Thank You Mrs. Roosevelt!

Just got this card from one of my dear friends. I have never read this quote...but, loved it! Which brought me to the scariest moment of my day today. If you remember back in September of 2008, I fractured a bone in my foot, ripped some ligaments and did some type of nerve damage. Was in a boot with no weight for 5 weeks...and later had to have a pain specialist type doctor help me with the nerve issues. This little trek through the woods cost me about 6 months of walking and exercise. But, after my last check-up with the doctor, I am free to start back to my routine.

I have been building up to the big day of running for two weeks. I was suppose to ease into running. Weeks of walking led to today. I ran for about a mile and a half. Yippee! The initial walk to the end of the driveway was the scariest moment...the crutches...the pain....the immobility...the ugly boot all flashed through my head as I looked down my street. Then I stepped off on to the pavement...and everything was great. No pain...no problems....no issues... just a scary moment that made me feel normal again. Sometimes scary is good...thank you Mrs. Roosevelt!

Spirited!

After a week of waaay too many things to do....I am beginning to slow down. Just one more art deadline by Friday....and whew, we can all breathe in my house. To say the past ten days have been "spirited" is an understatement. Which was the inspiration for the above. What is the first 'thing' you think of when presented the word: spirited? My first thought for some reason is associated with a horse. I feel certain some children's book in my past described some saddle bred equine as 'spirited'. When defined, the word that surfaces is 'liveliness', which certainly parallels my week without question. Someone once told me, "the people who do more things...get more things done". I'm not sure this is always true, although, at times it sure seems so. Trying to meet all the needs of your household and personal responsibilities can often seem like a race....trying to make it one more lap around the track...and trying to beat everybody else to the finish. The ultimate race is deciding how to do it all...putting it in the right order....pleasing all those involved....and feeling like you did it well. Whew...I'm getting all "spirited" again! It's high time the horse went out to pasture for a little while.

Relish!

The school auction is over.....RELISH the moment!

Food For Thought!

Food for thought......

Lot's of Plan B!

This quote is speaking to me this week. "The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B." If all goes well, I might quite possibly be the most successful person on the planet. Lot's of Plan B going on!

Appreciation Is A Wonderful Thing!

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing.

It makes what is

excellent in others belong to us as well. "

-Voltaire

Just a wee bit of art today.

Many projects on the burner this week...

and I so appreciate all those that are helping to make everything happen.

Trim Room!!

Busy...crazy...overbooked week has begun. Just thought I would leave you with some more photos from my trip with my designer friend. This is just a scratch off the surface of the "trim" room. Eeee-gads! It was fantastic!

Enjoy!

Be Your Own Bird!

One of my greatest fears is being a Mom that is not in touch with her inner technology. The progression of many....many forms of communication portals is somewhat overwhelming. Since my day of the 8 track, times have changed and waaaay quicker than it used to. When my daughter says, "I text ed you Mom", I want to know what she is talking about....and capable of doing it. I make it a point to semi-learn every new kind of techno gadgetry and computer wizardry possible. Keep in mind...I am not fluent in many things...but, can chit chat about a lot of things. To insure knowledge of the progression, I sign up for everything! So far: IPOD: got it, can download with the best of them Cell Phone: got it Text: do it E-mail: have three IM: do it all the time Website: got it and built it Blog: your reading it You Tube: have loaded a film My Space: did skip that one Facebook: have a page and.....drum roll please....I have officially twittered...today! I still am a bit confused as to why anyone would want to read a brain blip of 160 characters, but nevertheless, I have a twitter account. I personally feel reading my eating habits or what I'm about to do seems quite boring and absolutely no value to anyone, so I have declared my twittering to be funky, positive mantras that twit into my brain. There you have it... Twitter: got it www.twitter.com/alexalett Just be your own bird!

Be Fearless!

Wednesday was fabulous! I had the pleasure of spending the day with one of my creative friends. She is a popular designer in my hometown...and is personally just as colorful as the work she does. I basically invited myself to go with her one day as she went on the buying hunt for some of her clients. She took me places I had no idea existed! She shopped showrooms filled with color....and void of color. All spurring the internal adventure with color. Manufacturers of such extreme swings of home decor are my buddies. Enjoy some of my day....and just imagine how awesome it was in person.

"It is not the form that dictates the color,

but the color that brings out the form."

-Hans Hoffman

Yes, this was fabric that looked like three dimensional grass! Wow!

"Entertainment and art are not isolated.

Entertainment is in

art like color in pictures."

-Martin Kippenberger

A colorful feast of samples and how they can enhance your furniture.

I learned one basic rule today....BE FEARLESS!

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Don't forget to go to the

Glitter and Grunge to read my weekly

"Collecting" post.

Fun stuff!

Observe...and Imagine!

The book covers used as the canvas in this little goody were an awesome shade of teal. The lined inside cover was so interesting and perfect for the similarly colored Bingo card. The chicken with the red tail feathers were a last minute decision. I seem to be obsessed with loads of texture lately.

The quote should be the mantra to everyone creative. Observe...and imagine!

Determine The End!

"He who chooses the beginning of the road

chooses the place that it leads to.

It is the means that determines the end."

-Harry Emerson Fosdick

This is the path to our Easter brunch! What a view!

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The green tree trunk is a green plastic child's knife! (question from yesterday) Many of you guessed knife...you bright, bright girls!

I Had An Idea!

I hope everyone had a peaceful and family filled Easter Sunday! Mine was fantastic! The day was beautiful, full of blooming flowers, budding trees and green, green grass. Although my child is out of the egg hunting phase of life...it sure was a perfect day to have the experience. I just finished this piece of art and wanted to share. I love the quote...but, I love the TREE! I found this cute little green thingy and had an idea! The mystery for you is to determine what makes the tree trunk. Can you see what it is? Let me know! Have a great day!

"An invasion of armies can be resisted,

but not an idea whose time has come."

-Victor Hugo

Welcome Glitter and Grunge!

Good News!

My art will now be available with a fantastic group of artists!

The online store is Glitter and Grunge!

and...

I will be writing a weekly blog about "Collecting"

on the Glitter and Grunge Blog.

I am so excited to be a part of such a wonderful online artist community,

and even more honored to be one of the writers for their blog!

My first post is tomorrow, Friday, April 10th. I'm going to give you a little teaser of the post, but, you must go their to read the final words. Please leave a comment...I want my fellow blog friends to be noticed at Glitter and Grunge! Hope to see you there!

Collecting at Glitter and Grunge...

First and foremost one must determine whether they have the propensity to become a collector. Look up and down the family tree and try to remember if anyone in your family was known for their mini-museum of a particular doo-dad. Was there a relative that gift-giving was not a problem, because you knew what they collected? Will you forever remember said relative, as the keeper of the knick-knacks? If ‘yes’ can be answered to any of these questions…the molecular make-up for collecting is in your favor. If ‘no’ answers all these questions…you know what? It’s time you branched out........

Read the rest at Glitter and Grunge!

Blessed!

Some fun opportunities have begun to happen for me!

Fortunately, it involves my art...my thrill for writing...and my pure passion for junking!

Check in tomorrow to see what is going on! I feel blessed!

Honor

I drive by this abandoned building every day...sometimes about four times. Judging by the decaying painted advertisements, it was formerly a grocery store. This little building sits right on a two lane road directly across from a rail road. Probably, a hub of activity in the early fifties. I never see anyone in or roaming around...just a building that seems to have stopped in time. All the fixtures and shelving remain inside, visible through the cracked glass windows. For the most part, this building has been unnoticed by any form of life for quite a while. Yet, the past two months the front door has become a type of alter.

It all started with the patriotic wreath...and then the many miscellaneous items on the steps. The collection includes several religious type books, bottle of water, can of peaches, box of oatmeal pies, bucket of snacks, and a basket of religious tracks. The black bag hanging on the door is the most recent addition and has a brand new religious type shelf ornament in it. This makeshift alter is so intriguing to me. After 60 days of rain, sleet, heat, poor economic times...nothing has been touched!

My faith in people respecting the reverence of what I think to be the death of possibly the owner of this building...is renewed. I know no facts...I have no idea what this pile of stuff represents...it only serves as a form of respect for someone...I think. But, it made me watch from a distance and create a scenario that only creates more questions. Honor the vision....and honor the alter...and honor the person it possibly represents.

Collections!

I have a fun surprise coming! Consider this a tease for Friday! Collections....collections....

The Artistry of Sports!

My absence has been filled with sports! My little offspring loves SPORTS! We swim year round...and as of this year, we have added volleyball. She is a member of a city league team that plays approximately three months out of the year. This past weekend I attended the most phenomenal sporting event, the Big South Volleyball Tournament. Picture this.... 1. Walking into one of the most open spaces under one roof with walls (a gazillion square feet). 2. Hundreds of volleyball courts in this room as far as the eye can see. 3. Thousands of beautiful young women 13-18 years of age. 4. Spandex embellished with sequins, colorful ribbons and very girly uniforms. 5. A very high decibel of cheering and screaming. 6. A faint smell of sweat and perfume (not necessarily displeasing, but not a scent I would buy in a bottle). It made the hair on your arms salute and take notice. The immense visual display was quite fantastic! As someone who has organized trade shows (while a part of the working world), my first instinct is to fall to my knees and bow before the soul that organized such an event. The vast number of people, equipment, planning meetings and food is overwhelming. I was there three full days...and I'm not aware of one "hitch in the net" you might say. It was a wonderful experience. Things I learned... 1. Boys between the ages of 13-18 would have heart palpitations visiting this event. 2. Those who say mass quantities of estrogen cause conflicts....I say: "estrogen-schmestrogen" 3. Sports uniforms can be made feminine...take a look at the pink ones above. 4. Yes, it is appropriate to wear sequin headbands while participating in a sport. 5. There are fantastic coaches that truly enjoy the sport and share it with their athletes. 6. Girls hanging out together is still a "good" thing. Artistry can be found in the most unusual places...I saw it on a volleyball court....ssss!