A Fanciful Twist

Parcels, Parcels! Oh, How I love Parcels!!

I just adore parcels.  Did I tell you I love receiving parcels?  I love receiving them so much that the two I received last night I saved for this morning.  I love them so much that I spend hours packing up parcels for other little munchkins.  This morning, when I sat down at my little tattered white table with my tattered yellow bus school chair, I devoured each moment with these lovely lovely parcels...

                  

Oh my goodness...Are there treats??? What is that I see??? "Pigeon, is that you???" Let's dump it out and see??? It is it is, it is my treat from the most talented and adorable Wee Foxling?? Yes it is, A Small Fox In a Big World undoubtedly. May I add caring and kind-hearted to the mix of this Foxling Girl? Of course I may.  I had to Leave Henry behind, and I am so so sorry Henry. But Miss Pigeon, the teeny pink fluffy owl, has a new home!!!  Is she a Pigmy Owl?  You know those are endangered in Az. I have to submit info. about that as disclosure to my clients in the Real Estate World!! Can you believe it?

          

Oh goodness, what is all this lovely stuff with this Parcel???!!! Yippee!!! Oh, Hello little Pigeon. I love you so!!! I can see you in there...How was your flight???

                   

My little sweet Pigeon is adorable isn't she?  Come here little Pigeon, let me take care of you. Oops, I have paint on my hands.  That must be from the frames I am painting for my wonderful AshleyG prints.

                  

I am so glad that when you adopt you get chocolates instead of stitches...Thank you Miss Foxling.  But, don't worry, I won't eat them. I will be good, I will save them as gifts for Valentine's Day...devilishly grinning, hee hee hee.  Maybe I'll need to have my lips stitched so I don't eat them. Singing in my best Madonna voice from the early nineties, "You abandoned me, 'will' power don't live here anymore, just a vacancy...lalalalala"

                  

                

Well, maybe just one.  I really have not had breakfast you know.  And I am doing this funny diet from a lovely little Prescott friend. Just chocolate and coffee. All day. All you want.  And then maybe a multi-vitamin.  So my teeth don't rot.  You know those darn teeth.  Oh, my, gobble, they are so, mmm, my, gobble, my so tasty, Oh maybe I'll just have another???

                     

Oh Goodness. Did I get carried away with the chocolates?? Oh no, no ( straightening my dress, I mean my nightgown which I am still wearing late in the morning, I mean early in the morning, yes, early) I did not. Pigeon, what have you done??? Did you eat all of those???

                  

                   

Now why does Pigeon look so sad? It is not My fault that she ate all of those.  People should just take responsibility for themselves....Aye aye aye.  I guess she'll have to seek professional help next, do you know any good Owl shrinks??  Am I cut out for this?? Parenting???   hee.  Okay, Let's try putting Pigeon in a lovely branch. Maybe her personality will flourish amongst the beauties??? (ps: Pigeon has a lovely demeanor, it is not her fault she lives with, well, a nut-cake? now).

                   

Pigeon seems to be doing well, hanging around the lovely branch.  Now, let's get back to the Parcels!!!  The next one is one I longed for with great anticipation.  It took so long to get here (well, I guess not that long, like 3 weeks), and Karena was so patient with my worried inquiries.  But they are here, and well worth the wait!! By the way, there was a big neon sticker on the Parcel that  said it was held up in customs for security reasons, or something like that...It is here now though, and that is all I care about, MagicJelly treasures! Thank you Karena!!!

                   

         

Her work is fabulous. You know what I find with Etsy purchases?  I have had some really great quality pieces sent to me with such attention to detail! Bravo!  So, here they are.. Ta-da!!! 

         

                               

I think these works are so intriguing and wonderful!!! A perfect addition to my bedroom away from my main home.  They will live happy here at the loftish space home.

                  

I spent the evening making up my own packages for some treasured folks I have met here.  I hope that I will have enough time and love to put this into many packages that I hope many of you will receive from me. There is a special someone who has been waiting for a special something in a place that starts with an "E," for way too long.  The problem is, everytime I thought I would send it, I had a little addition. She will get it in a few days though, and I think it has been worth the wait!!!!!...  I even did a little extra crocheting...Look away Miss "R," look away.

Then another little friend who I have had more fun creating a little package for who finds herself in a curious blue dress, it was all part of a bribery I promised to help with, will receive something marvelous soon!!! That parcel went out today!!!!  keep a watchful eye!!! And, I wish I had a camera there when these get opened!!!  I wish to pieces!!!

         

Well, I am off. I have been sitting in this space for way too long. Sometimes it feels like days.  I will be at the pottery Studio all day Tomorrow, and then helping Mr.  Dino D'Taos move on Friday.  Just 3 -1/2 minutes away from me by car.  My toosh is sore from sitting... Do you get tired from sitting too long at the computer...My bones hurt!! A sign, time to go outside and play!!!

                   

I am so addicted to this discovery(above edible), they call it chocolate covered honeycomb.  But it is like puffed carmelized honey covered in chocolate, I choose the dark chocolate. The inside melts in your mouth.  You must try it!!! Oh wait, what is that sound? a car, a truck? a bird? a plane????

Wait what???No, this is too Ironic, down my never visited street? Now, during Parcel post writing??? Yes, it is, it is, it is!!! A UPS man!!! I am running out, in the cold, in my nightgown... Off I go...They actaully visit the boonies? and my street at the studio??? YAY!!!! I am leaving bye, bye, see you soon!!! All you wonderful lovelies!!!!

                   

                   

Oh no!! he is leaving, wait, come back, come back Jack, come back, wait Jack, come back, please Jack, please  (why did that just sound like a line from Titanic?).  He is gone. No no no. That means no more parcels for me for today.  Is his name Jack? Whatever...

                     

                  

                  

Good-bye, adios!!! I am  in the cold, in the yard, standing in the dirt, barefoot.  Time to paint!!!What fun!!!

                  

Pss. if you get this far...you should know, this whole post started with me dreaming about Gerard Depardieu and his description of how he met Bronte (Andy McDowell, spelling? ) in Greencard...Parcels, she was carrying all of these parcels.....

Strange girl, Strange day.

Yesterday was such a strange day.  So strange that I will leave it at that, and simply say that the emotions of a woman can be terribly uncertain and profound.  I am sure you can appreciate and understand that.  Now throw Artsy into the mix and, should I even go there?  Night and Day and everywhere in between.....

Besides being a strange emotional day yesterday, I found a box full of some of my own favorite strange things.  The most wonderful find was a booklet I have been toting around forever from one of Alexander Petrov's shows. I had already dissected the booklet, and have decided on a few more to frame.  This was just what I needed for that empty wall in my loftish space.  I know the images are a little dark, but they amuse me.

                   

           

Back to night and day moods ...

                

And speaking of the "complexity of women," and for some reason, in keeping with the clownish mood...I recently came across this painting (below) in one of my thrifting excursions.  Now, in my "personal opinion," as well as being the reason I brought it home, this painting  screams Anais Nin.  Now, remember that is merely my own "personal opinion."  And, what I feel is more like, the spirit of Anais Nin emerges through this painting... Pink and lovely yet dark and tragic.

One summer, many years ago, I spent months reading several Anais Nin biographies (another quirk, I only like to read harcover books, I will do paperback, but I don't like it).  One in particular was very very long, and quite a grueling read.  Half of the time, I wanted to shake Anais Nin and say, "Why are you doing this to yourself? You are going to drive yourself mad."  At the same time, you realize that is what made her so interesting and intriguing.  One thing for sure, she was relentless in her pursuit of getting her work to the public.  I admire her strength for never ever giving up. Up until her last breath, she would not give up on her work.  Of course, I am quite sure that she drove her little body into an anxiety pit. 

If you know her story, you understand all of this.  She is interesting and yes, very very complex.  I can't even get into it all, I tend to feel a mixture of interest, enchantment and annoyance, all at once, for Anais Nin.  But, the point here is, this painting had an Anais Nin quality looming in the depths of it "to me," so here it sits, waiting for a space on the wall in my loftishSpace/Studio...

                  

I find that as I get older I want less and less of all of that drama we can put ourselves through in my life.  I want simple peace and simple everyday happiness.  My mental transformation from my early and mid-twenties, to entering my thirties, is immense.  I am enjoying this change so much.  I used to relish in strange concerns. Where now I want zero strange concerns, and am more interested in an organized studio.  Now this to me, Bliss.

                  

So yes, today the things that make me smile from ear to ear are simply organzing my studio and getting all my jewelry trays in the closet.  This closet was a dark dungeon pit when I got my hands on it.  I cut the shelves shorter so I could walk in and put in some halogen lights, that of course, would not turn on for this photo. Typical. Now, it might not look organized to you, but to me it is in perfectly proper order, ready for me to finish packing my promised gifts for my little elves, and get creating. And yes, the red typwriter is now out of the car, and ready to use.  I think six weeks in the car was long enough for this poor thing.  Knowme is trying it out for us...

           

                  

I got this little cabinet (above) in Prescott, Arizona last summer for $40.  I am thinking that maybe I should leave it just the way it is...It will for sure get a few paint splatters...But, it is white metal and I don't have a problem with those vintage decals decoupaged on...I think it is charming.

Now what to do with the old typewriter????

                

 

Seasons, Feelings, Artsy Things & A little Clowning around...

Just last week we were Walking in a Winter Wonderland.  Today it is as if Winter was never here. The sun and the birds don't think so...

                  

                  It is as if they have forgotten how cold they were...

                  

I think they are "in the mood for love..." I certainly am done with painfully cold fingertips and shivering in the evening cold.  We are so lucky in Arizona.  Our Winter is almost over, well not over but we get 70' and up days.  I for one, am officially done putting away the snowflakes and any lingering holiday remnants...Yes, I know, it is almost February.  I have no pressure, Mr. Lovee doesn't care if there are still shamrocks hanging around him from last year, he is a delight.  But, I did break out my scissors last night and started cutting hearts.... and sprinkling the pink glitter.

                  

                   

I bought these two little wooden rabbits at "The Golden Goose" thrift store, which as I have said, is becoming an expensive antique store more than a fun treasure find store. But, that is another story....So, These rabbits... They were in blue outfits - I painted them into black outfits instead and made them some hearts to wear around their necks...

                

My studio is a pitiful pit of disaster.  Lots of supplies everywhere, I could hardly find room for this little project...I also found myself putting up my F.G.&Co. Love banner from Bon.   Ooo, up above the banner on the top of the shelf you can see two little girls that will be posted for sale in my looming Etsy shop.  Actually, today I have to go into the housing world, but tomorrow I intend to spend my day getting my little shop going and doing lots of Art...I "intend to" being the operative words. 

                  

The other lovely find from the "Golden Goose" is this plate that I think works beautifully with some of my Black Applets.

         

And, yes I have left the best for last.  Clowning around.  Seeing as how we have many scardy cats who just can not stand to be in any room with anything "clowny" - I decided I would share my clown painting.  I totally tweaked it last night, it is still wet..oils...  It was browns, awful.  I made it brights.  And, I am posting it especially for Miss Small Foxling and Miss MeShell.  I think they will enjoy this enormously. I am wondering if I can part with it, and if so, which one should have it.. Which, mind you, I have not decided to part with, parting is traumatic for me. Go easy.

               

                

Hi little girls... Wannna Balloon???  I do not think clowns are scary. Or maybe, I like to be scared? I mean, If I was alone in a dark Alley, which I should never be in any way, but if I was, and a clown appeared I'd freak.  I would just fall over and die of a heart-attack right there... But, this nice little guy, with all these bright colors I added.. Come on.... I am more afraid that I didn't check out the artist before I added my colors actually... Can you imagine, my "one" valuable and I painted over it and ruined it.. HA.  So, tell, me, how do you feel about clowns??? Do they scare you? What is scary?? That you do not know who it is behind the make-up?? Or that Stephen King made them scary? Did you have a clown incident???

You know, Actually... To me clowns are these kind of slightly unstable guys who could totally snap at you if you don't take the balloon... One day I was in the car, we were at the gas station, I was little.  My mom was pumping gas and I saw this clown drive up  and have one heck of a time getting out of his Volkswagen Bug in costume and big red shoes.  Then he was trying  to put air in his tires I think? and something was going wrong and he was kicking the car tire. I found it amusing, not scary.  But, now, well, maybe it was scary.  A temperamental clown playing with kids... Hmmm.....Yep. You are right, SCARY.  Cinderella will be a very unhappy cupcake girl when she sees this, Clown is a word she does not even entertain in her vocabulary.

By the way, Cinderella has a lovely collection of clothes. Lovelier than many I know... Dresses specifically, and she is sharing them!!!! Check it out.   Although, she does something I can not stand, she parts with a lot of it. Too much of it, I think...

                 

               

Well, I am off the clown talk.  I am thinking of collecting clown things next.  And above, is the sunny snowless morning I awoke to today!!! Have a great day!!! I am off to the Housing world, I even painted a little something a few years ago to motivate me. It hangs on the door to the storage room....Houses. Now that can be scary. alone in a dark house, and boy do I have stories. Scary, very.

               

A thought.. aren't the rabbits perfect?  I can hang a little something around them no matter what the holiday???  Only they woke me up twice, they rattle...Dirty window, yikes...

               

Tea Staining & The Tea Party favors have arrived...

Packing up a teeny tiny friend is what I was doing with my morning.  Sad to see him go, but knowing that where he is going to live is a place many of us would love to just tip-toe through for 30 seconds...I can not say where, no no, I must not give it away, not today.  Although, there might be an apple or two, and a curious girl, in a curious dress, of a shade I will never tell.

                   

And seeing as how I am channeling my Jane Austen side... I decided it would not be appropriate for my little friend to go away, and not take with him, a piece of lace.  You know - "Oh do bring me some ribbons or a lovely piece of lace if you go into town my darling dear."  But white lace?  Not working for me, at all... That is when the tea staining started...

So, here we go, a look at my tea staining ways. I am not responsible for accuracy, boiling water burns or anything else you might put yourself through during this process.  I am simply showing you what I did to a few pieces of lace and scraps this morning and the process I use to stain fabrics. ;) (warning, no matter how much I try to condense, this is still a panifully long post, I'm trying for the future, I promise)

          

1st, I choose my tea, I find that the richer color comes from an English or an Irish tea, they are stronger teas and just because I am nutzz, I like them to have caffeine.  Just buy a big package at the market, I like Bigelow or Twinings.  I always keep some Orange spice tea around  for a hint of that rich tone that the auburn shade gives.  I choose a big pasta cooking pot and fill it 3/4 of the way with water.  I then take about 10 packages of the tea I have chosen, Irish or English, or a mixture of both, and three of the orange spice.  (Start heating the water because it must be boiling before you put in the tea)  I like to keep some white string around for wrapping and for cooking and it comes in handy in this case.  You will cut about a foot and a half of string and have it ready to tie your tea bags together...Unwrap all your teas, line them up by their tags and tie the string just below where all the tags meet, this makes a place where you can make a sturdy knot, but make sure to keep your string long on one side, so that you can hold onto the tea bags when you dip them...You'll see...here we go...

            

            

Now, do not put your tea bags in the water until it is boiling, the top right pic is just to show you how you will handle the tea bags with the string.  As soon as the water comes to a roaring boil start to dip your tea bags in and quickly shut off the heat.  Then just gently bob the tea up and down a bit, just to get the mixture swirling. Then place your bundle to the side, and use the long piece of string as an anchor, tie-ing it around the pot handle, it holds the bundle in place.

          

          

           

I like to take a spoon, wooden is good because it will not get hot, and gently squeeze the tea-bags against the side of the pot.  Then I leave my mixture alone for, at the very least, 10 minutes.  I then take a few pieces of fabric and drop them in.  I like to leave them in for extended periods because I like a dark color.  Some pieces are sitting in there while I write this entire post.  You can rinse the fabric with cold water once you take it out, in order to set the color. I myself do not always do this.  The only time I was very diligent about rinsing was when  I was staining a white top - I stained it for 30 minutes. Then I took it out rinsed with cold water and hung dry.  But, when I am dealing with crafty fabrics  I really like to have a dark sepia tint.  It is a more time transporting color to me. 

                

You will have to experiment.  Do a few testers by cutting pieces of white muslin or cotton based fabric and leave them in for different periods of time(natural fabrics are easier to stain, once you get into nylons, lycras etc.  it gets very tricky, but you never know unless you try).  You would think that I could be more specific about what fabrics to use and not to use with all those University Textile Science classes(how did I get a degree again?)...My brain cells are diminishing, be nice to me.

       

         

         

You can check on your color by taking out a bit of the tea with a measuring cup and putting it into a white bottom tea cup...Or you can just throw in a piece of string or fabric and see what is goin' on...Also, if you were a very organized person, I am not. I will never do this. But, you could also make your mixture, let it get to a certain color, remove the tea, time the minutes you left the tea in, write this down. Take note of how many tea bags and types you used, and then drop in a small fabric or string,  time how long you leave that in, write that down, and voila, you have a test peice with a recipe of how you got there.  Just write down all of your steps if you are so inclined to.

                         

Another fun way to tea-stain, which I did on the following piece.  Is to fill a spray bottle with your mixture once it cools just a bit.  Then take your fabric outside and spray it to your desired color.  I did this with this doll dress because I sewed it to the body before I realized I hated it, it needed something.  So, I went outsdie and sprayed it down. I love the varied tints of tea stain.  You can see how it darkened, I put a piece of unstained scraps to the left so you can see the before and after. Now I love it.

                   

The color below was achieved about ten minutes into the process.  I am going to wait about 45 minutes.  I am looking for an old dark color.  The lace had a peachish tint, which should turn very lovely in the tea bath.  When I am certain I like the color, I will take them out, give them a teeny cold rinse so that I do not drip tea water all the way to the door.  Then I will hang them outside and wait for them to dry.  You can put them in the dryer if you rinse well...Just really be careful not to over-rinse and lose all of your color.  If you are certain you do not want to rinse, take some pot holders and just take the whole pot outside and remove the fabrics from the pot outside. That makes everything easier.  Wait for the pot to cool a bit! Do not burn yourself!!

                  

                  

The muslin ( on the right) took the color very very well.  Better than the string actually.  I am very pleased with this tea bath.  The color is lovely.  I think I will leave these pieces in for a few hours... just let them swim around...Since they are not crucial and I am not ready to deal with them today, just yet...I still even have my tea bags in there, anchored to the side...And that is all I have to say about Tea-staining, please ask if you have questions.

So, on a very very fun note, Risa, who is totally amazing, sent out her party favors.  I can not describe the scent I found when I opened the package...It was like Lemon and lavender, but very fresh and natural.  There were these little packages, oh so fun to open.  I was like a little girl, savoring every moment to pieces.  And the little people!!! They fit right in with Mr. Lovee's friends...They are hanging around in total bliss!!! And the pig, and and and....Thank you Risa! You are a delightful caring girl.  Wait til you get your package.... hee, heee...You will LOVE IT!!!!!Anyday soon...Not as soon as I had promised but you will see it there in a few days.

         

         

                 

And last, but not least...Thank You to Lisa-Gabrielle of the Jungle Dream Pagoda, for caring enough to ask me and a few others, to answer a question I am seeing answered much around this blogging city...And, I am enjoying reading about it!  Especially AshelyG's  squishy eye!!Holy Toledo Bandido!!!

ok. 6 bizarre things about me, they are more like 6 OCD things about me.  This is very hard because all you people are so much more interesting than me:

1)  I always lock my bedroom door up obsessively and make Cinderella check it like 100 times to make sure it is locked when I am not there. Even though the only one who could ever get into our fortressed alarmed gated tucked locked, double locked, bolted house is Cinderella herself and she can break into my room with a simple thin mailer postcard.  ????

2)  I tend to think I am 5.  And, I tend to get into heated arguments and get all sad with other 5 year olds.  And, I also have choreographed dances that I share with specific 5 year olds.  When they greet me, they position their little hands in the first dance step and we say "remember, remember" and we break into dance...A lot of Thai type moves...Who knows why???

3) noone, noone ever can touch my magazine before I look at it.  EVER.  Any magazine! if they do, it is tainted and I can't read it.  Sorry. i'm psycho.  Unless it is used, and then it doesn't matter at all.

4)  Mr. Lovee DETESTS this one.  I will not drink anything out of a cup if it is not rinsed twice before my drink is poured in.  Not even if it is on the freshly washed drying rack, not even if it is in the cupboard.  My throat locks up and I can not swallow. Some nights, when Mr. Lovee drops a glass of water by my private bedroom, I won't drink it because I don't trust him.   I am totally parched in the middle of the night, and there is a cup of water by my bed. But, I refuse to drink. Now if I was in trouble and had no choice, I would drink such water. But not like this, not now, no option.

5) I own more "stuff" than anyone you will ever meet.  I will not sell. I will not share, some of it at least.  I treasure it, I think it has a soul. I think it thanks me for saving it. Much is in perfectly packed giant plastic containers. Even 236 pairs of shoes are packed.  Don't ask, don't criticize. It is my problem.  There has been a huge red typrwriter in my car for 6 weeks.  C'est la Vie.

6) I use a roll of toilet paper every day.  I don't how, I don't know why?  I use it for other things.. Like, wiping up little water splashes.. and blowng my nose, and rubbing streaks off of things.  ??? Not just on my toosh!!!! That is what I am misunderstood about. 

ps:  oh, I can perfectly lift my foot to my face and look around and pedicure it up close, although I usually have it done professionally, for relaxation purposes!!

Okay Okay, it is finally over. the longest post ever.

Bon. An Exquisite place to visit. {Bon - Tucson, Arizona}

If you found yourself gazing through an 1800's Chinese mirror and were told that it held lovely memories, what would you hope to see?  If this mirror lived in a shop, where the most fantastic treasures came alive, would you take a journey through the mirror and peek around at all of those treasures?  I did.  Today. The visit transformed a normal day, into a fulfilling sensory overload adventure.  (click on any image to enlarge)

        

It is always a magnificent day when I get to visit Bon.  A magical shop in Tucson, Arizona belonging to Bonnie & Crystal Flynt.  This lovely space is home to many of the finds that I brag about. From Wendy Addison to John Derian, you can get lost for hours attempting to make a decision.  It is a place where you never feel guilty giving in to all temptation and taking home all the precious loves that you will undoubtedly find...

      

Bonnie and Crystal have such a huge grasp on the "being" of the store.  They fill it with items that they search the globe for.  Items that make up every piece of that puzzle that intrigues even the most skeptical of visitors.  Little eyes wander frantically looking at every piece, pieces that are timeless, pieces that do not fit the mold of  any fad or trend.  Bon is a place where you find lifelong loves.  I know this because I am a happy little Bon purchaser.  Every item I have ever purchased is one that I adore and enjoy over-and-over,  even if I so much as simply brush passed it in a hurry...

      

More than that, Bon is one of those places that I feel comfortable hanging out at.  Bonnie and Crystal have become friends, people you can talk to for hours.  They are funny and elegant, all at once, but most of all, they are "real."  It is so important in this fast-paced crazy world to have a place that you know you can retreat to for a long while and feel comfortable and welcome.  That is why I love visiting Bon so very much.  Look at all the delights, from home, to garden, to clothing items...how can a person even begin to choose??? 

      

I love hopping in to draw on their chalkboard and seeing what little kids have done...or to watch Crystal do many different types of creating, such as twisting and turning little pieces of paper, to make lovely paper flowers around sparkling lights...

      

Don't you have a favorite place that wraps your little packages so beautifully that you can not wait to run home and tear off the paper?  I wandered the store, trying to be good, but managing to create quite the pile...If you recall, I was there recently and bragged about my old chinese paper basket. 

      

I just lose control. Mr. Lovee says, go ahead and Bon yourself out.

      

Oops, did I forget to mention that Bon carries my original Art Cards? Each one hand drawn, hand-painted and personally glitterized by moi (below)?  They are little original works of art, all packaged up and ready to go!  They sit in a rack on the wall, amongst a wide variety of fabulous cards for many occasions...

      

      

But, as there is never a dull moment at Bon, a very curious man and his friend appeared for a short visit...Bonnie and Crystal chatted with them, as I poked around...

      

Both men were very interesting with quite the artistic vibe.  The man on the left, chatting with Bonnie is Salvador Duran, artist and musician.   You never know what famous little characters you will rub shoulders with at this magical retreat...Just be prepared...

      

      

As I reigned myslef in and got ready to make my little purchases, I got that anxiety and excitement in my belly, of wanting to get my treasures home and unwrap them.  I even picked a treasure or two for one of you!!  Look at those Wondrous Julie Arkell's on the shelf in front of Bonnie.

I had so much fun visiting Bon today!  I wish all you girls and I were on a field trip to Bon, and then an espresso after that... Wouldn't that be wonderful???

        

                                  Fg & Co. Gift Tag (above)

                

I returned home to open that classic Bon polka dotted paper, and reveal my beloved treasures (John Derian tray, below, and others too) !!! Yay! Stepping out of Wonderland through the 1800's Chinese mirror, just in time to share all of this with you lovelies!! What a fun day this turned out to be after all... I headed out of there just in time for dinner with the Russians... Boy will that be a whole post in itself!  Thank you so much for peeking in!

      

      

                             

I would love for you to share local shops that only exist in your neck of the woods, with me.  The beauty of this world is that we can share places that some of us might otherwise never encounter.  Can't wait to hear of some of your favorites!

"Bon Shop, Tucson"

Home, Garden, Clothing.  Tucson, Arizona   (520) 795-2272

Owners, Bonnie Flynt & Crystal Flynt

So many girls, but where are all of the boys???

Funny thing.  I was working on a totally different post, when it was brought to my attention...I paint many female images, I purchase mostly, if not all, female images.  I even sell many many female images...But, where are all the boys???  Who knows, I am just more attracted to female beings when it comes to art.  I mean, just look at the wall, which I am so proud of, in my Loftish Space bedroom...It is like a Black Apple tribute (smiling big). Check out " The Last Twenty Seconds of Claire de Lune" original, it is unbelievable in person.  The varnish tone, and the brushstrokes!!! And, again, my previously unnoticed purchase preference, all girl art.

                  

         

There is a point here, but I am straying for a sec...The mirror in between the Black Applets  is a Luon St. Pierre piece.  At home live 2 other Luon mirrors, "The adventures of Lulu & Dick" bench (the more red one with the blue suited Dick Tracy type guy) and "Woman in Drawers" cupboard!! Isn't that exciting!  I am so glad that I splurged on them when I did.  I just love them.  My mom is so bad, she eggs me on to make these ludicrous purchases. She does not say "save your money dear," that is my dad.  Mom says, "Oh darling love,  you just must own that piece, you deserve it, buy it, no question, oh, it is a love, just a love."  And then I am hypnotized and convinced.  The item then gets  strapped into my car, and off we go!!! Psychosis, I know.   I  tweaked "Woman in her Drawers' " appearance a little.  You know, over the topness galore...It has been gradual.  Things just get put on her after I use them.

               

So, Back to the burning question of "Where are the boys??"  Frankly, the question does not plague me on a regular basis.  I just stick to buying and painting that which moves me.  However, I have been commissioned to paint a male figure.  I asked for details, but I simply got the scary answer, " I trust your judgement."  Which makes me slightly panic - then I remind myself, "create what you create," not what you "think they will want."   If I am true to myself then customers are happy...But, if I stray from myself, and start looking at magazines trying to get inspired..I might pick up too much of someone else's style...And, those are the creations that people tend to not be too excited about...I have a couple guys for my looming Etsy shop...But they are very in tune with their feminine side, which is the kind of man I gravitate to...

Hmmm, an Idea...I love frogs.  And a special frog might be a prince, which is a boy...Can you imagine if I showed up with a big frog painting.. Ha...Talk about Trusting my judgement. LOL.  I have a perrrrfect model...Warty McAlfred here...Oh the temptation...And, yes that is a gi-normous mushroom sculpture he lives on, it has a lower level of mushroom too!  I should have taken a full shot...

               

Anyhow, as if the boy art topic was not already looming...My Mom, Mommbee, calls and says, "You know, I was sitting here pondering things, and realized, I really need to hang some art with male figures, there are so many girls in here, don't you think?"  I thought??? Is this a sign. Time to paint boys???  Hmm, I like painting boyish munchkins of sorts.  "Cirque du Soleil" type boys also flow from my brush. But, there is no way on earth I am going to paint a big muscular hairy Roman type man. No way. No how.  What to do????????  The only male type getting a spot in my Loftish Space so far is an old Soutine (Chaim Soutine) print of a 1918 self-portrait I have been hording for years.

               

Maybe I am dwelling too much. It is in fact a strange sensitive day...The type only other female characters could understand...A kleenex box has been my morning companion, ever since I had a 20 minute conversation with a stranger who had the wrong number.  Her mother had passed away and she wanted to tell the woman who used to have this number. Then she told me a beautiful story about the last days of her mother's life and how they went to the beach, because the ocean meant so much to her mother throughout her mother's life...It was so unusual. Have you ever connected with someone who calls the wrong number?  Well, I told Mr. Lovee the story and tears welled up in his eyes. Then, I got all sentimental on the phone with my dad, and was balling.  Sheesh.  I better go paint a man because, I am channeling like 467 women right now.  My friends will be shocked, I am so not a weepy chick flick kinda girl.  However, there is always a first time, so, the kleenex box and I are off for now...

                 

Too Bakelite, or not to Bakelite. That is the question...Oh, and a little Baking...

What a day.  It snowed. It actually snowed.  Arizona Snow. White, just outlining the prickly pear cactus...I sit here, with a marvelous scent enveloping the house at the studio...Sweet and warm..Perfect for snowy weather...

I was tidying up my loftish space today and discovered a few of my favorite Bakelite Bracelets in my bag...I took some pics at home to share my collection, forgetting completely that I had these lovelies with me (pictured below).  How can you not love Bakelite?  It intrigues and entices me.  Like a shiny candy does a child...Lucite is a friend also...A good friend...

                

Yes it is true, I am not the owner of some of the Bakelite that has inlaid pieces, polka dots..But, I do enjoy my collection tremendously.. and I have a few cameos and pendants that make up for it in my book...

                

                  

                

And, if you too love Bakelite, as much as I do... Then you should jump off that very high cliff into slight anxiety and read the story of the Bakelite family... Up to the Grandson...I won't ruin it for you.. I have the out of print book, but it is in the gallery and it is snowing.. I will promise the title to anyone who has interst, just ask...I own several bakelite books, and wow, well, you know me and books... Lost for hours is where you will find me...

                

The good news is that I have started receiving Bakelite treasures from friends, family  and clients...Necklaces, Brooches, Bracelets, none pictured yet...How lucky, I know... These amazing people in my life...I thank them tremendously...Some even come to me frantic and excited, telling me of a treasure they have for me from a grandmother or great-aunt... Warning that I will be the recepient of Bakelite very shortly....

If they only knew the fit that throws me into...I want to grab them, shake their little shoulders and exclaim, "When, when will this be, when will I receive the Bakelite, where are you hiding it, what is the address?" Seeing as how that would lead to me not receiving said Bakelite...I have to compose myself and say, "Thank you so much, I would gladly accept such a treasure.  I adore Bakelite, you can't imagine how I will treasure such a piece."  Then I nod gracefully, shake their hand with both of my hands clasped around their one hand, and hope for the best...C'est la Vie.. If it is meant to be mine, it shall...hee hee, I am devilishly rubbing my hands together, plotting the next Bakelite find...

As for Today and snow.. What?? Snow, In Arizona, at the Studio actually.  We are at a higher elevation here... (In my Tombstone accent) Well yes Miss, I reckon that, that there is the real thing...White snow, fallin' from that there sky....

                

Baby, the former already named Yard Sale dog, also enjoyed the snow with me.. We were out there a lot. That is until my already bad Canon stopped working. It is the worst most problemtic camera ever, and I have owned it for only one year!  I told Mr. Lovee that I was tempted to throw it out the window.