coasting along............

........well, i will be soon, anyhow. heading to the beach thursday, where i do some of my bestest thinking and planning. lucky to have such a beautiful venue to camp at. there are some major changes in the wind concerning that piece of heaven and i may not have the availability of this beach home for much longer........so, i thought, heck, i have some art class curriculmn to get together, a new 2010 calendar to put together, some art journaling to be done - might as well head down there before thanksgiving day! so, off i go..........

seems like there is already a lot going on for 2010 - more to think about and more to go for. good stuff, moving-forward stuff. i think the two things that have been resonating with me this last little while are rather cliche' bits: "go for the gold" and "just say YES!". okay, they may seem trite, but they really have a deeper meaning for me these days. it's not that i'm ancient, but i don't have time to mess about anymore. time is a-going by quickly and if i want to get to some of my goal-lines, i need to move my butt - NOW!! and the JSY thing? not saying yes to everything thing that comes down the pike, mind you! no, not that..............to just to be present in this moment and when a great opportunity arises, evaluate it in light of the bigger goals in my life, the bigger values and if it resonates within JUST SAY YES! even with some fear and trepidation! even if you wanna throw up a little.............do it anyhow! this is what is on my mind as i head southwards and in light of this new year coming up!

if i don't shout at you before thanksgiving day? please have a wonderful day.......remember to count your blessings!

things to do this week..........

another art-related announcement, this time from a faculty member at edmonds community college telling you about two free events you might be interested in attending this coming week. i was involved directly with the ECC "between the lines" literary and arts book (happily, have three pieces of art in this publication - one of which is pictured above). surprisingly, have also been invited to take part in a panel discussion on arts, teaching and the economy that same evening. holy cow, something totally new for me! am excited, and a bit more nervous about that one, to be sure. at any rate, here is the info. come and see what's what or just think good thoughts for all (okay, think good thoughts for me)!

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Wednesday, November 18th, we have two free arts events on campus in our Black Box Theatre at Edmonds Community College. The theatre is in Mukilteo Hall, which you will find if you turn into the first driveway to the college as you head north on 68th Ave W and then follow the driveway back. See also http://campus.edcc.edu/ for a map. At 3pm, we have a reading/art slideshow featuring writing and art published in our 2009 issue of Between the Lines, the student-edited literary/arts journal. Please note that while we publish student work in BTL, we also invite submissions of writing and art from writers and artists in the surrounding community! This means YOU! Please consider making submissions! Work may be emailed to btl@edcc.edu with a limit of 3 submissions per person; our deadline for the 2010 issue is January 31, 2010. I would especially like to invite you to the 7:30 event as we invite your input in our panel discussion of "The Value of Art and Artists in a Market Economy." Please see below for more info, and feel free to email me directly if you have any questions. If you get the Edmonds CC cable channel 26, you have have seen the interview with me that has been airing to promote the panel discussion. It can also be viewed for free via iTunesU at the following link:

http://deimos.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/edcc.edu.1433008051.01819149026.2723896203?i=1714350015

Many thanks,

Amanda Laughtland

Edmonds CC English instructor, BTL faculty adviser

*The Black Box Theatre and The Arts, Culture, and Civic Engagement Program Present: The Conversations Series: The Value of Art and Artists in a Market Economy

November 18th @ 7:30PM Black Box Theatre FREE and open to the public. Moderator: Amanda Laughtland, Poet Featuring panelists:

Joanna Goff: Director/Actor; Wendy Lee Lynds: Independent Visual Artist; John Sanders: Composer/Musician; Marcia Woodard: Writer

The arts in the market centered economies have struggled. Arts institutions large or small and established individual artists struggle with economic deficits, early and mid career artists take second or third jobs to make ends meet, and the market price for event tickets are largely subsidized by the generosity of philanthropic donations. Art, arts events, and artistic services have been shown to be a vital part of a healthy economy in study after study. Our panel of experts will explore the factors that affect the cost of art to the public, the true price of art, and the effect of art in our economy. The panel will also be discussing the intersections between work as an artist and as teachers, considering the economic necessity of teaching for many artists as well as the way that teaching can be an essential component of one's artistic practice.

Also on November 18th: Release Event for EdCC's Literary and Arts Journal Between the Lines 3pm Black Box Theatre FREE and open to the public Featuring readings from this year's writers and a slide show of visual art from Between the Lines Artists.

there is a god!

here is a wonderful report from my father-in-law, hot off the presses this morning. most of you may have read with dismay about my mother-in-law's stroke that took place a little over three months ago and resulting trauma in our neck o' the woods.............well, the little lady is home (as of two weeks ago), with a bunch of challenges ahead of her, sure, but, oh my, everyday is something new to be happy for and we are optimistic that the short-term memory stuff, physical limitations and emotional stuff will be worked out. she is a hoot, her humor is intact (thankfully!) and she is a dear. very "young" in some ways, but so very "mary" in tons of other ways. we will take her just the way she is and continue to believe in greater healing as time goes by. we are so grateful to have her alive and well. we don't need another thing for christmas! to all of those who prayed, chanted, danced and lit candles........blessings on you ALL. your offerings were heard.

here's the report:

Just to give you some idea of her physical progress, this morning:

She slept until 7:30 without waking (a record)!

She got herself out of bed using a transfer pole next to her bed.

She put her shirts on by herself.

After her pants were on her legs, she pulled herself up (on the transfer

pole), then pulled up her pants while balancing.

She washed her face, combed her hair and brushed her teeth without assistance.

She walked from our bedroom to the dining room table (with a walker and safety belt), sat in a regular chair and ate breakfast.

She walked to the bathroom.

She then walked to the bedroom, undressed (with some assistance) and got into bed by herself where she is now taking a nap.

The goal for this weekend is to completely eliminate the wheelchair except for those occasions when she's especially tired.

Somewhere around 50 lbs are gone.

Her BP is normalized. No more BP meds!

Her sleep apnea is all but gone.

Her diabetes meds are decreased by 1/3.

No more breathing treatments!

She's sure a poster child for the benefits of weight loss.

thank you, god!!

puget sound artists' gift show

...........coming soon! lots of my artist friends are participating and i know they would be more than thrilled to have you come on by and visit.......and hey, maybe find that perfect one-of-a-kind gift for the one-of-a-kind friend or family member! heck, maybe something for YOU!! who knows - you deserve it, right??

tell 'em wendy sent ya!

postscript on journalFEST

wanted to go back and see how my intentions were met for my time at journalFEST. before leaving i set those particular intentions on paper and then blog-posted them. let's see how i did:

1. have FUN, relax (okay, at least stop with the bunny beatings of my own heart in my throat!!), take in the sights and sounds. be real. okay, well, i didn't REST much! ahahahah. not at all, really! was so jazzed and ramped up with all the stimulation and wonderfulness - BUT i defintely stayed in the present (as much as i could - knowing me) - enjoying those around and absorbing the amazing energy of the place as well as the fine teaching of technique. felt like i was real and connective!

2. learn a bunch about art journaling, stuff i can pass on to my students in collage (maybe someone could show me how to make my own journals by hand, even??). yes, yes, yes, this all definitely happened! . there were old techniues that were given new "tweaks". totally new ways of looking at fine tuning collages, more intuitive workings on all artwork, a permission to do it "my " way........a lessening of the fear of writing personal entries, too! yeah! even the handmade journal-learning part .....came away with one finished HB journal and the technical skills for MORE! yeahhhhh!

3. let this extended weekend be the start of a consistent practice of authentic art journaling of my very own. have started the writing part. figuring out how to bind the pages i have already made. looking towards "consistent"..............yes, i have!

4. connect with like-minded artists...........(tara, janine, maria...can't wait to meetcha in person!) oh, absolutely!!! i have a bunch o' new art fiends. oops, i mean friends!

5. make some connections for the next stage of my artistic endeavors.

hmmm, don't know about this one. how to quantify? met a lot of new authors of art books in the works for 2010, that's for sure! touched base with many i have heard of from art books and collogorations. how this will affect new art endeavors.......? hmmm, i think only time will tell!

6. did i mention create, create and create some more? oh, yeah, and suck out all the creative the knowledge of everyone i come in contact with......!!yes, yes, yes - made 6 completed journal pages that i'm thrilled with, one small canvas book, one hardbound/handbound journal and have LOTS of ideas for the future! i asked a lot of questions, looked at lots of art, have been inquiring after peeps' art notes from JF and generally was nosey on every front!

yessiree-bob, i think i met or exceeded most of my intentions for my time away! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! i love when that happens.

journalFEST - the final chapter - til NEXT year!

geez, i really don't want this to end.....i've had a blast sharing it with you all. ahh, well. the experience may well be over, but the effects are lasting. this has been one of the best art times of my life and i have gleaned things here that will last an artistic lifetime. the techniques and the heart connections, both!

i leave with you with some parting photos; the first is a detail of one of the iconic pieces i created in anahata katkin's class. the second, another amazing shot of sunday morning's breath-taking sunrise. the third, one page from a handbound book created by maj corita. fourth, one of my pages in my confirmation journal; trades from tara finley's "baghead series" and lastly, a lovely work from lori peterson (victoria, bc) that she made in anahata's class, as well. lori doesn't have a website.....yet, but she is worth watching for. amazing work!

well, i guess you can tell, i loved journalFEST! seriously, i have already starting saving my pennies for next year's event! you, too, can join the fun with me. just got to teesha moore's website and ask to be put on her email list.......and she will be happy to let you in on the juicy happenings!

thanks again to all the wonderful folks who put this together and to those who held it together while at fort worden! you ROCK!!

and a special howdy & thx to new friends - i hope/pray i don't leave someone out:

teesha, tracy, trista, tiphoni and the boys - JF staff!

lk, anahata, stephanie - teachers galore!

maj corita, christina, ingrid, dianne, anghard, merrilee, abby, sandra, joan, tara, barbara, traci lyn, katie, janine, erin, lindsey, gina & marie - new art buddies!

oxoxxoxoox lovelovelove

journalFEST - part 5

well, now it's time for telling you about the last day of classes at journalFEST. i admit it. i was already feeling sad. tired, yes, exhilerated, oh, yes, and did i mention exhausted? and happy? yes, yes yes to all. but sad, too............wanting to hold onto the magic that i found here, bringing it back and making room for it in my real life. i can do that, can't i?

i had several artFESTers strongly advise me to take a "quieter" class for the last day............frankly, my poor little brain was fried by saturday and i was grateful for heeding those wise words. i chose stephanie lee's (see her smiling sweet face above) "unraveling word" for not only it's tempting title but because i have struggled with writing. i do pretty good here on the blog. it's fast and furious and while personal and sometimes painfully honest, it's a breezy thing and when i think about or attempt personal journaling? oh, heck, my words always seem so trite and meaningless. this workshop was timely!

stephanie's warm and inviting manner, her clear exercises plus her numerous handouts & prompts, made it possible for me to see journal writing in a whole new way. instead of just the classic "what i did today" diary, i am seeing that journals can take many forms, each as individual as i am! with stephanie's gentle encouragement i will be writing in a whole new way, which in turn, will be a truer reflection of me! and frankly, i started right away upon the return home.

the presence of 11 other like-minded souls (thanks to joan for sharing her soulful poetry by snail mail! they are so "visual journal-worthy!" your words paint pictures in my head) in the same room was very encouraging. my table-mate was dear sandra - a special thanks to her for kind words and our lovely ride on the ferry back to whidbey island. sandra has a real gift of the written word (and photography). we all shared simply and sweetly during the day - i felt a real kinship form. i can write, but only if i will take the time to write, but it's up to me..........i CAN do it!

that night was a journaling jam to beat all...and decidely NOT a quiet experience! lordy, what a ruckus, what mayhem, what wonderful madness! it was an all-out, grooving party! lots of door prizes lomography cameras and t-shirts and stuff!), tons of art being made, more trades a-trading, more eating of uncle seth's pink frosted cookies, wine swiggin' galore......and i have i mentioned the fabulously hip live band "surrealized"? awesome. they are a local seattle band and it's hard to describe their sound. quite unlike anything i've heard. world influence with a groove, belly dancing-music, hip-hop-i don't-know-what, but it was HOT. they have a a CD coming out soon, i hope, coz this was fine art-making music, to be sure!

and i finished my first-ever hard bound journal!! yeah, me! see the finished product above (the back of the book has stencils that were generated by this groovy stencil station tracy moore set up for us, using a mini-compressor and copic pens. yeah, that's right! pens! worked quite well)! the journal is fashioned from teesha's instructions on her website the canvas paneled beauty makes me smile! i'm planning the next one by checking out esther k. smith and alisha golden's tomes on bookbinking. what a joy it is to hold your very own book in your hand! anyhow, a fittingly wild ending to a perfectly wild and crazy weekend.

and yes, i'm sure you know what tomorrow is............? yeah, a little wrap on the joys of journalFEST! stay tuned, folks...........