Quinceberry

Next Lace Book Pages

2012-01-29T17:58:00.004-05:00

The next lace book in my round robin group is for my friend Karen. Her theme is the Madonna, and these images are from the two pages I made for her.

This image is from a photo I took at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City - Madonna

and Child by Giovanni Bellini

And in this one, below, I altered an image to give it a cracked, mellow look by using an

image of yellowed cracks and applying it with a blending mode in Photoshop.

(I softened the cracks in the facial area to keep their faces pretty.)

The blue lace up top with crosses is from the NYC garment district -

I was so happy to find it, as it's perfect for her theme.

The small Pieta image, below, is one I took at

St. Patrick's cathedral.

Five on Friday

2012-01-28T11:10:00.005-05:00

My friends Thauna and Lizzi at Life Besprinkled post a weekly Five on Friday column. I love reading theirs and I'm inspired to try it. This week...

I took my baby girl to Motherhood maternity for her first mommy-to-be clothes. I had fun, but she was fairly flipped out about facing her new curves. But, you know, at least one of us enjoyed it.

Have you ever had a chance to see any of the Project Runway clothes up close? The construction on some of them that look good on tv are a hot mess in person.

I thought all dogs liked water until I got mine. He shakes so bad during bath time that now we both dread it.

When I go to some art exhibits, I get the same feeling I sometimes get when reading poetry or song lyrics. I'm both completely inspired and absolutely annoyed that I don't have the same talent I admire in others.

The only reason I like Valentine's Day is because it's my sister's birthday. Otherwise, I just think it's a day that makes a lot of people feel uncomfortable - whether you have a sweetheart or not.

Poetry Party Wednesday

2012-01-25T12:47:00.000-05:00

The Meadow

Kate Knapp Johnson

Half the day lost, staring
at this window. I wanted to know
just one true thing

about the soul, but I left thinking
for thought, and now -
two inches of snow have fallen

over the meadow. Where did I go,
how long was I out looking
for you?, who would never leave me,
my withness, my here.

More from the fabric book

2012-01-18T22:01:00.000-05:00

A love story

Darcy's note to James, below, tells it all.

It was the days of Lucky Lindy

And Gramophones with love songs

Smoky Jazz Songs

And girls with more freedom than they'd ever known before...

Dancing all night until the sun came up.

Poetry Party Wednesday

2012-01-18T12:47:00.000-05:00

The Blue Bowl

Jane Kenyon

Like primitives we buried the cat
with his bowl. Bare-handed
we scraped sand and gravel
back into the hole.
They fell with a hiss
and thud on his side,
on his long red fur, the white feathers
between his toes, and his
long, not to say aquiline, nose.

We stood and brushed each other off.
There are sorrows keener than these.

Silent the rest of the day, we worked,
ate, stared, and slept. It stormed
all night; now it clears, and a robin
burbles from a dripping bush
like the neighbor who means well
but always says the wrong thing.

52 Postcard Project

2012-01-14T13:21:00.004-05:00

Second installment of the 52-postcard project...today our friend Luca writes to Fiona. He's decided to use the art of each country for inspiration, and this week he's been spending time looking at the work of Joan Miro. Fun!

Poor Luca. No friends...yet...

Fabric Book Exchange

2012-01-12T17:56:00.000-05:00

I've been using my favorite toy--my Brother sewing machine--quite a bit lately and thought I'd share some of the results. I'm in a small round robin group where we are each creating a few fabric pages for each member's book. We each chose a theme, and our textiles and images will relate to that theme.

Since I've been watching both Boardwalk Empire and House of Eliot in recent weeks, I was drawn to the 1920's -- the era of jazz, flappers, The Great Gatsby, dancing the Charleston, and Prohibition. I imagine it as being a fictional girl's journal, with bits of her mementos pressed between the pages. Hope you enjoy!

(I don't want to overload browsers, so I'll post a few pictures each day from my book.)

This is the front cover. Her headpiece was the end corner of a vintage lace table runner, and when I held it up I imagined a face beneath it - so I painted one. The Cotton Club was a

very popular club in NYC during this era.

This is the drawstring bag the journal will go into.

Details

The napkin, below right, was a piece of fabric

I received as a gift from my friend Sox.

Poetry Party Wednesday

2012-01-11T12:46:00.000-05:00

The Summer I Was Sixteen

Geraldine Connolly

The turquoise pool rose up to meet us,
its slide a silver afterthought down which
we plunged, screaming, into a mirage of bubbles.
We did not exist beyond the gaze of a boy.

Shaking water off our limbs, we lifted
up from ladder rungs across the fern-cool
lip of rim. Afternoon. Oiled and sated,
we sunbathed, rose and paraded the concrete,

danced to the low beat of "Duke of Earl".
Past cherry colas, hot-dogs, Dreamsicles,
we came to the counter where bees staggered
into root beer cups and drowned. We gobbled

cotton candy torches, sweet as furtive kisses,
shared on benches beneath summer shadows.
Cherry. Elm. Sycamore. We spread our chenille
blankets across grass, pressed radios to our ears,

mouthing the old words, then loosened
thin bikini straps and rubbed baby oil with iodine
across sunburned shoulders, tossing a glance
through the chain link at an improbable world.

52 Postcard Project

2012-01-06T23:04:00.001-05:00

Here it is! The first day of our magical mystery post card tour. The country is Austria...

...and the postcard is to Luca from Fiona.

They met at a guesthouse in Obertraun called "Haus Hepi" and

were immediately smitten. They have both resumed their

separate travels as this postcard is written, with Fiona missing

Luca more than she expected.

to learn more about the postcard project, go here: Art and Sole

Poetry Party Wednesday

2012-01-04T12:44:00.000-05:00

One of my goals for 2012 is to post a favorite poem once a week, every Wednesday. I hope you'll enjoy these as much as I do. I thought this one was a good choice to begin with, for obvious reasons!

Introduction to Poetry

Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

New Year's Resolutions?

2012-01-02T00:33:00.001-05:00

I read somewhere that New Year's Resolutions have an 80% failure rate. Sort of a dismal outlook.

I guess it's because, if you didn't get it done the previous year, there's no reason to think you'll do something just because the calendar turns. It makes sense. Still, I was in the mood to make a few changes today and decided January 1 was as good a time as any to get started. I kicked this off by rolling up the area rug in our living room and throwing it out. Then I made a resolution to get rid of our area rug. We've got two cats and a dog and let's just say--it's easier to clean cat fur balls off a wood floor than a rug. Things were already looking up and I was ahead of the 80% failure curve.

My mom - sweet 16

Next I thought about what I'd like to do differently with my blog this year, and I decided I'd like to share some of my favorite poems. Other people write about books they've read or art they've done or photos they've captured -- and I write about those too now and again, but I want to share the things I really treasure - and that is poetry. I don't mean poems I've written -- I look back and find most of mine to be drivel and I'll spare you that -- but things others have written. They are words that made me think about things in a new way, or captured a feeling I had experienced, or painted a picture in my mind. So I sorted through all my favorites and got them ready, and every Wednesday this year will be Poetry Party Wednesday here at Quinceberry.

And to kick off the party, even though it isn't a Wednesday, one of my favorites by e e cummings...

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, mytrue)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of thebud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the starsapart

icarry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

e e cummings

2012 Postcard challenge book - and NYC photos

2011-12-31T19:49:00.003-05:00

For 2012 ... I'm doing a postcard challenge sponsored by Darcy at Art and Sole - a weekly postcard conversation we have between two imaginary characters, based on the idea in the Griffin and Sabine books by Nick Bantock. You can read about the entire project (and I hope you'll join in too, because it will be so fun to see everyone's postcards each week) at this link: Art and Sole

I made the book using instructions I found through Darcy's site, making a few adjustments to my own, and using one of my favorite heavy-duty herringbone folders as the outside cover. Each one of the signatures pulls out to hold four postcards, one for each week of the month.

My imaginary characters who will be sending postcards back and forth are:

Luca Cabrera - 498 Broome St., New York, NY 10013

Luca is an artist who lives in the SoHo section of New York City.He believes that people spend too much time thinking about art and that they should instead by creating - that there is nothing else nearly as important as the act of painting to discover what is to be found in the canvas.

And Fiona Byrne, 45 Twig Lane, Bedford Massachusetts

Fiona is a writer who lives in a small town in a 300 year old house in the town of Bedford, MA. She lives in an upstairs room of a boarding house, filled with nooks and crannies and with a writing desk nestled into a dormer that faces out onto Twig Lane, where she watches the world go by as she writes and dreams of a romantic life in a far away place.

I have no idea what they'll say to each other. Can't wait to find out!!

And finally, saying goodbye to 2011 -- the year of Charlie Sheen's madness, Osama bin Laden's demise, Anthony Weiner's "outing," the Occupy movement and losing Steve Jobs. Here are some photos I just took up the street from me at 8th Ave and 49th Street. Everyone is feeling jovial right now,

Party horns are blaring, and more than enough alcohol has been consumed. (I still don't know where people to go use a bathroom...

Barricades are set up to organize all the visitors...

And streets all around -- in places that will NEVER see the ball drop -- are full of happy celebrations.

To my friends who had a tough 2011 (you know who you are), I wish you and all of us a happier, brighter 2012, full of health and joy. I salute your courage in the face of adversity and I want you to know you are my heroes.

Onward and upward!!

Some holiday things

2011-12-16T19:19:00.001-05:00

It's been a busy December, but I managed to get a few holiday things done.

I crocheted little twine stars and decorated them with buttons and pearls.

and I painted hangers to give as gifts, below.

Some people asked about what a feather tree looks like. Mine isn't an antique one - it's a modern version. But I love it.

The original ones had little candle holders on the ends of the branches, with tiny candles lit for a few moments of splendor on Christmas. Mine has a tangle of tiny white lights cascading down the sides.

I have a thing for snowmen. Above is one of them -- a chef snowman.

My friend stitched little felt stockings for me. There's one, beside a beautiful bird, above.

I discovered this lovely angel 30 years ago, above, and she has graced our family Christmas trees ever since.

See the beautiful lacy Christmas stocking, above? My friend Sox made it for me this year. Onto the feather tree it goes!

And below is a 25-year-old quilted wall hanging my mom made for my son when he was a baby--our Little Bear calendar. Each day of December, Little Bear would look for Christmas all around the house - under the front mat, in the attic, at the skating pond. To make the holiday more fun, "Little Bear" always left a little present for the children wherever he looked for Christmas. (Wasn't that nice of him?) I think the kids were actually a little sad when Christmas day came because there were no more Little Bear presents to search for every morning.

Hope you enjoyed my holiday house tour. If you post pics of your tree, will you let me know? I love seeing decorations!

Candy Cane Candle Holders

2011-12-04T17:24:00.001-05:00

Earlier this week while I was visiting my daughter in Toms River, NJ, she surprised me with a holiday craft idea she'd seen on the internet that turned out to be so much fun: candy cane candle holders. If you decide you want to make them, you'll need about 20 candy canes and two taper candles - either red or white, ideally - as well as a hot glue gun in order to make them. Easy! And it's extra fun if you rock out some Christmas music in the background like we did, and of course get up to dance around the kitchen while hot gluing.

The "ingredients"

I'm going to link to the tutorial we followed at the bottom of this blog post, but not before revealing a couple of pictures of the fun, as well as our super special tip: draw a line around the circumference of the candle in the place where you want to line up the tops of your candy canes. If you do that, the bottoms will be nice and even -- unlike our first attempt, which yielded a lopsided effect like a wobbly table at a restaurant. We had to prop them up with little pieces of hot-glued felt underneath the shorter canes. Draw in the line and you'll be gold!

Here's my little girl doing her best Martha Stewart impersonation. "I treasure them."

Ta Da!! So satisfying to make these. They look fabulous on her mantle, nestled among the little white lights and the other decorations.

She found this tutorial here: http://www.themotherhuddle.com/how-to-make-candy-cane-candlesticks/
Enjoy!!!

Walls

2011-11-28T13:15:00.001-05:00

I'm in a wonderful art group where we share our talents with each other in round-robin style. One of the things we're working on is graffiti-style work based on the book Walls. Inside the book are lots of pictures of - you guess it - all kinds of blank walls, just waiting to be defaced.

We could have taken pictures of walls and then just drawn on them - perfectly good idea - but the book wasn't very expensive and we wanted to patronize the author for coming up with such a great concept. Here are two photos of wall art I created. So much fun!

222

2011-11-26T17:26:00.001-05:00

My friend Rita at Tattered Past listed 22 Things About Herself and mentioned others doing the same. I think it's fun to do this now and then and haven't in a while, so here goes.

1-I start listening to Christmas music in October

2-I love Brussels sprouts

3-I hate liver

4-I believe in miracles

5-I don’t believe in magic

6-I enjoy reading historical fiction

7-I seldom read science fiction

8-When I was a little girl, I used to imagine the Beatleswere secretly watching me and were in love with me

9-I am completely inspired by music: to sing, to dance, to cry, to create.

10-I have a scar on my leg from hot plastic that dripped onit when my brother and I were burning army men-age 7

11-I regularly see a close friend whom I’ve known for 45years.

12-I am double jointed

13-I love to sew and learned how from my home ec teacher injunior high

14-I first watched Star Wars in 2004. A late adapter.

15-I love romance movies. Even the sappiest

16-I don’t trust people who don’t like animals.

17-I remember people by how they take their coffee or tea

18-I put splenda and coffeemate in mine

19-I love to copy quotes and save them

20-I used to copy song lyrics and save them

21-My secret vice is watching the Housewives of BeverlyHills

22-I cannot ski, snowboard, or ice skate. But I made sure mykids learned to do all of that. (I’m a good swimmer, though, and so are they.)

If you happen to do the same, will you let me know? I love to learn more about my friends.

Gonna Miss Ya, Regis

2011-11-19T13:49:00.001-05:00

Teri and Angus at Regis and Kelly Show

When I first moved to New York City in 2004, I leftclassroom teaching and instead taught children who worked in movies, television, and Broadway. One of these students was Angus T.Jones, the (then) little boy from the tv show 2 ½ Men. When acting kids are out of school on afew consecutive days, they’re required to have a set tutor to help them make upthe work they miss. For me, it wasalways a lot of fun to discover which show or movie I’d be working.

On this particular December day, Angus was appearing on theChristmas episode of The Regis and Kelly Show. Everyone in thecast was wearing pajamas for the show, including Regis and Kelly. Angus hadknit a pretty impressive scarf as a gift for Kelly, which I particularlyremember because I still hadn’t mastered the skill of knitting and was amazed thatthis little guy had.

Even more than the scarf, I remember the scene in Angus’dressing room just before the show began. Angus’ parents were there with us and he was finishing up some schoolwork,waiting for his cue to go onstage. We heard a knock on the dressing room door and looked up to see Regis, whowas there to visit Angus and welcome him to the show. A few minutes later, Regis, (dressed in pajamas and aPerry-Como-like bathrobe) Angus, and Kelly’s kids were all singing Christmas songstogether backstage. No one - except a few inconsequential people like me -would ever see this scene. Regis wouldn’t get a sound byte for it. It wasn’t done to impress anyone. It was just the real Regis, a genuineman sharing himself and his love.

This week I watched Regis’ last show and I thought about howmany smiles he’s brought to countless faces over the years – not just the oneswe’ve seen on tv, but especially the ones that never appeared on camera. In a time when we find very fewcelebrity “personalities” who look the same from the back as they do from thefront, this man was the genuine article. We’re going to miss him.

Central Park at Twilight

2011-11-13T16:54:00.001-05:00

My friend Holli sent me a link to a Pinterest that our friend Brandi had pinned. It was a lovely photograph called Twilight in Central Park by Rod Chase. I was working in my Smash Book journal today, so I sketched my version of the photograph in there. So inspiring.

101 Handmade Ornaments Tutorial

2011-11-13T10:32:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year again...when I start hankering to make some home made ornaments. There are all sorts of things at this link: Ornament Tutorial, for the most talented and the least. Put on some happy music and get in the holiday spirit!

GPP Street Team Challenge

2011-11-10T23:17:00.001-05:00

It's all about the music, and I can't get enough. Michelle Ward's challenge at GPP Street Team this month was to do a page inspired by one of our favorite songs. I have all kinds of favorites, and this one is definitely one that touches me. Ben Folds Five Still Fighting It (link to youtube vid, below)

If you want to watch a youtube with this song, here ya go: Still Fightin It video

Halloween past

2011-10-31T22:44:00.004-04:00

I was 7 years old when this photo was taken, and I remember it as if it happened yesterday. I was dressed as St. Theresa, my namesake. My mom made the costume, as she did all my Halloween costumes, and usually on the evening of October 30. And as you might have guessed, I attended parochial school. (Where else would someone aspire to be a saint?)

My sister is standing behind me, behind the door. You can see a bit of her school uniform, with a jumper, white shirt and thin bow tie at the neck.

My favorite candy was Bit o Honey and Goldenberg's Peanut Chews, Sugar Babies and Sugar Daddies. And Almond Joys. In those days I don't think there was such a thing as "fun size." Fun meant big, and that's what most of the candy bars were in my neighborhood. My mom made jelly apples by the hundreds for the trick or treaters, and my brothers did so much trick or treating that they filled pillow sacks with their candy, which lasted until Christmas...

What candy did you like?

Who Couldn't Use a Jewish Grandmother?

2011-10-24T22:57:00.001-04:00

My lifelong friend Ellen, whom I’ve known since 4^thgrade, is Jewish. I, on the otherhand, am Italian. We lived a blockaway from each other and spent a lot of time in each other’s houses. Holidays, birthdays, after school,weekends – we couldn’t get enough of each other. We loved everything about it, including our ethnic grandparents.

So for me, reading The Smartest Woman I Know was like thatfirst delicious sip of a steaming glass of lemon tea for my soul. Ilene Beckerman writes with the clearvoice of her Jewish grandmother and shares precious tidbits of her wisdom foreach of us to treasure. I canalmost hear my friend Ellen’s grandmother saying the same things.

About food: Theright food can solve any problem – pot roast and potatoes for depression,blintzes with sugar and sour cream for moodiness. (Who can argue with that?)

About elevators: “Why ride up and down in a closet? On the escalator, if there’s a fire, I can get off in a hurry.”

About the word "So": “So I’ll tell you how to lose weight. Don’t eat so much.”

About men: “A husband is like buying new shoes. Youmight find something you like right away, but if it’s not a good fit it willnever make you happy.”

If you’ve got an ethnic bone anywhere in your body, you’ll enjoy thislittle tome packed with the wit and wisdom of a generation. Maybe you’ll start to think of a fewthings your grandmother used to say. Maybe you’ll even write them down. So who’s stopping you?

Protect Your Individuality

2011-10-22T13:52:00.000-04:00

The (real) Jersey Shore

2011-10-07T08:49:00.000-04:00

Many of you know I'm originally a Jersey Girl. I visited my daughter and son-in-law last weekend at their home in the heart of the Jersey shore, and we went for a walk on the Seaside Heights boardwalk. It felt so good to be "home."

Gotta love the spotted pig prize.

Shoot the Guido? Gotta be Jersey.

Yes, it's the "See The Jersey Shore" skyride. (Takes you past the JS house.)

Note this boardwalk bar says, "We love Bennies." For the
uninformed, Bennies are people who live outside
the Jersey shore area. Funny thing is, since most of these outsiders are
unfamiliar with this term, the sign won't lure many in.

My daughter and son-in-law in front of the Jersey Shore tv show house.

My son-in-law explained the JS tv house command center to me, as he worked in
this facility for some time. (see my notes on the photo)

Coming to Jersey? Here are the nearest cross streets for the house.

I couldn't resist photographing this.

Really? Someone needs underpants that say these things?

Not the Jersey shore without the lemonade stand.

I love this shot of the ferris wheel, with the tumbling clouds in the background.

Unlike those tv shows you see these days, this is my Jersey Shore.

Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-02T11:23:00.000-04:00

Today's post is a bit more serious in tone than most of mine. But given the state of the world's economy right now, I feel it has to be said.

If you haven't heard of the Occupy Wall Street movement, I'm not surprised. Most of the major media outlets (with the exception of Huffington Post, from what I have seen) did their best to ignore it for as long as possible. In fact, it wasn't until my daughter asked me what I thought about it that I heard of it at all.

And that is what amazes and worries me. It seems like neither liberals nor conservatives have wanted to acknowledge this group of (mostly young and discontent) voices saying, essentially, "We're unhappy with the status quo. We're tired of corporate greed ruining our future. We want change." It frightens me because it makes clear how both political ends of the media are controlled by their special interest groups.

Looking at our current financial crisis, it's hard not to acknowledge that much of it began with problems with banks, mortgages, and investments gone awry -- throughout the world. The moneymakers did things to create personal wealth that hit a particular group hard: the middle class. Things seem to be getting worse by the month, while much of the middle class disappears. Average people are angry and want a voice. Republicans and Democrats in Washington spend more time perfecting their spitting contests and preserving their party alliances than in creating real change.

Young people are the ones who traditionally have the energy and idealism to embody a new voice. These disenchanted (mostly young) individuals are attempting something I think all of us should find heartening. In the tradition of Thomas Paine, Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry, they are raising their voices to say, "We're not sure exactly what we want yet, but we know we don't want more of the same." To my mind, this uprising, growing despite being ignored by the major media outlets and misunderstood by many Americans, hearkens back to the French Revolution, where the voices of the many grew in desperation to outweigh the few in the ruling class.

Every July 4th we praise our forefathers -- people who rose up against the status quo and bravely fought for a better system. Let's remember to be open-minded towards the new firebrands and consider that true change sometimes happens, not from the top down, but from the grassroots. However this works out for the Occupy Wall Street group, I applaud them for doing something rather than nothing, and so far at least, doing it in a peaceful manner.

Blog Steal

2011-09-27T13:40:00.001-04:00

I completely appropriated this art journaling blog post from my friend Kathryn Antyr's blog. Kathryn wrote about "Things I Say" and listed expressions she frequently uses. Here are some of mine: Go to her blog (link above) to see what Kathryn says. Below are some things I say:

What you do actually does define you.

Awesome. Really.

Sometimes no action IS an action.

Oh. My. God.

Groovy

Cawfee

Let's chat

Write a new script for your life.

Dude.

And here is some Brooklyn graffiti with something someone else had to say:

What's your favorite memory?

2011-09-26T12:15:00.001-04:00

Watching this video will spark some ideas. I have so many... but my children being born is tops. My first date with my husband is second. But childhood memories? Any 4th of July -- sitting on my front steps watching the floats go by as they lined up for the parade, the BBQ afterwards (my dad trying to get that charcoal going!), drinking bottle after bottle of grape soda, Lovin Spoonful on a transistor radio, chasing lightning bugs and watching fireworks at night. Magical days. How about you?

The Color Of...

2011-09-25T13:14:00.000-04:00

Have you seen this website yet? The Color Of At first I didn't understand how it worked, and then when I did -- kinda blew me away.

You enter a word in the search box, and it goes to the web and searches for images that go with that word. Then it tries to find common colors that correlate to the word, and it then creates a color composition based on the images it found online. (There is a much fancier explanation on the "about" page of their website.)

I entered "pumpkin" in the search box and this is the color collage I got:

Then I entered "joy" and got:

It is fun to try different words, like emotions, places, or food and see what comes up.

Stacks and Studios

2011-09-21T13:00:00.000-04:00

Do you pile your things in neat little stacks, waiting until you get to them? If you are a stacker like me, then today is your day, because Seth Apter has a blogpost celebrating that very thing.

As it turns out, I JUST went through my three stacks earlier this week as I was organizing my new office/studio space in my home. So I can't show you my messy piles (but I assure you, I do have them) but I can show you a stack of books in my new space, and show you how a New York City dweller -- who runs a business from home and has a passion for art -- keeps it all organized. First the stack, then the studio.

The Stack

The work desk and art "studio"

I keep my files for work and the art supplies I don't use every day in a closet in my bedroom. Out here are only the things I use a lot.

Same thing with books -- in this work area are the books I refer to often, for art and sewing reference.

pens, markers, brushes, pan pastels, pen and ink

That red candy container, bottom left, is full of portfolio oil pastels. Watercolors, aquarelles, and a vintage file card box for notes.

plastic drawers for small things like small tools, adhesives and paper tapes,

And things like gel medium, gesso, texture paste, crackle paste, and so much more have a new home here.

My sunny little corner of the living room. (As you can see, I'm not disturbing the cat at all.)

Whatever you do for work or fun, how do you keep your workspace organized?

And tell me, are you a stacker???

Operation Christmas Cards

2011-09-15T12:03:00.000-04:00

There is a free class now at spotted canary where you can learn how to make side-step, spinner and pop-up cards--inking, stamping and embossing -- and an address to send some to U.S. and Canadian troops for the holidays.

Sponsored by EK Success, their goal is 9,000 cards by November 11 and they say that for half the service members, this is the only holiday card they will receive. The videos are self-paced and fun, and there is a 25% discount at EK success online store, as well as related projects in the creative gallery. Bring a smile to the face of our service men and women and try something new!

http://www.spottedcanary.com/OCCINFO/

10 Years Later - 9/11 Street Memorial

2011-09-11T09:25:00.000-04:00

Beginning at 14th Street and stretching north on Fifth Avenue for nearly 10 blocks is a street art display that fills the height the World Trade Center buildings once occupied. Each floor is marked, and, using the chalk in the cup at each level, friends and loved ones are able to leave messages of remembrance and love.

Floor by floor, year by year, we try to heal.

The Peacock

2011-09-07T20:50:00.000-04:00

I belong to a group called Freeing your Wings on ning that has a monthly scavenger hunt, with words that you must use in some way -- either poetry, prose, art, song, etc. The words this month were scarlet, peacock, weeping, burden, ecstasy. Usually I interpret the challenge with art, but these words clearly called for prose - so I did both.

Approaching 9/11/2011 as a New Yorker

2011-09-05T13:57:00.000-04:00

I didn't live in Manhattan 10 years ago. Many residents left this town, feeling either fear, pain, or isolation. I moved here 3 years after that terrible day. I have a strong belief that life must go on. I further believe we honor those who died by rebuilding and remembering. One week from today, on September 11, 2011, the WTC memorial building will be officially installed.

I've been watching television programming about the work, the thought, the love and the care that has gone into this construction. Every individual involved has been touched in a way that goes beyond any simple job -- many have very personal reasons for wanting to take part -- their parents, children, brothers and sisters, friends and relatives were lost on that day.

Throughout New York, the United States, and the world beyond, our lives changed that day. We walked through our lives in a daze for weeks, months, some for years. Some never recovered to move past their grief -- but in a testament to life's unbounded spirit, many did.

The picture above is how the new Trade Center construction looked in August 2011. Almost there --- but not finished yet. Next week, I'll be watching and listening as each of the people who have touched this project get to smile just a little bit with the satisfaction of knowing they have laid their loved ones to rest, at last, in peace.

Best ever chocolate chip cookies

2011-09-03T21:45:00.000-04:00

We're going to Ally's house for a Labor Day BBQ, and I've been assigned to bring chocolate chip cookies and brownies. I'm going to share my favorite CCC recipe with you and show you the important steps along the way. No matter how many times you have made them -- 0 or 100 -- you'll love watching.

First, gather all your ingredients so you don't get halfway into it and realize you're missing something. Allow the butter to soften for about 30 minutes (All ingredients at the end.)

Mix the salt, baking soda and flour together and set aside. Use an electric mixer to cream those two sticks of butter. Get them good and velvety. (See how it looks up there on the beaters? That's what I'm talking about!) Now add in the sugars and beat it again.

Add the vanilla (yum - make sure you add enough!) and add one egg at a time, beating it after each one. Those eggs should be big and fresh -- no old fogies for this recipe. Gradually blend the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture (I do it in 3 parts) and then fold in the chocolate chips by hand. You can add nuts now too, if you want them.

Your batter should look smooth and rich, like this. Getting hungry? I know you are!!

After baking these babies at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes (I use parchment-lined cookie sheets), your warm, chocolately bites will look like this. Watch them carefully while they bake! The edges should be crispy and golden, the underside lightly browned. Not too much time -- and not too little.

Mmmmmm----wish I could give you one right now!

And if he's very good, you can let your husband lick the bowl...

This recipe, which yields 4 dozen perfect little gems, is on the back of the Ghirardelli semi-sweet chips package. The ingredients are in slightly different proportions than the traditional tollhouse style, so pay attention.

2 1/4 c. unsifted flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened -- don't use margarine

3/4 c. brown sugar, packed

3/4 c. white sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large, fresh eggs

2 c. Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

optional: 1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

Books books books

2011-08-31T09:45:00.000-04:00

Have you been reading this summer? I've got a back log of books to read, and I got through several of them while on vacation. I love light reading in the summer (The Blue Bistro, The Island, Joy for Beginners) but I also try to add in one or two classics that I've missed.

This year my classic read was To Kill a Mockingbird. It's true -- somehow I never read this book. I expected this to be a boring tale about a courtroom trial, which explains why I've avoided it for so long, but it was nothing of the kind. I enjoyed every moment of reading about Scout and Jem Finch's childhood pranks and playfulness (the setting is depression era Maycomb, Alabama), and admired their father Atticus' calm and honest way of raising them. Written by Harper Lee in the mid 50's and like all true classics, it's as relevant and enjoyable today as it was at that time.

If you enjoy reading and are looking for an online group to chat with, click on the link on the left for our Women and Books group at Goodreads.com. Our September books discussion is Joy for Beginners, and October's book is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

What did you read this summer?

You stocked up on what???

2011-08-27T00:06:00.000-04:00

Anyone who lives within driving distance of me is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Irene. What interests me most is what each person considers important enough to put away. My daughter stocked up on board games, chips and beer. My son is protecting the plants in his garden. My friend Atsuko stocked up on pasta, noodles and sweets (she's very thin, works out a lot, and needs to keep that furnace stoked!). My friend Pat has everything you can imagine: food, batteries, a "go kit," flashlight, radio, and more. I took notes from Pat and bought some fresh flowers and scented candles.

I'm not going to watch the news anymore because it's just making me too antsy.

And now, some horses

2011-08-21T18:47:00.000-04:00

Lou took all these pictures except the very last one.

Aren't these clouds magnificent? The sky is like

this all the time here.

The grace and beauty of a horse is hard to

describe, but easy to see.

Horses - if God made anything more beautiful,

he kept it for himself. ~Author Unknown

You can see the shadow of the clouds on the hilltops.

There's Lou, opening the gate for us

on the way back from Castle Rock.

Thanks for visiting, y'all!!

Ranch Diary

2011-08-18T18:09:00.000-04:00

The next installment in my ranch days blogary:

This is Shadow. He knows how to relax.

I hiked up this road today. It was so

quiet I could hear my heart beating.

The wranglers here throw these lassos

over horses so easily. So far, I've only

managed to lasso myself.

Yesterday was tie-dye day at the ranch. There

is something very satisfying about dying

your own clothing.

Wyoming Day 2, including the ghost story

2011-08-17T14:32:00.001-04:00

Photoshop users, feel free to nab these pics for your collages.

Below are brown-eyed susans that brightened our way along our ride up to castle rock this morning. There are many rock formations out here that attract geologists and horseman alike. Castle rock looks a bit like a giant came along and piled stones atop each other, eventually abandoning his play for other pursuits.

Below are the front steps of our ranch house. To answer the ghost question -- there are lots of stories about ghost sightings, rattles and creaks in this house. And at least one person that I know of died in the house. I don't tend to believe ghost stories -- but last year while we were staying here I woke up during the night to see the outline of a man in a hat standing at the foot of my bed. I didn't feel afraid (as I would have guessed I might) but I sensed a curiosity from the figure, as if he was wondering about me. After a short time the figure disappeared.

In the kitchen of the house (which is completely paneled in that lovely, thick knotty pine that was so popular in the 40's and 50's), you can still find this tin match box nailed to the wall.

My husband took this beautiful sunset photo. There is a moment when the skies light up like this, and if you want a photo you have to catch it at once because all at once, in less than a minute, the sun is gone and this orange glow turns to dusky purples and blues.

Vacation photos and journal

2011-08-16T14:27:00.000-04:00

It's time for our annual H. F. Bar Ranch vacation in Saddlestrings, Wyoming. Besides riding horses for 4-5 hours a day and enjoying delicious meals in the dining room, I've been spending some of my free time reading (I just finished One Day and am about to start The Blue Bistro), and journaling (see below).

We're staying in the same farmhouse we were in last year, affectionately known as Horton House here at the ranch. I love all the Western antiques in this house and have even managed fairly well with separate hot and cold faucets. It's a bit of a dance, getting a handful of cold and one of warm together for a facewash. Most times I use a washcloth.

I love this sign. It really speaks to life at the ranch where everything slows down and we pretend we're children again, without a care in the world and someone else cooking our meals.

The front door of our house, wtih Doc Horton's name still on it. There are lots of ghost stories about this house, and although I saw one myself last year they seem to be quite friendly -- maybe just a bit curious, that's all.

Verizon Strike

2011-08-08T09:35:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of the lakewood scoop

There's my handsome son-in-law in the blue checked shirt on the right. He's standing with his union buddies, asking for fairness in labor practices from Verizon.

Negotiating fairly means starting with a reasonable offer, one that employee reps can work with. Nobody ever wants to go on strike--the idea brings fear into every affected home. Verizon's outrageous initial position has pushed its workers to this brink. The company brought unworkable demands to the table that make it impossible for workers to find a middle ground.

Today, with our economy more in trouble than ever, we need to find a way to re-build our middle class and continue protections for workers who are the backbone of our country. Without the counterbalance of workers united in unions, the middle class will continue to wither while our economy is dominated by the rich and powerful -- leading to greater flow of income to the top of the income scale. Every robust economy is founded on a strong middle class, and without it we will fail. As one of the Verizon linemen said, ""They are trying to get rid of the working class," said Bill Gebhart, a lineman who has worked for Verizon for 15 years. "They are totally annihilating it."

This week's thimble list

2011-08-06T12:47:00.001-04:00

I've done this before and loved it. For the uninitiated, a thimble list is a list of easily attainable goals (the mini, more immediate version of a bucket list). Things that will make you happy on a small scale. You can see a blog post on it at Life Besprinkled.

Here is mine for now:
Getting my art supplies and work folders off the dining table. I admire tidy.
Finishing one of the four books I've started. I crave completion.
Starting a book I'm really wild about and can't wait to turn the page. I'm keen on escapism.
Seeing a movie that makes me laugh, or wonder, or makes me forget I'm watching a movie. Ibid.
Getting in bed at night and having enough energy to play iPad solitaire and then watch Craig Ferguson on tivo. I'm a sucker for routine.

Morgan Library - Making a List

2011-08-03T19:41:00.000-04:00

I finally made it to the Morgan Library lists exhibit today, perusing the wonderful display with my friend Shirley. There were many engrossing (and often amusing) inventories, and one that I especially enjoyed was The Bohemian Dinner by Charles Green Shaw. Simply enumerating events of the evening in declarative form, he created an abstraction of his experience in list form.

Harry Bertola created the self rating chart, below, at age 15 as he struggled to assimilate in an American school after emigrating from Italy. I found it very touching.

Whether it's the agenda for your next meeting (I love to check the items off as they are finished), a wedding program, or the Ten Commandments, you may never look at your lists the same after visiting this exhibit.

Color Wheel

2011-07-29T13:49:00.000-04:00

The subject of using a color wheel came up in one of my online groups today, so I thought I'd get back to basics and share this color wheel with info on how to use it. These handy devices are helpful not only for art -- but also for decorating your home or selecting outfits and accessories. Enjoy!

The following pairings can be interesting to try:

Colors directly next to each other (i.e. yellow and yellow-orange; yellow and yellow-green; etc.)
Colors that form right (90 degree) angles with each other (i.e. violet and blue-violet, yellow and red-orange; blue and violet-red; green and orange, etc.)

Colors directly across from each other (i.e. red and green, yellow and violet; blue and orange; , etc.)

Colors that form a T (i.e. blue, orange, and violet-red; yellow, violet, and red-orange; yellow, blue-green, and red-orange, etc.)
Colors that form an X (i.e. blue, orange, violet-red, and yellow, violet, blue-green, and red-orange, etc.)

Triptych - finished at last!!

2011-07-22T21:17:00.002-04:00

This piece is 24" high and a total of 48" long. It is a combination of acrylic paint and oil pastel.The title is "Progress." I underpainted most of the background using a knife, then layered over that with stenciling methods I learned at a very inspiring workshop with Lynne Perrella last spring.

While I was working on this, I was thinking about conditions for women throughout history and specifically about how WWII changed things for many women in Japan, and here as well. It's meant to speak to the movement of women into a new societal position after that time.

Like Watercolors? You're gonna LOVE this!

2011-07-06T18:45:00.000-04:00

Vintage July 4th photos and a link to a great story

2011-07-04T09:09:00.000-04:00

I dug these two photos out of "the vault:" My sister and two brothers on a July 4th, 1956. That's my dad sitting behind them. The Independence Day parade in Plainfield, NJ was 3 hours long - HUGE - and we loved every minute of it. (I couldn't attend this particular one, as I wasn't born yet.)

And here is my sister (same little girl above) ten years later as a finalist in the town's Miss Independence pageant. She's in the second row up, center (between the blonde and the girl with the hairband). Who knew she'd be starring in the parade one day?

It's fun to look back on those days. I can almost smell the charcoal of the barbecue dad was firing up in the back yard!

My friend Lisa over at Lit and Life has posted a super interesting Independence Day story. She begins her post this way...

Today, as we in the United States of America celebrate our independence, I thought I would share with you the speech my father will be giving this morning. Two years ago, I told you about the Fourth of July breakfast that my parents started n their neighborhood in 1976. That breakfast continues to this day, and to this day my American History teacher dad teaches the attendees something new about the reason we celebrate this day.

Go on over for a quick read, and you'll really feel patriotic. http://litandlife.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-fourth-of-july-to-my-fellow.html

Anniversary and a great new book

2011-06-29T09:26:00.000-04:00

Yesterday marked 7 happy years of marriage to my husband and best friend. He is completely supportive and sharing of everything I do -- my children, my career and my art -- and I would be lost without him.

Every year we've tried to give each other the "traditional" gifts -- just for fun -- like paper or leather or flowers. This year we declared a moratorium on that practice, living dangerously off the grid now. I gave him an electric wine bottle opener. (Not a bit of the traditional copper or wool involved.) He gave me a new iPhone cover, imprinted with a piece of my original artwork. See what I mean? Very supportive of my endeavors.

And in other news, I made my first repurposed journal this week, in preparation for an upcoming trip to Costa Rica. My dear friend Shirley patiently took me through all the steps.

I never knew watercolor paper had a grain, or how to find it, or that the grain should run parallel to the spine of a book -- but I do now. It took me 3 1/2 hours start to finish (most of that time was spent ripping large sheets of watercolor paper into the right size) and I enjoyed every bit of it, including the stitching and gluing.

The original book cover wasn't very pretty, so I gessoed over it in black and decorated it with my version of a Costa Rican Dana de los Diabilitos mask. This festival reinterprets the invasion of the territory by Europeans -- and their resistance to the newcomers. The indigenous tribe Boruca is most well known for their masks.

There is a wonderful video on facebook that shows native Costa Rican animals and masks made using their likenesses. I don't think it is on youtube, so I apologize to the non-facebookers who can't link to it. http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=103666989659979

Learning to Love Cats

2011-06-25T11:20:00.000-04:00

I never much liked cats until recently. I'm a dog and horse person -- I get them and they get me. But my husband likes cats and wanted one, so I've had on-the-job training with felines over the past couple of years. (We adopted my dads after he passed away, then got another as a kitten.) So many things about them are so very different from dogs that it took me a while to even begin to figure them out.

I may not be completely comfortable with all cats, even now, but I've come to love mine. They grow on you. (That's the "baby" of the family, Roan the ragdoll, above.)

watercolor flowers

2011-06-20T10:07:00.000-04:00

My friend Holli at 3 Wishes posted a photo of crepe myrtle this week. She posts one photo each week in a year-long photo journal project. It inspired me to do my own interpretation of it, using the color-drop watercolor method I recently learned in a class with martha lever.

Father's Day

2011-06-19T12:36:00.000-04:00

My dad's been gone three years now, but there's seldom a day that passes when I don't think of him. He was a huge influence, not just on my life but on those of my children. This photo shows everything he loved: family, God and the U.S. Marine Corps. I'm glad he met my husband (a fellow Marine) before he passed away. Happy Father's Day, daddy.

I resign

2011-06-14T18:23:00.002-04:00

I Resign

(author unknown)

I am hereby officially tendering
my resignation as an adult.

I have decided I would like to accept the
responsibilities of an 8-year-old again.

I want to go to McDonald's and think
that it's a four star restaurant.

I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud
puddle and make ripples with rocks.

I want to think M&Ms are better than
money because you can eat them.

I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a
lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple.

When all you knew were colors,
multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes,
but that didn't bother you, because you
didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care.

All you knew was to be happy because you
were blissfully unaware of all the things
that should make you worried or upset.

I want to think the world is fair.

That everyone is honest and good.

I want to believe that anything is possible.

I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life
and be overly excited by the little things again.

I want to live simple again.

I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes,
mountains of paperwork, depressing news,
how to survive more days in the month than there
is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip,
illness, and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs,
a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams,
the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.

So... here's my chequebook and my car keys,
my credit cards and all my responsibility.

I am officially resigning from adulthood.

And if you want to discuss this further,
you'll have to catch me first,
'cause,

"Tag! You're it."

Fashion Backward

2011-06-11T20:54:00.001-04:00

Last week my journal study group went to the Morgan Library to see an exhibit on fashion in medieval France. The descriptions of the constantly changing styles reminded me of an episode of Project Runway; for example, the conical headpiece we often see on depictions of medieval women started out as two cones--one on either side of the head, with fabric draped between. Over time, the cones moved closer and closer to the center of the headpiece until eventually the two became one. Fashion seems to have been evolving for as long as humans have been wearing clothes.

See the two cones? mid 1400's

And then there was one. Early 1500s

This is from a tapestry called The History of Troy

We missed Shirley last week, but it was great seeing everyone else. Ever seen an air hug? That's how you say goodbye when the temperature is almost 100 degrees in New York City.

Favorite Movie Lines

2011-06-04T12:16:00.000-04:00

My friends over at Besprinkled are asking about our favorite movie lines in their 5 for Friday post (which I always enjoy). I'm not sure if my favorite lines are as good out of context as they are as when you hear them in the movie, but here are some I really love:

From Notting Hill, because I delight in the pure, strained logic of it:

Martin: Did you know, and this is pretty amazing, but I once saw Ringo Starr.
William: Where was that?
Martin: Kensington High Street. At least I think it was Ringo, um, it could have been that guy from Fiddler on the Roof. You know, Toppy.
William: Topol.
William: Yes… yes that’s right, Topol.
William: Mmmhmmm. Actually, Ringo Starr doesn’t- doesn’t at all look like, uh, Topol.
Martin: Yes, but, he was- he was quite a long way away from me.
William: So it actually could’ve been neither of them.
Martin: Yes, I suppose, so.
William: It’s not really a classic, anecdote, is it?
Martin: Not a classic, no.

---------------------------------

From Arthur (the original and ONLY one, in my opinion)

This line is one I quote often, mainly when friends tell me how HARD something is to do. Hobson (sir John Gielgud) visits Liza Minelli and delivers the line that won him the Oscar:

Hobson: "This is not a tie you can steal."

And another Gielgud deadpan line that is just plain funny, delivered to her father:

Hobson: [to Ralph] If you and your undershirt will walk two paces backwards, I could enter this dwelling.

---------------------------

This next line applies to so MANY things in life -- especially when we are deluded into thinking that an eccentric person is necessarily creative or talented:

Arthur: Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets.

------------------------

And rounding out my top 5 is a quote from The Three Amigos -- the silliest, goofiest movie I've ever enjoyed. You have to watch it more than once to even begin appreciating it. But be careful, because it's addictive.

Jefe: I have put many beautiful pinatas in the storeroom, each of them filled with little suprises.
El Guapo: Many pinatas?
Jefe: Oh yes, many!
El Guapo: Would you say I have a plethora of pinatas?
Jefe: A what?
El Guapo: A *plethora*.
Jefe: Oh yes, you have a plethora.
El Guapo: Jefe, what is a plethora?
Jefe: Why, El Guapo?
El Guapo: Well, you told me I have a plethora. And I just would like to know if you know what a plethora is. I would not like to think that a person would tell someone he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has *no idea* what it means to have a plethora.
Jefe: Forgive me, El Guapo. I know that I, Jefe, do not have your superior intellect and education. But could it be that once again, you are angry at something else, and are looking to take it out on me?

Ok. What's your favorite line?

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-28T13:30:00.001-04:00

Lizzi and Thauna at Besprinkled asked yesterday about our favorite summer things. I had fun thinking about this, especially on Memorial Day weekend.

In New York City, I like nights when you walk outside and the sound of a violin is drifting from someone's open window. I adore street fairs with polenta and cheese squares and candied fruit, and seeing all the happy faces walking on 9th Avenue. I soak up evenings when the terrace downstairs is full of people chatting and drinking coffee and laughing, with the fountain splashing and bubbling away. I love the start of it all, Memorial Day weekend, because the military ships dock close by and the streets are full of happy people in uniform, celebrating their leave in this fun city. And I'm smitten with summer days at Central Park, with cotton candy and baby ducks and the symphony of sounds: children laughing, the lilting jack-in-the-box melody of the carousel, dogs barking, and the mournful wail of a saxophone from under a bridge.

I was in Times Square yesterday and captured these shots of the Memorial Day Weekend festivities for you. Enjoy your weekend!

My Dad, husband and father-in-law were Marines. It's a proud tradition in my family, and I loved capturing a picture of these handsome young men.

A Marine corps jazz band was playing on the stage in Times Square.

Yes, that's me manning a machine gun. One of the Marines offered to take a picture for me to send to my husband, and I couldn't resist.

Remember to thank your military this holiday. They are the people who keep us safe and free.

Alexander McQueen Exhibit - MOMA

2011-05-23T23:11:00.000-04:00

I recently attended the Alexander McQueen exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. There was so much to see -- he was truly a genius, and the fashion world is greatly reduced without him. Some was definitely dark and would seem strange to many, like the "spine corset" http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/spine-corset-untitled/

But others would look beautiful to almost any eye.

Look at how this dress has one short sleeve and the other side sleeveless (and almost sideless). The thing about Alexander McQueen that strikes me most is that he was not afraid to poke the edges of acceptable in his designs. He did not seem to be confined by the boundaries that can imprison creative thought.

I don't recall what kind of material this dress is made from. I remember thinking it looked like long fingernails fastened together into a dress.

The platforms on these shoes are outrageous, and they look even better reflected in the mirror beneath them.

This last shot isn't quite as clear as the others (lighting was quite low in the exhibit) but you can see enough to appreciate the design.

There were several videos playing in the display, showing the dresses being worn for their fashion debuts. Often the background on the stage was dark and the music was solitary, strange, almost like the melancholy call of a whale. The models moved around slowly and in a zombie-like fashion. As I said, definitely punching holes in the boundaries of the expected.

Lynne Perrella-Ultimate Mikkado

2011-05-19T07:49:00.000-04:00

I spent an artful weekend in Connecticut at Lynne Perrella's Ultimate Mikkado workshop. It was my first class with Lynn and I can see why she has so many repeat attenders. She's terrific. I buddied up with my friend Eileen for this one, and she has blogged about it at her Art Saves Lives blog. You can read the details below:

http://artsaveslives-paperqueen.blogspot.com/2011/05/mikado-in-connecticut.html

Last two Days - Memoir Unit

2011-05-06T17:52:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's prompt: Did you have a favorite friend (or friends) to play with? What did you like to do with them? Try to be specific.

And today's prompt: Do you have any memories of your parents? Try to remember a happy time with each of them.

If you have been journaling along for the past few days, I hope you've enjoyed this mini memoir unit. There are several books you can find to guide you with writing memoirs. One very good one is called, "Writing Life Stories, How to Take Memories into Memoir" by Bill Roorbach.

You don't have to be a former president or movie star to want to preserve your memories. I love to read autobiographies -- and I dearly wish my grandparents or aunts and uncles had kept journals to pass down. I'd love to know more about all the little things in their lives -- what they wanted for their future, their hopes and dreams and challenges, and to hear about what their worlds were like when they were growing up. I wish I had started journaling sooner myself - but as George Eliot said, "It's never too late to be who you might have been."

Day 3-Art Journaling Memoir Unit

2011-05-03T18:01:00.000-04:00

The question for yesterday was, "were you a dreamer, a painter..."

Here is my journal response to that one.

And the journal prompt for today is...

My favorite food was cornflakes with chocolate milk. Usually I dumped Nestles Quik in to make the white milk taste chocolatey. My brother and I would pile our cereal boxes up high between us at the breakfast table so we didn't have to see each other.

Did you have sibling rivalry? Did you have a food you always ate for breakfast or lunch? Do you still eat it?

Memoir Art Journal Day 2

2011-05-02T21:23:00.000-04:00

Here are my journal responses to yesterday's prompt.

And the next journal prompt is:

When you were young and growing, were you a painter, a singer, a dreamer a lover, a planner? Describe yourself by telling us what you did.

Journaling Topic: Memoir

2011-04-30T16:17:00.000-04:00

I'm beginning my tour as co-moderator of Blissfully Art Journaling this week, and kicking it off with a memoir study to inspire our writing. Using the book When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant as a springboard, we will have a week of journal prompts to trigger childhood memories -- something we can then easily journal around.

The text of the book starts out this way: "When I was young in the mountains, Grandfather came home in the evening covered with the black dust of a coal mine. Only his lips were clean, and he used them to kiss the top of my head." She goes on to remember the simple pleasures of her country life in the mountains of West Virginia: the swimming hole, taking baths in the kitchen, and meeting up with a snake.

I'll post a quote each day this week of something I'm thinking of, along with a specific journal prompt. If you'd like to join in the fun, come back each day this week for a new quote and writing prompt. You can journal your memoirs, too.

Quote: When I Was Young and Still Growing, I often visited my grandma. She lived around the corner so it was a short trip. I loved to watch her bake bread. She would make a volcano shape with flour on a wooden board, and in the middle she would pour eggs and oil. Her kitchen always smelled so good.

Writing Prompt: Do you have memories of visiting a special relative?

Art Journaling

2011-04-27T10:27:00.000-04:00

texture and window image courtesy of Elizabeth Golden
at http://thelastdoordownthehall.blogspot.com/

I'm not much of a writer when it comes to visual art. My self expression usually arrives as an either/or proposition, either written word or images I've created, but not usually both at once.

But since reading and writing are such a huge part of my life, my art is often inspired by something I've read. Conversely, an image I create often causes me to reflect back to a favorite book or a quote.

My art journals have become, for me, personal treasuries of snippets I've saved: receipts, napkins, photographs, ticket stubs and paper bags, mixed with favorite quotes, song lyrics and expressions I adore.

Do you keep a journal?

The bully-victim cycle

2011-04-26T11:37:00.000-04:00

I read this post on Seth Godin's blog, and I thought it was something to share:

The bully-victim cycle

A bully acts up in a meeting or in an online forum. He gets called on it and chastised for his behavior.

The bully then calls out the person who cited their behavior in the first place. He twists their words, casts blame and becomes an aggrieved victim.

Often, members of the tribe then respond by backing off, by making amends, by giving the bully another chance.

And soon the cycle continues.

Brands do this, bosses do it and so do passers-by. Being a bully is a choice, and falling for this cycle, permitting it to continue, is a mistake.

I've seen this cycle when I was a classroom teacher, seen it in online forums and chat groups, and in my adult life. After the fuss, most people just want things to just go back to normal, so they try to forgive and forget until next time. I left an online reading group I had long enjoyed because the moderator didn't call bullies on their behavior, but allowed them to do exactly what Seth describes.

I think it's important that each of us takes a stand on this. How can we expect our kids to stand up to bullies if we don't model that behavior in our own lives?

Spring Weekend

2011-04-18T15:57:00.001-04:00

I had a busy weekend experimenting with art -- drawing and painting mostly.

I watched a movie about Jean-Paul Basquiat and thought about how complete creative brilliance is such a delicate dance between inspiration and insanity. I don't know if it takes bravery or just complete abandon to open one's mind that much.

We also watched the second installment of the Showtime series The Borgias. The costumes and lighting were so inspiring -- I find myself wanting to draw and paint Renaissance people.

At Women and Books we are about to read These is My Words (for May). Come join us!

Love is strange and mysterious,

just like jelly beans.

Shadow and light in acrylics

Kim Klassen magic textures on a

Magnolia Bakery shot

Practicing watercolor

faces

Pencil Sketch

Girl with Headband

"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields...Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness."
-Mary Oliver

Lizzi and Thauna at Besprinkled, asked
for a list of five things for which we are grateful.

I'm grateful for the love of my family and friends; without them I would be nothing. I'm grateful for each sunrise and each sunset. I'm grateful for animals and children--their honesty makes my heart smile. I'm grateful for people who are kind, when life is unexpectedly generous to anyone, and for butterflies, who are born from tiny cocoons and learn to soar.

Playing with Photoshop

2011-04-10T19:26:00.002-04:00

I love playing with the effects I can get with Photoshop. Below is my original journal page.

This is the same page but with a Black and White film filter.

Here it is again, this time with a crumple filter

This is a television filter. It's meant to be horizontal,

but I like the distortion when it's vertical.

This is a bottle collage, made with layers, texture and opacity changes. I

made this one as a reflection after the Triangle fire centennial.

Shrinky Dinks

2011-04-07T20:17:00.000-04:00

Aren't these great? You can use them as necklace or bracelet charms, or even hang them from the edges of your handmade books!

Have you played with Shrinky Dinks lately?

First there were the Shrinkies you played with as a kid. Then there were the ones you (may have) played with as an adult, where you drew pictures onto the film, colored them in with markers or colored pencils, punched a hole or two, and heated in your oven or with a heat gun. Now you can print them out on your ink jet printer, cut out and shrink away. The possibilities are endless, including printing out photos, clip art, and words.

For the printed version, you need to use specially treated film sold by Shrinkydinks (the regular Shrinky film won't work for printers) and lighten your image by reducing the opacity to about 60%. (It darkens when it shrinks). You can get the inkjet printer film at Hobby Lobby or Michaels, or online. http://www.shrinkydinks.com/

If you don't want to do the work of preparing images yourself, you can get some terrific PDFs from Country Living magazine: http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/how-to-make-a-shriky-dink-bracelet

I used these to make the charms at the top of this post with great success!

This will give you some idea of how much they shrink.

Let me know if you try them and how it goes.

Playing with Textures

2011-04-05T22:26:00.001-04:00

I was experimenting in Photoshop tonight with Kim Klassen's warm sun texture, seeing the effect it would have on a couple of pictures. I wasn't trying to "improve" them in particular, just to see how using texture and adjusting other levels would affect the image. Here are my results:

Image after softening texture filters

Image before filters

Image after softening texture filters

Image before filters

In Memory

2011-03-27T20:35:00.002-04:00

Last week marked the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City. 146 people died in one of the worst industrial accidents in U.S. history.

Workers, mainly women, were locked into the factory during their shifts, preventing escape. The single unlocked door was blocked by fire. At least 50 people burned to death on the factory floor, 53 jumped or fell from the windows of the building, 19 fell down the elevator shaft, and over 20 tumbled to their deaths from a broken fire escape. All but 23 were women, mostly young immigrant women, and nearly half of them were teenagers. New Yorkers watched in horror. In the aftermath, laws were changed and unions strengthened to protect the workers.

This memorial installation, done pop-up book style and made from foam board and paper, was created by the first year class at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, coordinated by assistant professor Anne Kong.

Victims' names and ages written on the sidewalk in chalk.

“Like the phoenix that radiantly regenerates, we remember those who ignited a new era of reform. They shall live forever clothed in light.”

So much to say

2011-03-22T12:18:00.000-04:00

Thank you thank you thank you to our AMAZING host Elena for a wonderful time in Key Largo. I don't know how she did it but she managed to give each of us five days that felt like summer camp without the bugs. I went home 5 lbs. heavier from all the incredible food and desserts, but it was totally worth it. I was off the grid the entire time, giggling at night and in the morning with my bunkmates Eileen and Tracy and using more glue than I ever thought possible all day long with my pals. Hey soul sisters - I'm really gonna miss ya! For a complete play-by-play of the events, visit Eileen's blog. She's great at recaps.

These are birthday tags for Lillian and Sarah, both of whom celebrated their special day while we were at the art retreat. I stained the tags using hot coffee and cinnamon (so they smell yummy), covering them first with metal clips and chains to resist the dye. After the dye set, and they dried, I stitched the edges and added stamps, worry dolls and buttons. Worry dolls are easy to make with a bit of wire or a toothpick underneath and wrapped with thread. Guatemalan children traditionally tell their problems to worry dolls so they can free up their minds. Try it sometime!!

I took a wax collage class at the Ink Pad last weekend with Claudine Hellmuth. You'll notice my friend Eileen (from the retreat, above) was also there and no, we aren't attached at the hip. These two things just happened to be a week apart from each other and -- what can I tell you? Great minds think alike.

This is one in a series of altered postcards I've been working on. So many restaurants in NYC give out postcards, and it seems a shame to waste them but I really have no use for them so I decided it would be a fun challenge to alter them. This particular one is from Vinyl restaurant and is for my friend Melly, inspired by a photo of her in her winter jacket. She was wearing a pink hat in the photo, so that's why she has one on here. (Just sayin') Her cat's name is arrow, and he's very, very cute.

Speaking of Melly, last month one of her friends and an artist I have come to know by email but not having met in person, Carla Sonheim, was visiting New York to demo some lessons at Etsy in Brooklyn. Our Journal Study Group made plans to do what we seem to have become famous for doing: welcoming visitors to our little group for a day of art fun. It turns out that Melly couldn't join us, but Benedicte, Pat, Shirley, Carla and I spent a fun day at the Guggenheim museum after lunch at Table d'Hote. We love Carla and she is now an honorary member with keys to the, er -- a key to our hearts!

The strange story of a doll

2011-03-20T12:23:00.000-04:00

There is a thrift store near me where I often go to donate my clothes when I clean out my closets. It's a danger zone, because the moment I drop off clothes, I find myself browsing. Such valuable finds.

Yesterday I found a pitiful doll that I decided to take home for surgery and reconstruction. Just one look at her clothing and body and I knew I could improve this girl's life.

Really...these teeth need more than zoom whitening. And those eyes are somewhat frightening. (cat hairs complimentary)

Have you ever seen boobs crying out for a lift more than these?

I like her better with her bandana bra, but things are getting interesting now. Hand sewn garments. And not a typically constructed doll at all. She is stuffed with straw. Clearly there are many details included on this doll, so she wasn't rushed, but the person who sewed her had rudimentary skills in creating dolls.

Then I turned her over and found this. Aha! This is no ordinary doll. She was created as some kind of homage to St. Anthony, a patron Saint.

St. Anthony is a major patron saint in many religions. He is prayed to for many things, most especially when something is lost.

Here is a view, looking downward, of the way the arm was added, using wire, and also some of the straw stuffing inside the body.

And that's a better view of her body and the way her legs are added on to the outside of the body frame. I didn't remove her petticoat, because at this point I had made a decision about this girl. As much as I might have been able to give her outside a facelift, to the person who created her with love and prayer, she was very beautiful and didn't need any improvement at all. I don't think there is anything I can to do this girl that will do anything but ruin her. So back together she went -- with the same pins I'd taken out to take off her clothes.

As you can see, she is Roan approved.

Tea Bag Wallet

2011-03-06T21:41:00.000-05:00

I'm going to spend some time with a group of friends from around the country this week. We'll be in Key Largo, where I'm sure we'll be doing many things to remember the beautiful location of our visit. I also wanted to bring a little something special for each of them that would remind them of where I come from too, New York City.

You already know how much I love my new sewing machine...so I went searching and found the perfect fabric at City Quilter on West 25th St. One had a black background with a NYC subway map, and another was full of busy yellow taxis. The subway fabric can only be purchased at City Quilter. Bespoke.

Of course, I had to find a way to use it.

And these were the result. Tea Bag wallets.

Inside (coffee bags too)

The poem inside says:

When being on the go

Leaves you feeling fed up,

Take a moment to pause

For your favorite cup.

And when you do

Please think of me

In a crowded subway car

Or a yellow taxi!!

Now, I had so much fun making this that I thought you might want a pattern for it. So...I made one! I drew pictures and I made a PDF of it. And my husband helped me, not only with making the pdf but also with fixing up my poem, which was pretty terrible until he fixed it. Where would I be without him? (I don't know.) Anyway, if you click on this link, you will get to my tea bag wallet tutorial pdf. (When you get there, just click the little green word "download" on the bottom right.)

Tea Bag Wallet Tutorial

Playing with Watercolor

2011-03-04T14:32:00.000-05:00

Friends. They pick you up when you're down, inspire you with their creativity, listen when you need an ear, try to say the right thing when you need to hear a voice, and always give you more than you can possibly give them back, no matter how hard you try.

I've been embarking on a new challenge - learning to use watercolors. Such a finite medium: you get it down right-- or you get mud. On the other hand, if you practice a little, learn some fun techniques and use them, watercolor is actually a lot easier and more transportable than acrylics or even colored pencils--which is what I had been using for the most part. So I'm finding it's worth my time learning. And I'm lucky to have a friend who is helping me on the journey.

I hounded Shirley to give me watercolor lessons, and a few other members of our Journal Study Group are joining in. Here are some of my results from our first two lessons.

In this photo, we were testing opacity by painting over a Sharpie black line

In this one, we were smooching our primary colors around to see what secondary colors would "volunteer."

Here we are in Lesson 2. Mainly we focused on making a secondary color out of two primary colors, and today the color is Green. Shirley had a pile of Green on her table and we sketched, then painted. Sometimes we sketched with pencil, or pen, or colored pencil, always ending with watercolors, yellow+blue.

And finally, this is called a watercolor resist. you paint around the subject with the water so that the color resists going into the dry area. Doing that with successive layers allows you to create a very interesting composition. (I will probably add another layer to this in the future.)

The watercolors I'm using are Windsor Newton Cotman Watercolor Painting Plus Half Pans, like this:

And that is my watercolor adventure so far, but stay tuned for more fun kids!

Shiva Paintstik and collage

2011-02-23T21:06:00.000-05:00

I really do prefer shiva Paintstiks for portrait work.

Happy 27th Birthday, Ben!!

Things I love about my new Brother Innov-is 950D

2011-02-17T17:06:00.000-05:00

I never thought I'd want another sewing machine. My Sears Kenmore lasted 20+ years. There was nothing wrong with it. Why would I ever need another one?

But one day I decided I wanted to do free motion quilting, the kind where you sew in any direction using a special free-motion presser foot and putting the machine's feed dogs down. You can do circles or other shapes, follow the lines of the fabric patterns or make up your own design for sewing. I couldn't do this very well on my Kenmore -- so finally I faced facts: I needed a new machine.

I started out by checking facts. Consumer Reports rated the Brother 400 model (Project Runway version) a best buy and it's VERY nice. That's where I was headed. But I decided to spend a little more and get the one that has programmable embroidery stitches -- my thing was that in case I'm making children's clothes over the next ten years, I'd need it. (You never know what the stork might bring...)

So now that I've been using it for a couple of months, let me tell you about all the little things I love about this new machine. Like.... When I'm threading the top thread, I just loop it in and around and when I get down near the needle -- no more eye strain to thread the needle. I push a lever and it THREADS THE NEEDLE FOR ME. All by itself. Yes, you read that right. Cha-ching.

Second great thing: after I'm done sewing a seam, I push a button and it cuts the thread and lifts the needle. Heaven.

Third thing - and this amazes and delights me. It let's me know BEFORE the bobbin thread runs out. That's right. It gives me a little message that says, "your bobbin is running low, darling." Ok, maybe it doesn't say darling, but it FEELS like there is an implied darling in there. Because in the past I'd be, oh, 3-4 inches of sewing with only the TOP thread before realizing there was no bottom thread accompanying that dance.

You can adjust the speed 3 ways depending on if you are a slowpoke or a speedy gonzales just by using a slider, and there is a little panel in front that tells me what I'm doing. Best of all, there is a great little book that is totally easy to use -- and I keep it next to me whenever I'm trying something new. I highly recommend this little doll face.

Now. If they could make a little housekeeping machine like this to dust and clean while I'm sewing? I'd be first in line.

Pretty in Pink

2011-02-11T20:01:00.002-05:00

This one is from the MOMA

Although the origins of Valentine's Day are unclear, the oldest surviving card - from 1415 - is in the British Museum. Charles of Valois, Duke of Orleans, created it for his wife (Bonne of Armagnac) while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London. (A poet, Charles survived the tower, despite a lengthy stay.)

When postage rates became affordable, people began to send Valentines without signing their names. Some of those anonymously sent cards contained risque verses, leading some countries to ban the practice of exchanging them.

It is said that in the late nineteenth-century, the Chicago post office rejected thousands of Valentines because they were too inappropriate to be carried by the U.S. mail. Even in the 21st century, Valentine's Day has been discouraged in India and banned altogether in Saudi Arabia.

Pink Ribbons from Anthropologie

True love is a sacred flame

That burns eternally,

And none can dim its special glow

Or change its destiny.

True love speaks in tender tones

And hears with gentle ear,

True love gives with open heart

And true love conquers fear.

True love makes no harsh demands

It neither rules nor binds,

And true love holds with gentle hands

The hearts that it entwines.

-Anonymous

I wonder what it felt like to be the object of THIS guy's affections...

You are my only love. You have me completely in your power. I know and feel that if I am to write anything fine or noble in the future I shall do so only by listening to the doors of your heart. ... I love you deeply and truly, Nora. ... There is not a particle of my love that is not yours. ... If you would only let me I would speak to you of everything in my mind but sometimes I fancy from your look that you would only be bored by me. Anyhow, Nora, I love you. I cannot live without you. I would like to give you everything that is mine, any knowledge I have (little as it is) any emotions I myself feel or have felt, any likes or dislikes I have, any hopes I have or remorse. I would like to go through life side by side with you, telling you more and more until we grew to be one being together until the hour should come for us to die. Even now the tears rush to my eyes and sobs choke my throat as I write this. Nora, we have only one short life in which to love. O my darling be only a little kinder to me, bear with me a little even if I am inconsiderate and unmanageable and believe me we will be happy together. Let me love you in my own way. Let me have your heart always close to mine to hear every throb of my life, every sorrow, every joy.

~ James Joyce (1882-1941). Written for Nora Barnacle on 25 October 1909.

Hmmmmm.....slightly creepy, though also very flattering.

Acrylic on Coldpress Watercolor by Me
(I know, not really pink)

Anyway, if you want to write your own Valentine poem, I paraphrased this from Hubpages:

Think about when you met, and your first times together. R
emember those first days when you were crazy about each other? (No? well make something up) List the things you like about your sweetheart.

Make a list of sensory data. Descriptive words make poetry more interesting, and it is easier to write with a list at hand. (sight, sound, emotion, like butterflies in stomach, room spinning)

Based on what you have written, choose a theme of your poem. Is it going to be a story? Do you want to tell about her beauty, why you respect him, show appreciation?

Avoid clichés. Unless your sweetheart has awful taste, she will not be as impressed with all too common clichés. Examples include: “You are so beautiful, fell in love, true love, rest of my life, words can’t express.”

Revise. You can use a rhyming dictionary and look up synonyms in a thesaurus to find better word choice. Look for parts that are unclear or don’t fit with the rest of the poem.

Have someone else proofread your poem. Use someone you know will be objective to give you feedback. Remember, people have different tastes, so have an idea of what you think may need improvement and ask them specific questions.

Figure out a great way to present the poem. Do you want to just hand them a piece of paper, or do you want to send flowers at work with your poem, print out digital pictures with it, make a bookmark, make a children's book with you two in it, etc.

And what if you don't have a "sweetheart" this year?

Well then you can join the club. Lucky you!! Take yourself out for a spa day and celebrate all the angst you are not having trying to find the PERFECT gift and the perfect way to celebrate. Treat yourself royally and enjoy the day.

The Story of A Doll and Two Friends

2011-02-01T23:17:00.000-05:00

This is the story of friends. One who told a story, and one who helped me complete a vision.

"I had a smock apron when I was young (probably 4-5 years old). It had two large pockets on the front.....one had "Penny" embroidered on the pocket.....and the other had "Candy" embroidered on it.

Since my maternal grandmother lived across the street from us and she and my mom were really close, my grandmother always walked over to our house each morning as my mom was cleaning up from breakfast. I usually had the honor of letting her in (since I was usually watching at the screen door for her). She'd come in and put a penny in my "Penny" pocket and a peppermint in my "Candy" pocket if I was wearing my apron (which I was more often than not) and then take my face in her hands and give me a kiss. Her hands always smelled like oranges."

That's Ellie's story.

And this doll is for her.

In my version, I painted little oranges on a pink smock, and I kept the Penny Candy letters very juvenile, as a child might paint them, rather than literally embroidering them on there. I used daisies for trim because that was a popular 70's print. I painted her legs with stripes and then sanded and distressed them to imply the passage of time. I removed her hair, them trimmed and dyed it with three shades of Ranger alcohol ink. I didn't make the face on this doll - I used an existing doll and trimmed off the eyelashes and repainted her. Below are a few pictures of her transformation.

I tried over and over to make the shirt and shorts, but

I am not a pattern maker. My friend Rosie saved the day.
She helped me by taking lots of time creating special patterns just for this
doll. I couldn't have done this without her. When I cut them out and
sewed them, they fit perfectly. So now Ellie's doll has her own custom-made
clothing, specially designed for her: blouse, shorts and apron.

But there was only one problem...

Roan, my cat, fell in love with her. He

kept stealing her every chance he got.

I often found him sleeping with her, or I'd discover her

secreted away in one of his hiding spots under the bed.

"Roan's Dolly" became the joke of the house for

the several weeks I was working on her.

I guess I'll have to buy him a kitty Barbie.

Snowed in? Free visit to the MOMA today.

2011-01-28T05:22:00.001-05:00

Snowy days in Manhattan are a good reason for going out -- subways are running and lots of other people stay home so there aren't many people around. So my friend and I went to the MOMA to visit with the Abstract Expressionists. Fun!!

I brought some home for you...

Here are a few of the most well-known.

How many can you recognize? (answers at bottom)

(that lady isn't me - I included her so you'd have perspective on the size of this beast)

huge canvas

Encaustic, oil and collage on fabric mounted on plywood

This is around 7 feet tall and 7 feet wide

Answers:

I'm sure you know the "splatter paint" artist is Jackson Pollock.

Mark Rothko is the artist associated with those block-type color washes.

Campbells soup cans? Andy Warhol, of course. (And I know, these aren't all abstract exp.)

The American Flag - Jasper Johns

And the tall dancing people is The Jungle by Wilfredo Lam

The very last beauty is the subway wall. I took that photo on my way home.

Here is a watercolor I sketched from a simple figure by Paul Klee: The Angler. His was an oil transfer drawing, watercolor and ink. Mine is watercolor and ink.

What do you love?

2011-01-19T21:55:00.000-05:00

Lizzi at Sweet Life with Lizzi blogged about what she loves. She said she loves the sky and the sight of planes passing overhead. That reminded me of happy days when I was a little girl, laying in the back yard and listening to the sputtering sound of bi-plane engines passing low overhead, long before jets began to fly so high you couldn't hear them anymore.

I like being woken up by my dog licking my face, or when my cat sits in my lap for more than a minute, and most of all when both my kids hug me at once and we form one big, tight circle of love.

I like when my husband squeezes my leg during the part of a movie he finds especially touching.

I like when I dream of childhood places or people and it seems so real that I get to almost be there for one more day.

I like when I'm surrounded by family and friends and know there is no place on Earth I'd rather be in that moment.

What do you love?

Recipe for Gastronomical Happiness

2011-01-14T23:53:00.003-05:00

Gaston Beef Stew

We've been loving this in my family for years. The recipe used to be in the Joy of Cooking but isn't in the newer editions. So this recipe is from my cooking files, slightly modified by my years of experience with it. My daughter calls it Braveheart Stew because the broth is so thick it needs to be sopped up with bread -- very medieval. The cloves add a mysterious spiciness, and adding the veggies in later on assures they are tender but not the soggy mess often found in traditional beef stew. Enjoy!

Cut 2 lbs boneless stewing beef into pieces. Dredge in flour seasoned with salt and pepper and brown in 2 Tbs olive oil in a large pot.

Remove meat and set aside. To that empty pot, add:

3 cloves chopped garlic

1 large chopped onion

2 cups beef broth

1 cup tomato sauce

A bouquet garni made from:

12 peppercorns

5 whole cloves

2 bay leaves

Add the meat back in and stir. Simmer, covered, 2 to 3 hours or until meat can be easily pierced with a fork.

During the last 30 minutes of cooking, add:

1/c cup dry white wine

6 medium-sized quartered potatoes

6 quartered carrots

6 ribs celery, quartered

In the last few minutes, stir in chopped parsley. Taste and add salt as needed (You will almost always need salt, so be sure to taste for it.) You may need to add additional liquid as the stew cooks. If you do, add a beef bouillon along with each cup of water you add.

If you plan to serve this the next day, the vegetables will soak up quite a bit of the liquid, so make sure it's brothy before saving. Serve with bread and salad.

The cheesecloth bouquet garni

There it goes into the soup

The veggies and meat are in

Don't forget to taste for seasoning.

Kris loved the stew. He curled up for a nap afterwards.

Big brother and little sister have been testing

this recipe for 25 years.

And they keep approving it.

Recipe for art fun

2011-01-13T00:05:00.002-05:00

Mix together:

Several Good friends

Yummy food

Much Interesting conversation

One NYC Art Gallery

Plenty of Time

optional:

cappuccino, coffee and tea

scoops of ice cream

Last week was a fun outing for me with my Journal Study Group friends and a couple of guests. First we had lunch at the Landmarc at the Time Warner Building. Vivian (Swift) brought lots of beautiful pages from her newest "Damn France Book" for us to look at. (We oohed and aahed, as they were absolutely stunning and she is a very, very talented artist.) I took heart when she said that her early art wasn't so terrific but she just kept at it. That is something I can do, I thought. I'm very good at keeping at it. There is hope for me! (I'm nothing if not persistent.) Then Gwen Diehn (author of The Decorated Page and The Decorated Journal, among other things, as if you didn't know) showed us her latest butter box journal. I ask you - who would think of such a thing? And I can hear your answer. So don't say it. She's brilliant and sweet and am I gushing? I suppose so. He husband Phil joined her for the day and he is as wonderful as Gwen. Imagine a husband who would hang out with 7 women all day, chatting with me about education and poetry? Indeed.

Benedicte, Pat, moi, Shirley, Vivian, our own Melanie Testa (also a book in progress, and Gwen Diehn

After lunch we walked across the street to the Museum of Art and Design to view the Global Africa Project. Lots of fine lines to sketch and interesting ideas to learn about.

Those who follow my 365 Project may have seen a couple of these photos before.

Scarab beetles

We found the fluidity of these dresses fascinating.

Gwen and Vivian ponder life...

There is an Artist in Residence program at the museum. This artist was explaining his self-expression through his work with porcelain pottery.

It was a wonderful day, and we ended it with a visit to the cafe on the top floor, with scoops of ice cream for everyone except Phil Diehn. It's easy to infer why he was the thinnest among us.

Go Have Some Fun

2010-12-28T21:46:00.000-05:00

My friend Shirley has shared a tutorial on her blog explaining how to make stamps from flat sheets of foam. Her friend Pat Gaignat had an article published in Cloth Paper Scissors on this technique and Shirley has kindly agreed to give a detailed explanation of what was published in CPS and what Pat taught her. The stamps look great -- they turn out looking like silk screening. http://www.paperandthreads.com/

I'm inspired tonight by Carol at Swallowcliff's incredibly prolific spirit. She buzzes from project to project like a honeybee, and though she wants her word of the year in 2011 to be "focus," I love this flitting about because she is always inspiring me with something new. Recently she was making babushka dolls (she's also calling them dottee dolls), and I'm inclined to try them myself. There are so many different ways you can do them -- from using fabric and paint or embroidery, to paper that is painted or colored or printed, stapled or glued or sewn -- and you can make dolls to hang on a tree or to sit on a shelf or even tiny ones for jewelry. You get the picture. http://swallowcliffs.blogspot.com/2010/12/dotee-doll-art-iii.html

And to round out the trio, would you like to make paper roses? Here's a link to some lovely ones. Now go have some fun. http://www.theartfulcrafter.com/paper-flowers-one.html

Secret Santa sketchbook froup

2010-12-28T15:26:00.000-05:00

December 23 was the big Christmas reveal in our sketchbook project froup (no that's not a typo), and my secret santa was Lorena from Hawaii. She made the most beautiful aqua and golden yellow bracelet (remembering my favorite colors) here:

And from one of the portrait I painted, she had these refrigerator magnets made:

and she also gave me this lovely door hanger :

I'm so happy to be a part of our little froup. We inspire and support each other online from places near and far. The internet is truly a wonderful thing.