Life Is All About Celebrations

Isn't it? We seem to trudge through the day-to-day of our "regular" lives, going to work, paying bills, making week night dinners, doing laundry, etc. with little excitement and the only thing that keeps us going sometimes is looking forward to the next big get-together/pig-out with friends and family. Make it a lovely, sunny day in April and a crowd of 20 women packed into a tuna-can sized house where someone will be opening presents and you have instant fun. Here are some of the highlight's of my sister, Tabbi's, weekend wedding shower.

Is there a more glorious sight in all the world than this? A room filled to the brim with fluffy, shiny, sparkly presents!

Guests with barely room to wiggle their elbows, still having a jolly time is always a good sign.

We feasted on lots of healthy things...

...and unhealthy things too. It's all about balance, I say.

Aren't I the bestest sister in the world? I think I deserve an award. I should have stolen her hair flower at some point, at least, to honor myself (me on the left).

To prove I'm not completely selfish, I'm going to share this word scramble game that I personally, scrambled in the first place (not fun), in case any of you are planning a shower of your own soon. I gave my guests 8 minutes and the winner got 16 out of 20. You may want to go a little longer or shorter depending on how generous you feel at the time:

Wedding Word Scramble

1. wfoerl rlgi _____________________ _____________________

2. yrerpa _____________________

3. grin arbere _____________________ _____________________

4. ekca ptorpe _____________________ _____________________

5. isesoalnporc _____________________

6. dalbcenara _____________________

7. tanivtinoi _____________________

8. edaimsrbid _____________________

9. tinirsem _____________________

10. quobetu _____________________

11. nargomosm _____________________

12. pecritnoe _____________________

13. adlirb harmc _____________________ _____________________

14. rafvo _____________________

15. dindewg owsv _____________________ _____________________

16. nislece _____________________

17. gortporapheh _____________________

18. hotbeclatl _____________________

19. axhenceg sirgn ____________________ ____________________

20. aorgces _____________________

(1. flower girl 2. prayer 3. ring bearer 4. cake topper 5. processional 6. candelabra 7. invitation 8. bridesmaid 9. minister 10. bouquet 11. groomsman 12. reception 13. bridal march 14. favor 15. wedding vows 16. license 17. photographer 18. tablecloth 19. exchange rings 20. corsage)

Top 10 Reasons to Love March

"Passing By A Rainy Day" by meArtDesign.etsy.com

"When one has faith that the Spring thaw will arrive, the Winter winds seem to lose some of their punch". -Robert L. Veninga-

I live in the Midwest, so if you live close to a beach, consider yourself blessed that you have no idea what I'm talking about. If you still have snow on the ground...well you're next in line anyway.

1. You can paint your toenails again.
2. A light jacket is good enough - cuter too!
3. It RAINS a lot (instead of snowing).
4. Your car doesn't look so dirty anymore.
5. It doesn't get dark until around 7pm.
6. You may get to fire up the grill once or twice
7. If you peek under the clumps of dead leaves you just may see green shoots coming up.
8. Stores start stocking up on fun new summer-wear.
9. Your favorite shows start to get REALLY interesting.
10. Pretty, multi-colored Easter candy everywhere you go.

-Shalom-

Sketchbook - check, Idea File - check, Paint & Paper - check, Caffeine???

So, I came up with this idea that there MUST be some correlation between how an artist drinks their coffee and the type of art they produce (since, logically, one's artwork is an extension of one's personality). But I couldn't prove it, so I decided to do a little survey. The results were as varied as the artists themselves who participated, but I did get an interesting window into one essential part of their lives. They all like coffee - a lot. Well, OK, some people prefer tea, but they are just as particular about it.

I, myself, drink at least 2 cups a day, heavily creamed and honeyed with a touch of cinnamon, and I prefer to enjoy it, slowly, with both palms wrapped around a warm, heavy mug. But, hey, if styrofoam's the only option available I won't complain, if I'm in need of a little pick-me-up. And for me, just inhaling deeply of the fragrant aroma before I even take a sip, is a pleasure unto itself.

What does that have to do with my personality and my artwork, you ask? Well, perhaps nothing. But I DO know that that kind of coffee is considered "girl coffee" and I am definitely a girly-girl. I like to dress in bright colors and florals, I love nature and beautiful surroundings and I believe my artwork reflects this part of my personality. Sometimes, I find myself just staring into my coffee mug, enjoying that quiet moment, tucked under an afghan on my couch in my beautiful living room, and I think "what a lovely picture this makes".

But that's just me. Here are some of the coffee preferences I gathered from my survey of artists, matched with the type of art they produce:

• Black with sugar: exotic-style jewelry with a devilish twist

• Straight black: unusual painted sculptures made from everyday objects

• Will take it anyway she can get it: delicate charm jewelry, featuring lots of flowers and hearts

• With sugar and cream: bright colored, comedic art

• Triple espresso with light cream and lots of honey: delicate beaded hair jewelry

• Black: funky graphic designs

Maybe I'm just reaching, but I do kind of think I can "see" some connections here. Or maybe I'm just making them up. But I thought it'd be fun to do this little experiment and it was. Mmmmmm I want some coffee NOW!

When A Project Goes Bad

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?", Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Truly, sometimes the best response to any of life's less-than-stellar moments (or in this case, accomplishments) is to laugh, thereby gaining the most useful thing we can out of it, since laughter is good for us.

I took up this project several months ago when I thought I'd like to try my hand at collage (I'm the kind of person who can't resist chasing every rabbit off the beaten path). I had a "vision" of sorts in my head, then I roughly sketched out a design and then I just started cutting and pasting and painting, thinking the piece would take form "naturally". But I didn't like how it looked finished the first time, or the second, or the third....And finally, I just rinsed my brushes out, let the piece dry and decided that "collage" is not for me. Not even for fun - so much do I hate this piece that I have created. It doesn't matter how long I have it turned against the wall, hoping that the next time I look at it with "fresh eyes" I will have a better appreciation for it. It is simply, without a doubt, the ugliest piece of art I have ever created and now there is nothing more I can do with it, but to laugh at myself and let a few others laugh at it as well. Now, I suppose, compared to something a pre-schooler might put together, it is relatively good, but it is just not good enough for me. I didn't even enjoy the process - I was frustrated the entire time. Lesson learned. Back to the beaten path for me - it is long enough and I will probably enjoy myself much more, if I just admire the scenery along the way, instead of getting lost in it.