Wandering and Wisdom

We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts we make our world.

Buddha

I'm on a short break here in California in one of our wine country areas. Friends are here doing wine tasting. I am abstaining due to a medication I am taking. Due to some of the discussions we are having I am reminded of the quote in wine there is wisdom. For me it is more along the lines of in wandering there is wisdom. There is a good deal of change going on in my wanderings. I'm learning be who you are, go with what excites you, even when it doesn't do it for others and accept that the change will bring endings as well as beginnings.

We'll see where the road goes next.....

The Beatles,  'The Long and Winding Road':

Tripping Out

All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.

Samuel Johnson.

I drove to the Phoenix area to visit a couple of my siblings. Its a fairly low key visit. Just catching up and doing a bit of exploration. We have very varied interests. One of the things i love to do is visit farmers markets and look at other artist work. We did some of both this am. I found this sculpture and loved the texture so grabbed a shot of it. Tomorrow I am taking a yoga workshop and going to hear my brother play music.

Back to Cali on Tuesday. 

Heart, 'Wheels':

Breathing Quiet Light

With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.

-William Wordworth

This morning I awoke and sat in a club chair across from where I embroider. The early morning light gently lit up the table that hold supplies I use. For several minutes I watched the play of it, breathed it in and just knew I was. There isn't a much better way to start the day.

Jesse Cook, 'Breathing Below Surface':

Rock It!

When I'm 80 and sitting in a rocking chair listening to the Rolling Stones, there is absolutely no way I am going to feel old or forget my younger days.

-Patty Duke

Meet my paternal grandmother's rocking chair. It has been passed around my family and now I have it for awhile. I don't spend a good deal of time in it, but I think it may have been the beginning of my journey in rock and roll. One time when we were visiting my grandmother when I  was 5 or 6 and I remember my Mom rocking me in it. I had fallen down, was crying and she sang rock songs to me while we rocked. I stopped crying and started singing with her. One of my happier younger memories. A few generations have rocked in it and I am having it reconditioned so it will rock a few more.

The Rolling Stones, 'It's Only Rock And Roll (But I Like It):

Looking Up And Out.

Keep looking up...That's the secret of life.

-Snoopy

Not a good deal is going on. I'm buried in moving forward with painting with my thread and needle. The above was an adapted piece on vintage linen I did to put in my office. I liked the look of it underwater (I was soaking it to remove the stabilizer) so did a shot and adapted it.  I'm now working on a series and I have two pieces from it that I am working on. I'm finding I am a bit ADD that way. Got through a birthday and am getting ready for a brief road trip to Arizona in a couple of weeks. And as usual I'm hip deep in music.

Been listening to Heart tonight. In honor of the coming road trip I'll leave you this-

Heart, 'Red Velvet Car':

Rock and Roll Babe

Rock on!

-Matilda

Meet Matilda a budding rock and roll Babe. I am now officially her rock godmother. A little explanation is needed. I keep a collection of rock and roll shirts for work outs, yoga and such. I'm in the process of getting a few more to replace some old ones. Well the one on Matilda was supposedly a woman's. When it arrived yesterday it was clear that it was a girl's. So when sharing it with my co-worker, she laughed and said it was like a Sid Vicious tee she had been given shortly before she left England. Not really American woman size and Matilda claimed it, and essentially wore it out and has wanted more. After some thought (mainly the bustier and its ahem, enhancements) if it would be good for a 7 year old who would want to wear it 24-7, I asked Irene if she could have it. Irene was fine with it and the above the result was the above. 

School is make in session here. Sure enough Matilda wanted to wear it to school. With the same thought I had that she might get a call about her taste level in what Matilda was wearing, Irene had to say no. Matilda was in tears, but Mom prevailed promising her she could wear it as much as she wanted at home. So I'm thinking I have a mission...to build Matilda a rock and roll t-shirt collection, including some for school. Hmmm, some Heart, another Pat B., The Ramones, Alice Cooper, The Beatles....

Tonight's selection is from Pat Benatar. Not all of the children I have known or worked with have been as lucky as Matilda to have great and loving parents. For them may the world be a better place that they can rock on in.

Pat Benatar, 'Hell Is For Children':

Simple Quiet

ocean wave arrives

ocean wave now receding

quiet sits my soul

Bing Futch, 'Seminole Solstice':

A Soft Touch

In emerald tufts, flowers purple, blue and white;

Like sapphire, pearl,and rich embroidery.

William Shakespeare

People will ask, 'Why embroidery?' There isn't a simple answer to that, but I'll try for a few insights. It connects me to the past, keeps me in the present, yet impels me to look for ideas for the future. It is yin to the yang days I have at work. Most of all there is a wonderful tactile and visual sensuality to the process and finished product. Today I ran across a film that illustrates this wonderfully. Adriana Torres is from Argentina and embroiders under Miga de Pan (and also produces other lovely items). A filmmaker under the pseudonym  Pumping and Pumping, film, produced a gorgeous piece that captures the above perfectly.

Pumping and Pumping, film, 'Miga de Pan':

Maybe Now Your Perspective Will Change

Have a new perspective.

Joel Osteen

One of the most valuable lessons that ever came to me was when I was taking a photography course here at a local junior college. Doug was determined to make us see in new ways.  We photographed a simple object from various angles. We lay on our backs, climbed on ladders, got as close as we could, you get the idea. The lesson didn't stop there. He was old school so we got to go into a darkroom. We found out about exposure time, filters, grades of paper etc. Although the methods seemed infinite, the ultimate lesson wasn't.  It was you can take the simplest object and change how you or others will see it by changing your perspective.

It's been one of the most important life lessons I have had so far. Simple yet profound. But then isn't that true of those teachings that you retain. And how am I doing? As I wrote last night I am still very much the apprentice and I'll be there for a time to come. 

Michelle Penn, 'Maybe Now':

When There Are Tears Just Be

Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.

-Unknown 

Sometimes we gain lessons in life that serve us well. Today while one of our patients was doing her treatment we received a call that her husband of 61 years had died. The staff were all terrified to deal with this. Several years ago that might have been me. Working hospice and being around when people have died has taught me a bit about  just being. I approached her prepared to share the news  and found she knew. After a brief discussion it was decided to end her treatment and her family would come pick her up. I went outside where she wanted to be and asked if she wanted company or to be alone. Very much she wanted my presence. She started to talk but broke into tears. I put my arm around her and didn't say anything I just was with her. Her tears slowed after awhile and she began to speak of what was going through her. Shortly into this her family arrived, gathered her up and took her home.

The lovely thing that happened later in the day, was that her daughter took the time to call our clinic manager and tell her how touched they were by our care of her mother and to especially  thank me for the support and loving kindness I had shown. This was shared with our staff and several asked me how to handle a patient who is crying. I could only provide what I had received from my Buddhist teachers in that you don't handle someone during difficult times. When there are tears you just be. That is be present and be a witness and the rest will follow. I hope they got it. In our lives we are taught so much to do that to be is another skill entirely. I'm still very much an apprentice in this. Will I ever be a master? I don't know, but I will keep trying to learn.

Krishna Das, 'Heart As Wide As The World':

Night Whispers

^

a work in progress,

lover's hands weave ardors threads

forming passions cloth

Alan Doyle, Russell Crowe, Samantha Banks, 'Lover's Hands':

One World

eyes kept closed

world stays in total darkness

eyes open: light

Playing for Change, 'Ripple (Song Around The World)':

Long Love Rock

Rock and Roll has no beginning and no end for it is the very pulse of life itself.

-Larry Williams

Anyone who has ever read this blog or who gets me, knows that music flows through me and keeps me going. I've been playing guitar for more years then I want to admit. Not primarily electric, but some day...I have several Luna guitars because they fit my hands so well. Any way people will ask me what type of music I love the most. No doubt, rock and roll is the winner. One of my most proud moments in life was when my nephews raided my rock collection begging for what I had...did I deny them? Are you kidding?! I also threw in a guitar or two along the way.

Some see rock and roll as dead or hopelessly old fashioned. The other day a 'youngster' in his car next to me apparently thought so as after hearing, 'The Who' that I had playing at a good volume with my windows down. He looked over at me, sneered, and put on hard core rap. I turned up the bass, gunned it and took off my rock smoking his rap. Take that green under educated pup. Seriously I have nothing against rap, but if I'm old fashioned because I love rock, I'll take the title. Cause I know like the Phoenix rising up, it is being born again and again....

Long live rock.

The Who, 'Long Live Rock':

Concert in the Garden

It was like being in the  eye of a hurricane. You'd wake up in a concert and think, Wow, how did I  get here?

-John Lennon

The high heat we've been experiencing had a a break this am, so I went out to my garden patio to have coffee and breakfast. The wind was stirring the bells and chimes I have scattered and the birds were singing. So inspired I drew and completed my first embroidery design. When I finished that the creative juices were still flowing so I grabbed my newest dulcimer to practice and actually just play what came into mind. A bit of backtracking. The city here decided to create a bike path/park a few years ago. A segment was placed  a few feet from my patio wall. At first we were not thrilled as we were worried about some problem elements the city has been experiencing etc. That has not proved the case, as promised it is patrolled and it has become a source of people including families to use. I've come to enjoy the sounds of  life it brings. Today apparently I brought the sounds of music to the walkers. I had played several songs then stopped. I heard clapping and some one yelled 'Play more'. I climbed on a chair and peeked over the wall. About 8 people were sitting on a bench and grass listening. It lead to a discussion and showing of the dulcimer. And I did play more, so excluding my playing at work, I gave my first dulcimer concert this am. It all felt a bit surreal, but it was fun.

John Lennon, '# 9 Dream':

A Second Look

Always listen to your sixth sense, your intuition, your gut feeling and take a second look.

-Ralph Nader

Hung out today with two friends who are established artists. They took a look at the drawings I'm doing. They were encouraging. One challenged me to put out another as second looks are always good. Not to mention it gets you comfortable with sharing work.

Now  getting ready to celebrate 239 years of Independence. Feeling the freedom of finding my power. May more people celebrate having theirs.

Patti Smith, 'People Have the Power'':

Shake

Today is life-the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Shake yourself awake. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live with gusto. 

-Dale Carnegie

I'm off today.  Just shaking up life and challenging myself. I am deep into working on art as part of my summer artist retreat and my spirit is singing.

One of my favorite music artist's inspired me today. He stepped out of his usual comfort zone to complete a musical video...great result.

Jesse Cook, 'Shake':

Bury My....

A thousand words

A thousand eyes

-October Project

It's been a busy couple of days. Company and work are the reasons. Still I worked on some art. The above is a part of some sketches I am doing as an exercise. A friend who I am sharing artistic ideas with challenged me to put it out and not bury it. So here it is...

October Project, 'Bury My Lovely':

Late Night Girl Talk

We discussed it one-on-one--girl talk.

-Tanya Kach

What do you get when you combine iced Thai coffee, a friend, artistic ideas and relationships? An up late gabfest, full of laughter and spiciness. Not to mention some talk about men (that was our spiciness).Oh and a little needlework thrown in for good measure. Got some projects done. Who needs sleep anyway?

Another girl who knows about talk and spiciness-

Sylvia Robinson, 'Pillow Talk':

Needles and Threads

Stitch your stress away.

-Unknown

A Friday off. Cleaning, drawing, stitching and getting ready for a friend coming to stay. She loves vintage and is an avid crocheter. We will be hitting the farmers market to meet up with another friend and his daughters. Then the vintage shops and yarn shop here in town. For some not the most exciting, but for us perfect. We may not get many more as she is attempting to start a family. That's okay though, it will be great to be an honorary auntie.

Some asked me how they could learn to embroider online. Sublime Stitching is one place, but just about my favorite is Mary Corbet ' s Needle 'N Thread. She has a wealth of knowledge and is generous about sharing it. 

Hope your Friday is a good one.

Linda Ronstadt: Silver Threads and Golden Needles':

Day 7: Breaking Free

Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?

-Frida Kahlo

Sometimes everything comes together and you break free of your self imposed limitations.  About two months ago I created this piece as I have long admired Frida Kahlo 's determination to live her life as an artist. It has been sitting on my desk to remind me to break free and fly. Last night all of the bits and pieces I have been exploring came together and provided a revelation. When you know what you will do to create a series of art pieces, it's a great day. I'm not going to share yet, but it will reflect many themes that my blog touches on. I started sketching last night and doing an inventory of what I have to produce the pieces.

It's wonderful to feel as if a crystalline knowledge has emerged, and I am journeying to where I need to be.

Buckingham Nicks, 'Crystal':

Language, Language

Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.

-Mark Twain 

Profanity is an interesting thing. Especially if it's from another English speaking country. Say England. Growing up my maternal grandfather loved PBS, so I was exposed to programs full of BBC material. In high school I had an enlightened English teacher who delighted in helping us figure out that Shakespeare was full of profanity and challenged us if we were determined to swear, not to be lazy in our language, and to find creative ways to express ourselves. Over the years I have made several trips to England and have adopted certain phrases into my repertoire. At work, our administrative coordinator  recently lived and worked in England so she has her own set of phrases she brought back with her that she uses. Early this week we had shared the meaning of those phrases to a co-worker who heard us using one.

There is a trend with embroidery artists to incorporate words into their work. Some are quite in your face, some are more subtle and descriptive. One artist who uses the latter is Joetta  Maue. Last night I was as usual these days,doing the embroidery thing when a good friend called. She is a former English major, working in project management for one of the biggest telecommunications company in this country. Like most large corporate entities, management is bureaucratic heavy and when she telecommutes from home, she finds herself utilizing  phrases like above mentally to deal with insane managers. I decided I need to make her a repurposed vintage linen hoop art with the phrase. The above was a quick prototype. Fun and satisfying. I may have to do a series.

Talk Talk, 'It's My Life':

Unexpected Gifts

There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts.

Richard Bach

Perspective is everything in life. Most people tend to have glass half empty or a glass half full mentality. I've been blessed with a glass half full mentality, and I have been trying to push it to a glass full and brimming with life outlook. I've been looking to find that gratitude for every thing that comes my way, because I've found that eventually even in problems there are unexpected gifts. Don't get me wrong, when the problems occur I go through the negative emotions etc. that most of us feel. Down the road though I can look back and see what I've learned and gained.

Yesterday I was given two gifts. Despite the drought, backyard trees here in Cali are brimming with fruit. I was brought a basket of dripping with sweetness apricots. Last night while looking at some rock and roll history for inspiration for an embroidery project I discovered Sister Rosetta Tharpe, 'The godmother of rock and roll'. How I had never heard of her I cannot say, but what a gift to make her acquaintance.

Wonder what gifts I'll find today?

Sister Rosetta Tharpe, 'Didn't It Rain':

Practice Gets You Closer to.....

I believe we learn by practice. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.

-Martha Graham

Learning to become something new requires more than then just passion. It requires  inspiration, ideas, techniques, and most of all practical practice. So while it is thrilling to spend a few hours on Pinterest, and the Internet looking up links to embroidery, it is the actual practice of doing that helps you with bringing your artistic vision to life. I spent the week-end taking a vintage scarf of roses and giving it a whimsical bite so I could convert it to a bench covering. I chose a couple of designs, combined them and printed them out on a water soluble stabilizer. It worked great except for where the ink stained light areas of the thread. Lesson learned. 

Barry White, 'Practice What You Preach':

Bittersweet Memories

Memories, even bittersweet ones, are better than nothing.

Jennifer Armentrout 

Fathers's Day and Mother's Day are often a difficult time. Several years ago I lost my daughter, Ami Rose in the last months of my pregnancy. It was devastating for my partner Brandon and myself. We have gone our separate ways, but we remain in touch. He checked in with me today. As we talked there was laughter and tears. Life has gone on for us both, but we will always have a bond from our time together when I was living out on the East Coast. And our bittersweet memories.

Pure Prarie League, 'Amie':

Great Big Sea, 'Boston and St. John's:

Drawing Conclusions

For the artist, drawing is discovery. And that is not just a slick phrase; it is quite literally true.

John Berger

I mentioned in an earlier blog entry that I am taking a class online on drawing. It's been a revelation. I started with the intention of learning to draw for embroidery and to keep a sketchbook. Now it is taking a life of it's own. Every night I find myself ftaking a simple object and drawing it. Nothing fancy, just me, an object, a pencil and piece of paper. The process is what is amazing. I have always read about flow or entering "the zone". I've had moments of it, but between the drawing and how it is helping my embroidery, now I know it as a regular experience. I find myself working several hours after I come home in the evening. I go into my studio area, turn on rock and roll, start the process and suddenly Bella is nudging at me it's bed time. I hadn't realized that 3-5 hours have gone by.

The only down side...I'm supposed to be studying for state exams.  Although I hold licensure in other states, I cannot just transfer them, so I've had to dance to Cali's tune. And I  have no passion for it, I'm doing it pro forma for supporting new career opportunities .I'm not burnt out. I still enjoy people, but I'm finding that new things are opening my mind to what might be possible in the future. For instance today I took my guitar and dulcimer and played for our patients as one had requested I do it. Playing old familiar standards from different eras I had staff/patients singing. I actually had a few patients play the dulcimer. They didn't think they could, but it is reportedly the simplest instrument to learn to play and today was proof. The looks on their face when they completed a simple song was inspiring It was also joyful and satisfying in a way that I haven't experienced in a long time. So the conclusion I'm beginning to think of is that perhaps I need to find a way to use my skills to help people discover their inner creativity.

We'll see though.  It's a bit like being between a rock and a hard place....

Rolling Stones, 'Rock and A Hard Place':

Standing Firm

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.

Abraham Lincoln

Just some quick thoughts. Sometimes you will arrive at a place you know in life you are meant to be. That change and the creativity bring about a blooming. Others may not appreciate this place and move on. As the quote above says, stand firm. It can only get better and more beautiful.

With the above being said and getting ready for Father's Day, I know my elderly father has rarely understood his children, especially my brother, We have not had a easy relationship throughout our life with him. Unfortunately, my father has hurt many people in his life and turned away from us due to this. Things did begin to change this past winter. All of us reached out to him to try and heal our relationships as he is reaching his twilight in life. As a result he is realizing that we all have our feet in the right place, and are strong, caring, passionate individuals.We continue to try and improve his quality of life and have decided we would continue our care for him in the coming months as we can. This year has been our gift to him for Father's Day whether he knows it or not. I cannot think of one that would be better.

Cat Stevens, "Father and Son":

In Thanksgiving...Onto Year 4

The only thing that can save you is you:

That was to be the thing that informed the rest of my life.

-Sheryl Crow, Breast Cancer Survivor

I feel as powerful as a wave and am continuing to dance with NED (no evidence of disease). Watch out year four....here I come.

To all of my sisters who are not as fortunate...my thoughts and hopes are with you. May tomorrow be the day that you dance or find peace.

Two songs tonight. The first was written for George Harrison who didn't survive his cancer. The second was a concert by his friends to celebrate his life. May we remember every day to celebrate ours

Sheryl Crow, "Light In Your Eyes":

Concert for George, "My Sweet Lord":

How Possible

*

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!

Audrey Hepburn

What is amazing about human beings is how quickly we can say 'I can't' or 'It's impossible', before we've even tried. Today I had my embroidery with me at an early appointment and started doing it. Within minutes I had inquiries to what I was doing. I explained I was working on a portrait and without fail each one remarked that they wished they could do it. My reply is you can. Heads shook in disbelief  and the shutters came down. Later at lunch in our break room, I pulled out my tablet and started working on a drawing class I am taking on Creativebug.com. Again same curiosity and response. This time I was ready. I had extra drawing paper and pencils. I went back to the beginning of the short lesson and had four of us drawing an apple and a spool of thread. At the end of the segment everyone looked down and were pretty stunned. Minds opened and you could see enlightenment come in. It went from impossible  to how possible. Not a bad day at all.

Florence + The Machine, 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful':

Persevere

persevere:  to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty , obstacles or discouragement; continue steadfastly.

Three years ago today I began my journey in breast cancer country.  The proposed itinerary had been surgery, radiation, chemo and medication. I took two detours and skipped chemo city and tried to do an extended stay in medication land, but ultimately left it in favor of new climes.

So today I persevere in this undiscovered country. In two days I will have a check- up. I have a feeling it will be okay. Dr. M.will shake his head yet again in disbelief that I am doing so well. I will say good-bye for another four months and continue steadfastly, celebrating this journey of life.

These two songs have been my themes the last three years and I will share them again in jubilation.

Madonna, 'Die Another Day':

Nickelback, 'If Today Was Your Last Day':

Here and Gone

brief moment of love

experienced fully in bloom

then it is done, gone

Alice Cooper, 'I Am Made Of You':

The Zen of Seeing

I think that's why artists make art - it is difficult to put into words unless you are a poet. What it takes is being open to the flow of universal creativity. The Zen artists knew this.

-Alex Grey

My brain is truly a monkey brain. It chatters, pokes into new things, and jumps around like a drop of water on hot cast iron. As part of my self designed artist retreat this summer, I take it out to my small potager garden.  There I am resuming my practice of meditation. And I am seeing the world with still eyes.  An extension of that seeing is to attempt to photograph that which is my immediate environment. It was an exercise done and prescribed by my favorite female photographer, the late great Ruth Bernhard. There are wonderful results emerging from it. In the stillness of these quiet moments, the world reveals itself in new ways, suggests directions for art and becomes a stairway to the heaven of Zen seeing.

Heart, 'Stairway to Heaven (Live at Kennedy Center Honors)':

Vintage Vibes

I love history...everything is inspired by history, so that's why I love vintage and antiques.

-Kelly Wearstler 

Anyone who knows me will tell you I love anything with an antique and/or vintage pedigree.  Want to entertain me when I'm visiting, find me an flea market  or antique store. Any time I travel I will look for local places. Some of my favorites have been in Brussels, London and Paris. One of the regular things I do once a month is go to the Alameda Antique Fair. Incredible finds, people and food. 

In the last few months I have been consumed by vintage embroidery hoops and  Princess Sewing Baskets or sometimes they are called Harvey Sewing Baskets, after the company that made them. I'm using them to store vintage linens, threads and notions that I have and am using in art projects. 

I don't have a rhythm or reason for what I buy and put together, it's  instinctual. I will see things and somehow know they will fit. I find its the same for others who share my love (although a few have called it a disease). I can and do spend hours pouring over magazines, books, media sources on anything vintage.  And where this love comes from?  I have to agree with today's quote. I have always loved history so falling into vintage was a natural segue.

So beware if you're bit by the vintage bug. To my knowledge there is no cure.

Something from one of my favorite "vintage groups":

The Who, 'Eminence Front':

These Moments....

hand cupping my softness

fingers pluck and vibrate my strings

my song surrenders to you

George Harrison, 'This Is Love':

Payin' The Cost

Blame it on my gypsy soul.

-Unknown

One thing moving deeper into creativity is teaching me, is that you have to stand for your vision. This can be true of how you live every day life also. I was brought up to face things head on, to be honest and authentic, even though it may be difficult. These days more and more I find when you are trying to work out issues with people, taking care of a problem on the phone with a business etc., that people are working from a script. And it can be difficult to impossible to have them move from it. It's too bad when they don't.  It's the process of give and take dialogue that helps create solutions and possibilities.

Health care today and mental health is being done more and more by the aforementioned script, although we call it patient-centered  or client centered (I always thought that that is what I was doing all these years). Again that is the difficulty. I am more attuned to an open process.  If people are afraid of saying  or doing the wrong thing and hold back, then they become like stunted logs with no growth. This seems to be the case where I work.  So more and more my ability to effect change ends up feeling soulless. And thus my searching for what is next.

I have a gypsy soul. It's passionate and wants to learn, feel and grow with every encounter in life. It wants to live large and in charge. And to move onto new ways of achieving this. That being said, I know I may have to pay the cost to be the boss, but it will be worth it.

Pat Benetar, 'Payin' The Cost To Be the Boss':

Missing the Shore

We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch- we are going back to whence we came.

-John F. Kennedy

It's hot here in California. Fry an egg on the sidewalk even at midnight hot. Add the drought to it and I find myself longing to visit my friend Gail at the Jersey Shore. Not the MTV Jersey Shore side, but a more genteel, great food, interesting people side. I was there just after Labor Day last fall, but the urge to walk on the boardwalk under a summer full moon, breathing in the tang of salt is upon me.

Wonder if the airlines are having a last minute sale?

Who else but Bruce for my song selection today, and a couple of my favorites.

Bruce Springsteen, 'Atlantic City' and 'The River':

Highlights, Shadows and Contrasts

She comprehended the perversity of life, that in the struggle lies the joy.

Maya Angelo

In some earlier posts I spoke of Santos Cage Dolls. They were begun primarily in Spain by priests in the 17th century as carved copies of saints. They spread and became common. In recent years they became popular with all sorts of interpretations coming forth. I found the one above at a local shop. They were practically giving it away due to some peeling paper on the base. So brought it home touched it up, added something I had to the cage and put it out. Surreal in some aspects,  but I've also had a fascination with art of that nature so it fit in.

Most of my photography at home these days is done with my Galaxy Note 4. I still take my old (and getting older) Olympus and Pentax DSLRs out on trips. The Galaxy can handle the street type of shooting and with apps available....well you get the idea. Again a reoccurring theme I look at is light/dark. If you take any photography courses you soon learn the back bone of what comes into play to make a photo: highlights, shadows and the contrast between these. It's a good metaphor for life. It is the degree between these that sets the picture of a given moment, day and so on. This is the allure for me both in working with people and in taking photographs. The photo I caught this am is a small slice illustrating both worlds.

This weekend while looking around for music, I discovered 'The Art of McCartney'. It was released last November. Not sure how I missed it, but it was an interesting listen. So in the spirit of  contrast, I'll share an artist doing a song I didn't expect him to do nor the way he did it.

Alice Cooper, 'Eleanor Rigby':

Insipid Twisted

In any work you do, you can be profound one minute, and you can be superficial in the next, and you can be smart and insightful and then insipid. There is room for all of that.

-Maira Kalman

The second toile scene was completed. Toile fabric has pastoral scenes that can be interesting or somewhat insipid. This one was so insipid it just screamed to be twisted. And I had the inspiration (for both pieces). I have never understood the 'Fifty Shades of Gray' phenomena. I tried out the book and found it to be the most insipid drivel, I had ever read. And I am sure many who read it considered it edgy. Ah no, vanilla. Let's just say I have learned a good deal in my years of working with peoples behaviors that I never expected to. When the movie came out I avoided it. Finally a friend cornered me into watching the DVD with her. Well the actors tried... we ended making fun of it through the rest of the DVD. 

So the pieces are done tongue in cheek and provide me with a laugh any time I glance at them. What makes you laugh?

Heart, 'Letting Go':

Mountain Dulcimer #2

I saw a Berkeley woman

Sitting in her rocking chair

A dulcimer on her lap

A feather in her hair.

John Denver

The above two dulcimers are the other two that Jack made for me. He is in Virginia. The Appalachian Mountains is where the dulcimer was born, but it had an interesting journey to other regions and one of them is California. Recently two dulcimer players decided to make a documentary on that journey and the result is the "Hearts of the Dulcimer". I'll share their explanation:

Hearts of the Dulcimer is a feature-length film about the counterculture and a passion for an often-misunderstood instrument.

The mountain dulcimer often conjures up rustic mountain life and simple traditional music from the American South in a bygone era. But that’s not the whole story. From a group of countercultural youth living in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the late ‘60s to Joni Mitchell's influential Blue album in the early ‘70s, the mountain dulcimer found a new voice in a "new land": California.

I've included the trailer and something from Bing Futch, an artist who is taking the dulcimer to new heights.

Hearts of the Dulcimer Trailer:

Bing Futch, 'Electric Mountain Dulcimer':

Mountain Dulcimer #1

Experience, like a pale musician, holds a dulcimer of patience in his hand.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

My new mountain dulcimer arrived today. It was built for me by Jack Ferguson of Appalachian Flutes and Dulcimers. This is the third dulcimer he has built for me and it may become my favorite. It is made of dogwood and walnut. It is electric and it has a built in tuner. Jack uses wood that he finds that was used before and turns it into these incredible instruments. He respects tradition, but is open to innovation. And it is incredible the difference in sound  each wood can make. This is why I have had some different ones made. In fact we have plans to do a 6 string dulcimer before the summer is over.

Many people don't know about the dulcimer. I played it in the clinic today for a couple of patients and they loved it. It's also dynamic in the range and type of music it will do. Cyndi Lauper plays it and has composed on it. So tonight I'll share a couple of videos. One from her and one from her late teacher David Schnaufer.

Cyndi Lauper, 'True  Colors:

David Schnaufer, 'Here Comes the Sun':

Toile Away

My style has always been to choose the charming and the quirky.

Suzy Mendes

When I decided to begin doing embroidery as art instead of just as a decorative pursuit,  I went looking for inspiration. One of the artists I found was Richard Saja. He takes French linen toile fabric and embroiders bright, quirky scenarios on it. I loved it and thought it would be a great exercise to do as I am trying to gain skills. When I came across a couple of cotton toile remnants, in a vintage store I knew it was time to try it. Where Richard uses a variety of threads, I decided to do mine with a one or two strands of embroidery floss. Voila! I was very satisfied with what I learned from doing this. What and how I decided to do as far as the subject matter, well let's just say my favorite  descriptor whimsy with a bite came into play.

This project was a good antidote to an not great work day. I started some major changes today. We'll see where they go. Just in a Cyndi groove this week. I need to remember to keep having fun.

Cyndi Lauper, 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun':