Poster Art Show... in AZ

Create your own poster of your favorite LOCAL band... so that's just what I did.  Here is my submission: Rebecca Zapen! She specializes in classical, jazz and folk music! 

And the beat goes on...

My #3 crumbcake went and sat with a strange family and ate her gelatto.  I guess she had enough of us! Really I think she just wanted to sit at the little table.  She did make friends with the nice mommy lady who I found out is a faux finisher and mural painter.   Yesterday we went and saw the Tampa Bay Symphony.  We know two of the musicians.  It was a fabulous show.  I know almost nothing about music but I do like live music... and I did a sketch.  I've always brought sketch books to performances... orchestras, ballets, etc.   We went out for gelatto afterwords... I had the mint choc chip and the choc chip... plain and predictable me. (I guess if you knew me that wouldn't be quite true).  

I now have some "art" at Cherie's Eklectika 202 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg... So if you didn't see anything you liked of mine at the Arts Center... you can give them a visit.  UGH.  Triple ugh. I have this whole uncertainty thing going on.  I'm not sure that any of this is the right thing for me to do.  I guess you'd have to know that for the past two years I've basically talked to little to no-one outside my nuclear and extended family.  So now I'm trying to be the me I used to be... the me with friends.  It's not going that well to be honest.  And the only friend I've really made is with a mail artist who lives 3,000 miles away.  Maybe I thought art was a way to make friends.  And maybe it has worked... **It has thinned out the amount of stuff sitting on the piano.   Yes, that ledge where you are supposed to put sheet music was filled with little paintings... now gone... maybe for good.  I rented the art studio but have not felt moved at all to move in.  I haven't even been back since Friday.  I feel that whole uncertainty about my future and it stops me from moving.  I'm totally exhausted.  I've been busting my butt to get some work done--enter a few art shows and keep family and home together... I'm ready to sleep for a while.  But, I know it won't really happen the way I'd like.  Thus is life.  And generally everything is going okay. 

Don't be ambitious

Half of my life is over... maybe even more.  Yet I struggle with where I am going... where am I going?  I know where I want to be... yet I don't know how to get there with the tools that I have.  And tonight I was told, "Let things happen naturally, you push too hard."  Would anyone ever say that to an ambitious man?? No they wouldn't.  They would say work harder--even if you never see your family, even if you are working 15 hours a day... On the other hand...nobody likes a pushy gal.  No one likes a self-promoting woman.  It's like I just don't know my "place."  I've never known my place.  And I refuse to have a place.  Yet, once a month the hormones go crazy and I feel so alone and like I'm just spinning my wheels.  If I let things happen "naturally"... I would never get anywhere.  Do you blame me for wanting to get somewhere?  Should I just be happy to be a wife and mother?  Was Diane Arbus happy to do just that?  Not to say that I'm anything like a Diane Arbus.  Yet, I do have a drive to achieve something other than the mother-of-the-year award.  

Tomorrow I'm looking at a studio for rent.  I desperately want a place to paint.  Yet, is it just a waste of time (and money)?  Tomorrow is my free day.  Ted and all three crumbcakes are going on a field trip.  They will be gone all day and I'll be all by myself.  I'm planning to go a spa to for some spa stuff... a gift certificate I got last mother's day... and looking at the studio... and I'm thinking a lunch by myself downtown.  I haven't a friend in the world to dine with.  Sad but true.  Two gals I could of called will be out of town.  It's okay to be alone.  It's hard to be the only person who believes in me.  It makes me wonder if it's all a delusion of grandeur.  

What the?

Monday... Last day of the FL State Fair... fantabulous!

yes, we saw a baby bear, rode a ferris wheel and the crumbcakes also rode a swingy ride.  Next year I will consider an all day excursion with an armband for all-you-can ride... We ate some kettle corn, homemade lemonade and smoked turkey legs... we came home exhausted and I had to run to art class... perfect bliss. 

A good use of McDonald's Hello Kitty watches!

My sista... gave me a whole set of hello kitty watches from Mickey D's.  Thank you sista!  So I made a nifty belt out of them! I'll always know the time and so will the guy staring at my buttox.  Just kidding.  I didn't set any of the watches! Har har! Have a happy Monday! 

Sunday

Sunday not a day of rest.  I've been a painting fool today... finished 3 pieces that are 4X4" for a show in Arizona somewhere.  They'll be off on Tuesday or Wednesday when I'm sure that the glue is dry.  I really like the pieces... I'll photography them and perhaps post them... To do, to do.  My sister is pressuring me to take the kids to the fair tomorrow... it should be fun?? Exhausting.   Plus I'm babysitting the Maverick tomorrow... I used to call him my little monkey but everyone frowned upon that name.  So Maverick it is... plus--it's so cool to be a maverick.  Think Top Gun not McCain.  Although McCain was against the latest, "I want to give my friends a million billion dollars... bail out bill."  Now imagine an almost 3 year old who is just so adorable that you gotta pinch his little cheeks--but he doesn't like that at all... that's my maverick!  

tonight is date night! Woo-Hoo... a night on the town... I'm voting for Sangria.  I'll be wearing my best button eyes.  I bought a darling pair of shoes today at the Goodwill... for $4! Goodwill rocks and they are open on Sundays! I bought a bunch of something else... but I'm waiting to see if that project is going to pan out for me... Experimental art... or should I say a little art experiment. 

I have 4 packages to mail tomorrow... and I just can't even think straight... My aunt is going in for a ten hour surgery tomorrow.  I want to send her a care package... she'll be recovering for 3-6 weeks.  I have some things gathered together... just gotta find some more gems!   When I send a package... I like it to be an adventure... a treasure hunt of sorts but easy, no map, no counting steps... just pure joy of unwrapping something totally sweet.  (or salty...)

Other mother?

Coraline... masterpiece of the miniature... but for the crumbcakes... we won't be peacefully sleeping for weeks.  It was a bad choice to take them.  I reassured them after the movie that public school wouldn't be any easier.  I'm so getting the pressure to not send my kids to public school next year... but, that's another selfish little story... Visit the Coraline website to see how they made the stop action flick... you have to go down the well.  I guess giving myself button eyes is not going to make this whole nightmare thing go away... thankfully they don't read the blog.  I did make a flower and named it after my cookie crumb.  Perhaps a little morbid.  Did you know that there is a lady who knits with tiny needles to make Coraline's sweater?  Simply amazing.  And the moral of the story... be happy with the parents that you got... you could have a "other mother" who is actually a witch-spider who wants to eat you.   Are you scared yet??

Thursday again

This morning I got up at 6:30 a.m., took a shower... got dressed, the usual, headed downstairs to work on some art... and this is what came out... a mosquito carrying away a mail box.  The mail box is a rubber stamped image--the rest is JENNIFER ZOELLNER! :-)  I'm sending this piece to David Berube and his bug mail art call.  Nothing gets the day off to a better start than a few minutes to drift into art mode.  

The sketch book project 3 brought to you by... ArtHouse Coop... here is my arthouse web address:  weeklyhoot .   It's like a little nest of moleskin birdies all cheeping cause spring is coming and the books are migrating now that it's warming up... Art House Gallery is based in Atlanta and they do art calls.  For a fee you can enter their shows.  Some of their shows travel throughout the U.S. and others are made into books... I find it to be totally fun.  Their website is a virtual community of artists.  You can view pages from the sketch books and artists online portfolios.  So if you click on that weeklyhoot link above you will see... most of my sketchbook pages and also a few other pieces in my online portfolio.  

I'm really hungry today... It must be that time of month to eat... yikes.  #3 cookie crumb has been writing some birthday thank you notes... and she said, "The taste of the thing you lick is so good..."  Yummy envelope glue... She made me lick one.  It wasn't too bad.  It had a slightly sweet flavor... wonder what I was really licking...??? I don't want to know.  

Spring 09 Por la Mar zine... If you have any OBSESSIONS you'd like to share... I'll include them in the zine.  If you don't want your name printed... let me know.  Leave your obsession in the comment section here or email them to me or send them.  Many thanks cause I know you're going to jump on the chance to be in the world famous zine.  (my little world that is...) 

Happy Thursday and all that means to YOU! 

Me and Diana

I think I like that girl. 

TUESDAY @ 2

Tuesday at 2 p.m.. Tomorrow at 2, two things will happen... first of all my first Diana negatives will be ready to pick up.  And the second thing... I'll be in marriage counseling.  The whole time I will be wondering how my pics turned out... if they even turned out.  What incredibly bad timing.  Then after marriage counseling... depending on how it went... if it goes well we'll go out to eat to discuss our finer points... if it goes badly we'll race home in solitude... either way--doubtful that I'll get to go pick up my pics.  So it probably won't be until Wednesday.  Which is like saying that your birthday is a day later--and there is chance that no one will remember you... (the pics may not have turned out at all...)  No matter how you look at any of these situations... I'll probably be back to the drawing board.  

a day with out art is tiring.

Hello. Today was Lu lu's birthday and party. It was a simple affair and Granny made cake and cupcakes. We played Bingo and the prize was organic jelly beans... I bet you didn't know they made such things. I also had the kids decorate those little mail boxes with permanent markers and stickers... they turned out nicely. We had lunch... complete with organic lemonade... She got some presents like clothes and Barbie rig-a-ma-role. She needed the clothes as she is growing like a weed. The Barbie she got has flat feet and smaller boobies. What's that about? I guess she's a "skipper."

Top photo is a painting I've been working on... the colors are much more washed out than the real thing. Not quite sure where I'm going next with it. If anywhere. ???

ohohhhh tomorrow is art class... a couple of hours away from home... i can't wait. After a week with the kids by myself 24-7 I'm ready for a BREAK. Before I break. "The thunder makes her contemplate... Perhaps a letter with a dove? Perhaps a stranger she could love."

Total Eclipse of the Heart...

This is toooo funny. 

COLD HANDS WARM HEART

Cold wet nose... am I a healthy puppy?  It's cold out here.  Cold for my warm sunny Florida. I had a wonderful strange day.  I was out of my routine.  And I liked it.  Had friends over for lunch.  Took a trip to the Arts Center.  Ran into JoEllen there which was such a pleasant surprise.   I started taking photos with Diana.  She is white and black and a light weight.  She's also made in China.  I like her anyway.  We'll see how our pictures turned out.  I took one pic of JoEllen and I'm hoping that one turned out.  JoEllen reminds me of my Aunt Cindy.  Not just looks but personality too.  They say everyone has a twin.  I'd be happy to be like either one of them.  I had a twin in high school.  He was a boy and rather freaked that everyone said that we looked alike.  It didn't help when the teachers said it too.  

I made my first official faux stamp... with the special pre perfed sticky paper.  It's  a Ray Johnson tribute stamp.  My friend Teri actually made it... with my ideas, pics--she was teaching me how to use Photoshop and InDesign... I can't wait to try it myself... with a different image.  I'm hoping Diana will help me with some neat photos... and we can get this life on the road.  Did you ever see the movie FUR?  Perhaps a camera and a will to live will set me free. I'm half way there.  

I went to Target tonight.  I bought a bunch of tiny metal mailboxes... I'm going to use them for gift bags for Lulu's 6th birthday party this Sunday.  Stop by if you want.  Just bring a gift or some food if you are not RSVPing.  It's probably not fair that I have a mail art theme... I just couldn't resist those mailboxes... they even have flags! Now I have to figure out something to put in them... perhaps cookies??  

I am chilling to Oren Lavie.  His voice is very relaxing to me.  Like I want him to whisper in my ear.   Well gotta go do wii-fit. Cause I gotta get fit... and do the hula-hoop.  Oh, we saw hula hoops in Target tonight.  Lulu wanted me to buy one for her birthday... but Granny already did! SHH! Don't tell her.  I did buy her the pretend high heel shoes.  Which she then asked if she could wear them to church... and I said no.  I have to draw the line somewhere.  She keeps asking me when she can wear high heels... whose girl is this?  She actually says, "WHen I'm 10?" Oh my... who knows.  I'm not prepared for this line of questioning... come on my little crumb cake... be a baby for a little while longer. 

wii fit I'm coming... 

Chameleon

I am always surprised when I can spell Chameleon.  Shocking, but true. (see, no misspellings found.) 

Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie

watch that and then read the lyrics... My sister sent me this video this morning... I thought it was quite beautiful so I had to share with you... you stranger you. 

Sun been down for days
A pretty flower in a vase
A slipper by the fireplace
A cello lying in its case

Soon she's down the stairs
Her morning elegance she wears
The sound of water makes her dream
Awoken by a cloud of steam
She pours a daydream in a cup
A spoon of sugar sweetens up

And She fights for her life
As she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain
As it pours
And she fights for her life
As she goes in a store
With a thought she has caught
By a thread
She pays for the bread
And She goes...
Nobody knows

Sun been down for days
A winter melody she plays
The thunder makes her contemplate
She hears a noise behind the gate
Perhaps a letter with a dove
Perhaps a stranger she could love

And She fights for her life
As she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain
As it pours
And she fights for her life
As she goes in a store
With a thought she has caught
By a thread
She pays for the bread
And She goes...
Nobody knows

And She fights for her life
As she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain
As it pours
And she fights for her life
Where people are pleasently strange
And counting the change
And She goes...
Nobody knows

On the Move

Everything is on the move today... a cold wind from the North is scrambling the Bay, the Pelicans are circling over Lake Maggiore, Ted is flying to Little Rock.  His dad is ill.  I started a painting last night at my painting class.  I hate to keep painting cause the under painting is about as perfect as I get.  Yet, I must trudge on... and try not to screw it up.  I'm doing something VERY different for me... taking my time.  Really, I'm not in a paint race?  I got up at 5:50 a.m. this morning to get the hubster off to Little Rock... but I ended up painting until I had to throw clothes on and run out the door with kids in tow.  I'm that kind of wife.  This is why I need studio space... I can become consumed and minutes, hours, days will fly by... and I'll forget to eat... and I'll be painting all the while.  Of course this would be okay if I wasn't wife, mommy, homeschool mom, etc... But, for me, as I am now, this is probably not okay.  I really just want to go back to bed at the moment... 6 a.m. is too early for  me today. 

death in 3s...

I'm not a superstitious girl at all.  I don't believe in luck of any sort.  Although lately I've had a run of one bad thing after another... still trying to maintain my cheery disposition.  Ted got a call today from his mother.  She said for him to come home as his Dad is dying.  This would be a lot easier to take if his parents hadn't of disowned us years ago--since we don't go to their church.  Could there be any better reason to disown someone?  Probably not.  Really mankind does so many horrible, outrageous, and perverted things out of the name of Jesus. (Or Mohammed, etc.)  It's burned me out long ago.  I try and do what is right... still can't bring myself to ever go back to his parent's home.  Ted has to go though... it's his dad.  He's leaving tomorrow.   I feel so stressed out right now.  I'm just a mess.  My head hurts.  I just want to crawl into bed and never wake up. Oh, that sounds harsh--I don't mean it like that.  I mean it like... stay in bed until it's sunny out and my head doesn't hurt. 

Images from the cold north...

Well... I talked my mom and great aunt into going to Milwaukee Art Museum--MAM... an architectural feat in itself... beautiful building.  Saw some wonderful art and enjoyed a day off. Lulu enjoyed the snow.  She was such a good kid the whole time... I'm thankful for that.  Oh, Leon's is in Milwaukee... my parents went when they were kids... it's just the place to get frozen custard... even when it's 20 degrees out... there is still a line! Lulu and I shared a mint and chocolate... 

Calling all MAIL ARTISTS!

My friend Test Tower is having a mail art show... would be pleased if all you artists would join in!  Please send your work to: Test Tower 

1201 W. Main St. 

Centralia, WA 98531 USA

The theme is Heebee Jeebeeland! I'll post his website too... when I get myself together...

I'm still recovering from being gone for a week!