"Close To Nature"

This is very similar to my "Good natured"

3 1/2 x 5 in size

Going to frame this for the gallery

"Longing For Spring" Matted and Framed

I had this piece professionally matted and framed-isn't it gorgeous! I just picked it up. The photo does no justice-I wish you could see it in real life. Its amazing. I really needed something to brighten me up, and this did it.

I've just been taking things day to day, basically. I have not cried at all today, just sort of feel a little blah. Still very heartbroken too. Gillian is already acting much calmer since I started her on her medicine yesterday-its making her groggy though. I had a hard time getting to wake her up from a nap to take her to her class. I am hoping after a few days she will get better used to it so that she won't be so groggy. But, instead of running everywhere as she usually does, she walks. I even went shopping a bit yesterday-normally its horrible to take her anywhere because she acts up-she did really well, made no scenes or anything. The teacher's assistant today commented she was much more low key yesterday . So, all positive. Good for her, and good for me. Now if we can start this therapy for her soon, all will be well. I am feeling at peace about all this. I did a little research yesterday about Autism and Prematurity. Seems like theres a huge link between the two-I read that Magnesium Sulfate has a link to it-its given to women who are going into premature labor, to stop contractions. I had that. So, it could be a possibility this is what may have caused this. Then again, had I not had that, chances her her survival might not have been as good. Its all hard to say, and I will probably never know the answer.

Neurologist visit-ugh!!!!!

Yesterday was my ever anticipated Appointment with a neurologist for Gillian. I went armed with a ton of information to support my case. I thought it was a sensory processing disorder. I was so not prepared to hear the words I heard yesterday: Autism. She has autism.
Its the higher functioning type, which is good . But still, to hear that hurt pretty bad. I am dealing with it-I have my moments for sure. But, all in all I am remaining calm and just holding on to the fact that "help is on the way." This opens up doors for her so that she can get the help she needs. And, alot of her behaviors make sense to me now. I guess when you put it all together , you can see it. I was just looking at all the different things. I am trying to just digest the whole thing right now, taking it moment by moment. I know its not the end of the world-it really could be so much worse. But still, no one wants to hear this about their child.
I have been reflecting alot on her life since yesterday. Just when we think things are okay, we are hit with something else with her. I just keep asking "why me?" I am not feeling sorry for myself at all.........we deal with what we are given. It just makes me wonder.:(
Something else difficult for me right now is the fact we are going to put her on something -very mild-for her hyperactivity. Its not a stimulant and is not supposed to alter her personality. She has such a sweet personality I didn't want anything to change that. She should start it today. Its just all alot to digest at the moment. One thing is, I feel at peace with it all. I feel like everything is going to be okay. But still tough :(

changed more on my latest collage

here is the new pic with the change.........I made the bottom of it darker -It bothered me being so light. I think I like it better dark.

working on something for another show

Here it is SO far.........my muse went nuts on Saturday night and I did this. I have to get the move on this as I want to get one more done and I still have to have them photographed (professionally) to put on disk and send in to be juried. So far I think this is coming out fantastic. Its for our National Orange show-the main pic in this is my great grandfather. He was the manager of a Sunkist Warehouse back in the late 1800s-early 1900s. This canvas is large for me, and its been a bit scary to do. Its 14x18. The images of the oranges are transferred to the canvas directly, as is the "eat california oranges" on it. I am really trying to give this a vintage feel. The round thing behind my grandfather's head is actually a piece of the packing that they used to package the oranges. I put it there to draw attention immediately to him. I think I accomplished that :) Its just about done, but needs some finishing touches, then I can move on to the next project :)

What do you think of him so far?

Tree

I am just finishing this one up-This one took loads of time. Originally I transferred a tree to a canvas-but in the end I painted it in myself. First time doing something like this freehand!

I collaged the little birds on and the "ground" is old dictionary papers. Its all acrylics, texture galore and neocolor crayons.

Quickie collage

This is probably the quickest one I have ever done.

I have been working on another canvas since yesterday and I had one final element I wanted to add and unfortunately it did not end up the way I wanted. Sigh. So now I have to work on it more :(

But to lighten things up a bit, I tried just a quicke collage, with some things I had close at hand. These were things I was going to use in another project but didn't after all.........so I thought "What the heck" and used them in this :)

I may have to do more of these more often.

This is a small one -4x6 on matboard, misc. found papers and added a bit of colored pencil too.

said farewell to my crow piece at the museum today :(

and it was SOOOOOOOOOO hard. I can't even describe how difficult it was! I am SO happy it sold and the lady who purchased it was so excited and I thrilled about that, but.........sigh. I picked up the other two pieces today, as yesterday was the last day of the exhibit. After I took my pieces down, I walked down and stood in front of my crow piece, and the tears welled up in my eyes. oh my gosh, here they come again! It was like I was leaving a part of me behind. I could have stood and stared at it forever, but I told myself it was time to go. Walking away from that piece was one of the hardest things ever. Its the first time I had sold a piece. That piece was my absolute favorite. and true, had I not taken him and put him for sale, I would have had 1 less award. But..........wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! I miss him. I almost feel like I have this bond with the lady who purchased him, because she has a part of me. She's such an awesome lady (the one who he belongs to now) and I will see her at the art gallery often I am sure. She told me I can come visit him :)

just had to vent about it :( sniff sniff

Good Natured

I felt like doing another crow :)

I am doing some smaller pieces to frame for the gallery-for table art. They have some shelves and they put stuff like Gourds on them, etc.........so I thought, hmmmmmmmmm...........another way to sell my art :)

I like it :)

4x6 canvas piece-image transfers, mulberry paper, found papers, acrylics and caran d'ache crayons

Tulips Collage

Just finished this today. It was completely out of my element! Only my second ever time doing florals and these bright bright colors. I felt a little shaky doing this, but I love it. The gallery where my art is has a challenge theme for "Florals" so this will be going there.

12x12 on canvas-totally mixed media-neocolor crayons, acrylics, watercolor pencils, found papers, image transfers etc etc

Again, VERY hard to photograph.