I am Princess Magpie

ICE ice ... baby!

2011-03-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

I am so excited ... tomorrow morning's my Monday-with-Jane art class (it's not really called that, but I call it that; ok, so it's really called "Mixed Media with Paper & Cloth with Jane LaFazio", and it's offered by The La Jolla Athanaeum).

So here's the big deal:

http://www.iceresin.com/articles/using-ice-resin-on-paper/

That's what we're doing tomorrow in class!   Making our own resin papers :-).

As the pot roast is finishing off in the oven with the potatoes & carrots, I'm sitting here selecting images to print (inkjet), and ferreting out cool papers I'd like to try as resin paper.     I'm even going to take some of the monoprint papers we did last week in case that might work ... I wonder if the color would bleed?   We'll see.

Okay, so you want a sneak peak at one of the images I want to make into resin paper?   Here it is:

it's a magpie, of course !!!

All that, and a post coming on the beautiful day that Ann and I spent at the home of Jenny Doh (Saturday), taking a class from Lisa Engelbrecht - I'm still grinning !!! My big idea is that I can take some of the bits of resin paper that I make tomorrow and use a little of that when I put together my LE-style art quilt with the blocks I started yesterday. :-)

~~ Princess Magpie

a day in the company of women ...

2011-03-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

... today was a very fine day. My friend Ann Deakers and I went up to the home of Jenny Doh, for an all-day workshop with the oh-so-talented and very generous Mark Maker / Calligrapher Extraordinaire - Lisa Engelbrecht. http://www.lisaengelbrecht.com/fr_home.cfm

And the beauty of taking a workshop through Jenny's CrescendoH is that Jenny blogs about it, complete with a big collection of photographs, so fast! One can just include a link to her post, and voila! Instant blog post for me :-).

http://blog.crescendoh.com/crescendo/2011/03/a-very-special-day-with-lisa-engelbrecht.html

Once I upload my photos from today, I'll do my very own blog post about today - for now, here's Jenny's "take" on the day.

Wow, wow, wow ...

~~ Davielle
aka, your Princess Magpie

Tracy Porter One-of-a-Kind Bag Giveaway

2011-02-27T10:38:00.000-08:00

Just posted about this over on my other blog, www.DH2travelers.blogspot.com -- visit there for ALL the photos and further details ... just hurry, 'cause you don't want to miss the chance to enter to win this GORGEOUS bag ...

Tracy Porter One-of-a-Kind Bag Giveaway

CHA Cha cha ...

2011-02-25T08:43:00.000-08:00

Spent about 28 hours at CHA at the end of January ... oh my !!!

I still have some whiplash-like pains from whipping my head around at all the eye-candy. So many beautiful, creative, wonderful new crafting products on their way to a retailer near you. It's going to be a wild, wonderful year for mixed-media artists and scrapbookers.

Had some fun with Make 'n Takes with my friend Kat. Here's a pic of us enjoying ourselves at the Ranger booth:

Oh, and a shot of the incomparable Tim Holtz doing a demo. Wow. Up close & personal. Well, not so "personal", but you know what I mean. I hope.

Saw Claudine Hellmuth demo'ing some of her new items - she's got quite a line of stamps and a stamp "rocker" coming out -- it was pretty cool seeing her in person, finally.

One of my favorite demo's, though, was at the Faber-Castell booth. They've got the juiciest, most luscious line coming out that you can use like ink or paint on rubber stamps {or freehand} -- including a great little product that looks like it's in a fat lipstick tube called Gelatos --

WOW. You're going to love what you can do with all these new Faber Castell products. You can work with them like crazy, they're so user-friendly.

It's seriously delicious stuff.

{So now I want to design a half-day workshop around these products, I'm telling you. The rest of the day can be spent on ... art journaling? lettering? something fun and freestyle. Would you come to play?!}

Now I sit here wishing I'd had my camera out the entire time, but I just didn't.  Kat and I were too busy trying them all out. {hence the links and images 'borrowed' from the manufacturers' sites.}

NOTE: due to e-blogger technical difficulties, the way I composed this post - with the F-C images IN this general area, isn't showing up. You MIGHT find the images at the bottom of the post - who knows?   grrrrrrrrrrrr.

And there's so much more ...

I just received the e-mail yesterday:
"Mix & Match now in Stores" !!!

Find them close to you and give them all a try.   They're smooth, they're creamy, and they're user friendly {trust me, I'm the perfect human guinea pig for testing something's 'user-friendliness' factor}.

Kat and I saw some great artists demo'ing at CHA, including Donna Downey and Brenda Pinnick.   They were both at the Faber-Castell booth, and it was Brenda that 'coached' us through the new Mix & Match line.   Here's a photo of all that {Brenda should've given me a look at the pic & taken another - LOL}:

Kat Baker, and me ... I really was MUCH happier than I look here! :-)

Brenda had a new line of stamps coming out, which we played with. And now, since I let a month pass before finishing this post, they're already available right here:
http://brendapinnick.typepad.com/studio/shop-for-stamps.html

So CHA was incredible, and one of the very best bits for me was discovering the work - and the person of - Dyan Reaveley. As we walked past the {ginormous} Ranger booth(s), Kat and I found Dyan.

Dyan Reaveley ~ Art From the Heart

Her art {read: visual} journals are amazing.   She had a huge old ledger book that she'd done incredible backgrounds in, and her lettering, her images on top of those backgrounds, her entire STYLE - was like a magnet.   She and her work pulled us back for 2 more visits before we left CHA.

I'm one of those timid artist types that sees a vintage ledger book and says "oh, how can / should I dare to color and gel medium and ink over ALL THAT OLD HANDWRITING?".

So I asked her. Her answer was nothing short of genius:   "Why not 'art' over it all? Otherwise, it's going to sit on a shelf or on a table and nobody's ever going to pick it up again - they might glance at it, say 'oh, cool', and then - what? If it's an art journal, if it's re-purposed into ART, it's going to have a whole new life."    OKAY, so she didn't say all that. What she basically said was the first part - the "why not?" part. And something like "if I don't art on the pages, then it's just an old ledger book that nobody's going to care about."    She also had her father's old mathematics book from his school days. With his pencil scribbles in it and all.   She'd "arted" in that, too.   THAT is when I asked the big question. And THAT is when she gave me the big answer.

Yeah, I'm a Dyan Fan. Oh, and her biz card has the best quote on it:

"Always Be Kind, For Everyone Is Fighting a Hard Battle".

Her concise response to my question is what just opened up for me - my eyes and my heart - to REALLY USING all the vintage bits I've collected. And writing it into the paragraph above {paraphrasing, really, what she said} is when I first put into words - all that I got from Dyan's simple answer.

Thank you, Dyan Reaveley - you rock the art world. Oh, and did I mention that she's from the UK, and she has the most wonderful accent, and she has a studio / shop of her own, and her Ranger products are fabulous, and that someday, I am going to take a workshop - OVER THERE. In her studio. :-)

Visit Dyan here: www.afth.co.uk (that's her Art from the Heart site) or read her blog here: www.dyan-reaveley.blogspot.com ...

Oh, and if you see her referred to as "Dylan", just ask.

Okay, so I sat on this post for a month - it's time to POST it already.

Your,
~~ Princess Magpie

Mix & Match Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils

the new colorful Mix & Match PITT pens

the new GELATOs

it's about art, but it's also about community ...

2011-02-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

... I just added a link on my sidebar about raising a puppy for an incredible organization, one that changes the lives of people with disabilities every single day: CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE.

Their mission? "CCI is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships."

I know, this blog is about ART. But CCI has been such a big part of my life and my heart for 20 years now, and I just had to share it with you, my fellow artists. Not only do I continue to volunteer for CCI, but I have worked for them not once, but twice - for a total of 5 years. {during my last stint as an employee at CCI, our director once referred to me as a 'retread' !! hey, I've been called worse ...}

Isn't what we do, in the end, all about community anyway?

Check out little YARROW and her mama right here; and for more information on CCI, find Yarrow on my sidebar and click to link right to CCI's website. My dear friend Linda will be co-raising this beautiful pup for CCI with co-raiser Vickie. I can't wait to meet their new darling!

Thank you for allowing me the privilege of posting on this blog about such an incredible program.

~~ Davielle, aka
your PRINCESS MAGPIE {and little Yarrow's honorary auntie!}

Getting my Lettering On - 2011

2011-02-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

You can see the blog post I created this morning over on Traci Bautista's CREATIVITY UNLEASED site right here ...

http://creativityunleashed.ning.com/profiles/blogs/getting-my-lettering-on-in

Besides bidding on and winning a great Traci package to benefit CHARITY WINGS last week, I've also signed up for a workshop with Joanne Sharpe {Oh My Word! Artful Lettering Inspiration Journals) at CREATE in May, as well as {Doodle Soup} with Dawn Sokol at the same event.

So now, in my "learn to letter, Davi" arsenal for 2011, I have the talented & creative:

Traci Bautista
Dawn Sokol
Joanne Sharpe

and if I am very very lucky, a day with

Lisa Engelbrecht in May (details to follow)

I think if I saturate myself with LETTERING workshops, prompts, practice, and play for the first half of 2011, I can focus the rest of the year on ... all the other mixed media art that I already love and appreciate.

Anyone who knows me and my passion for mixed media knows this about me: I am attracted to many many forms of art, particularly within the realm of mixed media, and so I collect books, how-to videos, online workshops, and in-person classes with ALL MY FAVORITE ARTISTS / ART TEACHERS that I can get to.

I'll post later my reminiscing of just this morning, standing at the kitchen window, of all the great classes I've taken since January 2009, and the amazing people I have met in those classes, and the generous instructors who have encouraged us all to -- follow our art hearts.

Bless you this beautiful Sunday,

~~ Princess Magpie

craving a trip to the UK ...

2011-02-02T10:57:00.000-08:00

... to work with the lovely Dyan Reaveley. you can visit her site right here, and I think you might become as enchanted with her style as I have:

wwww. dyan-reaveley.blogspot.com

or here

www.afth.co.uk (Art from the Heart)

Want to see a peak at why I've become so enamored of her style?

One day, some day, I will be there. And I can't wait!

~~ Princess Magpie

having some technical difficulties ...

2011-02-01T09:12:00.001-08:00

as they say, "pardon our dust" - site under construction!

I wanted a different look for my blog as we get rolling into this new year, and am trying on a few for just the right one. I'm liking this "love birds" background, but can't quite get the header just right, so bear with me.

Thank you for your patience (as they say) ...

Your ~~
(technologically challenged) Princess Magpie

This is NOT a Sketchbook - The Sketchbook Project 2011

2011-01-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

I have created a "sketchbook" journal for The Sketchbook Project 2011. My friend, artist Suzi Blu, posted a note on Facebook last year saying she had just signed up and encouraging all of us to do the same. I visited the site, signed up, and then thought ... "what have I done?!".

However, we were able to select a category, a "title" for our Sketchbook, and one of the choices they offered was This is NOT a Sketchbook. Perfect. I like to collage. I knew that acrylics might be a challenge for the thin pages, and so I used that as the perfect excuse to COLLAGE to my heart's content.

My friends Lyn and Lisa also signed up, and they came up with a brilliant plan: We would all take a weekend trip to Dusty's (Scrappin' at Dusty's, in La Quinta, CA), where instead of scrapbooking and making cards, we would focus entirely on working on our projects.

We did it - and we all got a fabulous start on our books. However - and there's always a however - we all came home with - yikes! - many unfinished pages.

Me, I do well under pressure, so I pulled mine out the day after Christmas and left a table up in our living room for 2 weeks - my poor husband; for once, he exhibited the patience of a Saint. Saint Mark.

So then - they extended the deadline for mailing our Sketchbooks by a few days, and it was perfect. I didn't have to pull out any pages at the end, I filled them all, and I'm pretty pleased with the end result.

I will now attempt what, for me, is a magic trick. I will attempt to add a link here to the Smilebox album I created of my masterpiece.

Well, that didn't work so well - but I did post again, so look JUST below for the actual Smilebox.

:-)
Happy creating to you all,

Davielle
~~ aka, Princess Magpie

The Sketchbook Project 2011 - I did it !!!

2011-01-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

Personalize a slideshow design

my friend Julee Herrmann ...

2011-01-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

How cool is this going to be? My friend Julee Herrmann (Orinda, CA) of HeArt Collective is going to teach a wonderful class for children. Read all about it at her link:

#c6638500247451873944

And if you look to the right sidebar of her blog, and scroll down - you'll see a Mermaid Cigar Box that Julee's done with a Suzi Blu online class! It's fab.

Be sure to check out all Julee's links on her blog - her jewelry is beautiful ... check these out:

"Faith" pendant by Julee Herrmann

"Pouty Little Princess" pendant by Julee Herrmann

And by the way - she bakes a mean Cherry-Choco Chip Cookie (I think there's even some oatmeal involved?!).

:-)
Love ya, Jul --

Davielle
aka, Princess Magpie

2 Travelers: 2011: Color of the Year

2011-01-08T09:35:00.000-08:00

2 Travelers: 2011: Color of the Year: "Thanks to my friend BETH NICHOLLS of England, who I was fortunate to meet at AN ARTFUL JOURNEY in February 2010 - I've discovered Pantone's ..."

SUZI BLU graduates speak ...

2010-09-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

at Suzi's 2010 Birthday Workshop / Stamping Details / that's me, back row, 4th from right)

Local artist extraordinaire, with a worldwide following, SUZI BLU - rocks.   I have had the pleasure of taking two workshops from Suzi "live", and I have taken several of her on-line workshops.   You just about can't tell the difference, I promise.

I can describe Suzi and her style of teaching in ten words (okay, so I could come up with twenty or so words, but I'll keep it sweet ... ie, short):

Accessible (she makes herself available to her students, in person
         AND online - it's amazing)
Courageous (she's not afraid to tell it like it is, about art, about life,
         about love)
Extraordinary (in every way)
Generous (with her talent & techniques, and her heart, and her
      very self)
Heartful (I am not sure how to define "heartful", other than to say
      it's just SUZI)
Humble   (she is down to earth, she is never pretentious, and she
      never treats her students like they are anything but ARTISTS)
Loving (you can just feel the love that emanates from Suzi - for
      animals, for people, for her art)
Soulful (Suzi gets right into the nitty-gritty of life, along with
      sharing her soulful love of all animals)
Talented (this goes without saying!)
Whimsical (way fun, way creative, way way way ... Suzi !!!)

And THAT, my friends, is how I would describe Suzi Blu - if you haven't yet, do look her up and SIGN UP FOR ONE OF HER ONLINE WORKSHOPS. And if you are fortunate to live anywhere near Suzi, sign up for a class with her "live and in person". I promise you a great time :-) ...

Davielle
aka, your PRINCESS MAGPIE

COMING SOON: All the Scoop on THE CREATIVE CONNECTION (event)

2010-09-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

WOW. Wow. wow.

I left home Wednesday 9-15, headed to Minneapolis all by myself, where I had registered for the inaugural THE CREATIVE CONNECTION event ... I had bags in hand, I had my lecture panels and my art workshops all selected, I had my room reserved, and I had all my class supplies. And clothes. (of course there were clothes - to go with every possible scenario: the first day, the first luncheon, the assorted art workshops, for shopping at The Handmade Market, for the gala dinner, the boxed lunch, the editorial breakfast, the PJ party, and the cupcake farewell - although I did NOT change for every single 'event', I did have a nice assortment to choose from. but that is entirely beside the point).

I may have gone there alone, but I quickly met some wonderful ladies ... one in particular ... LaRue, it was a delight to get to know you and to realize we had signed up for ALL THE SAME ART CLASSES and LECTURES. "Twin daughters, different mothers", as they say. :-)

And as for the event, can I just drop some names here?

Davielle (me) - The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond - and my friend LaRue

Jo Packham.
Nancy Soriano.
Ree Drummond.
Amy Butler.
Amy Barickman.
Ruth Rae.
Laurie Meseroll.
Jenni Bowlin.
Mary Jane Butters.

The list goes on and on and on. We had industry experts in many fields - we had panels, one-on-one interviews, and of course, art workshops with all the best of the best. It was amazing. So much talent (and oh-so-much estrogen!) all in one space, in one place. The creative energy was palpable, and it was energizing, inspiring, magical.

This week I am sifting thru all the photographs and all the moo and biz cards that folks shared with me. When I have it all "together", I will be posting (most likely in several 'parts') about THE CREATIVE CONNECTION.

For now, let me just say ... WOW. Again.

-- Princess Magpie

Mixed Media with Paper and Cloth, with Jane LaFazio

2010-09-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

If you're local (ie, San Diego County), and you are a mixed media artist (or want to explore mixed media art), then this is a workshop series you won't want to miss ...

Mixed Media with Paper & Cloth -
taught by San Diego artist Jane LaFazio

ACORNS & THE QUAIL - mixed media by Jane LaFazio

"Jane will introduce you to new materials and techniques to create art from paper, cloth or a combination of the two. We’ll create layered, textured artworks using collage materials, paint, drawings and thread. Come prepared to learn, explore and have fun with a new project each week. Class will be inspirational, positive and fun, with lots of sharing, laughing and learning from the others in the class. All levels of experience are welcome, and previous students can expect new lessons! "

HERE ARE THE PARTICULARS ...
Mondays, 9 AM–12 NOON

Oct. 4–Nov. 15 (7 weeks)
Location: San Diego/Park Blvd. Studio
$180 for members of The Athaneum / $205 (non-members),
+ $25 materials fee

Materials: What to bring on the FIRST DAY: X-acto knife, scissors, sketchbook, pencil and either plain or white muslin watercolor paper (any weight). A materials list for the rest of the class will be discussed - and a $25 materials fee will be collected at the first class meeting.

Questions: e-mail Jane at PlainJaneStudio@gmail.com !!
Call The Athaneum at 858.454.5872 to enroll.

I have taken several classes from artist Jane LaFazio. First, back in the Spring of 2007, I took her "Watercolor Sketchbook and Journal" all-day class with my friend Cynthia. WHAT A LOT OF FUN, and what a gentle way to address my fear of drawing. If that class interests you, visit Jane's website for details on when and where she'll be teaching that as a 2-day workshop in December.

Jane will also be offering it as an ONLINE CLASS for the first time (details on her site, right here at http://www.plainjanestudio.com/ )

In 2008, when I was introduced to the world of MIXED MEDIA, and was wondering who to ask about such words / terms as GESSO, and MATTE MEDIUM, and MIXED MEDIA itself -- I turned to Jane, asking her where I could take a beginner's mixed media workshop. And that, my friends, was the beginning of my MM journey. Thanks to Jane, and the La Jolla Athenaeum who offers multi-session workshops taught by Jane, I have become brave and curious and fascinated by the world of MIXED MEDIA art.

I have taken two (yes, two!) workshop series (as described above) from Jane, and enjoyed every single lesson offered, and minute spent, in her classes. And I intend to sign up for this next series !!!

Hope to see you there,

Princess Magpie (aka, Davielle)

KNOW THINE OPPORTUNITY

2010-08-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

Great quote. "Know thine opportunity." - Pittacus.
{sometimes seen as "Know THY opportunity."}

In case you're asking "Who was Pittacus?", you can check that out right here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittacus_of_Mytilene
Or, if you like, here's a quick rundown: (c. 640-568 BC) Pittacus was the son of Hyrradius and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. He was a native of Mytilene and the Mytilenaean general who, with his army, was victorious in the battle against the Athenians and their commander Phrynon.

One of our grandchildren knew HER opportunity yesterday and made it her reality.

Cara and Kaia and I were on our way to see my nephew and his family at the beach. Along the way, I wanted to stop in at MERMAID MERCANTILE {hosted the last weekend of each month at OUT OF THE BLUE { http://www.shesellsseashells.com/ }, a cute little shop in Solana Beach}.

I was seeking vintage ... pajamas, or a nightie, or something ... for the PJ Party at THE CREATIVE CONNECTION { http://www.thecreativeconnectionevent.com/ }

So there's the "story":

We're wandering about, each of us lost in our own little fantasy worlds ... 'oh, if only $$ were no object' ... 'i love this, i can't live without it, but what would i DO with it' ... those kinds of thoughts. And a whole lot of 'why, isn't that clever?'.

Cara sidles over to me ... "Kaia is in love with a chair."

Huh? A chair?

"You have to come see it. She's crazy about this chair."

What artsy / interior designer / wanting-to-encourage-creativity-in-the-grandchildren woman WOULDN'T wander over to see just what kind of chair would capture the heart of a 10 1/2 year old ???

     OH. MY. GOSH.   It was darling. It was vintage. It had been re-upholstered in PINK SUEDE. It had BLACK & WHITE (on the bias, of course) double piping all the way round. It had tufting - with matching BLACK & WHITE buttons. It was from the 50's. It was going to appear in a magazine next month.

"No wonder she loves it,", I said. "Wow."

"Mom, you don't understand. She WANTS that chair."

Oh my. Now what?

So Cara asks how much the chair is. Kaia had some money from her grandfather, a gift for her entering the sixth grade. Not for school supplies or school clothes. Just. A. Gift.   Kaia could do whatever she wanted with it, including deposit it in her savings account.

"The chair is $275."

You could hear us all exhale, I swear. We all appeared, I am sure, crestfallen.

"That's a lot of money, honey, for a chair. Even one so darling as that one."

We wandered around some more. I made my (small) purchases. Kaia could NOT stop thinking about that chair. She went back for another (and another) peek at it. She had it bad.

As we're headed to the car, Kaia says "Mom, do you remember how much is left in my savings account? ".
Ohmygosh, this kid was SERIOUS.

We drove away, and I swear, Kaia took a last look back. We all three felt the pain of leaving that chair behind.

We bought lunch to take to the beach party. Kaia's still doing the math.

"Mom, can we stop at our bank to just SEE what I have in there? ".   Thanks to modern technology, Cara could look it up on her Blackberry - and there just happened to be a branch 5 minutes away.   Apparently, the beach could wait.

In they went. Out they came. All I could see was a HUGE smile and a "thumbs up" from Kaia. SHE DID IT. She had enough. Ohmygosh. That means she WITHDREW her savings. I had a brief sinking feeling.

But then, guess what happened? My joy on her behalf took over.   I was so proud that my 10 1/2 year old grandchild LIKED vintage furniture. I was so happy that my grandchild LIKED flea market / thrift store / treasure trove kinds of places.   I was so proud that she MADE.THIS.HAPPEN. for herself.

Cara quick called the lady with the chair. "Remember us? My daughter is the one that wants to buy that darling chair. She just withdrew all but $5 of her savings to buy it.".

And do you know what that lovely lady did? She took $25 off the chair (which just about covered the sales tax).   We went back, Kaia paid for HER chair, got her receipt (see photo),

and we agreed to return on Sunday to pick it up.

I'm sure you've guessed it. The girls went home, Kaia cleared out her old stuffed animals that took up THE PERFECT CORNER of her bedroom, they vacuumed and dusted and made it READY for today. And today, Sunday, Kaia woke up at just about the crack of dawn - envisioning, I am quite certain, THE CORNER with THE CHAIR that she will GO TO SLEEP to ... tonight.

Blissfully your ...
Princess Magpie

Everything's Coming Up ... MIXED MEDIA !!!

2010-08-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that my mixed media journey began in 2007, when my dear friend Ann Deakers forwarded the blog address of artist KELLY RAE ROBERTS.

From there, I was off and running; albeit confused many times over by words and phrases like "gesso", "image transfer", and "polymer medium".

The first mixed media book

I acquired was Kelly Rae's

TAKING FLIGHT ...

Shortly after, while visiting the then-brand-new PAPER SOURCE right here in the 'hood, I picked up VINTAGE COLLAGE WORKS by Maryjo and Sunny Koch ... this was where I first came across the word "scumbling" .. oh my, so much to learn. {Paper Source Carlsbad: http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/locations/ca_carlsbad.html }

I loved collage as a child. But way back then, I used glue and water, and when I got really sophisticated, Mod Podge. {funny, now I can't stand the smell of Mod Podge ...}

You probably already know that the first mixed media art class I took(a 6-week series, actually) was taught by local artist Jane LaFazio, and I was in love from the first minute with ... mixed media with paper and cloth, as Jane's series was called. I loved it so much, in fact, that when that session ended .. I signed up for another 6-week session, right away. What a great start to 2009 !!

And then .. and then .. there was the 'introduction' to Chris Cozen, working artist for Golden (acrylic products extraordinaire) and her many techniqus for working with all the different acrylic products, gel mediums, tar gel, beaded glass gel, etc ... and most especially, her IMAGE TRANSFER techniques. The fun had just begun !! Chris now teaches amazing on-line workshops with another California artist, Julie Prichard ... find out more right here: http://www.julieprichard.com/mixed-media-workshops/ !

Throughout 2009, I took classes from Linda Blinn, Althea Brimm, Suzi Blu and Lisa Bebi, and more from Jane LaFazio and Chris Cozen. Suzi Blu, by the way, teaches not only IN PERSON workshops, but incredible ONLINE workshops -- check her out here: http://www.alovelydream.com/site/Welcome.html

Soon, I began to see Kelly Rae published all over the place ... the Stampington publications, in an article in The Ligourian Press (a Catholic publication), and in a local guide to some lovely city in - Kentucky, was it? Kelly even began having her work turned into wall art, magnets, stationery, calendars, etc.

But it all came 'round full circle in February 2010, when Ann (the friend who first directed me to Kelly Rae's blog) and I attended AN ARTFUL JOURNEY (Feb 2010)- a three day retreat in Los Gatos, CA ... which I never did blog about here on "I Am Princess Magpie" ... oh my, so much to catch up on. {FYI, An Artful Journey is happening again, February 17-21, 2011 - visit their website right here: http://www.anartfuljourney.com/ } and I cannot recommend it highly enough. FABULOUS event.

We took a 3-day workshop with Kelly Rae Roberts (who was just barely pregnant at the time) and Mati Rose McDonough. What a treat that was!

Shortly after the workshop this February, Kelly had some of her art turned into 3-D "dolls". I now have one, and she resides in my kitchen, right at the sink - right near a rosary, a crucifix, and a beautiful Christmas card from the late, great Celeste Rast. They all make me smile each time I'm at the sink, and they all keep me grounded.

But then - while on holiday this month in Montana, Mark and I walked into one of my favorite little shopping spots up there - The Barn, just outside Bigfork - and what should I see but a beautiful display of Kelly Rae items !!!

They were all tucked into a vintage shabby cabinet, filled with old quilts, bits of lace, frames, old photographs, pressed glass, etc etc etc. What a perfect setting for Kelly's "GIRLS" !!!

Upon my return home from AN ARTFUL JOURNEY, I opened up my Etsy shop {although it still has empty 'shelves', I have intentions to fill them}. I also signed up for an on-line workshop with artist Jane Davila ... "Jump Start Your Art Career".

{http://www.janedavila.com/workshops.htm }

Then later this spring, I signed up for Kelly Rae's on-line workshop, "Flying Lessons: Tips + Tricks to Help Your Creative Biz Soar" {which you can now order as an E-book course from Kelly here: http://kellyraeroberts.com/ecourses/ }

In late July (2010) it was a distinct pleasure and a real treat to spend a day in (Colorado artist) K.C. Willis' "Collage Bootcamp", a full day where we created a piece, start to finish. I shared this special day with Ann, and with Sally, Diane, and Jen - amongst other lovely ladies - learning all kinds of new ways to put fabric and paper and a photograph ... together. Find otu more about KC right here: http://www.lipstickranch.com/

{more on collage bootcamp with KC to come ... and a link to her upcoming workshops right back here in So Cal in early 2011!}

And while I have moved on to appreciating other artist's styles of mixed media art, and have taken mixed media workshops from some of the great contemporary mixed media artists ... I will always consider my mixed media "roots" to be those fostered by Kelly Rae Roberts.

-- Davielle
aka, your PRINCESS MAGPIE

The Creative Color Challenge, with artist Louise Gale

2010-07-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

my friend Ann and I met Louise Gale
at AN ARTFUL JOURNEY this February, where she participated in the same wonderful workshop that we were in ... taught by Kelly Rae Roberts and Mati Rose McDonough.

Louise is putting together a CREATIVE COLOR CHALLENGE for August ... just the thing to keep your creative juices flowing in a colorful way.

Yes, I have too many things on my plate (heck, it's a full blown platter by now), but this sounds so fun and so pressure-less. I mean, really - what could happen if I miss a week - will the Color Challenge militia come after me? I doubt it.

So THANK YOU, Louise, for creating this fun experience.

You can join in, too -- here's a link to the details.
http://louisegale.blogspot.com/2010/07/join-me-in-creative-color-challenge.html

-- Princess Magpie
(yours, as ever ... Davielle)

Artful Gatherings - Let's Plan Some !!!

2010-07-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

Summer is in mid-swing, and it's time for so many of us to have our vacation getaways {as well as our stay-cations}.

I myself am heading to Big Sky Country - to the Flathead Lake area of Montana - soon. Mark's parents have a 6+acre, 400 (+/-) tree CHERRY orchard up there, and the Lake to rival all Lakes is right across the road.

And guess what I discovered up there last summer? A wonderful QUILTING shop - picked up some really fab cherry-print fabric there last year, brought it all home, and I'm in the process of laying out aprons. Just don't tell my in-laws - they're meant to be Christmas gifts :-) !!! You, too, can visit this amazing quilter's paradise: http://www.bigforkbaycottonco.com/ {and as it turned out, Mark's cousin's wife works there ... who knew?}.

This year, this trip, there will be a whole lotta Huffmans' up there at the same time. I made a schedule - it ended up looking like an air-traffic controller's schedule - it's going to be just that crazy up there!

Before I leave, I am tending to cleaning and clearing up my ... office.

Holy Cow, it's become a messy, land-mine filled space lately ... how does that keep happening? :-)

{an image of my desk circa 2009, but it looks like this now ...}

And I will sneak in a bit of art here and there, because I know that the art studio that I so take for granted when I am home full-time ...

will call out to me when I am away, making me question why I am not down there for a bit EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

So I hope some of you, my artful, mixed media (or single-media, it really doesn't matter) friends will want to come over and play after I get home. We'll have most all of August and then September. Let's get busy doing what makes us happy !!!

Wouldn't it be fun to plan / schedule {I'm a big 'scheduler' kind of person} some ART PLAY TIME together? If you'd like to come play, get messy, make art, experiment with supplies -- with me -- then let's make and take the time.

If you live out of town, you could plan to stay over a night or two, even. Summer is for Fun, and we deserve to have all the FUN, and make all the ART - that we can, while we can.

LET'S GET MESSY. Call, text, e-mail, or comment on this post so we can make a plan to have some ARTful fun together.

Happy Summer !!!

-- Davielle
aka, your PRINCESS MAGPIE

P.S. you've just got to laugh when you're on holiday, the car needs some gas, and you happen upon a sign like this one:

I mean, really ... who wants hucks {huckleberries} or cherries WITH ethanol ???

it's KC's birthday and SHE's giving away the love !!!

2010-07-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

oooh, I love a good special. and this one IS special.

colorado artist KC willis is offering one of her on-line workshops, COLLAGE CAMP, at the special price of just $54 -- in honor of her very own 54th (shhhhhh) birthday !!!

hop on over to her blog for the details:

http://www.kcwillis.blogspot.com/

And here's the link to her Collage Camp online workshop: http://collagecamp.ning.com/

Happy Birthday to you, KC. thanks for sharing the love.

-- Princess Magpie

The Sketchbook Project: 2011 ... I'm In !!!

2010-07-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

Local artist extraordinaire SUZI BLU {http://www.alovelydream.com} posted a link today on FaceBook about this cool project: THE SKETCHBOOK PROJECT: 2011

I just had to look into that ...

Wow. What a wonderful thing !!!

If you choose to participate, you have the option of choosing from one of many interesting "themes" {'in flight', 'sleepless', 'figuring you out', 'revenge', 'face in the crowd' - and plenty more} ... or you can have the organizers randomly assign one to you.

If you know me at all, you know that I'm just not the "random" kind of girl, so I opted for "This Is Not a Sketchbook" - because I prefer mixed media / collage to pure sketching. Besides, I rather suck at pure sketching. Doodling, rough depictions of simple things, I can do that. But real sketching? Umm, that's a challenge for me.

Want more info on The Sketchbook Project: 2011 ??? Link up right here: http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

So I'm pretty sure my recent creative slump is just about over now. I spent time in the studio yesterday .. about an hour .. playing with a canvas that one of the granddaughters began a week ago. OMG, was it wonderful to just get in their and play around a bit.

I think I'm back ... and I thank you, friends, for all your kind encouragement last week.

-- Princess Magpie

Creative Slump

2010-06-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

so I've been in a creative slump lately. if i were a writer, it'd be writer's block. since i'm a "creative", i guess this is a creative's block. hmmm.

but i have been diligent about going over the e-course FLYING LESSONS that Kelly Rae Roberts has going on. { http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/ }. yes, i have been making sure i have the info saved to a file (for my eyes only) ... and this way, in a binder, i can review it over and over again. (yes, kelly rae gave us permission to do that, by the way - so long as we didn't share the info with others).

back to my creative's slump. could be the weather - could be my migraines - could be plenty of things. mostly, i think, it's GUILT over not being a good housekeeper, struggling to do more around the house, which then sets off all my joints -- bah humbug - this getting old(er) is for the birds. (albeit NOT for the magpies - who never hurt!).

so i'm adding an "I Read Kelly Rae" button to my sidebar this morning. it's about all i have, dear readers, to add to my blog today.

missing you - missing my creative spark - but hoping it will return soon.

xo
Davielle - your Princess Magpie

{at right, my 'beloved' mixed media art teacher, JANE LA FAZIO - I'm guessing she rarely, if ever, has a 'creative slump' ... i'm just saying ... i mean, JUST LOOK AT HER. Such energy and such enthusiasm and such joy. :-) !!}

up, up, and away ... FLYING LESSONS, here I come !!!

2010-06-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right. I've signed up for Flying Lessons. It's a way cool e-course. You read that right. You can learn to FLY online now.

Okay, so the full title of the class is FLYING LESSONS: Tips + Tricks to Help Your Creative Business Soar, and it's taught by the amazing KELLY RAE ROBERTS of mixed media fame.

Click on the FLYING LESSONS button on my sidebar to go to Kelly's site and find out more details.

I signed up a week late, so I have some catching up to do ... so I better sign off for now.

{that's me and Kelly Rae in Los Gatos, CA back in February 2010, at An Artful Journey}

I hope you'll join me on this adventure ...

-- Davielle
aka, your PRINCESS MAGPIE

BSM: Best Shot Monday 5-10-10

2010-05-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know - I'm a day late. But I think this photo is worth the wait ... I hope you enjoy it as much as I am enjoying it.

Ready? So here it is:

These are the Mother's Day flowers that I received from some of the kids / grandkids on Sunday. Aren't they luscious?

So there is my first BEST SHOT MONDAY image in I don't know how long ...

-- Princess Magpie

Update on MAGPIE'S ART NEST

2010-05-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

I thank you all for your patience, your support, and your encouragement over the last 6 weeks ... it was a couple of weeks before St. Patrick's Day when I first "hatched" the idea for MAGPIE'S ART NEST, and since then, I have looked at residential properties with the business in mind. I do admit that looking at properties without an investor is premature, however, in the name of research, it makes sense to me.

In working up a Business Plan, I found it far easier to work the numbers when I had a specific property in mind - because it allowed me to project based on actual classroom space/s. Now that my "ideal" property sold ... for far less than the original asking price, I might add ... {okay, YES, I am still 'CREST'-fallen about it, I admit ...} ... now that it's sold, it's a challenge for me to "work up projected income" based on ... an unknown variable such as the premises themselves.

But I persevere, and I remain vigilant and hopeful. The actual "ideal property" is still out there ... I just have to find it.

Of course, as one of our grandchildren said to me just yesterday, "wow, Oma, you're really serious about this business arent' you ?!" {out of the mouths of babes ...} She went on to say "it sounds like the ship's about to leave and Papa's still on the dock" -- again, 'out of the mouths of babes'. No truer words have (lately) been spoken !!! Mark's not "on board" with my business vision ... I'd say "yet", but I am not so sure he ever will be.

And still -- I remain optimistic.

Obviously it's going to take a partner - an investor for the real estate, and possibly a business partner.

Meanwhile, I do thank you for your support and encouragement and enthusiasm.

I wish I had more to "report" at this time, so with that in mind, I'd better get back to some numbers-crunching.

Your --

Princess Magpie

images from Google search ... "magpie" and "stone cottage".

The stone cottage is from http://www.serenitystonecottage.com/ in Heath, Massachusetts ... it's a wonderful-looking vacation rental that I happened upon while googling "stone cottages".

Here's a little more about Serenity Stone Cottage: The Serenity Stone Cottage is tucked into five private acres of meadow, pond, and forest in the historic town of Heath, Massachusetts (population 805) in the Berkshires. Located just off the scenic Mohawk Trail, this hidden treasure was built in 1933 and eventually became a summer home to renowned theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, author of the Serenity Prayer. The Serenity Prayer (in its original version) was written at the stone cottage, and first preached by Mr. Niebuhr in the Heath Union Church in 1943. This all-season cottage has been lovingly maintained to reflect its original warmth, charm, and unique sense of peace and quiet.

The exterior design of the cottage is European in style, with a beautiful stone façade, cedar shakes, balcony porches, a hidden stone stairway, and a courtyard garden. All-around windows look out from the main living room to a cedar grove, a field of wildflowers, a small (seasonal) pond, and the woods beyond. The cottage is surprisingly spacious (approximately 1500 square feet on three levels) and there are skylights throughout.

Are you a Brave Girl?

2010-04-29T21:28:00.000-07:00

Just before my 8-week series of workshops with the amazing Jane LaFazio ended -- back at the end of March -- Jane told me about a very wonderful experience that her friend just had. Her friend had attended BRAVE GIRL CAMP, and because I am feeling brave these days, I ran home and looked it up. Wow, did I like what I saw !!!

Someday {and it's looking like it will be in 2011, since all their Brave Girl Camp dates are SOLD OUT for 2010} I, too, will go to Brave Girl Camp.

You should visit their website to check out what they're all about and what they have to offer. Creative souls especially will find it nourishing. http://www.bravegirlsclub.com/

For a little taster, here's a post that I found in my in-box just today:

Dear Super-Smart Girl,

Did you know there's a part of you that is even smarter than your brain? Did you know that the wisdom that comes from this part of you will get you through all of life's bumpy roads, and the smooth sailing roads, too?

Your gut...that deepest place of knowing that's nestled right next to your beautiful heart is the place where your most important thinking should be done. Your brain should be taking orders from your gut and your heart...not the other way around.

You know so much more than you think you know.

You ARE SO MUCH MORE than you think you are.

You are so much braver than you think you are.

You are so much smarter than you think you are.

You are so much more wonderful than you think you are.

So....start thinking with the smart parts of you ..... you can never go wrong.

xoxo - Melody and Kathy

Okay, so is it just me? Or is that rather powerful? I am in "writing a business plan" mode, for sure. And I am itching to find and make time to JUST. BE. CREATIVE. I have now organized my "projects in progress" {and whoa, do I have plenty of 'em!} into nice handy stackable plastic tote boxes. I can see through the lids, and I just about drool each time I walk by. And what the heck, who am I fooling? I also have "yet to be completed" projects in ... my upstairs craft spot, our bedroom, and my office. Oh, and let's not forget the dining room. What can I say? I like to see my options. LOL.

Anyway - I'm rambling. Visit BRAVE GIRLS' website and check 'em out.

Enjoy!

YOUR,

Princess Magpie

getting a JUMP START on my art career !!!

2010-04-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

Friends,

I am thrilled to say that I have signed up for JANE DAVILA's
{ http://www.janedavila.com/ } new online workshop, JUMP START YOUR ART CAREER.

that's Jane ...

Here are the workshop details:

Jump Start your Art Career

What do you want out of your art career? Do you want to exhibit more often? Sell more art? Teach workshops? Get published? Create a polished, professional online prescence? This practical, hands-on class will guide you through an individualized course of study to attain these aspirations & more. Start by defining and setting your specific goals, create your brand, come up with a marketing plan and put it into action, all with step-by-step guidance from an industry expert.

Learn how to -

create a brand that will help you stand out from the crowd
outline a marketing plan to help you reach your goals
put together a professional portfolio
find, research and approach art galleries
start an etsy store and promote it
build up a mailing list and use it effectively
analyze the success of your marketing plan
get published - start small and think big

With interactive lessons, homework, brainstorming, critiques and more you will be well on your way to realizing your art career goals.

On each of the six Mondays you will receive an email with the PDF lesson and worksheet for the week. The interactive part of the class will mainly be run from a private blog where everyone registered for class will have the opportunity to see the lessons in visual form, anyone comfortable with having the work they're doing for class will have it posted, and comments on each lesson will be highly encouraged to foster discussion, brainstorming and feedback.

The blog will have updates from me, relevant to that week's lesson, every weekday and I will be available for email consultation and help during the entire 6 weeks. The blog will remain available for three weeks after class has finished.

The PDFs and worksheets will help you focus on your own specific goals and the steps you will be taking to attain them, while the blog will help you track your progress, and your fellow students', with our real-life examples.

6 online lessons beginning Monday, April 5 / $60.00

the workshop includes pdf handouts, worksheets, resources and references plus a forum for sharing questions, answers and progress all in a supportive, encouraging and empowering environment.

How's all THAT for content?! I am so excited ...

Jane is the author of several art technique / art quilt technique books ... here's the cover of one:

-- Princess Magpie

2010-03-31T07:18:00.000-07:00

You really really might want to visit my friend Nina Reeba's blog (some of you know her as San Diego radio's RUTH 66, of the DSC show that used to air on KGB ???). Her blog is all about her artful life, and her life here in San Diego. It's beautifully done, and the photographs she posts are (mostly) her own. Take a look ...

www.voicesinmybighead.blogspot.com

this artwork, "Salmon Botanical", is a piece that Nina/Ruth has on her blog right now ... I doubt it's still available, but isn't it gorgeous?!

Nina has been doing magnificent work for over a year, and I am so glad we met up in an art class (2009) taught by local artist Lisa Bebi. Now we can ALL say we are "local artists". Nina's been selling her work lately, and one day, some day ... I will have one, too !!!

And as for Nina's coverage of this year's ACADEMY AWARDS - I doubt anyone could have done it better. Or more like I would have done it. Focused on the clothes, baby. RIGHT ON, Nina. Love your post about the Oscars. :-)

But even more, I love the comment you closed with ...

"I fully support anyone who chooses a creative outlet! Who knows, your dreams might come true too."
-- Nina Reeba / Ruth 66

And Nina's has pointed us to this great source of inspiration:
http://www.artbizblog.com/ ... check it out !!!

In closing today's post, I want to add one more image of Nina's art:

this is "Pink Dreams"

I hope you've enjoyed today's walk with my friend Nina Reeba.

-- Princess Magpie

Announcing ... Princess Magpie's Nest & Studio

2010-03-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

You read it right, friends.

I am taking my art- and soul-filled adventure in a new direction. An "additional" direction, if you like.

I have ... started a new blog with my new business in mind ... http://princessmagpiesnestandstudio.blogspot.com ... I know, that's a long long long address ... I'll do something about that when I can figure out how to make it SHORTER via some kind of link-up ... Ann ???

If you visit the new blog, via the handy dandy link above, you can read the beginnings of this new venture.

I have also "opened" my very own ETSY shop, called Princess Magpie's Nest ... you can visit it at www.etsy.com/shop/PrincessMagpiesNest ... although the "shelves" are still empty :-) !!!

So far, I've shared my dream (in most of its entirety) with only the grandchildren, two of our daughters, my husband (yes, Mark; and he is intrigued and engaged in the ideas I presented), and my friend Nina, who I frequently "art" with and whose input I appreciate and value.

But the more I "speak" the dream, the more "real" it gets for me, and I can hardly sleep any more.

More to come ... more to come ...

-- Princess Magpie

JUST AS I AM ... as borrowed from Andrea Schroeder's blog

2010-02-28T10:46:00.000-08:00

I've been "arting" a lot the last ten days, and so have fallen behind on ... e-mails, phone calls, housework (did I just say that?! like it's something I regularly do?! LOL ...), and especially, blogging - and sharing photos of my recent art adventures.

This morning, I was stopped firmly in my 'I Have So Much To Do Today" tracks by this one e-mail ... I get messages from Andrea Schroeder, and this has been of the most personal and eye-opening (for me) yet.

I have lifted it, in its entirety, from Andrea's message:

just as i am
Posted: 26 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST

my friend robbin participated in this amazing project called just as i am. this is from the just as i am website:

"Over the past few years I have been amazed at the number of people who have come into my studio with “body issues”, I’m always amazed at this and am saddened by how many people don’t see the beauty that is inside of them. Just As I Am is a project that has come out of this desire for people of all ages and cultural backgrounds to come together in a project to see that we are more similar than we are different. Through this project I hope that more people will also have a greater appreciation for the beauty and complexity that is the human body and come to a place of feeling that we are all beautifully made.

Thousands of years ago Job wrote “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.” Most of us seem to be able to accept this, it’s the in between time that many of us struggle with.

Most of the time between birth and death it seems we are all slotted somewhere in the pecking order from first class to baggage and one of the beautiful things about this project is that whether a millionaire or a homeless person we will all be depicted as equal; there will be no suits or jewellery to hide behind, it will simply be a person photographed “Just as they are”.

Who we are is so much more than simply our bodies or what we look like, the reality however is that when people look at us the first thing that they see is our appearance. I have found in the past that when I’m with clients photographing nudes that it is much easier to see into the soul of my clients. It seems that when there is nothing to hide behind the real person emerges.

This project involves a 10 minute photo session for each participant and each person is asked to come with a couple of sentences or phrases that they think are descriptors of who they are.

Our hope is in the next few months to put together a gallery show of images from the sessions and if all goes well possibly a book as well as the website where many images will be posted along with the phrases of who the subject is."

they did put together a gallery show!

and that show opens tonight.

I (Andrea) am in turkey and not able to be there but i wanted to join in on the celebration somehow so i thought i’d share it with you here. if i was at home, tonight i would be going out for dinner with robbin to celebrate this amazing event, to celebrate that openness and willingness to be seen just as we are. and to acknowledge the courage it takes to do this.

we tend to think of bravery as being strong and taking action and doing big things out in the world. but this is real bravery. opening up, being real and allowing yourself to be seen.

please use the comment section to send robbin your congratulations and good wishes. and if you’re in winnipeg – go see the show! http://www.justasiam.ca/index2.php

andrea schroeder creates creativity workshops, downloadable creativity kits, art and guided meditations to support you in knowing and remembering that you are a creative being and you can create anything.

I will be referring to this post from over on my other blog, because I believe everyone I know and love is, and even those who visit my blog/s that I do not (yet) know -- can relate to this concept in one way or another. Wow.

-- your ever-faithful and oft-gathering-to-embellish the nest ...

PRINCESS MAGPIE (aka, Davielle)

2010-01-25T08:40:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to my friend Chris Harrell, who forwarded this link to me last week ... it links to a video of a fascinating man, Kaffe Fassett of London (born in California, a "transplant" to England in the Sixties) ...

Kaffe started his artistic life as an artist working with paint. He quickly became enamored of the color and pattern and sensuality of ... textiles. In particular, YARN. He learned to knit and has never stopped.

This video (yes, it's long, but WELL WORTH EVERY MOMENT SPENT WATCHING IT) covers Kaffe's views on ... art. color. pattern. craft. textiles. knitting. the SENSUALITY he talks about in textiles is one that grabbed me by the hand and drug me deeper into this video.

As an (now somewhat retired) interior designer, I always found that it was the COLOR and the TEXTURE of things that attracted me the most.

I hope you enjoy his story as much as I am ... honestly, I haven't even seen the entire 47 minutes of this clip yet! I just couldn't wait to share it with you all ...

http://media.xstream.dk/dk4_2006/Kaffe_720.wmv

-- Princess Magpie

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas ...

2009-12-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

Be still my little beating heart. I know, I'm posting these links in all sorts of order / no order ... but seriously, each time I visit WHERE WOMEN CREATE, another Day of Christmas seems to have snuck onto their blog ... no, really, I can't explain it. How do I miss any of these?

At the risk of pushing some of my readers to COMPETE with me for a most coveted prize, I have to do it - I have to add this one. You're going to FLIP for these fabrics, and believe me, if I win -- SO. WILL. I. !!!!!

http://wherewomencreate.typepad.com/blog/2009/12/on-the-eleventh-day-of-christmas-wwc-gave-to-me-.html#comments

-- Princess "i SO have to win this, i just do .." Magpie

you have to see this ... from WWC, of course

2009-12-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

I just love WWC: Where Women Create.

Today, they feature the beautiful work of artist Dara Dimagno ... who says ...

"I am a self-proclaimed antique junkie. Like a pack rat, I am always hunting for things that I can transform. Looking for new ways to use forgotten parts and bits of flotsam is challenging and oh so much fun. My art is my therapy after a hectic day at my real job. After my children have drifted off to sleep I get to spend the night and wee hours of the morning playing artist. Using odd bits and pieces of vintage treasures I create one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces, holiday ornaments and talisman wall art. Creating keepsakes that capture moments in time, I like to incorporate antique photos, old buttons, buckles, the words from pre-1930 books, vintage hardware, and even old German doll heads into my pieces.... "

http://wherewomencreate.typepad.com/blog/2009/12/on-the-thirteenth-day-of-christmas-wwc-gave-to-me.html

VISIT WWC at the link just above to read more about Dara, to see more of her beautiful work, and to enter WWC's "Days of Christmas" contest (again!).

-- Princess Magpie

Love Yourself Unconditionally

2009-12-13T09:14:00.000-08:00

I found this gem in my e-inbox today ... and thought today, amidst all the holiday hustle & bustle & hurriedness ... it would be a good idea to post.

Read it as a "meditation" and you will feel SO affirmed and peaceful ...

{photo taken Christmas season 2007 ...}

I Love Myself Unconditionally

I see my heart expanding and feel an infinite abundance of love

I allow my heart to expand and allow the love to flow through every part of my body

I feel this unconditional self love fill my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness, my subconciousness, my entire beingness

I allow the love to shine and radiate out from me in all directions and know it will return to me with more power and radiance

I feel a loving connection with the pure essence of who I am - pure love

I know at my core that the more love I give to myself the more I have to give to others

The supply is endless for as I love myself and share that love with others my love multiplies a hundred fold

Being in a continuous state of self love brings me feelings of deep inner joy and peace

I only attract loving people in my world for they are a mirror of who and what I am

I love myself; Therefore, I commit to taking time for me and dedicate time to do the things that bring me great joy without feeling guilty

I love myself; Therefore, I commit to removing the word 'should' from my vocabulary

I love myself; Therefore, I will feed my mind with loving thoughts

I love myself; Therefore, I will continue to work on healing my mind and dissolving the old thought patterns I have created that have prevented me from loving myself unconditionally

I love myself; Therefore, I will behave and think in a loving way towards all people for I know what I give out will come back a hundred fold

I love myself; Therefore I forgive and totally release the past and all past experiences - I set myself free knowing I am perfect the way I am

I am Pure Love

Namaste, PJ & Nancy
© 2009 Reconnect from Within

POSTED HERE WITH PERMISSION ...
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this blurb with it:
Reconnect from Within® is a company dedicated to Empowering You for Your Awakening and is devoted to providing you with tools to live a more joyful, peaceful and loving life. Visit: http://www.reconnectfromwithin.com

Happy Sunday the thirteenth of December to you all ...

-- Princess Magpie

12 Days of Christmas - a Where Women Create GIVEAWAY

2009-12-05T12:18:00.000-08:00

Friends, if you look to the right, you'll find a "widget" that will connect you to the beautiful WHERE WOMEN CREATE website ... where they are hosting a 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS giveaway !!!

Visit them daily, make a comment daily, and you're entered to win !!!

I hope today, the first Saturday of December, finds you happy, healthy, and NOT worried about ... all your "to-do's" !!!

Be well, my creative friends ....

-- Princess Magpie

Quick! Contest Entries close at Midnight 11/16/09

2009-11-16T20:23:00.001-08:00

WHERE WOMEN CREATE, a fantastic magazine for us crafty gals, is having their FIRST ANNIVERSARY CONTEST ...

click here to go directly to their blog, and to the Contest details.

http://wherewomencreate.typepad.com/blog/2009/11/its-our-first-anniversary-time-for-a-contest-.html#comment-form

I sure hope you're up and reading tonight, 'cause I just found out about this 10 MINUTES AGO over on Facebook, where I am a "fan" of WWC.

-- Davielle
aka, your PRINCESS MAGPIE

Weekend at Dusty's !!!

2009-11-05T18:42:00.000-08:00

"What is your hobby? Every woman ought to have some pet interest in life, outside of the everyday routine which composes her regular occupations. What is yours?"
- The Mother's Magazine, January 1915

Well, behind with blog posts or not, I am leaving town tomorrow for an all-girls, all-weekend SCRAPBOOKING and FUN HAVING Retreat at our friend Dusty's home in La Quinta.

above, our hostess-with-the-mostest - Dusty Burgmans

Yup, it's time for my semi-annual RETREAT with some of the most amazing women in my life, at the most amazing Retreat set-up ... Lyn and Willie and Cynthia. All, friends I have made through CCI (Canine Companions for Independence; www.cci.org ), and all, women I've grown much closer to in three full years of monthly BUNCO get-togethers! {I am so, so truly blessed ...}

I mean, WHO can resist a welcoming committee like this?!

If you haven't visited Dusty's website, you can find her at: www.ScrappinatDustys.com ... what she offers is simply beyond description.

Dusty, left, giving me some advice ...

I've posted about her before, on both this and my other blog ( www.DH2travelers.blogspot.com ), including photographs. Will try to take more pics this weekend and post next week about the experience.

a glimpse of how we work ... and the big screen TV that keeps us entertained all weekend { can you say "chick flicks" ?! }

For now, I'm just tickled pink that we're all heading over tomorrow afternoon ... let the fun and games begin! I'll be back on Sunday evening - with a whole lot of scrapbook finished up and pics to show you just how much FUN it is out at Dusty's !!

yes, I realize this ended up sideways ... but it's a tiny idea of the surprises we each find at our individual work tables upon arrival :-) ...

Dusty SPOILS us rotten !!!

-- Princess Magpie

Woman Is Born to Create

2009-11-03T18:24:00.000-08:00

My thanks to my Facebook "friend", WHERE WOMEN CREATE (a fabulous magazine that features just that ... spaces 'where women create' ...). They have this posted this evening, and I found it TOTALLY wonderful and encouraging and validating and inspiring. You can read more about WHERE WOMEN CREATE by visiting their website, here: http://www.wherewomencreate.com/ .

And so, I wanted to share this quote with all of you creative Women ....

"Woman is born to create … in creating she becomes herself, accomplishes her destiny. Her whole life is only an initiation into creative power. To create is not merely to produce a work … it is to give out ones own individuality."

- Jeanne de Vietinghoff

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - November 2, 2009

2009-11-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

This being the beginning of November, I thought it would be nice to offer up an image taken in our canyon of our ROGERS' RED (California native) Grape (vine) -- turning color. Most of the year, it's green, but here, you can see the leaves are starting to turn ... RED. It produces adorable, tasty, yet seed-filled TINY grapes that are a favorite of not just the neighborhood birds, but our grandkids like them, too.

The birds like them SO much, we've got a 'volunteer' growing along with our climbing white rose up against the chimney, right near our front door - this year, I've been tickled by the little grape cluster that hangs perfectly framed within one of our living room windows. It's charming ...

So there you have my BSM {Best Shot Monday} for this beautiful first Monday of November, 2009.

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - October 19, 2009

2009-10-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

I actually have what I consider one of my BEST EVER (yet) Best Shot Monday images for this week; I'm so excited about it, I am posting it on Sunday evening, a whole 12 hours early ...

This was taken from our front walk on Wednesday, 14 October 2009 ... as I ran out to capture the beautiful sunset that evening, I was even more excited once I saw the enormous military helicopters slowly lumbering their way south over the ocean ...

What do YOU think?

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - October 5, 2009

2009-10-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

BSM ... Best Shot Monday.

It's another Monday, and that can only mean one thing: BSM !!!

Puzzling over what to post, what to post ... do I go far back in the archives, pulling a botanical? an image of the sky? something close-up and detailed? an action shot? a travel photograph? So many memories, so many images to choose from ...

This being the first Monday of OCTOBER, though, and the early days of Fall here in San Diego county, I think I'll go with ...

An older photo, taken of our Rocky. (aka, his official name, SureGrip Quail Oaks Rock Star).

Blessings to you all on this glorious Monday!

-- Princess Magpie

UPCOMING CLASSES I'LL BE TAKING

2009-10-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

"Josephine" ...
a mixed media piece done (by me!) in a Chris Cozen workshop earlier this year.

Dear Princess Magpie friends:

So as the year draws to it's close, I am gearing up and looking forward (SOOOO forward !!!) to a 4-day ART RETREAT with my friend, Ann Deakers. We'll be at AN ARTFUL JOURNEY { http://www.anartfuljourney.com/retreats/feb2010/index.html } in Los Gatos, California, where we are signed up to spend the entire Retreat getaway under the "tutelage" of artists KELLY RAE ROBERTS and MATI ROSE McDONOUGH. We're very excited - it will be the first mixed media Retreat for both of us, and the first "swap" experience for us each as well. So much newness, so much to learn, so much to do !!!

Kelly Rae Roberts & Mati Rose McDonough - above - photo by Denise Andrade

In the interest of feeling as prepared as I can {you know Princess Magpie: always 'reading, researching, learning all I can about a technique} for said Retreat in February 2010, I am focusing my art goals on learning what I can that will see me ready as I can be (for a new mixed media kinda girl such as myself) for the FUNKY CHUNKY COFFEE TABLE BOOK project we will undertake with Kelly and Mati. Ooooh, it sounds sooooooooo F.U.N. !!!!!

I have just signed up for "COLOR MIXING" with Chris Cozen, a fabulous mixed media artist who teaches for Golden (the product line of acrylics that I just love) ... and I'll also be taking her "FAUX ENCAUSTIC" (ie, faux beeswax effect) class. Both, at STAMPING DETAILS right across town in Poway. Check out their website at: http://www.stampingdetails.com/ for Class details.

here, Chris Cozen teaching a workshop thru San Diego Book Arts / 2009

and below, an assortment of finished / unfinished pieces that I created in

a Chris Cozen workshop / 2009

(that's all in one day, folks!)

I also signed up for BEGINNER'S ALTERED BOOKS, with instructor Pat. Also at Stamping Details, this workshop is meant to introduce us beginners to techniques like cutting a niche, making windows, creating special cover effects, giving color to the pages in various ways, using glass and wire, making pop-ups (oh my!), adding embellishments, doing image transfers, and more! (more!? how could there be more than all that !!!). That class will be held 11 am - 4 pm on Sunday, November 29. { Yup; it's right after Thanksgiving, which I anticipate will be more joyful and filled with THANKS-givings than in years past.}

So ... I do hope you'll join me at one, two, or all three of these workshops.

a group of happy Chris Cozen students / 2009 / San Diego Book Arts weekend

and below, a whole bunch of fantastic Chris Cozen pieces ... ooh la la !!!

I'm a big fan of EVERYTHING at Stamping Details -- and you already know how I admire the work of CHRIS COZEN ... don't miss out! You'll be SOOOOOO glad you signed up. :-)

-- Princess Magpie

Janice Lowry - a Tribute

2009-10-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

From April 2009 to September 2009, a woman that I did not know ... lived out her last days after a diagnosis of Stage 4 liver cancer. I learned this as I began researching her for this blog post ... I found a blog that her husband, Jon, started in April of this year. You can visit it here: http://janicelowry.blogspot.com/ And you can visit her website here: http://www.janicelowry.com/

Her name was JANICE LOWRY and she was a mixed media / assemblage artist of the highest order. This is a woman who kept an ART JOURNAL for so many years, and so 'religiously', that the SMITHSONIAN has accepted that collection of Journals for safekeeping (and hopefully, one day soon, DISPLAY) into perpetuity. Janice will live on through not only the memories of her family and friends and the art community, but via those very journals.

Janice journaling in Scotland (photo borrowed from her blog)

Janice Lowry moved to California from Phoenix Arizona where she attended the Art Center College of Design. It was here that she started doing assembleges, at first as a creative and inexpensive solution for framing. Soon, this solution evolved into an art-form as unique as the artist herself. Janice has also been keeping journals since the age of five. What started as small books with a single lock have turned into creative master pieces over the years. In October of 2007, Janice had the honor of having all of her journals inducted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Archives of America in Washington, D.C. Janice works from her gallery in the Artist Village Lofts in Downtown Santa Ana. (this paragraph, from " comment.com ")

A lovely YouTube video clip of Janice and her Studio (which she called "my church") and her art can be seen on Suzi Blu's blog, the link is just below ... I thank artist SUZI BLU for pointing me to Janice Lowry this morning, via Facebook. Suzi also wrote a very heart-filled blog-post about Janice, which you can view here:

http://suziblu.typepad.com/a_lovely_dream/2009/10/dread-making-was-stalled-because-squirrel-maras-daughters-hamster-died-i-have-5-dreads-on-my-head-and-i-look-pretty-stupid.html

Janice in Scotland (again, borrowed from her blog site)

And here is the link to the LA Times obituary for this beautiful woman:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-me-janice-lowry-gothold3-2009oct03,0,7635613.story

Janice having what her husband refers to as "her favorite meal of the day .." !!! EAT DESSERT FIRST: Life can be Short (this photo, too, borrowed from her own blog site)

Loving thoughts to the family and friends of Janice Lowry ... and thanking God that she is now at peace.

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday 9-28-09

2009-09-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

This was taken in August, and it's the coolest CHERRY stem I've ever seen.

In thirty-plus years of going to Montana for his parents' cherry harvest, Mark has NEVER (he says) seen a SINGLE STEM with THREE CHERRIES branching off it.

How cool is this?!

So, I know that from a PHOTOGRAPHY or an ARTISTIC perspective, this is not really a "best shot" image ... but the SUBJECT MATTER is so delightful, I couldn't resist. {and there IS that way cool shadow thing happening ...}

Happy MONDAY.

-- Princess Magpie

September 28, 2009

The Artist's Creed by Jan Phillips (2002)http://www.janphillips.com

2009-09-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

I've been quite absent from blog-posting all of September - and even stretching way way back to the end of July ...

But this morning, I feel compelled to post this: The Artist's Creed by Jan Phillips
{you can visit her website at www.janphillips.com }.

I BELIEVE I AM WORTH THE TIME IT TAKES TO CREATE

whatever I feel called to create.

I BELIEVE THAT MY WORK IS WORTHY OF ITS OWN SPACE,

which is worthy of the name Sacred.

I BELIEVE THAT, WHEN I ENTER THIS SPACE,

I HAVE THE RIGHT TO WORK IN SILENCE, UNINTERRUPTED,

for as long as I choose.

I BELIEVE THAT THE MOMENT I OPEN MYSELF

TO THE GIFTS OF THE MUSE,

I open myself to the Source of All Creation

and become One with the Mother of Life itself.

I BELIEVE THAT MY WORK IS JOYFUL,

USEFUL AND CONSTANTLY CHANGING,

flowing through me like a river with no beginning and no end.

I BELIEVE THAT WHAT IT IS I AM CALLED TO DO WILL MAKE ITSELF KNOWN

when I have made myself ready.

I BELIEVE THAT THE TIME I SPEND CREATING MY ART IS AS PRECIOUS

as the time I spend giving to others.

I BELIEVE THAT WHAT TRULY MATTERS IN THE MAKING OF ART

is not what the final piece looks like or sounds like,

not what it is worth or not worth,

but what NEWNESS gets added to the Universe

in the process of the piece itself becoming.

I BELIEVE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY ATTEMPTS TO CREATE,

and that once I begin the work, settle into the strangeness,

the words will take shape, the form find life, and the spirit take flight.

I BELIEVE THAT AS THE MUSE GIVES TO ME,

SO DOES SHE DESERVE FROM ME:

faith, mindfulness, and enduring commitment.

-- 2002, Jan Phillips

COULD any one of us have said it better? I think not ... this piece spoke to me, loud and clear, the first time I saw it -- I was at a workshop at Ellen Speert's amazing CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR CREATIVE RENEWAL right here in Cardiff, California. I just stumbled across it again this morning, clearing out my office. {you see, there really ARE benefits to sifting thru the piles!}

This just SCREAMED at me to pay attention to it. In a very positive, very good, very challenging way. A loving scream, if there is such a thing.

Don't give up on your art, my friends.

Do. Not. Give. Up. On. Your. Art.

-- Princess Magpie
September 27, 2009

BSM: Best Shot Monday, September 7, 2009

2009-09-07T18:26:00.001-07:00

Well, it's MONDAY, and you know what that means ... so here you go ... another BSM {Best Shot Monday, a la Tracey Clark} image to enjoy (I hope!).

This was taken in my garden this morning, after the Flower Fairies (aka, Kaia & Kiara) had their way with one ripe cantaloupe and a piece of throwaway blown glass from my friend Cindy McQuade ...

What do you think?!

And then, there is this photo, which I took on the evening of August 21, 2009 when Mark and I were in Montana at his folks' place at Flathead Lake. My father-in-law had saved up quite a pile of kindling and brush to burn, and we had one heck of a fabulous bonfire that night. It was extra special to me because August 21 was my mother's birthday ... well, it would have been her 86th birthday, if she had not died five years ago. SO this fire's for you, Edith. Blaze on !!!!!

I love you, Mom ...

-- Davielle

BSM: Best Shot Monday 8-31-09

2009-08-31T12:55:00.000-07:00

My last shot at an August 2009 BSM ... Best Shot Monday.

I'm taking full advantage of the fact that today is, in fact, a MONDAY. I am back on the BSM track, and happy to be here.

I hope you all enjoy this image of a Swallowtail butterfly perched on a Duranta in full blook in our yard, which I took in September 2008 ... 11 months ago, now. It's just been lurking in the back of my mind, waiting for the most perfectly beautiful summer Monday to post.

-- Princess Magpie

YOU ARE AN ARTIST - Suzi Blu Says So !!!

2009-08-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

http://suziblu.typepad.com/

Okay, so I thought I had already done a post about the class I took with Suzi Blu last Sunday, the 9th of August ... with my cool and wonderful friend Ann, out in Poway at STAMPING DETAILS. As it turns out, there were other of my cool and wonderful friends in the class, too. Angela, you know who you are, girl !!! :-)

the wonderful SUZI herself, in wings no less, with one of her beautiful art journals - before class

and the AMAZING Miss Gigi ... who kept seeking quiet, dark spots to relax in ...

ANYWAY, apparently all I had done so far was post some pics on Facebook. Sooooo, here you go.

We started at 10 am, making straight lines with a ruler that Suzi gifted to each of us, which says something very kind & inspiring to each of us on the back (a keepsake!) so that we could begin to "graph" our face onto the moleskin journal page.

the lovely & talented MARA, Suzi's friend who is more of a classically trained artist; Mara helped Suzi split our very large class into 2 groups, so we could each have space to see how the process goes ...

After working on three versions of a face, it was time to choose one and move to the next step: colorizing it by shading in with colored pencils.

Suzi, demonstrating her colorizing techniques

MY GIRL ...

okay, so no laughing and no critiquing, please. I know that she looks like she has a nose ring; that was UNintentional, believe me. LOL !!! But there will be a (magic) way that I can soften that later - I hope so, anyway

And then, by following the other magic steps that Suzi told us to take, which I cannot tell you here BECAUSE you just have to take her class. Somewhere, somehow, some day.

no, this isn't my girl - this is Lorrie's girl !!!

So here's the scoop: Suzi makes it SO EASY, offering her LES PETITE DOLLS and her GODDESS / POETS journal dolls - online - wow!

these are the more realistic GODDESS faces that we learned to work with today in class ...

contrast the Goddess faces with Suzi's oh-so-fabulous LES PETITE DOLLS faces ... which I still want to learn how to create ... here:

this, another page spread right out of Suzi Blu's art journal

my dear friend, ANN (Deakers) and HER girl ... cool, huh?!

and THIS is my girl ... nearing completion ... now all I need to do is add some JOURNALING NOTES on that left page ...

I don't have much time to include all the fun comments I would like to right now; I just want to get some of the images UP and IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN before heading out on holiday.

Your,

Ever Faithful, and Always Seeking Inspiration

PRINCESS MAGPIE (aka, Davielle)

BSM: Best Shot Monday - August 10, 2009

2009-08-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here's my BSM for today ...

It's our youngest "grand", Kaia, holding and directing our attention to ...

The world's absolute SMALLEST SNAIL SHELL. {I'm sure it's the smallest ever.}

Have you ever seen such a thing?

To put this into perspective for you, I also photographed that snail shell side-by-side with a Prednisone tablet. They're rather small themselves, those Pred tabs.

-- Princess Magpie

LES PETITE DOLLS JOURNAL class - today - with the amazing SUZI BLU !!!

2009-08-09T06:40:00.001-07:00

Yes, that's right ... Suzi Blu is teaching a full day of LES PETITE DOLLS to the fortunate 16 (or so) of us that registered for her workshop. TODAY. I am SO freeeeeeking excited !!!!!

If you don't live in So Cal, or you can't make it to a class, or her next class(es) fill up before you can blink your googley eyes, well, then, YOU CAN PURCHASE A KIT from Suzi ... yup, that's right. VISIT HER Les Petite Dolls Acadamey right here: http://suziblu.ning.com/ and give it a look-see.

Or visit her BLOG right here for more info on that PARTY GIRL kit (shown above): http://www.suziblu.blogspot.com/

If you want to "paint pretty girls", as Suzi calls her fantastic Petite Dolls, then this is an artist you want to look in to .... I'm hoping she will teach again (and again) at STAMPING DETAILS in Poway - which is where today's class is being held. Some of the best workshops I've attended are held right there at Stamping Details - I love what they offer!

Lots of photos will be taken today, so check back later for PICS and the whole STORY.

Your very excited and happy ...

Princess Magpie (aka, Davielle)

a new look

2009-08-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

it was time to step boldly into the NEW LOOK realm, and thanks to Ann, my blogging mentor and friend extraordinaire, I was pointed to a way-cool BACKGROUND site ... where, for free, one can copy and paste the "code" into their customizable settings .. well, you know how it goes.

so what do you think? like the new art-ful look? I sure do !!!

the only problem is -- the "link" to that site where the free backgrounds come from -- it sits RIGHT OVER PART OF THE TITLE of the uppermost blog-post, and that is a problem.

anyone know how to fix that?

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - July 27, 2009

2009-07-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

I know, I've been remiss about posting my BSM images ... I needed a break, I guess.

But now, I am BAAAAACK and ready to select ... that special ... BSM.

Today's image was taken on our first morning in Venice; as Kristina and I sat quietly absorbing the view of the Grand Canal, and the early-morning activity of the Gondoliers and the tradesmen, I put the camera (Canon, G9) on "sport" setting and happily clicked away.

no, this isn't my BSM ... just a lead-in ...

When Kristi saw TODAY'S IMAGE, she said, "well, THERE's your BSM". I was so in vaca-mode, I had to ask her what BSM was !!!

Given that it was early Tuesday morning, it was technically STILL a Monday back home in California, and I could have run upstairs, uploaded this to my laptop, and posted it right then & there. I opted not to do that ... I opted to stay in that vacation-moment, enjoying my morning with my girls.

I told you I needed a break ... :-).

no, this isn't it, either ...

this is Kristi & Kiara at Hotel Monaco Grand Canal / Venice, Italy

So here you go ...

THIS, this, is my BSM image ... note the yellow carton in mid-air ...

I love my camera! Venice, Tuesday 14 July 2009

It's good to be back, friends.

-- Princess Magpie

An ARTFUL Post over on 2 Travelers ...

2009-07-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

... I just posted the longest POST I've ever done, with the most photographs, I'm guessing. Whew. What a project. And there are SO. MANY. MORE. photos that I could post from the outing on Friday to the LONG BEACH QUILT SHOW.

at right, artist Jane LaFazio's ZEN EUCALYPTUS quilt on display in the "edges" category ... this was done with pieces that were hand-dyed and wet-felted by Jane ... isn't it amazing?!

For now, visit my other blog at: www.DH2travelers.blogspot.com for a peek at today's post. Then, when I have caught my breath, and maybe even caught a nap :-), I'll post JUST IMAGES on this blog. Later.

Okay?

Your,

Princess Magpie

Calling All Hearts - by Kelly Rae Roberts

2009-07-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

Please visit the blog of artist Kelly Rae Roberts, possibilitarian AND humanitarian. Today she shares the story of Megan -- a woman Kelly does not know directly, but whose plight has touched Kelly's heart. It touched mine, too. PLEASE VISIT and PLEASE READ and PLEASE KEEP MEGAN and all who are facing these kinds of (health / healthcare) challenges ... in your thoughts and prayers. AND IF YOU CAN ... PLEASE GIVE.

http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/2009/07/calling-all-hearts-we-need-you-again.html

Thank you, thank you.

Absence makes the Heart Grow Fonder ... hmmm?

2009-07-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

They (whoever "they" are) that ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER ... and since I've been absent a lot lately from posting to my blogs, I have to say ... I agree. WholeHEARTedly. I agree.

I miss the time I spend posting; I miss the comments you share with me in return. I miss the creative outlet that my blogging allows me.

I will be back ... if you want the long version, visit www.DH2travelers.blogspot.com for today's post about WHY I've been quiet, WHAT's been keeping me away, and WHEN I intend to be back truly focused and ready to post again.

Until then, all I can say -- especially on here, Princess Magpie's creative journey space -- is this:

ITALY was a whirlwind of amazing happenings, our family ROCKS, totally and absolutely ROCKS, and all the artistic inspiration I gleaned from the trip -- was worth all the exhaustion during and now after the holiday. TOTALLY. AND. COMPLETELY. WORTH. IT.

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday 6-29-09 (on Wednesday)

2009-07-01T06:29:00.000-07:00

How did Monday slip away ... it was Tuesday night before I realized that I had failed to post a BEST SHOT MONDAY image.

Monday was our oldest "grand"s 14th birthday, so I wonder if I should post another image of him? I could. Or should I post something "artsy", or something from our garden ??? or of Rocky, our rat terrier?

I can't decide, so I guess I'll just peruse the photo files until something strikes me as reasonably worthy enough to join the ranks of the AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHERS who participate in BSM !!

Well, you know what they say about a girl and her horses ... it's a match made in heaven.

My AHA moment for this week occurred when I was happily reminded of seeing the Lipizzaner show in San Diego last summer with family and friends .. when I came across THESE images:

my Canon G9 was still new to me at the time (heck, it STILL is), so indoor shots were a challenge for me - the arena was completely dark, and there were spotlights on the horses and riders ... but I like this, with that shadow of the horse and rider ...

this was another one I was happy with after reviewing the 100 or so that I shot that afternoon

but THIS is it -- the best of the bunch, as far as I'm concerned .. THIS is my BEST SHOT MONDAY

-- Princess Magpie

Lisa Bebi's PAINT OVER TECHNIQUE Workshop, June 27, 2009

2009-06-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

About 6 weeks ago, I picked up the new issue of SOMERSET STUDIO GALLERY and the very first article ... led me to artist Lisa Bebi and the workshop that Cara & I attended on 6/27/09.

Wow. Cara and I thoroughly enjoyed Lisa's workshop in Escondido yesterday afternoon. It was quite hot outside, but the inside of the Gallery was nice and cool, and we had a great set-up.

Lisa, getting us all started on the process ...

and Lisa with her quickly-completed example of her Paint-Over Technique ...

I have to say, Lisa teaches well -- she doesn't fuss -- and this particular technique of hers was rather easy to pick up. And FUN ... it was soooooooo much fun. Transforming magazine images and our own photographs, printed on plain paper from an inkjet printer ... what a way to make art!

Cara gets into her projects ...

and she's off and running!

sitting back to gain perspective ...

My daughter Cara, who is quite artistic and can draw anything FROM AN IMAGE of it ... hasn't worked much, if ever, with paints. Probably next to never, other than creating birthday party scenes for children, and transforming her daughter's bedroom into a Parisian Street Scene once ... but as for working with acrylics, I'm guessing never. (Cara has, however, been a drawing fool since she could hold a pencil and/or crayon).

I've only been working with acrylics since January, and my art background consists of ... making collages as a child, learning the very basic basics of architectural / interiors drafting when I was taking all the interior design classes, and that's about it. I've had color theory (interior design requirement), I've had art history; I've made scrapbooks and cards and such .... but as for MAKING ART, this is all new to me, too.

And while our class was small, it was "full" of interesting & talented women; one of which I was so happy to meet after being a FAN of her on the radio all these years ... The infamous "RUTH 66" from radio station KGB (101.5 on the fm dial here in town). Oh, and by the way ... she has a real name ... and it's not Ruth :-) ...

me 'n "Ruth 66", getting to know each other at the end of class

So to wrap this up ... here's how we made out yesterday:

Cara's finished / near-finished image of herself from a bridal shoot she did this year ... I love her use of color and line!

Bike-Mama from a vogue-style magazine - a la Cara --

again, her use of color blows me away!

a bridal mag image that Cara "techniqued" over ... luscious!

And my work for the day ... this from a bridal magazine ...

And this, my own daughter Cara from that same bridal shoot ... this was SO much fun.

Thank you, Lisa, for your hard work teaching us how to do this paint-over technique and for making it so much fun. I can't wait for another class with you!

-- Princess Magpie

2009-06-27T08:55:00.001-07:00

Off today for a three-hour workshop with local artist LISA BEBI ... we're to learn the basics of her PAINT-OVER technique, and I'm so excited!

This is one of Lisa's pieces that I am just madly, crazily OVER THE MOON about ... "Jack, the Dog"

You can see some of Lisa's art right here:

http://www.lisabebiart.com/mixedMedia/mixedMedia.html

-- Princess Magpie

My Day in San Clemente

2009-06-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

In the blink of an eye, a day can turn from a bummer into a high. Here's my story:

Friends, my day began on a real sour note ... because our voice-mail service provider (and right now, I use that term loosely - "service provider", that is) had a TIME DELAY in getting me a voice mail message I really really really wanted to get ... I discovered this morning that I had missed my only opportunity to meet up with Bernie Berlin and Suzi Blu ... for dinner last night. Can you say "BUMMER" ???

If you don't know who Bernie and/or Suzi are ... you can check them out right here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh5i7tLizOM

That, and a few other rough patch moments this morning had all conspired to leave me SO near tears, I thought I might just as well have the meltdown and be done with it.

But .. it didn't happen. The Melt-Down, that is.

Instead, I put my big-girl panties on and HEADED RIGHT ON INTO the rest of my day, which included spending 5 hours with the delightful and talented LINDA BLINN and friends Barbara and Sharon, at Linda's charming home. Did I mention in a former post how fantastic Linda's art and crafting space is in her home? It's way cool.

So here's just a few shots of our time together. What a respite. What an inspiring time. What cool things everyone had "on the table" to share with each other.

Linda's been working with SUNPRINTS; these are on fabric.

and another Linda Blinn SUNPRINT on fabric. isn't this beautiful?

so after we'd admired some of Linda's new art adventures, and after we'd started our TRADING back and forth, it was already time for lunch. we DO a good job complementing each other when it comes to who-brings-what. Look at that spread! That's Linda, tossing the Chinese Salad that Barbara made for us ...

here's Sharon and Barbara, enjoying our day together ...

and what terrific luncheon spread would be complete without the world's tastiest cupcakes? These were from ELIZABETHAN DESSERTS in Encinitas. Tasty, tasty, tasty. We split each into four, and each took a bitty section. We figure that way, we've each tried 'em all AND it's still only ONE cupcake each ... you see how we artists can be SO creative when necessary?!

Then it was time for us to do some sunprinting of our own ... Linda wanted to try this ... a bird silhouette with lace around & behind ... let's see what happened!

step one

after you get it ready, you hurry outside, find the sun, and set it down - for, I am not kidding, less than 1 1/2 minutes. Seriously.

oh ... HELLO, KITTY.

(not Kitty Blinn, but Neighbor Kitty)

after that moment in the sun, you run inside, and you rinse the "developer" paper under lightly running water -- to rinse away all chemicals and to STOP the process. then - let dry.

still wet, but I am SO seeing that bird - aren't you?!

(look closely ... and do tell ... is it just me, or CAN YOU SEE IT?!)

I love this small circle of creative friends. They sure brightened my day! I so appreciate being included in their gatherings.

And to make our time together even MORE beautiful ... Linda always has some fresh flowers somewhere nearby for us to enjoy ... these are her GINGER SYLLABUB roses. To-die-for.

And every gathering must have a little bubbly. This, a nice Italian Prosecco - just dry enough and TASTY.

:-) Big, happy SIGH OF CONTENTMENT.

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - June 22, 2009

2009-06-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

It's that time again ... it's Monday, and that can only mean one thing here on I AM PRINCESS MAGPIE ... Best Shot Monday!

Although this was taken several months ago, it has stuck in my mind all this time ... so I'm posting it TODAY as my BSM, even though I did not take it "just last week".

Hope that's okay.

This is our Rat Terrier ROCKY playing with SOPHIE, a rather large Rhodesian Ridgeback who he (Rocky) happens to be crazy about. :-)

-- Princess Magpie

Got Artist's Block? Try This !!!

2009-06-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

Anyone out there facing some kind of ARTIST'S BLOCK?

As a rather new 'artist' (yes, I still put it in quotes, 'cause I am "just playing" with art, I guess ... it takes a whole lot of courage and gumption to say I AM AN ARTIST) ... what I struggle with is this: I came to the awareness a week ago, while chatting with my friend Margy, that (right now, anyway), I feel SAFER and MORE COMFORTABLE "making art" when I am in a class setting, or a workshop ... "with others".

One part of what I love about art is ... the COMMUNITY of art. I love the people. I love the synergy. I love the passion and the creativity and the energy. I have been fortunate to find great art teachers, people who can RELAY the information needed to teach a new technique, and who leave me INSPIRED to ... do it.

And while there is nothing 'wrong' with preferring or being more comfortable in such a setting, the thing is: I really really really want to incorporate MAKING ART into my DAILY life, and I can't afford the time & finances to TAKE A CLASS A DAY. :-) Really.

I have a beautiful MAS (My Art Space) in our garage now, I have a whole lot of art supplies just waiting to be all used up. It's that HOLDING BACK, that FEAR OF FAILURE that makes me unable to Just Do It.

So when I come home from a class, I face the FEAR of "not doing it right". Goodness, when it comes to art, what does "right" mean, anyway?

So along with Julia Cameron's THE ARTIST'S WAY, and along with LIVING THE CREATIVE LIFE by Ricë Freeman-Zachery, I am finding that the work of PATTI DIGH is opening doors for me -- in my head and in my heart and in my gut.

You know what I mean. The GUT is what tells you you're "in intuition" ... right? It's my gauge, anyway. Head - left brain. Heart - right brain, full of emotion and feelings. Gut - intuition, pure & simple.

Patti Digh's book LIFE IS A VERB: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally is amazing. (thank you, Ann, for pointing me to Patti's work ... you are SO my muse, Ann. you introduce me to so very much of the good in my world and I cherish you, for your friendship and for your "knowing" just what will appeal to me. it's a real gift.)

Living the Creative Life is available many places, including through Dick Blick: http://www.dickblick.com/products/living-the-creative-life/?wmcp=yahoo&wmcid=SiteSubmitProducts&wmckw=Living+the+Creative+Life

LIFE IS A VERB: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally - Patti's website - is at: http://www.pattidigh.com/

LIFE IS A VERB (the book) is available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Verb-Days-Mindful-Intentionally/dp/1599212951

But what really has me excited right now is this: Patti and her friend and mentor, David Robinson, will be co-facilitating a TELE-COACHING CLASS for six months -- SIX MONTHS -- along the lines of the "work" outlined in LIFE IS A VERB. It begins July 7, and there will be two phone 'coaching calls' each month for six months. SIX MONTHS, friends.

What can you accomplish in six months? MY INTENTION is to get out of my own way - to get out from behind the FEAR that keeps me from trying things on my own ... like making art ... the fear of 'not doing it right' ... the fear that 'it won't be good enough'. Because as a child, I often heard messages along the lines of ... "you're not getting it right", "you're not good enough", and/or "you don't look the part". Stuff like that. IF YOU ARE A PARENT, please please note that verbal & silent messages we send to our kids WILL have a lifelong impact. I'm here to tell you!

So - if you're struggling with ARTIST'S BLOCK -- take the time and get inspired, get soothed, get motivated -- grab the books I mentioned, find other resources, talk to other artists - they ALL struggle with this at times. I'm sure of it. And CHECK OUT PATTI DIGH's website. Take a look at what "story" you might be hanging on to, hiding behind ... that's keeping you from living YOUR best life.

With love from your evolving ...

-- Princess Magpie

The Great American Novel

2009-06-16T18:26:00.001-07:00

Don't you agree with me on this:

If I (or you) had this cool, totally Retro, LIME GREEN typewriter ... couldn't I (or you) write the next Great American Novel?

Really. I mean, who COULDN'T with a typewriter like this?

If you don't quite believe me, would you trust artists' and writers' guru, JULIA CAMERON?

"It is human nature to write," Ms. Cameron declares as she systematically dismantles the mythology surrounding the writing life in our culture. She reveals the secrets of breaking loose from the grip of established thought processes and shows you how to unleash the wave of creativity within you that is starving to express itself. With the techniques and illustrative stories in The Right to Write, you'll learn how to make writing an easy, natural, intensely personal part of your life. Ms. Cameron's revolutionary instruction and examples include the details of her very own writing processes, the ones she uses to create her poetry, plays, essays, and novels. Her tools make writing a playful and practical, as well as profound, experience. If you're jumping into the writing life for the first time, or if you're already living it, the art and craft of writing will never be the same for you after you've read The Right to Write." { http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&ISBN=9781585420094&ourl=The%2DRight%2Dto%2DWrite%2FJulia%2DCameron }

So I think that this way cool retro typewriter could be just the key (get it? the KEY) to your taking up WRITING. Seriously.

I'm just saying.

-- Princess Magpie

Cool Workshop Coming Soon ... LISA BEBI's "Paint-Over Technique" in 3 Hours

2009-06-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

Why don't you visit the link herein to the Escondido Arts Partnership / Municipal Gallery, and check out the workshop details for local artist LISA BEBI's upcoming workshop, PAINT OVER WORKSHOP WITH LISA BEBI. It's next Saturday, June 27, 2009, from Noon to 3 pm.

http://escondidoarts.org/details/details.php?p=workshops

I blogged about Lisa a tiny bit this morning, over on my other blog: www.DH2travelers.blogspot.com -- feel free to hop over there for a visit.

I sure hope to see you at this cool workshop next weekend (NOT this weekend; the one after).

Your,

Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday, June 15, 2009

2009-06-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

Oh my, I almost forgot to post a BSM photograph for today ... that just won't do.

Because I took hundred of photos this past week -- this is going to be difficult.

I'd like to be a little annoying and post several ... I hope nobody minds. I think they're all worthy of BSM status ... the first one, because there is nothing that I personally enjoy more than seeing my grandchildren HAPPY. Happy, comfortable with themselves, and just plain glad to be doing what(ever it is) they're doing.

Kiara, at her 11th birthday party, TEXTING and HULA HOOPING all at once! now THAT is a future multi-tasker ... future, heck. She's doin' it now !!

Kiara in the line-up of Birthday Party Friends

and her big brother, Trevor, doing what he likes just about best - Pitching. On Saturday. (they won)

any time you've got a ballplayer SMILING during the game, it's a beautiful, awesome thing ...

And these, because I think that our Canon G9 camera caught these critters doing what makes THEM happy, too.

this is our Rocky, the Rat Terrier - trying to catch a better view of ...

this, little rabbit in full flight, on our front lawn !!!

and then ... last but not least ...

Snowy Egret (in our yard), taking off ...

That's my theme for this week's BEST SHOT MONDAY, then. Being Happy. Doing that which makes you Happy. And the secondary theme ... ACTION.

:-)

Princess Magpie, aka, Davielle

The Joy of Less, by Pico Iyer

2009-06-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

Thank you, PATTI DIGH {Life is a Verb: 37 Days} for posting this on Facebook this morning. WOW, what a powerful testimony to the simple(r) life / lifestyle.

The Joy of Less
By Pico Iyer

http://happydays.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/the-joy-of-less/?pagemode=print

I read it, each and every word, and it so resonated within me. Yet, I am not ready to "give up" and to "simplify" to the same level Pico has. But it's something I aspire to ... with maybe my art supplies left to add to my happiness :-).

Funny thing is, I had a most vivid dream last night:

I was in a large apartment-style building, with hundreds of other families. As we all looked out our front windows to see what the commotion we could hear was all about -- we saw a sea of emergency vehicles -- fire trucks, police cars, paramedics, ambulances -- literally thousands of them - just across the avenue from our building. {now mind you, I live in a single-family house now, but have lived in my share of apartments & condos over the years - yet nothing like this; this was in a big-city setting. ANYWAY ...}

They were trying to shout to us something important -- but we could barely hear them. We asked them to use a bullhorn - which they did - and what we heard was this:

"A huge fire is rolling this way and you MUST evacuate in 5 minutes. TAKE ONLY YOUR MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS, AND YOU MUST CARRY WHAT YOU BRING WITH YOU."

You can imagine, I'm sure, what went through my mind {sub-consciously, or was I now partly awake?! it was hard to tell ...}. PHOTOGRAPHS. CHILDHOOD MEMORIES. THINGS FOR THE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN THAT THEY MIGHT NOT THINK TO TAKE ALONG. {you see, we were ALL in this one large apartment - and it was filled with "things". Possessions. so the question really became: WHAT is so important about all this STUFF?!} So I grabbed several sacks and totes and bags, filling them with irreplacable items, and even some replaceable items {including a Breyer horse statue from my childhood ... which have in reality long since disappeared from my possession, although I miss them to this day}.

And all the while, my mind kept repeating ... "so now I will get to live that simple life - with not much of anything around me. I wonder how that will go?"

The whole LESS IS MORE quandary -- is that true? Is it true for everyone, or just for some?

And this morning, I woke up to Patti Digh's post that we "must read" this article.

Powerful validation that my dream was trying to tell me something.

Your,

-- Princess Magpie, aka Davielle

and don't you just know that my nickname, PRINCESS MAGPIE, is now ... worrying me. I really am quite the magpie (gathering things), and I wonder if it's offensive to people. I even wonder if somehow, it's offensive to myself.

Cole Porter and Ella Fitzgerald - music to inspire you

2009-06-10T05:46:00.000-07:00

I think I'm in excellent company, here, friends. I love COLE PORTER. I love his lyrics, I love the musicality of his work ... and I love how so many artists "do" Cole Porter songs.

NPR also loves Cole Porter -- they've done a cool little story and you can read it here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105032124&sc=nl&cc=mn-20090610

One of my personal favorite artists that did a whole lotta Cole is ELLA FITZGERALD.

A couple of years ago, my friends Lyn and Vickie and I headed up to the USC Galen Center (their basketball arena) to witness WE LOVE ELLA: A TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST LADY OF SONG, with such amazing artists as Wynonna, Ruben Studdard, Dave Koz, Patti Austin with Take 6, Ledisi, Lizz Wright, Monica Mancini, the amazing Nancy Wilson, and the list goes on (and on) ... including a very surprise appearance by the incomparable Stevie Wonder. Our hosts for the evening were music icons Natalie Cole and Quincy Jones.

If you'd like to read more about that event, visit this link from PBS (they recorded it live that evening back in April 2007 ... which meant that we were 'treated' to a couple of the songs more than once - so they could get it just right!).

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/ellatribute/index.html

MUSIC inspires me - I like to listen to music when I am creating. I hope you enjoy learning more about Cole Porter and Ella Fitzgerald along with me ....

-- Princess Magpie

Art is for My Soul ... Listen to Your Muse by Suzi Blu

2009-06-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, is it just me, or when you become immersed in all-things-artistic, do serendipitous things just keep happening ???

I love this stuff.

My blogging mentor and artistic and heartful friend, Ann Deakers, sent me a link to this YouTube clip by local artist SUZI BLU.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1107440113&ref=profile#/video/video.php?v=1087401383327&ref=share

Thing is, back when I first became friends via Facebook with artist BERNIE BERLIN, she called me on the phone and we talked about her animal rescue facility (in Portland, Tennessee) for about an hour. She asked me if I knew her friend here in So Cal, artist Suzi Blu.

I have not yet met Suzi, nor taken one of her workshops ... but I do most assuredly intend to.

And then - cleaning out old inbox messages in FB this morning - I found this from Ann, telling me I should get a "kick"out of this clip.

Oh, yes I surely did. It is fabulous. I hope you take time to TREAT YOURSELF and watch it.

-- Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday, June 8, 2009 - posted from Solvang, CA

2009-06-08T08:47:00.001-07:00

I have very few photos to choose from this morning, as I'm posting off our laptop, from charming Solvang, California. Although we head home this afternoon, I know the day will get away from me, so I am opting to post something for BSM from the handful of photos I took on this quick trip getaway.

it's not a great photo, but this charming little statue captured my attention yesterday (at J. Woeste garden shop) in Los Olivos and I couldn't resist sharing her with all of you ... how many times as a child, barefoot in the garden, did YOU have to remove some bothersome thing from the bottom of YOUR foot?! :-)

While I try to avoid GRIPING on my Princess Magpie blog, I feel compelled to tell you that IF you should visit Los Olivos, and IF you should visit the J. Woeste garden shop, do not expect good customer service. I tried to find an employee for 15 minutes - only to discover that the man (right beneath my nose) who was busily texting all that time DID work there - he never looked up, never asked if I needed help -- even when I stood 4 feet away and said (to myself, out loud), "I wonder if they have a business card around here - oh, here's one" -- he NEVER even paused, nor did he look up. THEN, my husband said "that guy works here - I saw him in the garden a while back" ... so I go back, INTERRUPT his oh-so-important texting, and ask "excuse me, but do you work here" (fully expecting him to say "no, I'm just watching the front while my female friend carries on a personal phone call in the back room" - which, by the way, we could overhear all throughout the little shop - but no, he says "YES I DO" ... not 'yes, how can i help you' -- and then I had to ask him to come around the corner to ask about a dog statue they have. NOT HELPFUL at all; not engaging; not friendly. {Boy, that "yes I do" sure surprised me !!!}

again, not a great photograph ... but something about the sweetness of mother and foal at the Quicksilver Ranch (miniature horse farm) just grabbed me ...

On a much more approachable and friendly and engaging note, if you'd like to take a closer look at the miniature horses of Quicksilver Ranch, here's their website: http://qsminis.com/

Signing off now from the Danish capital of California, sweet SOLVANG ... http://www.solvangusa.com/

-- Princess Magpie, aka, Davielle

MAS progress continues

2009-06-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

Friday morning, June 5; 9 am:

Okay, so MAS now has several meanings:

Messy Art Space

Messy Art Studio
MY Art Space / Studio

I like 'em all. Yet, I am leaning now towards the last one. MY ART SPACE.

"Messy" sounds like it's going to look like, well, like my home office. Or my closet. Or the chest next to my side of the bed. {you think I'm kidding? then you don't know me!}

What 'MESSY' was meant to denote was that THIS is where the messy art would happen - the stuff with glues and paints and water and such. {although we have no sink in the garage ... yet ... I remain hopeful! I am pretty sure that the capped pipe that leads off the base of our water heater is ... the plumbing to BRING IN A SINK some day.}

But now, it's just going to be MAS: My Art Space.

The progress continues, slow but sure. Before he left town Friday morning, Mark helped hang a hook for aprons;

voila !!!

a re-used dog kennel-crate door (it's not only magnetic, but I can use clothespins to clip inspiration to it right where I work);

the dangling tag says "she's a good girl; crazy about Elvis. loves horses, and her boyfriend too" -- one of my favorite song lines, a la Tom Petty.

and a cookbook holder, mounted to the wall, so I can open up a book to the instructions and SEE IT, yet keep it clean while I work from it.

Lined up to use it first:

Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts {the artist and her book, who started me on this amazing artful journey over a year ago ... she SO insires me}

the books I have by Claudine Hellmuth ...

this is one of Claudine's books, in the rack !!

and of course, the two books by Golden artist CHRIS COZEN ...

those are Chris' books on display - the larger art piece just beneath is by CHRIS - I bought that from her during her recent 2-day workshop here in town, hosted by San Diego Book Arts. the two smaller pieces are ones I did in a Chris workshop back in March, at Stamping Details in Poway. Funny, when I bought her work, I didn't realize I was again drawn to those colors. I have a long way to go, but still, I think I'm on the right path, learning from the best artists I can take classes from.

and my book by friend LINDA BLINN ... about creating family memory books.

I'm just waiting now for a book on Mixed Media with Paper and Cloth - by -- drum roll - Jane LaFazio !!!

I can hardly wait to get creating in my space !!!

my drafting table, with an assortment of work I created during Chris Cozen workshops, 2009

-- Princess Magpie

great quote

2009-06-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

"I like work; it fascinates me.
I can sit and look at it for hours."

-- Jerome K. Jerome {1859-1927}

This poor guy, his parents just couldn't settle on a name for their baby? What!? I don't know that I'd have liked to be Antelline Antelline {or Antellini}; or Davielle Davielle. Can you imagine?

BUT he sure had some wise words to share about ... well ... WORK.

My friend Victoria was here last week and we came across this quote - and cracked up.

I promise, I am slowly but surely getting my MAS (Messy Art Space/Studio) organized and ready to work. Really, I am. But each time I get one storage problem resolved, another pops up. And now I need a bit of a window shade - nothing fancy, just white, so the sun in the afternoon doesn't come through any COLORS to mess up my pure working light and all ... still, it's hard to be in there right now with a blazing sun shining in your eyes.

I can hardly wait. But I'm waiting. 'cause it's just not there yet.

Before Mark left town today, though, he did help me hang some things on the wall (no small feat - it's drywall OVER concrete block), so I am stoked. I even took photographs :-) of the process.

More to come ...

-- Princess Magpie

Rainbow

2009-06-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

Oh, thank you to Patti Digh (LIFE IS A VERB: 37 days) for posting this ... and thank you to Ann, my blogging mentor and dear friend, for sharing this with me today.

please please please

take the time to view and listen.

I promise you goosebumps and maybe even tears.

EVA CASSIDY has been a favorite of mine ever since my friend Karyl 'introduced' me to her songbird-style music back when we worked together at CCI.

With no further ado, here's the link:

http://www.37days.com/2009/05/come-over-the-rainbow-with-me-just-for-a-moment.html

your,

PRINCESS MAGPIE

Post # 80

2009-06-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not referring to some outback kind of a post here.

Post # 80 refers to the fact that this is already my eightieth {I love spelling that word} blogpost on I AM PRINCESS MAGPIE. I can hardly believe it.

Time to get PART TWO of the six weeks of MIXED MEDIA WITH PAPER & CLOTH, taught by Jane LaFazio, catch-up posted, complete with photographs.

And it's time to get THE MAS (Messy Art Space/Studio) photos posted here, so you don't have to click over to my other blog at www.DH2travelers.blogspot.com to see what's happening in our garage these days :-) !!!

Happy Tuesday, everyone.

Oh - a photograph for Post # 80 - hmmmm. Let's see. What should I select?

How about an assortment of my recent fave shots? That's what I'll do.

Here you go, then:

"grand" Kiara -- at her brother's baseball game

"grand" Trevor, at said baseball game

"grands" Trevor & Kiara with # 1 Daughter {it's a birth order thing} -- aka, their mom! -- on Easter

youngest "grand" Kaia, in our Mulberry Tree

and Daughter #2, Kaia's mom - with Kaia on Easter

and last but not least, ME MYSELF & I at a recent "the art of Transfers" workshop with Golden artist CHRIS COZEN -- that's me, far left, back row; next to Chris. we're both in apple green !!! {also in this photo, the gorgeous Gabriella who was in Jane's MIXED MEDIA session with me for 6 weeks - she's in the front row, 2nd from right}

I have to say that, thanks to Tracey Clark and her BSM {Best Shot Monday} 'project', taking and posting photograhs has become a whole 'nother ART FORM for me to explore.

your,

Princess Magpie

BSM: Best Shot Monday - June 1, 2009

2009-06-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

Happy June, all. And boy, has it been 'practicing' a lot around here lately for the whole June Gloom thing. ;-) (just the way I like it, though ... I love this stuff !!!)

So it was hard to decide what to post for today's BSM (Best Shot Monday) image ... I caught* some good shots of Trevor at his Pony baseball game on Saturday - a game which they won.

I also caught some not-so-great shots of our Great Horned Owl(ets) again - last night -- and while they're not so great, you CAN see their silhouettes.

Given the limited capabilities of the photographer (that would be me) -- 'cause I do think my camera (a Canon G9) is far more capable than what I'm getting -- they're not so bad. Not after a bit of "brightness, contrast, and color" adjustment, anyway.

So I think I'll have to post TWO. Okay, THREE.

THIS, this - is my BSM image.

That's our Trevor, getting a hit/RBI - and making his bat stand upright !!!

Really, can you believe the strange "luck" I have with capturing baseball bats doing tricks ??? (some of you might recall my BSM post for April 27th, where the bat was suspended in air!)

and this, this would be right up there with the bat-on-end. I call it Ball in Glove. (as Trevor's private coach, Ryan, always tells him - "the catcher has ONE JOB. to CATCH the ball." Ryan would be proud!)

Owl Taking Flight off our bluff -- and check out the silhouette of the shrub to the left - does that resemble a hunched over violinist, or what?! I love it !!!

Yup ... those are my three for this (last) week. Have a beautiful Monday, and KEEP TAKING PHOTOS !!!

-- Princess Magpie, aka Davielle

* you probably now get the pun -- "caught" on camera while Trevor was "catching". oh, never mind. sometimes I am too easily amused and it's not really all that clever!

I have a most SERIOUS case of Lampshade Envy

2009-05-31T06:55:00.000-07:00

Oh my, friends. My blogging mentor and dear, dear friend Ann has done it to me ... she has found something I just can't stop thinking about, and I now have my first (and hopefully last!) case of SLE {that's Serious Lampshade Envy, for any of you that were not Psychology majors}.

I need a support group. Intervention. A straightjacket. HELP !!!

Check out her THE ENDLESS SUMMER blog at: http://www.adeakers.blogspot.com/

Scroll down a bit, and THERE it is. The cause of my new Disorder. SLE. Serious Lampshade Envy.

How can I ever forgive this one? How can I get over wanting that lampshade?

Your oh-so-pained-and-envious,

-- PRINCESS MAGPIE

very cool giveaway today at iHeartFaces - a cool CAMERA BAG

2009-05-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

check this out, friends ... this is a way cool CAMERA BAG giveaway over at iHeartFaces:

http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2009/05/tracy-joy-camera-bag.html

Do visit them today to enter to win.

;-)
your,

Princess Magpie

Bone Sigh Arts ... beautiful words of wisdom

2009-05-28T19:15:00.000-07:00

During my recent read-along with Brene Brown (and community), I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME (BUT IT ISN'T), an artist was 'introduced' to us, an artist that Brene met at one of the many conventions she is asked to speak at. As the story went, someone approached Brene and showed her a poster of this:

Brene tells us she was captivated by the piece, and when she returned home, the next thing we knew, she was posting a post and offering a copy of this as a giveaway.

You can imagine my surprise and delight when I was a winner of this !!! The day it arrived, I took photos of the packaging, because the artist, who sent it to me directly, had made such a presentation of it ...

Since the day it arrived, I have been quite "taken" with the soulful work of TERRI ST. CLOUD of Bone Sigh Arts. Visit her site here:

http://www.bonesigharts.com/

Do tell me what you think. I find her words deep, meaningful, deliberate, sometimes to-the-core, and sometimes simply soothing.

Continuing on my artful journey, I remain your ...

-- Princess Magpie