Beautiful Handbags.... and a brush

I met Constance Muller last summer at a craft show in Long Beach Island New Jersey, where we were both showing our work (jewelry for me, handbags for her). I instantly knew she was a beautiful person inside and out (looks like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys).

She designs fabulous, unique bags including ones she calls "Floralinas", a great collectors item. There is a story behind them, which I won't go into now. I am linked to her website and her work can be seen in the new edition of Haute Handbags from Somerset Studios.

We exchange thrift store"goodies" every once in awhile.........anyway.......this brings me to another FABULOUS BRUSH that has come to be in my collection....courtesy of Constance.

JOHN WHALLEY

For all of you assemblage artists out there......I was in Maine in January.....yes, January...my friends Walter and Arlene had purchasd two new paintings. They were stunning! Not only were they spectacular to look at, they were paintings of old "things", artfully arranged, subject matter that I am very much interested in at the moment, painted in a "classically realistic" style.

Walter mentioned that Johns studio was nearby, so we arranged a visit. I only wish I had taken photos. Imagine a huge space, overlooking a lake, full of old rusty stuff. Like his paintings though, they were organized and artfully arranged....and yes, beautiful. He was happy that I was so interested, not only in his work, but his "stuff". I was particularly interested in his brush collection. He was kind enough to let me choose one to take.


I found it fascinating that suddenly I was seeing these things in a classical painting rather than glued together.

Many of the things he uses, come from what sounds like an incredible place, the Liberty Tool Company, in Liberty, Maine.
http://www.jonesport-wood.com/jwLibToolPhotos.html

Lost and Found

I took some time yesterday to go through a closet that has not seen the "light of day" for some time. I found an oil painting I did in college (GULP!) of my father. I had unstretched it years ago. I guess you could call it "vintage". I probably did it in 1972. My father has been gone since 1974. I guess the lesson here is to go through your closets once in awhile!!! This is a priceless find for me. He was in his 70's at the time and had late stage Alzheimers.......yes they knew about it way back then. I'm not trying to bum people out here, I'm just thrilled that I found it.

Jacks' Guitar

A dear old friend passed away back in December. He had an awesome guitar collection. Some of the guitars were given to my husband. One , we found out, was warped beyond repair. I decided to "alter" it...."shrinalize" it.....whatever you would like to call it....in order to keep the energy alive.

It is a work in progress (what seems to be my usual means of getting something done....time in my studio seems to be rare at the moment).


I've glued things, painted, sanded, used charcoal and beeswax. I'm trying not to overwork it. My husband thinks it has taken on a "mexican" flair, which is not my intention....but then.....I rarely plan anything.

Architectural salvage

On the road to Telluride, in Ridgeway Colorado, there is a shop that sells old architechtural building parts and just about anything else that used to be a part of something. It's called "Old Home Highlights". I purchased some old rusty ice skates and some parts to an old wood burning stove.......I'm attempting to start some kind of creation with them. I am not sure where it is going yet, but I'll let you know.

Dogsledding in Telluride

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The last day we decided to try something different. Dogsledding! We loved it. It was a chilly start (daylight savings time interupted our sleep) but it warmed up considerably and we had a picnic midway through the trip. The dogs absoulutely love it. After much barking (since they want to get going!!) they quiet down and get down to running . It's so much more pleasant than listening to the sound of a snowmobile and smelling the fumes.

That's Bob and yours truely at the top, the view from the drivers seat, "Minnie" our fearless lead dog and last but not least, Emily (my daughter), Michael, our guide and Emilys boyfriend Ryan.




Taking off from the airport (second highest in the world!!!) you can truely see the beauty of the mountains.
I never get tired of staring out of the window.

Telluride

I'm headed to the the mountains! This is one of the views from our window. It' s almost enough to keep you inside all day just staring out......and keeping warm, of course. The skiing is magnificent. The town is still an old western landmark.


If this isn't inspiration, I don't know what is!

The black and white image was taken by my daughter, Emily, immediately before the war in Iraq...literally days before. This was spray painted on the old jailhouse in downtown Telluride.

i'll be gone for two weeks. Ciao!

Ceramics

A few years ago I decided to "go" 3D. I took some ceramics classes. I started building tall things...which I thought I should be doing. Gradually they started to become more of a relief/painting.

It occured to me that they are "shrine-ish"(thanks for the word, Michael).

Inspiration

I think it will take quite awhile to get every link, including artists, friends, travels, etc., that I love included in my list to "share". In doing some searching today, I thought of a glass artist I saw demonstrating his glass blowing technique at Wheaton Village glass center a few years ago. His name is Richard Jolley. Beautiful!

New York state of mind...

I had a wonderful time with my fellow "workshop junkies" this weekend in New York. We stayed at Joys' beautiful apartment and literally trashed the place with art supplies and yes, trash from the street. We decided to create ATCs. Small, easy to pack and we could all go home with shared creations. Joy and Kathryn also gave Jerri and I a little journal lesson. I'm not much of a journal writer (yet here I am typing away) but I am always game for new techniques.



Judy, Jane and the rest....we missed you.

Me and my honey

So....I think I almost have it!

I am headed to New York this weekend to hang out with some of the wonderful people I met in Italy. We are planning a creativity/pajama party type weekend. What a concept. I'll miss my honey, however, we all need to do something strickly for ourselves once in awhile.

Have a great weekend.

Just checking to see if this actually works!!!