The talented Patricia Anders, one of my favorite artist’s at the Ten Women Gallery, is curating the show ”Raining Art dolls”.  More than 29 artists are participating-it’s a must see!  Please join us on September 5th from 6-9pm  for the artist reception at the Ten Women Gallery in Venice. http://www.tenwomen.org/venicegallery.html

i have very little willpower in some instance’s -kid’s & books being one.  so-when i was at the flea market this morning it was impossible to resist this treasure-a baby book.  robert henry was born on june 10th 1918 in waukau, wisconsin to gwendolyn & henry cantgler.   gorgeously illustrated by clara powers wilson & published by the reilly & britton co chicago.

these finds are bittersweet for me-it breaks my heart that a family heirloom fall’s into a complete strangers hands at a flea market for a couple of $. this was an only child-the light of his parents lives-they  recorded his childhood with such love and pride.

perhaps at the moment, i’m a little bit over the top emotionally these days on this subject.

i am a mother-my kids are for the most part ”grown”.  my youngest , my son,  will be 21 in dec. a few weeks ago, late at night -he woke me up with “i brought john home-he has nowhere to go”.  john, with his life in 2 trashbags , was moved into one of the spare bedrooms.  i’ve know john since he was 9yrs old-he was my “second son” through  elementry & middle school-he was always here.  he was a child that could have easily fallen through the cracks. his mother had such serious substance abuse issues that she was unable to care for her children.  fortunately her father stepped up and took all 3 kids-john being the oldest.  baseball & his grandfather were john’s savoir, he loved both. my son fell out of touch with john during high school-we heard from john during his senior year-his beloved grandfather was dying  of cancer.  after his grandfather died,  john’s life quickly spireled downward. two years later- this is a young man on the edge-he can go either way. he’s a great kid-i’ll do everything i can to make sure he makes it-i hope it’s enough. 

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 This morning i read in the LA Time’s that an Australian preforming art’s troupe  “Strange Fruit” would be in downtown Los Angeles this evening. My husband (bless his adventurous spur of the minute soul) a friend and i took the subway downtown to  Bank of America Plaza.  the excursion was well worth it-in a word-MAGICAL. They are preforming tomorrow as well as Friday & Saturday- I highly recommend it!  for more information visit

www.7fig.com

 Although I named her Valentina Marcella-she is dedicated to my friend Shelia-the true “Queen of the night”.

i over dyed an vintage 1940’s tablecloth, embellishing with beading & embroidery and she is in an early circa 1900’s woodframe.

she’ll be at the  Icons, Legends & Nortorius figures exhibit at the Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock. visit their website:  http://www.eclecticcactus.com/

for those of you who know me-you  are aware of my “collections”.i have tried to be quite stern with myself-i’m at a point in my life i should use what i have-sadly that is not quite working out.  

i was at a flea market (not the best place for one who is trying to resist temptation-ah well) & couldn’t resist a bundle of old books. one of my very near furture projects is an altered book so i rationalized.

i’m reading the arabian nights, a lifelong favorite, enchantingly illustrated by rene bull. i’m keeping tradition and reading one story each night. (see-i do have a soupscon  of willpower.)

http://www.whimzical.com/Bull.html

René Bull (1870? - 1942) had a wild imagination and a bold style. We had not heard of him until recently, but we’re immensely glad we did. Frankly, we think he’s a genius. His mind could grasp any concept and find a way to express it in a lively and humorous style. Check it ouT:what immediately springs to mind is comic book illustration—and this in the early 1900s. Born in Ireland, Bull did not come upon illustration till he was studying engineering in London. He was inspired to become an artist, and was eventually sent to cover several wars for Black and White magazine. Speaking of which, in addition to his amazing color illustrations, his version of The Arabian Nights also features humorous line drawings (see below). This is truly one of the most wonderous versions available, long overdue for reprinting.

it’s hard to think about christmas in 90 degree heat. i’ve been having alot of fun with these angels-here’s the christmas girl.

i’ve put a somewhat acceptable dent of the not so fun  “must do’s”-shopping, cleaning, paperwork, ect-i’ve decided to spend the rest of the day having fun. 

not necessarily in this order, but heres my list

give the girls (dogs) a bath. it’s going to be HOT-so they will dry quickly. 

work on my quilt square for the saqa auction  (visit  www.saqa.com  for more info)

get my workshop materials ready for tomorrow ( ten  workshops are starting tomorrow-visit my website for details)

work on a few assemblage pieces-my new favorite thing-i just finished “the swan.”

definately last on the list and maybe a “to do” for another day is to see

what i can do about my messy studio for a possible upcoming photo shoot.

please join me at another wonderful show at the folk tree gallery-

i’ll be there for the opening reception Saturday May 31st from 4-6pm 

I can’t wait for summer ! I have workshops scheduled at the gallery in Venice during June & July. I was going to take the month of August off-change of plans,  i’ve been invited to exhibit & teach at the Pasadena Bead & Design Show. I’m very excited! for more information and a complete schedule visit my website www.turkeyred.com

today is much better than last tuesday-however my car is ailing.  it sustained ”serious injury” ( it blew a spark plug through the cylinder head) according to my wonderful, honest & talented mechanic.  the good news is that it will be covered under my extended warrenty which ends this august-whew! more good news is that i didn’t get stranded yesterday driving all over town- the garment district downtown la in the morning-then betty ( busy/bad dog) & i went to the folktree gallery in pasadena to drop of my piece for the upcoming “anything goes” show - complete information on my website or www.folktree.com.

i was able to get to the library this morning to pick up a book recommended by a customer-infinite variety-the life and times of the marchasa casati. i’ve only had time to skim-but it looks delicious!

i also finished this assemblage piece “winged” -and i’m dedicating it to “the merciful powers that be” who had didn’t leave me stranded on the 405 during rush hour traffic-my car conveniently died a block from home-what more could i ask?