Again with the Orange!!!

Well, there's nothing like working in an attic on a 90 degree day to get you to want to work with orange. No cool colors for me right now. I'm hot and my work needs to reflect that.

And to top it off, I went into Etsy 10 minutes ago to leave feedback for a customer (yay, my second Etsy sale), and on the home page was a beautiful, orange (of course) felted dahlia brooch. Well, I had to have it. Nothing like orange wool felt on a 90 degree day. I'll have to post a photo of that when I receive it.

This afternoon, I am going to my daughter's art camp grand exhibit. I'm looking forward to seeing what colors young children like to work with. I'm guessing that they do not discriminate. Hopefully, I can share photos of the exhibit. I do have to remember to take my camera.

What colors do you like to work with when its hot? Are there any

colors that you would refuse to work with? Several years ago, I came close to doing a commission with salmon and teal. The client never got back to me. I was happy about that. Don't think I could have done it.

Go Google Yourself

I do it frequently. I like to know if anyone is talking about me. On a rare occasion, someone is.

I found a site that listed my city of residence. It also listed my previous cities of residence. I guess any stalkers from my past can just show up on my doorstep.

My comments on others' blogs pop up. I can also be found on several advertising sites. Why, I am not sure. Possibly a side effect of Google Ads.

I did find a piece on Etsy being recommended by a fellow Etsy artist. Thank you, whoever you are.

A recent discovery was of art educators involved with the Getty museum discussing my work. It was suggested that my art be discussed in a class. Did they print out my work? Were art students required to do work based on mine? Hmmmm. I feel just a tad violated.

I also appeared on someone's Flickr site. I am so not up on such things. Should I do Flickr?

But my favorite thing so far about Googling myself was this comment from a Flickr viewer. . . "Beatifully done. It does not look like a quilt at all." Is that good?!? Is that bad?!? What the heck is wrong with looking like a quilt?

Go on. Google yourself.

Loot, Booty, Treasure

Here's (most of) my haul from the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts (see post below). I'm beat. Four days of walking to and from, eating festival food, toting treasures. It was actually a great vacation and I didn't have to leave town. The vacation came to me.

Another plus, it is my birthday today & some of those items shown above are gifts to me.

We saw some great bands -- the most entertaining was Luminescent Orchestrii, a contemporary gypsy group. The leader of the band is a circus composer. What more can I say?

The bulk of my purchases (not all shown in photo) was from ceramist Adam Spector. Also joining my newfound love of ceramics is Creative Works Pottery and Tile. I have a fridge covered in their awesome magnets. I have also purchased several necklaces, picture frames, and soon a custom-made mirror. While no purchases were made from Ali Mirsky Mosaics (my pockets were not deep enough), she is on my list for a future purchase. Unfortunately her web site does not do justice to her stunning pieces, but have a peek anyway.

But those 300+ artists have packed up and scattered and there is nothing else to do but continue aging and get back up in my own studio. Perhaps, If I can stand the heat and the pressure of talking to folks for four days straight, I may be out there myself next year.

p.s. Buy Handmade!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Obviously, it is not Christmas.

It is time for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

What? You've never heard of it? I guess most folks out there don't have much knowledge of what goes on in Central Pennsylvania (not much, usually). However, it is probably the best art festival I have ever been to. Sure, I'm not the most well-traveled person, but those who come to this festival would probably agree. (If you know of another great festival, please let me know.)

Four days. Over 300 artists. All high quality. No crocheted doiles here (not that there's anything wrong with that). Over 50 bands.

The festival sprawls over part of the Penn State campus, through downtown and several blocks into a residential area. I will be leaving my house in 20 minutes for a ten minute walk to the beginning of the festival. I will return home to eat a few meals, shower and sleep. Otherwise, for the next four days, I will be immersed in the festival.

Aside from my own art and framed family photos, about 75% of the artwork in my home, including pottery and sculpture, has come from this festival.

I will let you know of the exceptional art that I find, whether I buy it or not.

Urban Withdrawal

I just returned from a brief trip to San Francisco. After spending a day driving to Monterey and environs and another day visiting my husband’s relatives, that left one day and an additional dinner in San Francisco itself. I had to wrench myself away and climb onto the plane to leave. I have only been to California once before and then had a 1-hour whirlwind drive through San Francisco, so I wasn’t sure I would even like the city. Now, I want to scrounge up some more funds and visit again.

For those who do not know, I live in central Pennsylvania. You know the place. It’s where those who feel the effects of a declining economy cling to guns and religion. There is a dramatic contrast between my place and the place I just left. Yes, State College has its lively moments. The students of Penn State give the town that youthful, edgy feel. There is an art museum, one or two “upscale” restaurants. We even have boutiques (geared to the young and svelte). Travel a quarter mile from the town and there is “big box” country, McDonald’sTargetBestBuy. Travel a few more feet and you are in the country. Rusty Chevy country. Mullet country. Toppled trailer country. Cows, pigs, shirtless dudes cleaning their guns country.

Right now, I’d give money to see a pigeon and hear a car horn!

I know I will return to “normal” in another couple of days. I will feel less of a need for a city fix. But at the back of my mind, I will see bridges and skyscrapers, café tables and taxis. I will settle in. Birds will be fed. Quiet walks will be taken with the dog. I will revel in my nearby Target.

O.K. things we did:

Fisherman’s wharf – if kids are happy, then parents are happy. What else can I say? Had a good lunch at Scoma’s.

Cable Car – would have been better if shopping at the other end had been in the plan. Got off & then paid & waited in long line to get on again.

Excellent things we did:

Dinner at Luella - 1896 Hyde Street

Walking the streets and alleyways.

Trek to Coit Tower. Love those steps with all the beautiful gardens. A hike in the country does not usually appeal to me. A hike in the city is far superior.

Dinner at Street Restaurant – 2141Polk Street.


So my goal is to go again & do it better. Any suggestions?

Now Boarding Rows 11-44

Fly the Friendly Skies
We Love to Fly and it Shows

Does anybody know of any other airline jingles? I would love to have a collection of jingles from the good old days of happy flying.

Those days are not actually that long ago, although it seems much longer. I took my first flight less than 20 years ago. I loved it. The attendants were plentiful and friendly. You could stuff a large body into the overhead compartment if you wished. The attendant would offer a wide variety of magazines before takeoff. After takeoff, food was served. Hot dinners!!!! Perhaps James Beard (o.k. Bobby Flay – I hate to date myself) would have been displeased with the entrée, but what an adventure to pull down that tray, and have a happy little compartmentalized dinner served. And if there had been any delay or other annoyance on your flight, you would get a complementary adult beverage. After the meal had been whisked away, blankets and pillows would be proffered. A movie would then be shown with free headphones. Ahhh,well. No more.

I am going to San Francisco soon. My husband made flight reservations back in January. The flight times have been changed several times since then. Yesterday, the flight number had been changed. Apparently that gives the airline the right to mess with one’s reservations. My husband discovered that he had been moved elsewhere on the plane, away from his wife and child. My husband called an airline representative, located somewhere in India, to be told that something could open up, if not, he could ask another passenger to trade seats with him. Didn’t this use to be the domain of the flight attendant. Wouldn’t they cheerfully approach a passenger & ask if they wouldn’t mind moving to another seat. The passenger, after being asked so gently, and being generally content with flying, would quickly offer up his or her seat. Now, by the time they are seated, they are generally angry with the airline & a request from a fellow passenger would push them over an invisible line. The passenger would burrow further into their “assigned” seat with a hostile glare.

These are the days of do-it-your-own-darn-self flying. No one is behind the counter anymore to assist you when checking in. There are self-reservations, self check-in, self food provisions. Perhaps if one’s plane is plummeting to the earth, you can have self-oxygen (after you pay $25.00 dollars for the mask). They only time you are not on your own is when you and your bags are being inspected. Then you make some close “friends”.

Should I take quarters for the lavatory?

My five-plus-hour flight begins after compacting my clothes into a smaller than necessary carry-on (check a bag? Are you kidding?) a four-hour drive to the airport (a flight from the local airport is prohibitively expensive), an hour-and-a-half loitering at the airport rummaging through bookstalls and an attempt to scrounge up some food for our flight. I’m gonna be right jolly at boarding time.

It is hard to believe that air travel has sunk to this level in less than a generation. Will there be any airlines ten years from now? Is it time to look for vacation destinations closer to home? Boy, am I lucky that New York City is only five hours away!

What are your vacation plans? Do they involve air travel? Is the price of gas keeping you close to home?

Blanket and pillow anyone?

Empty Nest Syndrome?!?

Well, my last little birdie has flown the nest. My last quilted bird that is. Fly South has been sold and I am kind of sad. I'm still enjoying (when I get that infrequent moment) working on those blue and brown squares. But when I packaged up this piece to mail it, I felt a pang. I really feel the need to work with these colors again. But if I do not complete the series I am already working on, I will feel like somewhat of a failure. How can I be a "professional" artist when I am willing to drop a project for some whim? If I do force myself to complete the existing series, will it show that I forced myself? Perhaps I should not even ask myself that question yet. It will be over a week before I can get back to my studio.

My young one, of course, has not flown the nest yet. She is having school withdrawal, and so am I. I am going a little (a lot) whacko without time to myself. I really need time to be COMPLETELY alone. Time to not answer questions. Time to curse out loud if I feel the need. Time to talk to myself.

Right now, I am taking a bit of time to do some paperwork and blog. The television is on. I can hear the sounds of the Wonder Pets saving the lives of other little animals. I could use these little Wonder Pets. I want a guinea pig cutting fabric, a baby duck operating the sewing machine and a turtle to sew on beads. What, you don't know of this show? You watch politcal shows, movies for adults (no, not porn), read moving biographies. Ha! Good for you. I will be in the world of a six-year-old with that danged theme song from Wonder Pets in my head all day.

I would be in a slightly better mood if it weren't for weather forecasters. I REALLY wish I could get paid to make VERY inaccurate predictions. The newspaper shows a diagram with a big sun and a little cloud and a large number with a little circle next to it. Know what we have? Rain. And a not so big number with a little circle next to it. The park is out. Paper crafts are in. I'm tired and its only 9:30am.