Lost Aussie on the loose

Going (to) MAD in NYC

This weekend the Museum of Arts & Design held it's grand re-opening with free admission on both days.  Despite a rather yukky weather forecast, DH and I headed uptown this afternoon to see what all the fuss was about....sadly the display of balloon critters was about as far as we got as there were long lines waiting to go inside and after a tepid attempt at standing in the queue for about 15mins we gave up and decided to come back another day!
Can't say I've ever seen folk wearing enough balloons to resemble crustaceans before, so a few happy snaps of these strange creatures were "quite" worth the journey.

Since we were already "Intown" seemed a shame to waste the trip and we decided to walk up Madison Ave for a bit...just to see what we could 'see'!  Lots of great eye candy in the windows of Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, Donna Karan and the like and despite the rain and showers a few interesting pics were to be had!
We stopped off for a late afternoon brunch at our favourite uptown restaurant "Orsay"...the food is great, even if the waiters are rather snooty!...unfortunately it seems that their "green" efforts include dispensing with coffee spoons....oh dear!

Some Itsy Bitsy Things

Next week I am heading off to Portland, OR to attend Art and Soul.

Aside from meeting up with old friends, making new ones and taking a class or two, it's always fun to trade a little art here and there with people you know, and many you don't.

I've made a bag full of different goodies to take as trades, including about twenty of these "itsy bitsy charms" made with - believe it or not -  "Lost Aussie" stamps!

If you are there and see me at breakfast or in the hallway...feel free to stop by and stick your hand in the lucky dip bag and see what you come up with!

A Sense of Accomplishment

Despite the fact that these days I am quite caught up in the world of digital art and photography, there is nothing quite like the sense of accomplishment that you achieve from MAKING something!

I love to knit, sew, bead, paint furniture and even Cook!...though I seem to do that a whole lot less these days as without the boys here, plates of cookies and yummy cheesecakes just seem to be an added burden to the middle age diet!

Since my sewing room is in the basement and is less than sunny, creating the odd Art Doll (or two) in my Studio has become my soothe to the "Muse of Making"!  There are a number of odd and varied dolls that adorn the walls and shelves in here, each one a little different from the last and usually a by product of something I've started and not finished or an odd hairball idea I've taken and run with.

The latest little lady is a combo of rusty metal, a wired and beaded piece I had started and could not decide what to do with, a painted head, left over from some other project and a pair of new wings that were born today...

I guess that's the fun thing about ART....you can take it in any direction that you choose and make of it what you will!

Sweet 15!

Hard to believe that it is 15 years since I was blessed with the arrival of this "little man"...sporting a shock of strawberry locks that have dimmed little over the years.

Now he's not much less taller than his big brother and certainly taller than me....
Oh how time flies!!!

Hopefully your 'prezzie' will arrive soon and we can do some virtual "Photoshopping" together....

Happy Birthday Darling...I love you and miss you
xxoxoxox

The Weekend In Pictures

I've been a little busy over the past few days with some unexpected (but thoroughly enjoyable) visitors from Canada.  My friend Nancy and her husband David dropped in for a few days.  Their OH so wonderful deal with Priceline dot com turned out to be a bummer situtation and so they needed a place to stay for a few days....and we were more than happy to oblige!  After exploring NYC and Long Island since Thursday they went off on their way this morning, heading towards Philly to see what other adventures they can find.

Since the days are already cooling and the sunny opportunities will start to dwindle soon, DH and I decided to do a little exploring of our own today and headed off to a local fair at Great Neck, LI.

For now there are pics to post, but tomorrow there will be a little "Birthday Art" as my 'smallest man' turns a whopping big 15 on the 22nd!!!!

Digital Distraction

When the world seems like it's at sixes and sevens and the rollercoaster has hit a low spot I can always find some consolation in tinkering away in Photoshop.

And then posted below is the latest encaustic piece I've been working on, completed a couple of days ago.  I had fun using some different inclusions to give the piece a little dimension and light.  It will be up for grabs on ETSY as soon as I can sort out the pictures to post for it.

Rest In Peace Miss Lucy

My heart breaks as I write this post as this is the first time in 10years that I have lost a pet....and while we have (or had) 5 adopted cats and one adopted dog, none of them leave my life without a daily touch of love.

Miss Lucy came to us from a Petsmart store in Houston 9 years ago, along with her 'sister'. another black cat, that the adoption lady did not want to have in her store over Halloween and so I was persuaded to take them both.

Lucy has been a strong and faithful member of our family, a polydactyl cat (with extra fingers and toes) and love and affection to match.

She had been poorly the last few weeks and after no show of improvement I took her to the Vet today and after extensive tests it was determined that there would be no great path to recovery.  Dr Johnson was very kind and caring and I cannot fault his care.

I wish our Lucy Godspeed and may she catch many birds and butterflies along the next path of her journey.

You will be missed on the corner of my pillow and the edge of my bed...take care my precious little one!

There By The Skin of My Teeth

OK....so here is my DUH! story for today, the week, the year.....

Yesterday DH and I took off out and about to do a little furniture reconnaissance, since we will have a houseful of NINE at Christmas and need to start making plans for where and what everyone will sleep on.
We got back home around 5pm and decided that we were a little shop worn and a nap was in order.

At 6:45pm something rang a bell inside my head and I woke up with a start and realised that we were supposed to be at the Art League's Gallery opening at 6pm!
Frantic scrabbling ensues, quick showers and the 30 second make-up event and we were on our way, arriving at the gallery around 7:20pm as throngs of people were leaving.
Squeeze through the front door to the desk to find that all the info packets and pamphlets have gone and they have run out, with more to be printed next week, there is a dribble of wine left and a few paltry bits of cheese and crackers remain!  Soooo.seems like it must have been a rip roaring event!

With a snifter of tired Red in our cups we proceed to traverse the remaining crowd and have a peek at the gallery show....some 50 Artists on display with work ranging from Watercolour, Oils, Sculpture and so on...I finally find my Encaustic piece and nearly DROP OFF MY PERCH when I see the much vaunted and valued LITTLE RED DOT  affixed to my work!  Hubby went to enquire and was told SOLD....sorry..
Oh but I'm not sorry, thrilled I am, said I!
Better late than never!  I just wonder who bought it while I was napping?
Since in all the rush I forgot to take my camera I will have to go back this week and snap some pics.

And as for Sunday - DH had to take care of some work in the City this afternoon.  Business things to follow up in the wake of the hurricane down south.
I decided to make a trip to B&H Photo and then stock up on some supplies at Dick Blick while he was busy and of course, took my camera along for the ride.

Art & Life

Kind of a tried but true title for a post that fits almost anything artsy...but it really rather works with the mood.

I'm struggling right now with stuff to do with the boys.  Neither of them are happy and I need to figure out what to do to remedy that and balance those mind bending conundrums with the fact that this weekend I will be attending  the second Gallery opening with my work being featured as part of the cast!

What can I say... It's a thrill when there are a bunch of folk wandering about a gallery and admiring the art work and you can take ownership of a piece (or two)?

Unbeknown to me the Art League of Long Island included my encaustic piece as part of their postcard promo...Truly a scrapbooking moment!

James and David...I love you both,,, and nothing is done in my life without you on my heartsleeve!

Painful Maintenance

Since I firmly believe in the new age adage of back-up or cry....I spent most of today sorting out a new external hard drive for my main machine and backing up all my files.
10 hours later and it's finally finished, but my what a PITA!  Still, it's done now and the daily refresh will only take minutes (I hope).

In the mean time I hopped down to the basement...aka Sewing Emporium.. and started making a few trades to take with me to Art and Soul in Portland. I've started with some dinky little machine felted hearts filled with lavender and will see what else the muse comes up with tomorrow.

After all the data encryption and file crunching was done tonight I stuck pen to tablet and worked away at a few digital paintings that I have on the go.  I'm messing around with a few different styles and concepts, not quite my usual grunge thing, but I am liking them nonetheless.