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With Bittersweetness, I am Published

The May/June 08 issue of Somerset Studio has finally arrived, and I find it bittersweet. You see, I am finally published. But my article and art are about how my beautiful 17-year-old daughter fought for her life and died a hero in my eyes. And, the anniversary of her death is almost a year ago June 15, 2007.
    Please don't misunderstand. I feel honored to have an article and artwork appearing in the pages of this fine publication alongside many talented artists. However, I wish it was about some ordinary or everyday thing rather than the passing of my artistic daughter. It was a good issue for her to appear in, being that the theme is heroes.
    The editor of the magazine, Jenny Doh, was kind enough to mention me and my story of Brianna in her column from the editor. (A few letters got mixed up in my last name and were printed there, but no worries. It's obvious who she is referring to.) She is a kind and understanding woman. I thank her for the opportunity to tell my story and that of Brianna's.
    Please turn to page 50, and let me know what you think. I want to tell the world how wonderful my daughter was, and continues to be, in my life and that of her father and brother. I also had to share how she has and continues to influence my art. I hope you are touched by it too.

~ Iva

                                    

Going Round and Round and Round...

I was so lucky to get into Ulla Milbrath's Paper Carousel class held at Castle in the Air in Berkeley last week. She is one of the sweetest people, a super talent and a favorite teacher of mine at the shop.

What fun we had making these miniature amusement rides using woodland scenes and creatures. Ulla is always so generous with her huge stock of images and I have already begun thinking of ways to turn this technique into a carousel with various themes.

Unbeknownst to me, another artist friend was taking the class. Ingrid Pomeroy and I had a chance to catch up and create together. Of course, no class at the Castle is complete without a lunch break and a trip to the next door bakery for one of their scrumptious chocolate cupcakes. I will have to take a picture of one next time to share with you.

Brianna was with me, guiding me in my creative pursuit. She would have loved this class and wanted to take some with me. She would have oo'd and aah'd at it when I brought my creation home. John and Trevor were quite impressed with it, because it even turns around just like a real one. Thank you Ulla for a wonderful time!!

Pfun with PFATT Pfriends

I have finally caught my breath and have rested after preparing for and then participating in  PFATT Pfest 2008 here in Northern California.  Eleven of us enjoyed five days of sharing, visiting, giggling and lots of touring and shopping. Some of the women had not flown yet, and this was their first trip to the West Coast. Others had been to San Francisco before on vacation. Colleen and I planned a whirlwind itinerary that took us to:

• the Napa Valley wine country with three winery visits and the Dreyers Ice Cream touring bus.
• Antiques by the Bay at Alameda Point, where more than 400+ vendors sell antiques of all types outdoors at an old naval station.
• the Sarah Winchester House in San Jose. Some in our group are ghost hunters.
• Port Costa to visit and shop with artist Wendy Addison in her studio and workshop.
• Berkeley's fourth street where we shopped at Castle in the Air and Scrapbook Territory.
• San Francisco's Union Square and a shopping at Britex Fabrics  and then a cable car ride to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 for lunch and shopping.
• lunch in Sausalito and shopping in San Anselmo at Susan's Storeroom
• the local Safeway almost everyday to fill the larder and liquor cabinet
• evening "show and tell" about our treasures and workshops on art techniques

The 5,000 square foot house we rented had spectacular views from high atop a hill in Lafayette. We sipped lemon drops and watched the sun dip into the east side of the Oakland Hills, followed by the soothing bubbles of the outdoor jacuzzi.

Our view looking north east:

 

Evening cocktails by the front porch fountain:

A metal horse sculpture greeted our return each evening after our day's sojourn:

 

Here I am at Wendy Addison's Theater of Dreams in Port Costa, a quaint little ghost town on the Strait of Carquinez.

The group heading to Wendy's studio in Port Costa:

We were all touched by Wendy's magical studio. With the lights down low and music surrounding us, we were treated to the appearance of Ms. Addison's almost life-size fairy, who danced for us:

The next morning, we hopped on the Dreyers bus for a day-long trip through Napa Valley:

Madonna Estates was so generous in treating us to a private tour and tasting. Susan Bartilucci, an accomplished artist herself, was such a gracious host. We walked among the grapevines, which were beginning to get leaf buds, and toured their winemaking warehouse.

The weather cooperated fully and we took advantage of the sunshine and had lunch and a wine tasting at picnic tables outside of Clos du Val winery on the Silverado Trail.

Then it was off to the sparkling wine maker Chandon. They have beautiful grounds, including this stone mushroom garden. We sat and sipped five different kinds of champagne, before boarding the bus and heading home thoroughly exhausted.

While some went to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, several of us headed to Marin County  north of San Francisco. Lunch and then a visit to Susan Storeroom made for a great day.

It was finally time to say our goodbyes to our sisters. But before we did, we all thought about my dear Brianna and my terrible loss and cried. Many of these women knew me and prayed for us while Brianna battled for her life. Although the mood became somber, we all felt closer to each other and better understood how each of us bears the pains and scars of life, along with its precious moments of family and dear friends.

Colleen and I put together a keepsake travel  journal for each woman. Wrapped in pretty tissue, the gifts were presented to the group on the first night. Some stashed tickets and brochures in them as mementos of their trip. And on our last night we all sat like school girls and signed each other's with heartfelt notes of friendship.

Although most of us came away exhausted from the flurry of activity, we all were grateful for the experience of getting to know each other better.

I hope you too can experience a short trip with like-minded artistic friends. It fed my soul.

I'm Off to Laugh, Create and Share...

I will share my photos when I get back from Pfatt Pfest 2008. What is Pfatt Pfest you ask?

It is a gathering of artists from across the nation who are getting together for 6 days of laughter, shopping, sightseeing, eating, a little sleeping...and art. This year, my sweet sisters are traveling here to Northern California and Colleen and I have been busy planning all sorts of fun for the group. We have rented a 5,000 square foot hilltop house with beautiful views, and it will be the perfect setting for our creative adventure.

Watch my blog next week for photos and stories of our artful antics. Oh, and this little beauty below is courtesy of Sandy from Sam I Am Creations. She is the tops when it comes to website banners, templates and such. Until next week....

Spring Break in Monterey then Onto PFATT PFest

We spent a few days in Monterey during spring break.  It was a nice getaway, and close to home.  But, it felt worlds away. We drove 17-mile drive (the Lone Cypress is there pictured above) through Carmel and visited the Mission in this little hamlet. Or, I should say, Carmel-by-the-Sea. I've lived in California for most of my life and I never knew about the "by-the-Sea" part. But I took lots of photos to share with you.



At one point we were having a late lunch at Monterey's Cannery Row (fodder for Steinbeck's award-winning novel of the same name). I commented that Brianna would have loved it there. We were sitting outside on a covered patio right on the water  having clam chowder in a bread bowl. About 10 minutes later, a woman walks up and says, "You all look so familiar. Iva?" I was blown away. The woman was Brianna's best friends mother, who a week earlier had sent me flowers to let me know she was thinking of me. John, Trevor and I thought it was a sign from Brianna. What were the chances that Chelsea's mother would be in that restaurant (which wasn't small), in Monterey, having a late lunch only after changing their plans and deciding last minute to stay in Monterey. Brianna was with us.

As we drove through parts of Monterey, I started to cry after seeing a bronze sculpture of two children:



I was captured by the innocence of these two. Innocence that is long gone for us and my children, child. I thought it beautiful just the same.

Here are some of the beautiful paper mache religious figures that I thought were remarkable at the Mission. The first is large, almost life-size, while the others were small in the Mission's display case.



 




We love the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It has 20 foot + high tanks full of fish, sharks and all sorts of sea life that you can just walk up to and look into, as if you were a sea creature yourself.  Do you see the school of sardines whirling in the center of the photo and looking almost like a tornado?






The jellyfish display was so beautiful. These prehistoric looking life forms floating like ballerinas in the water. Swimming to a rhythmic beat only they hear. The aquarium pipes in beautiful music that seems choreographed to the creatures movements. And... so many different kinds of jellyfish and different colors. I felt like a kid again!

I also noticed a stunning quilt someone had made and donated to the aquarium. It featured all kinds of sea animals and was hanging near the cafeteria. People were sitting in front of it, so my picture isn't the best. But I think you can see the detail and colors well enough.



Then next week, my PFATT sisters arrive for a few days of touring, art and sharing. I really can't wait.

Shhhh.......Here's a sneak peek of a little surprise they will receive before leaving to our part of California:

And my PFATT sister Sandy of Sam I Am Creations created this little gem for us to display. Sandy is so very talented when it comes to designing web pages, templates and the like. They fly in on Thursday and leave Tuesday. I'll update you when I return from all our activities and pfatt pfun!

Featured Artist on PFATT Marketplace

"Stolen Moments" is my latest offering on PFATT Marketplace. In addition, I have two other pieces available, sweet fairy cones and altered art called Nesting (see photos below). The Marketplace is released on the 10th of every month and I always try to have something new for it.
    This month, I am the lucky recipient of the Feature Artist Page, where you'll read a little about me, see my photo and some of my past work. Let me know what you think.

 

At the same time I've listed this antique porcelain dancer on my eBay page. She had a lovely dresden lace skirt, but it was missing pieces here and there. So I added some vintage paper flowers, a rhinestone on her flower hat, set her amidst some moss and more vintage velvet flowers and thought of this quote while I worked:

"Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair."

- Susan Polis Shutz

   
    Also, I want to say thank you to Lori of Faerie Window for this sweet little bunny box. Oh my was I surprised by this little gem. Lori is one of the  kindest people, and I feel fortunate that she has such a warm and caring heart.
    In addition to this sugar-coated gift, she also sent a beautiful heart-shaped satchet made from toile fabric. They both sit right near my computer so I can enjoy them during the Easter and spring time months. Thank you Lori ever so much!!
    I am off to prepare for my PFATT sisters arrival in early April. Colleen and I have a surprise cooked up for them that we hope they will enjoy. I hope your days are filled with the sights and scents of spring, and maybe with a pleasant little surprise or two sprinkled in.
    Hugs to you...Iva







   
 

Busy, Busy, Busy Keeps Me Sane

As promised, I have lots of photos of all that has kept me going and going like the ever-ready bunny these last few weeks. I have really neglected my blog duties, but at least all the comings and goings has somewhat kept my grief at bay.  Somewhat, but not really. I am always thinking of my Brianna, especially when I  know she would have enjoyed many of things that has kept us occupied of late. First, the big announcement...drum roll please. I am a part of a new show to take place in Danville, CA, on Saturday, September 13, 2008. It's called Tinsel and Treasures, and it will be a small show with a select group of artists. I am so excited! Here's what I created for the website:

Please visit the link to see who will be there. It should be a really fun event, since all of the artists are friends!

Now, here are some photos of the many other activities that have kept me from gathering dust. First, I
attended an alterned book class at a local scrapbook store with friends Colleen Moody and Sylvia Anderson.

  We had such fun cutting into books, creating a little drawer and altering the pages one Saturday morning a few weeks ago. I  learned a lot about making sure you always have a sharp exacto, when cutting through pages and pages of a book. We all agreed,  being book lovers, it felt so wrong to cut up the page, but the results were so worth it! I'll have to share my book another time.

About a week ago, I had the opportunity to see the SAP Tennis open in San Jose with my doubles partner, Ann B. King (that is her art name.) We saw James Blake play and then later, the Bryan Brothers play doubles. What fun it was to watch their games and how hard they  hit the ball.

This is James Blake. He won this game, but Andy Roddick won the singles SAP Open.

Here are the Bryan Brothers. They're twins and supposedly their tennis coach tied them together on a long rope so they both learned to work in unison on the court. They were really awesome to watch.

Dinner in the the city at my cousin Ogi (second from left) and his wife Sarah's house. They live on Russion Hill in San Fransico and the cable car runs up and down their street. Their place was so cute and the meal they prepared for us was delicious. Our handsome Trevor and my wonderful hubby enjoyed seeing them as I did.

The big Addison Endpapers Sale weekend. The line to get in went around the block and we froze waiting for them to open the doors. But oh the wonderful finds to be had!! Wendy Addison was there too with some of her wonderful offerings.

Colleen, my friend Gina Gabriell (also a very talented artist) and I fought the crowds and came away with all sorts of ephemera to add to our work. This was the line to pay.

All in all it's been a whirlwind of a month and I think it will continue. I'm now preparing for my PFATT sisters from across the country to arrive here April 3-8 for a retreat in the hills of Lafayette. Art, wine tasting, Pier 39, laughter and hugs is just what I need. I'll leave you with a little piece of art (Nesting) I made with some found objects. I hope you all have a week maybe a little less busy than mine and take time to appreciate all the good in your lives.

Much Planning Going On

I have not posted much, because, well, I've been trying to stay busy. Obviously, I've been successful, because I've neglected my blog duties. But I promise it's for a good reason.

In about a week, I'll have some news about something I've planned. Actually, I've been planning a lot of things, but not all are ready to announce. It will take me the next few days to make one of these projects presentable. So stay tuned.

In the meantime, I've been also creating in my studio. I purchased some great inspirational magazines and some beautiful Catherine Moore stamps and have been delving deeper into the world of mini theaters. I loved creating this little lady, with her swimming swan skirt. Also, I took an altered book class at My Daughter's Wish a local scrap book store that offers a great selection of classes.

I cannot forget the romantic dinner and flowers I was treated to by my wonderful and loving husband. In turn, I treated Trevor to his favorite meal - homemade chicken parmesan. It was a nice Valentines Day.

In addition to playing in my studio, I have been trying to get lots of physical activity. This is crucial for me in dealing with my grief. If you don't already know this about me, I play tennis. We've had terrible rainy weather here during the past month, however in the last two weeks it's been gloriously sunny, reaching 70 one day! So I have taken every opportunity to get out in the warm sun and hit the ball. I am on two tennis teams, and thankfully one will end soon. Which will also give me more time in the studio.

This week, however, I am enjoying the SAP tennis open in San Jose. I play doubles on a B-2 team here with my partner Ann Marie Hauser (an accomplished fine artist and an award winner - I wish I had a link for her, but she has no web presence). Anyway, she and I got the chance to see the number one doubles team play Tuesday night. The Bryan Brothers were amazing. Their serves are so fast, Ann Marie and I thought half of them were out! I guess that's what happens when you reach a certain age and play tennis! We are also privileged enough to see a whole day of it today too. So I am off to indulge in my other passion.

So when I return, I promise I will share lots of photos of all the happenings here in the past few weeks: artist get together with friends, dinner with my cousin and his wife in the city, remembering Brianna with a page in the school yearbook. Thank you dear friends for your caring and kindness you've shown me. Hugs to you all...Iva

For everything there is a season. . . a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. . .
                     ~ Eccleasiastes 3:1-4

The Continuing Spirit

I have neglected my blog for three weeks. I'm sorry I haven't written, especially when I know you all will want to know how Brianna's birthday went with my family, dear friend and Brianna's friends.
    But first I must explain that when I'm really hurting, it is easier for me to withdraw. I guess that is a natural reaction to pain.  I really didn't want to write anything, because all I am feeling is sorrow. Terrible, intense sorrow that Brianna is not here. I hope you understand.
    As for the little birds we were to make on her birthday, they did not happen. Brianna had printed out the directions for these neat little birds. So I gathered the materials and set out chairs in the brief sunshine. Her friends, Chelsea and Nina, came over with some soda cans. We cut them up according to the directions, but we must have been missing something. For the directions were not clear and I tried and tried to make them, but we were all too stumped to figure out how they were put together.
    Her friends said that by now (an hour into trying to make them) Brianna would have given up, she would have called "Mom!", to have me figure it out, and then they all would have been on to something else.
    But I was so determined. I couldn't save my daughter's life, but by God I was going to make these birds. And I had to give up, frustrated by it all, because I just didn't know how. Almost a reflection of what happened in our lives.
    Still, we all sat in the sun and talked. It was hard for me listening to their plans of college. I kept thinking that Brianna should be sitting here also excited about the colleges she was applying to. So I cried with them off and on, and they understood.
    I'm glad they were there. I know Brianna would be glad too, to see that Chelsea and Nina came over. And thankfully my dear friend Alissa was here for emotional support. For it was a hard day for John and Trevor also.
    January 12 will always be a special day I celebrate. I cherish the day Brianna became my daughter and blossomed into such a wonderful young woman. For I love her so much, and I know that she loves us still. We are just separated for a time.
    I thank you all for checking in on me. As hard as it is at times, I carry on. Brianna's spirit lives in me too. And I keep thinking that I have to live my life for her now.

"Into the nebulous, ongoing mystery of life I welcome, as if through an open door, the continuing spirit of the one I have loved."

- Martha Whitmore Hickman, Healing After Loss

Happy Birthday in Heaven

Tomorrow, January 12,  is Brianna's birthday. She would have been 18. And she would have been so thrilled to be a legal adult. She really wanted to explore the world and all the wonder it offered. She was an adventurer at heart.

I am so happy she was born into our lives in 1990. She was a perfect daughter for me - artistic, funny, a great sense of humor and a little everywhere (sounds familiar). She was also a pack rat, just like me, and loved to try new things if it had anything to do with art. She was all girl - squealing, giggling and gushing, over friends, home and especially ideas in CRAFT magazine, online at Fred Flare and on her stencil chat group.


I hope to gather her two close friends, and John and Trevor, and with my close friend from Memphis here, we will make some little birds out of cut up soda cans. This was one of the ideas Brianna had pasted into her creative idea journal.  And maybe I'll make some cake or brownies to celebrate the fact that she came into our lives, however short hers was. Happy Birthday my sweetheart. I love you forever.... Mom