My 7 latest ATC's!

Moment of Joy


Electric Goddess of the Sea


Spiral Luminosity II


Spiral Luminosity I



In the Shallows II


In the Shallows I


Converging Lines


Wow, I have tried to catch up with my ATC project cards and feel like I have made some progress. Several of these I created as pairs working with some new techniques with my abstracts that I may use for larger pieces. After my abstracts I decided to go a bit whimsical which was a lot of fun. If I am adding correctly, I may be down to 6 more to go, or so which is a much more workable number. I do want to give everyone an update on my knee sugery. So far, I have NO pain in the knee, which is sooooo wierd, but wonderful. I still have swelling issues, but am working those out in the pool at the YMCA, and my PT and I are agressively working towards progress. He told me it would be up to a year to be back to "normal" if there is such a thing for me, so until then I am thrilled with no crunch and no pain. I am finding a knock and pop in my hip, which I have had, but I think the extra excercises are flaring that up, at least I hope it's just a flare. I am excited about the prospect of healing and having a much stronger leg, which will help my foot drop not be so much of an issue. I'll keep you posted! A

Four more ATC Cards

Horizontal Abstract



Autumn Fair



Sunlight Sunshade



Winding Way

These are the most current ATC's I finished for a total of 16 so far. I have around 10 more to do. They are on their way to Germany, Canada, and two places in the states, which I think is really cool. So, to my Wetcanvas.com counterparts, I hope you like them!

VSA Art in the Magic City Awards Program

Wow, what a great night I had in Birmingham Tuesday. I attended the awards/reception/auction for the VSA Art program in the state of Alabama at the ATT Center. My three paintings were displayed proudly and my "I Wonder Why?" won the VSA Arts of Alabama purchase award and an Image Award, so it was on all the t-shirts, which was cool! This is the first time I had participated in this event and found it to be so meaningful and rewarding. The people were just so nice and meeting the other artists around our state with disabilities was the highlite of the night. I also got to attend it with my mom, Uncle Ralph, and Great Uncle Dewey, so that made it even more special. We stayed with my Aunt Peggy and had a ball! Physically, the trip was hard, because my knee was still quite swollen and being on my feet at times was stressful, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Thanks to all of the VSA staff, ATT/Bellsouth, and Alabama Power who made this event possible.

I started physical therapy last week with my most favorite of all therapist at Grelot Physical Therapy in Mobile. I have had to work with a lot of thearpists in the past 15 years, and by far, Stjani Fridrikkson is the best, most knowledgeable one. It's frustrating to go into a PT's office and be seen along with two to three other patients at the same time. At Grelot, it's one on one care and the best you can get. Thanks Stjani for mastering your craft and being such a great help! Rehabing after this surgery has been way slower than I thought or expected, but I can say that I have NO pain in the knee now, which is bizarre and wonderful all at the same time. I am weak, but there is nothing stopping me from building up my knee to an almost normal state. YEAHHHHH!

I have been watching the events at Virginia Tech this past week and want to wish all those family, friends, students, and community my heartfelt sympathy and prayers. I can't comprehend the loss or imagine what it would be like for those who lost loved ones, but I can stop and acknowledge their lives. I have been a victim myself of gun violence when I was 10. I survived the ordeal but was never the same and to this day still deal with the images left in my mind of that frightful night. I wish all of those who experienced this firsthand a much quicker, peaceful understaning than I have had. God 's Peace be with each of you.
Ardith