Summer in A NUT SHELL…

[Camille]

Summer in A NUT SHELL…

I am sorry to say that I had to fall off the CCS wagon for awhile.
This was not out of disloyalty, disrespect or disinterest. Something inside of me just felt like I needed a very new change my life, a real-time life.

Though I missed you all greatly, my relationship with my computer seemed to depress me…I resisted writing with a vengeance. At times, even the thought of turning on my PC upset me in some unexplainable way.

The ride may continue to be bumpy, as far as my computer life goes. I hope you all can understand and accept my absences as well as my visits to CCS.

Taking a PC break had it’s blessings, even though, many times I was very lonely for my CCS community…

…Finally, in a very magical way, I met a woman, my age, who is a photographer.

The story of my new friendship, with Gail, began with my first Lesless visit alone,to a little local nature preserve. This idyllic area has a butterfly garden, bee harvesting area, and boardwalks through the swamps. There, across, one can see the small lake is filled with water lilies, the blossoms and pads, too far away to photograph well with my limited photographic know-how.

As I was taking a close up shot, (first photo above) of the inside of an interesting hickory nut shell, a woman with a camera approached me. She was curious as to what was being photographed...

Eventually, we walked the boardwalk, and she told me almost immediately, that she had lost her SO of 27 years, this past February...needless to say...we formed a friendship bond.

The following week we went to this doggie park, but took the long hike to the bay...All
sand, swampy soil, seaweed, and bay water abounded...along with at least a TRILLION dragonflies!!!.So many hovering around in all directions, as far as eye could see!...Experiencing those moments felt like pure magic......

Those beautiful creatures hovered around like so many tiny helicopters, it was a quietly, sacredly hypnotic experience!

However, not one came hovering near to us, nor did they land anywhere. It was near impossible to get photos of these fragile, elusive creatures...

In my own backyard one dragonfly landed beside me on an evergreen...Click…click…click! Got some good close-ups.

One night Gail invited me to the Sayville Artwalk...she was exhibiting her photos...There were so many artists to meet and talk with...

Since then, there have been many social gatherings in Sayville, . Musicians, poets, artists. ...Sayville offers so much promise as a real-time creative community...this is new and thrilling for me!

Many visits to the beaches and local nature centers, made for fun and creative picture-taking this summer.

The Islip Art Museum opening was
well-attended. There was every kind of method, medium, and madness
on the gallery walls, floors and ceilings!!! LOL! It was a very successful
curation!

This summer, I enjoyed playing with collages and am now exploring through process, two large mixed media wall pieces…will showshare those in another post when done! Below are some smallpieces in process...

CRUNCH

GLEE CIRCUS

Also experimented with a few box-constructions, which are still unfinished but offer promising discoveries.

SUNRISE IN A BOX...in progress

At the moment, I am designing airy, lightweight, gauzy, flag-type panels, hopefully to be successfully hung as a room divider…

I do hope you all had a Summerlicious Season, and, if Spirit in me is ready, willing and able, staying in touch, following your creative endeavors, making comments would be an honor and delight for!!!
More ATCs made this summer...

PEEKABOO FLOWERS

SEAWEED DRIFT

ROSE TRELLIS


Never stop exploring, discovering, expressing!!!

Love Camille



! Dabs

[WildCherry]

Hi Dabs,
I've been AWL too. There is definitely a time when we need to get out in the world - if only to save ourselves from myopia and RSI! I miss everyone here but sometimes it all feels too big to cope with and I can't keep up.
Your pics are full of astonishing work and I admire your ability to keep on creating beautiful things despite your external circumstances. I am always inspired by you!
Enjoy your new friends and your new life, you more than deserve them. Big Hugs.

[Camille]

Patrice! So nice of you to drop by! It sounds like you have chosen to create a balance between creative time and PC time...I like your idea about just creating and uploading and keeping a roof over your head!!! That's a handful for sure!
Thank you for your feedback on the photos and collages! Patrice, I am glad you continue to do the art! When I get xtra time online, I will give you a visit!
May you recieve everything you need to get through the winter months!
Love Camille

[Camille]

Maureen...those are not pelicans, though it would have been more exotic if they were...they are just a bunch of seagulls, waiting for the fish to come by...

[Camille]

Hi Maureen! Hw are you feeling these days? ...and what are you up to? It is understandable to grieve for CCS friends, yet feel the need to get off the PC, for awhile...it's another one of those paradoxes of life!!! : )

Did something happen to you, Maureen, that has isolated you? I do hope that you get blessed with a healing ASAP! Are you able to play creatively, or are you having health challenges? How are the children doing? Did you do anything FUN this summmer? Any plans for the autumn?
Would like to get an update from you...

Yes, some good lessons must have been learned in my year of grieving the loss of Les...though I am not clear about what the lessons are....however, I have been blessed with a new friend, and to my delight, old friends are coming out of the woodwork almost magically...

It all started with opening myself up to Gail...I guess my new, happier vibrations in the air reached through the ozone layer and rang a bell in the antennae of others I thought had abandoned me! It could be that people do not like to be reminded of losses and death...

Glad you enjoyed the photos! Got more coming...some cute duck pix and about a ZILLION anomalous cloud photos to share!

Blessings to you, Maureen...
hugs from Dabs

[Patrice]

The photographs are incredible, girl. Like you - I took quite a break from the computer - that is to say: I concentrated only on making and posting - very little interaction as I had to work constantly to eke out even the tiniest living. For the most part, that continues - and now the winter approaches with extra expenses... ugh.

I really like the direction your artwork has taken. Those collage/reliefs are quite a fresh thing - very sweet and pretty - and yet with the power of color and nature's uniqueness showing through. Take care.

[Maureen]

Dabs!!! So glad I found your blog! I was worried about you, and thought of you often this summer. You were definitely missed around here. I so understand the feeling you described of needing a break from the PC ... I am going through something similar, although I think I am grieving at the same time, my loss of continuous contact here at CCS.

Your photographs are absolutely gorgeous! Those dragonfly photos -- WOW. They are such intricate, magnificent creatures, and it is such a treat so see photos of them up close. I love your pelican photo too -- they are my favorite birds.

Most of all, I am so glad you found Gail, and a new group of friends. It must be so healing for you, a new chapter in your life! A time to celebrate. Gail came to you just at the right time, and you to her. What a beautiful, inspiring story - one that gives me hope for my own, currently isolated life.

Thanks so much for sharing your summer with us! I am so glad to hear from you!
Love, mo

[Camille]

Hi Wendy! So nice of you to visit! Dragonflies haven't been around this part of LI for at least fifteen years! We had a very very very rainy spring up until the end of JULY! This must be why they have come around in absolute abundance again...just like when I was child...those photos were a real miracle because it is hard to follow these creatures to a landing place, and do not seem to land much...this particular one was munching on something green...I ran into the house to get my camera, figuring it would have taken flight by then, but to my delight he remained very calmly on the evergreen, as I nervously clicked away, hoping not to scare the little guy! He turned out to be a patient model!!! LOL!
Maybe the dragonfly was really my lost Les, come back to visit...He loved to sit around and eat! : )
Glad you enjoy the artworks...isn't nature a great inspiration???

[Camille]

You know, dear Susan, you are do what God would like all of us to do...LOVE OURSELVES and others!!!
Sounds like you have created a heaven on earth this summer! Blessings from Camille

[Wendy]

Your work is just...absolutely gorgeous!! Sounds like you really took care of yourself this summer by honoring your need to step away. LOVE the photos of the dragonfly! The beautiful colors in them remind me of your "Crunch" piece. Your work looks good enough to eat, lol!

[Susan Hosken]

Camille, I still go away every month and stay at some really nice motels and go window shopping and walks around the neighbourhood and beaches and have nice meals and do art and writing and reading in my room and have bubble baths. It is great.
lots of love from susan in australia