take flight

blues 1, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Ah, what a beautiful morning in the Dallas 'burbs! I think this must be what the weather is like in Nirvana!
Today I am going to straighten up my studio space and get busy on some new projects. This hiatus from non-virtual art has been refreshing. I feel energized and focused!!
LOL! My parrot just flew by. He is so fun and GREEN! I adore his peppy spirit!! I was meant to have bird in my home! What a joy!!
Hope your Saturday is full of wonderful things!
xo~Dale

My boys have survived the first two days of school and better yet I have survived all the paperwork!!! Having only 2 kids in school is like a walk in the park. For years I had to do everything times 4. My oldest son is married and done with school and my daughter is in college. Now I have a high school junior and a 7th grader. Easy~peasy...
Now I am ready to return to my studio after a lovely summer-long hiatus. Well, I am doing LOTS of digital work, but it is time for some non-virtual art. I can't wait... well, maybe another lazy week, but then I swear I'm getting busy! Really!!!
xo~dale

feeling dreamy...

???? Vol.2 ????????, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Oh, what a lazy summer I've had... nice and easy...
School starts on Monday, so it will be the end of my 3 months of sloth. I am eager to get back in my studio. I have so many projects I want to start (and finish! LOL)!
Hope your last days of summer are filled with smiles and sunshine... and a dream or two.
xoxo~Dale

Cape Hatteras,NC

Does place matter so much to everyone? I'm not sure. I am deeply effected by my environment. I love for my home to peaceful, pretty, reflective of who I am, of my family and our shared journey.
I like north Texas. The wide open skies are truly inspiring. The flat land feels grand and vast. Our winters are fairly short and mild. I love the sunshine and even the heat. The schools are good. Crime is low.
But my heart's home will always be by the sea. I grew up visiting North Carolina's coast. The Atlantic is fierce and beautiful. I have been to many beaches and now prefer the Caribbean's gentle azure waters, but anywhere near the ocean works for me. As a child I would love that first whiff of sea air that you could smell, well before the water came into view... and then that first glimpse of the ocean that never failed to thrill. Every time, every single time, I have those experiences my heart is filled and know that I am "home".
Someday I will live near the coast. Which coast? I am not certain, but that is my dream, my plan...

my bad...

memory necklace, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Oh, I have neglected this little ole blog so badly this summer. I must do better! My knee injury and subsequent time being an invalid really allowed me to see that it is fine to take it easy. Okay, so maybe I've taken it a bit too far (LOL!), but I have discovered that everything pretty much just rolls along with or without me. No one went naked when I couldn't do laundry or starved when I was unable to cook (oh, those blissfull days!!). It is very freeing to realize that you are merely a pebble in the river. Your presence is not so vital, nor is your asence so keenly felt.
I am busy, but not frantic. Inspired, but not racing to my studio to create. I am percolating, I think... stewing ideas and enjoying my favorite time of the year. I am loving every minute of sunshine and savoring these last few weeks with my kids out of school. Soon the house will be quiet (well, we do have a parrot now, so not THAT quiet) and I will find my way back up the stairs to where my glitter and ephemera wait. For now, I am content to make digital creations and shut my laptop when the beautiful Texas sunshine calls me.
xoxo~Dale

~~~love~~~

Mojo & Will, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

My youngest son and Mojo, our parrot, are buddies. Birds are amazing! This guy TALKS! Show me a cat, dog, snake or potbelly pig that can do that? Mojo does like to take little nips of us, but we are working on that.

My son Ian's Caddy is a total loss. So sad, but he is taking it well. That was one fine boat... er, mean car...

I cleaned up my studio space this week so MAYBE I'll actually create something soon. I have been pretty busy with digital work, but I need to touch some paper and glitter soon!

We are having some rather amazing weather here in north Texas, which is to say it is well under 100 degrees!
Hope you have a beautiful weekend! xoxo~dale

awwww... crap!

Well, here's my 16 yr. old's prized '84 Caddy after he crunched it today. The good news is that he and everyone else involved in the accident are fine. Ian LOVES this car like it is his baby. He bought it in March. It had only 28,000 miles on it and was in beautiful condition. He piddled with it all the time and was always planning the next thing he wanted to do to it. Poor kid...

Having kids that drive cars pushes the parental concern levels to the roof... and this is why! It is always in the back of your mind when they are out in their cars. If you could know this feeling before you ever got pregnant in the first place, I doubt the human race would continue...

But, as I said, everyone is okay and that is what really matters. But my boy's pretty sad and that makes me sad and it's a dreary rainy day and I wish I could make it all better! Parenthood is always such a roller coaster ride and I don't like roller coasters. I long a nice, long, straight road where you can see well ahead and all you see is sunny skies... but that'd be heaven, wouldn't it?
Tonight I will give my son an extra tight hug and be very grateful that he is here and fine.
xoxo~Dale

lazy days of summer

gilded avatar, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Will and I have had a most relaxing and enjoyable week. The rest of the family (husband and 2 older kids) were off to New Orleans for a week of Katrina repairs (yes, there is still plenty to do). So, my youngest and I have been to the waterpark, the natatorium, the mall, out to eat (too many times!) and have generally lazed about and savored these lovely summer days.
I swear I am putting myself on a schedule starting Monday. I MUST get back in my studio before my head explodes with ideas! By this time next week I hope some of those ideas will have taken shape and I can share them here.
Meanwhile, I am getting ready for a visit from an old friend who is moving back here after several years in the saltmines (aka~Oklahoma). I am so excited to know she will be close by again. Tonight I will blend us up some frozen concoctions to enjoy out back beneath the palm fronds.
I LOVE summer... but I say that too much, don't I?
xoxo~Dale

What a glorious summer morning! I wouldn't mind straightening the arc of time a bit right here, slowing it down so might savor my favorite time of the year. Yes, it is very hot, but there's the pool and frozen beverages to help one one cope with that.
I am busy with digital designs right now. My studio is dusty and neglected. I am giving my non-digi muse a little break now. It's not that I am uninspired, but actually over-inspired! My head is filled with ideas! I need to pause and consider my next creative direction.
Meanwhile, the digital work keeps me creating and satisfies that need in me. Soon enough I will be snipping, glittering and losing myself in non-virtual art.
xoxo~dale

Mark Twain visits NikolaTesla

"Mark Twain in the lab of Nikola Tesla...taken in the spring of 1894, and originally published as part of an article by T.C. Martin called 'Tesla's Oscillator and Other Inventions' that appeared in the Century Magazine (April 1895)."
Ah, so much brilliance in one room. These are two of my fantasy dinner party guests. What an amazing photograph, an astonishing moment in time!

I love summer!

domestically disabled necklace, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Yes, it is crazy hot here in the Dallas suburbs, but I ADORE summer!!
I love the sunshine, the long days, the firefly filled nights...
I've been stocking my Etsy shop with some new necklaces. I have more to add, but I think I'm headed to the pool.
Hope you are having a beautiful summer day!
xoxox~dale

Lots of digi

gilded avatar, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

I have been super busy with digital orders today. What fun! I adore doing them so much!
I am listening to rain patter on my front door. We are having a little storm right now. We need the rain and it brings some relief from the crazy Texas heat.
I'm feeling lazy today... wishing I was somewhere in the Virgin Islands... St. John would be nice.

Monday...

I so need to devote today to housekeeping. Mojo has scattered seeds on the kitchen floor, everything's dusty, the stairs need a vacuum.... but I am really not in a houseworking mood. I was hoping for a burst of domesticity this morning, but thus far it has eluded me. Ah, but it is early. Perhaps one more cuppa' joe will spark my nesting urge.
Meanwhile, I have worked on some digi orders and enjoyed this very quiet morning. Kids are all sleeping.... ahhhh...
Later I must photograph my trinket necklaces and bracelets and pop them into my shop.
Oh, where's that housekeeper anyway?

thankful

What a beautiful morning here in Texas! As I enjoy the quiet (well, Mojo is cracking open sunflower seeds) I pause to consider the blessing of being a citizen of the United States. Our country is flawed, I know, but still it is a beautiful, diverse and gloriously free place. I am grateful to call America my home sweet home. Tonight as I watch fireworks with family and friends I will thank my lucky stars that I was born in the USA.

Paper Cowgirl Afterglow

LOL! Here I am playing teacher to my WONDERFUL and TALENTED students! It was so amazing to see what these incredible gals created with their class kits. We laughed and had so much fun. Is there anything sweeter than kindred spirits???

What a FUN time! Glitter, lace, birds, laughter and FROSTING SHOTS!! I had the BEST students!!! Such clever, creative sweet gals!!! I will post pics soon!! ... happy sigh...

big baby!

OMG! How did this happen? My baby is 13 today!!!!
How utterly astonishing!
Will is such a sweetheart. In this photo he is doing one of his favorite things, though he isn't usually this calm in the pool. He also loves art and is really talented in that area.
But 13! Oh, my! No more babies at my house... sigh...

summer... sigh...

Oh, how I love summer! Fireflies, long days, the pool, happy kids, lazy mornings,

sunshine, my tiki bar, fresh cut lawns... ahhhh....

I am busy, though... playing catch up from my long months of recovery from a broken kneecap. It feels so good to be able to do laundry (what did I just say?!?), drive a little and (slowly, carefully) climb the steps to my studio space! I am regaining my life! YEA!!!

Paper Cowgirl fast approaches and I am in the thick of preparations for this awesome altered art retreat. I am looking forward to teaching my class and hanging out

with some very cool and fun girls!

Life is good!

Hope your summer is off to a sweet, sunny start!

xoxox~dale

this makes me smile!

Why do these tiny tomatoes delight me so?

Well, they're so darn cute and they're in

a topsy-turvy planter and that in itself
is silly. They are growing so fast!

I am looking forward to homemade

pico de gallo!

soon!!

Paper Cowgirl is in a few weeks and I am busy preparing class kits and vendor night items.

I have made some fun necklaces and bracelets loaded with vintage trinkets, beads and other sparkling treasures.

My knee continues to heal. I am limping along and getting stronger day by day.

School is out~~YEA!!!~~~ My house is full of kids, happy kids!!

Hope your summer is off to a fun start!