‘invisible ink’ polaroid print available in my shop, taken with a vintage sx70 camera

Oh my goodness, it seems so long since I have settled down to pen a post, where no one is in a hurry to go anywhere. I am happy today is such a day despite a mountain of ‘to do’s’ that I refuse to worry over.

The past two weeks have spilled over with various dwellings in loveliness including a retreat away for a profoundly intimate celebration of a transformational time in this dear friend’s life. I was incredibly moved with the unbidden outpouring of love for Liz, the ignition of artistic births that comes when one is surrounded by a gathering of gifted and generous artists in the magical reverence of nature. One evening as I looked at all the beautiful faces of friends gathered for Liz it occured to me how wonderfully revealing our friendships are. Her village of friends reflected the joyful healing power of unconditional love, the warmhearted delight in one another’s company and the mystery of encouraging support that moves in the energy of the connected flow of togetherness. It was a gift to celebrate this weekend that I will cherish forever as I witnessed the way Liz’s heart and beautiful soul has touched so many lives.

A mere two days later I leapt into another transformation as we celebrated the exhibit for my children’s photography course ‘open to exposure ~ seven.’ I have so many photo’s of this delightful event but could not upload most of them since the children all sat by their personally designed exhibits and shared with the visitors the inspirations behind their photo’s. You can see a few snippets in my set here however which are simply delightful beyond belief. And yeah, I cried when I went home because, well, I just love those kids so much.

I am now in the midst of embarking on my new project ‘open to exposure ~ seven ~ the polaroids’ which chronicles the work of seven children, seven questions, and polaroid pictures of course. I will be documenting their journey throughout this project for a book I am writing “Open to exposure ~ giving your child the gift of self expression through photograhy.’

My passion for polaroid is spilling over into so many areas of life now as I have truly found my ‘medium’ rooted in the old fashioned magic of analog imagery. Thank goodness the impossible project is no longer impossible and my appetite for film will now be forever satisfied:) so let’s hear a loud ‘yay!!!!” for that news.

Spring has sprung and my garden is awakening with a charmed sleepy yawn, jasmine preens on my front porch and I have strawberry plants and tomatoes, mint and tarragon to coax along summer’s path.

I have missed all of you and this week I can’t wait to pop by your blogs.

What magic has come your way this lovely Sunday?

The new addition to the family ~ completely adorable and even our dog is besotted.

Pancakes is not impressed with the camera however, which I explained
very nicely is simply non negotiable.

I didn’t choose his name ~ my son did ~ I wanted to call him Pablo.

(naturally.)

‘the sea of swing’ polaroid by madelyn mulvaney

this morning (this SUNDAY morning I might add) there was coffee and breakfast buns at the beach and dallying around playing dj which was completely wonderful ~ if you stop by my house today you will discover a fire burning in my fireplace, the scent of cinnamon coffee and a very messy floor filled with my project I am designing for wishstudio ~ I am feeling admittedly a bit tired and looking forward to a guinness and pizza at the pub this evening and perhaps a film at the movies no less followed by a long walk on the beach ~ what are you up to as I am quite curious?

is this duet not simply perfect ~ yes i think so

‘pablo’s peaches’ ~ photo by madelyn mulvaney taken with a vintage sx70 polaroid camera

It is Sunday

I made cinnamon coffee in my moka pot and there is real Irish oatmeal with fresh organic cream, raspberries, hemp seeds and brown sugar (and a little drizzle of maple syrup)

the birds are singing and experimenting with interpretive dance steps outside my window

There is a record spinning on the turntable.

I read Lily’s (I call her Lily but she is actually Judy) interview curled up on the couch with said coffee listening to said record

and decided right then and there that Judy’s interview is a Sunday conversation

perhaps the only sunday conversation i will ever post because i am very territorial about sunday’s and would prefer to sing my own praises

but Judy’s interview helped herself to a cup of coffee and announced

‘I can’t help but think I am especially excellent Sunday material. Send me out there to wow your small but devoted audience.’

so i admit i am quite inclined to say yes…therefore…without further ado ~ I present the wondersome Judy Ford.

Who is Judy?

That question deserves a brilliant answer, but I can’t come up with one that sticks. As soon as I decide this is who I am, something shifts and I run into a new something about myself. There is always something else—something sad, something happy, something heartbreaking, something joyful—to experience. Maybe that’s why people tell me: “Judy, you’re something else.” Under my high school year book picture the phrase, “Never a Dull Moment” was used to describe me. I like that motto and that is how I intend to greet tomorrow and the rest of my life.

As an artist, what are your favorite ways to express yourself?

I adore painting, cutting and pasting and papier-mâché but I didn’t discover that artistic twist until I was in my sixties. I’ve lived a creative life, authored 12 books, counseled thousands of people, even been a guest on Oprah! Articles on my work have appeared in over 1,000 publications. It’s been wonderful. Now I’m stepping out again, having so much fun sharing my mixed-media collages and papier-mâché bracelets and bowls with others.

What is your creative process?

Writing is the most challenging for me because writing requires writing—whether I’m in the writing mood or not. I am more free-form than a disciplinarian so a schedule goes against my inklings. To keep the words flowing, however I know that not only do I need to write, I must rewrite and sometimes even delete my favorite sentences. I write first thing in the morning or last thing at night. There are days when thoughts do not cooperate. Forming ideas into words and sentences is difficult labor, like giving birth to a barbed wire fence. On those sweet occasions when the muse visits, when the words trickle down easily, when magically I’m transported to a creative zone, that’s a high to keep me writing year after year.

Cutting and pasting is a whole different expression, a meditation, a going inward, a resting in silence.
I lose myself cutting shapes and watching them merge into surprising designs. With cutting and pasting there is no intention and that’s’ precisely what makes it so refreshing for me. I have just completed my thirteenth manuscript and now I will reward myself by cutting up catalogues and magazines and shaping them into hanging or folding picture books.

What are you moved to express in your writing, art, photography the most?

Life is experienced moment by moment—from the whimsical to the heart-touching, from the lighthearted to the heart-moving, from the romantic to the silly, from sadness to joy and back again. I hope my art and writing conveys that quality of being alive with the juices flowing.

If there were absolutely no obstacles whatsoever what would you do tomorrow?

I like to think I would putter more. I love the idea of the puttering life—but that is not what life has presented so far. Life has it’s own agenda and my agenda has not always been in sync. Fortunately I’ve learned to be open to what life brings and that makes everything so much easier. Life has brought wonderful blessings, better than I could have designed myself. Of course sometimes I go kicking and screaming because I would prefer to be in charge. At the very least I can be in charge of my attitude and so I am committed to remaining a romantic optimist, full of joy and grief, a contradiction.

How do handle an interruption in the flow of imagination or writer’s block?

It’s the craziest thing—life interrupts my plans but never my imagination. That’s precisely why imagination and creativity are fundamental for not only surviving but for thriving. No matter what challenges we might face, we can get through by pouring disappointment and setbacks, sorrow and pain into creative expressions. Imagination and creativity transforms grief, that’s the silver lining.

I don’t succumb to writer’s block, in fact I wouldn’t use the phrase. As a creative person I know I need to allow myself down time. Wide-open space is as important to creativity as production. Imagination and creativity requires percolating time and wide-open space, that’s when my best fresh ideas come.

What brings you joy, contentment, happiness?

My daughter, the eagles nest outside my window, birds, sunrises, coffee shops, bus rides to town, paint brushes, a really good dinner, connected conversation, independent movies, documentaries, pop up books, sleeping outside on my outdoor bed, chimpanzees, elephants, chocolate, fresh air, willow trees, pussy willows, trees, sun flowers, tulips, hydrangeas, lilacs, wisteria, characters (as in people), studying what makes us tick, candles, my electric bicycle, hammocks, huge rings, huge bracelets, love in all it’s forms.

What holds you back?

Silly fears such as the delusion, “Something’s wrong with Judy.”

Who are your creative role models? What books, art, music inspire and ignite you?

The documentaries: Cats of Mirkitani
In the Realms of the Unreal
Young at Heart

The books: The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm
The Holy Man by Susan Trott
Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory

The movie: Happy Go Lucky
Matilda

among hundreds of others.

Where has love taken you?

Everywhere. Love has turned me inside out. By that I mean that love rules me, has a hold on me, breaks my heart, inspires me and lifts me up. By the time I was thirty-four I’d had every marital status there was: single, married, widowed, single, married, divorced, single again. Then at age forty-nine I walked hand in hand with death again when my partner died following a year long illness. His last gift to me was a book on papier-mâché with his inscription, “To my beautiful papier-mâché artist” and that began my thirteen process of creating a papier-mâché bowl that I was happy with. Love introduces me to places inside myself that hadn’t known before. At the end life the only thing that matters is how well we have loved and I think it might be possible to love the whole world. My prayer is: Dear Heavenly One. Please help me accept Love as it is given even though it may not come in the package I requested.

Famous last words?

—after making a fool of herself on more than one occasion, she committed to never ever writing an email or answering the phone until she rode her bike and cried her eyes out—–

Judy Ford, a trained professional with heart, soul, and life experience, is also a best selling author, relationship coach, mother, role model. She has worked for nearly three decades with families in various settings–from gang turf in the inner city to crisis intervention in hospitals. Judy has dedicated her life to the study of love and relationships, family healing and wholeness. She is currently in private practice in Kirkland, WA. With compassion and candor, her work speaks to the heart, inspiring us to love life, to persevere through its challenges, and to share our gifts with others.