The Gypsy on Adventure

Cheered Up by an Art Adventure!

Well...yup today I couldn't go to work...IBS attack...I was pretty down and laying on the couch...and feeling guilty because someone had to call me about getting on my computer and printing 300 MORE flyers like I did yesterday before I left, boy if I had felt any better I would have gone in.

So I sat on the couch feeling sorry for myself when...   S  U  R  P  R  I  S  E !! I heard something at the door! Here is an email banter between Angie and I...Wow did she make my yucky day good!

This beauty was at my door today! With a little note to contact Angie about the story! Look how wonderful she is!!! I love this!

Art & Soul Girls

Well, it was a very cool day today in my area and very nice in Santa Cruz. Beth who was in my Michael class in Art & Soul got us organized and together today! AND who is my online stalker! : )

Fun! My truck has decided to have brake problems and I wasn't in the mood for a wild toad ride on Highway 17, so my Michael was so sweet and drove me to Santa Cruz and spent the day by himself while I had about 4-5 hours with drooling art!

Beth is hiding behind the lady explaining her shrine here. This is Bev here. And Cecilia is the lady on the very left here. These are the ONLY photos I have because I was a dork and so excited being there that I forgot to take photos! Lucy Lee came too!

We shared art, food, laughter and sadness! That is what the journey is all about! I enjoyed the eye candy, the techniques and the art! Cecilia gave us each a book to use as our technique altered book! Beth gave us each a cigar box with goodies inside! wow! unexpected fun!

Cecilia hosted the get together and she has a beautiful house and I was not prepared to see her studio! OH MY GAWD! And her art is amazing! I am not going to try to describe it because I will not do it justice! I will hope for another opportunity to take photos!

AND Beth suggested CLEAR gesso for my canvas collage that I don't like, I think I don't like how shiny it is, and the CLEAR gesso has some texture to it and will tone it down! WHO knew there was CLEAR gesso???? Oh my gawd! I have to run and get some NOW! Giggle...ok not now, the stores are closed but tomorrow! Snort!

Ladies! Thank you for sharing your lives and art with me! It was a GREAT day!

Sweetness of Friendship

Well today was a day from hell...seriously hit the ground running and was so damn busy...I was exhausted!!! Drained!!! At my wits end!!! (Is that a dramatic start for you? giggle) AND then a miracle occurred...the sweetness of friendship!

Michael pulled the mail and I could SEE a BULKY package!!! Zines I yell very excited! But I say to Michael, there is some thing MORE in that package...it should be flat...its bulging!!! Its from Elsie the Famous Chinese Zinester!!!!

I can barely contain myself...slowly I open up the envie...I peak in...there is MORE...She sent me Carsie, the paper doll that I made for her and Elsie Embellished her!!! She sent her to me to cheer me up...I am going to share her with my art friends... and give out her hearts she carries and then return her to Elsie!!!

Photos do not do this doll justace! What I did was the cut out doll and then painted and embossed with gelly pens, the rest Elsie did! She is beautiful and made me cry!

Also, she started a friendship journal with me as well...mine was started in November 2005, but with all the pain I have been in I haven't had a chance to work in it and send it back to her. Now that I am feeling so much better that is going to be at the top of my list!!! I haven't even read the zines yet!!! Giggle!

She did her first personal non-art zine! About the Boston Zine Fair! Looks interesting...she recycled other paper, her work and then folded the pages so you couldn't see what was originally on the paper...BRILLIANT!!!!

Paper Doll Fun!

Oh My GAWD!!! Do you LOVE paper dolls? Do you LOVE Johnny Depp???? Then do I have the site for you! It is great fun! Showing my Pretend Boyfriend off any way you want to dress him! Giggle...

Thank you Elsie for pointing THIS site out to me, you are a good friend! : )

Art Day!

Ooooh! Today was fun. Loretta and I went over to Sharen's lovely home to paint deli paper for our projects, and apparently this deli paper works up great for oregami! How fun is that!!!!

Sharen made a nice meal for us as well! Oh! Lentle and sweet potatoe soup, hot bread, and pineapple!!!! YUM  It was fab and she is going to give us the receipe.

We had a great time painting! I got some really good paper out of today! Really really fun! AND Sharen gave me my box trade today!!! OH MY GAWD! Too fun So here are all the photos!

Riddle of "corpse bride"

Riddle of "corpse bride" draws crowds By Tim Gaynor Mon Dec 19, 3:33 PM ET

CHIHUAHUA, Mexico (Reuters) - Peering through the glass at a mannequin's veined hands, sparkling eyes and eerie smile, the small crowd gathered outside a store in northern Mexico tries to settle a macabre riddle beguiling many.

The Story Teller Doll

Ah...From http://www.octobereffigies.com/ Kerry Kate original...LOVE her! It freaked me out a little when I opened her, her left eye was popped out of the socket AND backwards! Eeeesh scarey looking!  Now she lives on my fireplace mantle! Isn't she JUST wonderful!  Yummy! My Holiday present to myself! I am such a selfish bitch...can't help it...HAD to have her!

Mexican Spirit Dolls

I have to slap myself. I have had these dolls a couple of weeks and have not put them up...but in the spirit of dolls today I want to add them!

They are very spiritual...and they are MORE fabulous in person! These are the three in my collection! I love her name!!! The artist is Griselda Tello, she is a painter and also makes the spirit dolls! http://www.griselda.com 

Plant Me

Maybe Halloween influenced me...but I LOVED this altered doll! She is now in my collection! It is such a treat to have a piece of art by Lisa Vollrath! Giggles and grins!

Original Altered Art Doll by Lisa Vollrath Size: 12"H x 2"W
Media: Acrylic, paper, clay and raffia on porcelain.

An original altered art doll by artist Lisa Vollrath. The doll's body measures roughly 8" tall. Although her tag reads "plant me and a real art doll will grow", there is no guarantee that if you actually plant her, something will happen. The back of the tag is signed by the artist.

Carsie Photos

In my not feeling good I forgot to upload these recent pictures of Carsie I got from Elsie! They are really great! I may have to include a paper doll in my zine!

Here's more pictures for you.  I took a picture of the doll with a close up including the button.  Remember Philly ZineFest?  I mentioned that the first day we went, there was no event?  And I brought back a bunch of buttons?  Some one told me that on the first night when there was band playing, some people (probably from distros) showed up and was expecting the zinefest, then they were bord and made buttons, the next day (actually show day), there was a "free table" people put free stuff there, and the button is among one of those!  I used it because of the color!  It saids on the button: "...I came and left, then ate pizza, then came back then left and came..."haha!! 

She's holding a "friendship heart" on her right hand and a charm says love with the peace sign on her left.  ON her belly, it saids "butterfly in my heart".  On her back, there's an envelope that carries a bunch of "friendship hearts" in it that have words. 

She's the goddess of friendship and will deliver the good words to people she met!!  On the back of her head, there's a lock (cardboard game piece), she locks up all the good friendship memories in her mind!  I trully appreciate your friendship and send me the wonderful inspirations and opportunity for creating her, so I named her Carsie.  (Which I don't think is corny!  hahaa!!)  I'm glad that you like her!  Me too!  She's a beauty for a drag queen right?  Oh, I mean first attempted art doll!!  Hahaha! THIS is corny!!  haha!!  ; )

Elsie

http://www.chinesesweatshop.com