“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”
~Helen Keller






"A little bit of my spirit"......By Amy Maisel.........Mixed Media

I had the opportunity to take a fantastic ArtDoll class in New Mexico this summer. There, I connected to a fantastic woman by the name of JEAN...A.K.A. RAVEN! Well, she has woken me up in terms of how to view myself as an artist (I kind of lost it for awhile). Anyway, she had the chance to see my artwork and commissioned me to do some pieces for her. I was apprehensive at first, then I even tried to give her the artwork, but, she explained to me that I need to look at myself as a serious artist who has something to share.... A little piece of my Spirit! I can do this with my art. I made her a wire Raven...Because she is a mysterious and Sly Raven! I made her a chicken because she loved one I had made for "MYSELF", and I made her a driftwood spiritdoll because she connected to it. So, what I have learned is to start sharing my art and put myself out there. I have been hiding for too long!!! Thank you Jean...Love you SisterFriend!!!

Driftwood

Driftwood
Broken by a storm, freed from my roots
I flow toward destiny where
new adventures await,
anxiously.

No longer a bystander of a rivers journey
but baptized by nature’s resilience
as I float, glide and fly,
joyfully.

My journey has shaped me uniquely
chiseled by jagged rock to beauty
whitened by the sun,
brilliantly.

Life no longer passes me by as I travel
napping in shadowed pools
dancing with the spray,
gratefully.

Where will my adventure’s end?
Does it really matter as
long as I’m still here,
naturally.
Author unknown



"Driftwood Dolls" artwork by Amy Maisel Driftwood, Mixed Media

I love collecting driftwood pieces and making things out of them, especially art dolls. I came up with this idea after collecting some on vacation to Colorado. My husband is a fly-fisherman and that definitely gives me the opportunity to wander and collect treasures along the banks of lakes, streams and rivers. I grew up on the Mississippi in Wisconsin and I have always collected treasures from the banks. It probably makes sense, I love all things weathered, worn, and natural.