GPP Crusade #15 Where in the World?

I was working on this post here and there this evening only to find out
some how I published a very rough draft. Ugh! Embarrassing I hope no one saw it!
This is my real post *grins, with a red face*

Where in the world am I?
My small portion of the world is central Wisconsin USA and I love it!
I was born in Madison, the state capital.
My family moved away when I was in high school.
I have lived in a few other places (Iowa, Illinois, Maryland and Virginia).
But I was so happy to return to Wisconsin, settle down and start a family. Wisconsin is very agricultural, so most of the state is covered with farms,
and woods, but we have a bit of everything. You name it...Wisconsin has it.
At the bottom, I included links to a bunch
of interesting things about Wisconsin.

While growing up, the tourism motto was "Escape to Wisconsin", I thought it described the area perfect. I don't think there is anyplace else I'd rather live. Of course I want to travel, but with the knowledge that I can always come home to Wisconsin. Sappy huh!

Some of my family's favorite places or things to do....
Madison-all around great town for everything! We love walking around in our state capital building, Henry Vilas Zoo, Thrift stores (Goodwill on the east side and St Vinnies on Williamson) and the Learning Shop toy store on the west side. And art fairs!

The geology of Wisconsin is beautiful. As a child I was fascinated on how our state was scoured by the last series of ice age glaciers.

The Milwaukee Public Museum- The kids especially liked the butterfly pavilion and the old world area.

Jurrustic Park in Marshfield

Wisconsin Cheese! I recommend the cheese Factory in Rudolph

Spreckers brand pop----(I never call it soda!) I recommend Rav'n Red or Ginger Ale

Rocky Rococo's Sausage and Mushroom Pizza

Funset Boulevard in Appleton---Games, movies, pizza, laser tag, carousel, tons of fun kids stuff

Fishing on the Wisconsin River

Deer Park in the Dells

Wisconsin Dells Jet Boat Ride--total blast!!!!

I love the heat of the summer and the snow in the winter. My favorite is autumn, there are festivals, pumpkin patches, hot apple cider
and beautiful vistas.
I'm excited as my kids when we get our first snowfall!

This isn't a photo of our first snowfall but pretty either way

Whatever the season...On Wisconsin!!!!!

Links:
History Of Wisconsin
Glaciers
State Symbols
Historical Society
Native American Indian Tribes of WI

Misc Fun Stuff
Milwaukee Public Museum
Experimental Aircraft Assoc. AirVenture
International Crane Foundation
Jet Boat Rides
Cave of the Mounds
Valley Ridge Art Studio

A bit of Kitschy Fun
Jurustic Park
F.A.S.T. (a fiberglass statue company...has a "graveyard" )
House on the Rock
Sputnikfest 2008 will be the first of hopefully many!
Freshwater Fishing Museum (climb inside a giant Muskee!)
Dickeyville Grotto
Mt Horeb Mustard Museum

GPP Crusade #14

This month's theme was Imaginary Friends: Who or What is Your Muse?

I don't think I have a specific "muse". My inspiration comes from all around me. But here are a few: My kids, Vincent Van Gogh, the stars in the sky, birds in my yard, my garden, splashes of color on my paint palette, Somerset Studio magazine, but mostly that little voice inside that tells me I'm heading in the right direction.

In thinking about this theme I realized that unfortunately that other voice can be just as strong. So I have an imaginary friend and an imaginary fiend! One side says, "Wow! What a great idea...you are so creative!" the other says "Boy you suck, why bother?....give up"

Am I crazy....I hope not. Sometime one side wins, sometimes the other. I think it's all part of my personal equilibrium. I challenge myself to ignore, put aside, or defeat the negative. I try to nurture the positive. In my studio space, I surround myself with photos, sketches, my kids drawings, magazine clippings, etc...anything that fuels my creativity.

Friend or Fiend?

10x10 inch on canvas

This tree represents both the positive and the negative. The growth and development of my creativity and the fire that is ready to destroy. Both are mostly in balance, but I think creativity is winning, though I may answer different tomorrow *grins*
Underneath the layers of paint, pen, and pencil is a copy of a cabinet card. I was going to use the image to give my friend/fiend a face. It looked wrong......so I painted over it completely, but it still is there, underneath it all.
After looking at this collage for the last few days, I started thinking of one of my daughters favorite mythical creatures... the Phoenix. What a great concept! Rebirth from the ashes. I guess it happens in my artwork. I put aside projects that aren't working, only to take them out much later and rework them. I realize that I may not have gotten to the final result without the past failure.

Boy I'm rambling!
:-)

Make Some Noise! GPP Crusade #11

Finally I am getting to Michelle Ward's Crusade 11- Make Some Noise!

Back to School time got me thinking of the old Bare Naked Ladies song "Grade Nine" It makes me LOL. I found this photo montage someone put on You Tube for it.

I love music, but I don't own too many CDs. I prefer to hear a mix of artist and styles. Unfortunately I don't like any local radio stations. I listen to internet radio a lot, mostly retro 80's or alternative. But I can listen to almost anything from classical, punk, ska, alternative, more folksy stuff, classic rock, 50's doowap, old crooners and ballads, and even some showtunes. I could probably think of more if I had time!

Pandora.com is pretty good at picking out music for me and now I'm just tweaking my stations. I just like way too many different types of music. And I have to be in the right mood for each type! I'm really not a difficult person *grins*

If I had to pick my all time favorite band it would be the Police or classic Billy Joel!

GPP Street Team Crusade #10

I made over a dozen pieces of mail art this month...and forgot to scan or photograph any of it! Duh!
One friend who received an envelope of mine post a pic on her flickr Here.

This one I haven't mailed yet. The recipient likes a country style
so here is "Ginger" the chicken.

This just needs to be addressed!

This is the before I folded it.

A large USPS tyvek envelope than I recieved. I cut it down.

My First Art Journal Attempt--GPP#9

I am not a journal/diary type. This blog has been a challenge for me. I trying to keep at it and not completely bore the socks off you guys! Like most little girls, I had received a diary as a gift (more than one over the years). I remember the clean pages and the cute little lock. I vowed that I would write in it everyday! But, after a few days...nada. I started this cycle many times over.
I always have a lined college ruled notebook around that I use for lists and notes. I also use a sketchbook, but they aren't the same as a journal.
I'm fascinated by the beautiful art journal pages I see in books, magazines, and on blogs. So when I stumbled upon Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team Crusades, I thought I'd give it another try.
I save envelopes and bags in a not too small stack in my studio. I stitched a few together to make my journal. The front and back cover is a bubble envelope split open and wrapped around my recycled paper insides (signature?) I painted the cover with one of my birds then started in.
The first page is for GPPST "scent bank" crusade, it's a small black paper bag. I made a small illustration with strips of aluminum tape to help describe how my summer started. My first "scent" of summer is the fiberglass cast on my little guys arm. (I stapled a bit of extra fiberglass to it)


I continued on page 2 with an illustration of one of my favorite garden flowers.


Not a bad start...will see how long it lasts!

My new Crusade

I took this photo last year---One of my all time Fav's
This year the robin nest was raided and no eggs survived. I never got a chance to take a picture.

Not that I don't have enough to do already, but .... I decided to join Michelle Ward's Green Pepper Press Street Team Crusade #9. "What's That Smell?" How do I express/ create a summer scent bank? A challenge! My first summer scent would have to be fiberglass. I know sounds odd, but my youngest broke his arm last weds. His cast is fiberglass and I can smell it whenever I cuddle him. How to visually express the smell of fiberglass. That's just the start.
Friday morning we're leaving for a vacation in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina! I love it there...what wonderful scents will I encounter?