Stacked Stones Studio!

What I dream of is an art of BALANCE , of purity and serenity...a soothing calming influence on the mind...rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue. These are the words of Henry Matisse -- great artist -- creative genius...and he confessed to struggling to find balance in his art. My life is a continual struggle for balance...in my art, my profession, my relationships, my time and emotions. I believe the only source for true balance is to put God absolutely first on the list -- and let HIM set the percentages for everything else. If I am tuned in to Him...my life has purity and serenity...He is my source of balance and soothing calming influence...Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and weighed down with heavy burdens and I will give you rest." Ahhh -- now that feels like a good armchair.

Today was my first day as a university professor! I honestly, didn't know what to expect...would I freeze? Would I babble on? Would my students seem like puppies? The day started off great...Royce and Weston took me to breakfast...and at the end they each presented me with an apple...one red -- one green. They also had one more present for me...a watch. (I don't know if you know this about me -- but I never wear one.) I think they might have really been looking out for my students...in case I lost track of time! *smile* It was so thoughtful...and during class, I could look down at my wrist and be reminded that "my guys love me." Class ended up being great too...I have 22 students...freshmen to juniors. I also have a girl from Belarus in my class -- so that was a delightful surprise...we had a brief conversation in Russian -- and she promised she wouldn't give her speeches in Russian -- because my Russian is so bad! *laughing* We mostly did introductory stu...

are often accompanied by mixed feeling...and this week is certainly following that plan. This Thursday, I will step back in to the class room to teach undergraduate studens the Fundamentals of Speech...and maybe another class. Oh...I am not concerned about the materials...it is just that the environment has changed so much -- technology is the lynchpen for what goes on in the classroom. Their assisntments are not "handed in" -- they get uploaded to my :on-line classroom. Our discussion on the ethics of communication will not be held in the classroom...but in a chat room where opinions are not faced with the reaction of their peery...at leaset not face to face. I am not saying all of this is bad...it is just there is so much that I must adjust to -- in addition to preparin for the parts that I am respoinsible for. I know I will get it done...and I am exceited about gettingit done. I love new beginnings. I love new challenge....teaching at Cumberland promises to be bot...

Ok...Nashville isn't supposed to be this hot still! I moved here from Dallas where -- sure we expected it to be over 100 degrees all through August -- but not here in Nashville. Nothing like doing a photo shoot for someone's engagement pictures and having them (and me) dripping with sweat...oooooooooooo so romantic! ha! Ok...so they still managed to generate a little heat on their own...ahhhh young love!

I decided to make a mini-album to collect all of my "one little word" challenges. Each word has its own significance...but taken together they are almost like a self portrait...something to look back on and reflect why these word had particular importance to me at the time. I had this delicious little acrylic mini-book just waiting for some sort of cleverness -- and when I saw the iridescent Hambly with leaves -- I knew I just had to use it. I cut it to fit behind the piece of acrylic and then backed that with another transparency of word definitions. A few letter tiles and some rub- ons were added to the front for titling. I attache3d the paper and transparency to the acrylic board with copper foil tape (used for edging stained glass prior to soldering). The word this week was * SEEK *. I have been working on taking joy in simple things...not letting important moments go by because they are not HUGE and attention getting...those are some of the very best memories. M...

Do you like to study faces? I do -- my favorites are those who are older and younger...the first have stories to tell...the second are yet to be told. Such a study in contrasts. This photograph was taken during a trip I made to Cuba a few years ago to take humanitarian aid. I ran into some of the most wonderful people -- who have very hard stories to tell. When I saw this paper from 7 Gypsies it so reminded me of the way things are "weathered" there (both the buildings AND the people)...so even though the paper line is named from areas of ITA, I still had to use it. Enjoy -- am looking forward to being back in Nashville on Saturday -- have a huge need to scrap.

Hello friends...hope everyone is off to a GREAT week. I am in Indianapolis for a conference this week. Should be good -- but have to tell you that traveling for another week is NOT one of my favorite things at the moment. Ready to be home and able to get back to a more regular routine. Ah well...paying the house payment IS one of my favorite things -- so, I believe this balances this out to a "neutral thing" if not a favorite! One of my favorite things this weekend was getting to hang with my friends from Scrap It! We had a huge crop this weekend with more than 70 people in attendance...the scissors, glue, paper and embellishments were FLYING! One of the funnest things was doing a round robin -- will have to show you the results when I get back. We each got 10 minutes to start our layout...then had to pass it off to the next person -- and they had 10 minutes to work on it and then passed it on. With six people in our group each layout got an hours worth of work -- a...

I love this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson...in my life -- not EVERY day seems like the best day -- but I think when we purpose in our hearts to find something good and right in each day -- God gives us the grace to do it. I want that in my life. I want to help Weston and Royce find that in their days too. Decided to create a layout to put up in my studio to remind me of this "purposing" that I want to do every day. For someone who really doesn't like to scrap themselves -- apprently, I have gotten over it. Just noticed how many of my last few layouts have me in them. Not sure what got into me -- but am glad I have a few done.