Mmmmm....Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Here is what I had for lunch. I can't get enough of fresh spring rolls, Pho and Bahn Mi.

I tried to artfully to arrange them but didn't quite get it. Especially with the tape dispenser in the background. I so admire another blog (that I didn't get permission to link) called the Passionate Eater's pictures that I thought I will try and post one. Think I will stick to what I had been doing.

They were so delicious. Vien Dong in Tacoma makes the best spring rolls. I have to have lime & my fav chili sauce with them. 2 limes & one container hot sauce per roll. Making my mouth water right now.

A Bit of Folie a Deux

The shop that my business partner and I own is called "Folie a Deux". It's downtown Tacoma in Sanford and Son. Sanford and Son is a 3 story antique store. On the second floor, Alan, the owner, created shops, about 20 of them. We started out with one small shop, moved across the hall to a bigger shop & when the next door shop became available Alan took out his reciprocal (is that what it's called?) saw and opened up the wall to combine the 2 shops. We are called collectively "The Middle Floor Merchants".

I fell in love with the name "Folie a Deux" when I first heard it on a X-Files episode. It is a

condition in which symptoms of a mental disorder, such as the same delusional beliefs or ideas, occur simultaneously in two. A shared madness. I knew that if I ever owned a shop, this was the name.

Paris in her Bones

This kind of reminds me of that British show back in the 60's. I think it was a spin-off of "Secret Agent Man" called "The Prisoner". The actor was Patrick McGohan. At the end of the opening credits, just his face zooms up to the TV screen and bars slam shut. Maddie's head reminds me of that. That was a very British show. Weird, quirky and mod. Ha. Mod. How often do you hear that word anymore.

I remember watching those shows and also "The Avengers". We were in Germany when I first saw it and in German it was called "Mit Schrim Charme und Melone". I have no idea why I remembered that. I do know that "schrim" is an umbrella, can't remember the rest. I think alot of us young girls at the time wanted to be Emma Peel. She was so cool.

Good night shoes

Shoes. Obsession with shoes. I use to, then 4 kids came along. Now I am down to 2 living at home and I don't think I could ever get my foot back into something fashionable. My feet are too use to "sensible" and "reasonable". Ugh....I've gotten old. No matter, I never leave a pair of shoes on my feet for very long anyway. Prefer to be barefoot. Gotta be the Hawaiian in me.

Good night.

Lips Like Sugar

My friend, Gretchen Bailey, and I collaborated on 3 collages in February. We had a "Forlorn" art show in Sanford and Son. We used this picture I took of the dolls lips in a encaustic collage. I moved up from plain beeswax to beeswax with damar resins. Makes the beeswax harder and it polishes up so beautifully. I have to get a photo of our completed project. You can kind of see it on the wall in the Bit of Folie a Deux post.

I had just read this evening on Faeriewindow blog that it is proper etiquette to ask someone if they would like to link. I had no clue and I apologize for linking people without asking. Now should I remove them? Nah, I think I will just ask from now on.

Lori from http://faeriewindow.blogspot.com/ asked if we can link. Thank you, yes!

Catholic Wannabe

Another day, another picture. This is my favorite one. Same kids that I posted with Folie a Deux on it but used this in another wax collage. I have such a thing for vintage Communion pictures.

I have always been a Catholic wannabe. I had a friend in grade school who was Catholic and I would go to church with her sometime and was just in awe of all the ceremony and the religious art. My dad's family was Catholic and my cousin, Father Scott, a priest in Hawaii. Never ever would have thought he would of choose that path with his love of the party life. He became a priest I think in his early thirties.

I remember one night my cousin Carol and I were sitting in her parents living room. It was about 2 am and we just got home. Shortly thereafter, Scott also came home & literally fell onto the sofa. About 30 minutes later, there was a knock at the door. It was the police. The officer asked who's car was in the driveway. I looked over his shoulder to see a Scott's car with his fender missing. That was in the street. He apparently side swiped many cars on their street coming home. I woke up my uncle, who luckily worked for the Honolulu Police Department, and somehow things got straightened out. This was a usual occurrence for the now Father Scott. I guess since he had such an "adventurous" life he can give good life experience advise.

Good night Lulu

More art stuff

Took pictures of a doll, grunged them up with brushes, dipped in wax glued to vintage french ledger paper & glued to painted canvas & dipped in wax again. Thought I was loading these at the bottom of this entry, but guess not. Still such a novice at this.

Another assemblage of my youngest daughter. Got a thing for wings and hats. Everything (except the box and moss) is dipped or brushed with beeswax. I discovered beeswax from Claudine Hellmuth about 4 or 5 years ago. Her website is http://claudinehellmuth.com. I have 2 pots of wax in my studio and when they are on, they fill the house with the most beautiful smell. It's more of a fall smell for me. I guess I tend to do it more in the fall & winter because of the added heat to my studio. One pot is clear wax and the other natural.

I was fortunate enough to take a class from Claudine when she was in Washington. She is such a sweet person and she just blew me away when she said she thought she sucked sometimes. Even an artist like her had her doubts about her work when working with the likes of Teesha Moore http://teeshamoore.com, Judi Reisch (favorite assemblagist (is this right?), Lynn Perrella, Sarah Fishburn and Lynn Whipple (another one of my all time fav's http://whippleart.com). So I guess even when you are established those doubts never do go away.

After all these entries, I will have to go back to writing about my cousin. The weather has given me such a rush of energy and a sense of well being.

Ta-da! I figured it out how to drag the picture to where you want it. Now, if I can only remember it tomorrow! Ha.

I love Hens and Chicks or Chicks and Hens, whatever, however you or they are called. I call them Chicks and Hens. Succulents. I have them tucked everywhere. This was taken today. I found this salvaged piece of concrete tube and fill them with my little chickies.

Great Uncle Leonhardt Kamm

My artistic side must of come from
my mother's side (according to my mom, all good is from her side, everything else, it's your father's side). This is a painting hanging in my living room by my great uncle. For the life of me right now I can't think of his first name! Just called my mother (I can never just get an answer to a question, had to listen to some complaining about my niece first), Leonhardt Kamm. He painted it in 1923 and the woman is supposedly of my grandmother. But I think I saw this painting in a book once. I'm not sure, but I love it.

I am always amazed at painters. How they can take a blank canvas and make
it come alive. Wish I had that much
talent. I didn't start creating until I
was in my early 40's. Gasp, I
will be 50 this fall. Time has certainly
flown by.

I am so new to this blogging that I
wish I could move the pictures myself. Anyone know if that's
possible? Also would like to make
my own background and banner. Is
that what it's called?

Favorite artist, Laurie Meseroll

I am fortunate enough to own this one and about 50 more! Yes, I have an obsession with Laurie.

Laurie and I have been emailing back and forth today. I am ecstatic when I catch her online and we can "talk". She is this wonderful, funny and immensely talented woman. I have yet to meet her. But one day soon. I would love to see her come up to the NW for a show. She is right up Teesha Moore's alley and hoping to put a major bug in Teesha's ear and come up with some sort of Fall event.

You must check out her website http://www.primitivepaint.com/ but she is updating it BUT you can purchase her work under Mudcakes at Jen's website

http://www.earthangelstoys.com/. She has many more artists there but my preference is of course Laurie.

No, it's not Anna Nicole!

Seem to be on a roll today. Kids aren't home and all is quiet. Bite my tongue.

I don't get much alone time so I am just loving the computer to myself!!

OMG, I was going through my pictures to see which ones to post and I SWEAR that this was taken waaaay before the Anna Nicole one. Check this out. This is my daughter and we were getting her ready for the Animalocity Parade last year in Tacoma. She and her cousin were dressing up and taking our two Yorkie/Poms. I think the deisgner name for them is Yoranians. Or something silly. Anyway, here it is.

All things rusty and old.

Isn't this beautiful? I love rust. So on the side of my driveway, I have 14 of these wonderful old radiators. They were taken from the old (I think it was called) Mecca Hotel in downtown Tacoma. It was above the Mecca theater, which was a porn theater, but has been purchased & is currently being renovated into a pub.

We will be selling them in our store, Folie a Deux, and I will also be using a few in the yard as an interesting divider or something and use some in my house as legs for a table. Get some tempered glass & set it on top. We'll see how that works.

I have so many old windows, a couple of sinks, lots of moulding with wonderful chippy wood all just waiting to become my next project. My kids and husband will be glad when everthing is in use.

I began collecting big old windows in hopes that one day my husband, Ron, will make me a huge greenhouse studio on our flat roof that is over the 80's addition. Then I can gaze at the stars at night while creating. Sigh.....one day.

Home Sweet Home

Part of the front yard. My cat Gorbie chewing on some delish new growth of something.

Project number 243 is to redo the concrete whatchamacallit wall. I did the wall all by myself one day. Yep, got a flat bed, went to Home Depot and got about 150 of these babies & took each one out & put it up my raised bed myself. Who thought you would have to kind of support it so it wouldn't slope as years went by.

The wisteria will be in full bloom at the end of the month. It just drapes off the walkway to my front door & I have it all intertwined with white Christmas lights so it just glows at night. Love twinkle lights. It's all over my yard, tucked everywhere.

Rhoddies rhoddies rhoddies

Back to spring....if I could I would love to just stay home and do nothing but art and yard work. That would be heaven to me. Having a full time job, a small shop called "Folie a Deux" in downtown Tacoma, keeping up with the house and artwork, I feel my yard suffering. I am not the type to let things go for the sake of the other so that is why some days I get alittle crazy. My poor daughter told my sister that "Mommy just loves me so much in the mornings, but not so much after work". That mad me laugh and at the same time broke my heart!!! I get a bit militant when we walk in the house & start giving commands like a drill sargeant for everyone to just pick up after themselves. Deep breathe. That is what I have to remember to do. What is more important after all? I keep asking myself that but I tell you, it's the German in me, I can't help it. I must have things perfect which is impossible, thus my craziness.

Lolly

I have always loved things just a touch on the "different" side. Like old doll parts. LOVE THEM! I have just a small collection of....shall we say, well loved dolls. Some call them creepy but I think they have such stories to tell.

This head found it's home on my assemblage. Her name is Lolly.

Reach Out and Touch Faith

Reach Out and Touch Faith details

Part of one my assemblages. It's my ugh, can't think of the word, but to it's my ommage??? to Depeche Mode called "Faith".

I bought a few shadow boxes from Ikea, now I wish I bought a lot more. I can't remember the name of them. This is my favorite one that I have done.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

It's wonderful here in the Northwest. All my plants are budding and the cherry trees are in full bloom. I love the spring in the NW!

I can't believe the deer have not eaten my virbirnum blooms yet. I am torn between letting them have what they want because we are encroaching more and more on their way of lives and my poor plants!! Oh well.

The pinks on this are the best. I wish I could recreate these colors and I would love to paint my bedroom shades of pink. Not sure how wonderful my husband would think it is. He's pretty easy going so it wouldn't be that hard of a sell.

I have been indoors today working on reorganizing my studio. Today I have decided to stop calling it my "craft room" and bumped up in the world & it's now my "studio". I guess since I have sold many of my art pieces I can begin to call myself an artist. I feel funny saying it though. No formal art education and still learning so I quietly call myself that & roll my eyes when someone else calls me an artist. Being an artist is so vunerable and scary. I think that is why "crafter" is so much more forgiving.

Hawaii 1961

Ha! This is in Hawaii about 1961. Carol is the one with her foot extended and that's me with the pacifier in my mouth. The other two are Lolly and Bully, my other cousins. Bully's real name was Elliott. Not sure how he got the nickname Bully. I do not believe he was one.

During these years we spent alot of time at my Grandmother's home. I remember me and Carol following our Tutu (Grandfather) in the back yard. There was an outside shower in the back. I remember that we looked under the wooden shower door to take a peak at my very private Tutu. He shooed us out with his foot.

Other memories were New Year's Eve. In Hawaii we always had TONS of fireworks.

Sadly this is about all that I remember with my cousin until I returned from Germany when I was about 11.

My cousin Carol

Carol Kahilulumoe Kaleikilo

"Peaches"

She aquired the name Peaches in high school. She said it was because she use to love "Peaches and Herb" and I thought it was from something a bit more crude. Anyway, she was Carol to me and the family.

We were born 2 months apart in Hawaii. I really don't remember our time together then. My father was in the military and when I was 5 we moved to Washington. Three years later to Germany. Then when I was 11 we returned to Hawaii and this is when our real closeness began.