the Joy of Painting or Happy Clouds

I got up early, trying to adjust to my earlier sleep schedule even on the weekends. With my breakfast of coffee and cinnamon burst toast, I sat and watched The Joy of Painting (r) with Bob Ross. Bob has long since departed from this world, but Bob Ross Incorporated lives on, and has it's own website. I wish I could put a picture of Bob here, but "Copying and reproducing of any graphics in this website is strictly prohibited."

I remember watching his show when I was a teenager, and even trying some of the techniques a bit. He was all about painting to make you happy, if it doesn't make you happy, don't do it! Now there are Certified painting instructors that you can take classes from, even here in Minnesota. It's art as a hobby, so it's all about being happy.

Don't worry, I'm not about to change my painting techniques or style. But I am starting to experiment with other tools, namely a carpet cutter and pry bar. That's right! I'm working on the house, removing carpeting to reveal the beautiful hardwood flooring beneath. I've also painted some of the walls and am looking forward to sprucing up the trim as well. I'll post pictures once the project is complete

Sense and Nonsense

I just finished watching the conclusion to Jane Austin's "Sense and Sensibility" and it seems somehow both fitting and ironic that Jane never married herself. Her romantic notions breath life into the heart of every longing for love that a woman has, but it seems to me that life doesn't work out that way all the time.

The day to day existence of the modern world doesn't fit with the romantic view of things. People are more cynical nowadays than they were back then, or maybe we're more honest. Often, I meet men who find the decorum of Victorian times to be too much of a restraint on their manly selves. Honestly though, I've rarely met a woman who didn't enjoy Jane Austin's work.

Has loyalty, truth, and honesty taken a back seat to this modern shunning of all things genteel? It seems it has, except among a small group of people...namely women. Since I've been married, I haven't spent nearly enough quality time with my girly girl friends. This is something that I intend to remedy in the near future.

A Month Since Marscon

Has it been a month since Marscon already? Wow! Time really flies when you're having fun! :) Friday night began it all with the Artist Reception. Michael, the art show head, tried playing it conservative with a one finger pour of wine in the glass for everyone. Turns out he's not very good at being conservative, as he ended up having to send some open bottles out with folks who had rooms at the hotel for the weekend. Some advice: Next year, let the people have at least half a glass, it's easier to keep count and pace yourself that way! As a graduate of Minnesota School of Bartending, I should know!! Now on the good stuff...the goodies I got in the dealers room.

My first purchase was Dimensions by John Lyell. It's a CD of ambient music, and after playing this while meditating over the past month, I have to give it two thumbs up...way up! It's groovy and way spaced out kinda cool vibe sets up a wonderful environment for me to connect with my inner light. John's a really cool guy too, both an artist and a musician, his kind of creativity really flows with where I'm at right now. He had a table right outside the dealer's room, where he had headphones and CD players to listen too his CD's with. I'll have to add his other CD's to my collection eventually, but I'm really able to play Dimensions again and again without getting tired of it. I wonder if he'll be at ConVergence?

The other cool thing I got was this awesome Greenman candle holder, which I light when I'm doing my nightly meditations as well. He's got a great face, and I just love him! I'm a sucker for all things treelike right now anyway. Oh yeah, I got it from Emerald's Emporium, who always have the coolest stuff imaginable. For all you gamers out there they have Dr. Wizard's Patented Elevation Indicator, so you can see just how high you can fly, or how low you can sink depending upon your gaming goal. And yes, they really did patent it! (U.S. Patent #6,938,897) Just put your favorite miniature on top to show everyone how powerful a wizard you are! Now if that isn't cool, I don't know what is.

So that's a brief summary of my shopping news from Marscon. It's a fan girl kinda thing. ;)

Wendy Rule is Coming to Town

The hot ticket in Minneapolis this Spring is a one night only engagement featuring Witchy Songstress Wendy Rule all the way from down under at the Cedar Cultural Center. I was informed by my sister that tickets are selling fast already, so I bought my pair online from Eye of Horus. Kari Tauring and Felonious Bosch will also be performing that night, and none other than storyteller Steven Posch will be the MC for the event. This concert is near and dear to my heart, as I love music and ritual and both will happen on that Wednesday evening in May. I LOVE Wendy Rule's music, I have The Lotus Eaters in my CD collection, and Kari and Steven are friends of mine. It's two months away, but already I know this is going to be a night to remember!

Kari teaches a Norse Shamanic Staving class at Eye of Horus, and I think I might start becoming a regular at that. I went once and I learned so much...it was a fantastic experience. I've heard Steven's storytelling at the Second Floor Gallery in Eye of Horus, as well as at a friend's house by firelight this past December. It was a tremendously warm experience. Art is an expression of the human soul, and bringing artists together is a Very Good Thing.

Moon & Fire Circle

It's not often that a new artist comes knocking at your door, but that's what happened with this one. I received an email asking me to review her new CD here on my little blog, so here goes! The first time I listened to The Moon and the Fire Circle by Shauna Burns I had my stereo at my normal soft volume. The first thing I noticed was the piano, lilting through the songs and every bit as important as the vocals. I'm a sing along kind of listener, so I didn't like the fact that I had to strain to hear the lyrics.

The next time I listened I was busy painting the walls in my upstairs hallway so I had it cranked up pretty loud. The vocal track worked better at a higher volume on my Aiwa boom box so it was a great background for hours of work. Her sound fits in with a collection of Tori Amos, Loreena McKennitt, and Enya. Here is the blurb from Amazon.com:

"Powerful songwriting, enchanting piano, vocals and strong percussion are delicately mixed with flavorful guitar, harp and cello to create the perfect universe where The Moon and the Fire Circle combine to embrace the soul. A journey from the light to the dark and back to the light again, Shauna takes us with her as we travel deep into the underworld of different points of view."

That's the promotional copy, and then they posted a review as well:

"Shauna's acoustic piano-driven music is very stream of consciousness, emotive and moving. Even when the lyrical intention is clear, Burns deliberately chooses to phrase the words in such a way as to strip them of conventional meaning. Wild, I know, but fresh, fearless and free." --Kevan Breitinger, Indie-Music.com

Now I like the sound of this album, and looking at the lyrics they are very poetic. But I prefer poems that have meaning that stand on their own. I have no idea what any of the songs are about. While I was listening the first time straining to hear her voice, the first thing that came to mind is what are they trying to hide? The fact is she's a better pianist than singer, and a better composer than lyricist. But it is a nice addition to my music collection, and one that I will listen to again and again. I just think of the vocal as an unusual wind instrument and I'm fine.

Spiderwick Field Guide

Last night I read the first of the Spiderwick Chronicles. The little book is beautifully made, with rough cut edges and illustrations throughout. While browsing the website I see there are all kinds of really cool things for collectors to get their hands on too! I really liked the book, and I wish it had been around when I was a kid, because I would have LOVED it then too. My sister went off to see the movie without me, I'll have to find out from her what she thought of it.

Today Marscon begins, so I don't have much time to chat, as I have to gather all my artwork and get my paperwork ready for the artshow. After I hang my stuff I'll be footloose and fancy free, and looking for fun people to talk to, panels to go to, and browse the dealers room for goodies and inspirations.

Spiderwick Chronicles

Today the Spiderwick Chronicles is in the theaters, but I'll be busy working through the weekend so I don't know when I will have a chance to see it. Until then, I can play on the wonder-filled website created for the movie. It just whets my appetite for more fantasy, which is exactly what I need. My schedule is so very busy these coming weeks, but I do intend to see this one in the theater! Finally a fairy tale with real fairies, true to the Old Tales more than the fluffy glitter stuff that's all over the place.

Fairies come from deep within the forest and earth, they are not civilized, but have their own way of being. They are not safe in any way, though they can bring blessings. Even so, the blessings have their own baggage and magic never works the way you want it to. So be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.