I'm not sure I would make a very good princess....

Because I am not sure I could keep a straight face while doing all the things that royal folk do while wearing a tiara. You see...one secret wish I had for my birthday was to get a tiara... I don't know why... I guess I thought I could wear it while I made art... who knows... Sarah knew that wish, which I had blurted out one day in a phone conversation. Today I received a box from that crazy Sarah with a tiara in it! The thing is...when I'm wearing it...I can't keep a straight face. It's like a laughing hat...
What could be better then that!

Soon I'll be leaving my home for the Art and Soul Retreat up in Portland, Oregon. I am teaching three classes there and I feel like I have been packing forever. I just hope everything arrives safe and sound...I looked at the weather report and it looks like rain, rain and more rain!
Instead of worrying about things over which I have no control...I think I'll put my tiara back on and have a good laugh at myself...

the misadventures of me...

ODYSSEY - 14 X 14 WOOD BOX

What an odyssey I have recently been on...and here is my interpretation of that odyssey...riding the highs and lows of this thing called life. I have posted my current exhibit 'Soul Dwellings' on my website. It's a very personal artful journey of my life so far. All the images are my black and white photographs that I hand painted mostly with oils, and melded with altered art. The images of me are black and white photographs I took of my shadow self. To tell you the truth, I don't know how these pieces came together...that is how I know they come from my soul and not my head.

I'd also like to tell you about my very talented friend L.E. Shahan who finally set up a blog and is sharing with all who venture to read 'The Misadventures of Jane.' I have been so busy lately that I miss reading a good book and this blog fills the need for some well written short adventures that make you nod your head, giggle or lament. I think you will enjoy the read that is posted every week. She started the blog in August so if you want to read from the beginning click on the August postings. Add it to your subscription list...or click on Blogarithm.com and add all the blogs you want to keep track of.
So my blog entry contains a splattering of misadventures and soul dwellings...after all, we are just passing through...

PASSING THROUGH 19 X 26
black and white hand painted and mosaic altered photograph

long shadows and the gentle man...

On Saturday there was a Remembrance for Richard Compton. Friend, ex-brother in law, director, writer, artist and gentleman. Hundreds of people came to remember him, for he was much loved. On Sunday we sailed to one of his favorite sailing points and watched the sunset. He cast a long shadow and we will never forget his kindness and loving spirit.
This is the movie my son Jesse made to celebrate Richard's life. We showed it on the Day of Remembrance. It's in three parts and runs about 20 minutes long.

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F1ppcpW3ZM

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwt4AmcT2iY

Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEISF9bpZ6w

"I am standing on a sea shore...a ship at my side spreads it’s white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.
He is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch him until at length, he hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says, "There! He's gone".
Gone where? Gone from my sight - that is all.
He is just as large in mast and hull and spar as he was when he left my side and just as able to bear his load of living freight to the place of destination. His diminished size is in me, not in him; and just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, He's gone", there are other eyes watching him coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout,"There He comes!"
And that is dying."

home is where your story begins...

I thought I would take you on a little tour of the exhibit. Starting with the neighborhood of houses that appear in the book I wrote with Sarah Fishburn.

In the book "In This House" it shows great details of each room that the artists created...so I thought I would post here, in the order they are in the book...each of the houses that the artists created in their standing position, so you could see them how they were actually constructed and were meant to look when they were standing.

This is my house...#9 Pasticcio Court...The Mosaic House

Celine Navarro...#17 Wonderland Street...The Wonderland House

CW Slade...888 Lapis Canyon Road...The Garden Home

Sarah Fishburn...13 Rue Du Tournesol...The French Studio

Lesley Riley...#2 Wisdom Way...The Poetic House

Kelly T.M. Kilmer...1974 Sraid na Beatha...House of Me

Jen Osborn...#7 Scizzor Circle...House For Naughty Children

Susie LaFond...1313 Shadow Lake Road...The Lake House

Jill Haddaway...No. 4 1/2 North Parade Passage...The Olde English House

Erika Tysse...#16 Mockingbird Lane...A Family Home

Tiffini Elektra X...1031 Mircalla Road...The Gothic Mansion

Nina Bagley...9A Firefly Lane...Winter Conservatory

Alice Scott Morris...
Alice's beautiful handwriting brings a cohesiveness to the book and she created the illustrated locks and keys that appear in each artists chapter. She also created the map of the neighborhood that appears at the beginning of the book.