Saturday, December 27, 2008

Art Fiber Fest 2008!

Wow, Art Fiber Fest in Port Townsend was awesome!!
I got to reconnect with old friends, make new friends and create, create, create!!!
Here are some pictures from show and tell.....this is a wonderful painting by Ty and Marcia Shultz, two unbelievably creative artist/teachers who teach at Art Fest, and attend Art Fiber Fest and other workshops...they are so fun to be around and their wells of creativity are so deep and varied - absolute joys to be acquainted with.




these are the creations for the plushies trade...they were so awesome in person. I won one of the bright green kitties during the raffle!! I was so excited - it was the only raffle prize I wanted =) I was a lucky puck that night for sure. I love my green kittie!!





These are some cute little plushies on display-possibly from the trade as well....aren't they adorable?

This luscious bag was created by the supremely creative Teesha Moore...I'm honored to count her among my friends.


I love love love it!!
It's so much more juicy in person too =D

OK, more later....I'm off to bed!

Namaste


-Dawn

Thanksgiving in Chicago

















So, after my sister and brother-in-law have invited us to go with them to Chicago over and over during the past several years, we finally made it happen this past Thanksgiving! My brother-in-law's Mom and 2 sons live there so he goes back a couple of times every month. 

Anyway, we got a killer deal on airfare from Southwest and stayed at the Renaissance (Marriott) about 5 mins from B-I-L's Mom's house in Norridge. We went downtown, we went to Chinatown and got to enjoy the Art Institute (museum)...totally awesome!!
This peacock was on a store in Chinatown. 









Grumpy bear is my B-I-L Greg, taking us to a real Chicago pizzaria. My Mom and sweetie Collin (making that nice face) were there, and my sister and lovely niece. We were tired but really happy to be there. That's a self portrait of me with my mommy - I love that picture of us. So I'm still getting the hang of loading pictures and it has put the last ones I loaded at the top - so, that's the SuperDawg hot dog drive in - very good dawgs and cool place to chill. There's a shot of the bean and the beautiful skyline. Chicago is a great city-can't wait to go back!!

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

History Mine



We did it!


A new day of hope dawns for the United States of America. A beacon for all those who are not perfect, who have made mistakes, and who are different. I can finally say I have a president.


Let's break out the champagne!

<--Image by Shepard Fairy and used without permission.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

September 11 - Did you feel it?

I woke this morning with a heart ache. At first I thought it was all the (relative) shit going on in my own life right now (I know-very self-centered) but then I realized what day it was...then I saw on TV the memorials and moments of silence...
and I realized I was feeling that sadness from the people at the memorials, at ground zero, the silent ones in the moments of silence....

Did you feel it today?

Namasté

-Dawn

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Heart Art



























I am a team captain at my work for the AHA Heart Walk coming up in October. They are having a silent auction next week so I made these two small (3" x 3" canvas)artworks to hopefully raise a little more money.




The blu-ish background is some used art paper towels laid down and then painted over a little with Starburst Stains Baby Blue Eyes Aqua to make it shimmer - it's hard to see the shimmer in this picture. The heart is made of paper clay - painted and glued on with Sobo craft glue.
The red background is acrylic on canvas and a paper clay heart that I stamped in while still wet. then after it dried I broke it and painted it with acrylic paint and more Starburst Stains. I call it "Still Beating," as in my heart has been broken but it still works!


Oh ya, here's my ArtFest 2009 registration envelope - the theme is Sea Monsters - cool, huh?



Enjoy your day - it is your to make the best of.
Namasté

-Dawn

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Losing Jupiter


My fur baby Jupiter is gone now. I have his ashes in a jar.


He has been getting older and forgetting where to go the bathroom...poor kitty.


He has been through so much with me - I have had him since around 1994 - he was fully grown when I adopted him. He loved yogurt, bugs, and chasing his tail in the bathtub. I loved it when he would get that crazy look in his eyes and shoot off up the stairs or into the other room. I loved listening to his claws in the carpet.

He would drool when I pet him and snuggle under the covers with me when we would go to sleep.


Having a pet is like falling in love - you know that someday it has to end but you enjoy every single moment so you will have the memories forever.


It's hard getting used to an empty house. Once a long time ago my boyfriend at the time told me that a few minutes before I would get home Jupiter would go sit by the front door and wait for me.

He was my king.


I love you forever Jupi.


-Dawn


Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Beach Fire










Well, since I love spending time at the ocean, here is a sunset picture of the beach I visit most often and a picture of a lovely beach fire we had there.
I was there this past weekend and had a great time at the Tillamook County Fair. We watched horse racing, some very interesting Pig 'n Ford races, and finally a demolition derby!

Why is destruction so appealing to humans? I loved the crunching and smashing of those brightly colored cars and craved more. I also now have a desire to go to a Monster Truck rally. I love machines and vehicles are one of my favorite kinds of machines. We saw a monster school bus on the drive home - next time I'll take a picture so you can enjoy it too.
After we got back to the beach condo at 10:00 pm, it was a mild evening and the stars were out. I went down to the beach to star gaze and my beautiful 10-year old niece joined me. We enjoyed the moment perfectly. I wrote a poem for her, to remember that special night:

For Madi

Wonder

Laying on the sand
under the starry night
we watch the shooting stars
and make wishes

we gently hold
the remains of the day
not wanting it to slip
into tomorrow

we count the satellites
and wonder what happens if they crash

singing the song to the gravedigger
dreaming of a long off last request

giggling, we watch the universe
in awe

it's you and me forever, angel
as we enjoy
this ecstatic moment of
silent belonging.

- © Dawn E. Shepherd
August 11, 2008

Monday, June 16, 2008

More changes!


Holy cow....Yes, I'm still here - but here is actually over there now...I have moved to Issaquah with my boyfriend Collin and my kitty Jupiter. Collin and I purchased our first home back in December 2007...moving was a huge undertaking because I am a pack-rat extraordinaire. And, I had been in my last apartment for a little over 5 years...zoinks!
We are all moved now and I actually have a studio! It's in 1/2 of our tandem garage and I am actually almost 100% "set up". I have been able to complete a couple of swaps and a journal round robin that I am participating in but am now reaching the point where I will have time to actually create my own projects and have a space to work on them! I am so excited :) :) :) :D
I will post some pictures as soon as I make time...until then this is our new chair-it is soooo comfortable! That's my kitty Jupiter on the left giving it the sniff test.
-thanks for stopping by and remember to express yourself every day!
Namaste!

Dawn