Winter’s Magic~**Snow***

One thing that is still magical to me about winter is snow.*** I grew up in the South and rarely had the thrill of playing in the snow as a child. Whenever a few flakes did fall, it was considered an unusual and exciting event, which never lasted for more than a day or two at the most! We were very creative in making the most of even a dusting of the white, magical, icy cold powder–making snow cream, sledding down a hill in a cardboard box, collecting the snow from the whole yard for a small snowman, or seeing who could create the best snow angel. If a few flakes were sighted by the children while at school, no teacher was able to contain the shrieking and running to the windows to watch it in wonder and awe !

Today we are expecting snow here…I begin to feel the excitement of childhood with this first snow of winter. I now live in a place where snow regularly falls during the wintertime, so by spring I am usually tired of the extra bundling up and shoveling the driveway. But for today as the snow begins to fall, I will remember my childhood excitement as I work in the studio on a piece in my Winter series — adding threads to make this scene come alive…

Winter PixB

even if just in my memories!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

In the Studio~2012 in Review

It has been a busy time this week in the studio (and office) after the holidays ended.                     And, the New Year has officially begun!

***2013***

River...Flows
Life as a River~

WordPress sends a Year in Review blog report at the end of December.  In it they list the most-viewed posts during the year. I love to see what was of interest to the most people. If you missed them and would like to view them now, they are listed below–with links to the posts.

Batik Cotton
Artist’s Materials

Top 5 Posts for 2012

1 Living Life Using Creativity [from November 2011]

2 Quote…Life as a River [from May 2011]

3 Tuesday…In the Studio–“An Artist’s Response to Materials”  [from May 2011]

4 Thursday In the Studio–The Final Stages…  [from August 2011] 

5 In the Studio~Child’s Play [from April 2012]

Playtime Games, (c) 2012, Joni Beach.
Playtime Games, (c) 2012 Joni Beach.

Thank-you to all my readers this year~ to everyone who commented, liked a post, or began following! You have made this an enjoyable experience and I appreciate your visits…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

~~~~~~~~~~

*If you have a favorite post not on the Top 5 list, I would love to hear what it is…! 🙂

Family Fridays~Early Morning Sunrise*

Standing in front of the french doors, looking across the deck through the bare forest trees over to a distant hill…I see the sun rise this morning. *

At first a beautiful rosy glow crosses the eastern sky, changing to a paler warm orange…

Until the light disperses the color, and the sun finally peeks over the horizon.

DSC02041PeekingOverTheHorizon

Thinking about the arrival of 2013, I assess the joys and challenges of this past year.

This reflection provides reminders…,

a possible change in perspective…

a sense of renewal…

And, taking a breath,

I decide I can slowly begin moving forward with courage…

peeking over the horizon into the New Year

*Do you have a sense of newness as the New Year begins?–For your life, family,or creative pursuits?