Welcome 2009

I am looking forward to 2009. I faced many life challenges in 2008. It was by far the most difficult year I've had. I do feel stronger and better able to confront head on what is given to me. This year I'm looking forward to being healthy, traveling, taking a variety of art classes, making new art friends and welcoming a new grandson.

That means grandma needs to get started on a baby quilt. The last quilt I made was 8 years ago. But first I have to clean up my studio and arrange it for sewing. Funny how I get distracted and never seem to straighten up my work areas. I do have to clean up a bit for our first visitor of the year. We will be picking up our 16 year old grandson tomorrow. He and his grandpa will be making a skateboard ramp.

Hope you all have a very healthy, art filled 2009. We are staying home and watching movies tonight. The wind has been blowing like crazy all day. It's a good night to be safe and warm at home.

For my Dad

My father spent this Thanksgiving and Christmas in heaven. When I was home I asked my mom if I could take my German hat to my house. It has been hanging in the basement of my parents house for 40 years. When we lived in Europe I got this hat in Germany and collected pins from Germany, France and England. The picture is of me and my father in Germany when the hat was new and I still had a lot of pins to collect.

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful grandparents Christmas Eve this year! Yummy food, fun presents and some much needed time with family. The gingerbread house was created by my granddaughter Morgan and her Grandma Lou.

Doll workshop

Dolls in the workshop. I started adding sparkel glue to the wings.

Latest creations

Here are my latest angel creations. I am rapidly running out of arms and legs. I have a few heads on the way - so I will be able to make a few more.

Watch Angel

I made this angel for my husband (my greatest fan) from his broken watch. It's hanging in his studio.

Christmas Angels

This beautiful little girl angel was given to a dear friend. She wanted to know where I bought her. When I told her that I made the angel she was amazed. It's always gratifying to give your work to someone who really loves and appreciates it.

This angel was given to my step-daughter for Christmas. She was delighted to receive her.

The heads, arms and legs are from Thuringia, Germany. They were dug from the ground of an old doll factory. The parts were made from 1860 to 1920. I still have enough parts for about 6 alphabet angels. What a fun experiment! I'm thinking about selling the body parts that I did not use. I'm sure a mixed media artists would love some body parts to incorporate in their artwork.

Angel going to Colorado

This angel is flying to Golden, Colorado to my brother and sister-in-laws house.

Last spread - Altered book

I worked in Carol's travel fashion book. We used paper napkins for the background. I did a collage on India fashion. I will miss this class.

Art swap

Terry and I swaped art at the Holiday party. She has given one of my angels a new home and I have a piece of her framed digital art in my guest room. Looks like we swapped angels!

Mixed Media Club Holiday Party 2008

Friends, art, gifts and pizza, what could be better than that. We all got our altered books back - the class is over after 8 months. The class enriched my art skills and I developed wonderful friendships. The spine broke from the weight of the pages in my book. I think I will leave it like that to remind me of all the lessons learned.

I made angel ornaments from old alphabet blocks and doll parts (made from 1860 - 1920) dug from the ground in Thuringia, Germany. They have dirt and rust on them - some I leave as is and some I have cleaned up a bit and painted. This has been a fun project. The angels will find their way to new homes at Christmas. This is the one that I made for the party swap.

I was luck enough to get a piece of art from Terry at the holiday party. I already hug it up in my studio. Thanks Terry!