Final four...

Four mini collages - this completes an edition of 50 for Art-o-mat.

I also began a new edition of labyrinth touchstones.  More to come on those tomorrow...

A dozen mini collages...

Summer days feel full...I'm still thinking of ways to intentionally carve time for making.

These dozen mini collages began during a family movie and continued through a few innings of baseball...

Making memories...

We visited the zoo today.  I fell in love with these beautiful sculptures created from plastic washed up on beaches.  It is an inspiring community art project with a powerful awareness message AND the animals are just amazing.  My photo record of these are my making for today...

Summer...full days and new routines

For the kids and I this felt like the first full day of summer - and it was a full day.

My challenge is to continue to make making part of my routine.  

For today, mini collages...

Today's mini landscapes...

...feel more playful - it was fun to experiment with colors and textures in this small format.

Digital collage...

There are so many meanings for collage - and many of them have nothing to do with cutting and pasting.

Today I combed through our photo archives to create this collage for my grandmother.

It's a memory of one of my favorite adventures with her - a ride in a biplane summer 2010.

We celebrated Deedee's 90th birthday today.

Landscapes...

My 4 mini collages for today.

Shifting away from trees as a focus and more toward landscapes.  

It feels good to be back to a practice with making.

Making Peace...

Here are the remains of a childhood toy, a small bear named Ignatz, formerly belonging to my grandfather.  Our pup chewed him up tonight.  The pieces are beyond repair.  I feel frustrated I left it where the pup could get it and frustrated he took it.  And yet I feel relieved to be able to let it go.  It's done.  I thought I might try to remake or repair it and write about that but instead it's about making peace with what happened.  The value was sentimental so there is a sense of loss but also a sense of freedom in being able to let it go.

Reflection, Connection and Celebration

I spent time today thinking and sharing stories about my time away at Shrine Mont.  It was a powerful experience of community, participation and connection.  The group continues and will celebrate with a closing tomorrow.

Even as I share and reflect on this time, I am intentional in reconnecting here at home too.  My kids are celebrating the end of school.  I went by Huntley Meadows to check in on my exhibit and reconnect with the people in that space.  

I spent the evening at John Baker's talk on Celtic Christianity at St Aidan's.  The many connections to nature and the wisdom and goodness of the natural world resonated in particular after my time on the mountain.  

Sunset at Huntley Meadows...

My sons and I timed out visit to Huntley Meadows to be there at sunset and enjoy the fading light of the long day.

The sky and colors were amazing...

Back home tonight here's my mini collage for the day...

Returning home...

I left Shrine Mont this evening after another full day of training with the staff for camps this summer.  

In the afternoon, I took time for a labyrinth walk, a hike and some quiet space before the drive home...

...here's my favorite miss covered path.

Here are my mini collages for the day..,

Connection, Community and Quiet...

Another full day of staff week here at Shrine Mont.  It is exciting to continue to deepen relationships with camp leaders and to meet cabin counsellors today.  I look forward to working with and learning from this group this summer.

This morning I walked the labyrinth and left a touchstone in the center on a stack of rocks left by another walker...

My practice during quiet time included 4 mini collages - playing more with skies and clouds and colors this time...

Sanctuary...

More lovely time for walking and enjoying nature here at Shrine Mont.

Also a full day continuing to get to know staff for camp.  

In our rest time I had time for a short nap and making a few mini collages...

Shrine Mont...

Lovely to be here on the mountain at Shrine Mont for staff training.  So far I'm inspired by all the people I've met.

I'm back to art on the go and made just one mini collage today...

I also enjoyed some time walking and taking pictures...

And some time tonight just walking and looking (no photos to show for that;)

It's a peaceful place with a great group of people and lots to feed my creative practice.

Practices

So I started first thing this morning with making a collage...was on a roll from my mini collages last night.

I went to Huntley Meadows early to walk and take pictures. It was overcast, quiet and not quite raining and the colors were lovely.  

I found new little reflections...

And some of my favorite childhood plants...

Lizard tail

Button bush

And I learned that my large collage color wheel sold and will have a new home in New York.  Very exciting and prompts me to want to write more about my color wheel practice...coming soon.