Curve Balls...

Hello Friends Old and New!  It has been a while since I was here and it feels good to be back.  My husband was in an ATV accident in 2011.  He injured his left leg horribly and had a pulmonary embolism from a blood clot in his injured leg.  It was a long year of recovery.  I was his primary caregiver and things just had to be put on the back burner.  Home Healthcare and physical therapy took up our hours.  The boys and school activities had the rest.  Very little room was left for anything else but sleep when you could grab it:)  During this time I was also the primary caregiver for my father-in-law who was in a nursing home nearby.  He passed away in May of 2013.  My husband is walking and has healed nicely.  Still daily pain, but hopefully it won't be that way forever.  And I feel like I can finally get back to Arting and Blogging and I even have a Facebook page!  LOL!!  Never thought that would happen, but it was easier and quicker in the beginning.

Oh, how I have missed you so.  I can't wait to be creating again full time.  I've lost 76 pounds over the last year and I am exercising!  Can you believe it?!?  I hate to exercise, but after my husband's accident it really hit home how this is the only body I get.  I have this one chance to take care of it.  I gained so much weight over the last two years.  I felt horrible all the time.  I was tired all the time.  I hated myself.  So I cut out all diet drinks and alcohol.  I started drinking only water.  I lost 20 pounds in 3 weeks just from that one change.  It was exciting so I switched to Organic food and started walking every week day after I dropped off the kids at school.  And I feel better than I have in years.  Physically and Mentally.  And I NEED to Art again on a daily basis.  That is what I missed the most.  So here I am.  Starting all over again.  But that's Ok.  Sometimes life throws you several curve balls.  You just catch them as best you can and keep trying.


PS-While looking around the blog I noticed some photo links are not working.  Will get those fixed as fast as I can!



Quote of the Day:

“But there was a special kind of gift that came with embracing the chaos, even if I cursed most of the way. I'm convinced that, when everything is wiped blank, it's life's way of forcing you to become acquainted with and aware of who you are now, who you can become. What is the fulfillment of your soul?”
― Jennifer DeLucy

Free Image Tuesday...Errr...Wednesday;)...

 Why so sad Little Sweetie?  

 Did Momma make you wear a stinky old dress instead of overalls?  

 Did she make you wash the dirt out from under your finger nails and hogtie you to a chair while she used the curling irons? 

That's ok.  I love you anyway:)

Quotes of the Day:

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.  ~e.e. cummings

Learn to... be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not.  ~Henri Frederic Amiel
  
You must have control of the authorship of your own destiny.  The pen that writes your life story must be held in your own hand.  ~Irene C. Kassorla

Free Image Tuesday...Sweet Siblings...

They are so sweet that I just want to pinch those cheeks!!!  He seems so protective of her.  I am an only child and have always wondered what it would have been like to have a brother or a sister.  Then, on rainy days, when both the boys are stuck inside arguing over one thing or another I think maybe it wasn't so bad;)

This is a lovely cabinet card photo from the late 1800's.  All photos used in the Free Image Tuesday series are cherished images from my personal collection.  Please feel free to use this image on your artwork.  We would a love a link back to see what you create:)  Love, Jamie

Quote of the Day:

"Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring, quite often the hard way."
~Pamela Dugdale

"It snowed last year too: I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea."
~Dylan Thomas 

Moon....

"Moon"

In love with my new tripod!!!  I have never been able to take a clear moon pic:)  New toys are fun!!!

This is my first weeks assignment for Traci's class.  It is fun playing with the paint and ink, but I am too fearful of "messing up" and making a mark I am unhappy with on the paper.  I need to trust and do and say "SO WHAT"!!!!!!!!  Working on it:)

Quote of the Day:

"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic."
~Unknown

"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic."
~Unknown

Wait...Three Muses Challenge...FIT for you....

"And Then She Began To Wait."
Digital Collage by Jamie Miller

 Thank you Sweet Ladies at Three Muses for the Great challenge this week.:)  Here are the lyrics I used as inspiration.

Wait 
by Alexi Murdoch (click title to listen)

Lyrics

Feel I'm on the verge of some great trail
Where I'm finally in my place
But I'm fumbling still full proof
And it's cluttering my space
Casting shadows on my face

Though I have the strength to move a hill
I can hardly leave my room
So I sit perfectly still
And I'll listen for a tune
While my mind is on the moon

And If I stumble, and if I stall
And if I slip now, and if I should fall
And if I can't be, all that I could be
Will you? Will you wait for me?

Cause everywhere I seem to be
I am only passing through
I dream these days are about the sea
I always wake up feeling blue
Wishing I could dream of you

So if I stumble, and If I fall
And if I slip now, and loose it all
And if I can't be, all that I could be
Will you? Will you wait for me?

And wait for me
And wait for me
And wait for me
Won't you wait for me?

And wait for me
Please wait for me
Please wait for me
Won't wait for me

And wait for me
Please wait for me
Please wait for me

I know she has been posted before, but I could not resist her sweet winter outfit!!!!!  Please feel free to use her in your art.  I would love to see her and you can also join our Flickr group for Free Image Tuesday art:)

Quotes for Today:
 “A year from now you will wish you had started today.” 
~Karen Lamb

“20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the one’s you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” 
~Mark Twain


“Live as if you were living for the second time and had acted as wrongly the first time as you are about to act now.” 
~Viktor Frankl

Free Image Tuesday...And Here's to a Very Happy New Year!...

Did you have a lovely Christmas?  I hope so.  We did and we are still eating Christmas ham!  LOL!  I am about ready for something different.  Happy 2012!!!!  I was ready for the old year to be gone and a new fresh one to arrive.  One full of promise and new adventures.  I am taking a mixed media online workshop with  Traci Bautista.  I miss getting my hands dirty and playing with my art supplies:)  Here is a sweet winter image for you to use in your artwork.  I would love for you to share what you have created with us.  Love, Jamie

Three Muses Entry-Angels

"And He Will Grow Into Them."

Digital collage by Jamie Miller

Thank you to everyone at Three Muses and to the wonderful artists that participate each week!!  You are an inspiration to us all!  Love, Jamie

Free Image Tuesday...What Are You Looking At?...

He is so very mad!!!  If Mama had curled my hair like that I would have been mad too:)

 "What Are You Looking At?"

Carte De Vista photograph from the late 1800's

Sometimes you come across antique photos that make it hard to tell the gender of the subject.  This photo is one of them.  But there are several clues to help sex an unlabeled photo.  

During the 1800s boys typically wore dresses until 5 or so. I am sure in the younger years potty training was a big part of it. It is harder to sex a photo of an infant because both boys and girls usually wore elaborate christening gowns. And they have very little hair:)

The clues in this photo that identify a male gender are many. The fact that his hair, although elaborately curled, is parted on the side is a telltale sign. Girl's hair of this era was almost (almost) always parted in the middle. The knickers under the dress are straight with no lace or frills (not always the case). The boots and wide leather belt are typical for a male gender. Also the bold and big plaid cloth of his clothing was popular for boys during this time. Sometimes it's very hard to determine a gender, but the hair rule is almost (almost) always correct. 


Here are other Free Image Tuesday images of boys in dresses!!    They are yours to use in your art:)

I love how the baby is so alert and staring straight at the camera. This also has a nice example of a "hidden mother". She is under that blanket to the left of the baby and her arm is outstretched holding on to the back of the baby. In earlier photos that I have (mainly tintypes) the baby will be sitting on the mother's lap and the mom is completely covered from head to toe in a blanket. It can look a little creepy. It is definitely a person shaped lump under there:)

He is my favorite. His dress and face are filthy, but he is happy and playing. I just want to scoop him up in my arms and hug on him a little while.

You Can Put Him in a Dress, But He Doesn't Have to Like it!

Little Man

Little Man CDV.  This CDV (carte de vista) sized photo is a very early one.  Based on the hair style and clothing of our fella I would date this photo to the early 1860s.    A lovely studio chair adds to the beauty of this one.

Sweet little boy with a wonderful head of hair:)

I believe these two to be brother and sister fraternal twins.  With the boy on the left and the girl on the right.



These are two digital collages I created with my personal images.  I am creating a tutorial to show you how:)  Love, Jamie

And She Kept Her Promise For All of Those Years

"And She Kept Her Promise For All of Those Years"

Digital Artwork by Jamie Miller

Happy Christmas Sweet Friends!!!

I know it has been a while.  My last post was August 12th and I had every intention of being back sooner.  My husband was in an ATV accident in Utah on August 19th.  It crushed the tibial plateau and broke both the lower leg bones of his left leg. After having surgery to place an external fixator to hold the break in place he was able to fly back to Texas. ( Don't ask.  Nightmare.)  He had an 8 hour surgery here to bolt everything back where it should be.  He developed a pulmonary embolism from a blood clot in the broken leg.  Oh, and staph.  Wonderful staph.  We never knew.  You think a broken leg and how terrible but you don't think how it changes every single aspect of your life.  He was totally non-weight bearing until Thanksgiving. We have spent our days at doctors and pharmacies and bathing and getting dressed and in pain.  The pain is ever constant and we believe will always be there in some form.  

But, out of this I have grown and changed.  I have found my voice and use it while navigating the wilds of the medical/insurance system.  I have found my voice and use it with my husband and my children.  I have been holding back and supressing my words, my feelings and wants and needs for far to long.  Martyr.  Stuffing those words and feelings down a deep, deep well capped tight with hamburgers and ice cream.  And the only one it hurt was myself.  So many of you have shared your struggles and have been so very wonderful and supportive.  Thank you!!!!! Thank you for being brave and speaking up.  We are all special and good and human.  We are all miraculously flawed and fragile and strong and perfect all at the same time.

PS- After Thanksgiving, my husband started back to work and walking with crutches and bearing weight as tolerated and has already ordered what I refer to as his "Pimp" cane to use when he is ready;) I tried to get him to order one with a naked lady for the handle (yes, they exist!) but he settled for a more dignified model.

Peeking In...Saying Love You!!...

I have so many FITs to catch up on!!!!!   Believe me, you will get each and every one:)  

I am half in my new studio.  Kind of in limbo, with some of my husband's things still here.  So waiting.  Patiently.  No, not really.  Tapping my foot and pouting is probably more like it:)  

Working on some new pieces and getting organized.   

Working on feelings and expressing them with words and art.  Not food.  Hard, but successful 50% of the time.  I am working toward getting that number up more towards 80% or so.  Let's face it, some hurts just NEED the sugar.  Girl has to have a donut every now and then;)  

Two new pieces below and FITs to follow on Tuesday or sooner if I can get my act together.

"Fear"

Digital Collage by Jamie Miller

"Proof of Fairies, No. 290"

Digital Collage by Jamie Miller

PS-  Some people have written me and asked who Jamie Miller is and where can they find her.  It's me silly.  Lol!  Love, Jamie


"I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

~Frank Herbert, Dune - Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear


(one of my favorite writers:)
 

You Can Ring My Bell FIT....

Look at this Cutie!!!!  She's clutching her bell with her sweet pudgy hands:)  You know she was ringing it as hard as she could.  I love her.  This is a large cabinet card from the early 1900's.  Please use it in your art:)  Love,Jamie

Here are some photos I took last week at the park:)

"Squirrel!!!"

"Hibiscus"

"AtLast?"

Three Muses Challenge...The Written Word...

This is my take on this week's challenge.  When I created this image I typed out all my negative thoughts and then cut them into word spaghetti.  Then I served them up on a silver plate with a silver spoon. Bon Appetite! 

I have been working hard to control my negative self talk.  Sometimes the negative talk seems to be on automatic playback that runs constantly in the background of my thoughts.  Sometimes I am able to stop and listen and turn the words into positive words.  Sometimes I eat and stuff those words down to make them quiet for a while.  Sometimes I am amazed at how hatefully I treat myself.  I would never say these words to a friend or stranger.  It is a hard habit to break.  It is a work in progress.  I am a work in progress.  Love you all, Jamie

Family of Four FIT...

Thank you, Thank you All, for the wonderful welcome back to Blogland!!  I am having "issues" with posting comments.   Some go through and some do not, but I am working on it:)


Here are quick FITs for this beautiful Tuesday.  These are four tintypes of a very lovely family.  I love how the frames tie them all in together.  The Sister seems very regal.  I love her.  Now,  away with you!!!   Go make Art!!!  Love, Jamie

I Missed You So....

FIT  "Twins"

I missed you so.  I am so glad to be back.

I owe you all such gratitude and love for supporting me when I was unable to support myself.

I am forever grateful.  So many wonderful words of encouragement and love.

It is all very bleak when you are suffering through a depressive stage.  So many of you shared your wisdom and compassion and your own journeys.  I carried those words with me.

First, not feeling I deserved them.

Then when I was ready, drawing comfort from them and knowing I was not alone.

And now feeling such amazement at this wonderful, supportive and loving community of artists and friends.  We have created a haven here in blog land.  A safe harbor where we are allowed and encouraged to speak from our hearts.  Thank you so very much.  Thank you for listening and supporting and loving.  Love, Jamie

FIT  "Brother and Sister"

"Whenever someone sorrows, I do not say, "forget it," or "it will pass," or "it could be worse" -- all of which deny the integrity of the painful experience. But I say, to the contrary, "It is worse than you may allow yourself to think. Delve into the depth. Stay with the feeling. Think of it as a precious source of knowledge and guidance. Then and only then will you be ready to face it and be transformed in the process." 


~Peter Koestenbaum

Here are some Beautiful Photos For You:)...

Dear Sweet Friends,  Oh.  How I have missed you.   Please use these images in your art.  Give them new purpose.  Give them a voice.  Love, Jamie

"Sara"  Free Image Tuesday from Art-e-ology

  "One Perfect Bloom"  Free Image Tuesday From Art-e-ology

"Spring Girl"  Free Image Tuesday from Art-e-ology

Would You Catch Me If I Fell From Grace?...

"Would You Catch Me If I Fell From Grace?"  Digital Collage by Jamie Miller

Merry Christmas Sweet Friends...

Dear Friends,

I have been absent, but I have been busy.  Busy is Good:)  Busy is not sleeping all day.  I feel better and better every day.  We are heading to South Carolina for Christmas.  I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful Holiday.  Your support and Friendship has been a saving grace and such a blessing to me this past year.  I am eagerly awaiting the New Year and all the promise it has in store for us. 

With Much Love and Gratitude,
Jamie



PS- Here are some Winter FITS for you:)  Make something Merry!

FIT on Thursday....

Sisters

A beautiful tintype of two Sisters. You can still see the imprint for the brass matt that surrounded it inside it's case.  (***Please see note below***)

Here is the art piece I created with the tintype.  I made glass magnets out of the finished piece.  I will take pictures tomorrow and teach you how to make them also:)

***Please feel free to use this photograph in your Artwork!! After you use it, I would really love for you to come join our new group, "Free Image Tuesday Creations"!!
www.flickr.com/groups/freeimagetuesdaycreations/

Love, Jamie

Special FIT for You....

This beautiful young lady is a Civil War era cased ambrotype.  I love everything about her.  Her face, her dress, the way she crosses her hands.  My cased image collection holds a special place in my heart. 

Sometimes when I hold them in my hands I think, "I am the only person on this Earth right now who knows this person lived." 

My collection  dates from the mid to late 1800's and for what ever reason they were seperated from their family.   So now, I am their keeper.  I hold their story.  Create something beautiful with her.  Write her a new story.

Love You All,  Jamie

Fall Comes to Texas...

I actually went out with my camera yesterday and took some Fall photos.  They were the first photos that I have taken in months.  It felt good.  This week has been good.  No sleeping during the day and I am slowly catching up with all the mess I let slide lately.  Your sweet words and comments are a blessing and are so very appreciated.  I am so lucky to know such Wise and Wonderful Women. I have FITS, but they will have to wait until the Wild Boys are in bed.  Love You All!!!!  Jamie