What a Surprise!

A wonderful surprise for a Mom - my son, Mark, his wife Tammy and three of their four children - came down from North Carolina for the weekend. I had them here for three nights. It was great.

Create Today!

Today is Create Art Day! I am working on "Gardens Soliloquy" - a Collage I started a few weeks ago. It just didn't feel finished to me. A book that has inspired me is "The Art of Handmade Paper and Collage" by Cheryl Stevenson.

I originally checked the book out of our local library. I kept renewing the book because Stevenson gives so many ideas and clear instruction. As often happens - I knew I had to buy my own copy. I found a used one on Amazon.

At first I referred only to Part Two of the book - The Art of Collage. The beautiful handmade paper that Stevenson uses in her art pieces inspired me to try my hand at making paper (Part One). I have never had an interest in it before. But - - I'm hooked. It is addicting. And, so much fun. It is messy so the paper making is done on the patio outside of the studio.

I'm recycling paper - everything from junk mail to paper bags has found its way into the slurry/pulp. I've taken some kidding - "You're tearing up paper to make paper?" "What are you going to do with the paper?"

I love looking at the paper, and handling it. A friend of mine has handmade books for her poetry. I'm hoping she will show me how to use some of the paper that way - are you listening, Kim?

I've also started a new collage with dried flowers that my friend Francie gave me. The background for the flowers is a piece of purple handmade paper from my growing stash of paper.

Can a Pill Help Women Reach Orgasm? - Barbara Kantrowitz - Newsweek.com

Can a Pill Help Women Reach Orgasm? - Barbara Kantrowitz - Newsweek.com

I hope that all my friends will read the article on Orgasm and view the film clip from "Orgasm Inc." 

Remember when the "Vagina Monologs" first came out?  This is, in my opinion, more important.  "Orgasm Inc" demystifies the "illness" that women are being diagosed with in record numbers.  Drug companies and the medical industry have been treating women as a way to add to their financial bottom line for decades.

If you read the posts to the Newsweek article - you will see how political and misunderstood this subject is.  A couple of the posts would be laughable - except they show the ignorance of the writers. 

Anyway, since all of my friends and buddies are intelligent, enlightened people, I thought you would want to be even more informed.

Facebook - No More

Today I deleted my Facebook page/account. I realized I did not enjoy it. The entire thing has gotten too commercial and too busy for me. I don't want to play online games or plant virtual vegetables in a virtual farm.

I do want to connect with other artists in my area. It seems that this will be better accomplished face to face.

The view out my studio window is serene. Many shades of green from trees, plants and grass. Then when you look close you see that a leaf is not just green - it might have shades of yellow and blue in it. On one plant the colors can vary so that if you squint your eyes it is like looking into a kalidiscope.

Last night we watched the Internation Space Station pass over our area at about 9:15. There it went, like a bright star, from the northwest to the southeast, traveling at 17,500 miles an hour. And the Space Shuttle was docked to it.

The are so many awesome things to think about. What are you thinking about?

From my Friend Michelle Whites Williams

Saint Theresa's Prayer


May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
Dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope all my friends and family are having a great Mother's Day! Mine has turned into a Mother's Day Weekend. My son, Mark, called me Friday and again today - he is in North Carolina.

My oldest son, Tom, took me to lunch yesterday. The best gift a mother can have is time with her adult children.

Today my husband, Tom, said it was my day to pick what I wanted to do and where I want to have dinner. I told him that I want him to teach me how to solder, then go for a ride and probably eat at Finn's on the beach in Flagler county.

Last evening was so beautiful that we went for a walk to Cassadaga. Joan Piper saw us walking by and came out to greet us. We sat on her beautiful front porch, enjoyed seeing her newly painted Victorian door and gingerbread pieces around the porch.

I am getting ready to order a book that I've check out of the library so many times, I should have it memorized. It is "Collage for the Soul - Expressing Hopes and Dreams Through Art." Isn't that a great title? It is by Holly Harrison and Paula Grasdal.

I did the same thing with "The Art of Handmade Paper and Collage - Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraordinary" by Cheryl Stevenson. I have been using Cheryl Stevenson's method to make handmade paper with my friend Francie Moran. I think I'm getting addicted to both papermaking and collage. Tom joked the other night that every thing I look at is "collage material." He's right.

I'm off to order the book.

With a little help from friends

For the past month I have been taking an online/tele-class conducted by Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy - also know as SARK.

Synchronicity and serendipity together brought me exactly what I am supposed to have - all I had to do was recognize and accept it. As we go through life, we have choices. Opening my heart and mind to this new new experience has shown the way to reach my dreams is to start with self-love.

Check out what SARK has to say by clicking the link in this post or on the top right hand column.


Transform what's not working...SARK style! Take a look at SARK's Transformation Exper!ence for a life-altering multimedia journey of healing!

Gardens Soliloquy

Yesterday I started working on a collage piece. I thought it was going to be called "In the Garden" after the hymn of that name. It has always been one of my favorites. But, as I started working on the piece the word "Gardens" jumped out from an old newspaper article and "Soliloquy" came from a piece of sheet music - so the name changed.

One of the reasons I have always loved that hymn is the line, "I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses."

The collage is about 40% finished. I am having so much fun choosing the elements - flowers, birds, parts of the music sheet, a bit of lace, and so on I'll post it when it is complete.

Daughters of Ebony Excellence

Tonight was the recognition ceremony of The Daughters of Ebony Excellence. This program to encourage and support the dreams, spirit and confidence of teenage African American girls was conceived by two women in our community, Jerrylyn Burton and Jeannette Johnson.

Both Jerrylyn and Jeannette work full time at their "day jobs" yet dedicate many hours to put on a series of eight week programs for the girls. I was asked to present a session on Social Graces during the recent series.

Tonight's program featured talent, fashion and reviewed all the progress the girls have made. It was a fun and inspiring time.

The Day to Say Yes, Yes, Yes!

I have been taking an online/teleclass. It is from SARK. I will add a link (as soon as I figure that out.) We had our 3rd class last night. It is called "Dream Boogie with SARK." An amazing experience. Relaxing, rejuvenating and inspirational. I have met some amazing women - we are supporting each other in our dreams.

Some are starting businesses, some want to write, some are trained as coaches or hope to be, some - like me - want to do art. Many are on the path to fulfilling their dreams. Some of us are dreaming new dreams, seeing new horizons and reaching out for the support of others.

Learning to be independent at an early age has made it difficult for me to ask for help when I need it. I am getting better at it.

One of the great things about the SARK classes is that we have been put in to teams. My team has four other incredible women that are inspirational and loving. I will post links to those that have blogs or websites (when I figure that out and with their permission.)

Being part of the SARK class has nudged me into keeping up this blog. I have always worked out issues by writing. Now, I know for sure that this blog is necessary and the way to show up at the page and in the studio.

Today I posted a couple of photos of completed pieces of art. I feel so free and uplifted by doing this.

Beautiful Day

This has been an awesome day. Beautiful weather, plus a community health fair in the park in Lake Helen. Lots of folks interested in health and happiness. Saw old friends and made some new ones. Met Autumn Andersen from Natural Awakenings Magazine - a free publication that is full of spiritual, health, mid and body wellness articles.

Gave my new "Skechers" a try out - actually the third day I've worn them to take a walk.

Attitude is everything. Develop the Gratitude Attitude.

Truly, Marge

Launch a Blog

I have fooled around with doing a blog for a couple of months. I am not totally comfortable with the technical aspects yet. Such as colors,text size and editing. And where do those tags come from? I can't keep putting off getting "out there" - putting off until it is perfect. Now that is what writer Dan Millman would call blocking creative energy.

Writing has been a big part of my life - I sometimes have a hard time finding the right word when I speak. So writing is a comfortable way to communicate. "Do overs" are easy.

The reason I decided to do a blog is to share thoughts and feelings with friends, family and perhaps strangers that may be interested in the topics.

But, the big question - Does the world really need another Blog? What do you think?

It takes some time to find yourself . . .

This is a fine time to start writing this blog on a more regular basis. I have found my footing. As James Brown so declared, "I feel good!" We are having a severe thunder storm here - so this is a short post.