Day 75 ~ Frida

Frida Kahlo is one of my favorite artists, so I decided to honor her memory by creating a special Frida butterfly. I used paper clay, which is air drying and great stuff to work with. It ended up reminding me of the clay figurines they sell in Mexico. I made her wings out of chili peppers, and when I picked her up I realized that they rattle!

Day 74 ~ Spring Cleaning

It's past midnight and I am in the middle of a spring cleaning binge. There's nothing like it to get the energy and ideas flowing in new directions. There's a feng shui concept that says if you move 27 things in your home, you can change your life and raise your energy levels significantly. (I know it sounds like new age hooey, but it really works!) Keep a notepad nearby after doing this exercise and you wont believe how many new ideas will flow into your mind!
I made this butterfly using a feng shui bagua. If you are interested in learning more about feng shui, check out my friend Vicky's website: http://www.lifedesignstrategies.com/about.html

Day 73: Holland ~ Fly Me Away!

Today's "butterfly" is a bit of a stretch, I know. It's a tulip I painted for an art contest to win a trip to Amsterdam. (I tried to make the leaves look like wings!) Below is the contest description:

The Keukenhof, KLM, and Netherlands Board of Tourism are celebrating the season by sending one lucky fan to the very exclusive VIP opening day at Keukenhof as well as the opening of the Blossom exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

PS: I get to take a friend! Who wants to go to Amsterdam with me?

Day 72 ~ Fungai

I heard from my friend Mark today, which is always a pleasure. We've known each other for 20 years now. He's always known how to make me laugh, which is such a gift! We often end up talking about the joys of collecting wild edible mushrooms, so I made him into a "fungai!"

Day 71 ~ The Divine Miss M

I watched an interesting art documentary about a guy who spent almost 10 years of his life, full-time, working on a pencil drawing of Marilyn Monroe. The movie is called "Waiting for Hockney," and it has a good message about passion and going for your dreams.
This Marilyn only took me about 10 minutes! I decided to color her using makeup only, which was really quite fun and different! I rarely wear the stuff, but I'm glad I didn't throw it away.
Sometimes I wonder what kind of old people Marilyn, Elvis and James Dean would have been if they were still alive...
I think Marilyn would still be beautiful. Her beauty came from the inside and radiated outward, despite all her troubles. Her beauty was there, with or without makeup. But we're used to seeing her with makeup, and I sure had fun making her up!

Day 70 ~ GMA

This butterfly is in memory of my grandma. We shared a love/hate relationship for the majority of my life. She was always trying to change me. I wonder how much of who I am is based on rejection of her opinions of me. Fighting with her made me strong, resilient, and self-reliant. It’s good to know that there is always a gift within every difficult relationship…the sand that makes the pearl.

The butterflies I used are copies of real butterflies that my grandparents collected on a trip to South America before I was born. As a child, these butterflies were always the very first thing I was drawn to in their room. I never would have dreamed then that someday I would be creating a butterfly a day for a year!

Day 69 ~ Mother T

I heard from my friend in India today. Whenever I think of India, I think Of Mother Teresa and the many works of love she performed there. I have another friend here in California who got a chance to meet her when he was in India. He said he instantly felt he was interacting with greatness; that she beamed with love and approachability.
I love her philosophy on small acts of warmth and kindness that we can all do easily. Something as simple as smiling and looking into someone's eyes can change the course of a day or even a life. "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." ~Mother Teresa
I send you a smile from my heart to yours.
Pass it on...

Day 68 ~ Lady Di

My good friend Bill sent me an invitation to the royal wedding!
This of course got me thinking about Lady Di....
Remember her wedding? What a remarkable person she was. It's so sad that she wont be there for Prince William's big day. (But thanks to my friend Bill, I'll be there!) It should be quite the party! I'll save you a piece of wedding cake...

Day 67 ~ Jozette

I am very blessed to be mentor to the beautiful and talented Jozette. Two nights ago she gave an amazing presentation about self love. I have learned about grace and courage from Jozette: the power of being scared but doing it anyway. She has a lot of heart, and I feel grateful to be a part of her life!

Day 66 ~ Yia Yia

This is Yia Yia, my best friend Sonya's mother-in-law. She is originally from Greece, and she just moved back there this week to live with her sister who is ailing. I made this for Sonya and her family, because I know they really miss their Yia Yia. I love this photo so much. Every time I see it, it makes me smile. You can see the joy in her heart.

Day 65 ~ Lady Day

This is my tribute to Billie Holiday. I listened to "Lady in Satin" while I wrapped her in black satin, feathers and pearls. Tre' elegant, no?

Day 64 ~ Raindrops keep fallin' on my head

It's been raining a lot here the past few days! I decided to do something different, so I made a diorama out of a to-go box. The scene is of a 4 year old me with an umbrella. I made rain out of strands of clear beads. I like this photo because it sort of reminds me of a "Hummel" figurine. See what I mean?

Day 63 ~ Little Boy Blue

Today’s butterfly is my dear friend Bill’s grandson: Corben. I must admit, I sort of have a case of the blues today. There was a part of me wishing for a Valentine yesterday. I sent out several, but never got one in return. So today I feel kinda like Charlie Brown. I know, I know, I said I was my own Valentine and all that. And yeah, I still love myself…but it gets lonely sometimes.

Anyway, it’s hard to feel blue when I gaze at the undeniable cuteness of Corben.

And it’s hard to feel blue when I think of how blessed I am to have a friend like Bill!

PS: I almost forgot to mention that I am Corben’s fairy god aunt! Yet another reason not to feel blue! Yahoo!

Day 62 ~ I'm My Valentine

I'm my Valentine
And that's mighty fine!
I toast myself
With a glass of wine.
I'm my own best friend,
And dig my company
There's no one else
On this earth like me!
I'll love myself
'Til the end of time.
I love myself
It aint no crime!
I say I love me
Every single day.
It keeps the bad dreams
And the doctors away.
It fills me up
So I can love far and wide.
I'm a new person,
The old me died...
I finally "get it"
'Tho I can't explain.
We all have to travel
Our own rocky terrain,
To get to this point
Where we're on our own side,
And finally sit back
Enjoying the ride.
Row row row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily.
Life is but a dream.

Day 61 ~ Queen of Hearts

I was trying to think of a Valentinesy butterfly for today, and my eyes settled on a deck of cards. Hence: The Queen of Hearts.
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day people. Spread the love around. And don't forget to love yourself! ;)
PS: i love you. xoxo

Day 60 ~ Rainbow Rob the Lovebug

Today's butterfly is a collaboration between me and my fabulous friend from Ireland: Rob O'Shea. He's very loving, encouraging and enthusiastic, so I made him into a lovebug. And he's crazy about rainbows, so I gave him rainbow wings.
Rob is a gifted photographer and dancer. Check out his blog here: http://joycomet.blogspot.com/

Day 59 ~ Patty in Pink

This butterfly is a collaboration between me and my dear friend, Pat. She created the beautiful pink wings, and I made the rest. She looks more like an angel than a butterfly, which is wonderfully in keeping with who she is: an earth angel. I have her holding a heart to illustrate the love that she shares freely everyday with many. I've never known a more generous soul. She is a powerful source of love to all who know her, and I feel blessed everyday to have her as my friend. Friend isn't even a strong enough word. She is part of my family of choice.

Day 58 ~ Pennies for my thoughts

I know, I know...
This is another weird one.
I was on the brain games site doing my daily workout, and I noticed that the brain is sort of shaped like a butterfly wing. (I'm seeing them everywhere!) So I did a drawing of the brain, and then in each little squiggle I wrote something that was on my mind. Then I went through and color-coded them according to what kind of thoughts they were. It was a creative and illuminating exercise, although not the best looking butterfly. Sez la vie!
Coming up with a butterfly everyday is a challenge. I'll just warn you now: there's probably going to be plenty more weird ones where this one came from. (my colorful but askew little brain! heehee!) Here's what I think: when you have the guts to share your art, even your weird art, something magical happens. You stop caring so much about what other people think. And you help others step out with their unique expressions too.
So share your weirdness with the world! We need more magic!

Day 57 ~ Buttonfly

I love to sew. It's very meditative. So this one was fun to create, at least until I sewed it to my pajama bottoms by accident!

Day 56 ~ Footerfly

The weather has been so nice here for the past week that I can go barefoot! This made me think of the"This Little Piggie" song that we sing to kids and their toes, so I put a piggie in the center. I know, it's weird...But the imagination travels to strange and fanciful places, and comes home with unique souvenirs. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Day 55 ~ B'ZAR

Today's butterfly was inspired by a Soft Cell record album I got for a buck. Remember the song "Tainted Love"? That was them. When I saw this album, I was transported back to 1985. My friend Phillip worked at B'ZAR, which was like the Studio 54 of East Lansing, Michigan. He was the number one bartender and dancer, so we all got in for free. He would arrange music video style choreography that left the crowds mesmerized. He was like a Rock Star, our Pip. I should look him up.

Day 54 ~ Kai-fly!

While my friend Marney's foot heals from surgery, I thought that I would cheer her up with a butterfly of her favorite little man: her 2 year old son Kai. He was born in Hawaii and named for the ocean. He loves ocean creatures, so I gave him Octopus Garden wings! I colored them with crayon, using my least dominant hand, which is a way to access your inner child. While coloring, I listened to the first album I ever owned: The Beatles Abbey Road, and of course: Octopus Garden!
Kai is dancing in this photo. I am including a link to the song Marney, so he can cheer you up with a little jig! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pQCwtVpXso

Day 53 ~ Recharge

I find that I am very sensitive to chaos and the pace of the world today. On the first Sunday of every month, I do my own little retreat. I turn off the phone, tv and computer and I do a juice fast. It's amazing the ideas that come when I disconnect from all the technology and reconnect to my spirit.

Day 52 ~ Infinite Hope

I have been trying to come up with a solution for the days when I don't feel like making a butterfly. I feel proud that I have been at this for over 50 days in a row now. Sometimes I sorta feel like quitting, but I am determined to continue! I decided that I could make use of quotes that I like and cut butterflies from nice paper to keep it really simple sometimes. This is handmade paper with flowers and leaves in it. On the back, I wrote this quote:

"We must accept finit disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Day 51 ~ Anne Marie Karlsen

Today's butterfly was inspired by stained glass artist Anne Marie Karlsen.

Day 50 ~ Aloha Dreams

I have a long-standing dream of visiting the islands of Hawaii. Even better, I dream of going there in celebration of writing my first book. I recently took part in a Mystery Mentor project through Artellaland, and I received a wonderful care package from my Mystery Mentor yesterday. She created this postcard that was so perfect for me! (see photos below of her creation) When I look at it, I am reminded to keep reaching for my dreams.

I decided to turn today’s butterfly into a collaborative piece between me and my Mystery Mentor. I used the hula girl she created of me, and then I made wings out of pictures from a Hawaiian travel magazine. One wing is Hawaii’s surfing Mecca: The Pipeline. The other wing is the volcanic lava flows, which I have always been fascinated by.

I want to take a moment to thank my Mystery Mentor. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. Thank you for your kindness and compassion. Thank you for seeing me with believing eyes.

Here is the postcard she created for me:

Most people who know me well know that I LOVE Tom Waits. My Mystery Mentor found a way to work old Tom into the postcard too. He's saying: "Pardon me Ma'm...Your book is awesome! May I have your autograph?" I love the bird on his hat, don't you?

Day 49 ~ Paula Swenson

Today I had the distinct pleasure of working with Paula Swenson, who is the assistant to Marney Makridakis of Artellaland. We had a nice chat, and I was fascinated by the life she lives. She and her husband sold everything and have been traveling the world teaching English as a second language. They are currently in the Czech Republic, and their next assignment will be in Italy! What a life! I would love to do something like that someday!

Day 48 ~ SARK!

Since the winter session of Sark's Dream Boogie began on Feb.1st, I thought that I would honor Sark with a butterfly. I finger painted the wings, and had an absolute blast doing so! That kind of joyful, childlike creativity is so much a part of the spirit of Sark. The photo of her was taken at a workshop I attended a few years ago. At that same workshop, Sark made us name tags with tie- died ribbon. I used a bit of that ribbon to create her antennae for this butterfly.
Words can't begin to express my gratitude to Sark (AKA: Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy.) I've learned so much from her books, classes and work shops, and if I had to encapsulate and concentrate the most important lessons, I would have to say that she gave me the courage to experiment boldly with creativity in all areas of my life. I am considered to be a bit of an "odd duck" and "a black sheep." In the past I felt unacceptable, but now I wear these quirky titles like badges of honor and fly my freak flag with pride!

On the back of the butterfly I wrote one of my favorite Sark quotes:
"You are seen. You are known. You are loved!"