Special Days and Everydays....

Oh, I've had so many fabulous happenings over the last few weeks. Some happenings were unique and some were simple.

Where to start? Well, I think I'll start in chronological order, how's that?

I had a re-connection with a neighbor from my childhood...



Thanks to Facebook, I was able to "find" Betty. Betty was one of the neighborhood moms on the little street where I grew up. Much like a second mom to me. She and my mom were good friends as well. Oh how I've searched for Betty through the years. Three days before my mom passed away last summer, she said to me ~ "I sure wish you could find Betty. She needs to know about me." I promised my mom I would find her. Unfortunately, I didn't find Betty in time. I didn't find her before my mom passed away. But...I DID find her. Oh what fun we had together...



Betty is a fabulous woman, filled with spirit and life. We will meet again, very soon.

Another Facebook reunion...I am working on a very special watercolor/collage right now. The vintage photo that the piece is based around came from an old friend from High School. (We reconnected on Facebook). He's Indian...from the Karuk Tribe in Northern California (along the Klamath River). This beautiful old photo depicts his Grandmother and Great Grandmother and was taken sometime between 1918 and 1922...



He has graciously granted me permission to use this piece in my work. Such a beautiful photo.

(PLEASE forgive the over the top watermarkings, but I've had a terrible run of image theft on my blog lately).

I adore my simple Everydays. The bits and pieces that hold memories and smells and beauty. My Plum tree is in full bloom and smells Heavenly...



Gary and I planted this tree before my "Great Depression of 2008." The Plums have a deep, dark purple flesh and they taste like pure magic.

Last week, we put up our Spring decorations. (I like to use the term Spring decorations, because I keep the Spring celebration separate from Easter). I adore the freshness and new hope of Spring...





Just about now...I am looking forward to decorating our Spring eggs. Each year we try something new. Last year, we used Bubble Wrap to create some unusual designs...



Oh...and last week, I actually took a fairly good picture of myself à la "Myspace"...



Gary and I always giggle when we try to take our own photos like the "teenagers" do. The young folks on Myspace have this way with taking photos of themselves. I always feel like the biggest goof when I smile into a camera and no one else is in the room with me!

And...yet another Facebook meeting. Oh, and I'll just give you a little peek into this special day, as I will do a post all about it very soon, but...

Severals years ago, I was selling art on eBay and I participated in many art groups through eBay. One of my eBay artist friends (Shell) became my Facebook friend...



We realized that, not only did we have many things in common, we even shared a friend outside of our art world. We discovered that we live close together AND that we grew up close together. Back in my doll making days, she even bought a Humpty Dumpty Santa from me as a gift for her mom...



Well, last week, Shell and I met for lunch and hit a few museums. We had so much fun. But...I'll tell you all about that in a few days.

One of my simple pleasures is a freshly groomed dog. My Miniature Schnauzer, Junior, was ever so shaggy (but cute)...



He needed grooming, and how! But...when he's freshly groomed he looks ~ well ~ like a sausage on toothpicks! He's stocky and odd and alien-like. But, we love him!



Yet another simple pleasure is working in my garden. Unfortunately, during my "Great Depression of 2008", I let my garden die. There is nothing left of the beautiful color splashes and tangled greens of my previous desert cottage garden...



Only bare dirt and dried, fallen leaves from the neighbors trees...



This weekend, Gary and I officially started cleaning the garden with plans to bring it back to the beauty of "Before".

Also...just a little blurb here ~ I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on every item in My Etsy Shop through Friday, April 2nd.

So, as you can see, I've had Special Days and Everydays over the last few weeks. I appreciate each day and look forward (finally) to many more.

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

And The Winner Is...

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the Spring Give-away. The winning number is 18 (Contessa Kris)...chosen randomly and blindly by my daughter.

Congratulations Contessa Kris.

Kim
Gerushia's New World

Contest Is Over....

Thanks so much for participating in this Spring Time give-away. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced tomorrow afternoon.

As always, thanks so much for taking the time to stop by Gerushia's New World
Kim

Unexpected Give-Away!!

I awoke this morning to a freshly "Spring Cleaned" house ~ the smell of Jasmine and Orange Blossoms all about. It's such a lovely morning, and with Spring only a few days away, I've decided to have a give-away today. A give-away that includes all things Rabbity and Eastery. Oh how I adore all things Spring ~ early blooming blossoms, the hint of greener grass, colorful eggs, Rabbits and Robins, clean windows that are open to the fresh air. So, I think today is a fantastic day for a Spring Art Give-Away!

Included in the give-away will be five of my art prints. One 5" x 7", three 4" x 6" and one ACEO.

All you need to do is leave a comment. I will run the give-away through Monday March 22 at 7:00 p.m. Pacific time.

A winner will be chosen at random from the comments.

Would you like to see what I'm giving away?

The Easter Crow ~ ACEO - 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"


Eula's Party ~ 4" x 6"


Rabbit's Curious Day ~ 4" x 6"


Little Bertie in the Garden ~ 4" x 6"


Gerushia's New World ~ 5" x 7"


Thanks so much for participating:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Layer Upon Layer..

I love my world…Gerushia’s New World. A world of color and goodness and hope. But as many of you know, before I decided to move here, I lived in the world of Garden Painter Art. During that period, my world became black and uneven. Sickness and death were all around. The costs that my family acquired due to my mom’s sickness and death caused us to fall into a whirlwind of financial woes. Depression and guilt and self-doubt took over in my Garden Painter World. I became useless and fell into “The Great Depression of 2008.” Because of my “Great Depression”, I became a terrible burden on my friends. So much so, that I had to “break up with them”. I broke up with all of my local, in real life, friends. My burdens leaked onto them and I had nothing positive to contribute to a friendship, so I simply faded away…..

Now, in my new world, as time has passed, I have had the opportunity to look back. I can see the little gems of importance that my friends left behind. Each friend that crossed my path gave me gifts. Gifts that will be mine forever. I suppose this blog entry is a small tribute to my old friends. Three friends, to be exact ~ and although they are no longer in my life, they will always be a part of my life. Another layer of the collage that isn’t yet finished.

So ~

Theresa taught me compassion and how NOT to take myself too seriously. She is a woman with a caring heart and fabulous sense of humor. She is balanced and keeps things in perspective. She is driven but not to the point of self-indulgence. There are pieces of Theresa all through me, and sometimes I miss her terribly. But, I will always have these gifts, these strengths that she shared by example ~ probably unknowingly.

Deborah taught me perseverance and loyalty. I have never met a woman, a person, with so much heartfelt tenacity. She does not give up on anyone or anything. She gets in the boat with you and weathers the storm by your side. She is brave and strong in adverse circumstances. And, I might add, she has a fabulous eye for color!

"J" taught me patience and generosity. This woman has the patience of a saint. I watched her in awe for many years and have never known another woman who could “wait” like "J". Her generosity has brought me to tears countless times, and even now, I’m still a bit wistful. Let me give you an example: During my “dark times” I had to sell many of my treasures on eBay. One of those treasures was my high school ring. "J" saw the ring listed on eBay and purchased it. I didn’t know this until a few days ago. She bought the ring under a friend’s account so that I wouldn’t know it was her. She put the ring back for several years. Knowing that my daughter is educated at home, she kept the ring to give to my daughter when her daughter ordered her class ring. Of course, during this time, I broke up with her. She still held the ring and sent her daughter over with it a few days ago to give to my daughter. Again….her generosity amazes me.

Layer upon layer of these strong and passionate women are in my soul. I am not complete and, most likely, I will never be complete. Not in this life anyway. But these friends from my past, my old life, have added pieces to the puzzle of Me. I hold tight to memories but go forward in my New World.

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia’s New World

Through the Emerald Meadow...

Do you trust me?



Will you follow me if I ask you to?

Follow me to the ends of the Earth.
Climb through the fireflower clouds ~



Up and Over, across the Emerald Meadow ~



Running, running, just through a whisper of rain clouds ~



Over the bouldered hillside ~



and under the secret bridge ~



Ooohhhh....look just over there ~ we're getting closer...



Can you feel it? The static in the air, magic all about ~



Come with me ~ Ooops, don't slip in the puddle ~



Uh-Oh...



Oh how I wish upon a Dandelion you could come inside with me...to share the thrill and breathlessness and confetti colors ~





So soon, too soon the night will fall on the blue and yellow tent, "The Grand Chapiteau" ~



Then, we will begin our journey back to The Other Place. Back over the bouldered hillside, under the secret bridge, through a whisper of rain clouds. Across the Emerald Meadow, then up and over the fireflower clouds...back to Earth ~



Our memories of this journey will live forevermore. This journey to The Secret Place where color and heart and humor exist. The Secret Place that is embedded in our souls until the end.

Thank you for coming along. I am so sorry you couldn't come inside with me, but I hope you enjoyed the adventure all the same.

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World