Stick with Mary

Winter is Coming

2011-11-16T05:24:00.000-08:00

Seems like when this time of year comes around I find myself saying and thinking things that are somewhat negative about the coming weather change. Today I remembered the pictures I took one winter on the day I celebrated my mother's passing. I was walking toward the hallway that leads to my study when I noticed this glow from the tiny windows in my front door. When I looked out I saw this magnificent sunset from my front porch. This tree in my front yard is a Shagbark Hickory and it is about 80 ft tall.
Interesting that until that day I had never noticed that I could see the sunset from my front porch. And we had lived in this house for several years already. I am reminded of how much there is all around us, all the time that we are never aware of because we are not looking for it. One just has to let go and see it.

I'm back

2011-11-11T04:55:00.000-08:00

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted. The show in August was a huge success for me. Four of the "Shapeshifter" found new homes and two are with friends. I just love that.
Meantime, Alice Muhlback asked me to create some work around the theme of "Black, White and Red/Read All Over."
All these drawings were made while travelling on the AutoTrain in September.
So here are six new drawings that are currently hanging at Ithacamade.

Today is the day

2011-08-18T06:49:00.000-07:00

Today is the opening for my new show, Shapeshifters at FOUND in Ithaca.
227 Cherry Street (behind Wegmans) 5 - 7 pm

Hope to see all you local Ithacans there.

There is life after the Artist's Market

2011-08-02T04:42:00.000-07:00

What a day that was. I got there at 8:30 to start our elaborate set up. And we were barely ready at 2:00 when the show began. But we had a great day, met lots of fun new people and many old friends.
Getting ready now for a show at FOUND. It is coming up on August 18th with the opening that evening from 5 - 7. More on that when I get caught up.

Three days until Artist's Market

2011-07-27T05:08:00.001-07:00

It's just around the corner and Loretta and I are starting to pack up everything from our imaginary travels. Looking forward to seeing you all on Friday the 29th from 2:00 - 8:00 when the artist's take over the Farmers Market.

Loretta and Mary Return

2011-07-14T04:43:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? We don't even believe it!
For those who remember Loretta and Mary's Cheap Little Store, you are definitely not going to want to miss our newest collaboration.
We will be at the Ithaca Artist's Market on July 29 from 2:00 - 8:00.
This is a huge event with almost 70 artists.
Loretta and I have been musing over this for a while and decided that this is the perfect venue to present our Adventure Tour. It is an imaginary travelogue of an imaginary trip to REAL PLACES (mostly).
You will see Snake World (featuring Loretta's newest mini-book), Marineland (a collection of art pieces about sea creatures), Sheriff Darlene's Doll Museum (featuring Loretta's art dolls), the World's Smallest Audubon Gallery (by me), and this is just the beginning.
We have been down at the Farmer's Market several times measuring and plotting.
And now the time is almost here.
So, catch us there for this one day only show.

In the rafters

2010-12-24T05:01:00.001-08:00

Just had to share this image of the rafters at Randy's Fishmarket Restaurant.

An art form

2010-12-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been very focused on my booth at FOUND. Things are just hopping over there and I can hardly keep up. Everytime I think I have things looking good, someone calls to tell me that something has sold and I have a big hole to fill. I love it!

Most of the dealers there have kicked up their spaces with something festive for the holidays. Sandy's whole booth is red, white and green. And it just looks fabulous. If you get over there, do check it out. Liz has a very cool silver tree and some red and white candy cane lamps.

Not to be outdone, I created some great Vintage Gifts from what else - vintage items.

FireKing Primrose pattern loaf pan with a set of six FireKing custard cups and a vintage holiday card.

Green glass compote with vintage card and box of candy.Flour sifter, vintage salt and pepper shakers, cocktail napkins embroidered with roosters and a handmade rooster card.
Demitase cup and saucer made in Occupied Japan, silver spoon and hadmade greeting card.
This Kitchen Kraft bowl is ready for serving with some Mexican rice and salsa. And there is a vintage holiday card included.Pyrex refrigerator dish with lid and a cinnamon stick holder and nutmeg grater. Cinnamon and nutmeg included along with a vintage card.

And my favorite already found a new home - a green and blue glass ice bucket and matching cocktail shaker. Sadly the only image I have is not so great. But you get the idea.
No more time. I gotta go sand something!

It's the whole world

2010-11-01T15:54:00.001-07:00

Just hung this huge world map behind the check out counter at FOUND.

It is from 1942 and it's fascinating to see where some countries are not even on there yet!

And I have another new construction as well. It's a very functional tote box. Could be a really fancy tool box, an artists box, a yarn bin, a garden basket or whatever anyone can think of.

And new at the Kitschen Sink is this very funky Coca Cola tray that I just delivered. So if you are out and about, visit FOUND and the SINK. They are so close you can make it a shopping trip and then get groceries at Wegmans.

Artist's Reception Tonight

2010-10-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

FOUND was open later this evening to host a reception for Fernando Llosa. My job was to set up the table for food and create a centerpiece. I brought a collection of orange and yellow plates - many of them vintage pieces for all the good eats purchased by Deb.
So here is an image of the table with some of Fernando's work on the walls.
It was a successful event and he sold three pieces. Yea Fernando!

Also, here are some images from my booth at FOUND. Two sets of vintage glassware in vintage wire racks and a cocktail shaker and ice bucket.

A really old tool box and nail carrier with wooden handle. And a very cool two color lazy suzan.
I am having way too much fun with this.

No brag, just fact

2010-10-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

Just had to post these images of my son Sean's new assemblages. He creates these from old wood and found metal and rusty elements. Here they are. 'nuff said.
Untitled l

Untitled ll

Untitled lll

Machina

FOUND again

2010-10-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

I was just down at FOUND to dust and tidy up the space. And I delivered a new mirror with some really cool vintage elements.

Sean and I have been working on lots of new pieces. Check out these pictures of some of our materials. These will find their way into some new works very soon.

In case you haven't been there yet to check out what is happening, here are a couple of images of our space.And our fabulous sign.

On the hunt

2010-09-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

Sean and I spent some time in Auburn yesterday digging through Shaver Bros. Salvage. I had not been there in years and it was Sean's first visit. It's a huge salvage yard and an enormous three story building filled with enticements.

Sean can be seen in the middle of the image above. He is checking out some boards.

Where to begin?

We came back with lots of great material for new works.
I started out looking for wood trim and did I ever find wood trim.Sean disappeared into one of the rooms and I wondered if I would see him again!
Some new wall cabinets are going to be coming along soon now that I have more materials.

Sunday at FOUND

2010-09-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

What a great day. I worked this afternoon at FOUND helping with customers. And did we ever have a crowd today.

My space is starting to fill up but sales are good so things are going as fast as they are coming in.

Here is a new assemblage that I just hung there. Sorry but it is not a great image.

Grand Opening us coming up on October 2. Hope to see some of you there.

Lost at FOUND

2010-09-05T03:18:00.000-07:00

We have been so busy getting our space ready at FOUND. And we finally have more than just a few items there. Took some interesting furniture pieces over on Friday and some really nice books.

Yesterday we went on a hunt and came home with a trove of fabulous "parts" to work with in new assemblages.Here is a new one that is hanging at FOUND.

Clothesline Festival is coming up next weekend in Rochester so will be focusing on that for the next 5 days.

What can you imagine?

2010-08-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

Sean and I will be joining the hottest new thing in town - "FOUND". It is the new marketplace on Cherry Street that will feature numerous antique dealers, upholstery artists, vintage clothiers and us, of course.
We will offer up a whole plethora of art and functional pieces made mostly from discovered elements. And we are calling it "FIGMENTS". Imagine that!
We spent the whole afternoon designing and working on the sign for our space. We cut all the background letters out of 1/4" mdf. Sean took over the scroll saw - something he had never done before. Actually, it was a new scroll saw and this was it's first time being used. I gotta say that he did a fantastic job. You can see part of the first letter on the table at the lower right.
Tomorrow, the letters get affixed to a really unusual old plank and then embellished. That part is still a bit of a surprise, so you will have to check back for the update and photo.
We were over there today checking on the progress. The partners are working non-stop to get the place ready. The interior is almost finished and the sign is already on the front of the building. What an awesome transformation!
Can't wait until we can invite the public!

Artist Friends - Part l

2010-08-14T15:59:00.001-07:00

I have quite a few art pieces that were created by my artist friends.

One of the first ones I bought was this piece by Loretta Louviere. It doesn't have a title, so I just call it "Elvis and the Chicken". It hangs in my private bathroom and I recently completely redecorated the entire room around it - even matching towels.

This next two are by Alice Muhlback. They both hang in my kitchen. The larger one was chosen especially for the wall where we have no cabinets. It has two spotlights on it.This last one is by Jackie Mott Brown and it features one of her "wing its" hanging at the top and bottom. It looks fabulous on the wall next to my pantry.

Next time, I will feature a few more of my favorite artists.

Four days away

2010-08-06T04:55:00.000-07:00

Just got home from four days at the Robert Packer Cardiac Unit and Artist Spa. Spent the time drawing and have lots of new material - 8 new drawings and 2 more in progress. What else can you do except enjoy the room service, maid service, 24-hour sound system, and nudity.

Anyway, most of the drawings are still just black and white but here is the first one I am working on. This is Oscar in a Speedo testing out his new surfboard. This Florida bird is part of a series of creature fashionistas. Lorena is showing off her new gladiator sandles in "Lorena Struts her Stuff". And here is another new fish theme with "Joe's Fish House.

Crow's Nest

2010-07-26T19:37:00.001-07:00

Busy, busy getting ready for Artist's Market. But here is a new drawing. Starting a new series of birds. These birds are like cats. They think everything is there just for them.

Cool stuff coming up

2010-07-23T03:50:00.000-07:00

Big yard/home decor/store prop sale tomorrow at the Kitschen Sink, 210 Elmira Road, Ithaca - TOMORROW, July 24th. http://www.kitschensinkithaca.com/ I will be under the big top with lots of cool decorator props and "stuff".

Next week on July 30th I will be in booth 39 at the Farmer's Market for the Annual Ithaca Artist's Market show from 2:00 - 8:00. http://www.artspartner.org/news/story/ithaca-artists-market-friday-july-30.html The booth I got this year is great.

But all the booths are weathered wood and sometimes a challenge for making art show well. Since many of my pieces start with old wood, I am searching for a way to make them stand out. Rain is always a big factor so display materials have to be all-weather friendly.But the good part is that my space is open (many are not) and has not only a wood floor but also has these panels already in the booth. Don't have to lug my heavy 7 ft display panels over there. Yea! Will get some images when it is all set up and ready for the public.

Next will be the ARTfest at the Mote, a nice show at the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca. http://artfestmote.com/ It is small and intimate. Only a few artists - 23 I think. It will be Sunday, August 8 from 10:00 - 5:00. Gotta bring the tent and panels for this one and that means making my new weights before then, too. Hope I get to this one. Will be 4 days in the hospital that week so no excuses not to be rested up for the occasion!
Lots to do.

And stay tuned for my new ETSY store soon to be online.

Cigar Boxes

2010-05-10T03:43:00.000-07:00

OK, so I am going to be more regular about checking into my blog now. These past few months just wrecked my schedule. In all the chaos, I lost my camera and finally found it last night. I have so many pieces I want to photograph to put onto the blog and have been frustrated about the missing camera.

These are a couple of cigar box niches I created a while ago. I loved making them and they always disappeared from Spirit and Kitsch as soon as I brought them into the store. Last Friday at my art opening, I used some of my boxes to stage a table display and was reminded how much I like working with them.

Here are a couple of pictures from my opening taken by my roving papparazzi friend, Gary. See the cool cigar boxes in the background? These are going to be part of a show that is rattling around in my thoughts right now.

Another hint

2010-05-01T03:41:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to "be there or be square" next Friday, May 7 for my show on Gallery Night.

Belle Melange 5:00 - 8:00. Just finished the chair and mirror yesterday. Yikes, I think I took on too much.

Anyway, here is another drawing from the show.

Tiles

2010-04-25T03:44:00.001-07:00

I made these tiles in Florida. They are going to be part of my show on May 7. I have 5 wonderful frames that were given to me by my friend Jackie and they have been waiting for inspiration.

New Show coming up

2010-04-23T19:03:00.001-07:00

My upcoming show at Belle Melange was inspired by a Mexican exhibit centering on the creation of maps using Talavera tile. My new works will take you off the map and on a travel adventure without boundaries.I have created a series of drawings and furnishings based on traditional Talavera designs. The most outstanding of Mexico’s pottery traditions, authentic Talavera is only created in six colors. But my interpretations will expand the limits of color and design.

Beginning with a series of drawings using the vintage travel trailer icon, the theme then grew into using any and all paintable surfaces to create a series of drawings and prints, polymer clay tiles and a vignette of fanciful furniture and accessories.

This is what has been keeping me busy lately and why I have been so scarce on the blog.

Art Overload

2010-02-04T04:57:00.000-08:00

Last night a friend and I went to the North Naples Arts Alliance event called "Underground Art Wednesday". It is held the first Wednesday of the month and is like an art walk. Holy Cats what an evening. I think we went to 15 galleries and studios!

Tonight is the Grand Opening at the store where I have some of my work and some cards.
Tomorrow is a First Friday down by the Naples City Dock and Marina.
And there are outdoor art shows every weekend between here and Ft Myers.
I am on sensory overload.

Now I have to try to still my mind and make art of my own.

Distractions

2010-01-31T04:07:00.000-08:00

Spent the last half hour reading my friends blogs and posting comments. They are all mostly very prolific about posting regularly. I always mean to but get distracted. With what you ask? Well, I have some work in a new shop in Naples and she wants me to put together a card display. So I have been busy making cards for the last few days. But I get sidetracked a lot. My friend Ben was talking about motivation on his blog. Well being in the warm and sunny weather, motivation is not a problem. Distraction is the problem. I just distract myself. It is hard to work because I just want to be outside. So yesterday I went to the garage sales. There were so many. Found this really awesome deviled egg plate. Guess I better break some eggs. Oh, I was talking about distraction. See what I mean? I should be finishing my cards for delivery tomorrow. But I have to go get some mulch for my plants. Ok, cards first, then mulch.

Life in Paradise

2010-01-20T16:26:00.000-08:00

So today my friend Vic, who lives down the road, told me that while I was gone on Sunday, he came by and picked up a fallen coconut from my back yard. He opened it and dried it and today he make a coconut cake. AND he is bringing some to me. How cool its that?

Now I just have to get a few more trees. Hmmm how about mango, banana, orange, grapefruit, lemon. OH, and I have to plant some Seagrape so I can use the leaves to serve desserts on. And then there is the herb garden that I am planning. The possibilities are endless.

Will report in after I taste the cake. Can't wait. Will get a picture, too.

Sunshine and creativity

2010-01-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

Wow, it is warm and sunny here in Florida. I am loving it!

I will be doing a show this weekend to celebrate the future Cultural and Performing Arts Center in Naples, FL. It's a small celebration but it is the first of what we hope will be many events when the Center is completed. Right now it is just in the planning stages. There are only 18 artists participating along with musicians and dancers.

Since I don't have any new art photographed yet, here is what I have been looking at in this beautiful place. This is a view of the gulf as you step onto the Naples beach.

And this of course, is the sunset at Naples beach.

It is so inspiring and I find that I am up later at night because I don't shut down because of the cold and the gray skies. So, I am making more art.

This last image is a view out in my back yard of a yucca that was blooming when I was here in July. The day after I took this picture, we had some high winds and the bloom broke off. I was glad that I took the picture.

Arriving in Miami

2009-11-03T03:22:00.000-08:00

I have a collection of vintage postcards that I used in some of my collages. This really neat card of Florida is the only one I have found with a rainbow. It inspired this collage/assemblage of two frogs arriving after a storm. I call it "Arriving in Miami - Two by Two". Perhaps it was the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 - one of the deadliest to hit the US.

I split the card and inserted it into two wooden box lids and attached some objects that could have been found on the beach after the storm.

We recently bought a house in Florida and are loving our time there especially when the winter storms hit the north. Some of my friends are concerned about hurricanes. It's not that I don't think about them. I just choose to see the rainbow.

More Birds

2009-10-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

I never really paid too much attention to birds until recently. My friend Anne is a big fan of birds and so is my friend Alice. Guess it sort of rubbed off.

So here is a new one.

Big Fish is missing

2009-10-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

I just realized that I haven't seen one of my favorite pieces in a while and then I remembered that someone bought it!
Big Fish has a new home.
This one was created on an old board onto which I attached the lid to a wood recipe card box. I found the lid in a box of junk that I bought from one of my favorite shops just out of town.
The fish is a hand made polymer clay tile. There is of course, one of my painted sticks, some bark and a sign punched into copper. At the bottom is a really cool painted latch. And I have another latch just like it to use somewhere else. I love that part. And there are a couple of metal charms and wooden beads. Around the outside is a "frame" of stained wood.
I might have to make a Big Fish II.

My show booth

2009-09-29T04:49:00.000-07:00

That's a big topic! I don't plan to write a thesis or anything. It is just that everytime I see that image of my space at Artist's Row last week, I am reminded of how much better everything looks indoors. So I thought I would share an image of my show booth at the American Craft Retailer Forum in Las Vegas. This was a new show being presented for the first time. I was in on it from the beginning so I got this "primo" space right in the front.I agonized over this set up for weeks knowing that mine would be one of the first booths seen as gallery and store owners entered the exhibit hall. Having a corner is so cool because you get all this extra display space on the outside.

This is a ProPanel booth with heavy duty fabric. Panels are 2.5 feet wide and 8 feet high. Also, I had just purchased the "desk" that is in the left of the photo and the "pedestal" on the right.
What I was offering at this show was a line of mirrors, frames, folding screens, walking sticks and magnets. There were 16 designs each translated into different accessories.

I also have this really great carpet that has a 1" foam pad attached so it is such a comfy space to stand in.

Shipping was a new experiencce! I ended up with two pallets of material in large shipping boxes. The tricky part was getting the poles and light bars into the boxes without having to send something oversized that might not arrive with the pallets.

But this was such an exciting experience. When I arrived, my shipment was sitting next to my space and all I had to do was unload and set up.

I quit doing wholesale shows that year after doing one more show at the Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia. I loved the experience but it was getting so difficult to do and the cost of these shows has skyrocketed!

I do miss it, though.

Shows and other musings

2009-09-24T04:15:00.000-07:00

Just participated in another show in Rochester last Sunday. The Artists Row was held at the Rochester Public Market. It was sort of surreal for me to be there. Almost like a time warp. Back in the 70's when I lived in Rochester, I went to the market for Produce Row to buy veges. I remember seeing meats and cheeses and all this produce and thinking how cool it was.
Suddenly, or not so, I am standing there with my art around me and I had this memory of walking through the market with my children when they were quite young. I guess I was too back then!

It is difficult to get good pictures at outdoor shows. But here is one. Without a tent, everything looks so messy. But you get the idea. There is my little car in the background and on the left is my friend Alice, who also drove up for the show.

After I tore down and loaded my car, I was so beat that I was sure I would never do another show! But now I am sure I want to do this one again. It's like having children. After the first childbirth, it is the last thing on your mind. Then time passes and all you choose to remember is the little one and how special she is. Shows are like children - each one different, each one a challenge and each one so unique that you cannot compare them.

All you know is that you love the experience.

Art finds a home

2009-09-15T03:55:00.000-07:00

The Clothesline Festival in Rochester was last weekend and many of my pieces found new homes including the "Cat Bird Seat". The woman who purchased it told me that she has three cats and that they would want to sit on it. I love that!This is a show where I have return customers who come for my mirrors and frames. This year a few of my favorites went to new homes, too: "Sonoran Sunset" - inspired by the Sonoran Desert.
"Beach House" with a painted grasscloth finish and tile depicting a school of fish,
"Bahati" with a zebra tile. This one went to a woman who had bought a piece with the same tile last year to give to a friend. When she got it home she didn't want to part with it. So this year, she bought the frame with the zebra tile for her friend. I don't have an image of the one with the zebra tile but here is one with a mask that is similar. And "Petroglyph" frame is going to become an engagement gift. And the "Garden" mirror is going to be a wedding gift. Many sets of magnet tiles and mini-frames with little "artifact" tiles got wrapped in tissue and sent home with smiling visitors. Then it was tear-down time and the two-hour drive home. That is the hard part but my friend Alice, who has the booth next to mine, always stays and helps me with my tent. Otherwise, I might have been found there the next morning asleep underneath the tent.
And if that wasn't enough, I am going back to Rochester on Sunday for the Artist's Row Show at the Rochester Public Market. I just learned about it at Clothesline from a fellow artist. So, I called yesterday to see if there was still space left. Yikes -I better get into the studio and make more "stuff"!

First Friday - September

2009-09-06T03:36:00.000-07:00

As always, the opening for First Friday Gallery Night was a fun evening. Lisa and I reset the entire store and it was a whole new look. Our theme for the opening was "Take a Seat at Belle Melange". My contribution, besides display, was a new chair which featured two drawing and some decorative painting. It is called "The Cat Bird Seat" and was predominately turquoise - one of my favorite colors.

We had many wonderful new pieces to work with including several chairs from Luann Demare which were being featured. Luann ownes Vintage Lulu's, a charming shop near Ithaca that features antiques and many pieces she has designed and restored.

We created several new vignettes oriented around color themes. This green collection is my favorite. It includes a pair of bamboo chairs which I restored and Anne Steinle covered in a green leaf pattern fabric.

The turquoise vignette features a stool by Nina Maniscalso and a pair of wrought iron chairs covered in black Sunbrella fabric with turquoise binding.

There was also a little "room" of African motifs and black and white objects including this chair by Luann Demare with a fun animal print.

Fat Birds

2009-09-02T03:52:00.000-07:00

I have not been keeping up with the blog lately because I am getting ready for Clothesline Festival in Rochester on the 12th and 13th. It's at the Memorial Art Gallery and runs from 10-6 Saturday and 10 -5 Sunday. If you live in upsate, please come. Right now I am building two really unusual display shelves for my booth. Hope to get a photo on the blog before I go. If not, I will take one there.
And this Friday (yikes that's in two days) we have our monthly First Friday opening at Belle Melange gallery, 210 W. State Street in Ithaca. This time we are presenting a collection of seating - chairs, stools, ottomans, and benches. It will be called Take a Seat at Belle Melange. I am making the signs for each piece and this morning I counted over 40!
Now for some art: I just love fat little birds. So I have been drawing a few. The first is my simple bird after a breakfast of blueberries. It is titled, of course, Blueberry Breakfast. The second image is the same bird dreaming about a plump worm for a snack - Whose Limb is This? The third one is a chicken who dreams of soaring through space in Flew the Coop.

Animal Dreams

2009-08-24T05:13:00.001-07:00

I am starting a new series of paintings about animals and what they dream about. I got this idea while on the Auto Train traveling back from Florida this summer.

These two images are part of a group of paintings called "Yum".

This one is titled "Have your lunch and eat it too". My clever little kitty has her own portable aquarium!

And what cat doesn't wish to grab that bird high up on a limb?This big cat has a very active imagination. No need to sit in the window and pine over the birdie outside. It is titled "In on a limb".

These start as black and white drawings and are then selectively "painted".

Return from sunshine

2009-08-19T04:23:00.001-07:00

I just returned from a week in glorious sunshine. There is something about the blue sky and knowing that you will see it every day that is so relaxing and comforting. I just love it.

This image is from a pond newly created along side the San Antonio river. For those who may not have had the pleasure of seeing it, the San Antonio Riverwalk is fabulous. They have recently finished a new section running from the old Pearl Brewery and past the San Antonio Museum of Art (also situated in an old brewery).

This formerly unsued and previously ugly part of the river is now a beautiful walkway with public art and beautiful plantings. They have created a lock system to move boats and barges to the lower level of the river (the part that travels through downtown San Antonio.) This image is of the locks from the upper side.

The trip was awesome -seeing my son and grandson, Mexican food at Mi Tiera's down by the Mercado, dinner at a steak house with my sister-in-law, visits with friends, cousin and my soon to be 92 year old uncle and aunt. It had been almost a year since my last visit.

Will not wait so long next time.

Texas

2009-08-10T03:49:00.000-07:00

Going to be visiting San Antonio soon and was looking at some pieces inspired by growing up in Texas. These were made for the Artomat, that wonderful concept started by Clark Whittington. Cigarette pack sized art that dispenses from old cigarette machines.

Cowgirl Picnic is tiny but says a lot: "You bring the tablecloth, I'll bring the ants."

Memory Book is a little scrapbook about growing up in Texas: spiders, slamming screen doors and mission churches. I started a Mission series - Cowgirl visits the Missions. I have completed two pieces. Mission San Antonio de Valero, better known as the Alamo and Mission Concepcion.

I am getting inspired to create more missions.

August Gallery Night

2009-08-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

It's tomorrow, August 7. And if you miss this one, come on the first friday in September.

First thing you will see when you walk into Belle Melange is this great display of vintage furniture coordinated with Anne Steinle's crewel pillows and awesome footstool and "feathered" bird pillow.

We have also been busy setting up lots of cool summer vignettes just for tomorrow and the rest of August. Here are a few pictures of the store (some older ones for those of you who haven't been there yet, and some new ones to entice you regulars).

This new chaise just came in and we decided to create a summer look around it with Anne Steinle's gorgeous pillows, Nina's wall mirror, Lisa's yellow bordered stain glass flowers, and my yellow painted table.

This red, white and blue display just shouts summer with the woven picnic basket, red child's rocker, blue stool, Nina's great painted chair, one of Barbara's red bags and my Julia Child niche.

This spring vignette is a good example of the variety of beautiful gifts and artist's works you will find at the store. Even though it has been moved around, most of these items or similar ones are still available.

This fabulous hand made sofa table is versatile and can hold any collection you might wish to display on it. We have set up a nice summer garden theme with a miniature wicker set, a gift box, a botanical print and two of my mini artworks.

We hope to see you tomorrow evening from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. There will be artists present and good food to refresh you. We are at 210 W. State Street in Ithaca, NY

Check us out at http://www.bellemelangeithaca.com/

Long Day

2009-08-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

Today was spent helping to reset the Belle Melange Gallery for this Friday's Gallery Night event. And my favorite thing happened. I had just brought in a cool mirror with shutters that was going to be part of our "last blast of summer" theme. As soon as I got it hung up on the wall, a customer came in and bought it. Had to rethink the whole arrangement. I love it!

Same thing happened a few weeks ago when we reset the window. I had brought back this great wire basket from Naples, Fl that was about three feet high. It was going to be the centerpiece for the whole window which was going to be a display of my collection of Guadamalan pottery. Long story short, a woman came in and bought the basket before we finished the window. How cool is that?

Anyway, we finished so late this evening that there was no time for photos. Will have them tomorrow and post them for all to see.

Meantime, here are some images of a few of my assemblages.

Blackbird Goes West: A really colorful birdhouse in melon and turquoise with a silver polymer clay sun, some found bark and a rusty element - and the painted stick, of course. Bottom elements are found and reclaimed from a very old Chinese Checker game.

Mohave and Petroglyph feature two of my architectural vignettes which are each 6" x 6" two layer pieces made from mdf, polymer clay and paint.

These both have great found wood pieces from my favorite "recycle" place outside Ithaca.

Mohave (on the left) now resides in a Rochester, NY household. It was "adopted" last September at the Clothesline Festival.

I am that artist who doesn't have any of my work in my own home. So since I just couldn't bear to give up Petroglyph, I now have it in my family room.

My favorite niche

2009-08-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

This one is my favorite - "Martha Stewart not Living".

Notice the ankle monitor. This is Martha in her studio creating some ideas for her magazine.

Another favorite is "Edna's Chicken Ranch".

Don't think I will need to explain.

If you don't get it, just do a google search.

This one is really fun. It is Judge Ito's courtroom and is called "If the Glove Don't Fit". Here is Johnny Cochran and there is a glove on the table.

Between shows

2009-08-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

Just finished the Ithaca Artist's Market. What a great time everyone had. There was a huge crowd and the sun was shining (surprise). I had the best time because I got to watch all the people smiling at my quirky niches. They were made for a Day of the Dead show last year and for another show about women at their own crossroads.

This is "Spy in the Kitchen". I created it last year when I learned that Julia Child had been a spy during World War II.

This one is "Imelda's Fabulous Shoe Sale" .

Someone asked me why there were so few shoes! It must be the end of the sale - she is almost sold out.

And here is a famous celebrity in the confessional. Quess who? The priest is too shocked to listen.

And below I have depicted the famous scene from the original Star Trek series with Captain Kirk and Ohura.
It is the famous kiss see on television and it is named "Plato's Stepchildren" after the title of the episode.

Next show coming up is the Clothesline Festival at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, September 12 & 13.

More niches tomorrow.