Mosaic Mandalas

Artistic Creative Process-How Fun is This!

2012-01-23T13:41:46-08:00

Remember last post that I talked about using wedi panel as the support for the two big mosaics I recently did on commission? [well, 30" diameter is a BIG mosaic work for me!]

At left is a sample piece. I put the mechanical pencil next to it for size reference. You can see the waffle pattern I mentioned. The dark gray color is the cement coating/layer. I glued down several ceramic tiles so that I could test the adhesion...Wow! Not only does Weld bond "adhese" securely, it seals the surface [not that it needed it]. Also another mosaic artist told me that the waffled surface does not adversely effect the gluing of tesserae, so you're wondering why did I smooth on a layer of thinset? Mostly it was a creative decision because I wanted a white under layer and not a dark under layer...I did not grout these mosaics.

In the next photo you can see the inner layer of the support...this is what gives it such rigidity. I do like using wood for the smaller works but wedi has opened up the possibility of doing much larger works.

When I design a mosaic I like to initially sketch it out on paper to-size and then color it in using crayons...this makes a color map. Some artists do complete and accurate color renderings but I prefer to keep my color map more suggestive. Coloring in the sketch with crayons gives me a way to see the balance and whether, through color, the design is meeting the objective I want to achieve. Also, because it's not chisled in stone, I can change particular color areas as I work.

The tiles I use in my smaller mosaics are very tiny...usually just the 1/8" [nano size] square and 1/4" [micro size, not quite 1/4"] square sizes. For these larger works I decided to use Tiny Tile Mosaics Micro size and Mini size [about 3/8" square]. That's a lot of little tiles! Over 7,000 for each mosaic.

You can see a bit how I used the two sizes in the progress of the foliage for "End of Day" in the photo to the left.

Then there's the whole idea of andamento - the visual flow and movement in a mosaic work achieved by the placement of tesserae. This is the element of doing a mosaic that is the most FUN for me. I don't preplan the flow...as I mentioned in the previous post I like to have it just happen:

The way I work is to do the basic sketch but to allow the tile placement to be 'organic.' Okay, saying organic sounds kind of California-y, avocados and sprouts doesn't it? What I mean is that each individual tile is placed as it comes.

In the photo to the right in the work "Rise of Day," you can see what I mean - the beach sand I applied in a diagonal straight line with a bit of rough surf where the sand meets the water. The ocean water in this piece has gentle waves with wave peaks at the far horizon line. As a dramatic difference, I made the rays of the rising sun ruler straight. Movement that is achieved with a brush by a painter is achieved with the direction that each individual tile is glued down by the mosaic artist.

One of the things about mosaic I like is that a mosaic piece is like the painting technique called pointilism - a technique where dots of color [points, dashes or other ways of putting down small bits of color at a time] are applied. Seen in extreme close-up you see only the points...as you back away from the artwork the colors begin to blend and you can see objects. My favorite is by Georges-Pierre Seurat and his painting "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."

The artistic creative process has been discussed by philosophers extensively. I found just now a site on the web for a conference held October 2010 at Barnard College, Columbia University called, "The Philosophy of Creativity." They asked:

What is creativity? How does it happen? How is it that creativity is manifest in discovery as well as invention, in science as well as art? In what ways might an audience participate in creating a work of art? What role does creativity play in the construction of the self?

Makes me think about creativity. I experience creativity...I know how it feels and I think it happens intuitively [my opinion only]; that it is part and parcel of the human psyche and that it differs slightly person-to-person. Each individual sees Art differently...everything we know [and don't know], everything we've experienced in our lives to that moment, how we feel emotionally at the time...all of this informs how we approach any work of art [including the music, writing and performance arts].

Everyone is creative. Wait, before you protest here's why I say that. Let's take a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as an example. It's pretty basic: bread, peanut butter and jelly - the peanut butter and the jelly are put between two pieces of bread. There. Nothing creative about that is there? Wait. Yes there is. Here comes the individualized creative decisions that go into your PB&J:

which bread did you choose to use? Wheat? Rye? Sourdough? Oat and nut? Bargain brand white or bread machine-made cranberry and hazelnut?
which peanut butter spread did you choose to use? A favorite brand because you are convinced it tastes better than any other? Creamy? Chunky? Honey added? "Natural?"
which jelly did you choose to use? A grape jelly? A strawberry jam? An apricot preserve? A marmalade? An apple butter? Homemade fig?
Did you spread the peanut butter on only one piece of the bread or both? Did you put jelly on just one piece of the bread or both? Did you mix the peanut butter and jelly together and then apply it to the bread? Did you add raisins to it?
Once made, did you cut the sandwich into two pieces? Four? Triangles? Did you retain the crust or cut it off?

See, it's the variations, the choices we make, that are the proof of the creative processes involved. When you make a PB&J you are indeed making creative decisions all the way through.

Creativity is not about picking up a pencil and drawing a realistic rendering of what's before you. Creativity is the way our minds view and then interpret what we see.

Part three of my exploration of "Rise of Day" and "End of Day" will take a look at some of the details in each and the hanging apparatus.

The 'End of Day' Mosaic project

2012-01-19T15:45:46-08:00

I'm often asked: what inspires your mosaic mandala designs? My quick and simplistic answer is "trees." However, there is a deeper, more intuitive answer.

In September of 2010 I wrote a post introducing my work in mosaic in which I use a round support and trees in the abstract as their central theme: "...I considered three things: one) the basic structure or support for a work; two) a new abstract study and three) painting materials. What evolved was a circular structure, a study of trees in abstract and tiny ceramic tiles as the painting medium...."

I love trees. For awhile I thought about publishing a 'coffee table' style book of photography of trees. There are so many varieties, in so many sizes, ages and conditions that I think you could fill several good sized volumes. Hmmm, I now live in an area that has a huge forest of trees so maybe I'll still do that book of photography. Anyway, back to mosaics.

My gallery page above has currently available mosaic mandalas of trees including Sunset Mandala Mosaic, Apples in the Sun and others. Trees are both majastic and beautiful. They give a sense of strength and permanence - of rootedness - in a world where we humans often feel like we're dry leaves at the mercy of a blowing wind.

Designs for these round pieces come to me without effort. Left on my own, faced with a 14" circular wood support, I see the finished work before I've even begun. Until this past Fall it wasn't a challenge to sketch out a design with which to complete in the tiny ceramic tiles I use. Then came a request for a commissioned work...actually two of them. And instead of being 12", 14" or 16" diameter, these were to be 30" diameter. Very large! There were also some themes to fit my designs into. I knew a tree would be central in the mosaics, but to fit with the client's overall theme I needed to add beach and ocean. Also, knowing the eventual placement of the finished pieces added to my design decisions. I decided to do beginning of the day and ending of the day abstract designs.

As I thought of the beginning of a day, I thought of the design:

...the design gives the hope of a new day dawning. Every day the sun rises on our planet and the promise of each new day is yet to be written...

And for the ending of a day:

...this design gives comfort. Whether the day has been long and difficult or short and sweet, the setting of the sun indicates that the gathering darkness will fall as a warm blanket giving comfort through the night until the sun rises again...

Kind of like thinking of encircling arms - being held safe and secure in the day as the sun lights our lives and being comforted and protected in the night as we sleep.

This post is part one of several about these mosaics. I want to share the creative process of design and work.

Let's begin with "End of Day." I decided to put the tree to the right [as you look at it] with its foliage as an overhanging canopy. Under this canopy is a setting sun dropping below the horizon of a darkening sea.

The very first consideration in doing these two designs was on what support to do them. Thirty inches diameter is rather large for a mosaic and I didn't want the weight of the support to be problematic. I'd heard of a material called wedi panels that just might do the trick. Wedi panels are very lightweight cement boards normally used by building contractors as a substrate for tile - like in bathrooms and kitchens. Mosaic artists have discovered it because it is lightweight, rigid, waterproof and weatherproof and frankly, mosaic tesserae stick to it fantastically! I ordered two 32" square sheets from MosaicSmalti.com and my son-in-law cut the 30" circles. Another thing about wedi panels, they cut quite easily with an exact-o knife or box cutter. Also, before beginning, I decided to smooth on a thin layer of thinset [a fine, high quality mortar or cement] which I sanded when it was dry. I wanted a smooth surface as the wedi comes with a waffle-like surface. Mosaic adhesive, Weldbond, works excellently on wedi as-is, but even more so on the dry thinset layer. The photo to the right shows the sun and horizon line for "End of Day" and you can see the thinset layer.

I began by sketching the design in pencil. I made a color map ahead of time, choosing which colors of tiles to use where. The way I work is to do the basic sketch but to allow the tile placement to be 'organic.' Okay, saying organic sounds kind of California-y, avocados and sprouts doesn't it? What I mean is that each individual tile is placed as it comes. For example, in the setting sun, I chose the three colors ahead: the pink, pastel orange and yellow. However I didn't pre-design the flow until I actually did it. I put in the yellow tile outline first. Then thought an inner layer of larger pastel orange was needed. From there I visualized inner curves within the sun. Cool how it all flows once you get started.

Next post: more about the creative process for "End of Day" and detail photos.

P.S. My previous post, "The Mosaic of Hannah's Quilt" indicated that we had a baby granddaughter due...well, Hannah made her debut in this world on Saturday evening, January 14. I'm one happy grandma!

The Mosaic of Hannah's Quilt

2012-01-09T21:45:19-08:00

I wonder what it is about the excitement of a new grandchild that fuels the engine of "making." Before our grandson was born I crocheted him a blanket. Every single, double and half-double crochet stitch was a complete joy over the weeks it took to complete. Somehow the hands-on do-it-myself-ness of the experience seemed to increase my love for this little fellow I had yet to meet face-to-face.

And now, it's Hannah's turn. My daughter and son-in-law discovered that a little girl was on the way and named her Hannah. It's been so sweet during this waiting time wondering what she will be like, what she'll look like. I'm so looking forward to holding her [she's due to arrive any day now!]. However, because that Life annoyance called arthritis has taken away my ability to crochet, I decided to make our new granddaughter a quilt. My daughter had chosen to decorate Hannah's room with a palette of black, white and pink in a sort of French floral motif. We worked together to make a ruffle for the crib mattress and bumpers - those soft pads that coccoon the edges of the crib. I got some of the same fabrics and added a couple more to design the quilt.

Now, I'm not a quilter. In fact, this was my first one and I wasn't quite sure how to go about it. So I decided to approach it like I do my mosaic work. I sketched out the basic size and spread out the various fabrics to get a feel for placement. Then I needed to brush up my skill with the sewing machine as I haven't done any sewing in quite a while and wanted to use some of the built-in specialty stitches.

This fabric was whimsical and very cute and girlie, so I decided to put it in the center. Because the other fabrics were patterned and black and white I used a strip of pale pink to both highlight the center and give it a space of its own. Along the main flower "stems" I did a bit of specialty stitching.

Even though the quilt is not big - it's 30" x 40" about - it took me four days to make. Lots of thread...LOTS of thread and dreams of this sweet little one on her way to join us in this world went into the finished blanket. I've seen some gorgeous quilts in my time, even some fine art quilts by a gifted artist in the San Francisco Bay Area; but my little quilt has something none of the others have...a home with Hannah.

3 Reasons Twitter is Awesome for Artists

2011-12-26T10:00:00-08:00

What? You were expecting the Twitter company's little bird icon? Naw...my George is just too irresistible to pass up as an icon [although it's very hard to get him to stand still long enough for a portrait].

Here it is, the day before Christmas 2o11 - Christmas Eve. I have a quiet afternoon and decided to get my year-end blog post wrap-up done while I can as next week is full through New Year's Day. I thought about what I could or should write about and decided on Social Media as it applies to my life as an artist.

I use Social Media and do I think other artists ought to utilize the internet and Social Media? Yes. I do. The world has opened up and there are so many interesting and fascinating people out there and the internet makes it possible to connect and Social Media outlets are the roadways that allow your vehicles [websites and blogs] to carry your messages. As with any other sort of human endeavor it's about making communities. We [people] like to bunch with those who are like ourselves. I'm an artist and I'm interested in art stuff in general and in finding other artists. I am curious about what other artists do and why they do it. [As proof of that pudding you'll find interviews with other artists here on Mosaic Mandalas...look at the categories list in the right hand column for "interviews with artists."]

I've been asked which Social Media platforms I use and right now I utilize Twitter, LinkedIn and BlogHer the most. I actually quit Facebook. I am going to begin with Google+ after the first of the New Year when I have a few days to study it and get it set-up. I think G+ will give me more bang for my efforts than Facebook and because I'm a working artist, my time is precious - I simply can't afford to give time to my computer unless it has clear benefits.

Came across an interesting 'predictions' type article on Social Media Today that I think is pretty good. The article is titled, "Social Networking in 2012" by Dave Higgins. He made great points and predictions about going mobile, various companies getting on the tablet bandwagon and how much Facebook is growing and going public. However, I like best what he said about Google+:

"...The fastest growing social network of all time will finally get some traction in 2012 as people defect from Facebook and Twitter. Not necessarily because Google + will have the superior platform, but because advertisers will be increasingly driving traffic to Google + to integrate with the analytics they already collect. The ability of Google to sell targeted advertising based on what they know about the consumer from searches and from their social network interactions will be too valuable to knowledgeable marketing organizations to pass up. By actively driving traffic to Google +, they’ll be making their own marketing efforts that much more effective....."

As a working artist [hence a business person] this makes sense to me; although, I don't see folks defecting from Twitter. Twitter is just too good at what it does - instant communication and connection. Here's what I have found via Twitter that I did not find via Facebook:

customers
connections - other artists either within my own genre or artists I have interviewed
friends - so cool to 'meet' someone who speaks your own language [artists do speak their own language]
suppliers
information - yes, you can get information...it's not so much found within the 140 characters as it is in following the website addresses given in the profiles of folks.

So why is Twitter valuable for artists? Here are 3 Reasons:

One: You can find other artists easily, quickly and efficiently. A real life example: I wanted to find other mosaic artists who had internet presence. I tried "Googling" [isn't it cute that Google is now a verb?] and the results were cumbersome at best. Then I used the search function of Twitter entering "mosaic artist" into the search field and voila! Mosaic artists. Lots of them. Here's a few:

Two: You can find the best link to those artists. To me this was important. I figured that because Twitter gives you only one link to share in your bio, most people will put the one most advantageous to their work and/or business and that is true. When you click on the person's Twitter handle it takes you to their profile and there is the link to their website, blog or whatever. For some artists it's their Facebook Page and others it's their Etsy store. So not only does Twitter give me a fast and easy way to find someone, through their profile is a quick way to go directly to their own chosen landing place.

Three: It lets others find you. Or your work. Or what you've written. Put up a profile then put the 'link to Twitter' button everywhere so that folks can find you on Twitter. Use good keywords in your profile so that you come up on searches and put your best internet location as your web address: do you want them to find your blog or your gallery page or your shop on Etsy as their first intro to you? Then when you post something to your blog, Tweet it; when you add something to your gallery page, Tweet it; when you have something new to sell in your Etsy or Zazzle shop, Tweet it.

I hope everyone enjoys a fantastic Holiday Season. May you have a fun [and safe] New Year's celebration. I'll be busy next week making a quilt for the new granddaughter due next month so I'll "see" you all again here at Mosaic Mandalas in January 2012!

Here are two new works I completed at the close of this year - commissioned mosaics:

"Rise of Day"

30" Diameter ceramic tile mosaic

"End of Day"

30" diameter ceramic tile mosaic

An American West purse for an American West girl

2011-12-24T14:45:51-08:00

What does a girl get herself for her birthday? What does an artist get herself for her birthday?

This year I wanted to get something that accomplished several things [as if a gift has to actually accomplish something!]:

1. be unique...meaning it is, if not one-of-a-kind, then nearly so

2. be artistic and exude fine craftsmanship; as an artist who works in the exacting minutia of tiny ceramic tile mosaic, I clearly understand and speak the language of detail, of painstaking one-at-a-time-ness. My mosaics [whether in Moroccan ceramic tiles or Orsoni Smalti] are put to my designs one tile at a time. I wanted something that someone else had worked on with this level of detail and love of their art.

3. support the business of other women...I have no problem with men-owned and run businesses but this world needs a bit more volume of women-owned and operated businesses. And to support the work of other artists.

4. reflect some part of my life as an American.

That's a lot to ask of a thing but I found it in the form of a purse. Before I tell you about the company that produces these works of wearable art, let me tell you the story of how I found it.

Fact is, I needed a new purse. Did it have to literally be "new" as in no one else had ever used it? Sort of. I do believe in recycling and reusing, but to me a purse is rather personal and it's kind of like wearing someone else's old socks. Just something I wouldn't do. Did it need to be inexpensive and economical? Not this time. Truth be told there are some items that if you have the resources, you purchase the best quality you can because there is truth in the saying: you get what you pay for. I've wasted quick a bit of coin buying purses over the years. Purses for me are work horses...they get used. I hang it on the back handle of my studio door, toss it in the car or the shopping cart; throw it over my arm or shoulder and occasionally have to tug 0'war it away from my grandson. It has to carry the essentials:

wallet
comb and other on-the-go grooming items
breath mints and antacids [you are lucky if you don't need those]
toys - when hanging out with grandson
bottle of water sometimes
stand in for a briefcase at times
and a whole host of other stuff

So it needs to be rugged enough to get through my life with me. And this year, as my birthday approaches, the thought of a new purse came up because I need a new one and by jiggy! I was tired of getting a purse that barely lasted 12 to 18 months because its stitching started to unravel or its fake leather stained or tore or the lining fell apart or the handles fell off or it devolved into a slouchy annoyance - you know the ones, those are the purses that if you sit it on the counter at the store it decides to slump and slowly droop and casually spill all its contents out for all the world to see. Nope, no more of that. But the question was: where to find the purse that would fit all that I desired of it?

Well. The history behind the bag in the photo above starts last October. We had just moved to this new community and one day my daughter and I were exploring the downtown shopping area. She was directing me up and down the blocks and we window shopped. Next to an interesting looking eatery was a western-type shop that had boots and other leather goods in the front windows including purses. I looked and just thought the purses were kind of intriguing. Didn't think too much more because I don't define myself as a cowboy-style person.

Then in November the downtown had a Christmas preview event. Kids could get their photos with Santa and many stores and shops had "elves" out front giving away candy to the kids. There was music and dancing in the streets...quite the nice event. We strolled around and, once again, passed the western shop. There it was, the purse. Again it tickled my psyche.

This week I went to a hair salon downtown - again the whole birthday thing had kicked in so I got a completely new "do." Afterwards I wanted to try a new place for lunch so went to the eatery that advertised a great variety of burgers and teas, Panama Bar and Cafe. Wow. The perfect lunch. Had a mango-infused iced tea, superb onion rings and an open-faced burger on sourdough bread with swiss cheese, sauteed mushrooms and a horse radish sauce. The music played was "my" era music so I was tapping my foot as I ate. Just a perfect lunch.

The way back to my car took me right by the western shop as it is right next door to the cafe. And there it was. The Purse. I went in. A very helpful salesgirl showed me several but I fell in love with what soon became 'my' purse. Let me tell you a bit about it.

My purse is made by American West. The company is 25 years old this year having been started in 1986. According to the little booklet that came with my purchase:

"...While on vacation in South America in 1985, the founders of American West purchased a hand tooled natural leather carpet bag from the Guarani Indian tribe. Intrigued by the history and artisanship, and armed with determination and a design background, American West was born...."

From their website:

Capturing the spirit of the true West, American West designs are influenced by the men and woman who embrace the lifestyle and are proud to be part of the culture. Industrialization has allowed some companies to create tooled leather through the use of machines. Not at American West. Each and every American West item is still tooled by hand, one strike at a time, to create these beautiful works of art.

Now this part about '...tooled by hand...' completed the sale for me because it told me that my purse was created by an artist. It was designed by an artist, it was tooled by an artist, and it was constructed by a talented artisan. Cool.

More coolness, this is a woman-owned company. Again from the booklet: "...American West is a female-owned and operated company. From original designs and special order leathers, to the marketing and corporate office decisions, women are in charge. But it doesn't stop there - American West's longest standing manufacturing partner is a factory operated by a woman and her three daughters...."

I appreciate what the company's designer, Louise de Kok, says on their website:

"...As we enter our 25th year in business, it is my privilege to honor our crafters . The artisans who daily grant us their time and talent, unassumingly play a significant role in preserving a national treasure...a western treasure. By passing down the art of hand tooling, hand dying and leather painting from one generation to another, these men and woman are not only teaching valuable skills in craftmanship, but also precious lessons in pride and patience. Everything worthwhile comes with time and effort. Impossible to duplicate by machine, the human touch is accentuated by each individual artist's brush stroke, nuance and carving pattern...."

See? A gift just full of art. Wow. And what she says about "...a western treasure..." passing down leather arts, well I admit that is a part of what being an American western girl is about. I grew up in a very small rural town in central California and there were plenty of cowboys around. The town has since changed character but a 'western' cowboy/cowgirl culture is yet alive and thriving in California. Plenty of rodeos each year to prove it.

Hmmm. Seems my new "Zip-Around East-West Tote" by American West meets all four points of criteria I wanted my birthday gift to be: 1)unique, 2) artistic, 3)supportive of women-owned business and 4)reflective of the American West. [actually the Americas, North and South...leather tooling, cowboys, boots...these are not U.S. west only are they?]

Before I end with a close-up detail photo of the beautiful tooling work on my purse, let me leave you with a thought: when spring and summer come around this next New Year of 2012 be sure to visit art shows, outdoor art festivals and other types of arts and fine crafts exhibitions. Celebrate the gifts of the artists and help to support the arts by purchasing work for yourself and as gifts. Take a class this year and explore some type of artistic expression whether in visual arts, dance, music, writing...even gardening and sewing. Make sure your children's schools are including arts education of some kind. If you are a college student don't ignore the creative side of your mind...include at least one semester of some kind of creative class.

Chicken Soup - A Foodie Experience

2011-12-18T12:02:05-08:00

What's in the pot? Well let me tell you! Since this is an artist blog I thought I'd delve into the art of cooking since I had a blast last evening making a scrumptious Chicken Stew Soup. Is it stew? Soup? Not sure so I'm calling it Linda's Chicken Stew Soup.

(Does anyone actually use the word scrumptious anymore? It means "extremely delicious." Not just delicious - which itself means tastes really good - but extremely delicious.)

I have fun cooking from time-to-time. Last Christmas my husband bought me Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking - 2 vol. set and it opened up the world. [yes, saw the movie and loved it!] And, yes, washing and patting dry your meats before browning, frying, baking, broasting, roasting or whatever it is you want to do really is important and makes a difference. I've always loved to experiment with cooking. There was the time when I bought those huge asian pears and baked them with squab nested in each half. Trouble was my girls were still kids then and they saw those little birds and refused to eat. Had to hide the dinner and fix grilled cheese. Hint: save gourmet cooking for adults.

There are two cookbooks on my kitchen shelf I have fun with:

Food To Die For: Secrets From Kay Scarpetta's Kitchen by mystery/thriller writer Patricia Cornwell.
The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins.

These are kind of my go to books. I never follow a recipe exactly...love to change, add, delete and generally "mess" with recipes but I find the ones in these two books great inspirators. ['inspirators' - is this a word?]

Ingredients for Linda's Chicken Stew Soup:

4 cups chicken broth [your choice of brand]
two 14.5 oz. cans Petite Diced Tomatoes w/Garlic & Olive Oil [I bought the Raley's brand]
1 can white beans, rinsed
1 can black beans, rinsed
2 large boned chicken breasts, cut into eatable chunks - about 1" cubes [I chose free range chicken and these pieces of meat were huge]
One 8 oz package of sliced Baby Bellas mushrooms
2 cups tiny fingerling potatoes [I bought a bag of mixed varieties and picked out the tiniest ones...any that were as long as my thumb I cut in half...otherwise keep them whole]
1 package pre-sliced yellow and zucchini squash [my grocery store has these pre-sliced or pre-chopped vegetables you can add to dishes like stews and soups] or 1 cup each variety sliced
1 package pre-cubed butternut squash seasoned with cinnamon [or 2 cups cubed]

Now let's get down to the fixing and cooking. I'm not a professional chef nor a Foodie Blogger so I can't give you all the nutritional breakdown or timing to the inth degree. I'll do my best - tried to make notes as I worked.

1. First we need to brown the chicken. Frankly I've never browned chicken...have browned beef as beginning prep to a stew so thought browning the chicken would also be a good idea [and it was!] I put about a cup of flour in a bag with a generous shake of Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning. In a very large pot put in some olive oil over a medium heat. In batches, put the chicken chunks in the bag and get them nice and coated with flour [close the bag and shake it well]. Put the floured chicken in the heated oil and brown. I found chicken browns quicker than beef so keep an eye on the pot and monitor the heat so it doesn't get too hot. Put the browned chicken on a plate covered with paper towel to drain and set aside.

2. Once all the chicken is browned, saute the mushroom slices in the same pot. Add more olive oil as necessary.

3. Once the mushrooms are nicely sauteed and browned [about 5 minutes I guess] add in:

the chicken
chicken broth
tomatoes with their juices
rinsed beans
fingerling potatoes

and bring to a boil. Once a boil is reached, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

4. At this point add your own secret ingredient. We all have them, our special seasoning or dash of sauce or whatever. I'll go ahead and tell you what secret ingredient I added to this: three dashes from my bottle of soy sauce. Yep, soy sauce. Adds an amazing nuance. Also now add:

the packages of squashes

and simmer for another 30 minutes.

It's done. Oh my but it was good! Browning the chicken made those chunks 'o chic super tender, moist and tasty...and the chicken didn't fall apart like in some soup recipes. This recipe makes quite a bit...at least 10 generous servings. We had crackers and cheese as accompaniment.

Hmmm. No wonder there are so many Food Bloggers out there...this was fun!

Happy Holidays!

Do you have a List of 100 Things?

2011-12-17T13:20:28-08:00

Last December I was inspired to compile a list of "100 Things Yet to Do" that I'd seen written up by others. It's not that easy to do a list of 100 things! This year I thought I'd do two things:

1. revisit the list...and

2. challenge YOU to come up with a 100 List.

I went through last year's list - changed, kept, deleted and dreamed. Here's what I've got -

1. Finish what I start. This one began last year's list and seems right for this year's. Instead of the song, "Me and My Shadow," mine would be: "Me and My Good Intentions!"

For some reason, travelling and visiting are things I very much want to do - after all we live on a huge, diverse planet!

2. Vacation in Costa Rica. And zip line over the rainforest.

3. Vacation in Thailand.

4. Vacation in Peru and purchase a parka in a mountain village from a weaving craftsperson.

5. Go to Switzerland. During Spring - on the Bernina Express.

6. Take a panaramic photograph of the Grand Canyon.

7. Visit the Louvre. Yep, it's in Paris and of course I'd want to stay at least two weeks. At least.

8. Tour ancient castles in Scotland and Ireland.

9. Dig a dinosour fossil in Montana.

10. Go camping in Kenya. And witness the annual wildebeest migration.

11. Take an archeology vacation. Love archeology!

12. Visit the Valley of the Kings.

13. Spend a week's vacation at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park.

14. Travel to where wild amazon double-yellow headed parrots live and photograph them.

15. Attend a Japanese Tea Ceremony.

16. Go on an artist retreat.

17. Go deep sea fishing.

18. Sail on the Nile River.

19. Explore Cambridge University and publish a photo tour book of the trip.

20. Take a photo tour of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

21. Visit Gettysburg National Park.

22. Charter a jet and take my daughters on a trip of their choice.

23. Spend a month vacation with my husband in Mendocino, CA.

24. Take a summer train tour of Europe with four art friends - as my treat.

25. Go whale watching in Hawaii with my husband.

26. Vacation in Australia and take photos of the Great Barrier Reef.

27. Attend an opera at la Scala.

28. Enjoy a houseboat vacation at Mt. Shasta Lake in California.

Now, some of those trips and vacations may [probably] never happen, but they are in the realm of possibility. The follow items on my 100 List might be possible, but I guess they are truly more pie-in-the-sky or 'dream on girl!'

29. Visit the set of a movie or tv show, sit in a director chair and have lunch with the cast and crew. Would love to 'do lunch' on the set of Castle or Psych or Bones or Mentalist or Fringe.

30. Meet Nathan Fillion. Okay this will never happen, but he's my favorite actor. I love Joss Whedon's one-season wonderful sci-fi show 'Firefly.' The ensemble cast was fantastic, but it was Fillion's portrayal of Captain Malcolm Reynolds that made it so engageable. And don't even get me started with 'Castle!' one of my fav mystery/detective shows on tv.

31. A private tour of the White House. I'm a Patriot through-and-through and although I may not agree with the workings of any particular sitting administration, I'll defend my country to all comers.

32. Meet author Sue Grafton. I just love Kinsey Milhone.

On my list are things associated in one way and another with my art business. Some are dreams, some are goals and some, well, they are would-be-cools.

33. Have a print of one of my art photos used on a set of a tv show or movie.

34. Mosaic the top of my dining table.

35. Teach beginning fine art mosaic classes.

36. Begin teaching color appreciation again.

37. Do a coffee table photo book of abstract art photography.

38. Publish a book of my mosaics.

39. Publish a book of my digital art.

40. Have a one person show of my mandala mosaics.

41. Have a one person show of my digital art.

42. Have a one person show of my art photos.

43. Celebrate the 100th subscription to my blog.

44. Celebrate the 500th subscription to my blog.

45. Paint a mural on a public building using my "geometric" style.

46. Become a mentor to a young artist.

47. Volunteer my time as an artist in a local public school.

48. Attend the BlogHer 2012 Conference in New York City.

49. Have enough art studio space to do a work 3 foot by 6 foot.

50. Design and build my dream art studio.

51. Learn to weld steel to make a sculpture.

52. Design the optimally comfortable artist drafting table and have it built in a beautiful wood.

53. Interview at least 25 artists for my artist blog in 2012.

54. Encourage someone who thinks they "can't draw" to express themselves through art.

Others items on my 100 List are just fun stuff or thoughtful things to think about doing.

55. Have a rose garden to rival the one my dad had.

56. Design the landscaping for our retirement property.

57. Learn to play Hearts well enough to be a contender. There has been one game so far where I had not one, not two but three 'Shoot the Moons!'

58. Build a snowman - yep I have yet to do this.

59. Own every season of Deep Space Nine on dvd. This would complete my Star Trek franchise collection. [I know this isn't important to anyone else, but this is my 100 List.]

60. Grow, design and maintain a topiary in the shape of a perfect heart.

61. Learn to solder.

62. Learn to weave on a loom.

63. Take $5000 to a casino and play slot machines - very frivolous (!) but entertaining.

64. Drop two dress sizes and purchase a designer wardrobe from an up-and-coming designer.

65. Learn to throw pots.

66. Read the biography of 'Catherine the Great.'

67. Learn to make dill pickles.

68. Design and grow an herb garden.

69. Design and build an herb drying shed.

70. Have the grace to share my faith.

71. Build up a collection of bonsai trees. My paternal grandmother had an impressive collection.

72. Learn to care for orchids.

73. Own an iPad with WiFi + 3G.

74. Own a new Land Rover LR2 in the color Rimini Red.

A few have to do with food:

75. Find the perfect creme brulee.

76. Find the best, absolute best, chips and salsa.

77. Eat at three outdoor cafes in Paris.

78. Go to Maine and enjoy the perfect lobster dinner.

A few others have to do with wellness and health.

79. Have thumb joint replacement surgery. :-(

80. Ride my bicycle.

81. Maintain a healthy excercise regime for the rest of my life.

Some things have to do with financial resources.

82. Have the financial resources to anonymously help five artists in need.

83. Provide a home to an abandoned parrot. This will have to wait until our George is much older [he's only 7 now and much too jealous...he barely tolerates sharing the house with our parakeet Pippin].

84. Have the financial resources to leave a trust fund for my grandchildren.

85. Have the financial resources to provide a $1,000 gift to a complete stranger.

Family-related items round out my 100 List, but they are not 'last' by any means.

86. Attend my grandchildren's college graduations. Our grandson is only 4 right now, so there is lots of time. And with a granddaughter due next month, we'll have her college graduation to attend as well.

87. Celebrate my grandson and granddaughter's weddings.

88. Be present at the birth of my great grandchildren. Am I completely dreaming here?

89. Go to New York City with my daughter Kim - see a play on Broadway, visit the Statue of Liberty, shop on 5th Avenue and go to every art museum we can.

90. Go on a cruise with my daughter Jennifer to wherever she would like to go.

91. Have an extended vacation on Kauai, HI with my husband.

92. Have the resources to give my entire family an Alaskan cruise vacation - all at the same time, sort of a family reunion.

93. Celebrate one of my birthdays by visiting my parents' gravesite at Punchbowl in Honolulu - with my husband and brother Brian and his wife Debbie.

94. Take my sister-in-law, daughters, nieces and great-nieces to a weekend cooking retreat.

95. When the grandchildren each turn 16, give them [with their moms] a 4-day trip to Disneyland.

96. Visit the Vatican and light a candle to honor my paternal grandfather.

97. Learn calligraphy in honor of my dad.

98. Endow a business school in honor of my mom.

99. Treat my husband, brother, sons-in-law, nephews and great-nephews to a NASCAR Racing Experience holiday.

100. Celebrate my 100th birthday at a resort in Kauai, HI with my family.

What would be the first 3 things on YOUR 100 List?

Honored to be part of "Defining Moments" by Susan Rae Baker

2011-12-14T12:48:48-08:00

Susan Rae Baker is one of those amazing people who have the gift of teaching and leadership in the areas of Life and Business coaching. Her website says of her: "...Her aspiration in life is to help people become what they were designed to be, so that they can live a happy, fulfilling and successful life...."

Her first book, "The Last Box" won the Mom's Choice Award for Women's Issues. This book, subtitled "A Women’s Guide to Surviving Corporate America," according to Susan took: "...over 30 years of experience and compiled it into an engaging, thought-provoking book intended to bring awareness to women about to enter or already part of the working world...."

As if this wasn't cool enough, she is also co-author of the book, "Stepping Stones to Success." From her website:

Susan Rae Baker, keynote speaker and author, has been selected from a nationwide search to be featured in Stepping Stones to Success; a highly successful book series from Tennessee based Insight Publishing. The book features best-selling authors Deepak Chopra (The Power of Purpose), Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul), & Dr. Denis Waitley (featured in The Secret). Susan Rae Baker, Chopra, Canfield, and Waitley, are joined by other well known authors and speakers, each offering time-tested strategies for success in frank and intimate interviews.

I'm always interested in what other people do, why they do it - what drives them. Occassionally I will point that interest at myself: what do I do and why? Sometimes I will find someone asking a question that sparks a response. In December 2009 a book came out titled "Heart of a Military Woman" in which an essay I wrote was included. I had served in the Navy in the late 60's-early 70's. I wrote a post about it on the business blog I used to write. Also in 2009 I came across a 'call to share' for an upcoming book by Susan Rae Baker. This was a call to share:

Your Defining Moment - This is an opportunity for all women from all walks of Life to share their defining moment in life when you could finally say “I have arrived"! What was it that made you who you are today?

I read this and it resonated deeply. Mostly because I was in the very midst of living in my defining moment. So I wrote an essay and submitted it. I did not expect it to be chosen, but the act of writing it helped me to think through these issues and set some directions. I've learned over the years that a person is never "done" with goal setting, course corrections or dreaming new dreams.

It was thrilling when I learned my essay was going to be included in Susan's upcoming book. How cool is that! Then just this past Saturday came the email saying that the book is now available [via Amazon Kindle]. I went to the site and clicked on the nifty 'look inside' function that Amazon has and was deeply touched by what I saw and read. The cover is gorgeous...I am a longtime fan of tulips. The complete book title: Defining Moments - A Gathering of Women's Journeys. At the bottom of the cover: Inspiring stories of courageous and fearless women whose journeys defined their life purpose.

Wow. I am so very humbled to have my essay included. What blew me away even more is that my essay is the third one in the book. What does this say to me? It tells me that the passage of Life that takes us into introspection is a passage shared by us all. My situation, my story is not unique. I began my essay:

When my “defining moment” arrived I was quite surprised. I had always assumed, as a young woman, that by the time I reached my 40’s I’d know: know myself, know my place in the world, know my strengths and weaknesses…have “it” all figured out. My surprise was to discover that this just wasn’t the case.

My 40’s came and went without me knowing anything for sure. Certainly Life itself presented challenges and complications that kept me off-guard and guessing – health challenges, relationships challenges, end of career, empty nest...where was I in all this?

And concluded with:

My Defining Moment came in 2008 while in my late 50’s and wondering who and what I am and where I am in this world. It came when I asked myself what legacy I am going to leave for my grandchildren. Now the working out of all the decisions that flowed from that Moment has brought peace and energy to my life.

Thank you to Susan Rae Baker for her heart for women's lives - how we see the world, how we navigate using our particular skills and instincts and what impact we can have.

Me? Who am I really? I'm just an average American who desires to fulfill the dreams of her heart, use the gifts she's been given and indeed leave a legacy for her grandchildren. My essay speaks of my grandson and this coming January a granddaughter will join the family.

I hope you'll check out this inspiring book. You can find it here on Amazon.

Spending a day in Lassen National Forest

2011-12-05T18:15:14-08:00

Okay, I admit it...I love my home state of California. Yes it has its faults, but it has so many more awesome positives! California is a long, lanky drink of water [although water is a topic of some debate in some areas of the state]. The northern-most part of this sunshine state is vastly different in character than its southern tip. It takes the better part of a day to go from tip to top. The state has, within its borders, access to the Pacific Ocean, high mountains, desert, vast agricultural valleys, forests, lakes, huge cities and bitty towns. It has the ridiculousness of Hollywood and the no-nonsense down home feel of Ukiah.

A couple weeks ago my husband and I went with other family members and spent a day in Lassen National Forest both to just enjoy an incredibly beautiful Fall day and also to bring home fresh Christmas trees [you can, with a permit, get your tree from Lassen]. From the Forest website:

The Lassen National Forest lies at the heart of one of the most fascinating areas of California, called the Crossroads. Here the granite of the Sierra Nevada, the lava of the Cascades and the Modoc Plateau, and the sagebrush of the Great Basin meet and blend.

It was indeed a gorgeous day and, as is my habit, my camera went along. Following are some of my photos from the day. [Oh, you may be wondering where I've been the past 30 days or so - I've just completed an artwork commission that took many hours and somewhere in the neighborhood of 15,000 little Moroccan ceramic tiles. I will be sharing that experience in a 3-part series soon here at Mosaic Mandalas.]

You can see what a clear day we had. It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and we chose Nature over the mall.

Let's Talk Revolution this Thanksgiving Holiday

2011-11-21T10:14:30-08:00

We have a traditional holiday here in the U.S. where we set aside a day for Family and Friends and eat turkey. And mashed potatoes and gravy. And green bean casserole. And Pie. Lots of Pie...pumpkin, apple - any my dad's favorite: boysenberry.

It maybe began way back when when one group of folks shared their larder with another group of folks but has now turned into a National Holiday. And, traditionally, it is a time to think of all we can be thankful for.

***Here's an aside: I am personally NOT in favor of retailers pulling their employees into the workplace on Thanksgiving just so that the doors can open at midnight on "Black Friday." At one point in my working life I had a job as an assistant manager of a women's clothing section in an upscale department store. We had to report to work at 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night in order to ready the store for the Black Friday sales day the next morning. I didn't appreciate that I had to curtail time spent with my family on Thanksgiving so I could get a little sleep and I really didn't appreciate having to work 24 hours through Black Friday just so folks could get "bargains" and my employer could see profits. See, here's a bit of a secret about Black Friday for sales folks - people often return products bought on B.F. and at some retailers, those returns are put against the earnings of the sales staff who sold them. Same at Christmas time. Oh well. Back to being Thankful.

I wanted, this Thanksgiving, to suggest a Revolution. This is a revolution that anyone in any country on the planet can be involved with. It:

doesn't require anyone to change political stripes
doesn't require anyone to change religious beliefs [or gain beliefs, or abandon beliefs]
doesn't require anyone to change residence or give up anything
can be embraced by anyone of any age and both genders
doesn't require anyone to "occupy" anything

Before I continue and let you in on this revolution, here's another quick aside: ***in my personal opinion the Occupy Whatever City camps need to be disbanded and those folks should clean up and go home.

Here's the truth of protesting: the first couple of days the message is clear and heard. After that it becomes a magnet for malcontents, drifters, Hippie-wannabees and those who will embrace any excuse to abandon responsibility.

I read about one young man who quit his job to join an Occupy camp and I was appalled at that. Why? Well, 1) who did he saddle his debts, bills and other financial responsibilities onto when he quit his job? 2) there are so many people out of work who have been looking for a paying job for up to two years now and this guy walks away from his? And he's proud of that? Makes me shake my head. Supposedly the Occupy movement was a protest against greed and unemployment and social inequality...stuff like that. Okay, fine. I can understand getting out on the actual Wall Street in New York City and hollering "Enough!" for a day or two. However, after that the movement needed [needs] to move into The System - the ballot box, op-ed, blogs...not tents and trash and creating an environment where I wouldn't want to take my grandson. [My town has its own Occupy spot and it has created an environment where I don't want to be...it doesn't feel safe.] I think a successful protest - in the U.S. - is one where you say your piece then take it to the Press like Molly Katchpole and even the ballot box.

Okay, enough on that. Back to a Revolution we all can be part of that can change the world for the better.

A Revolution of Kindness. Kindness: quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

What If:

everyone said one kind thing to someone else each day?
people held their tongue and did NOT react with unkindness?
you let someone in line in front of you at the checkout line this Black Friday?
we all smiled at someone today?
we all choose not to use sarcasm as a tool? [personally I'm not a fan of tv reality shows where a "judge" gives negative, sarcastic remarks to contestants...I've never thought running someone down was humorous; hence I don't watch DWTS - the dancing might be great, but the unkind remarks made to contestants, as with Chaz Bono is unnecessary and cruel]
the media [and those who seem to enjoy this kind of press] simply did not run the photos or stories showing the gaffs of others?
what if you gave up your parking spot for someone else?
what if you said "Thank you?" "Please?" "Forgive Me?"
what if we gave a compliment instead of a criticism?

Does this seem foolish to you? Try it. I have. It does make a difference. Being Kind changes the interaction of one person with another. It requires you:

to think of the other guy rather than yourself
to expect nothing in return
to smile
to take an action resulting in a positive result for someone else [like giving up your place in line so someone can go ahead of you]

This Life is difficult enough without grumping, growling and being mean one to another. Since it's never been done, why not give global Kindness a try? It can only help.

Happy Thanksgiving.