Where Bloggers Create II Blog Party

Welcome to my studio! I wanted to clean up a bit before the party, but I've been really busy with Etsy orders. So, for better for worse, here it is.

My studio is in what would be the family room in our New Port Richey, Florida hom. It started with a work table and a desk and has grown to encompass the entire room with 5 work surfaces, which are usually covered with atlases, maps, dictionaries and sheet music.



my work table, with the best piece of furniture I ever bought - the map drawers. However, all my maps are in a different location and I have sheet music and misc. papers in there.



the computer, my son's guitar (for concerts while I work), and raw materials.




the newest area - an additional work table and shipping area.



night shots:

Memorial Day Festivities

Our neighborhood had an old-fashioned Memorial Day parade, followed by a gathering at the ball field, where there were speeches, singing of the National Anthem, reciting of the Pledge Of Allegiance and a moment of silence while Taps played.

The parade was adorable with a fire engine and decorated cars, bikes, wagons and golf carts. Some of the golf carts had patriotic music playing. We had front rows seats on our front porch.

Backyard Ideas

So intimate and cozy.




This we could do. We have a tree that pretty close to the back of the house that would work.

House Changes

The house looked pretty bad when we bought it. At least the outside did. I've slooowwwly been updating the porch and front yard. I like last year's flower beds better, but the cold weather pretty much killed everything.

2010




2009




2008

Coming In August!

I am beyond thrilled! My work will be featured in these two fine publications in their August issues.

I can't wait to see how they look!

I can imagine me standing in the check out line at Publix, holding RealSimple and telling people, "That's me. The coasters. Cool, huh?" Yeah, I'm classy like that.

Where Bloggers Create

I'm going to participate in this next month - should be fun!

Artist Statement

Ewwwww. Just the thought of having to write this gives me the willies. Explain why I do what I do? I don't think so. Besides, I'm not THAT kind of artist. I alter things. I don't make statements or tell stories with my art. Do I even make ART? I'm not sure. I haven't found a label for what I do yet. I don't like the sound of "crafter" and, to me, an "artist" is someone who draws or paints. Artisan? Hmmmmm...sounds pretentious.

Anyway, my tea light holders are being published in GreenCraft magazine (yes!!) and I was asked to answer questions about why I made them and what inspires me. It was so hard for me that I almost cried. Seriously. I'm not happy with the way it turned out, but I had a deadline. I guess I will try to come up with something.... or go this route:

"Mark Eitzel from the venerable American Music Club (whose CD jackets by the way contain brilliant art and who many believe is one of the best songwriters of all time) once said he writes “pretentious little songs of quiet self-loathing.” If only all artists could be as honest about their work.

You may have noticed that the underground art project does not have an artist statement. It is not because we could not think of some lofty, pretentious things to say about nothing, or babble about some metaphysical junk, but rather because we feel the whole idea of an artist statement is, well, to be honest, is just down right SILLY. Do you really care what some artist has to say about what his work is about or what it SHOULD be about? Can you not tell these things from simply viewing his work? Why is art so pretentious? Why are artists so pretentious?

Art is completely subjective (unless of course you are an art dealer, then in that case ’subjective’ is a bad word) and is one of the purest forms of expression that eliminates the need for explanations or commentaries. If you like a painting then that’s great, if you don’t then that’s great to. If you can’t decide, then that’s not great, and you should be forced to read endless artists statements until you have an opinion.

If for any other reason you really want to read some poor misguided artist’s pretentious words, the art galleries and the web are full of them (knock yourself out), we however would much rather you listen to Mark Eitzel’s pretentious little songs of quiet self-loathing. After which, you might even be inspired to pick up the brush and start painting.

Stay original… not pretentious."