SO I DO IT

NEW WATERCOLOR - DRY TIME BEFORE INKING

BEGINNING INKING

I was going to title this post "Sometimes You Just Need to Sit Still" but then I stopped sitting still. I can't do that for too long. I have my moving meditations such as biking, walking in the woods, making art pieces, gardening and drawing mandalas.

"At this moment" autumn is here in Central Florida. I awoke at dawn to 55F - NICE. I am wearing slippers. Insert smiley face. Mornings are lovely. How anyone sleeps in dumbfounds me. I have already been out in the garden chatting with my plants and picking up raintree pods and branches. I save both for earth art. I am often surprised how they work themselves into a piece.

BUTTERFLY LOVING THE LANTANA

This cooler weather inspires me to create my fiber art and my earth art again. On Sunday I found myself wrapping raintree sticks while getting "wrapped up" in fiber arts youtube playlists.

Is it me or is this a fall thing? All I know is it feels right so I do it. Look forward to future posts and pics of mixed earth art and fiber media coming up.

I don't have much computer time today so must be getting on with it. >>>>>> More coffee - more puttering - I have a guest coming for a week and need to sweep up my earth piddle. My enviro art construction can be a messy process sometimes and dust gets everywhere but it "feels right so I do it".

I have added a few happy pics...

NEW SIDE GARDEN BIRDBATH - SUNKEN VASE & PLATTER

BUTTERFLY BUSH - MAGNOLIA & CYPRESS MULCH"

 ENJOY!

NON-EARTH ART PIDDLE

JUST WALK AWAY

This morning when I awoke I practiced my usual routine. Actually I don't need to practice. I have it down. I woke up before the sun rose, stretched out from the fetus position and sighed a happy big sigh. Each day is a rebirth. I noticed the birds singing, the breeze coming through the windows and then I began to analyze my dreams. It's fun and often enlightening to take the time in bed before your mind gets diverted and you forget.

I then got up, started the coffee, pushed the ON button on my laptop and checked my mail, Facebook and the weather. Soon I got to puttering. When I got back to the laptop, my laptop that I use for all my design work, it gave me a 24 second warning to plug in. That's when the trouble began. I couldn't plug it in in time. Now I can't get it to boot up. Three hours searching and trying solutions and another hour looking for laptops online.

TECH FAIL.

Walk away Patt!

I have 2 old broken Acer netbooks. The screen is totally smashed on one. I have it VGA'd to an old monitor. It is connect to a sound system in my studio so that I can stream groovy music. I also have another netbook with a partially broken screen (it casts red fuzz) which is what I am typing on now. I wear readers over my bifocals to see what I am typing. 

Walk away Patt, walk away.

All weekend I was getting text messages from someone that should know by now I don't keep my phone near me and I dislike texting. Call me! She was offering me an old smart phone to use. I suppose I should reply. But...

Aren't I sucked in enough?

Close the cover Patt.

A web design client called Sunday frantic that several browsers showed his site with security issues. Not a problem, but for him a scare. I said most likely the web host service was doing updates. My suggestion was to wait a few hours. But I had to dig in only to find that indeed the host was making server updates. Less than two hours later all was fine.

Pull out the watercolor paper and pencils Patt.

Tech messages from the Universe do not need hardware and you are already pre-loaded with the software. Running too many programs all at once isn't such a good thing.

Today is my day off. I am finally taking my own advice and getting my art supplies out and...

Just walking away.

Read my blog first - then walk away ;) Chau 4 now.

CROCHETING FRIENDSHIP INTO A MANDALA

I have three special women friends in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We met several years ago at the Club Europeo. They were in my "So To Speak" English conversation group. Often I was asked by others, "Patt, you speak English well. Why are you here?" Well, besides the fact I was extremely welcomed and valued at the Monday meetings I had another reason for attending. I wanted to gain knowledge about the Argentine culture in a language that I could understand. I could ask questions and get understandable replies all while being helpful by correcting their English. And ther was another HUGE added benefit. I could make friends.

Those three women and I became Las Rebelas (The Rebels). When the club shut from late December to March for summer holidays we continued to meet at my apartment or hang out for dinner downtown. And even when we all stopped our club memberships our deeply rooted friendship continued through new babies to job changes, boyfriends and long trips away.

They call me Swami Patt for all the sharing of angel cards, dowsing rods, spiritual teachings and grounding techniques through difficulties. But most importantly, they call me their friend.

They gave me this crocheted mandala when I left Argentina. It now hangs in the kitchen of my BoHo MoHo Boo in Central Florida. I feel the warmth of their friendship each time it catches my eye. Many times I have attempted and failed to crochet something similar. I don't know why it is but I am a complete disaster at crochet. Youtubes do not help. I need someone to gently guide me and my hands, in person, with the buena onda (good vibe) of an old friend.

So how about it? Are you near Leesburg, FL? Are you patient and kind? Can you teach me how to crochet a mandala? We can do it in English :). or ....

Would you want to teach a group class at the Leesburg center for the Arts? :) <3 Please let me know.

Besitos y Abracitos
Swami Patt

BOHO FEST 2018 COMMUNITY MANDALA

AWESOME * BODACIOUS * COPACETIC and GREAT VIBES - the ABC's of Leesburg's first BoHo Festival. I had the great pleasure and honor of facilitating the huge mandala canvas painting in front of Sip on Main. I began painting the center of the mandala off site. The city's crew bolted it down to the pavement to keep it in place and then the kids filled in the outside rings. So much fun! I will be finishing off some details and we will have a huge backdrop to use AND be able to have the kids put their little hand prints all around it at the next community event. All good!

Rather than type more about this BRILLIANT event I am simply going to post a few photos. The whole day was exceptional. Smiles everywhere! And yes, we are making BoHo Fest an annual event.

#leesburgarts
#arthappenshere

   

OH AND ONE MORE THING...

REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT SIP & CRAFT PARTY AT THE LCFA ON OCTOBER 3RD. THE CANVASES ARE 12" X 12' AND PRE-LINED FOR YOU. NO ARTISTIC ABILITY REQUIRED.

MAKE IT A DATE NIGHT OR FUN GIRLS NIGHT OUT.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

THE LINK IS AT LEESBURGARTS.COM * SPACE IS LIMITED

https://www.leesburgarts.com/sip-craft-parties/

COME PAINT STREET ART

We are all geared up for BoHo Fest this coming Saturday the 22nd. And... it has been decided that we will be painting in tempera a huge street mandala at one of the cordoned off intersections. HOW FUN! It will be a community mandala. I am looking for volunteers to help me get all the chalk lines snapped and the inner core painted before 10 AM. Do you want to help? It takes a village to paint a community mandala. :)

I have decided to make a circle surrounded by a 6 pointed star and layers radiating outward. People can come by and add their personal touches. Tempera paint washes off but it would be advisable to not wear your best Sunday outfit.  We will have aprons available so you can play with us without getting too messy. FUN!

Speaking of fun, we had a great trail walk last Thursday in honor of National Wilderness Month.. Two more walks focusing on Environmental Art are scheduled for this month. After those we have to cease for awhile until after the holidays. The parks close at sunset. Here's a photo of our motley crew at Sabal Bluff Preserve.

And here is a blast from the past. Facebook reminds me of what I was doing from years past. Yesterday was the 4 year anniversary of when I created the Ames Mansion Mandala for the Blanche Ames National Juried Art Show. Crawling around on your knees helps you stay young. We began that way and for me it hasn't changed. I will need to bring my cushy little kneeling rugs for Saturday's pavement gig.

Well that's it for this week. There is much to do. Acoustic Art Lounge is happening Wednesday night at the Leesburg Center for the Arts, the trail walk is Thursday (meet at Flat Island Preserve at 5:30 in the parking area), Friday is Open Studio at 10 am, Coffee & Convos at noon and then the last big push getting the BoHo Fest all set up. Do stop by.There's gobs of unconventional fun to be had right in Downtown Leesburg. ART HAPPENS HERE!

BOHO EARTH FASHION - ORGANICALLY CHIC

Today rushed by and I almost forgot to post for Mandala Monday. Today's post is another Earth Art Dress. YEY!  BoHo Fest is almost here (Saturday September 22nd - Downtown Leesburg) and Sweet Magnolia is bringing her best friend Rosemary.

Rosemary is wearing a fuzzy sweater vest with shawl collar, a belt of sweet gum, bodice of rain tree pods and skirt of Spanish moss woven with dried rosemary - of course. BOHO EARTH CHIC!

I rushed to take some photos and videos before another storm hits. These dresses are not made to live out their lives outdoors but by the big mandala garden  behind my home studio they sure look fine. To think last year I had everything tied down and packed into closets as Hurricane Irma spun closer and closer. I am very thankful for today's calm in contrast. I am preparing to make some modifications to the garden this month. The MUMS are in stock but pavers are a bit harder to find. Stay tuned!

Make sure to stop by on the 22nd and check out the festivities. Here is a link to the BoHo Fest page. https://www.leesburgarts.com/bohofest2018/

MAGNOLIA YOU SWEET THING

It's Labor Day here in the USA and also MANDALA MONDAY! I just got in from cycling. I am making it my routine to pedal in the morning. On my route I ride over a bridge above an inlet. I usually stop and re-hydrate there and check out a huge magnolia tree. Last year I saw so many of its pods on the ground but wasn't quite ready to collect them. Well I am ready now!

A little voice said back track a bit and note the house number. I had never seen anyone outside. Sure enough the grandson was there. I gave him my card. "When those pods drop please call me. I will come and get them out of your way."

What do I do with them? LOTS OF STUFF. Here is an example. I call her "Sweet Magnolia".

"Magnolia you sweet thing. You're driving me mad."

There are a few more finishing touches to be applied then I need to set my studio lights up for a proper photo shoot. I have another piece that I am working on too. I used an oil stain on Spanish moss in the design. It needs to dry more before I continue. Maybe by next Monday...

Yes - Earth Art Dresses!  It has been too long since I made them for historical sites and state parks. It took a bit of time and trail walking/cycling to learn my area's botany. I AM SO EXCITED! These new ones are not 100% bio-degradable. I have made them to last with wire, paints and glue but most of the ingredients are organic. I need a new tagline for this enviro art work. I no longer can say...

"I don't make rotten art. I make art that rots." These are designed to last.

Oh and don't forget. September is National Wilderness Month. To help people get outside I have agreed to run four trail walks after work on Thursdays in Leesburg so that people can explore 3 different area preserves. We will meander the parks as I point out cool artistic things you can do with foraged organics. But please note - no picking. We cannot take anything from the park except inspiration. :) Check the Leesburg Center for the Arts website for details.

leesburgarts.com