The Artist Balcony

Do you know what the one flaw in women is?

2010-07-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it all shows up at what your thought was one moment of divine clarity. When the universe seems to be trying to convey some message that you just could not understand. Well I am having one of those moments. Slowly I've been dealing with the ravishes of the past, you know the gunk, that was getting in the way of living. Sometimes you have to dig deep and unearth the old monsters to find out they have lost their teeth. I'm beginning to see or more accurately to be seen. I put on a good ninety pounds to keep everyone away ( as you can see by the photo taken a year and a half ago). I threw out the scale some years ago, as it was too depressing watching the needle go up. Instead the Doctor would give me that bad news. Well, yesterday I went and this time I lost forty pounds! No diet, no struggle, no exercise, nothing, EXCEPT doing the interior work has had an effect on my exterior. Back to my point about a moment of clarity. Everything just came together when I received this link about the one flaw in women. I hope you will have a moment of clarity when you watch.

Do you know what the one flaw in women is?: "You've got to watch this beautiful 3-minute movie: http://www.theoneflawinwomen.com/"

I'm having a Pheonix Rising momment

2010-05-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

OK, I have to admit that Wendy shamed me into updating my blog. I crawled into a gigantic hole, pulled the covers up around my ears and went no art for a while. I had to recharge the old batteries the were just out of juice. When I dug a little deeper I found that my Soul needed an overhaul. So what should a mature woman do? Eat, Pray, Love? Hell, eating help me get into the depression I was in. Pray? I decided to quit praying to G-D and telling him all my troubles and start meditating and listening to to what he had to tell me. Yeah, to much yapping on my part and not enough listening. Now the love thing has taken on a whole new meaning. All this time I have been waiting for Mr. Right to show up and love me, warts an all. Well bubba it ain't gonna happen that way. I'm on a wart removal program, not physical warts but those emotional, soul scaring, keep people away kind of warts. This has required some serious surgery on my soul. Am I all better? No, but I'm on the mend. Loving life again which is why I could dip into the pool of creativity and pull out a little something. This necklace marks my entry back into life. Let's just call it "Enter the Sacred Place"

Netflix and the Family

2009-05-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

I thought I would take a little departure from my usual cerebral pursuits and tell you of my relationship, yes it is a relationship, with Netflix. Netflix? you say why don't you just get cable or dish? Well I'm glad you asked. First let me start by saying Theresa Veronica (that's my T.V.) has a little bit of age on her. A friend was getting a new T.V. and gave her to me ten years ago. Gotta love friends! I get some of the best stuff from friends. We shop in each others closets, trade furniture, feed each other and make stuff for each other. I have even traded cars with my mechanic. Anyway, back to Theresa Veronica (T.V) who settled in here for a long stay. I decided to give her a little love and got a VCR that plays DVDs and videos. Hooked it up myself and we were in heaven. Except that there came a day when I was overrun by DVDs and videos because I hated going to Blockbuster and rent them, then cart them back, or have to pay the fine for being late. Happily I discovered Netflix, don't asked me how, it was years ago when they first started. My friends ask me don't you feel deprived? What about cable or Dish, aren't you missing HBO, Dexter and all those good shows that are shown? Heck NO!!! Most of them I can get on Netflix. Oh, I may be a season or two behind but for $17.00 a month as opposed to $$$$$$ what they are paying for cable or Dish I am happy as a clam.

Dear Mr. President may I suggest to you a way people can save money, have fun with friends and put food on the table? Swap stuff with your friends and get Netflix. I can see the Obama family snuggled up on the couch with Bo watching a good movie from Netflix. A bag of popcorn, juice for the girls, Gramma out for the evening and a bottle of Merlot for themselves. Ah, I love the first family.

Sorry the photo is from an old Christmas Card from my family but my dad does look like Mr. President and we look like a poster for the universal family of all colors. It is hard to be prejudice when you come from this stock.

Rebirth of the Pheonix

2009-05-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a person just has to step back and just allow the fire to sweep over them. A little burning can be a good thing, it allows the dross to be removed. How many times shall I be put in the fire? As many times as it takes but I have learned one thing and that is that you must willingly surrender. So often we think that our imperfections are hidden from view but to those who have eyes they see right into the secret places. The seers call forth light to shine upon what we think has been hidden even from ourselves. I am humbled that the light has been turned on, I shall not hide in the darkness any longer. Is the purging over? NO! but I submit to the process that will cause the best of me to rise from the ashes of this life. May the Pheonix rise again.

Hands Free Ready

2008-06-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

Ok now you know we had just too much time on our hands today. "C" was thinking while business is slow and everyone is trying to save a buck and starting July 1st you can no longer talk on your cell phone in the car without it being hands free. Here is her solution . No need for Bluetooth . LOL

Hi Ho Hillary

2008-04-03T19:13:00.000-07:00

Hey there Hillary

2008-03-31T17:31:00.000-07:00

Here we go again, this time it started with another book, the title was "A purpose driven life" . Who would step forward and claim to be its champion? Was there anyone that was driven with a purpose? After sleeping on it guess who stuck up her hand and said "me, me, it has to be me" You've got it Hillary Clinton. While the naked purpose driven book with its pages folded, ready for its personification screamed at me "Wait a minute, why should I be made into a Hillary Doll?" "Can't you think of someone else that fits my title?" "Well" huffed Hillary "Who do you think you are? President? I have had just about enough of You Mr. Book and those that have tried to keep me in my so called place. I supported Bill when he was Governor, put up with his foolishness when he was President. Got Billy boy to support me as the Senator from New York and now it's my turn! I wanna be Prez" Obviously she won the argument with Mr. Book. Now let us see if she can win against my man Mr. Obama.

Back in the saddle again

2008-02-17T18:07:00.000-08:00

Boy have I been in a dry spell. Had not made a thing. Zip, nadda, nothing, zilch not a bead beaded, no paint on my fingers, not a thread clipped, nor paper torn. Oh, I kept looking for things to make, searched for inspiration, but silence kept coming back from the great beyound. So what to do? The answer was do nothing. Take some time and just refresh. You know that some times in order to change directions you have to just vegetate or as we say around here "cool your heels" chill out. Now I'm finished chilling and back to work.

This Doll started when "yarn goddess" sent the group at clothpaperstudios a link to a site that had paper folding techniques. He (all Chinese opera performers are male) is about two feet tall. The head is made from papier mache, painted with a Chinese Opera mask and the hair made from strips of manilla folder. The entire doll is made of paper even the tie for the hair.

I'm so glad the drought is over.

Quilt Show

2007-10-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

This is a first for me. I was asked to be one of the judges for the African American Quilters of Los Angeles Quilt Show which is to take place Saturday, November 10Th at the Carson Community Center. There were some pretty amazing quilts. It was a totally new experience to judge. Looking for crisp points, straight lines, even stitching and god forbid puckering. Drawing on all the help my little left brain could muster I took the challenge and tried to be fair. Then we got to make our choice for the quilt we like the most (Judges Choice). This time I allowed my right brain take over, choosing instead the quilt that I would want to take home. The quilt that was technically the best was not the one that I wanted. It called to me, spoke my name, whispered sweetly "I am Special".

I think the quilt show is the same weekend as the Stamp Convention at the same location. I sure hope so. I'm ready for a little power shopping.

The slow learning curve

2007-10-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it just amazes me how slow I am to learn new computer things. Case in point; how long has it been since blogger has allowed you to add a banner at the top of your blog? A month, six months or maybe it was there when this blog was birthed? I don't know, but it has been there for a while. After looking at a lot of peoples blogs with all their cool graphics, you tube video inserts and the like and drooling over other blogs. I saw that I could add a header/banner. I whipped one up - really a trial run - inserted it, easy peasy, then decided to give it a fall flavor by changing some of the colors. One of these days I'll learn something else and try that too. This is a work in progress just like my life. I'm not what I will become but surely I'm not what I was. Onward for the adventure has just begun.

Confess and Grow

2007-10-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

My sister Char and I had another adventure last weekend. She had bought a pattern for these cute bags which we decided to make. Each of us brought a bunch of fabrics from our stashes and of course we just had to go to the Cotton Shop in Redondo Beach( http://thecottonshop.com/ ) to pick up a little more yardage. They were having a sale on batiks so we loaded up. That is what is piled up on the table. I also threw on the pile some of the finished bags. We set up our sewing machines facing each other so that we could chat and sew. The Margaritas just added to our fiesta.

Now on to the confession. For a number of years I belonged to a group of crafters where we got together and made things, clothes, purses, jewelry, dang good stuff and then sold them at craft fairs and trunk shows. One of the women was very good at getting venues for the sale of our goods, another had a gift for setting up the displays and the rest of us could turn out the stuff for sale. Now comes the rub. How do you get out of the way and allow each person to do what they have a talent for? Why is it that there is always someone who thinks they know everything about anything? It's their way or the highway. I thought I was a team player, working for the good of the team. Then the light went on and I had an ah ha moment. I was smacked right upside the head, bam. I had brought my camera and Char said we need a picture to remind us of what we got this weekend. In my head I saw the picture, as you see it posted, with all the stuff piled up, with the sewing machine set up and the Margarita glasses to commemorate our adventure. She began to neatly display the fabrics, get rid of the water bottle trash receptacle sitting on the table. I put everything back, snapped the picture and that is when it hit me. Even though her idea was just a valid as mine it had to be my way. Now I realize I don't have to always be in charge.

Day Tripping

2007-09-22T16:59:00.000-07:00

I'm back from our day trip to Zinnia's in South Pasadena. What a fun place. That's Tamara in the top picture just waiting to hand me my capture of the day. Eight coordinated fabric packs with some very cool fabrics, a couple of big vintage buttons and some face cabochons. I guess I'll be making more purses. Char scored her goodies with a few felted Halloween ornaments, a book, a few more face cabochons and dang nab it I didn't watch to see what else she got. Every nook and crannie has some thing and the place is all decked out for Halloween. If you are anywhere near you have got to drop by, heck, if you're taking a trip to Southern California you can jump on the Gold Line Metro Rail from downtown L.A. and get off right down the street. There are lots of interesting shops along Mission. http://www.zinnia.com/ Today South Pasadena was having an Arts and Crafts Fair right outside the shop along Mission St. so we cruised the street looking at all the fabulous jewelry. Char told one vendor that she should supply slobber cloths so people would not drool on her stuff. There was a gorgeous butter amber necklace that could knock you socks off and a spectacular red coral and silver necklace that made my heart pound.

Afterwards off we went to visit Judy at http://www.stampinoncloud9.com/ in Monrovia where I picked up just a few (8) more rubber stamps that I really didn't need but had to have. Told her we would miss her and to keep in touch after she sells the store. She is a real sweetie. Then had a late lunch at Mimi's Cafe. All in all it was a very good day. Now I'm off to go fondle my new stuff and see what calls to me the loudest.

Play Day

2007-09-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

Yippee, I'm off today for a play day with my sister Charlean. The plan is to go to Zinnias in South Pasadena. What a cool fun craft store. Here is a link so you can get a sense of what it's like.
http://www.zinnia.biz/ The staff is great and you can't beat the place for all kinds of goodies. Then we will probably go to Stampin on cloud 9 in Monrovia. http://www.stampinoncloud9.com/ This is Judy's last month before she retires the store. Oh pooh, Ill miss her and the great classes. I'll tell you about our adventure when I get back.

"In the Garden" At last I think it's done

2007-09-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

It has only taken six weeks to finish Rice's Hoodie. You may remember that she sent me a sweatshirt that she dyed this delicious lime green (OK the photo makes it look yellow, but I assure you it's lime) I would have kept it but 1. I said I would work on it and then send it back to her and 2. I can't get my fat butt, sorry, ample frame into it. oh heck, to bad for me. Well anyway my usual way of working is to just dive in and say to a piece "speak to me" and usually does, but this time after getting an initial idea, which I posted earlier, thinking that what I would do would be to machine embroider vines down the front, over the shoulder then up the hood portion. After that stamp leaves with Lumiere paint and then hand embroider flowers here and there to finish it. Well I scraped that idea because the machine embroidery would distort the fabric, IMHO. I put it away for a week. took it out and thought about it some more, put it back, you get the idea. Well I finally got around to it and hand embroidered the vines, then added some beaded vines. It's a must there has to be beads, it screamed for beads. Then I found this batik fabric that ran the colors of the rainbow with lime and orange, red, yellow, purple, and more green which is used to fashion leaves. After scrounging in the laundry room for some used dryer sheets that I used as backing so that I could simply turn them inside out after stitching I was on a roll. Added bronze floss down the center of each leaf and sewed them on using itty bitty primary colored buttons to anchor them. Then I had a skinny friend try it on. The *&#@ thing won't fit me. Then put it way again. Off I went and made the cuff bracelet for a little diversion. Then back to the task at hand. Made a little voodoo doll pin, after all it's for Rice (that's another story) which is pined on the place where I cut out the emblem that use to be there. Added some silk ribbon leaves and ties just because I felt like it and three more ribbon ties on the sleeve opposite the side with the vines for balance. I've promised myself that I will mail it back to her on Monday. Otherwise I know I'll pull it out and do more stuff to it, but I have to leave room for her to Journal on it or she may send it off to someone else to add their touch to it.

Taking a side trip

2007-09-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

I had been working on a sweatshirt for the last four or five weeks and decided to take a break. As I went rummaging through my stash of stuff I found this beautiful abalone shell cabochon and right then decided it would make a fabulous cuff bracelet. Of course I had never made a beaded bracelet, but why should that stop me. So I set to work. Gathering beads that I thought brought out the colors of the shell I was off and running. After attaching the cabochon to a piece of beading cloth (can't remember what it's called and to lazy to go downstairs and look) I was like a woman possessed beading in free form peyote stitch around the cab then attacking the two sides creating the pattern as I went. Unleashing my Muse to dive into the beads and pattern until I realized something. How was I going to attach a clasp? The solution! Make a loop closure on one side and attach a abalone shell button to the other with dangles and beads. Sometimes you have to put one thing down and take a side trip. It's good for your soul.

The Creative Life

2007-09-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

Momma Bear has just sat down, put on her glasses, to read her charges (Sunny, English Lion and Honey Lamb) a few excerpts from Rice Freeman-Zachery's new book "Living the Creative Life". to see her blog go to http://voodoonotes.blogspot.com/ She starts by telling them that everyone needs a little inspiration to get their creative juices flowing. What better place than learning from the stories of other artists as they talk about their own diverse creative journeys. There is a place for both inspiration and perspiration as we travel along this path as artists. Come and travel along life's path with me as we play among the heavens while sipping from a magical cup that both sustains us while imparting shimmery images that must be brought forth from our hands. I propose a toast to all of you. Be inspired this day!

My Bad - a confession

2007-08-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

The other day my sister sent me Somerset Studio's Artful Blogging visually inspiring online journals magazine. They had some wonderfull online bloggers showcased. OK the truth is that I looked at all the pictures, read a few things here and there. But, now onto my confession. There was a section called Blogging Etiquette which had some dos and don'ts when you blog. The biggie that smacked me in the face was "Respond to people who leave comments on your blog, either in e-mail or by visiting their blog". Dang I didn't know that! When I received a comment I would hit reply, of course, it would not let me reply so I figured I was notsupposed to reply. "My bad" (I think that is the current lingo for oops I screwed up) I should have replied to the commentor anyway. That works if I have you in my address list, but does anyone know what to do if you are not in my address book? I don't want to be kicked out of the blogging community or labeled a bogger.

Just a little more LAFD

2007-08-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Now you can get a peek at the tie. Mayor Villarigosa is looking super in his pink tie. Captains Ronnie Steel and Brent Burton both Stentorians and members of the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. in dress uniforms. That's it for my comment on fashion.

Life Time Achievement Award

2007-08-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering what in the world this picture has to do with being and artist or creativity. Let me explain. First notice that everyone is in black except me, but looking a little closer you'll notice Jeanne (step mom) is wearing not just an embroidered dress but with loads of beading, Dad has his Stentorian African Cloth scarf with this great big Tie that has a fire truck with the ladder raised to run up the length of the tie and Paula (my sister) oh so tastefully dressed up her black suit with rhinestone buttons with her hair braided with an organza ribbon, all two feet of her long braid. The event was the Los Angeles Fire Department Achievement Awards. Dinner and drinks first at the new Fire Dept. Museum in Hollywood then on to the Kodak Theater by limo where the mayor of L.A. greeted us. My Dad (Arnett Hartsfield) received the Life Time Achievement Award for his work to integrate the fire department. Also medals for achievement and valor went to some of the most dedicated firemen men you will ever meet together with the Phoenix awards for those who had lost their life's in the call of duty. It was really a thrill to be sitting in a sea of uniforms of those heroes. Just think we can create because they keep us safe.

Parallel Reality

2007-08-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

Here it is a beautiful Sunday. After church I started to work on Rice's, she has two dots over the e in her name which I have not figured out how to do, electric lime sweatshirt. Embroidered two of the vines that swoop down the front. Then decided to take a break and do a little blog browsing. Since I'm working on her stuff I went to her blog to see what was going on and to work on a color pallet for the shirt. Come to find out she and Earl (her DH) are in New Orleans, the French Quarter, land of my heritage. Except my Great Grandfather slipped out of town under the cover of darkness to avoid the wrath of the Plantation owner. It was not a good thing to sleep with the overseer's woman. So our ties to New Orleans were broken as he headed west. But the powerful ties from a city that is so rich and diverse in it's heritage calls across the miles to me. My ancestors speak to me. Remember where you came from, allow the mystery to speak through your voice and art.

Getting Started

2007-07-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

A week ago Rice Freeman-Zachery sent me a lime green dyed hooded soft yummy sweatshirt. She has been transforming clothes and is the Maven of the "Art Journal" skirt or as I like to call it taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. As you probably know I get inspired by other peoples work. One of her ongoing questions is "What inspires you?". Well everything inspires me. Just waking up in the morning and seeing a beautiful sunrise makes me marvel at the vast variation of each days color pallet. I love color from the softest pastels in the morning sky to the vibrant bling of Mexican Folk Art.

Well, back to the sweatshirt. Since Rice spills out her soul with words as she Journals on her clothes I've decided to create a backdrop to allow her words to meander through vines and leaves that will cascade over the shoulder, spray across the hood and then fall down the back. I plan on cutting off the cuffs and replacing them with a print fabric. Not sure whether to keep the band at the bottom or replace it. Guess I'll just wait and see.

2007-07-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

WOW it's HOT and has been for a while. With the lowest rainfall here in California and the temperatures now in the nineties, I'm feeling a little crabby. The A/C just took a gasp and shuddered to a stop. Darn mechanical things doesn't it know that I'm not in the mood to be be trifled with right now. As though it could actually understand.

Maybe I should break out the water colors, pull up a lawn chair on the patio, turn on the hose and set it to a fine spray and paint some water color backgrounds or call the A/C fix it people. I think I'll paint then consider calling. Last year I made this bra. Using fabric dyes for the background, draped it with a deconstructed gauze scarf then embellished with embroidery, bugle beads, trim them applied a butterfly and dragonfly for a bit of whimsy. What are you doing to take your mind off the heat, if you out west or the flooding if you are in the mid states. Or, what do you do to take your mind off whatever is a hurdle in you life? Inquiring minds want to know.

Happy Fathers Day

2007-06-17T16:24:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe that my dad turned 89 three days ago. The photo was taken when we went to Disneyland for their 50Th year anniversary. We were there 50 years ago during their first week. Lots of changes to the park and even more changes to us. Both my sisters are squatting down so they don't tower over their big sister.
As I was talking to my dad this afternoon he was recounting many of the things in his life that, at the time, seemed to be negative events but now has come to see them as blessings. During WW2 he was an officer and he and his men were sent to the South Pacific not Normandy. Not to fight but to unload ships. He had been a fireman before the war and went back to the fire dept. He was a fireman for over 20 years with the Los Angeles Fire Dept. During that time there were only two fire stations that housed black fire fighters with no possibility of promotion unless someone in your station died. So he used the GI bill to go to law school. The fire dept. was integrated during the last four years of his career and because the other firemen in the now integrated fire station would not eat with him he had the kitchen/dining room to himself where he studied for the bar exam, passed the bar and became an attorney. When the Fire Dept. was sued for their integration practices guess who was called as the chief witness? Dad! He just got back from National Black Firefighters Association convention in Atlanta where he met over 200 fire chiefs, battalion chiefs and as he puts it chief chiefs. All because of what he and his men went through. I knew most of his friends/brothers on the fire dept. Although most of them are gone they will never be forgotten. If you are ever in Los Angeles go visit the Black Firefighters museum, he is still there Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday giving tours, telling the story, reminding us all that we are all needed to do the work. The things that happen in our lives that we sometimes think are curses can be turned into a blessing. Bless you Daddy and Happy Fathers Days.

Homage to fellow artist

2007-05-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

I've been watching fellow artist Elis Cooke for some time now. She does absolutely wonderful things with paper. Just take a look at her work to see what I mean http://intotheblystic.com/ I've translated her or is that channeled her into this felt bag. Elis I love your work. There are so many great artists out there who we can be inspired by. As she would say "may you be well and happy". Take time to pursue your goals, while you invest in the dreams of others. If your goals do not include giving back to the people around you they are wasted. We are enriched by the people we meet along this path that we call life. Now go and create.

Stepping outside the (hat) box

2007-04-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

I've been taking a photo class BUT I'm not going to talk about that since I am way, way, way behind, like three weeks. So, instead, let's take a little side trip. I, like you, like to take a little adventure every now and then. Try something new. Step out side the box. This hat is one of those little excursions into the realm of "why not give it a try". Estelle said she was going to take a hat making class in Carson, CA and would I like to join her. I had recently read the book "Crowns" and envisioned making a fabulous Church Hat. If you have ever been to a Sunday morning church service in a black church or an evening gospel concert, you will know what I mean. Hats with suites to match, big hats, giant affairs with feathers, sequins and trims. Hats that look like flying saucers. Elegant statement makers. I had to say yes. So off we went for four sessions in constructing a hat from scratch. Yes, we started out with a flat piece of buckram, soaked it in water, formed our base, then stretched and sewed fabric into place. Adding, horsehair ribbon, flowers and feathers I made my pill box hat. It is really a stunning purple with lime green feathers. It has given me an appreciation for all the work involved. Helped me step out of the box and try something new. Now, when I see someone sporting one of those outstanding hats I can appreciate all the work that has gone into their creation. My hat is off to you.

Woop de Do

2007-03-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

Finally decided to go back and do a little purse making, it has been a couple of years since the last purse came off the presses, oh wait a minute I forgot about the cigar box purses that have occasionally crept through my hands. What started out to be a small bag grew into this giant travel satchel size bag.

This one was so much fun to make I have gone through my stash and picked out a few more pieces of fabric to make a few more bags since I have two sets of handles, one of bamboo and the other laminated wood.

Trying something new

2007-03-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

Ms. Crafty here, who can't take a good picture, has decided to take an online digital photograph class. Yippee for me and for you, I hope. Jessica at cre8it.com is going to teach us, in this 10 week class, to go from raggedy, frumpy, crummy photos to lovely works of art. Right now we are taking pictures around the yard and posting them for her to critique. By the way there are some awesome photo takers in the group for inspiration. Here are two of the pictures I took today. The picture of a horse tail plant taken from above. When I was a kid we called them cigarette pants because they looked like green cigarettes stuck together. The other reminds me of a slice of pie. We will see what she has to say about this thing. Now to my point for the day. I'm no photographer but I like to create lots of different things most of which are given as gifts, traded in swaps or sold to those people who what I make. So I try and keep a photo log of most of the things I've made just to see how far I've come and to remember some of the things I've made. Therefore It's about time that I learned to take a decent picture, properly framed, cropped and presented. The side benefit is as Jessica helps us to see with new eyes I might find the joy that so many photographers have taking pictures. You have got to be willing to try something new to add to your bag of tricks. An artist never stops growing, evolving into a new creature.

Having a bit of a rant

2007-02-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

OK, I'm having a bit of a snit because I wanted to post a real cool image of four little girls eating watermelon circa 1940's with their high top brown shoes, cotton dresses and up to their pigtails in watermelon BUT it's not a jpeg or gif format, pooh. I did it in photoshop with multiple layer's to get the watermelon red and put the proper pastel washes on their very cute dresses. Now you know I may have a gift for crafting but not for computer literacy. Oh well, on to my current rant for the day or more accurately rant for the month. I love group swaps especially when everyone is putting out the best work they can muster up. No they don't have to be great or accomplished artists just willing spirits happy to follow their muse in creativity. Taking the tools of the trade and applying their own unique gift to those bits and pieces to transform them into a little work of art. The fun is in creating not in just making something/anything so you can get some better stuff back. I'm not talking about the newbie who is trying his/her wings, they should be encouraged and helped to perfect their skills also to gain the courage to put their projects out there. I am also not talking about people trying what is new to them but you know when you haven't done good work. If you wouldn't want to receive it why would you send it for someone else to receive. If it's not good enough for you don't send it. Am I the only one who feels this way?

Tic Toc, Making Time, Taking Time

2006-12-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it is Christmas already, where has the year gone? Maybe it is true that as you get older time really does go faster, this year has flown by. Now it is time to get things in order for next year which will be here sooner than you think. One week to go till Happy New Year festivities arrive with a bang. Yes I'll watch the Rose Parade on TV even though I can walk down the street and see it in person but who wants to step over the people who had too much holiday cheer or stayed up too late and are snoozing snuggled in their sleeping bags on the sidewalk. I can stay in my jammies with a cup of java in hand and get a good view from the couch even though I walk outside and watch the stealth bomber go by. It is quite a treat to be able to see the under belly of that magnificent monster as it quietly approaches, low real low, then rumbles off into the distance. I can't wait.

I'm hosting another swap at my favorite yahoo group ( clothpaperstudio@yahoogroups.com ) this time it's for Trashy Diva Dolls. Make one get one in exchange and I'm way ahead for a change with Davida Diva already finished. We can make any kind of doll using whatever we have on hand which is easy for me because I'm a pack rat of all things crafty/artistic. However since starting my new behavior called "get it in order" I have found two Fiskers paper cutters and enough decorative papers to fuel a small bond fire. Back to Davida Diva. I name my dolls after they are pretty much finished, which is what you see posted here. Just have to paint her toes maybe add some more netting and make her a pair of dancing sandals. She is named for King David who danced before the Lord with all his might which upset his wife just a tad but what the heck sometimes you just have to do what others will not or can not do. Dance David, dance Davida, dance. Dance with all your might, sing a new song and tell us the truth. Take time to give a friend or loved one a hug. Send a note of encouragement or just because. Use what you have to bless others. It will be a very good year.

They call it "Black Friday"

2006-11-24T15:49:00.000-08:00

Today is the day after Thanksgiving if you are in the U.S.A and today marks the beginning of the shopping season for Christmas which is fast approaching. Where did all the time go? Don't ask me I'm still in denial that it is 2006, you blink your eyes and another year has passed. Well, back to Black Friday which is supposed to be the busiest shopping day of the year, right, with all those people getting up way to early to start their holiday shopping. While some stores opened at 5:00AM this morning I was still snug in my bed dreaming of the next art project. What will it be? I'm leaning towards a few more dolls. I have to admit I like making dolls, not any kind of doll but a doll that will speak to you, a woman with some history behind those wrinkled eyes, one that will share her story with you as you travel along life's path. Sometimes taking you in a completely different direction than what you had expected but that is the true nature of the artist being willing to go where your muse takes you. We can not chart our future for that would imply that we know all there is to know right now, but we as willing participants in this journey continue to learn new things which alters our future. Continue to learn, continue to grow, continue to work and when a new path is opened you will be ready for it. To my fellow adventurers enjoy the trip it is more important than the destination beyond the horizon.

A perfectly good day

2006-11-19T14:58:00.000-08:00

At last, not like the Etta James song, but finally we have come to the end of my 4x4 alphabet/numeric swap which started in August and is wrapping up now in November. It has been a lot of fun hosting (online) with 23 other players as we divided into three groups of eight each to execute a letter of the alphabet in three rounds then we decided we had not had enough so we did the numbers. Since there were 10 numbers people were allowed to cross over and join a different group by snagging an unclaimed number. It ment a little more work because you had to make ten of the numbers but you ended up with a collection from another group. In one of the groups I chose 9 in another I chose 3, so instead of doing my usual glazes, stamping and water colors I deconstructed a calender and fused portions of the image onto matte board, altering the dates to fit my subject, Then on the back there is a clip art driver in an old racing car with "end of the road" and all the other stuff you put on swapped cards (name, email, name of swap). Now all I have to do is finish mailing everyones set of numbers to them. I was a perfectly good day thanks to all the ladies at clothpaperstudio. Now to see what I can get into next.

End of the Road

2006-10-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

At last we're down to the final round of swapping for clothpaperstudio in the 4x4 alphabet / numeric swap. Twenty four players divided into three groups of eight. Each month they made eight of their chosen letter then sent me seven to divide amongst they remaining players. Round one "A" thru "H", month two "I" thru "P", month three "Q" thru "XYZ" at last we came to the numbers "0" thru "9" with the players who wanted to crash another group adopting an extra number from that group. Here is a sample of the 4x4's I made for Group B (my adopted extra group) Every one is a different vintage auto, obviously the number I choose was "9". I also did the number "3" for Group A with more vintage cars. The backs have a clip art picture of a funny racing car and driver with "End of the Road" written on it. This has been a lot of fun but I'll have to admit I'm popped from keeping up with all the players. Now let's see what's next.

Visiting is good for what ails you

2006-09-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a four day adventure after my sister called and said she was going to visit Rachel, so I hopped a plane and flew to San Jose, CA

Off we went to Watsonville for a little artists retreat, it is dangerous for artists to get together as the creative juices begin to flow, sleep is thrown out the window, as we throw caution to the wind and begin to bounce ideas off each other. First let me tell you about the two other people I was hanging out with: My sister Charlean who can come up with a million projects, comes prepared with as many ideas and brings enough books to keep you going for as long as you have energy to make something. She can analyze a photo of something and tell you how it was made or reach into her bag of tricks and give you a sample. Then there is Rachel who is one of this countries known quilters who makes fantastic wearable art which has been shown at the Bernina Fashion show, galleries and museums around the country. You can see her work at http://www.rdkc.com check out her coats and vests or get a pattern. Her workshops are worth every penny. We made fabric postcards using quilting techniques, kicked around ideas for jewelry using wool felt beads, I beaded a coat that Rachel was making then off we went to some fabric and bead stores, as though we needed another scrap of fabric, embellishment or bead. This woman has a stash that would make anyone envious with thousands of folds in every color or pattern imagined.

The photos are of my sister showing off one of Rachel's creations with a peek behind one door of every kind of fabric to stir you into a frenzy. The other photo is of course the front door to a quilter's house.

How refreshing to play with other creative folks, it is goooooood for the soul. Have you been with other creative people lately? If not, reconnect it is good for what ails you.

Next time I tell you about our trip to San Francisco to see the quilting ladies of Gee's Bend, AL

Pasadena Hugs and Caviar wishes

The frog princess

2006-09-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

Ah, to be a princess even if you are a frog, which isn't half bad when creativity strikes. This is a page from an altered book round robin at cpsalteredbooks@yahoogroups that I'm in. There are seven of us each with a selected book that we are sending to each person to work in. After it makes the rounds to each person we will all end up with our books back in seven months, give or take a snafu or two. My sister and I will be going to visit Rachel Clark, a wearable art artist next week, for a little fun and artist retreat. Let's see what I come back with. We will also be going to see the Ladies of Gees Bend Art Quilt Exhibit in San Francisco. My frog princess' s body is an atc from one of their quilts which is fitting for this adventure. Check out Rachel's work at http://www.rdkc.com/ be sure to look at her coats which are marvelous

Memorial Day

2006-09-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Memorial Day here in the USA, the last holiday in the summer. Fall will be upon us shortly with Thanksgiving and Christmas not far behind. Sometimes I just wish I could clone myself! How is a person supposed to keep up with all the things they have /want to do? I guess it is like eating pie, take it one bite at a time. We all have the same amount of time each week in which to get things done less 8 hrs a day for sleeping (so we are brite eyed and bushy tailed and ready for the day) that leaves 16 hrs to do the rest. Work? That still gives you 7 hrs (I'm allowing and hour for driving to and from work) Now what can I do with my 7 Monday thru Friday plus the the weekend. Boy I didn't realize I has so much time EXCEPT the fact that being a work-a-holic I go to work an hour early and stay and hr. later. Yikes that's two hours a day five days a week for ten hours that I could all my house work done without dipping into my allotment of weekly time. TV? I'm not even going to tell you how much time I waste watching mindless TV, I think it has become my baby sitter/entertainment/excuse not to.... well I'm going on a TV diet, cutting back not abstinence. Now that I feel all freed up with plenty of time I think I'll do a load of laundry, work on an altered book and watch Dr. Phil all at the same time. Now that is what I call multi tasking.

3 Garbos and their Dark Companion

2006-09-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

Well, here is the first spread (back) for the "3 Garbos and their Dark Companion". The front is the original without the words. My inspiration was a painting in a Pier 1 catalog showing oak leaves strewn across a picture and they seemed to fall right out of the picture onto the frame. I started with 140 lb. watercolor paper which I painted with golden glazes then stippled through sequin waste with bronze ink. After that I made a second smaller interior canvas using glazes and chocolate pigment ink around the edges to give definition. After they were dry I stamped leaves using, acrylic paints, pigment inks and lumiere allowing the leaves to spill onto the frame. This reminds me that Fall is coming and the days will soon be cooling off - just can't wait for that, however the days will become shorter. Here is to Fall, good friends and maybe a glass of Merlot.

Sometimes you just have to remember

2006-08-27T17:17:00.000-07:00

An atc I made a while ago which has as the base a picture of (from left to right) a friend of my great grandmother, my grand mother Santy and my great grandmother Mimi (Missouri) Taken around 1910. It reminds me that we all have a history and it influences who and what we are today. Shall we draw from our past only the good or allow only the bad to color our lives? The answer is ponder it all; allow the good things to give you joy - like Mimi taught me how to garden and take care of fruits and vegetables on her 40 acre spread across the street from the dairy where they would let us help milk the cows and next door to Mr. Mackey, the watermelon king, who would occasionally plow his field with a team of draft horses and let us ride from the barn out to where he hitched them up to the plow. He said it was always good to keep touch with the old ways in order to remind us just how far we had come. Allow the bad thing to give you courage to face tomorrow - like I never knew Grandma Santy, as she died when my mother was only four but my Grandpa taught me how to make Gumbo, fish, raise chickens and yes even how to slaughter them. I would not go hungry on Survivor Island, while the others were were building alliances with people who will turn on them I would be finding out what the land had to offer in the way of food, there are always resources to use. My mother who was raised during the depression when there was never enough taught us (my sisters and me) how to sew, knit and create something from virtually nothing. She taught us the love of dance and music not just what was popular at the moment but she would take us to the opera after first explaining what the story was all about. We were probably poor when I grew up but I sure didn't know it and it never kept us from learning how to enjoy life.

Fear just does not cut it

2006-08-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

You knew that I would not let a little computer ignorance get in my way, after saying that I could not get the revised 3 Garbos and their Dark Companion to load I went back and had a good talking to that image and wrestled it back into proper submission so here it is in it's revised form. Now, we were having a little discussion at clothpaperstudio about making a living as artists which brought up the topic of why so many artists do art on a part time, have a full time job, basis as we dialogued the light went on for me, not a 20 watter but a giant flood light. Fear, not just a little scardie cat kind but the paralyzing, palm swetting, heart racing, brought on from rejection kind. Here I am almost sixty years old and I still have not outgrown going back to my youth when anything I did was never good enough. Yeah, they wanted us to do our best so they set the bar always higher which is great if you are the kind of person who loves a challenge but I would try, try, try and try again then give up. I bought into believing that I was never good enough and took that with me into adulthood. Well, the time has come to let that albatros go. I'm good enough, capable enough, artistic enough, enough...... Since when did I need anyone to judge my worth? Critique the work? yes, but no one may no longer judge me! I enjoy the work of many artists, some may not me my flavor/taste but that is ok. I only know this that it is time to vanquish the fear of rejection and just enjoy the journey.

3 Garbos and their Dark Companion

2006-08-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

Sometimes computers and I just don't speak the same language. This was the image I started with and then tweaked it photo software by replacing the rather poor attempt at calligraphy with some rather cool fonts however when I tried to upload the image here it kept crashing so you will just have to imagine.

Now on to the story - There were three ladies from clothpaperstudio that decided to get together and do a round robin, each would start by creating an image and then send it to one another with each person using the initial image as inspiration for creating another piece, then they would send it to the next person who would do the same, when every one had created something for each of the images they go back to their home. Well I not so subtly asked to join them and they said yes. Now we are known as the 3 Garbos and their Dark Companion (I am the dark companion) who shadowed them and looked for a way to join them. Here are their blogs so you can see what they have done: Rachel: http://rcmurphree.blogspirit.com/ Wendy: http://emmeline.blogspirit.com/and Diane: http://soonerorlater.blogspirit.com/

A shuffle down memory lane

2006-08-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

OK, your wondering what does a picture of Clifton's Cafeteria have to do with art. Well, let me fill you in - first some housekeeping - that's my dad on the left, he's 87 and still walks 2 miles a day. Next to him is Jeanne, who has taken my mom's spot as queen of the household a few years after mom died. Dr. Jeanne is some smart lady. That is my sister Charlean gracing the "A" rating on the window, Paula, another sister, is taking the picture and I am still at work (shucks). Anyway back to the story of what does Clifton's have to do with art. 1.) It has been around a very long time which means there is a history to remind us of where we've been. All of us can remember going there when we were young. Mom and Dad took us there on all their anniversary's where we would have the photography take pictures, go into the little chapel that sat in a grotto, pick something out of the pirates treasure chest to take home and enjoy the waterfalls and faux trees that looked like redwoods or palm trees. Jeanne use to meet her sister there for lunch. 2.) The place is unique - that is good for inspiration - like I said this place not only has waterfalls, trees, neon lights for palm fronds, a chapel tucked a way for reflection but a very special place with fond memories. 3.) Gives you options - instead of having to take from a set menu you grab a tray and go down the lines to pick up what you want to eat, from salad to dessert, you're the chef creating your meal - just like an artist who surveys her art room to decide which materials to use in today's project. That's it; history, inspiration and creativity. The making of a resturant the making of an artist. Bon appetite

J is for Journey

2006-08-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

I just finished making my alphabet cards for a 4x4 swap. That's a Jack-in-the-pulpit (flower) on the left and since my letter was "J" I though about our journey. Not the jouney to get to grandma's house but the journey through this life.

One of the women in my clothpaperstudio group was just handed a real wammy by her husband. Yes, you know what's coming the old "I want a divorce" of course with the "I've got to find myself" kiss off. With a little snooping on her part there was ........ another woman. Now this just chaps my hide, not that he left her, not that their marraige is or was in trouble (it's possible she never saw it coming) yeah you know when they still continue to tell you they looooooooove you and all that. What just sent me into over drive was the silly stupid women who seem to be so willing to take up with married men. OK, confession I did stupid stuff like that in my youth, what in the world was I thinking. The payback is diffinently not worth the price of admission. However, with age comes wisdom. Don't do it I repeat myself do not take up with married men. Not only will you reap what you sowed but you will reap distruction to your own household.

I've put my pulpit back in the closet for a momment.

The Artist Balcony

2006-08-08T17:09:00.000-07:00

The Artist Balcony

Recycle the mother of invention

2006-07-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

As I was working on a 4x4 alphabet swap for which I am the hostess of three groups I noticed how lovely many of the backs of the cards were. Many had wonderful papers and printed backs with their info on them. Mine were just not up to snuff so what was I going to do about it? Have a hissy fit or fix it of course the answer is fix it. After looking thorugh the images stored on my computer I found a postcard that was done a while ago and edited it in photoshop elements to add the swap information, cut off the pear on the right to make it 4x4 and this I will adhere to the backs. I think they came out pretty good.

A view from above

2006-07-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

Well, this is the first post from the artists balcony where we will try and discover what makes us tick.
Tic, tic, tic.......... I'm waiting....... I'm still waiting, maybe this is more difficult that I thought.