special book = special course

Over the weekend I signed up for Juliana Coles' first online "extreme journalism" course, titled ALTERED STATES. More info is available on her website! The initial cost, being her first, is only $50 for 3-months of access to the artist, discussion group, PDF, audio, video and more!

First step: find a book!

I purchased a vintage record collection "book" (circa late 40's) at a tag sale about a year ago for a few bucks, never IMAGINING I would be guided by Juliana through the altering process!! I'm excited that the cover has torn off so I can work on that in lesson #2! So far I've cut 10 manilla folders in half, deciding to sandwich each sleeve with them leaving the top open for use as pockets. And I've taken the book apart and removed cardboard spacers, only to put them back into use... who knows!

There are sleeves that hold ten 33rpm records and an Index listing a mix of artists. What I got were 10 Perry Como EP or extended play singles, so someone already "personalized" their collection to be different from the original. Kind of cool, since that is what I plan to do ~ make this my own!

Wouldn't it be a great tie-in to incorporate some of the lyrics from the records?

"I hear your haunting theme
And I begin to dream"

"Each tender note you play
Will be my serenade"

Can't wait to jump right in!

Most Recent ATCs Are Loaded With DIIMENSION!

Posting cards I made a few months ago ~
Personal Collection and possibly Etsy.

~ follow up post ~

Last year, 17 artists participated with me in this artezine board book swap with Christine Shebroe as the hostess. You can view the swap in its entirety here.

It was WAY BACK in July 2009, that I posted a few steps here to illustrate the WIP on the cover. I always meant to share the rest of my pages and I guess, better late than never! As with any first attempt, i still recall my inner critic was in "over-drive" and, in the end, I produced something I was very happy with! Moral of the story??? ... SILENCE that pesky inner critic and you will be surprised to see what lovely things can happen!

blessed by a life of love

.................................... these are recent pics ...........................

Our house is alot emptier these days since our precious 18 year old "SATCHie" crossed the Rainbow Bridge 3 days ago, on Sunday. Finally free from the Diabetes that kept him on a 12-hour insulin shot schedule for 5+ years, we know that he is young again, rolling in catnip, scratching his post and chasing fuzzy mouse toys with Sam. "Have fun little Chi-Chi.. We will be there to see you as soon as our time comes!"

We honor his passing the same way we did with his brother, Sam (3/11/92-2/4/06) by making a shrine that includes photos + a candle and participating each monday in the Candle Ceremony for pet loss.

The ceremony began online in 1993 and spread internationally in just 2 weeks (time zone chart below)! And although we can light our candles privately and in our own way, by lighting them at the same time we are all joined in spirit to share this common love and healing.

The ceremony encompasses not only the newly bereaved but those remembering beloved pets from long ago as well as animals with special needs, those who are sick or suffering as well as other pet OWNERS who are going through this difficult time.

Excerpt from the original website "When a human loved one dies, a prescribed ritual provides a cushion between the loss and the return to "normal" life. When the loved one is a furbeing, society provides no means of closure. For many of us the Candle Ceremony has brought peace, acceptance and the hope of eternal reunion someday in that place 'just this side of Heaven' we call Rainbow Bridge." - Marion Hale.

Mark your calendar and join us, won't you?

Candle lighting times are...

In USA:
10 PM Eastern
9 PM Central
8 PM Mountain
7 PM Pacific
6 PM Alaska
5 PM Hawaii

In South America:
Sao Paulo - 11 pm
Chile - 10 pm

In Europe, Asia & The South Pacific:
Central Europe - 2:00 AM GMT Tuesday
London - 3 am Tuesday
Poland - 4 am Tuesday
Madrid / Paris - 4 am Tuesday
Egypt - 4 am Tuesday
Moscow - 6 am Tuesday
Australia (West Coast, Perth) - 10 am Tuesday
Tokyo, Japan - 11 am
Australia (East Coast, Sydney) - 12 noon

I am back to more scanning/restoration of treasured family and ancestor pics. here's one from yesterday..

Treasure found! - I always WISHED I could find a pic of my parents dancing, and surprise! Both of them were "clear-the-floor" ballroom dancers in their day. An accomplished gymnast, Dad taught dance at sumer camp in Maine when he was only 19 years old. He also taught square dancing in the philadelphia area throughout my childhood. Mom, 86, recently told me there was NO WAY she was going to marry a man who couldn't dance ~ and boy, did he have the moves!! ♥

Reigniting A Love Of Hand Tools

chain nose pliers ca. 1980

If I were to share an interesting fact about myself it would be that I was once a cardholding member of the "Sheet Metal Workers" union!

At 22, I was living at home, working P/T and going to school P/T when my father changed jobs. We moved to another part of the state at the same time the country was in a major recession and I wasn't able to find work. The earliest unemployment records in the U.S. only date back to the early 1984 when 2.1 million young people (26% of 16-24 yr olds) were economically inactive. I can attest that it was a DIRE situation in the late 70's as well!

By registering at the State Employment/Unemployment Office I qualified for a government subsidized work/training program, called CETA, and began a lucrative 6-year career in the field of electronics. The position required that I pass a 2-week/80-hour Government Certification course in soldering and, after several weeks, I found that I was enjoying myself! My company did alot of government contract work and at the time we supplied electronic sub-assemblies to be used in missle radar and life support systems... no cold solder joints allowed!

After about a year I was laid off and registered with a "technical" Temp Agency. I wore many hats over the next several years in addition to soldering. I did wire harness assembly, benchwork, point-to-point wiring, ran a bench press, punch press, coil winding machine, learned flash welding and my ultimate fave:
soldering under a microscope (in the field of microelectronics). There you have it!

It has been a thrill to return to my trusty old chain nose pliers ~ and maybe try my hand at soldering again :D

be inspired

be inspired! Originally uploaded by cookievf

Have you noticed?

There is such an amazing array of talent on flickr.com! Please take a moment, click on the uploaded "photo mosaic" I've created to

• view all of the stunning details in a larger format
• find 18 individual links to learn more about some of these amazing artists!!

I promise you'll be inspired to
make something beautiful today.

1. Conscious Freedom, 2. Willkommen Oktober, 3. sparse. one, 4. Angel Of Grief, 5. White Building, 6. Stacking rings, 7. Untitled, 8. Glass and green, 9. monday worries, 10. Shortbread with Pistachio, 11. Bench Monday - Hibernate, 12. ..., 13.WINTER BOKEH 1, 14. White Ceramic Star Decorations, 15. antique chandelier, 16. ashberry, 17. Kitchen moment, 18. Where Angels Nest

Notice: Although FLICKR is a photo-sharing website, please realize it is by no means my intention to offend anyone. Please leave a COMMENT on FLICKR if you would like me to remove your picture and I will not hesitate to do so!

change of pace ~ can't help myself

I really miss getting dirty with my inks n paints... but something has come over me and working with wire and hand tools has been a refreshing change of pace. Taking hundreds of photos in my travels as always. I've also been hiking and snowshoeing with old and new friends (3x last week) I'll post a few highlights soon!

Ecclectic Jewelry

I have the opportunity to sell jewelry at my best friend's salon, located just 1/2 block from the green in our beautiful Village Center. There she displays 4-5 collections from local artisans ranging from larger scale fine art photography, blank photo greeting cards and a variety of handmade jewelry. I'm still working out a few of the creative details, such as

• what style I'd like to focus on (or NOT since I have ecclectic taste!)
• packaging
• pricing
• buying additional supplies

Most likely I will be offering a combination of styles using steel, silver, crystal & semiprecious stones as well as incorporating collage (no pics yet) in charm bracelets and pendants.