Behind the scenes - Making of the Lord of the Rings Props

AGH! I wish I could have worked in this art department!!!!

My step daughter's Etsy shop!

Check out my step daughter's new Etsy shop.
http://byotekiboutique.etsy.com

I mean c'mon....

their heaven has a BEER VOLCANO!
You might like it, there's pirate gear involved!
Find out more about Pastafarianism:
http://www.venganza.org/flash/guidetopastafarianismpreloaded.swf

I have heard the word......

And the word is FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER!
I have been touched, nay moved!

go here to find out how:
http://www.venganza.org/

The Avett Brothers sing

YES!!!!

Enough Fear.org

interesting...
"This website will collect and display photos of people from the US and Iran (and other countries as well) holding up a hand in the universal symbol for "stop!" These photos are the first step in what we hope will become an international campaign in which people from both sides will work together to prevent any attack. These are the people who will suffer if war breaks out."

Dig this Blog!

Country French Antiques

Oh what a great blog!
Such yummy imagery, and she talks about French antiques, cake and Absinthe!!! mmmmmm

http://euroantiquemarket.blogspot.com/

Copper Chameleon

Go here now! My friend Brittany's jewelry design website will allow you to design your own enamelled jewelry that she then custom makes for you. Check out the great designs and luscious pattern!
http://www.copperchameleon.com/designyourown.html

recycle

no explanation needed.

The Commission

SO! before Christmas this interesting gentleman emailed me about a commission. He wanted a cover for his pool table light that would have a House of Blues look to it. This is what I did over the next two weeks. Oh.... He also wanted references to BBQ and primitive turkeys and pigs.
The two bottom pictures are of the piece in progress. I had a blast working on this and listened to alot of Lucinda Williams to get in the Delta mood. I am working on another commission for the same person. It's a mirror with old pieces of wood tin and copper all around it. Then if he's happy with the mirror I may do some enamelled light sconces for him.

"Nothing is Lost"

Loved the Noel Coward poem on the Writer's Almanac this morning on public radio.
check it out
http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/
Breathtakingly beautiful....

Mine Enemy Grows Older

check out my buddy and former studio mate Rick Mobb's blog:
http://rickmobbs.wordpress.com/
Some fantastic writing. I had no idea the extent of his talents a fabulous painter yes!
and a poet as well.

Affirmation by Donald Hall

When listening to Fresh Air with Terry Gross tonight, I was introduced to the poetry of Donald Hall.
This one particularly struck me, thought I'd share:

Affirmation
by Donald Hall

To grow old is to lose everything.
Aging, everybody knows it.
Even when we are young,
we glimpse it sometimes, and nod our heads
when a grandfather dies.
Then we row for years on the midsummer
pond, ignorant and content. But a marriage,
that began without harm, scatters
into debris on the shore,
and a friend from school drops
cold on a rocky strand.
If a new love carries us
past middle age, our wife will die
at her strongest and most beautiful.
New women come and go. All go.
The pretty lover who announces
that she is temporary
is temporary. The bold woman,
middle-aged against our old age,
sinks under an anxiety she cannot withstand.
Another friend of decades estranges himself
in words that pollute thirty years.
Let us stifle under mud at the pond's edge
and affirm that it is fitting
and delicious to lose everything.

Joy!

As you get older its harder to make new friends and even harder to keep them. I am blessed with a core group of compadres from grad school that are the most amazing folks. Its fabulous to see when they have happy endings, or should I say beginnings!

For Aan

Sigor Ros is for Aan who passed on thursday I think of her as my Obi Wan. I am forever changed by her light.

Sigor Ros - Saeglopur (the fountain mix) SPOILERS

YEEEEEESSSSS! Ah....so beautiful. what a great flim too. not for everybody i am sure.

Sigur Rós - Glósóli

makes me want to cry am I happy? sad? beautiful

Cool! Recycled Gold!

check this out...
Go to Greenkarat to recycle your old and broken gold jewelry. You can recycle it through GreenKarat and receive a store credit, or GreenKarat suggests that you consider the Basel Action Network (www.ban.org) for your contribution. BAN is working to eliminate global trade in mercury, which has an intimate bond with gold.
You can also designate any charity to recieve your contribution through GreenKarat. Very cool way to utilize that icky wide 80's chain that's all mangled, or any old gold junk in the bottom of the jewelry box. The gold you recycle eliminates mining more.
Hey, could be tax deductable too!
Gotta love it!