ARTFUL CHICA'S STUDIO

Scary Men and a crying baby

2010-02-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

I've had this Teddy bear since I was born. The quilt was made out of my baby clothes.

Yesterday escaped and I didn't give you a story. Todays flashback takes place in the same house and still in the 70's. This one is a scary one so grab your Teddy bear to hug.

My room faced the backyard,it was a large spacious room that I love and still miss to this day. In the closet was a secret door in the floor that lead to the under belly of the house. A place where the most silky and soft dirt lived. My sister and I would climb through it often. I actually thought we were the only ones to know it existed. I had my toy box over it,so that no one would find the door. Silly Girl!

Ok,on to the story.

It was in the evening and already dark outside when I went into my room after my shower. I had super long,thick, straight hair and my mom would make me wear the towel turban until it was dry enough to drag a comb through. Like all little girls,I would pretend my towel was a crown or sometimes a a fancy hair style.

I was modeling my beehive when I heard a baby crying. I thought it was odd that a baby would be outside and I went over to the window and carefully pulled back the pink and orange curtain (it was the 70's!) to look outside. There he was! A man standing outside my window. I screamed,closed the curtain and my mom came running. I told her there was a baby crying and a man in the backyard. She went and got my dad who was out front with a friend and he came in looked out my window and said there wasn't anyone there.

Little while later I heard the baby crying again and this time it sounded so close! Carefully, again I pulled back the curtain and lo and behold the man was there again. I shut the curtain and screamed,or maybe I screamed and shut the curtain. Mom came running,went and got dad blah blah blah. I insisted there was a man out there,so Dad went and got his gun and he and his friend checked the backyard and the alley and couldn't find anyone.

No man and no baby and no explanation as to why I saw a man and heard the baby.

Dad went back to what he was doing and I was in my room and again there was the baby crying and crying. Third time's a charm right? This time I was determined to get a good look at this man. The man that I knew for a fact that was in my backyard staring at my room.

I sucked up my courage and slowly opened the curtain and yep there he was. I wasn't going to scream. I was going to yell at him to go away.

Hey wait a minute!

Why is that man wearing a beehive like mine? Oh Oh that wasn't a man, it was my reflection in the glass distorted from the fogged up window and my bedroom light. I closed the curtain and peeked again,yep it was me the whole time! I never told my mom or dad who the man was. I thought I would get in trouble.

And the crying baby?

It was a cat.

A cat and my reflection,isn't it wonderful how our minds work when we are little? To this day I hate when cats make that noise and I still occasionally get startled by the man outside my window.

Did I ever tell you the story?

2010-02-08T13:07:00.000-08:00

I like stories,

I like telling them even more. I have on more than one occasion been told that I should be a Storyteller. When the kids were younger and being rowdy in the backseat I would turn the radio to classical music and tell them a story that was brought about by what ever music was playing. That would calm them down enough to keep me from driving the car straight into a wall. I was in the car not too long ago with my almost,21 year old and he asked why I didn't tell "radio" stories anymore. I was surprised he remembered.

So, I thought for the fun of it,I would tell some stories this week. My goal,if I can keep it will be to tell you a story everyday this week. Let's see how that goes.

Today's story is a Sewing story that takes place, oh lets say, around 1973 give or take a year. We'll just say I was around 7 years old. It is one of the earliest memories I have about sewing.

I have always had a love of Art and Sewing and have some created some "odd" things in my life time. I can't honestly say that I was "professionally" trained at anything.

I'm the kind of girl that makes it up as I go along .

I clearly remember the scene of this story. I grew up in Norwalk, California which sits in Los Angeles County. It is the house that I loved more than any of the houses I had ever lived in. It had a glorious Green plum tree,and a juicy white peach tree and avocado trees for climbing,falling out of and breaking arms in(that happily was not me,but my little sister,and not once but twice!)

I loved that little house that sat on a busy street corner.

It is the house in my dreams.

This particular morning,my mom had a few pairs of my dads old jeans that she was cutting the legs off of to turn them into shorts.

That is when INSPIRATION struck!

It was at that very moment that I decided that I needed a Bikini! Not just any old Bikini,but a

Denim Bikini!

In my mind it was going to be the best denim bikini ever created.

For sure Paris would be calling asking to see this Haute Bikini!

I asked my mom what she was going to do with the parts of the leg she cut off and if I could have them. Luckily she handed them over and into my room I ran.

Having the cut offs was a start,now I needed scissors and a machine and perhaps a pattern.

I went back to my mother with my list of wants and needs only to be

Denied!

I was too young to use the machine,needles were too sharp and she didn't have a "Denim Bikini" pattern to lend me. I did get some rather dull scissors though.

I headed back to my room feeling somewhat defeated until.....

Inspiration took hold. Necessity is the Mother of Invention! I remember that quote from somewhere.

I came to the conclusion that a needle was only a way to make holes in the fabric for the thread to go through.

I thought for a bit and remembered there was something else that could make holes for the thread to go through. Happily I ran off to the garage where I knew there was the perfect device for making holes and with Dad asleep I could "borrow" them without him ever knowing.

Those Denim Bikini making tools are what we now refer to as,a

Hammer and Nail.

Yes, kids I sewed that Denim Bikini with a hammer and a nail!

I had the hole making issue taken care of,that left the thread issue or the lack of it.

So again I thought about it.

and again the Muses were looking fondly down at me.

Dental Floss!

It is thread like and stringy and stuff and strong! Have you ever fought with a piece trying to cut it off the spool?

Sheesh!

A pattern was now the only thing missing from my High Fashion goals. Bikini bottoms were just like undies weren't they? Why couldn't undies be used as a pattern? So,using a Cornflower Blue crayon I traced out the bottoms. The top was a little trickier,a 7 year old has no use for a bra and therefore there wasn't one around to use as a pattern. Somehow I arrived at the use of triangle shapes for the top and long strips for the ties.

I gathered my cut out pieces and headed out to the garage to start "sewing" placing the nail along the edges and hammering until I got a hole. When I was satisfied with all my sewing holes I went back in to my orange and purple room(hey! it was the 70's and shag carpet was groovy man) to finish my masterpiece.

I pushed the dental floss through each hole tying the ends into tight knots. After what seemed like forever, I was finally finished.

I was ready to show the world my beautiful Denim Bikini. I put it on and sauntered into the livingroom where my mother was still working and said in my small model voice

"Behold the beautiful Denim Bikini"

and like Heidi Klum on the cat walk

I strutted my bad self on out to the backyard.

Head held high and feeling like I owned the world

until

the dental floss snapped, the bottoms fell apart

and

Ricky Hammond, the kid next door got an eyeful.

Luckily that wasn't the last of my sewing adventures,

just the worst that I can remember.

I hope you enjoyed my Creative Faux pas for today

I think tomorrow's adventure will be;

The man in the backyard and the crying baby.

Another thought

2010-01-31T17:21:00.000-08:00

With my deadline looming, my Muse has decided to take Sunday off

and leave me to my own devices.

So I asked my guys for some input,unlike yesterdays blank looks,

and the suggestion

that it needed a head.

Today it was suggested that I save the tiles and we play scrabble later,

and there were

various other things that the tiles could spell out

and I won't repeat them here.

; )

So it's back to the old drawing board.

Work In Progress

2010-01-30T20:41:00.000-08:00

This is what I am working on this weekend. It is for an auction.

I thought it was going rather smoothly.

I was really happy with the way it crackled.

I liked the deep color of the red.

The texture of the wings.

Then I put the first layer of gold on the Amor,

and it looks lopsided,

and crooked.

Looking at the picture above,I think it looks really bad.

So,tomorrow I will have to sand off the lettering and start over.

I still need to white wash the wings and Antique the entire piece.

Did I mention the piece has to be submitted February 2nd?

Don't you just love deadlines?

Where Does Time Go?

2010-01-27T14:39:00.000-08:00

Some times I feel like I live in a vacuum. A giant time sucking vacuum. It's not like I am this super popular Art Chick that is jetting around the globe So where is it exactly that my time goes? I can't blame creation because,aside from one project I am working on, I haven't done much else. I've tried retracing my steps to see if I could find the portal that is responsible for my time issue and have come up with nothing.

Go figure.

I am working on an auction piece for another Gallery. I will post pictures when it is finished.

It's a heart cut out of wood. We were all given the same heart and it is up to us to create something wonderful. It's been fun. Since the pictures are on the other computer and I am at work,you will have to wait to see the progress.

I feel like I should post more and not be such a bad blog mother,but I haven't felt that blog spark in a while. Maybe I need a new look and perhaps a new name.

What do you think?

Lily Munshter's back in action

2009-12-14T08:41:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-07T11:06:00.000-08:00

Friday night I was invited by a friend to attend

Las Noches de las Luminarias

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

2009-12-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-30T16:02:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-11-22T06:20:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-10-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-08T11:16:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-28T20:59:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-20T11:39:00.001-07:00

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!

2009-07-13T23:22:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-07-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-07T10:20:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-07-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-02T20:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-30T14:44:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-14T20:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-11T23:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

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.

Party Hiatus

2009-05-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

Ok so I didn't do a very good job cropping this. It is one of the beautiful pictures I took a few weeks ago at the lake. I wish I was there right now.

I am sorry I've been neglecting my blogging duties. Will you forgive me? I forgot what a chore having a party is. My "baby" will be turning Stinky 16 or would it be Sour 16? Since girls are Sweet 16,I figure boys would be the opposite. Since his birthday falls on Monday we are having his party on Saturday. Honey keep trying to add my name to the affair (he thinks he can kill 2 days with one affair). My birthday is next Friday.

I started doing the "guest" cleaning,but then things started changing. The Guest list expanded,the food is getting catered and I went on a mad cleaning spree. Rooms,closets,carpets and cabinets weren't safe.

My Art Studio has a giant gaping hole where my table belongs. I dare not put things back together until Friday. I know if I do I will plop myself down and start some gianormous project that will be all over. I also think it will just entice someone to want to touch my things. I'm bad about peeps touching my stuff.

So until the party is over,the cakes been eaten,and the weekend guests go back to N.C.,Cali,and Vegas, I won't have any Art to share with you. Who knows I may have some good pictures to share. Our family is a pretty gregarious bunch.

So until then enjoy your week.

Reflection

2009-05-14T19:56:00.001-07:00

After a few days of pain I started peeling. I know, ew gross, and why is she sharing that with us? I was watching the News earlier and they were talking about the Snake calls that Fire Departments have been getting lately. Why you would call them about a snake is beyond me,but that's for a different story. It's been in the 100's and this is Arizona,what do they expect from the desert?

What did stay in my mind is the snakes yearly ritual of shedding their skin. They rid themselves of what no longer fits. I sometimes find these skins caught in the tumbleweeds. Sometimes the are just pieces and others I have found completely intact and you can see where how many rings on their rattlers there were. I thought about my own sun induced shedding of skin, and about what it is that no longer fits. What do I need to shed myself of?

In 22 days I will be turning 43 and sometimes I think to myself, am I really that old? Granted I look at it from a perspective of how long until 50. I know a lot has changed in the eyes of that 5 year old in the picture. I can't even remember what her hopes and dreams were or even what made her happy. I know I loved Art or at least I think I would have. I did love school until I was in Third Grade and a very mean teacher stripped me of that. I would often look at this picture and try to remember who she was,what she was like. I mean, I know that is me, in 1971 but that is all I know. Have you ever done that? Found a picture of yourself and try to remember who you were at that place in time?

As I type this, new thoughts come to mind. I have gone to school or taken classes for everything imaginable. I went to school for Cosmetology,Floral Designing,Communications, Real Estate,Reiki,and the list goes on. With the one exception of Reiki, I didn't finish any of them. I am proud to say that I am a Reiki II Practitioner and have the Certificate to prove it. But I wonder if there is a correlation between not finishing any of those classes and what that mean old teacher did to me and my love of school.

There is so much in life that I didn't do because of that nagging laugh that says "You want to do WHAT??" I cheated no one else but myself of so many of life's experiences because of that darn Devil. I always wanted to make a career out of creating art,but like the lottery, "you can't win it if you don't play it" or in my case you can't sell it,if you don't create it.

So perhaps it's my fear of failure that is being shed with each bit of very crispy skin lol. I want to usher in 43 with a lust for life and doing things with a determination and a force to be reckoned with. I want to see the things around me with the amazement and love of that 5 year olds eyes once again.

Oh and I also went to school to become a Life Coach,how ironic is that?

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

2009-05-11T23:09:00.000-07:00

I hope all the Mother's out there had a wonderful day all to themselves!

Saturday we spent the day at the Lake with some friends. He is being shipped off to Bagdad next month and it was his floating going away party. It was a beautiful day to be on the water.

My favorite thing to do is just float leisurely around on a raft. When you're in the water you don't feel the Arizona sun so much as you would on land. Me being the die hard California surfer girl that I am brought my trusty Hawaiian Tropics,I just love the smell of that stuff. So I slathered it on and jumped on my raft while everyone else was chit- chatting on shore.

So,to make a long story short,I am now the color of an Oompa Loompa. I am so burnt I glow. It's now been 2 days and it hurts like heck. This morning it even hurt to type. Silly girl,you aren't in Cali anymore!

I don't have anything new to post up art wise. I've been working on a torso for a piece I am doing for a cousins Tattoo Shop. Most of Friday was spent making a form,then starting the paper maiche. I need to do a few more layers to make it tough.

I may have some wonderful news to share,but it won't be today. Right now I'm crossing my fingers,my eyes,my legs,and my arms, that things go well tomorrow.

Do you hate being held in suspense? I know I do.

Next post should have some info on Chiquita Frida too. Until next time have a wonderful week and I hope wherever you are that it's a lot cooler than the 100' week we are having here!

A better view

2009-05-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a better view of Hail Mary.

It took 2 cameras to finally get a good picture of her.

Sneak Peak of Little Frida

2009-05-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

Chiquita Frida

In honor of Cinco de Mayo and the fact that it marks the "30 shopping days" left until my Birthday, I thought I would share the almost finished "Little Frida". Ok so celebrating the last 30 days until I turn a year older isn't exactly what Cinco de Mayo is all about,but when I was young, there were two things that meant my day was coming. First the afore mentioned Cinco and the other was June Bugs. I grew up in Southern California and when I was little June Bugs were abundant and plentiful. O.k. so what does this have to do with Little Frida? Nothing I just veered a little.

Little Frida is painted on a 2x4" canvas and I think when she is done I will release her out into the world. What do you think about this idea? When I finish her I will post it and then if you'd like to have her I'll let you know what you have to do to enter. Sound good?

A Filter Girl of a different sort

2009-05-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hail Mary Full of Grace

She does have a coffee filter,but not like the other girls.

She does not have a mouth either . I don't know why,but I like my girls without a mouth. I think in part it's because I have a hard time drawing them. I had to take these at weird angles,because my camera was not cooperating and I apologize.

I'm always amazed as how I start something and then it takes on a life of it's own and ends up in another direction. This is not the visualization I had when I started,but I am more than pleased with what I was given as an end result.

Being the Spiritual Chica that I am,I always try and invoke a Guide or Saint before I start a project. I ask for a blessing and a little guidance. With this particular piece, techniques I had never tried before made their selves known. I don't take all the credit for any of my work. They are always blessings from "A Higher Authority".

Next on my list is St.Lucy and her eyeballs. I think I'm going to call these next paintings "The Filter Girls,The Patron Saints Collection" I like the way that sounds! I've sketched out a few and have included a few male Saints.

Leave me a note,let me know what you think.

I wish you a day filled with Peace and Blessings.

Stamps

2009-04-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

I didn't think it would take me this long to get the Block carved out,but hey it's me we're talking about and it took a week. I'll have some to show you hopefully tonight. I will tell you this, the first block are Angel Wings.

New Paint & Itty Bitty canvas

2009-04-27T15:46:00.000-07:00

~I got new paints today~

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this before,but the paints I have are old,old,old!

Once upon a time I taught Tole Painting. I had created my own line of patterns and I taught workshops at a friends Tole Shop. Wow, that was such a lifetime ago. Some of my paints are probably 14 years old. Sad huh?

I have been wanting to try something new and exciting,but new paint is very expensive. Well,the ones I want to try are,especially on my budget of nothing. Tomorrow marks the 1 year anniversary of the last time I worked. I've been on medical leave since then and since there isn't a paycheck,my art budget is well,pretty much a big fat Zero!

Honey is pretty good about picking things up for me and if I bat my baby browns and make promises of chocolate cake I can get what I want,but his job has been slow and I feel guilty sometimes asking for stuff.

Today we were in the area of Jerry's Artarama and I managed to persuade Honey to --"oh please can we stop?" I batted my eyelashes until he gave in. I wandered around the place like it was the Sistine Chapel. There were so many wants and a few needs. I wanted to see the prices of their paint and it's been a while since I've graced the aisles of a real art store. See along with the no job,and no check,my oldest uses my car for work so therefore there is no running the streets. We live far from civilization and by the time any of the guys get home,I'm too lazy to go out or it's already high traffic time. Gosh I sound whiney today don't I?

Wandering around the many paint aisles my son had pointed out some tubes that were reasonably inexpensive,but as I turned around the word URBAN caught my eye. Being a SO*CAL girl anything Urban sounds cool and SoHo Urban Artist sounded mondo cool to me. The colors were so bright and bold. It just reminded me of the Graf- art back home. I stood there staring at all the pretty colors like a deer in the headlights until I caught a glimpse of the sign with prices. 75ml for a mere $1.99! Since I had a hot $5 dollar bill burning a whole in my pocket I bought a Diox.Purple and a crazy orange. I also bought this itty bitty 2x4 baby canvas. I think once I paint that baby bad boy up I am going to give it away. Yippee my first give away.

I can't wait.

Amor Eterno

2009-04-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

Amor Eterno

Doesn't that sound so romantic in Spanish?

I was looking for something else,moving things around and I came across my little stash of unpainted boxes. Then I remembered I had one done and one base coated so I thought I'd share them with you. I'm all about feedback,so give me your opinion. I was thinking of creating the rest of them and pushing them out into the world. I've always wanted an ETSY store and maybe these would be a starting point. I try to add a blessing to my artwork,before sending it off or exhibiting it. Maybe these would bring love,dreams and wishes to someone.

Next on the list of creative endeavours is to create my own fabric. I don't mean the weaving part of it, I want to design the print of it. Last year I bought a bolt of muslin and now will be a good time to get started. It's been in the 100's here so it should cure pretty quick. Tomorrow I will hopefully get the rubber squares and start carving the stamps to block print my fabric. I'm excited! I have an idea that involves my Filter Girls so hopefully by the weekend I'll have something to show you and Oh my stars is it Wednesday already?

Isn't Dreaming wonderful?

"Amor Eterno" it sounds so romantic in Spanish doesn't it?

This is a before and after,granted, I completed the after about 2 years ago. They are trinket boxes (for lack of a better description) the finished one has a crackled paint look to it and under the glass lid is El Corazon from a Loteria card. I then affixed Milagros at each corner. One is a heart the other a praying Virgin Mary. The box opens and you can hide love and wishes inside.

I was looking for something else(isn't that how it usually is?) when I came across my little stash of these boxes. I know I've had them for a few years already. Maybe I'll get them all gussied up and open an "ARTFUL CHICA'S STUDIO" ETSY store. What do you think?

Next up on my creation agenda is fabric. I have some ideas for some fabric print,so God willing I'll get the rubber and start carving the stamps tomorrow and maybe by the weekend have the ACS fabric line. Isn't dreaming wonderful?

Good Morning

2009-04-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

I just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a wonderful morning. I think this morning is the only thing good about this day. The lovely weather girl this morning was smiling so beautifully when she said it was going to be between 100 and 104' stinkin' degrees today. Is my post dripping sarcasm? We were also advised to stay indoors as to the air quality being horrible as well.

I don't have a picture for this post and I feel like I'm cheating you. It's like watching a silent film only in reverse. Here you have the text and nothing to look at. Part of my guilt lies in laziness. I use 2 computers. 1 is a Mac the other an HP. If you've ever used a Mac you know there are certain things that don't translate well. I upload my pictures to the HP because it has a card reader which makes it so easy uploading pictures. Oh and where does the laziness come in? My Mac is in my room because I was watching a movie and so I'm typing from bed.

This weekend I spent back home in California and it was wonderful. I packed up the Filter Girls to show them to my Grandma and 1 of them were adopted,well 2 of them got adopted,but the first Adoptee suprised me. "Quiet Solitude" was the first to go. I had not planned on giving them away,only because they hadn't evolved into anything beyond the filters they were. So when my Uncle (yes,Uncle) quietly looked through them a couple times he pulled her out and asked if he could have her. I was floored. I was even more surprised when he hung her up on the wall in his bedroom. She is the first thing you see when you walk in. The funny thing about that one is,I put them on my facebook page that I use to keep in touch with my family. My cousin Van said that "Quiet Solitude" was her favorite. It's the one her Dad picked out.

"My Heart Needs No Words" was adopted by my Tia (aunt in Spanish) She was so cute about it. My Tia and I are 10 years apart and we share the same birthday. I was the best gift she ever got! At least, that's my opinion. =) I think the Girls went to very good homes. I am always honored when somebody wants my Art,but having my Uncle ask for one was,well beyond honored. Now I have to go post up facebook and tell Van her girl is gone.

Have a WONDERFUL morning wherever you are!

Happy Birthday Baby & Happy Anniversary too!

2009-04-16T20:32:00.000-07:00

It's funny isn't it, how life sometimes turns out?

Today is Honey's 45Th Birthday. So I tried to bake him a beautiful cake,you know, the kind that you see in pictures. Tall and stately with fluffy frosting and mouth watering goodness. So, I went out and bought 2 round cakes pans. When I was mixing the batter I did it by hand and gently poured the batter into the well seasoned pans. Placed the pans carefully in the oven and tip toed around for 28 minutes.

When the timer went off I carefully pulled the cakes out and lovingly placed them on the cooling rack. I got the plate ready and stirred up the frosting and then..... when I flipped the first layer over,the darn thing stuck but just a little and I was able to patch it up. I frosted the top and sides and then went to flip over the top layer and wouldn't you know it a whole chunk stuck! Grrr I was so bummed.

The cake was lopsided and after loading on all those candles it slide even more. It took 2 boxes minus 3 candles to light up his night.

This June will mark 30 years that I've known him. I was a mere lass of 13 the first time I laid eyes on him. Tomorrow is our 2nd Wedding Anniversary. We married each other twice. First time was at the Santa Ana Courthouse and 5 years ago we did the Church thing which turned out a total disaster,but I'll save that for another post.

Growing up there were 2 things I was adamant about. One was I NEVER wanted to get married and second I never wanted kids. I wanted to travel to Ireland,Paris and Scotland. I wanted the glamorous life of a Journalist.

It's now 18 years and 3 kids later and my life has been far from glamorous. The only Paris I've been to is Lake Perris. I'm pretty grateful though for how my life has turned out.
Had my life been left to continue the way it was going back then I'd probably be dead.
Funny isn't it,how life turns out.

Communing with Spirit

2009-04-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest addition to my Girls. She is "Communing with Spirit".
That means different things to different people. I know she doesn't look finished,but I felt she was ready to be posted.

Some may look at the Coffee Filter Girls and think "she calls this art?" I can't say they are my best works and they are by far the worst. I spent a year not creating due to some events in my life that I felt robbed me of my gift. These Girls have been more like therapy for me,bringing me back to some of the things I love most. It's been a long and sometimes heartbreaking process for me but just the fact that I've picked up brush or pen has been a great achievement for me.

I can honestly say I've spent a lot of time communing with the Spirit within me and slowly I'm regaining the creativity that once dwelled within. So to those of you that have left words of encouragement and inspiration, Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now does this mean the end of the Girls? I doubt it,as long as Honey has coffee every morning,I'll have a fresh surface to play with.

Blog

2009-04-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

*Warning this post may be long, but this is the "SHARING" I eluded to in my first Welcome post.*

For the 3rd time this week it appears that sleep will escape me. I don't know what else it could be,besides full moons,creative energy spurts,and secondhand java absorbtion from the filters, but I am just not sleeping. Tonight I have spent who knows how many hours re-working and tweaking my Blog.

For years I have had my priorities backwards and for a very silly reason.

First, let me just say I am my WORST critic. I have given away artwork just because I thought I wasn't good enough. My Aunt (and the recipient of alot of it) would tell me "make sure you sign it,so when you become famous it will be worth alot!" It became a joke to me.

I have very good creative friends that on a regular basis tell me that I needed to create and get my work out there,of course my response would be an excited "yea I have so many ideas to share with the world" and then I'd do nothing. When I get an idea,I have to run out and buy everything I need to create it and once it's home and in my studio the rush is gone. Needless to say if i had a reciept for everything I've bought and returned it,I'd probably be able to make the house and car payment! I defend my "needs" because ,well because one day I'm going to follow through with whatever hairbrained idea that propelled those purchases in the first place.

So what is this mysterious reason I speak of?

My Blog. Yep, my silly little blog. I felt that I couldn't create my art because my blog sucked. Crazy? Delusional? Yea, I know what a dumb reason to hold back the fury. I have 2 other blogs not counting the one's I created then deleted because they didn't feel right.

Then something changed.

First Artful Chica's Studio crawled into my head. I have another name that I had been using on my other blog and Myspace and I was pretty sure that it was the "one," again ACS had other plans for me. So I looked around to see if anyone else was using it,and no one was. Originally it was just Artful Chica,then it evolved into Artful Chica's Studio. It sounded more complete to me. I threw down my flag in the blogoshpere and struck my claim.

Then wheels started turning

Before I ever posted on this fresh fertile soil I made notes. Then the notes lead to lists with bulletpoints and outlines. I knew what I didn't want this blog to become,I just couldn't pinpoint what I did want. So I did some mock ups for my banner,but nothing really jived. I did the plain black & white on for the sake of getting things rolling.

and I started getting nervous

is this what it feels like when you're on the right path? That intuitive knowing,that Hey! maybe I got it right this time. So again I put up the header and wrote my Welcome that was more like a mission statement to myself.

The coffee filters came up when I was rearranging my paper cabinet. I had been saving them for a few months. I took a few of them out and layed them on my work table. They stayed there for a few weeks collecting dirt (when you live on a dirt road everything collects dirt instead of dust). I had gone back to California and while I was there I had bought new paint. As is my M.O. I came back and placed them on a shelf and walked away. The filters and Paint must have been conspiring together,because one day I was just scribbling some ideas and Quiet Solitude came up. I thougth nothing of it,but it was persistent. So I sketched her on a filter,pulled out the paint and she was created. The other 3 were created in one night and the latest one was conceived during Thursdays sleepless night. I looked at my blog before writing this post and I was amazed at how far I've come and you know what? for the first time in my life I know, I just know I'm going to create it and I'm going to make it.

When Heaven and Nature Sing

2009-04-10T19:42:00.001-07:00

She was neither Sprite,nor Fairy but an Angel. Meet When Heaven and Nature Sing. I was right about her having a rather unusual hat. It is a nest filled with a melodic family.She looks so serene and peaceful. I could use some of that right now.I hope you enjoy her as well as the others.

If you are wondering why almost everyone has the same colors,it's because I am challenging myself to use the tube acrylics I went out and bought as opposed to the 1,000 bottles (ok maybe it's not a 1,000) of paint I already have. Some of which has been around longer than my last born.

I wanted to change mediums and become like a pro artist and use those tube paints. My plan was to donate the old bottled paint to the Gallery where I was lucky enough to teach last month. They have a wonderful Arts program called Vision Kidz. In my thinking,by donating all the paint I had I would create an empty space to fill it with the new (more expensive) paint I wanted to try. Until this happens the girls will have to share their color. Please let me know what you think of my new girl.

Coaxing out the Divine

2009-04-10T02:38:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how late it is, I thought it was around 11 and to my amazement it's already 2:40 a.m. I guess I'll be seeing Honey off to work again this week. This is the second time this week that I've pulled an all-nighter. Full moons and the excitement of creativity are to blame. There is another Filter Girl who has peeked her little head out to see the glorious star-filled sky. I believe she said her name was "When Heaven and Nature Sing". I couldn't tell you for sure because she popped back in faster than she had popped her little head out. I'm excited to meet her,I could swear she had a nest of eggs on her head. Most curious indeed! Tommorrow I may tempt her out with a wonderful Spring day. Maybe she's a Sprite or Fairy and I can coax out the divine lady with a bit of milk and sweet bread. Oh, I hope this works. I will definitely keep everyone abreast of the situation.
Good Night and may you be blessed with the sweetest of dreams.

The Filter Girls from Coffee Basket

2009-04-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

This is the story of

The Coffee Filter Girls

They come from a far away village known only as

The Coffee Basket.

It's a very small place,not much bigger

than the palm of your hand.

Most mornings the weather is hot

and very,very humid.

The evenings are cold and damp.
They live a humble, happy and quiet life in

the Coffee Basket.

They are like us in most ways

with one odd exception,

they do not have a mouth

they have learned to speak to each other

without the use of words.

How can that be you ask?
You see,in this small village they do not need a mouth to communicate.
They use the gifts they were born with.

Their GOD given talents
Speaking through their Love,through their Art,through Sisterhood and
through the quiet solitude

of morning meditation and reflection.

They are able to communicate

and speak their truths.

"there are many ways to speak without words"

they tell me

"you just need to learn how"

"Please, will you teach me?"

I ask,almost pleading with them.

"Listen to your heart

and you will find your way"

I am not sure as to how many Filter Girls live in the village
but I do hope you enjoy them as much as I do,
and maybe,just maybe they will inspire you to learn
how to speak without words.
"Just use the gifts you were born with."

Meet The Coffee Filter Girls

2009-04-08T00:59:00.000-07:00

"Quiet Solitude"

She was the first of the

Coffee Filter Girls to voyage beyond

the small village of the Coffee basket.

She finds reflecting on her

nightly flights in dreamland

to be a peaceful start to her morning.

Every sip of the Coffee Baskets finest

Java sends her deeper into a quiet solitude.

"My Heart Needs No Words"

She speaks through Love and the

feelings she holds dear to her Heart.

She knows that the Love in her heart is far

more powerful than words.

The beautiful "Soul Sisters"

They know nothing of race

they only know the joy they feel in their hearts

when they are together as one

and the sadness

when one of them has gone away.

They are of one heart and one love.

Their motto is;

Love each other

as, you would want to be loved.

"Art is Sacred"

is the latest

of the Filter Girl's

to make her appearance.

She communicates through her Art

and is a firm believer that all

art is born in

your Soul

thereby making it Sacred.

Welcome to Artful Chica's Studio

2009-04-08T00:10:00.000-07:00

After much time and many lists, I am finally creating my first post in my new Blog home. It hasn't been an easy task for me in creating Artful Chica's Studio. I have other blogs,but they didn't feel quite right. No matter how much re-modeling I did to them they just aren't where I want to lay my brush or pen at the end of the day.

I want to be able to share my inspiration,bare my Soul,open my heart and not ever have to worry whether or not anyone out there likes it. I read somewhere that if you are true to yourself your people will find you. So here I am waving to all "my people" out there in Bloglandia come and find Me. I'm waiting.

This will be a place for art, a place for storytelling,a place for sharing. Most of all it will be a place to simply be the Artful Chica I was born to be.