery..

and I have to say

that this was a breakthrough 

for me 

in art and collage

as well as 

a personal breakthrough..

sometimes the best way to express oneself 

is in an abstract form..

allowing the shapes and forms 

and color to express

what we feel deeply inside..

and

My Stamp Stories 

article was featured in 

this latest issue 

of 

Sew Somerset

and as soon as I receive the work,

I will shoot some photos for you of each piece...

but this one was a special piece..

As Always, 

I am in great company..

with wonderful artists..

and you can pick up your copies right now

at news stands all over..

I will return shortly with

May journal pages..

so....

C4N! 

Tenerife-Canary Islands

Alas,

this is my last travelogue 

post..

from our European tour last fall..

but flipping through

the photos...

I remembered it all as if it was just yesterday...

our last stop before heading home

was 

the Canary Islands..

we had no idea what to expect..

and we woke to this...

rain, 

cloudy,

breezy...

and then suddenly..

the clouds moved out

and the rainbows appeared..

two of them..

one traversed the islands..

and with such a spectacular start..

we expected our day 

was going to be splendid...

stepping foot on land

we were greeted by a huge vertical green wall...

which was stunning...

and a monument..

and then we began to walk...

uphill...

walking, walking, walking..

above..

  the view 

looking back to the water...

and more walking... up hill..

up...

up...

to a park..

and then it seemed to even out for a bit..

and this fountain was so beautiful..

the clouds parted just at the right moment..

and being hungry..

we kept walking...

until we found a lovely little 

cafe...

and I had the most deliciously decadent 

gluten free chocolate muffin

and cappuccino..

and while it was never on our list of places to see...

we both enjoyed ourselves 

so much..

how could we resist with such

a glorious welcome...

it was really a lovely journey...

C4N!