Art Projects

So, right now, I'm working on the Brene Brown/Oprah LifeCourse - "The Gifts of Imperfection", which includes some art journaling. I don't think I will always post what I do as it is supposed to be very personal work, but for now, I'm willing to share some of what I'm doing.  I'm also doing "The Documented Life" Project but I'm behind and I already didn't know how to do something and did it wrong already. I'm trying to get over myself about that (this is related to the class that I don't want to pay a monthly fee for).  I'm also working with another art journal which is helping me to get over the problems I have been having with "The Decorated Life" planner (from here on out, TDL planner).

Anyway, here are some works in progress photos:

This is the original composition book style

This is a side by side comparison of the front of one decorated comp book

Back side of comp books

Yellow book - glued pages. Compared with regular comp book

The Gifts of Imperfection

Permission slips

The Decorated Life planner (TDL)

More TDL Planner

Mighty moleskine with washi tape on the edges

Beginning 2014 on an Artful Note

Yesterday, I committed to myself that I would have a low-screen day (less time on computer) and do some art, read and maybe watch a movie or something.  I did manage to have less time on the computer, I did some art - started working on my planner and a new journal. I put in the movie version of "Les Miserables" and worked away.  I took some photos but I have to find the usb cord that goes with my camera - the one I have here is too big.

First, "Les Miserables" is good every. single. time. It just is. The only reason I didn't bawl was because I was working on my art journal and planner.  I finished putting washi tape on the edge of the planner - it looks cool, although I looked at the photos of some of the other participants and I have no idea how  they got them all so even and perfect. I have a couple of pages that frustrated me to no end, but I decided that a little imperfection was good for me.

Then, I decided I wanted to access a class that was showing some techniques for decorating the planner, but I found that the hosting place where I need an account to access the class (supposed to be free) just changed to $25/month. I'm just not into paying monthly fees for things like that, so I struggled mightily with myself before deciding it wasn't worth it.

I'm kind of excited about this art stuff that I'm doing now - it just feels good again. I'm really focused on letting the activity itself be the part that is meaningful - not just the end result. Imperfections are allowed.  It's such a stretch for me, but I'm getting there.

Today, the Brene Brown ecourse started. "The Gifts of Imperfection". I'm doing it again and taking the second part, as well. I'm very excited to do this again - more time and more commitment to it this time.

Photos later this week, I hope.

I love Robert Downey Jr.

Listen to him sing with Sting. He is FANTASTIC.

Behind Already but Giving Myself a Break

I'm starting some art projects and some other stuff and I'm already a bit behind. I sometimes can't keep up when I'm trying to get ready for a show, so I just decided to give myself the extra time. I want to be sure to photograph my progress on some of it and I have already missed a couple of steps, but it's all good.

I'm disappointed that I can't do one of the classes I was hoping to do.  It was not very expensive, but you have to sign up for a NING account - they used to be free accounts but now it is $25/month to have an account. I just can't see spending that money, even though I really had wanted to take the class. The instructor originally thought that NING provided FREE accounts, but turns out that NING just changed and revoked all free services. Kind of a bummer.

Anyway, I hope to be posting some photos over the weekend. I'm feeling the itch to get my hands a little dirty.

Happy Birthday, Dad

Today was my dad's birthday. I miss him.

Here's a photo from way back when...my Mom, me and my Dad.  My sister must have been nearby, but she didn't make it into this photo. I'm not sure why my mother looks so pissed off... My dad didn't like to be in photos much, so there aren't a ton of them.

I had a show today, as well. It went okay. It was "Evita", which is not one of my favorites. I decided I probably won't interpret it the next time it comes around. Just too many cons - even though the cast was very good.

Good Memories after 18 Years

Jean and Roby at Ecola State Park in Oregon. Circa 1989.  

It is incomprehensible to me that Roby died 18 years ago.  I didn't know how I would make it through those first minutes, hours, days, months.  The years pass and I never forget, but I do have access to all the good things about him, all the good times we had.  I've never had a day when I woke up and thought about calling him before I remembered that he was gone. I've never accidentally dialed the phone to call him before realizing. It is always there, in my blood, in the skin and bones of who I am as a human being.  But again, so is all the goodness, all the humor, all the laughter, the great stories, the dumb things we did because we were young.  All of that is woven into me. I'm so glad to have known him. I'm so glad to feel confident that he knew how much I loved him and how much love he brought to me in his short life. I know that he knew that before he died. I know he felt me with him until and after his last breath. I know that he knows I remember him every day. What else could I really ask for?

Going Places - Che in the touring company of "Evita"

I'm interpreting a show on Thursday night and we got to see it tonight. I'm not a big fan of "Evita" or Andrew Lloyd Weber, per se, but the leading man in the show - I think his name is Josh Young (I will check my program) has a stunning voice. I read that he was nominated for a Tony in 2012 for playing Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar". From the moment I heard his voice, I thought, "This guy is going places!"  He was just fantastic and made the show that much better.

The whole cast was very talented and did a good job - I enjoyed the show. There was more dancing than I remember from before, so I'm wondering if that is part of the revival - maybe a new twist to be adding bits of the Argentine Tango and some other dances.

I'm going to keep my eye out for this actor. I'm sure there is more to come from him.

Out Like a Light

Wow - I totally crashed last night before I could write a post.  I was watching the last disc of Season 7 of "24" and I fell asleep. Who does that?  Sometimes, if the black between scenes goes too long, I fall asleep.  I think it is kind of funny, but also weird how you are totally involved in something and then ZZZZZ.  Hopefully, I'm not coming down with anything.

Anyway, it was a pretty busy weekend - professional forum on Saturday, some other stuff I had to do, lots of driving. Yesterday I had rehearsal for a show and then took some time to work on it at home.  I'm not loving "Evita" this time - it is a revival, so they did make some minor changes in the CD, but who knows what the staging will look like. I will see it tomorrow and find out.

Anyway, this weekend I will be starting back with my eCourses and doing some art. I'm excited and a little bit nervous about it.

It was a good day

Attended a professional forum today - lots of friendly faces, some new, some familiar.  It was good to feel like an interpreter again.  Great conversations and insights all around.  Even though it is a chaotic time in the sign language interpreting profession, there are good discussions yet to be had.

That's all, really. I had a great drive to Salem and back, listened to "Evita" in preparation for interpreting this coming week.  I've kind of decided I'm done with this show after this - it just isn't melodic or enjoyable for me at this point.  I'm sure someone else will enjoy doing it in the future.

Blast from the Past

It has taken me a while to use this gift I got last year - I think I was afraid it wouldn't work...  It was a slide converter so that I could digitize some of the photos from my childhood.  Most of the pictures from my early childhood are slides that my family would pull out once a year or so, but that I haven't seen in more than 10 years - maybe 15 years.

Here is my favorite picture so far. It has lived in my memory for a long time, so I'm happy that it was close to the way I remembered it.  This was from a day at Cataract Lake (sp) in Colorado from when I was about 4 or 5 years old.  The story goes that we went to the lake and started fishing. The fish were practically jumping out of the water onto bare hooks and before my parents knew it, I was catching my limit and theirs. They didn't have the heart to make me throw back my fish, so most of the fish on the line were caught by me (hence the gigantic grin on my face).  Good memories of a good day. 

My styling mom is on the left, me in the middle and my sister on the right.  One of my all-time favorite photos of us. The only bummer is how few photos my dad was in. He was always the photographer (by design, I suspect).

Art 2014 Style

I have a couple of things I'm working on this January- I'm giving myself time and space - not pressure.  The first thing I'm doing is a journal/calendar called "A Documented Life". Basically, it is a Moleskine journal/planner that you can decorate, add stuff to, etc.  There is a group of bloggers leading and I thought it was a fun idea.  I love calendars, so I love the idea of trying to make my calendar my own.

The other thing I'm doing, I think I mentioned already, is Brene Brown's "The Gifts of Imperfection" ecourse - part I and II.  I did part I the first time, but I was behind from the get-go and struggled to get my head in the right place.  I decided it was worth re-doing it with some friends and exploring some of the issues that are in my life right now.

It's funny but people have been talking about 2014 a little differently than last year. It's almost like we all can just feel the goodness this year. It's time.  Maybe I'm just noticing more. Who knows?  Whatever it is, I like it.

Happy New Year - Welcome 2014!

First day of a new year. No resolutions, just intentions.