BUSY,BUSY, BUSY!

Here's what I've been up to the last 3 weeks:
This is my finished "Viva Mexico" charm

Front Back
On the 7th, My cousin Julie and I visited our 90 yr old Aunt Rose and scanned all of her family picture albums onto my computer. We had a blast and thoroughly enjoyed her stories. She was able to identify everyone in every picture - amazing! We were planning to meet with her and another 93yr old relative in a few weeks and record family history, but Aunt Rose fell two days ago and broke her hip. Please keep her in your prayers!
Here's a short slide show of a few of my favorite photos.

The next day I was privileged to attend Jesse Reno's workshop at Carol parks Studio.
Jesse emphasizes letting the painting tell you what it wants to become and advises painting with your fingers to open up and free your art.

This is the painting I did. This is just the first step. When I get back to Hawaii I will draw around the areas i like and block out the areas i don't and then paint some more. Stay tuned!
Kelly working on her paintings

This is the top of a wooden spool I found. Ahna, Kelly and I used it as a paint palate and just added to it whenever we felt like it. Jesse uses other boards, canvasses etc as his palates, and then uses them as backdrops for his next painting.

Carol Parks

Ahna's paintings - including a door!


My art friend Kelly Snelling was there. Look at all the wonderful fabulous "Art in a Carton" goodies Kelly gave me., including one of her hand painted notebooks, a pair of plexiglass earrings and one of her famous polymer birds - plus tons and tons more! Thank you Thank You Thank You Kelly!

...and check out Kelly's paintings! Go to her blog and see how she adapted her own style to Jesse's technique.WAY COOL!
The following weekend was my youngest sister Teresa's wedding. It was in Woodland, Calif. (near Sacramento). I flew in Sat morning and flew out Sunday night. It was a great fun - a beautiful wedding!

The bride (Teresa) and her Matron of Honor (Nicole, her daughter)
Look at that amazing dress - it was fully beaded!

My dad walking his baby daughter down the aisle....

The ring bearer tying his shoe and being careful not to lose the bribe money he was given to walk down the aisle.....(The bride's grandson Nathan)

Teresa, our sister Marianne (who married them) and the groom, Rick

On Tuesday my friend Joanne flew in from Michigan to see me and Kara. Joanne brought me beautiful presents! Look at this CROWN!

Joanne also gave me 2 eyeball paintings (you know me, I love eyeballs) that she had made. Click here to see them: eyeball paintings

She came and visited me on the set on Tues, and on Thursday I made her an extra in a scene.

Friday Joanne, Kara and I went shopping around Hollywood and LA. We went into the most fabulous button store - and of course spent a lot of money on vintage buttons.

I wore my crown all day -and at one restaurant a girl came up to us and wanted to buy it to wear to a design show in New York next month. She commissioned Joanne to make her one....

Scrumptious lemon cupcakes from "Joan's" - a fab bakery/deli.

Kara and Joanne "alley shopping" (or dumpster diving?)
Then we went to Kara's house for a delicious dinner and home baked cookies. Kara's DH and Son were adorable and charming.....Kara's whole house is filled with art and love!

On Saturday, Joanne and I visited the 3rd St Promenade, the Santa Monica Pier, and Venice beach. We shopped, rode the Carousel and shopped some more. We were both exhausted, so we went back to her hotel and she taught me to needle felt.
Yes - Joanne and I rode the carousel -made me feel like I was a little kid again!
...and on Sunday, Joanne and I met Kara at the Santa Monica Antique Swap meet. I found a lovely strand of undyed branch coral and some antique cutwork and lace linens that I am going to use as canvasses.

I had a such a good time with my art friends. As Joanne says "Art friends make the BEST friends!"

Now I'm back to work and still reveling in all the memories that were created.
THREE MORE WEEKS AND I GO HOME!!!!!

...a bit of catch-up....

I have been pretty busy lately. First of all I moved. Yeah! I am now in a lovely home with beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. Yesterday a gray fox came to be fed....I'm told there's a red one too, but I haven't seem him yet.
Against my better judgement I am doing the Viva Mexico Charm Swap. I just couldn't resist.....here's the art card I came up with for it.
The charms themselves are cast sacred heart milagros, dyed red with alcohol inks, and on the backs I have put a tiny version of the sacred heart
picture. I will then add a small string of Mexican flag colored beads and Voila - they will be done!
Lorri Scott , an incredible fiber artist, arrived yesterday for a quickie visit to LA on her way to Arizona. Lorri makes the most gorgeous "wayward threads" scarves, and she will be teaching dying techniques as well as wayward thread techniques at Art Unraveled in Phoenix this next week. She made me a beautiful "diva's rock" necklace, using her own shibori dyed silk ribbons for the chain. You can see examples on her website. She also had way cool hats that she and Jennifer collaborated on - she'll be showcasing them at Art Unraveled.
This is Lorri and I looking around at the 3rd Street promenade in Santa Monica. We asked a girl who was there with her sister (telling fortunes thru handwriting and tarot) to take our picture. Then Lorri and I had our $5 fortunes told! It was great fun!
Isn't this a gorgeous shoe? (and Lorri's nail polish looks pretty good too!) You can't really see in the picture, but they are actually red. Lorri found the sandals (made by "I THINK") at a shoe store at the Promenade - but they were wayyyy expensive!
This is Lorri and the "tin man"......

.....and this is the Santa Monica Pier
Weekend before last, my dear dear best friend and buddy Joanna came from New Mexico with her boyfriend, actor Adam Taylor, to be at the premier of Kevin Costner's new movie. Adam has a substantial part in it. Joanna is a writer and has written many screenplays (she's also an Emmy winning editor, for the pilot of Sopranos) and she has just finished her first novel. We all got together and had a lovely dinner in Malibu and then we all took a walk on the beach. Joanna is such a joy to be around and such an inspiration!
This is a picture of Joanna on the beach in Malibu

This is Malibu at sunset
Last weekend my mother's family had thier annual family reunion in Ventura. My mom came from a family of 11 brother and sisters, so it was a huge bar-b-que with live music, games and fabulous food! My son Sky came with me, and my 87 year old Dad had flown in from Sacramento to be there too. Here's a little slide show of it....

Next Saturday my cousin Julie and I are going to visit my 90 yr old
Aunt Rose and scan old family pictures (with names of who they are!) so everyone in the family can have copies. Aunt Rose is very chipper and still remembers names and dates and the family history.
Then on Sunday I am going to take a painting class with Jesse Reno at Carol Parks Studio. Woohoo! I can hardly wait - there are some fabulous artists taking the class with me and i am so excited to finally meet the real people behind the artwork I have so admired.