I've had a blog post brewing in my mind for awhile. I haven't pulled all of the thoughts together yet, so consider this the first post in a series.
Yesterday I was lucky enough to capture another etsy treasury spot and curated a collection called "Till We Have Faces" (20 points if you know the reference). Please stop by to see the pieces I pulled together and show the artists some love with a comment if you choose.
A short while back I started a new art journal, but quickly had to send it off somewhere for some kind of something (maybe). Who knows when exactly I'll get it back? The surest thing I know is, it won't be anytime soon, so I started a fresh journal. Thank you, Robert Frost for the found text. I'll need to read the complete poem to see what the surest thing there is, is.
All I know is tomorrow I'll be heading to charming downtown Suffolk for a big art opening extravaganza. A couple of times a year the artistic community gets together and has a themed show with simultaneous openings (this time the theme is fabric related with each venue featuring a specific concentration). It's all great fun! I've kept a low profile with art openings this year after the photo show opening where Mr. P's absence was so keenly felt, but I wouldn't miss tomorrow for anything. Angelia and I did a collaborative piece - I created a few small and simple paper collages and she combined them with fabrics and thread. I haven't seen the finished pieces yet, so that will be a nice surprise.
If you're in the Tidewater area, come on out and support this talented and determined group of artists and gallery owners. The shows open at 2:00 and go through 6:00 p.m. The city is providing a free trolley that connects all four locations (and three are within nice walking distance). Parking is also free. Visit their sites for more detailed information.
Participating venues:
Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts
I need to charge my camera. Hopefully I'll remember to snap some photos to share!
Today my friends Sandy and Michelle came out to Casa Peregrine for an art day!
Despite a jarring interruption from the smoke alarm (a candle was burning just a bit too much for those sensitive detectors), a great time was had by all. (And let me just say, that should I ever be in a burning building, I hope to be there with these girls - they both kept level heads and maintained their senses of humor as we tried to find out what was wrong. This is a character combination that should not be underestimated in a potential emergency).
Sandy and Michelle in my studio space.
Michelle (L) and Sandy (R)
After chatting and laughing and making art, we hit the local craft store and treated ourselves to iced lattes.
Such a great time.
It is good to have friends.
Especially these ones.
On Monday, during our visit to Colonial Williamsburg, we ducked into the wine cellar at The Cheese Shop(yum!) to escape the afternoon's heat and humidity. Browsing the offerings, I was captivated by the art on the label of this wine:
The artist is from South Africa, and you can see more of her artwork here.
Have you recently found art somewhere unexpected? It's everywhere!
(left) This is the beginning of my brainstorming process for an assignment involving color.
I'll be working on this for the next couple of weeks. I always feel a mixture of excitement and dread when working on an assignment. To me, assignments feel fraught with someone else's expectations which is enough stress and pressure to make me want to run and hide and trade in all the fancy art supplies for a box of crayons and a Hello Kitty coloring book (ahem). But, I know if I keep going and work in spite of the perceived pressure, it all works out.
Discoveries made on my Wednesday wanderings on the web:
Oh how much do I love this project! I reeeeaaalllly want to do this! I enjoy talking to people (I inherited this trait from my Dad. We both like to talk to people, thus you are likely to find us yakking with cashiers, waitresses, doctors ... anyone we interact with as part of our day. I'm sure we are both quite annoying). Still, there is something about asking to take a stranger's photograph that is intimidating to me.
In the "File Under Year-Long Project" category, here is another interesting one from 2007. Post-It Notes elevated to art. So cool!
If you keep a blog or share your photographs or artwork in any public way, read this post from Inkygirl, linking to interesting articles about copyright. Using your work illegally isn't just limited to the hacker down the street, apparently.
It seems obvious if you don't want to risk your work being ganked and used without your permission, you probably shouldn't post it publicly, but I can't quite bring myself to do that even though I have had people take my photos from my blog. I try to believe in the best natures of people, but it does pay to be cautious. I'm not sure what the middle ground solution might be.
Today was the first day since I started Operation Marking Time that I almost forgot to do this and, when I remembered, considered skipping it. But, I didn't. I am determined to honor my commitment to this project and keep it real.
Thus, #38.
Sometimes these old photos (this one is from Paper Whimsy) are so beautiful it is difficult to improve on them; they are breathtaking as is. I like the swirl though ... it looks like a Mardi Gras mask, which sparked an idea that is now percolating on the back burner of my brain. (I love when that happens!).
Thank you to everyone who came out to The Red Thread Studio this afternoon for the collage demo! It was such a fun time! Particular thanks to: Jill, Lynne, Catherine, Jen, Matt, and Linda. And thank you to Angelia for coordinating everything.
If we missed you today, please note that I will be teaching a mixed media collage class on Saturday, February 23rd from 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at The Red Thread Studio. The cost is $40 and includes all materials (well, almost all! You'll need to bring scissors, a magazine, and an old shirt or apron to protect your clothing from paint and glue). We'll be learning basics about adhesives and mediums, how to make exciting backgrounds, basic design principles, packing tape transfers, and we'll do a lot of fun exercises to get that creative energy revved up! To sign up, please call Angelia at (757) 923-9832.
This book ...
... is stunning.
My friend Sandy has a doll featured in this book (page 43!) and she let me paw through her contributor copy. Wowza! The array of materials used to create these dolls is vast (everything from paper, cloth, and beads to cultural and traditional materials such as fish skins). The styles cover everything from highly realistic to whimsical, creepy, and everything in between. Truly a book to return to and savor.
I mostly work flat on paper and fabric and I always will because that is what makes me happiest, but looking at the work in this book makes me want to experiment with the doll form.
* * *
A couple of blogging milestones are in the near future - my second year anniversary and the rapid approach of the 500th comment. I believe there will be some sort of something to commemorate that 500th comment so don't be shy - hee hee! These milestones combined with the kick-off of the Christmas season leads me to offer my blog readers a discount they don't have to trample their fellow citizens to receive:
For friends in the U.S.: free shipping on anything in the Boodzoo Studio shop.
For International friends: 1/2 off shipping anything in the Boodzoo Studio shop.
This offer is good for one week only, through December 1st.
To get the discount, please follow these instructions:
1. Purchase the item you wish to purchase in etsy. Then leave etsy.
2. If you're using PayPal, login to your PayPal account, and click on "Send Money".
3. Simply send the total (price of item less shipping fee) to my paypal address, which is: boodzoo at gmail dot com (without the spaces and including the @ sign, of course).
4. If you'd rather send a check or money order (US only), please email me for the mailing address and to let me know your order has been placed.
5. If you have any questions, please email me **before** paying.
I will be adding a few new things to the shop over the next couple of days, so do check back.
Hee hee. I thought it would be tremendously easy to come out here every day and post something. I never need encouragement to talk (ahem). However, things are a bit repetitive in my world right now which doesn't make for very exciting reading ...
To recap: I'm busy. I'm working on last minute prep for Handmade Parade this weekend. I'm nervous about the whole craft show experience having never done it before and I'm worried I won't get it all done. Blah blah blah.
So I'll fulfill my NaBloPoMo commitment by offering a couple of links to more interesting goings on:
This was the easiest election I've ever voted in! (And I felt so good and sure about my choices afterwards). If only political elections were this easy.
Amanda and Amber over at Norfolk Craft Mafia are at it again ... check out the article about the mafia in the local indie paper!
The class listings are up for the 2008 Art & Soul Retreat taking place next May, practically in my backyard. Ack - so many classes to choose from! I have a firm limit of 3 classes. (Anything more than that is overload for me). I have no idea how I'm going to choose just 3! If you're planning on attending, what classes are catching your fancy?
And that's all she wrote for today. I'm outta gas ...
Day Five: NaBloPoMo
While hanging out Christmas lights and decorations in October is on my pet peeves list, let's face it - it is never too early to start shopping for holiday gifts.
If you are interested in buying handmade items and unique gifts for the holidays this year (maybe you've even taken the pledge), you can get started this weekend:
Downtown Suffolk is a short drive from Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and a quick jaunt across the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge/Tunnel from Hampton and Newport News. Make it a day trip with a stop for lunch at Java 149 (lots of yumminess to be had at Java ... my current favorite is the Turkey Caesar Wrap and a BIG sugar-free Raspberry Tea. Mmmmmm. Java 149 is open from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday. They are closed on Sunday).
If you are not local, I have good news! You can shop both galleries via their etsy shops:
And of course, don't forget next week's Handmade Parade in downtown Norfolk (more on this next week). Each venue offers a unique buying experience with a variety of artful, handmade wares for those on your gift list (or, ahem, maybe even for YOU!).
I took the pledge . . .
. . . have you?
My mixed media collage art is available through my etsy shop, Boodzoo Studio. Stop by and say hello! I love ♥s!
