I still believe in summer days...

For the first snow fall I've seen stick to the ground this year, I found this lovely song.

Winter Song - Sara Bareilles/Ingrid Michaelson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkOKCWDJ4iA&feature=fvsr

bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon,
it rolls in from the sea

My voice; a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light,
to carry you to me.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love

They say that things just cannot grow
beneath the winter snow,
or so I have been told.

They say were buried far,
just like a distant star
I simply cannot hold.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
cause youre not where you belong;
inside my arms.

bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum

I still believe in summer days.
The seasons always change
and life will find a way.

Ill be your harvester of light
and send it out tonight
so we can start again.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
cause youre not where you belong;
inside my arms.

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon
it rolls in from the sea.

My love a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light
to carry you to me.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

why I do what I do

I went out this morning in -18degrees celsius weather... at 8:30 ... in the morning.  On a Sunday.  And why oh why did I do this?  A friend/client wanted photos of her family and that was the time that worked, with snow in the background.  And so up I got and out I went... to the wrong location.  Phone friend.  Rush to proper location.  Pop out into the cold again.  Place them just so on a small hill.  Click off a few dozen photos.  Change position a bit.  Take a few more photos.  Realize the 3 year old is going to freeze shortly and decide we're done being outside.  Really done.

So then I come home and check out the few photos we did get.  Hmmm.... She let me know which one she liked the most.  I picked the one I liked the most, and then one showcasing her boy.  Fiddle around in Photoshop Elements, pulling from textures and frames and wordart I've amassed over the past 5 years, and apply a lot from what I've learned from a few classes regarding digital scrapbooking. 

And then, with trepidation (because I used so many layers and techniques and slightly grungy textures and I wasn't sure if she was into that) I emailed the samples off to my client.

And this email response, this is why I do what I do (which, like voodoo, I do so well - sorry, old song reference.)
______________________
Hi Michelle,


So I actually got tears in my eyes when I saw these, I really love them!  I love the snow flakes and the border! I really did get emotional when I saw the picture of just my little K. and the let it snow, so beautiful! Can’t wait to see the finished product!


Thank you!! Sooo much!!!!!!


J.& K.& K.


And then a little later....
__________________
I'm still smiling!!!
J.



So if I ever wonder why I'm doing what I'm doing, remind me about this please.  Thanks.
M

We pulled too many false alarms

Slow Dancing in a Burning Room - John Mayer.  I've listened to this so many times.  Actually, there have been days where this was all I listened to.  And this You Tube video combines the fabulous song with a fabulous dance routine by Wade Robson.  The first bit that grabs you is the guitar, and then the lyrics just pull you in further and before you know it, you're hitting the replay button.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk9-qH5fyTU

Enjoy.

I'm sorry Miss Jackson

Not only do I love Justin Timberlake's music (okay, well, not all of it, but most of it) ... he is also one crazy funny guy.  Here he is with the History of Rap 3 on Jimmy Fallon.  http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/blogs/2011/11/history-of-rap-3/#.TsFcZKFgKNM.facebook



Enjoy.

I can be the hoax

I'm not sure how I found this lovely girl & her beatboxing & her singing, but find her I did.  And after watching all the songs she did on The Sing Off, and other covers - I found this cover of Brett Dennan's I ain't gonna lose you and even though her voice breaks towards the end when changing notes, it is by far the better song.  Her emotion is so vivid and palpable - my heart breaks every time I watch her.

Ladies and Gents, I give you to Courtney Jensen. Enjoy.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w3cCwhaSK4&feature=BFa&list=LLvoHHtkIp2fRo6kBfwZP_YQ&lf=mh_lolz

Blame it on my ADD, baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPtSKimbjOU

I simply can NOT get enough of this song.  A friend suggested I start listing music on my blog.  Not only because I'm obsessed with music, but also because then she could get a little more 'up' on songs (and maybe, in the process, impress her kids).

I found the song because someone posted the video of the basejumper (is that what you call it?) and the crazy dude http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWfph3iNC-k&feature=related used this song.  And now I've listened to it multiple times a day, over and over again, for the past 2 weeks.  And in the process I found this absolutely fabulous video as well.  Same song, but a totally different feel.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=JaAWdljhD5o

See?  Now you've listened to it 3 times, and I bet you want to listen to it again, right?

Love the song.  Love. It.

Surfacing 4 set up crew

Finished setting up the Surfacing 4 Exhibition of Emerging Abstract Artists today.  The opening is Thursday November 3rd at 6pm - 8pm at Art Loop Gallery in Art Central.  Looking forward to it, but I guess I still have work to do.  A couple of my paintings I had left with the edges not painted.  I'm to paint them.  So sayeth Diane.

By the way: can you tell who's holding the camera?  Yeah, it's me.  The one with the bright & shiney face.

let down

I don't like to get my hopes up most times because of the let down that can happen.  But I did, and now I'm in the 'let down' phase.  It's tough to do what we want to do with the real estate market being the way it is.  I guess if I'd like to lose money I could still do what I'd like, but it would be a step back and I don't think we can do that right now.

On a happy note, I'm back in the studio with my puppy wrapped up in a big pink blanket with me, I have a stash of Curly Wurlys, and a good book.  Poo poo with crappy real estate - I vote for escape-ism!!!

gratitude

Kim Klassen's Textures - word & thursday

photo - U2's Bono, Edmonton June 1, 2011

Gratitude - not only am I grateful for music, I'm grateful Bono didn't permanently injure himself with the back injury that cancelled last year's show.  And I'm grateful my husband didn't ask how much I paid for the tickets.  And I'm grateful he decided to check out what the special line up was... it was for entrance to the inner ring at the concert.  So yes, I had to stand for 6 hours on concret, and yes, I got a lot of beer spilled on me, and yes, I really had to pee and couldn't actually leave my 'spot' for fear of it being taken......but I was there.  I sang & danced with the teenagers in front of me.  I was beside the man who caught one of those white roses for his wife.  I got this shot of Bono, with a little point & shoot. 

And yes, we were that close.  It. Was. Awesome.

fabric rainbow

How inspiring!  I wish I had the gumption to do this (but for my paper, as I don't have a fabric rainbow like Jamaica does).  http://www.jamaicamakes.com/jamaica/2011/09/the-great-fabric-transition.html

Actually, if I could actually concentrate on one thing at a time, it would maybe get organized properly and stay that way.  I think maybe I need a week where I lock myself in my studio and don't do anything else. 

Winter is coming.  Perhaps then?  Anyone want to come & help?