M.I.A...I'm Back...

"Life Is A Party...

Let's Get Out And Strut..."

-Mick Jagger, "Mixed Emotions"

Oh my Gawd!!! I had a jet setter kind of weekend...I flew to FL to surprise one of my best girlfriends for her surprise 50th B-Day party! It was so awesome and I am still feeling the great vibes! She is 3 months younger than me and was at my 1st B-Day party, and I have the pics...well my Mom has those...but we grew up together and both were artists and both of us became quite successful doing our art! We can be together and basically read each other's mind! What a blessing...I just got home this evening and miss her already! Her party lasted until 6am! She is truly blessed with many great friends!

I know I have not posted any art for a few weeks..but lots of things happening and lots of art being created ... just not ready to reveal...yet!

The EyE's Have It...

Another one of my self portraits...I love that highlight in my eye. This almost looks like a paint-by-numbers piece...I used to paint those when I was a young babe.

Me...Again!

Yeah, me again...with different hair...again! I change my hair a lot! I guess I am my own canvas...a painting that never dries, one that I am constantly adding layers of fresh paint and glazes to... A sculpture that I never finish...changing it's form, adding more clay...sometimes taking it away. Changing the features...with my moods.

This photo is from my sculpting days at Fenton Art Glass, I lost my job 2 years ago this month, due to the economy, importing...yadda, yadda yadda. The piece I am working on in the photo is a bunny box. I designed and sculpted the piece for the glass company to be produced in glass. This bunny figurine is also a box, the upper half lifts off.

Make Someone's Day

Practice Random Acts of Kindness...

I try to be kind, even when I am feeling off course. When I am checking out at a store, I try to compliment the cashier or say something funny to make them smile. I smile at people when I pass them on the street, etc. and sometimes you can see a spark in their eye. Maybe no one else noticed them that day...

Whenever someone has a baby, I get all mushy and make them think they have the most beautiful child in the world, and each one does, of course! I like to make someone's day, even if they are a complete stranger and all I did was smile and acknowledge their presence in this world...and if I am having a down day, it lifts me up to give someone attention when they are just taken for granted or seem invisible to the world. You would be surprised how it can turn even a bad day into a better one.

What's Cookin'

No pics, (let your imagination soar...) luscious smells from my stove...I had 4 very ripe tomatoes from a friend and decided I needed to use them quickly or else I would waste these luscious home grown rubies...So, I sauteed garlic (always, darlings) in some olive oil along with red hot pepper flakes and fried peppers...then I cut up these juicy beauties and let them cook down, added some fresh basil (ohhh, laa la!), course salt and oregano...also a touch or fingerprint of sugar...oh my Gawd...

Now, I will pour a glass of Merlot and cook some pasta for my creative supper...and all for me...wish you could join me! Oh, and I must grate some parmesanoooo...

There is nothing like fresh vegetables from the garden...

SadEyesDon'tLie

There is a rainstorm inside of me, it has been brewing for a while.

Today, it shed it's first tear.

My eyes give me away...even after wiping away the salty trail of tears...

In the meantime, here is a lovely quote to live by...

Have a Heart that never Hardens,

A Temper that never Tires,

A Touch that never Hurts.

-Charles Dickens

Maria and Me

This photo was taken by my girlfriend, Terry Nutter, the mother of sweetie pie, Maria. They came to a Christmas art and craft show in November where I was set up selling funky bottle stoppers (in pic) and figurines that I had created for the holidays! It was a great success. Maria is wearing a necklace of mine that her Momma bought for her that day! It was made with glass light bulbs and jingle bells.

I had a totally different look, oh gawd, that hair... I get bored with my look and change it...sometimes it has been a good thing. Other times, forget about it.

Another Part of Me

Another funky self-portrait of me...

Dreams Do Come True

"Lose your dreams

and you might lose your mind."

-Mick Jagger

Okay...I will be the first to admit that I am not a very good singer, not even a bad singer...I am a horrible singer. I could not carry a tune even if my life depended upon it...but I always had the fantasy of being in a rock band...I would have even settled for a back-up-singer spot on a Rolling Stones tour, I know that is a bit much...but when I dream, I dream big.

Well as stupid as this sounds, I do still sing, usually in my car...all alone. So there I am driving and I turn onto a brick street...Low and behold, a Stevie Nicks song came on. Genius that I am, (keep remarks to yourselves)...I start thinking that if I sing along with her while driving along on this brick street (very bumpy), my voice would quiver just like hers does....OMG!!! I sounded just like her! Seriously!!!

Okay, so I am still not on tour with the Stones, but I did sound like a rock star for that one minute...yeah, yeah, I know...keep dreaming Suz.

Playing Hook-eee...

Oh... I am hooked, alright! Love to hook rugs, etc...and I favor the primitive style-so freeing and open to all kinds of possibilities. The wool is cut into strips and hooked into burlap, monk's cloth, etc. The last photo shows the back, still lovely, in my opinion!

This piece is attached to a frame, no need to bind the edges...yeah! And it is a hit-or-miss pattern, with the colors and pattern being just whatever you want. I will be showing more pieces that I will be working on...great to do in the fall and winter...it is like painting with wool. And can be done anywhere, I like to work on them while paintings are drying or while listening to a book on tape.

Is This Woman Really 84???

The woman on your left in the top photo...my Italian Mamma...Mary...holding my nephew, Bryce, who is now 10, and of course me...that photo was taken over 10 yrs ago...day before my Dad passed. The next photo is how she now looks...not bad, I say...And the comment everyone else thinks who has the privilege of meeting her. A 3 time( and 3 different) cancer survivor, my hero! My brother and his family came in from NC and we had a great weekend together. To the next 84, Momma...salute!

As I write this post, I am frying garlic, eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers (canned in oil) for a nice pasta dish for me, myself, and I. I wish my Mamma could enjoy this peasant dish with me! And of course, you too! Party on!!!

I Like This Quote...

The movie star and scientist Hedy Lamarr said,

"A good painting to me has always been like a friend.

It keeps me company, comforts and inspires."

Do You Know an Angel?

"Friends are angels

who lift us to our feet

when our wings have trouble

remembering how to fly."

The Oar Project..Ta DaH!

This is the oar that I posted a few back, now... the "after" pics! I turned it in today and they were very happy! It is to be a first place award in an event at the Marietta, Oh, Catfish Festival in another week! It will be varnished to a nice sheen and protected and that will also make the colors pop! I took the photos at my home on the sidewalk just before I turned it in. This was a fun project and in return, I got to pick a handmade bag by a local artisan..and I picked one that carries wine bottles, one side for red and the other for white! Just my style!!! salute!

Pack-Rat-A-Tat...

Some of my "stuff"..The hysterically funny (late) George Carlin did a whole schpeeeel on stuff...I totally relate! I have a lot of stuff...thought I would share...

That gypsy thing is a cigarette holder, put the cigs in the top, press a button, and one pops from her mouth...there is a broken one in her mouth at the moment. I never smoked, but totally love vintage gadgets. Those golf trophies were my Dad's... he was a lefty golfer, I want to golf and play baseball with my left, too! Even though right handed. The Indian doll is because I have some American Indian in my blood, my Dad's family lineage. I love really funky lamps and this cherub is one of my favorites, I have many slag and stained glass lamps with figures as the base. Those teddies are my WVU Mountaineer teds. One plays the fight song!!! I collect old toys, like the phones. The figures I have collected to give me ideas in my sculpting... Especially when I worked at Fenton Art Glass. And that hooked rug...I bought on a trip to Maine, when I was there for a catalog print press check. It is by Claire Murry and I also purchased one of her rugs Adam and Eve a really large piece...that was a prototype!!!! And can you believe I carried those on to the plane! I later got it framed. I am a hooker (RUG HOOKER)...that got your attention, huh! I love to hook primitive designs.