ramblings from an unkept mind


---------photo by Elaine A. Russell

I love pita chips. No rhyme or reason here... just love em. Especially with sea salt. No fancy flavors.. jut all natural and healthy snacking goodness. They can be hard to find. I don't know why. You'd think they would have them in the snacks section, or the healthy foods section... or just in the plain awesome section.... but no. You have to hunt them down like wild beasts. capture them. Ravish them. Assimilate them into your being.


In other news.. I took a photo of the Yucca tree in my backyard. No real reason there... just looked cool.

tired


-----------photo by Elaine A. Russell

I am so feckin tired. Not sure why... I am assuming it is allergies (as opposed to the Lupus). But... things are progressing along. Am working on a "show calendar".. gathering info on shows in the ABQ area. I got my business taxes taking care of. Now I am working on organizing my studio space at home.

On the plus side... look at how pretty the trees are right now !

magnolias


--------------photo by Elaine A. Russell


The 2nd Annual Bolo Tie show was last night; and it was really fun. I met some great artists, and made some fun trades ... and the band was rockin !

Today I had a photo shoot with the fabulous Jamie Fowler-Diaz of http://www.beanbun.etsy.com/

It was great fun. Then I went driving around on Walter Ave to look at all the gorgeous Victorian homes.. and here was this awesome Magnolia tree with the most beautiful blooms. I haven't seen a magnolia tree in years.. and it was so pretty.... what a blessing !

getting it together ...

----photo of ganesha statue with digital effects by Elaine A. Russell

So -- it's been 2 months (roughly) since I left the gallery group I belonged to. On one hand, it probably doesn't seem like I've accomplished much. I'm not selling at a "brick and mortar" venue and making a steady income --- but I am also not working 40hours a month at a non-paying job.

I have opened 2 additional Etsy stores in order to organize my items to serve the customers on Etsy better ( I now have a jewelry and prayer beads shop, a store for just artwork and photography, and a store that has all my destash, vintage items, handmade scarves and baby blankets -- see new links).
I was in the Black Market Goods Grand Opening show, and have donated art pieces to charity.
I will be at the 2nd Annual Bolo Tie Show on Friday.
I am concentrating now on building up my portfolio and resume, as well as starting a website.

More importantly, I have spent more quality time with my family; and have almost finished clearing out my house and garage of extra "stuff."

I have also (finally) figured out my true artistic passions in life... and can now concentrate on being the best I can be at them. This narrowed focus is a gift... and a joy.

As a bonus: my son has graduated from (home school) High school.. and has enrolled in college.. and my daughter is able to concentrate on her artistic passions at our new studio space !

All in all -- although it's been a somewhat chaotic and confusing time, it has also been one of enlightenment and un-loadment (if that is a word).
Woot !

kicking and screaming into the digital age.....

------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

So -- I have discovered the wonderful world of digital effects. Now, mind you... I am VERY VERY old school when it comes to photography. I believe the simpler, the better.... and I am very weird about this whole digital craze.

That said.. my daughter is a child of the digital age.. and loves the crapped out Nikon D70 we have that barely works. Instant graitification, not unlike when I used to have a Polaroid.


So. I have been dragged kicking and screaming into the very confusing world of digital effects.. but I think I have found a program that even I can use to tweak some photos and play around.


What do ya think ?

Goddess approved....


---------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell with Holga digital effects

Usually I clean the house on Mondays.. but I have been pretty sick lately, and just wasn't up to it. So, fortunately, the laundry is mostly caught up, the dishes are caught up.. and my daughter swept the floors for me.
I got to thinking about things that I really really enjoy doing. I am a gardener. I love to dig my hands in the soil. Now, if you saw my yard, you would probably question my ability to actually do this... but.
At christmas time instead of have a large real tree, or a fake tree (last year I gave our tree and most all our decorations away to a family that needed it)....we got a 2 foot tall real pin tree in a pot from Home Depot. I have been trying to figure out the best place to put it in the yard... and the best place was always seeming to be where our peach tree was(it died last year). I really wanted to put the pine tree there.. but was afraid I wouldn't be able to pull up all the roots necessary to get the pine tree in.
Well ---- low and behold.. I went to try to dig up the roots... and it went surprisingly well. Apparently I had given the roots enough time to sufficiently rot so that they were easy to pull up. So. I got the little baby tree in the ground, pulled some weeds that were trying to come up in the area... and watered it.
Just as I finished, a very gentle rain came down and assisted in watering the baby tree.... Goddess approved.

dreaming of Quan Yin


----------photo by Elaine A. Russell. Statue is at the Buddhist temple on Louisianna Blvd


I woke up at 3am, after dreaming of Quan Yin.......

Quan Yin is one of the most universally beloved of deities in the Buddhist tradition. Also known as Kuan Yin, Quan'Am (Vietnam), Kannon (Japan), and Kanin (Bali), She is the embodiment of compassionate loving kindness. As the Bodhisattva of Compassion, She hears the cries of all beings. Quan Yin enjoys a strong resonance with the Christian Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the Tibetan goddess Tara.
In many images She is depicted carrying the pearls of illumination. Often Quan Yin is shown pouring a stream of healing water, the "Water of Life," from a small vase. With this water devotees and all living things are blessed with physical and spiritual peace. She usually holds a sheaf of ripe rice or a bowl of rice seed as a metaphor for fertility and sustenance.

my girl....


--------------------------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell


So -- let me tell you about my daughter. She is fabulous. She is one of those unique people who has always known what she wants to do with her life. While most of us struggle with what we should or should not do... or what we can do as set up by our own self imposed limits.. or even limits put onto us by others... she has had this direct, matter-of-fact knowledge of herself. Not to say she is conceited. Far from it. She just knows what she is meant to do. She is an artist.

She has been working with me in the jewelry making business since she was in kindergarten, and selling her own work since she was 12. At 14 she decided she wanted to try her hand at photography, and by 16 she was in a gallery. She will be 17 in a few months.... and who knows where all she'll go and what all she'll do. But I do know that she will do it with creativity, compassion and love.

Some sexy fruit and one fat frog




---------------------------photos by Elaine A. Russell

There are only about 6 days each year that the weather is not co-operative enough or interesting enough to take photos outside here in ABQ. Today is potentially one of them. It's been cold, windy and decidedly overcast today.
So -- in lieu of an outdoor shot... I have taken some photos of some fine sexy fruit on my kitchen table, and a photo of one of our hugely rotund African water frogs....

Upcoming Bolo Tie Show


------------my bolo tie ................... photo by Elaine A. Russell

I am going to be a participant in the 2nd Annual Bolo Tie Show here in ABQ on the 13th !
NOT just a Bolo Tie show.. it will feature the work of about 30 artists here in the ABQ area. Of course, each participant has the option of entering a Bolo Tie and compete for the Best In Show contest. Coolness.
Also --- there will be live music from the KingRays !


Date: March 13th Time: 5-9PM Fee: $30.00
Location: 615 1st Street NW. (1st and Lomas), in the Plaza Maya building
Live music by the KingRays from 7- 9 pm, Refreshments, Plenty of Free Parking, Fabulous Art Contact Robert @ 505-948-1542 for more information.

To Benefit La Casa ... Art Auctions !





-------------------------------------photography by Elaine A. Russell

so-- in January, I donated 3 photographs to benefit LA CASA. It is a local shelter for abused people and their families here in NM.
And today -- my stuff is on auction ! How sweet is that !
Please check out the links; and please buy for this wonderful cause.

The New Mexico Gypsy Queens (http://www.myspace.com/gqnmchapter)

gatherings ...


--------------------------------photos and art by Elaine A. Russell

So -- I have a show coming up in a couple weeks, and a potential show coming in April. This is exciting. I have a whole new bunch of things I am working on ... and the process is good. I always feel better when I am working on a project.

I am one of those people who .. if I am not working on a project... within a couple days I get really really bitchy, and then I get sick. I physically have to be making something.. or my body will rebel. Weird huh. But good in a way. It keeps me doing things...

Here is a photo of a project I finished not too long ago....It is a recycled old cigar box that has now been made into a shrine. Complete with beaded dangles at the bottom (sort of a signature of mine).

beware the food that could bite you back


----------------------------------photos by Elaine A. Russell

ok. So I have been on a qwest to try out all the little cafe's down near UNM. We went to a nice little Japanese restaurant (Mirai--Light and Healthy Japanese Cuisine) yesterday, and tried a Bento Box, oyakodan, a shot of Saki and some jasmine tea. ( total cost $20 )

Overall, I have decided that I like sushi better when it is without seaweed wraps in it. I didn't like the soup that came with the Oyakodan. The Bento box was good, as was the Oyakodan. I love Jasmine tea. Our hostess was really nice. And while the company was pleasant, et all, I am not sure it would be someplace I would go again. I'm not sure if I am just not fond of Japanese food.. or that food in particular.


So -- then we come home, and our neighbor has brought us a gift for watching their stuff while they went to Florida. A chocolate crocodile with orange flavoring inside. YUM.... but what is it with chocolate that could bite you back ?

And today.. I am making some Nissan Noodle bowls... get almost done with the soup.. and realize I have a closed packet still on the bottom of my bowl. I discovered this only as I was about to choke on said packet. Wow. My daughter thinks I'm special.

So--- if you dare to eat today -- be careful. You never know.... he he he

the poor little tree that could ...

------------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

My pear tree in the front yard is coming to life. Usually.. this means that we will get a glomping of snow in the next 2 weeks that will kill all said produce from the pear tree.
I hope not.

While we could certainly use the water.. I am hoping that this will be the first year that this poor little tree isn't nipped by snow and frost. That it's little flowers will continue to bloom and flourish; and that if it does bear fruit .. AND that the damn squirrels don't eat it all !
He he he.

Anyway -- love the blooms. It completely made my day.

sleep glorious sleep


--------------------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

I guess I've been doing too much lately. One of the good things about having Lupus is that if you are doing too much... your body just quits. No slowing down of the merry go round. We're talking full throttle stop. Sometimes you get whiplash from the neck jerk if ya know what I mean.

Anyway -- today I slept until 3 in the afternoon. Yep. Like 15 hours. Now, to put it in perspective a bit.. there are MANY nights that I can't sleep for crap. And, on the times when I do actually sleep.. I am broken up by nightmares and nightsweats.

So -- I know I woke up a couple of times with stuff... but dang.


I love my bed.