Lily Munshter's back in action

Lily Munshter almost back to her old self. She even has that

evil and up to no good

look in her eye.

She will sit on top of her sister Lola and bath her

meticulously getting her neck and around her ears.

Then I realized why

She goes vampire on sisters neck.

I'm beginning to think she's watched one too many

 Twilight

commercials.

I had art images on works in progress

but they have disappeared.

I will try to re-take them.

I'm off today and plan to stay in the studio at least until the kids drive me nuts

(my day off and everyone else is off too.)

then

I may have to climb out the window and make a run for it.

Silly Kitty Dryers are for Clothes not Lilys

Just got a call from the middle spawn wanting the vets number.

He threw his pants in the dryer and it didn't cross his mind to check it

we don't do laundry at home because of Well reasons.

My dear Lily was inside. He heard the noise and went and checked it.

He and the oldest took her to the Vet

which is 13 miles away.

They gave her a shot and are holding her for 2 hours for observation.

She was bleeding from her nose and they said her eye is askew.

I am so worried about my

Lily Munshter

 (not Munster Mun-shter)

So here I sit at my desk wanting to be with her and yet afraid to see her.

My stomach is in knots.

If you have the time please send some light to my little girl.

4 from 50

I just noticed I'm 4 posts away from 50.

Should I do something special,or hold out for the 100th?
I created this blog exactly 8 months ago today
 and haven't even passed the
50 mark!
I'm such a slacker!

SEEING THE LIGHT

Friday night I was invited by a friend to attend

Las Noches de las Luminarias

at

The Desert Botanical Gardens

here in Phoenix.

I had never attended this event before.

I was treated to a wonderful dinner under the stars

hilarious conversation

(I thought I was going to have soda spewing at one point from laughing so hard)

This event has been going on for years and I know this year is already sold out!

The pathways are lit with 7,000 Luminarias,and spread out

among the gardens are various musical acts.

Jazz,Dixieland,Native American,and Mariachi

to just name a few.

Even though it was a mere 39 degrees out, it was

beautiful,magical and peaceful

 to say the least.

We climbed a hill and were blessed with

the moon rising and the city lights.

Sigh

Things like this always get my mind thinking.

I tend to start reflecting on

where I am

and

where I am going

 in my life.

The years end also brings up

where I need want to be

in my life.

I have something I have been working on

that I haven't yet shared

and those who have followed me long enough,know, that I like

 "teasers"

There are a few things I need to get in place prior to

the unveiling of this new

twist in my life.

So until then

Have a magical week!

Technical Difficulties

I wasn't raised in the time of cell phones and ipods and yet I can't remember what it was like not to have either attached to my ear.

I have had the same cell for 2 years and 3 months and up until now,I had never had any problem with it.

Keyword here being

"until now"

I had trouble charging it. I had to put the charger cord just right for it to charge.

Now,no matter how I put it

it just doesn't charge.

~~sigh~~~

I now have a sense of despair and isolation

as I overcome waves of sadness

the boys are doing an Irish jig

"YAY! She can't track us down and tell us to come home!"

I can't believe how lost I feel without my beloved

Orange Env

not to mention the fact that if it isn't a battery issue or a charger issue it takes all

and I mean ALL my contacts and secret passwords with it.

Luckily, I have a scandisk for all the pictures and movies.

I even tried to Reiki it's poor dead battery!

What a way to start a Friday.

The Filter Series is back

If you've read my blog since it's inception you'll be familiar with the 
Coffee Filter Series.
This time around it is the 
Filter Saints Series.
Since I had a four day weekend I took advantage of some non cooking free time to paint.


This is the beginning of the third piece in the Saint Series.
When completed it will be a mixed media, somewhat 3D ,
Filter Saint of 
Saint Francis.
If you are unfamiliar with this particular Saint 
he is the
 Patron Saint of Animals. 

I'm sure I will change him more than once before he's done,
but so far this is where he is at.
I'll post pictures as I go.

I'm back!

WOW! It's seems like I've been gone forever. Dia de Los Muertos is over and was a success. I'm so grateful for that.  I'll post pictures of my altar when I get on the PC later. We have a, no photography rule in the Gallery, so I will respect that here. Sorry.

I was blessed with a visit from my Partner in Shrine, Punk Rock Mom and her totally Rockin' family came up for the last day of Dia Festivities,and yes, she is as beautiful in person as she is on her blog. I'm just one lucky Chica to have not only her to make the trip from California to Arizona,but My sister also flew up for my reception,and boy were her arms tired! Ha ha.

On the Art front,I have done-drum roll please--- absolutely nothing! I haven't been a very artfulchica. I missed 2 shows,one of which I really wanted to do. I'm hoping to remedy that next week since I'll have a 4 day mini vacation,oh and it's Thanksgiving. It is not one of my favorite holidays. I don't like the food either. I hate ham and turkey and when I was living back home,my wonderful grandma would cook something separate just for me. Yes, that woman spoils me! Now that I live away from everyone I reluctantly make what the guys like then make something for me. I think last year was lasagna.

I do have a few things going on over at the Gallery which I'll blog about next week,hopefully with pictures. I usually blog using my Mac and it's a pain to upload pictures without a card reader,and the laptop (PC) has a built in card reader,I'm just too lazy to set it up.

So I hope I still have followers.

and PR MOM, you have something to read again lol.

Now I'm going to finish enjoying the quiet of my casa,before all the man cubs start stirring.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Do I look like I care?

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted anything. Thank goodness the blog police hasn't called the BNS-Blog Neglecting Services on me.

I have been rather busy for the last few months. I will have pictures of the fruits of my labors soon. I have just finished Curating this years Dia de los Muertos exhibit. I have such wonderful and talented Artists that have installed amazing Altars and works.

So,now to the point of the title. I was in the fabric store today and I was at the cashier,trying to empty my wallet to pay. I dislike my wallet because the dollars don't fit and I have to fold everything. I muttered (more to myself than to the cashier) that I had too much sh*t in my wallet. I realized I had said it kinda loud (enough for the cashier to hear) and I apologized to her. She holds out her tattooed arms,kinda poses and says

"Do I look like I care?"

I laughed and said "ok, thanks"

but then I thought-

  If I were someone else,

would I interpret that scenario, as if, she were saying that people with tattooed arms,pierced nose,pierced tongue,pierced.....  and dressed like a punk don't care?

Hmmm I just wonder.

A new Art Studio

Finally! I have been wanting to move into a new space for a while. The room I was in before just had bad lighting and bad mojo. I just didn't want to create in there,which is bad because I have works that need to be done and a few looming deadlines.

My son must think I'm magic. Under Things to Create he listed

Love-Peace-Harmony

Yesterday was a happy day. The guys all came to my aid and helped me do the switch. Since I can not lift anything over 15 pounds I needed a lot of help.

I rewarded them with Dr.Pepper Floats for the use of their muscles.

The new view from my window. Isn't it beautiful?

This room is much bigger than what I had before,although I still have storage issues. I am mentally making my Christmas Wish list now. I now have the room to spread my work stations out.

My beautiful artwork from the Phi & PR Mom

I am now able to have my art and books in one place. See those two birds? All they ever do is gossip. I wonder who they are talking about now.

Just a few of the journals that I have started and never filled.

In the moving and cleaning I came across this old painting I did about 15 or 16 years ago.

Mister Angry Evil Bunny that my son made in school about 7 years ago. When I am angry or frustrated he makes me smile. I made the Bitch bag from a magazine cover.

I still have a lot of organizing and cleaning to do,but I feel so much more inspired in this new space.

To My Wonderful Followers

I am sorry that I have been so neglectful these past couple of weeks. This new job just makes time disappear.

I will be neglecting the blog here for a while more as I embark on a new adventure.

I am doing a collaboration with a fellow blogger,the PR Mom 

I call her my 

PARTNER IN SHRINE

She and I are teaming up for a special event and have created a blog to write about our journey together.

If you would be so kind as to follow us and root us on,I would be most appreciative.

The new blog is called

The Altarista's Co-Lab

One of the exciting parts of it is, we have never met. We have never spoken before.

We live in 2 different states.

Our communication has been solely through blog comments,emails and instant messages.

We have joined to create a Shrine for the 

Altar Auction .

If you'd like to know more,please visit the other blog.

leave us comments,applaud us,boo us,

Cheer us on!

We will both be posting as we move along,so when you pop in you'll never know if it's PR Mom or myself writing the post of the day.

Show a new Blogger some love

Gina Presser Art Bowl

"The one I won"

I love reading Blogs on all types of subjects and when a blog piques my interest I like to show my support.

There is a new blog in the Blog Hood and lucky me,

I won her contest. She is also a fellow Artist.

If you have a chance pop on over and show some blog love to

Gina Presser Arts

and while you are there you can see the beautiful Bowl I won.

I am going to put it on my studio table far away from the notorious bowl breaking males in my family.

Thank You Gina!

Fairy Tree

I believe in many things and the belief in the wee folk are one of them. There is just something magical about them.

When the boys were younger and mushrooms would poke up in the yards we would leave them small offerings in hopes that the small treats would ease the blow of their playfulness.

If ever you have had the blessing to have come across these lovely creatures,you know how mischievous they can be. I know they love to hide the keys.

It's been many a moon since I've frolicked amidst these wonderful people.

One day while cleaning I came across this mysterious set of keys.

They looked old and well used.

Perhaps they unlock the doors in Fairyland

or perhaps they belong to a Castle hidden far away from the human eye.

I tied a pretty ribbon on them and hung them in the Creosote Bush outside of the room that I use when doing Reiki.

I left them a small feast of Mint from my garden,sweet oranges,wonderful bread,and sweet milk to quench their thirst.

So now I wait for a much anticipated visit,

and if you are like me,

the waiting is the hardest part.

Monsoon Preview

This is what my sky looks like during Monsoon season.

When it is like this, there is usually a crayon box full of colored lightening that comes with it. Artistic lightening that creates curli-cues and letters in the clouds.

The letter Y is always my favorite!

They come in bursts of neon pinks,shocking orange and electric blues.

A small smathering of Mother Natures palette.

We play games with the lightening.

We ask yes or no questions.

We ask for messages from our dearly departed.

When the boys were younger it would go something like this

"Grandpa if you can hear me, show me a blue lightening"

and then we would all wait for an answer.

I can honestly say that Grandpa hasn't failed them yet.

Welcome Additions

Last night my oldest son went to do his laundry,at some point he texted me and said he had a surprise for me.I can't even tell you how many directions my mind went. I couldn't wait for him to get home to find out what kind of gift he could have gotten me at 9PM on a Sunday night. Well, as you can see from the picture above I have a brand new baby.

I didn't name her last night and this morning the name Lily popped into my head. Actually the name Lily Monster was what came to me,but since I'm a believer of names having a certain persona attatched to them, I'm a bit leery in giving her the "Monster" part. I called her Lily and she came to me. She is a beautiful blue/grey with bluish grey eyes. One of her wonderful features is that she is NOT a cry baby. We did hide her last night from Daddy & Lola (he still doesn't know yet that there is a kitty in the house) and we introduced her to her big dog-sister Lola.

I think they are going to do well together.

WHOOP I did it again!

I am entirely blessed this week. I just discovered that I won the Chocolate give away over at the Drollerie Press. Remember I had posted about it in my previous post.  I can't believe it twice in one week, Books and Chocolate. I am very grateful and filled with gratitude. Thank you dear Deena.  When I finally finish my book that's been about 35 years in the making perhaps I shall submit it to Drollerie and perhaps make my winning streak a trifecta.

 Like the lyrics in an old song 

~~ perhaps, Perhaps,perhaps~~

  A Soul infused with the attitude of a gratitude is a happy Soul indeed!

I WON, I WON

A couple weeks a go I entered a contest on the La Bloga website pertaining to a new book called Needles & Bones. Yesterday morning I was notified that my entry had one. YAY Me! I then got an e mail from Deena Fisher of Drollerie Press,in addition to giving me details about my Prized Copy of Needles & Bones she let me know that they are having a Chocolate Give away. So if you are interested and love Books & Chocolate then head over to here and try your luck. Just keep in mind,if you win, you have to share a piece of that Chocolate.

Surrounded by Beauty

This is my view of the last mile or so before hitting the dirt road that takes me home. Most of the time I share the road with Prairie dogs, Jack Rabbits,Turkey Vultures,Hawks and the occasional Coyote.

I was going through the pictures in my cell phone while I'm sitting at the front desk . Just as I hit on this picture I happened to look out the large plate glass windows to see the palm trees that line the street elegantly swaying to the cool Jazz playing inside.

The first thing to pop into my head was a voice saying

"You are surrounded by Beauty"

and you know what?

I really am.

Not just the physical beauty

but

Beautiful Hearts

and

Beautiful Souls.

I work in an Art Gallery and I am surrounded by Artistic Beauty.

I work with a Staff that is kind hearted, a special friend owns the shop around the corner and she is an amazing woman with a Beautiful Soul.

I have met people through my blog and social networks that I have never met in person,but you know just by the tone of their words,the kindness in their comments,their selfless sharing of their work that they too are Beautiful and surrounded in Beauty of their own.

For 13 months I've been in a medical nightmare, and like my girl FRIDA once said

"I AM NOT SICK,I AM BROKEN"

I too am broken,but today I finally took a moment to catch my breath and see that under all the scars and pain

I am STILL surrounded by beauty.

Please share with me what is beautiful to you.

Have a Blessed and Beautiful Day.

No Post Today but...

I worked all day and just got home. Dang! It's already 8:30. I did get the GREATEST! compliment today,although I don't think she realized how much of a compliment it was. PR Mom likened my posts of my Dad to the storytelling of one of my most favorite Authors. Victor Villasenor is a wonderful man and if you ever get to meet and hear him speak in person you will dredge up emotions you never knew you had.  I have always wanted to be a Writer ever since I was in grade school. When our school had Book fairs they would host an Author contest and the best book would be printed and sold at the fair. I never got first place,but once I did get 2nd. So PR Mom you made my day. 

I've always said I'll know when I've made it big when I get my 15 minutes of fame on NPR!

The Many faces of Dad

June 16th,1965

Buena Park,California

Looking through pictures for my Dad's Week, I noticed how much he changed over the years. People would say he looked like the 50's Crooner Bobby Darin or was it Rydell? Either way he looked like a singer named Bobby. There were times when he looked like a Hippie,a Hells Angel (sans Bike and Gang),like a mafioso,and a business man to name a few. 

The picture above is him and my mom at their Wedding Shower. Looking at my mom's hairstyle 2 words come to mind- Marge Simpson (I'm glad she doesn't have internet access,I can hear her already YVONNE! he he back to business) Up until now I didn't realize their shower was the day after her birthday,but what I do know is that I showed up a year later.

On a side note. My Dad was only 17 when he married my mom,his mother had to sign the license to allow him to get married. My mom would say she knew how much he loved her when he pawned his rims to pay for their wedding license. Romantic isn't it? 

Boy pawns kick ass car rims to marry girl. 

Fact- those weren't his rims,they were his brothers and Dad and his buddy's jacked up the car and took them while my uncle was passed out.

 How my Grandmother made it through without killing one of them is beyond me!

White Rock,California

Labor Day Weekend 1967

I don't know why,but this picture cracks me up. I guess it just screams Hippie to me. He's sitting on top of his Aunts Station Wagon with a mattress and what looks like a pool stick tied to the top. My dad loved camping any place any time. (Dad, what do you mean I can't plug my blow dryer in? ??) He loved fishing even more than camping. Growing up I can never remember not having a boat. 

I grew up a surfer/Punk chick on the sunny shores of California.

Verde River,Arizona

1971-1972 (give or take a year)

This was the Mafioso phase, Futures so bright I gotta wear shades! That's my mom,again with the Marge Simpson Do' . I'm the one in yellow,the other two are cousins. We would visit Arizona a lot and hanging at the lakes or the "Verde" is where we spent most of our time. My dad was a joker. My Aunt had 6 kids and when we would go to the lake we would all be piled in back of the truck and by "we" I mean cousins,dogs,Duck yes, my cousin had a pet duck that she would walk on a leash. He even wore a rhinestone collar. Hey I guess that's what ducks wore in the 70's. The worst visit? Hobo, the ages old family dog got sprayed by a skunk and guess where he rode on the way home? 

Yep, in back with us.

Funniest moment. The cousins chanting "we want Dairy Queen" over and over again. So dad finds a DQ and pulls up into the drive- thru. The cousins are cheering and giving each high 5's and when it's our turn at the window?

Yep, Dad just kept on going laughing like a mad-man.

There were some seriously pissed off cousins in the back of that truck that night.

Early 70's

In some lake,Somewhere

Doesn't he look like a Biker here? That's one of my God-parents many boats. I think this just help foster my love of Sirens. I swear I was one in another life. Maybe I inspired Homer's "The Odessy" This is the last picture at least for now. Have you had enough yet? Dying for that eye candy I promised? This has been fun and I really wish I could go back to those times on the water. Even more so since today is going to be 110'. 

Thank you for indulging my closet cleaning and thank you for the wonderful comments you have left.

Mud Pool

I think today is going to be filled with posts. This picture I wanted to share,because of a picture PR MOM had posted of 2 cuties in a tub. See PR Mom back in the day my cousins and I created our own pool. It was a dug out hole in my Tia's (aunt) backyard here in Arizona. My cousin filled it with water and I was expected (out of sheer courtesy of course) to, um swim in it. I think now days they call it a SPA and a mud bath is extra lol. By the way, I'm the one on the floor getting "washed off".

A Little Birdie told me

These are my very nosey Love birds and they couldn't wait for me to share my super-delish gifts I received in the mail yesterday. Forgive the quality of the picture,but I had to do the cell phone photography. 

A while back I did my first blog give away of a small Frida painting I had done and the winner was the very kind, and wonderful with words, Punk Rock Mom. I was very late in getting her prize out to her. I live in what we refer to as 'No man's land" and the post office is about 25 miles away (that's 1 way) and by the time I got the car it was always too late. Finally about two weeks ago I was able to steal the car from the kids and high tail it out into the big City and get her prize in the mail(carrier pigeons were being lazy that day). Punk Rock Mom has a wonderful blog that she lets me read and not only is she a fabulous Photographer,but she is one half of an amazing set of parents ( I wonder if I'm too old to be adopted by these two?) After PR Mom received her package she did a blog post about them and about me as well. It was so heart-fully written I even wanted to read my blog! 

I think PR mom should go into the PR profession .

 In my package I received from her and her beautiful daughter (if all little girls were as cute and smart as hers I'd sign myself up for 10) a Thank you card with one of her photo's that I love. You can see the little shoes above the gossiping birdies. I also received 2 pieces of art created by PR Mom & PR Baby. The one that says "GRACIAS" was done by PR MOM and the beautiful painting was done by the PR Babe,she must have ESP,because the colors of my painting match the gossipy little birds perfectly and that's where they will stay.

It was such a surprise and I am so grateful and happy to know that there are very kind people out in that mean old world!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart E & S!

SUPERDUPERWONDERFULLYDELICIOUS SUPRISES!

I received a most blessed surprise in the mail today and as much as I want to share it with you today, I want to post a picture of it also. So you'll just have to sit tight until tomorrow since it's my day off from the Gallery I can play all day! I just want this  person and her wee Lass cohort to know that I got their package and I just LOVE IT!!!! Lola and I send big FAT far-away Arizona desert hugs to two special people with big FAT caring hearts in the California desert! Thank You SO MUCH!  The rest of you will have to wait until tomorrow. See my posts even have "Suspense" ha ha.

Dad- The early years.

July 9,1947

Tia Honey,Mama Teechee,my Dad and Tia Kito

Watts,California

I didn't realize the back of this picture was dated until I scanned it, By today's date it's  3 days short of 62 years.  It is surreal to me,that I have out lived him by one year.

 My dad was born a blond hair, blue eyed boy on January 12,1947, that makes him about 7 months old in this picture. His dad was Aztec/Yaqui Indian and his Mom was Basque/Mexican. He was the oldest of five kids,he had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. My dad was born in Los Angeles and raised in Watts.

I'm not sure how old he was when they left. I Know after his parents divorced my Grandmother and the kids moved around a lot staying with one sister (my grandmother was 1 of 6 Garcia girls) or another. I know my Grandmother had a brother who died young of a broken heart on Christmas Eve and he passed away at the oldest of the Garcia Sister's House. I don't know much more than that. Ironically it seems that a Garcia can not leave this world unless it's a holiday. 

It's almost a Garcia trademark! 

Judging by his size in this picture I'm guessing it was around the same time as the one above,there is not a date on it. I can't tell if that's my Grandmother or her sister Nena.  I know that sometime around Junior high his family moved to Buena Park and lived with the oldest of the Garcia Sisters. That would be Frances,but they called her Pompei . Why? I have no clue as to why  these people had the nicknames that they did.(and yes, I have a nickname too, they called me Bonnie ugh!)  Pompei at some point in her life was a beauty Queen. 

Pompei (Frances) was the oldest,then there was Nena (Helen),Cata (catherine,my Grandmother)Licia (Alice,my Godmother),Honey (Mary) and Kito( Caroline) the youngest. Their brother they refered to as Tio Tomix (Thomas). Looking at the Garcia Sister's Family Bible there was another sister named Jinnie Lopez and above it is written "Out of Family". 

I don't know anything more than the name on a page. She would have been born before any of the Garcia Sisters or their brother for that matter. 

 Oh how I love digging Skeletons out of the closet! 

I hope all this makes sense. I can't figure out how to format the post so it looks right and I apologize for that. I was proofreading what I had and thinking about tomorrows post and I couldn't help but laugh at my Dramatic Family,we have; divorce,scandal,suicides! No wonder my life long dream has always been to become a published writer,I mean look at all I have to work with! I wouldn't need to make it up. lol.

So if you'll indulge my "closet cleaning" for a few more days I promise to reward you with a little Artistic eye candy. 

Is that a deal? 

Can we pinky swear on it?

20 Years 4th of July

August mid 70's

Tempe, Arizona

January 12,1946-July 4,1989

Twenty years ago today my Dad passed away.

He was only 42.

Things had been touch and go for a long time,

Everytime the Doctors would tell us the end was near he'd come out of whatever it was and start demanding chicken pot pies again. When he was well enough to come home he told his Doctor he wanted to go on vacation,he wanted to go to Arizona. When the Dr. finally realized my dad would go to Arizona with or without his approval he gave in,on several conditions. The Dr. wanted to know where the hospital was,who would supply his oxygen (to this day I cannot look at someone with portable oxygen) and a whole list of other things that had to be in place before he could leave California. My mom drove the 2 of them to his sisters house. They say when he was getting out of the car,with the help of her neighbor he said he was home and never leaving,

Indians know when they are going to die and they go home

or so I have been told. It was a Wednesday. It was not going to be a good week. That Friday my cousin killed himself,but his wonderful Wife failed to tell my Aunt until after he was buried,despite the fact that they lived in the same county. July 2nd my dad got sick and was taken to the hospital. A couple things about my dad, He loved the 4th of July and Christmas. He loved Arizona although he was born and raised in California,his Father's roots were in Arizona. The hotter it was the better he liked it. It was around lunch time when he convinced my mom to go down to the cafeteria to get something to eat.

Evidently this was a code word for leave so that I can die.

She wasn't gone very long and she said when she walked onto the ICU floor all the rooms were dark.

Except for his. His room glowed with an aura of Angels. She said she knew then he had gone. He was facing Camelback Mountain with a smile on his face. He was at peace.

The thermometer read 125'

It's been 20 years ago today and he's missed so much. I wonder how hot it will be today?

When my time comes will I remember to go home?

I've held on to the grief and guilt of a childhood gone wrong. 20 years of, if I knew then what I know now. A lifetime of If's and Had I's. Two decades of,you only brought this on yourself.

We were not close and I wish I could change that. Every girl needs her Dad and some days I really need mine.

This week I will spend honoring him here,I hope you don't mind. I think 20 years is long enough to hold on to the past. This week I will let it all go.

If you still have your dad call him,hug him,visit him and tell him you love him. I wouldn't want you to be sitting here 20 years from now writing this same post.

Somewhere over the Rainbow daddy we will meet again

Artful Discovery's

Tortillons or Tortillas

This looks like a drawing instead of a photo doesn't it?

I don't know if I've ever shared this,but I have a very curious mind. I swear it must be a Gemini thing. I have to know how things work,why certain things do what they do,why when you drive through Corona and are in Green River that on top of that big ol' mountain is a house.

I mean why would somebody just plop a house there?

 Just stuff like that. 

To drive my family mad.

The latest thing to catch my attention are those cosas, things up above. I kept seeing them everywhere,including my grocery store,heck I even found one in the house. I just didn't know what they were for,aside of knowing they had to do something with drawing. 

It was a conspiracy! 

It had to be

Today I forgot to pack my favorite drawing pencil so I popped into my grocery store on the way to work and picked up a drawing set. Besides the pencils,graphite,

sandpaper stick and various other goodies

 those thing-a-ma-bibbers 

(my youngests word,he could never say thing-a-ma- bob)

were included. 

So I took them out and walked back to my Boss's Office and said

 "at the risk of sounding like a complete dork what are these things and what do you do with them?"

 Keep in mind that I work in an Art Gallery.

He says "I don't know,maybe they are shaders or something" 

So I headed back up front and pondered that thought. 

Guess What??

That is what they are for.

I went buck wild!

A mad drawing spree ensued!

The sides of my hands were black from the lead,but I didn't care. I found a new toy!

A brand new paper twisted  toy! 

So on the way home from work,I stopped at the

craft store and bought a whole package of

paper twisted new toys. 

I drove home thinking of all the things I would draw and shade

with my super-sized Newsprint Sketchpad.

Guess what else happened?

I got home

Sat down

Ate some dinner

Got on the computer

and decided I'm tired

I don't want to draw anymore.

Story of My Life!

If you look really close at the picture you can see the Lips I drew. 

My youngest is in California and I was drawing kisses then pic- texting them to him.

Yes,I know,I'm an absolute complete dork. BUT

a complete dork with brand new paper twisted new toys Who no longer wants to 

play with them.

Witches Night Out

They are very good at acting innocent. Dead unstuffed chicken? What Chicken? You can almost hear one of them whistling .

I'm sure you are wondering what "Witches Night Out" has to do with my beautiful Nieces. They are also my "Dogdaughters (my play on God Daughters) and since they are the only ones that make me a Tia (aunt) I try to spoil them when I see them. I live in Arizona and they are back home in Cali.

These two girls were adopted by my sister from the California Humane Society in Pasadena. I remember going with my sister to see and eventually pick up Crush (the one looking away). We had to take sister Jax to meet her to ensure their compatibility (I think this should be done with people too lol) Crush's story was a sad one that turned out happy. They are both the most lovable and mischeivious Girls. They have been known to swipe a whole platter of freshly grilled carne asada off the counter (before anyone got any I might add) and have taken and shared loves of bread and packages of tortillas. They have even dug under the fence and allowed the Poodles next door to come over for some (all while my sister was at work.) I tell my sister real kids act just as bad sometimes.

Now that I've given a brief run down of my girls I will share with you the reason for the Witches Night Out title. The WNO was created as a Meet up group and has evolved into a great Charity Event. WNO is going to be the Halloween Bash that ends all Bashes and all for a good cause. The proceeds of our labor of love will go to the Arizona Humane Society. I volunteered Reiki Sessions and my time for this great cause and in Honor of my Dogdaughters Jax and Crush,if it wasn't for the Humane Society they wouldn't be part of our familia.

I am Co-Chairing with the Brain and Queen behind the Witches Night Out, Rose Warner. The Event is her Brainchild. She is a lover of Animals and just an amazing woman. Besides being a wife,mother and a true Hermana,she also is the Owner of the coolest stores in Downtown Chandler called Artistic View. It's an Import store with treasures from far off lands and a good section of Dia de los Muertos goodies.

If you want to know more about the event you can click on the badge on the left or leave me a message.

Fly be Free

I'm sorry! I had such a kick back, relaxing, no stress, day watching movies that I forgot today is the day I promised to set Frida free. Chica Lola picked and drum roll please.... The Phi's mom, Punk Rock Mom of Punk Rock Parents gets to give Frida a new home.

Please email me so I can get all your info. The carrier pigeon gets upset when I get him lost.

I hope every one had a good weekend.

Thank you for your comments and for reading my Blog.

Medusa del Mar

Meet Medusa del Mar

She isn't one of the Filter Girls. I strayed. I'm sorry Filter Girls.

this is a close up.

She isn't finished yet. I have to do something about her arms,or lack there of. 

I just wanted to give you a sneak peak. 

What do you think of her?

She has a few Sisters in the works.

They're in the sketching phases.

Well,back to work.

Frida

I've decided she's done.

 Every time I tried to take her up a notch it didn't turn out,and I'd slather on some gesso and start over. She's very basic,but she needs to be free.The picture gives off a lot of glare and she's not that shiny in actuality. Frida is small (2"x4") and begging for a new home.

 Leave me a comment and my trusty assistant Lola, also known as my Chica Lola will choose a winner. You have until Sunday 

June 13th leave me a comment. 

             This is my chici chici Lola (pronounced sheeky) when she was a mere babe. She's ever so helpful in the Artful Chica Studio.

She wasn't quite 8 weeks when I got her,she's about 8 months old now.She looks like a mini deer and when she runs,she hops.

 We rescued her from a pen of evil siblings that made her cry. she was the runt and meant to be mine. 

Her name changed many times before we settled on Lola.

because what

 Lola wants, Lola gets! 

La Llorona

I've heard the names you call me.

People think I'm crazy, loca. They tell their Babies to stay away, to behave or else La Llorona,the Weeping Woman will get you. Stay away from the Water after dark because La Llorona wanders the shores looking for a baby to steal.

They have never asked for my side of the story, only believe what they've heard. I've been the poster child of "what not to do", a scapegoat,and some may even say a martyr.

Let me tell my side. Give me the same sympathetic ear you gave him.

Allow your heart to open and feel what I feel.

Yes, I was once painfully beautiful,and tragically naive. I thought beauty was all I would ever need to get by.

To achieve all that I wanted I only had to smile.

That's how things were when I was a child.

Everywhere I went things were handed to me,because

I was as pretty as an Angel.

Flawless.

I admit I was picky in choosing a husband,how could I not be. What would they say if I married a man only for his compassion,his loyalty ,his heart?

How was LOVE to fit in the scheme of things?

I married a man so handsome that Angels sang each time he took a breath. Nothing else about him mattered. The Towns people would stop and stare when He and I would walk down the street.

We heard their whispers and their jealous curses.

Why do they hate what they can't have?

That was then and this is now.

How was I to know beauty fades?

That,like the saying goes beauty is only skin deep. He left me for someone far more beautiful than I. It was the status of beauty he was looking for and

not my heart,my loyalty or my compassion

and sadly not love.

The tales are true.

I did drown my children.

I stuffed down

the emotion,the want,the need,and the desire so deep down inside me,

I forgot their existence.

These children were my own. They were my past,my present,my future.

I drowned them in the abyss of not being good enough,talented enough,or smart enough.

When I would tell him about my three children, he would laugh and call me crazy,

"tu eres loca"

he'd say as he'd grab his coat and walk out the door to see her.

I knew I wasn't crazy.

My children were beautiful,graceful and filled with passion.

They were called

Hopes,Dreams and Wishes.

Yes,they were mine and mine only. I tried to share them with the man of beauty,but he couldn't understand them,perhaps they frightened him.

I don't think he ever had children of his own.

I don't mean to frighten your Babies,but when I see them stare longingly into the sea it breaks my heart.

I want to warn them and,point out to them that there in their own reflection lay their children.

I want to whisper in their little ears that beauty is only temporary and your children are yours forever.