A Child's Smiles - For Artoo

I don't know if anyone reading is doing the same, but I've been following the Caylee Anthony case since she was first reported missing ( I refuse to permit her mother extra publicity by stating HER name!).  The case is so disturbing on so many levels and the conduct of the mother is so reprehensible that it's entirely believable she is, in fact, guilty.  So many photos, clippings and videos of this precious, sweet lamb... her lilting toddler song to her grandfather, the sweet grins as she tried to mimic her mother's toothy grimace...I got out my pens to try to process some of the ugliness and was blessed with a vision of our Diva's littlest one, Artoo.  Precious lamb here, too, who will never be able to signal his joys with the same abandoned facial evidence of delight - no less precious for that, his eyes already speak volumes, at a mere few months of age.  I certainly can't feel sorry for him - he's boundlessly loved precisely as he is and rejoices in the most splendid parents and fabulous big bro - but I feel for his Mama to always need to look carefully to see his smirk of joy... how do these babies wrap around our heartstrings so quickly?  I've never met Artoo, nor will I ever meet Caylee, and yet I see their faces in quiet moments and add them in my prayers.  I was once told I must be shallow as I cry easily, and at the time I took the comment at face value and added a measure of hurt and guilt to my emotional baggage.  On reflecting as an adult in mid-life, I now believe I show my emotions so easily because they AREN'T shallow.  They run deep and overflow to prevent me from drowning in them.  They are large enough to encompass people I'll never know and keep me striving to live up to the ideals of humanity I value.  I only too often fail, but at least the wealth of feeling is always there, to catch me, close over my head to protect me, then lift me up to try yet again, once more, a little harder this time...So I was vibing on Artoo, and emotions and life and values and a million scattered thoughts resulted in this:

Happy Thursday!

Grow Dreams

I am finally home.  The past month at work has been exceptionally difficult trying to keep everything consistently up to date and deal with the constant, urgent priorities that flux and change practically each moment - and all while packing up two offices for the seventh move in seven years...  I am exhausted.  We are being relocated the very day I return from my week away.  As I return home on Saturday I already know I'll be going back into the office to pack up the few remaining items on the Sunday.  *sigh*  Another day of my life lost... but now I slough it off!  I reject delivery of any more stress and upset and worry.

I am off to grow dreams!  I am going on a trip I've waited for, planned for and eagerly anticipated for months now - I'm off to Whitinsville next week for my Zentangle training and I hope that maybe, at the end of it, I'll be awarded the coveted CZT designation!  I'm packing my pens and a journal or two, updating my car club membership (I'm driving) and hunting for twin-size bedding... I'll be clad in optimism and my dear friend Debi's gorgous jacket (my favourite in the world!) that she is lending me.  I love it and can use the spiritual armour.  All this and another great (and brave!) friend, Ruth, is going to keep me company and also attend!  Ruth is not only a muti-faceted and greatly talented artist, but also a highly educated and dedicated homeopathic practitioner; my western medicine makes sure the machine works, but Ruth's therapies make it worth running!  Ruth isn't only going for a 9-hour drive (each way!) with me, but didn't back out even when I told her I'll play new country music all the way... Heheheheee  Actually, I love many forms of music so I doubt it'll be all of ANYTHING on the drive.  A big snow-storm is scheduled for Sunday night and we set out early on Monday morning so hopefully things will have cleared by then.  I may or may not be able to blog while away, so don't give up on me if I'm gone for a few days, alright?  In the meantime, please enjoy my drawing, "Grow Dreams", which features an Artoo tangleation, Ruth's lovely Organza and a plethora of other tangles:

Happy Friday!

Monday, Monday...

Well, I've been well and truly gnashed by the ATC bug - it seems every time I have a few minutes between tasks I just have to grab a card and make another one!  It's like potato chips, you know?  You can't make just one! *G*  I've had such fun, I even did our lovely Diva's challenge this week on an ATC!  A very, VERY simple version, but hey, sometimes simple says everything we need it to doesn't it?  And with this being Valentine's Day, a little bit of Artoo managed to send a whole lotta love!  See?

And of course, having been well and truly bitten, I've gone a bit pen-crazy with the ATCs:

On the other hand, what better way to go?  I can't believe I get to attend my workshop in Whitinsville NEXT WEEK already... I can't wait!  I just KNOW it'll be worth the 9+ hour drive to get there and I'm already thinking about what I need to pack.  Definitely my pens! *G*

Happy Monday!

Open Hearts

Time constraints have limited my opportunities to check out the responses to Laura's latest challenge, but I've been thinking quite a bit about her baby boy, Artoo, and the hearts and minds around the globe bending their will to help him heal... what a wonderful world we have!  I have always said beaders are the nicest people around, but now I realize that it's ALL creative souls.  Not the art snobs, not the insecure people who only feel confident when they can run someone else down, but those who feel a genuine internal NEED to create.  Here are all these wonderful artists, some professional, the majority squeezing art into lives already ridiculously busy with work, family and community, and yet they lay aside their own challenges to send love and hope to a tiny child they will (probably) never meet.  I was inspired by these thoughts to offer up a second take on this challenge - a heart made with a combination of two previous challenges (simplicity and double-string) - and dedicate it to all those fabulous, thoughtful, decent, considerate people who make this world worth living in.  In short, this one's for you!  I hope you like it.

Happy Wednesday!

Challenge #8 - Heart for Artoo

A friend's baby son is experiencing some hard times just now - barely graduated from dual full-leg casts to boots and braces, the poor bunny has a viral infection with respiratory distress that has landed him back into the hospital.  Yes, I mean Artoo, the younger of our lovely Laura's two great boys.  With the upset and worry and activity, she was gracious enough to find time to keep us informed and even posted a challenge this week.  Thanks to her husband's inspiration, we are to create a heart for Artoo, combining any two of the previous challenges.  With such a worthy purpose OF COURSE I had to sit right down and do it right away, tonight, because no one should keep a baby waiting!  I've chosen to make my riff off of Challenge #1 - Simplicity, and Challenge #6 - Ixorus.  I am sending it with all my most concentrated, passionate prayers for quick healing and sweet health plus an extra dose of support and peace for the harried Mommy and Daddy:

Happy Monday!