Day 2236: It's taken a lot of years to figure that out.

kanji: photos & digital collage

Want music?

 

Click here for Yo Yo Ma, Bach Cello Suite No.1 in G Major

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

I am quitting Amazon Prime! Before the 14th!

Tired of paying $14 a month on top of a yearly membership fee.

I don't order often, and I shouldn't order at all!
So the amount saved on postage doesn't justify continuing.

That said, I just ordered china markers ...

and I justify this order because I am down to the last stubs, 
when the strings usually break.

And, I have been using china markers in drawings lately.

Like crayons, un-erasable, but spontaneous and fun.

Amazon is always telling me what is on sale,  and

how much I would save. But if I don't buy, I save 100%. 

It's taken a lot of years to figure that out.

A smile for Sunday ...
 

Day 2070: Sakura and Sensei

aka: photo, junk mail, collage & digital

Want music?

 

Click here for Yo Yo Ma, Sakura.

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

My friends, Julie, Megan and Mike are leaving next week

to fly to Japan, and they planned it so they could see 

the Sakura, the cherry blossoms.

Since I can't fly to Japan, 

I drove to El Camino Real, Tustin.

A vision of pinks every Spring, about now.

The cherry blossom, is the flower of several varieties of 

genus Prunus trees, particularly the Japanese cherry, 

Prunus serrulata, which is called sakura after the Japanese.

Elegant branches.

 

A myriad of blossoms.

Even the fallout is beautiful.

 

I thought this might hold us until we can fly to Japan?

65 degrees, blue skies, Santa Ana, CA

After 6 of us went to lunch with Demura sensei.

In real life, Demura sensei smiles a lot!

but when trying to catch a photograph, it's not so easy. 

Always fun to be with Demura sensei.

A smile for Tuesday ...

 

Day 1368: Abundance, blessings and joy!

Joy, junk mail collage

I woke this morning to normal chores, laundry etc.

But when I went into my studio my heart lifted.

Evidence of  yesterday's bountiful day.

A decorated manila envelope from artist, Valerie.

   Inside were great papers, a magazine, stickers and ...

an envelope with aged pre-stamped envelopes & real stamps!

And another with all orange cancelled stamps!

A folded kanji paper, stickers, & collage ephemera.

And, a postcard from Valerie, a mail art veteran.

Then on to my re-used Olive Garden shopping bag,

filled with yesterday's  LBD finds ...
thrilling me all over again.

        Really great papers, boxes, manila folders, CD envelopes ...

stamps, game cards, labels, money, letters

artist-made bags, zines, magazines ...

envelopes, photos, negatives & artists cards.

Most for pennies or change.

A $2. lidded lacquer box which will be my new stamp box.

I am a happy camper. 

  

Can you tell?

For 30 Faces in 30 Days Challenge ...

Day 24  Surreal

A smile for Sunday ...

Day 1278: Kata, kumite & calligraphy ... oh my!

Kasey, photo & i-pad collage

I am a day late in posting this, 

since I took a day to mention "the $5 man" here.

Do me a favor? Tell me your # choices in order?

It's scientific research on my part.

Good friend Norma suggested that our choices,

which were identical, might be age related?

So I asked WonderWoman and hers were the same,

except she added a 4th choice, #8 ... "tall".

WonderWoman is younger and tall.

Boom.

On Saturday afternoon, three seminars in four hours ...

 

held at Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Genbu-Kai Hombu Dojo

 61 degrees, Santa Ana, CA

Session one: 

Twenty six black belts learned or worked on advanced kata,

Anan, taught by outstanding instructor, Minobu Miki.

 

 Miki Sensei, Demura Sensei & Trevor

A group photo after kata training.

Session two:

 Kumite training with USA National Champ, Brian Hilliard.

Serious junior and lower belts were invited to learn & train.

Marco, Hannah, Senpai Michael, Claire & John

and a group kumite photo.

Session three:

Calligraphy (Japanese brush printing) with Demura Sensei.

We were given brush, paper & ink and practice paper.
Demura Sensei taught us the sequence of strokes.

We learned two kanji, and ...
all received a t-shirt with Demura Sensei's caligraphy for "ki"

 











 and a certificate.


Lots of happy faces ...

ask John.
Our thanks to Hokubei Karate-do Shihankai Sensei's.

Some of the special moments are in the office, after.

A smile for Monday ...