Odd Mama - Deep Thoughts, Strange Musings and Halloween Folk Art

New Beginnings...

2010-08-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

I recently realized that for years, I was allowing someone to hurt me and affect my life by buying into the idea that her perspective colored everything around me. I never LIKED the malicious nature of her views and slander, but I found that by being aware of it and doing nothing, in turn colored MY world in ways that I neither appreciated nor could break free of. Then one day, it suddenly became clear to me that I was giving up all chance at being the person I know myself to be, having the life I know I deserve and casting off the ridiculous chains of hearsay and conjecture that constrained my ability to do the wonderful things I want to do and am capable of achieving.

Scales - fall from my eyes! I am taking the power for my own life back and forgiving the past and moving into a bright future at last. Full steam ahead!

Submit Your Blog!

2009-08-26T19:53:00.001-07:00

If you have a Halloween OR art related blog and would like it to be considered for my Oddly Uplifting site award, please post it here under comments.

Dreaming of Halloween...

2009-08-26T15:42:00.000-07:00

It's Halloween! It's Halloween!
The moon is full and bright
And we shall see what can't be seen
on any other night:

Skeletons and ghosts and ghouls,
Grinning goblins fighting duels,
Werewolves rising from their tombs,
Witches on their magic brooms.

2009-08-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

Offered here is a kitchen witch's tool caddy. Crafted of solid wood and hand painted with a devilishly wicked style, it is one of a kind functional art that would be perfect in any Halloween home.

Hold your utensils, pencils or witchy what-nots in style! Size approx. 4" x 4.5" x 10". Sits on table or hangs on wall.

OOAK Halloween Folk Art. Signed by artist. Sealed with clear non-yellowing acrylic varnish to protect your future heirloom for many years of use. $47 and Free Shipping!

Kithen witches of all kinds cover all sides, cooking over a cauldron, perusing a cherished recipe and scaring up a witches brew of ghosties and Ol' Scratch himself!

Close-up details of each side...

First Come - First Serve! Buy It Now for just $47 includes shipping!

Creativity

2009-08-25T00:43:00.000-07:00

Creativity is a funny thing. It can be as ethereal as vapor or burning bright as a bonfire. When we need it most, it can be elusive as a ghostie in a darkened room. But it often hits us full force when we least expect it...and those times may not always be the most favorable for taking advantage of our inspired visions. If you've ever been at your "real" job and surrounded by co-workers and duties that need your attention and yet, suddenly, you are hit by a thought of such creative clarity that your skin actually ITCHES to find paint and brush or clay and carving tools or paper and glue....then you have experienced firsthand the terrible chaos that can fill a soul torn by conflicting responsibilities. Must work...but MUST create. What to do?

The next best thing to jumping in to your creative vision with both feet is to take a deep breath and grab a pad of paper to desperately scribble the outline of your idea before you lose it. My purse and pockets are filled with scraps of paper upon which bizarre diagrams and hastily sketched images clamor for my future attention. Sometimes these ideas come to fruition and other times, I toss them, shaking my head at the drawings I thought so inspired and wondering WHAT was I thinking?

If the urge to create resides within you, you must accept that there will be times when you think you are surely insane. But when the art lives and breathes and somehow comes out JUST RIGHT, you know it is all worth it and there can be no other way to live. Accept...believe...CREATE!!

Pizza shop worker, 72, foils robbers with beer can

2009-08-25T00:41:00.000-07:00

August 20, 2009
LANCASTER, Pa. - Police said a 72-year-old pizza shop employee foiled a shotgun-point robbery by throwing a can of beer at the perpetrators. Lancaster police Lt. Todd Umstead said two men with bandanas over their faces attempted to rob Six Packs on Vine at closing time Wednesday. One of the men pointed a shotgun at the employee, who was stocking a cooler. Police said the employee could not tell if the beer struck either of the men but it was enough to chase them off.

My comments: Having lived in Pennsylvania for many years, I found the above news snip rather droll. The only thing that would have made it funnier would have been if the clerk had also thrown a lit cigarette at them as well. Beer and smokes seem to be the top priorities in my old neck of Penn's woods. Ugh!

Twilight Musings

2009-08-25T00:40:00.000-07:00

I am wondering why we spend so much of our time on meaningless and trivial things. If it's true we only go around once, why do we waste so much of ourselves? Shouldn't our lives be large and brilliant and not small and claustrophobic? Just saying....