Palm Book--a Little Book to Hold in Your Hands

 

This little palm book is made with a brown grocery bag, acrylic paint, posca pens--also acrylic, many many quotes to uplift the spirit.  It measures approximately 3.5" X 3".  All the pages are torn and the nature of it is very organic--not exact or precise--and lovely in it's own way.

I've been letting go of some things--mostly thoughts--that don't serve me in positive ways.  This first poem is by Nakela Homer @projecthappiness.org

Things to be grateful for

What left

What stayed

What's on it's way.

Nakela Homer @projecthappiness.org

The next poem is by Maya Angelou

We need joy

as we need air

We need love 

as we need water

We need each other

as we need the earth

we share

Maya Angelou

Back cover

Most of my art has been created with fabric. You may see my art in the Gallery of Breeze on my Skin.  Playing with paints and repurposed materials is very satisfying.  This little palm book was created with the intention to be loving to myself and to keep myself strong by being good to myself.

Robin McClendon is the artist who taught me this technique at a Woman Unleashed Online Solstice Retreat 2022.

#postconsumerart

#radicallove

 

Winter Walking and Hiking

 

The Ice Park in Winona is quite a beautiful thing to see!

Women and men climb these ice waterfalls using pick axes and special footwear with spikes and harnesses and ropes.  It is quite a thing to watch.  The fellow that heads it up tells me that I could do it--it's just like Yoga, he says.  I think I'll keep my Yoga on the earth not climbing a sheet of ice--though it looks amazing!

Last weekend when I went up to see it, they had turned off the water and he said the the falls were the largest that they have been this season.

Close up frozen vegetation.

Follow the signs--easy path to the ice park.

And if we hike to the top of the ice park here are some views:

This is snowy Sugarloaf.  That can be hiked to as well!

This picture is a little clearer--but the day was over cast. Still great to get out and explore and find wonder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dawn and MaryLee, adventure buddies

 

 

 

 

 

Visioning a Fresh 2023

 Vision Boards are a way to play and create some new thoughts to bring into fruition for a new year.  I've created these boards alone and with groups of friends.  And last year I began leading groups of people to create new visions for a fresh year in a new way.  It is relaxing and fun. I have my first workshop on Vision Board 2023 this Sunday, January 8th, Winona Arts Center, 2-4 pm. More details under images.

 

This is the beginning of some images and words that I've put together for 2023.

I did some quiet reflection time and writing to gather the images.  Lots and lots of gathering to just have fun with colors and words and images that give me a "sparkle."

 

This cluster of images makes me smile every time.  This mama bird with her little striped baby in her feathers. "Live YOUR best life." A group of friends, some green succulents, and a little red striped tent--artwork by Cindy Wunsch.

This set of images also is fun--in the forefront is a painter with her back to us who looks like she's staring at some green and two stripes of fabric.  I sewed these together from the last baby quilt I made.  More about that later.  A nautilus, and the words, "Strength and toning--tone your body, calm your mind."  Very good for me to remember.

Some images got switched around.  Getting closer to what I want to work in my life.  It's all a journey--I need to be patient. And moving one step in front of the other. "Go Boldly," a yoga image, old fashioned bicycle and woman winner, and some yummy food.

Here are the details of two upcoming Vision Board 2023 coming up this month.  One this Sunday, 1/8, 2-4 pm and the second Creating a Vision Board 2023 through Community Education on Wednesday, January 18, 6:15 pm - 8:15 pm at the Winona Senior High Art Room 158. Click on the link in the title Creating a Vision Board 2023 for the January 18th.

Details for the Sunday, 1/8, 2-4 pm workshop:

Winona Arts Center, 228 East 5th Street, Winona

Sunday, January 8, 2023

2-4pm

In this workshop we will create a collage of our hopes and dreams for this year of 2023.  We’ll begin the workshop with a guided visualization to bring us into relaxation, connect us with our body and stir our imaginations into making.  We’ll have the opportunity to create our own images and designs with paper and with stitching. Images, words and phrases will be available to use for our creating.  The instructor will bring examples and provide a large board to add images along with other materials to guide the making for a fun afternoon of creating our visions for 2023.

Cost: $46.00

Participants are welcome to bring magazines, cards, photos, fabric, newspapers, or other repurposed materials and a favorite scissors.  The instructor will bring all additional materials.

For additional information and to register: mleischen@gmail.com

 

 Come play, relax and create with us!  Everyone welcome.

Mississippi Musing

 

This art quilt started with the inspiration of a little kit called Minnesota by MAD for Wool.  I changed a couple of things--added some borders and had fun playing with lovely things about Minnesota.  My quilt's finished size is 21.5" x 32". I added fabric of morning glory's with hummingbirds  to the top and bottom borders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This close up for Minnesota has stitching on it in the shape of a question mark that represents the Mississippi River that starts in Itaska winds to Minneapolis and down the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin and through Winona.

Here are some of the details that I love:

"Sky Blue Waters" is a Minnesota saying.  I painted the sky in the quilt with acrylic paints.

On the left border, "Land of 10,000 Lakes" is one saying about all of the beautiful water in Minnesota.

And on the right border is embroidered "North Star State."

The bottom border reads "All Creatures Growing Harmony," it's a hope for all creatures large and small in this land and on this Earth to live in harmony.

On the back I added a hanging devise to easily hang in on the wall with a small nail.  On the left is a pocket.

Here's close up of the pocket.  In the pocket is a poem, titled the same of the quilt.

Minnesota Musings

Minnesota musings

an art quilt for you

of dreams,

hopes, nature,

hiking, good conversation,

friendship, books, coffee, love

a star marks Winona

a loon, Minnesota’s state bird,

bees, butterflies, nesting birds

dreams for tomorrow

the embroidered borders give voice

Minnesota’s glory

Sky Blue Waters

10,000 Lakes

North Star State

All Creatures Growing Harmony

to give hope, love, peace to you, dear friend.

MaryLee Eischen 2022 

 

I stitched on some small buttons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm stitching on the blue bird of happiness on her nest.

 

In the circle above Sugarloaf reads 'joy'.

 

A star marks Winona, the bird swimming is our state bird, the loon. And the clock above the loon represents that there is always time to hike--"no bad weather, just bad gear." That's what we say to each other all the time, and laugh.

If you'd like to make a Minnesota quilt, get in touch with the creators.  Find them on facebook  MAD for Wool.

You can also get in touch with them via email: ladyduck@charter.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close up for the machine drawing around the hummingbird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I signed it. 

And it got delivered to the happy friend on Christmas morning.

 

Dawn and Billy

Bring a Little Cheer On December 10

 

Card from Inge

 

A day of great celebration for me happened on December 10, my birthday.  Here are a few of the joy filled cards that came to me.

Card from Latifa

Card from Pete

 

 

 

 Card made by Dawn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A goat saying, "Happy Birthday," from Bob.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Card from Lyn 

 

 

 Card from my sister, Joan 

 

Card from my sister-in-law, Ruth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Card from my BFF Kim

And a beautiful new Yoga mat from my daughter, Amaliya and her sweetie, Luis.

 

 

My honey, Bob baked me a delicious birthday cake and sang to me.

I am over the moon grateful for the gifts of love, connection, hope from my family and friends.  Thank you all for being in my life.