What gets your heart pumping and piping?  How does that certain person or thing get to you in that good way, so deep within you that you just can’t live without him/her/it?  And when you have this magic  in your life doesn’t everything around you sound like music…feel like music…make you ALIVE with music?   So ALIVE that every single sense is heightened –  taking everything that’s outside and bringing it in – towards the center, the heart…where there is music.  Sweet, sweet music.  Let your heart sing…sing out LOUD!!

Last weekend Bill and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary by spending a few days at the Cape – Yarmouth to be exact.  We stayed at a tiny cottage…

…with huge views.

It was lovely being surrounded by so much lushness.

The birds seemed happy with the view too, since their chirping filled the air with joyful music.

That first evening on our way to dinner we stopped at nearby Gray’s beach for a little walk…and again, we were treated to a huge view.

On the walkway I happened to notice a board with a romantic thought written across it (“Our first kiss”).  Seeing it made me smile.

It was so quiet that night.  The waters were calm, the air was just as calm, the light was low and easy on the eyes, and the entire earth felt like a gentle whisper.  I felt like I was at a point where the heavens and earth come together and meet.

And again, it was lush…a quiet kind of lush, and yet very much alive.

As Bill and I watched the light lower and fade, my heart felt full.  The beauty on the outside, filled my inside, with peaceful content.

Prior to our getaway I made Bill this card…

…with these words…

…that came from my heart.  Living this life together…feels like heaven on earth.

The day after our anniversary, Bill and I hiked the dunes at the Cape Cod National Seashore.  While there, I came across multiple moments of inspiration…some which are art related, as well as more personal, similar to what I’ve shared above.  I’ve been debating whether or not I should keep sharing these very personal parts of my life.  To get right into it, I am concerned that by sharing so much, I may come across as bragging…and at a time when I know that some of you have been struggling with your personal relationships (I would never want to make anyone feel bad by bringing up my own joy).  Plus, maybe you’re only interested in reading more art making related posts?  At this point I’m really not sure what direction to continue.  My heart says to show more, yet my heart also says to edit more.  What do you think?

Bill, Brook and I just returned from a magical 10 day trip to Portugal and Spain. We experienced a wide range of tradition and culture during this trip. One of the highlights being that we were able to attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve in Seville.  The cathedral where the service was held was massive and well attended.  The air was filled with fragrant incense which mingled well with the European sounds (the entire service was conducted in Latin and Spanish, punctuated with organ music).

The next day for Christmas our family enjoyed a quiet dinner together at an ancient Moorish bathhouse that was converted into a rustic yet elegant restaurant. I remember feeling especially peaceful and content that evening…being in the company of my Bill and Brook in such a beautiful and amazing place.  My heart was warm with love, as my fingertips were warmed by the comforting glow of the candle on our table.  After our meal I felt full and satisfied in all ways.

In contrast to our quiet Christmas dinner together, on our last day in Seville we took in a lively flamenco show with soulful singing and guitar playing.  The flamenco dancing itself was incredible…so intense and full of emotion.  Brook was so moved by it all that afterwards she was literally speechless…I don’t remember this ever happening to her before.  I suppose that the passionate music and dancing awakened some part of her that she might not have known existed.

This trip was the perfect way to close 2013.  I’ll most likely share some more of my experiences in the next post (there was a lot of inspiration that I’m sure will influence future art projects).

Wishing you all good glow and lots of happy dancing into 2014!

It turns out that this summer has been all about everything outside (for me).  This means that I haven’t been at home much, so I haven’t been doing much artwork or blog posting.  However, I’ve written a couple of articles which I’ll share when the time comes, but for now here’s a look at some of the inspiration that I’ve come across.

Starting off with the light in Quebec City at dusk…

…and into the night (this is some kind of outdoor game in a park near the Frontenac). The Quebecois are so cool.

And speaking of cool, while in Montreal we were very happily surprised to find that our visit coincided with their Jazz Festival.  I felt lucky to be surrounded by so much music and fun energy.

In New York City, Bill and I enjoyed some interesting sky views…

…of water towers during the day (seen from our hotel)…

…and building towers at night.

One night after dinner in Chinatown we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.  This moonlit walk was romantic and magical and I’ll remember it always.

Outside of the city there were a few trips to Maine, where I drank in the luscious color…

…of farm fresh fruit…

…and sunny, yellow flowers.

There were also sunny, yellow flowers in the Berkshires (at the Kripalu Center in Lenox, MA).  BTW, this weekend workshop with Deepak Chopra was life changing for me.  I’ve been meditating daily ever since and so far the experience has been amazing.  Deepening my awareness will undoubtedly affect my everyday life as well as my creative life.

I’m currently still enjoying these last days of summer.  Brook is back from camp (she came home last Saturday) and I would like to have some more fun with her before she goes back to school after Labor Day.  In the meantime, I hope that you’ll all continue to enjoy everything outside also.  Summer’s definitely for sticking our heads out the window to take it all in…all the way in…deeply, and in total awareness.

Last month while I was in Hong Kong there were some quiet moments that allowed me to see the beauty in the everyday.  Like when I climbed these stairs to get a closer look at some white, flowing things that were sticking out from behind a sign.

As I got nearer and nearer I saw that these figures suspended in the air were just plain ole common hanging laundry…

…yet they were so beautiful…so simple and so humble.   And I remember feeling calm as I looked at the orderly row of newly cleaned white shirts.

And the wooden clothespins…so charming, and again so simple.  I like simple.

On the way back down the steps to rejoin Bill and Brook (we were out walking leisurely around the streets of HK together), I was treated to one more special piece of everyday beauty. To some it may only look like a piece of crumpled up trash on a dirty-old windowsill, but to me it was a beautiful sight regardless of the throw away context.

During the last few weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about these two seemingly random sights of beauty.  And I’ve been feeling that these objects were somehow a connection to my father. He always wore plain white undershirts around the house (it was an everyday thing for him), and he was also an optimist (someone who could see the good side of things everywhere and anywhere, even crumpled up paper).

Memorial Service

My father’s official funeral service happened in Hong Kong last week.  This service was attended by my mother and our extended family as well as the members of their church community in China. Unfortunately, I was not able to stay in Hong Kong long enough to attend the funeral.  However, we have planned a second memorial service that will be at my childhood NYC church tomorrow, so that everyone from our North American church community can attend.  There will be 6 churches, all of which my father started many years ago, coming together…to share some peaceful words and music (the 6 church choirs will be joined and performing as one).

Below is a poem that I wrote for my father to be read at his memorial service.

A Life of Light
A life of light
begins from within.
And radiates to all, and through all.
From light there is love,
which begins from within.
And radiates to all, and through all.
Through love we live in kindness,
spreading warmth and comfort.
Which radiates to all, and through all.
May the light of love live on,
on earth and into heaven.

Thank you again kind friends for all your support through this tough time.  After reading your messages I’ve learned that many of you have also dealt with the loss of someone dear.  I suppose no one is immune to this hard fact of life.  Yet, we are all getting by…making the best of it and hopefully recognizing the good and appreciating the love.  It’s so true that there really is beauty everywhere…and within everyone.

Last week our family took a mini adventure.  Bill had meetings in New York City, and coincidentally Brook was on spring break, so we all headed over to the city for a few days.  We stayed in midtown so that Bill could easily walk to his meetings while Brook and I explored the streets packed with buildings.

And we stopped by Rockefeller Center to watch people skating (it was so warm out that some skated in shorts).

On one semi-quiet evening all three of us walked through nearby Bryant Park.  I couldn’t believe that there were empty chairs available.

And there were even some stretches of empty benches over at Central Park.

The beauty and romance of Central Park always takes my breath away.

While aimlessly roaming around the park it was also such a treat to catch a glimpse of this bride and groom.

There’s something about these scenes that is so picture-perfect…like a painting you might find in a story book.

I just adore the amazing large and small architectural details (bridges, arches, fountains, etc.) that punctuate the park.

And it looks like someone found his own private shaded spot to take it all in.

On one afternoon there was some rain so Brook and I walked over to MOMA (Museum of Modern Art –  two blocks from our hotel).

While there we saw the iconic artwork of Andy Warhol.

And a dizzying masterpiece from Jackson Pollack.  This painting is so intricate and magnificent that my camera had trouble capturing the details.

We also saw original works from Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, etc…the artwork in this museum blew our minds!

Once the rain cleared I took Brook over to the hustle and bustle of Times Square to meet up with her friend from our home town of Hopkinton (coincidentally her friend was there with her family on vacation).  Brook and I did some shopping together at the American Eagle, and when you do this, you can have your photo taken and posted on their massive digital billboard.  Of course we had to take advantage of this opportunity. It was fun and strange to see a beyond life-sized photo of ourselves in lights at Times Square. Does this count as our fifteen minutes of fame?

On our last evening in the city, our family went back to Times Square for one last time to see the musical, Wicked.  This story is very thought-provoking as it has to do with the basic nature of people (good vs. evil), how much of us is inherent in us when we’re born vs. learned behavior (nature vs. nurture) and how perceptions of reality can be distorted.  It’s about friendship, opening up to compassion and understanding, love and trust…all ensconced in comedy and musical magic.  This show fully entertained us, and also got me thinking much deeper…something that I really appreciate about great art.

After these action-filled days in the city, we decided to finish off the week at our peaceful place in Maine.  I was ready for the tranquil, calm of the sea.

Although it was cold and windy at the beach, it was good to sit on the surprisingly sun-warmed sand.

And to do nothing but watch the rolling waves…

…and to experience the sun setting beyond the still naked branches…

…before heading back to our home in Massachusetts where the blooming pink blossoms were ready to greet us.

I love the city and I love the sea.  I love traveling and I love being at home.  There is a time for everything…and I am grateful for it all.  But most of all, I’m grateful for my little family…and for the time that we get to spend together.

Wishing you joyful family fun no matter where you are.

Hi there.  I’m still on break, but I wanted to pop in to share some highlights with you.  For the last couple of weeks I’ve been taking it easy, enjoying some sights from one coast (Maine) and skipping to another (California)…sporting happy, pink toes along the way.

While in the LA area, Bill and I enjoyed a very lovely dinner and walk with Jenny and her wonderful family.  Spending time with Jenny is always special.  The whole time we were away I was so caught up in the moment that I forgot to take out my camera, but luckily, Jenny took some photos.  Back when I first met Jenny I wasn’t very good at remembering to take photos, and I guess I’m still not so disciplined in this area. BTW, Brook isn’t in the recent photos since she was away at a camp (her 5th year!) in Maine. Traveling without Brook is very new to Bill and me…I wonder, will this ever get easier?  For now, we’ll probably stick to traveling on our own only when Brook’s away at camp…baby steps, right?

And speaking of stepping, we had a foot stomping time at the Hollywood Bowl.  This was our first time there and it was fantastic!  There’s nothing quite like experiencing music under the star-lit sky.

We were mesmerized by the string magic of Rodrigo y Gabriela (they performed with the LA Philharmonic…can you imagine?!)  I was particularly entranced by Gabriela’s hands as she performed – her right hand flies and flitters across the guitar, very much like a dancing bird.  And with so much strength, heart and passion that I almost forgot to breathe as I watched…it was intense!

After the concert there were smiles all around.  Thanks to Ali (she’s like a sister to me) and Charles for this most memorable treat.

After this concert Bill and I had a chance to roam all over the LA area…we loved Santa Monica.

And of course I had to search for delicious food in Thai Town.

We walked and ate, then drove and ate…we basically ate.  I don’t think I mention my passion for food enough, especially of the ethnic kind.  Anyway, I was so busy looking and eating that I kept forgetting to take photos. BTW, speaking of eating (and not taking photos), while in CA I had a chance to have lunch with several of the editors over at Stampington. Although I didn’t actually eat (was just getting over a stomach bug,) it was delightful to be in the company of such a talented team of women.

Once I arrived back at home I couldn’t wait to get busy again in my studio (going a whole week without making something is a long time for me,) and I created something special for my next giveaway…I’ll post the pics and details in the coming days.

Thanks for stopping by to catch up with me some.  And I’ll be back shortly once my feet are ready to settle down more…I think I should be good in several days…we’ll see.  I hope you’ve been skipping along happily too.

It’s mid-way through Summer and I’m just now able to let the quiet fog settle in.  I like this relaxed state very much.

I am more free…to play.  And skip rocks with Brook.

I am more present as I watch the gentle swaying of boats.  And as I listen very carefully to the waves, I can hear music in the air…nature sings so sweetly.

There is simple joy within this calmness.

Wishing you a peaceful, joyful weekend of pleasure.

Do you remember these beach finds from a previous post?  I used them to create a special necklace for Brook.  Originally, I was going to use these pieces to make a bracelet, but the driftwood was too big and chunky…oh well, sometimes you have to adapt.

I’m always looking for ways to include words of encouragement in my pieces.  Here are a few personal ones for Brook.

“Imagine” that anything is possible…

…”believe” in yourself and know that you can soar.

Dare to “dream” and do what you “love.”  One of my biggest mama-wishes for Brook is that she chooses to do what makes her happy.  I hope that she’ll be able to resist the temptation of choosing money over matter.  Sure, money is important but it’s not everything.  I think that “love” is everything and I hope that she’ll take this advice to heart.

And speaking of hearts, one of the best things we can do to pump up this muscle is to “give” a hand to others.  I want Brook to know her value, but at the same time I want her to know that life isn’t just about her.  I want to help guide her towards living life with her eyes wide open…to see and pay attention to the outside world, to feel compassion towards others and to respond with kindness at every opportunity.  I believe that the best way to get this message across to Brook is to actually live by these words…actions speak louder than words right?

Which brings me to mentioning an upcoming event that will be happening in my area this coming Saturday, April 2nd.  I’ll be joining some friends at a benefit for Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for homeless women.  If you live nearby and would like to stop by, here are the details.  There will be plenty of live music and performances throughout the evening, as well as an auction and a selection of handmade items for purchase.   And I’ll be there between 4-6 pm…I hope to see some of you local gals there!  BTW, this evening’s not just for us girls.  Bill will be there too…just the way I like it!

I’ve been watching the trees and admiring their bare and beautiful branches…their ever-amazing and unpredictable forms have inspired me to create two more little somethings for the holiday season.   

This no-sew project is made from a favorite childhood material, the good-ole pipe cleaner.  Twisting twinkling pipe cleaners into a tiny tree…oh what fun! 

 To create this project you’ll need about 1 dozen pipe cleaners.  Begin making the tree by creating the center trunk (twist 2 pipe cleaners around eachother), then bend it in half and twist it together again, forming a 4 pipe cleaner thickness.  For the branches, bend 1 pipe cleaner in half and twist this together, forming a double-thickness.  Then attach this branch to the the trunk by wrapping the twisted pipe cleaner at the center, around the trunk at least twice to keep the branches secure (start attaching the branches from the bottom of the trunk.)  Once all the branches are filled in, use scissors to trim the ends of the pipe cleaners to form an evergreen tree shape.  To tone down the bright silver color of the pipe cleaners I chose to apply Staz-On ink pad (Timber Brown) with a stiff stencil brush to the tree trunk and branches.

Here’s a close-up view of the spool base.

To create the base, use a glue stick to adhere sheet music to the top of an old wooden spool.  Then wrap a few inches of tea-dyed ribbon around the spool, and use a staight pin to keep the end of the ribbon secure (first add a vintage bead and button to the pin before piercing through the ribbon.)  For an aged appearance, apply Distress Ink (Tea-dye) with a stiff stencil brush to the spool.  Lastly, use a generous amount of craft glue to adhere the tree trunk through the center of the spool. 

Below is another project that I created using a few spare parts including one of my favorite materials, a paper grocery bag.   Isn’t it fantastic that with just one bag you can create dozens of these little trees?  I think I might use these little trees as gift tags, which later could be used as a bookmark (after removing the beaded dangles so it fits between the pages,) or you could simply hang them up just about anywhere, including on a Christmas tree. 

 To make this tree, begin by cutting a tree shape from a recycled grocery bag (2 pieces – 1 front, 1 back.)  Then use a sewing machine to stitch the tree trunk and branches (I used two thread colors for some dimension) to the front piece.  Next use an embroidery needle and thread to attach beaded dangles to the bottom of the tree trunk.

Then layer some fabric scraps and machine sew together to form the base of the tree.  To attach this base to the tree, place the front (embellished) piece on top of the bottom piece and insert the base in between (about 1/3″ ) and machine sew the tree pieces together around the edges.  Then use pinking shears to randomly add interest to the tree edges, and lightly apply oil pastels (black, brown, silver) around the edges and rub in the colors with your finger tips.

 Lastly, use a hole punch to make a small hole at the top of the tree, and use this hole to attach a string for hanging purposes. 

Making tree inspired items is mostly out of my system for now, and I’m ready to move on to creating something else…possibly mini-stockings or mittens, or something having to do with birds…I miss my birds.