the Sketchbook Project

Okay, I am gathering my supplies, distressing my sketchbook and getting the inpsirations in order.  Today I will share the distressing of the pages. Personally I like the look of distressed paper, the aged, the torn, a bit of history.  So with this in mind I decided it would be loads of fun to pretend I was working on an old book-alas distressed pages.  I tea stained the pages, used brown inks, crupled some edges, and then dunked the whole thing in a tea bath then dried it out.  Phew, I am glad I didn't ruin it. Here it is if you are interested...How do you distress paper? PS To find out more about The Sketch book Project go to the link at the bottom of the page and click on it and it will take you there......

What Inspires You?

These "What inspires you?" posts are meant to get your creative brain clicking,and forming connections...Thats what they do for me anyway.  I am trying to come up with my theme for the scetchbook project..... so when I am trying to come up with a theme I search for inspiriations.  So these posts are a way of sort of showing you how I work..that is if you are interested.  I am always interested in what other artists look at , and where they find inspiration. What sparks your creative juices, what lights your fire...SO here are some vintage images that sparked my creative fire today as I go off into the studio to work on some collages for The Sketchbook Project..To learn more about the project scroll to the bottom of the page I have a link. Happy creating.....oh and by the way does anyone have any good books on artists creative inspriations they want to recommend?

What inspires you?

The craziest things will get my mind roving in new directions. Just take these pictures for example.  It is oil stains on concrete, but I see chinese calligraphy, modern art drip paintings, wall paper, banners, graphic tea staining, and wrapping paper....What do you see?  Look at other inspirations of artists, try out Lving the creative life,

art studios..... the way I work

I love my art studio, it is my reverie.  I am sure many of your have your own special places to create.  But creating can be a messy business. I don't know about you but I feel my studio is an organized mess. I have set it up in creative clusters.  I have a space for shipping, a place for boxes, a place for paints, for jewelry work, for soldering, for hammering, sculpture materials...So if you are interested here are some various shots of my creative clusters...here are some fun art studio books I love to read too.

Donkeys going to school? Only in far west Texas....

Ps a bit of a funny for you-true story.




We are driving to school on our bumpy dirt road and what do we see ahead but a guy running down the dirt road with his arms flailing up in the air, screaming for floppy, rose, and dusty….We stop and ask what up and he states he is missing his donkeys? Donkeys you say? We say we will look for them and to my amazement up ahead are three donkeys jogging down the dirt road with the man chsing them and now the police chasing them. What a site to wake up to in the am…you won’t see that in North Carolina…donkeys on the run…..xoMarie

oh the treasures you will find....

okay, when jaunting around New York's east end, you must stop by Antiques in Bridge Hampton.  One of my favorite spots, full of vintage, antique, southwestern treasures.  Take a peek for yourself. I even enclosed Barbaras card....

I just happen to love Ralph Lauren!

I was in East hampton over the last week, and Ralph Lauren just does it right.  The looks, the fabrics, the display....everything is just so yummy., and inspirational for me.  Here are some photos that I took, and some that I gathered from the web to share...You will see what I mean....

The Rio Grande River...Big Bend, Texas....

The Rio Grande a Wild and Scenic River


The Rio Grande, in Mexico known as the Rio Bravo del Norte- the great river, or the rugged river of the North, is described by the National Park Service as” a relentless gravity powered belt sander that has been running for millions of years”, has been designated by congress a” Wild and Scenic River.” The second largest river in the US, the Rio Grande rises near the continental divide in southwestern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and flows 1900 miles to the gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande is a symbol of the rugged landscapes of the southwest. It is the inspiration behind many a lore, and folktale of the west. Pecos Bill, a Texas legend has more times than not had adventures along the Rio Grande. Speaking of inspiration, the Rio Grande was one of the settings for the epic film “Giant” starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean.



For 1248 miles, the river winds and curves along the border of the US and Mexico. For much of that distance it follows a southeast course, but along the Chisos Mountains it begins its long bend to the northeast before it turns southeast again. This bend as it is known here is the elbow of the Big Bend signifying the wide open rugged spaces, wildly independent and creative people, and don’t forget our Hot Hot Chili cook off.



Legend has it that there were a group of Native Americans before the Jumanos, and maybe even the Jumanos themselves that lived in the rock cliff caves along the river even before Cabeza de Vaca explored this untamed area. The Rio Grande was also the stomping grounds and home of the Comanche’s, and they traveled beside and through the river. Keep your eyes peeled for the Comanche trails.



There is always an adventure waiting to happen in the Big Bend especially along the river. Make sure you keep your eyes open and your senses in full gear or you just might miss that rare peregrine falcon or red tailed hawk soaring above, or you might miss the catfish roll just beneath your paddle as you pass beneath the cliff swallow nests above you in the canyon.



Much of the volume of the water of the big bend comes from the Rio Conchos which enters the Rio Grande from Mexico. Typically speaking we are blessed with a few releases a year from the Rio Conchos and those typically happen in the fall, and at times in the spring. If you are lucky to catch a release you will be rafting down the Rio Grande. But don’t let the releases stop you from enjoying a river trip. The outfitters here run rain or shine, with lots of water to droplets. When the water is five feet and above you can be sure to raft Santa Elena canyon, if it is 3-5 feet you can raft Colorado canyon, and if it is below 3 feet you will canoe the Santa Elena canyon. So any way you have it you can get on the water. But be sure to call the outfitters early as space books up quickly. The outfitters in the Big Bend are: Far Flung Outdoor Center 1-800-839-7238, 432-371-2346; Desert Sports 1-888-989-6900, or 432-371-2727, and Big Bend River Tours-1-800-545-4240, or 432 371-3033. Look forward to seeing you for an adventure on the wild and scenic Rio Grande River in the Big Bend!

Okay so I am a goof ball...Had to get a chance to row...

a desert hike, found treasures.... then on to the Big Bend

the treasures of the desert.......

Hiking in the desert, and finding bone treasures......

                          beauty...the Chisos basin....Big Bend national Park..Terlingua Texas..

The sketchbook Project....

This looks like so much fun..I had to start work on it right away.  You buy a sketchbook, and pick a theme...then start working...every day..little turtle steps...and wha la  a beautiful sketchbook that you will send to them no later than January 15th.  It will then tour the US and land at the Brooklyn art library. But don't let me be the one to tell you..check it our for yourself.  I'll post as I work on the sketchbook..just so you can be a part.. I will tell you my theme once I get it started-or maybe I will make you guess.....xo

Pattern in Nature

As I was walking today I noticed patterns everywhere.  And like I told you before my walks are always an inspiration.  So today I was thinking about pattern and how it can inspire your layouts, designs,stencils, jewelery...just about everything.  Now, if I had or could figure out a way to draw here I would show you how these patterns I took pictures of today inspired some designs...but that will have to come in time...when I can find a device that allows you to do that.  For now I hope these pattern photos will inspire some new designs from you.  Have a great and inspiring day.