Happy 2010

I am at Ghost Ranch (Georgia O'Keefe's old haunt) for a peace vigil for the new year. The company has been fantastic, the food great and I did not even mind the gray overcast skies. It snowed lightly Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday and then is sunny (but still cold) today. We are holding our vigil tonight and then deaprting on Friday.

Lacey, Hilary and I went to the International Crafts Museum in Santa Fe. They had a neat fabric exhibit, but I was disappointed in the rest of the exhibit. Put them on the train to Albuquerque, then I headed north in front of a snow storm!

Abandoned adobe, Abquiui NM on the way to Ghost Ranch

Highway 84 on the way to Ghost Ranch Tuesday AM

View from Casa del Sol, Tuesday

Casa del Sol at Ghost Ranch, Wednesday

Snowy patio view, Casa del Sol Wednesday

View to the Pedernales from Gathering Room, Casa del Sol

Northern vista, Casa del Sol

Western View from my room, Casa del Sol

Another patio view, with the firewood all ready for a roaring New Year's Eve Fire

My snowy car on Thursday morning, facing east (cliffs are UNBELIEVABLE!!)

Chimney Rock, facing East from Casa del Sol

Another view of Chimney Rock, with fantastic clouds!

If Ghost Ranch offers this New Year's Vigil again next year, I will

probably come back! It is a great retreat!

My piece is ready for our 20th year show

Rainbow Artists is celebrating our 20th year in January. I have not been a member that long (only 8 years for me) but I am putting a piece in. Earlier this year my friend Suzanne had three of us over for a day of painting on silk (we try to get together several times a year for an "Artful Sunday {or Saturday!}). My piece, Albuquerque Abrstract is the result of that playday. I just got it stretched on the frame and ready to submit! Join us Jan. 15th at Off Center at 8th and Central in Downtown Albuquerque from 5-9 PM. There will be music and refreshments.

And I have to include a kitty picture. This is Babycakes, my studio/computer kitty.

Happy Holidays

I have not been very good about blogging, but I have been very busy this fall and winter. I put a quote on my Facebook page which sums up my feelings of the season:

Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves. - Eric Sevareid, 1912 - 1992

We went to the movies yesterday afternoon: don't bother going to see Nine, but I thought that It's Complicated was good. Saw some very interesting previews too.

Frustration with Facebook and some emails!

I tried three times to upload these pics and three times Facebook either disconnected me or lost the pictures in the ether! Oh well, I have needed to get back to blogger anyway! I walked into my bedroom and found fuzzybucket here:I woke her up, much to her dismay

This is really the life of Riley!

In response to a group email about "putting Christ back into Christmas" here is my response: my Un-Xmas card {click on the image for a larger view. Text says "May the star of happiness and swirls of peace surrond you and yours). Not everyone believes in Christ, and Christmas is about so much more than that. Sorry if I offend anyone, but I found the original email rather disconcerting. Let us all believe whatever it is we believe and celebrate the season in whatever manner we find satisfying. Best of the Holiday Season to you and yours!

Nest bit of news!

Juliana Coles and I have been busy beavers for the last several months. We have been making videos, Juliana has been working up lesson plans, and we are almost ready to launch her online classes! We are very excited about this new venture, and I am glad to be able to assist Juliana with the technical aspect of this!

Juliana and I spent the afternoon in her magical Enchanted Journal Pavilion in Albuquerque. She created a special two page spread and shares secrets of her process with you.

Check out the videos:
PART ONE
PART TWO
PART THREE

You can also search on Juliana's name (Juliana Coles) and see all the videos about her.

We are frantically working on the new NING website (extremejournalism.ning.com). Juliana will offer online classes with videos, pictures and printable instructions for Extreme Journalism. The site is up, but we are not quite ready to post the actual online class, but watch this space for further news!

Lots of news on the cold Sunday

I am staying in all day today to share all my news with you.

First of all, this is a great magazine, and website called "Where Women Create"
They are offering the 12 days of Christmas giveaway and have some great giveaway gifts!

check it out! I would love to win the 6th day gift from the Gypsy Lady!