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Fingerless Gloves - crafty and cheap!

The perfect gift to make this Christmas are fingerless gloves! They are so easy. Ours were made with fleece, but socks can work too. Then the fun part was coming up with designs to add to the gloves. We embellished with buttons and pieces of felt. Embroidery Floss added a cute little edge.

Adrian's Quinceañera

I can hardly believe this child is 15 years old already, the age I was when I met her mother in high school.

Adrian is an amazing teenager and one of my best friends - I often have to remind myself that she's a youngster! Adrian came to stay with us over the summer and if I had a kid, I would want her to be just like Adrian in every way.

This past October, Abs, Scott and I took a trip to Florida for Adrian's 15th birthday party. Adrian is a huge fan of Abbie's and her mom thought it would be a great birthday surprise to hire Abs to photograph the party. Mind you we planned this last year, and it was so hard to keep from spilling the beans.  The party was great fun and Abbie did an amazing job as usual. Here are a few of the selects from the photo session the day before the Quinceañera. Happy 15th Adrian! We love you. 

You can see the rest here. 

Space of Innocence

Niemi Sculpture Garden

Bruce Niemi

Raku Fire in Wisconsin

This past weekend Linda and I went to Wisconsin to partake in her Studio's Raku Workshop. Lead by Neile Strick, the workshop took place at Bristol Pottery owned by Fred Gregory in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 

Raku pottery is created with a specific ceramic firing process that uses both fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. With raku pottery, the piece is first bisque fired. Then, it is glazed and undergoes a raku firing process. The raku firing process requires a special raku kiln that is fueled by propane and reaches temperatures of about 1800°F (about 982°C). Read more...

:-|

4-seasons blog

In the spring I posted these photos of all the trees blooming, so here's one of them going to sleep for the winter. The red leaves looks like someone shot the poor trees, now they are bleeding.

Mini Series -- Martin, Eggdar, Orangedotstickbutt

NEW! Baskin-Robbins Halloween Ice Cream Cake and Dance!

That T-Rex is so darn cute. Even more so than last time.

Nerfect and Hot Funk at Flybird forever! - YAY

Fly Bird is located in Oak Park at 719 Lake Street

 10 incredible artists including our very own NERFECT and HOT FUNK transformed the back wall of the shop into a work of collaborative art over the course of 10 days.

OhNo!Doom SHAWNIMAL HOT FUNK

SUPERCORN NERFECT SIMON GALLO

PAUL WEAR PARANOID GIRL JIM ARNOLDT

Happy Fall

Art Gecko art studio and gallery - Reuse. Reduce. Recycle. Reclaim. Redo. Rework. Renew. Re-purpose.

My friend Lisa Nordstrom makes the most adorable wearable art which she calls "Junk Drawer Jewelry." She also make a ton of other things in her studio/gallery Art Gecko, located on Harrison Street in Oak Park's arts district.

Lisa will be opening her very own Esty shop later this month. Please sure to stop by to see all her wonderful art.

Back in the nook.

Winter clearance. The plants are back inside. The humidifier has been adjusted – this time to the correct settings.  No more itchy skin and shrunken floor boards this season.

The outdoor bistro table and chairs were placed in our empty reading nook in front of the two bay windows. 

It's happening! The encaustic wax sculpture of Orangedotstickbutt is 85.9% complete.

Encaustic wax on concrete form.

He's almost finished folks. The next time you see Orangedotstickbutt he will be a transformed character. Spending lot's of time the CSW studio this week. Lots of loose ends to tie. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Then what?

We shall see...

New Painting image with detail.

Better photo of Blue Sunflowers

Now available for children and adults (who are still children at heart)

Curiosity
original size 22"x 28" limited edition giclee on wood
(please contact me for additional details/sizes/price)

ZombieCows of Farmville

When there's a lot of down-time on your Farmville Farm, not much left to do except think up new ways to make the game more interesting. In my version, the ZombieCows came and destroyed my farm and ate my animals.

These are my diary entries of the fateful events that took place after moving to Zombieville. That's me. Overalls and pigtails.

Day 4: View from my hot air balloon. As you can see, something has killed off the neighbors. It's a miracle I am still here.

Day 6: Cocoa hiding from the wolf that ravaged all the farm animals. Only, I don't think it was a wolf.

Add a caption

- FarmVille: http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/?ref=takePhoto Day 7: The hot air balloon was destroyed. There is no escaping the now.

Day 10: The duck is missing. We've looked for hours.

Day 18: The others didn't live through the night. The ZombieCows will be here by dawn. There is no one else, but Cocoa and me. God saves us. God save us.

Day 22: I remember a neighboring farm has a hot air balloon. If we can make it there by sunset, we'll be saved.

Day 25:

Day 30: Some of us made it to the balloon. It's over now. We'll be okay.

Day 30:

Chattanooga Road trip

Last week my good friend and fellow artist, Corinne D. Peterson and I took a trip to St. Joe Michigan to pick up three of her sculptures. We drove them down to Tennessee to install them along the beautiful riverwalk in Chattanooga, TN.

We had the pleasure of hanging out with local artist, Cessna Decosimo, who was incredibly generous with his time. Cessna gave us a scenic tour of the town and even planned a lovely picnic lunch for us at Look Out Mountain. Good times. More pics to come soon.

Tsujiguchi Hironobo’s ‘chocolate pencils' - yum!

Chocolate-pencils is a collaboration with patissier Tsujiguchi Hironobu, the mastermind behind popular dessert shops like Mont St. Claire and Le Chocolat de H. Tsujiguchi created a new dessert based on his impression of nendo after conversations with us, and we designed new tableware for them. We wanted our plates to show off the beauty of meals and desserts like a painting on a canvas. Based on this idea, our "chocolate pencils" come in a number of cocoa blends that vary in intensity, and chocophiles can use the special "pencil sharpener" that comes with our plate to grate chocolate onto their dessert. Pencil filings are usually the unwanted remains of sharpening a pencil, but in this case, they're the star!

Sources - Nendo and Creative Review. Clem Halpin is a design director at Turner Duckworth in London. crEATe is published by Die Gestalten; £36. Read the full article here.

I painted some new sunflowers

I'll post better pictures as soon as I find my camera. Grrr. This was painted on a handmade cradled wood panel. The painting itself consist of thick layers of plaster. While the plaster was still damp, I carved shapes and then painted over it with watercolor. Then covered the entire panel with charcoal followed by a fixative. I let the piece dry for a month. I painted the surface with yellow, and brown paint. Using a stylus I carved my final images and then let dry. It's very cool, loads of texture and the colors are revealed under all the layers. Most of the sunflowers are a lovely pale baby blue.

What I did during my 2009 break-down

Melancholia, is an artist's (my) journal about deep-rooted emotion and overcoming that icky feeling of being truly lost. Sometimes our soul light gets blown out by things out of our control. Sometimes it's easier to overcome, but when it's not we just have to live through it and experience the abyss.

Here's a preview.

Too many words lately.

Here's an awkward rare high school picture of me, Dani and her bitchin' Camaro.
I don't have the actual photos anymore. They washed away in a flood that happened EXACTLY 17 years ago today. Guess I am lucky to have this contact sheet.

Now I feel sad.

Family Portrait revisited

A few years ago I made a series of 9 carved stoneware sculptures, Family Portrait. Three are pictured above. I've been doing some research on my origin, which begins in Spain near the border of France. It's been interesting to find out I come from an impressive line of well-known Spanish writers. Sadly, that talent skipped over me. I'll begin posting my findings in the form of artwork soon.

Some of you will be thrilled to know I am not going to be adding anymore paintings to the Melancholia series. I finished the book and the larger panels and since I am not as depressed, I will start painting the happier stuff again. So yay. Show 'n tell to come. xo

Christine Samardich and Linda Zepere

Tallulah's Satchels and Claymates Pottery

Two of our dearest friends who are talented artists can now be found on Etsy.

Yay!

Black Widow up-close and in my sister's garage.

Suz's Cell Phone presents

A Bird Named Dandelion

acrylic on paper, lots of fingertip tapping.

:D

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation~Plato

Whimsy Love

Came across some interesting wall book art made entirely out of folded book pages, by Whimsylove on Etsy.
I love how they look on the wall as a grouping. You can check them out here.

Sabria Ward-Harrison Part 2

PaPaYa!

Sabrina's new collection is ready for you. xoxo

one123456 things that make me happy

painting pretty numbers.whimsy - usually there's tea in it.
my little muffin
making art for my friends

SURPRISES!
lazy summer days spent reading at the lake

ordo ab chao

Plaster, ink, charcoal on cradled wood panel.

A sample from my new collection, Melancholia, which I will share with you over the next few months. I am delighted with how this one turned out. It's called ordo ab chao meaning, from chaos comes order.

PS there is a watermark on this image. Sorry if it gets in the way of viewing the art.

Ernie Blog :(

Ernie and his toys

I just found Ernie sitting inside his toy box. This is very rare for him. He has been acting a little off since he went deaf suddenly last month, he has been more vocal, but to see him so sad tonight is heartbreaking. The only other time he did this was when Other Ernie passed away.

He just looks so depressed. Maybe he misses his brother whose scent must still remain on their toys? I dunno.

*sigh*

I wish he could tell us what's wrong.

Wet, angry Martin

A. Wet, wrinkly and torn.

Had a slight flooding problem in my studio during a severe rainfall a few weeks ago. Some of my artwork was on the floor and ended up wet, wrinkly and torn. See exhibit A

I love happy accidents.

Green Porno Series By Isabella Rossellini

The critically acclaimed series from Isabella Rossellini is back with a new batch of very short films about the reproductive habits of marine animals. GREEN PORNO is scientifically accurate yet extremely entertaining. Produced by Isabella Rossellini, Jody Shapiro and Rick Gilbert.




Thanks Sundance Channel

Orangedotstickbutt's new home - The Crispells

Dear Linda, Please adopt us. We so want to move into your house and play with all of your toys and art supplies. And eat cake! xo

My sweetheart of a friend Linda Crispell and her dear family carved a perfect spot above their fireplace for Orangedotstickbutt. He looks so happy to be there. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy knowing my baby is living with one of the nicest and most creative families and in Chicago. Please check out Linda's whimsical world. She has a gift for finding vintage flea market gold and creating homes for such treasures. Linda is also a very talented artist. We are so lucky to have a collection of her original art in our home too. Squeee!

Linda's home was also recently featured in the Oman Trib!!! heee. I love it! Congrats Linda. :)

Minneapolis Iron Pour Pics!

Last weekend we traveled to Jackson Park in Minneapolis for the Chicago Sculpture Works Community Iron Pour/Workshop and Jim Brenner's, In Flux, Sculpture Dedication Ceremony.

My little friend, The Captain, was there every step of the way to help us out.
Mr B. and The Captain make a carving into the scratch molds which were made for this workshop.

The Captain even helped paint a mixture of denatured alcohol and graphite to help seal the mold before the hot iron is added to it.

Dara and crew prepare the cupola, the furnace built to melt the iron.

The ladel is filled with molten iron which is then carefully poured into the molds. The molds are left to cool for about 45 minutes. Then they are turned out, cleaned and covered with wax for a gleaming finish.The Captain's finished sculpture. "VK" the initials for both he and his little sister.Clean up time! He insisted on helping out. I swear.

Ice Cream and Cake and Cake! Baskin-Robbins so cute!

This ad will make you smile. Who doesn't love dancing plastic toys on ice cream cake?

Harvest Day

There is nothing more satisfying than growing and harvesting your own food. After three months of daily care, watering, and pruning, a lovely but lone strawberry grew and grew into this beauty. Unfortunately, its destiny ended in doom. Massacred then eaten. Here's a visual account of that last fateful day.

achromatic nightingale

Berry and Pepper

I am proud to announce my garden has yielded one pepper and one strawberry so far this summer. Ahhhh the life of a city gardner.

I love surprises!

My dear friend Linda surprised me this weekend with a beautiful rustic berry bowl and tiny espresso cup which she crafted in her studio. :))))

Pigeons - A Family Album & Wisteriax

Have you had the pleasure of meeting Karen Langlie? I am her biggest fan. Not only because of her hauntingly beautiful music, but that she raises and trains the most intelligent and gorgeous pigeons your eyes will ever see.

Ever.Pigeons - A Family Album, arrived one day in my mailbox (thanks Mike!) and I nearly passed out from the cuteness factor as I flipped through the pages. This book was created by the super creative mind of Mike Langlie for his wife Karen. Please. please check it out. You will have a whole new respect for these fancy, fine-feathered creatures.

Karen and Mike are both incredibly talented musicians, and I couldn't resist posting this review and information about Karen's latest song from, Doves Never Sleep, tracks 1 & 4.

http://wisteriax.com/
http://www.myspace.com/wisteriax

Sabrina Ward Harrison & Papaya Art (part one)

I've been waiting for the perfect time to send out this very special post about someone who has been a huge influence in my life over the years. Today felt like the right day. :)

Sabrina has been inspiring people around the world since her first book, Spilling Open, was released nearly a decade ago. She teaches us in her very unique and playful way, True Living through emotion, written words, photography, art and pure expression.

Recently, Sabrina teamed up with Anahata, and Papaya Art to create all of the gorgeous items you see below based on Sabrina's paintings. These were recently showcased at the New York Stationary Show and will be available on the Papaya website later this summer. Stay tuned for part two.

We absolutely couldn't be more thrilled for our dear friend Sabrina and her latest endeavors. I know you will find her work delightful. Now go and pour over her amazing website, you'll be there a while!

Good luck, Sab! ;)

Images courtesy of Sabrina Ward Harrison and Anahata Katin

Keepsake Boxsets

Gicleés, Sketchbooks and Handbags

A Minneapolis Tale "In Flux" - part two

Artists Mike, Lucas and Dara meticulously chipping away at the glass which stacks inside of the sculpture.

This Friday we are crossing state lines West to Minneapolis. Why, you ask? Well, there will be dedication ceremony honoring Jim Brenner's now titled sculpture, "In Flux".

The Chicago Sculpture Works gang will be present and ready to help you make art during the community event that begins at 9:30 am in Jackson Park. The molds have been made and now they are waiting for you to turn them into your own creations. There will be an iron pour demonstration and then after, your molds will be filled with iron and magically transformed into works of art. So grab the kids and please join us this Saturday morning.

Here's the deets:

Dedication and Iron Pour

In Flux by James Brenner

Jackson Square Park 2212 JACKSON ST. NE

• 9:30 a.m. Mold Carving Workshop ($10 per mold)
• Make your own molds to be cast in the pour!
• 11:00 a.m. Dedication and refreshments
• 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. Iron Pour

For more information, contact Mary Altman

Community Planning and Economic Development

250 So. 4th Street, Room 110

Minneapolis, MN 55415-1385

Mary.altman@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Art By Nemo

What started out as doodling during Nemo's lunch break has snow balled into an obsession. Collectors began to purchase so many of his drawings that he couldn't keep up with the demand while working a 40 hour a week job. His situation soon became obvious; Nemo had to quit in order to create more art. "Leaving a day job has been a bittersweet experience, for without it I never would have discovered my true artist's voice."

"I choose my subjects due to their beauty, but for me the real beauty is found in the complexity of details made with the most primitive of tools." ~Nemo

Please check out Nemo's Website and Gallery.

Custom Pottery - Linda Zepere

One of my nearest and dearest, Linda Zepere, is an amazing potter. She creates mugs with adorable little animals peeking over the side. The one shown above was made for our friend who has pet rat named, Rufus. Linda will create your pet if you send her a photo of it.
My favorite pieces from Linda's collection are her fruit bowls. The holes at the bottom are for drainage which is brilliant! I leave grapes or cherries in mine. She will custom color and size.

Linda can be reached at:

♫

linda.zepere@gmail.com

First Coast standouts: Where are they now? After The Bolles School, Greg Burgess swam for his country. He now fights for it as a U.S. Marine

Yay Greg!

Photo provided by Burgess family
Major Greg Burgess (center), upon deployment to Iraq. "I'm more proud of never having lost a Marine than my Olympic medal," he said.

RICK WILSON/The Times-Union
Greg Burgess trains at The Bolles School pool on Feb. 27, 1996. Greg won a silver medal at the 1992 Olympics.

Article here.

Sunflowers '09

Sunflowers make me happy. Here's a few I've painted so far.

Our red leather/coffee bag chair.

Hey, now you have a place to sit when you come to visit. We found the chair at Roost, a lovely French markety-type store in Andersonville. The red leather chair seat had been reupholstered with a Nicaraguan coffee bag.

And the Winner is...Oh, and there is more.

Thank you all so much for participating. Congratulations to Donovan for winning the grand prize. He has chosen, Abyss. YAY!

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

Here's a fun video of Michael Jackson (he comes in at 4:oo) performing with Justin Timberlake and N-Sync at the 2001 Pop VMA. Remember that?

A tourist in my own town

My cell phone presents. Chicago from a bird's eye view..



and the big silver bean.

The Forgotten

It's been a while since Martin has appeared in my paintings. As I was doodling Sunday evening on this particular piece, he came to life again. Looks like he wants to come out and play afterall. I'm delighted.

From a Birdie

From a Birdie is a precious website and such a thoughtful concept, run by Anita Licis-Ribak and Agustin Schapira.

"by the time Anita's birthday arrived, the website had 85 letters for her, from 35 different cities and 10 different countries. Letters from friends she hadn't seen in decades. Messages from people she had lost touch with and with whom she could re-connect. Imagine her surprise, and her joy."

Hope someone makes an album of letters for me one day. I will act surprised!

thanks to the lovely, happn.in Chicago for the info.

Perfect Rusty Fence

Went for a walk the other day.
Nothing exciting unless you like cool, crusty fences.
I know. I'm a dork.

Art Giveaway Contest *updated*

Please leave a comment or send an email with a way for me to contact you. Anonymous entries are always welcome.

Send email entries to superbadfriend@gmail.com (re: ART GIVEAWAY CONTEST)

The Forgotten

Abyss

Quiet Room

Breaking Point

Missing

Pandaemonium --The Capital of Hell

Winner will be announced July 1st, which means entries have to be in by midnight, June 30th. The paintings are going to be professionally shot next weekend. There are over 60 total in the series. And, they will be extra pretty and detailed after photographer, Emily Hindin, is through with them – not like the ones above taken with my cell phone.

The selected images are part of a series of paintings called, Melancholia. The winner will receive an archival Giclée print. That's fancy for a high quality, kick-ass print.

how to make rust the fast and easy way

*updated* Before you read on, if you are looking to create authentic rust on actual metal, try Auburn Rust from Metal Finishes Plus which is what I use for my art. The rust results are instant and there are a ton of patinas to choose from. Good luck!

Hi everyone! Recently I posted a an entry called "Fooled You". Lucy, blogger and artist of Mixed Medium Musings, asked if I could demonstrate how I made that ol' cardboard into rust. Lucy thank you for being so patient! Here you go. :)

My cell phone happily presents

You will need; a piece of actual rust for reference, (the paint color will vary depending on your sample.) Brushes. Acrylic paint – Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Oxide or Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow, Course Alumina, and Corrugated Cardboard. Take care to examine the rust and try to match your colors accordingly.

The brushes I used varied from soft-to-medium for application, to a stiff brush used for stippling. tear pieces of cardboard into desired shapeUsing a soft to medium brush cover the cardboard with a thin but solid layer of Yellow Ochre or
Yellow Oxide. Using the same brush apply the Burnt Sienna, making sure to leave some of the yellow showing.

Using a stiff bristled brush, apply the Burnt Umber over the previous layers. Use your rust reference as a guide as to where to apply the darker paint. Alternate with all three colors until desired coverage is achieved. Let dry for 15 minutes under a fan if possible.

After the cardboard is completely dry, apply the Course Alumina for texture to the areas that need some extra aging and texture. The white parts will dry clear allowing your undercoats to show through.

Using the Cadmium Yellow, add highlights to selected areas. Be sure to use a dry brush and stippling action. Blot your brush onto a cloth or paper towel before adding to the cardboard. You only need a tiny bit of paint, if you have too much paint on your brush you will need to redo the first steps. Don't panic!

Voila!

Huggy Bear Huggins – Evil Ads

John is funny and I demand you read his blog.

Please.

How could this happen again?

I am officially the most accident prone person on the planet. Tripped forward and knocked poor Orangebotstickbutt's bottom lip off. The wax splatters on the floor are a result of the hot wax splashing all over me as I jolted forward. Good lord. It is fixed now, but seriously?

Bunny In A Field

once again, my cell phone presents...
HAH! Bunny, Horsey and a man in a field. See it? Do ya? heh?

Yes. My hands always look like this.

A Really Goode Job

Hi everyone. If you have a moment can you please check out (my friend since high school) Eddie's video entry for a job he is applying for. The chosen applicant will benefit from the following; $10,000 per month, lush accommodations in a beautiful home in picturesque Healdsburg. Working hours are flexible. And all you have to do is experience wine and good living. The position is for six months.

I really want him to get this job. He's in at #7 currently. If anyone deserves it, he does.

Ed created and writes a fantastic website called, Wine Tonight.

See the video entry here.

Thanks so much!

Ed, when you win, expect some visitors!

TWINK

Ohhhhhh Yeah!

If you haven't read my earlier posts about TWINK, then I am sorry, because you are missing out on some wonderfully deranged creativity from Mike Langlie, TWINK. It is a mixture of impossibly cute meets well..."Picture your stuffed animal collection at a late-night rave in an enchanted forest - Twink is the music they are dancing to." (Performer Magazine)

Jackson Park, Minneapolis *updated* change of date for June.

In the studio, Brenner is welding the base of the sculpture to the first layer. On the road. I had flashbacks of scenes from Indiana Jones. A crane was needed to lift the 6 thousand pound sculpture into place.

Brenner grinding off the supports

NE Jackson and NE 22 Ave. Near the Library

The gorgeous benches were also made by the studio and soon I will post more detailed photos of everything. These cast iron words were embedded in the concrete surrounding the sculpture.

Happy Mother's day to all of you lovely mom's out there.

We just returned from an interesting road trip. 5 states in 6 days. Final destination, Minneapolis.

Chicago Sculpture Works artist, Jim Brenner, installed a sculpture in Jackson Park. If you are in the area, please check it out. The fiber optics were installed today so you can see the completed sculpture. Go when the street lights illuminate, cause that's when you'll get the full effect of the piece.

The Jackson Park Sculpture project will consist of one spherical form constructed of layered steel plates, sculpted glass, and light. This sphere will have an interior form made of sculpted glass that is internally lit in a variety of colors with fiber optics. The sculpture is 6’ in diameter and will rest on a concrete foundation that is 20” high and 5” wide, giving them an overall size of 9” high by 6’ wide. At the foot of the benches will be cast iron text. These excerpts will be selected from stories shared at community meetings and interviews. The text will convey a sense of the Holland neighborhood history, diversity and commonality. It will be cast on site at a community event where participants will be invited to create small sculptures and experience the dynamic cast iron process.

I will write more when the real photos make their way to me. These were taken from my camera phone. Sometime in June, there is going to be a ceremony and community art event. More info to come. For a detailed description of this project please go here.

My, how time flies.

Converse Flippy was one of my favorite pieces created back in 2004. A lovely couple in Oak park purchased it from my first and last art show, Unfolding, in the Fall of '05 at Lisa Nordstrom's store, Art Gecko. Over the years I have been making new ones similar to this construction only on a larger scale. All of my flippy paintings are two-sided. Check 'em out here, here, here and adaptations of it, here and here. I am a bit ADD and the option to have more than one painting at any given time appealed to me. Sure wish I had taken professional photos of this particular piece. The painting itself is created entirely of wax. I'm feeling incredibly nostalgic tonight. I've been spending the weeks going through all of my artwork old and new. My good friend, Jon, created a lovely website for me a few years ago and we are going to be updating it very soon.

I was considering contacting the owners to see if they might let me photograph my painting after all of these years. Hmmmm?

Divine Comedy

Oh, good lord. This is ridiculous, I really need a camera.

I made this little movie clip of the progress.

Intrusion

Leaves on trees? We has 'em.

Looked outside yesterday while at the studio and to my surprise the trees bloomed. Somewhere between 10am - 6:30pm, my world changed.

It's happening!

Spring has arrived.

Day 2. No change. Although, today was not as rainy as yesterday.

NERFECT Evening.

Here are some shots I took of the Nerfect show last night. You can go here to see all of the detailed images of Mr. Walter's colorful and imaginative world. Here are some of my favorites from this new series.

Enjoy!

Bunny Brawler

Stack of Birds

BeansPicky

It has been confirmed.
"Liars, he tastes nothing like chicken." - Dollbabytina

Mr Walters and half of me.

My Nerfect Labbit. He's mine. All mine.
Darth Vaderhead invasion. Collectible Vinyls.

Britton created a breathtaking amount of new artwork. Impressive. My camera died before I got the good shots. So please do check them out here.

Mr. Walters with Hot Funk and Supercorn.

Dollbabytina baked these for the show. So delicious, I had two.
Don't judge me.

Filberts Retro Soda.
18 flavors made in Bridgeport, right here in Chicago!

This photo is especially for Yip Yop and Karen. :)

Let the biking begin.

So excited. Friday is supposed to be 85 wonderful degrees. That's over 45 degrees warmer than it is tonight! My bike is ready to for action. First on the agenda. Early morning ride along the lake. Ah, movement. My muscles are gonna hate me.

I might bring my FLIP. There is a gorgeous mosaic mural my friend Cyndi and her team created a few years back. The sunrise in the morning makes it look all sparkly.

G'night folks.

Mercurial Rage - “Never Remember to Always Forget”

During these hard economic times it feels damn good to get something for nothing. That being said, download Never Remember to Always Forget!

100% Rage guarantee!

Studio Tour

This is where I go to relax, think and silently play. There is a gentle energy that flows throughout this space. My other space is shared with a melange of artists, is full of intense energy and action. I love being there equally as both studios inspire different parts of my creativity. I still can't believe how I ended up here and at C.S.W. I am so grateful – you have no idea how long I searched. :) Going to be at both studios for a year this summer. YAY!

Do you like the Hello and Goodbye? I couldn't resist adding them to my door. heee.

New Painting. Another Orangedotstickbutt. He's fun to paint.

I TOLD YOU SO! :)

103 | THE FINGER TRICK

By, Mr. Walters, Nerfect.com...Media: Watercolor pencil, watercolor marker, color pencil and ink on paper | Size: 4" x 6"

:)

31 Days

I've been doing the 31 Days to building a better bloggity project and it has raised many questions for me personally. Like, what do I want from a blog and what is the focus?

Well, I think I am the most unfocused person on the planet. So when I am asked that question, I go into hysterics. I don't know! There's no plan. I just like to make stuff. Maybe show it to a few people and then put it away and move on.

Don't think I should do anymore 31 days. Structure is not my thing. I don't know what the hell I am doing. I just do it.

wax keeper

Thanks to Adore64 for the awesome Pepsi crate. Perfect for housing my wax.

Orangedotstickbutt is days away from being real.

After removing the pineapple leaf disaster beak.

Orangedottstickbutt

Orangedotstickbutt is one of my imaginary friends. I have been s-l-o-w-l-y bringing these characters into our world. They have been a long time in the making, but time really doesn't exist for them. Or me.

Orangedotstickbutt's Oil Portrait

Orangedotstickbutt has a sweet smile and a twinkle in his big ol' eyeball.

Agua ~ Puerto Rico

I am absolutely obsessed with water and gas covers. For years I have been photographing them in every location I travel to, and adding them into my paintings and sculptures. Our good friend Juju found this one last week while vacationing in Puerto Rico. So pretty. Isn't it?

Orangedotstickbutt brings Springtime a little early

Made this for our friend who was going to have a baby on or around April 1st. Well, turns out the day I finished this, she went into labor. I had to change the title to "Spring's Early Arrival." The baby's name and birth date are scribed onto the painting in an obscure location.

bad or good, this is so true.

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel"

This is for you.

Rust, Wax and Chains. Three of my favorite things.

Fooled You!

I painted cardboard and made it look like rust.

Garden round-up

This morning I tried to sleep in, but then something amazing happened. The sun was up! Sometime in the 6am hour the sun was shining throughout our house. It is happening. Spring will be here very soon, or at least the sun will be sticking around longer than usual. Daylight savings is in a few weeks. YAY!

This time last year I was eagerly planning the outdoor garden and decided to make it filled with beautiful shades of green and white. I wasn't able to really sink my teeth in the gardening until May and as I recall, April '08 was still a frozen miserable tease. I am considering a new theme. The green and white were lovely, trouble is those plants and flowers don't stay that way. Changes in temperature and acidity in the rainwater changes the PH of the soil causing the flowers to change colors. By the end of summer I ended up with many blue, pink and purple flowers. Even my Little Lamb Hydrangeas turned a wonderful shade of rust.

The Meyer Lemon, tree yielded 6 or 7 lemons and then sometime around November all of the leaves fell off and there has been no new growth since. The Cabernet Grape Tree also dropped all of its leaves and now looks like a dead tree trunk. I called the growers where I originally ordered the grape vine and they told me if it did not to produce new growth by spring, they would ship a new one. Not so sure about the Lemon Tree. I will make that call this week.

The Philodendrons of course survived. My Little Lambs are in the kitchen along side the Violets, all of which seem to be holding their own. The Jades are looking leggy, but I think that will change once the sun's rays intensify in spring. The Nepenthes died quite early on in the winter. I made the mistake of trimming it back and pretty much killed it. :( I felt terrible.

The orchids are all still alive and well. Only one bloomed back in December and I am shocked to say the blooms are to-this-day, pristine as were were back then.

This year we will be gardening on a budget. Surprisingly, last year our local grocery store had quite the display of foliage and flowers and could easily be put into a high end plant store and give those plants a run or their money. That *other store whose name I won't mention YET, also carries the lowest priced plants I have ever seen and they are darn good-looking.

We are going to have to put off the Green Roof plans again. Was really hoping to get started on that project. I should have been writing proposals all winter for grants, but I was finding other ways to procrastinate. More updates to come.

My rock collection

I have been collecting rocks ever since I stopped collecting sea shells. The wooden container is an antique spice holder and the stoneware vessel was made by my friend Sonata.

The guest room is shaping up

water carafe by Rae Dunn

I found these tiny nesting bowls glazed in Robin's Egg Blue at Anthropologie.The Kitty wearing a dress was bought at an antique market when I was in college.

"Do Unto Others" Everyone should live by this one simple rule.

Both Dress collages were created by Linda Crispell

Congratulations Michaele Sommerville.

Congratulations to Michaele Sommerville!

Well, I am proud to say Michaele was the winner of the giclee print I was giving away. She also is an artist and makes these unique banners made of the prettiest of papers and ribbons. I snagged the image above from her Etsy site. I hope that is okay, Michaele, I didn't think you would mind. :)

My foodie forecast of the year

Last year I predicted Batter Blaster was going to be a huge success and I was right. So this year's pick is dedicated to Maple Flakes.

These are similar to sugar, basically dehydrated maple syrup broken up into tiny pieces. They can be sprinkled on anything you would want sweetened or even used in savory dishes ( I will find some recipes)

1 teaspoon of maple flakes has only half the calories of sugar.

A Hamster Spins on Its Wheel and Then Loses Control of Its Legs

Rare that something is so funny that it brings tears to my eyes. This is one of those situations and I am still laughing.



(Thanks to Prince Gomolvilias for originally posting this, :))


32 seconds in...wait for it..oh and turn off the stupid ad that pops up.

Lemons

My Dream House

designed by Linda Garland

I was awed by this space in an article I ripped out for my vision wall some time ago. The article, "The Quiet Life of Panchoran" was written by Jonathan Kandel. Architectural, Interior and Landscape designed by Linda Garland. Photo by Tim Street-Porter.

Erno

I have discovered photo booth's special effects (the fisheye lense) which provides hours of fun!

Charity CD

Last year Mercurial Rage made a Christmas song. It was fun, and something Chris had been wanting to do for a long time. This year that song has been placed on a holiday compilation. Go here to check it out and buy a copy. All for a good cause and a great way to celebrate the Solstice. :)

Fatty McBlabbicus

Abbie's kitty cat, Fatty McBlabbicus.

Cal Lane

Beautiful works of art, by artist Cal Lane. Check her out here!

Mmmmmmeat Feast!

*drools*

We love a restaurant called Smoque, an unassuming little place on Pulaski and Irving. For you foodies out there, Smoque was profiled on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives as part of a show called “Real Deal BBQ.”

For my dear friends who come to visit, you know who you are. Guess where we are going for dinner.

YAY!

Fiddlesticks hiding in the corner

He is incredibly shy. However, I think he will be ready to meet you soon!

Kitty in the fireplace

Ernie's favorite new place to sleep.

Corinne's Art Show "BETWEEN"

Corinne's art reception for her stunning new show called, Between.

The sculptures she mastered are crafted of clay, and layers of surprise elements – coils of found twisted wire and small other objects lay to rest, some hidden in her works.

Detail

Cultural Center Exhibit

This was interesting. Exhausting for the person supporting all of those boxes.

included in Peter Steves Exhibit was a pirate's chest and maps to a hidden treasure located somewhere in the city. I wonder who found it?

Peter Steeves

For one night only the Chicago Cultural Center hosted Site Unseen, a site-specific performance event featuring theater, dance, music and visual art by individual artists and ensembles of local and international acclaim. In addition to the site-specific works, this year a program of video shorts were included. The performances and installations were created specifically for the architecture of the Cultural Center and are based on the theme of “occupation”. The Fifth Annual Site Unseen is co-curated by Julie Laffin and Dolores Wilber and presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.

morning time

The survivors of summer have been relocated indoors.

Ernie scrambles to soak in the last of the morning sun

We are clutzy today.

I slipped on a screw and tumbled head first onto a make-shift table where I had place Fiddlesticks. Hit the corner of the table launching Fiddlesticks into the air, managed to grasp his tail just before he did a full face plant onto the concrete floor. Instead, he landed on his right eye ball, crushing it. :(
Did you know Duct Tape came in Hot Pink?

Poor Fiddlesticks after his eyeball injury.

ER table.

some time under a heat lampGood as new.

YAY Jim!

Sorry about the camera phone images
Jim's "sunrise over the ocean" (left)
My "sunset through the trees" (right)

Jim has never painted before. EVER! I thought he did an incredible job.

The Elephant in the Room

Unfinished 40"X60"

Ezzy and Izzy

First Marne and I showed Ezzy and Izzy how to play the famous Clapping Song
"Cici My Playmate"

Here we have Ezzy and Izzy following our lead.

Yay Izzy!



Cici, My Playmate

Cici, my playmate
Come out and play with me
And bring your dollies, three
Climb up my apple tree
Slide down my rainbow
Into my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends
Forever more
More, shut the door!

So sorry, playmate
I cannot play with you
My dolly has the flu
Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo
I have no rainbow
I have no cellar door
But we'll be jolly friends
Forever more
More, shut the door!

Birch the Therapy Dog

Birch (12 ½ years old) passed away on October 2, 2008. He was a Great Pyrenees with a beautiful birch colored coat. Birch surpassed the usual life span of a Great Pyrenees. We attributed his longer life to his kind and gentle nature but he was a fierce watchdog to his family and especially to his little boy, Aidan.

Birch trained as a therapy dog in Chicago, Illinois where he was born. He was from a long line of sheep guarding Pyrenees but he chose to share his quiet, caring nature with the patients at hospitals, nursing homes, juvenile homes, woman’s shelters and other individuals who were encountering difficulties.

After moving to Cadillac, Birch became an instant welcomed celebrity with the nurses and patients of Mercy Hospital Cadillac. Children and adults thoroughly enjoyed his visits. He would hop onto any child’s bed without being prompted and lay quietly while being petted and helping them forget why they were in the hospital.

He gave of himself asking only a pat on the head in return. Birch was instrumental in bringing patients out of their shells, even those who had not spoken or acknowledged other people in years. The anxiety of patients young and old was eased by his visits.

“He was an animal of deep character, unshakable loyalties, and strict beliefs” (The Earth is Enough). We will miss you fat head. You made the world a better place.

a book of faces I made

4X6X366 '08 debuts @ The Underscene in conjunction with the Pilson Art Walk

Here is a sneak peak at the show Mr. Walters will be having this weekend! See you there. :)

Back to Basics

My friend Denise stopped by the studio and

she took time out of her busy schedule to make me lunch! Awww. Thanks lady.
:)

Fiddlesticks has eyes.

Having eyes were only a dream for poor little Fiddlesticks.

before

Fiddlesticks can see!

YAY!

I know he looks like he has a chest for a face but that will all change when he is painted.

Sculptures in their beginning stages

My Burberry® Barbie® is for sale.

Burberry® Barbie®

Barbie® doll celebrates the proud tradition of the Burberry of London fashion label with an exciting new ensemble. A chic and classic tan, double-breasted trenchcoat, lined with signature Burberry plaid, sets the tone for a fresh approach to fashion. A long sleeve black jersey sweater is a dramatic contrast to the striking Burberry plaid kilt. The final perfect accessories include a matching plaid scarf with red reverse, plaid messenger bag, and black shoes with spats.




Please email me if you are interested!

Tallulah's Satchels

My very good friend Chris made these whimsical scarves this week. They are so cute. I love the little circles inside one another. You can check them out along with her other creations at Etsy.

:-)

OMG!!! BATTER BLASTER

My world is complete. I discovered Batter Blaster at Whole Foods yesterday. If you understood breakfast at our household, you would understand how excited I am about this product.

The BEST part of this Pancake Batter–Scott can make his own pancakes whenever he wants.

Never too late. Phil Dawkins and Eric Reda.

Earlier this year, during the snowiest, coldest winter in a decade. Chicago Playwright Philip Dawkins and Music Composer Eric Reda, stripped off their winter coats to pose for a photo shoot.

After a snowstorm.

In a foot of snow.

On Superbowl Sunday.

We had a blast!

It was damn cold.

Eric Reda. So cute!

Philip Dawkins. So Dandy.

Philip looking kinda Vampiresque

I don't know how Eric and Phil did it. Even Abbie was under-dressed. I was seriously concerned they were going to suffer from hypothermia.

Afterwards, we went back to Philip's condo and he made up yummy Raspberry hot cocoa.

A weekend of color

Linda Crispell's Reclaimed Treasures

It's Flea Market time!!! Lovely Linda, has opened her very first Etsy shop. When she says she is happy to share with you, Linda means it. She has the kindest and generous soul and a keen eye for finding the most amazing treasures! :-)

Green City Market

The flowers are incredible. I am keeping with the green and white theme, but I couldn't help add a touch of color, which really makes this arrangement pop! I can't remember the name of the green ones. But the white are Lilacs and the roses are from Germany. I could only afford three of them. I didn't want to blow all of my cash in the first 5 minutes.
Here is what I brought home. I arranged it all purty for you guys.

The eggs were laid this morning and all sorts of sizes. The farmer recommended not putting them in the fridge and they can stay fresh room temperature up to one month. I doubt they will last the week, hubby can eat 4 in one sitting. Also purchased Purple Asparagus and underneath those are fresh garlic and onion. The stuffed croissant were freshly baked this morning, one is the omelet and the other, goat cheese and basil. The filet and burgers are for our house guests who will be here later this week. I was hoping the flowers last till then. The farmer also recommended a selection of baby fingerling potatoes, simply drizzled with olive oil, garlic onion and grilled in foil. mmmm. Let's see? There is also Kale, which I am going to juice. Desperation Pie, made by a local pie maker named, Hoosier Mamma. heehee. Fresh baked potato and chive crackers. Fresh cut Arugula sprouts which have a peppery bite that I can't get enough of. Lastly, grilling cheese. That's right. Cheese you can slap onto the grill. I sampled some and it was insane.

OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YOU CAN'T PLAY THAT

My friend Glen will be DJ'ing at a charity event in london on 23rd May. DJ's will be playing 45 minute sets. He will be playing a selection of cool electro tunes, with the other djs playing a range of styles from mash up through disco and funk, northern soul. It will be great if you could come down and give your support to this Cancer fund raiser, and its only £3 entry. Bargain!

It is getting there

See that big gray cord all the way at the end of the deck? That is the power cord that supplies power to my building. Supposedly. if one were to touch that wire, the amount of electricity flowing through it would kill. I am going to put up a lattice post to keep me or anyone on my deck from dying this summer. The deck still looks empty, which means another trip to the plant store next weekend. :-)

White and Green.

Crisp white and shades of green would make for a beautiful garden this Spring. Went to the plant store with my upstairs neighbor today. We bought a gorgeous selection of plants and flowers for the front of the building. For my own deck, I selected the following: Nepenthes, a native of Southeast Asia and Australia, forms pitchers (cups) that hang from trees. Its pitcher is similar to that of the North American pitcher plant in that it relies on a pool of water to trap its prey. It has a most unusual leaf that first looks like a normal leaf, then develops a tendril at its tip, and finally the tip of the tendril develops an amazing pitcher.

White on White Fuschias.

Little Lamb Hydrangeas

White Impatiens

Must wait until the weather turns before taking them outside. It was 39 this morning and much too cold.

Going to be adding Jasmine, White Violets and White Rabbit's Foot Ferns in a few weeks. I even found an amazing species of White Birds of Paradise.

Bonsai Blog

Sorry for the bad photo. I was anxious to document the arrival of my new tree, this evening. This Cabernet Grape Bonsai Tree promises to yield a bountiful array of delicious miniature grapes. I am already designing itty wine labels for harvest day! I am sure my friend Allison is dreaming up names already for me. Yes?

:-)

Designers, your dream or nightmare has come true!

Get ready designers, there is competition brewing on the world wide web.

Need something designed?

99 Designs will help you run a “design contest”, where thousands of designers compete to create the best possible design for you.

All you need is a concept of what you want created and how much you want to pay for it.

I know a handful of people who are using this new method instead of hiring freelancers or design firms. It is a quick way to make $ for designers IF the work is chosen.

Good luck!

Mister 8 toes.

This is an awkward shot. His little (big) feet are on the upper left.

Ernie is such a good sport. His paw is as big as my hand.

My cat was born with 7 toes an each paw. This morning I found yet another fully developed toe. It is located on his thumb, and now he has two thumbs. I can see it is not making happy. It keeps getting hung up. I had noticed it before, back when it looked and felt like an extra little pad, now it has a nail and the nail is black and curly. I am afraid to clip it because none of his other toenails are black like that. Could it be mixed with flesh? Looks like we are gonna have to make a trip to the vet. :-( These toes have always been a huge concern for me. Yeah, they look cool but it must be painful too.

Ooopsy Poopsy

Sunshine is a wild type ringneck dove. Photo courtesy of Yip Yop.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I love Pigeons. OMG I love them so much. They are underestimated and adorable and...and....don't ever let me catch you calling them rats with wings or I might just have to punch you in the nose. My friend Yip Yop and his wife Karen share the same love for these amazing creatures.

Colorful Illustrations 93°C - Please DO NOT buy this book!

GAH!
Last week a British illustrator informed Darren Di Lieto that he had come across a book that contained his illustrations along with other illustrators work. He contacted Darren because the book is filled with interviews that he recognized as being the interviews conducted for the LCS. Everything regarding this book has been plaigarized.

Photo by Luc Latulippe

Sadly, thanks to shitty international copyright laws or lack there of, not much can be done to help. So the best we can do (unless you know a fabulous lawyer, who won't charge $600 per hour) is help spread the word and tell as many people as we can, to not buy this book.

Thanks Yip Yop for telling us about this and best of luck especially to Darren Di Lieto who has been spending all of his time trying to hunt down the bastards who created this mess.

Darren has posted all of the pages of the book, here.

More Trees!

Ever since the arrival of Saffron, the lemon tree, I can't stop thinking about what else to include in my rapid-growing miniature indoor garden. Saffron seems to be holding up well in her new environment despite dropping a significant amount of leaves and new buds.

Back home, I used to have a variety of trees to care for. My favorite was a similar species of bougainvillea to the one shown here. The leaves were a buttery yellow which would eventually fade to an apricot color. If properly fertilized and cared for, the trees stays in bloom 11 months of the year.

I found this specimen of bonsai bougainvillea on the Panama News

This Cabernet Grape Tree will also be a welcome addition. Each grape is a fraction of the size of one full-sized grape. This tree does not require the same amount of light as the Meyer lemon and Bougainvillea. I am thinking this will be perfect for the type of light we have in the front west-facing room.

My babies.

Probably any home and garden place has an orphanage for all those unwanted plants who just didn't make it to the the front of the store. They are the older ones who are a bit beaten and wilted. Glorious and lush once upon a time now sit flowerless and are pushed aside so the new baby plants can have their shot at being taken home.This is what I wanted to bring home with me yesterday and luck have it, our Bistro table has defective hardware, which meant a trip back to the store. It was fate. Went back and purchased these babies who just need a little TLC.

I also purchased brand new pots and fresh clean bark so they will have a whole new place to call their own. Didn't have a table to put them on, but I do remember seeing one in the basement. The legs are broken, but I'm pretty handy if I do say so myself!

Made by the Paris Mfg Co.

The table was in our storage unit left by the person who used to live here. It was broken so I fixed it.

After I cleaned the dirt and grime off of the table, the finish was in near-perfect condition. I noticed it had a ruler engraved into the top. It's kind of hard to see but if you look at the bottom of the photo, it is there. This must have been a old school desk.

Then when I flipped her over I found this Manufacturer's stamp.

Here is the table, now with 4 legs. One of them was broken off, but I added some epoxy and three screws to make sure it wouldn't buckle. Pretend like you don't see my unpacked moving boxes they are still filled with art work that has not been hung.

Now I just need to figure out the art direction for the table. Hmm?

Operation Deck *UPDATED* on Monday

Fancy Flours – where bakers bloom

A few weeks ago, I baked yummy cupcakes for some friends who had birthdays. I was going to make individual wrappers for each cupcake, but I just didn't have the right materials or the time to hand cut each design. I began a search for cupcake papers beyond what one can find in any store.

I found Fancy Flours

AND This...

They also have a virtual catalog, which I could spend hours pouring through.
Careful, this website is addictive. If you didn't like baking before, you will most certainly love it after visiting this site.

Giant Dwarf

I came across the most adorable handmade Spring Cloche today on Etsy, created by Sue of GiantDwarf. Sue deconstructs the past into a distinct one-of-a-kind present using recycled sweaters and eco-friendly materials to keep you fancy! Please do check 'em out if you have a moment. They are all just too darn cute to pass up.

Crumb Cupcakes Soaps

Our thoughtful and lovely friends, Under the Willow has created these genius cupcake soaps! Nestled inside this box is almost a pound of delicious handmade glycerin wholesome Crumb Cupcakes Soaps with a special whipped creamy soap frosting-- drizzled with a special blend of sweets & sea salts.

Happy Easter!

Easter Treats '08

I came across these brilliant Easter Bunnies called, The Three Wise Bunnies, made by Bloomsberry & Co.


Something else I found, but couldn't decide if I was horrified or in awe. Rather enjoyed the music and was left feeling a little haunted, by melting of the chocolate bunnies.

Lemony Goodness

YAY!
This past winter has been rough and I am desperate for Spring to arrive. To get things going a bit early, I ordered a Bonsai Meyer Lemon Tree back in December. Unfortunately, because of the unpredictable freezing temps, the plant company would only ship when it is above 50. Understandable. I waited and waited for my little tree to come. Much to my surprise, the tree arrived on Thursday. She is 1 foot tall and produces delicious bit-sized lemons.

I was thinking by the time Easter rolls around I will have enough ripe fruit to make something yummy.

Luchador Collab-O-Mask

Photo snapped by equally-talented Mrs. Walters

(above) Very super-duper talented Mr. Walters in the flesh with stencil artist extraordinaire, Peat Wollaeger at this past weekend's Luchador Collab-O-Mask event at On Six Gallery (Club Six) in San Francisco. (below) The collaborative piece Mr. Walters created for the show! All the NERFECT characters came out to play and Peat finished off the mask with his signature stenciled face.

To find out more about Peat's Collab-O-Masks, watch this really cool video!

DOCTOR WHO (I sing his name)

Look what I got from my hubby tonight! The man at Borders called me a DORK last month when I was looking for this magazine. Hubby must've felt bad for me when I came home empty-handed that night.

YAY!

We (me and three other friends who are all huge DOCTOR WHO FANS) are gearing up for April, when the new season begins!

Dog. Dog. Dog. Dog....

Took me a few seconds to realize 14 pairs of eyes were watching from this car parked outside my office.

Hello Kitty Bike

I love the Hello Kitty Store on Michigan Avenue. I have made many purchases over the years. My most prized possession? The Hello Kitty Boom Box. That is all about to change! Ever since my mountain bike was stolen this past Fall, I have had my eye on this...

Well, hmm. Now that I think about it, my crystal studded Hello Kitty Bike would get stolen with me still on it. So I am gonna go for this one...

Up up and awaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

I am a great co pilot, although I forgot my sunglasses and had to wear my cap the entire trip. Actually, that worked out well because my headset/radio was way to large for my bean-head. Jim looks so serious here. I believe he was communicating with Air Traffic Control, asking for permission to enter their airspace. OH WAIT. Nooo, we are still on the ground in this one. Haha
Sun reflecting on the ice below. We were heading back from Milwaukee.

Spent the day with our good friend, Jimmy in a 152 Cessna, 4 thousand feet above Lake Michigan. Jim finally got his pilot's license. Yay! It was one of the first days we have had sunshine in weeks. Perfect!

What a week.

Last weekend Abs was here for a short visit. She was our first official house guest in the New Casa! I can't wait another second to see all of the shots she took while here.

Gave her the quickie tour. We attempted the Sears Tower but the observation deck was closed due to insane fog. We shopped. And shopped. Hung out on the lake front. The park. West Loop. Visited Terry at the shop where he informed us the Donald Trump Tower peeps hired Terry's Toffee to make gift stuff for the guests. HOW AWESOME!

Ok, it was 22 outside that morning. We were at the Sears Tower. I was frozen solid but Abbie was a trooper!

She liked the Monkey mural. I love this photo. Looks like they were hugging.

While driving through Montrose Harbor, Abbie spotted this lonely little tree. So we parked and trudged through 3 feet of snow to get to the tree. She took some gorgeous shots. In this shot she told me where she was going to stand after setting everything up for me. I just pressed the button. It was all her vision.

Other Ernie.

The Ernie Urn, Which now proudly sits on our fireplace mantel.

A night of art

Last night, Corinne was showing in a group art exhibit. I went, observed and fell in love with one of her pieces called Breaking Borders. Encaustic on wood with found objects. photo and more info to come soon. Corinne has introduced me to some incredibly talented artists friends over the years. One of whom, I adoringly refer to as The Corn Lady. Her real name is Catherine Schwalbe-Bouzide

I love my brief moments with Catherine. She is so much fun and is constantly smiling. Her energy is warm and inviting. Any chance I get to see her I am sure to take full advantage. Last night after the art show Catherine took me upstairs for a personal tour of her studio.

Catherine's studio space is charming. Has a lived in feeling and is clearly in love with her subject. Soda-fired clay kernels of corn are everywhere. Each numbered and initialed. Some of the corn kernels are pouring out of drawers, piled onto shelves and even caged. Many are also displayed in mini installations made of worn wooden boxes, metal and found objects. Please take a gander below and if you haven't seen enough, visit her website for more!!!

Three GMO in a Box<