Collage & Change
I spent the morning creating the collage above from photographs I have taken over the years.
I love this time of the year, the slant of light and the lengthening shadows ~ such beauty ~ so delicious this golden light that spills through the tree branches just outside my window, turning the leaves into shimmering liquid gold.
During the fall, I find myself longing for the haystacks of my youth. The heavenly smell of hay mixed with the dampness of the earth. The early morning mist kissing my face and the exuberance of youth.
Over the years I find that I have come to value the fall of the year more and more ~ the day by day changes. The mellow richness and different textures that hone and shape us as we age. The laughter, the tears and everything else in between that makes each one of us unique and beautiful.
So I breathe in the ripeness of the world around me and embrace this inevitable change. The waxing and waning of the year.
Collage Monday
The Opened Heart – Mixed Media
The mixed media piece above is a combination of digital & Traditional painting. The center is a Mixed Medium/Acrylic/Watercolor/Ink 8 x 10 inch painting on canvas that I decided to play around with using Corel Painter 7 and Photoshop. For the background I used scanned papers, fabrics, vintage ledgers and anything else I could think of. Wow, did I have fun!
Later, when I went to the market they had pumpkins and gourds stacked on bales of hay reminding us that change has come and sweet autumn is here. It all made me feel so grateful for being a part of the eternal dance of life from one season to the next.
thought for the day:
In the deep fall don’t you imagine the leaves think how
comfortable it will be to touch
the earth instead of the
nothingness of air and the endless
freshets of wind? And don’t you think
the trees themselves, especially those with mossy,
warm caves, begin to think
of the birds that will come…six, a dozen…to sleep
inside their bodies? And don’t you hear
the goldenrod whispering goodbye,
the everlasting being crowned with the first
tuffets of snow? The pond vanishes, and the white field
over which the fox runs so quickly brings out
its blue shadows. And the wind pumps its
bellows. And at evening especially,
the piled firewood shifts a little,
longing to be on its way.
– Mary Oliver
In Search Of Trees
I’ve spent the month focused on my online store, turning all thoughts and energy to jewelry, I am surprised and happy with what has been unfolding before me. The new designs seem to flow out of me coming from somewhere deep inside ~ these old hands ache but it’s a sweet ache. I do love what I do!
Later today, I took my camera out for a walk in search of trees. I needed a break from the computer and trees call to me and soothe my soul as little else can.
My walk ~ in a word ~ splendid
Trees ~ sky ~ Magic
“There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden,
but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.”
– Minnie Aumonier
The Heralds Of Autumn
Woke up to a cold, gray morning. Brr
As I stepped out onto the patio, my ears were greeted by the squawking of geese overhead as they made their journey south. The heralds of Autumn.
Afternoon winds gently blowing against the curtains. The smell of old leaves and earth . . . Reflections . . . Recollections of all the past Autumns . . . Time slipping by . . . Sweet longing for a place where I can curl up unnoticed and sleep in the late afternoon sun … warm and comforted . . . safe and loved
Weaving ~ Creating ~ For now, this moment is all I need. x0
Sacred Moments
Sacred Moments: She Carries Me
Signs Of Autumn
The signs of Autumn have arrived. Brisk mornings, browning leaves rattling down the street carried by strong breezes and me with a cup of hot coffee in my hand watching the sun slowly rise over the mountain. What an incredibly beautiful day!
Quietly painting in the studio. Images & dreams I will always carry in my heart.
Sonoma Tree Line – Digital Painting – Watercolor & Impasto brushstrokes on layers – 8 x 10 inches
So many signs – Quiet Change
Ephemeral things – soft and fragile
Slower, Deeper – The Wheel of life Turns
To the Light of September
When you are already here
you appear to be only
a name that tells of you
whether you are present or not
and for now it seems as though
you are still summer
still the high familiar
endless summer
yet with a glint
of bronze in the chill mornings
and the late yellow petals
of the mullein fluttering
on the stalks that lean
over their broken
shadows across the cracked ground
but they all know
that you have come
the seed heads of the sage
the whispering birds
with nowhere to hide you
to keep you for later
you
who fly with them
you who are neither
before nor after
you who arrive
with blue plums
that have fallen through the night
perfect in the dew
– w.s. merwiin
And It’s August Again
A peak at a new digital painting I am working on.
Taking a break on the patio. It’s been a rather stressful week and I just needed to relax for awhile, so as I sat down, I noticed the antique bottle I had left out on the table yesterday.
I love these old bottles, the way the light reflects off of them, the soft muted colors and the way they make me feel nostalgic. Like dear old friends!
This bottle belonged to Aunt Margie and I know she would love the fact that I found such an unusual use for it.
Cleaned up my messy studio. Whew! Organized my acrylics, brushes and art journals.
Organic lettuce, homemade balsamic honey dressing, add some wine and good company and you have the makings for a perfect meal.
At the end of the day …
Nothing left to say …
Watching the sun go down over the hill … xo
What has been going on lately
The days of summer are going by so fast and I have been taking lots of photographs to capture the precious moments to soothe and comfort me in the winter. I will post more later.
Thought you might like to take a peak at my work space.
I am painting more. . .
Playing with beads and creating more necklaces . . . Enjoying myself
Making heavenly organic cacao truffles. Yummy! Many thanks to my friend Salina for this wonderful recipe.
I love this time of the year and all the good things that come with warmer weather barbecues, unplanned adventures, gathering my thoughts, journaling, sipping tea, going for long walks, visiting friends and creating fearlessly.
Finding refuge in the simple things – roses, stones and tree roots.
That’s all for today folks. xo
Star Of The Sea
Copyright Jewelry by Rose Arizmendi
I finished the starfish necklace.
Using sterling silver, I created a wire wrapped bar of vintage fabric, fresh water pearls to show off the silver starfish pendant, then I added a vintage clay bead with the words “the sea” collaged onto it. Next I attached wire-wrapped gemstones to the main bar and added freshwater pearls, sea shell beads and gemstone dangles. Lastly, I added a silver bird charm.
The necklace is approx. 18 inches long featuring two lovely blue lace agate nuggets along with blue topaz, lapis and chrysocolla beads. Unfortunately, the photograph doesn’t catch the beautiful swirl patterns on one of the nuggets. They look like ocean waves!
As I was finishing this piece I felt the need to visit Bodega Bay, it’s been awhile since my last visit and I long to feel the sand between my toes and listen to the waves crashing along the shore line. The ocean calls me with her siren voice and my heart longs to listen to her song and of course the chance to find some treasures to bring home to remind me of my visit.
My soul is full of longing
For the secret of the sea,
And the heart of the great ocean
Sends a thrilling pulse through me.
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
If you are interested in purchasing “Star of the Sea” necklace, please contact me.
Gathering Treasures
Lately, I’ve been hunting and gathering treasures to add to several necklaces I am currently working on. I found some beautiful clay beads which I collaged words onto and a pendant that features two herons with their necks intertwined.The clay pendant has a Celtic motif with a gorgeous Raku finish. Love it!
Below is the back of the pendant with words collaged on it. When the glue has dried I will add some color over the paper. The clay bead above the pendant is finished and ready to be added to the other necklace.
While I was waiting for my pieces to dry I was able to work on one of my acrylic paintings and feel pretty happy about the way it’s going.
Today, I’ve been flitting back and forth from one art making project to the next and loving it! xox