January 5, 2008

Re- Balance…

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I feel., actually pretty fabulous at the moment, much more calm, unwound, balanced and grounded. In the past three days I have had an Healing Touch session, reflexology hand massage and Traggerwork to my upper back. While meditation and self-relaxation techniques can have profound effects on one’s healing process- the act of receiving energy healing from experienced practitioners is seemingly exactly just what I needed this week.

I have been extremely lucky in that for the past seven years I have participated in several energy work/massage/ bodywok study and exchange groups. While I was  working towards my Healing Touch certification (July 2003) one of the assignments was to experience at least ten different alternative healing modalities, interview the practitioner and to write a report on my experiences. I continue to exchange sessions with several of these practitioners and this has provided invaluable learning opportunities.

As part of starting your new year off on right, I would encourage you to schedule a energy healing or massage session today- you deserve it!

January 2, 2008

Rainbows in 2008…

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In the spirit of my “returning” post my 2008 artistic goals include:

Three months=

  • making a new set of molds from Savoy cabbage, lettuce, and herb leaves
  • Making three prototype necklaces, a salad, a Brussels sprout spiral and an eggplant extravaganza
  • Exploring bracelet and earring designs based upon those themes

Six months=

  • Revisiting, cataloging and fleshing out the food quilt series blocks
  • Exploring updates to six color HP printing on archival paper
  • Printing a few prototype images

New Year’s 2009=

  • completing a series of twelve food vignettes -perhaps sushi as before? or involving new food groups
  • investigate appropriate, relatively inexpensive framing that highlights the pieces
  • prepare proposal for gallery show

January 2, 2008

Dreams…

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” A goal is a dream with a deadline”

Napoleon Hill

January 1, 2008

Reminder to Return…

sprouts.jpg

I am a great believer in the synchronicity of threes:

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  • As part of my fabulous Christmas gifts, I received several new cookbooks- remarkable to my “reminder” Eating By Color from Maggie Maggio
  • Watching Chef-ographies on Food TV= several remarkably talented chefs that allowed their passions for working with food to manifest great joy and accomplishments despite adversity, set-backs and challenges
  • A blog post by Kim Cavendar about the new work of David Forlano and Steven Ford, that included a photo of their new bubble necklace which reminds me of Brussels sprouts

These three things have provided a powerful reminder to me to return/re-visit and embellish upon my fascination with faux polymer clay food, as wall quilts, assemblages and jewelry. Right now I have images of lettuce necklaces, brussel sprout leis, fingerling potatoes, squash wall  pieces…lush, verdant, visceral, hallucinatory, magical reference to food. I have several hundred components designed to be incorporated into wall quilts, jewelery beyond the asparagus- but, most importantly the perfect, timely reminder to return to an aesthetic  subject that really engages all my senses and incorporates my fascination and passion for all things food!

Bubble Necklace

December 29, 2007

Butterfly…?

backwards

Today I find my sense of humor missing…is this a photo of  a butterfly ready to take flight? A fantasy costume from Star Wars? A rare white lobster preparing for the Tahitian vanilla bean beurre blanc? OR The challenge accessory for next weeks Project Runway?

December 27, 2007

Reminder to Delete…

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I own hundreds of books, mostly non-fiction in subjects ranging from energy healing to a rather impressive collection of cookbooks. Occasionally I entertain the idea of  clearing some of these out- and easily get bogged down in making the decisions- what is reference? what is something that I am likely to re-read and which ones should I donate to a book sale?I do have several books that I have re-read over five times. Joy’s Way by Joy Brugh is one of these books. The word “delete” keeps coming to my mind this afternoon, which prompted me to find the book and re-visit the three admonishments outlined in his book…

  • Make no comparisons
  • Make no judgements
  • Delete the need to understand

So, while it is unlikely that my “silver lining” will be delivered by overnight express mail this afternoon- i have been reminded to consider these three things. And to return to the very powerful spiral heart meditation that Joy presented in Joy’s Way.

December 26, 2007

Eyes…

eye

“The voyage of discovery lies not in finding new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

December 26, 2007

Soup du Jour…

Soup du Jour

Fall 2006

One of the markers for a accomplished cook and a good restaurant is the ability to make great soup. Sometimes the ingredients may include what Rachel Ray calls “use ups”. Or, as on the occasion I was visiting a friend in New England who had a wood burning stove, used ups. My hostess had asked me if I wanted a bowl of soup and proudly told me the pot had been going for nearly a year. I politely declined as I imagined the horrors of a simmering cauldron of compost.
 
A great soup usually includes a main ingredient, several aromatics, some bright herbal notes and vegetables or pasta in the supporting role. At the Oak-seed-grille restaurant this is apparently not the case. I’ve learned to taste the soup at the beginning of the evening so that I can give my biased opinion/caution/rave? about the soup of the day to my guests.

Keep reading →

December 24, 2007

Seeing is Believing…

spine.jpgMy demi-hope that somehow I had been miss-diagnosed as having a bone fracture have been dashed. Aside from the fact that I ended up at one of the best teaching hospitals in the world = George Washington- I was wishing for “on closer examination of the CT”s, MRI and x-rays reveal that you do NOT have a broken back.After two doctor’s visits and another trip to the E.R. (prompted by numbness to my left arm), I have had the opportunity to see the images.

The “great” news is that most likely I will only have to wear the brace for another month and may be able to drive by Valentines day. At that point the worst of winter will be over and spring will seem even more glorious.. In the meantime, I am learning just how to be very specific in regards to my immediate needs. I am grateful for all the cards, emails and gifts I have received.

Thankfully, my situation is temporary and most likely I will be inspired to begin a new body of artwork/writing/projects. Albeit at a slower pace then I usually enjoy.

December 23, 2007

Winter Solstice…

oak tree in winter

“Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that the branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it,we know it.”

Goethe