Dragonflies and my love affair with L.A.

These little creatures are from my collection of Dragonflies. Why I love them so much has never been clear to me. I mean they are beautiful and flutter around gracefully, but they are insects. LOL. I've always been fascinated by them. I almost said I'm not really a collector but those that know me would clear throats at that one LOL.

I found this fact 'the oldest fossilized record of a dragonfly is from the Carboniferous Period, over 300 million years ago' and that got me to wondering about something else so I'll try to stay on track but I do have to ask, really, I mean really, how can you tell me you know something has been around for 300 million years? How? what test can really prove something has been around that long? I think I've found something I'm skeptical about tonight LOL.

This picture I took at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. I have a hard time saying that because it was always The La Brea Tar Pits to me.
That there is a scary looking Dragonfly, dead and all. I guess they wouldn't have been considered so beautiful to me back them, can we say, running shoes! LOL.

I miss L.A. Not the way it is, but the way it was. In the 70s and 80s. Not that my life was ultra great but the place was a buzzing happening place to be. It was before commerce took over. Before the Riots (not giving it a name! or using the one it has), before there was a store, coffee shop or yogurt spot on every corner. Hollywood Blvd was a Novelty but the movie era fog had not worn away from it yet. There were still drive up restaurants and drive in movies. There still stores with counters to eat at like Schwabs and Newberrys and you could still get a ice cream cone from Thrifty's for 5cents a scoop. My first date was at the Hamburger Hamlet and I can remember being dumbfounded by the price of the burgers. My first date also gave me a bottle of Nina Ricci L'air du temps LOL that's pretty heavy for a high school gift LOL). There were still house parties and well I guess we can just say, I miss L.A. the way it was. I went a few months ago and was anxious. People were moving really fast. The population is a lot younger, the traffic was overwhelming, freeways over major streets, one ways and turn arounds. I think half the population of California walks or drives the streets of L.A. I used to imagine going back to live in the bright lights and as close as I could get to the Ocean breeze. And then I wake up. And I go back to creating crazy stuff and remembering. The Love Affair with my Hometown, sadly, over. And even stranger, I feel like one day I may find my way back there. Maybe not to live, but to be live. LOL. I think it's time for me to back away from the monitor LOL. I guess in my own strange way, I Love L.A. A love affair that no longer holds me, yet holds a true space in my heart. I know the time will come when I will move again, experience another part of this beautiful earth. Maybe I'll paint myself a spot and then try to find it and go there LOL hmmm

My Neurotic Collage

As I sat here working on some unusual Jewelry that I wish I could show you but I can't because the person it's for has to see it first, I started laughing at myself and thinking about some of the various crafts I've indulged in, and I laughed and I laughed and I laughed some more, and then...I sighed! Then I got tired. LOL So I decided to put some pics up of the different types of things and see what comes up, okay here goes Queen of my Mental Space, Dreamer, Baker, Card Maker, Painter, Logo Designer, Teacher, Jewelry Maker, Picture Taker (tee hee hee) Sewer, Collage Artist, Journal Maker, Book Maker, Purse Maker, Video Instructor, Mixed Media Artist, Crazy Woman LOL. I got tired... way too many more to upload LOL. I guess it's fair to say I really really love creating Art and Inspiration. I hope I do both well.

Okay, I just got the basis for my next Contest LOL! Woooo Hooo!
Contest #6
Life Collage, in Pics or Words of every hobby art, occupation, dream... whatever it is that moves you! If you do it by picture (jpeg no larger than 1 mg) email it to me at diviacity@diviacity.com and I will post it.
Subject: Life Collage.
Do it however you like. As you can see mine is just a jumble of pics :-)
If you do it in words simply list your different items and separate by comma.
THE PRIZE WILL BE RELATED TO SOMETHING IN YOUR WORD OR PICTURE COLLAGE!
This Contest will end on November 1st.
Be sure to add your email or follow my Blog so you can see the Winner's Announcement.
I will pick at the least 2 winners, but maybe more.

Have a colorful day...or night! :-)

INSPIRATION DRIVE

Hey there! What you up to? Well I have to tell you guys, it's been a tremendous day in the most ordinary way. If that makes sense LOL. I woke up in sort of a fog. Not really motivated or inspired. I wanted to spend the day creating and working on projects but couldn't get there in my head so instead decided to hit the road. Every once in a while I find inspiration in my own neighborhood but today was a little different. I started by traveling a back road only a couple of miles away and connecting with nature.What a beautiful and refreshing space to be in.Slowly I felt the fog lifting from my brain making way for creative thoughts and motivation. While I admit to being addicted to the Ocean, trees are mountain views are definitely high second on my list.
And finally to send me right off into LaLa I'm a Believer land...
Can you believe this!

I thought I was seeing things and had to go back around LOL
HOW COOL IS THAT!!!! LOL
I guess the point is, Inspiration can be found everywhere, we just have to look closely.
HAVE A GOOD ONE EVERYBODY! :-)

CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER!

This book was created using an old Leather Bound Time Life Book :-) I wanted to keep the leather in tact obviously because it was beautiful but I wanted to put my message in this book. (Seems like I always have a message huh? LOL) Although there were quite a few pages I bound them so it turns only once and created a well in the center to put some fun ephemera in. Can you see the message in this one? :-) What is it?

This one is called well... The Key LOL

One of my favorite things is texture. I love creating Art that has movement and texture. The Key is covered with Mulberry Paper and coated with Diamond Glaze. And that is a real vintage key. I like using real whenever I can.


The first page has an insert that is filled with that stuff I think it's called Diamond Dust or something. so it moves all over the place. I love it! Those trees were created with Glimmer Mist and Glimmer Screens. Fun. Oh well, I just wanted to share some of my books with you! :-) Another fun past time that I wish I actually had more time for. Very relaxing and thought provoking.

A WIN WIN SITUATION!

The Winners of the 'Interpret This Dream' Contest are... (playing a drum roll in my mind)

Beverly Rhett
Anonymous said...

Hi Stephanie,
Beverly Rhett here. In looking at your painting, I get a sense of longing for an uncomplicated time in one's life. The forest full of trees to me, represents The Garden of Eden, but devoid of Adam (Man). So, I think it means a life free of the drama that men bring or, anticipation of meeting a new man and starting anew. That's my interpretation and I'm sticking to it!

October 15, 2009 11:43 AM

The Redhead Riter

I would title it "On Higher Ground" It is about a woman who has struggled through life. She has made mistakes, but learned the important lessons in life. Now, she is rising above the muck of "human errors" and on her steady path up (the painting shows her walking up a hill) through a lovely meadow surrounded by lush trees and flowers, she realizes the journey has been worth it. She has come from the darkness of humanity into the light of understanding. She is almost at the end of her climb with the realization that "things" don't matter, how we handle our "experiences" with "people" is what matters. :o)

October 2, 2009 11:30 AM

Yaya
I believe she is taking a path from darkness to sunlight. She is bettering her life. She is making a positive choice.
*******************************************

Okay so here's the thing... you know I can be wishy washy and this is no different. Everyone's interpretation had a bit of what it was all about. So even though the above 3 won the major prizes, everyone else that participated in this Contest will receive a pair of earrings! :-) I'm so touched by the interpretations. It's like you feel me! And it shows the positive energy floating around between us!

Congratulations! Please send me your address at diviacity@diviacity.com
Next Contest Announced in a couple of days!

Dear Diary...and Fun Stuff!

Well I'll be! It just dawned on me why I like Blogging so much. It's actually like an 'Out Loud' Journal. A real Interactive Journal because others share their thoughts with me. Wow, how cool is that! :-) Well after a week of being down I'm up and ready to go. new painting in the midst, back on the jewelry train for a little while. The inspiration for that doesn't come as often as it used to. In fact, painting seems to take most of my thought. So.... off of that.

I think I'm going to do something crazy this Christmas! I think I'm going to make a video of me singing a Christmas song and post it on the Internet. LOL LOL... hmmmm I just think I might have to do that! The worse that could happen is I could get laughed at and if I can provide a laugh or two...it's all good. So there, it's settled. I said it out loud, now I'm going to make it happen! So...
I decided to do a search and find out what kind of positive stuff is out there on the web and here are some really cool things I found :-)

This site is called Only Positive News It's pretty cool. I read about 4 stories after I'd already decided I love this site! :-) It's pleasing to the eye and the thought!

Okay and how about a site called 'The Optimist'? What fun. This site pulls Optimism from Life, Travel, TV, Sports and more. Love it! Optimist World

Ok for some Halloween fun check this Blog out. It's called Fahrenheit 350° Boo! And oh my goodness there's a bunch of treats on there that just made me hungry! Here's the link http://www.fahrenheit350.blogspot.com/ or it's on my Sidebar too.


Okay last one for now. Over at From Janes Oven theres a 'Thomas The Train Cake'... It's really cute! :-) Also on my Side Bar.

Don't forget about the sale at my website www.diviacity.com it's crazy. Earrings really cheap!
And my latest Article on Divapreneur 'Birds of a Feather!"

I like you!!!

DREAMS AND THINGS

Well I guess doing too much of one thing and not enough of another can really take it's toll on you. Making my dreams come true of becoming a well known self sufficient Artist have taught me some things I would never have imagined. I don't think I've even been more disciplined, more focused. Unfortunately, too the point of overlooking the health a wee bit. Yikes. So I've practically spent the last week in bed. Between diabetes and any other cruddy thing that comes along LOL like a funky ear ache it's been something. Of course I get up everyday and head for the desk. Creating is in my blood. I think I have spent a lot of time trying to out do myself! If I'm not doing something Artistic at some point each day I feel like I'm lagging. Crazy I know, but that's the Artist Way!

One thing I did do was update my website completely. Normally this would only take me a couple of hours. I think it took 3 days this time LOL. But I'm happy about the sale I'm having. It's time for me to move things around for the new year so I put up this sale and you will think I'm nuts if you go there. My beautiful friend Sandra made the Chandelier earrings and my daughter made many of the other. I just love those chicks! All of my earrings are only $6 except Sterling which is $10. I just shook my head LOL! And then I added more stuff like bracelets and necklaces most for less than half of what I originally sold like items for. Oh well. Time to move on. Diviacity Website

Sunday I have a Workshop and I might need a kick in the patooty to get me out the door LOL.

Right now it's muggy and hot at 8:00. It was pouring down rain just a couple of days ago, followed by an Earthquake. Lots going on LOL.

Well the 'Interpret this Dream" Contest ends at Midnight. I can't wait to get back to all the wonderful responses. Many people are so in tune. A couple of the responses actually almost made me cry. Very intense. But I can't wait. I will share the winning responses when I announce the Winners in the next couple of days. You still have a few hours to enter. Closes at midnight Pacific time!

Well the couch calls. I must park it and plan for my next creative activity or something. I hope everyone is having a wonderful peaceful evening.

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT!

As I drove through my neighborhood today I noticed there were far more houses decorated and anticipating Halloween than I'd seen in the several years I've lived here. It dawned on me that while the economy has affected most, during the Holidays in hard times, people tend to go overboard with Holiday Madness. Can it be so? I do live in a small town, so signs of all sorts are a usual sight. Causes to be fought. Presidents to protest and promote. Campaigns for this and that and people I never heard of. Unfortunately I see them so much that my eyes have trained themselves not to look (tee hee hee). The decorations are a welcome relief.

Now what did stop me in my tracks... Christmas, yes Christmas decorations. Lights blinking, strung with abandon. Say it isn't so! A season rich with Holidays and celebrations is upon us. I am happy that my children are grown. While I do love the season, the headaches, the pressure to be The Good Witch, The Big Turkey and Ms. Claus, is not something I miss. I appreciate being able to enjoy this time with mellow appreciation. I remember receiving millions of gifts for holidays as a kid...I can't tell what any of them were. Well except for the Chatty Kathy cause I loved her LOL.This year I'm going to participate in the spirit of giving. Seriously, I always pic a few places to send anonymous gifts to or someone random to send a card to. The Holidays touch us all in different ways. I'm going to do a survey and find out what folks do for the Holidays!

Okay, here it is LOL

What do you regularly each Holiday?
Do you prefer to spend the holiday with family, friends, loved one?
What's the most ridiculous amount of money you spent during the Holidays?
Who's a priority on your shopping list? i.e. friends, family, boss, Parents

Last year the decorating bug passed me by. Let's see if the same happens this year~

Look at this tree :-)
So anyway, I'll get as ready as I always do. I'll pull out Halloween Rubber Stamps, black and orange papers and inks, have lots of fun creating some cards or something. Put it down, and never look back LIOL. ooops.

Now That's Just Doing too Much!

Well happy Fall. Wow how fast things can turn around huh? Nature like life can turn in a second LOL. But since I know theres a lot of people right now dealing with freezing temps and even floods and stuff I won't complain. But I will say, No more waking up to 70s and above. Time to break out that flowing Cheetah print robe and walk around my little abode like The Diva Rules this Roost! LOL anyway....

So I've been a little too busy for my own good I think LOL. Now at 12 something I wonder why I still push it forward rather than make a hasty retreat to the bed! Art for Brains!

So I did a lot of things this week. Among them updated my website, in fact I took it from about 8 pages to about 3. Just decided I love Blogging so much more. Don't get me wrong I love my website because it really was the route to meeting a lot of new colorful people. It's just as time goes by, being a networking kinda chick that website just didn't hold the same appeal to me as being able to interact with so many cool peeps! But its fun. Anyway take a peek at it and tell me what you think. I'm still revamping but so far this is what I have. www.diviacity.com While you're there take a peek at my new Journals.



So the other thing I did was post a new video featuring all sorts of fun tips. I get lots of emails asking me about methods I used on certain pieces of art or in my workshops so I decided to make a video with some of my favorites... wait wonder if I can post it here.... ah nevermind, that's doing too much LOL... but you can see it if you like at www.youtube.com/diviacity.

My New Article posted in Divapreneur Magazine. This one is called "Addicted to you Baby!" or Addicted to Love. Hmmm it's an interesting read I think. It talks about 'Love Sick People' and how that's not always cute! Check it out! Stephs Article

So what's going on in your world. I've met some really cool people on here. And I tell you, I'm following a whole lotta blogs and believe it or not, I actually visit them all LOL. I just love the variety and textures of people. I've really learned a lot too. Got some great recipes. A new respect for people that live the 'Green Life'. Been reminded of what it was like to have little babies and teenagers. Met lots of people that love the Vintage Style as I do. Wow...it goes on.

I'm also having a sale and selling off all earrings in grab bags for 5 pair for $25. Whew now that was a tough decision but as we all, the economy is just not cooperating right now. I have to stop myself from dripping over into 'it was good when...' land. It will be good again. Good as far as people not being so distraught and defeated by the way it is. A friend told me she really wanted to buy some of my jewelry but couldn't afford any thing at all that was a luxury. Well you know me, life is a luxury and if I can make that luxury a little better I'm gonna spread some Divaliciousness on it! LOL. So I'm selling em all. Sterling or not. for 5 for $25.

I think it's time to start another painting. They are my escape. LOL.. Yeah. that's what I'll do! So what are you up to?

Oh I have a question, do any of you do Adsense or anything like that on your blogs? If so, what do you think about it? I mean like do you recommend it? Do you ever visit any of my friends on the sidebar?

Have you entered the Contest, 'Interpret This Dream'? It's still on few a few more days okay. The link is on the Sidebar. Well until next friends... keep on keeping on. Life is Good!

THAT 80'S CHICK!

Hey Now! Hows it going? So it's been an interesting few days. It's like any funky stuff in the air was on a seek and bring down mission. But hooray... I won! LOL. So I have spent the last 3 days making Journals. And making a Video. And writing an Article. And working it all out. Let me tell you, if you ever get stuck at an Artist Impasse... get a Creativity Coach! (Lisa Gentile, great Coach) I mean it. There's definitely something to be said for the person that can drive you into Motivation with Communication! No joke. This lady makes me think in a way that I normally can't because my attention span really isn't that long, Actually it never has been. Seriously, Sister Mary used to drag my butt out of the class by the ear and make me stand in the hall face to the wall, because I was too hyper LOL! Even in Art it's not that long, which I think explains why I do so many different things.

So after being stuck at an Artist Impasse I'm on a roll! LOL. Today I had an Artist Lunch with 2 fabulous ladies (Julee, HeartCollective and Gina, Tangerine) who are Fabulous Artists and Entrepreneurs but Friends first.... Hey I'm making up a new word right now ARTREPRENEURS.... Did I make that up...wait hold on, gonna check LOL... no, I didn't :-( LOL But I really like it so I'll just pretend in my head while I write this post. LOL...cause I'll forget by the time its over. Anyway I got to visit Gina's studio, Where a Diva Definitely Creates! :-) It was so much fun and so inspiring.

Then I took a quick run to the store where I met the cutest woman wearing a cute above the knee dress with boots. It immediately catapulted me into memory lane. We laughed as we talked about the 80s. Wow those were the days. So if you were there, you remember. You might try to forget but you remember.

Okay this was 1979 but I had to add it in. LOL, it's close enough.
Yes that's one of those double belts and those are polyester pants LOL. Anyway, a few of the things I remember from those days were:

We were ordered to wear pantyhose, dresses and at least 2 inch heels at work. And they could get away with it.

Back then office buildings allowed smoking. And I can remember getting off the elevator and walking into a smoke filled office where about 2/3rds of the 300 employees smoked.

The Red Onion was across the streets from the office and at least half the office would return to work after lunch, Drunk! LOL no joke.

The Cadillac Seville was a big deal LOL.

Minimum Wage was about $3.00 an hour (or close)

And oh my goodness! Do you remember the Rubiks Cube?

I think I consumed a million Honey Buns during the 80's. Oh and Dr. Peppers!

Milk and Bread were under a dollar.

Pac Man! My First PC, the print on the screen was an Amber color and the modem was as big as a VCR is now. Dot Matrix printers LOL..nosey as hell, but did the job. But wait...the Word Processor LOL. Word Processors were actually separate machines remember?

Some genius came up with Post-It Notes LOL and there was that Gregg Book of Laws for Secretaries LOL...well that's not what it was called but that's how companies used it! Oh my, I guess I better stop. I'm going back LOL. Oh one last thing...

Big hair was cool
That's me on my 21st birthday LOL. for real. Again with the double belt! Oh and those pants were Linen and that jacket was Velvet and I loved it to death LOL. Don't wanna discuss the hat LOL.

That was a lot of fun! :-) Glad you came along! What are some of your memories from the 80's?

Don't forget the Contest is still going on. INTERPRET THIS DREAM!