NEW WINGS

This morning's work.  A reclaimed canvas.

Linoleum sanded, gessoed, then painted.

cut into squares to create flowers.

old book pages cut into hearts.

wings cut out of starbuck cup sleeves.

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING

                                           I am driving up to Carbondale to add to this tree.

It lifted my spirit.

It makes me proud to be human.

We are good inside.

All of us.

NOW

TO DO LIST

BAKE COOKIES

WRAP GIFTS

LAST MINUTE CARDS

TWO PARTIES TO ATTEND

KEEP SMILING

COUNT MY BLESSINGS

now

BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR

You have heard it before..  there are just not enough time in day.  I blink and it's another day gone by.

I take moments out of each day to enjoy the bliss of the season.  I found these adorable red rubber boots

complete with polka dots at the thrift shop, and had to have them.  Plop in some holiday greens and berries and now they are sitting on the front steps, making a smiling addition to the holiday decorations.

I have gotten two packages mailed, one more to go out on Monday. Our annual holiday party is tomorrow night here at the house.  Tonight is my husband's annual Christmas dinner party.  Sunday, I am planning on a full on jammie day.  Do some baking, do some art, take a nap... just enjoy a quiet day at home. 

Neglecting some things like this blog, but trying not to neglect the really important stuff that is so

essential this time of year.

Hope you are doing the same.

NOW.

GARLANDS OF COLOR

I have made three of these garlands.  I used strands of white lights doubled and then simply tie on the

fabric strips.  It creates such a fun explosion of color and even with the lights out, the color is festive.

I hung one above the breakfast nook, one over the kitchen window and the 3rd one I am taking to hang over my art when I do my display this Friday and Saturday at the Whimsical Women of the West Annual Holiday Show.  I will hang some of my art, some of my kitchen towels and nightshirts.. that will be a bright and

colorful display! 

I decked out the house yesterday, the tree is up, the garland hung, and the house is looking really ready for the holidays.  I need to start baking and if I decorate the house, it gets me in the mood.  I love to put my old favorite holiday movies on while I bake.  Or holiday Christmas music.  It snowed yesterday and more is

predicted for today. 

But for NOW
I must jump into my orders.

ta

HI OPA

Yesterday, we stopped by to see Opa's grave site.  I don't always feel his presence here but this was

a big important part of my mother's healing to have his grave and to keep the yellow flowers in place.

Now that Mom no longer lives in the same town as the cemetery, she doesn't get to stop by to visit the grave and to check on the flowers.  An old family friend named John does it.  And it looks like he is doing a great job.  This is how I found the grave with the flowers nicely tucked in place.  You can't even tell they are

fake.  And it does cheer up his resting place. 

As we drove away from the cemetery, I  thought about Dad and how much I miss him.  There seems to

be a void where he once was, and I think we all feel it in the family.  Most of all Mom.  She is adjusting

but it's a daily struggle it seems.  And she often will tell me how much she wishes she could just go to sleep and never wake up.

It's sad to hear, but I understand. 

I tend to embrace my fondest memories of Dad.  How he loved to take naps with Dumas their beloved cat.

And how he was such a funny guy to talk to.  And a good listener.  I miss that about him among other things.

ta Dad..

Hope you and Dumas are talking a nice nap together now in Paradise.

xoxoxox

MORE STUDIO TIME

Yesterday, I was thinking the upcoming Whimsical Women was this weekend.. which launched me into

a panic attack.  But silly me, I was a week early in my head.  So this morning, in my jammies, I started working on more ornaments to add to my stash that I will be taking to sell.

This is wonderful.. a whole week more than I was thinking.  I love it when that happens.

But the art time is done for now,

 and I must step into my order mode and work on getting all my orders completed.

I would like a day "off" tomorrow to get some grocery shopping done and house cleaning.

No big crowds for Thanksgiving, and in fact, I am not cooking a turkey.  We had a turkey dinner last weekend, so I decided to do a nice lasagna for dinner.  It's a working ski day for Dan, and a hearty

lasagna will be wonderful in his eyes.. and his tummy.

NOW
to work to work to work!

today cold blue skies

tomorrow snow

ta

MORE KITCHEN WREATHS

More wreaths..

the first one has small mini molds, wooden spoons & wooden cloths pins, oil cloth bows with bottle cap and buttons.. kind of fun!

the 2nd one

flowers cut from aluminum cans with button centers, and more oil cloth leaves.

Instead of making holiday wreaths, I decided to make recycled fun wreaths that can be used any time.

I used paint cards fromt the paint store cut and punched for tags.  

These will go with my black crows birds to the Whimsical Women Show coming up this Friday night and Saturday.  All the fun will take place at the new 3rd Street Center in Carbondale.  Friday night

is 1st Friday which  always draws a huge crowd of people. 

FUN

but NOW

work starts for the day.

OIL CLOTH WREATH

My original intentions for making these wreaths, was to sell them at Unique Boutique last weekend.  But,

the oil cloth that I ordered came by  slow camel and finally showed up a few days ago.  I love oil cloth and the bright colors.  And I envisioned a wreath made up with various patterns and colors.  I might add more to this.. maybe some old kitchen utensils, etc.  I didn't have an actual wreath to start with.  We live in

a fairly large mtn town, but we haven't any craft stores here.  There are two Wal-Marts here but the craft section has been really cut back.  So for me to drive to a Hobby Lobby or Michael's it's a 3 hour round trip.

I brainstormed walking around the hardware store and  found some foam pipe covers (3/4 inch) diameter and 3 feet long. " pipe insulation"  but how about a wreath shape? 

To give the foam circle strength,  I took a wire hanger shaped it into a circle and used the foam pipe cover to fashion into a wreath. Since the covers are slit they feed onto the wire hanger easily.  I peeled off the yellow tape that covers the sticky so the slit seals.  It worked pretty good, though I would  of rather used a straw wreath, but you can't always get what your want, right?

 The good news, these  foam covers cost only about $4 for 4 for them. So it's a cheap alternative!  I did use low heat hot glue since I was gluing onto to the foam.  I cut out all the leaf shapes, pinched the ends to create more of a leaf shape and stapled three leaves together to form a sprig of sorts.  Then it was just a matter of arranging the leaves artfully and gluing them on.  I want to make 4 total. I can take them over to the art center to sell and also the upcoming Whimsical Women sale I will be in coming up Dec 4th and 5th in Carbondale. 

So that is my quick "art" for this morning.  I must jump into a huge pile of orders..  blessings for the business.

After 5 days of technical difficulties with my Canon Copier, my tech finally got it fixed.  I was really frustrated

and trying to stay positive but with big orders looming over my head, and my production stopped, I was

really going nuts.

okay

NOW!!!

to work

YEAH!

SNOW AND CROWS

It's officially a snowday here.  Woke up to about 5 inches of WET snow.. which by this afternoon, is melting nicely.  I am still recovering from the big sale at Unique Boutique on Saturday.  A lot of work and a very successful day for me.  I was tired and happy by the end of the day.  Yesterday I took a nice long nap and was really enjoying be lazy. 

Today I am waiting on my tech for my copier.. so I decided to list the crows on Etsy.  I sold lots of art,

but not the Crows.  So they are destined for other places.  I am convinced they will sell.. I love the bright colors and know they will be a hit.  I had great intentions of taking lots of pictures at the sale on Saturday, but

I was so busy I didn't have time!  We had a great crowd, the little church ladies were selling cupcakes and cookies right next to my booth space and I admit I had to have some. 

This week is full to the brim with orders and todos.  And I am ready to take another nap!

SMILE

for NOW

ta

CREATING TODAY

Today I jumped into these wooden art crows.  I had found these wooden flower head cutouts at the local thrift shop  awhile back.  They eluded me until this week, when I envisioned crows.. bright and colorful.

I am taking these to the Unique Boutique Saturday to sell along with my Lunar Designs kitchen towels, nightshirts, aprons, etc..  I purposely choose bright cheery colors to compliment my white products that are printed with my colorful designs. I think it will make for a nice mix.  Happy that I was able to get these all done.  I still need to attach the wire back hangers tonight and spray the crows with clear acrylic.  And price them.  Always a hard choice for me, as for many artists I think. 

So in one day, I did a week's worth of early morning art.  It's now almost 4:00 pm, I have some more printing to do for the show on kitchen towels, etc.  And I have absolutely no idea what I am fixing for dinner

this evening.  PLUS I need to go to the store.  Ahh the busy life here.

NOW

a bit more printing.

INSPIRATION FROM ANNE

I walked into my studio early this morning, and the first thing that caught my eye is this collage painting I did several years ago.  I have been wanting to do something to it.. I even played with the idea of gessoing over

it and painting something new allowing the textures of flowers to show through.

But last night, I started reading "Imperfect Birds" by Anne Lamont.  I always feel such a tenderness when I hear her name.  She has such a gift of word and spirit.  Forever my favorite book of hers is

"Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life"

When I opened the book last night, the first thing I read is a poem by James Wright titled

 "A Blessing"

Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,

Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.

And the eyes of those two Indian ponies

Darken with kindness.

They have come gladly out of the willows

To welcome my friend and me,

We step over the barbed wire into the pasture

Where they have been grazing all the day, alone.

They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness

That we have come.

They bow shyly as wet swans.  They love each other.

There is no loneliness like theirs..

At home once more,

They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.

I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,

For she has walked over to me

And nuzzled my left hand.

She is black and white,

Her mane falls wild on her forehead,

And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear

That is delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist.

Suddenly I realize

That if I stepped out of my body I would break

Into blossom.

There are times when I read something, that my heart just leaps into the words.  And I want to read it over and over again.  I want to print it out and paste it on the wall so I can be touched by this brief beauty that

surrounds me like a mother's loving arms.

So I decided to add the words to the piece.  It's what it's been waiting for.

It's what I have been waiting for. 

Thank you Anne Lamott for bringing me this touching moment.

And I haven't even really begun the book.  I am sure it will be

wonderfully Anne.

So this is my ART for day 5 of AEDM.

NOW

I have a huge pile of orders to tackle.

gratefully.

CLEANSING BREATH EVERYONE

Just finished these two sweet kitty ornaments..  making lots to go to the art center for the Winterfest

show that I am going to be in.  It's such a great place to holiday shop!

I had to figure out a way to display these.  VERTICALLY!  So yesterday I ran out to Habitat for Humanity Restore and found a white shutter door.. it's the perfect size to hang on the wall and hook on my

ornaments. And BEST, all doors where 1/2 off so I got it for $5.  I am heading over later this

morning to set up my display and will take a picture to post later.  The show hangs till Christmas

so it's a great place to sell and not have to be there everyday! 

I just need to do as much as possible for the 3 shows I am in.

Can someone tell me how to clone myself!?

Or not sleep!?

NOW

more art.

:)

and oh,

I am breathing FRESH CLEAN AIR this morning.

Isn't it wonderful?  Can you smell that clean fresh air?

Like the air after a wonderful rain?

BREATH DEEP!

because.....

NO MORE POLITICAL BASHING>

Thank God!

we are over that for awhile.

phew!

SANTA CLAWS

this cat just had to become a christmas design.

a doodle cat

with attitude

xoxo

HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS DOGGIE STYLE

WUF Day 2

Appropriate that I do these dog ornaments.  I spent the morning taking both our dog and cat to the vet for the yearly exam and shots.  Marley weighs 84 pounds..  phew... and Willie is a neat 14 pounds..

Both are healthy and fine so it was a good vet's visit.

I have some of these old star shaped jello molds, and decided they would be fun dogs/cats for ornaments.

I haven't done the cats yet.. though I have sketched some ideas how to do them.

I am using bottle caps for the eyes, assorted metal for the ears and tongue and the noses are beads.

I am doing ART everyday for the Novemeber ART challenge..so this is day 2.

TA for  now.

DOG GONE CHRISTMAS

Through some of my wonderful facebook artist friends, I was reminded how much I love to do these

doodles.. also known as Zentangles.  I guess there is some claims that the word Zentangles can only be used by certified "zentanglists"  of which I really have to shake my head in disbelief.  And I won't waste my energy on that subject.

Instead, I have been playing with this dog design which resulted in this fun design.  Now I want to do

more, of course.  This is the fun when you do these.  I started this design out by taking my Sharpie ultra fine point pen marker and just did a random swirly line across the page.  Them looking at the swirls, I saw

a dog and off it went... and which is why his paw is waving high in the air..

So more of these will come.  It's such a soothing way to sit in the evenings and do couch art.. I can

delightfully tune out those annoying political ads, and half way listen to tv, which mostly bores me.

And is why I listen to NPR during the day in my studio, or watch Turner's or listen to books on tape or

watch a good DVD movie.  Mostly with the tone of today's news.. dismal and depressing... I limit that

exposure for myself.  Keeps my spirit much lighter, thank you very much.  It's a wonder this whole country

isn't on some anti-depressant meds listening to the media.

NOW

more art.  :)

always good.

ta

FLOCK OF BIRDS AND FIRST SNOW

A peek into the side garden this morning.. our first noticable snow.

We have a few flurries the past few days, but early this morning it got cold enough

to bring the snow level down to the town. 

I was happy to get back into my studio and my current project.

Here's the parts..

Little mold tins, I collect these at thrift shops and yard sales.

And I decided that these should be incorporated into some art for the upcoming shows

I am doing.  The blackbird heads are cut from an old patent leather (fake) purse.

The nice thing about the current trend of BIG BAGS, is they provide more material for

artists like me that like to cut them up.  :)

And here's my first 4 that I just finished.  The one on the  right,  I am keeping for our kitchen..

I used black zippers for their legs.. ZIPPY!  The wings are cut from wonderful oil cloth material.

I have many more to make.. some will go here and some will go there.  Might even list a few on etsy to

 see how they sell.

NOW

I must stop with my morning art and get into my production for Lunar Designs.

My work day begins.

ta ta

BLACKBIRD ORNAMENTS

Have lots of these old aluminum molds..

decided to make kitchen/holiday ornaments.

keeping the "theme" blackbird...

using different patterns of oil cloth for the wings...

zipper legs..

patent leather for the blackbird's head..

colorful buttons for the centers.

First one, the prototype.

These are the colors in my kitchen.. so will probably keep :) this one for our kitchen.

The rest will be up for sale at the next holiday show I will be doing.

Will look cute with my kitchen towels.

thinking here....might even do a painted version to print on a towel.

I like that it can be a holiday ornament, or not.  Keeps the options open for the buyers.

Now need to make a dozen more or so.

Snowing.

Again.

Nice to work in my warm studio.

Again.

Life is good.

Blessed.

and Grateful.

NOW

to work on orders.

then make some homemade soup for dinner tonight.

SPOOKY WEEKEND FUN

Ghosts hanging around our front door...

leaves falling around the ghosts..

skulls and cobwebs...

even the little dalmation has his Halloween mask on...

more ghosts to greet you...

and spooky black cats... YIKES!!!!!!

BEFORE AND AFTER

This looks like something from the hoarder's show Buried Alive.

I walked into my studio this morning and nearly croaked.  Not only is this a mess,

it makes me nuts.  Or nuts-ier as my husband would amend.

So I turned on some Budha Zen music and started cleaning.

AHHHHH...

much better

NOW!



NEW LISTINGS ON ETSY

These  are now listed on my Etsy site. 

http://www.lindadrake.etsy.com/

 I am lining up the art to sell,

 making room for new. 

Time to shop for that special piece of art that is calling to you.

Limonata.

I even love to say the name.

 I fell in love with this Italian lemon beverage and love the graphics on the can.

That inspired me to create a Limonata Art Doll.

She would be delicious in a kitchen with her spoon and fork arms/hands.

My love of Blackbirds often find their way into my art.  The sweet art doll is made from a very old license plate.. about 1936 I think.  The blackbird is cut from an old Utah license plate.  She feels

very quiet and full of wisdom when I look at her. She is called "Blackbird Spirit Woman"

This fun art doll called "Wishful Thinking" has a real wishbone in her head with a little bird perched on top.

She has the cutest specs on (from a garden hose holder I believe) and her legs are old carpenter rulers.  Her body is from a 1968 Kansas license plate.  Her head is in the stars!

She is wishing for you!

I had fun with this guy.. aptly titled "John Q. Public Focus".  I have become increasingly weary, as we all seem to be, with all the politic rants and raves and endless stream of rhetoric on tv, radio etc.

I have to turn it all off, and keep my mind on other things here in my studio.  Watch old movies on Turner's

Classic Movie channel, or listen to books on tape, or listen to music.  I create my own reality here in my studio!  

NOW to work on orders!

WHEE!!! ART DOLL KEY RACK

I am a firm believer that you spotlight where you hang your keys,  use it faithfully, and then you will NEVER have to look around crazy crazy for your keys.  Knowing exactly where your keys are, will let you happily fly out the door, looking as giddy and fun as this Art Girl..

  I LOVE her hair.. I LOVE happy hair..

it's just such a

fun way to express your joy in life!!!!

I just finished this gal, a gathering of lost and found art.  The head with shoulders went on a round robin art doll journey, and got lost in Texas for YEARS!!!.  Well, God, we all know someone who has done that, or at least heard something similar in a sad western song on the radio.  Well, by some miracle of universe, this gal came back into my life.  But I decided her intended ART was just not working for her.  So we had a nice chat over coffee this morning and she expressed her desire to create a new INTENT for her life.  And she definitely wants a permanent home now.  She is happy to offer her advice on traveling out in the big wild world, but she would be so content to hold down the fort or key rack in this case.

But she is not intended for my adobe.. she is indeed intended for a new forever home and is available on my etsy site.

www.lindadrake.etsy.com

So if you think she is meant for you, and you can prove your intent by actually purchasing her, she is now available.  With some road stories that will be sure to brighten your world.

NOW

I am off to do some errands.. and yep, I do know where my keys are..  :)

A WELCOMED CHALLENGE

Yesterday, I discovered a challenge to make art everyday.  See the side panel and you will find the link.

Now, I do art daily, have for years..... but these past few months, as

this economy keeps beating on us, I find myself working harder.  I love to work at my job.. Lunar Designs.

But I also love doing my "side art" which I have been doing less and less of.  Not so good for me. 

I so love getting up early, and with coffee and still in my jammies immersing myself in my art.

I usually do this for a few hours, then jump in the shower and then into my orders for Lunar.

But when I thought about this November challenge, despite the timing.. busy time of the year for me both

professionally and personally, I  thought, now more than ever.  The busy is draining sometimes, and

doing my art will restock my art soul.  

So I am committed.  It's not a heavy dutiful thing.  Merely a conscious decision to do it NOW.

Sometimes it's good to smack yourself with a Challenge. 

FLEA MARKET FINDS AND FUN

An old leather suitcase $5, an old sterling salt shaker $1, and a well used artist's wooden supply box $2.

That was my :) big purchases at a big flea market Sunday in Denver.  I love to head for the big piles of JUNK to look for art treasures.  I want to use the art box to make a shrine out of.  The salt shaker will be a great assemblage piece.. for exactly what I don't know yet.  The suitcase is wonderful!

I love to stack old stuitcases with art supplies or whatever.  Also these make great  "boxes" when I make my

shrines. 

Dan and I  had so much fun walking around this flea market.  It is so great when you have someone

that shares your life AND you like to do the same things together.  Dan bought a Michelada drink//

beer and tomatoe juice with seasonings.. similar to a bloody mary.  I took a sip and YUM!  I want to make

some tonight with dinner.  BECAUSE...we also bought some roasted green chilies and I am planning

a nice fiesta dinner.. something warm because it's CHILLY outside today. Brr..

WITCHY HAT ART

 It was a WITCH HAT art project last night.  The Downtown Farmer's Market ladies got together and created 19 witchy outrageous hats.  There were feathers flying, skeletons clacking, hot glue guns squirting ( a few small burns followed by witch like expletives ) and lots of fun.  We had pizza and wine, margaritas and I brought my apricot beer...  because I just don't like wine or tequila all that much.. more like it doesn't like me the next morning.  We will display these in Sue's store window (Confetti Designs) and sell them to raise money for the market.  As we were cleaning up, I found one more blank hat, so I opted to take it home to decorate and will deliver it.  Every hat was named:  Old Crow, Sour Apple, Mae West, Horrible Hannah, etc. and will be tagged with the names.  Just for fun.

We had a great time.. this was my first "mandatory meeting" and I had a blast.  I can happily say I  am in my own tribe with these girls so lots more fun/work to be had in the future.  It's great to be associated with such a great group of women who do such a wonderful job with the market.. a great asset for our little mountain town.

NOW I am getting ready to tackle my list of to do's, including getting NEW SNOW TIRES on my car.
Because, you know the snow is coming, like it or not!