Good for ONE DANCE

I made this atc for the magazine Home Companion --- last February/March's ish --- it was featured on page 107 in their section called Paper, Scissors, Crop along with several more atcs of mine, an atc holder I created, and lots more by my dear friend and excellent artist Sylvia Luna and the talented Stacie Rife.
The photo is my pretty little mother around 1941, about 9 years old, with a Wisconsin cuz.
Regardless of circumstances or the state of one's relationship, losing a parent (or sister, or child or friend) is not something one comes to grip with easily or in a convenient time frame.
There have been enough losses in my own life and the lives of those I hold in my heart to speak with a bit of knowledge on the subject.
It is exactly two months today since my mum left this life.
I hope some day to possess both greater faith and a larger grace than I do now, but for the moment I find myself somehow lacking --- something. Whatever strength of heart or will is necessary, for understanding and acceptance, well, I haven't enough.
I study images of my mother's face at all ages, and find her sweetly and terribly beautiful and also, inscrutable.

Coming soon . . .

In the Immortal Words of

Jumping on The Bandwagon

Like 33% of Americans, I actually prefer Squandering to Shiv-whittling.

Something new

I'm a peddler now, too:

A Silver anniversary

26 years ago today our 4th kid and only boy, Silver Peregrine Gerety, made his appearance in this world. I got my first glimpse of his sweet face in the big old tilt-style mirror at the foot of the vintage brass bed in which he was born, in Ashland, Oregon. (For all of you detail oriented readers out there, a brass bed works fabulously when in labor. Simply grab the rungs and PUSH!)
Anyway, we love you, Silv!
Here are a few photos, then and now:

Silver, two weeks old, Ashland, Oregon


with big sister Corina, Ashland, 1983


Ashland, Oregon, 1983





with Sarah, Colorado, 1985


with big sister Corina, Vero Beach, Florida


with Cousin Jay (in the pink bandana) and friends in Santa Fe


somewhere out there


October, 2002 with newly arrived nephew Sebastian and his big brother Dante


cool poser


Waiting for Godot


snowboarding on Vermont grass, I mean snow

Strawberry, Apricot, Rhubarb, Cherry: Lip Happiness

Here where I live in the Foothills of the Rockies,
there has been snow on the ground since
December 19th, 2006.
LOTS of snow. Piles and piles.
Feh, more about that later.
Despite frequent flurries, it's not exactly humid.
Colorado, home of Endless (often) Blue Skies
and Chapped (always) Lips.
Having discussed this sub before, I thought
this morning I would revisit it, as I owe a quick
Thank You to someone who understands;
and YOU probably guessed it, she lives a town
over the road from me ---
The foto above is documentation of all
TUBE lip products currently found in my otherwise
relatively product spare bathroom.
I left out 4 cunning little pots o' gloss.
At least once an hour, lubrication is imperative.
If you want details of any of the lip happiness shown,
drop me a line; Shopgirrrl that I am, I'll happily
recommend.
In the meantime, that little Gnome-y tube
(second from right, top row) holds Green Tea Lip Balm.
Made by Blue-Q (click on 'Lip Happiness'), yum.
Thanx ever so, Tiffini.
xxo

Artfull Wish Listery

The next time someone wants to give me a little prezie, may I suggest
something simply lovely, like this from the brush of Audrey Kawaski?
(Click on either the pink link or brownish above to see more.)

Retrospective

It's not just the name of a vintage Buffalo Springfield album! There were so many pages we did for the Alphabetica project that were not included in Lynne Perrella's book --- such is the way of the publishing world. That is only one thing which really has me psyched about Angela's and my In This House! There is next to nothing we didn't include --- from everyone's house. Each of the interior rooms is showcased on its own page, and we tried to show at least something of the exterior walls for all of them as well.

In the spirit of shared inspiration, here's some of my art which didn't make the final cut for Alphabetica: An A-Z Creativity Guide for Collage, etc. by Lynne Perrella.

This first is half of the art I did for Judi Riesch's Alphabetica compilation:
The second, half of the art I created for Teesha Moore's:Both of these sets of pages were completed immediately after I first began experimenting with stencils and spray paint.

Spunky

Lovin' this:



Lily Allen LOOKS oh sooooo sweet, but she has her eyes wide open and does NOT hesitate to tell it like it (sometimes) is.


And while I'm at it, though only *I* fall into the category of seeming spunky for just "liking it so much"(Claire Forlani in Meet Joe Black), this somewhat dark (albeit infused with an inner light) film appealed to me, not least because I appeared as several characters in a stage version of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas' masterpiece, Under Milkwood which is the underlying narrative for this film. "Me, Mrs. Dai Bread Two, gypsied to kill in my silky scarlet petticoat above my knees --- dirty pretty knees ---"

Get it, see it, pass it on if you agree.

Showing Off and Free Art

These pics only begin to do justice to last week's show in the Salud! Room at the Fort Collins Whole Foods. It was fairly attended, considering the weather (brrrrr), and warmly received.
The show I had there last summer was screamin' with peeps, but hey, it was SUMMER!
Those of you who didn't make it Friday missed out on swell art gifts --- I had everything from pocket mirrors to pillows, mixed-media narrative originals to embellished prints in lovely vintage frames.
You also missed the dulcet tones of Colin's jazzy flute improvisations and some particularly yumma knosh, including melt in your mouth spanakopita, South African Rooibos tea, and of course, rich, deep, dark, chocolate.
I can't make up for missed tunes and you'll have to provide your own edible treats, but you can contact me anytime if you have a raging gift need and your fave auntie already owns one of everything YOU have ever created, my clever darlings!
Two other notes: First, Lisa did the FABULOUS painted wood hangings --- I picked up 4 for Valentine's gifties and 1 for my cousin's wedding which took place last December, but who cares WHEN the package arrives as long as it gets there?
And secondly, I picked two Heart Art giveaway winners --- then decided since I am already making up a new batch, I would send out a bonus. So if Dana, Susan Goodell and The Modern Hippies can let me know to where, I will get your deliveries out to you posthaste! The March Free Art in Your Mailbox giveaway will be upon us before you know it, so keep reading (and writing). 'Cuz ya just never know.

Ragtags coming soon, to a mailbox near you?

Hey kidz!
For the February drawing, I will be drawing TWO names, from everyone who leaves comments before February 9. Then I will switch the drawings to the END of the month and in March there will be 3 names picked from all who leave comments throughout the month, April 4 names, etc. until December, when I will draw 12 names and send out something to all 12. Does that sound good?
Later ---

Heart Art

Here are a few of my pendants you will find at our sale at Whole Foods tonight.
They will be available with chains and without.
After the sale --- probably Sunday the 4th, I will announce what I will be giving away for the Heart Art dealio! A name will be drawn from anyone who leaves a comment and I will send out some little something I made --- an original piece, or a piece of jewelry, or??? --- maybe two or three surprises. So be sure to check back, okay? And hey, pass it on!

Oohlalala, Ooohlalala

An embellished print I will have for sale in the Salud! Room at the Fort Collins Whole Foods Friday, February 2, 2007, 5:30 - 9:00 pm (we're opening early!)
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"Emily" looks simply stunning in her vintage gold tone frame. . .
The lyrics I transferred onto this piece are by Laura Nyro.