March 25, 2011

Before i die....

I found this through my love for you . It's by  Candy Chang an an installation artist and urban planner, among other things. It's in New Orleans. Kind of speaks for itself. There are little bowls of chalk left out. I really like it.

March 23, 2011

wednesday

It's snowing again. Two days after the first day of spring and it's snowing! That might explain my crankiness. Or, I may be cranky because I'm trying to do something nice for myself which is always challenging. I had decided on this nice gift for me and now a day later ,I'm having reservations, coming up with all kinds of excuses when really the issue is, I'm anxious about doing something lovely that's just for me. It's kind of crazy how we wire our brain in such a way to prevent ourselves from getting the things we want/ need. Crazy brain!
 I wanted to post a picture that would demonstrate how I'm feeling but I got nuthin'!
So here's some shapes of the city. It's funny how if you change your perspective you see things differently.
Ah ha! 
That's all I need. A change of perspective. Thanks, guys. 



March 17, 2011

some new pieces

I'm combining sewing and painting. I use freezer paper to make stencils and then painting with screen printing ink. It's pretty satisfying.





This one is being donated to a fundraiser for Open Studios in Beacon. I think I'll make a similar one and donate the proceeds to Japan. I'll let you know when that happens.




March 16, 2011

Beautiful day

The first beautiful day after the snow melted we decided on a hike up Mt. Beacon with some friends.


                  There used to be an old casino at the top with cable cars that would bring you up

                                                           Signs of spring!

 The view from the top. Rumor has it that on a clear day you can see all the way to New York City.
                                                            The old gear house.



 Some fresh dirt from a dead tree. It's nice to know that such wonderful things are born from the dead.

It was a perfect day. Exactly what I needed. And Little J hiked the whole way up!

March 12, 2011

sad day

Last week I was invited to be a part of a small page on facebook called Friends Of Leslie.  Leslie Stone was a woman I knew in college who I knew briefly because she dated a friend of mine. We weren't very close but we did spend some time together because she and Larry and me and my boyfriend would go up to Albany together for long weekends. I had fallen out of touch with her but thought about her from time to time. This facebook group was formed because Leslie was dying of cancer and she had decided not to continue with chemotherapy. It wasn't working and her body was failing. This page was set up so we could all stay in touch and come together, collectively taking solace in other people's stories, grief, love and respect of Leslie. People posted every day. I have been at a loss. I was never close to Leslie but I did know her and was very moved by all the beautiful loving things people had to say. And of course, it turned out, that before she moved to Omaha to die, she had been in the Hudson valley working as a graphic designer pretty close to where I now live.  I've been sad all week. Most of us weren't able to be close to her physically but  we were able to feel connected by the comments and stories that were posted.  I'm blown away by the love, the way she inspired others and the help that people have given. I've cried  many times every day in the last week. Leslie died this morning at 7:54. Rest in Peace old friend. You were most definitely loved.


March 10, 2011

funny world

Back at work on top of 30 Rock in NYC. Really cold but a pretty spectacular view. It was a hard week in the the city. When I work for long periods in the city I stay with my parents. I used to stay with friends but most of us started to have kids and room is at a premium in NY. I sleep in the living room at my parents house. I refuse so sleep in my old room because it's too creepy and my parents are old and kind of hoarders. It's pretty uncomfortable there for me. So I end up trying to stay out of the house as long as possible. I end up feeling like a tourist, wondering the streets with no real place to call home.  I usually start to feel sad and really miss my family. I'm home now and while it feels great  to be back in my world,there's always this period of readjustment. J keeps telling me to change the story in my head. Stop telling myself it's hard and tell myself, " it's an opportunity". So while browsing my usual blogs this morning, I came across this. Funny how the world gives you what you need.
 Thanks, to whip up via craftsanity.




The sun rising over NYC

March 7, 2011

I was scheduled to do a job that was 7 days in the city. Luckily, they cancelled today so I was able to come home last night for a day only to go back into the city tonight for one more day. I really needed this break. really needed to reaffirm that my job is not who I am. That I'm not some lonely figure wandering the streets with a torn achilles tendon. I think I'm on the mend but walking on concrete for 5 days really didn't help.
I'm trying to just let myself do the work and remember that I'm lucky to have a job that allows me to have so much free time so that I CAN make art and raise my child and cook dinners, etc. I just spoke with a good friend and it seems like many of the people I'm close with these days are in a period of transition. Or is that just life? Always changing? Like the weather? I'm anxious to get back to my work and see what I come up with. Also, really trying to lighten up a bit. Maybe with the change in weather, a change in spirit!