After some coffee drinking and blog hopping this morning, and especially after going HERE, which is one of my all-time favorite blogs on planet earth, and seeing what Alicia & Andy & Clover Meadow Paulson did, I decided to do what I do best. Which is to essentially steal the ideas of others and pass them off as my own. And since you know that my true nature is that of a coyote and not an honorable civilized human being, which I sometimes pretend to be, I knew you wouldn’t mind. Even though what follows is the longest DISPATCH post of the year, possibly of the last 3 years.
It was hard to choose only 1 photo for each month, but I did it anyway. In February Moss Cottage began to resemble a bordello. I was drunk with garland love.
Somehow discovering Philippes stands out in my mind. The lamb sandwiches with blue cheese. oy. I wonder if they’re open today…?
In April my back courtyard was transformed into a film set for my first online class!
A little roadtrip to the coast.
I did some serious staring at this orchid.
The Station Fire and others that raged out of control and took on biblical proportions.
Yes. Of all my Lisbon pics this one best captured our excitement at the start of each day’s adventure. Yes a hat must accompany all of my travels. It’s a necessity. My delicate head must always be protected. My brain lives in there! With all the good ideas!
I finished visual journal no.10
Off on an autumn jaunt with my brothah. This was a good day.
Not just a reflection photo. This is THE KITCHEN. Home of the best gourmet take-out in the universe. Every bachelor needs a place like this by their house.
This red thread sort of sums up what I’ve been doing creatively for the last couple of months.
Next up: Mary Ann wishes everyone a Happy New Year, but no one notices because they tuned out sometime in June and went to take a nap.
I now have my calendar pictures for 2010 !! Thank you. This is so much better than the other calendars I’ve been seeing!
I stayed awake the whole year! Your art is so truly wonderful. You’ve got the gahvorknik!
I hope you and Wyatt heal speedily, but even if Mexico isn’t happening, I know you’ll make fabulous art where you are.
I like so much your blog with always excellent choice of photos, your sense of humor. Is interesting to read your words and very good way to practice my english 🙂 Thanks for sharing your impressions and creativity. Felice Anno Nuovo.
I soooo enjoyed this retrospective look at your past year…your humor and creativity add to my world!!
x..x
p.s.
I may steal this idea too 🙂
I just signed up for the class and I’m having a blast! Christmas tree still up…no food in the fridge, but WOW I’m having a blast!
I just discovered your blog tonight whilst blog surfing. You rock in so many ways. Srsly. My cats heart your cats. I love red thread. Craft monkeys warm my soul.
I will SO be taking your classes.
Sandi
Happy New Year to you Mary Ann. You have been a wonderful influence in my art lately. You’ve turned me into an urban gorilla and I thnak you for that! I wish you many happy artful days ahead. Hugs.
Happy New Year Mary Ann. Wishing you amazing 2010, health, love, luck and smiles :))))
xoxo,
Raru
Mary-Ann, it’s been a great year and I have really enjoyed every one of your classes and hilarious videos – especially those which weren’t meant to be hilarious….. 2010 is obviously going to be even better.
Here in Cape Town we had an ORANGE moon for New Year, due to smoke from a bush fire, PLUS a partial eclipse and diagonal fireworks because of a strong wind – fun!
Happy New Year Mary Ann! Loved your visual recap of 2009 and can’t wait to follow along in 2010.
As you know, your blog is one of my absolute favorites. Thank you for a year of inspiration, great humor, creative encouragement and all around good vibes! Hope you and the kitty get over the bad ear business very soon. Hoorah for Mary Ann!
Look at the PILES of love here! It must make your tail thump madly on the floor and your grin stretch all the way around your skull. And these are just the commented loves. One of your many gifts is to make each reader of your blog or your correspondence feel like THEY are your special unmet friend, the same way a really good doctor (-hair stylist, teacher-dentist-your phrase here) makes you feel that YOU are his/her favorite patient (-client-customer-student-your phrase here). It is a very very special and rare ability. Happy new and wonderful year to you Mary Ann.
Wishing you a wonderful New Year, full of health, happiness, inspiration, friendship and, of course, kitty love!!!!
EAch and every photo sweet pleasure…and ever so much fun…reminds me of what ‘warmth’ is…shivering and still stitching up another batch of ROD’s.
Susie the frozen one…could you pass the tea please???
Mary Ann, your blog is my absolute favorite. I never comment, but I just decided to let you know how important your blog is. I’ve discovered it around three weeks ago and have been following it since. Plus I’ve started reading all your archives from day one. I love your style in both writing (I’m frequently laughing my butt off) and your art. You influence me so much!!! I have three kids (ages 7,5,2.5) and because I saw the art you’ve been doing with your students, I started a very productive and, needless to say, satisfying art sessions with my kids during this winter break. Plus, yesterday I went to Michael’s and bought myself two cans of spray paint (I have no talent for art making whatsoever, but you make spray painting look so juicy and wonderful and beautiful and…. I can’t think of any more English adjective right now…that I just had to try it!) You spread loads of contagious positive energy and I thank you so, so, so much for starting this blog. Oh, by the way, I found you through Randi Feuerhelm’s blog:-)
Happy New Year!!!
Andrea from Fremont, CA
I love the photos. Oh those garlands are so cool, I want to make some this year. And I am buying RED THREAD tomorrow! I adore your cats, I adore you, and your blog and the classes. Let me tell you,the moon is so gorgeous here tonight, and surely it looks as huge over L.A. I couldn’t see the Blue Moon last night because of cloud cover, but no matter, I knew it was there. I am certain a Blue Moon on New Years is an omen for an exciting 2010 for us all.
Happy New Year Mary Ann.
Perfect pictures! Happy New Year to you too! Don’t know if I ever mentioned this, but I have have gone back into the depths and read ALL of your blog entries from the beginning!! Absolutely fabulous! Thank you for sharing your creativity and your life with us…kinda feels like we know you in person! I hope 2010 is your year…I know it will be mine!
love the ones you picked but sure would love to see the ones we missed!! thanks so happy I have “found” you again and you have started my creative juices flowing non stop! wow do I have a paper stash to use up! now to keep going! thanks you’re the best!! Happy New Year dear!! enjoy!
What a challenge — just one photo per month to track your year.
Love your choices and I admire your restraint. May I borrow this challenge?
I love your blog so much, but lately none of the images have been displaying in Safari (although they do in Firefox) — I’ve been so disappointed!
I enjoyed that but it did go by to quickly. I would have enjoyed two per month…at least. Thanks and Happy New Year and hope your ear passes muster Monday.
My dear Ms Mary Ann! You have influenced me and my “art” so very much this year. I started with your very first class. You and your art have peirced my soul and wont let go. You have opened my world to so many possibilities and so many ways. I would dearly love to meet you in person some day… not an impossibility we both live in this big city! Perhaps I will invite you to one of our wild parties… you’d fit right in. Here’s to a glorious new year for us all! My it looks like the ENTIRE internet art world is taking your current class! I forsee you quitting your teaching job to become an online art messiah! Or maybe just cashing it all in and moving to Mexico… one or the other… Here is to a healthy bill of health from your dr. Get well soon kid you have adventures to go on!
XO Bri
I thought the year went by rather quickly-I especially loved FEB. Have a wonderful year.
Happy New Year to you too!!
Thank you for the visual goodies and inspiration 🙂