I have to say I was staggered by George Micheal’s death on Christmas Day.

We all die it’s the natural order of things.

When David Bowie died I was sad that I had never seen him in concert but then I remembered I had seen him kneel in pray at Freddie Mercury’s memorial concert at the old Wembley Stadium.

I had purchased the allowed 6 tickets at 10 am on the morning they were released by 10.10 I had messenger-ed hubby we had tickets. We took my parents and a work colleague ( huge Queen Fan) plus hubby’s childhood climbing partner with whom he had attended Queen concerts pre our dating days.

On the day of the concert,we in good family fashion found ourselves early stood on the steps.Over the course of the afternoon various sounds were heard from inside the Stadium but my enduring memory is of George Micheal’s warm up of “Somebody to Love”.The crowd were joining in even though we couldn’t see George or the stage at this point.Singing in response is a powerful thing.

So I’ve attached this clip and my memory of George.Just a man of my generation who among others has past this year.

This year has been a challenge travelling,health issues and my aging parents but we have the memory of sharing this concert which was pretty amazing.

We talk alot in our family about making memories in essence it’s why i write this blog  to connect with my youngest niece.Think it’s time to get into the studio find my metal ruler which is missing in the Christmas Chaos and finish Just Breathe with some good 80’s tunes.

On a much happier note I got a hug at the end of docent duty from a Grandma for helping her grandson with his art homework-kinda made my day.

4×4 “Little blue”

It has been cold, icy and snowy but my studio heater is working and yesterday I sat down with blue and created this little blue mixed media piece.When I create I tend to gather different papers and use up all the watercolor to make unique papers.I keep all these scrap in little boxes for future collages.

I was once asked by Michael Cepress if I thought wearable jewelry could tell tales .

Here I go beads from Alaska,wire covered silk gifted from Kidsquest Haku Japanese. Linen yarn from a new yarn store The Nifty Knitter in Issaquah.

The Traveller 8×1 1/2-2 “

Great new yarn store in Gilman Village complete with man park and a piano. They even carry Rowan Denim yarn so I may yet get my 50th birthday wish to turn my stash of squares into a jacket.

recycled cotton,paper,mica and gesso 3×2

I read somewhere this week that if you have time to make Christmas gifts then you have too much time on your hands. I hope the small pieces I send all over the world are seen as signs of friendship and connection.

I’m back from my travels and many things have changed around me since I left.I’m pretty sure some of the experiences will come out in future art pieces.I have discovered new artists, met old friends, I walked the streets of Washington DC and New York at a critical point in history.

I’ll continue to work on the Just Breathe project but for now I’m working on a small ornament swap for a long standing swap buddy.While discussing swap options she disclosed that she had to leave all her historical ornaments when she fed an abuse relationship.

So I’m crafting a tiny tin of woodland creatures that I hope will stay with her for many years to come.

On a happier note I visited the Renwick Gallery with Hannah Marie Smith my tutor from  Pilchuck School of Glass and found this quote.With the shortening winter days I intend to seek comfort in all the below.Go Hawks.

I’ll be disappearing into the studio to work on a few larger pieces then off to Washington DC for the last leg of the FEAR tour so don’t expect many blog posts.I’m doing fine just need to focus on some coloring then I’m going to sculpt a book for the first time in years.Susan Wiggs book Just Breathe will be the focus of this piece.First I need to read the text which appears from the first pages to be about infertility and was published in 2008 the year I arrived in the US.

I’ve had this book in the garage in a stack for about a year and now after our Alaskan trip and a reading by Dominic C I feel ready to remake this form.I’m going to be Just Breathe and DO at the same time.