2009 November : Jill Berry Blog

The kids have been out of school for nine days. Here are some of the adventures we have had.
Tattoo parlor games, the day before the annual photo appointment. Sydney was very creative and careful, and Sam was so quiet I should have known something was going on. What was I thinking? Quiet in our house [...]

Thanksgiving

Posted on November 26, 2009 - Filed Under Personal Enrichment | 1 Comment

Today is Thanksgiving, and here is my journal page of gratitude. My children are clever and extremely cute. My husband is talented, funny and works really hard. Even my dog is fabulous, and after his haircut has real fancy pants. None of us are sick or even close to it. We have a house, and [...]

And the winners are….

Posted on November 25, 2009 - Filed Under Uncategorized | 2 Comments

I used the random number generator to get the winners and they are Ann Miller and Diana Trout.
Here is a card that Ann Van Tassell made for me.

Here is the end of what is said on the back.
“all it seems we can do is keep on being as kind as we can to each other.”
Happy [...]

Ann’s Birthday Giveaway, and Valley Ridge

Posted on November 24, 2009 - Filed Under Uncategorized | 33 Comments

Today I am doing a blog giveaway for the very first time. The occasion is Ann Van Tassell’s birthday, and I intend to do what she would do, and that is send off boxes of goodies to fun people. The boxes are filled with my papers, games, trinkets, goodies for the mixed media artist or [...]

Raevn’s Nest, 2009

Posted on November 20, 2009 - Filed Under 2009 Workshops | 5 Comments

I had the great fortune of going to teach in Cedarburg, Wisconsin at the Raevn’s Nest Art Retreat, and for the second time. Laurie Mika and I shared a room, and a bunch of my favorite people showed up. And I have some new favorites, including Randy, the brave only man in our group. It [...]

Angel Ann, and Andrew

Posted on November 20, 2009 - Filed Under Artist Friends | 5 Comments

Today I am thinking of two people, Ann Van Tassell, and Andrew van der Merwe. Ann is my friend, and the friend of many, who just passed away from a long, long struggle with breast cancer. Andrew is a lettering artist in South Africa. Both are calligraphers, both are people who strive to make the [...]

The Color of Eyes

Posted on November 18, 2009 - Filed Under Visual Inspiration | Leave a Comment

I have been making art, lots of it, and haven’t been here for a while. There is a lot to say, but right now I just want to share this video. It made me think instantly of my children.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EELEjeYzfjM[/youtube]
My husband saw Kristin at a house concert last year. She is amazing.
My girl has eyes that [...]

Oh Pioneers

Posted on November 3, 2009 - Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment

I was driving home from my den in Nebraska, finally released to clear open roads , and I thought of my pioneer ancestors crossing this same prairie on foot, in wagons and on horses. My great, great grandmother kept a diary of this event in her life, so we have a real record of what [...]