sitting up late

Because when you have a teenaged daughter, that's what you do. I've been to a lovely party, where I saw people I know, people I might know, and people I pretended to know though I don't remember having ever seen them before.
So now I'm sipping the last bits of wine from my hand (mouth?)-blown glass, waiting for the girl to come home, watching "House" (a disturbing recent addiction), and exploring snippets of my past on YouTube.
Ian Anderson frightens me, even thirty years ago. I wasn't so big on "Aqualung" and any possible hits, but I had three records (still do, somewhere, and yes, they're 'records', not tapes or cds or mp3s or anything modern) - "Heavy Horses", "Songs from the Wood", and " Broadsword and the Beast." I had a certain from-the-misty-past romanticism back then, clearly.
So while I'm drawn to the other-worldly musical treat of the British hippy band, looking at the videos now, I openly admit that the whiskers and crazy hair and cigarettes and intense eye thing are somewhat frightening.
I wonder if his grandchildren see him differently?......
In a few hours, the winter solstice will be upon us. The shortest day, the longest, darkest night. But that means from here on out, days will grow longer, nights shorter, and spring is on her way. Slowly, but surely.

Creative Wings Stretching.....

This is me, as I sit in Los Milagros Studio, Lynn and the other atists capturing their versions of what they see (Lynn's was this whimsical monoprint). Perhaps I'm considering what I will be creating next. Perhaps I'm dwelling on the new offerings in my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5036398

or my brand new digs over at Art Fire http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=13160 which is a fresh little place (though maybe not little for long), to investigate if you find the plethora of choice over at Etsy somewhat overwhelming.

But most likely, I'm dreaming of getting my fingers inky back in my own studio. I think I'll do that now.....

Artful Events Abound!

Make some time this weekend to unleash your artistic shopping genie in order to nab some fabulous, one-of-a-kind treasures.
You can begin Friday evening on the Paseo (NW 30th and Paseo, near Walker, Oklahoma City), from 6-10 pm. Galleries and studios will open their doors to invite you in out of the cold night air, for treats, snacks, entertainment, and exciting new works of art.
Pay special attention to Adelante! Gallery, which is hosting its annual Virgen de Guadalupe and Other Sacred Images show, featuring art and giftware in a wide array of price ranges, created by 12 local artists. (Including me, whose offerings are glass stars, crosses, collaged charms, candle boxes, and mixed media Virgen works on canvas.)

On the off chance you don't manage to complete your gift shopping on Paseo, never fear, for the following day (Saturday, Dec. 6, in case you weren't paying attention), you can delve into Red Cup festivities. The charming, somewhat wacky coffee house (3122 N. Classen, OKC) will open its doors at 7 pm, offering an amazingly amazing display of ornaments and smallish artworks, created by local artists, many of whom are no doubt loyal Cup regulars (nothing like a fabu cup o' joe and a frito pie to keep the muse happy).
Glassgrrl Studios (me, again) will have a number of fresh, exciting creations available there, throughout the month of December. Keep in mind though, things sell fast during the party frenzy, so for best selection, come Saturday.

Several boxes of newly-made glass charms will be offered, as well as collaged pendants, colorful, stained glass stars and crosses, and maybe some insect-inspired creatures. (I only add the qualifying 'maybe' becuase as I type, the insect bits - glass wings and bodies - are lying on the table, waiting to be assembled....

Come out this weekend to wrap yourself in the rich cocoon of Oklahoma artistry, eat some treats, share some smiles, and feel good.

One more blog about art and life...

...because there can never be too many.
Or maybe just because I've found some of the other places I've been using to be too cumbersome to negotiate. Some say blogging is addictive; I say it's somewhat necessary in order to maintain a steady online presence, and keep up with networking, but if it isn't easy and intuitive, it holds no appeal to me.

Really, if I have to click and flick and refresh and resize and move files around and all that other stuff that I'm barely capable of, it's not long before I'm realizing that's time I could be spending cutting glass, tearing paper, spreading caulk, sketching, painting, writing. So I'm going to give this happy, simple, easy-to-negotiate place a try, in hopes it will not be strangulating to my muse.
Speaking of which, it's time to create right now, but check back, because maybe I'll share what I did......