Collage Diva

A Lasting Impression

I had a wonderful two weeks with my son over the holidays. On his first night, I pulled out an old typewriter that I have on loan from a colleague.

This was my son's first attempt at using a typewriter.

He learned quickly that you have to press hard on the keys and you can't type too quickly.

He figured out right away that you need to type the lower case l when you want the number 1. He also liked the fraction keys.

He really thought it was so cool. It came as no surprise that one of the first things he typed was the number pi. You can see he stopped after a few digits.

I will surely miss him, but our time together will have a lasting impression.

Until next time,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Minor Threat Pop-Up Gallery - Reception Photos

The Minor Threat Pop-Up Gallery reception was a huge success!

It was fun watching the kids check out the Magnet Open Art Project.

There were seven rooms filled with art.

 

Here is Liz D'Amico in front of her collages. 

Artist Bev Norton is pictured here with her paintings.

Karen Balon is here with a painting that sold!

Event organizer Susi Whittaker strikes a pose with Manchester illustrator, Peter Noonan.

David and Laurette Carroll stand in front of their paintings and collage.

Related Posts:

Sneak Peek of the Pop-Up Gallery

Sneak Peek of the Magnet Open Art Project

Magnets Hit the City

Happy Birthday Dad!

Here is a collage that I made with one of my favorite old photos of my dad. If you look in the background there is a small framed photo - that is a picture of me as a little girl.

I used this same image of my dad in a mixed media painting. Here is a close up of the painting.

Today my dad celebrates 81 years. Last night we celebrated with my older brother and his family.

We shared many good laughs over a delicious Italian meal.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Father's Day

In honor of Father's Day, I've pulled out a few of my favorite photos of me with my two top guys: my dad and my son. I really do need to get some more current photos of us. But alas, here we are six years ago.

The reason I moved back to New Hampshire after living in Colorado for 12 years was to reconnect with my dad. I wanted my son to know his grandfather. In the last seven years we have shared many outings. We get together on most Sundays. It is hard to believe that the little boy on my dad's lap is now taller than me!

I adore the expressions on our faces in this photo. Look at the love!

My sweetie is in Colorado today and I'm so happy that he gets to spend this day with his dad. Meanwhile, I'll be here in New Hampshire enjoying a full day with my dad. We have plans of heading to the beach in the afternoon and we have reservations for supper, HERE.

I am grateful for the time I've had with my dad in the last 7 years. We have had the opportunity to really get to know one another. It has been a rough year with his health and I'm even more grateful that I can be an important part of his daily life.

I send out heartfelt warm wishes to all of the dads out there. Know that even if your children don't tell you, you mean the world to them.

{soul hugs}

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Mother's Day

The best thing that has EVER happened to me was becoming a mother. I learned just how much love I have in my heart. I've also been inspired to be a better person.

These photos are from the first year we moved to New Hampshire from Colorado seven years ago. I've been so blessed to have a wonderful, bright, and loving son. We get along so very well. He is now 15 years old! It is hard to believe that in three years he will be spreading his own wings. Until then, I plan on savoring each day that we have together. I'm very proud to be his mom.

Happy Mother's Day to all the woman in the world. Each one of you whether you've birthed a child or not are all mothers. It is part of being a woman to nurture and care for others. Cheers to the loving, caring, sparkly *YOU*.

{soul hugs}

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Sugar Hiccups

The Easter bunny stopped by the tree house with a plate of hand rolled candy sushi.

The tray even included some pieces of sashimi, cool!

A wood turned bowl doubled as the Easter basket.

I think these hazelnut chocolates will not pass as a true vegetable.

We stopped by church for the 11 o'clock service. The choir, brass, and Easter lilies were all wonderful.

To the right of the choir is the pulpit.

Look up from the preacher and you'll see the cross. Keep looking up...

...and you'll see this beautiful rose window.

It was great to see my dad in church and singing.

An egg hunt for some of the neighborhood children followed church and brunch.

I couldn't keep my eyes off my niece, Hollis. She is so adorable even when woken up from a nap for an egg hunt.

Look at these cherubs.

I think I've spotted the next Gerber baby. What do you think?

I love Evangeline's hair. What a sweetie.

Oh my, I think I have a new boyfriend!

No one has my heart like my sweet son. Here he is in his new fabulous blue shirt. He is the sweetest 15 year-old. 

 

I am imagining children throughout the land with sugar hiccups.

Happy Easter!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

SoulCollage® Daddy's Girl

The phone rang late last night with news that my dad is in the hospital. I visit him each Sunday and have noticed how extremely tired he has been. Water is surrounding his lungs and his liver isn't functioning properly. It has been a really difficult 1-1/2 years watching my dad's health decline.

He has had some problems with short-term memory recall, a reaction we believe to the general anesthesia he received for not one but two emergency surgeries that he needed within two days.

I felt like an orphan when his mind started to go. I was no longer the child but now the adult in my relationship with my dad. His personality has changed. He went from being my rock - so solid, so capable, and at times intense with his perfectionism. Now he is sweet and child-like, very soft. He struggles each day to know what day it is and I can see how nervous and agitated it makes him. I call him each day to hear how his day is. The conversation moves slowly. Long gone are the days when I would be drilled with questions. Now I patiently listen. I'm always positive, no matter what, and I find ways to make him laugh. I never forget to tell him how much I love him.

The images in this post come from my SoulCollage® deck. I have found SoulCollage® to be a helpful process to work through my feelings visually. If you are curious about SoulCollage® check out my True North Arts blog post, HERE.

{soul hugs}

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Happy 15th Loki!

Several little packages were wrapped with plain red paper and embellished a la Collage Diva style with cutouts from magazines.

Some of the words offered clues to the present tucked inside.

While others were more generic.

I love my son's smile. Here he is looking at the card his grandparents gave him.

The package design made the present opening more interesting for all of us.

After the gifts were opened we went out to eat for Ichiban.

Who would have thought a Sunday night would be so busy. We waited in the lounge for an hour.

I was entertained by the sake bottles on the shelves.

Here is my son with his grandparents.

Finally the moment we had been waiting for - the fire!

The best part of the evening was seeing how my son felt so happy and content.

Happy Birthday my sweet son! I love you very much.