Our trek to Thailand began with a couple of leisurely days in Phuket – the portion of the southern isthmus that dangles into the Andaman Sea and Indian Ocean. And for the record, I…

In an effort to keep all of our travel blogs in one locale, I’m linking a series of blogs we did during our month in Italy during the summer of 2010. When visiting the…

We read voraciously in order to keep up with the ceaseless tide of excellent literature. We read to our babies and kids so they too can become lovers of good books. Rarely, however do…

Periodically I used to post a quote in the sidebar of my webpage – something that’s speaking to me from someone wise. I no longer have that website design so don’t post quotes any…

Ilene Satala July 13, 1951 – May 16, 2014 Ilene Satala was a beloved teacher, artist, mentor and friend. Her life’s work and teaching resonated with me from the first time I attended her…

Written November 10, 2014 The Fort Wayne Museum of Art held their annual Dia de los Muertos festival highlighted by an exhibit of several altars honoring the lives of departed loved ones. I enjoyed…

A few stray pictures offer a glimpse into the creative process involved in bringing to life the altar to honor Ilene and Frida. A couple of months ago, I stumbled upon an essay that…

Ilene’s husband, Conrad, asked that several photos be added to the altar taken during sacred rituals with the Maya people in Santiago Atitlan Guatemala. They were displayed on the altar via a digital frame…

Sophia and the Seven Goddesses: A Journey of Self-Acceptance and its accompanying workbook were written and illustrated by Ilene Satala in conjunction with Beverley Danusis. The synopsis reads: “Sophia and the Seven Goddesses: A Journey…

My art mentor, Ilene Satala, had a close connection to Frida Kahlo. She always spoke of her admiration for Frida’s honesty in her paintings. Her willingness to show her pain, joy and soul was…