Just Another One of My Cocktail Parties....

Helping Kids Make Art

I was asked a few months back if I would be interested in working at the Annual Kid's Fest here at the city park. I, of course not hesitating, said a big YES!!!! The only chance I get to create art with children is when I get to visit with my nephew, who is now 10. They have such imaginations and are always creating outside the box, I find it just fascinating.

This gig is next week and a fun one where I will be painting with children, showing them all sorts of things they can do with paint and supplies..and I am sure I will pick up a thing or two from them! I hope to capture the event on film and to post some of their creations.

I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that the weather is good that day, this summer is very unpredictable around here!

My Driver's License...and more

Okay, where do I begin...??? I know I have not been posting much art but I have been busy creating web sites and some commissioned pieces that I so need!!!

But any-hoo, I did not realize my driver's license expired on my 50th. B-day, (the 25th. of May...Gemini Twin...(if one of us doesn't have it ...the other half does!!!).
So here is my story....Oh yeah, I flew to FL and no one checking my ID said anything...but wait till you try to buy a bottle of wine at WalMart...I was in the fast check-out lane..(and I am still apologizing to those behind me...another story), when the check-out cashier asked for my ID for the wine purchase...now come on folks, I am newly 50 yrs old and still getting asked for an ID, Give me a break!
Well... she called the manager, who was young enough to be my child, which I never had any (but that is beside the point), and he is sooo LOUD that I swear ( excuse the swearing, I am Catholic, God will punish me for it!!!) everyone in WalMart heard that my license had expired and he said I was committing a crime still driving around and could be arrested if they pulled me over...Okay, this little twirp started to get on my already frayed nerves...
Anyway..he said " WELL... she looks older than 21, if she looked younger, than we couldn't sell her the Shiraz".
Okay, now I am really insulted, you mean to tell me I don't look 21 anymore..that was worse than telling me I could go to jail for not renewing my driver's license...

The not so happy ending...I got my license renewed today and I hate the pic!!! Even the lady taking it said she liked me with the shorter hair...I had shorter hair and now it is just a few inches longer...
I need a cocktail. Care to join me...

My Vanity...

A girl can never have too many jewels and perfume! The Shalimar Perfume was a gift from my Dad to my Mom, she gave it to me! I cherish it. It is her fragrance, I remember that scent from my childhood, when she and Daddy would be going out dancing. When she would hug us goodbye, she smelled sooo good! Some things just stay with you, wonderful memories.

I am a jewelry and perfume freak! I collect vintage jewelry and costume pieces! If they are damaged, I add them to my one-of-a-kind jewelry makeovers! But if they are in good shape, I wear them,and I love to pile them on! I'm such a GirLie GiRl...!!!

My Friend and Me

This photo was taken by my Mom about 6 years ago. One of my BEST FRIENDS, Lynne with her Hubby (and me, with short hair) in her parents yard (my childhood home is 4 houses up the street)...we were on our way to our 25th. Reunion!!! Lynne and her wonderful hubby, Joey, came up to WV from FL (notice the gorgeous tans) for the party and we had a blast...as usual whenever we get together! It is so cool that we grew up there since we were babies, she was 9 months old at my first birthday party. I have pictures! And we would play together all the time and do art, usually coloring and drawing! We took oil painting classes while we were in grade school, from an old woman in our town that was a member of the art league. Then in high school, we were in class together and painting side by side again! We are like soul sisters, kindred spirits...we understand each other so completely, and whenever we are fortunate enough to spend some time with each other, it is as if time never passed.

I was just in FL creating a new website for her www.lynneparrish.com. Check it out, she is a truly gifted woman. I also got her to start a blog http://lynneparrish.blogspot.com/!!! She is new to this so stop by and give her your thoughts! You will love her.

We still looks the same, Lynne with that fabulous super short hair and me now with longer hair. I always change my hair, from really long to short, this was when I was growing it out, I had it as short as hers!!!

The more things change, the more they remain... insane.
Michael Fry and T.Lewis, Over the Hedge, 05-09-04

Do you ever feel this way? I sure do...sometimes I feel like I am Suzi in WonderLand! I actually took one of those quizzes to see which character you are in Alice.... So, no surprise, I was Alice. Geez, why couldn't I be someone more colorful like the Cheshire Cat???

My Latest Painting...

Well, things have been kinda busy lately and I have nothing new that I have created to post, but then I thought...now what a sec, I DID paint something. My tootsies! My pinkie is still swollen from when I broke it while mopping my floors. Don't ask...

I also want to suggest that when you wear shoes like these, which I obviously do...it feels great to S-T-R-E-T-C-H those babies out with these toe spacers that are used for polishing those happy feet. And speaking of happy feet, when I spotted these shoes, I thought ...not only are they fun, but I could really hurt someone if they tried to attack me, check out the killer heels! That justified the need to purchase them enough for me, see how my mind works.

Gotta Love It...

Don't you just love all the cool things that can be done with computers??? It can be a love-hate relationship, especially when they freeze up, etc...
I never knew that I could have different voices telling me "you got mail." So, now I have the late, great singer Barry White with that deep sexy voice saying "Hey Baby...now where you been Baby, you got mail" I have to tell ya, it always brings a smile, too fun!

A Man and His Dog

"The dog is the only animal that has seen his god."

~Author Unknown

This is my latest work, a special piece. I had to have it ready for a viewing later today. My best friend's father lost his short battle to lung cancer on Friday. She wanted a picture of him with his best buddy and sidekick pug. Talk about attached at the hip...and feet, and legs, and hands...but especially the heart. Harley will miss his Pappy.

Really difficult piece, and not just emotionally...I had some recent photos given to me that were taken on a cell phone to go by, and some other pics to try to see some detail. It is so hard when you can't make out features. I tried over and over, I wanted to paint it, but not enough time, so then I thought..charcoal! Yeah, that's the ticket. But it wasn't. Next, conte crayon...nope, not that either...Hummmm, maybe if I change the size, reduce it from 18"x24" to an 8"x10". Nahhh, who was I kidding. Nothing was working...so I did the next best thing, I cried, oh yeah, that really helped!

Then suddenly... I started to hear the bangs and pops from the fireworks at the city park, I ran to my window on my staircase and could see them through the trees. I realized I just needed to walk away from it for a while and I came back and started over again with charcoal. After I captured his face, I knew I could crawl into my bed and finally sleep knowing the hardest part was over.

I finished it late this morning and took it over, my friend was too much of a train wreck to function and I placed it in a lovely frame she had.

I am leaving now to be there for my friend and her family.

Mamma's Little Helper???...hummmm...

Caught Ya!!! That is my petite kitty, Goldie (I love her heavy brow), sitting on my sketch yesterday...thank gawd it was just a preliminary sketch or there would be kitty paw prints all over it. I am taking a break right now from the work and thought it would be fun to show this.

You can get a tiny glimpse of my home in the background, actually the fireplace wall in my living room. Gee, do you think I am a collector! I don't know whatever could have given you that idea! Among all of the fragments are pics of my nephew and Mom when she was a teen with her sisters. Italian Beauties, one and all.