My friend Carol took the photo of me on the right a couple of days ago at the Garden of the Gods,  It reminded me of an old photo that was taken at Mt. Rushmore when I was five years old. I found it and scanned it and I put the two together. How can more than 60 years go by so fast? What a long, strange trip it’s been – glad it’s not over yet.

Yesterday morning as Carol and I were having breakfast on the patio at the Garden of the Gods Club, she asked me what I would remember as a defining moment about our weekend. I think it was discovering the earrings in the photo. We were in Rich Designs, an eclectic gallery which carries the artwork of Gwen Fox, whose paintings we both admire. We looked at her new work, then both spotted some wonderful chunky ethnic jewelry in a nearby display case. I fell in love with these earrings. There was a matching necklace and several other striking sets with large beads and silver findings. Then we learned that the beadwork we were so taken with was also created by Gwen Fox – she is branching out into jewelry design. What talent!
Carol bought me the earrings for my birthday – they are more than just jewelry. They symbolize our discoveries in art together, and they also absorb the colors and light of anything around them, seeming to glow from within. I will wear them often for inspiration and cherish them as a reminder of the comfort of sisterhood across the miles.

What an inspiring trip – seeing Carol Mylar is always a delight. I have missed sharing a studio with her so much. I’m here at the Garden of the Gods club in colorado Springs soaking in the cool weather and the mountains. Art, food, friendshop, fun – all of it.
Yesterday was Rich Designs, a visit to Carol’s amazing friend Rori, lunch at the Broadmoor, shopping and looking, a facial for each of us at the Spa, and a wonderful diner and conversation. I’m writing in Goina’s journal all of the new ideas that seem to come to me effortlessly when I’m here with Carol.

Photos:
Top: Grilled vegetable salad at the Broadmore – art in itself, delicious, too

Next: Favorite artist Gwen Fox is now creating tiny boxes with painted tops – lovely idea

Next: She is also incorporating calligraphic elements in her paintings

Next: I get to cut my own geode at a mineral shop near the Broadmoor

Next: The incomparable Broadmoor

Bottom: Kissing Camels outside my terrace – beautiful view of the Garden of the gods

I finished this today and just matted it. It was a tough baby to birth, and I think it’s because I sent a photo to a friend of the preliminary images I wanted to use, so I felt obliged to stick with the plan even though other things evolved during the process. It took three or four days to complete. The framed collage is 18″x22″.
Below is the photo I sent to my friend of the images I thought might work and then a photo of the completed piece. I called it King Baby’s Feast. The pomegranate photo in the center is my work, and there is also some other mixed media things going on, including black gesso. My only complaint is that it’s kind of matchy-matchy, but that’s also what ties the images together. Anyway . . .

Laurel mountain beans, feather, wood, magnolia pod, shell

This is the last of this series for a while – I find I’m getting more into the manipulation of the photos than the objects themselves. But that’s part of the experiment. Here are two versions of this morning’s flora – sadly, I saw a dead squirrel while I was coming home from the track. When you start observing more closely, you see the beauty of the small objects but also the sad things.

My friend Gina created the most beautiful one-of-a-kind leatherbound journal as a Christmas present for my son. He loved it – and I wanted one, too, after I saw her incredible craftsmanship. She combines the best paper, her own original acrylic paintings, and original touches such as pocket between the signatures that are lovely and useful. There’s only one problem – it’s almost too wonderufl to use, but use it I will and do my best to sketch and write inspirational things that are worthy of this journal. See for yourself in the short video below. Thanks, Gina!

. . .starring a styrofoam cup with tire marks and a very nice magnolia leaf.

i meditate in

random access memory

save to soul’s hard drive

~LB