1. Instead of having children, Mr Misc and I plan on adopting greyhounds. We even picked out names for them.

2. As an undergraduate student, I had the opportunity to work with the art collection at our university museum, cataloging more than one hundred works by Milton Bancroft. It was such a major undertaking that I held onto my copy of the notes for years, just in case anything happened to the museum’s records.

3. I’m named after a character from the soap opera Dark Shadows.

4a. I am terrified of bears.
4b. I think sharks are fascinating.
4c. This makes my husband think I’m loony.

5. My family used to raise, breed, show, and train Brittanys, a wonderful and very hyper type of hunting dog. During the late ’80s and early ’90s, we crisscrossed the Midwest going to various shows and trials, and, at one point, had as many as 13 dogs (including a litter of puppies).

6. Random wedding trivia: My husband and I will celebrate our 7th anniversary in five months. Barefoot, we exchanged titanium wedding bands (made by Arnell Workshop) on the Gulf of Mexico. I wore an indigo dress and had a veil made of chainmail (by Heidi at Silver Tiger Art).

7. Today, I had cookies for breakfast. My mother, obviously, didn’t teach me a lot about nutrition and balanced diets, but she did teach me about simple pleasures. Mmmm, cookies.

Thanks to Susan Donley, who tagged me for this meme. In return, I tag Christiane, Diane, Cassidy, Kristi, Sarah, Heidi and Amy, all of whom I enjoy following on Twitter. Also, if you knew any of these tidbits about me already, also consider yourself tagged!

UU Reflections

November 9th, 2008

I originally imagined this blog as being very focused on artmaking and, in some ways, almost business like. Through my Artist’s Way posts, I found myself sharing more of the personal, however, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. So, while this is, of course, not a religious blog, I wanted to share and record the comments I made at my local Unitarian Universalist church today. I was asked to speak as part of the church’s “personal reflections” series, offered throughout the autumn, where members are asked to answer the question, “What does this church mean to me?”

While some of the names and references may not be meaningful to all readers, it definitely shares some of the experiences that inform and inspire me as an artist and also, obviously, speaks to the values I hold dear.

I’ve knelt in Catholic pews, lit candles in European cathedrals, danced barefoot in the moonlight with Starhawk—but none of these experiences ever led me to imagine standing in front of a congregation as I do here and now.

I originally let that lack of imagination, as well as my newcomer status, dissuade me from volunteering to speak. That didn’t stop me from thinking about what this church means to me, of course, as I’m sure many of you have found yourself reflecting after the answers previously shared by Kathy, Dan, Richard, Rose, and others. Eventually, my gratitude, along with some nudging from Reverend Garmon, has led me to hope that I can gain something from putting myself up here and that my relatively fresh perspective will be beneficial to us collectively.

The discussion at last month’s stewardship lunch reminded me that, during our first visit, a few members of the church apologized to Kristi and I for the fact that the majority of the congregation is older than us. I want to acknowledge that the combined age, wisdom, and experience of this church’s members is actually one of your gifts to me and not to be apologized for. Once a week, I get to sit down for coffee and discover the person next to me marched for civil rights, the woman across from me provided protection and comfort to women entering a planned parenthood clinic—I discover the stories of men and women who stood up when they or others were disenfranchised or discriminated against. This first-hand perspective is otherwise absent from my formal education and my life; I’ve encountered such stories only through the interviews of Studs Terkel or the songs of Utah Phillips. It is my great privilege to be part of and learn from this community. You provide me with wisdom, mentorship, and challenge me to live a life I can someday be proud to share with a younger generation. Thank you.

In 2006, my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. She was, quite simply, the most important person in my life and, after many struggles, was finally creating the life of her dreams when this diagnosis rocked us both to the core. I was so incredibly angry—I saw the cancer and its timing as a huge injustice—and, in my anger, I shut the door to my experience of the Divine. I didn’t know how to celebrate anything in light of her illness and her death at 49 years of age. I was 28 and my brother, who I now raise with my husband, was only 11. I showed up here nearly eight months ago trying, in part, to make sense of her death.

Today, I accept that her death is something I do and will continually struggle with. I don’t know what helps with that or what I thought I might find here to undo that pain.

What I have found is a community of compassion that tells us it matters that you were born, it matters what you do. (I love to hear Kathy Stevens say that; she does it in a way that just makes my heart feel huge with love and purpose.) That blessing—which is both little and all encompassing—along with your stories, the reflective space offered in these walls, the inspiring words and music that fill our worship, and the amazing mentors I have met as part of this community—instead of resolving the grief I experienced with my mother’s death, I am learning what to do with my life. Again, I thank you.

I Voted

November 4th, 2008

I Voted Sticker

I hope you did, too.

Click on any of the photos to see a larger version or read its description.

Friday FiveButtonsSneak peek: Altered board bookSears Electric Typewriter: DetailSears Electric Typewriter: DetailFiles of collage text

Friday Five: Studio Snippets

September 26th, 2008

Click on any of the photos to see a larger version or read its description.

Friday FiveNew shelfAnother window sill in my studioUpcoming Project PeekPaper Sculpture

the breeze (Twitter)

Modus Operandi: Travel Journal

September 23rd, 2008

modus operandi - every tuesday

Keeping a journal while on a road trip, vacationing with family, backpacking, or enjoying a summer escape not only leaves you with a one-of-a-kind memento at the end of your journey, it’s also a great exercise in restraint: What can you make and do with what’s at hand compared to the wealth of supplies and tools perhaps hoarded away in your studio? (Okay, maybe I’m projecting a bit here…)

My husband, brother, and I took a much-needed family vacation in early August, visiting friends and family from the Poconos down to Rehobeth. I’ll detail next week what was in my travel art bag (including some successes and failures), but this week wanted to share what the end result was.

Travel Journal: Page 1 Travel Journal: Pages 7-8

Since I tried not to bring too much with me, a lot of my greatest victories in making my journal came from using things I found away. Case in point, the page to the far left was made using words clipped form the in-flight magazine and I made the pocket on the page behind that using our boarding passes. The cookie on the middle page was just made by tearing a piece of paper bag and making chips with my markers, but I honestly love the end result more than I would a sticker or other image: not only does it capture the memory, it pleases me with my own resourcefulness. Additionally, while much of what I make suffers from creative clutter, having limited resources results in pages like one to the far right; I think it’s beautiful in its simplicity.

Travel Journal: Pages 19-20One thing I did bring a good selection of was markers and colored pencils and, as a result, my final journal has a lot more doodling and drawing than I normally include in a collage or when making cards.
 

 

Travel Journal: Pages 21-22As a result, I think the final pages have a great touch of my hand, making the journal’s small size that much more intimate.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To see additional pages from my travel journal, click on the book cover below. As a temptation, I will let you know that one of my page spreads includes a pretty silly set of screenshots from The Sims!

Travel Journal Cover

  • Have you made or kept a travel journal? Tips or photos to share? Leave a comment below!
  • Have an idea for a future modus operandi feature? Want to know how I achieved a certain effect or what I used to make a project? Leave a comment below or e-mail me at miscellanea (dot) arts (at) gmail (dot) com!