BACK TO ART... 

December 26, 2015 

Here we are, on the other side of Christmas, with New Years on its heels. For us, it was a quiet Christmas because New Years is THIS year's celebration...January 3rd is our grandson's 13th birthday and we'll be celebrating together! I made THIS for him as he (and our granddaughter) are both HUGE hockey players and fans. Do you think he'll like it?

Now, on to the online art group challenges...it's been a while since I've participated in these and it's fun to get back to them!! Keeps me off the streets :)

First, for the Flicker group, DIGITALMANIA, we were inspired by artist Maud Starr (also known as Heather Murray.) She works with vintage images and creates some textured, interesting backgrounds for them. Here's one of hers...

and here are two of mine in her style.

 

DIGITAL WHISPER administrators asked artists to show them what we think of when we "think Christmas..."

 

Finally, TAKE A WORD has asked for a creation sporting some red and green and THE THREE MUSES requested a re-worked, well known art masterpiece. This piece met both groups' requirements...

That's it for my getting back into the art challenge mode. I wish you a Happy New Year filled with heart-felt joy, success in what you do...and always, LOVE!

Hope to see you for my next posting...

Big Hugs,

abbyj 

 

ARTFUL READERS CLUB 

"AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED" by Khaled Hosseini 

December 21, 2015 

It's book review time here at The Vivere!! This month's book was WONDERFUL!!!

The story begins in Afghanistan, when a poor man gives up his toddler daughter, Pari, to a wealthy family in Kabul. Her older brother, Abdullah, is devastated! This relationship between brother and sister is the unifying thread connecting the many stories that make up "And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini. Their separation  starts a chain of events that take us on a journey across the world and through the decades. Although Pari soon forgets her early years with her father and brother, she retains a vague yet disturbing sense that she doesn't really know who she is...that she's missing a part of herself. Although the book takes us through Europe and the United States, Afghanistan remains at its heart because it remains in the heart of the characters.
"And the Mountains Echoed" is a series of intertwined stories about these family members, their descendants and the people whose lives they touch. Khaled Hosseini masterfully explores the complicated themes of love, sacrifice, loss and family while imparting a feeling of hope...that beauty and goodness can emerge from difficult situations. He's a magician who captures the imagination with powerful words...definitely worth a read!! I LOVED the book!