Hip, Hip, Hoooray!!!!!!!!!!





Okay. So, how fast can life move? The speed of light sometimes. I can't believe my daughter graduated from high school this month. Here I am at her graduation ceremony remembering her in her kindergarten dress, on stage at the school auditorium, wearing her little jelly sandals and white socks, thumbs up, as she received her little graduation certificate. I was just as proud then, as I am now. My heart just feels as though it can't possibly hold enough joy so that it will explode right in my chest, and I will die a happy soul!

The graduation ceremony was graced by a real rainbow! And, I knew, that things were going to be okay. I mean how many ceremonies have a rainbow in the sky above them? Now we are off to college!





Onwards to Jesse's cranes. She is up to about 50 finished cranes, leaving 950 more to make. Some of you have asked me what her wish is? An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. I do not know my daughter's wish, but it is important to her, so I keep this story on my blog because I think it is a great inspiration for anyone who has a wish. It isn't enough to wish it. It takes devotion, dedication, and faith to receive the blessing you ask for. And, so, while Jesse's cranes are hers to fold, I hope you too find a way to express your devotion to something you long for.





I have been devoting my own practice time in art, sketching, painting, and journaling. This photo below is one of my practices from Suzi Blu's workshop. This lesson is on expressing doll faces in different profiles. I like it! It is a little hard to change gears from realistic sketches to characitures and then back and forth, but I have enjoyed the whimsy and the lightness of this workshop. I like the playfulness of Suzi's classes, and the easy approach she takes. It is far more in-depth then you might imagine, and I encourage you all to look into taking classes on-line. It is really a fun way to explore methods, techniques, and mediums. Watch out though....the art supplies add up! So, my advice would be to pay particular attention to the required supplies and if it fits your budget, go for it!





My finished works from Monica Zuniga's classes will be posted when I am done with my project. There is a process to her classes that leaves the final creation to be "unveiled." Heck, I don't even know what it will look like! But I see my work unfolding, and it is very exciting. Monica is very process oriented, and it is very easy to learn her methods if you follow her steps. I'll be with her for a long while! I'm loving it!

That about wraps it up for me friends. I think, I hope, that summer settles down as the speed of life is going way too fast these days. I keep telling myself:

Stop. Breathe. Fill yourself with the energy of creativity. And enjoy the process!

oxoxox