The Dance~ Quick Acrylic charcoal ~ Lori Singer

The Dance~

It's all about the dance and color. Life is a dance between two. We weave in and out trying to find our steps, swaying to our individual rhythms and beats hoping not to step on each others toes. Dancing the dance of life.

Learning to Fly and being a Beginner

Birds~ sewing project ~ Lori Singer












Birds~ sewing project~ Lori SInger




For me there is nothing more rewarding than learning, and I love how my life has set me up to be a forever student. There is no shame in not being a master, in fact, being a novice is often a great place to be. It's awe-inspiring to think of all the things there are to learn and wonderful that I have found so many wonderful people to be my teachers. I just love the feeling of conquering a new task or goal and being successful in my own eyes. It's the small milestones that bring me great joy and I love how the creative live offers a life time of learning without mastery. I think if Art were about mastery most Artist would have long given up. I don't know that I will ever be a skillful master of anything, but I take great pride in being and sharing the learning experience with those I am surrounded by.

Today, I mastered the art of the most basic beginning sewing tasks, with a very old sewing machine and no manual. I remembered how to thread a bobbing, perhaps after years of watching my mom do so and with almost a 30 year break. The real challenge was figuring out how to thread the second thread and needle. I did it and then sewed six bird wings for the school play. So here are a few photos of todays success. The wings are still in the design process, but I did sew a few straight lines! Hoo Ray!!
Cheers to new learning! Never be ashamed to begin or be a beginner! Just let the ego take a vacation and create!
Lori SInger

Chasing Clouds~ Lori

Rover~






Trailing hearts~ finding the hidden hearts

















Yesterday,....Yesterday was one of those magical times when both weather and inspiration collide. Driving home over the ridge line these magical clouds seemed to reach out to the girl in my soul, as if to say, come, come, lets play! As I continue to drive home thinking on my days post, I try to find the hidden hearts and then I ran home to get my camera. As you know, lighting and cloud formation is morphing as the seconds tick. Cloud chasing is not easy business. So I jump back in my car to retrace my drive, hoping not to miss a moment in my minds eye. It was contagious following clouds. I drove to places never driven. It was such a freeing experience. Me the camera atop the ridge line. So forgive me I could not choose a single image, so I picked a few to post because I wanted to share them with you, trust me I wanted you to see them all!

If you have never chased a cloud I suggest you try! Cloud Chasing leaves a certain warmth and happiness on your spirit that does not fad as quickly as the cloud do! Take a mini cloud chasing vacation!
Have a beautiful day Ladies! Anyone want to cloud chase give me a ring!
Lori Singer

Surrounded~ Digital Image Lori Singer

heart definition: a plane figure with rounded sides curving inward at the top and intersecting at the bottom

Our family likes to make a game of finding the hearts in nature. We find them everywhere.Try it sometime and you will begin to find your life is full of more Love than you ever thought.

The Lost Art of Hand Made Valentines

This year I convinced my daughter to make old fashion handmade Valentines. It was a project near and dear to my heart. There really is nothing like handmade Valentines, especially now with all the commercial boxed ones that mean little or nothing to the after the fact. There really isn't anything better than a handmade Valentine made with love.

In fact, the inspiration came from the sweetest Valentine a dear friend from my past made. I have kept it over 15 years and when I come across it I think of how special it is and how special the woman who made it is. In this age of computers and electronic mail, it is refreshing to know that a hand written and made message can still warm the heart better, faster and longer than the alternative. The best part is even though the years have parted us the sentiment and friendship is almost alive and new when I find this tiny piece of art in the back of my dresser drawers. After almost 8 years of no contact I have found my friend Kendra again, and thanks to electronic mail we correspond via Panama and I was able to communicate my special thanks and love to her after all this time. She is living the Rolling-Stone live style...free and on the beach! Happy Valentines to you all and Miss Kendra. My love to you all and I hope you too make your own Valentines! I promise you will not be disappointed! The process is heartfelt.

Tiny Handmade Valentines:
two sheets of watercolor paper
watercolor/ brushes
water
Glitter pen in colors of your choice
tiny ribbons
hole punch

Cut water color paper in to strips and then cut those in half
fold in half, you will paint on the cover then let dry
Once they are dry use a sparkly glitter pen or gold pen and create squiggly lines on top of heart.
Next punch two holes on the top on both sides and tie with your favorite ribbon color.
The final thing is to write your special message to your Valentine.

Have Fun!

Hearts On- Line~ Lori

"The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart." Anonymous



Recycled Heart Garland~

These were supposed to be the backing of a lesson plan I was preparing for this afternoon, and when I saw the cardboard shapes together I thought…done. I have a long tradition of "Heart Art", and it is ironically symbolic for me in so many ways now. This garland is yet another example of how "All Hearts" deserve love!

These garlands are very beautiful and fun to make. It's a great way to save and make art all in one!

To Make: Recycled food boxes (w/red or pastel colors for Valentines Garland)
Scissors
Heart Template
Thin ribbon from craft store~( cost about $.99 total to make)

Have FUN!!!!

Lori Singer

Sweet Violets

I think I love gardening because it gives me inner peace and confidence to know that some things last and are recurrent for a very long time. For me, there is this wonderful feeling of certainty and awe every year to have my perennials, tubesr, rhizomes, and bulb friends show up each year. They're so consistent, constant, and such loyal faithful friends, they give me reoccurring hope in my world. When so much change happens and relationships fade, they're there to greet me and remind me that some things are lasting for an indefinitely long time.

These sweet violets are something that has been with me since I was a toddler at my mom's side in her garden. I have such vivid strong sensory memories collecting tiny bouquets. I can't even begin to express how full I feel to see that they somehow they have followed me to my current home and now are beginning to thrive. Perhaps a tiny seed, or rhizome somehow transplanted and stowed away for the very moment I needed to be reminded that there are things in which are enduring, dependable and faithful...something that is continuing and recurrent that one can count on, something that makes one feel whole, sane and complete in the most modest and humble of ways. I like this feeling of complete humbleness!

I like how these tiny flowers can inspire me to create and share. I long for such long deep lasting female relations in my life, while I have a few more are always welcome. Such sweet delicate forever violet friends, ready to share together and sometimes hibernate only to show up fully present, as if not missing a beat or moment in each others lives. Ready to pick up were we left off to tell me of all it's distant journeys.

This is a photo of my new found stow away which I hope someday multiples so that I can share it's beauty with others. The fragrance of these tiny beauties is unbelievably sweet and reminiscent of the violet candies my mother bought for me as a child and a lovely perfume my mother wore. I still see the bottle in my minds eye, it was porcelian whie with tiny violets painted on the bottle and wore a lavender ribbon around its slender neck. We also bathed with sweet violet scented soap. We were very fond of natural floral fragrances in our home the fragrances that are very hard to find today, they contain so few chemicals and bore more natural scents. The new synthectic stuff just doesn't work on my scences the same way. During Victorian times they were gathered given in bouquets These sweet violets were give as gifts by the hundreds and the tiny flowers can often be seen painted in old victorian adds with lovely children and white flowing dresses. hmmmm...I can see why!

Peace Lori Singer Jan 2010