friendywendy's Journal

Hummingbirds at 10 o'clock!

There really are! All day! Thanks to the new feeder dropped off by my super neighbor Shannon! YAY! The birds were up before I was - somehow Otto hasn't noticed them yet....he's still recovering from his neck injury, poor little boy.
Tried to take a day off. But the opportunity to work up Thanksgiving greeting cards for a friend suddenly came up.
OKAY! It's still not knitting, and I did make a promise.

Got another chance to dig....artistic archeology, I guess you could call it that.....got news about the Market - and have a bit more time to rework the offerings I'd be willing to make on a high volume scale....It's great.
Another example of everything and everyone being right on time.
wahoo.

Current Mood: content

Now, Back to the Studio!

Hello and Welcome All -

I've come back from Art Fiber Fest '08 - where I learned plenty of new techniques - and left a big notion of what I could and could not do behind. I painted. I can paint. - PS - This is big. - I got to play and learn amid an incredible band of people yet again. Amazing. It's not what I made, it's who I met and who I was when I left - more on that later, loves.
Madonna's concert in Vancouver BC was a big one! Holy Crikey! There was plenty of rain and plenty of sun too - I'll take it all re: weather. There were parks, mountains, a baby to hold, Balkan style poached egg breakfast in English Bay with steamy strong lattes...and more. Including yet another perfect apple. Delightful Vancouver BC, thank you for your hospitality.

PREVIEW: This weekend marks my first solo Open Studio
- and you are oh-so invited!

Meet Chester. Primitive Rug Hooked Plushie. Approximately 10" tall.
Chock full o' wool and ready for squeezin'.

Musical Cherries.

Plaster Dia De Los Muertos Calveras.

Hand cast, painted and then mounted to an art quilt

Ready to hang. Celebrate life everyday.

The normal is miraculous, y'know.

Silver Spirit - with wings! Handmade ornament designed and formed by me - under the watchful eye of my weinerdog Otto.

This decoration is
Otto-approved.

Saturday and Sunday 11/7 y 11/8
11am - 5pm
My house - email for directions, bugs!
Spiced cider, tea, crafty goodness, conversation and company. C'mon ovah! We'll discuss the week's happenings!
Exciting, isn't it? - Be well and healthy - and thanks for comin' by the site!

Current Mood: chipper
Current Music: Pernice Brothers

Self Portraits Aplenty

This was my self portrait in 1997 - made at a workshop with Therese May in California. Images help - it's a claiming, of a sort....The internal coming to the surface, and expressing a form of reflection...
Teaching a workshop at KidsQuest Museum tomorrow about Frida Kahlo...whose work incorporated many a self-portrait indeed! Claiming....with symbols, possibilities, dreams....it's beautiful and stirring....that's what art does. Doesn't it?
We're going to imagine what it must have been like for the young 18-year-old Frida, recovering for more than 1 year in bed...in plaster...recovering from multiple injuries....no Nintendo, no Internet....dude! No TV! Seriously!
Found plaster cloth and made sheets out of it so the kids can draw, color and paint on it, see what it's like to work with it....and to imagine....just imagine....

Well, think I'm due for another round of reclaiming my own self....Can't ask anyone else to do what I'm not willing to do, right? Am off to Art Fiber Fest at Fort Worden in Port Townsend. I get to take a ferry ride! Back Sunday. We'll see what surfaces!
Open Studio - November 8&9 - you're invited, y'know!

Current Music: Siddha

Welcome! You're in the right place, awright!
Hello, Hello, Hello again! Consider this blog a temporary updating station whilst m'bonafide website gets built. Glad you are here - and I'd like to introduce you to m'favorite heads:

Un Dia a La Vez - A few pre-dec'd plaster heads I've been a'castin' in preparation for Dia de los Muertos...
and for my Open Studio - to which you are definitely invited on November 8 & 9 a mi casa/etudio - send a request for additional details - like my address!
A few examples of works that will be available:

Sterling silver chain with handsewn Swarovski crystal bead pendant. Rainbow and other colorways are available. Am also taking requests - always!

100% yummy, cozy wool fingerless mitts. 100% fun.

Recycled 1930's Around the World Quilt - cast off into a new creation. Fabric envelopes will be "in da haus"...or make your own per instructions found on CraftStylish.com.- http://www.craftstylish.com/profile/FriendyWendy
So glad you're here....and that I'm here too!
Stay tuned, lovebugs! More's on the way!

Current Mood: chipper
Current Music: Andrew Bird

hello old blog friend
welp.
lo and behold, you are still here, LJ account! thankyou for leaving the lights on for me. just poking around in former corners....getting ready to re-emerge.
Good to see you.
Stay tuned.
w

Current Mood: nostalgic
Current Music: India Irie Ring tone - bring it, sistah

last entry
last entry updated 55 weeks ago.
really?

Hello.
more recent is at myspace.
new necklace. new perspective.
and nothing is new at all.
thanks to His Holiness and the organization behind him regarding free downloads! High five, Dalai Lama! Thank you!
w

Current Mood: content
Current Music: Static on the Radio - Jim White with Aimee Mann

still more to surrender
learning ways....learning more...

negativity that is too painful to keep my hand in...letting go...still more letting go....

growing, still growing...still not at the destination because I am up... and have seen the sun come up....seen the Western mountains, seen the Woodland Zoo's rose garden and fountain...seen a little green european sportscar I've never seen before...

I've collected details of this morning and have let them go....

growing and grateful.

learning to forgive...and learning to receive the peace that comes with forgiveness.

grateful. I have so much in my life.

"All the beauty just keeps shaking me. --IG"

Current Mood: touched
Current Music: Private Party - India.Arie

rats
the picture didn't work...

Still learning....thank God...still learning about so many things!

Not supposed to be asleep now
I guess...because I was *ping* wide awake about an hour ago. It was cherry-vanilla energy that came in and then I was up.

The last few days, weeks and months it's been a growth spurt...from the inside out. Communicating with old friends...catching up...and with new as well...

My life is about not knowing...so said Gilda Radner... and all I can do agree...This one hums with me...(thanks for that great line, Moxie!)

There's more to being here than the day-to-day struggle...something more than the sum of the day's parts...and it comes from inside...it comes from all-around and upside down...if I'm open...it makes its way back out of me...and back into the river of energy....

Noticing more how creative human beings are...and wondering at that...marvelling...enjoying it...all of it...all of what we create, what we let in...what we think we discard....and what comes back to us...in so many forms.

It's not anxiety that woke me up.

It was love. And it was time.

Blesses Angels...we've got a love that won't quit...

Have a great day, darlin'ones.

PS - This is Bella!

Current Mood: grateful
Current Music: the Lilac Time, Dreaming

It wasn't what I thought....
And maybe that's a good thing...it must be....because that's exactly what happened.

Around growth. Around the prospect and possibility of school.

My dear Danny sent a comment on a post from last year...right around this time...what amazing things have happened in this last year. In the life that was this last year.

More soon. More details. Always, there is more...always, there will BE more.

Current Mood: surprised
Current Music: Matthew Sweet - Devil with the Green Eyes

road weary
Roadweary in my current hometown. How is that possible?...I guess it's really path-weary...life and its curveballs.

Last night I came home to a horrible sight...poor Otto....having some serious diahrhea...poor boy!....He exploded - well, his rear end did - on the couch, 6 spots on the carpet...it was midnight...it was dark...thank GOD for my neighbor Jo (and Ott's dogwalker) - she was home...and UP....AND had the stain remover to borrow...she came up and petted Otto's ears and talked while I scraped, scrubbed, squirted, patted and rinsed...

Took a "sample" to the vet this morning...testing for Giardia & other parasites...

Doing the work on the personal front too...opening...letting go...shifting...it's work...One of my favorite sayings: You must do the thing you think you cannot do. --Eleanor Roosevelt...and it's the truth......risking...facing fear and making room for more love in my heart....

Let me learn to keep a soft heart...an aware, awakened soft heart...there is plenty...help me see it....feel it and show it...

Current Mood: melancholy
Current Music: the wind outside

back for more
How easily I fall out of the habit of writing....it's raining in the Emerald City....surprised? Not really...it's an easy-going weather system ...though it's s'posed to get really windy and stormy later today...the digital sign on top of the bank said 35 degrees around 7am....

The emotional weather system is far more turbulent....increasing wind's got nothin on the gale goin on inside....just part of the plan, I guess...that's what I keep trying to breathe into anyway...

Job search. Going back to school....summoning courage to actually financially commit to a class or two beginning in April...upcoming visit with family...oh boy....the list goes on, but it's okay....

Mostly, I think I keep forgetting to breathe.

queasy
Yes. Applied for community college just now. A very annonymous experience...in my living room, aspiring to a higher education...essentially paying $25 for permission to learn from them....ridiculous, but reality....like so many things.

Otto's doing better. Felted bags turned out great. Would like to stay inside and hibernate....but alas, I don't get paid to hibernate....not today, anyway.

Holidays are fun...truly...even though I'm sugar-free...chocolate is hard...sometimes I really do miss it...but I'd miss my sanity more....and sugar will take me down a bad path indeed.

Today is okay. Unglamourous. Okay. I have everything I need. Learning. Practicing. It's good.

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Music: Spoon

Happy HalloWeenerDog
The less I think I know, the better. Over and over again, I find this, discover this, experience this in levels and layers that reinforce my entire make-up. There's a bigger picture than what I can come up with myself...and chances are good it'd be much better than anything I could come up with anyway...that applies to all aspects of this life...and all relationships as well...

Coming to the end of what I know....handing it over to a power greater than myself. It's playing a game of "Trust" with the Universe...falling backward into a life that has every intention of catching me...learning to let go....of everything I think I know...

Painful to realize I still have expectations...still have ideas I am holding onto so tightly....and surprised at this willingness to learn to let them go...everything I think I know...grateful to want the opportunities to distinguish my will from the Universe's....the lessons there....the value of them....grateful.

Scared? Yes. Grateful and willing, just the same.

Current Mood: hurt. scared. okay.
Current Music: Wire Train, God on Our Side

mornin doodlebugs
yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn...sigh.....

Otto really wanted to get up early...well, turns out he really wanted breakfast early because he wrangled my ass outta bed, took me around the block and got fed...2 minutes later? Back to sleep...

What a....Whatta....DOG!

It fits. He's the truest little being to character I know. And I love 'im.

Busy morning of chiro, masssage, haircut and work...it's my Thursday...thinking more about school and have discovered a nutrition or biology course is in my future if I want to pursue the MSW @ UW...so...looking into community colleges for the next session as I am not yet a bonafide "resident"...perhaps an online course would be a good one...we'll see...

I like the idea of writing papers, and the reading will be good, though I'm sure it will be of uh...avalanche-ular proportions....looking forward...just glad to be here and to be able to see what happens next...

Talked with some seriously cranky customers last night. Can't fix 'em. And I do believe a little accountability will do them some good. Just a little...I don't think people are really used to having it...hahahaha...I'm trying to take more of it in my own life...just wanna spread it around...with kindness...a great big waterfall of kindness with accountability spraying out of it in the mist....

...sigh...that's the intention....

Off to my massage, pumpkin poodles, sending aromatic oil and dim lights and warm hands out to all of you.

Current Mood: tired
Current Music: Big Audio Dynamite

Howdy Y'all
There's nothing like a bad apple. It is exactly what it says it is. Bad. Apple. BAD Apple. I bought 5. And believe me when I say, I gave 2 a fair chance and am marching the other 3 back to the store for a full refund. Can't possibly have a mush-mouth apple on crispy October days. What's up with that?...They looked awesome though...fit for Snow White.

Noticing that the home is becoming a bit cluttery...got out lots of things to play with for Halloween, and mail, and clothes to give away...and general bits of somethings sprinkled about...could we come up with a vacuum device that would actually put things away for me? Someone, anyone?...me? WIll put it on the list...or actually consider it while shuffling the bits back to their pens.

Slept long and hard last night with sweet dreams. Refreshing. I think weinerboy had good dreams last night too...he nestled so close up to the side of my body...dozing and waiting to go outside...it's important to take proper squirrel inventory of the Lake, you know.

Been writing. Feeling cozy. Sensual. Feeling the expressions of people and nature all around me...there's something creative in the air....it comes in through my nose, the way I would imagine a deaf person feels music come in to her body...in through the nose, tickling the base of the skull...stirring...stirring....

Then down into the bowl of the hips....soft scratching at bones...gut rustling....aching for action...activity...expression...

Something's coming.

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Warmer, by Beaulah

unwind into peace of mind
Went to a meeting this morning that I didn't think I'd have time for. Brilliant.

Made lunch, walked weinerboy, called a few dear friends...the stuff in a day that seems unglamorous and boring, but actually, it's the stuff I really need, enjoy...the stuff that sustains...touch, movement, and yes, lunch too....

The way things are connected, dear ones....the Beauty that chokes in my throat...the feelings that well in my heart...tidal explosiveness...that I can't contain these feelings...the overwhelmed state....the kind that makes me want to seek out a vinyl room for the moment my heart jumps free of it's cage and explodes in front of me...to feel so...to FEEL so....

much.

There is so much. I have so much. We all do. And I'm so grateful for you in my life. On my path. I feel your encouragement and send it straight back to you for your journey. I do. It's right there. And so am I.

These feelings and colors come out of my eyes, they fall and splash onto my arms and bring me to the next breath...another part that sustains....awareness...intention...the reality of tears...and the acceptance of them....

Dear ones....I do wish you great joy.... feels like we're connected in a spirit...in a thought...humor...delight...playfulness....we all are...all of us...

It's beautiful.

Current Mood: feel so small
Current Music: IG - Free In You

Not interested in a fairytale, thanks
Rainy weather ...in Seattle? No WAY!~...Uh yeah, WAY.

It's an anniversary of sorts...this weekend last year I was in P-Town with dear U, was making plans and days were stepping toward moving west again. L had met M, I believe...and there was a lift from the hurt she told me of.

Thinking of the piece she told me about...was it a self-portrait of her as a frog, waiting for her princess?...waiting for the magic in a kiss from another to transform her. True, I did use the word "frog"...but didn't you realize you'd already transformed?...Can't get to frog without bein a tadpole...ex-lover, don't you remember? There's a once upon a time and a happily ever after every minute...storys are timeless...life is not...

I don't want a fairytale. I can wait to get to the end of this story...don't want to miss a minute...and it's okay to enjoy all of it...awareness of longing...the sweetness in aching...not fun really, but it's the truth...

And having the best of both worlds means having all of both worlds...there's so much to see and to feel...and there's nothing to judge about what is or what is not....there is no good and there is no bad...there just IS...

There's no need to lie, either. I miss being next to her. The way her heart beats under my hand. The freckles on her shoulders...and the feathers in her eyes....I do miss her. But there's nothing wrong or bad about this longing...it just exists...

"...a kiss and some poetry..."...that's more than anything I could ask for in a day...and the thing is, I don't need to ask...most days, it just comes...

Current Mood: loved. little lonesome
Current Music: Rarities, IG, Gone Again

rrrgh....and stuff
So. This is the height of "That's not FAIR!"

Spoke with a buddy last week about her unfortunate adventures re: hit and run. Awful. Absolutely awful.

However. THAT does not mean I needed to experience a car accident first hand.

But I did. And, I'm okay...I walked away...got back into my car and got it to the shop where I learned that the dorkface who made the illegal turn across 2 double yellow lines caused a stop-short chain reaction of 5 cars...mine being the 5th. Mine having about $3,000 worth of work done to it right now.

No. It's NOT fair. But as far as accidents go, I'll take this one...there was no bloodshed from anyone....there were actually 3 cars that collided...the first 2 of the 5 "got awaY"...unbelievable...yet....believable....

Had two days out of work - where I'm new and attendance is everything - they were as understanding as they could possibly be...

Wanted to just say, all's okay...not really talking on my cell phone, bc I'm using all my minutes talking with insurance co's...sucks....

Off to the Chiropractor......will catch up very soon...kisses all....and be careful out there!...Don't drive with scissors in your mouth!

Current Mood: mellow
Current Music: Blue Nile

no control...not really...
Mornin Y'all!....
How did the "A.M." arrive so quickly? Working swing shift lately, and I like talking to people late @ night, even if it IS about calling plans, but dang!....it ends up being 7am all of a sudden...

Have some time before going in for an extended day...overtime, plus shift-bid...I'm mighty low on the seniority list right now...so am going in to bid on the work shift I'm to work from Nov - Feb...nervous...really want to get a Sunday night shift, so I can make time & 1/2...but we'll just have to see what's available...not like I have a long time to wait...

Went to the chiropractor yesterday - initial consult - going back on Friday to see what the x-rays and tests say...cannae seem to get a good stretch in my upper back & my muscles are real tight up there...plus, going into new ground in other emotional areas...probably all packed into the stress areas...

It's an okay day...went for a walk with weiner boy around the lake this morning - have missed doing that and figure it's worth the gas to get there a couple times a week just cuz it's so durn pretty...beauty feeds the soul...and there's plenty of starvin souls, that's the truth...

Trying not to get caught up in my head about not having control over anything...not really...none of my business...things are overall on the whole, going well...nothing to really worry over or about...it will come as it will come...we are all spiritual beings having a human experience...(heard that from Wayne Dyer on channel 9 last night)...

it's going to be a long day and I envy Otto who will be napping most of this hazy day...all is well, all is just as it should be...

be well, duckieloves...talk with me soon? si?

Current Mood: pensive
Current Music: K's Choice, God In My Bed

Advertisement