Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Back of Mona Lisa

The Back of Mona Lisa
I unscrew the glass, when the tourists had past.
and the guard was asleep in the hall.
Then lift it off gingerly, making no sound,
off that wonderful world famous wall.
Just a moment I seek, to take a quick peek,
to see if the rumors are true,
that Da Vinci was just a regular guy
just exactly like me and like you!
So I pull off the backing, not making a sound,
so anxiously waiting my treat-
when I heard the drea sound, just like an old hound
of the thump of the wakened guards feet.
Quicken my pace to reveal, so quickly to peel,
the backing off that famous face.
Must be gentle I say, or I'll have to pay,
in jail for this curious race.
Just a glance at the back, of Lisa's great face.
told me it was worth it all,
for there I did see, a bugar so old,
hidden right there on that famous wall.
He wiped it in haste, while working one day,
on the right hand of Mona Lisa.
His model was hungry, and so they did stop
for a sip, and a bite of cheese pizza.
So because of the hunger of look alike Lisa,
we get just a bit of a view,
of Leonardo the great, painter of late,
who's so much like me and like you.
by Jill Skeie

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Manito


Manito Park

I'm up, I'm off, I'm on my way.
I'm in my tennis shoes,
I'm heading straight to Manito
to chase away the blues.

The back packs full of this and that
to make it an event,
I think I thought of everything,
just left out the tent.

Jalapeno quesadillas
wrapped up in a paper towel,
roasted peanuts and fig newtons
I can hear my stomach growl.

Big thermos of alpine cider,
use two packets, make it strong.
picnic blanket, book and glasses,
lifting spirits with a song.

Loaded with my pack and lawn chair,
I'm headed out for fun,
if it weren't so cumbersome
I could break out in a run.

My pond it is so beautiful,
with ducks swimming about.
Manito is mine today,
a whisper is a shout.

Open my chair and settle in,
with cider in my mug,
sitting here on such a day,
is like a big God hug.

An ever-young comes walking up
with helper at her side.
She loves the ducks and makes them fly,
her joy she can not hide.

This is not the Grand Canal
or the Pantheon in Rome,
but it's just as beautiful
and just think-we call it home!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Vinyl!


Oh what fun, what a delight, the studio was messy with fabric tonight!

I bought this bit of red vinyl at the fabric store a month ago, and have been waiting to finish the walkers to break out the sewing machine. To be truthful, the other bag was supposed to be the lining, but was way too big, and I just liked it too much to hide it inside a bag.

The only things recycled on the red bag are the button that I bought at a flea market in Paris, and the very thick black thread. It is a very old spool of Lyseth thread that I rescued from Grandmothers sewing box. Now the other bag is all up-cycled from upholstery samples, and a bit of our wonderful vinyl.

I might do a couple more bags before I start painting Giuseppe.

Happy spring friends, Jill

Friday, March 11, 2011

Paris Stroll


This was a very fun painting to paint!
So happy to be breaking in the new studio.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

open today

Hello my artsie fartsie friends. The studio is open today, come on over with your supplies, and play! Give me a call. Jill

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Too many ideas

I wonder if you ever have so many good ideas wandering about your head, that you just can't get to any of them. There are so many interesting, creative things to get involved in, where does a person start? Oh, if there was someone to actually pursue my ideas, we would have a much more colorful world!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

About the poems

These poems are from my journal that I wrote on my journey this fall. I wrote an email home most every day for five weeks to 75 friends that couldn't go with me. Along with some of the emails, I wrote small poems to give more of a flavor of what I was going through. These are some of the poems that I sent home. They are in reverse order, so it is probably better to read them from the end to the beginning. Not sure how to fix that. Have a great ramble..
Ps, if you just want to read the poems, click on the right side under "trip poems" It will leave out all the other artsy stuff.