Friday, January 30, 2009

One World.......One Heart Giveaway!!!!!!

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For the very first time, it is my privilege to be a part of One World One Heart hosted by Lisa of The Whimsical Bohemian. I met Lisa a few months ago and I assure you that her energy/ passion for this project, and uniting artists around the world is as infectious in person as it is online. She has provided here an opportunity to meet artists, and art lovers from around the world, and perhaps receive a a tangible reminder of your visit.

I am presenting for this first giveaway A Non-Religious "Eye- Con" that embodies the spirit of a greater power in the minds around the world. As is with pretty much everything else I create, this piece, is done with a sense of fun, or a pun. I believe that a good sense of humor truly defines the human spirit......and now that is as serious as I will get.

This "Eye Con" is made of fabric and encased in a wooden shrine. The wings are from an old tin toy..........there is an old game piece on the hat........which has symbolic meaning. I am hoping that through this project I will meet artists of like mind................for wit, and cleverness, and a sense of humor are what I would like to see more of in this world.

If you are interested in receiving this piece............... please leave a comment before February 12th. I am so looking forward to meeting you, and sharing a bit of our worlds. I will draw a name on the 12th, and speed this to you. I am looking forward to seeing the spectacle of your art, and meeting new friends whether artist, or art lover alike. Please leave your blog contact, or an email if you are not a blogger, so I may get back to you if your name is selected. Thank You for visiting.....and most important have fun!!!!!



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Saturday, January 17, 2009

PT Barnum did not say........There's A Sucker Born Every Minute................

But, I should............ because that would be me when it comes to the games of the carnival and the circus......and the cast of characters associated with both. In fact........I love all kinds of games! You name it......... board games, card games, competition/skill games, casino games, games of wit/in real life, parlor games from the past and otherwise. I love to incorporate games/and game pieces in my art, (but more on that in a later post.) Some of my favorite images to draw inspiration are from carnival/circus games. I guess part of the fascination with the carnival/circus in general, their games, and characters is that chance is involved, and the nomadic way of life............call it the Gypsy muse..............oh, I like them too!
These are authentic carnival knock downs, or circus punks, as they are sometimes called. This type of carnival game has been around for over a hundred years. They are painted filled canvas, nailed to a wooden base.

What makes all of the knock downs unique is that they were handmade by the Carney people themselves as needed, and were all hand-painted. There was a great variety in their detail....so they are truly one-of-a-kind. The paint they used was usually some of the left over paint they had used to paint signs, or back drops. Sometimes the Carney artist would paint features that reminded them of one of their co-workers, and might even attach that person's name to the piece.

Below are my versions of knock downs..................
.......these knock downs appeared on my very first blog post.
Here are a couple more versions.......what I like is the freedom you have in their design. Some Halloween knockdowns have been recently added behind my blog title at the top of the page......complete with the pumpkin bean bags to knock them down. In the real Carney game, baseballs were thrown at the knockdowns.
They had a hard life and took quite a beating.......plus it took some skill to knock them down, because of their fuzzy edges. Today knock downs are considered to be a form of American folk art. Everyone should try their hand at creating some knock downs.....besides being fun one-of-a-kind art........you can take your aggression out on them........especially during tax season. I have made them desk size before......with their own little bean bags.
Old knock downs above challenge you to knock some out, and then knock them down!


As a testament, or to my shame of how much I like games........... I once held my daughter's friends hostage in order to play games. They came on an invitation to eat my once a year blackberry pie........but I made them play games first, for hours, before the pie was served. To this day I am reminded about this incident. So, if you are invited to my home............remember it is the House of Games.........and not bored games!

In the best circus lingo.......yes, they do have their own lingo.........until our next BALLYHOO......which means here's to the next free show given outside the side show to attract a crowd of potential patrons.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Almost Time For "Tines"



The sum of all the loving in our lives hones a shield against a world gone mad. With love, we can fend off gloom, find faith, and become an instrument for positive change. It must begin with loving ourselves............and then the love of others may follow.........................


Loved so well..............may it be parents, and children, an old friend, a passionate new love, the memory of a lost love, or the longing for one yet to find................























A shadow of things to come.....Valentine Halloween Amulet....to welcome love.....Halloween is always in my heart.......or close to it!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Look What the Wind Blew In..............

Another freak snowstorm.....................

I see............ waiting for the snow to melt..............
That' s noooo angel...............
Snow.......Dairy........Queen.........
Frosty on the down low................. Mum's the word..............
There's no business like snowbusiness.........

Snow face .......part of the winter mafia..............Every day above ground is a good day!

That goes for me too!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

My Life as a Squirrel???

So, we are still at the beginning of a New Year........... and there are endless possibilities for grand adventures.............. As well as, endless lessons about life to be learned. One of my favorite stories with a message is the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.............here is a version of transformation to consider that could possibly fulfill a resolution for the New Year.

My husband, and I started a diet like we do every first of January. We really tried to think about what foods would be non-fattening and healthy for us. We looked at squirrels and decided they were trim.......so why not eat what they eat. They are cool. They have a relationship with people. They are generally clever and persistent. What's not to like at this point about becoming like one for the sake of a few pounds.


They are notorious for working in the garden, maybe not always in a positive way. I mean they are small to medium sized rodents, we could become one with them if we ate the right food. Just like us they can be fed by hand. I mean ...........come on......... they are like us in so many ways. They have spring fever in captivity too.........and are very protective of their homes. What an easy transition this will be.
They can cause power outages, and have even brought down the NASDAQ stock market twice.........starting to see the similarities now(?) ah huh.......in a big way! Urban squirrels have learned to get a great amount of food from over-generous humans............so there is a ray of hope even on a diet.

Squirrels like to keep warm by snuggling..........that's not too bad either. I can identify with the hiding of the food as well..........just to make sure...........especially any chocolate flavored nuts. The first Johnny Appleseed may have really been a squirrel, and not human at all.......because buried nuts sometimes grow into trees.............that's helpful.


This squirrel metamorphosis is beginning to look very promising.....................love the fluffy tail too, and the sultry dark eyes.


Wait.................eek............................!!!!!!!!

Wrong........squirrels may eat nuts, and seeds..........but they do not need pounds and pounds of them to make a meal. They may only weigh a couple of pounds, but do you know how many calories there are in nuts. Bad idea........too, it's difficult to keep that fast jaw nibbling action going......and I abhor fat cheeks, especially in pictures.
So the question is.........never mind about my husband.............Do you really think I look that fat in 2009?

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Taking Stock of the New Year!

OK.........last night I was reading a special edition magazine......and it said "How to Look and Feel Great at any Age in the New Year".......only one problem........... my age category was missing. Does that mean I am dead....that I have dropped off the earth.....disappeared into a black hole....or have I become the stuff of soylent green? What happened to flawless makeup tips for me, and looking sexy forever?

My role model for looking and feeling great would have to be...............


TA DA this fit .........hard as a rock babe. ........always with a cheerful expression, and perpetually exercising with outstretched arms. I used to see ladies like this every morning at 5:00 am when I went to the gym. I hated to exercise........so, I wore my sunglasses, and went in with my head down. Going to the gym has never been, and never will be a part of my social life. For some I can see that it is.......they walk a mile and talk the mile. I never made eye contact, I never spoke.......and the best part of the gym was leaving. The only men that would notice I was there, were those older than me simply because they could not believe someone that was not forty years younger than them was actually going to the gym.

Then there was my neighbor who stalked me every morning........he told me when he saw me there the last time...... ..........he would casually mention that it had been something like 183 days, one hour, 6 minutes, and 32 seconds ago since he last saw me. He would also report if any member of my family, or any other person that I might possibly know was at the gym., where they could be found, and exactly what they were doing.

I will never really look buff.........but maybe buff with a little fluff. To add insult to past injury.........currently, I have the little cartoon characters from Wii Fit harassing me to exercise at home. I just can't take it when they fling their little bodies, and heads down in defeat after I have done an exercise.

So now, on to another observation, why do I still have.........this in my closet? Do you think it dates me?

It's my ammo belt of blanks from the sixties......and I still have my peace sign earrings........because just like certain songs do........ they bring back memories, and Patty Hearst chic. Just the thought that the blanks could go off at any moment, if I sat the wrong way..... kept me an upstanding citizen.


My fountain of youth now is music..........and chocolate. ................lead me to both of them and I shall be in eternal bliss during 2009.............maybe all the bad cara.....mel and chocolate will......oops, make that bad karma, will disappear if I keep looking ahead and never look back to take stock of past.