Beginnings

A work in progress, well actually it's done but this is when it was in progress. I love this picture. The middle woman is my mother-in-law, Grace Madele Mcafee Parry. The closest to a saint I will ever meet. She was the most absolutely patient person. She took her sweet southern time about everything. She was after all, Texan. Mrs. Parry was a school teacher in a one room school in Texas in the early 30's. I called her Mrs. Parry because first all I only call my mother Mom and I couldn't call her Grace, that seemed to disrespectful so it was Mrs. Parry.

Mrs. Parry would watch Dylan for us while we worked. She would sit with Dylan while he was on the potty and read to him or just talk. One day when I arrived to pick him she told me on how she sat with him while he was going potty (Dylan was about 4 yrs old) and they counted to 600 together. 600. My jaw must of dropped. I couldn't imagine me sitting there for how long counting slowly to 600. Then when Dylan began going to kindergarten she picked him up from his school and he feel asleep in his car seat. She didn't want to disturb him so she stayed in the car with him and worked on some crossword puzzles until he woke up from his nap. She always put my children first before anything else. My Dylan looks so much like her. And her faith has also impacted Dylan. He is the only one of us that goes to church every Sunday. He's 18 now.

Mrs. Parry watched our youngest Madeleine until she started kindergarten. She would of continued to but we live in a different school district and she was 84 and we really didn't trust her too much to drive across town to pick her up but made sure Maddie would see her on weekends and every school holiday. That is what kept her going. Maddie was her purpose to go on each day. We lost Mrs. Parry in 2004. I still can't believe she is gone. If everyone could be just a little like her, the world would be good.

Arrrggghhhhh....banner fitting problems!

How the heck do I make it fit. So fustrating. Oh well, until next time, it's a bit off.

Chocolat

Great chocolate store in Seattle. Stopped in when we were at the Fremont Market.

Pretty in pink

An older small collage I did a few years back. Still love it.

A day in Seattle

A spur of the moment decision to go to the Fremont Market in Seattle today. I was going to get so much accomplished at home and kidded myself that we (or rather I) can just go up there, look really quick and come back to get all my work done. Ha.

I asked my sister and her daughter Carlie to come with us. Ron was our driver. He happily comes along to these ventures up to Seattle because his reward is a stop at Bottle Werks. A micro-beer lovers mecca.

I have never been to the Fremont Market. Don't know why, just haven't. Turned out to be a pretty decent day and I got some vintage only I could love dolls, tags, a necklace and a wrought iron plant stand. I would like to be a vendor this or next year there. The beautiful tags and necklace were from my friend Linda's booth. I meet her years ago when she owned a shop in the Northend of Tacoma called "Frona and Zig". I LOVED that store. It was on my weekly shop stop list. She moved then downtown Tacoma for a while. When I went down to visit one day, it was closed. Much to my excitement when I went to my first event at Willow Nest, there she was!! As always, she had something I just had to buy. I never leave her shop or space without having to have something. She now has a blog called Luluz, the link is under my favs to the right and is at the Fremont Market most Sundays. So nice to have found her again. You can purchase some of her wares online, see her blog.

Then off to Chinatown to have some dim sum. The pictures above are of my niece Carlie and my Madeleine in Chinatown. We were stuffed ourselves and then walked around to burn some of it off. Seattle is such a different world that we live in just 40ish miles away. It's a wonderful place to visit but I love our quiet little corner down south.

I love Crows

Some art for Gretchen and my artists reception at The Lark Gallery.

G&K's Artist Gallery Reception

Isn't she the cutest muffin ever? This is Nannette and her darling daughter Naftali. They attended Gretchen's and my gallery reception last month at The Lark Gallery in Tacoma. It

belongs to G and her friends. Last month was our turn to display our collaboration. It turned out wonderful. We managed to make 23 pieces and sold 15. Unbelievable! Tacoma doesn't dig deep in their pockets for art so this was amazing.

I will post more pictures. The next project Gretchen and I are working on is a carnival theme. I love old carny pictures. So we will see what we come up with. I think we are planning to have the show during "First Night" a New Year's celebration downtown Tacoma.

Good Kids

I think I am a pretty lucky person. I have a wonderful husband and children and a great family.

What more can anyone really ask for. They love me unconditionally and I them.

Here is a picture of our youngest son Dylan (one on the left) with his friends and of course my darling Madeleine our youngest daughter. His friend Chris came to say goodbye (he's the one in the suit) on Easter Sunday as he was leaving to join the Air Force. My Maddie has a little crush on Chris. All of Dylan's friends are such good kids. They love Maddie hanging out with them. Never complain that she is always there in Dylan's room to play video games or just to talk. There is hardly an evening that we don't have 6-9 cars in our driveway and the house full of boys and a girls. I love that they like to hang out here. They eat me out of house and home but that's ok, I prefer them here. Safe.

One evening when Ron, Maddie and I just finished dinner and cleared everything. Dylan and his friends returned. I set the table for maybe 6 of them to eat. I put the food on the table and I thought for sure all these big boys and girls would be diving in and grabbing food like crazy but they all bowed their heads & took each others hands and said a prayer of thanks. Then proceeded to break one of the 7 deadly sins.....gluttony! Ha. I was very touched that these kids said their prayers and not for my benefit but their's.

Dylan and the 3 guys at the end of the picture went on a road trip last night to Los Angeles. They decided they wanted to go down there to go to a restaurant owed by a band member in Tool called "Cobra and Matadors"? I worry about them going down there, it's so different and a much tougher rough crowd. But he's got to spread his wings. Ugh my stomach hurts! They will be back on Sunday.

Under the weather

It's been a while since I posted anything. I was so busy with our gallery event & then when that ended I got sick. Got that cold/flu crud that has been going around & still not feeling chirper yet.

Will post this weekend. It's been so long since I have been this sick. I certainly do take feeling well for granted.

Bird houses by Ludmil Markov

When I first visited Willow Nest (www.willownest.net) back in April 2007 not only did I love everything there is about Willow Nest but also Linda and Ludmil's cats, Sister and Princess. I had told Linda if they ever needed someone to take them I would be more than happy to give them a home.

As you know Linda and Ludmil sold Willow Nest (their home in Washougal Wa) and moved to Texas. OMG, what flea markets are there!!! Anyway, so Saturday Ron and I went and picked up the girls. Ludmil was there loading up his moving truck and unfortunately Linda was ill. We got the girls loaded and Ludmil allowed me to take a sneek peak in the gymnasium. The new owners will carry on the tradition of Willow Nest and are having their first event next month. See Aleta's blog www.thesillybear.blogspot.com It will be called "Flourishes". I already have my eyes on 2 armoires there. It is going to be an event you won't want to miss.

Demure

Daddy Daughter Dance

Ron and Maddie attended their first Daddy daughter dance on Friday.

Maddie looked like a little Cinderella and her father quite dashing in his suit. Although Ron doesn't wear his suits often, infact this particular one he hadn't put on in months & he was horrifed that he couldn't button it. He actually had to lay down on the bed to get it buttoned. Hee hee.....welcome to my world! But my heart did hurt for him as I can't even imagine having fun and dancing in pants with a waistband that is 3 inches too small. But he sucked it up, literally, and had fun. He managed not to embarrass our tender 9 year old and kept his hands down at a respectable level while dancing. No flaying about feet kicking 80's dancing that night. After, a few of her friends and their father's all went out to the Keg for a nice dinner. My Ron gave his darling daughter a wonderful memory and she too gave him a night her will never forget.

The Crow King

I know, it's a bit warped....a headless doll chasing a crowned crow. But it's based on a Marshalese folk tale. This is the last piece I did yesterday in Trish's class.

Encaustic classes with Patricia Seggebruch

Yesterday Gretchen and I took a all day class with Patricia Seggebruch, http://www.pbsartist.com/contact.shtml, of encaustics. She incorporated beginning with advanced class. I had some experience with encaustics so she did the advanced for me. I picked up some wonderful tips and new treatments. We were so fortunate to have only 3 of us in this session and she allowed us to stay and work on our art for as long as we wanted. What a treat.

Her studio is located in Snohomish and she has a beautiful 5 acre parcel and the detached looks like 2 RV garage is her studio. We had a great time learning and creating. The art below is created by Trish. She is also in current issue of "Cloth Paper Scissors" http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/cpsmag/cpshome.html. She is also going to be an instructor for the 2nd time (lucky her) at Teesha Moore's "Artfest". See http://www.teeshaslandofodd.com/1/temp.html.

Encaustics class

Art by Patricia.

Here is Gretchen loading up at the end of a inspiring class. We then and went to have a beautiful bowl of Pho and when I got home to top the evening off I soaked in a warm bath with bath bombs made by Gretchen. Geranium. Ahhhhhh.

Window of Forgotten Souls

This is a window I did for our store Folie a Deux. I previously posted about my fascination with old pictures and sadness that they would end up in some pile at a garage sale, antique store or Ebay. I intentionally blurred the images used here to show that they were a faded memory.

Smooches!

And one more time....

Maddie lifting her dress so it wouldn't get wet. She wasn't happy with me. I didn't want her to where her shoes for some shots. Other side is called "It's All Relative". In the picture is my great maternal grandparents and sitting is my great great grandmother. I don't think they would appreciate me making them look like a nice family of elves.

I wish I had more time to create and a studio in an old barn. Now that is my heaven.

More altered book pages

I did this as, I said below, a few years ago & now I see that I spelled "can not" wrong! $*(*#&$). Oh, que sera sera. I just noticed it now.

Pages from an altered book

Here are some
pages out of
an altered book that I did a few years ago.
Maddie is the queen of the fairies and I cut her ears a tad bit pointed. I look back at my work and it's not pink and frilly. I would like to be pink and frilly but it just never seems to go there. I see other sites that have lovely light bright pink fun stuff and mine veers off to somewhere a bit darker and a bit quirky/odd. This spring I am going to try and just be a bit different. Challenge myself. I am throwing the gauntlet down. I love pink, soft grays and taupes so why aren't they more in my art?

Guidance

Sometimes when I am faced with a project I will have a total mind shut down. Then there are other times that I work at my best when I am under pressure. It's slowly coming around to the later. Last night Gretchen and I worked on pieces for our upcoming show. This is one that I did. I think our show is going to be called "Bezerk and other Myths". Will post more pictures another time.

The Princess with far away eyes

That is what Madeleine calls this pose.

The Darling Diva.....Madeleine

Maddie looking dramatic. My girl loves to pose for the camera. Whenever she sees me take out a camera, she strikes a pose. She says when she grows up she wants to be a model, chef and a doctor. All three. Isn't it wonderful to have dreams. When I was her age I saw the Singing Nun and from that point on I wanted to be one. There were many a days that I walked around with a pillow case on my head as my habit. Needless to say, I never fulfilled that dream but I still have a fascination with nuns, cathecism and Catholicism.

Inspiration

Many months ago I had bought these fabrics and a wonderful apron pattern. I was so antsy to begin. Well, I got home, opened up the pattern only to have just 2 actual patterns (of the pockets) and the rest instructions. That dampened my enthusiasm. I just wanted to lay all the pieces and start cutting away. No major thinking just lay and cut. Needless to say I put it away for another day.

A few days ago I visited Cindy's Queen of Tarte blog and she had made these incredible aprons. That was it, I was going to pull out that pattern and my fabric and begin again. Seeing her aprons was just the push and inspiration I needed. So I blew off the dust of my sewing machine, got the fabric out then the pattern. Oh, yeah....the pattern. I put it away again. I have to find me a no thinking pattern. The pattern I got is called "Absolutely Apron" and it's adorable. But not for right now. So off to the store tomorrow to look for another pattern because I must have cute aprons. Thanks Cindy!

Pink cupcakes

Buttercake cupcakes. Yum. My favorite. I was in the mood to bake today. Since Valentine's is around the corner I tinted the frosting a pale petal pink.

My oldest daughter Elisabeth has an upcoming Valentine's day cupcake contest at her work. She's asked me to bake some. I think I will make these. This month's issue of Country Living has one's that are beautifully decorated using some tinseled wire and a vintage Valentine picture. I may use that as an inspiration.

Under construction....

Working on my header & new picture. Arrrghhhhh.....want the picture to stretch the length of the header. I'll keep trying.

565 Broadway Tacoma

Spanish stairs of the Elks lodge
The Elks Lodge

This is my favorite building in Tacoma. It is the old Elks building. As a teenager my husband Ron use to work there as a bus boy/dishwasher. In it's day it was a grand facility with a pool, ballroom and a theatre. Cotillons, weddings and every other major social event was held here.

It has been vacant now for many years and the person who bought it in the 70's or ?? hated the Tacoma city counsel so much that he was going to just demolish it out of spite. Fotunately the city took him to court and stopped him. We had all hoped that the Mcmenamin brothers (http://www.mcmenamins.com/) were going to purchase & refurbish it as they had done with many other properties but a Portland group bought it. There is still some hope that they will be collaborating on the revival of the grand old Elks lodge.

Jennifer Lanne

Here are some Jennifer Lanne paintings on my dining room wall. The urn painting is about 3 1/2 feet square. See earthangelstoys.com to purchase her paintings and so much more.

Newly painted dining room

I decided to take my branch ceiling down. I do miss it but wanted a change. Painted the walls same color as in the living room, Cocoa and Whip for the trim in Devine paints. I also decided to paint the china hutch, dining room table & chairs. I replaced the knobs on the hutch with some vintage crystal door knobs I picked up in an antique store. Hung an old chandelier that I got from a friend and am very happy with the results. For a year at least. I LOVE to paint. That first swoosh of the paint brush on the wall gives me such a thrill. I am already thinking about what the next color is going to be. Something grayish....maybe.

I don't understand why people are so hesitant to paint or they take forever deciding on the right color. It's just paint. If you don't like it, paint it again. I have friends that take WEEKS before they decide on a color. I just can't imagine. I think I have about 5 of my layers of paint on our walls on top of the previous owners various experiments. Our home is built in 40s and we may be the 3rd owners of this home. I will have to research that.

Good night Madeleine..Your mother has gone YouTube crazy!!!

Here is a picture of my little darling Madeleine. This was taken in 2002. She is going to be 10 this year. Time truly flies.

Couldn't sleep so decided to look up some of my favorite artists on Utube. And needless to say was very happy....so happy that I decided to share some of them with you! Ha. They are wonderful artists and hope you do take a listen. The french artist Charles Trenet doing "Boum" below, did a song a song called La Mer in 1946. Most of us know this version by Bobby Darrin "Somewhere, Under the Sea" he did in the 60's.

The video clip of the 1928 movie "The Passion of Joan of Arc" is my favorite silent movie. The music on the DVD is Richard Einhorn's "Voices of Light", unbelievably beautiful music. I remember one night seeing this amazing movie on TV by accident. I was mesmerized, moved and in awe of a movie that was made over 77 years ago (it's now 80 years old). It truly is a feast for the eyes and soul.

Lisa Gerrard.....OMG. If you have never heard of her please listen. You probably have but didn't know who it was. She did a song in the "Gladiator". I can't remember the name of it now...it's the song that is playing as he's dying and seeing his wife and child again. I was a blithering blob during that scene and what made it so powerful was her song. "Now We Are Free", that's it. She got her start in the band "Dead Can Dance". If you have not listened to them, it really really is worth the time.

Sam Phillips. She is married to Tbone Burnett and I think produces her albums. I love listening to her when I am working on some art project. It's a tie between "Martini's and Bikini's" and her 2004 album "Boot and a Shoe" as my favorites.

And last but not least, Madeleine Peyroux. I would love to see her perform live. She is American despite her french name and singing quite a bit in french. She has a Billie Holiday kind of voice.

So that is it. I really hope that you take the time to take a listen. I don't think you will be sorry. I will try to refrain from finding anymore clips for awhile. What fun that was!

Charles Trenet....wow! Can't believe I found this video of him. Love this music!

Madeleine Peyroux

Lisa Gerrard beautiful haunting lovely

Lisa Gerrard...another favorite

Love Sam Phillips

Speaking of old movies...Joan of Arc 1928

Hello Sailor!

Doesn't she look a little like Shelley Winters in her prime? Maybe from the movie "The Night of the Hunter" with Robert Mitchum and one of the Gish sisters. Get them mixed up. There is nothing like a good old movie.

Yummmmy...Red Velvet Cupcakes

For Gretchen's art gallery opening last month I made some Red Velvet cupcakes. I love making cupcakes. Actually, I just love cooking. Especially for people that love to eat and love food.

I took a buttercream decorating class yesterday in Seattle. Tobey Rodriquez, owner of Sugarcakes gave the class in Sugarcake's kitchen. It was me and one other girl so we got Tobey all to ourselves. Well, I am a spaz rose maker. I really need to practice! Tobey is a wonderful instructor. I learned a few tricks of the trade and I can pipe a decent border.

I have a coworker who fell in love with my cupcakes and asked me to do them for her wedding. That is in May so I am getting in all the professional decorating training I can. I will probably just do it as in the picture and rely on the staging to boost the simple decortation of the cupcakes. I don't know. We'll see how good I can get with those roses.

New Project

My friend Gretchen owns the new art gallery in downtown Tacoma, "The Lark Gallery". Next month we are collaborating on a show. One of the subjects of our project is the head above. I made his features a bit bird like as he is going to be our Icarus. I took a photo of one a dolls head she had and tweeked his eyes, ears and mouth in PS. I am not sure if he looks wicked or naive.

He's going to be on a canvas that is about 4x4 and we managed to make a bit of progress today. We gave him his wings and used beeswax to adhere them to the canvas. We hand dyed each feather and attached it. It's not quite there yet, but it will be. I am now looking through all my vintage pictures to pick the right feet. I think we settled on one. It's the feet of a little boy in stockings & balloon pants. I will keep looking just in case I find something better.

I love working with Gretchen as her imagination is so dramatic and lively whereas mine can be a bit tame. She dares to be drastic and I lean towards the safe side so together we make a great pair. I at times pull her in and most times she makes me stretch. I need that.

I would also say that G is fearless. She isn't afraid to put her expressions, imagination and creations out there. I am always worried that it's not good enough or I see all the faults in my work and the first one to point them all out.

This is our second time working together. The first time we did three canvases and lo and behold they sold. And for a very pretty penny too. I was shocked. A realtor came in my shop "Folie a Deux" and bought all three and a few assemblages that I made. That was an exciting day to have sold that many pieces of art at one time.

So next month when we are done with all of them I will be sure to post some of them.

Hail Mary, full of grapes

December 11, 2007

I did this collage above for a winewalk we were having at our store "Folie a Deux". There was much drinking, eating and making merry. Just a whole lot of fun.

I truly cannot believe that Christmas is 2 weeks away. I have gotten only one gift so far for my son Dylan. It's getting harder and harder to get special gifts for my children. My youngest is still easy. Hannah Montana is the it thing to have for a girl 10 years old and she can never have enough clothes. To tell the truth, I think I can't get enough clothes for her because she just looks so darn cute in anything she wears. It's my fun.

On Friday, while my husband was away helping to take care of the clean up of hazardous waste down in Chehalis Washington due to the flooding, I decided to paint our bedroom. I painted it with Devine paints (it really is divine, I used it in my living room a few months ago Cocoa) in "Reflection". It's a watery frenchy blue. I painted the dresser and the mantle in our room with "Whip". I hung a chandelier up and it is on the road to being fabulous. Need a few more accessories. Hmm....Cindy Queen of Tarte sale coming up and I am sure she will have just the right piece to pull it together.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...

This weekend I continued my Christmas decorating. We had the perfect weather for it. Sunday it snowed...ok, it teased us with a sprinkle but it sure looked good for about 10 minutes. Then Monday came the downpour. Over 10 inches of rain fell & did some major havoc. But alas not to the building where I work.

On Saturday I sent my fabulous husband on a flocking spray run. He went to 7 stores & couldn't find any. Of course this is the first year I decided we needed a flocked tree and every other year before we would see that flocking spray but none this year. I finally told him to forget it and I will just go with a silver & glass glitter tree. It turned out just wonderful but I know that it would have been outrageous had it been heavily flocked. Oh well. I am thinking Paris pink for next year.

I also purchased 10 rolls of wrapping paper. Ron, my husband, thinks I may have gone just a bit too far with my control issues. I plan on giving the wrapping paper to anyone that is wrapping a present for under our tree. I want everything to just blend together nicely. No Spongebob (is that 2 words?) or dog & kitty wrapping paper under the tree that I painstakingly picked out each ornament to work together with each other . No way was Spongebob Square Pants going take all the focus away from the first view of the tree. Do you think that's overboard? I don't...but then again? Ehh.

Christmas decorating continues

Separation Anxiety

December 3, 2007

A close-up of a beeswax assemblage I did last year.