I can’t escape the debate so I’m going to make a little statement of my position.

1: It’s already illegal to shoot people. This indicates to me that legislation does not cause people to behave.

2: In my research, legislation does not control the black market – only influences the directions in which it flows. I believe those who seek guns will find them.

3: Violence in the media is a circular situation – Violence in real life is reflected in entertainment and vice versa.

4: My conclusion is that there is an unwellness in our society… a lack of respect for life. I believe this is caused by the degradation of the family unit and public education problems. I was more scared for my physical well being in the public school system than anywhere else I’ve been in my entire life. That is not an exaggeration.

5: Guns are no more the cause of violence than cars the cause of road deaths. Both the wrecks I was in were caused by inattentiveness of drivers (back to respect for life/respect for others).

I consider myself an empowered, confident woman – not forced to be “momma”. I choose to stay home with my daughter because it’s the right thing to do as a mammal. Dog mommas take care of their pups. Lionesses care for their young. Bears protect their cubs while they need it. When young are properly cared for, they grow up more emotionally balanced and healthy than if they are not. I don’t worry about gender specific behavior. A man can care for a newborn as well as a woman (aside from lack of boobies)… The best food for our young is love and support and lots and lots of hugs and kisses.

Maybe this is overly simplistic, but, for the purpose of a brief blog entry, it’s enough for now. An individual who feels connected to the world and those around them will find it much harder to harm them. Starting with love is much better and more effective in my opinion than starting with fear and legislation. Economic conditions in this country make many feel that they must work and be away from their loved ones a great deal of the time causing havoc on nutrition and emotional support. The most common complaint I hear these days is about lack of money and stress resulting thereof.

How do you think we can fix this agony in our society?

So I feel a little silly about making those wool scarves this month… It’s not winter. I’m not seeing any winter… sigh…

The warm weather has caused flowers to bloom in my brain.  Here in Knoxville, we have the Dogwood Arts Festival in spring some time and I’m always late painting dogwoods. Not this year!
  
Impression of Spring
Acrylic on wood
16″x22″  Pink Dogwoods
Acrylic on Canvas
16″x20″
This one may be about the end of the stained glass series for a while. I’ll do some more when I get some boards that are the aspect ratio I want, but for now, I’m thinking spring flowers

Note to self… don’t forget to actually get into the festival… lol

You paper mache makers and magnet makers are making me feel like a slacker. I gotta kick it up a notch I reckon before you folks take my job!

I just have a couple minutes to type before I have to go grab the little one, but I wanted to share a couple photos while I have a bit of time.
Last night was the Grand Opening at Artifactia. Seren hasn’t really liked going out in the evenings since winter shortened our days, but last night she did very well in spite of her tiredness. It was even warm enough for her to wear a cute little party dress… too warm, however, for me to wear one of the wool scarves I’ve just made. Maybe it’ll get cool enough to use them… <insert repetitive global warming debate here>
 
We were captured in our funness.
At the shop, I have about 18 paintings, including five from the Stained Glass Collection. Here’s another piece which hasn’t gone to the shop yet – brand new.

Butterfly Watches Fire
Acrylic on wood
16″x7″

The Stained Glass Collection is about to be over. I don’t know if I’ll be going in an altogether new direction again or just changing the way I do this kind of a thing, but the change has hit me already. I started a stained glass piece with pink dogwood blossoms and now I don’t know if I’ll be able to finish it as is…
Change change change.
Lovely
Be blessed
Onward and upward
*

As I wandered the aisles of the grocery store today, I decided to hunt for some peanut butter with only “peanuts” on the ingredient list. I don’t want palm oil and salt and sugar. Just peanuts… But that’s a different rant.
I was shocked to find another non-food product on the food shelf. I saw… get this… CALORIE FREE peanut “spread”… This is supposed to save you the calories of peanut butter.  Really!!? Peanut butter is highly nutritious! Peanut butter and whole grain bread will sustain the human organism with almost no other help in a pinch… Amazing food!
So let’s take all the value out of it.
The ingredient list was a mile long as well with lots of partially hydrogenated mystery chemicals too…

The world.
Is a strange place.

As you already, likely, know, dear Reader, life is busy at my house.  Art show in 5 days. Dropoff tomorrow.  Commissions and new work bubbling out all over the place plus new ideas for cool shelf buddies which I’ll describe in more detail as I get some done.
I’m back into crochet.  My wrist is doing ok so far and I made a really fun, skinny burgandy and pink scarf.  It’s all wool and super long for extra wrapping fun. I’m making another one in the same colors, but wider and as long, I guess, as the yarn lasts. 
Baby dear is squirming like crazy so it’s tough to type much these days.  She is healthy and thriving though.
A couple new pieces for your enjoyment:
Peace Rising
16″x20″
Acrylic on canvas with tissue for texture
Music and Flight
Acrylic on plywood with permanent frame
21″x48″

We had a good holiday here. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any good holiday-like photos because my camera’s battery died on me. We just had a quiet time… a nice dinner with friends before Christmas. My father @C_L_O_G came by for Christmas day and we had a great time going out for dim sum and playing with the baby (and watching her play with ribbons, bows, and pretty paper). She’s getting into the toys now lol…
Aside from that, painting continued as always. I have to get on some commission work now and finish up the Stained Glass collection to take for the grand opening of Artifactia in Bearden on Jan 12th. I promise good photos of that event.
Another recent painting on distressed plywood.

I have to admit it can be a little awkward to be a non-Christmas celebrator. I’m not opposed to Christmas in any way, but I don’t get into it either. One person I bumped into asserted that my baby would revive the Christmas spirit in me… Yeah… well… not so much. I like seeing her happy, but I can buy pretty paper and ribbon for her to play with any day. I don’t celebrate overconsumption of goods or food. Our family celebrates our togetherness daily. So I just don’t feel like Christmas is any different than any other day I’m lucky enough to have coffee and people around me whom I love… except I can’t go to the grocery store easily if I run out of something lol…
Oh well. Another Christmas is passed and I can look forward to the days getting longer again. That’s the awesomest!
Onward and upward and may you all be blessed in the new year!

By the way, @roadkill_spatula did receive the Xanga-gift painting Thank you all again for participating in the gifting with me! May Tim and Alicia’s fairy tale continue!

Or… holding a baby rather… lol
With much happiness, I packaged three paintings for shipment today (including @roadkill_spatula‘s) and we had a great time talking to strangers at the post office.  Then we went and played for a little while at the park down the street from our house. 
But the first task of the day was finishing this piece up. 

It was a still life. Now it’s not.

I know you guys probably get sick of hearing me say it, but life just keeps getting more and more wonderful…
Wonderfulness #1: The discovery that the grow lights we’re using for our overwintering of plants seems to help my normal wintertime melancholy

Wonderfulness #2:  Finding lots of awesome ukulele tabs and a tuner on the internet so I can play music while baby naps in my lap.

Wonderfulness #3:  The way she wakes up, rolls over, and hugs the ukulele.

Wonderfulness #4: Yesterday, my husband poured the last of our concrete countertop AND made a magnificent pumpkin soup as well.

Wonderfulness #5:
A finished painting

Window
Acrylic on canvas w/lace
17″x21″ including attached frame

I had a couple interesting comments on this piece so I thought I’d write a little about it… This canvas has seen probably 5 different paintings. I put the lace on about 10 years ago and because of the really high relief, it’s been difficult for me to be happy with the result. I’m just like that…
So this works for me.  The shape in the center reminds me of an eye. That’s all I can see.  Stained Glass Window to the Soul?  Sounds too cheesy for me to use as a title, but brings all these great ideas to my English major brain… Lace, glass, eyes….
That’s about as firm as I ever get in a painting concept and I rarely care to reveal my own thinking very much. I generally think a painting should speak without my words attached to it, but there it is anyway…

Onward and upward
I gotta go practice the ukulele.
*

So I was planning to introduce the ukulele to the little one when she was maybe two or three…
Today totally changed my plans.
We were at a friend’s house where they have PILES of instruments. This couple collects instruments… So the lady puts a cool, homemade simple drum in front of S. I watch her figure it out. Then, out comes a Dixie banjo (cast aluminum, open back, very cool!) and we played with that for a LONG time.  Then, she pulls out a little old yard sale ukulele and gives it to S for Christmas! It’s not an expensive thing, but I was so surprised to see the baby take an instant interest in the instruments! She was fascinated – couldn’t quit playing with them! 
So I spent the last hour learning about the uke. I have played guitar for a long time, but I haven’t tuned a uke or changed strings on one etc… and the bridge is pulling up a bit and needs a minor repair. (No worries, my husband can totally handle that).
I guess music is on the to-do list…
I am the happiest woman on the planet tonight.

I am going to send this painting to @Roadkill_Spatula and his new wife as a wedding gift from Xanga Family.  Whomever donates to the cause will be listed on the card from all of us. The size of your donation will not be listed, but I’d love to include as many people as possible on this.

Link to contribute
Thank you to those who have already contributed to make it possible for me to give this gift to our friend!  If you don’t like to use the internet to send money, you may certainly message me for an address to send a check.