Sunday, August 23, 2009

Wishes

My wish was granted!
I didn't have to leave my new pad at ALL today! For any reason!!! Such bliss! Even Gorman our resident monster (made by fiber art queen Keely Benkey) seemed relaxed and happy.




















I puttered in my studio, made a new flag for our mailbox out of pieces of a stop sign. I'll post pics when I get it on the mailbox.
I mean who'd want to leave this??!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Monday, August 10, 2009

The Summer of Moving


STILL moving.... it never ends. We moved the household, took about two weeks, and I had to maintain everything else during all that, like submitting to retreats, teaching private lessons, my part time job. Now I have painted my new work space and hung a few shelves and moved a few things that I could lift by myself. In the midst of it all, on the 31st of July, the head of Humanities emailed and said,"I know its short notice but the college is moving you out of E, four blocks away to the basement of A building. You'll have to pack up the metals studio for the move." So Meredith (bless her) helped me inventory and pack the whole CFCC metals studio for two days last week! Classes start next week! I have to go down there and UNpack on friday. So tonight its back to my studio, so I can finish packing and Robert and I can hopefully move the rest tomorrow.....sigh. To anyone who's wondered where I went, I'm still here just living in a sea of boxes.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight (Video)

So, I have liked this song for awhile, but not having TV now for years I never saw the video! My brother Joe has pestered me to see it and today he called and said ,"Tonight! write this down and watch it tonight! Trust me, you will love it!" Boy has he got me pegged...

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

New Digs


Well after almost two months, I am STILL moving! We moved the household already which took weeks, packing... actual moving took a couple of days and then cleaning, spackling, etc. I am still unpacking boxes. Then I take those boxes to my studio and repack them (hurriedly) and throw them in my Jeep, and drive them home only to do it again an hour or two later.
I now officially HATE being a pack rat. I am temped to give up art all together! Being an artist you make things, and often I make things out of junk I collect, then you have to store said things! That is unless by some miracle they sell, then you're in luck, someone else has to store it! :-) So I head to the studio again tonight *sigh* Hopefully I won't become completely disheartened at the site of things. When you drive away with your car full, you feel you accomplished a lot, and then when you come back you see you hardly put a dent in the mountain of stuff! However when the studio is up and running I will be excited to possibly join a group in my area that do open studio tours once a month. We'll see!

Local German Food


Hey if you're local and you love The German Cafe in downtown Wilmington then vote them one of the best German restaurants in America! I get their soup almost everyday and LOOOOOOVE their Napoleans, but my spare tire needs deflating so I don't get those much anymore. They have a fab selection of sandwiches and their house dressing is great. I have purchased it on the side to take to parties and people always ask me about it. If you haven't tried the German Cafe you'd better!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Monday, July 20, 2009

Polynesian Pop


"Oh we're goin' to a hukilau...."
Took Robert and Meredith to the Tiki bar in CB. One of my favorite spots. I figure the only way to combat the feeling that I would much rather live in the mountains to Washington state is to immerse myself in a sort of tropical tiki kitsch fantasy world. then when I am sweating in the rusty Jeep at an interminably long stop light in the blazing sun, hell, in other words, I can imagine myself somewhere else, on a breezy beach with a tropical drink and flowers in my hair.
We were lucky enough to catch the Da Howlies. Awesome dudes... have enjoyed my cd today. They'll be back again in a month.
I just can't get enough. I have searched the internet for tiki swizzle sticks, carved tikis, how to carve tikis... in fact I started searching for who tiki actually is! (in many Polynesian myths he's the first man) I guess somewhere in my youth I equated tikit bars with mirth. My parents adored the Enchanted Tiki room in Disneyland when we lived in San Diego in the late 60's. They and my grandparents had tiki mugs from Bali Hi and other bars. My grandmother adored anything tropical and anything with coconut in it. So I naturally grew up thinking anything Polynesian must be completely magical. So I have always harbored a love of Tiki. I tortured my fellow prom comitee folks in high school. I got appointed their evil overseer and insisted we create EA Laney's gym into a tropical wonderland replete with glowing, smoking 10 foot high volcano. I made 40 paper mache parrots, cut bamboo myself to transform the bathrooms and cut out hundreds of giant tropical leaves. The sophomore servers wore sarongs I thought it was fantastic. Not everyone enjoyed it. They all wanted a southern antebellum plantation theme with a giant white Bellamy mansion and belle gowns. I thought that was lame and over done and frankly unfair to those who were not privileged white plantation owners decendents. Anyway, my love of tiki lives on. there are two rubbermaid storage containers in my attic full of strings of tiki lights, grass skirting, silk leis, palm leaf platters, tiki shot glasses.
I mean its fun! You can't sing Pearly Shells while thinking about biopsies or cell phone bills, or dental crowns.
".....by the ocean, lying on the shore, shining in the sun... when I see them, my heart tells me I love you more than all the little pearly shells!"

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Abby Spangel Perry






I want to share a friend and colleague of mine's fabulous artwork! Abby Spangel Perry
I FREAKED over her thesis work. I'm sure you will too!
Check out her site.



I keep trying to get her to scan and print this one and put it one Etsy. I think she's investigating the most ecologically sound way to do so. I'll keep ya'll posted!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Mahalo!


When looking up the Hawaiian word "mahalo" I was intrigued to read that the greeting aloha and mahalo have far deeper meanings in Hawaiian indigenous culture. While not terribly surprising, we westerners have a great way of generalizing, diluting, homogenizing and eventually denuding most beautiful places and cultures. Polynesians, as many indigenous cultures, believe that things can carry great power, even words. While we don't often focus on it we know even today how powerful words are. We as modern westerners take it for granted, even forget it at times! But we know words can create, change and even harm. Try using them to heal. Say something kind to yourself. You deserve it.

Aloha:
[Alo = presence, front, face] + [hâ = breath]
"The presence of (Divine) Breath."

Mahalo:
[Ma = In] + [hâ = breath] + [alo = presence, front, face]
"(May you be) in (Divine) Breath."

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Squid Ascending


Here's my new print!
Its available in a couple of sizes. The big 'un, 9"x 28" is gorgeous!
Its a fine art giclee, Epson archival ink on 100% rag Arches watercolor paper.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Karuna compassion....

as I head off to dreamland....

Faun - Andro

Yes! Faun is awesome! Makes me want dreadlocks...

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

`Eia `oe


a gorgeous drawing in graphite by Albert Weight check out his other work!


Well the heat is here. And yes it's terrible. Too make myself feel better, I like delving into my love of island or coastal cultures, ancient Mediterraneans, Polynesians... So I thought I'd share an interesting article "Moku`ula-The Future is in the Past" So if you're interested in archeology and history check it out!
And did you know the Hawaii people have over 130 words for rain, and over a 160 for types of wind. What a beautiful thought.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Bald Head Island -Woods Gallery







I will be over on Bald Head Island, at the Woods Gallery, in the late afternoon on June 27th demonstrating jewelry techniques at a meet the artist event. Nick Mowers will join me and demonstrate some of his methods as well. There'll be new work from us both. Should be a great evening over on the island!

Bald Head Island, once called Smith's Island, is a piece of land in the mouth of the Cape Fear River where it opens to the sea. It is accessible only by ferry and no cars are allowed on the island. There a few buildings and a lighthouse that date to the island's early history, homes for the small fishing community and the lighthouse keeper. The lighthouse, nicknamed Old Baldy, is the oldest in NC and was built in 1817. The village of Bald Head Island now is home to luxury homes, golf community, marina and a few shops and restaurants.




Sunday, June 7, 2009

Evening Beach Walk




North End






Here are some pics from Robert and I's walk the other evening. Check out these funky dunescapes! the wind had carved funny little mushrooms and miniature landscapes from the hard and soft sand.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Just Added!




I just added new items to my etsy shop!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Tweet!


guess where I am now......