Ive Been Invaded by Flying Insects

This morning I had to take a bit of a break and just make something for no reason.  I do that a lot.  I had a bunch of flowers I cut out awhile back and never put them to use....so I threw together a  plant for "someones" garden just for fun.  I'm usually working on at least three different mediums of art at a time.  I get stale if I just stick to one thing too long.  Guess that's why I'll never Mass Produce anything - I would go bonkers. 

Hopefully you're not tired of seeing these winged creatures that I've been working on for my upcoming show, but I think I've finally got enough complete.  If not, Oh Well.  I'm really enjoying the dragonflies.  I scoured the shed for old pieces of metal junk to recycle.  Some legs are made with barbed wire and the tails have old tools, old drill bits, rebar ~ whatever looks fun.  I dug up an old electric line that I found out in the forest - it finally was put to use. 

 

Then I had to play with "Picasa" and manipulate some of my photo's of the butterflies.  I love that program.  So Easy and Fast.  If you haven't tried it.... You Should!

Then I had to give the Dog's a bath!  Seriously.... this is not an altered photo.  He was shakin' his head and I had it on high speed and WooHoo.... cool picture!

Now... Unfortunately, I have to go figure out what's for Dinner

I HATE THAT PART!

Never regret anything that made you smile

Mountain Air, New Mexico

 Green Chile BLT on Green Chile Cornbread

 Red Chile Burro

Pasqual's

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Be Still My Heart

As many of you Junkers and Rust Lovers can relate when you're on the prowl for your rusty junk fix you know your heart skips a few beats, you breath a little faster and your eyes are all over the place waiting to land on a found treasure..... well on our recent trip to Santa Fe, my hubby and I decided to walk the railroad track which is really close to my Dad's house and ...

What Did We Find - You Ask??? 

OH YEAH... These beauties!!!

Be Still My Heart

These of course (if you didn't know) are railroad nails.  The numbers indicate the Year they were pounded into the railroad ties.  Seem they just throw them to the side on old broken up ties and some are just laying around.  I'm gonna have to sit and marinade on what I will use these on.  They're so gorgeous I'm gonna have to just look at them a while.  We also found quite a few railroad spikes and of course I'm putting them to good use in my new creations......

DRAGONFLIES

 Found these wonderful vintage auger drill bits.   Makes a mighty fine tail... if you ask me.  The butterflies are multiplying also.  I can hardly get thru the backyard.  There doing a good job of rusting naturally.

CALLING ARIZONA ARTISTS!!!!!

SunDust Arts and Craft Festival November 19/20, 2011 SEEKING LOCAL ARTISTS SunDust Gallery is proud to announce the 1st annual SunDust Arts and Crafts Festival to be held the weekend of November 19/20, 2011. The festival will be held in historic downtown Mesa, converting Main Street into a sea of tents, music, and artsy activities. The festival is expected to draw a showcase of local artists and thousands of visitors. The focus of the festival will be on you, the local Arizona artist. Mark your calendars, get your application in early to avoid the possibility of being left out of this new festival. If your an Arizona artist or crafts person - this event is for you. The festival is located in the heart of the historic district of downtown Mesa, which features wide sidewalks, turn of the century architecture, a variety of popular restaurants and bistros, dozens of sidewalk sculptures, a small town ambiance nestled in a bustling metropolis. This popular area is also home to the world famous Mesa Art Center, the Arizona Museum for Youth, and the Arizona Museum of Natural History.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION No Late Registration Fee - Low 2 Day Event Fee SUPPORT THE LOCAL ARTS  For applications please go to  SunDust Gallery 48 West Main Street #100 Mesa, AZ 85201 480-464-6077 www.sundustgallery.com Hope to see you there!

BURN HIM, BURN HIM, BURN HIM!

That was the chant repeated by all for the 87th burning of ZoZoBra that thrilled crowds in Santa Fe last Thursday.  Fun was had by all.  Old Mr. Gloom was almost 50 ft tall and 1500lbs, but it went down fast when the fire dancers finally lit him up.  I had hoped to video tape it, but my camera died even before it was over (nothing more upsetting than losing some of the best shots to a dead battery).

We had a great 10 days visiting family, buying fun things, eating, eating, eating (especially the green chile!) and relaxing with family & friends.  Now it's back to work and getting on track with getting ready for the October Show. 

Ranchito De Cuervo

" Little Ranch of the Crow "

This is the name of my Mom's "Little Ranch".  There are no cows, no horses, no pigs.....  just CROWS and Iris.  Although, there was a Black Bear with her cubs that decided to tear down all the hummbingbird feeders and drink the sweet nectar last week.  Due to the terrible Fire up towards Los Alamos lots of animal are headed down the mountain in search of food.  Bears are not at all something you see in her backyard.

Anyway, It's Mom's Birthday, (posting this a little after the fact so she can't see her present) so we headed to New Mexico to celebrate another year and of course for the ZoZoBra celebration (pics to come later).  I thought she should have a little gift that represents her 'Little Ranch" with all it's crows and of course all the beautiful Iris that she grows. 

Happy Birthday, Mom ~ I Love You!!!

 

The sign measures about 19"x24"

There's Mom in her old Jalope!

Its Rainin Sparks and Butterflies

I know you think I've been sitting around eating bonbon's ~ you'd be wrong...... it was Triple Ginger Snaps from Trader Jo's!...  my favorite!

In between those little gems I have been getting busy ~ I've got two shows coming up and two vacations and I'm finding it hard to find time to create and deal with the 113 degrees here.  As you know I love METAL ART!!! I love creating Butterflies with various recycled items, so I'm working on more garden art, which I'm hoping will be a big hit at the Phx. Botanical Gardens Annual Fall Plant Sale coming up.  I always have a booth there in Oct.  If you're in the Phx area come on down ~ I've got some goodies I'd like to show you.

Metal Art you fool ~ what did you think!

Everything I do is by hand - hand drawn, hand cut & hand welded.  It's time consuming, but I love it.  It starts with a big piece of steel, a few markers.

  Here's a little video of me cutting out some butterflies just to show you what it's like. 

Don't cha wish your girlfriend was HOT like me!!!

Don't CHA! 

I'll bet she doesn't have an outfit like mine either!!  YEE HAW

Here's what they look like after I've welded the wings onto old Railroad spikes.  Next step will be the rod they will stand on and the rusting and/or painting stage.  

 Here's one in the early stages of RUSTING.  It's got a ways to go.

I'm off on my Santa Fe Vacation this Friday - Have A Great WEEK!

ZenTangle, GooGLE DooDLE

Ok, if that Title didn't get your attention - I give up!

I'm on this kick of ROCKs you know ~ remember these.  So many fun things you can do with them ~ it costs nothing ~ they're free! In this economy isn't that wonderful.  Something I've always done is "Doodle", especially if I'm on the phone and there is a pen handy..... I doodle on anything, sometimes on things of course I shouldn't have doodled on, "sorry honey".  Sooooo, what better thing to doodle on then ROCKs.  Then, of course, when you GooGLE DooDLE (sounds like a new recipe) fun things pop up...... like ZENTANGLE go here!!!!! WHAT!! I must of been hiding under a Rock cuz I've never heard that word.   I was ZENTANGLing and I didn't even know it!  How Fun.

I'm gettin' my ZENTANGLE on, baby!!

And just for fun ~ let's add some quotes and words of wisdom just to finish them off.

What I've learned...... 

Zentangle ruins sharpies fast!!
Everything I know I learned in Kindergarden!!

I'm off to find more flat rocks - that's harder to do than you think!

Dumpster Diving Weekend

Friends and Family know I have a problem.  They know I can't stay out of Thrift Stores, they know I hate the Mall and everything in it!  I go to the thrift store at least once a week maybe twice.  I'm trying to cut back ~ it's hard.  It's gonna be ten times harder when I have to move.  I'll be cussing out every Ginormous thing I've hauled back to this house.  I've filled 2700 sq. ft with so many lovely things I guess I just can't help myself.  Recycling and Reusing it's what I've done forever.  Blame it on my Mom, she hauled me to thrift store my entire childhood.....everything wrong with us is our parents fault,.... right?

Yesterday ~ 50% off at Goodwill.... You know I had to go.  It was a glorious day of fabulous finds:

Check out this over-the-top beautiful Persian 9x12 rug..... $50!!!!

What was the person smoking that got rid of this.

This mexican silver/pewter tray must weigh 40lbs.  It's almost 4ft x 2ft.

My dining room table is 9ft long and it takes up over half of it. 

Picked this gem up for .........are you ready?........... $24.00!!!!

Somebody slap me I must be dreamin!!!  can you tell I get a little excited about bargain hunting.

Found these two (2) large hanging candelabra's.... I'll probably take the chicken's off (not my thing)

 Still had the prior price tag on of $59.00 each
I paid $2.50
 
 Picked these up a while back - Stunning Teak foot and headboard from Bali.......$80
Later saw in an imports store for $500 ea!!!!!

Another glorious rug 9x12..... paid $100 

per Karastain value is $2200!!! SCORE

Hope you all had a great a weekend.

Who Wants to go Dumpster Diving with Me!!!!

Unexpected Gifts!

I love this world of blogging friends, friends you've made literally without hearing their voice, but listening to there heart, seeing their heart in their words and the beautiful art that they create.

Last week I received a most unexpected box of lovelies from a wonderful artist, Soraya Nulliah, you can visit her here.  She has an open He(ART)full spirit, and a gifted hand. She speaks from her soul not just her lips.  She struggles like all of us to grow and to overcome our past and present challenges that we all carry.  I know she has carried those that perhaps could not carry themselves with her words and her open spirit to grow.

She sent me the most beautiful gifts ~ a lovely party dress for my little granddaughter Stella, a beautiful sequined journal book for my thoughts ~ a most spectacular painting from her little Tara~Poo and a piece of her art work that I will treasure always.

Sometimes we just have to stop and breath and appreciate all that is good in this world and that everyone out there struggles, needs, wants and searches for the meaning of their life 

~ isn't it nice to know we are not alone ~

Thank You My He(ART)full Friend

ZoZoBra - Old Man Gloom

Zozobra is a hideous but harmless 50 Foot bogeyman marionette. He is a toothless, empty-headed facade. He has no guts and doesn't have a leg to stand on. He is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. He never wins. He moans and groans, rolls his eyes and twists his head. His mouth gapes and chomps. His arms flail about in frustration. Every year we do him in. We string him up and burn him down in ablaze of fireworks. At last, he is gone, taking with him all our troubles for another whole year.

We are headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico for a little vacation at the end of the month to enjoy this annual Fiestas de Santa Fe celebration held every autuum right after Labor Day. It's been a long, long time since I have enjoyed this celebration and I'm really looking forward to it and to seeing family again.  

The burning of Zozobra dates from 1924. William Howard Shuster, Jr. came up with the idea of creating the effigy, also called Old Man Gloom, and ritual burning. His burning marks the start of three days of celebration that includes traditional mass at St. Francis Cathedral; a reenactment of the Entrada, when Don Diego de Vargas returned to the city; a Children's Pet Parade; and the Historical/Hysterical Parade.

I'll be taking a little break from blogging for a few weeks while I finish up some small projects I've been working on.  I know I've been bad about posting the last month.  Stay with me and I'll report back after our little get away and hopefully share some great video of the demise of ZoZobra and hopefully I'll be burning all my sorrows away along with him.... that's part of the ritual to list any problems you are having and then place them in the stomach of ZoZoBra and burn them all away to welcome in the New Year.

Viva La Fiesta

 

Squirrel!!

You know that sight, sound, or feeling you get when you're walking along with your dog, having a perfectly good conversation and he bolts ~ he's got a bead on something important with the hopes of coming home with a prize..... well that's me and I say SQUIRREL a lot and bolt!    I'm all over the map of what I'm working on, what I'm doing, and what I'm feeling.  It's like a scary roller coaster ride over here..... DO Ya Wanna Go Faster!!!!! the carnival man says.

Here's a few of my SQUIRRELs!

Found this beautiful cedar lined Hope Chest at Goodwill for $10.00 ~ I couldn't leave it there!  I didn't need it! I had no where to put it!  Honey load it in the Truck! Gave it fresh paint job, moved some furniture around to accommodate it, (well I moved the other furniture in to junk room only to have to deal with it later).  All reason leaves me when I ferret out a good squirrel.

Then hubby trimmed the front Mesquite tree and what do I spy... a lovely branch in need of decoration.

Then on to watercolor painting again ..... enough of doing spiders.  It's been too long and I always have to start over, but I shall try and attempt to paint the truck on my header of this blog...

Then I think about my Son, who just moved away to Bellingham, Washington two weeks ago and all creativity leaves me momentarily... and I cry! 

Sometimes you can't keep your little Squirrels ~ These are the Squirrels that got away!

and I Cry.......