mom's day

My Mom went with me to the studio every day.

In my Danny Thomas Show dressing room with my Mom and Veronica... 

I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful and patient Mom.

doodling for NF...

  

It's that time of year again when I doodle for 4 NF... I have two pieces that go for sale online at the 4NF EBAY site May 9th to May 19th.

The auction proceeds support education, advocacy, coalitions and research for treatments and a cure for Neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that affects one in every 2,500 births. 

There are many celebrity doodles starting to trickle in .. you can check the 2013 doodles out here. 

For more information about Doodle Day click here

I'm heading out with my sister Veronica to the attend the San Jose Super Toy & Comic Book Show on Saturday, MARCH 9th
...it made me think about this amazing Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg... Check it out

little treasures...

Recently I visited with my parents who both ended up in the hospital at the same time. They always have done everything together, so this was really not that unusual. Life is changing quickly for both of them. Fiercely independent, we are learning to take each day one at a time.  While staying at their house I came across this little booklet of pictures which had been shot in Canada when my sister Veronica and I first immigrated through Canada on our way to the USA with my parents. My parents had sent it to their parents to show where we were living. I'm not sure how it ended up back in my parents possession again. I'd never seen these pictures before...but life is full of little treasures...

love...tartan & mauchline ware

My friend has this amazing collection of Mauchline ware. For Issue 8 of my art magazine Pasticcio Quartz we did a article on the history of Tartan and Mauchline Ware.  I thought I would share with you some of those wonderful pieces.  I love a good plaid and tartan... they just make me happy.

photography: Jesse Tyler Gullion

playing card box

trinket & stamp boxes

McPherson Going to Bed box

Rob Roy Hourglass

MacDonald, Stuart, Hay & Leith Napkin Rings

Stamp Box

Sinclair Stamp Box, Ink Pen and Prince Charles Bookmark

Prince Charles Sewing Box

Rob Roy thimblecase

Forty Second Needle case

Murray Thread and Thimble Box

A few interesting websites if this subject interests you...
Scottish Tartans Authority
Mauchline Ware Collectors Club

christmas comes and christmas goes...

after all the singing and dancing and laughter and joy...
the food...the friends... the family

cheers to a new year...

and back to work we go...

polishing your art...

I can't believe how fast the Holidays are approaching. This is the busiest time of the year for me and after Thanksgiving...wham...it's Christmas!

I have a new project underway that I was just given the green light for and I couldn't be happier. I will be buckling down in the new year to make this project which I have been envisioning for the past year, come to life. It's exciting, it's energizing, it's crazy...I'm on a quest...a new adventure.. and I will tell you all about it as soon as I can spread the word.
In the meantime, I appeared in the Winter edition of Somerset Studios Gallery where they published another article of mine on Polishing Your Art. Fun tricks to try with all that left over polish we all have hanging around. Talk about re-purposing...I'll be selling these 6x6 pieces along with a few others that appeared in the May/June issue of Somerset Studios magazine in my Etsy store soon... Those pieces can be seen on this blog here...now I just need to find time to post them. 

 So I will leave you with this while I gather the bells and boughs and lights and decorations...and I'll be back soon...

BTW...my 2013 calendar is now available here... some new images from my conceal/reveal exhibit appear on journals and jewelry etc....

giving thanks...

I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving...

stART right now...

 Whenever an exhibit looms on the horizon there is a deadline...this time...I opened the portal and let it all spill out...I didn't worry about what I could conceal but what I could reveal instead...

This corner that I have just turned in my art...with my hand carved stamps and multiple layers, has it's ups and downs...in fact, to be honest about it...a few times I felt my heart was being ripped out of my body...but that's ok...I know it's true... I let my soul do the talking and now I have let it go...Here are a few snippets from the pieces I made for the "Conceal & Reveal" exhibit which is opening tomorrow night at "The Frame Gallery" in Agoura, California.

  

 

 The exhibit will run till January 6th 2013 at the gallery and I am sharing the space with my art pal Connie Freedman who finally is showing some of her pieces. For those of you who cannot make our little wine and cheese soiree tomorrow night...I hope to have my new pieces on my website in the next couple of days so you can see them.  

help...they need somebody...

Artist comrade Seth Apter created a charity auction for hurricane Sandy relief. Every bit helps... Check out bundle #9 where I'm donating a piece of my art, my book "In This Garden" and an issue of Pasticcio Quartz... plus other artists have donated to this bundle. CLICK HERE for the info on how you can bid and help. Thanks Seth...you rock...

haunting the streets of burbank...

I found myself in one of my favorite haunts yesterday with my friend Connie...Over on West Magnolia Blvd in Burbank where a huge transition is taking place... New shops and cool stops popping up all down the street. First place we visited was Mindfulnest...3319 West Magnolia. a contemporary artisan gallery where they had the coolest little masks that were hard to resist.  They also make the most scrumptious lotions and oils at the Klean Spa all mixed and made in the back room ...Coffee lotion...hmmm... the whole place was very inspiring.

Then we headed down the street to the Best of Times . 3401 West Magnolia. which is jam packed by proprietor Laree with antiques old-n-new. Connie was on the search of remnants for her handmade jewelry...and she found some real treasures here. 

Leaving the antique store we made one last stop down the street at the brand new Romancing the Bean. 3413 w. Magnolia Blvd

A stellar coffee haunt with the most delicious Cafe Mocha I have had in a long time.  Note to self: Must eat here... those salads and quiche looked delicious...not to mention that fresh coconut cake. The decor is awesome... Love that huge menu...It was a very good day...with coffee and our goodies we headed home....