lulumoon - my muse

Crafty Underdog Show

2012-01-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

Coming SOON! I am getting ready to do the Crafty Underdog Show at McMenamin's Mission Theater on February 12th! I will have dolls, paintings, cards, and magnets. In honor of Valentines, some little Sweethearts can be expected!

I hope to see you there!

Check out Crafty's info on Facebook here.

Ok, back to the studio!

xoxo lulu

Victoria B.C.

2012-01-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

Rob and I took a mini honeymoon/hockey tournament trip last week to Victoria in beautiful British Columbia. We left Portland at 4:00 a.m. just as our snow storm was changing into rain. I thought the snow would all soon be gone as we drove along. I was wrong - the storm continued and was much worse as we traveled through Washington. Interstate 5 was like riding over a washboard, Rob said. More like hitting speed bump after speed bump, I'd say. From Kalama to Centralia there was only one lane, but even after it widened back up to 2 or 3 lanes it was scary as trucks and cars lost sight of where their actual lane lines were and our little car was sandwiched at times between 18 wheelers. Good thing Rob was driving as he is from Minnesota and knows what to do when the car starts to spin out. It would not have been pretty if little Miss California had been driving!

Ah, but once we got past Seattle things were better, and Victoria herself was just lovely. Robbie and I took a snow walk. I saw...

the wind watching over us...

sea paint...

snow encrusted boots after I fell into a drift...

snowy houses and streets...

icicles...

cute Victorian architecture...

a little car under the big red berry tree...

this cute guy...

And lovely stillness,

blue silence,

and breath.

progress!

2011-12-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

My studio clean up has taken days, weeks! But finally enough progress has been made to be able to function again. Emily came over to work on her little elk creature, and I have finished my Visigoth Warrior Woman sufficiently to send in photos for the ADO goth challenge. I had fun turning this medieval queen into a Visigoth warrior.

First, I made a wolf pelt cape for her, to keep her warm at winter's camp. You will see further down that she also wears fur on her legs and lower arms. (But no animals were harmed in the making of this doll - her cape is really a woolly felt, not a real wolfy pelt!)

Next , she needed her armor for battle! I read that the Visigoths were known for their round shields and short swords. I decided I would paint them to look bronze, although the actual materials are paper clay and foil.

Do you see her hidden dagger tucked under her skirt?

Emily says she looks like a real bad a.. Properly fierce, n'est-ce pas? I will need to borrow her sword to cut through the rest of my junk and have this organizing madness behind me for good! Or at least, for the next six months...

Next on the agenda: a review of 2011, before 2012 begins!

our merry little christmas

2011-12-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

I celebrated my first Christmas as Mrs. Murakami! Christmas Eve was shared with my extended family at my brother Steve's beautiful home. Christmas day it was just our little family, and I have to say, it was one of our best Christmases ever! Although the weather was a tad damp, it did not dampen our spirits. Rob took us girls out golfing for the very first time in our lives. I never thought I would like golf, but it was a blast! Even when I swung hard at the ball and it rolled a mere five inches! Lots of laughter and whooping cheers every time we did manage to catch some air and distance. Sorry no pics - it was wet outside!

But I do have pics of the great indoors, and they do show how merry our time together was. This is what Christmas with family is all about:

The smiles,

the hugs,

some wishes coming true,

cuddles,

nurturing,

getting goofy,

a little friendly competition,

and lots of joy!

Here's to a wonderful new year, too!

Little monsters and a little Christmas

2011-12-18T17:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of working with three great kids at 100th Monkey Studios. I had originally proposed this Baby Monsters class for October, but the schedule was already full. So we opted for crafty December instead.

I had a tiny group, but could not have asked for better students! Ranging in ages from 6 to 11, they amazingly all had some sewing experience, plus plenty of imagination and dexterity. We practiced the running stitch first, making our future monsters a little pillow. Then it was on to designing and making the monsters themselves.

Six-year-old AJ made a triangle monster. He cracked me up as he continually revised his original plan. But check out the adorable little bed he stitched for Mr. Triangle!

Seven-year-old Emma was inspired by SpongeBob's pet snail Gary. The addition of legs transformed him into this cute little monster named Meep. Meep's embroidered mouth is awesome!

Eleven-year-old Drew was the master of picking cool materials! I love the orange felt she used for this little monster's front side - it was a scrap that has already been stitched on. I think the stitching adds great texture to her project, and she did an awesome job on the construction! And Drew has more that she will add to her little monster: a red heart, an embroidered X for one eye, as well as a jagged line and a tail on the back. Cute!

And now for a little Christmas: Rob and I put up Christmas lights outside yesterday, then hosted our first dinner party and game night with friends! Rob cooked salmon to perfection and I served my favorite spicy Chevy's Fresh Mex salad recipe with Mucho Mango salsa and sweet & spicy Chipotle Dressing on top. Find the recipe in this book:

And finally, today did a bit of Christmas decorating when Rob found his paper Christmas tree from Guam! I decorated it with mostly handmade ornaments that I've received from the ornament exchanges I've participated in. Very fun and funky!

Ho ho ho!

More wedding photos from friends

2011-12-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

I'd like to thank my friends and family for posting photos on facebook! It will be awhile before we have the photographers photos.

From Kathleen:

View of the ceremony from where our guests were sitting.

View on the supertron.

the little cake topper I made - tee hee!

the serving cake - DELICIOUS! A big thank you to dear friends John and Karen Prochovnic
for the cakes as our wedding gift! They were fabulous!

the happy couple after the ceremony - we headed up to the stands to greet our guests and enjoy the game. The Winterhawks were super pumped up that night, scoring 7 goals!!!

And more from the Winterhawks photographers - didn't they do an amazing job, too?!

Walking down the aisle with my bridesmaids - daughters Willow and Emily also gave away the bride.

Reverend Mel reading the vows in his big announcer voice

Rob place the ring on the bride's finger.
The line-up: Rev. Mel, John Prochovnic, Henry Prochovnic, Rob, Lulu, Willow of the platinum hair, Emily the honey blonde.

"Lulu, you may now kiss the goalie!"

Muuuuahhhhhh!

So happy together

The Wedding Party
In back, Reverence Mel O'Brien. Front row: Emily, Willow, Lulu, Rob, Henry, and John

The Teddy Bear Toss was a big success, too. The team collected over 10,000 teddy bears that they will persoanlly take into children's hospitals and donate them to the patients there, bringing joy during challenging times.

Our hero, Ty Rattie, who scored the first goal of the game at 2:52 minutes, setting off the teddy bear toss and the wedding ceremony! Thanks, Ty!

Thanks Everybody! Well, now I guess it's back to real life as I continue to unpack and really settle into my life with Rob. Happy days!

Photos from friends

2011-12-05T21:50:00.000-08:00

Ok, my computer still doesn't have the charger, so I am on a scavenger hunt for photos that my friends took and posted on Facebook.

This is a cool shot of the wedding as seen on the giant supertron screen, from Kathleen:

Here are my California friends Candi & Paula. We've known each other since 4th grade. These amazing women made the most gorgeous wallhanging of 1000 origami cranes. Now Rob and I will have 1000 years of good luck! I am so touched that they would do this for me! (I cried and cried!)

More to come - perhaps tomorrow...

Someone got married

2011-12-05T21:28:00.000-08:00

And if you would like to see the interview and ceremony video that KPTV did, go here: http://www.kptv.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6517171

And here's a different angle from youtube by a fan in the crowd:

Best hockey game ever! Thanks, Winterhawks! Thanks to all our friends and our families! Thanks Robbie!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
lulu moonwood murakami

The night before... (no, not Christmas)

2011-12-02T22:54:00.000-08:00

My Wedding! I'm getting married tomorrow!!! No time to blog, although I have a lot I want to show - but I left my computer charger at my mom's house (I hope) and I don't have a quick way to upload and edit photos...Aaaauuughhh!

We spent the afternoon with Rob's family who came in from Hawaii and Minnesota - YAY!!! Then back to making my little cake toppers, and now I must write up and print the "program" for the big day - nothing like the last minute, I always say!

Jewelry sale on Etsy

2011-11-18T10:17:00.000-08:00

Hello Everybody! Just wanted to let you know that I have a little promotion going on in my Etsy shop. ALL of my soldered jewelry is now on sale! Enter the coupon code: JEWELRYSALE1 at check out and get 50% off. Just in time for the holidays! Have fun shopping, and thanks for coming by.

lulu
Click here to go to my shop

Holly jolly!

2011-11-16T15:06:00.000-08:00

Wedding plans aren't the only thing being attended to! I am also trying to be a diligent Etsy-ite, getting ready for the holidays! This year's ornament offering: little Santas!

I've been having fun with these little guys, stitching up the snow cone shape, painting, and embellishing. Here are some process photos:

Strange little cones

Funny little men with black beards!

How do you like the drying rack I made out of a small aluminum pan? I can put these ornaments upside down or right side up, and it can go into my drying-dehydrater box without worry!

All in a row.

Little Santa ornaments, embellished with glitter and flocking, are now ready on Etsy!

Come get your holly jollies at the shop: www.lulumoon.etsy.com

Thank you!

Día de los muertos, 2011

2011-11-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

This year Día de los muertos is more poignant than ever for me. My mom passed away just 3 weeks ago, on October 11th. Naturally, my shrine is focusing on her this year. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of the things that would please her, but I will do my best.

Mom was a beautiful lady with a beautiful name. She got a kick out of the rising popularity once again of her name. She loved traveling and collecting beautiful things. She also LOVED Christmas. She decorated her house to the nines with all her Santas and Christmas cuties, and generously lavished us with gifts.

She was a voracious reader and had a vast collection of books. Mom also was a wonderful writer. When I come across her lovely handwriting on an envelope, it makes me lonesome to think that I won't be receiving any more of her missives.

She grew up Catholic. Although she stopped going to church in later years, she always maintained her faith in God. This gave her great comfort, and she encouraged others to foster their own faith.

She loved beauty and the finer things in life. She treated herself well, but as she always said, "All things in moderation." That included the single chocolate chip cookie she used to allow herself every night.

I was unaware of how beautiful she was until my brother Steve pointed it out after she passed. It's one of those things when people tell you she's beautiful, you think to yourself, "Her? She's just my mom." But now I see it. I wish I could show you the photo montage we put together for her memorial service, and then you would see it, too. Well, actually, you can see it here, just click on the video tribute button. It won't have the same music we chose due to copyright laws, but try to imagine it with Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, and Joe Cocker's version of "You Are So Beautiful To Me."

The obituary we wrote to honor Mom:

Audrey Carol Wood, resident of the Deerhorn community of Springfield, died Tuesday October 11, 2011, after a long and brave battle with cancer. She was 77 years old.

Audrey was born Dec. 26, 1933 in Mar Vista, California, to Vernon and Harriett Brown, the second of seven children. She married Carleton F. Wood in Westwood, California in 1967. He died in 1988.

Growing up in Westwood she was a devoted Bruin fan, graduating from UCLA in 1956 with Phi Beta Kappa honors. She taught elementary school in Los Angeles for nine years, beginning at University Elementary, where she herself had attended as a child. It was at UES that she first learned the experiential teaching methods of John Dewey, a philosophy that she was always proud to embrace.

She moved to Oregon in 1980. With her husband she owned the Lucky Logger Restaurant in the town of Walterville, up the Mackenzie River. After her husband’s passing she became active in volunteer work which included being an ESL tutor, a reader and accounting assistant to the blind with the Oregon Commission for the Blind, and an intergenerational tutor with the Oasis program at Camp Creek and Thurston Elementary Schools. She also volunteered for St. Alice Community Services, which led to her becoming the director of that agency for seven years.

Audrey was an avid reader, world traveler, and music lover. She had a ready smile, a sparkle in her eye, a spunky wit, and an astoundingly loud cheer for her favorite football team – which in later life became the U of O Ducks. She will also be remembered for her sense of beauty and style which was reflected in her home, a welcome retreat for family. Beyond all else, she loved celebrating life’s happy occasions with her family, laughing loud and long and joyfully.

She will be missed and cherished always by her four children and their spouses: Linda MoonWood and Robert Murakami, Steven and Galina Wood, Stacy and Bryan Sorenson, Woody and Shawna Wood; her seven grandchildren: Emily, Kyllian, Willow, Chloe, Summer, Aaron, and Ekaterina; sister Loretta Lindholm, brother John Brown, sister Pamela Camille; and her beloved friend for many years, Don Hibbard of Salem. We love you Mom/Nana… Audrey.

___________________________________________________________

Mom was very generous and lavished us with gifts during her lifetime, but the greatest gift ever was the love of family. My two brothers, Steve and Woody, my sister Stacy, and I became so close this past year, and especially in Mom's final month.

Eulogy for Mom:

My mom had a wonderful life.

My Aunt Pamela reminded me of this when I spoke to her by phone the other day. She said, “Your mom got to do everything she ever wanted to do in her life.”

I’ve been thinking about this, and she’s right:

Mom wanted to work with kids. She was a teacher, a tutor, a daycare provider, and a mother of four.

Mom liked to eat heartily. Lucky her - she married a restaurant man who was a wonderful cook!

Mom wanted to help people. After Dad passed she became a volunteer dynamo, affecting so many lives in positive ways.

She had always wanted to travel. Later in life she was fortunate to meet her beloved friend Don, and together they saw the world.

Two months before she passed, we four kids were visiting her and taking her places on the weekends. She was so excited to visit once more the beauty along the scenic Mackenzie Highway. After her third trip all the way up to the town of Sisters, Stacy asked Mom if there were any other place or thing she still wanted to see or do that she hadn’t yet done in her life. Mom replied, “I just want to be with my family.

Again her wish was granted. In her final month, Mom, Stacy, Steve, Woody and I became closer I think than any of us had imagined possible. That is a gift she gave to us that I will always cherish.

She had a blessed life, and we are so blessed to have had her in ours.
____________________________________________________________

To visit other bloggers who are celebrating Día de los muertos, please click on the logo below.

Etsy Wedding Treasury

2011-09-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

Custom wedding forks from PrettyParis on Etsy

I am still staying with Mom during the week, but while she drifts off to sleep I pull out the laptop and thumb through Etsy looking for items that would fulfill my wedding dreams. Above are some adorable forks from my list. Check out my Etsy Wedding Treasury, here, to see how my red and white winter theme is coming together - at least as a vision. I have to admit - this is fun! And when she woke up today, I showed Mom some of my treasures. She loved it.

xoxo lulu

Portrait class

2011-09-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

I've been working on the first painted project from Jane DesRosier's portrait class. The collaged and tinted background sat for awhile as I gathered courage. I've never done a painting with under-painting before, but I'm eager to see how it will go. Here she is with the under-painting.

(She makes me think of the Violent Femmes - "Big hands, I know you're the one...")

: )

Portraits class

2011-09-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

Having fun in Jane DesRosier (aka Gritty Jane)'s Portrait and Papers class. Check it out on her blog - the link for class info is on her sidebar. I think she's my favorite online teacher, in that I actually do all of her lessons! And yes, I learn!

Here is the best profile I've ever drawn, thanks to Jane's help with proportions.

ok, so she's not perfect, but she's still my personal best!

Other happenings in my semi-retired life: I've been busy polishing my condo into a shiny gem that someone would want to buy or rent (PLEASE!), and dreaming up my perfect funky wedding!

Happiness is...

2011-09-05T00:28:00.000-07:00

Love!

On August 21st, my sweetie Rob asked me to marry him. He had given me a big hint the day before by telling me that if his team won the championship game, there might be another miracle on ice after the game. Well, they didn't win the game, and I was very worried about him changing his mind, but after team photos he stayed on one knee and popped the question. As you can probably guess, my response was an enthusiastic, "YES! YES! YES!!!" I love that he asked me on the ice, and that our friends were there to witness and enjoy it.

One week later (last week) we went to Minnesota to meet his family. I was nervous as we were flying in, but I very quickly felt like I was gaining a wonderful new family.

(Me), Rob, his mother Kimiko, sister Diane, and sister Sally. I also got to meet his brother Tom and the respective spouses, children, and grandchildren. Such a wonderful, generous family!

I also got to meet Robbie's dear friend Mel. Mel could tell you the history of every corner of St. Paul!

As we explored St. Paul and areas near by, I caught glimpses of Rob's childhood - the places and the people who helped make him the man that he is today.

A house in Rob's old, downtown neighborhood.

The suburban home his family moved to when he was in third grade. This is where he skated down the backyard in the winter to the pond where he played hockey with neighborhood friends.

The beautiful St. Croix River. We took this tour on sister Sally and her husband Gary's boat.

The botanical conservatory at Como Park.

The great big beautiful Belgians at the Minnesota State Fair.

a bit blue

2011-08-08T18:13:00.000-07:00

Two weeks and a day at the condo, cleaning, painting, primping - and spending time with my girls when they are not at work. I have felted and sewn a bit, but no drawing or painting. I am feeling a bit blue. If you have see this video by Misty Mawn - inspiring! - then you know that some of us need to immerse ourselves in art, or things are not quite right. The tools I have on hand, now that I have moved my studio to Rob's house, are minimal. In spite of packing supplies to carry between visits, my scattered brain forgets and leaves things behind. I had to buy some emergency cheapo brushes the other night, but still did not have time to make use of them until today, when the art urge could not be put off any longer. This painting by Jane Desrosier pushed me over the edge. Using the pose and coloring as a catalyst, I set about to make my own version 1. (Disclaimer: Remember, I only have cruddy brushes and cheap paper, and I am not as skilled as Jane!)

First, I lightly sketched the contour onto a page in my sketchbook.

Nest, using Neocolor artist crayons, I started marking in shadows.

I continued coloring with the Neocolor crayons, until she started looking scary. Hey, don't worry! She'll start to look better in a little bit! This step just helps me locate shading.

Using the white Neocolor crayon I began to blend the tones. I learned this technique from Misty.

In this step I used a wet brush over the hair. The Neocolors are water soluble, so now they look water colory. I used Titanium white acrylic paint over the face. Mixed with the Neocolors, the face begins to take on skin tones.

Ahh, I like this one! I've added black acrylic in the background, and black crayon to define the contours. I know from Jane Gritty Jane dolls that she likes to start with Payne's gray and build up the lights on top. I'm mimicking that look a bit, but going backwards.

From there on I went back and forth and back and forth with the paints and the crayons. You can see where I am now that I have overworked the painting, and this weak paper is not so forgiving. I will add a bit more when I get back to my better brushes, but this is about as far as I can go on this page. The important thing is not the end results, but the fact that I used the materials and exercised my art muscles.

Now I have signed up for Jane's Portrait and Paper clas s. I wish I could say that I'm off to go start class, but alas, I am off to go paint the kitchen.

Nuno scarf

2011-08-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the "studio" (my new digs) working on the nuno scarf I mentioned yesterday.

This was my first ever nuno project: felting into a fabric background. It was a perfect day for it: sunny and warm, just right for working with water outside.

In the kit I bought from Dancing Leaf Farm, there are instructions for felting using bubble wrap and tulle, but I wanted to try out this bamboo mat that I bought last summer at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival.

The scarf is laid out on the mat, sprinkled with cold water, then rolled up like this. Applying pressure starts the felting process.

I mostly used my hands to apply the pressure. I found that rolling out bit by bit, rolling back and forth and back and forth over each section did a good job of getting the fibers to adhere to the silk scarf.

Adding hot soapy water really helped crinkled up the sides to form the ruffles. I continued rolling with pressure, alternating hot water, cold water.

After a final rinse with cold water, the scarf was ready to hang up to dry. Here it is fluttering in the eastside breeze.

Today's assignment: embellishing the scarf with beads!

Today's blog visit: Carla Sonheim starts a new online class today. And it's not too late to take her husband Steve's class on photographing your artwork. I'm signed up!

knitting dreams

2011-07-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

The clicking and sliding of knitting needles have been dancing through my head... I've been sorting through all the business cards I collected at Sock Summit on which I took notes. I have a collection of patterns I would love to make, including this shapely top from White Lies Designs:

Lots of booths showed samples of free patterns you can download via ravelry.com. I've downloaded this Poppy Beanie by Louisa Harding for all its feminine detailing:

While searching for the beanie, I cam across this striped arm warmers pattern, also by Louisa Harding.(these were stitched up by akfactor, and I love her yarn choice):

Of course, these are the wild knitting dreams of a girl who only knows how to knit scarves. But I swear, I will learn how to knit socks some day!

In the meantime, today I want to felt the nuno scarf project that I got at SS, from Dancing Leaf Farm. I've laid it out - now I need my felting gear, so I'll be off to Rob's soon. Soapy water, rolling and squooshing, et voila! A frilly scarf. I hope.

Beautiful blog discovery of the day: spillyjane knits. She's a fabulous creative living in Ontario, Canada, where by the looks of her gorgeous garden photos, they've been having more sunshine this summer than we have. I especially enjoyed this post about roofers who took tender loving care of her flowers while tending to her roof.

Enjoy your beautiful day!

Sock Summit 2011

2011-07-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Andrea and I went to Sock Summit today!

We entered through Sockgate to arrive at the mythical land of Soxanits.

I call this photo "Andrea and the Giant Sock."

Here, Andrea is examining the Giant Sock. It is currently about 7 feet long,

and nearing to the point where the sock will be turned to make the heel.

Here I am adding stitches to the Giant Sock. By this act I was qualified

to add my name to the list of the makers of the Giant Sock.

This photo also gives you a feel for how enormous Sock Summit is.

Yarns and roving abound, made of wool, cashmere, angora, alpaca, and even yak!

Detail of the Giant Sock. Look at the rows of

baubles that people added!

The stash I came home with from Sock Summit.

I can wait to get started on the nuno felt project!

Little detail of the row of maidens. These are buttons!

So much fun sharing a day of yarn infatuation with a friend!

gray sky daydreaming

2011-07-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

While the midwest simmers away at high temperatures beneath a conversion layer, we here in NW Oregon are experiencing coastal weather: overcast skies, temps in the 70s if we're lucky. It has rained more often than usual for the summer. I won't complain, because I certainly prefer 72 degrees to 102 degrees, and it does make you appreciate every little bit of sunshine that comes along. This morning, it also makes it a good time to look at blogs, which I haven't done much of in a long while. And blog cruising leads to daydreaming...

Visiting one friend's blog led me to see some new places. I won't copy and paste photos from these artists, but I do encourage you to look at the art of Antonio Alvarez Gordillo, a Spanish artist who does wonderfully detailed whimsical landscapes. It really makes me want to get out my paints and PRACTICE! Also look at the wild illustrations of Dani Torrent here. I love how this artist portrays light and the variety of perspectives in his work.

Some blogroll cruising led me to sewing sites. I love the way this person combined fabrics to make this blouse (I wish I could show you her photo here, but you'll have to click on the link). After much searching I did find the pattern on eBay, so I bought it up, because I think with long sleeves it would make a really cute folkloric blouse a la lulu. What do you think?

While I was searching for that pattern I came across these newer ones, which would also be cute.

Are they too much alike? Maybe I'll just make the one I bought already. I'm also very antsy to stitch up a pattern from a Japanese sewing magazine, and another one from a Norwegian magazine..

but I am at the condo today and there is nothing here but this computer, not even paper to draw on. So I will just have to daydream for now.

p.s. Please visit my friend Janne's blog and send blessings to the people of Norway. Thank you.

Sunny morning

2011-07-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday's dog walk: the Sandy River. An opportunity to feel the sunshine and have a good walk were too good to pass up. Along the way I saw these wildflowers. (Question: When does a wildflower stop being a flower and start being a weed?) Take a close look at the lovely blue blooms.

Who is that walking up ahead in the distance? A man pushing a cart of some kind...

Oh! It's a baby basset buggy! Arv and Bo get a lift to speed things up a bit, because we want to actually get to the river.

Destination: the Sandy River, looking quite low despite all the rainfall and snow melt-off.

River reflections

Roz takes a dip

Playing fetch with Rob

More wildflower blooms

Basset parade, tails wagging - it's time to head back.

The remainder of the day was spent at the Berry Festival in downtown Portland and Camas Days in Camas. Berry Festival was definitely the highlight. We cam away with a full flat of strawberries and four jars of sugarless marion berry jam. Mmmm... marion berries! Now that's what I call summer!

Just a good day

2011-07-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday

painting flowers

eating what comes after the flowers

in the evening,

planting flowers.

Woke up early and headed straight down to the studio. Debussy and Satie playing on Pandora, cats sleeping on all the chairs, and my hands covered in paint, aqua and apple green. I wanted to make this flower painting with a figure in it. She's looking like one of my dolls with long, stripey legs.

At lunch time I reached for truly nourishing food: almonds, cranberries, fresh strawberries, yogurt. Felt good to eat healthy - I should do it more often!

Rob went to town on building the retaining wall where the old spruce tree used to stand. I was sad when the tree came down, but it was one of those trees you don't really want in the front yard, dripping pitch onto your car. He planted a Japanese maple in its place, and now has built this attractive wall with planting space. Off to the plant nursery we went, and grabbed whatever sun loving perennials we liked, not thinking too much about design, but didn't it turn out pretty?

I'm longing to put in flower beds in the back yard next...

Bush Barn Gallery and Salem Art Fair & Festival

2011-07-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

Last week was a flurry of around the clock doll making. Neither rain nor sleet nor stomach flu could hold me back. The Bush Barn Art Center had asked me for 22 more dolls to adorn the tables of the Salem Art Fair and Festival kickoff dinner. The dinner would be attended by donors and patrons of the art center, so although it seemed an impossible task, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Thanks to my sweetie pie Rob, who offered to help stuff the little arms and legs, mission accomplished!

The dinner was delightful. Gallery staff were dressed as Renaissance ladies and gents and faeries, in keeping with the theme A Midsummer Night's Dream. I was introduced as the featured artist, and even got my photo taken for Salem's newspaper, the Statesman Journal. Woo hoo - two minutes of fame!

Photos from the dinner event:

A windswept doll as a table centerpiece.

The fearsome Viking Queen.

Wonderful band Tricky Pixie provided funky renaissance music.

Gallery coordinator Tatyana, the art professional who picked me out at the I Heart Art mixer match and gave me the opportunity to show my work in the gallery!

A flaming-haired doll graces another table.

The next day was the opening of the Salem Art Fair & Festival - one of the best art fairs in the country! Rob and I attended on Saturday. It gave me a chance to see how the dolls all looked on display in the gallery. I have to say, I feel honored to have my dolls here. It's just a beautiful art center with three exhibit galleries and the gift gallery. I plan to submit proposals for the exhibit space in the not very distant future. The staff is incredibly encouraging. Following are photos of some of the dolls on display.

I count my lucky stars for this opportunity to show my work in public, and look forward to the next challenge!

New Venues

2011-06-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

In May I attended a mixer match for artists and gallery professionals. The event was put on by the wonderful local I Heart Art group. I have attended several of their workshops and now two mixer matches, and I can say that this organization does a great job of working with artists and providing us access to information and opportunities. I was very excited with the results I got from this mixer match. My dolls got great feedback, and four galleries were very interested in having them at their venue.

The first new venue I've placed the dolls in is the Bush Barn Gallery in Salem. I was thrilled when I walked into this space. Spacious and inviting, it calls the visitor inward with light, color, and the beautiful artwork displayed. I immediately got the sense that this would be a good place for my dolls. The gallery representative, Tatyana, also strongly encouraged me to submit a proposal to do a show at the gallery. Seeing the three show spaces they have, I began dreaming up the different kinds of work that could be displayed in each space. I am excited for my future!

Until then, here are some new dolls along with a few old favorites, that I took with me to Salem.

Opening a New Door

2011-06-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

It had been a long time coming, brewing in my mind and soul. Living with the indecision kept me in a state of inertia. I knew what I ultimately needed to do, but agonized over the consequences of that decision. A gathering of circumstances had led me to ponder my choices:

1. Life is short. I first realized this when my dad passed away years ago at the age of 55, and I knew then it was important to follow your dreams sooner than later. I started off all right, but then got sidetracked for twelve years. This past year my supervisor's sixteen-year-old son tragically passed away and my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. Two more wake up calls I needed to heed.

2. My heart just wasn't in full-time teaching any more. This concerned me greatly, as I was teaching at a school where the students truly needed fully committed teachers. One retired teacher told me I needed to hang on for four more years for a decent retirement, but I knew I couldn't last, nor would it be fair to my students.

And so I resigned from full-time teaching on the last day of school, with the "plan" of earning my living through art and substitute teaching. The next day I went into a complete tailspin of panic. What had I done, giving up that salary and those benefits? What had I done to my daughters? How was I going to make it through August? This went on for a week as I worked on cleaning out my classroom. But then a little bit of serendipity came my way on a visit to the staff restroom. We fondly call that particular restroom the Literacy Loo. There's a small table in there, on which people set books they have read and want to share with others. I picked up one of those books to read the recommendations on the dust jacket, and this book title caught my eye: The Road Less Traveled. Naturally it brought to mind the poem by Robert Frost. I have always loved that poem and all that it signifies, and I thought, "Yes, that's me - taking the road less traveled." Suddenly I felt so much better.

August will still be shaky, but I know I have done the right thing - for myself, for my students, and for my daughters. I believe I am empowering them to make better choices for themselves in their own lives.

Now as I return to my heart's path, I say good-bye to the road that I have been traveling for the last 11 years.

childhood wonder

sharing the joy of learning

the delight of children

seeing them grow and turn into fine young people

I will still see my students when I return to sub, as well as my friends on this wonderful staff. They are an amazing and truly dedicated group of people. I hope to gain that same sense of passion as I embark on my path in art.

Happy Anniversay!

2011-05-15T23:09:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that a year has flown by so quickly. A year ago today I met my sweetie Rob!

So how are we celebrating? I'm working on my art resume and portfolio for an upcoming gallery mixer-match event, while he cleans out closets to make room for me to move in! Lovely photo ops these aren't. So instead I'll show photos of a wonderful trip we took to Victoria, B.C. earlier this year, for one of Rob's annual hockey tournaments.

We stayed at the Victoria Regent Hotel, right on the bay. This was the view out our many windows:

And the view inside of our magnificent two bedroom suite that we shared with some of the other hockey teammates. Notice the cutie on the couch!

Victoria is a great walking city. I loved out free time taking in the feel of the city.

Some of Victoria's colorful old architecture.

Click on the bicycle below for a close-up view - this bike is wearing a sweater!

Taking in the old world charm, you suddenly remember you're in a different country.

Who knows how to make their government buildings sooooo beautiful!?

The famous Empress Hotel

Inside the Empress

More gorgeous architecture inside the Empress


China Town looking other worldly

The super fabulous Victoria Bug Museum - Every second grader needs to take a field trip there!

And now for the main event. Hockey in Canada!

Robbie and our roomies

World class skating arenas!

The team on ice, warming up.

It was a good tournament for the team. They lost the first game but won the next two. I had a blast getting to know the guys better - they've got some very creative intellectuals and inventors on the team - fascinating conversations off the ice! And now, to close, a bit of hockey humor:

SCORE!!!

2011-05-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

Paint-o-rama!!! Not only did my sweetie take me to the estate sale where we found this amazing stash of craft acrylic paints, he also bargained and got them for a steal! Noramally I think they run for around $2 a pop when they're on sale at Michael's so the red box on the left alone is worth $72. Multiply that by 6 and we're looking at $432.00 worth of paint. For the estate sale the whole lot of them was priced at $124.00. My man got them a grand total of $28!!! My man!!! xoxo!

(Now where do I put them all???)

for jessica to see

2011-05-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

howdy folks - just having trouble uploading this simple photo for my friend Jessica on facebook, so the mysterious couch post is here only temporarily...

Shrine auction on the way!!!

2011-05-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Please stay tuned to Recuerda Mi Corazon for shrine auction details. All the action will be starting soon!!!

Heart for Japan

2011-04-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

Please see Rebecca's Recuerda mi Corazon blog to join in a fundraiser for Japan relief. For every donation of $5.00, you will be entered in a chance to win a beautiful stained glass red winged heart, and you will be helping to establish shelters in Japan! Pass the word along, and thank you!

Mini-Artfest

2011-04-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

This year the financial realities of being a parent of a college student have taken hold, therefore I am not attending Artfest. Fortunately, I have artsy friends - two of whom are attending Artfest and in fact teaching classes this year - who decided to get together before the big event so that we could do some arting together! We got together at the studio of the uber-talented Michelle Allen of Allen Designs. Everywhere you look in this studio there are amazing things to see - pure heaven for this color and whimsy junkie! See what I mean?

Here is Michelle holding up a work in progress. She's a joyful spirit and it all comes through in her work. I could post a million pictures of all the amazing things she does, but I'll just give you her link instead (because she has better pictures of her own work!) Go here.

Janne Robbeson comes all the way from Norway to attend Artfest, and this year she is also teaching! We got to see a preview of what her students will be learning - appliqued and adorned drawstring velvet bags. They are gorgeous! Janne is another one of those ultra-talented artists - she's a costume designer, a painter, an incredible photographer - she does jewelry, assemblage, etc., etc.! Not to mention she's super stylish! You can see more about her on Michelle's blog, and of course on her own website: Spindelmaker

Deirdra brought her darling Nikki Nisse doll for show and tell. Lots more about her doll AND her book!!! on her blog.

Along with our own little projects to work on, Janne brought her treasure necklace that she had made out of her christening bracelet and other meaningful memories. Dangling from the chain is a tiny little book with lovely charcoal black paper. Janne asked each of us to paint something inside. What a wonderful book of mementos it will be as she continues to gather mini works of art within! My little page is seen below.

It was a fabulous evening arting with friends! More, please!

Time to shrine

2011-04-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

It is time once again to go to Rebecca's Recuerda Mi Corazon for the Oaxaca Street Children Project shrine auction.

Above is my contribution to the auction this year: a polymer clay icon, stamped, painted, powdered, and beaded, ready to hang on your wall. The inscription reads "Para Los Ninos" - For the Children. The paints and powders I used are metallic, so the icon is sparkly and the colors are rich.

Public viewing of all the auction pieces will be available on April 29th, and the auction will take place between May 1st through 7th. Please keep in mind that this is a fundraising auction, so bid generously! : ) You can participate by going to Rebecca's site here .

The project is to provide support through education to the impoverished street children living in Oaxaca, Mexico. For those who don't know, Oaxaca is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Mexico. The city of Oaxaca in the state of Oaxaca is full of colonial architecture, and the outskirts nearby hold some magnificent ruins of past cultures. Amidst these magnificent riches, poverty also thrives. Please visit the Oaxaca Streetchildren Grassroots organization to see how the proceeds from this auction will help the children in Oaxaca.

Sunday later

2011-03-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

I love Portlandia in all its colorful craftiness! I adore Alberta St. I think I’m going to go back with camera to take pics of some of my favorite spots and rave about them here. For today, collage – the shop. Following my reverie in the garden I checked collage’s hours online, saw they had a BUNCH of new goodies, drove there (down Prescott and I didn’t even get lost! I am learning my way around this eastside land!) intending to buy one thing, but ended up with a bagfull of other things.

I am ready for SPRING! So I think I’ll get busy and make some springy stuff. Stay tuned!

Sunday morning at Rob’s.

2011-03-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

He’s gone off to a seminar for the day, I’m having some chai with almond milk. I wander about the house, peeking here and there at the work I did yesterday, reorganizing the kitchen (with Rob’s permission, of course!). ‘Twas quite the undertaking, taking everything out of that cupboard, everything out of these drawers, bringing things up from the storage pantry downstairs, consolidating various stashes of coffees (that nobody around here drinks), lining up all the canned foods so that we can see what we have… It’s a good thing, not a type A control thing. (I don’t think anyone could accuse me of being type A – have you seen my house???!) But I mean, he has enough spaghetti sauce in storage to open an Italian restaurant! It’s good to know what you already have on hand. (Yeah, right, Lulu – when’s your next trip to the art store? Ahem!)

Back to my reverie… I take a walk in the backyard. A plum tree blossoms bright pink, a magnolia’s blooms are just beginning to open. Three daffodils here, a few more there. It is tranquil. I am seeing this garden spot a year or two from now, all the other spring flowers that will paint this edge of the yard. I feel so lucky and blessed that I will be coming to live here soon.

I think I am going to paint the white picket fence blue with white polka dots…

the busyness of art

2011-03-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

This month I've been working on the biz side of things. I took a workshop through I Heart Art: PDX: Small Steps - a creative business primer. Rachel Dominguez-Benner of Bike Cozy was the presenter. Great information! Along with formulas for pricing, resources for small businesses, and problem solving strategies, Rachel stressed the importance of web presence. Prior to attending the workshop I had read the same thing elsewhere, so I had already started setting up a website and a dedicated art blog. I bought a domain name for my website... the name I wanted was already taken, so I used my other name. Oops. Not a good move, according to Rachel. Consistency! Make it easy for people to find you!

Ok, I'm working on that.

In the meantime, I am going ahead with building the website. The most exciting thing about it so far is the new banner I designed. I have made it into my etsy shop banner also (for consistency!). It looks like it would make a nice moo card / business card, too. Here it is:

All this business stuff keeps one busy. I know that all this web presence won't make a bit of difference if I'm not actually posting things. And in order to be posting things, I need to be doing my art. One pulls away from the other... and then there's the day job! It's Friday of spring break - can I say that I can't wait for summer vacation?

Tomorrow, another workshop. This one will be about marketing your etsy shop, and is presented through The 100th Monkey Studio. More workshops in April!

Snow

2011-02-24T23:28:00.000-08:00

Yippee! I just love Portlandia! With one inch of snow on the ground and the possibility of more snow on the way, we close schools. I know all you easterners and mid-westerners must get a good laugh over that, but it's a good thing - it really is! We don't know how to drive in it, and it's the only time our kids ever get to experience the white stuff. So even when it all melts by 12:00 noon, it's good that we've gotten the day off to celebrate the rare wonder of snow.

Some of us celebrate by doing art.

S0 much fun! I played in my journal, making snowflake potato stamps and working on a couple of other paintings. I know I haven't posted much work lately, but I do have a bunch of works in progress and today I borrowed Willow's camera to get some photos. Over the next few days I'll post some of those. For now, here's a mixed media piece - I painted a portrait of one of my dolls! Seems kind of silly, but painting the faces on the dolls has inspired me to paint, period. There's a lot of texture in this piece. I just can't tear myself away from all that tactile fun.

Will we get another snow day tomorrow? Or maybe an ice day? I hope so, because for me every snow day becomes a warm and cozy, productive, studio day!

Why Art?

2011-02-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

Here it is, 5:08 a.m. I've been wide awake since 4:35, my mind racing with thoughts I feel compelled to put on record. I could just write them in my journal, but here is an environment where these particular thoughts might resonate with others, and so I share them with you.

Last night Rob and I attended a panel discussion put on by an organization called Project Grow (please do check out their website to learn more about them!). The theme for the discussion was "Why Make Art?" and the panel consisted of full time and part time working artists. (I'm sorry I don't know their names, as they weren't printed on the fliers, and I didn't write them down either, but it was a good group. One was named Avalon, one was Chris. There was a Jen and a Karl - Karl Lind ! - and Harold and Larry. My apologies to the woman next to Larry - I couldn't hear you very well.) The event itself had some surreal moments, and was an art happening in and of itself. A homeless man had joined the audience. He had a lot of questions and was somewhat disruptive - if you were there to hear the panelists. But if you were there to experience whatever life throws your way, you were not disappointed. Some of the man's comments were very thought-provoking indeed: to those in our society who are in survival mode, does discussing art make any sense? It seemed to underscore the question of the night. WHY make art? The whole scene would have made a great documentary and I wish I had had a video camera.

The audience was very participatory, but I was very quiet. I will now pretend that I was a part of the panel and answer some of the questions. I'll present the questions first, so that you can be part of the panel as well, contemplating your own responses before I give mine:

Why do you do art?

What is your goal for your art - what kind of impact do you want it to have on your audience?

Would you do art even if there were no audience for it?

What about the impact on the environment (the use of material stuff to make art)?

What is art? What is the difference between art and craft ad trade?

What does art give to society? Does it help anything?

My responses:
First, there was a panelist's comment on the title of the discussion. Rather than Why Make Art, could she call it Why Do Art? I like this question. For me, it's not quibbling over semantics, but a fundamental question of the relationship the artist has to her art. "Why Make Art" implies a product, as if the product were the purpose of practicing one's art. "Why Do Art" implies the process. For some or many of us, the process is more essential than the product. Why do I involve myself in the process of making art? The panelists had a variety of reasons, from beauty to learning to expressing one's ideas. I've thought about this a lot over the years. Sometimes I do art to have a gift to give somebody, because it's something I can do and I hope it will please them. Sometimes I do art because I get an idea and I want to see it in a physical form - I want to take on the challenge of seeing if I can do it. Sometimes I do art to learn and to practice and to get better at it so that I can use it to create what I want to make, or to communicate what I want to say. Years ago I thought to myself that as a quiet person, I needed some way of communicating what was going on inside me. Which leads to my final answer: I do art because I need to. It is vital to my sense of well-being. I get really cranky if I haven't done art for awhile. My emotions go awry, and that's putting it very nicely. To use Michelle and Janne's word, "arting" is fun, joyful, intense, invigorating, calming, and healing. And nurturing. I need to do art just as I need to drink water.

What is your goal - what impact do you want your art to have on others? I think this is part of the reason I am reluctant to consider myself an artist - I'm out there in the world only occasionally as an artist. I am not working with my art constantly like I wish I could be, and I rarely have an audience. But when I do put it out there, or when I have in the past, I think my goal is to have the viewer pause and think, or to have some kind of emotional reaction. I enjoy anonymously hearing those reactions. Some viewers make a connection with me via my work, and I learn that I am not so alone in the world. Other viewers bring their own interpretation and something unexpected. I learn that concepts or forms have other meanings outside of my intention.

Would you do art even if there were no audience for it? Yes, I would. I do a lot of work that I never show anyone, again, because I need to. It helps me process thoughts and feelings and move forward. Sometimes I think that I would like to keep it all for myself, but then I am surprised when I do share it that others do respond to it. My tenth grade English teacher, Mrs. Feuerstein, wrote to me that I needed to share myself - that I owed it to the world. I have to admit that when I do feel brave enough to share, I like the response. But I would still do it without the audience.

What about the resources, the "stuff" of art and it's impact on the environment? For years I didn't make art because of this issue. Not that I was being ecological, but that the products from doing art were taking up a lot of space and I was sick of having all that stuff around me, piling up, cluttering my life. Now more ecologically conscious to a certain extent, I am more aware of the environmental issues in various art procedures, and it does worry me sometimes. Certain pigments from nature are not renewable resources, clay comes out of the earth, paper comes from cutting down and processing trees, paint waters and turpentine and paint jars need to be disposed of with thought for how their elements affect ground water and streams. It can feel overwhelming and cause an artist to stop doing art. But paints and materials continue to evolve thanks to the growing awareness. More artists are reusing materials in their art. I do a mix of both new and reused/recycled. I know I need to continue to improve in this area.

What is art? What is the difference between art and craft, and trade? Oh, ugh! Sometimes I think I know, sometimes I have no clue. I mean, there's art, then there's fine art, and there's craft, then there's fine craft... Who or what makes up these distinctions? Galleries and art magazines? The price you put on it? The artist's or craftperson's training and education? I make art dolls. Are they art or craft? Are they an artful craft? I have friends who tell me my stuff is art, and that we know the difference. No, I really don't know.

What does art give to society? Does it help anything? One of the audience members told a great story she had heard about a dramaturge who was going through that crisis of what good was her work doing anybody, wanted to go to India to help the sick and the poor, met Mother Teresa who told her, "In my country we have a famine of food, people are sick and starving. It is my work to help heal them. In your country there is a famine of the heart. It is your work to help heal those people." I'm totally paraphrasing, I didn't hear the story first hand. But what an amazing story. Although the discussion continued and more questions were asked, I felt like I had what I needed to know. There is a movie playing in Portland right now, a documentary called I Am. In the previews there are scientists and philosophers talking about how we are so much more interconnected than we ever realized, and how what one person does somehow affects everyone else. In light of this, don't we absolutely need art - art includes music, writing, poetry, theater, movies, visual arts, happenings, design work, landscaping, cooking, sewing, etc. etc. - to balance out the wars and mayhem that go on about the world? If my work, or your work or anybody's work reaches and touches another person and helps them in some way, there will be a ripple effect that will bring light into the world. An idea so grandiose and yet humbling at the same time. We have work to do - our small part.

This is my soul work. This is what I need to do.

And the Winner is...

2011-02-17T07:01:00.000-08:00

Announcing the winner of my OWOH 2011 giveaway...

The random number generator over at random.org has selected the number 4, Kris! Kris has THREE blogs going, so be sure to check out her delightful work! Thank you to all who participated, and to Lisa Swifka for hosting this wonderful event!

Although this was the final year for One World One Heart, Lisa has something new for 2012, so be sure to check out her blog to get all the details!

What would you say?

2011-02-06T21:41:00.000-08:00

We'll see if I can figure out how to embed this... My brother sent me this link. I used to sing and dance over and over again to this song. It was a big production number in my head. I'm surprised my brother remembers it - i didn't know anyone was watching! Thanks, Steve-o!

One World One Heart 2011

2011-01-31T07:15:00.000-08:00

It's time once again for the One World One Heart blogging event. This is Lisa Swiftka's fifth and final OWOH. She is the creator and hostess of this event that spreads friendship throughout the blogging world. To read all about it and to see and meet all kinds of artsy bloggers, click on the logo above.

The heart and soul of this event is to introduce bloggers worldwide to each other. Lisa has been holding this event for five years, and wonderful friendships have been forged through the event. Hoping to make some new friends myself, let me introduce myself to you:

That's me in the oval, with my two girls Emily & Willow

This is me.

And this is definitely me.
I am a whimsical expressionist and I love to make things and do art.
I have been a dollmaker off and on for years and years.
(I am very ancient).
(but also very young at heart).

I like to journal,

and to paint with mixed media;

I like to paint and sculpt with thread,
(and clay!)

and play with imagery.

I like to see things from up close,
as well as ...

I do hope that you will take some time, in all your blog hopping, to really look and get to know some of the bloggers participating in the event.

OK, OK! NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY...

This year I will be giving away another doll. On February 17th I will be selecting a winner via the randOm number generator, and then this little Dream Girl will be on her way to a new home somewhere across the world (or nearby... Who knows!?). She is a cloth and clay doll. Her face is hand-painted purpley with acrylics. Her hands and feet are charming little charms! Her torso is a flower power tunic and her legs are shaped into groovy bell bottoms. Although her joints are movable, she is intended to be an art doll rather than a child's plaything, and thus needs tender loving care.

If you would like a chance to win this Dream Girl, leave a comment on this posting, and don't forget to take a look around this blog. Please also check out the side bar to see links for my etsy shop and lots of other blogs that I love to visit.

Thanks for stopping by! Good luck, and please come back again!

art history lesson

2011-01-22T08:19:00.000-08:00

Last night I watched the film "Jean Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child" by Tamra Davis. I remember seeing and hearing some of the hype about Basquiat back in the 80s. Worst of all, I remember believing some of the things critics were saying, and I thought this guy was just some kind of fake phenomenon created by the media - the Emperor in his new clothes. I am, therefore, so grateful to Tamra Davis for making this movie, for teaching me through the words and recordings and images of Basquiat himself. The guy was brilliant and so productive. His work incorporates and synthesizes so many influences, and in turn I now recognize that HE has been such a big influence on contemporary artists, some who live right here in the metro area. Watching the movie I was inspired but depressed at the same time. How can I aspire to be an artist?

In Loving Memory

2011-01-04T15:38:00.000-08:00

In loving memory of Miss Shoobie Doo Wop Bow Wow,
the cutest pup ever,

snow fanatic,

sweetheart - even to cats,

a friend to all.

We love you, Shoobie!

1995-2011

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T08:42:00.000-08:00

2011 is off to a wonderful start. New Year's Eve was celebrated on ice, which is to say my sweetie took me ice skating! Lulu of the wobbly ankles did ok after a shaky start. Photos of said celebration will be coming forthwith. After a super lazy New Year's day I got busy in the studio around 11:30 p.m. and on into Jan. 2nd. Here's a little bit of what I've been working on:

journaling

painting

and more journaling.

I had totally forgotten that I had signed up for this free Strathmore visual journaling workshop with Pam Carriker. This week we're using copies of our own journal pages or other art to make new pages. Above, you might see photos of three dolls combined into one image.

I've also been finishing up this dollie. With her bell sleeves and bell bottom leggings,
she is just plain groovy! Note her little hands and feet, as well.

Dream girl.

Speaking of dolls, I'd like to share the doll that I made for Miss Emily for Christmas, and the doll she made for me! (We didn't know we were doing a doll exchange!)

Doll for Emily

Emily's doll for me is un recuerdo de Mexico - a remembrance of Mexico. Very mysterious!

Her skin is painted like old adobe. She wears a mask from the Day of the Dead, and her body is adorned with passionate flamenco dancers. ¡Olé!

So there you have it - just a little of the goings on at chez lulu.

Peace and joy for the New Year!

Nov-Dec catch-up: Ornament Exchange

2010-12-31T11:48:00.001-08:00

I finally have photos to show of the ornament exchange I wrote about here. What a privilege to participate and receive these small packages in the mail at holiday time! I wish mail deliveries were always so full of fun!

First to arrive was Deirdra's super sparkly snowflake girl.

Next was Michelle's adorable wood cutout owl.

Sarah's lamb. I'm sorry the photo doesn't capture how sparkly it is.

Reenie's joyful painted paper assemblage. Love those baubles!

Amanda's glittery origami star. I need to learn how to make these!

Mystele's stitched and embellished paper ornament.
The artwork is from one of her beautiful paintings.

And last but definitely NOT least, Janne made these gorgeous
little hand-bound books with a REAL bark cover. Inside she hand-printed
the Norwegian words to Silent Night. What a treasure!

Below is my offering to the ornament exchange: stitched, stuffed, and painted angels.

And finally, *SPOILER ALERT!* If you are Marilyn and you haven't received your package yet, don't peek below! I finally, FINALLY finished Marilyn's purse. (Yay! I can check off number 12 on my 51 things list!) I hope she'll like it!

Nov-Dec catch-up: Willow's b-day

2010-12-31T11:35:00.001-08:00

Miss Emily got to come home from Savannah, Georgia the Friday before Thanksgiving. Her break is six wonderful weeks long! She was able to be here for Thanksgiving, Willow's birthday, Christmas, and New Year. The best of the best for me is seeing my two girls together. They are so close and have so much fun together. (I think I'm a bit jealous!)

Miss Willow is now 18 years old! When I see her now, she is no longer a little girl, but a lovely young woman. Wistful feelings. Lately I've begun to wonder what it will be like when they don't come home any more because they'll have their own homes. I hope they'll come visit a lot!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the three of us!

Xmas rush

2010-12-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

Sadly, I can't post photos right now. I'm at my mom's helping her out this week. But if I could upload photos right now, I'd show the darling ornaments that have come in from Michelle's ornament exchange from Michelle, Deirdra, Janne, Mystele, Amanda, Reenie, and Sarah. So much fun to receive those little packages in the mail!

I am rushing and yet not rushing, sort of in denial that Christmas is only 3 days away. I am nowhere close to being "ready," if ready means the tree is up and decorated (I decorated Mom's - does that count?), the presents are all finished and wrapped (hmm... some haven't even been started!), and the cards have all been sent out. Nope, none of that is done. But if being ready for Christmas means ready to give and receive peace, joy, and love, then I am up for that.

I wish peace, joy, and love to all of you.

It's just a jump to the left...

2010-11-29T06:35:00.000-08:00

It's 6:35 a.m. and I am at work. How did I get here so early? I thought I got up when the alarm went off at 5:30, but it was weird that the alarm had shut itself off just before I reached for the clock. I got up, did my sit-ups (OUCH! My back!), got dressed, walked the dog, packed my lunch, and it looked like the clock said quarter to seven - all very normal. I got into the rental car. Clock said 6:02. Must've been wrong - somebody didn't set it right at daylight savings time. (Although it had been right when I drove Emily to work yesterday...). Wow, no traffic. How could I have gotten out the door an hour earlier than usual? Time warp?

Grateful

2010-11-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season of giving thanks. I am thankful for life's many blessings:
my darling girls
my amazing boyfriend
my loving family

my dear friends
my fuzzy family members
the art that enriches my soul
a roof over the head and food on the table

and I am ever so grateful that I was able to walk away from this wreck!

Yep, that's my car!
Beware of black ice!

It happened on my way into Portland on Thanksgiving morning.
Robbie and I were going to go to the snow.
Life had other plans for me.

Be alive,
be present,
feel gratitude,
and don't take a minute for granted!

Regrets

2010-11-17T20:54:00.000-08:00

She wanted to go to the meet up,
to share her visual journals with strangers,
but the rain fell hard and plenty,
newly filled lagoons had to be crossed,
and traffic stood still.
One hour to go three miles,
time did not bode well.
The driver drifted off to sleep at the wheel;
she dreamed of life,
death,
warm places,
and missed opportunities.
It was time to go back even before she arrived.
She wanted that life,
those friends and experiences,
but she just couldn't get there.

Little Miss Spooky

2010-11-16T22:25:00.000-08:00

Picture yourself one dark lonely night

Suddenly frightened by something in the light...

Little Miss Spooky brings out the inner goth in me! If I could, I would do this to my hair.

And I would wear clothes with such adorable details!

And then I would sit and dream of ravens.

Little Miss Spooky will be taking a trip to my etsy shop soon.

Is this scary week?

2010-11-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

Rob just asked me if this is scary week! Could be...

Miss Spooky is done, but I'll wait to take photos of her tomorrow. I'll try to get home while there's still daylight to do it!

In between various tasks on my doll, I bounced between a couple of other paintings: one I've been working at off and on since summer. It has completely changed, from a peacock into this guy. (I will only show this detail for now. He's very scary to me!)

The other is today's journal entry, reflecting on how I felt this morning. Yeah, it was just one of those mornings.

Don't worry - the day got better!

: ) lulu

Holly jolly Christmas, anyone?

2010-11-14T19:49:00.000-08:00

Oops! My Etsy shop is no longer empty, and will have more soon! (At least, that's the plan!)

Yesterday Deirdra, Gay and I had studio fun at D's house! Miss Spooky is almost ready!

xoxo lulu

Spontaneous combustion

2010-11-13T01:45:00.000-08:00

Came home earlier and worked on the previous blog, but midway fell into a long winter's nap. Woke up at 11-something, finished blog, perused other blogs which led to some you tube videos...

An hour or so later I heard la Shoobie click-clicking on the floor downstairs and decided I should get up and take her out for a p-break.

Mmm, the chill air refreshes, the quiet dark soothes. Remember how I used to love so much being out in the night air, trusting the world, feeling free?

Went to grab the camera and the tripod... and the hula hoop (because new acquaintance Kaci has introduced me to the world of hooping!)

It's not so easy hooping with my parka on, so I took it off,
in the cold dark night,
and let the hoop
spin me 'round

Headlines in the paper the next morning: Police converge on gyrating 51-year-old woman in the night

: ) lulu

Launching the new space

2010-11-12T17:51:00.000-08:00

Wednesday at school we all happily anticipated our mid-week day off. "Got any special plans?" I was asked. YES! Art all day! In my new happy place, no less - time to launch the new studio to see how she floats.

Color is but the first layer of personalizing a space. I brought with me a tiny little part of my supplies from home to adorn the shelves.

The saying goes that God is in the details. So is the persona who inhabits the space.

A few works in progress sit perfectly on the shelf rail. I'm so tempted to leave their faces unpainted now because they looked so perfect this way against the raspberry wall!

My loyal studio mates accompanied me for a good portion of the day: la Shoobie by the shelf and Robbie's big dawg Roz - she's a sweetheart!

Working on the big table: deLIGHTful!

I love how the room is sparsely furnished and not cluttered with junk mail and the other accoutrements of real life. This scene may look cluttered, but only the materials I might use on this one doll are present.

In conclusion, working in the new space was fabulous! YAY!!!

Inspired

2010-11-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday I came home from work dead tired. I mean really, I was literally falling asleep on my feet as I walked Shoobie, and all I wanted to do was to curl up in a warm bed for a nice long nap. That makes it sound inviting, but the sensation inside me was heavy, leaden, and I was feeling the early winter sadness, the change of time into the darkness and damp chill sitting on my shoulders like a cold stone gargoyle. Urgh.

Into the house I trudged, shedding rain boots, coat, scarf, dog, hauling my self upstairs one slow step at a time, approaching the bed... oh, wait - go back to Willow's room to grab the computer to check email before dozing off. On the bed I laid back, grabbed the laptop, decided to check ye olde blog spot before email. Wow! Six comments! It was so nice to get that feedback from people after being absent for so long. I had to go see what everyone else was up to. Thank you Deirdra, Janne, Karin, Lisa, Gloria, and Miz Katie! Your work inspired me, revived me, poured a bucket of ice water on me! I popped out of bed, ran downstairs and got BUSY!

In my journal, sometimes I just want to push paint around, you know? I found this page where I had sketched a very sharp-angled face months ago. Time to flesh it out.

Sometimes I like not knowing where it's going to go, what or who is going to appear.

Angles askew, textures now creamy, now rough, play of color and light. She reflects the way I was feeling, but now that feeling has been transformed.

A page to remember and acknowledge, to share gratitude.

Activity bounced from the journal page to another leaf in a different journal, to Miss Spooky. Miss Spooky is a doll I had wanted to finish in time for Halloween, but that didn't happen. She waited all silent and primed, hoping to join in the holiday fun, but while I feel free in the journal to let things grow organically, sometimes with the dolls I have an idea and then I become afraid I will not be able to produce that very vision. Poppycock! Let go, let loose, PLAY!

I love her, tee hee!

Today I am at my home-away-from-home studio. Robbie has gone out to run errands while I stay and play. I'll be working some more on Miss Spooky, and who knows what else. Joy.

xoxo lulu

A Room of One's Own

2010-11-08T17:32:00.000-08:00

Following up on my list of 51 things to do, I've decided that November will be the month that I complete one project per week (list item # 2). On Saturday I finished the first project, that actually took a couple of weeks to do. The project: a studio space for me in my sweetie's house.

I've been spending a lot of time at Rob's on the weekends, and I confess that at times I've felt discombobulated and detached from myself, a visitor in someone else's space. After sharing these feelings, Rob called me one day to let me know he was clearing out one of his spare bedrooms, and wanted to know if I would like to come over and paint it. I understood right away the gift he was giving me - a room of my own for a studio in his house! Is he not the best boyfriend ever?!?!

To appreciate the generosity of this gift, one needs to understand that my sweetie is quite the collector, a connoisseur if you will, of estate sales, bon marchés, and all manner of things practical and otherwise. In other words, he has a lot of STUFF, and over time it has been packed into the spare rooms, to the rafters, in fact. Photographic evidence, Exhibit A, the Room Before:

In Exhibit B, one can see that before becoming a storage unit, the room was used as a male sporting bastion - see wall decor:

If Exhibit B did not state clearly enough that this was the testosterone zone, I offer Exhibit C:

"No Women, No Minors"

We dug through the boxes, transported them to a far away region of the world (across the hall to another spare room), and unburied treasures long ago forgotten:

A beer-slinging foosball cowboy??? YEE HAW!!! How could I not want this to be the focal point of my studio away-from-home? Well... Cowboy had to go, but the foosball table had potential. I did not see it at first, but Robbie did. (He's a creative genius - that's part of why I love him so!)

With all the boxes finally cleared out, we set to work on priming the room, making quick work of it with rollers, brushes, and the greatest wall painting gadget ever: the edger. (See, it's good to have a man in your life who is into collecting all manner of things!)

After the priming had dried, we set about to painting. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted - a sunny yellow like I have at home. I brought over the same color I have on my living room walls, set about to thinning it and sloshing it on to a dappled effect, and it looked... awful! In this space my sunny Mexican yellow looked heavy, dark, and blotchy. So we looked through Rob's stash, found a similar but lighter toned yellow, and started rolling it on. I was thinking at this point that I didn't care about any special effects via painting technique, I just wanted to finish the thing and start making art. Yeah, right. We left to go out for a bit while the paint dried, and driving along Sandy Blvd., something or things, caught my eye and suddenly I had a vision of what I really wanted. So I asked Rob, tentatively, "Would you be upset or think I was crazy if I wanted to paint over two of the walls and add a couple more colors?" He laughed, and then said, "I was wondering why you painted it all one color to begin with." (Aww, he already knows me so well!)

So on my next visit I set about on my secret mission - I did not show the new colors to Rob, and I shooed him away from the room while I primed and prepped. He'd have to wait for the big reveal!

Ok, silly me. I primed the wall adjacent to the window wall, and the one opposite to it, leaving the window wall yellow. So, I was going to have yellow flanked by two strong darker colors. Ew! It would be so much better to leave two adjoining walls yellow, kitty corner to these complimentary analogous colors. Yes, I repainted one of my newly primed walls the same yellow I had just erased! But in the end, I'm glad I did. (Although I would have been gladder if my brain had been more functional in the first place!) Ready for the big reveal? Here it is:

Ooooohhh, pretty! This is my favorite corner, where sunny yellow meets raspberry! I love how the morning light colors the walls. The room is spare (for now), and has a subtle funky Asian feel to it, with slim, black bamboo poles holding up sheer panels of purple around the window. More poles are bunched together and combined with a string of wire fireflies to make a sculptural light accent over a second work table. And check out that table - could it be the coolest light table ever? Have you guessed what it is?

If you figured out it was the foosball table resurrected, you are correct! Robbie removed the little foosball men, then we added rice paper, holiday lights, and a heavy slab of hockey rink plexiglass as the table top! It's a great height for either sitting in tall stools or standing, as I like to work sometimes. What a great table for tracing patterns!

The studio is ready. Time to get busy and creative! But for now, it sits like a newly dug garden - the soil is resting, and soon will be sown. I hope to spend some time working on this week's project in this new, wonderful space.

Thank you so much, Robbie!!! I love it!!!
xoxo lulu

51 things to do

2010-10-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

Wonderful Janne has posted her new to do list, inspiring me once again to generate my own. You may or may not recall that I did a kind of cheater list in the spring, mostly naming things I had already done since I only had 9 days before my birthday. This time I have 6 months to go, so I have to put some actual ambitions down! I've decided to put some limited time frames around some of these to make them seem more possible. They may grow to more than that, or they may not. The point is to feel good about oneself, right?

1. Journal every day for one week.
2. Finish a project a week for one month.
3. Go to the gym every day for one week.
4. Whittle down my middle!
5. Make a dress from the Japanese pattern book I bought.
6. Finish the portrait panels on my Oaxaca quilt and start the center panel.
7. Be a faithful daily blogger for a week.
8. Go somewhere outside of the U.S. (cheating! I already have a trip to Canada planned!)
9. Learn how to ice skate.
10. Get a bike.
11. Go on a bike ride.
12. Finish Marilyn's purse!
13. Finish my water lily felted scarf.
14. Figure out how to be at least a half-time artist.
15. Revamp class proposal and try again.
16. Do more experiments in my doll-making adventures.
17. Make drawing a part of my every day life.
18. Learn how to knit socks.
19. Make a felt hat.
20. Give up chocolate for lent. (Oh, the horror!)
21. Send out ten mail arts.
22. Have a blog giveaway on my own.
23. Do a doll exchange.
24. Realize a lifetime goal: write a kids'book.
25. De-clutter. (Boring? Not if it makes my studio space more functional and helps the work flow!)

26. Come closer to living in my dream house with its dream studio.

27. Explore your options.

28. Believe the fortune cookie.

29. Apply to sell at a cool street fair.

30. Write an artist bio.
31. Submit something to a juried show.
32. Submit something to a gallery.
33. Read all (well, a lot) of those Etsy tips and bump up my Etsy presence.
34. Write an outline for an autobiographical novel.
35. Start and finish an online class. (I signed up for a Carla Sonheim class today!)
36. Be assertive and upfront about what you would like.
37. If something is truly going to be useless and you REALLY don't want to do it, even if you are "required" to do it (but nobody will be hurt if you don't do it) then give yourself permission not to do it by virtue of the fact that life is too short.
38. Send Emily a funky care package.
39. Enjoy Willow's last year of high school!
40. Take the reins of your own life and make smart choices.
41. Don't stress out by biting off more than you can chew, as in: take it easy on yourself with these lists and do it how you want to do it!
42. Celebrate the things you've already accomplished!
43.Ok, number 42., I will! Now I'm going to list some things I've already done in the past six months/the first half of my "51 years old" year. Such as: my journal was featured and published in LK Ludwig's book, Creative Wildfire!!!

44. I put myself out there and found an awesome new boyfriend. (That's YOU, Robbie!)
45. Explored the summer joys of Portland with said boyfriend. Did you know that Portland has a gazillion farmers' markets and street fairs during the summer?
46. Became a hockey fan. Who knew that watching a bunch of aggressive guys buzz around like swarming bees on the ice could be so much fun?
47. Made more new friends: Hi Karen and John, Mike and Cori!
48. Helped create a community garden and grew a nice crop of tomatoes in spite of chilly summer weather.
49. Took a lot of walks in the park with "our" five dogs! (Big ones, too!)
50. Wore flowers in my hair. A lot.
51. Felt immense joy. Often.

Wow, this is inspiring! I can't wait to get started on some of these! Thanks for the boost, Janne!

Art & Soul 2010

2010-10-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

Art & Soul name tag I made for myself

For a variety of reasons - economy, life, etc. - I didn't know if I was going to go to Art & Soul this year, and I very nearly didn't. But the soul was hungry, starving for the art connection, and thus it was prescribed. My therapist COMMANDED me to go, said I had no business NOT going, what was I even thinking of?! (She is SUCH a good therapist!)

So I had to decide which class among classes would be the most beneficial to me at this time,
and I chose Sculpting a Sketch with Jane Wynn. I am so glad I did. Jane is a wonderful teacher - very knowledgeable about her subject, very experienced as a teacher, and so encouraging to her students. Also SUPER TALENTED, of course! She really knows how to convey her message to her students, because everybody in that class created an amazing drawing.

The best part of a class like this is getting into your quiet spot where you disappear into the physical and the emotional of the act of drawing. It is kinetic and rhythmic, like a heart beat. I believe more and more that each of us has our calling - that activity which nurtures our soul and identifies the very core of our being. When we are separated from it, some of us experience that crackling sound between our synapses and feel the tensing, sinewy pull on muscle and bone, our mind and body on the verge of spontaneous combustion, explosion, fragmentation into particles of dust being randomly thrown across the continent by a tornado. At least, that's how I've been feelling lately. But in the timeless world of pencil on paper the molecules reconnect and relax, and I feel whole again.

I can scarcely believe that I spent my whole time in class working on one tiny little drawing. But I did. This is what I did in class.

This morning after scanning my drawing, I noticed a few areas that needed a little more work, so below is the same drawing with some small changes. Can you find the changes? (Just kidding, we won't pretend this is a Highlights magazine.) But hopefully teacher will be pleased that my critical eye continues to develop.

Thank you for a wonderful class, Miss Jane.

With apologies to Miss Beautiful Barrymore

2010-09-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

A month or longer of barren canvas languished in the musty corners of my brain. Guilt, longing, and a quiet desperation grew louder. A scribble, a scrap - anything! So much busy-ness
created an obstacle path - I couldn't even find my journal. So I grabbed what I could find, applied gesso, and painted the emotion within.

The following two images started with the same Cover Girl ad of Drew Barrymore's lovely face, as well as the same background colors of acrylic paint. I will add to these variations on a theme to see where else it can go.

One of my biggest obstacles recently was the death of my old computer's hard drive. Some of my images are lost forever... Along with them I lost my awesome and super-easy photo editing program that had lots of cool effects. I haven't been able to play with my photos, not even to resize them so that they would upload here. That all changed this evening thanks to Miss Em (thanks honey!). Now I can really play with GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) to have fun with my photos.

There was a wee bit of artsyness going on this summer, especially for my sweetie's b-day. I made him a mini-journal with childhood and present memories. Here is just one page from that "dossier." P.S. Look at that CUTE kid! That's my sweetie circa 1968ish. And then more fun with GIMP: Hockeyboy a la cubism, and Neon Hockeyboy. Cool!

I will try to add more summertime fun photos and mixed media, bit by bit. Hasta entonces!

Not dead

2010-09-14T18:59:00.000-07:00

Hello, hello, hello! I haven't died (although my computer did die, a grave technological tragedy). Thank you to my Pretty Paper Posie Tina who actually emailed during my absence to make sure I wasn't dead!

Life happens. Specifically: teaching summer school, playing taxi mom, enjoying my Emily's summer home from college, griping about our chilly summer but loving all the street fairs around town and being with my beau (xoxoxoxoxo!), feeling proud of my Willow bean for getting her first job, and before I knew it summer was over and I was off and running with the beginning of a new school year, getting my classroom ready and working on learning new curriculum, etc. etc. (Excuses, excuses!) Crazy. Incredibly busy yet distressingly unproductive. Please tell me you know the feeling and I will feel so much better.

And I promise to post some summer pics and maybe even some artwork soon, k?

Puppy love and P-town

2010-06-13T00:59:00.000-07:00

Hi! Long time no see! In this offering, a bit of this and that, things I've been up to, random and not so random thoughts. First, a poem that popped into my head this evening, inspired by our fickle weather and assured sentiments:

spring cannot make up its mind
one minute warm, bright, giving false hope
of summer soon to come;
then days of cold, wet, howling wind,
not wanting to say good-bye
to winter's sting

I am more resolute,
sure of this feeling, nourished
by warmth, compassion,
acceptance, desire.

I turn my back on the dark reach
of a loveless heart,
embracing now
the Sun.

(dedicated to the S.A.M., 14 june, 2010)

Awww, puppy love!

Suddenly, adorable dogs abound

(said the girl with two purring cats on her lap).

Meet Chuck, the new addition to my brother's family.
He's a tiny little St. Bernard puppy, only 5 months old!

This little guy is an Akita puppy we saw at the Wilsonville art festival.
The softest puppy EVER!
Willow says we should get an Akita now.
We need a bigger house...

3.
Hometown tourist:
P-town, the Pearl

(it is good to see with fresh eyes)

happy!

bloomin'

2010-05-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

A marathon of doll making and proposal writing, late nights racing against a deadline, and allowing for a few pleasant distractions... this has been my hectic life lately. I can't wait to go to sleep, but I also want very much to post something tonight, to show what's currently in bloom!

Lupine, iris, delphinium...

poppies, pansies, and a pond...

despite the heavy rains that keep falling and falling, flowers - and a budding relationship - open up

oh! if only it were my garden! but it's Schreiners iris farm with its lovely display gardens.

Maybe I should have been working inside, but I what a lovely distraction it was getting to know the S.A.M. better!

Stellar Ligts

Two trios of new dolls have blossomed

What's blooming in your world?

LIFE

2010-05-16T21:03:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks have been more than full of "events," but resiliency abounds. (Love and prayers to family members as their hearts and bodies heal.) XOXOXOXO

The sun has made a showing. The tightly budded ball of peony has finally burst open and the promise of summer is just around the corner. As we slide toward the end of the school year, I've been so in love with my students - dedicating themselves to their creativity, finding their joy in the world, pursuing their curiosity. This is what learning should be. (Field trips ROCK!)

AMAZING student creativity!
The historical fiction project

M.E.'s work: Superb!

P.G.'s work - compassionate and evocative

First grade tour de force readers' theater

Third grade stuffies - so cute!

This weekend, aliens spotted in McMinnville.
(Thanks, S.A.M.!)

Resistance is fultile - the Starborgs are everywhere!

Later that day a farewell party for Astrid, "nuestra tía querida," as she prepares to head back to Sud América. Bailamos salsa, merengue, y comimos killer chocolate cake! We'll miss you, Astrid!

Mientras tanto, I've been working away on new dolls and trying to finish up class proposal samples. Here's a sneak peek of works in progress:

Yippee! Life is good.
: )

If you build it, Part 2

2010-05-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo! This past week, Michelle, Diane, and Deirdra came over to help me test the effectiveness of the new art table. Conclusion: it works! We had a blast as Michelle showed us how to work à la Jesse Reno.

Finger painting fun

Check out the painted palm!

Diane working on the first of many layers.

Michelle's colors were as gorgeous as the sun streaming through the window.

I've built up a textured jungle.

Beginning to look for what could emerge...

the paintings change.

In Deirdra's some eyes appear...

Some more watchful eyes!

Our accomodating table

Michelle's cool art bag and Diane's final transformation - fantastic!

Results of our time together

They may continue to change, but for tonight, we're calling it good.

So much fun to be "arting" together - I can't wait for the next gathering!

Auction results

2010-05-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry for being so long away from Bloglandia...

CONGRATULATIONS to Kathleen Robles for her successful bidding of my little shrine. It is now on its way to you, Kathleen! And thank you so much for supporting the the Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots organization!

xoxo lulu

Auction extended!

2010-04-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

This just in from Rebecca of Recuerda Mi Corazon:

with overwhelming support, the shrine auction is extended

please help spread the word

AUCTION to benefit Oaxaca Streetchildren Grassroots

closing

APRIL 25, SUNDAY at 6pm PST

recuerda-mi-corazon

More of lulu's adventures in plumberland

2010-04-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

B-day fun: Deirdra came over on Saturday the 17th, my birthday. We did some doll-making using Sculpy - mine's [still] not finished yet, but D's are, and you can see them here. We chatted as we worked, had a bit of lunch, and then it was revealed that my dishwasher had been out of commission for three or four years and now served only as a large (and stinky) drying rack. Deirdra leapt into action - at the computer, she quickly dialed up Craig's Look and in no time at all she'd found a good machine for CHEAP, called the number on the ad, and we hit the road. Suddenly, I own a dishwasher.

While out and about we stopped at La Petite Provence, boulangerie et patisserie! (Photos from their website.)

A sampling of their wares. I had an exquisite apple-rhubarb tart.

Was it delectable? Mais, OUI! Was it special? Bien sûr! While on my beloved east side, we also visited some great thrift shops (because Deirdra knows ALL the cool places to shop!), AND we stopped at an open house so that I could pretend I was buying the house of my dreams. It was a real Grammie house, Craftsman style, with a built in bench seat by the stairs, all that beautiful woodwork, a big basement that would make a mighty swell studio, and very cute, colorful houses to look at across the street. *sigh*

Back home in Westville, Deirdra and I continued our Sculpy sculpting and chit chat. We dined at Chevy's (best chips and salsa ever!), where I opted for the happy birthday song plus big sombrero. Sorry no photos - I guess D and I were just living in the moment sans cameras that weekend. I did pull it out though, to take photos of my darling Willow after we got her all dolled up for the junior prom!

Willow and her friend got ready at my house, in honor of my b-day. Awww! Thank you, Beanie!

Tres Marilyn, n'est-ce pas?

The next day Willow and I hauled out the "new" dishwasher from Deirdra's truck, and I learned how to uninstall and install, and uninstall and reinstall, and pull out yet again and again, dishwashers on the fly. Woo hoo! Tip: Do NOT do this on your birthday weekend. It's really not all that fun. BUT, I am happy that I figured out how to install a plug and make plumbing connections, etc., etc.

Removing floorboards to take out the old dishwasher.
P. S. Don't you love how big my kitchen is?

Uh-oh, she's got her pigtails now - it must be serious!
How do you get this rassn-frassn thing off!?!?!?

Doesn't every girl want to spent her birthday under the kitchen counter?

Desperate times call for desperate measures: down that feedbag of Chevy's chips! No salsa!

Beware the bandida with her drill gun!
(She sort of knows how to use it!)

I did it all myself, including cleaning up the initial leaks, reinstalling the electrical feed after the fuse tripped and I couldn't get to the #@*! plug without pulling out the whole dishwasher again. (Oh, funny story about that: I don't have a saw so I got the bright idea to use my drill to create the hole to move the plug to a more accessible cupboard. Dang, was that wood hard to drill! I had to push so hard to get the bit through the board. Oh, I guess it would have been easier if I'd switched the drill back to forward instead of reverse... Hardy har har!) Ah, well - all's well that ends well. The dishwasher works. BUT, if this dishwasher breaks down, I'll be doing dishes by hand again, forever. The end.

On your mark, get set...

2010-04-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

Boston Marathon today - Go, Michelle, go!!! Have a great run!

Time to shrine!

2010-04-18T01:21:00.000-07:00

The Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots cigar box shrine auction is happening NOW until April 24th at 6:00 Pacific time. Rebecca has the link to see all the shrines and bid at her site at http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/2010/04/bienvenidos.html.
I hope you will visit and participate in this auction! Thanks!

p.s. Sorry I didn't get this posted up a tad sooner - it's been a busy birthday day with dear Deirdra, making art dolls, running around to fun spots in Portlandia, eating, watching Coco Before Chanel... Tomorrow we'll be busy at the art table again painting our dolls and who knows what else!

Michelle's giveaway

2010-04-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

Another news flash! (It's a busy day in Bloglandia!) Michelle Allen is having a giveaway of her super cute penny banks. Go see!

Thank you Rebecca!!!

2010-04-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

News flash! I just found out that I am the featured artist of the day at Recuerda Mi Corazon. I am SO honored!!!

This is a great opportunity to remind this wonderful community that there are only 4 and a quarter days now until the website for the Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots auction will be open for bidding. (April 16th!) In the meantime, be sure to visit Rebecca's blog to gaze at all the lovely shrines, and pick the ones you want to bid on!

Cross off #40!

2010-04-12T19:23:00.001-07:00

I'd been playing with the idea of taking over the downstairs for awhile now. Why not? It's not like I entertain guests frequently. (Almost never!) In fact, putting the studio downstairs might actually improve my social life, given that the people I enjoy most are the artsy type! After playing in Michelle's studio a couple of weeks ago - well, let's just say that it pushed me over the edge. I had to get a big table. It's like they say: start living out your dream, little by little, and soon you will find it is your life. (Fingers crossed!) It was an irrepressible urge. I thought of the different ways I could put together a counter-height table: use old dressers and hollow core doors, sawhorses and doors, I looked online for used furniture, school furniture, art school furniture - there's some great stuff out there if you want to spend $1,000, truly! Finally it dawned on me to check out Ikea. They had these nifty A-frame adjustable height table legs, and the table tops, and the cheap tall stools. YAY! I put it all together on Saturday night. Look at it, so pristine! Isn't it cute? Now all I have to do is break it in, get used to it, get messy.

It is my Field of Dreams. If you build it, they will come. Who wants to play?