Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Sea Glass Jewelry Display




I had this empty frame sitting on the floor on top of my painters canvas and really liked the paint spills behind it. So I cut a piece of the canvas out and painted some of the earring colors with it and here is the outcome. I'll use this for the "Happy Hour Sea Glass" show I'm having at my house in a couple of weeks and then at the Sea Glass Festival in Santa Cruz in October. Can't believe how fast that is coming up. Lots to do to get ready. I guess time flies when you're having fun! :)

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Kitties Eat Mouse



These sweet things can cause havoc with a computer. I couldn't figure out why my mouse stopped working on my computer at home. I banged my mouse up and down trying to get it to work. I grabbed the cord and jiggled it. Then I felt it, kitty bite marks in the mouse cord! Looks like I'll have to replace it. It only works half the time. If I hold the cord at just the right angle it works great, but can be awkward for typing. I don't know which is worse, replacing the mouse or trying to wash blue paint off the kitties paws after they walked across one of my paintings. Good thing they bring me lots of joy.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Cowell Ranch Beach, Half Moon Bay







Today we took a walk on this fabulous beach. It's a bit of a hike to get there, but so worth the effort. We collected some tiny pebbles of sea glass. They are tiny jewels. The finish on the sea glass here is different than other beaches, highly polished and smooth instead of a rough patina. Usually you only find tiny ones there this time of year. We also saw a sea lion in the surf real near the beach. She followed us all the way from one end of the beach to the other. If we'd stop, she'd stop. If we walked the other direction, she followed us. I've never seen anything like it. She was watching us the whole time. Amazing! I think we were down there for about three hours. Finally had to leave because we were hungry. But I collected sea glass, driftwood, took photos and played with a sea lion!

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Sea Glass Paintings






My sea glass paintings are done in acrylic and I've added real sea glass to them. I'm inspired by the beautiful colors of sea glass. I am also obsessed with sea glass hunting!

Zen Painting





This is a collage I did for my daughter's room. She gave me a general idea of colors and items she wanted in it. Should finish the frame for it tonight and have it hung up. It's done in acrylic, paper and resin tiles.

Dragonflies





This is a collage I just finished for my bedroom. It incorporates photos printed on canvas, acrylics, stamps and paper. I just finished putting the frame together last night. Ok my husband and I finished the frame last night and hung it up. I needed something to go with my new furniture and bedspread.

Friday, August 17, 2007

Creating Yourself

Life isn't about finding yourself.
Life is about creating yourself.
-George Bernard Shaw

How do you create yourself?
Start with what you love. Find that thing that makes you forget what time it is, that thing that makes you so lost in thought you don't realize it's dark out already.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Paradise

You can’t always live in paradise,
the poetry was written in the sand,
“Close your eyes, shout to the wind.
This is paradise!”
Around she turned, the sand still there.

The fresh ocean breeze,
the sweet smell of sage,
the sun beating down
warming her skin.
The waves breaking,
the sea glass shining in the sand.

In between the waves crashing
She hears the sea let out a mournful wail
an ancient sadness,
or just the fishing boat beyond her gaze?

Crashing waves to trickling water
and sizzling foam,
mournful echoes to deadly silence,
The sound of the sea, seagulls cry
as ancient pelicans fly by.

The spray of water on her face
The smell of the sea; salty, musky, old.
Did you hear it? The cry of some old sailor,
lost at sea. His love forever held on the ocean floor.
Now a grain of sand, his wait the echo in the waves.

Kim Ritner