Nov 22, 2009

Sunday night miscellany

(An update on the Too Much Information post can be found at the bottom of this post if you're interested.)

Inspired by playing FarmVille on FaceBook, here is the first piece of art I've finished in over a week. I am addicted to FarmVille because it requires very little thinking and helps keep me awake when I want to be sleeping and can't be. You know, writing things and creating things takes so much motivation - it takes a lot to bring forth something that didn't exist before you put the letters together or brought the elements together in a piece of art. There's a place and energy you have to tap into to bring those things out. Mine is all plugged up right now. And you don't realize how much motivation it takes to do what we do until you are all of a sudden on empty! Things like doing laundry or running the vacuum have been comforting for me because I don't have to think to do them and still feel productive. Anyway, you can read more about that stuff at the bottom of this post if you want.

Soul Growing


copyright by Marsha Jorgensen 11/22/09. All rights reserved. You may not copy, download, print, or use this image in any way without my permision.
This is a 7 3/4 x 9 3/4 collage using bodies from the 1930 painting
American Gothic by Grant Wood, and faces of Albert and Mileva Einstein from the public domain. Both of these elements were altered significantly in PhotoShop, reprinted, hand trimmed with scissors, and hand colored. The corn crowns come from my own vintage seed package, words from crowabout.etsy.com, the fish from phenomenon1851.etsy.com, the house from collagevisions.etsy.com, and the small frame from Studio Lorrie at Scrapbookgraphics.com and used with a commercial license. The backwards letters and numbers at the bottom are from Studio Maya at Scrapbookgraphics.com and also used with commercial permission. The Native American photograph and the eggs are from the public domain. The 2 hearts were cut from a 100 year old encyclopedia page. The raspberry pieces and most other border elements are from Gaby Braun of gaby-cajubrasil.blogspot.com. Thank you, Gaby for your generosity. All pieces were reprinted, hand cut, and hand colored and then placed on a background created by merging textures from flickr's JoesSistah and Itkupilli.etsy.com. Many thanks to JoesSistah for always providing such lovely textures to play with.

Did you get yours? Oh, my. Anahata Katkin's Papaya catalog is a feast for the eyes and a must have for making your holiday wish list! It is like a little portable museum of her gorgeous work and I want one of everything inside. Anahata has commented my work once or twice before so to see her big amazing 62 page catalog makes me a little star crossed and giddy. She is living my dream and I find so much inspiration in her work and from her example - another art idol to worship.



Once again, the mailbox Gods have been good to me and brought me surprises galore. I received this gorgeous and so fun piece from Janny Tricolore of Tricolore of Mixed Media blog. I have loved Janny's work forever and after gushing over this piece on flickr she up and sent it to me! I just love that guy sitting there so matter-of-factly in his tutu and boots! You'll notice the same words I used in my piece above - Replinish the Soul. They're part of a hot, hot, hot collage sheet from Nancy Baumiller at crowabout.etsy.com! Thank you, Janny, for this very much enjoyed piece! I love it.



And then the very kind and talented Lorraine Stobie of Creative Daily blog sent me these beautiful Christmas tags. What another lovely surprise to get! Thank you, Lorraine! You are too good to me and so thoughtful. They will be used and enjoyed and bragged about this holiday season!




Okay more on the previous Too Much Information (TMI) post. Mother nature has given me a break for a couple of days and I've had just enough energy to do what needs to be done and just a bit more. I go in for blood work Tuesday or Wednesday and waiting for paperwork to see the gynocologist, who just happens to be the obstetrician that delivered both of my kids 16 and 18 years ago. I am very pleased with that as I loved him and trusted him completely. Anyway, I imagine I'll get to see him in the next 2 weeks. Thank you for all of the emails and comments. I told my husband it helps so much to know I am not crazy in trying to describe how very exhausted I am feeling because so many of you have been through it, came out of it, and "get" what I'm going through. I'm sure this will be all over soon. Until then, I'll do the best I can with everything! Thanks heaps for your loving thoughts and wishes!


Photobucket

15 comments:

Debby said...

What a great post! Love the Thanksgiving art. Awesome.
Debby

Leslie said...

Beautiful American Gothic piece! I love the border, too!

said...

This is such a great piece. I didn't even recognize that it was Einstein until I read your credits. The corn as hat/head decoration? Awesome.

And I so love that you share all your sources - super super generous.

Take care of yourself. Lots of people thinking about you!

pinkglitterfae said...

Hang in there sweetie, I am glad you are seeing a doctor you trust. Your creativity will come flooding back once all this other 'stuff' is out of the way. Right now just take care of yourself, and play farmville all you like!
Your first artwork by the way, is as gorgeous as ever, so you haven't lost anything
lots of hugs and prayers to you,
betty

Lorraine said...

Soul Growing is wonderful - your colours seem to be even more vibrant! I can see the influences from Nancy's class. Am glad you like the christmas tags and plan to put them to use. Am sorry to hear about your current health issues and can appreciate (and relate) to your being tired. I'm sure you will be relieved with seeing the gyne! Take it easy in the interim.

lilylovekin said...

Love the piece inspired by Farmville. Do what ever you need to do to take care of your self right now. I'm glad you are seeing a Dr. you trust and like. That is so important, I just wish you didn't have to wait two weeks.

Jill said...

Overwhelmed - for someone feeling so tired you still seems to have bags of energy. I love the corn cobs. You're doing fine.

Janny said...

I love Anahata Katkin's work,
Great piece from you again!
Hang in there and thank you so much for your present. It's on my Blog;o)

Jamie said...

Oh I am so glad you will be going to a doctor you love. That always makes it better. Your new art piece is wonderful Marsha. I am continually blown away by your talent Sweetie. Thank you so much for sharing it with us all. Have a lovely Thanksgiving Marsha. Love, Jamie

Flippinpest said...

Sorry I havent been around for a long time. I had a family bereavement and my head hasnt been into paper crafting.I can see that you have been busy and produced some fantabulous work (I love Soul Growing).Take care my friend x

Gaby Bee said...

Your new piece is fantastic, Marsha!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope it's a day of sharing and spending time with your family and friends!

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!

Hugs,
Gaby

Marit said...

I wasn't around for a while, so I catched up with all your posts... so sorry to hear about those problems - being a woman in your forties isn't always easy (I know... I'm 46 and I've been "there"...) It's great you trust the dr. you're going to see... hope it works out soon. Although you're not feeling too well, your page is a masterpiece again!!! Take care Marsha! Thinking of you and sending good vibes your way...!

gaby braun said...

Lovely creation, Marsha. I love your works and your creativity, you have always something to say trough your art!

VBR said...

Hey Miss Fish!

Don't you think that the Corn King up there resembles Dr. Phil McGraw? But that is not his wife with him. Oh Oh! You are going to be on the cover of the Enquirer!! Wonderful piece. And, I hope you are feeling a bit better.

Linda M. Cain said...

The Christmas tags are wonderful!!!The corn is too cool! LOVE it!

Linda