Floating

Self portrait from a joyous family reunion. The effects of the Kansas wind also reflect the the cogs in my brain. I need a time of rest, a time for my windblown mind to settle. I’ve finally made it to this place. I have nowhere to go and nothing to do. I’ve been looking at [...]

Myopic View

I’ve decided that myopic persons named the constellations. Last night as I lay under a blanket of stars, I viewed the vast night sky through my severely nearsighted eyes. The bright stars were round gold buttons, the dim stars swallowed by the black. The patterns of the constellations distinctly appeared, danced, and told me their [...]

Disposal

As a school assignment, my daughter wrote the script for this short film. It came together wonderfully. So what grade should she get? amanda ∞

Artfest

Artfest caused yet another shift within me. Surrounded by such beauty and so many others who think in ways similar to me, I felt that if I did have a place I fit on this earth, I had found it. I have never felt more comfortable around so many people I’d just met. Just being [...]

No school? Think again.

This week our homeschool is closed, no math, no Latin, no writing assignments, no school at all. I leave my students and the principal as I set off for Artfest early Wednesday morning. But I had to chuckle about the excitement my students were displaying about having no school this week while set about their [...]

Preparations, anticipation

Artfest is fast approaching. I’ll be leaving in 10 days! As I gather the supplies needed for my workshops, the excitement builds inside my chest. I find it a little harder to fall asleep each night as my mind whirls with anticipation. This will be my first year attending, so I’m keeping things pretty low [...]

Up for air

Glimpses of my projects: I’m almost finished with my latest project. Seems to me the hardest part is knowing when each piece is really finished. I’ll be sure to post full pictures after the church receives them. And another thank you for a dear friend: A great experience for me has been learning to juggle [...]

Shift -ed

Towards the end of 2008, I felt anticipation, intuitively knowing that something was about to change. I found myself making concrete goals, taking affirmative action, becoming that artist I’ve been telling myself I am. My journal pages reflected this. I do owe much of it to this book: But something pushed me, prompted me to [...]

My Mom the Artist

My mom and dad visited last week. Mom and I had fun as she designed some jewelry pieces for gifts, and I soldered for her. I love how they turned out. Front: Back: Friendship Ring: Front: Back: This was her first time creating charms. I think she did such a wonderful job. Her recipients are [...]

the big draw day 6 & 7

Day 6: nail clippers, barrettes and hair band Day 7: okra seed pod My quiet weekend is over. A new school week has begun. I am glad to be able to fit in even the smallest of drawings. And did you know that okra grew pointing up on the plant? I always imagined it hanging [...]

Federal mandates cause me hardship

My son is 12. He has trouble pronouncing a few sounds clearly, just a few, a tiny few. Over the years he has worked to clarify many other sounds, but is stuck on these. I need help. His recent interest in acting has prompted us to find a speech therapist to work with him. I called [...]

Balance again

Balance is a continuous theme in my life. Probably because life is not stagnant. I love change, but always have a difficult time finding the new balance in change. I had a rough summer. My husband was gone for long periods for much of his work. My empathy for single mothers rose significantly. As I balanced [...]

Settling in

I’m used to addressing school issues at some point throughout the day. Now on day 2 of summer vacation, I am quickly settling in to meandering. I did force myself to go to the YMCA to sweat, and actually had some creative freedom in the Turbo Kick class. Our teacher encourages us to just let [...]

It’s over

Our school year officially ended yesterday. Time to relax, kick back, and meander through summer with a little frolicking thrown in. amanda ∞

the Right Side of My Brain

I’ve desired to know how to draw for years. After several tries with “learn to draw or sketch” books with instructions and suggestions, I’ve finally decided that The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain was worth the time investment it would take to read. It is more than a “learn to draw” [...]