WHAAAT? ThreeYears Gone...

Where to even begin. So many days - so much fun - lots of work and ART, ART, ART.

In these past three years I have been super occupied with making inventory for two shops organized and run by the Regional Artisans Association (RAA) - over one hundred artists in the Santa Cruz/Monterey area of CA staffed almost exclusively by volunteers maintaining shops open on a daily basis with lots of special events and opportunities for all artists. I couldn't be prouder of my association with this group and high praise for the insight, determination, grit, and perserverence of the two founding women - want more info - message me or check out http://www.regionalartisansassociation.org/

In three years my family has grown and I've aged - still have my MS under control - more or less not counting a few sprains, lacerations and bruises -do ya' think a regular gym schedule might help with the balance? - Give up my Art-Time? hard decisions.

My first great-grand baby girl ( adding to my 6 grandchildren) turned three and has amazed us with her humor, talents, wisdom, and personality. Along comers great-grand# 2 a bouncing baby boy - and I do mean bouncing. At 18 months he's unstoppable and adorable.

It is with all this love and support by my family both in Ca and NC that I have unlimited joy which I translate into art. As I've described myself before - I am an 'experimenter" - I simply must try every possible tool, medium, idea, trending whatever and give it my own interpretations. Just as not all Art is A+ or even just an A - experiments can be real flops but I always seem to be able to learn from them and often find ways to turn" a pig's ear into a silk purse".

My new self-taught skills in graphics art, photoshop, networking, marketing, and retail have certainly kept me busy. Here in FAA you don't see the hundreds of different creations in I make in jewelry, greeting cards, coloring books, as well as handmade books and artbooks. My membership in the BayAreaBookArts , BABA, has provided me with mentors and fellow bookmakers to encourage me as I explore this artform. Have to say I'm loving it!

I have been privileged to have been published in the Somerset publications of The Coloring Studio three times and awaiting the newest to release in September. For those fellow-tanglers in the zentangle world - hundreds of my tangles, tiles, and designs have led to a featured article in the June release from Cloth,Paper,Scissors - a ZenDoodles publication with my zentangled Japanese Cranes. Internet friends from all over the world know me for my cranes, especially my Peace crane, as I've mailed hundreds as gifts of Random Kindness over the years.

Still working and commuting to my beloved Peabody Gallery in Menlo Park, Ca on a bit more limited schedule but love being surrounded by the art of so many inspirational and fun artists - Dr. Seuss and Tom Everhart and the Peanuts Gang.

Time to go play in my studio - have some new paper treatments for book pages to try out - I've finished my designs for some new jewelry - just waiting for items to be printed. My sweet Evelyn Rose, now six, will be spending some art time with me this summer so am making plans for our projects.

Hope its not another three years before I get back here for a chat. Send me some messages if you're curious about what I'm doing. Namaste, ruth

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