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New work, the last work of 2008. These Angels are all on 5.5 x 5.5 rugged wood. I will be listing these on Etsy or Ebay. This year has been magical and I am making plans & goals for 2009 and getting excited. Thank you for all of your support & visits to my blog this year! The wonderful comments and new friends I have made this year have meant a great deal to me! Many Blessings & Happy New Year! 
... On Vacation! I haven't been painting at all, I miss it, I think about it, but I haven't made time for it lately. I have too much on my mind. It's even been hard to sleep. I have doodled some things I might like to paint and they are right on top of "My Things To Do" list. haha
Today I am tired but happy because I got a lot of shopping done. Next is the wrapping...ugh...(oh yeah I've posted about my bad wrapping) I stumbled upon this Japanese method of wrapping and found it really interesting... don't forget to pause my playlist to listen...
I have one more excursion in the morning and I'm finished! Yippee! I must sound like a Scrooge but honestly I'm not. I am just a procrastinator and overwhelm myself. Every year I say I will buy something throughout the year for someone when I think they will like it and every year I don't do it. So when I do go out I am on a mission. I pretty much know what I am getting, I get it, and get out. My husband shops the same way and he occasionally accuses me of "window shopping" but he's never been shopping with my Mom! I am not a Window Shopper!
My husband & his band made it back from Lake Tahoe safely but had to put chains on to make it home. He said that the snow was about 5 ft high and it was so dry their fingers were splitting & cracking from playing music. They went and bought Krazy Glue and glued their fingers so they could play the last night. Seriously OUCH!
I'm still shopping.
Photo by Kristen Wilson. Please check out her beautiful work & shop on Etsy.
My husband left this afternoon and won't be back until Sunday. The Spotted Dogs are playing 2 shows at The Tahoe Biltmore in Lake Tahoe and another at Northstar. Chains were required today but he got up there without having to put them on.
I have the house all to myself! It was great the first few hours doing nothing but watching tv. The next few hours I slowly made a list of all the things I need to do, while watching tv. Then I realized I'm just sitting here still doing nothing just thinking about doing something! It's one of those days.
I felt a little naughty watching tv. We normally don't have the tv on at all during the day. I happen to catch The Bonnie Hunt Show. She's such a doll, so sweet and so funny! I hope her show will continue. So many good shows are being canceled lately. What's up with that?
33 years with not one Christmas Day spent alone with jus
t my husband until this year. (I was a teenager when I got married!) It feels strange and I will miss my kids but we'll have a good time together. We talked today about what we could do. We didn't decide. Go play in the snow with a piping hot Thermos of something good? Take the light rail to Old Sacramento? Go to the movies? We have never gone to the movies on Christmas Day like so many do. Stay in our pj's all day, watching Christmas movies & order Chinese food? Walk by the river all bundled up with the dogs in their cute little sweaters? Go have some crab on Fisherman's Wharf, ride the cable cars & soak in some of that wonderful San Francisco's Christmas spirit? ...hum...
a ...well I did it 
again! I got a few pictures before my camera pooped out. 
My oldest son Joe (plaid shirt)managed to get one 
picture of me hugging my youngest son. All you see is the back of me so I guess I'll remain a mystery for now. I hate my picture taken anyway! I was super proud of all my "Sisters" and grateful to all of the collaborative work from each to make this a great night.
My husband put up lights on the front porch this year and I didn't have to delegate! Retirement may not be all that bad!
n old wine cork. 
Tonight is the last big Swell Sister meeting before the show. I am finishing up my do
nation pieces which we are calling "Little Treasures" that are due tonight
. The proceeds will be going to the Women's Wisdom Project of the Sacramento Food Bank. I painted these on 5 x 5 recycled wood. I am debating on whether to get the glitter out & glue mass quantities to the sides of the wood for something different. I have fallen in love with glitter. I used to think it was cheap and slutty. haha (see previous post) Nice glitter, however, is now costly.
I just listed 2 pieces on Etsy today. One is "Angel in My Rose Gar
den" on 11 x 14 canvas 
panel and the other is on 5 x 5 recycled wood with sides painted called "Good Morning".
I found a new activity to keep me busy next time my husband's blues band plays at Lucille's!
My face is still red. I went to have some prints & scans made today and while waiting, a man noticed my paintings. He started the conversation by asking if I painted them. He asked if I could paint a mural *would love to* and said that he was going to check out the galleries! He got me all twitterpaided when he compared me to Diego Rivera *blushing* and asked for my card. That feeling of dread began at the top of my head, went through my whole body then radiated throughout me. I'm sure my face turned red because it does that easily. Busted! Yes I committed the cardinal sin... out in public without a card. I fumbled and fumbled, going through my purse then finally pulling stuff out. Maybe he was thinking geez lady what have you got in there!? It was awful. I finally gave up and gave him an old card, which was bad enough, but something possessed me to grab a pen and proceed to mark it all up. It looked so bad I had to apologize! hahaha I gotta laugh uncomfortably about it now but I won't be caught out in the world again without cards. Whether he will go to the galleries, commission me, or ever make any purchases, he was put in my path for a reason... to teach me that lesson!
I have to have my little paintings that I am donating finished by Thursday and m
y final gallery piece finished and delivered on Saturday. I decided to put "Garden Party" in the gallery as my 2nd piece instead of the angel in the meadow. I haven't finished my 1st large gallery piece yet or even started the small ones. So I will be locking myself into my studio this week. I had to fill out a card for the pieces and I didn't really have a name for the large one yet, so I put a stupid name on it. If I can think of something better today I may have a chance to change it. I have quite a bit more painting to do then varnishing. I will post the final picture when I'm finished. Any name suggestions are welcome!
Oh yum! Look what I did with the turkey leftovers last night! Turkey Tiki Masala. It turned out awesome! I almost like it better than chicken!
I have so many people & things to be thankful and grateful for this year.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Count your blessings and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Yesterday afternoon 4 of my Swell Sister's came over and we mad
e b
eautiful cake/cupcake servers for our gallery opening. That's TJ doing a fine modeling job of all our wares! LOL We will be serving bite size cheesecakes on them. Initially we had planned on mini cupcakes but those are hard to find. Maybe not the "in" thing anymore ? None of us wanted to bake for over 250 + people! We bought plates, candle sticks, glasses, & vases from Thrift Stores and used an assortment of old craft bobbles, beads & stones to embellish. The sky's the limit on embellishment. We used a 2 part epoxy that dries clear to glue the pieces together and nothing is budging. It was so much fun! I wish I had a picture of all the finished pieces. Some servers had ribbon with sequins, pearls, and dripping beads. These could be really fun for tea parties and special Christmas gifts or Christmas servers and for just a few dollars. The Thrift Stores have lots of Christmas plates out now and Christmas doodads to embellish with. It's a fun way to spend the afternoon!
For a little refreshment I served a curry dip that I had never made before. I know that's brave serving something you've never made before but for some reason I do that a lot. I made it the night before just in case it was awful. The recipe said to let it chill for several hours anyway. I ran across the recipe online and it was so odd that I had to try it. I didn't follow it exactly (something else I do a lot) but I used all the ingredients. To my surprise it was super good and everyone liked it. It's a keeper and I will definitely be making it again. Here's the recipe...
2 C sour cream
1/2 C light mayo
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp horseradish
2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp of Zerguts Red pepper Relish (recipe called for ketchup)
Thursday night! If you watch the last episode look out for my beautiful shopper in the electronics store scene. She is also going to be on Saving Grace when the season begins and that's one of my favorite shows! Lauren is so pretty & sweet on the outside as well as inside and I'm super proud of her. Congratulations Lauren! 
ady! I used 1 jar of Dona Maria Napalitos drained, 1 seeded habanero pepper, 1 clove of garlic, approx 1/3 of a yellow onion, the juice of 2 small limes & 2 tbsp of white vinegar and a pinch of salt. Blended it all together. My limes were a little dry so I popped them in the microwave for about 10 seconds. It made a little over 1 C. It was medium to hot but didn't leave you burning, just burning for more! LOL I think it would be really tasty with serrano peppers too. I will definitely be making this again! 
He has the sweetest spirit. He rarely cries, and is all smiles and ooos and awwwwws. I am running out to get a copy...page 31!
Marie Sharp's Hot Nopal/Prickly Pear Green Habanero Hot Sauce 
Awwwwww it's finally really raining!!!! I'm in heaven today! It smells so good!
Yesterday was my husband's last day at work. He's now officially retired. He's a young 53 so he will be working part-time with the county or somewhere else and booking more band gigs for sure. I will get lots of "honey-do's" done too! The kids are coming over tomorrow for a big celebration dinner then we pack for Long Beach.
ish more people wore them. I may start a series of girls in hats. The kids say her head is too little but that's what I like about her. It makes her a little odd and I personally like the oddness.
Exciting news... November 8th my work will be in 2 galleries! I will have 4 paintings at the Marco Fuoco Gallery and the Pink Angel at Tangent Gallery. I will have to divide my time between both openings that night. It's going to be crazy fun! I'm so excited!
A stairway to heaven? No. It's a section of the original Eiffel tower that is going to be sold by Sotheby's on November 26th as part of their 20th Century Decorative Arts & Design sale in Paris. So here's your chance, a rare opportunity to own a piece of Paris and a piece of history! For more info about the Eiffel tower and this sale you can visit www.artdaily.org. I wonder what the shipping cost would be...
If I were to go to Paris you wouldn't catch me going up the Eiffel Tower. I am terrified of heights and not too fond of elevators either. This video even makes me woozie. I don't think I'd be able to walk up either. I think the iron work is amazing and would be happy just to gaze up at it in awe. It is truly a large piece of art.
Today I went to see a financial planner and put some things in order. When he wrote down that my profession was an Artist the reality of it hit me. That was the first time I have legally been identified as an Artist. My identity for the past 25 years has been Sr. Mortgage Underwriter. That's who I was. Oh sure people have told me that I'm an artist for years when they saw my work, or gifts that I gave them, etc... but it wasn't my profession, my job, my livelyhood, not really who I was or how I made my living. That simple little action made me feel strange and uneasy. After I left I began to reflect on my journey this past year. How much I have changed. How much my life has changed. How much I have learned. One year ago I had no idea what a widget or html was. How much I have grown as an artist finding my own technique and style. How many wonderful new people I have in my life as a result of my art and putting myself out there, and how rewarding life outside the cubicle can be. I'm actually living my passion which is something I never imagined I would be able to do or had the guts to do. I make only a fraction of what I am accustom to, but I am rich. I am blessed.
I will share one thing that I did this past year that I thought was wacky and didn't really think it would work, but maybe it does. I saw a portion of an Ophra show about making a Vision Board. Wish I had seen the entire show. The gist of it was to create a Vision Board, which is based on the Laws of Attraction, that is full of things you would like or like to acheive. Well I had to make one! Honestly when I set out to make it, it really was because it looked like fun and I love to cut up magazines and collage. It may have worked for the people on her show or maybe it was coincidence, I didn't think that it could really work for me but what could it hurt? I set the board on the wall to the right of me where I paint. I see it out of the corner of my eye when painting. I look at it every day. I don't always read everything I have on it but it's there and not easily ignored. Mine is mostly words and quotes. God in large letters is in the center of my board. I do have a few pictures, for instance I have a picture of Florence, Italy, somewhere I would really like to visit one day. Sorry I won't post a picture of my board because it is personal and that would feel a little bit like I was showing you a picture of my underwear. But as I reflected today on this past year, I have to say that it may have helped. I know for a fact it certainly didn't hurt. Try making your own Vision board. It's fun. Check out eHow for directions or google Vision Boards. I plan on making another one soon. God will be in the center of that one too. I guess when all is said and done, Vision Board or not, you can become who you want to be. You are who you want to be.
My Pink Angel will be in the exhibit in the Pink Week Show at Tangent Gallery Nov 8th! I am also taking a painting to The Marco Fuoco Gallery tomorrow. I'm so excited & honored to be chosen!
My husband and I had planned to leave for Long Beach on Sunday but will have to postpone until Monday afternoon. I have to take the painting over to the Gallery on Monday. I am truly a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. If I had some vacation, I wouldn't have to plan anything out. I could get in the car and where ever I end up I'm fine with that. I'll have fun where ever I am. I don't like big planning. It's hard enough for me to plan out my day! I like a general idea of a plan. Nothing ever goes as planned anyway. Ever notice that? You plan, you create fantastic scenarios in your head of how something is going to be... does it ever turn out that way? Nope. My husband on the other hand inherited his fine planning abilities from his mother. She was a planner and he's the planner in this house. He doesn't get as disappointed and upset as his mother did when things don't go as planned, but he does get a bit agitated, then he makes new plans. I don't. It's all an adventure. I do hate being late for anything though, so if something is planned at a certain time I don't like to be late, however, if I'm there on time and the plans fall to pieces, I don't care. I must say that when our children were little it was nice having him be the planner and they are better for it too. He's planned lots of adventures for us, not all went as planned but were fun anyway. Are you a planner? or do your fly like me?
If I could pick OCD for more things I don't think that would be a bad thing for me. I have a touch of OCD when it comes to my alarm clock. I have to check it at least 3 times before I can relax. Once to set it, next to make sure I set it, and next to make sure I didn't bump it and unset it when I checked the last time. haha But that's about it for me. I don't read horoscopes but I do know that I am a Gemini/Cancer right smack dab on the cusp. So what they say about both really does apply to me. My husband says I really do have almost 3 personalities at times. What that adds up to is a little bit of chaos and oh yes I can be moody. I make a list of things I want to get done for the day and it is so hard sticking to it. I typically run off task and do other things instead of sticking to the list. I do accomplish at least some of it per day, just wish I wouldn't get sidetracked as much. I'd like to have OCD when it comes to sticking to my list and working out. Jackie Warner and I haven't been friends lately. LOL If I mention that to my mother she might tell me the story that I have heard nearly all my life about how she lost a ton of weight by eating just popcorn one summer living at the beach, which reminds me....
I happen to catch an episode of Alton Brown's Good Eats show last week. I don't nor
mally watch his show because frankly he's just too goofy & corny for my taste, *little pun* however, I was really glad I saw this one. I have lots of stainless steel bowls so I went straight out and bought some regular popcorn to try making it his way. (Not on the list of things to do, went anyway) Not only was it fantastic, it is much more economical that microwaved popcorn. My family loves it and it's time for a new bag already. What is really cool is that if you eat it straight out of the bowl you popped it in, the bowl stays warm and so does your popcorn. So get out your stainless steel bowls, run to the store and pick up a big bag of popcorn, then click on the link and watch the video! Maybe stop & get a movie too it's Friday night....wait! Better make a list...haha
(Please pause my playlist below to listen to video)
Hitting a blog blank today, I asked my youngest son what should I blog about. He said me! Then showed me this video that I had no idea he had made and put on the internet. Not only is he an awesome drummer & guitarist, he's also pretty awesome with a deck of cards. When he wants to learn something he hits it with a determination that few ever have. He practices and practices, it becomes almost an obsession, until he perfects it. Growing up I never had to tell him to practice, more often I had to tell him to stop! Now I've seen almost all of his tricks, so what do I notice while watching this? My antique tablecloths nicely scrunched over to the side of course! hahaha Gotta love the baby! Bubba Mom thinks you're amazing! This is an art!
*Please mute the playlist below to listen to the video*
Wow it's been almost a week since I've blogged! Time is flying by so quickly! I've been busy painting, loving on my kids and dealing with horrible headaches the last few days.
painting a fun winery painting. It's not finished but I'll share a picture anyway. This painting reminds me of a wonderful Port Release Party at Madrona Winery in Apple Hill a few years ago. The weather was beautiful and the tables were elegantly set up in the middle of the vineyard around a big oak tree. The port that we bought had that oak tree done in 23 carat gold on the bottle. The food was fabulous and wine was flowing all night long. They had a great band and we met a lot of really fun people. It was a little uncomfortable at first sitting with people you don't know but after a bottle or 2 they were like best friends! hahaha A couple actually followed us home and we drank even more wine sitting on the patio listening to music until the wee hours of the morning. The next day wasn't as much fun that's all I'm saying.
