Did I ever tell you the story?

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.

Where Does Time Go?

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.

<3

  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?

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.

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.

Party Hiatus

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.

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

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 Filter Girl of a different sort

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.

The Filter Girls from Coffee Basket

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

"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

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.