More reuse of materials . . . MIXED MEDIA PeAcE aRt!

I am enjoying my summer vacation with abandon. Finding time during the busy school year is often challenging to create things that feed my artistic sweet tooth. Summer is a time for me to try some new things that have been occupying my thoughts or the scribbles I keep in a notebook that I carry with me. I find it hard to throw things out that I could potential use for my art or as storage for things. These PeAcE pieces are created with scraps of canvas, fabric, cut out letters from magazines, buttons from my junk drawer, leftover bits of paint and twigs that I pick up during our walks along Canyon Road and hikes in the mountains surrounding Santa Fe. I have a few more embellishments to do, photograph each one individually and then list them in my ETSY shop. I hope you are finding time this summer to feed your artistic sweet tooth.
Namaste.

Reduce . . . Reuse . . . UP-CYCLE!

I love vintage and antique furniture. I have a house full of great finds to prove it! We bought this chair at an estate sale a few years ago because it had great bones and was a classic design. The fabric was worn, dingy and quite dirty. I was able to give it new life by recovering it in a great Santa Fe style fabric that I found at a second hand store. I even made a coordinating pillow from some denim jean fabric scraps and leftover pieces of the fabric I used to cover the chair. I'm pleased with the results over all. What I'm really pleased with is that this old chair has been given new life. So often we cast things off because they are worn or seen as past their prime. This chair transformation was fun and a way to marry some second hand fabric and a discarded chair for a new purpose in my home.
I'd love to hear about projects you have done like this in your home!
Namaste.

peace and unique found treasures

I am the finder of lost pennies, rusty bottle caps, unique sticks, rocks and other assorted treasures.  As a child I was always looking down at the ground to find these cast off treasures.  My mom said that someday I'd run into a pole . . . I did once on a family vacation!  

I am enjoying the process of using these fun, funky things in my art, along with my ever growing fabric collection!  However, that is another story and another blog post.

Above is a little piece I created out of a twig that I found on a hike in the Sangre de Christo mountains a few miles from our home here in Santa Fe.  It is a glorious peace-filled place that we love to frequent as often as we can.

The beads are salvaged from another piece of art that met its demise due to our strong spring winds and the peace sign was handcrafted by myself from terra cotta clay.

This work is for sale in my ETSY shop!

Namaste.

Give Peace A Chance

Today was the final day of FIESTA! The annual Historical/Hysterical Parade was part of the days activities. These Santa Feans were walking and riding, carrying handmade signs and singing, "Give Peace A Chance." There were young and old side by side. Nice! I wonderful how I can become involved next year!
I hope you have a wonderful week and remember to give peace a chance.
Namaste.

Viva Santa Fe!

The cry of "Viva la Fiesta" has been reverberating through the streets of Old Santa Fe every fall for almost 300 years. The exclamation generates a curious blend of being thankful, merry-making and pride in the hearts of Santa Fe residents who celebrate Fiesta each year to commemorate Don Diego De Vargas' peaceful reoccupation of the City of Holy Faith in 1692.
Viva la Fiesta! Viva Santa Fe!

Old Man Gloom

Now you might think this post would be rather depressing given the title. However, it is quite the contrary. Each year at the beginning of the annual Santa Fe Fiesta celebration, thousands of residents write down their troubles, hardships, problems or concerns to burn up in this 50 foot puppet known as Zozobra. People are known to burn traffic tickets, divorce papers and a myriad of other documents in Zozobra. Over 40,000 people gather at Fort Marcy park to watch their troubles literally go up in flames. It is a comforting think of your worries going up in smoke. I hope your Thursday has been peace-filled and trouble free. Viva la Fiesta!!
Namaste.

I Want One of These!!

I just love these Volkswagon "Bug Buses!" There are several zooming around Santa Fe. Each one has a special personality and makes me smile. I've seen this particular one many times but haven't had my camera ready for a shot. Today when I stopped on the way home to pick up some refreshments, it was sitting still and my camera was on hand!
I hope you have all had a peaceful ending to your week. Happy Labor Day weekend!
Namaste.

Back to School!

Tomorrow is the first day of school for students here in Santa Fe. I hope everyone has a successful year of learning. I am excited to be back teaching after a short sabbatical. It is my hope that my students not only learn about music . . . I hope they learn to be productive members in our community and guardians for peace.
Namaste.

New PEACE IV

This is one last peace tile. I am looking forward to seeing how the glaze will bring out the colors.
Happy Monday everyone!

New PEACE II

Here is another "new peace" that I made. It is smaller than the one I posted yesterday. I have several more ready to go back into a glaze firing soon and will be selling them in my ETSY store.
I hope you have all enjoyed a peaceful end to your week!
Namaste.

Plate of Plenty II

This is another dinner plate that I made. I love this stamp that I used around the rim. It is a sun motif stamp that I use a lot in my work. I love its primitive and organic nature. I love to use sun images in my work . . . . we get a lot of sunshine here in Santa Fe and also our fair share of wonderful fluffy clouds.

Finding More Signs of Peace

This van was painted hippie style for the annual Santa Fe Fiesta last fall. It is a wonderful celebration with many events. I loved the bright colors of this van and of course . . . the peace sign!

Fabulous Find

I love garage sales, estate sales, vintage furniture stores and thrift stores. You can always find fun and unique items. I found this piece of fabric that I made into a pillow. I hope it's message is inspiration to your day. Even my kitty likes it! :)
Peace to you on a Saturday evening from Santa Fe!

Looking for Peace

I collect anything with the word peace or a peace symbol on it. This was a wonderful find at the Recycled Art Show last fall here in Santa Fe. I love it's colors and of course, it's message.
I hope you all have a relaxing and peace-filled beginning to your weekend.

Peace Is . . .

I saw a bumper sticker today that said "peace is" and it has left me thinking. Peace is so many things and it's different for all of us. Today I found peace in reminding myself that I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and that there is beauty all around me. This pic is the courtyard outside my house. It's a great place to read, talk with loved ones and enjoy that morning cup of coffee.

Animal Messengers of Peace

I was stopped at a stoplight today and a raven was standing on the sidewalk right next to me staring at me. I believe he was sending a message. Native American medicine men believe they have healing powers and often call upon them during rituals. I was comforted knowing he was there.
Peace!