Thirteen

9 X 13 journal page
Golden Acrylic paints, collage fodder, paint pen, stamps

Thirteen was the turning point in my youth and in no particular order, everything was changing, mind, body and soul. There was lots of daydreaming, about boys, marriage, future, family, all the things you dream about at this tender young age.

Afternoons were spent playing with make-up and trying to look pretty. I begged my mom to buy me some make-up and she came home with Yardley of London, pink cow lipstick and pink twinkle blush and I remember being aghast because this was just not hip enough. I wanted Mary Quant, this was hip and va va voom. My mom wouldn't have it. I would have to begin this transformation, demure and sweet. There was talk about pink ribbons in my hair and eating apples everyday to stay healthy. I was coming of age. I was lucky.

and speaking of luck... I had decided that '13' would be my lucky number. It was an awkward number and that's why I liked it. For many cultures it was considered 'unlucky', especially on the 13th day of the month, when it coincided with Friday.

My dad's birthday is on the 13th of October and I would get such a kick out of it when it would fall on a Friday. I thought it was so cool to have a birthday on Friday the 13th. My dad's not at all superstitious, you see... because he informed me that 13 is actually a lucky number for us eye-talians. So there you have it, besides you can't divide evenly into it, so something or someone was always left out and as luck would have it, we always had a referee.

I'll leave you with this quote:
"Never trust a man who tells you all his troubles, but keeps you from all his joys"

I love her voice, the music of Alison Krauss here is
"The Lucky One" for your listening pleasure.


Have a wonderful weekend and thank you always for your visits and kind words.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Masculine/Feminine

Bougainvillea in my side yard

My contributions to Masculine/Feminine for 2thingsphotochallenge.
Most plants have masculine (stamen) and feminine (pistil) reproductive organs. This bougainvillea's filament stamen are surrounded by beautiful fuschia bracts, paper-like leaves. The white flower is the pistil.

I spent the first 5 hours of this glorious Saturday playing in the dirt, gardening, which is something I really enjoy doing and have not done for some time. There is something about the smell of potting soil and earth that is so refreshing. I needed to repot my planter boxes and tend to all my flower pots that had struggled through our winter cold spell. Yes, winter in our neck of the woods, sunny SoCal a 22 bone chilling degrees.

We have a difficult demographic to cultivate here in zone 20 according to my Sunset Western Garden Book. We have unusual thermals and micro-climates that come through our canyons due to marine/coastal influence and the interior desert climates. Our winters can be frosty and our summers extremely, dry and hot. Most of the surrounding area of our home is in full direct sun, so I have to be mindful of what will survive the summer heat. It's taken 4 years to find the survivors. This Bougainvillea is one of them.

Now for a little tool time, masculine/feminine.

I don't remember how I came upon this pink hammer, but I've loved it ever since. It wasn't initially pink, it's a Craftsman and comes with a lifetime exchange for a brand new hammer. No way am I exchanging this hammer, it has a little electrical tape around it's neck and has a time worn, lovely feel. I am a hammer junkie, I may have mentioned this in an earlier post. A girl can't have too many hammers, once I learned that not all hammers are created equal. One blue hammer secretly absconded for this post.

I thank you for your kind words and visits.
I hope you are all doing what you love and loving what you're doing.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTful EyE"

Domicile

9 x 13 journal page
Golden acrylic paints, Montana spray paint, college fodder,
custom stencils (made by moi) and word stencils by Stamper's Anonymous

Let me begin by saying that stencil burning is not as easy as you might think. I've sucked in enough toxic mylar fumes to choke a horse and still haven't produced anything to brag about. My dear friend Julie here at Lost Luggage is an expert though and she's been trying to teach me the tricks of the trade, but to no avail, I have not been a good student. Michelle Ward is responsible for starting all this craziness here at GPP Street Team a.k.a. Green Pepper Press. Thank you both for the push and inspiration.

now on to the matter at hand, "Domicile" pg. 6 in "The Book of Eve"

You've heard the sayings, "Home is where the heart is" or "Where your story begins,"

My story begins in the first house that I can remember, the house where I was born, 2324 E. 73rd St. Brooklyn, New York, Bergen Beach to be exact. The dwelling was split level, we lived in the upstairs. Last time I was in N.Y. the house was still standing, small, very small quaint charming little house in a neighborhood now overrun by ungodly mansions and a complete disregard to any sense of community or architectural informity.

In the 1950's this was the new affordable community to raise your family. The streets were not paved, nor were there sidewalks. I lived in this house until my sister Linda was born and then we moved around the corner upstairs in my aunt Mary and uncle Tommy's house, I believe the address here was 2348 E. 74th street. We liked living here. My uncle Tommy had a pool in the backyard and this is where I learned how to swim. I love swimming, even today. Soon my sister Gina was born and we needed more room so we moved to a larger flat across the street 2357 E. 74th St. This was the last stop. It would be here in this domicile, where my heart would grow, and my wonderful childhood memories would unfold. I lived here 13 years.

We moved from this home in 1974 to Denver, Colorado.

When I think of all the places I have lived in my life, I realize today that I'm still searching for the home where my heart lives. Please don't get me wrong, I have a lovely beautiful home with a wonderful husband, but there is a feeling you have when you and your domicile are one and I have not had this feeling for a long time. Home is definitely where the heart is.

I hope your heart finds you home.

One final thought,
"Once you are outside your door, the hardest part of the journey is behind you."

Thank-you for your visits and kind words.

Have a wonderful week! My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Telling Fortune

9 X 13 journal page
Golden acrylics, collage fodder, image transfer, paint pens, real fortune

Do you believe in fortunes? things that happen or are predicted to happen in our lives? Is it fate, destiny, or purely chance?

We should not live our lives by 'maybe's' or 'what if's', instead we should write our own fortune, tell it to the world, then live our fortune and watch it unfold.

Here's what I wrote for myself:
You will find joy in the strangers you meet and help them seek their potential.

If you wrote your own fortune, what would it be?

Buona fortuna a tutti!
Thank-you for your visits and kind words. My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Numbers/Letters

In response to this week's 2thingsphotochallenge Numbers/Letters, abound.

On a recent road trip to Idyllwild, CA from inside the car.


I thought this sign was interesting for the description of the towns people.


and just as we rounded the bend on this small country road,
before entering the main town of Idyllwild we came upon this sign
in front of a local artist's home.
My mouth dropped open, and my immediate thought was 'this is the town for me'.



Idyllwild is a small alpine village about 2 hours from our home in San Diego. There is a wonderful art community here Art Alliance of Idyllwild.



Here's (1) thought for you:
"Mind your p's and q's, but let your a's and b's run wild."

Have a wonderful day! Thanks for your visits and kind words.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

WS- Purple

9 x 13 journal page
Golden Fluid Acrylics, rub-ons, acrylic ink, metallic pens
collage fodder

This week's Wednesday Stamper challenge is the color "Purple".

Some trivia about the color Purple:

This color associated with royalty, nobility, spirituality and funk.
I'll take spirituality and funk.

This color has been recognized to have mystical and spiritual qualities, in such gemstones as Amethyst and Tanzanite and has a very strong, color vibration in the spiritual realm, in connection with the (7th chakra), it also has a sacred place in nature, with flowers such as lavender, orchid, lilacs and violets.

Purple was Cleopatra's favorite color.

Purple robes are worn by people of authority and high rank.

The Purple Heart is a U.S. Military decoration given to soldiers wounded in battle.

I enjoy the color purple next to green.

When I paint in these blue/red spectrums, I am definitely not in my comfort zone. I find it challenging to manipulate these colors and yet I don't feel any tension.
There must be some truth to the calming effect of this color.

My best to all of you. Have a wonderful week!

"ThE Artful Eye"

How Green is My Valley?

9 X 13 journal
hand carved rubber stamps
collage fodder

For awhile now green has been the color of my soul. I began thinking about the color green and what did it mean to me.

What did the color green feel like?
It feels waxy, stiff, and full like a short stubby echeveria, and sometimes it's prickly like a teddy bear cholla or nopales cactus, or it can be as soft as the leaf of a wooly lambs ear.

What did the color green sound like?
It sounds like the trees quaking in the wind, it sounds like aluminum cans being crushed for recycle. It's sometimes silent.

What did the color green smell like?
It smells like Christmas, pine, fresh cut grass, life

What did the color green remind me of?
It reminds me of trees, leaves, thin blades of grass, a lime, Kermit, money, a Praying Mantis, Lisa's Chrysalis,

What does the color green taste like?
Like a wheat grass smoothie, a mountain dew, a granny smith apple, jiggly lime jello.

Do you have a favorite color? What does it do for you?

"I've never seen a guy so green, have the blues so bad"
- Fozzie Bear about Kermit

Have a wonderful day!

Thank-you for your visits and kind words, "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

The Book of Eve

9x13 journal

I've started my journal and decided to name it "The Book of Eve". I had chosen the name Yvette, for myself at the tender young age of 8 for my Confirmation name. (Confirmation a ritual in Catholicism.) I've since defected.

It sounded French, sophisticated and in short, I could be Eve. I loved the sound of Eve. Eve would be my muse. I never did much with this third name over the years and I grew up as Andrea Gabrielle.

I've decided to get this name out of the closet. The name has great meaning in Hebrew 'chavvah' "to breathe and 'chayah' "to live" in other words life-giving. This is right up my alley.

So I begin "The Book of Eve", breathing life into each page. I'll post these pages as they are accomplished interpersed with other works of art. I hope you'll join me on my journey.

L'chaim-- To Life!

Thanks for your visits and kind words. My other blog local: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

It's Easter Peeps!

The Just Born company started in 1910

To all my peeps out there, it is here that I will make my confession that "Peeps" those sugary, squishy, marshmallowy, gritty critters are my favorite Easter candy of all time. Note: The chicks came on the scene from 1940's-1950's. Look here if you want a "Peep in Time "

There are only two exceptions to my favorite candy rule on Easter and that is my Grandmother Lucia would always give us a round tin of Droste chocolates along with some Perugina Baci chocolate hazelnut kisses. I'm not sure how my Italian grandmother discovered these Netherland's chocolates but I loved these round disks of goodness that would melt in your mouth and miss receiving them from her.

Well that's all I have to say about candy, because on any other day I'd much prefer a crusty baquette.
Now for some creative Peep art:
I know there are some Project Runway fans out there. Have you seen this video?

Project Peepway



Look here at these crazy wonderful diorama's created for:
Peeps Show II

*You may need to listen to 5 sec. commercial, but it's worth the wait.


Happy Spring! and thanks for stopping by!
My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Dead/Alive

My contribution to this week's 2thingsphotochallenge -Dead/Alive

This lifeless slate rockwall, intertwined with living ivy.

Newport, Rhode Island


Mariposa Grove- Wawona, CA "The Fallen Monarch"
located nr. the southernmost tip of Yosemite Valley

What is depicted here is the dead root base of a Giant Sequoia tree named the "Fallen Monarch". Biologists suspect this tree fell somewhere around the late 18th century. Notice however it is surrounded by some very much alive Giant Sequoias. It is here where you will find some of the oldest living trees in the world, some of which are currently 3000+ years old.

The dead root of this tree is approximately 50 feet in diameter and some of these living trees have bases 92 feet in diameter. The tallest of these trees has been measured at 368ft.

Mariposa Grove is also the home of the famous California Tunnel tree which was tunneled through in 1895, so that stagecoaches could pass through and today you can still drive your car through one of these trees.

A beautiful, fascinating place to visit.

Thanks for stopping by! My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Sun/Shadow

Here's my contribution to this week's 2thingsphotochallenge. Sun/Shadow

Couldn't decide which to post, so enjoy.


reading our community paper while driving to work (doesn't that sound safe)
actually husband is driving ms. daisy
note headline: Snow Day in Country Estates- that's right we had 3-4 inches of snow


window shopping at a faux Hollywood confectioner's window in
California Adventure Park at Disneyland-Anaheim, Ca

When we stopped to look in this window I couldn't resist this photo collage before my eyes, there were so many reflections and images.
"I'll take one photo collage to go, please."


ground hog saw her shadow in this informational post


glimpse of life in the shadow of the Anza Borrego Desert


a single panel at Vietnam War Memorial- Washington, D.C.

When we visit these memorials we bring the light back, for a moment, we resurrect these souls, from the dark shadows of war.

Let us never forget the men whose lives were lost while fighting for the freedom we enjoy today.

Thanks for your visits and your many kind words- My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuLEyE"

The good 'ole Red, White and Blue

Longmont, Colorado 1980


My contribution to this week's 2thingsphotochallenge Red, Blue or Purple.

Imagine... "for purple mountains majesties, above the fruited plains...


Now this pic below was taken of the ceiling at The Greek Palace"
Comedy Club here in San Diego,CA. I should have been paying attention to the comedians because they were quite hilarious, but then I happened to look up and whipped out my camera and the comedian yelled, "Hey, lady ...I'm over here.


Thank you for your kind words, and visits.... Vaya con dios, mis amigos!

Have a wonderful weekend! My other blogspot: ThE ArTfuL EyE"

IF-Leap

8.5 x 11.5
Caran d'Ache Neocolor II crayons,
Golden Fluid Acrylic, rubberstamps
and a good ole pencil.

Here is my contribution to this week's Illustration Friday challenge "Leap"

I have always associated the word 'leap' with faith. I like taking chances and am not afraid to fall, most believe you should not tempt fate. I personally have never learned anything by playing it safe, as a matter of fact, I'm a 'big ole' risk taker and I enjoy the thrill of the challenge.

I believe fate should not tempt me. What about you?

Thought for the Day:-
"If you don't know your limits, then you don't know the heights of what you can achieve."

Happy Sunday! and a BIG thank-you, for your visits and kind words-

My other locale: "ThE ArTfuL Eye"

Miriam

8.5 x 11.5 mixed media

My contribution to this week's Illustration Friday challenge "Multiple"
This piece has multiple layer's, multiple elements and Miriam is wearing multiple bracelets.

Who is Miriam anyway? Good question...because this is the name that came to mind when I was creating this piece. So now I'm in search of Miriam.

Here's what I found:

Miriam, a Hebrew name meaning either "wished for child", "bitter", or "rebellious" but it may have been derived from an Egyptian name myr "beloved or mr "love" or Meryamun "beloved of Amun". Miriam was the older sister of Moses and Aaron.

I found this blog Miriam's ideas very interesting, Miriam has a lot to say.

Miriam Webster is an Australian gospel singer/songwriter and no relation to Merriam Webster.

There is a restaurant name "Miriam" in Park Slope area of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Miriam is a font.

A myriad on Miriam.

Miriam is someone's great grandmother, grandmother, mother, aunt, cousin, sister, niece, a wife, daughter, a girlfriend.

Thanks for visiting! Do stop by "ThE ArTful EyE"

The Empty Apartment No. 7

9x12 canvas board, collage ephemera
image transfers with fine pumice medium and glass bead gel medium
fluid acrylics

My cut-up diddy:

-lonely on my way home,
on the street, having conversation.
I drop my eyes and rest boyishly on my hands, I slowly near my building. Stillness.
I don't have to speak. You're No. 7, she said. I pay attention.
this sets me free. Like meditation.
I closed the door.

Now for inquiring minds:

"The cut-up technique was invented by Brion Gysin January 19, 1916 - July 13, 1986 who was a painter, writer, poet, and performance artist born outside of London.

This technique is also known as fishbowling, is an aleatory literary technique, or genre in which text is cut up at random and rearranged to create a new text."

Gysin introduced writer William S. Burroughs to the technique at the Beat Hotel. The pair later applied the technique to printed media and audio recordings in an effort to decode the material's implicit content, hypothesing that such a technique could be used to discover the true meaning of a given text. Burroughs also suggested cut-ups may be effective as a form of divination saying, "When you cut into the present the future leaks out."Burroughs also further developed the "fold-in" technique.


"After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say "I want to see the manager." -William S. Burroughs

Thanks for stopping by! My other blogspot: ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Necco Dream

6x11.5 mixed media collage, renaissance art stamps, candy hearts, paint

My offering for Wednesday Stamper's-"Valentine" challenge

Here is the same image manipulated with filters in photoshop.


and here again manipulated using Glowing Edge filter.


As I mentioned in earlier comments, I am not one for the "V" day hoopla, nor all the commercialism that follows this holiday, but I am nostalgic about hearts cut from paper, paper laced doillies and the old timey candy hearts from Necco.

I loved receiving these as a child and I love receiving them as an adult. When I arrived at work on Thursday, I was greeted by a box of these Necco Sweetheart candies and a cut paper heart with a lovely handwritten sentiment on the back, "Happy V Day" from Gracie. Imagine my delight.

Unfortunately these sayings aren't stamped as clear and sharp as they were a long time ago but the sentiment and feelings are the same. I don't even like to eat these candies, they just make me smile, so I thought best to memorialize them in a collage.

You can learn more about the candy confectioners who have been making these candies since 1847 here at Necco.com

I leave you my sweet hearts and thanks for stopping by!
My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL Eye"

Chased by Meme..ster's

"Are you looking at me? " Broadway and Prince St. Prada Store/ New York SoHo

I've just been tagged by Neda and John for the Book Meme.

What on earth is a "meme" you might ask?

According to the American Heritage Dictionary a meme pronounced m(long e)m as in meem is:
n. A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.

posted on Jargon file a hacker term:
/meem/ n. [coined by analogy with `gene', by Richard Dawkins] An idea considered as a replicator, esp. with the connotation that memes parasitize people into propagating them much as viruses do.

[Shortening (modeled on gene) of mimeme, from Greek mimēma, something imitated, from mimeisthai, to imitate; see mimesis.]

Andrea's take in short...a replicating, virus of tags for more memes.

So here I meme, broken hearted, found my read and just got started.

What to do next?
1) pick up the nearest book, in my case books that I'm currently reading 123 pages or more.
2) Find Page 123.
3) Find the first 5 sentences.
4) Post the next 3 sentences. Tag 5 people.

Since I've been tagged by (2) I'm giving you double the dose.



I am reading:
"ZEN and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" an inquiry into values
by Robert M. Pirsig /First copyright c. 1974

excerpt: "That's also in someone's mind...Ghosts. That's really what Phaedrus was talking about when he said it's all in the mind. It sounds insane when you just jump up and say it without reference to anything specific like an engine."

My take so far... it's modern day Greek philosphy, life altering, thought provoking motorcycle ride and examination of how we live and are led by our beliefs.

I am also reading:
"Getting Things Done" The Art of Stress-Free Productivity"
by David Allen, Penguin Books /copyright 2001

excerpt: "You may find you have a tendency, while processing your in-basket, to pick something up, not know exactly what you want to do about it, and then let your eyes wander onto another item farther down the stack and get engaged with it. That item may be more attractive to your psyche because you know right away what to do with it-- and you don't feel like thinking about what's in your hand. This is dangerous territory."

My take so far: I desperately need this book. There are way too many good thoughts going on here that need attention. "Mind like Water"

So there you have it my friends, I will ask unconventionally, respectively and with love, that you tag yourselves if you are interested in playing memely along.

Carpe Diem! "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Love/Bird

This weeks response to 2things photo challenge Love/Bird.

and as you can see we have plenty of birds to love.


another pic of our wild finch. My husband is placing him on the thistle bag.




This baby hummingbird is no bigger than one inch and he's perched in his nest in our Queen Palm eagerly awaiting his mother's return.

For those of you who have seen my earlier post, here's another shot of our little wild finch who spent two weeks visiting us and landing happily in our hands.


This photo was taken from inside the house. Can you see the Red Tail hawk perched on the fence, he's patiently waiting for a family of Quail to emerge from the shrubs. This pic doesn't do this bird justice he's well over 18" in size. I went outside and eventually scared him away so I would not have to endure a Quail massacre.


and what we have here are five baby Western Bluebirds. We had 6 eggs and one never made it.
We watched these birds from from the time the parents set up camp until the time they fledged. We have Western Bluebirds visiting all the time and hope we'll see more mating soon.

Have a wonderful day! Thanks for the visits.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Feeling Nostalgic?

c. 1963 Bergen Beach- Brooklyn N.Y.

Won't you consider joining us at Yesterday's Pictures

Let's share our memories, the houses we lived in, the games we played and all things nostalgia, music, stories of our past. Post photos of family and friends, your holidays, old romances, idols, the world in which you lived in yesterday and long ago.

Feel free to invite others to join. All you have to do is head on over to Yesterday's Pictures and send an email with the text: I want to join, and they will send you an invitation.

Hope to see you there.

Thanks for stopping by! My other blogspot: "ThE ArTful EyE"

Ode to A Mermaid

Mermaid by definition:
(in folklore) a female marine creature,having the head,torso and arms of a woman and the tail of a fish.

I was recently asked if I'd be interested in participating in a Mermaid swap by Michelle at Hold Dear. I have never participated in one of these swap events, so I thought it would be fun to give it a try. I was assigned a swap partner, Heidi. You can visit Heidi and her wonderfully created treasures here at Fancies, Musings and Whimsies. The objective was to put together a package of mermaid and seaside inspired ephemera, and to also include a handmade item for exchange with your partner. Below are the items I created for Heidi's package:


3x5 acrylic block reverse painted and collage ephemera
and text transparency


cigar box painted with Golden Fluid and Heavy Body Acrylics
text transparencies and other collage emphemera


used piece of Abalone shell for clasp with pearl


inside box - a mermaid diorama- shells from my travels, sea moss,marbles, sea glass, sand and glitter awash with Golden titan buff.

I created the undulating sand with gel medium, beach sand and used dryer sheets. I did not initially intend to create what has become the mermaid's tail. I saw this once the bottom layer was completely dry and and realized all it needed was a head and torso. Viola!

Here are some snippets of the ephemera that were included in her package.



Have a swimmingly good day! Thanks for stopping.


My other blogspot:"ThE ArTful EyE"