Feliz Cumpleanos a Mi (to my blog, that is)!

"Kisses to me", Copyright 2008 JonesMoore

Yes, this is it! The One Year Birthday of my blog, "La Vida Artistica=The Artistic Life". I can hardly believe it. It has been a most amazing year, both in the blogosphere and in real life.

I am also coming up on my one year anniversary of teaching mixed media classes in the Seattle area, after taking a break from teaching for a few years. I have met the most fabulous people and students through my art workshops, and look forward to many more new 'connections'. I have met some very talented creative types through blogging, and I'm so excited to expand those connections and friendships, as well.

Perhaps you might take a few minutes to read my very best blog posts from 2009:
Point and shoot Journaling with LK Ludwig
Some glorious beeswax collage work...
Happy Halloween...
Poppy Play
Artwork featured in Cloth*Paper*Scissors
Thoughts on my daughter...
Autumn Diptych...
My dad...Memorial Day Thoughts
Sofia Reyes
Rumi and art from the vaults...
The birth of a shrine...
Back from ArtFest 2009
In loving memory: Max...
TED talk on creativity...
The creative process...
1000 Journals DVD
Marilyn, 1955
Past job descriptions...

A HUGE thank you from me to you: to everyone who has taken the time over this past year to make a connection with me, share bits of yourself and your creative process and create meaningful dialogue!!

The earrings I am wearing today have this inscription: "Do what you love." and "Love what you do." I hope you all will continue to work towards those ends, for it is a lifelong process!

Wax poetic in my "Beeswax Valentines" workshop!

"Ahhh" collage, copyright 2004 JonesMoore

Spend the afternoon of February 6 literally “waxing poetic”! In this class, we will be making beautiful handmade valentines out of collage materials and melted beeswax. I will show you the  basics of collage, and how to use beeswax with various items such as lace, rice paper, oil pastels, found text  and small objects. Your friends and family will truly appreciate your small works of art for Valentine’s Day! No experience necessary, all levels of art experience welcome. 

To register for this fabulous class, please call the Arts Council at 425-257-8380. For in-depth information just email me at :  jomoma58@yahoo.com

The wonder of small things...and large!

My Christmas gift (from my wonderful S. O.) arrived yesterday, in a very small package. We have been waiting for this little wonder since ordering it just before Christmas. No, it's not a baby or puppy or kitten...it's an "Eee" (mini-laptop)!!

Ok, I have been a dedicated MAC person since the first one arrived (1988) in the design office I was working for at the time. It had a huge black and white screen, and had been modified to do vast amounts of graphic design work. I felt as though the 'black monolith' from Space Odyssey 2001 had arrived. We were all in awe of such a machine... Now, my household has 3 generations of iMacs, 4 generations of iPods and this new little mini PC.

So, my new "Eee" runs Windows 7, and I'm having to re-learn how to do simple tasks. It is a lovely little white laptop that, when closed, resembles a very large make-up case! Presently, it seems that the best things seem to be coming in smaller and smaller packages. But it's very interesting that the new Apple iMac screens seem to be growing larger exponentially! I suppose sometime in the near future, I'll be streaming (and watching) all my favorite TV shows and movies on one of those new gigantic iMac screens, via the web. My daughter's new iMac screen already dwarfs my screen that seemed huge just 5 years ago!

Times do change, yet somehow stay the same in many ways...wish me luck with navigating Windows 7!

Some wonderous words for the "Monday After"...

Visit Rebecca's blog, Requerda Mi Corazon, to read some really moving words about the Holidays. I think they will help to make this "Monday After" hangover go a bit more smoothly...

Also, I wanted to share my resolutions for 2010:

• Go back to Mexico

• Learn more Spanish

• Do more hiking

• find my creative "true north"

• help others find their creative "true north"

Poetry to ring in the New Year...

Lunar eclipse, Copyright JonesMoore 2008

This is one of my favorites. I could read this over and over again. It was written by Sara Teasdale, in 1915.

Peace flows into me
As the tide to the pool by the shore;
It is mine forevermore,
It ebbs not back like the sea.

I am the pool of blue
That worships the vivid sky;
My hopes were heaven-high,
They are all fulfilled in you.

I am the pool of gold
When sunset burns and dies, --
You are my deepening skies,
Give me your stars to hold.

I wish you all a beautiful, loving and joyful year. Namaste.

The gorgeous photo was taken by my son, then 11 years old...

My ASUW Collage and Assemblage classes now open for registration!

Fabulous student work from my 2009 class, "Candy Tin Assemblage"

O.K., I know your fingers are just itching to try something new in 2010! I'm offering two classes at the ASUW Experimental College (Seattle campus, Washington) in January and February, that I think you would enjoy! The first one is called "Candy Tin Shadow Box" on January 30, and the second one is "The Painted Page: Springtime" on February 27 (click here to see pics!). Please visit www.exco.org for the full descriptions. They are listed under the category "Arts and Crafts".

You may register online, or by calling 206-68-LEARN. I'll see you in class! (PSSST! These make great gifts, too! Send that 'special someone' to art class!).