I am donating a mixed media collage to a special fundraiser called "Hearts for Anna." Artful Home will hold a 5-day online event, "Hearts for Anna", August 12-16, 2009 in which miniature artworks, no larger than 5" x 7", will be sold. The items will be sold first-come, first serve, with all items selling for $100 on Day 1, $75 on Days 2 - 4, and $50 on Day 5. All money will go to a fund that goes directly to Anna Millea to help pay for her medical bills. Information can be found at http://www.artfulhome.com/heartsforanna. Check it out and come support this worthwhile cause.

Doing marbling - suminigashi - at Artspace.

Our family gathered for our 50th Wedding Anniversary at Smith Mountain Lake. From left to right: Kristen Parkin, Sarah Parkin, Julie Cossette, Steve Cossette, Lee Rogers, Annette Rogers, Chris Rogers, Ashley Rogers, and Todd Rogers.

We escaped the cold and snow in NC and headed to California to visit my brother and his wife. Together we took a cruise on the Sapphire Princess along the Mexico coastline , including stops at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabos. After the cruise, we visited the Borrego desert just east of San Diego. While it was snowin in Raleigh, it was 91 degrees there! What a beautiful place it was. I had never seen plants like those that were growing there

I donated these 3 collages for Collage Mania 2009. Collage Mania is a special fund raising event for the American Cancer Society. On May 7 - 9, collages are auctioned off over the internet. Last year, over $13,000 was raised for this worthwhile cause.

In August, 2008 I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Penland School of Crafts in the mountains of North Carolina to be a studio assistant to my friend Nancy Taylor, who taught a watercolor workshop. This was first time for me to go to this world renowned school. It was like visual overload, with all the wonderful work coming out of the studios. It has reinforced my belief that artists are among the best people in the world. The pictures show the view from the dining hall, the dining hall building, and me in my little corner of the studio.

It seems I will never get tired of Alaska. June 2008 found us back on the boat, this time for a month, once again exploring southeast Alaska. I am so lucky to have a wonderful brother and sister in law who keep inviting us back on board! The highlights were Ketchikan, Sitka, Glacier Bay, several quaint little fishing villages, and Juneau. We made friends along the way with the local fishermen, and they in turn gifted us with fresh caught halibut. What a treat that was! Even though the weather was very cold and rainy a lot of the time, the people were warm and welcoming. Special treats included seeing swarms of eagles, including a whole family, breaching whales, bears, goats, and of course lots of sea otters.

In May 2008, Virginia Spiegel organized a special fund raising event for the American Cancer Society, called Collage Mania. I donated 3 small collages which are pictured here. During one weekend in May, they were auctioned off over the internet. Over $13,000 was raised for this worthwhile cause. It is very satisfying to do art which in some small way can benefit others. You can read about it here and see the art work that was contributed:

Our travels this summer took us to the Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park. With perfect weather for the entire eight days, we immersed ourselves in the beauty and majesty of the mountains, streams, and wildlife viewing. This completes our goal of visiting all the major national parks in this country. Each one is unique and has many treasures to discover. Now who knows where we will go next? (I have a few ideas!)

My husband and I were back on my brother's boat, this time in Alaska. We traveled from Ketchikan to Wrangell, Petersburg, and Juneau in two weeks. The weather gods smiled on us, and most days were sunny. I never got tired of looking at the snow capped mountains, the millions (it seemed) of eagles, and the beautiful scenery everywhere. We also saw whales, but no bears, since the salmon hadn't started their migration yet. We cruised in waters where cruise ships do not go, so many days we saw no other sign of human life! Most nights were spent at anchor in quiet and secluded coves. It was a wonderful adventure.

This time we are heading south, on a cruise ship from Los Angeles, through the Panama Canal, and ending at Ft. Lauderdale. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience. We made several stops along the Pacific coastline - Cabos san Lucas, Acapulco, Huatulco, and Costa Rica. Here's a picture of our ship heading through the locks.