My Pretty Ponies........

I went to Virginia City Nevada a few months ago to visit my favorite bookstore, the Mark Twain Bookstore to be precise.Every nook and corner is filled with early history of the west and the Comstock. On this particular day I picked up a book titled A Pony in the Picture. A book filled with children and their ponies. As ponies were often a gift at Christmas, I thought it would be fun to show the sheer joy of this treasured moment.

I was not lucky enough to have a pony of my own, but I remember riding at the pony ring every opportunity I could get. I made sure though, that both my girls had the pony experience. There may have been one little problem, however, in pony protocol. It seems I had heard somewhere that if they were to lie down......it could be a symptom of colic....... a condition that could sometimes be fatal. My poor pretty ponies were not allowed to lie down for more than a second the entire time they lived with us. It's safe to say they were probably happier when they moved on to greener pastures. I later found out that it is OK to let a pony lie down once in a while. Luckily these ponies in the pictures were not under my watch. .....see the smiles on their faces, or are the bridles too tight?

Happy Holidays......and may all your pony wishes come in some form, or another!

Amazed to be HollyDazed............

These "cute" Santa's above have either /or names, but they are all California....... in orgin.........for instance.......there's Santa Barbara, Santa Francisco, Santa Ana, Santa Anita and so on.

Something happens.........during the holiday season.......that doesn't happen very often, in fact hardly at all any other time of the year...........I become briefly hollydazed.........led into a semi-precious trance......prone to make nice......and cute in spite of myself. It is a an affliction that is very unsettling. Maybe it is the thrill of the challenge to do something a bit more center. Anyway one thing I know for sure is that people do not like certain of their holiday icons messed with.........especially those associated with Christmas. You make an off kilter Santa, or Angel........and you are asking for it! You might as well rent a ring...............and hire a ref........because you are in for a fight. I once made a Santa in Bondage...........and you would have thought I stabbed Christmas through the heart. I think you always need to be true to your self no matter what...though.....so with that in mind........the Christmas holiday it seems does have an auspicious background depending upon what your religious beliefs are.....so I will have to be content to let these Holiday Pop UPs, etc reek rebellion..........

Eeek Creepy Cheer!
Buck Tooth Hollygaze!

Romanoffs ? reincarnated.........
Child of the Holiday Corn and Mom........

Revenge of the Holiday Bow..........

Unknown Gnome..............

Blah....Blah ...Blah....so there! But wait, I,Krampus,am a part of the early Christmas holiday tradition!

Pieces of Eight

Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh Matey............

Being pulled in many directions........... pretty soon I will literally be pieces of eight. I am catching up, backing up, making up, taking up, breaking up, mixing up, turning up, and digging up. Meanwhile I watch my cat simply sit on a box, and stare blankly off into space. It would be great to occasionally just sit on a box, instead of having to pull something out of a box, decorate the box, fill the box, mail the box, nail the box.........you get the picture. Not complaining mind you..........just musing. Reality check...for me....as I get older life does not become less complicated. So with that in mind........I have some catching up to do here.

Even though Halloween has officially gone and passed...........it will remain with me all year long. A few pictures of how the Disney people gussy up for Halloween.


Main Street

Little Shop of Horrors

Day of the Dead
And now on to Trick or Treat........

This is what it is all about......candy in the hand is worth more than candy in a bucket.
This citizen party bunny hander outer........is all handed out....... kids are getting their own.

Finally....last but not least a spectacular winter show.....the WHITE BARN WINTER FAIR goes on.........November 20 and 22....10am-5pm .....2727 Sulphur Springs Rd.....in St. Helena California. Celebrate the season with local artists and find one of a kind gifts for the holidays. A few examples of what I will have there to offer.

Clown Alley
Berry Bling the perfect accessory for the season.......with Tin you're In.......


What....Elves when in doubt.................

Snow Jesture............

Snow Babies.........my version.....not breakable......you can roll them around on the floor....they'll beg for more.

Hope to see you there.........for more info about the show and for a complete list of more amazing events at the White Barn visit.........www.THEWHITEBARN.ORG

de Menging of Learning New Tricks and Treats..............

Above Michael's spinning head doll............

Well, my two days of classes with Michael deMeng got off to a rocky start...having made it to the parking lot near the class location on time.....even though I did not know where I was going........(same problem as on most days).......I chased a FedEx driver down and got a street direction. Anywhooooooo...........I was in the area on time..........only to jump out of the car and in my excitement lock everything inside. Forgetting that I have OnStar service........I called AAA. Then after a long wait, and me chewing my nails, as I watched in horror, when the " quote technician" jammed a coat hanger in, out and around my fairly new car did I remember I had OnStar. Which after a two minute phone call.......a signal came from Heaven.......and unlocked my car.........I know I made one of those dumb commercials for OnStar.......because I spent a long time thanking them and saying I will never regret paying my OnStar bill again.

New friends ......Lana and Julee.............

You might say I was stressed........as I came late into class.......but, no matter what shape I was in when I arrived no one could have prepared me for the euphoria I would feel after spending two days with Michael. I have a new found respect for the wonders of color washes and found objects. What an instructor and an all around nice guy he is.........and what a concept a non-Diva, or in his case, a non Divo artist. I encourage anyone who has not taken a class with him to do so. He is inspiring, approachable, knowledgeable, and has great artistic sense. Everyone in class was in love with him.

Following are a few pictures from class........

Learning how to make a creepy baby with rotting flesh...........not for the faint hearted.........

Forever mixing washes to perfection.......we all tried to grab paint from Michael's paint dabbles.......the master had touched there......

The critique..........positive words,encouraging remarks, and helpful suggestions from Michael

Michael holding my work below............My First Crush...........base a crush soda can.......
My deMenged demented toy..........



Work from the master...........


If Michael brings his workshop to town........just like the circus........Don't Miss It!

Dead of the Day

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Soooooooooo.........It's the Dead of the Day........or Day of the Dead........whatever way you say it......it's music to my ears. I love all the imagery and the symbolism behind this celebration of the spirits passed.....and since I was not born on Halloween.....then being born on Day of the Dead is the next best thing!
I have a couple of friends Sharon and Carole that really love the Day of the Dead, and...I am sure there are more too that also love the Day of the Dead festivities.

In fact Sharon Christovich loves the celebration so much that she has a large section of her Folk Art Gallery in San Rafael CA, at 1321 4th St, dedicated to Day of the Dead.....on a recent field trip there I took some pictures so you can peek.....but you really must visit to get the full effect.

This is an exciting and eclectic Gallery. Besides treasures of Day of the Dead ethnic, tribal, and contemporary folk arts, crafts and jewelry from many other countries are represented there. If you cannot visit in person then visit the Gallery website and blog. http://www.thefolkartgallery.com/ http://www.yelp.com/biz_redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thefolkartgallery.com%2Fblog&src_bizid=dF5rt9T5TV7mNEtg5KHdJQ&cachebuster=1255502297

Follow this link, there is a wonderful article written on the meaning of the Day of the Dead celebration. http://www.thefolkartgallery.com/newsletters/mataortiznewsletter/lifeafterlife.htm

Putting in my two centavos worth.... for the Dead of the Day.................celebration.......... DAY

AND NIGHT..............

There is always a Skelly......... a mere shell of himself.......




or an evil Ricardo waiting for their celebration!