How does faith reflect in sculpture?

I greatly enjoyed writing this months article for Best of Artist and Artisans title Sculpture- A Reflection of Faith. I can't help but wonder if these artists feel more of a creative pull because their artwork revolves around a spiritual message. See for yourself.

Biological urges- I just can't stop her.

I just can't stop her. Sex is on the brain, biology is kicking in. She is aloof, and giving me the cold shoulder just because .... well you know why. I tried to lovingly feed her strawberries, she turned her head and slowly went in the other direction, with something grandeur on her mind.

It is the rain. It aids in giving her that wonder lust.

I'm speaking of course of Tilly. When was it that she wandered off last year? Tilly is the Red Eared Slider ( RES) pond turtle, and my pond companion. I have a strong attachment to her. It broke my heart to see her walk down the side of the house today, and try to push herself between the brick and the wooden gate. Legs just kept going. Of course she could not get out.

Does she not remember last year when she was missing for days and the neighbor found her wedged sideways in her fence. I think she was trying to get back to the pond. Of course that is how she wandered on our property years ago, and found the pond. It is crazy that the lust inside is stronger than what she has here.

I blocked the other holes on the other side of the house between the gate and the dirt. This afternoon I checked, and yes, I tracked a turtle. I was really quite suprised at my ability to do this. And I did so while trying to balance on anything I could to keep from sinking my pristine sneakers into the mud. I could see her shell track, a scrape along the mud and those sharp nails digging in the dirt. She turned a few times at the gate, unable to get through. I worried she might have gotten out, but then...

I did find her, back in the pond and begged her not to leave. My husband wonders if she has eggs, and is driven to have them fertilized? I might try to mulch the area around the pond, just in case, give her something to dig in that is nearby.

She has had babies. Two clutches. I know you are wondering, "how did she do that with no male around?" Apparently according to my research, which I do quite often on these turtles. A can hold sperm up to 3 years one website said 5 years. The first clutch of babies were adorable tiny and bright green. We have to be careful as not to step on them when going back and forth from studio to the house. None of those babies lived. I would suppose they were prey to other things. I fear it is that nasty bullfrog that lives in the pond. I hear him at night, I have seen him several times. I swear he is wearing a leather jacket and has brass knuckles. He is a bully. he too has reproduced and there are baby bullfrogs in the pond. Anyone want a bullfrog tadpole?

One baby actually drowned. It was a dreadful thing fetching it from the water. Who knew turtles could down, but they can.

The only baby that survived is little guy or Toto . Named because I love to say, "Good morning tilly and Toto too." He now knows I bring food and swims hard to get to me when I am there. I scream "Dive, dive, it is faster." As he franticly tries to push past all of the floating plants.
It is comforting to have him there. Actually, I am not sure if it is a "him," it may be a "her," I'll let you know, it is still to early to tell. You can dectect male from female by the claws and the tail, and of course by turning them over, but as some ofyou know who have read my Tilly Tales, I absoultely refuse to invade their privacy by flipping them over. It just is not right!

So Tilly wil remain aloof. Pullled by her biological urges. I hope I don't post that she is missing. I worry so. It is stupid to be attached to a turtle, but as I said we have bonded. She is a pet, but not really she lived probably 6-7 years before finding us, and our pond. Sure we feed her, it is hard not to. Yesterday I found her on the deck outside of the door. She was looking in, so opened teh french doors. I have seen her wander right in the house, but this time she looked the other wasy. Again being strange.

I swore I heard her say last year when she was found and returned to the pond , " if I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard,
because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with." But I am afraid Tilly has forgoten what it felt like to be so far from home. Darn those biological urges.

A recent interview about combining creativity with your business

The wedding is over and it is back to work

It took me two entire days to come back to earth after the wedding of my daughter. Mostly because I was in a different mind set being Commander of Wedding Command Center. There were lists and more lists, and to dos and very, very long days. Longer than I am used to. But it is over with. I am delighted with my daughter and the event. I have always thought we were close, but the event seems to have drawn us closer. I am thrilled with her as a person. She is of high quality and it shows in our podcast that we do together. And of course, she is my best masterpiece.

2 days and counting.

The day has been long as I help my daughter with the wedding. A very creative one, but it is a tremendous amount of work. I'm been making wedding cake all day long, while the mother of the groom ran around the city for supplies and helped with other creative endeavors. We are a work horse team. Wedding command central is written on the paper at the entrance to this apartment and a marker board has the list of things we are trying to remember, with other lists everywhere. Thursday is crunch day with rehearsal and rehearsal dinner folowed by a party/shower for my daughter. Fun. I'm exhausted but so happy for her. More later, must do a few more things before closing down for the night.

There are some things in life ...

There are some things in life....

that require you to stop and take a breath and do something else besides work, marketing and monitoring employees and apprentices.  A daughter's wedding is one of those.  My daughter will be getting married on Friday.  Or should I say what I have beens saying for the last month, "My baby is getting married." I arrived almost a week early, I thought I would bring work along, just incase there was idle time.  I hate idle time.  NOT! We have been DOINGG since I arrived.  I live to cross things off of the list of things needing to get done.  

One of the reasons I arrived early was that my daughter invited me to her bachelorette party.  I was flattered to be cool enough to come and dubbed myself (DD) designated driver.  The party was titled "wigged out" and I had to find a wig, at the last minute before leaving I was able to find a cool, blonde hippy wig with head band.  Funny I remember dressing like this for real-head bands.   I have never been a blonde, and no matter how long I wait in between hair cuts, I have had approximately 7-10 in my adult life, my hair does not grow long.  We definitely received some looks.  Here are some pictures.  Our itinerary eat sushi, and then dance at different places.  It was interesting to see the "young" places and dances.  Of course I could dance anywhere, but I still prefer ball room or jitterbug.  That will be for Friday.  

Four days and counting.  Oh yes, the cake lady bugged out on us, so I guess I'll be creating a wedding cake.  Can't guarantee it will turn out perfect, but I'll do my best.  

FYI about photos, daughter has pink hair.  Photo of me  with the peace signs. I look stoned, but I am not. That is what the (MOTB) mother of the bride looks like when she has stays up WAY past her bedtime.