Goodbye 2010

Another year is quickly coming to an end.  I have no reason to  complain about what the past 12 months  have brought me, and only hope the next 12 are equally as generous.

We were fortunate to have crisp, clear skies the night of the Solstice total lunar eclipse.  It was a magickal thing to witness as slowly but steadily the shadow overtook the moon, until just a fingernail sliver of gleaming white remained.  Once the shadow was complete, the moon appeared as a faint, muddy red orb, constantly undergoing subtle shifts of hue and dimness.  My intent was to watch until the light began to return, but earth sure casts a huge shadow - the darkness must have lasted an hour, if not more, and by 2:15am, I was so cold and sleepy, I took myself indoors to bed.

I designed this heron as a gift for my client who lives near the wildlife area where Tony and I kayak.  Patterns aren't my favorite thing to work with, but now and then I enjoy drawing one up and turning it into a completed work of glass and wire.

Christmas was a treat, as it always is.  Low key, stressless time with family, as well as calling on friends to deliver cookies. 

Here is a small portion of some of the charmingly thoughtful gifts I received.

This morning, I took myself to the Red Cup for a brunch of gringo salad and Columbian supreme coffee.  And a little read of Little Edie's charming diary.

Merry Christmas

May we all be as satisfied as Scrumbles and Miss Blue are with simple gifts.

A Little Color

Over the weekend I was thinking I need to collect my found object painting, "Lisa se Klavier" from IAO Gallery after the Red Dot auction, but Monday morning before I left the house, the mailman brought a check and a thank-you from IAO for participating in the event.  That's the kind of surprise I could get used to.   I didn't recognize the name of the buyer, but am happy the painting has a found a good home.

Tomorrow night is Trinkets and Baubles at Red Cup, for which I've finished a few new works, other than charms and the previously previewed collaged pendants.

These are quickie photos, taken just before packing and delivering to the site, and primarily for documentation, but with a gloomy winter weekend looming, it seemed the thing to do to share some glowing color.

This evening is Paseo's First Friday Gallery Walk, which I recommend taking advantage of - much fresh art up and down the street (including some brand new saucy text pendants in A Jeweler's Art), treats and libations, caroling, some sort of tree-lighting ceremony, and mostly - one final balmy evening before winter blasts   into OKC.  

Tony and I were planning a kayak outing this afternoon, but time didn't allow, so I'm watching the lengthening shadows, knowing this could be the last golden, friendly day for some time.  

Oh well, more reason to bundle up at the easel and make more paintings....

Trinkets and Baubles

Red Cup Coffee House is having their annual holiday extravaganza in less than two weeks.  December 4, in fact.  While I'll have an assortment of arts and jewelry on offer during the event, today I created a new set of collaged pendants.  Here there are, before soldering.
This photo shows side 1.  Images are comprised of paper, transparencies, labels, foil, superfine glitter, tiny stars, text.

 Here you can see the reverse side of the same pendants.

leaves in birdbath

leaves in birdbath
Originally uploaded by glassgrrl_ok

Autumn is so beautiful.

Music and Art

At 90 minutes, the drive to Tulsa for Decopolis' Gatsby Picnic was a jaunt.  (The picnic was slightly disappointing in its near minimalism, but I'm still glad to have gotten to experience it.)  At closer to 5 hours, the carry on to Kansas City must qualify as a proper road trip.  Jeri and I  made it to our destination without incident, and enjoyed a beautiful, high-energy outdoor performance by The Parlotones, who didn't even have their name on the ticket.  Apparently 98% of the audience were there for Blue October, and it seemed a large portion of those had traveled from out of state for the show.  We tried to stay & enjoy the 'main feature', but after having got what we came for, along with some photos and a chat with the band after their set, it just didn't seem the right thing to risk clouding the experience with a different band, different sound, so we retired to our hotel room up the street, content to bask in our delight.

Back home, it's been time to ratchet up the creative gears a notch or two.  Pendants and other small items being made in time to offer at the Peace Festival, and completion of my mixed-media painting for IAO's Red Dot.  A few detail images:

(Pics will enlarge with a click.) Want to see the entire piece?  I guess you'll have to attend the Red Dot auction, won't you?  (Or at least wait until I have a quality, all-over photo to share.)
It's titled "Lisa se Klavier", having been inspired by a song of that title.  You can hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AME5nO672IY

Cooler, gray autumn days are so perfect for taking the kayak up to Stinchcomb, where the migratory birds are gathering on their journey south.  It's a real pity hunting season opened Saturday, and more a pity that hunting is allowed at a wildlife sanctuary, and one inside the city limits.  The 'ba-boom' of shotguns does not make for idyllic kayaking ambience.  Nor does the idea of coming back with extra holes in my body.
Guess I'll stick around the house for a while and deal with things like rusted out water heaters.....

Busy

Click image for expanded view.

Goodbye Summer

More or less, anyway.   It's been a somewhat slackery season for art.  Commissions here and there, small batches to replenish the galleries, the usual face painting gigs, but no big exhibits or receptions for me to buckle down for.
With the advent of autumn, however, the calendar begins to fill up.  Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition's annual fundraising gala, 12x12, is coming up September 25.  More details here http://www.ovac-ok.org/Events/events_12x12.cfm

This year, in addition to the invitational artworks, there will be 12 photographs depicting the historic Fred Jones Manufacturing building , offered individually or as a complete set.  There was a stunning variety of imagery submitted by area photographers, which was (somehow) pared down the final dozen.  I'm honored and delighted to have had one of my photos selected:

In fact, I need to rush off this afternoon to sign the final print.

Another annual fundraiser is also coming up - IAO's Red Dot.  I've been invited to paint a piece for this show, which will be in November, though I haven't the exact date.  Should I manage to create something satisfactory, I'll post it here and give details of the show.  Well, I'll give the details when I get them, whether or not I've managed to harness the Muse.

The Peace Festival will be on a Sunday this year, due to scheduling issues with the Civic Center, but I expect to be there nonetheless.   Last year was my first absence in over a decade, as I couldn't resist the offer of sitting for the portrait workshop at Quartz Mountain, which coincided with Peace Fest's date.   Make a note of Sunday, November 14, when I'll be joining with a very festive assortment of individuals and groups offering info, networking, food, and a wide array of gift shopping opportunities.   I'll have my glass work, along with text and hammered wire jewelry, and who knows what else.  

In non-art news, Tony and I have discovered the addictive joys of kayaking, and make a point to hit the water several times a week.  With the two public boathouses in the city, our very reasonable monthly fee allows unlimited paddling both at the Oklahoma River downtown (although one has to share the water with Olympically-training rowers and paddlers, which can be nerve wracking at times), and the Route 66 Boathouse at Lake Overholser, offering more peaceful adventures and wildlife sighting up the North Canadian River and into Stinchcomb Wildlife area.   A generous friend has offered us the loan of his kayak, which was otherwise gathering dust in storage.  Having that little craft to cram in my car allows me more freedom to be impulsive, without worrying about boathouse operating hours. 

We were well on our way to pricing assorted kayaks, and making a plan to purchase our own, but you know how life works.   Yesterday I received a hysterical phone call from Sara, on her way to work, telling me she'd wrecked her car.  The Saab we'd helped her buy only last month.  Ouch.  Other than being a little sore, she seems to be okay, though naturally frightened about how much worse it could have been, and very down about losing her wheels.  So, there goes the kayak fund, and much, much more, no doubt.  Ah well.....

Red and Shiny

Haven't fired up the soldering iron for a while, but the east window gives nice morning light, and since I had a special request, I gathered some materials:

And whipped up a hand mirror:

(Click on images for detailed enlargement.)

Hot Hot Hot

Has it been a month already?   I guess so.  Sometimes there's just too much living to do to take time blogging it (but that's a pretty lame excuse).  Sometimes life experiences are so diverse it's a daunting task to condense them down to a couple paragraphs, which is a less lame excuse in my book.   Anyone with a burning desire (?) to keep up with my day-to-day stuff is more than welcome to look for me on facebook, which is the perfect place for random nonsense that may contain a few genuine specks of interest, but only if you pay very close attention.
Things that have been going on: Tony and I have a weekly date night, cost be damned.  Sort of.  As long as we can splurge for a bottle of wine and have enough dosh left for an appetizer or salad, and maybe dessert, we call it a success.  The challenge is to find a new place each week.  While it can be a place we've visited before, it can't be a previous date night experience.  I check the online menus to make sure there are at least one or two meatless offerings for me.  (Though to be fair, several places that had none listed were more than happy to have the chef make adjustments for me.  I don't relish being difficult, so  it's always a delight to find tastily prepared vegetables strewn over my pasta rather than a slab of animal.)  We also choose to stay nearish to home, having no desire to battle traffic up to Edmond or Memorial Road, or the Southside.  Naturally, chain restaurants are out as well, so you can imagine how the pressure sometimes can mount when Tony casually asks, "where will it be for date night tonight?"   After the first two or three, we began rating them on facebook.  Things like service (of course), ambience, menu variety and/or flexibility, and that pesky, mysterious bar tax one sometimes encounters in Oklahoma City.  I haven't cracked the code yet.  Someone suggested it had to do with the "Empowerment Zone", which involves Midtown and Downtown, but some cafes in those areas didn't seem to charge it.  If they did, maybe they just wisely incorporated it into the cost of the drink (bottle) itself. 
Anyway, rather than going on about it here (too late, you have observed), I think I'll attempt to compile our experiences and favorite/least favorites eating places into a useful (and hopefully somewhat entertaining) entry.  I also intend to take my camera from now on, to document our meals.

In other news, we've had a foster kitten for a few weeks.  I think she may go home tomorrow or the next day, and I'll probably miss her.

She's a wee thing called Paris, who likes to lie on records, and help out with the Friday evening wine.

The red did come out of my white capris, so all is well.

We're on the verge of joining that kayak movement that seems to have gripped the Big Town.  Tony went this afternoon, and I may just sign up this week for a month of unlimited water adventure.  I would be a little more enthusiastic if the temperatures would drop 25 degrees, or one were at least allowed to splash around and swim in one of the local bodies of water.  It's cruel to be so close, yet so far. 

Artwise, I'm creating for myself mostly, except for the momentary laspe of reason in which I said yes to another wedding job.  This one only entails the two Mazel Tov chairs, and it's early enough in the project for me to still be hopeful that all will work out, the first time.  We'll see.

Changing Gears

The Button Show was much fun, and by the second night, all three of my pieces had sold!  Plus, one had received an honorable mention award, so it goes without saying I hope The Children's Center makes it an annual event.
Even though I've more ideas for canvas in mind, it's time to change gears for a while, and get back to the metal work. Today I've created a couple pairs of earrings and two necklaces, probably destined for Istvan Gallery by the weekend.
First, though, it's the exciting Edith Head exhibit at City Arts Center, along with "Mother's Hats".  What to wear, what to wear?......

Paseo Festival is behind me, so let me offer a great big happy thank you to all my pals who came along to keep me company, help set up and/or tear down, bring treats and drinks, as well as the plethora of  folks who offered their body parts to be painted.  It was fun, fast, and furious, and now I can move on to other things.
The first other thing will be Button Day at the Children's Center in Bethany, OK.
http://www.thechildrens-center.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=322&Itemid=374

I've had three paintings accepted to the show, including these:

Opening festivities are Thursday and Friday nights, 6:30 - 9:30 at The Children's Center, 6800 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK, and the show will continue through the  following week.  (I think.)  More details to be found by clicking the link.

Festival Time

I know I'm delinquent, and there's really no time just now to go into the storms and the storms and the storms, etc.  Mostly it's been the wedding job keeping me occupied, and hopefully it's coming to an end very soon, seeing as the wedding happens this weekend, as does my long stretch of body painting at Paseo Festival.
With the festival in mind, and prompted by the sudden onslaught of thick hot sticky steamy weather, I was compelled to hit the thrift shop in search of fun, bits and pieces that would be practical to work in.  No one wants to get glitter and smears of paint all over their favorite clothes, but then, neither does one want to spend long hours amongst the public wearing something that's not at least a little delightful.  When garments are picked up for one or two bucks at the second hand store, there's not such a worry about what will happen to them during the festival frenzy.  Unless they're still such lovely pieces that it'd be a shame to ruin.  Ah well.....
Amongst today's loot (three skirts, three tops, a romper, and a belt, all for under $20), were the cotton/lycra halter top by Angie, and the silk two-tone skirt shown here.  I'm wearing them today; maybe they'll be retired until after the festival safely passes.  ;)

This sweet instant ensemble was also part of today's haul.






Part of the epic wedding job was five huge umbrellas.  (Two painted in a wilder, colorful style, and three 'elegant', more subtle ones).  They're finally finished, as are the two decorated chairs.  Well, the chairs are almost finished.  They're coming back for some last-minute touches, because really, what else have I to do a couple days before a big crazy festival?

Speaking of which, don't forget to come see me on Paseo, NW 30th and Paseo Street, Oklahoma City, all weekend long, from Saturday morning till Monday evening.  I'll paint you up real fancy with my exciting new kit of body paints!  And add glitter at no extra charge.
My text and wire jewelry will be (is already) on offer at "A Jeweler's Art", also on Paseo, as well as "Istvan Gallery" on North Western.
Now I think I'll go have a little rest before the creating begins again.

Having heard of exotic, violet-flavored liqueurs that were once widely-available until they seemed to disappear, I found myself investigating, to see if they were really gone forever.  It seems a few are now being created again, though not always easily acquired.  At least not yet.  While waiting for the right moment to drop some $ for a special postal order, I figured it couldn't hurt to experiment a little here at home.  Due to my lenient groundskeeping technique (which means anything with a flower avoids being cut, no matter where it should be located), I've acquired a modest patch of violets in my north-facing back yard.  

Though I did feel a twinge of regret at harvesting those beautiful, happy blooms, it really is just a fair payback for those years of allowing the plants to grow and multiply. Right?

So I gathered what I could, gave them a quick rinse in cool water, packed them in a little jar and covered them in vodka.  French vodka, actually, though I doubt that really matters.

Stashed away in Tony's blue cupboard, the color quickly leached out of the flowers, leaving them pretty much white. 

Some new face painting supplies have got me excited to play around with fresh ideas.  A Chinese brush painting book is inspiring me.....

Stripey Nose II update:  I'd managed to procure a 10-day dose of amoxicillin, which I'd been putting in his wet food twice a day.  There was a little medicine leftover, so on day 11, I went out to dose him again, only he wasn't on his little cozy couch spot in the garage.  Despite my calling and searching I never spotted him again. 

Until this morning, exactly two weeks later.  It was rather a shock to see him sitting at the bottom of the back steps this morning, as if all those days hadn't elapsed.  Naturally, I immediately offered him a tin of food, which he immediately accepted. While his obviously broken back leg is still obviously broken, the other three limbs seemed much less injured and painful.  He lounged around most of the day, was still here for dinner, after which he sauntered (as much as a three-legged cat can) down the path to nestle in the shrubs by the garage.

Sadly, when I went out at dusk to check on him, he wasn't there.  Stripey Nose III (also known as Ring Tail) was lurking around, as was the big, strange, fighty ginger cat who's trying to horn in on our territory.  More disturbing than that, though, were the rather substantial blood spots and puddles that were scattered along the path and near the garage entrance.  Was it a fight?  Or a freshly-opened wound?  I don't know. I do know Stripey II is a toughy, and a survivor, but that doesn't make it any easier when worrying about him.  

Some Reading, and A Dress

Finished This:

Now working on this:

Springy days mean I finally got the opportunity to wear this lovely, 1930s (possibly early 40s, I'm no expert) dress purchased early in the year from a fellow member of Fedora Lounge.  The cotton is heavy duty, the print is bright and festive, and the sleeves and pocket tops are adorned with colorful buttons.  Unfortunately, early in the wearing, the metal zipper slide gave out and disappeared, so dress will have to go back into the closet until I find a suitable replacement zipper. 

What's in a Word?

It seems wrong to call a cloche a bucket hat.

My hat and parasol did not save me from a rather nasty sunburn on my decolletage during the afternoon of the art festival.  At last view, both my banner and Tony's & Sara's joint creation had garnered several bids.  Here, I, my daughter, and my niece are admiring one of my favorite pieces.  Sadly, I was outbid; fortunately, I know one of the joint artists, Miss Chandler Wilson, and have an opportunity to commission a custom painting.  Perhaps incorporating a portion of my own dismembered doll parts collection.

So, it did snow, and the daffodils floundered in the cold.

But we were not daunted, and had a vaguely bizarre night of bowling with Sara and several of her friends. Either we are cool parents, or particularly dweeby ones.  It would have been a little more normal if the kids were 12 or 14, but with them being mostly 18 and capable of driving themselves around to their own amusements, it felt as if we'd slipped into some sort of time warp.  Of course, just being in a bowling alley may have been a contributing factor....

For those of you who couldn't find me at Medieval Fair this cold, blustery weekend, it's because I wasn't there.  Just didn't have the heart, way back in December, to send in the funds and application, let alone purchase a new canopy after the destruction of mine last year.  It's probably safe to say a certain era has come to an end, and I'm not mourning it.  Instead of slogging down to Norman for three days, I stayed closer to home, kept up with the massage clients, was able to answer the call to face paint for a last-minute birthday party, work a little on the first of three massive market umbrellas to be painted for a wedding. 

 It's like having a parachute spread on the table, and rather tedious work, what with having to allow each piece to dry before moving onto the next.  Oh, and that thing about cats wanting to walk/sleep/play on the table.

The other thing I was able to do, having put Med. Fair decidedly in my rear view mirror, was attend IAO's Biting the Apple, erotic art show and party.  I'd entered a piece, so was happy to mingle with the crowd, meet many friends, and see the assorted artistic offerings and entertainments.  Last year was our first time to attend, and I'd come away with the impression it was a rather lame affair.  This time, however, was quite a bit more festive.  Tony and I ended up going both nights. The second night had a theme of 'circus/fetish ball', and as the evening drew on, some odd costumes certainly showed up.  We left the wild looks to the (mostly) younger crowd, and wore tamer apparel.  I did have a woman ask me if I was Zelda, and another tell me I was Dorothy Parker.  

Some photos are safer to show than others.....

Everyone's gotten into the creative act in recent days; we volunteered to paint two of the canvas banners to be auctioned off at Classen's art festival - Tony and Sara tackled one, I had the other. It's been a good laugh to see how those two think when it comes to artistic expression. Final, finished product photos have yet to be taken, but as the banners are due to be turned in tomorrow, I reckon it'll happen soon.



Last Saturday, MJ stopped by during her whirlwind, going-out-of-town preparations, to bring me a gorgeous spring bouquet. No reason to let it waste away in her dark, lonely house, so I gladly accepted it. Even though I can't be around lilies without getting pollen on my nose..... Buster thinks they make a suitable background.

The past few days: heavenly hints of spring. The next few: supposedly a spring equinox blizzard. There's plenty of straw around the garden to cover up the tender sprouts, although any tree buds are on their own. Yesterday our northernly-exposed, slow-on-the-uptake daffodils finally bloomed. I'll stroll out again tomorrow evening to see if there's much difference in their situation.

Actually, more than for the plants, I'm concerned about our poor feral Stripey Nose II kitty, who comes around for food. A week or two ago I noticed mysterious blood drips on the path, as well as some splotches in an outdoor food bowl. It was a few more days before I saw the cat and the damage done to him, by a dog (or dogs, possibly, as a few days ago our own Inky Slinky Black Jack was blatantly attacked by two dogs, right outside my window! I rushed out and chased them away, but Jack disappeared under the neighbor's house for several hours, before finally limping inside to hide under the bed upstairs.)
So, Stripey is a real mess, can barely limp on two legs, but manages to bring himself up the path a couple times a day, asking for food. I give him a tin, with vitamin e and brewer's yeast mixed in. I'd dose him with amoxicillin if I could get my hands on some, but nothing's simple these days, it seems, with veterinary care. Any place I know to take him would require a round of 'routine' care (vaccinations, etc.) before even addressing his wounds. Today I discovered he's made a nest on an old couch in our garage. The door is stuck open since that time a few years ago when we disconnected the electricity that ran from the house, via two spliced, very un-code wires across the garden path. With the threat of cold cold winds and rain and blizzard snow, I've tried to make a bit of shelter around the couch, without changing it so much he'll not want to use it.
After his evening meal, he likes to relax (as much as a cat in pain can relax, I suppose) on a shabby mat by the back door, soaking up a bit of evening sun. I wish I could bring him inside for the storm, but suspect he'd freak out and do himself even more harm trying to escape. Poor brave fellow.

A hint of spring

It's been a long, gray, cold, wet, dreary winter. Typical for some places, but hardly acceptable conditions for the sunny plains. If the birds know what they're about (and I suspect they do, at least as much as the weathermen and most likely tons more), spring is about to properly descend upon us. There has been endless twittering and trilling and scolding and all manner of frisky avian activity in the trees. Beneath the sheltering straw, I've spotted seedlings of fennel and anise hyssop looking for the sun, and tulips are pushing through the soil.
Still, most days are more suited to, oh, a little reading perhaps? Good thing the annual library book sale just happened, and good thing I (as usual) gave in to that visceral reaction I have to books.
Take a look at my haul!








Of course, grrl does not live by books alone, so I have just treated myself to my very first steel-boned corset. If I don't break it (or myself) whilst learning how to properly wear and care for it, I look forward to a spring and fall of tailored fashions. Summer? Oh I don't think so. Far too hot for any extra layers at all.