i havebeen away********

I have not been to this page for some time.    I started a blog to share and have a chronicle of my art.
This process has not been an easy one for me as my relationship to technology is strained.   I have found that my garden ended up in my blogs more often than my artistic  projects.

Even more than this, I have found myself thinking less often of "important" things I may have to share. Who am I and what is it I want in my day to day life that others might be interested in?  I want more calm, I want more simple joys and I don't like struggling with new and not so new technological equipment. Alas they have changed the blog format since the last time I posted and it has been a challenge to get this together.

I love sharing with people and love talking to people....typing to people not so much. I have become accustomed to chat on face book...short bursts of my opinions and "wisdom".
I am gong to  use this blog even if no one reads it. I will no doubt share the the changes I am going through and there have been many. I have heard from other people the same thing I have been thinking...WHAT DO I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP?  I think as I figure me out I just may blog about it. Until then I hope someone might stop by to see what the artist Julie might be doing.

By the way I do love spell check!!!!! I wish I had had that way back when!

a story in colored butterflies

These pieces of paper and pictures I haved saved, led me ....

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i dream of butterflies

This project has been in my thoughts for some time. I found  the globe...collected the butterflies.
 I had a fun time placing and playing with the colors.

creative realization

This may not be new however it is a "re-realization" to me. I have long been aware that I need to do something creative everyday. It may be expressed in my art (that is usually spread across my dining table), my garden or even my checking my Face book page.
My process is to build upon something already "out" there that moves me. Finding a feather has led me to blog. Finding a quote in book or magazine leads to a page in one of my journals. Even finding something when I ham out junking leads me to make a change,no matter how small, in my home or again my garden.
I find it hard to begin in my imagination. This is the way I have always decorated and designed my home. Give me a room or house and I can envision walls out. Take me on a drive and let me see a house and the synapses pop. I seem to want to start "somewhere".
"YUP"...I want to be inspired! "YUP"...that's me and that is my process...my realization.

Christmas more than a day!

I used to think of Christmas as a "season". Now we don't even get time to begin and "they" are putting it all on sale 40-50-60% Off. I miss the anticipation, the excitement, looking outside to spot an ELF, ie. Santa's helper (my dad).

I don't like making the standard , obvious statements...so I won't. It is a challenge keeping Christmas "magical" for big kids and grand kids. We do have the Verburg family game and our traditional breakfast. We are able to extend the blessed family time to almost all day and then enjoy each other by the fire. Come to think of it isn't that what Bob Cratchet's family was all about? So , Charles Dickens knew what to do to keep the holiday alive and good Ole E. Scrooge was able to learn...the "Spirit of Christmas" can be celebrated in our hearts all year. To quote Tiny Tim "God bless us everyone!!" and don't let us forget it!

A wedding and art

I will be sharing more of the wedding pictures as I receive them. It was a magical event.

It has been a year since the exciting news of our youngest announced he and Rose's engagement. It was with this announcement and search for a venue that allowed for a special vision.

At each idea I had ,Rose and I met and came together to enhance her "dream". The library room at the Governor Hotel was perfect and the vision for an English library lit with candles...domes with flowers and nests seemed so right. These pictures show the embellished books I make...the domes and nest boxes we love and even a Fairy that had become trapped in a big jar (red haired 0f course). Whimsy and candle light a beautiful crimson haired bride and a groom in top hat made for a magical night. I am so pleased to have the art I created help set the stage for the beginning and continuation of a wonderful LOVE story. We all felt it!!!

Eye for color...not in fashion...but my love!

I love color! Bright, joyous alive color!!! I think I always have been drawn to things bright and bold. For awhile I was seduced by the monochromatic and "peaceful" rooms of whites and creams and in this time of all things white ,I felt a little apologetic of a passion for color . While I didn't succumb to the seduction to white rooms with chipped cream paint, I did sell and paint things to enhance and fit into these rooms and I no doubt will continue.

Looking back at the photos I have taken on my travels I see an eye drawn to and capturing vignettes where it is a color that seems to tell the story.

I am surprised that it has taken me this long to "claim" my color identity! I do have a red wall and russet couch. I hang my Mexican art on that red wall and love it. I plant bright flower es in my garden and collect all colors of fabric and silk flowers, of ribbon and trims. Yes that is me and my love!!!!!

So...what brought about this need to at last claim my " color voice"? While sitting in a movie, an Elizabethan dark movie scene...I noticed on a desk a stuffed parrot in vibrant greens and blues. I couldn't take my eyes of that magnificent albeit stuffed bird. I loved it!!!! It's me it's OK and I love natures expressions of the rainbow!!!! For every white soothing room there is somewhere a room that is reminiscent of the "Renaissance" or old masters. A room that is enveloped in the red of Cardinal's robes and the blues and greens of Monet's garden. I find that people like my cards that show these things and plan to go out and revel in this colorful world. It seems to me that it has taken me some time to realize what anyone who reads my blog, sees my photos has known!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~AMAZING!!!

VENICE

Fisherman's cottage Clovelly, UK