Blue Heron Visions

2012 Arrives!

2012-01-01T00:12:00.001-05:00

In this most anticipated and auspicious of years, here is my New Year's greeting for you:

Collage © 2011/2012 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

My Jack Layton Encounter

2011-08-28T18:56:00.007-04:00

As a permanent resident of Canada, I am not entitled to vote. But if I could I would vote for Jack Layton's NDP party, not only because that party reflects my personal ideals but also because of my own encounter with the man whose political leanings seemed to be intrinsically linked to the person he was.

I “met” Jack Layton two years ago during the Fête Nationale du Québec parade held in Montréal. In 2009, I had been a permanent resident for almost 5 years but this June 24th was the first time Michel (my conjoint) and I had gone to the parade.

We arrived early and waited with numerous Québécois along the parade route, almost everyone wearing Québec blue. The parade began, and I was soon caught up in the whole celebratory atmosphere as the “giant” historic figures went by. I had learned about these legendary people in my francisation course.

One of the final “floats” had members of Cirque du Soleil performing acrobatic feats in moving cages. And as is the case with all performances of Cirque du Soleil, it was awe-inspiring.

Then, came the final procession of the parade--various political leaders who represented Québec, walking shoulder to shoulder, spanning the street from curb to curb. I saw Gilles Duceppe and others that I had only ever seen on TV. But the one man I really noticed was Jack Layton.

As I stood on the sidewalk near the curb, I watched as he waved and greeted the people. He was smiling and looking like he was having a grand time. I smiled back and somehow at that moment our eyes met. We connected, and he nodded at me as if to say “hello; nice to see you; thanks for coming.” I was so amazed and impressed. That moment made the parade so special for me and made Jack Layton a real person, someone I somehow knew and not just some politician I would see on the news. In that instant, I became a fan of Jack Layton both as a man and as a politician.

On Monday (August 22), I was saddened to hear of Mr. Layton's death and then was inspired by the letter he had written as he approached his final “good night.” I have shed many tears this week because a good and caring and compassionate man no longer walks among us. How great is our loss!

Now, Mr. Layton lives on in our memories. For me, Jack Layton will forever be the man, the political leader, who, with twinkling eyes, a smile, and a nod, made a US citizen and Canadian permanent resident feel included in his vision for Canada and the world.

A Lion Surprise

2011-07-09T10:58:00.006-04:00

Although I haven't been posting much on this blog because of I concentrate on my art blog A Year Without Words, I just had to share what I saw yesterday. :o)

Currently, I am staying with a friend in New Jersey and we have been visiting New York City. Yesterday I waited at a café while she went to an appointment. The name of the café is Getting Hungry and when I walked in, this is who greeted me!

Here is a Haiku that I wrote about the experience...

found: getting hungry
looming lion fiercely still
path to daily grind

Enjoy!

--Vicky :o)

Shoppe Grand Opening

2011-06-03T07:22:00.006-04:00

I am pleased to announce the grand opening of the Blue Heron Visions/Two Chairs and A Window Greeting Card Shoppe. (Yay! Finally!) ;o)

I have already had my first sale, which felt pretty great.

Right now, I have 4 categories of cards: Angel and Fairy Doodle cards, Collage cards, Photo Mandala cards, and Mandala Doodle cards.

Take a few moments and check out the shoppe and my updated website.

--Vicky :o)

If you create it, they will come...

2011-04-11T00:15:00.008-04:00

Today, as I was adding the current day's picture to my other blog (A Year Without Words), I noticed that I have 4 followers for this blog. I was amazed and then the questions started.

Where did they come from? Are they real? ;o) How did they find my blog?

Now, I feel some sort of responsibility (in a good way!) to actually post on this blog--if only to give the people following it an opportunity to read something from me.

So this is me writing to those of you who are following me (and anyone else who is reading as well). Thank you for taking the time to read and follow my blog!

In honor of those following my blog, I am posting a photo from our vacation last summer. I took it at the Parc national du Bic in Québec. Enjoy!

--Vicky :o)

Photo © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Just a Reminder ;o)

2011-04-07T00:48:00.012-04:00

I have not been posting much on this blog because I have been busy making art. The image posted here is a sample of what you can see if you visit my "wordless" blog, A Year Without Words, http://www.ayearwithoutwords.com/

Enjoy!

--Vicky :o)

"Siren Song of Truth"
Mixed Media Collage/Zentangle-ish Art
Copyright © 2011 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Remembering Bob

2011-03-29T05:43:00.027-04:00

Someone emailed me that a friend's husband Robert "Bob" Bauman left this Earth experience yesterday morning, March 28, 2011. I shed a few tears because I have loved Bob since I met him over 12 years ago.

Bob's life had not been easy. He had suffered a traumatic brain injury several years before I met him as well as having various health challenges throughout his life. But what I always felt when I was around him was an underlying cheerfulness, an acceptance of Life as it happened and living the best he could with the results.

Bob had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to see me roll my eyes. He also loved Jennifer Aniston. He and I had a running joke about when she was coming to visit him. When we spoke, he would always ask if I had heard from Jennifer yet. :o)

Last summer I felt impressed to create a Life Stamp for him to commemorate his 64th birthday, which was in August. This impression had an urgency about it, as if the Life Stamp had to be done immediately with no procrastination.

The poem that came to me used sailing, Bob's great love, as a metaphor of traveling through life, death, and beyond. Bob's wife Mary told me he had tears in his eyes as she read it to him. In remembrance of Bob's life here and in honor of his new adventure, I have posted the poem below.

Sail on, Bob! I will miss you.

--Vicky :o)

Setting Sail

The dawn arrives, crisp and clear,
The sea is calling to my Heart:
“Come and play! Do not fear!
Bring your Soul; no need for charts.”

The brilliant sun shines up above,
Looking skyward, I see the sails
Full with wind, God’s breath of Love;
I know I am guided; I cannot fail.

The sun begins its slow descent,
Night’s silence will soon prevail,
And still my boat glides and ascends;
Gentle breezes embrace my sails.

A new Life begins;
what do I see?
A Universe of stars
waiting for me.

Trimmed and ready, my Soul and I
Set my sails toward Source’s Light.

Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

With compassion and loving thoughts for the people of Japan

2011-03-13T12:50:00.010-04:00

earth quakes, water swirls
in an instant, alters worlds
only, Now prevails

The Great Wave off Kanagawa
by Japanese artist Hokusai, c. 1829-1832
Haiku © 2011 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

--Vicky

P.S.An irony to note--My last post on this blog was on October 17, the anniversary of the 7.1 Loma Prieta earthquake my family and I experienced in 1989. At that time, we lived in Santa Cruz, California, one of the places affected by the tsunami that resulted from the Japanese quake.

A New Blog

2010-10-17T15:40:00.004-04:00

I haven't been posting much here, but I have started a new blog that's only pictures. So if you want to have one place where you don't have to read text, check out my new blog: http://www.ayearwithoutwords.com/.

Of course, I will post again here at some point. I have been busy but not necessarily creating art. I am looking forward to our short vacation in Québec City, one of my most favorite places. I am posting a photo just for fun. Enjoy...

--Vicky :o)

Québec City Photo © 2008 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

New Blog

2010-10-06T09:01:00.002-04:00

If you are tired of all the words in your life, you may want to check out my new blog: A Year Without Words.

--Vicky :o)

Zendalas as a Mirror

2010-07-07T16:55:00.006-04:00

I am posting two zendalas I made yesterday and one I made today. What I want to illustrate is how the zendalas reflect my own psyche while making them.

Yesterday I was out of sorts (otherwise translated as grouchy and grumpy). All the zendalas I created were out of balance. The Red Mandala is not centered on the card and feels slightly skewed to me. The second zendala is called "Off Center Mandala" for obvious reasons. (Although I don't like the red pen I was using, I don't think that had as much of an effect as the fact that emotionally I was feeling "off.")

Today's zendala is much more balanced and harmonious. And that is how I am feeling. I named today's: "Finding My Center (Again)."

Carl Jung believed that mandalas represent the Self and I agree.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am experimenting with having certain thoughts, people, or emotions in my head (and heart) as I create the zendalas. In my previous post, the third mandala was created for a friend's little girl who just celebrated her first birthday. I framed that mandala as a gift for her.

I am interested to see what kinds of mandalas will emerge as I continue this journey.

--Vicky :o)

Red Mandala
Off Center Mandala
Finding My Center (Again) Mandala
Ink on cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.

Zendalas

2010-07-03T11:28:00.007-04:00

What is a zendala? It is a blend of mandala and Zentangle-inspired art. Here are 3 of my latest zendalas.

I love the meditative quality of making this art and the feeling of flow as I go around the designs. Some of them have titles. For example, the one in the middle I call "Candelight Mandala." Some are made with a person, emotion, or other idea in my mind. Most are just emerge from the process of making them.

I am also playing with the idea of borders that go around the edge of the cardstock I use to give them more of a finished look. Though, there is something magical about them floating in the white space that remains. No boundaries--imagined or otherwise. ;o)

--Vicky :o)

3 Zendalas
Ink on cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.

More Zentangle-Inspired Art...

2010-06-24T23:16:00.003-04:00

Two more zentangle-ish explorations. I am trying to get away from drawing "strings" (the shapes in which the "tangles" are made).

The mandala was created from the central flower and is very flower-like throughout.

I really love the second drawing because of the white space through the central part. And I like the black "pearls," too. ;o)

These are so much fun to do. You should give it a try.

--Vicky :o)

Zentangle-inpired mandala
Zentangle-inspired art
Ink on cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.

Two New Zentangle-Inspired Mandalas

2010-06-22T19:55:00.004-04:00

Here are two mandalas I have created using some Zentangle-inspired techniques but not the actual Zentangle process. What I am most happy about is that my mandalas are getting more balanced as I continue making them. I am particularly happy with the Star Mandala, especially since I drew everything freehand. I really love making mandalas like these and enjoy the simplicity of black on white.

--Vicky :o)

2 Zentangle-inspired mandalas
Ink on Zentangle cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.

Mandala Maker

2010-06-16T09:48:00.004-04:00

I continue to make Zentangle-inspired art almost daily. Here is one I did yesterday that I call the Mandala Maker. As you can see, I added a mandala in the space left by the "string" so that it looks like the mandala is emerging from the artwork. I also love the way the sun is angled and the stars in the moon. The whole piece illustrates how a mandala emerges from the Soul.

--Vicky :o)

"Mandala Maker"
Zentangle-inspired original art
Ink on cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

www.zentangle.com

Mixed Media Chakra Series Finally Finished!

2010-06-11T12:13:00.010-04:00

Even though I haven't been posting, I have been working (or playing) with my art. Above is the final mixed media canvas in my Chakra Series called "Inspiration for the Journey." The title for this one is "Source's Wordless Web."

Even though I had the canvas painted and ready to go--and, that was after doing it once and then painting over it again--I could not figure out what to put on the canvas. I had the quote, which was either sent in an email I received or something I stumbled upon while being on the Net. It is a Rumi quote: "There is a Voice that doesn't use words. Listen." But try as I might, I could not figure out what to put with the quote or on the now purple-y canvas.

And then I watched the latest Dr. Who episode called "Vincent and the Doctor." The Vincent in the title is Vincent Van Gogh (whose name is not pronounced the way I have always thought it was!) and there was one scene where the viewer gets to see how Vincent sees. And that's what gave me the idea for the canvas. Note to blog readers: I urge you to see this episode of Dr. Who even if you are not a Dr. Who fan. I found it inspiring, touching, and beautiful!

The dark circle is actually a mandala I created awhile ago from a photo of a web with droplets. (You can read more about this mandala and the photo I used here. And the other mandala is inspired from my zentangle art. To me that mandala looks like a compass rose, which flows right into the idea of listening to a voice that doesn't use words for guidance and to discover the secrets of the Universe.

You can see the other works in my series here, here, and here. ;o) Since I just discovered that I never posted the first work in the series. I have posted it below. Right now, I am calling it "Your True Self."

Enjoy!

--Vicky :o)

"Source's Wordless Web"
"Your True Self"
Mixed media collage series, #5 and #1
Acrylic paint, paper cutouts, zentangle-inspired mandala, photos on canvas
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

www.zentangle.com

Almost a month...

2010-05-27T17:50:00.008-04:00

I have not posted for almost a month but that doesn't mean I haven't been doing Zentangles. I have been doing one almost every day and sometimes more than one! I have posted a few of my favorites.

Many thanks to those of you who have posted comments. I appreciate your stopping by!

--Vicky :o)

Original Zentangles #1, #2, #3
Original Zentangle "Sedna"
Ink on card stock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione
www.zentangle.com

New Zentangle

2010-04-29T19:14:00.004-04:00

This Zentangle was done differently than the others I have done. Usually I draw a string (which is basically several lines and curves that form the basis of the Zentangle). In the case of this Zentangle, I just started making tangles (that's what the repeated shapes and lines used to fill in are called) on the blank card.

I like the result and was interested to discover that my initials were formed in the Zentangle itself. Can you find my V - L - M? Because of my intials, I decided to call this Zentangle "VLM-tangle."

--Vicky :o)

"VLM-tangle"
Zentangle done with ink on cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Zentangle ®
www.zentangle.com

Old and New Art--it's not called Doodling any more!

2010-04-27T07:22:00.008-04:00

I discovered the other day that what I have been calling "doodling" is not always that. Sometimes I am using strings and tangles to create what are technically called Zentangles. I have such a challenge with being absolutely correct about copyright issues that I wanted to be sure to set the record straight!

Here are two of my newest Zentangles.

I don't really have a title for the one on the left (anyone have any ideas?), but the one on the right is called "Spring Morn."

If you purchase a kit, you will receive everything you need to make your own Zentangles, including the square tiles (cards) on which Zentangles are created. Currently, I am not using tiles but 3.3 x 5.2 cards that I bought a couple years ago at a craft store in Montréal.

The Zentangle® company was started by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and they have a specific method for creating a Zentangle. You can find out lots about them, their method, things you can buy, and Zentangle® on their website http://www.zentangle.com/.

And now, the record is straight ---->! ;o)

--Vicky :o)

Original Zentangles
Ink on card stock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Zentangle ®
www.zentangle.com

Finding Treasure in 2010

2010-04-18T16:31:00.006-04:00

An astrologer I know recommended making a Treasure Map for 2010 during the Aries new moon that occurred on April 14, 2010 at 8:29 a.m. She said to prepare for making the collage by getting magazines ready but not to do any cutting or gluing until after the new moon, then to use the next 24 hours to make your treasure map to your Soul's desire.

Because I am big on following rules (limits) exactly (something I really need to work on this year), I got everything ready the night before and got up at 5:07 a.m. on April 15 and started. Now, I didn't quite finish the map precisely at 8:29 a.m. (more like 9:29 a.m.) but I did finish the bulk of it by the deadline. I have posted it here for your perusal and enjoyment. :o)

An interesting thing happened on the way to making this collage. When I awoke on April 15, I was already thinking about the collage. It was during that brief reverie that I actually thought of putting my Treasure Map on a map. So the background is an very used street map of Montréal.

I hung my Treasure Map on the wall over my collage table. I love looking at it and considering what the elements and words might mean for each day and the year. It is the largest collage I have ever made (22 x 28 inches)! The astrologer who recommended this exercise told me later in the day that the reason my collage is so large stems from the fact that the new moon that inspired it is having and will have a "big" effect on my life.

Now isn't that encouraging?!

--Vicky :o)

"Inspired Difference, 2010"
New Moon Treasure Map Collage
Paper cutouts on posterboard
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Life is Blooming...

2010-04-04T20:52:00.004-04:00

Under the Sea

A new mandala that makes me think of
the plants that exist, flow, and grow
in ever moving ocean waters.

And, isn't this the way we live
in The Universe, too?
The Universe is constantly moving,
rotating, and revolving
and we find Life in this
constant motion.

I am reminded of a verse found in the Bible:

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being;"
Acts 17:28

Happy Easter!
Happy Spring!

--Vicky Lynn =:o)

"Life is Blooming Under the Sea" Mandala
Ink (markers) on paper
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Who or What Is Too Small for You?

2010-04-03T17:01:00.006-04:00

...anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive

is too small for you.

--David Whyte

This collage is one of a series I am calling "Inspiration for the Journey." Each collage is a blend of painting, collage elements, and a phrase or quote. I chose the background colors to represent a chakra center. While this one uses green to represent the heart chakra, it also is special in that all 7 of the chakras are represented by color. You can see two other members of the series on my blog here and here. Eventually I will be making cards of each of the 5 collages.

I discovered this quote while looking at a blog. An artist had included David Whyte's poem "Sweet Darkness" from his book House of Belonging. The quote on the collage is the final three lines of the poem. When I read those lines, they grabbed me and showed me my own power and greatness (and not in an egotistical way). When I read those lines, I thought of how often I allow others (even those I love) to determine and diminish who I am and what I offer because I am swayed by their opinions! I also thought about how my heart feels when I embrace opinions or situations that are "too small" for me; it feels tight and constricted!

When I think about the quote, I often substitute the word "grow" for the word "bring" in the second line. If someone or something is not growing me alive, why would I waste my time being upset or concerned about their opinions or thoughts about me or my work? Why would I continue to engage in behaviors or thoughts that stunt my growth?

As you finish reading this post, take a moment and consider the question posed as the title of this post: Who or what is too small for you?

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"A Heart Grows Alive"
Mixed media collage
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Untitled

2010-02-26T11:30:00.008-05:00

"What's in a name?" Juliet asked.
What's in a title? is my question today.

I conceived your form and shape and color
And there you are,
Looking at me with your one eye,
how?
Wondering? Exploring?
Existing? Wishing
for a name to describe what you mean,
what you say,
"who" you are?

No defining voice whispers inside.
No sound at all
except for the birds
playing their chirps outside.

What's in a title? What's in a name?
Let others who see you decide.

Today,
I will simply enjoy the creation
you are.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Untitled Mandala
Ink on paper
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Digging for What's Real

2010-02-23T14:51:00.010-05:00

"TREATING mySelf like A PRECIOUS OBJECT makes me STRONG!"

Dig through layers
of ego's harsh deceit
Uncover a forever worthy Self
silent, strong, and sweet.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Mixed media collage

Paint and collage cutout on canvas
Quote from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Coloring with My Imagination

2010-02-22T13:26:00.008-05:00

Hidden in Winter's plainness,
dressed down in shades of brown and age:
Fertility with possibility waits,
waits for Time's slow hands
to turn the page
That colors imagination,
Warms the frigid air,
Caresses the world to life,
Evokes the barren to bare.

Each year
this holy miracle
overtakes us by surprise,
this brash and lavish explosion
of hues and newness,
song and scent,
as Spring,
dressed up in finery unsurpassed,
arrives!

Original photo below:

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Fern Collage Mandala
created and color manipulated in Photoshop
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Every Picture Tells a Story

2010-02-18T11:53:00.005-05:00

What's hers?

What's yours?

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Caged Butterfly" Collage
Collage Journal Page
Paper cutouts, ink doodles
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Collaging Gratitude

2010-02-17T14:43:00.007-05:00

If the only prayer you ever said in your whole life
was "thank you," that would suffice.
— Meister Eckhart

The best way to show my gratitude to God is
to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.
— Mother Teresa

Be grateful for whoever [& whatever] comes,
because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.
— Rumi (from "The Guest House";
translation by Coleman Barks)

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Gratitude: Opener of Doors"
Collage Journal Page
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Finding Fairy Lights

2010-02-17T08:52:00.006-05:00

Who knew
that within a brown lily,
one of Fall's leftovers,
the lights of fairies glow?

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Original photo:

"Fairy Light" Digital Mandala
Created in Photoshop
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

A Bird in the Hand Makes 12 in the Bush

2010-02-15T12:45:00.009-05:00

Winter's blacks and whites
Hide geometric beauty
Where birds seek shelter.

Winter emotions
Deficient in warmth and light
Conceal Joy's dwelling.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Original photo of sparrow in the bush:

"Bird in the Hand" Digital Mandala
Created in Photoshop
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Sea-ing Eye

2010-02-14T20:12:00.011-05:00

The Sea sees.
After all, It always comes rushing in
to greet me!

Its giant eye

reflects the sky,
Becoming a mirror
for the clouds and colors,
moods and mysteries,
sailing by.

Stars sparkle in Its watery darkness.
Luna admires her silvery light
as the Sea gently whispers
words to caress
the brightness bouncing
off Its glassy sheen.

The Sea sees:
Gazing above and below,
Keeping watch over those who make
their home in Its watery arms.
It is Mother and Father,
Life and Death,
Ebb and Flow,
Unending waves.
The Sea sees.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Sea-ing Eye" Mandala
Ink on paper
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Angel Blessings Rain Upon Us!

2010-02-08T17:18:00.014-05:00

The Angel of Blessings

Serenely towards us she bows;
Love flames in her heart,
Grace touches her lips,
Light glows from her Being,
And serenely she bows to God's earth.

Gently to us she gives;
Starlights to illumine our way,
Flames to enliven our Souls,
Love to guide our Paths,
And gently she gives to us God's gifts.

Softly to us she whispers:
"Peace" to you who fight;
"Comfort" to you who ache;
"Life" to you who despair;
"Joy" to you who embrace this day;
Softly, in each moment, she whispers to us
God's words.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Angel of Blessings"
Doodle, ink on paper
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Looking into the Vesica Piscis

2010-02-07T13:36:00.010-05:00

Vesica Piscis: literally "vessel of the fish" or fish bladder (Latin); the shape that is made when intersecting two circles with the same circumference. "Pythagoreans believed it represented a similar intersection of the spiritual and material worlds, a sacred doorway between two states of being.... [O]ne of the most important shapes in sacred geometry.... Also any place the Goddess is worshipped will generally have a representation of the vesica piscis...." (Taken from The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols by Adele Nozedar, Harper Element, 2008.)

Looking into the Vesica Piscis...

Peering into the sacred doorway of the Goddess,
what magnificence awaits?
What glories lie quietly sleeping there?
What wisdom stirs and moves,
resting comfortably--or maybe uncomfortably--
until the birth pangs begin:
Forcing emergence of the new Life form.
Is it Spirit or Matter, union or intersection?
How can we, who once dwelt in this Sacred Vessel,
enter again this hidden passage to become a different blend,
a re-formed intersection?
Embracing what we once knew, and forgot;
Forgetting what we once lived, to remember.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Looking into the Vesica Piscis"
Mandala in ink on paper
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Message Treasures

2010-02-05T17:01:00.010-05:00

What message comes through this collage today?

There are words: Treasures--a new life--love every day.

There are images: leaves--circles--spirals--buttons--ribbons--flower--stamp--odds and ends--wings--a partial wisdom face--statue--dragonfly.

There are textures, colors, even a bit of black and white doodling.

What message comes through this collage today?

Love every day is the wisdom I see.
Love every day is the "seed."
Love every day creates growth--a colorful flower from leaves of black and white.
Love every day reveals treasures and a new life that begins in each moment that we. . .

LOVE
EVERY
DAY.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Treasures"
Collage Journal Page
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Black or White Revelations

2010-02-04T10:51:00.006-05:00

Despite the many shades that fill my life,
is black or white still my guide?

Perceiving of each experience,

situation, person

as either/or:

"good" or "bad"

"worthy" or "lacking"

"enough" or "not so much."

Too many black-or-white moments

blur the image of the One

who stares back at me,

reflected in the Mirror of Life.

Black or white reveals:

judgment sticking to my thinking.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Black and White Revealed"

Mandala created with ink pens on paper

New Collage Mandala: my interpretation

2010-01-27T16:34:00.008-05:00

Today I am posting a new mixed media collage mandala that I finished yesterday; I call it "Fabric of the Universe."

Most people will focus on the bird in the middle. I love the bird, too, which is why I chose to cut it out and use it in the collage. To me, the bird represents the Universe. And the Soul message from the Universe is by Rumi, reminding us that to enter the Mystery, we need to go within, to find the "fabric of the Universe," we need only to look inside.

But the background of the collage is just as important as the central image. I created the background by tearing the elements and choosing pictures of wood, metal, fabric--anything that is used to build or create something else. The painted part is like the sea or space of creativity. So the "fabric" part comes out of that sea/space and in the center of the "fabric," we discover the Universe and the inspirational message for our journey.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Fabric of the Universe"
Mixed media collage mandala
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Collage Mandala Wanderings

2010-01-21T16:28:00.010-05:00

I have been thinking and trying to figure out how I can blend collages and mandalas. I have come up with two ideas that I have posted here today. Both are using the same collage, which you can see below.

Not necessarily my most brilliant work. To be honest, I call this collage "Odds & Ends." I created it using a piece of scratch paper on which I did all kinds of things like put leftover paint, doodled a bit, tried out a sample collage element and a different type of paper, and finally added a few collage cutouts to make it more of a cohesive collage.

The first collage mandala is done in Photoshop. I took a slice and created a digital mandala from the collage. I call this mandala "Kaleidoscopic Senses" because 4 of the 5 senses are represented--sight, smell, hearing, and taste or touch (depending upon whether you see the red shape as a tongue or a heart, although technically we don't "touch" with our heart, but we do "feel" with our hearts--you get the idea...).

The second collage mandala is the actual collage trimmed to fit into the circle I drew. After gluing the collage, I added some of my doodle art. This mandala is titled "Wishing Upon A Star."

Each version of the collage seems different to me.

The original collage has the feel of "odds and ends" and fragmentation. But there still is a sense of balance in the way it coaxes the eye to move from the bottom to the top where the star is. There is also a feeling of movement due to the "wave" of the music and the plant sketch at the bottom of the collage.

The digital mandala definitely looks different, of course, and more conventionally mandala-like. There is a bit of humor in it, though, because of the way the eyes point in opposite directions. But there are lots of interesting shapes that give it a kaleidoscope-feel. The outside edge is very Art Nouveau. And I find the star in the center is hypnotising in the way it draws the eye into the center. The color palette, however, is a bit strange!

The final version has a cohesiveness to it. The collage seems to grow out of the doodles. Michel said it looks like the collage is rising as a mountain, like the collage is created from things being piled on it. I find my eyes looking everywhere because there is a feast for my eyes. The doodles seem to be the foundation for the collage.

Which one do you like best? Which one seems to be more of mandala to you? I would love to know what you think about this experiment.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Odds & Ends" Collage
"Kaleidoscopic Senses" Collage Mandala
"Wishing Upon A Star" Collage Mandala
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Energy Behind a Collage

2010-01-20T11:12:00.005-05:00

The mandala posted here was taken from a collage I created a few years ago for my two daughters. The collage (posted below) is titled "On the Path to the Sacred Feminine."

To create this mandala, I took a slice from that collage. The finished result is an introspective into the energy of the Divine Feminine. For example, what do the longest arms of the center star look like to you? To me, the answer is obviously female! (That shape came from the skirt of the central gypsy's dress. How interesting!)

Creating this mandala has shown me that my collages have an energy behind them...and like a hologram, that energy resides in every piece or section of the collage. What a delightful discovery!

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Energy of the Divine Feminine"
Digital Mandala created in Photoshop
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Magical Miracle Manifestation Box: A Collage Artist Found!

2010-01-09T14:48:00.022-05:00

I am first and foremost a collage artist. I love to make collages. I love to sit myself down in the middle of magazines and my collage cutouts, scissors in hand, to find the images and colors and words that speak to me that day or that have a special message for the person for whom I am making a collage. I love assembling the elements together and gluing them on card, canvas, or wood.

But I got stuck. Stuck in my worries about copyright issues; stuck in my thinking about what my art meant to other people--if it "spoke" to them; stuck in an apartment in which a fan was vibrating and making noise over my head for 12 to 15 hours a day and that was filled with smells and smoke from the restaurant two floors below.

And, in the 7 months I lived in that apartment, I made one collage--only one. I tried selling some of my collage cards at a local boutique and no one bought anything. The owner said that people looked through the cards but no one bought one, not one.

So I really started thinking that my collage days were over and I looked for another outlet for my creativity. And that's when I joined a mandala e-group and started making mandalas and angel doodles. That group opened an avenue for my creativity. I created a whole bunch of mandalas and angel doodles. I even started creating digital mandalas. But then an "interesting" thing happened.

I hurt my right arm carrying my bike upstairs. My elbow was quite afflicted and painful. Soon I couldn't use the computer for any length of time, doodle, or draw a mandala. In fact, I couldn't even write in my "Morning Pages" journal. I was confused and irritated and, yes, angry. What was I supposed to do with my creative longings? Why had this happened? What was the lesson?

There was a part of me that said it was time to go back to collaging. But I resisted. I loved the thrill of making a digital mandala or creating an angel doodle. And I did force my arm to do things it didn't really want to do. Of course, I paid for that in discomfort and a lack of mobility. So eventually I had to let go and stop working on mandalas and doodles. I just had to let go.

Then, we found a new apartment: a place where there was no fan running overhead, where there were no BBQ smells at 10 p.m., and there was no smoke that required running an air purifier all the time; a place where we didn't have to call inspectors and government agencies to get help or keep a log to substantiate our "case." So we moved.

Although moving has not solved all the drama around the old apartment, it did give us a quiet, restful, well-lit place to live. Now, I want to stay in the apartment and do my art. I don't feel like I have to "escape."

The other day I received Denise Linn's January newsletter in my email. One of her suggestions for the new year was to make a "Magical Miracle Box." I took what she said, added a twist of my own, and created the box you can see in the photos at the beginning of this post.

The collage for the box was a struggle in some ways because all the elements didn't necessarily come together easily. For example, I had cut out the word FAITH but couldn't locate it when I was ready to glue the collage on the box. I looked everywhere for it. And when did it show up? After I had glued everything else on the box!

Upon reflection, I realized that it was good that the word didn't "arrive" until then because I certainly would have placed it somewhere else--on the heart was one idea--and that would have eliminated the word "surrender," a very important word in the process of manifesting.

This "Magical Miracle Manifestation Box" has already produced its first magical miracle manifestation--the collage that adorns the top. I wonder what other marvelous, magical, and miraculous manifestations await me in 2010. I await in awe and expectation.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Magical Miracle Manifestation Box
Idea courtesy Denise Linn
Collage and Artwork Copyright © 2010 Vicky Lynn Macchione

Goodbye 2009! Hello New Decade!

2009-12-31T10:50:00.005-05:00

The last day of 2009. A year and a decade finish tonight at midnight! And tonight is special in other ways--there's a blue moon (another full moon in the same month) and a partial lunar eclipse. Wow! That's a lot of responsibility for one day! ;o)

I am happy that 2009 is ending. It has been a challenging year for us: 2 deaths, 2 apartment moves, 2 people (Michel and me) thinking they had gone through some portal into an alternate reality. Things we thought worked a certain way (belief system things) simply didn't this year. A life-lesson year!

In honor of this last day of 2009, I am posting the mandala* I used for my holiday card and also a quote that brings balance to the whole resolution frenzy that happens every year at this auspicious time.

“We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives...not looking for flaws, but for potential.” ~Ellen Goodman

May 2010 be a year where you discover your amazing potential and fulfill your greatest dreams.

Happy New Year!

--Vicky Lynn :o)

*I created this mandala using Photoshop. The original photo depicts a region where infant stars are born in a nearby galaxy. This image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2007. You can see the original photo here: http://www.space.com/imageoftheday/image_of_day_070110.html

Happy Christmas! Merry New Year!

2009-12-24T21:53:00.003-05:00

Today, as my Christmas gift to my readers, I offer a mandala and a poem. I created the mandala from a fern photo I found on the Internet here. I wrote the poem as my Christmas gift to Michel.

Happy Christmas to all and to all a Merry New Year!

--Vicky Lynn ;o)

Christmas isn’t …
rushing about
wearing ourselves out
or expensive gifts under the tree.

Christmas isn’t …
over drinking
over thinking
or overeating until we can’t see
(our toes, that is).

Christmas isn’t ...
carols & lights
snow & cold nights
or special programs on TV.

No, Christmas is not these things for me.

What Christmas is …
is a silent glance
from eyes you know
from one whose love
to you each day shows.

What Christmas is …
is a passing touch,
a gentle kiss, a soft caress,
a listening heart,
a tender word spoken to bless.

What Christmas is …
is Life that’s shared
with someone who cares
who knows and believes
in all you can be.

What Christmas is …
is You and Me.

Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

My 100th Post :o)

2009-12-03T21:09:00.006-05:00

Yes, it's true. Today is my 100th post! What a milestone! ;o)

In honor of this event, I have included a mandala of sorts. It is a photo that I have put through a Kaleidoscope filter in Photoshop. (You can get the plug-in at this web site: http://www.mehdiplugins.com/.)

You can see the original photo on my blog here. Yes, it's true. The beautiful mandala above came from my "angel" cyclamen photo!

I have been thinking long and hard about what I should write about for this momentous post. I thought of quotes by famous poets or some interesting fact about what you give your spouse on your 100th wedding anniversary.

(As an aside, the list of traditional/modern wedding anniversary gifts that I looked at only went to the 80th anniversary and the traditional gift was oak. There was no modern gift listed--not too surprising given the lack of longevity in marriages nowadays. Realistically, though, if you and your spouse actually made it to your 80th anniversary, I am not sure either one of you would be able to lift anything made out of oak. ;o))

I also thought about writing about my thoughts about good and evil, which has been on my mind of late. But I finally decided that with that beautiful kaleidoscope mandala, I should include something to contemplate and meditate on. And what popped in my head was a poem by Rumi that I recently put in my journal.

I have decided to give just a few lines that seem particularly meditative and perhaps reflective of the changing facets of a kaleidoscope as well. The poem's title is "Music Master" and can be found in The Essential Rumi (translation by Coleman Barks).

We are the mirror as well as the face in it.
We are tasting the taste this minute of eternity.
We are pain and what cures pain, both.
We are the sweet cold water and the jar that pours.
--Rumi

Thank you, dear readers, for being my mirror and letting me be yours--(I hope that my posts have a touch of "reflection" in them!) May we be that for each other for another 100 posts or 100 years--whichever comes first!

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Cyclamen Kaleidoscope
Digital mandala created in Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Law of Attraction or the Universe's Web Crawler

2009-11-29T16:36:00.008-05:00

The other day while checking my email a thought occurred to me. What triggered the thought was a video advertised in a daily newsletter from Gimundo. The video was about a software product that was being used by an ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) patient that allowed him to create graffiti art using only his eye movements. Pretty amazing!

Now, what caught my attention was the fact that the young man had ALS. Just a day or so before that email arrived, I had been talking with Michel about my ex-husband's grandfather who had ALS and actually died from the disease. So that was two instances about the subject of ALS in a very short span of time. That occurrence fueled the train of thought that left the station of my mind and proceeded along the "thinking" tracks something like this:

Hmmm. ALS again. That reminds me of when I am searching in Google or writing emails in Yahoo about particular subjects. Somehow I notice more instances of what I was searching for or writing about appearing in my Yahoo Spam email folder after those searches or emails. (Yes, I check my Spam folder!)

Is it possible that somehow Yahoo and Google know what I am searching for or writing about and then directs related topics to my Spam email box? Is it possible that the web crawlers checking the Web all the time are responsible for the influx of certain types of Spam and even Inbox advertisements?

Is that how the Law of Attraction works? We pull on a strand of the Web of the Universal Consciousness by thinking a certain thought or talking about a certain subject and then the the Universe's web crawler (aka the Law of Attraction) notices our tug and sends more information or more feelings or more whatever back to us? So the Universe is like a giant Google complete with web crawlers?

(Or as Michel later pointed out--Google is structured like The Universe!) ;o)

So ends my train of thought with one final note. That evening, after this experience occurred, I was reading a library book and can you believe it? One of the characters in the book had...ALS! Amazing!

In honor of my "webby train of thought," I have posted a mandala (called "Playing with the Web") that I created from a photo that I found on posted on the Studio Nemo web site. The photo is a spider web decorated with water droplets. Click here to see the original photo.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Playing with the Web"
Digital mandala created in Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T14:30:00.005-05:00

Giving thanks for the images and words with which the Universe has delivered to my Soul and for those who have encouraged and supported me in doing my artwork and wordwork. This mandala is for YOU.

Thank you!

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Angel of Fire & Ice"
Digital mandala created in Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

What's in a post?

2009-11-20T21:22:00.008-05:00

I haven't posted in a while. I have been making art--some mandalas in Photoshop and some doodles and mandalas by hand. And I have opened my blog several times to post. But each time, I just couldn't find something to say that might be meaningful or amazing. ;o)

Today is no exception except that I thought why not write about not having anything to write about. Or, at least, nothing I feel that is noteworthy or full of depth or insight. One reason I decided to post about "nothing" is that I am reading a book by someone who said writing is about sharing the life we live and not passing judgment on what is acceptable about that life. Interesting idea especially for someone like me whose inner critic is always ready to "help" with editing and judging!

So what's in a post? Perhaps a post is just a moment in time when I share my life with whomever decides to read my blog. And perhaps that timely moment doesn't have to be something amazing or supernatural. Maybe it can be mundane sharing about trying to write a blog post and struggling in the process.

On a "lighter" note, the mandala I have posted above is called "Angel Energy Essence." Here is the photo from which I created the mandala. The plant is a white cyclamen and has a bit of a story.

I purchased this plant because someone was sending angels (the ethereal kind) to stay at our apartment for 4 days. One of the items I needed to get in preparation was a white flower or plant. I thought of cyclamens almost immediately. As Michel says, cyclamen blooms look like angels flying.

After the angels visited, I got the idea of taking a photo of my cyclamen and using the photo with an angel message that my friend Karen (an Angel Therapy Practitioner) created. She loved the photo and is selling cards using the photo and message on her web site.

So there is lots of "angel energy" in this mandala. I hope you feel it, too.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Angel Energy Essence"
Digital mandala created in Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Transformation on my mind...

2009-11-03T23:08:00.007-05:00

The idea of transformation has been in my thoughts lately, which may be why today's digital mandala comes from the "poster insect" for transformation--the butterfly. ;o) What I love about this mandala is the beautiful six-pointed star that appears in the center. The colors and its appearance reminds me of the art of India. I also find that the melange of colors in this mandala is quite stunning and unique.

I took the original photo (seen below) last year while visiting the Butterflies Go Free exhibition at the Montréal Botannical Garden.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Butterfly Star Mandala
Digital mandala created using Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

In Time, Being

2009-11-03T00:08:00.009-05:00

Here is a new digital mandala and a poem I wrote for a friend who is celebrating a birthday in a few days. In this mandala, I see transformation, unity, light and shadow, all operating within the realms of time that we experience while on this earth. This idea is one the poem points to as well.

In Time, Being

Rotating and revolving,
Re-pulsing and refracting,
Reflecting and revealing—
Our paths as orbits spin
Spotted on Source’s One Light.

Each step is a union
With others in Life’s sky—
Conjunctions of Souls.
Lights connecting, blending, merging;
Each moment here, we are,
In Time,
Being.

Here is the photo from which I created the mandala. I took it the other day before most of the leaves had fallen from these bushes, leaving only twigs and branches where a sea of color once existed.

How is it possible that green leaves can turn into such glorious and vibrant shades of red and pink? Absolutely amazing! Fabulous fall...

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Autumn Transformation Mandala
Digital mandala created in Photoshop
"In Time, Being" poem
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

One of those days!

2009-10-30T19:04:00.010-04:00

Yes, today was one of those days.

The freezer wasn't freezing ice cubes.

The refrigerator temperature is not cold enough and is running all the time, so I am going to have to throw out some food.

I have hurt my right elbow somehow, and in certain positions, it is very painful. No ice cubes makes it difficult to ice the elbow. ;o)

The birthday card I was making had to be remade, and once finished, it still was not "perfect."

Basically, it has been a day of redoing and figuring out how to resolve the challenges that kept surfacing.

Finally, I decided I needed to create something "just because," so I made the two mandalas I have posted here.

I titled the first mandala, "Hearts & Flowers" for obvious reasons. ;o) The picture I used was taken on a lovely September day just about the time the sun was setting, which gave the flower a very vibrant appearance.

The second mandala is called "Morning Glorious" and was taken on the same September afternoon.

I do love the wide open loveliness of morning glories. This perky blossom was surrounded by a sea of green leaves and other buds here and there. She seemed to be saying--"Hey! Look at me! I'm happy here, blooming in my little corner of the world!"

Making these mandalas was a challenge because of my elbow, but I loved the surprise they brought me when I finished them. Perhaps the message for me is that "one of those days" is like a slice of a digital mandala. You never know what the final result will be just by looking at the first slice.

Any today is just a slice of Life. When it is pieced together with all the other slices, then I will be surprised with the amazing results and with what hidden pictures I can see.

So the next time one of those days comes my way, I'll do my best to accept it just as it is and realize that a new "today" is just a sunrise away. ;o)

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Hearts & Flowers" Mandala
"Morning Glorious" Mandala
Digital mandalas created using Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Mushroom Star

2009-10-28T09:31:00.008-04:00

I am posting a new digital mandala along with the source image I used. I took this picture in September while taking a walk near our apartment. The day was lovely and I actually remembered to bring my camera with me. ;o)

What I love about the process of creating these mandalas is the unknown factor. When I pick the slice I will use, I am only seeing 1/5 or 1/8 of the final result. In the case of the Mushroom Star, I didn't know there was going to be a star until I had made 3/5 of the mandala.

The other interesting occurrence is how my perception of what I am seeing changes. For example, in this mandala, I kept feeling like I was looking shells from the ocean, which made me wonder if mushrooms are the shells of a grass sea or a dirt sea. Just a different way of "seeing."

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Mushroom Star of the Sea Mandala
Digital mandala created with Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Walking in the Forest of Mystery

2009-10-27T21:09:00.006-04:00

The mandala posted here is my first attempt at a digital mandala. It was so exciting to make since I pieced it together section by section. The final result stunned me--the geometric designs, the hidden pictures I see, the flower design made by a tree branch. All so amazing and such a feast for the eyes. What do you see hidden in the greenery of this mandala? What message do you hear when looking at it?

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Forest of Mystery Mandala
Digital mandala created with Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

A Few Words about The Artist: Me! ;o)

2009-10-21T22:10:00.006-04:00

I brought my greeting cards to sell on consignment in an angel store here in Montréal. The name of the store is Ange Neige. Along with the cards, I brought an artist card that shares a bit about me. I have posted it here for readers of my blog, so they can learn a little more about me and my art. :o)

I have also created my own set of marketing bookmarks. You can see the 5 designs I made below. I had great fun making these bookmarks. I took parts of different collages, doodles, and Life Stamps to make the individual designs. And, of course, there is one that is more traditional, featuring the logo of Blue Heron Visions and Two Chairs and A Window Greeting Cards.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Artist Card, Bookmarks
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

All About Seeking

2009-10-14T18:44:00.008-04:00

Here is an interesting video about "seeking" that someone I follow on Twitter mentioned. I really love what the narrator has to say about the idea of seeking much more than I like the actual video--with one exception: when the words "This Is It" show up on the screen. That phrase really caught my attention. And the phrase showed up again in my life a few days after viewing the video when I noticed that the title of Michael Jackson's posthumous new single: "This Is It."

This video inspired me to make the mandala seen in this post. I call it "Eternal Seeker" and it shows the struggle and entanglement that happens to me when I get caught in the idea of seeking and searching and striving to find the Answers.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Eternal Seeker" Mandala
Ink, felt pens on paper
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Final Versions: Angel Message Bookmarks

2009-10-01T06:59:00.007-04:00

Here are the final versions of the bookmarks (in English and French) that I made for my friend Karen, the Angel Therapy Practitioner. I created the collage part and she wrote the words. Karen is selling these bookmarks.

You can read more about Karen and get more information on her web site: http://www.angelsconnecttospirit.com/

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Autumn, Falls, and Balances

2009-09-21T23:33:00.008-04:00

Happy Autumn! Happy Fall! In one way, it's funny to think of wishing someone a "happy fall"! Falling usually isn't something we want to do. I know because I fell on Sunday while waiting for a light to change. I was on my bike and had to stop for the light. For some unknown reason, I reached for the ground with my left foot instead of my right foot (which is the foot I use almost ALL of the time). I didn't plant my foot well and even though I almost managed to keep my balance, I didn't. And down I went! I have a series of evenly spaced scrapes on my right leg, where my pedal branded me and a bit of a sore left arm and wrist. Just a reminder of how important it is to maintain my balance.

And as I think about my fall, I am also thinking about the autumnal equinox, the second day of the year when a perfect balance is reached between night and day. That happening occurs tomorrow in Montréal where I live.

Isn't it amazing that out of the 365 days that we live each year, there are only 2 days in which night and day find a perfect balance? Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from this natural cycle--equality, more light, equality, more darkness. I don't think I have ever tried applying that cycle to my own life.

As do most people, I try to hold on to what I want in my life and avoid or try to change that which I don't want. But the fact is that everything changes and everything eventually passes away.

The doodle posted shows dawn on the first day of Autumn. I used hues that are mostly red, pink, orange--the colors of Fall. The sunlight of this season is warm and golden yellow, making Life feel rich, full, and abundant. For me, Autumn sunlight is fairy-like, hovering and lingering as it caresses the trees and flowers, coaxing their beautiful colors to emerge before the darkness of winter takes over.

I wish you a Happy Fall. May today bring the balance of the equinox to your life. And may your time of falling leaves, falling rain, and, very soon, falling snow be a glorious one!

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Dawn on the First Day of Autumn"
Ink on card stock, felt pens
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

An Angel with Attitude ;o)

2009-09-17T22:36:00.008-04:00

Here is the Angel of Coins & Feathers. I almost decided that I needed to recreate her but then several people told me they loved her exactly as she was. I was going to introduce her, but she would rather do that herself...

"I am the Angel in charge of Coins & Feathers. Are you surprised? After all, some Angel has to be responsible for making sure coins and feathers cross your paths!

I love shaking coins from my shield and sprinkling them on streets and fields, in métros and on staircases, wherever you may “happen” to see them.

I blow the feathers from my sleeve, one by one, so they gently float to the Earth. I want to make sure you get the message that all of us Angels are watching out for you.

The laces on my sleeve reveal my secret passion: I love playing jacks!

You will certainly notice my Whimsical Nature. My face is heart-shaped and radiates my Love for you. My wings are not necessarily positioned in the best place for flying. But because I am a Being of Lightness, I get around quickly and quite nicely, thank you very much!

Remember to keep your eyes open as you walk your journey each day. Receive the messages that we Angels send your way. Rejoice and give thanks each time you find a coin or a feather. Realize that you, too, are a Being of Lightness, which is my special message to you!"

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Angel of Coins & Feathers Mandala
Ink on paper, felt pens
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Angel of Waves comes sailing in

2009-09-15T17:19:00.005-04:00

I made a new doodle last night and it became the Angel of Waves that you see here.

She's the angel that does all sorts of things with "waves." Not only does she make sure the ocean does its wave thing (with the help of the moon, of course) but she also makes waves in our lives when we get too settled or too stuck or need a boost of creative energy.

Sometimes her waves are calm and gentle and at other times, she produces large, massive, tsunami-type waves to get our attention, to overflow us with goodness, new ideas, and fresh perspectives.

Her shield combines Her Eye that is always watching and waiting for our call and the Web of Water--a reminder of field of unlimited possibilities where all Life begins, whether human, animal, or plant life or the life of new thoughts and new ways of seeing.

Shells and sea flowers decorate her robe and her wings carry the waves of the ocean. She is quite a Free Spirit, and she is waiting to hear from you!

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Angel of Waves doodle
Ink on paper, felt pens, "Web of water" color added in Photoshop
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Angels on My Mind and Under My Pen

2009-09-14T05:26:00.016-04:00

Last night I created the doodle posted here.

I had two criteria:

1) Use paper that had been bled through on because I hate to waste paper; and

2) Don't put the doodle in a circle.

About half way through the process, I realized that there were some places in the doodle that were wing-shaped. That idea did affect what doodling designs I decided to use--feathers anyone? ;o)

And in the end, when I had finished doodling all the nooks and crannies, I realized the entire doodle was wing. I titled it "Angel Wing Doodle."

I am still wondering if I want to add color. There is something interesting about having the bleed-through marks be just where they are in the black and white drawing. (You can see the marks more clearly if you click on the picture.)

I wonder why I don't see my life that way. Why aren't the "bleed-through dots"--those effects of previous choices and decisions that still remain as part of the picture of my life--why don't they seem like an interesting addition instead of something I want to evict and erase?

Something for me to think about.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Angel Wing Doodle"
Ink on paper
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Autumn Leaves and Leaf Doodles

2009-09-10T19:46:00.010-04:00

Today, I looked at a blog that was recommended by someone in the mandala egroup. It's called The Doodle Daily. Today's post had a picture of a "doodled" leaf that brought a smile to my face.

Leaves are special to me. Here's why. Almost 9 years ago when I still lived in California, Michel (my boyfriend) sent me a picture of an Autumn leaf from Montréal on which he had inscribed a poem he had written. He sent this to me before we had met in person and only knew each other through our correspondence and chatting on the Internet and by phone. Every year when the leaves start falling here in Québec, I think back to that emailed leaf and what has transpired since I was touched by Michel's gentle and romantic gift.

Here is that most memorable leaf.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Black & White or Color: Obeying or Breaking Rules

2009-09-09T16:13:00.012-04:00

The mandala egroup I belong to has been talking about breaking rules that we, or others, set for ourselves--in art or in Life.

For me, obeying the rules is like seeing in black and white. And I have always been a very strict "rule-follower"! Taking the risk and challenging or breaking a longstanding rule is like seeing in color. All of a sudden the scenery changes. There are nuances that you didn't notice before. There are possibilities that emerge, hidden behind the rules that you obeyed blindly because you were supposed to, because that's what good girls do.

The two mandalas posted here illustrate for me what happens when I can find the inner strength to challenge a rule that some authority figure in the past (sometimes the long-distant past!) decided was good and proper and you better do it or else! I start in the black and white world of shoulds and should nots and open up to the living color world of wonder, magic, mystery, and possibility.

What rules do you long to challenge and break? Maybe today's the day!

--Vicky :o)

"Seeing in Black & White" Mandala

Ink on paper

"Seeing in Color" Mandala

Ink on paper, felt pens
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Another Angel Arrives

2009-09-07T21:50:00.010-04:00

Meet the Angel of Comfort. She's also called The Tear Gatherer because she collects in her hands all the tears that we humans shed and stores them in her heart as the precious treasure they are.

Her shield shines like the sun, reminding us that Light and Love can conquer any pain and any sorrow. The flower on her shield represents the blossoming and transformation we experience as a result of difficult times.

Her lamp shines even in the blackest of nights and during Life's darkest hours.

The web on her skirt shows that growth and healing (represented by the color green and the leaves) can happen in the most tangled of situations. She is the one who comforts and brings hope even in the most hopeless of times.

May she shine her comforting, healing, and loving Light on you!

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Angel of Comfort: The Tear Gatherer" Mandala
Ink on paper, felt pens
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Another Dreamcatcher Mandala

2009-09-06T20:32:00.007-04:00

I am posting another dreamcatcher mandala I did today. It took a long time but it is quite colorful. I call it "Kaleidoscope." That's what Michel said when he saw it, and I thought that was a perfect name.

Creating mandalas gives me lots of time to think while making art. But what is really happening isn't really thinking. I am focusing on the repeated patterns I am drawing and thoughts flit through my mind. I am guessing that I don't become too attached to them because my attention is more intently somewhere else. I do know I often feel more calm after I finish a mandala or a doodle. And the added benefit? I get an inventive and original work of art as well. Now that's a "win-win"! ;o)

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Dreamcatcher: Kaleidoscope"
Ink on paper, felt pens
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Dreamcatcher Mandalas

2009-09-05T23:14:00.008-04:00

Here are two new mandalas using the form of a dreamcatcher. A fellow mandala e-grouper said that the one in color reminded her of "a bunch of Tibetan Prayer Flags waving in the wind." A beautiful image, indeed!

Enjoy...

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Dreamcatcher Mandala

Ink on paper

Dreamcatcher: Guiding Eyes

Ink on paper, color pencils

Angel Mandala

2009-09-02T23:03:00.012-04:00

Meet the Angel of Service. This mandala was inspired by my Angel Therapy Practitioner friend, Karen. Here is a bit about this sweet and loving angel.

As you look at this angel, you see hearts pouring out of her sleeve. They represent all the blessings she gives so generously to others.

The central eye is what alerts her to those who need her help and service.

The leaf at the bottom of her robe represents the growth that she lovingly brings to those who call on her.

Her shield is purple and yellow, reflecting the background colors of her mandala:

Purple (violet) representing the crown chakra and the purity of Divine Love
Yellow representing the Solar Plexus chakra and the strength she brings to her charge's self-esteem and self-worth.

The Angel of Service is all about Love and helping others to see themselves in their Highest Light and to achieve their Soul's Mission.

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Angel of Service" Mandala
Ink on paper
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Angel of Song Comes Along...

2009-09-01T15:38:00.008-04:00

She's small and carries a big voice, the Angel of Song showed up under my pens today. Here's what she has to say. (More to come)

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Angel of Song
Ink on paper doodle
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Another Angel Doodle Appears

2009-08-30T20:17:00.019-04:00

Meet the Angel of Fire, Light & Second Sight. She speaks in rhyme and always has an inspired message to spur you on your way.

"I am the Angel of Fire, Light & Second Sight.
My Eternal flames forever burn bright.

Creative ideas & a turbo-boost of Will are but two
Of the en-lightening gifts I have for you.

Sparks of Intuition & Insight I inspire;
Flashes of Wisdom & Foresight leap from my fire.

My wings are powered by a Spirit of play,
A reminder that too much "serious" can ruin your day.

A butterfly at my throat reminds you to keep Life "light";
Each moment the Eternal Eyes offer you "Second" Sight.

Love overflows from my Rainbow of Hearts,
It embraces your Soul and enlivens your art.

Never be shy to call upon me
My help & guidance are always free.
My deepest desire is for all to see
The magnificent Divine Spark you came here to BE."

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"Angel of Fire, Light & Second Sight"
Ink on paper doodle and poem
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Venus Rising: A Star Is Born

2009-08-29T09:24:00.044-04:00

Here is my newest collage mandala and the poem it inspired me to write. Enjoy!

--Vicky Lynn :o)

Venus Rising: A Star Is Born

From the floods of darkness

Where emotions reign supreme;

She finds her Self awakened:

A voice whispers, "You are Queen!"

Her Heart quickens and responds

To this calling of her Soul;

Love pushes her emergence--

"Up! Go up! There awaits your goal!"

Unfolding and stretching,

She reaches toward the Source of Light;

Her wings unfurl, her Self reflected

From watery depths, to star-filled night.

The Love she Is becomes the Light

You see shining at dawn, at dusk, at night;

She whispers to you--truly seeing Who You Are--

"Up! Go up! The world awaits your Rising Star."

"Venus Rising: A Star Is Born"
Mixed media collage and poem
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

New Angel Doodle -- The Guardian Speaks

2009-08-27T19:30:00.002-04:00

"I am the Guardian, the Watcher who walks with you and who carries the Highest Vision of You within my Heart. My shield and sword are useful tools not weapons to be abused. My shield protects you from your small self and from your harsh words about your True Self. My sword cuts away energetic cords and attachments that keep you from being All You Are. My wings bring comfort and breezes of peace. My brilliant colors reflect the person I guard and watch over--YOU. Know I am with you every step of your journey, reminding you that the Love you seek is always Within. I am the Guardian, the Protector of your Heart and the Watcher of your Soul."

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"The Guardian"
Ink on paper doodle
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

In "Living" Color -- Sort of ;o)

2009-08-25T22:51:00.003-04:00

So I decided to add color to the Butterfly Breath Angel and here she is. What a fun project!

--Vicky :o)

Another New Art Form--The Doodle ;o)

2009-08-25T21:58:00.004-04:00

Several people who belong to the Mandala Oasis egroup also do some tremendous work with Doodles. Here's one site that is certainly stupendous! I've posted my first doodle.

Right now she is in black and white. I am considering whether I want to add color or not. She's called "The Butterfly Breath Angel." In my mind, she is the angel that makes sure that every butterfly's wings plump up and then have the air it needs to fly into its newly transformed life.

--Vicky :o)

"Butterfly Breath Angel"
Ink on paper, Doodle

Exploring a new art path--The Mandala

2009-08-23T08:14:00.007-04:00

I joined an egroup a while back called Mandala Oasis. I've always been interested in the mandalas created by monks from sand. My mandalas will not be quite as intricate but I am enjoying "throwing something" in the circle and seeing what results. I have used different media--colored pencils, markers, oil pastels, in addition to adding some collage elements.

I've posted my latest mandala, which I made yesterday. I was feeling out of sorts: I had what my mother called "a piss-poor mood." I decided to make the mandala using oil pastels and not care that the shapes I used weren't perfect or that the colors spread into each other while coloring. I just flung everything on the page.

Then, I got the idea to add some collage elements. I added the clock and felt there was still something missing. I kept feeling like I should find an eye in my collage stuff. Coincidentally (or synchronistically?), as I began looking through my stuff, there was an eye in one of the clear, plastic envelopes staring back at me. I never had to open up envelopes or binders to search for it. It was just there. Once I had the eye, I found three other elements that completed the piece.

It turns out that the eye was very important since it gave me the title of the mandala: "Wh(eye)?" Someone had left a comment about one of my older blog entries the other day using word play like that.

And that's how this mandala came together!

--Vicky :o)

"Wh(eye)?" Mandala
Mixed media on paper
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Art Says It All

2009-08-20T09:10:00.007-04:00

Sometimes extra words detract from what the art's message is. The art posted here is the memorial card I made for my friend Sue who died of ovarian cancer last month. The art says it all!

--Vicky :o)

Collage card/Memorial card
Copyright © by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Another Life Stamp Completed!

2009-08-14T23:45:00.013-04:00

I am posting the artwork I created and the poem I wrote for another Life Stamp. (Life Stamps are a way to commemorate special events in a person's life. The link takes you to the one I made for Michel.) Ironically, the Life Stamp I just created is a gift for another woman who is celebrating her 60th birthday next month.

I painted the abstract before I scanned it into Photoshop to add the collage elements. The name of the painting is "Windows into Unseen Worlds." To me, the background painting was the woman's Soul and the collage elements are the windows into the Unseen Worlds that exist within her.

As I was working on the collage in Photoshop, the words "The best is yet to be" flashed through my head. Those words became the theme of the Life Stamp and the poem.

The Best Is Yet To BE

For many years
Your love you shared,
You gave yourself,
You showed you cared.
Always there
To offer your hand,
To listen, to comfort
And to understand.

But forever present
Deep inside:
A precious treasure
In your Soul abides.
This wondrous gift
Is Who You Are:
A wise woman of Grace,
An Eternal Star.

Just like the sun
Your Star shines bright;
No doing required,
Just BE the Light.
And always remember:
Your presence is enough;
Your Soul holds the key;
As you journey through Life
The best is yet to BE.

As always, the message is for me, too! The Universe is generous that way.

Here is the finished Life Stamp:

--Vicky :o)

"Windows into Unseen Worlds" Acrylic & Graphic Collage
"The Best Is Yet To BE" poem
Life Stamp
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Long time...no blog!

2009-08-10T14:13:00.009-04:00

Life (and death) has been happening since we moved to our new apartment on June 1. Besides some glitches in our move and the apartment we chose, Michel's uncle died on July 5. Literally, he dropped dead while mowing the lawn. Then, on July 28, one of my friends who has been living with ovarian cancer for several years departed this plane. (The entry "Finding Grace" is about this wonderful woman.)

Michel's uncle Marcel left behind his wife of 40 years whose birthday was also in July. The collage shown here is part of the Life Stamp I made to commemorate her 60th birthday. Here is the poem I wrote that illuminates the collage. Enjoy!

--Vicky :o)

The Valley of the Butterflies

In the Valley of the Butterflies
My Love waits there for me…

With eyes that see who I am:
My glory and my worth;
With strong arms to support me
As I journey on this earth;
With caring thoughts to soothe me,
To calm my wild mind;
With tender words to comfort me
When no peace can I find.

And though I always thought
My Love was the loving man I knew;
In the Valley of the Butterflies
I made a wondrous discovery
That I now share with you:

All that I admired in him—
His strength, his love, his care—
Are the qualities that I possess
Reflected in Life’s mirror so fair.

And so it is with everyone
Who walks this path with me;
Each is Life’s reflection of My Love:
Of Who I am and Who I decide to be.

Valley of the Butterflies, collage and poem
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Bonne Fête Michel!

2009-05-19T06:07:00.011-04:00

Yesterday was Michel's birthday. (He's my boyfriend.) I have been so busy making cards for other people, packing for our move on June 1, and finishing up a course at the local women's center that I hadn't had a chance to make him a card or buy him a present. (I did order his favorite cheesecake as a birthday cake.) ;o)

So late Sunday night--or rather early Monday morning--I decided to make him a card (shown above) and send it by email. Because I was starting at the last possible minute, I chose a collage I had used for another card a couple of years ago. Next, I found a Rumi quote that seemed to fit with the collage, both in the meaning and how the words could be placed perfectly on the collage. Then, I decided to include a poem.

Writing the poem was an amazing experience. I have rarely had a poem flow out of me so easily. I was so tired and yet the words and rhymes marched through my mind and appeared on the page as I typed. I was so grateful to God!

Michel seemed very pleased with the card and the poem. He said something interesting, though. He mentioned that the card looked like a mini-Life Stamp. (A Life Stamp is something I created and designed to commemorate a special event in a person's life.)

So I decided to see if I could change the card into a Life Stamp. Again, the process flowed so effortlessly. Here's the result:

For me, this Life Stamp created itself. Said in another way: God/the Universe really wanted me to create this Life Stamp for Michel! And, I learned a few valuable lessons along the creative path:

Simple collages (this one only has 3 elements--flowers, picture frame, eye) can still have profound meanings.
Letting the words flow is more important than listening to my inner "word" critic.
Sometimes (maybe all the time (?) and I have not been aware of the fact!) the art creates itself.

Happy Birthday, Michel!

--Vicky ;o)

Birthday card and Life Stamp
Copyright © 2009 Vicky Lynn Macchione

Many Changes & 2 "-FlyDesigns" Postcards

2009-04-05T09:44:00.015-04:00

How busy life can get in such a short time! In the time since I posted last, we decided to move, found an apartment to move to in June, finished up tax returns for U.S. and Canada, prepared to show the apartment we live in now to prospective tenants, went to a family birthday party, and planned how we are going to take 7-1/2 rooms of "stuff" and put it into an apartment with 4-1/2 rooms! (By the way, here in Québec apartments are described that way, not by number of bedrooms. The "1/2" refers to the bathroom.

Before all this activity commenced, I was working on the idea of collaging my own postcards. The two shown here are for some mythical funky clothing company called "FlyDesigns," which is short for Butterfly Designs. (My apologies to any company, clothing or otherwise, who may use that name!)

One postcard is in the shape of a butterfly; an idea that came to me because I once received a postcard from a friend that was in the shape of her country. Of course, it helped that the background paper already had a butterfly on it!

-FlyDesigns Postcards...Just in time for Spring!

--Vicky :o)

FlyDesigns Postcards (I and II)
Paper Collage
Copyright © 2009 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Another Postcard Collage

2009-03-16T15:04:00.003-04:00

Here is another example of my postcard play. I call this one "World of Advice." You may have to look very closely to see that there is a map outline of the world that forms the basis of this collage.

I actually started the text for this post a few days ago but got hung up with describing the collage and its meaning. Ultimately, I find it more rewarding to let others see what the collage means to them. That's the great advantage of images and collages. In fact, a friend told me recently that every time she looks at my Christmas card collage, she sees something new!

One comment about the title--"World of Advice." Have you ever noticed how much advice there is in the world? And with the Internet, we have all that advice at our fingertips; we don't even have to go to the library to look through card catalogs, books, microfiche, etc. any more!

I wonder, though, how much all that advice keeps us from finding and listening to our own advice, our inner wisdom. Of course, taking time to listen and then to actually act on inner wisdom is a process and certainly not instantaneous. Not like the Internet, which provides instant gratification day or night.

But living life based on instant advice is not the same thing as living life in the NOW. Usually I look for advice when I have a problem that I want solved immediately. That process of looking for the answer takes away from the time of being with and experiencing the question, or what I think is the question.

In other words, seeking a World of Advice for that which I think I need or lack keeps me from Being the World that I am.

--Vicky :o)

Playing with Postcards

2009-03-12T00:04:00.007-04:00

In the last few days, I have been thinking a lot about postcards so I decided to create some. Here is my first one. The title is "Playing with Color Postcard." Yes, for some reason I included the word postcard in the title. ;o)

Much of the time, a postcard depicts a place or point of interest or some souvenir of a person's travels. My postcard seems to depict a spiral of colors both in appearance and in the way I created it. This collage began its life from the middle. Starting with the figure, the snowflake house and the peacock swirls, I just kept adding different blocks of color and melanges of blocks of color as layers. The final touch was the postage stamp.

I find it interesting that while most postcards are rectangles, mine is almost perfectly square. I'll have to figure out why that is. (Does it reflect my need for perfection? Is there anything more perfect than a square? Well, maybe a circle!)

There is also one very illegible word--"fairytale." I didn't discover it, though, until the collage was done and I used my trusty magnifying glass to see what those black scratches actually said. :o)

Postcards provide a rather intriguing way to communicate since they force a person to write either the most important messages or the most mundane. Perhaps postcards were one of the earliest versions of Twitter, lacking only in the instantaneity (yes, that really is a word!) of this present-day communication gadget. Surely most postcards do answer Twitter's question: What are you doing? Or at the very least, they answer: What were you doing when you decided to write?

Now, what was I doing before I decided to write this post?

The Dying Mind--Take 2

2009-03-10T23:54:00.003-04:00

When I chose "the dying mind" for the collage in my last post, I saw that there was at least one additional meaning when considered together as a simple sentence. The dying mind.

Now, the interpretation of that sentence all depends on one's definition of the verb "mind." Here are three definitions from which to choose (thanks to One Look Dictionary and Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary):

to be attentive or wary
to become concerned
to pay obedient heed or attention

Definition #2 was my choice of meaning. The dying care about their state. They are concerned that they are indeed "dying" and what that is going to mean to themselves and to the world at large. However, each definition brings a different shade of significance to the collage card.

The interpretation rests in the mind of the beholder/reader. Which definition describes and illuminates the collage for you?

--Vicky :o)

Job Title: Worrier

2009-03-09T23:41:00.009-04:00

The other day I created this collage card trying to use some different materials (an autumn leaf, a maple seed, birch bark) and several disconnected images to see what would come of it. I am not sure it is a very uplifting collage but there is an interesting feel to it. ;o)

I scanned the card and filed it away, not really thinking much about it. Until today. I was reading a book in which this alien species had the assigned job title of "Worrier." As I read about the Worrier and how he/she/it(?) offered all the various reasons and possibilities to do or not to do a particular mission, I thought how well I could perform that job! I am so well versed in worrying that those few times when I was not worrying, I actually felt an empty space inside where the worries usually dwelt. That was an amazing and somewhat disconcerting feeling!

For some reason, as I was thinking about the job of Worrier, this collage card popped into my mind. Perhaps the message of worrying actually creates "the dying mind" pictured here--a mind that can't fully embrace creativity and inspiration when it is preoccupied with all the "what ifs" and all the possiblities of darkness, doom, and disaster. The card also points out that "dreams of day" and "dreams of night" all face the same end: they all pass. In fact, the same outcome holds true for "the dying mind": It too shall pass, along with all those worries that occupied so much of its time.

Now, if I can only embrace the ideas captured in this card; maybe I can finally give up the job of Worrier and find a job title I like much more!

--Vicky :o)

Skyla's Magic Box

2009-01-31T15:09:00.023-05:00

For my granddaughter's 6th birthday in December, I collaged a special box for her. I call it Skyla's Magic Box. Inside are lots of different paper cutouts, stickers, ribbons, flowers, and various other items to be used for decorating cards, gift tags, and her very own little book. I also included a glue stick. She is now equipped to create and give cards with that special "Skyla" touch.

The box took a very long time to get to California (45 days!--another story for another time). She received it on Thursday and was very pleased with all she discovered in the box as well as with the card and poem I had made for her. I have posted pictures of her box.

I am reminded of when my kidlets were very small. I would buy them the latest and greatest toys for Christmas or their birthdays only to discover that often what gave them the most pleasure and entertained them the longest was the box in which they found the toy. There is no "toy" inside this box. What it does contain is special magic that needs Skyla's imagination, time, and creativity to be manifested in the world.

Happy Birthday, Skyla!

--Vicky :o)

"Skyla's Magic Box"
Collage Box

Make your own kind of Magic!

2009-01-15T08:05:00.017-05:00

"Magic is something we all secretly wait for, no matter how hard-bitten and cynical we become as the passing years vanquishes our spirit. We hope that somehow, something or someone will arrive and turn that magic wand and our life will flip over.

To create magic we need to do two things:

Believe in magic.
Be the magician of our life and bluff our way through life's inevitable difficulties.

We must know that the New Year is not a Genie that will bring us all that we have secretly been wishing for. We need to get inside that bottle and be that Genie ourselves." --Nazia Mallick

The above excerpt is from an article that I read recently on Ode Magazine's Readers Blog: "How to create magic in your life this year" by Nazia Mallick. In her article, Ms. Mallick continues with her own formula for creating magic in her life this year.

One of my favorite quotes corresponds quite well with Mallick's first bullet point:

"... for magic to happen in your life, you must believe in magic."
-- Grandmother, quoted by Lynn Andrews

If I don't believe that magic happens, then I certainly won't be seeing any.

As I continued thinking about the idea of making magic, I decided to look up the origin of the word itself. A very early definition (c. 1384) describes magic as the "art of influencing events and producing marvels" (Online Etymology Dictionary).

How well that definition corresponds with Mallick's second bullet. In order to make magic, I have to "be" the magician in my life--the one who influences events and produces marvels, the one who keeps on believing and being even when obstacles show up along the way. Here is what what Rob Brezny had to say about obstacles last week to those born under the sign of Leo:

"Obstacles are a natural part of life, just as boulders are a natural part of the course of a river," notes the ancient Chinese book The I Ching. "The river does not complain or get depressed because there are boulders in its path." I'd go so far to say -- this is not in the original text, but is my 21st-century addition -- that the river gets a sensual thrill as it glides its smooth current over the irregular shapes and hard skin of the rocks. It looks forward to the friction, exults in the intimate touch, loves the drama of the interaction. --Rob Brezny, Freewill Astrology

What a sexy way to look at obstacles! So now the choice is mine--how will I view the challenges that come my way? Will I continue to believe in magic and in my abilities as a magician? Obstacles are only obstacles if I declare them to be.

The collage above is from my Collage Journal and illustrates to me how I can make magic happen in my own life. The pictures and words are my magician's tool kit with its secret messages and magic spells. Now, it's time for me to add the "abracadabra" of believing and being.

--Vicky :o)

Too much noise in my head!

2009-01-14T13:26:00.006-05:00

My goal this year is to "lighten my load." And, this morning I discovered another way I can make that happen: Stop unconditionally believing all the voices in my head.

Today, while I was checking my email, I found myself getting agitated. I was reading a newsletter by someone, considered to be an inspirational person by many, who was advocating a way to be more environmentally conscious. Something snapped inside! I found myself expressing disgust at being given yet another thing to put on my Life's "To Do" list.

Don't get me wrong. I certainly believe it is important to be environmentally conscious. However, I am weary of all the messages coming from emails, television, movies, governments, parents--living or long-dead--religions, friends, families, lovers, and the list goes on forever, AS WELL AS my own list of correct living prerequisites. How much of my life and energy do I spend being concerned over all this noise? WAY TOO MUCH!

I decided today that I can no longer put off determining what is and what is not important to me in my Life. I can no longer let others tell me how to live my Life. It's time for me to stop the Noise Madness. For as long as I listen to and unconditionally believe what others say, I cannot hear the "still, small voice" that resides within each of us.

In the last few months, I had started taking my name off inspirational newsletter email lists. I was being overwhelmed by inspiration! Now, I see that I am still too involved in all the wisdom everyone else seems to have. It's time to listen to the wisdom within. My Life, My Way. This collage from my Collage Journal illustrates clearly the message of this post. How interesting that I made the collage over 2 years ago.

--Vicky :o)

P.S.After I wrote this post, I discovered this short passage by Rumi, very appropriate to what I have written here:

"All my talk was madness,
filled with dos and don’ts.

For ages I knocked on a door—
when it opened I found

I was knocking from the inside!" --Rumi

"Start Within"
Collage Journal Page
Copyright © 20o6 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

"People see only what they are prepared to see."

2009-01-09T13:20:00.009-05:00

I put this collage on the inside of a birthday card for a friend that celebrates her birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday, Rola!

You will notice that on my previous posted collage and on this one, I used the same quotation. In fact, I used the quotation as the title of this post as well. This quote is by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

What I find most interesting is yesterday I received an email that illustrated this quote for me. The email came from someone I have known for several years but with whom I am not in frequent contact. She had known me somewhat intimately in the past but we have not spoken in person for at least 4 years, and we rarely exchange emails. In her email, she assumes that I am exactly the same as I was when she knew me--and that my reactions to situations could not change and certainly have not changed.

As I read her email, I realized that everyone tends to categorize people in their lives and, likewise, everyone tends to keep those people boxed in by those categories. And that's one possible interpretation of the Emerson quote. We can't possibly see changes in people if we are only prepared to see what we have always seen, if we wear the blinders of our categorizations and definitions.

I am grateful that I received this woman's email because it confirmed the importance of this quote. Since I used it both on my Vision Collage and the collage I posted here and then received this email that illumined the quote, I believe the Universe is sending me a message: In what areas are you (meaning me, of course) unprepared to see changes or unusual vistas or challenging thoughts and ideas?

That's the question that will on the "front burner" of my life as I go through 2009.

--Vicky :o)

Collage: "The Key to Change"

New Year, New Vision!

2009-01-04T00:01:00.007-05:00

For the last couple of years I have tried to write in a journal each day--Morning Pages as Julia Cameron calls them. Lately, I have been having trouble making my daily 3 pages. So I have been rethinking those pages and how I really want to use them. In the midst of this Morning Pages reinvention, I got the idea to make a collage to mark the shift from 2008 to 2009. This new collage is posted here.

Many people like to make vision boards as a way to direct their visions and fulfill their dreams for the new year. That's what this collage is all about for me. Two phrases I particularly love are these: "Don't be a spectator on this trip" and "There's no death worse than just waiting around." Both of these phrases come from Michael Green's The Illuminated Rumi 2008 calendar. The poem goes like this:

Don't be a spectator on this trip.
There's no death worse than waiting around.
Set your heart on the hero's gold.
And go. --Rumi

Last year I often found myself feeling like I was waiting. If I had to describe what it was I was waiting for, I would say it was Life or maybe it would be more accurate to say that I was waiting for something I thought needed to happen so I could live my life. I would often have thoughts like: "When this or that happens, then I'll do this or then I'll feel that way." I was experiencing "delayed living," which in Rumi's view is the worst type of death. And as the days of 2008 went by, I realized more and more that whether I spent those days waiting, spectating, or actually living them right NOW, time continued to pass and days disappeared!

In 2009 I want to hang up my spectator glasses, end the "waiting-around-death" experience, and GO for the "hero's gold" of living each day as full and as well as I possibly can. I am using this collage to inspire me to remember and live my vision.

--Vicky :o)

Yuletide Musings and a Wish for YOU!

2008-12-24T23:09:00.017-05:00

May sweet sounds and tender moments fill the days of your Yuletide Season.

Merry Christmas!

--Vicky :o)

Happy Winter 2008!

2008-12-20T00:08:00.005-05:00

Since we have friends that have different beliefs, I created one card this year that could be used to celebrate Christmas and the Winter season. I offer the card and poem I wrote as a way to salute the 2008 Winter Solstice.

Winter's Tender Gaze

Winter, like Love, waits for us
At the end of every road;
Her gaze, full of tender warmth,
Despite the bitter cold.

Intruding on our busy days,
Dressed in lengthening shadows of night,
Winter paints each tiny crevice with darkness,
Increasing the brilliance of Light.

As the stars that sparkle best in shadow,
We shine brightest under Winter's gentle gaze,
We sow the seeds of Hope, Love, and Happiness
Through the gifts and tender thoughts that fill these days.

May Winter's ever-watchful eye
Gently guide you on your path this Year;
May your Holiday Season be blessed with Light,
Your Days overflowing with Peace and Good Cheer.

--Vicky :o)

Even the Squirrels Are Proud!

2008-11-09T18:43:00.004-05:00

I saw a cute photo taken by Dave Weaver on Yahoo's Photo Highlight Slideshow. The photo showed a squirrel standing next to a mini American flag. The photo was taken on November 6 in Omaha, just two days after the historic election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

As someone who has lived in another country (Canada) for the last seven years, I can identify with articles I read in which Americans who live in other countries said they were once again proud to say they were Americans after this election. Unfortunately, many of the policies that have been enacted during the last eight years have not resulted in Americans being warmly welcomed by other nations or their citizens. I have experienced some of that coldness and frustration even here in Canada.

The election of Barack Obama, the record numbers of voters, and the feeling that Hope has once again surfaced in America is a cause for joy not only in the United States but throughout the world. And, as Dave Weaver's photo illustrates, maybe even in the animal kingdom!

--Vicky :o)
P.S.The words on the photo were added by me.

"Patriotic Squirrel?"
© 2008 by AP Photo/Dave Weaver

October Ends: It's Raining (Reigning) Hope!

2008-11-05T12:29:00.019-05:00

NOTE: Read on to discover the meaning of this picture for Michel and me.

However, as I post this picture, I realize that it might also represent what many Americans are feeling today after electing Barack Obama as our new president.

Many of us have felt that as a nation we were standing on a precipice overlooking an abyss that offered darkness and contained who knew what. And yet Hope offered us a way out if we could just stick together and exercise the rights and privileges we have to make a difference. And we did!

It was a "dark and stormy" October for me!

First, there was the multitude of "anniversaries" in October: my late father's birthday, October 9; the anniversary of my nona's death, October 12; the anniversary of my mother's death, October 16; and the wedding anniversary of my parents, October 24.

Then, there was the fact that we had to face October without our special friend Félicia.

Finally, I continued to be in a lost-and-alone space, reeling from a situation with a close friend that shook me to the core of who I am and what I believed. The pain of that occurrence, which started on July 20, hurt my heart so much that I still could cry when talking about it in October.

But then something happened. We went to visit Québec City, our annual pilgrimmage of sorts, a place we go every year since we met in 2000. And something changed. I can't tell you how it changed or exactly when. I do know that on the evening of October 19, I was extremely low--so low that I actually thought, as I turned down the sheets in the hotel, that the time had come to seek professional help.

The next day, I was still sad and negative and--okay, let's use the overused word--depressed. We had a wonderful day: the weather was beautiful, even though cold; we explored places we had never gone before; we had coffee in a café where they roasted their own coffee beans and where lots of interesting people came; we shopped for winter clothes; we ate dinner in a different part of the city and experienced an invigorating walk back to the hotel. (The picture posted here I took that day.) But as I look back there was nothing that stands out as phenomenal, as something that would have caused a shift.

But something had shifted. I realized it that night (October 20) when Michel and I were once again talking about my friend and the situation that happened during the summer. The pain in my heart just wasn't there any more. There were no more tears. There was no anger or frustration or blame or loss. We were just talking and it was all okay.

The next morning, although I was very aware that the pain was gone, I still did not realize the monumental change that happened. That change blossomed day by day and it continues even now. How do I know? The pain and tears have not returned. Sounds, sights, and feelings seem new and fresh. I have moments of pure happiness and peace. And each day, I find reasons to be grateful and more in love with Life.

As I express my thanks to the Universe/God/Source, the words "Thank You" just don't seem grand or glorious enough to contain all the gratitude I feel for being granted this shift in perception! This shift is a Gift of Grace.

Because of my own self-involvement, I didn't realize that Michel also was dealing with a dark and gloomy October! He captured his (our) experience in a picture that he created using Photoshop. We both contributed to the final result that is shown above. (By the way, the picture uses the French spelling of October. )

As a new month and a new page in the history of America and the world begins, I wish you a November that rains (reigns) hope!

--Vicky :o)

"Octobre 2008"
Photo collage
© 2008 by Michel Pettigrew; www.mpgraphique.com

Québec City Photo
© 2008 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Dreaming Félicia

2008-10-06T05:47:00.005-04:00

Félicia would often sleep with us at night. The process went something like this. First, she would jump on the bed and make her way toward my chest. She would climb aboard and position herself just so. Then, she would purr and really immerse herself in the caresses she would insist I give her. Eventually, she would get off--by her own choice or by my persuasion--and position herself at the foot of the bed next to my feet. Sometimes in the middle of the night, I would shift in my sleep and feel this "rock" (she weighed over 20 pounds) at the end of the bed. ;o)

The night we said goodbye to Félicia I had a difficult time sleeping. So the next morning after Michel left for work, I went back to bed and I dreamt of Félicia.

In the dream, I am in bed sleeping, believing that it is October 1 and Félicia is gone. Then, I feel Félicia down at my feet, very carefully creeping near my feet as usual. Her creeping has awakened me and I realize it really is Félicia! I am amazed and ecstatic. I sit up in the bed and start talking with her excitedly. "Félicia, you're here! You're alive! You're all right!" I reach toward her to pet her and at some point she has jumped off the bed and is lying on her back and I see her tail stretched out. I am trying to play with her and pet her at the same time. She is being playful and stays just a bit out of my reach. I keep saying, "Félicia, you're all right!" I know that Michel is coming home around noon that day and can hardly wait to show him that she's alive.

When Michel does arrive home, I try to tell him and show him that Félicia is alive and there with us. He can't see her, so he doesn't believe me! To help him see her, I put a large star that is on a yellow and orange ribbon around her neck. This ribbon necklace is too long for her. The star is quite large and looks like a star you would see on a general's uniform. The ribbon and star remind me of the Olympic medals given to athletes. In the dream, I am hoping that Michel will at least see the ribbon necklace move even if he can't see Félicia. The dream ends there.

I have a Native American friend who once told me that when a loved one's spirit/soul departs, it usually takes about a year before he/she adjusts in the journey to the other side. When you dream of that person, it means that he/she is settled and ready to help you. I find it amazing that Félicia has already come to me in a dream. And, of course, I believe she was only doing what I asked--letting me know she was all right.

As we walked home from the vet that night, Michel said he visualized Félicia standing next to Yoda and the other Jedis from the Star Wars movies, luminescent and ready to be of assistance. I have posted a photo that he created to portray our little Jedi Master.

--Vicky :o)

Félicia's Leaf

2008-10-03T20:47:00.009-04:00

Félicia was an indoor cat all her life. In our previous apartment on the second-floor, she was able to go out on our balcony, but in this basement apartment, she was only able to see directly outside from the sun room. During Autumn, she would position herself on the large window sill and try to catch the falling leaves as they swirled and danced outside the window. On particularly windy days, she would go back and forth chasing the leaves--such a funny sight!

Félicia had stones that irritated her bladder. The pain she associated with peeing in the litter box would cause her to pee other places. One place she tried was the carpet in the sun room. We couldn't let her continue that behavior so we had to keep her out of that room. We were sad because we knew how much she loved looking at the birds, the squirrels, other cats that came by, and, of course, the leaves.

Imagine my surprise yesterday when I went into the sun room and saw this sight out of the window: a leaf suspended in mid-air as if by magic. Immediately, I went outside to take some pictures. I have posted one of them; I titled this photo "Félicia's Leaf." Ironically, when I tried to take a picture of the leaf from inside the sun room, the only place I could get a good shot was the sill where Félicia would usually lie to observe the world outside.

Michel came home early yesterday and was able to see the leaf and take some photos of it, too. A few hours later the leaf was gone. No trace of it remained. In the 3 years we have lived here, I have never seen a leaf suspended like that.

As Félicia was leaving her body, I asked her to let me know she was okay. The appearance of this leaf, the arrival of the parcel after I posted my last entry, and the presence of Félicia in a dream I had the morning of October 1, which I will recount on another day, all seemed to be her way of letting me know that she is just fine.

--Vicky :o)

Goodbye to a Special Friend!

2008-10-01T06:28:00.010-04:00

Last night we said goodbye to our cat Félicia. To honor her, I have posted her picture. This picture shows her love affair with boxes, no matter what size! She always loved when we got parcels in the mail. She would watch patiently as we removed our "treasures," waiting until we gave her what was left. Then, it was her turn to explore in as many ways as she could think of. :o)

I will write more about her in a future post.

"Cats come and go without ever leaving." --Martha Curtis

--Vicky

P.S. Today, several hours after I had posted this entry, we received a parcel in the mail. Perhaps Félicia was sending me a message? I like to think so. :o)

On Saying Goodbye and Letting Go...

2008-09-17T08:06:00.006-04:00

The poem posted here is one I wrote last month. This poem is just another step in a year long journey of examining and evaluating attachments--deciding which to keep and which to release.

Letting go is a difficult task, even when I know that it is the best course of action for my well being and spiritual growth. What might you need to let go of to create new vistas on your spiritual journey?

--Vicky :o)

How Do I say Goodbye?

How do I say goodbye?
When the time has come to leave,
When your path is no longer mine;
And I know now I must go
Or be forever deceived
By the brilliance that is you.
How do I say goodbye?

How do I say goodbye?
When I see that what you say
No longer agrees
With the Voice inside of me,
The One that guides my feet along this path
And knows exactly what I need.
How do I say goodbye?

Realize this:
I do not say—“You are wrong;”
That what you have is not the truth
Indeed it is The Truth for you.
But for me:
The way is clear and I must stand
In The Truth that governs my path, my Way,
And so I simply say . . .
Goodbye.

August 18, 2008
© 2008 Vicky Lynn Macchione

Whose boat is it anyway?

2008-09-08T05:06:00.013-04:00

"The more you let other people tell you how to sail your boat, the less the boat belongs to you." --Vernon Howard

This quote came "sailing" through my email Inbox on a day I truly needed it. And I have used it consistently ever since to remind myself that this life I am living is mine. While I can ask for advice and learn from the experiences of others, I am the final authority, expert, captain of the HMS Vicky. :o)

In my life, I have always put people, whether friends or actual authority figures, in a place of authority--they know more, they have experienced more, they are already perfect, fixed, or somehow more.

Hmmm...I think I see a common thread there--the word more. ;o) The minute someone or something is more in my viewpoint, it means that I am less. And when I am less, I am always needy, searching for that special something or someone able to fill that need. Of course, the reality is there is no need to fill! As someone so aptly put it: "You are the One you are searching for."

After a lot of years of giving my boat away, I am taking back control. It's not easy. There have been some perceived benefits to my allowing others to tell me how to sail my boat:

I don't have to think for myself or listen to my Higher Self.

There is always someone or something else to blame when things don't work out. (This perception is obviously not true since it was me who gave the "helm" to someone else!)

There is a measure of security in being in the same boat with someone else even if it's my boat and he/she is steering!

Ultimately, life is about responsibility. I can either accept that I am responsible for all my choices and decisions--even the ones I make by not making them, or I can go through my life blaming others because my life isn't working out the way I want. I have decided on the former perspective.

About the collage: I made this collage as the cover of a birthday card for the husband of one of my friends. Although I knew he loved the water and boats, I did not know that sailing was one of his most favorite activities.

--Vicky :o)

Birthday card collage
Created using scrapbooking accessories
and a shell from Santa Cruz, California
© 2008 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Trust Your Gut

2008-09-07T15:03:00.005-04:00

The other day when I posted, I was going to use the collage shown with this post. But for some reason--a gut feeling?--I didn't. ;o)

I thought about the collage today because my "gut" is bugging me. It started while I was chewing the last few bits of my organic pumpkin, flax seed cereal with organic soy milk. That last bite tasted like I had eaten cigarette and ash remains that can be found in an ashtray. Now, it's true I have never ever eaten cigarettes and ashes; but when I was young, I had to clean the ashtrays my parents used. For some reason, every time I did, I could taste the ashes. It was a sensation that filled my nose and my mouth! And that's what today reminded me of only the experience was reversed: I tasted the ashes more than smelled them.

I spent about 5 minutes spitting and spewing the remains out of my mouth, gargling, and rinsing my mouth out at least 10 times. At one point, I thought I might actually throw up. (My apologies to those of you with weak guts!) When I finished purging my mouth of the horrid tasting contents, I made note of the time in case I had been poisoned. I have this belief that if you are poisoned, it takes about 20 minutes for the symptoms to set in. (Perhaps the belief came from all the crime dramas I have watched and mysteries I have read!) In any case, I am fine other than my gut is still queasy, and if I think about it, I can still taste and smell those "cigarette remains."

So now the task before me is to determine what exactly is my gut trying to tell me with such a pronounced, multi-sensory experience. After all, in order to TRUST my gut, I have to KNOW what it is saying.

--Vicky :o)

The Summer of Difference

2008-09-02T15:34:00.008-04:00

I have not posted much at all this summer. This summer has been a summer of difference: The weather has been unusual--more rain and less warm days. The status quo has shifted often--friendships drawing to a close. Letting go has been the theme. Every time I felt like I had found a place of consistency and regularity and security, some situation would arise that upset that complacent feeling and pointed to another belief, idea, opinion that needed to be released.

There has been no resting place this summer. Either I have had times of excitement because I knew that transformation was imminent or times of disillusionment, when things I believed came in conflict with those beliefs held by my circle of friends and it was necessary to say goodbye--at least for a season.

And now Autumn is just around the corner. Hope swells in me for this new season, the season of harvest. Will I be gathering the seeds of commencement? Will the Autumn sun with its unique warmth and light bring a glowing promise of new way of seeing, perceiving, and embracing Life? I await what unfolds.

--Vicky :o)

"I am through with everything but you." --Rumi

Wordle--Take 2 ;o)

2008-08-28T22:09:00.001-04:00

Here is my second attempt at making a word collage ("word cloud") using the online "toy" found on the Wordle site. People use all types of words--from song lyrics to birthday wishes. In this attempt, I gave Wordle my blog URL and let the tool come up with a word cloud. You can see other people's endeavors by checking out the Wordle Gallery. Time to play! --Vicky :o)

Abstract #3 Emerges!

2008-04-04T16:28:00.005-04:00

This morning I finished my third abstract on canvas. The title of this one is "Emergence." I feel like the three abstracts show a progression of growth, change, and transformation.

First, we teem (team) with Life;
Then, we journey to and through the black hole of infinite possibilities;
Finally, we emerge.

I really thought I was going to have to paint over the whole painting because I just couldn't get it right (whatever right is). I kept adding and changing. I was getting very frustrated! Finally, I was able to let go and just leave it as it is. Now, I am mostly pleased with the results.

Someone once said about my collages that they show how much is going on in my mind, they show too many thoughts. Perhaps that's what my abstracts say as well. However, the one thing I love about my collages is that an observer can find something new in them every time they are viewed. I hope that happens with my abstracts, too.

--Vicky :o)

"Emergence"
Acrylics on canvas

Abstract #2 on Canvas

2008-04-03T13:18:00.010-04:00

I call this abstract "The Black Hole of Infinite Possibilities."

While doing this painting (and my next as well), I don't know when to stop! (Hmmm...Wonder what that means?) So I keep adding paint, and then it feels like a mistake. Then, I have to figure out how to salvage the painting! I'm sure there is a metaphor for my life in that experience.

I was surprised when Michel told me that he liked the black in this painting, even though he said he doesn't really like when I put black. I find that the black adds some kind of depth and development and contrast to this particular abstract. And, of course, the black swirl IS the black hole mentioned in the title.

One element Michel doesn't like is the swirl of paints I use. I love the swirls; they remind me of gratitude because they remind me of the Go Gratitude logo (shown below):

Expressing gratitude is something I need to remind myself to do often, which is why I put them in my paintings! Also, swirls always remind me of space and galaxies and awesome wonders of the Universe. So captured in a swirl is thankfulness and limitless creativity. Not bad for a twist of color!

--Vicky ;o)

"The Black Hole of Infinite Possibilities"
Acrylics on Canvas

A Title for Abstract #1

2008-04-03T12:45:00.006-04:00

Today I finished my second abstract on canvas, which I will be posting later. But an interesting thing happened when I was writing the title on the back of the painting: I got a title for the first abstract I did. You can see my first abstract here.

Drum roll please!

The title is "Teeming with Life." What is even more special about the title is that the word teeming is a homophone of the word "teaming." So the abstract has two meanings! (I LOVE when that happens!) Not only does the painting capture the feeling of Life's wild abundance and overflowing vibrancy--the teemingness of Life, but it also has a message: Join Life's team and embrace that wild abundance and overflowing vibrancy moment by moment in your own life!

--Vicky :o)

P.S.A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but has a different spelling and meaning. I always thought those were homonyms but Wikipedia corrected me today!

The Eyes of Spring

2008-03-27T13:03:00.007-04:00

I created this mask for a young woman who works at the café to which I go almost daily. Her birthday is tomorrow and she will be 21 year old.

I titled the mask "The Eyes of Spring." There are so many eyes on the mask! I am particularly drawn to the girl on the forehead. That image captures qualities that I see in the woman at the café--fragility and gentleness coupled with determination and intensity.

I am not sure why I created a mask, but I love the fact that there are so many images of Spring--apple blossoms, grass, daffodils. There is a "knowingness" reflected in all of the "eyes." Something that promises new life and new hope even when the cold and barrenness of winter does not seem to want to release its hold on our hearts and our perspectives.

The Eyes of Spring know.

--Vicky :o)

"The Eyes of Spring"

Collaged Mask

Abstract #2 -- The Promise of Spring

2008-03-24T12:08:00.005-04:00

Yesterday (Easter), I painted this abstract. It's the size of one of my collage cards. Originally, I thought I would use it as a background for a collage. But when I finished, I just loved it so much that I decided to keep it as is.

I have titled the painting, "Spring's Promise." To me it has the feel of flowers bursting, of Life emerging from winter's darkness, of newness, growth, and abundance.

I have been longing for Spring this year more than usual because the winter in Montréal has been quite long. We have come close to a snowfall record that was set back in 1971 (383 cm is the record). How very appropriate is this little abstract painting: a reminder to me that Spring always follows winter and the promise of new life awaits to burst forth!

Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

--Vicky :o)

Spring's Promise
© 2008 Vicky Lynn Macchione