Most of you know I occasionally march to a slightly different beat. I believe in angels and I continually watch for synchronistic angelic moments in life. My front door has a side window panel to the right, and on the glass I have this decal posted~

I sometimes get strange looks from the FedEx man and the neighborhood kids when they come to the door.  Long story short…I think we each have a multitude of angels…not just one. I believe they need to be invited in and they patiently wait to hear from us. I think they are loving guides who help smooth out the bumps in life. They are with us 24/7 and love us dearly. They have a message of hope and love, which is sent to us special delivery by winged creatures such as birds, butterflies, and dragonflies.

Another thing I like to do, is to ask the Universe for direction. The word Universe stands for any higher power that you believe in…..I happen to believe in God. I finally came across a favorite book that was buried in one of my boxes. Here it is below:

I love this book because it’s jam-packed with snippets of wise thoughts, plus her  illustrations are zany and fun. I love SARK’s work. It’s colorful, simplistic and brave. She’s not afraid to speak her truth, which I deeply admire about her. She inspires me to go out on a limb and to continue to march to my own beat.

This little book is ideal for doing this interesting exercise. You can do this with any book that you have handy. This is what you do: Quietly ask for guidance while gently opening the book to whatever page is calling to you. Don’t give it too much thought, just let your intuition do the picking. The open page will often reflect a current situation and the text itself will usually offer up a tidbit of insight for you. Don’t worry if you don’t “get it” right off the bat, sometimes it takes a day or two before insight surfaces.

I just opened the book and this is what I came up with~

Oh Boy! Do I love this one! I’m definitely in a reclusive mood lately, and in desperate need of a nap. When I was first diagnosed with PD, I would take a nap everyday. I would lie down for 45 minutes every afternoon. I stopped taking naps two years later, simply because it’s been hard to quiet my mind. I suffer from insomnia which is a common symptom of Parkinson’s. I average about 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night, sometimes less. It’s a total bummer, and I need to confront this issue…however I am avoiding it right now. I think naps need to return to my daily regime, it seems like a good place to start. Did you know that the word naps actually stands for: N=Naps  A=Are P=Perfectly  S=Sane

I also like when SARK  writes “avoidance is temporary”. My focus for 2011 is to remind myself that life is about the “journey” and not the about the “destination”.

On that note, I am off to bed and hope you are sleeping too! Sweet Dreams my friends.

My favorite things in life seem to include two words instead of one. Things like ice cream, bubble bath, hot chocolate, and throw pillows. Yes, I am a pillowoholic. I buy them, move them, rearrange them, and when that gets old….I place them on the outdoor patio furniture.

Just take a gander at my plethora of pillows~

Presently I am into mixing fabrics.

Had to have this birdie pillow!

I even hide them in corners...never know when a mouse might need a place to nap!

They seem to multiply like bunnies! They are growing out of a steamer trunk!

Sit? Who needs room to actually sit? The furry thing on the right is not a pillow.

Yes, even tiny furniture gets pillowed.

Can you tell I also like throws, blankies, and quilts?

Can't forget the bed!

My hubby thinks I’m nuts! I have decided men just don’t “get” the whole pillow thing. I’m one of those chicks that prepares the bed for nighty night. I first gently place my sacred pillows in their “special place”, then I roll down the comforter 5.5 inches making sure the sheet is positioned over the top of the comfie (no raw edges showing please!) I then fluff each pillow four times and spritz the upper portion on the bed with lavender sheet spray. Maybe that’s why I don’t get enough sleep! By the time I finish my bedtime ritual…there’s daylight peeking through the blinds!

I’m also obsessive on how I make the bed! Sheets must be tight and crisp, corners tucked military style. and decorative pillows need to be repositioned in their proper place….really! If I am away over night and return the next day, I almost faint when I see how my hubby has made the bed! Eeeeeeek! He plays ring toss at the end of the bed and creates pillow rubble near the headboard. He also apologizes for the “crazy” pillows when friends and family visit. He instructs visitors to toss the sofa pillows on the floor and not to worry about it. Double Eeeeek! Okay I admit it…it all sounds rather OCD. I really don’t leave drawers open .3 mm from the cabinet or hop on one leg seven times while getting into the shower….I’m only weird when it comes to pillows. Pillows have a “soft spot” in my life!

I spent all day Sunday had with a couple of cool chicks…Lauren and Maggie. These gals  know how to have fun, and they’re both die-hard treasure seekers just like me! We set out to Sacramento Antique Faire late morning, and didn’t get home till after dark….what a blast!

The Faire is the second Sunday of every month...check it out if you're in the area!

One of my finds was this colorful oil painting. It’s a good sized piece, in fact it barely fit into my large granny cart! I love the frame just as much as I adore the painting. I hung this piece in my dining room right above a vintage drop leaf oak desk.

To see more photos of our day, check out Lauren’s blog post at www.theurbanhippie.wordpress.com  Her blog and photos make my heart sing! Perfectly beautiful words and images to match.

I like the light and shadows in this painting. I am crazy for Still Lifes. They remind me to quiet myself, and live in the moment.

Here are a couple a shots from the Faire…….the prettiest treasures were my gal pals

Love these painted watering cans.

Girlie Girl Stuff

Viva Las Vegas!

I had to have this.....perfect for when my roses start to bloom again.

Theses little pots worked perfect for supplies on my art table.

 

Another sweetheart.

Bling from the $1.00 table! Love the tiny mice buttons.

Fell in love with these sweet vintage valentines~

Found this darling sticker book at a magazine store called Newsbeat.....right next door to Peet's!

more stickers.......

Love her yellow sundress

This is the cover on the label package.

Rub a dub dub......Baby Cody's in his tub!

Two rare and priceless treasures.

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted about the story behind particular pieces of my artwork. Two years ago I was very honored when I was invited to speak at a Parkinson’s symposium on the healing power of art. I was extremely nervous before hand, however I began to really enjoy myself once I got started. It was a wonderful experience that I deeply grew from. I created the two pieces below as hand-outs for the group. The first piece was for the PD patients, and the second piece was designed for caregivers. Actually both pieces apply to just about anyone.

I had two days of non-stop artsy multitasking. I’m not sure if multitasking means you actually accomplish things….if so, maybe I should say I have been fiddling around. Hubby was gone most of the day, and my daughter was at her dad’s which meant there was lot’s of time to waste.

Yesterday was actually productive. My friend Rocco came over and we did a photo shoot, went shopping, and re-did his website. He’s the brother I never had. We have known each other for almost thirty years, and we still laugh, sing, and crack ourselves up like we did when we were young whippersnappers. He has the silly gene too, and isn’t afraid to dance in the aisles of Target either. He’s truly a spectacular artist who creates stunning mixed-media abstract pieces……usually very large. He’s in love with my Pretty Girls, and even helped me create a couple not long ago. He created their dresses and the dressing tents…I sketched the girls and painted their faces. So much fun to do a collaborative piece with someone you love. We decided to call it “Coney Island Cuties”. We thought they looked sort of retro, kind of Flapperesque. This painting is a keeper and won’t be sold.

"Coney Island Cuties" by: Pastore and DeLuz

Rocco showed up to my place in the coolest hat, which prompted the fun photo shoot. Check out these great shots of him. Be sure to take a peek at Rocco’s website and have a feast for your eyes! www.rochpastore.com

Sinatra energy

Uncle Rocco and Mikey

Mikey ended up being a very naughty boy yesterday. I think he was down right jealous that I had a friend over, he’s so used to me making over him all day long, and didn’t get as much attention yesterday.  Just check out this pup’s handy work……..little bugger was multitasking too!

My pretty new silk blouse...look a little closer on the lower right. See the hole that he made! He also tore out the side zipper!

While we were taking pictures, Mikey came in my studio and chewed the cord to my laser printer! EEEEK again!

To top the day off, he pooped in my bedroom, peed in my bathroom, and tried to eat a safety-pin! I positive he did a happy dance as soon as uncle left. My cavorting canine was completely exhausted last night from his adventures, check him out:

zzzzzzz....hiccup....zzzzzzzzz

Today was another story…Mikey was a good boy. It was just the two of us, which meant we had time to wrestle, snuggle, and play hide and seek. In between “play” time, check out how I was literally bouncing off the walls. I couldn’t quite figure out what I wanted to work on. I should have been working on two large commissioned pieces…..but was too darn lazy to pull in my large work table. So instead I did the following…sort of:

Painted a base coat on this rock I found in the yard. Think it will make an awesome castle.

Worked on my Moon and the Stars dolly. Ended up swearing at my sewing machine and went on to the next project

Started fooling around with collage, was too tired to create faces, necks, and arms.

Took a hot bath, then gave myself a mani and a pedi. Went wild and painted them bright red!

Read the new Blick Studio catalog and drooled.

Tried to figure out my new book binding machine...no luck'

To top it off, I washed all the throw rugs, shaved my legs, cleaned the pantry, cleaned the toilets, vacuumed, made two sets of cards, emptied the dishwasher, talked on the phone, made an egg salad sammie, got a package ready to ship, and watched the end of Shallow Hal…whew…I’m popped. I’m now off to bed, goodnight.       zzzzzzzzzzzzzz…………hiccup………….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…………….and so on.

Just a quick note: I was thrilled to have an article written on me that was posted in yesterday’s local Stockton newspaper, The Record. I almost fell over when I saw my face on the front page!

They even mentioned Mikey and Petal! I love the last sentence in the piece…very clever. The reporter, Zach Johnson, did a great job writing the piece. Many thanks to both him and Craig, the photographer.

Just click the following link to read the article:                                                                            http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110105/A_NEWS/101050321

Michael J. Fox (Mikey for short) Yes that's a smile!

I'm a "Petal" pusher!

Hi Gang….artsy chick here….yes the lazy gal who hasn’t communicated much the last couple of months. Sorry for the delay, I’m back. Wish I could say I have been traveling to the the seven (seven right?) wonders of the world, or shooting a film in Tuscany with my good pal George Clooney, or better yet…busy illustrating Michael F. Fox’s next book. Sigh…none of the above. Just hanging out with a cranky liver, a temperamental substantia nigra (a brain thingymajig) and a slew of cardboard boxes. Much too boring to even write about. I’d much rather do a re-cap of my favorite gifts of 2010. I know it’s much better to give than to receive….however I am thrilled to have been gifted the following:

Okay here goes, this amazing gift was from my sweet and dear friend on the east coast who I call Special K. No she’s not a rapper or a sugary breakfast cereal…..she is truly an amazing mom, wife, and friend. Long story short, I adore her and she has permanently stolen a chunk of my heart. I continually tell her I plan on being her when I grow up, even though I am a zillion years older than she is. She is Yoda trapped in a beautiful young woman’s body.

K. always knows just what to say.

She truly listens to every word I say, and more importantly to what I don’t say. She is kind, funny, pretty, and incredibly smart. Last week a box arrived from K. that was jammed packed with treasures. Like they say, she saved the best for last. At the very bottom was something that made me ball my eyes out…yes, a signed photo of my beloved hero… Michael J. Fox! Those who know me well, know that I  dream of the day I can meet him in person and thank him personally. He truly inspires me to continue on with grace, humor, and hope….in spite of the Parkinson’s.

He looks as if he's staring at me...too funny!

Another gift that was so thoughtful and creative came from my sweet hip friend name Lauren. She was born with the “cool gene” and I keep praying some of it will eventually wear off on me. She too is beautiful from the inside out, quicker than a whip, and is a magician with the camera. Just check out her blog if you’re in the mood to oooh and ahhhh over some of the finest photos I have ever seen. By the way, for those of you in the local area (Northern California), Lauren’s photo skills are for hire! She has a gifted eye, and her photos make your soul dance. Be sure to check out her wedding photos too, she truly captures the subtle moments so many of us miss. http://theurbanhippie.wordpress.com/

Lauren made these wildly funny cut out pop-ups! I about peed my pants when I opened these little treasures! Flippen’ hilarious! Mike is with me everywhere! I still have to put my face in that one pop-up you see with the open hole. My favorite is the one of Mike on the sofa…I created the little coach for him. I had him sitting in another favorite trinket   which was gifted to me last year from friends in Texas….my cherished Tree of Life. However Mike looked rather uncomfortable sitting up in the tree…seemed a bit undignified for my hero, so I made him a sofa with matching coffee table.

Another amazing gift I received was from my other East Coast soul sister, Magical Michelle. This young beauty is Wonder Woman, a Power Puff  and a Cheetah Girl all rolled into one. She raises three adorable kids, makes amazing cupcakes, and does her hair everyday. I’m convinced she has cloned herself and has backup models in the her basement. How she manged to find time to make me this precious rag quilt is beyond my comprehension. I still haven’t gotten out my Christmas cards, and MM has probably already done next year’s holiday shopping!

I have my “love quilt” laying on the back of my desk chair…where I spend most of my time. Not only does it cushion my aging back, it warms me in the wee hours of the morn. I’ve had my boo boo blankie wrapped around my shoulders, legs, and even my toes. Mikey has tried to steal the love quilt from me twice, and I can’t really blame him. The colors are absolutely perfect…..MM has mental telepathy skills too! She also knew my favorite candy (Reese’s PB cups!) and included a bag along with some other wonderful treasures in my goodie package,

A huge thanks to my gal pals for making me feel so very loved! Life would not be the same without your magic vibes, unique energy, and your contagious sparks for life.

You all had me at hello! wink

Love it...Love it...Love it!

Mikeville

Who knew he was a cowboy! Yeehaw!