• First, I covered the rough, concrete floor with those cushy (and affordable) puzzle mats. This was essential.

• I found a fun, thick soft wool 5×8 ft version of this rug on overstock.com

• Next, I converted a lower cubby on my bookshelf into a music space with drums, rattles, shakers, flutes and more. She LOVES it and really knows how to shake her booty when we drum! I also moved books for her on the lower, reachable shelves and put storage in the cubbies with doors.

• I traded out my computer chair for a big, bouncy exercise ball (which I prefer anyway). It’s softer and safer (no hard edges to bump her noggin on), takes up less space, inspires spontaneous back bends and yoga, and it’s fun to bounce and roll and drum on.

• I have samples of my Oopsy Daisy art that I give away or that sit in storage, so it was fun to hang my World Wonders growth chart on the nearby bathroom door. I just marked: Tulsi 13 months: 29 1/2″, 18 lbs, 1 oz !

• When I was little, my favorite spaces to hang out were in my closet and in our kitchen closet underneath the table-desk. I thought it’d be really fun to create a similar, sweet space beneath half of my work table. First, I replaced the awkward, funky old table end with this perfect book/toy shelf that our friend made just to fit this space.  (I’m still debating whether to paint this a fun color with flowers or with chalkboard paint…or to paint the wall where the painting is now, with chalkboard paint…ideas?)  I found another fun rug on overstock.com, hung up my original painting of Kimono Moon from Oopsy Daisy Fine Art for Kids, added some soft pillows for leaning up against the side of my flat files, and topped it off with a sheer, silky curtain for playing peek-a-boo, taking spontaneous naps (if those ever happen…), or for times when she’s older and wants to just be in a closet (like I did, hee).

As this art+play space was still being converted, Tulsi got into a couple basket drawers full of collage and inspirational images…

She helped me do some spring cleaning which inspired a new play house that she LOVES.

One fun part about “sharing my space” with Tulsi is that, when we aren’t outside in the garden, she wants to be in here playing — and just playing in this studio-play space (even when I’m not working) seems to really fuel my ideas and energy for making art. Tulsi is the best studio mate! It feels really perfect. “All” it needs now maybe is some fun dangly, mobiles from the ceiling…

Here is Penny’s blog post about a studio-playroom she created last year, although I think she’s since moved from it and maybe will be creating another one soon. Has anyone else made one? What did you do? I’d love to hear more ideas!

Kelly told me last Spring that she wanted to make this for our baby. She wrote, “Such a piece of artwork is traditionally created for a baby to have attached to their cradleboard and then worn on clothing or tied in hair throughout life.  This is a Lakota tradition.  Also Cheyenne.  A piece of the dried umbilical cord is placed inside along with other powerful bits and pieces.” For Tulsi’s first birthday in April, Patrick and I plan to place a piece of her cord and our own blessings inside the turtle; what we want her to carry with her throughout her life. For now, her turtle has found a home hanging from the magical tree above her bed. And it’s official, after “Mama” and “Papa”, “Turtle” is Tulsi’s first word. She loves to say it over and over when she looks up at her turtle. Thank you Auntie Kelly! I love having you as a friend, and I love that Tulsi will know you in her life. You are an inspiration to me in many ways.

a vessel for umbilical cord
a tie to mother who birthed us
a tie to Mother Earth upon whom we walk
in grace, beauty, and honor.

the shape of this vessel differs
among the People
lizard, turtle
snake, horned toad
abstractions empowered
with
prayers of protection
and longevity.

a talisman
a turtle
for Tulsi.

may she walk mindfully upon Mother Earth
as she reaches high towards Father Sky.

kelly
7 janvier 2010

New mama or not. Teeny pockets of time or more time than you know what to do with. Scared like crazy or feelin’ brave. Bouncin’ or flyin’. Exhausted or wide awake. Deadline or not. In the studio or in the kitchen. Saying you’re sorry. Saying I love you. Asking for help. Consoling a baby. Writing a book. Not knowing or thinking you do.

Begin anywhere.

These two words were given to me, as a mantra of sorts, years ago, and they have come rolling back into my life lately. Over and over. Begin anywhere. Begin anywhere. Begin anywhere.

A sweet smelling bouquet of dried lavender from Guinnias at Apifera Farm.

My new, favorite lotus necklace that Pamela made. (Patrick gave it to me for Christmas)

My odd talent, “I can look in two directions at once”, illustrated by the awesome Sarah Watts in her new comic series.

Sandra’s super fun horse mobile she sent for the baby in my belly.

Amy’s SWEET and fun care package for the baby filled with her teeny hats, onsies, and samples of her beautiful, new fabric designs (so I can attempt to make little clothes…)

And, a new, YUMMY, simple, light, Darjeeling ginger chai recipe. Mmmmm.

Sometimes my work table gets a little out of control, especially when I’m working on more than one job at once. I found this fun, accidental color assemblage this morning under a pile of sketches and research while cleaning up. The photo is from a tiny mountain village in Sikkim during a full moon procession up to a Buddhist monastery. I love the random perfection of any given snapshot in India.

So, whenever I give Oso the “walk look”, he stares at me, his body totally frozen except for a hopeful butt waggle. When I confirm, he runs toward me, puts on the brakes, sliding, and scrunching up the carpet. He leaps 180 degrees toward the door, always grabbing a toy or a bone and throwing it up in the air in a pure Bhoddisatva moment. This morning, he chose a triangular piece of tracing paper with orange paint and a blue line drawn on it. Hee. It was all the same to him. I’ll tackle cleaning my floor next…

In honor of Halloween and my new book, I found some India Holi photos to share. Ok, so Holi is more of a Springtime, Easter-like celebration, BUT c’mon, doesn’t it look like Halloween? Same, same, but different!

And just to amuse myself, I made this ’supergal’. Seemed appropriate since I’ve been flying a lot lately (in my dreams). Happy Halloween!

Have a fun weekend!

And this morning I’m refreshed and back in the studio painting. I’ve been having so much fun working on my new kid’s book. While I can’t share any finished illos, I thought I’d share a small glimpse of my wall, collaged with things I’ve collected to inspire me. It is so fun to watch this book come to life. It’s somewhat of a mystery even to me — until it’s finished.

I love to surround myself with all these patterns, colors, and imagery, but when I paint, I sorta zone it all out and just play. Then, it’s like, I’m on my own, to make my own decisions. It has to arise as it will, doesn’t it? In my head and through my hands and eyes — no matter what is dancing all around me. Also, it’s kinda funny, but as the characters come alive, they seem to take charge, and I’m more along for the ride!

Other fun inspiration: MUSIC: Bon Iver, READING: The Red Tent, ART: Indian Matchbook Art, and PAINTINGS: SaraJo Frieden’s “Let’s Get Lost”.

AND — I just finished the first painting for my book and have a couple more underway! YAY! I finally lept off the high-dive and am flying…

I also wandered throughout the International Folk Art Museum and doodled from bits of folk art. Alexander Girard’s collection spins my head like a wild whirly gig every time! I had fun combining imagery from different countries and times into one odd, international story. It feels like some funny musical stage production. Like, what’s up with the mermaid squeezing her nipple behind the nun praying…? Whoops. Not sure how that happened…

I love getting out of my world sometimes and into another. It is energizing, and you never know how it will creep into your art.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

I believe we should preserve this evidence
of the past, not as a pattern for sentimental imitation, but as nourishment
for the creative spirit of the present.
-Alexander Girard

I hope you all had a beautiful week. I’m back from ‘up top’ and feel so alive and full and strong. A little exhausted and sore, too, but even that is good sensation! Ah, to refill the soul with mountain air! What a gift.

Nine days, nine women, and boundless energy and positiveness. Booming and blooming creativity, inspiring vistas, yoga in a high-altitude meadow, a Native American sweat lodge, a Japanese tea Ceremony, and poetry&art in sunlight, moonlight, mist, fog, hail and rain. Our journey had a taste of everything. Sweat, tears, giggles, lightening strikes, song, prayers and cows. Oh, yes, a tribe of cows moved in with us, feasting on premo-munchin’ green grass. We fell in love with them as they added spice to the Himalayan-esque landscape. Soon, however, we became cow herders with every moon-rise as the solo, ever-clanging cow bell rung relentlessly into the nights. Unfortunately, their almighty dark brown bull was slow to budge and held a great stare, and the cling-clang returned in our dreams as Hare Krishnas and temple bell ringers.

It really was an amazing group of women. I felt honored to spend so much time with each of them. It’s pretty beautiful what can happen in a group like that. Everyone finds their inner strength (making the entire clan so strong). We were flames in a fire dancing wildly in the wind, every word and painting and writing became an offering. Plus, when carrying a pack up 9 miles and 3000 ft, the group energy carries everyone. As the cowboy (in chaps) and Indian (our two horsemen who packed up our kitchen) said when reaching the meadow in the midst of a hail storm, “Eeeeeee, you women halled ass!” Hee.

IMAGES: The top photo was taken at Lobo Peak at 12, 115 ft, with a glorious, 360 degree view. Pictured are 8 of us 9. One free spirit was on a sailboat-of-a-rock dancing naked to the goddess. (We were all living vicariously through her!)

The collage was inspired by a Hafiz poem that begins, “This place where you are right now God circled on a map for you. Wherever your eyes and arms and heart can move Against the earth and sky, The Beloved has bowed there – Our Beloved has bowed there knowing You were coming.” I felt like this retreat was not only the perfect timing for me, but it was exactly where I was supposed to be.

The pencil drawing is from a couple of recent dreams strung together, and the square is a fragment of a timed writing. This particular bit was a memory about heaven from my niece Abby when she was about 4 years old. My mom had asked if she’d seen Jesus, and she said, “No. It was a dark place with bright red and green and blue fireworks, and it was so pretty.”

The bottom doodle is of the Moon Salutation in honor of the full moon. I thought I’d share in case you’re interested. The moon salutation is very grounding, cooling and calming. It’s so nice to do before bedtime. (Most people know its counterpart, the sun salutation.

I love that 3 of the women on the trek are moms to small children. (Thanks to the dads) it was awesome to see them take this time for themselves to renew their energy and connect with the earth. I’ll may post some more photos, art and writing that came from the trip later. For now, I hope this post brings a little renewal to you as well. xojenny