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"Open Door Policy"

I'm taking this painting & another to the Coffee Garden in Sacramento today for the Swell Sister Show entitled "Doors". Then I'll be running a few errands and hopefully in the rain. I know, I know, I'm strange. I love driving in the rain, the swoosh of the tires on the wet freeway or saturated streets - it's as close as I can get to that ocean sound - with barely audiable jazz playing in the background, my blue & green polka dot umbrella laying in wait. ahhhhhhhh Love it!

Big Shout Out & Thank You goes to Whatshername & Shelostit for including my art in their wonderful Etsy Treasuries! Click on their names to check out their real Etsy Treasures!

That's Entertainment ! ?

Who's watching "Work of Art" with me? Are you loving this show? I wish I had the guts to try out for it just to play with all the free art supplies! I'm not comfortable when a camera is anywhere near me & have knee trembling fear of public speaking so being on a tv show is not in the cards for me. When I started showing my art & this blog I felt so vulnerable, putting myself out there like this, showing my underwear so to speak, not so easy for me, so I can't imagine how I could ever survive being on national tv. I have been known to surprise myself though, but it doesn't matter, I'd already be a goner! Last week's "A Shock To The System" challenge was just nasty. I would have definitely been eliminated, maybe for not eliminating? Eeee Uuuuu LOL Really Bravo? Your highly paid writers or judges couldn't think of a better challenge with so many different forms of art to chose from? You had to go to there? I'm thinking this challenge was a distasteful attempt to get ratings & water cooler fodder. Obviously the ladder worked coz here I am talking about it! The pieces the Contestants created weren't as shocking as Bravo picking "Shock Art" to "entertain" us with. Finding it offensive is part of it's purpose, which then qualifies it as art because you are offended by it. Right? Ok I get it but still...really Bravo? The guest artist, Andres Serrano wanted so badly for someone to poop on something that he appeared genuinely disappointed that they didn't. (Funny that Andres nor the judges mentioned the fact & seemed clueless that Miles had ejaculated on his piece) Yes, you read that right. Andres' claim to fame piece of art is a crucifix with Christ submerged in his own urine. I personally find it offensive, sacrilegious, but even so I can't argue that it's not art. True art or social commentary? What do you think? I will be very disappointed if Bravo keeps their challenges on the dark side. I'll still watch it, but not sure I'll still love it. Entertain me Bravo! It's not that hard! LOL
A Big Shout Out goes to CreativeCastaways for including my art in her wonderful Etsy Treasury! Thank you!

I'm Off...

to take 3 paintings to hang at The Coffee Garden Gallery in Sacramento today for the 2nd Annual Swell Sister show is next Saturday. I had to take these pictures with my camera so sorry they aren't very good. Just wanted to give you a sneak peek. Also a picture of the magazine trees I made. Thank you Martha. I love folding paper! I was an oragami geek when I was little. They are covered in big fat silver glitter which doesn't show up well, again phone picture. If you know me you know what a thing I have for magazines (and jars) so magazine trees instead of throwing them out is partly me hanging on to them just a little longer! haha These are lots of fun to do and the directions can be found here . Hopefully my computer will be fixed soon or I'll have a brand new one.

A Few Good Reasons To Be An Artist...

Wordy Wednesday!

Wow I've made 55 post already! Make sure you read them all haha! Time is flying! I completed some more angels that I was working on and will be listing them on Ebay later today. I painted another angel on an old LP record, which I think is becoming my new addiction! I even like the squeak the brush makes when I paint on it! I love melting the vinyl too. I am also listing one that I had already hanging around because she's not one of my favorites, however, I've learned that sometimes the ones I don't particularly care for others really like. So what the heck I'm sending her off to a new home hopefully.



I went to a Career Artist meeting last night which is a subgroup of the Swell Sister Society. I met some really nice women that I haven't met before! I feel so lucky to be a part of such a talented group of women. I posted a picture of my new Indie project collaborative piece on the Swell Sister site and below. I played around with my modeling paste. I can't wait to get started! Last time it was so much fun. I'm getting my final piece back, the one on the large piece of broken wood on Thursday night and can't wait to see it. I will post the transformation when I get it. The next few months are going to be very busy with the projects, meetings, getting ready for the gallery show and staying on top of my work! I saw my grandson yesterday and he is growing fast! He was so good and after his feeding stayed awake and alert for a long time. It was nice spending time with him and his mother for a little while. They asked me to paint some pictures for his room and I've been dragging my heels worrying about what & how to paint it, but after seeing his cute little room yesterday I have got to get busy!

I would just like to take a moment and thank all my buyers if you are reading this. I get the most wonderful emails, so many of you go above and beyond to send them to me and I appreciate and treasure each one. Also a thank you to all the people who comment on my art almost daily. It truly nourishes my spirit and keeps me motivated to keep going and not go back to life in a cubicle!

A Balancing Act

Since my grandson was born last Friday it's been hard staying on top of things. I did finally paint some today! I will be mailing out that commission of 6 paintings either tomorrow or Saturday. Tomorrow & this weekend I will be concentrating on painting & try not to get sidetracked with yarn of any kind! I have noticed a big drop in sales since I haven't listed anything on auction at Ebay. I have to get back on that bus before everyone on Ebay forgets me and I lose my mojo there! I love Etsy more but unless you are spending a lot daily to list your things don't get seen. I listed a couple of prints of some Aura Angels yesterday on Etsy and some crocheted cuffs which by the way work great as coffee cup cozies - double duty! Slip one on your wrist in the morning, stop at your favorite coffee spot.... you'll be stylish & green! Yesterday I also worked on a new Zine but am having trouble getting it lined up perfectly to print out. I may end up taking it to the printers. It's about the sea and I wrote the poem for it. Those are fun to make but they are really time consuming.

I am considering being a moderator for an Altered Book subgroup of Swell Sisters, however, my biggest concern is the time factor. I've got my painting, all my other subgroups, computer groups, my blog, computer work, a new grandson, oh yes and the dreaded housework too. It will be a real balancing act and I don't know how I can pull it all off yet. Maybe just dive in and everything will balance itself out?? That I'm still debating. It will be August tomorrow and I am already stressing a little over what I will have in the art show in December. Aura Angels, Mermaids, still life, something else..... ????? Oils or acrylics or mixed media...???? What to do? What to do! We are having a speaker from a gallery at our next meeting so I am looking forward to that.

Little JJ is doing good but his blood levels still are not normal. I went with him to his first doctors appointment today. It broke my heart when they were trying to get blood and couldn't find the vein. He only cried while they were doing it, and stopped immediately after. He was an angel today. I could have held him all day and can't wait to see him again. Pictures just don't do him justice he's so cute!! I'm a proud gramma and who knows I may end up with one of the cheesey gramma brag books full of pictures to bore everyone I meet with! hahaha