sweet simple encouragement

Shimmering fragility dancing in the warm strong embrace of a tree Today I found this message from a fan whom I've never met:

"Glad to see you back in the studio. And recovering"

My reply:

"Thank-you"  

Followed by his response:

"I live in southwest. Ms and have loved your work for years. Pls keep creating"

Very early one morning a few days ago I was awake in a hotel room in Montana's largest "city."  Shades drawn.  Fiancé sleeping.  A flock of birds began singing right outside our window.  No trees.  Dead winter.  Just an early morning bird party full of song.  I smiled at the gift; an unexpected love-note from Momma Nature.

Much like the bird party - notes of encouragement from fans fill me with warm fuzzies and a sense of connection in a profoundly solitary profession.   Simple chirpy thoughts offer lightness for my heart and a spring to my step along a road that is often dark, challenging and long...

Thank-you

Back in the studio....at last....!

Exploring HATCH literally... My intention to complete the promised sculpture for HATCH last year was thwarted by my own healing process. The Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome crumpled my world and lasted longer than I imagined. I have covered a lot of ground spiritually, mentally and physically during my journey. Interestingly, I believe it was the time spent climbing ice this season that has contributed the most to my healing process. I’ve learned sooooo much about traditional/medical ways to deal with PTSD vrs a deeply rooted personal spiritual approach. For instance, studies have shown that Native Americans suffering from post-war PTSD respond better to tribal healing methods such as sweat lodges and ceremony than traditional therapy.

My own experience follows along the less-traditional healing methods and confirms my desire to create healing art using trees. I am grateful for my intense yet enlightening journey.

I am also grateful for my commitment to creating the HATCH sculpture which I have begun as my first project after a 6-month unplanned sabbatical from my studio.  The palm-size sculpture as it has morphed quite a bit from my original vision.

A tender heart on Christmas Eve

IMG_3540I held the candle. Mom gripped the pew in front of us with both hands - teetering - but full of song; a delicate bird exposed to too much weather clinging to an impossibly narrow branch too weak to stand but chirping with gusto. Mom sang every word to every verse of "Silent Night"...from memory. The same dear woman who moments before held her sparkle clutch purse up in an odd but determined white-knuckle gesture. Only when she asked me to take it did I realize she believed the purse was a candle. Alzheimer's clouds her mind and scatters thoughts like delicate snowflakes.

When I was a child old enough to hold a candle of my own during the traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service, I remember the awe and pride I felt listening to my mother sing "Silent Night" with the voice of an angel. Dad's hand in the middle of her back while he held the hymnal, mom's beautiful face danced in the glow of the candle she held. She stood tall then, the ballerina she aspired to be, the woman who spent hours as a teenager practicing in pink toe shoes on the Nebraska farm was a wonder of grace and beauty...my mom.

I put my hand gently in the middle of her back. Choked sobs tumbled over words while I sang and stumbled on an obstacle course of emotion and memories. I wanted the song to last and I worried that she would be too weak to stand through the whole song. I buttoned mom into her coat and left my blown-out candle in the box of burned candles near the church door before navigating her into the snow-filled night.

Sliding into a season of wonder and light...

Raymond lining up the young sledders Momma Nature blessed us with perfectly fun sledding conditions Sunday so we hosted a gathering for a few families to enjoy our 2-mile downhill sled run.  SO much fun!!!!  I guess I was too busy playing to take photos but we promise to set up a GoPro camera next time to capture the crazy fun run surrounded by beauty.

Winter Solstice is my favorite lunar holiday as I welcome longer light-filled days...

 

A few little sculptures left for Christmas...

The little bugger spreads cheer...! Tidings of joy and a big o'l froggy grin...!

Wrapped with a festive bow, the little palm-size bronzes make a wonderful holiday gift.  Only 100 of each will ever be cast - which is actually a rather large number in the world of bronzes but since I rarely work small scale I want to be sure there is enough of the solid bronze little sculptures to go around.  I have 2 "Wee Bunnies" one "Frog" and 2 "Little Birds" fresh from the foundry.  Purchase on my website (I will deliver them myself if you life around here).

 

Another summit for Tala

summit Last month between snowstorms we tagged a summit with my dear artist friend Stephanie Revennaugh. Stephanie and I like to celebrate her annual homecoming after a busy summer/autumn art-shows-on-the-road season by hiking a peak. Tala had a blast prancing and playing her way to the summit. She seemed to be the only one of us not sore from the outing. I was uncharacteristically sore but happy and full of gratitude.

Selfie on the way to the summit. Tala took the opportunity to chase bugs and play during our breaks (she NEVER slowed down).

On the way home, Tala was still leading the pack

A surprise slice of life served on Thanksgiving day

Mom thanksgivingMy heart broke a little - in a good way. I am full of gratitude and wonder at the gift of a whole day with my mother who's childlike ease and rare lucidity was a slender ray of sunlight in the thick fog of Alzheimer's. She let me bath her (she actually wanted me to bath her without being coaxed). She specifically asked for rouge when I made up her face. The awkward moment and confusion caused when I somehow did not mimic the usual way we pull her bra over her head was forgotten in her glee of recognition that the pink roses on her socks matched the sparkly pink rose on the shirt we chose together for the holiday dinner. She declared with wonder how "everything looked totally different" on the drive over the mountain pass which I thought might trigger her typical anxiety of the "unfamiliar" as we passed old homesteads with old barns (new to her). When I asked her to pick her favorite from two photos I took of her in the backseat of my truck she thought they were both good "Because I am so beautiful" she said laughing. Later, sitting between Raymond and I at his folks lovely table surrounded by his family, my frail little fragile bird-of-a-mom wanted a serving of every single Thanksgiving dish. Mom eats only finger food since utensils confuse her, so I felt a bit of panic when I looked at her plate heaped full of yummy messy food like mashed potatoes with gravy and sweet potato casserole. The spoon I gave her she eventually replaced with a fork. A FORK...! She slowly ate everything on her plate; pure joy. What a mystery our minds are. Life served my mother and I a slice of sweetness - a precious delicate exquisite unforgettable clear day wrapped in grace surrounded by a family full of love and kindness. Mom shone.

Sculpture for Eagle Mount charity

Let me introduce this sweet little bugger: I pulled over in my truck to take this photo of the first little bronze cast at the foundry.

Eaglet

 

The photos were taken while sitting behind the steering wheel of my truck. I had just picked the sculpture up, fresh from the foundry earlier this spring and couldn’t wait to text photos to Mary, the director of Eagle Mount. I was on my way to a bachelorette party but so excited about the baby eagle that I had to pull over while driving up Paradise Valley and be a bit late for the party.

The folks at Eagle Mount get to name him because the sculpture belongs to them. Perhaps you have followed my adventures over the years and already know about the special outdoor ski program I volunteer for with Eaglemount? One morning a week during the shortest days of the year I share Momma Nature and snow slopes in a program sponsored by Eaglemount, a non-profit dedicated to providing adventures to people with disabilities and life-changing camp experiences for veterans and families with children who have cancer. Eaglemount is more than ski classes - the program offers so much to many unique peeps; young and old. "Eagle Mount Bozeman is committed to provide quality therapeutic recreational opportunities for people with disabilities and young people with cancer, and to provide support for families of participants so that “they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31)"

I missed out volunteering for Eaglemount’s ski program this past winter since my mother’s debilitating Alzheimer’s required my full attention but I came up with another way to contribute; the baby eaglet was born…!  The limited edition of 100 solid bronze sculptures belongs to Eagle Mount - they receive 100% profits from sales.  My collector peeps had first chance at the little buggers before Eagle Mount launched them in their eNewsletter a few weeks ago.  Last weekend the sculpture was given as a gift to donors who gave $1000 or more to Eagle Mount.  More than 1/2 the edition has already found homes; I am overwhelmed with gratitude to be able to create art that will outlive me and and provide funding for others less fortunate than myself.

Humbled. Honored. Excited.

(Click HERE if you want to purchase an eaglet and support Eagle Mount)

Would you like an original drawing?

The INKtober commitment was good for me.  I accomplished one drawing in ink each day of the month and posted it on social media for everyone to see - an act of courage.  Perhaps you find it odd that a chainsaw-wielding, frozen-waterfall-climbing gal can find herself intimidated by a pen and paper?  I cannot begin to describe the dark well of fear I fell into when Post Traumatic Stress Disorder entered my life following the horrific dog pack attack earlier this year.  Life has challenged me plenty and I challenge myself on a regular bases pushing my boundaries with fear both inside and outside the studio but somehow those vicious dogs got more than pieces of my flesh, they crumpled me deep inside.  INKtober was a commitment of baby steps through the fear.  The drawings are finding homes with supportive peeps eager to have an original drawing.  I am posting a batch on eBay each week. The following five drawing are available to bid (starting at $25.00) or you can "buy it now" on eBay

Halloweenie fun...!

Our faces became the canvases for INKtober's "Grand Finale" as we celebrated the holiday evening in beautiful Boulder, CO. Last day of INKtober - so I doodled on my face...

Raymond's fascination with skulls and the "Day of the Dead" made for easy inspiration...

October flew by without missing a daily drawing in ink for the INKtober Challenge.  I am full of gratitude for the support of Facebook and Instagram peeps.  Thank-you.  The commitment and discipline was another helpful step as I blunder my way through the Post Traumatic Stress and find my creative juice after an exceptionally challenging summer.

Momma Care

The largest part of my energy and time has been devoted to caring for my mother this year as her Alzheimer’s worsens.  I haven’t shared much of this journey, partly because it is so intimate but mostly because the journey alone leaves me with little time to share. Inktober drawing

I gave my mom a bath yesterday. Grace wove a tender tiny thread through the awkwardness to stitch together a patchwork quilt of emotions that I tucked around my trembling heart.

Tala takes a tumble

I just LOVE autumn weather. Low light, bright colors, cool temperatures, dramatic or lazy storms and sweet soul-lapping sunshine tempt me into adventure and play. Just knowing the ‘tween season can fall upon us any minute pushes a panic button to squeeze in as much outdoors as possible (especially after a summer of being too disabled to play). Luckily we were able to get out last weekend for a pleasant afternoon hike to Knox Lake just outside Yellowstone Park. Tala is pure joy and constant entertainment on the trail.   Watch this video to see what her curiosity and adventurous spirit got her into: [embed]https://youtu.be/A65f60053v0[/embed]

More Inktober Drawings

I have never been detached from the actual mess-making part of studio life for such a long period of time.  But then, I have never experienced such a wickedly difficult crumble-down as the past months have brought about since being attacked by the pack of dogs.  A few weeks ago I grasped onto the Inktober challenge in a disciplined attempt to commit and carry-on, bit-by-bit pulling myself back toward the courageous self it takes to be creative.  I haven't missed a day.  Here are a few more drawings:  (follow me on Facebook or Instagram to see the drawings daily) I gave this little bugger to a friend who is going through some super tough stuff this year.

Bird

Conical Peak

IMG_2549Spent a memorable day doing one of my favorite things with one of my favorite young peeps last week. Sami and I tagged a summit in the Crazies. We rallied to catch up under the big autumn sky, celebrate her recent graduation from high school and spin some good energy for the ten-month adventure in South America she will soon embark upon. IMG_2521_2The first real summit for me after a summer spent healing shared with a remarkable gal whom I love dearly – what a treasured treat…!  

HATCH

Life-changing event... I recently spent four days in an intensive retreat with 150 peeps from around the world hand-selected to be together “to HATCH a better world.” I am honored. Exhausted. Inspired. HATCH is one of the best things that happened to me this year (and it feels like it will keep spinning and growing). I want to ramble on and on and on but here is a description from the HATCH booklet to help explain:

What is HATCH?

HATCH is a community, movement, and a series of experiences designed to activate creativity to HATCH a better world. Founded in 2004 HATCH was designed to stimulate new thinking, lifelong collaborations, and support innovative thinking with 360 mentorship. HATCH has grown into a global network of innovators, and is expanding into a year round collection of experiences that will take a variety of shapes and forms.