Friday, July 22, 2011

Writings and Websites

Yesterday evening when I checked my mail I found a copy of "Talking Stick -Native Arts Quarterly" with a story written by me over ten years ago. The story is even on-line - if you go to this website  http://amerinda.org/main.html and then click on the Talking Stick issue Volume 14.3 you will find my picture and the link to This Time It Will be Different.
I really enjoyed writing that story. While living in Penticton, BC I walked most of the time but once in a while I'd ride the bus to the other part of town for shopping and different people on the streets sparked my imagination. I started writing up character descriptions and drafting some stories. Lately I'd been thinking of that story and when Mary Jo asked if I had anything to submit I found it in my files and polished it up. I'm now more encouraged to get back to my writing and one story in particular is calling to me. 
I haven't heard any more about the book that I just finished illustrating. I'm like a new writer in that I sent the book to the publisher yesterday and I want the acceptance letter tomorrow. I know it doesn't work that way. It is just that I am also now planning the illustrations for another story and I'm quite excited about it. My friend Marky sent me a story - an Iroquois story that her mother wrote down or handed down and Marky and I talked about me doing some illustrations for it. It means putting aside the little spirit dolls for a bit and concentrating on the illustrations. This time I may give you sneak peaks.
In the mean time check out the story in Talking Stick on-line and let me know what you think.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Time Flies

Today is Saturday and I'm resting at home. Well, not really resting as my friend Diane might view it but as I view it. My friend Diane has a little poodle named Tash and for her, resting is sitting outside under the trees having a cigarette and holding Tash or not. Sometimes Tash just sits on the lap of someone else - because she can. My resting is not driving anyone anywhere and not going anywhere for at least an hour. My resting consists of doing my bead work and/or reading or even playing Freecell on the computer.
I've finished the Turquoise doll and for now that is the last one I'll do. Maybe later on, if someone wants one, I'll do another. I'd like to now finish the one wall hanging I've been working on and start the pictures for the children's book that I'm about to do. We'll see how that turns out.
So for today after four days of driving I'm sitting in my apartment - beading/resting/reading and watching Perry Mason. Have a good one.

Monday, July 4, 2011

A New Anthology

A new anthology is coming out in late summer early fall called Somebody's Child and it is about adoption. I have a story in that anthology about my giving my son up for adoption. It was a painful time but the story is written from a more healed perspective because Mike and I reunited when he was 30 and that is all that I will say about that. It is a good book full of stories from children who were adopted out.

I finished making the cape for the Turquoise Woman Doll. Here she is and compared to Butterfly Woman she is light and airy with movement showing in her cape or shawl. Butterfly Woman was made months ago. She represents an older woman - standing and watching the children dancing. She has been to a few shows and to the conference that I went to in Niagara Falls but she hasn't sold. I guess she wanted to stay around and wait for Turquoise Woman. I really enjoy making these stump dolls but now I'm going to make something different - and I'm also exploring ideas of another children's book. I'm not sure if there will be another stump doll but I am considering it - maybe a different version. If you look to the side of the blog you will see pictures of my art. When you watch the carousel you will see two birds - those are also made in the stump doll style. I may make a few more of those. We shall see what comes up because there are so many ideas running around in my head. Back to work - till next time.