A very happy New Year ahead...

I know mine will be....and I hope yours will be as well.
I've had an amazing 2012 with my family, my art, traveling....I've been blessed and am so very thankful.
Next year I hope to make more great strides with my art. Been setting new goals already. As for the family...well...I know that later in the year there will be a wonderful wedding...my daughter Sarah has recently gotten engaged...so this is a big event I'm looking forward to.
I of course always hope that there will be more travel in my future....I soooo love to travel.
Make goals...think positive...and move in the right direction.
Anything is possible...really!!!
Have a happy 2013!

Paris....once again!!

Yes...back from another amazing trip to Paris. This explains why I have been absent from my blog for some time now. My wonderful husband who won this trip last year...managed to win yet again this year!!! A company paid trip...yes...the best kind.
After such a great time the first time around we would never have expected to be able to do this again. How wonderful to be able to go and do it the second time at an easier pace having already managed to get in the great tourist "must sees" the first time.
This time we got to go to the Rodin Museum which wasn't open last year. Also managed the Dali Museum as well....a must see stop itself.
One highlight of this trip was that the awards dinner held on the third night was booked as a dinner cruise on the Seine on the "Yacht de Paris". Wow...an event that I won't soon forget.
We were also treated to a side trip for two nights out in Bordeaux. This part of the trip included a tour and wine tasting which ended with an elegant lunch served to our group at the Chateau De Ferrand in Saint-Emilion. We then received a guided tour of the town of Saint-Emilion itself. Remarkable!!
 
I'm a very lucky gal indeed. I feel truely blessed.

Palette Pictures IV

That is the name for the fund raiser this year at the Fall River Historical Society.
Every year area artists are assigned a certain size format to create a piece they will donate for a silent auction. This year the size is an 8"x10". Theme is simply "artists choice".
Last evening was the artists reception to kick off this auction. Always a fun evening. The building is done up in fine Victorian Christmas style. While we are not allowed to take pics of that....we were allowed to take a few of the room in which the art is displayed. This is simply a small sample...the art is all around the room...in Christmas trees..on mantles...in cupboards..etc.
This is my third year of taking part in the event. My piece this year... "Coffee Break".

Right now...with the auction having just started last night...they are in the process of getting it all organized and posted online. This will make it possible for folks from everywhere to take part. The auction will run until late Dec.

The bidding on each piece starts at half of the retail value....so if you're quick...you can get yourself a beautiful bargain for the holidays.

Sweet Hot

Mustard that is....."sweet hot mustard".
Every once in a while my husband and I get the urge to "create" something as holiday gifts. This year we decided to make some of this wonderful mustard that we'd done a long while ago.
With another trip coming up between now and Christmas some of our time will be cut a bit short in getting holiday ready....so we've gotten things going!

I love these little 4oz latch jars but finding it hard to locate more. I was lucky I still had these from the last time. Guess it may be time to find an alternative....unless someone has an idea where to get them!!

Chigirie = Paper Painting

Koi - Torn Paper Paintings - Jan 2009

Very recently I received a bit of fan mail from a fan of my Torn Paper Paintings FaceBook FanPage.
This lovely person was not only very complimentary of my work...but was also very knowledgeable in an earlier process of "paper painting" that dates back many years ago to Japan! Since she was kind enough to share this with me...I thought I'd pass this information on to you as well.
The best way to do this is with links. You can of course start with "Wikipedia", this will give you a great bit of information on the art form. You can then continue on from there.
One site is called "Shiori "- Japanese Washi Paper shop. You can not only get information, but buy paper as well.
Another... "Asian Lifestyle Design"  ....and here's another with more info.."Click-a-Japan".
Here, at "Chigirie Art" be sure to scroll through the stunning collection of pieces! Soo beautiful!!!
Yes...I could go on giving you links. There are many. But I'm sure you'll find many on your own.
If you do take the time to look through the links and read about chigirie as it was done in Japan, you will see that although the basic ideas are the same,there are numerous differences in the way in which this process is done today by myself and others as opposed to this earlier Japanese method.
Everything in life evolves and changes...including art.