You Can't Go Back....

So I have heard it said many times that you can't go back...Back to a better time. Back to a happier time. Back to your childhood. I don't like to hear that because it sounds so final. Memories can be so vivid that you can almost jump in and re-live that time.

Angie and I recently "went back". As I have previously posted, "the cabin" is a very special place for us. We used to live 2 hours apart from each other and we always looked forward to summer when we would be together and spend weeks at the cabin with our grandparents. This was our place, where we belonged together, no one else could touch it. Now we live 3 hours apart...Angie made the trip to my house last weekend and we made a trip to the cabin. It had been about 25+ years since we had been there. As we approached the lane that we loved to walk barefoot in the summer, all the memories came flooding back. We were nervous as we drove to the end of the lane. We were quickly surprised to see that the lane was blocked with a wire and flags. We parked and got out. As we were walking towards the cabin we were pointing and saying remember that....remember when...then...there it was..."the cabin". It all seemed smaller. The distance from the cabin to the garage seemed like a mile years ago-now just steps. The shelter house was there-just like we left it. The garage...not so good. The cabin was a sad sight. Years of neglect had brought it to its knees. It seemed so lonely. It was lonely. It broke our hearts. We started talking how we could fix it up...tear it down and build a new one...

It was hard to leave it behind. I feel like there are pieces of us trapped inside. Pieces that want to see us again. Maybe you can't go back...

Paper Dolls...

My mom makes the coolest art dolls. She inspired me to make some dolls of my own out of paper. So~this is what I came up with...

Here are some of the "girls" that my mom, Willa, makes......really cool~right?!?

Star Books

Star books...there are several steps to making these books. I like the entire process. The more complicated-the better. I do love a challenge. So many people don't quite know what to do with these. You can add parts of your favorite poem~quotes~

pictures~the possibilities are endless.

Summer Creations

I have been busy making some new books and journals to post on Etsy and for galleries. I can't believe that summer is over and school has started! Give me some feedback on these latest journals.

The paper is made in Thailand-I love this paper! There are 140 pages. The longest process is cutting the pages!

Binding the books is my favorite process.

What's New?!?

I have been working on some journals and books for an upcoming show that I am doing on August 14 and 15 called Art in Action. It will be at the Knox County Art League in Mt. Vernon. So far I have 10 journals done and 11 books sewn without covers. I will post some pictures when I get some new batteries for my camera. So in the mean time--I am going to post some more artwork from the "Tempted" show. I am going to the Art Walk tonight in Downtown Newark-hope it's good!

This is "Meet Temptation". I'll bet you have seen him before!!

"The Walk" I don't think I want to walk there anytime soon!!

This is summer to me....

I wish I could be a kid again everytime that summer comes around. Here are a few pictures that are the true memory of summer to me.

This is my favorite place~always will be~even though I haven't seen it since the 80's. "The Cabin" holds so many great memories for me. My cousin Angie and I spent hours and hours here and made the best memories. This is the meaning of summer to me. Someday~maybe Angie and I will take a trip to the cabin and see it once again.

This is at my grandparents house in Granville. The 3 muskateers and the neighbor's dog. That is Lisa on the left-she lived down the street and had a really mean little dog. I can remember her mom chasing it with a broom. That's me in the middle and Angie on the end. We were about 8 years old in this picture. That is Tippie the dog. He was the neighbor's dog, but we acted like he was ours.

Here we are in the tree in the backyard at grandpa and grandma's house. We had so much fun in the summers with our grandparents. There was a horse farm behind their house, we loved feeding them through the fence.

Old Pictures

Have you ever looked at old pictures of your family and suddenly you realize that your parents, grandparents, aunts etc. had a life before you? I know that sounds strange, but you only know those people from the point that you were born.

My Great Grandpa Speirs 1954

My Grandma and her siblings 1922


That's my grandma looking down, she is 12 years old in this picture (1921). That is her brother and sister beside her. Her mom is in the back. Check out the fancy clothes.

Post Expressions

It is time to let your creativity show!!
Enter your postcard size art into the show "Post Expressions".
Any media is acceptable~no bigger than a postcard!
contact me at lifeisart@roadrunner.com for an entry form and more information.

Artwork from "Tempted"

This is some of the artwork that is at the "Tempted" show

"Sea Siren"

"Pull"

"Hunger"

"Choose"

"Blow"

all art is original art by Stephanie McKee and may not be copied for any reason

"Tempted" at last....

Me and Fina

"Tempted-The Cake" by Asetta Bread Company (Mt. Vernon, OH)

The opening reception for "Tempted" happened Saturday night. It was a lot of fun! My friend Fina and I have been working our butts off to get our art ready for the show. We scheduled it 9 months ago and of course, we both waited till the last minute to get the work done. We had several bumps in the road getting the show ready-but we did it! It is being held at the Knox County Art League (Old B&O Railroad Station) on North Main street in Mt. Vernon, OH. It will be up until June 30th.

"TEMPTED"

I hope that you can come the see "Tempted"~an art show that features my friend Fina and I.

Garage Gallery is my dream and my vision. I am slowly but surely transforming a space that is about 20 feet by 32 feet with 12 foot ceilings into a gallery/studio space. My plan is to have a place where friends and family can display their artistic creations for sale on the weekends and to have art shows. This is a slow process because it is just me right now working on it. I have a friend that is ready to help put up studs for the walls as soon as I am ready. To be honest-it has to be a little warmer outside for me. I will keep you updated on the progress.

Crimson Walk

This is my latest painting. It is titled "Crimson Walk". It will be part of my show in June.

Getting Back On Track....

It has been toooo long since I have last posted on here. BUT...I am happy to say that I am back on track. I am working on some new journals and art pieces. My friend Fina and I are doing an art show together in June at the Knox County Art League. I will be posting some pics of my new stuff, but not everything until after the show. My plan is to post at least once a week. I know my friend Leslie will keep me on track-I don't want my teeth kicked out.