River Bend Ranch - Patty Van Dorin

Laws of Attraction

Laws of Attraction - Today's subject "Junk" - evidence no. 7
One of my favorite places to climb, these mossy green rocks provide a splendid view.
Getting to this point requires careful climbing and observation due to rattlesnakes and other hazards. While climbing, I found this tiny doll wedged in a rock formation. Not the normal place to find a little doll, I tried to speculate how it ended up so high tucked in the rocks. This is not a place that is child friendly. My best guess is a family of birds were flying over, mama bird tired of the bickering behind her, snatched the baby doll from the fighting flock and flung it in the rocks.
This week I am in the midst of packing trying to get ready for my up coming move. I have just entered the bad stage of moving. It's the stage where you have been packing for hours and little progress can be seen. Common phrases spoken during this phase are:
1. where did all this junk come from
2. why do I have all this junk
3. aren't you glad you left that stupid little doll in the rocks

***blog posts may be infrequent due to dealing with all this moving of junk and even though I try to respond to all comments, I may be unable to respond  but I do appreciate all the kind words. Regular blogging to resume in a couple weeks (hopefully)***

a.k.a. Miss Kitty

When does one out grow their childhood security blanket? Without having to post my exact age, after 40 plus years of hauling this quilt around it should be time for it to be thrown out. With each washing "Miss Kitty" needs more and more patching. Miss Kitty has been called all sort of names. True she is right up there being one of the ugliest tattered quilts around.
As with most security blankets, names evolve or the blanket can instantly acquire a name. When I was still in the single digits age-wise, my grandmother was babysitting a couple of other kids. As we all headed off to bed, my grandmother knowing I would not be able to sleep without my quilt but not wanting to embarrass me in front of the older girls called out for me, "don't forget Miss Kitty".  We just happened to be watching the TV show "Gunsmoke".  Miss Kitty was my favorite character.
Forever to be known as Miss Kitty, this quilt has been my constant companion. She has traveled many years in Japan, Korea and has made it through almost every state in this country. Last night I almost considered it was time for her to go. With each washing she comes closer and closer to breathing her last breath but I just can't part with the tattered quilt.
This bag of scraps is Miss Kitty's life support. So today, I dug in and cut a few more patches to repair the frayed holes. At one time, I tried to repair her properly but now she just gets random patches sewn on by machine. She may no longer be needed for sleeping but she is just right for watching late night TV and has been known to enjoy a Martini with a good book.

completly hopelessly distracted

and that just about says it all

totally frustrated with this journal page but that comes from working on it in a highly distracted frame of mine. For some reason I started using everything I could get my hands on, use it all regardless of color or theme, then the date stamp punched down twice giving a partial double print. I then proceeded to spill a bottle of ink on the left side which I was only able to partially wipe up. At this point, I told myself to stop this hodge podge of madness. Even though it is tempting to paint over the entire page and try again, I am leaving it as it because it truly shows the chaos in my mind today. And that is what a journal is all about, sometimes it just isn't pretty.
Dog has a good idea going on here, I think I will curl up on something soft and take a Ralph nap.

ride the crazy chicken

There has been no time for the visual journal this week, but I hope to have pictures to share next week.

So many people have been sharing pictures of all the super cool socks they have been knitting. I decided to get in this knitting action and picked up this book at the library.

now I just have to decide which ones to try first. Maybe this one

or maybe these cuties. Now I have never knited socks before but I have made mittens, so I am thinking this should be no big deal. You don't even have the sticking out thumb part to deal with.


super cool mail art arrived from Randi that brightened a very dismal day I was having. There is nothing like finding a great piece of mail art to improve the mood of any day.


I got up early this morning to go to the flea market to pick up some oranges and dried beans but you could also purchase...

deer heads and a trolling motor

novena cards

boots in every color of the rainbow

and if I could only fit into a size 3 pair of jeans

and before leaving, catching a ride on el pollo loco



 

approved by the west coast fashion diva

todays journal page ready for journaling
idea number 62-
the dual black lines at the bottom of the above page is automotive pin striping tape.


and another page just waiting for some journal time


mail art from Toni


or maybe I should say MALE art


still filling old bottles full of junk
I scored another jar with it's original lid and filled it with DAV key tags. They were just waiting for the perfect jar


still lovin' Photoshop
I made a PS bird brush this past weekend and everything is getting the bird brush

after a consultation with my west coast fashion adviser, I was given the stamp of approval to purchase these shoes.   

worker number 11811

 
today's journal page, still in the works
a bit of spray paint action on the right
not much else to share as I spent the day cutting some stencils

lately I have been stuck on embossing the rubber stamp numbers and words in the visual journal
this is nothing new, embossing has been around in the rubber stamping world for a long time but lately I have been obsessed with it.
It's just a little thing but I like the raised feel it gives the pages...and that's all I reckon I have to say today.

maniacal eyes

this is what I should have been doing today

sitting outside enjoying the near 80°weather but instead I have been working on New Year stuff. Sorting out junk, weeding through things I haven't used and just trying to catch up.

but I have had time to work in the journal.
here is a "sweet spot" from one of the pages


journal pages ready for tonight when I have some time to write


a page from the song lyric journal that after a couple of years is nearing completion.
only two sets of pages left
this journal was not as fun to finish as it first started


and it's always a good day when mail art arrives
Mary Ann the Queen of Mail Art has provided more adornment for my studio walls
I think it looks perfect hanging from this old stove grate.


another bottle to add to my collection. this one is filled with four o'clock seeds collected from a garden and a small copy of an old seed packet on the front.
I didn't like the lid so I tossed it and sealed the bottle with bees wax with bits of old paper embedded in the wax


Addiction Number 9 - Old Movies
and topping my favorite list is "Metropolis"
Last night was spent watching this classic with a martini. Now that's what I call a perfect evening

tip number 312:
evil characters are always defined by maniacal eyes. Heavy eye make-up is directly proportional to the inherent evil. The darker the eyes get, the deeper the evil. To be a dastardly movie character it is also important to remember to flail your arms wildly over your head while running.

and that has been today's lesson on "How You Too Can Be A Film Noir Movie Star".

space cowgirl

finally a page to use the vintage Mummer photo that I have had for years.

I am really liking the larger format of this book for my visual and daily journal combo.
This may just work. Just realized that Dog needs antenna or at least doggles. Back to the drawing board.

a dime ahead

Up early this morning and worked on the first page of my new visual journal.

Last night I closed the year a bit dismal, having a bit of a cold, fever and feeling blue.
This morning started out early with walking the dog and during our walk I found this very shiny 2007 dime in the street. Granted 10 cents won't enable me to apply for a black American Express card in the terms of finance but my mood was greatly improved.
Heck, I am starting the New Year already a dime ahead so things are looking good today.

No New Years resolutions other than I promise myself to always put the xacto knife promptly back, blade down in the glass jar holder on my studio table.  Lesson number 18 learned last year the hard way.

Happy Doo year to everyone who just struggled to read the fine print on today's journal page!

***for everyone like Peggy who can't read the fine print, I will put what I wrote in a comment to this post***