Recent events

We've had an unexpected illness and death in our family and I've been, and will continue to be, out of the loop for a while. First Tuesday (the 4th) and Third Friday (the 21st) are on for March. It'll be good to see some folks. Take care.

Is it really February?

Well, yes. It is.

So - packing tape shoes led to packing tape other stuff...most recently brassieres formed on an old mannequin torso that lives in the studio and gets dressed up for holidays. So maybe this year she'll just have holiday lingerie. And now I'm thinking of Myra Breckinridge. Damn!

This is going to be a short post; last night I encountered the seamy side of my lovely Christmas present from Gordon. Suffice to say that the cabbage wasn't the only thing effortlessly sliced in pursuit of dinner. It's not that bad, no professional attention needed, but my queasy side just knows that if I move my left hand too much my whole arm will fall off and then I won't be able to drive myself to the studio tomorrow. And tomorrow is First Tuesday, the Valentine Edition. Can't miss that. Unfortunately I have a million things I wanted to do today. Oh well.

My mom renewed my zoo membership for my birthday again! The price of admission has gotten pretty high; now I have to go only three times in a year to make it worthwhile. I love feeling free to go there for just a few minutes, say hi to the grizzlies and then walk home again. And maybe I'll do that right now.

The Shoes!

Well, there were a bunch of very cool packing tape shoes made last Friday. And there were three new people which made it just about the biggest group we've had on a Friday. I got a few pictures before my camera batteries croaked...of all things to forget to check!

That's about half the group in the first picture. Berkeley, with her back to you, made a cowboy boot. Next is Paula and her Shimmering Sneaker. I met Paula through a Yahoo group--it was a while before I realized she lived right up the street! Then there's Lily's legs and her Dear Sweetie Pie shoes. Yes, she plans to wear them, if she can come up with some way to fill the (hollow) heels.













There's a picture of one more shoe that I didn't photograph here. Maybe those others of you who didn't get photographed would be kind enough to send me pictures?? Or post'em on your own blogs and I'll put up a link.

Shoes, shoes, shoes!

OK. As promised, and just in time for this Friday's Art Party, packing tape shoes. I've been playing around--that is to say experimenting--and it's hard to stop once you get going. I'm wrapping all sorts of things in packing tape. These are a few of the shoes in progress. The two clear ones are going to get more "stiff" on them. The green one...I think that bow on the heel has to go

Some things I've been using in the shoes: copies of old photos, newspaper clippings, clip art, magazine clippings, wrapping paper, ephemera, paper lace, flat ribbon, pressed flowers...well you get the idea. And there's no end to what you can attach to the outside once they're all built.
For those of you who are coming Friday--bring a shoe or shoes. Bring your "Stuff" or you can rummage through mine. (But mine won't be as personal as yours.) I have scissors to share but if you want your very own, bring them. I will provide tape--I've found one I think works best.

See you!

Vegetables! Music!

This is something else.

Happy New Year

Well, here it is 2008. Already the 2nd, by about an hour. I spent most of the day and all evening in the studio. If what you do on New Year's Day is what you'll do all year, then I'm going to have a wonderful year of artifying. I avoided any cleaning, arranging, sorting or tidying...I just made stuff. So I think I'm safe.

I'm not a resolution-maker by any means, but I dearly want this to be a year of Doing Things Differently. And I want it to be a year of Using My Cool Stuff. I have so much cool stuff in the studio that I don't even know what I have. I keep chanting "You haven't saved it until you've used it. You haven't saved it until you've used it." I think I finally, truly BELIEVE that. Now I want to use it.

Here are some new and old Artistamps I've made. I made some more this evening but didn't bring them home to scan. All of these were issued by the Ephemeroptera Post or the Royal Ipomoeian Postal Authority...more on those another time.

What's up, Blogger?

I'm annoyed. I've been trying to upload pictures there (over to the right) and they are appearing in all sorts of weird shapes and sizes. Le's try one here, in post, and see what happens.

I got ahead of myself yesterday, talking about the Story Shoes project in Room 206. That isn't for three weeks yet! First Tuesday is coming up soon sooner soonest; bring your own work or make simple Artistamps. ..postage stamps only better. There's one good gallery here. They're fun to make and fun to put on your mail--not to fool the Post Office--just as Art.

December 27

Happy French Hen Day, everyone. I am back from Christmas, and trying to choose from all the fun things I thought I'd do as soon "after Christmas." No, I'm trying to remember all the things I told myself I would do after Christmas. There's nothing like a deadline or upcoming event to get my little brain organized--and nothing like total freedom to make it go all mushy on me.

One upcoming event that's going to kick in any minute now, is the Shoe Story project happening in Room 206 on January 18. We are up to eight in the group and I think that's about all I can accommodate until I do a major rearrange of the studio, so this session is closed; sorry. There will be another one sometime later in the spring, or whenever there are enough interested parties. Watch this space for a project description and some photos.

Speaking of Christmas. we had snow on the 25th...a white Christmas in Seattle. It didn't last long and didn't stick for more than a couple of hours, but it was pretty and special.

Fastest Candy Cane in the West.

Actually, the Fastest Candy Cane in Central Oregon--Prineville, to be exact. We were there for a few days last week and the town is decked out for Christmas. This fellow is one of the decorations that line the streets downtown. It really IS a downtown now...it has five stoplights! That's at least four more than the last time we were there. The scene above is on the way home through the mountains. We were glad to have a former P-ville resident along...she knows how to drive in the snow. Thanks, Anne. I have a few more pictures to post later, but not right now. My mom and I are going to brave the elements and do some Christmas shopping. Wish us luck.

I'm giving a lot of homemade gifts this year and it feels really good. That's something I tell myself every year I'm going to do, but don't. Some I made with my own hands...some I acquired through making a mistake of some sort...a different take on handmade but, hey. I can't elaborate because it would give things away. I think some of my family reads this.

If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing post-holiday project, or maybe something to do while you are going over the river and through the woods, take a look at this worthwhile project, Junie Moon's Bandage Brigade.

Off into the rain and...rain.

Dear Santa, Here's what I don't want for Christmas.

I don’t want “Improved classic cut ensures flattering, non-bulky fit.” (Improved classic, isn't that an oxymoron?) I don’t want “slightly fitted.” I don’t want a “wider neckline for greater comfort.” I don't want to have to buy men's and then shorten the sleeves to death. I don’t want fleece. I don’t want one drop of Lycra. Boy, how I don’t want Lycra. I sure don’t want a logo. I don’t really want 10% polyester, although I might take it in a pinch. I don’t want Stellar Pink, Glisten Purple, or Gentle Peach. Please. I want a sweatshirt. I want a sweat shirt! I want a good old-fashioned cotton or maybe cotton/acrylic sweatshirt, long sleeved, in women’s sizes and a simple color. Grey, blue, red, black. Even green. Dark green. Olive green would be nice.

Whatever happened to sweatshirts?