Said & Done

watchmen or what?

2012-01-28T12:14:00.000-08:00

I received this amazing and curious set of dinnerware as a gift recently. I don't know anything about it...except I love it to death. The architectural feel and the sketched watchmen are an unusual combination. Has anyone got any ideas on where I might find info about this curiosity? When I google it brings up people who are dishing on the graphic novel Watchmen... : -/

Perhaps these illustrations are not watchmen at all?...

Are these buildings English Tudor?

I just know someone will recognize the style of these gun toting chaps... and some history behind this tea set...Do you know where to look?

the bark side...

2012-01-25T13:56:00.000-08:00

student of life...

2012-01-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

It wasn't too long ago, while rummaging through an old truck, I found my worn and tired teacher bear that belonged to my teddy bear school I played with when I was about 6 or 7 years old... I posted her picture...and one of my bloggers sent me to a site to where this original teddy bear school (just like my old loved one) was being sold. I couldn't believe it, and I couldn't resist it either. My original teacher bear has no arms or eyes anymore (and she convalesces in a teacup) while the new teacher (who only has 1 eye) sits and educates her 5 eager students...It may be silly, but it is comforting when I look upon this classroom setting. And I cannot help but wonder who sits in that empty seat...where is that bear?)

All these mini desks remind me of my days in the classroom...and some pictures from the Treasure Trunk...Below seen here with our teacher Mrs. Klampt during Lost In Space days with Howard Rice (Room 222), Bill Mumy (Lost In Space) and Stefan Arngrim (Land of the Giants).

Mrs. Vizard...Lad: A Dog

left: Mrs Klamt - Sound of Music, Los Angeles, right: Mrs. Seaman, Austria

here are the winners!

2012-01-15T17:59:00.000-08:00

Thank you...all who participated in my Pasticcio Quartz Giveaway!

I loved your favorite things...

here are the winners...

cooljinglepuff

cheyenne-millie

somepinkflowers

Please leave me your mailing address in the comment box below...(I won't publish it)
and I'll send pasticcio quartz issue 12 to you right away.

Thanks for playing...

zip-a-dee-do-dah...

2012-01-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

What's the happiest place on earth? Why it's the place in your heart when you get invited to Disneyland by your kids.

Could our insides withold the rockin and rollin of the Matterhorn? the darkness of Space Mountain (at 8 am I might add)? the death defying drops in the Tower of Terror ( at 9:30 pm)? The walk from Disneyland Park...to California Adventure and back again?

With the nifty i-phone app MOUSE TIME and the expertise of our season pass kids... we were able to get fast passes, plan the park day and be able to squeeze the most out of it.

It was fantastical...
magical...

I had forgotten how much fun the parks could be!

Truly a zip-a-dee-doo-dah day...

Last week to enter my giveaway below...

and i say...

2012-01-01T09:32:00.000-08:00

be safe...be happy...be patient...be kind...be true...
make time for friends...and be good to yourself...

Don't forget to enter my giveaway in the post below...
cheers to a new year!

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive,
and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

anais nin

2012 Giveaway!

2011-12-29T17:06:00.000-08:00

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/acartwrightstudio

twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/acstudio

...the way i see it...2011

2011-12-28T11:50:00.000-08:00

the way i see it around here...

merry...merry

2011-12-24T17:32:00.000-08:00

sleigh bells ring...

2011-12-23T08:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my Dad today...
89 never looked so good...

a few of my favorite things....

2011-12-11T14:28:00.000-08:00

I have posted a few of my favorite things from my Salzburg Echoes collection on my etsy site.

lions share

sitting room

mozarts room

open wide

seahorse guardian

artists tell all...

2011-12-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

If you have never been to The Altered Page blog...it's really time you went. If you dig art...you can learn and read so much from Seth Apters pool of artists who spill the beans whenever he summons them. Why...because his blog rocks...and...artists are an unruly bunch...AND if that wasn't enough...soon...Seth's book will be available... It's called "The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed" and I'm one of those artists revealing secret and passionate stuff.

Thanks Seth for the oppourtunity and giving artists the chance to share.

Today on Seth's fabulous Altered Page blog I will tell you about my the one favorite tool I could not live without... Check it out

And here is the link to pre-order Seth's new book.

art is not just for hanging on the wall...

2011-12-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

I thought I would post a few pics from my 'Regalia" event that was at the end of November.

A great turnout and lots of fun...

It's exciting to see this dream come alive...

My clothing site is now online.
I'd love you to visit it here...

2011-11-24T15:17:00.000-08:00

Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving...

regalia...fine, fancy finery

2011-11-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

This is where I will be this weekend...having a little winters celebration with my art.wear.
Drop by for a sip of wine or hot apple cider if you're in town.

a theory that's colorful...

2011-11-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

My article on my Color Theory art appears in the newest edition of

Somerset Studios Magazine...November/December 2011.

The whole collection is here...

can you guess?

2011-10-31T09:35:00.000-07:00

Can you guess who we dressed up as for this Halloween party?

Be safe and have a Happy Halloween....

sky's the limit...

2011-10-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

on a quick trip to vegas...i saw an amazing changing sky...

well said...

2011-10-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

Photographed in Sitges.Spain

Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes ... the ones who see things differently ... they're not fond of rules.... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things ... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who do.I'm as proud of what we don't do as I am of what we do.

In most people's vocabularies, design means veneer. It's interior decorating. It's the fabric of the curtains of the sofa. But to me, nothing could be further from the meaning of design. Design is the fundamental soul of a human-made creation that ends up expressing itself in successive outer layers of the product or service.

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.

We don't get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life.

The people who built Silicon Valley were engineers. They learned business, they learned a lot of different things, but they had a real belief that humans, if they worked hard with other creative, smart people, could solve most of humankind's problems. I believe that very much.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.

Steve Jobs, 1955 - 2011

a few of my favorite things....

2011-09-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to the Hollywood Bowl for the Sound of Music Sing-A-Long.
(btw: my jacket is one of my hand painted Salzburg images taken on a visit to Austria. and made into my art.wear.)

I always love catching up with my von Trapp siblings. Charmian (above) hosts the costume judging on the Hollywood Bowl stage. She has done it every year, (except last year where we were in Chicago filming our Oprah segment Sound of Music reunion.)

Kym, Heather, Debbie and I get ready in the Green Room.

My son Jesse hangs out with Fred Bronson, author of our new book "The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook." which is being released in the USA next year.

My daughter Becca waiting in the Green Room backstage.

I have a few experiences at the Hollywood Bowl. One of them is seeing the Beatles perform there when they first came to America. Yep...I was one of those screaming teenagers.
I've also made a couple of appearances at the Hollywood Bowl myself over the years. I even sang there a couple of times, (once in my spacesuit...yikes.)

Melissa Peterson hosts the on stage costume party before the movie begins. Here is our view of the stage before we were announced.

We shared hugs with Charmian...and then we announced our book "The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook" that is being released in the USA in 2011....You can pre-order it here.

We also told the crowd about our Facebook page. Anyone interested in The Sound of Music should 'friend' us at THE SOUND OF MUSIC FAMILY SCRAPBOOK on Facebook...
There is all sorts of exciting news ahead...and you will hear it there first.

I snapped this shadow pic as I excited the stage behind Heather.

I've seen The Sound of Music hundreds of times, but it always manages to sucker me in...It looked fantastic on that big scene...viewed the way it was originally meant to be seen. After all these years, it really holds up. I think Christopher Plummers clever performance is laced with subtlety. Eleonor Parker, embraces the part of the Baroness' quirks just brilliantly. And throughout the film it shows how much we adored Julie. To hear everyone singing along, waving their cell phones during 'Edelweiss", and hissing at Rolf and the Baroness. Well it is a downright great time.

How fortunate I was to be Brigitta and a part of this magnificent film. Watching it again last night brought back lots of warm feelings and magnificent memories.

singing along...

2011-09-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

We're off to the Hollywood Bowl Saturday September 24th for The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long. Five of us will be making an appearance before the film begins at 7:30 pm.

For more information: click here

Friend us at our The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook Facebook page...for all the latest updates and news about our new book The Sound of Music Family Scapbook coming soon. We're very excited about it!

9-11

2011-09-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind. Let it be something good.

paradox...

whatever...

2011-09-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

birthdays?

a bird in your hand...

2011-09-03T20:16:00.000-07:00

My Evidence Journal about the Alfred Hitchcock film "The Birds" was published in the latest issue of Somerset Studios Magazine --- September/October issue.

When I discovered Somerset Magazine's theme was HITCHCOCK for the 2011 fall issue...I thought...wow...I think I'll make an evidence journal, I certainly have access to the evidence.

You see, my sister Veronica played the role of Cathy in the Hitchcock movie about birds gone wild...so I asked her if I could borrow her script to make copies of the pages.

I started reading the script to decide what I wanted to use in my art and I have to admit it was totally engaging in a frightening way. I can see how Hitchcock must have been delighted when he was to direct this creepy story written by Daphne du Maurier and published in 1952. I used pictures from the film, altering them in a variety of ways and ink blotches to enhance my take on the psychological thriller.

The magazine tells some behind-the-scenes stories that my sister shared with me...and there are 6 pages of my journal art. However, they didn't print the whole journal so I have created a page where you can view all the pages of the journal I made...click here: Hitchcock To purchase the magazine click here.

scents and sensibilities...part 3

2011-09-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

One of the most enjoyable adventures Becca and I shared was making our own purfumed oil. It all takes place in the Aromatherepy room inside the Artists Cottage.

One by one you smell the different oils and decide what resonates with you...

...a sniff of coffee beans cleans the sinuses

It's really so much fun...

You fill in your booklet with your favorite scents...and then you choose what you like and your perfumed oil is created in these cool perfume vats by your master Aromatherapiest.

Then you name your creation, and it's all yours...and you go and have a massage with your own signature fragrance. it's pretty close to heaven...On my list of things to do was to create a fragrance someday...I must say what I developed here is a spirited and unruly fragrance.

And so our adventure in Ojai ended...but I'm not worried...we'll be back...

into the town...part 2

2011-08-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

We investigated the town of Ojai, with its array of charming shops. Human Arts was one of my favorites where I picked up a few Christmas gifts...(I'm a virgo what can I say.)

If you ever find yourself in this Ojai make sure you leave yourself an hour or more to peruse Barts Books, a delightful outdoor bookstore. The sign says it all...If you should find yourself with nothing to read after sunset...scurry on over to Bart's and leave your coins in the box....trusting...awesome...why can't the world be like that...

oh hi! or Ojai...part 1

2011-08-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

After a busy and sometimes challenging summer it was good to be invited to one of my favorite places on earth...the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. I love it there...the people are delightful...the accomadations are 5 star and it is just the most serene, calm place one can find. Last weekend I introduced "The Sound of Music" as part of Ojai Resorts classic film series to benefit the Ojai Education and Ojai Youth Foundations. An added bonus was my daughter Becca joined me and we were able to indulge in a fantastic mother/daughter experience in the spa and out and about...that was priceless....

a drink at Jimmy's Pub...

the night of the event...a succesful q&a with Pete Crooks from Diablo magazine and a lovely dinner at Maravilla afterwards. Thanks Janis, Veronica and Pete. More of Becca and my adventures next time...

you go girl...

2011-08-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

I'm a little belated in posting about Becca's birthday...She's beginning the year with a pull of the cord and a flight above the clouds...First up was sky-diving...

and then she took a flying lesson...

Braver than I...but I say... you go girl...grab those challenges...enjoy those dreams...embrace life to the fullest...

I'll just be sitting over here looking at the pictures you send me and relishing in the joy I hear in your voice after you've accomplished what you set out to do..

You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.Friedrich Nietzsche

throw it into the mix...

2011-07-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

...two weeks of oh the pain...recovering parents...tears and fears...and my latest art...this is what you get...this is My way of life...

And did you know are having a GIVEAWAY OF PASTICCIO QUARTZ Issue 12?

To enter go to our Facebook Page and LIKE us...http://on.fb.me/pasticcioquartz
if you win you'll get a signed by the editors (Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn) copy of Issue 12, extras included. Here's all ya need to do...
1. Share this post on your page simply by pressing the SHARE button. Recommend this page to YOUR FB readers or tell them about us on your blog...
2. Not mandatory to enter...but you could leave a comment telling us which is your fave issue of Pasticcio to date (there have been 12 so far) and why. Tell us something you'd like to see or read about in a future issue.

housebound: what to do

2011-07-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

this bowl of shells and beads needed dusting...

the bowl itself is made up of beads...

These shells are amazing...the artist? the sea...

these beads were collected in New Mexico...the artist? patient...

this little shield...meticulously handpainted...

in my hand...I hold inspiration...

glad I dusted today...

you have to have a sense of humor....

2011-07-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

At Mah Jongg last night...the theme of the night embraced what Los Angeleno's have on their mind right now...complete with caution tape and rocky road ice cream....

carpe diem while the beat goes on...

2011-07-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

I have been a bad blogger...a pathetic tweeter...and a very busy girl. I guess the saying... life is what happens when you are busy making other plans...is true. Life has been happening...at a very fast pace I must say...things have been busy...but good...real good...

First and foremost my son Jesse celebrated his 26th birthday...and that was fun. I often find myself shaking my head and remembering him as my boy...

and now...he's my man...

sister Becca surprises him with one of his favorite things...Dippin' Dots...

carne asada and maurgaritas...

happy birthday to him...

Pasticcio Quartz, the Quality Art Zine (hence a QUARTZ) that Sarah Fishburn and I compile, design, layout, collect, muse over, write and prepare for printing, was completed by the deadline we had set for ourselves and it's out and ready for summer reading. They are fun and stressful to put together...it is truly a labor of love and artistically satisfying.

I have been diligently working on my Angela Cartwright Studio art.wear and website...and it is slowly coming together...Hope the launch date for that is real soon...I have a couple of articles coming out in Somerset Studios and Jewelry Affaire in the next couple of months and will let you know when those appear.
I have been reworking my showbiz website. I can't believe how many years it's been since I taught myself html code and how to make a website because I wanted to be able to add and write all the content and keep it real. It all just takes time...and sometimes I don't know which hat to reach for...

Speaking of hats...this is the hat you wear when you are crossing the Alps. There will be an announcement of the Sound of Music kind in a couple of weeks I hope...

But now...today... I am going to say Carpe Diem...Seize The Day...
Have fun, be grateful and be safe this holiday weekend...

Pasticcio Quartz Issue 12!!!

2011-06-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

Maybe you've seen one...maybe you haven't, but Pasticcio Quartz is our art gift to you. We make time when there is none and persevere to bring all we've got to our quality art zine. Our newest issue of Pasticcio is finally available and all decked out in honeysuckle...the color of 2011. All spring long Sarah Fishburn and I reved up our team of 2 (that's us) and really made this issue one we love...It's jam packed and in full color. Tons of beautiful art to puruse...the perfect reading material for those summer days ahead...

Our summer 2011 issue is fresher than ever... Want eye candy? Palais d'Art will satisfy... Looking for inspiration? Seth Apter, Roxanne Stout, Laurie Zuckerman, Amanda Marie Ploegsma, and Suzi Blu have what you need! Art history...recipes...reviews...tips...travel...a virtual truckload of brilliant imagery delivered in a gorgeous, full-color, gift-worthy package. If you missed out on any of our past issues, you can still get 'em, and stack them up right beside your Adirondack, hammock, or porch swing to savor as you sip your signature summer concoction and while away the hours.

hardware vintage style...

2011-06-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

Come with me on a visit to Liz's Antique Hardware. It's on South La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles...and it's totally cool...even if you are not into hardware at all...

Look at the old...the vintage...the patterns...the millions of pieces of hardware...just soak it all in....

I have an library card holder with eight drawers...but I would love to have this one to sort out all my art supplies. That would be heaven...

There are keyholes, and knobs, and wheels, and locks and sconces and door plates...and it is just mind boggling...

and in the back...there's a bargain room where there is a bunch of chipped, broken, cool, odds and ends...just for mixed media artists like us...

And upstairs there is an art gallery called The Loft At Liz's. Definetly worth a visit...

All this art and hardware made us hungry, so we darted into La Brea Bakery across the street...yum

sentimental journey...

2011-05-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

My daughter is working in the Arkansas right now...and she sent me this image below, which puts into perspective what Memorial Day weekend is really all about. What would we do without people who wanted to fight for freedom...

I was feeling a bit sentimental as NASA talked about the final flight of the space shuttle. Another era has passed. It brought back memories of my visit to NASA in 2009. I posted about it on the my blog here: July 31st, 2009. The whole experience made such an impact on my thinking. The people at NASA were so generous with their information and their time.
It helped me put into perceptive, how very small we are in this vast universe and how much really happens outside our little world that we think revolves around us.

the porcelain unicorn...

2011-05-23T20:47:00.000-07:00

Pause my musicbox at the bottom of the page and then enjoy the power of film...

what's for breakfast...

2011-05-22T15:39:00.000-07:00

This morning we opened that mysterious package in our refrigerator that my sister had dropped off yesterday...

It was filled with a bottle of capers, a package of mini toasts, 2 hard boiled eggs, a shallot, a bit of sour cream, a beautiful crystal caviar bowl that you fill with ice to keep it chilled, a bone spoon, a jar of caviar and lots of love. Yum...what a decadent breakfast. The perfect way to start our anniversary...

doodling for a cause...

2011-05-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

I have been a very bad at posting on my blog lately. I have been finishing up on several projects which leaves me little time to ponder. I will post about those later I promise. I did want to mention the ebay auction that will be ending in day and a half. All proceeds benefit Neurofibromatosis and they are raising money for the cause by auctioning off celebrity doodles. Here are my two pieces...
To bid on this item below click here

To bid on this item below click here

Check out Doodle Day on their website.

a mother's job...

2011-05-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

A mother's job is not to create a bed of roses,
but to help them learn how to pick their way through the thorns.

Elaine Heffner

love you mom...
happy mother's day!

tea time...with a hint of champagne

2011-04-29T21:46:00.000-07:00

7:30 am: A Royal wedding is the perfect excuse to break out the tiara...

bake scones and serve them with lemon curd, raspberry jam, fresh clotted cream and strawberries...

serve hot tea and have the tv remotes handy...

have a friend show up in a hat...

and drink fresh orange juice with champagne...

That's how we Brits do it as we celebrate the wedding of William and Katherine...

funny bunnies...

2011-04-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

I found this old picture of me dressed as a bunny and thought it would be perfect for Easter Sunday.

I've been very busy lately, and will reveal with what after Easter...when I finally sit down and relax for the night I have been making these little felt bunnies...for the ones I love. They are so much fun to make...you could say...I'm hooked.

Have a perfect Easter Sunday...

happy birthday mom...

2011-04-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Today is my Mom's 87th birthday. She would be the first one to tell you she was never a birthday person. Happy to just not think about it and let birthdays slip off her shoulders. But this I know...for those we love...a call, a card, a present means so much...even to those who don't think...that they think...about birthdays.

Dodsworth Animated Short by Tim Egan

2011-04-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

doodle day doodlers...

2011-04-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here's one of my sketches I have made for Doodle Day. As part of NF Awareness month, celebrity doodles are available for auction on eBay during May. They go up for auction on May 12th. These doodles have a very important aim: the funds they raise will benefit NF, an organization dedicated to providing support to individuals and families affected by neurofibromatosis (NF).

check it out...cool doodles to be had... Doodle Day Doodlers

below the surface of above the fray...

2011-03-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday, March 19th my exhibit "Above The Fray" opened at the Gallery 8.

In the white tent I had my photo.wear clothes and other curiosities. I'll write more about that in a later post.

I could not have pulled it all together Saturday without these two talented ladies...Jenni and Connie xo

What a turnout. I had a great time.

Ever supporting sister Veronica

thanks Jesse for the pictures you took, and Steve for your never ending encouragement.


2 rescue puppies loved the show


The Colburn Jazz Trio provided wonderful music

If you want to take a look at "Above The Fray"
click here...
More later...now I'm celebrating...

did you wear green today?

2011-03-17T19:40:00.000-07:00

I have done so much running around today getting ready for my exhibit...I can't wait to put my shamrocks up...

japan...above the fray

2011-03-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

With Japan on my mind here are a few images that I shot there and will be in my exhibit this coming Saturday...

tranquility


peace . peace memorial park

lucky


honor

staying above the fray...

2011-03-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

I have really not had time to post...I have been busy with the final touches on my exhibit 'Above The Fray' next Saturday, March 19th at Gallery 8. If you live close by, I hope you will drop by...and if you can't make it, I will be posting the entire exhibit on my website in the next couple of weeks.Here's a couple of pieces that will be in the show.


destiny


clarity

grace

oscars nite...

2011-02-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

I know...I used this picture of me with Oscar last year...but it's the only one I have of me with the statue...and I do dig my clear shoes and but I continue to ponder on why the photographer asked me to point. Sigh...show biz can be so cruel...as will be seen tonight if you are planning on tuning in to the Academy Awards.
Side note...Everytime you turn around there is another Award Show...Didn't the Oscars used to be in March? Or April?
So tonight are the Oscars…either you are jazzed by that...or you're not. I am having a 'Welcome Home Becca" and intimate Oscar party and I am the most excited about seeing Becca return after working stint out of town.
I was able to see all the nominees this year...but I wish they would put all the documentaries on television before the awards so people could see them. So many of these small films continue to go unseen. With small budgets only those with money for advertising seem to get any attention at all.

I would warn you of a spoiler but honestly, I don't know anything. You will find me tonight thinking about the rows of heat lamps on that red carpet so the ladies wearing those sleeveless dresses aren't seen shivering underneath...(show buisness is so glamourous)... You will find me wondering if Anne Hathaway and James Franco (both of whom I really like) can pull it off as they are hired to draw in a younger crowd to watch the Oscars...I personally miss Billy Crystal, but then again, I am not that younger crowd...and I will continue to wonder why the Best Picture category has 10 nominees? Why???
Some questions just can't be answered....

a few side notes...Best Picture -The Kings Speech - Hands down to me the best picture of the year. Just for the record I did like Social Network and True Grit.
Best Director - This was a tossup between David O. Russell The Fighter and Tom Hooper The Kings Speech
Best Actor - Colin Firth, amazing
Best Actress - Annette Bening, but I think Natalie Portman will win.
Best Supporting Actor - Christian Bale...amazing transformation, he nailed it.
Best Supporting Actress - Hailee Steinfeld...I think Melissa Leo will win...but if you have seen Hailee talk in person then you know...she's a damn good actress.
Best Animated Feature Film - Toy Story 3 - I love those toys, they made me laugh out loud and cry too...

If you want to print out some ballots GO HERE...
If you need some Drinking Games to make the evening less painful GO HERE
If you want to see who I voted for my ballots below...
Have fun whether you watch or not...

putting on the snow...

2011-02-26T20:55:00.000-08:00

It snowed today...something that doesn't happen very often in the valley where I live. It started as hail, huge marble sized pieces bombarding the back yard. So I grabbed a couple of scarves and wraps, my camera and umbrella, and went and stood in it for a few minutes. Now I know this sounds silly to everyone in other parts of the world that has been shoveling snow since October...but for us in Southern California...it was, well, exhilarating...and it encouraged a few pics before the moment of bliss was over.

Peyton the snow dog

Am I crazy or is there a snow bear next to rose bush on my front lawn??? Do you see it?

Apparently this combination of sleet, hail and rain is called grapple...

but I call it awesome...

winging my way...

2011-02-21T20:39:00.000-08:00

Winging my way into March. I am working hard on some new art pieces. I have an exhibit March 19th at the Gallery 8 in Studio City, California and yikes...it's exciting. I have been thinking about the art for this collection a long time now...I titled it "Above The Fray" and it encompasses my recent travels to Asia. Here's a sneak peek of one of the pieces I think I finished today...I say think cause I have to look at each piece over and over and live with it for awhile before I can say...done...

sunrise - hong kong

If you need to get rid of the Winter Blahs, or if you have always wanted to experience the magazine Sarah Fishburn and I put together...now is the time. All issues of Pasticcio QuARTz are 15% off . Guaranteed to scare away the wintertime blues. Now we are working on Issue 12...but that won't be out until June...after my exhibit.

ok...back to work... oh by the way...good job James for knowing where my four questions Valentine quote came from...the movie 'Don Juan DeMarco'...Johnny Depp said it...and I remember I kept zipping the film back and writing it down. I printed it out years ago and I have it up on my wall. Sometimes words just resonate with me and I have to keep them in a self place.

heart someone...

2011-02-14T10:48:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things is this quote...Do you know where it's from?

There are four questions in this life:
What is sacred?
Of what is the spirit made?
What is worth living for?
What is worth dying for?

Do a good deed today...a kind gesture...a loving thing...make a phone call...write a note...let someone with less groceries than you go before you in the grocery line...(That always amazes people)...use your cars blinker...bake cookies...say thank you...slow down...pick a flower...put it in a vase...draw a picture...And even if you do something for someone and they don't react the way you want them to...don't do it for the reaction...do it for the deed and how good it makes you feel...just to give...unconditionally...if you have a friend...email them...a family member...call them...if you have a pet...kiss them...plan to have a good day...
xo

the visitors....

2011-02-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

I went to visit my parents this last week with my sister Veronica...It was really good to visit with them...We cleaned through some stuff and came across some cool family pictures.

We took their dog Brit on some walks around the lake...

My Mom shows off the pendant I had made for her with their dog's picture...
Check out my friends shop here...

We had some laughs...but it was all over way too soon....

Once we were home again...we had a toast with my pal Bill for his birthday...He's not too excited about another one of those rolling around again...

Which brings me to

The Hollywood Show which we will both be attending this weekend...I hear it might be the last time the Lost In Space cast will be all together

Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
2500 North Hollywood Way
Burbank, California 91505

February 12th

Saturday Only
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
****************
February 13th
Sunday Only
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It should be fun...If you're in the area...come see us...

a new kind of picture window...

2011-02-05T11:47:00.000-08:00

The new apron.ology magazine is out with an article about the picture window apron art pal Connie and I made. Into aprons? You can buy Volume 3 here...

taking a break....

2011-01-29T23:15:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you have to take a break. Between my intense spring cleaning...organizing and all...Getting ready for my exhibit in March...and other projects on my plate, my pal Connie and I decided we would take a class at Pergolina's from Anna Corba. It was 3 hours but it was such a welcome break...a way to keep the juices flowing, the ideas coming, and just doing what I like doing most with no pressure. We got some swell shortcuts from Anna, enjoyed some vino, and had lots of fun.

After collaging the cover and backside (I had brought one of my hand painted photographs for the cover) we brushed beeswax over it, sewed the spine into place and voila...A cool booklet that can be used for quotes, pics or whatever.

Here's Connie's

Thanks for a fun class Anna...

my peeps...

2011-01-26T20:49:00.000-08:00

Today I received Stampington & Company's next (February, March, April) issue of "Art Doll Quarterly" with my article on "My Peeps". Peeps?...strange, little, unruly people with attitude and spunk.

happy handwriting day...

2011-01-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

Today is Handwriting Day...What's that? Handwriting? Hmmm... I vaguely remember that word...

I remember when I was in school 'penmanship' was important. I really loved my handwriting classes where the curves and lines my pen made rested comfortably on pre-printed lines. The upgrading from pencil to pen to fountain pen were highlights in my childhood. And to this day, a pen can make my blood pressure rise.

Beyond that there is something I noted this past week while cleaning out drawers and closets and boxes of 'stuff'. I was determined to discard things I did not need. I had decided to be relentless...some of this stuff HAD to go. Among the clutter I found myself reading each and every card that was handwritten...a note, a message, a love drop written by hand, evoked in me an image of the person who wrote it. That emotional thread made it impossible to discard any card from my husband, parents, kids, friends...how could I take that little bit of them...and throw them away. IMPOSSIBLE...

So I resolved myself to take the time this year to jot off a hand handwritten note to those who mean so much to me. Though email communication is fantastic, no denying it...(in fact any kind of communication is fantastic!)...I was moved this week to remember just how wonderful it is to receive a hand written note from someone you care about. You know how much fun it is to get a humorous card in the mail with a little note from someone you miss? I'm doing it...hope you will too...

Just in case you didn't know...January 23rd was chosen because this is the birthday of John Hancock. John Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence and he's known for his bold, large signature.

Look what I just found in my closet. My old Penmanship book from Grade 4.

Click here for a fun Handwriting analysis personality test...

word of the day...redundancy

2011-01-10T19:56:00.000-08:00

Nothing like starting off a new year with your computer freezing up and your backup drive starting to beep...the beep of death...Thank goodness I believe in redundancy. With all the images I have, some of them in huge formats, I have always backed up my computer on 2 other drives. But last year, I invested in Carbonite...and let me tell you, it was well worth the yearly investment of $54.95. (Honest I don't work for them...it's just a good thing I wanted to share.) It put my mind at ease because everything on my computer was backed up and I could pull it up easily. Being redundant really pays off, even if you decide you just load those precious images onto an external hard drive, you need to back up your files before you lose them.

I also used a really cool site today called Dropbox. I've used other sites like this before, but I really like how easy this was to take a huge file and drop it into a box for the other person to pick it up.

Now...onto other things, like making art. It feels really good to take a paint brush in hand, layer papers, maps, ephemera, paint chips and top it all off with one of my images (that I rescued from being lost in cyberspace, due to my relationship with redundancy.

Here's a few of the tableaux I finished over the weekend with Valentines Day in mind. There are others that you can see in my etsy store if you so desire.

We're doing some painting around the house...some fixing and some organizing. I can feel it...this is the year to clean out and organize stuff...I'll keep you posted on how that's going. Hope you are getting stuff you need to get done also...It's a good beginning to a brand new year.

goodbye 2010...hello new year

2011-01-01T11:26:00.000-08:00

the way i see it...

2010-12-29T19:30:00.000-08:00

2011 here we come...

my wish for you...

2010-12-24T10:44:00.000-08:00

As the time for our celebration narrows down I want to take the time to wish you all a Happy Holiday...Seasons Greetings...Peace on Earth and good will to men, women and children everywhere...whatever and however you celebrate, may it be merry and full of good cheer.

hello santa...

2010-12-17T15:41:00.000-08:00

Wasn't it just Thanksgiving? Isn't that Christmas right around the corner? I mean literally...

December always moves like lightening.
What's been keeping me busy?

Working on the new Sound of Music book which will be out in 2011 with all our stories from making the movie. It's going to be cool. I was also asked by Seth Apter to be in his new book slated for 2012, so I made some art and answered all his questions as he takes the 'pulse' of the art community.

I've also got three new pieces of art at the Gallery 8 in Studio City,California. Here's a look...

Branchport Brown - 8x8 mixed media

Waterfall - 8x8 mixed media

Sugar Cookie - 8x8 mixed media

Also new...

2011 Calenders

new i phone covers

New Color Theory Notecards...

At my etsy store new ponchos in scrumptious colors...

Theatre Dolls that made there appearance in Art Doll Quarterly last month now want to find a home...see them here with special pricing...

Getting ready...

i was this young once....

2010-12-05T16:29:00.000-08:00

Never thought I would see this again. What a blast this was to shoot.

You may want to pause my music box at the bottom of the page to hear this one...

happy thanksgiving all...

2010-11-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

sound of music - joy behar show tonight

2010-11-24T16:06:00.001-08:00

(If you have my music on...pause it at the bottom of the page)

the whirlwind Today...

2010-11-12T21:18:00.000-08:00

(left to right back:) Nicholas Hammond, Duane Chase, Debbie Turner, (front) Kym Karath, Me, Heather Menzies-Urich, Charmian Carr
I stepped off the plane in New York City, and met up with the rest of the non-Trapps for a meal at Gordon Ramsey's MAZE restaurant in the London Hotel. We caught up on our lives and talk about our whirlwind media blitz for the Sound of Music Blu-Ray DVD and our personal Sound of Music memoirs book that will be out in 2011. At the table we have some laughs as we always do and with our tummys full after our yummy 5 course meal we head to our rooms to grab a couple of hours sleep. 4:30 am came pretty fast but we were all raring to go.

Here we are at the TODAY show with the lovely Miss Andrews. What fun it was to all be together again. Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry were so nice. Even Matt Lauer came out to say hi after his interview with former President George Bush.

In the Green Room waiting to go on. If you missed the interview...CLICK HERE

Then Kym and I headed over to MSNBC for our interview with Alex Witt.

In the Green Room before the interview, I'm wearing one of my art.wear creations. This handpainted image is of the gates in front of the Von Trapp villa. My spring collection of clothing will be coming out soon.

The interview we had with Alex will air this
Sunday November 14th in 2 parts at 7:40 am and 9:40 am.
Turns out Alex used to live in my old neighborhood and went to the same school as Kym Karath when she lived in Los Angeles. It was fun talking to her.

After tooling around New York City a bit with Heather and Debbie, and an interview on the Joy Behar Show (don't know when that will air) we had a wonderful Italian dinner with our friends Heidi and Heinrich before going our seperate ways. It was an exhausting whirlwind of a trip...Now I am home once again just chomping at the bit to make some art...I know I'm fortunate to be able to pack so many memories into a coast to coast high speed tornado of an adventure....I count my blessings every day....

nyc bound...

2010-11-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

on november 10th

and the music plays on...

2010-11-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how many times we have lined up in this order over the last 45 years....we just kinda fall into our places...that's kinda funny really...

So...the celebration is not over yet...we are flying to New York for an appearance on the "Today Show" November 10th...so catch us on that for more about The Sound of Music...the Blu Ray...and our upcoming book, which will be out next year. Thanks for all your questions...we hope to answer the things in this book that people have asked us over the years....

If you can't get enough of The Sound of Music Reunion...or you happened to miss Oprah because of the date change, here below is the part with the 'kids'... sure makes you feel young when you're referred to as 'the kids". (Don't forget to pause my music box at the bottom of the page.)

And if you want to see more...just enter Oprah Sound of Music and its there on You Tube...

I need to know what you need to know...

2010-10-31T16:42:00.000-07:00

I am waiting for a little bird to tell me...what your question would be...I have a serious request for all the "Sound Of Music" lovers out there...If you could ask anything of the seven Von Trapp 'kids' in the movie... What would you ask?

What burning inquiry have you had for years about a certain scene?...a rumor you've heard?... a behind the scenes query?...

Ask your family...ask your friends...ask your Facebook peeps... What have you always wanted to know about The Sound of Music?

Write your questions in my blog COMMENT box ...

I need to know what YOU need to know....Won't you help us discover those burning questions you have always wanted answered???

And in advance Thank you from all of us and 'Mi'...

happy haunting...

2010-10-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

well that was fun....

2010-10-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

So today was that 45th reunion of the entire cast of The Sound of Music. Oprah said it was the first time we had all been together for an interview since the movie had been released. Though we have been interviewed as a group...and with Julie before, it was great and such a pleasure to have Christopher Plummer with us for this reunion on Oprah. The night before we had filmed the show in Chicago, we had all met with Julie and Chris for a lovely dinner and caught up on what we had all been doing over the years. That was really fun.

How lovely were those Von Trapp grandchildren when they sang "Edelweiss"? Did it make you all teary eyed?

Did you hear the announcement about our book that will be out in October 2011? We are very excited about it. No one can quite tell the story of our Sound of Music tales quite like we can and we will, first hand. I have wanted to do this 'scrapbook' of our behind the scenes adventures for years. So hang on for that...It will be here before you know it.

Thanks for watching...

glad to be part of the '8'

2010-10-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the opening at Gallery 8. What a great turnout and celebration.

The owners are Lauren and Dan Nixon (to my right and left), and the other artists with their work at this new gallery are: Pomm, Martin Eichinger, Matthew Hasty, Jean Francois Miaule, David Palmer, David Kelly, Lisa Tate.

where am i? where am i going?

2010-10-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

Can you guess where I am here? Summer seems like it was so long ago. We've had some rain here in LA...which reminds us that it is October already. Halloween is right around the corner...next up...the holidays.

I have been going non stop. This weekend a brand new gallery is opening called...Gallery 8. I am very excited that my art.ography (my mixed media and hand painted photographs) will be exhibited here on a permanent basis along with seven other artists. If you are in the area, drop on by for a look around. It's around the corner on Woodbridge, off Tujunga Village, which has some rocking stores and restaurants. If you can't come by this weekend, drop by anytime.

I don't usually talk politics...but I can't wait till the constant barrage for the election is over. All I can say is...if we want bullying to stop in our schools and with our children...let's lead by example...start with the politicians... Turn off the bad mouthing, rotten attitudes, put downs, blatant intolerance, intentional divisions, lack of respect, people bashing and downright rudeness...stop already...it just makes me cringe...and while I am ranting here...I don't get why people pretend to be what they aren't...like being a poser is something to be proud of? Be authentic for heavens sake...and if you don't like what you are...work on it...no one said this life was easy...buck up...grow up......ahhh...I feel better now...

crescendo: to grow in force or loudness.

2010-10-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

You say crescendo...I say crescendoh.com ...web spot extraordinaire created by Jenny Doh, ex-editor of Stampington and Art Saves advocate. All this week I am featured on the website Crescendoh.com. Have you visited there? It is definitely worth the visit. You will find some of your favorite artists, their stories, their favorite things, and you will find lots of artists whose work you have never seen before and are happy to discover.

The links change below my picture every day this week, and it will turn you on to a few of my favorite places to visit online. Crescendoh is one big network, an exchange between artists and tales of creative passion. Well worth the ride...

'O' mi and Oprah

2010-10-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to go to 'O'...

This video released today...

Even though this clip says Friday, October 29th...we were just informed that this show will air on Thursday, October 28th!

Freaks, Fools and Curious Oddities

2010-10-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

Well art pal Connie and my sister Veronica joined me at Cirque de Bizarre at Zinnia in South Pasadena this past weekend.

Everyone loves a circus...and everyone came to see the Sideshow of Freaks, Fools and Curious Oddities. Connie and I had 4 Theatre Dolls in the show...Here they are below...The exhibit runs for about a month...if your in the area stop by. There is lots of cool art there to see or to purchase, and Zinnia is just filled with art supplies and curious oddities....

CIRQUE de BIZARRE

2010-10-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

It's CIRQUE de BIZARRE this Saturday - October 2nd - - A Sideshow of Freaks, Fools and Curious Oddities. What fun...The show is at one of my favorite art haunts, ZINNIA in South Pasadena.You'll be able to see several pieces from our ac studio 9 Theatre Dolls collection.

The exhibit will be up for a month...but the celebration is this Saturday...from 7:00 - 9:00 pm

If you know a Mime, or someone on stilts...Come One...Come All...It's going to be fun...fun...fun...1024 Mission Street

the exclusive...press release

2010-09-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

**EXCLUSIVE**

A ONE-TIME ONLY “OPRAH” SHOW EVENT

“THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW” REUNITES THE CAST

OF “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ON OCTOBER 29, 2010

CHICAGO, IL – For the first time in 45 years, the entire cast of “The Sound of Music” will gather for a once-in-a-lifetime reunion on the “Oprah” show stage on Friday, October 29, 2010. Stars Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, along with fellow cast members Charmian Carr (“Liesl”), Nicholas Hammond (“Friedrich”), Heather Menzies-Urich (“Louisa”), Duane Chase (“Kurt”), Angela Cartwright (“Brigitta”), Debbie Turner (“Marta”) and Kym Karath (“Gretl”) will reunite and reveal the stories behind one of the world’s most beloved movie musicals. Together for the first time in nearly half a century, the cast shares secrets from the set, reminiscences about their time together and what their lives have been like in the years since the movie was released. Finally, the von Trapp Children – a singing group featuring members of the real von Trapp family – pay their own special tribute to the film that made their family name known throughout the world.

Considered by many to be the most successful movie musical in history*, “The Sound of Music” took home five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, in 1965. Its first release lasted over 4½ years. It is shown annually on network television; has been released for home entertainment on VHS, Laser Disc, DVD and has recently been digitally remastered and restored for its high definition Blu-ray Disc debut November 2; unites new fans and old through the amazing SINGALONG SOUND OF MUSIC events nationwide; and the soundtrack CD is one of the best selling soundtracks of all time, having gone Platinum more than 12 times. Its landmark score includes some of the most beloved songs in the American songbook including “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Do Re Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” and the title song.

*Box Office Mojo: Adjusted for inflation, its domestic gross box office take would be over $1.13 billion. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm

About “The Oprah Winfrey Show”

"The Oprah Winfrey Show" has remained the number one talk show for 24 consecutive seasons, winning every sweep since its debut in 1986.** It is produced in Chicago by Harpo Productions, Inc. and syndicated to 215 domestic stations by CBS Television Distribution and to 145 countries by CBS Studios International.

here.there.and everywhere

2010-09-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

The weekend before last found me in Oakland, California for an appearance at the New Rheem Theatre. It was a quick trip but I had a great time.

This week you could find me in Chicago. What a city. What I love about Chicago...the people, the architecture, the art...what I don't like...the wind. I found myself fascinated by how people kept their hair from looking like mine...wild and crazy.

I was with my son Jesse and we had a blast. We were lucky enough to find time to visit the best museum ever...the Art Institute of Chicago where we found the most outstanding exhibits. Henri Cartier-Bresson - The Modern Century left Jesse and I in awe.

The museums collection of Impressionist art is astounding, and I found myself standing in front of Van Goghs "The Bedroom"1889... I have always wanted to see it.

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec "At The Moulin Rouge" impressed Jesse.

a few pieces of art I was mystified by...

Pierre Auguste Renoir. Two Sisters (On the Terrace), 1881
Oil on canvas 39 9/16 x 37 7/8 in. (100.5 x 81 cm

Claude Monet French, Water Lilies, 1906 Oil on canvas 34 1/2 x 36 1/2 in. (87.6 x 92.7 cm)

Georges Seurat A Sunday on La Grande Jatte -- 1884, 1884-86
Oil on canvas 81 3/4 x 121 1/4 in. (207.5 x 308.1 cm)

I could not believe how big this piece of art was. It was huge, with thousands of miniature dots creating a border around it. Amazing...and there were hundreds more pieces of art that were out of this world. O'Keefe, Picasso, Gaugain, Cassatt...I could have spent days...but we had one more exhibit we wanted to see and that was the Thorne Miniature Rooms.

If you love miniatures...you have to see this...

I was shooting through glass so check out more here

It's all in the details...


If you are a miniature freak like me...You'll love this book. All 69 rooms shown in detail.

There was more to this trip...but you'll have to wait...

“I prowled the streets all day, feeling very strung-up and ready to pounce, determined to ‘trap’ life—
to preserve life in the act of living.”
—Cartier-Bresson in 1952, recalling his work of the early 1930s

more corners...

2010-09-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

what...september already?

2010-09-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Well...that happened fast...Where has this year gone? I have been working like a mad woman...and...loving every minute...There is so much going on...some things I cannot talk about yet...but I will...very soon...

When I was a child..if I had a grump-face...my British Mom used to say: "You have a face like the back of a bus." But somehow...I don't think this is what she was referring to...

My friend who is touring Austria sent me this to let me know I am on the road...with my eyes closed...In fact...we all have our eyes closed...
Are we...
A. Feeling the music or
B. Been drawn by an artist who has yet to learn how to draw open eyes...hmmm
you decide...

More tomorrow...

fresh from the studio...

2010-08-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

Remember when you blogged your favorite quotes to me...and I said I was going to add it into some art I was working on? TaDa!

I printed out your quotes and I have been adding them into my Color Theory series...thanks for being a part...and for the great quotes...

Here are a few more pieces I finished....

You can see the whole Color Theory Collection right here...

welcome to my color theory...

2010-08-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

New works...

6x6 and 3x3

check out the collection: angelacartwright.etsy.com

in my house and garden...corners

2010-08-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

a corner in my house...

a corner in my garden...

a corner in my studio...

a corner in my heart...

altered page has mixed emulsions...

2010-07-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

Over at The Altered Page...art pal Seth listed me as Chapter 16...and I'm having a giveaway of my book "Mixed Emulsions" ... So click on the link below and leave a comment...but do it soon...the drawing is July 31st and I want you to win. Good Luck!

http://bit.ly/alteredpagegiveaway

The winner will be announced August 1st...

art is lifes circle...

2010-07-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

Months ago Becca 'commisioned' me to make a piece of art that could go above her sofa. She wanted a contemporary feel...LA...her kind of style.
For 6 months I have thought about it, dreamed about it, mused and confused about it...
The deadline was her birthday to get this art piece done...

...and it all started to come together...layer after layer...over 50 in all... each layer peeling away and adding to a 'life circle'...filling it with moments of a life in progress.... (like above: Becca's Fur Elise music when she was a kid...with her notes on it...and the experience it engraved on her psyche.)

title: lifes circle

meet painter...

2010-07-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

meet our new kitty, Painter...

rescue kitty extraordinaire...

I would tell you her story but she wants to sell it as a tv pilot...

She is grateful however for her new digs...

and food in a dish..

Painter gravitates to my art studio..
and even if she does have to share attention with a 'dog'...

Life can be pretty groovy for our new kitty...

thank heavens for girls...

2010-07-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

Today is my daughter Becca's Birthday...When she turned 25 I made her a book from a old Woman's Household Companion book. I cut it, painted, stamped, and altered it with quotes and snippets of memories...In celebration of her special day today...I thought I would post a few pictures here from that book which celebrates some of our favorite moments we have shared together.

To see all the pages from this book click here...XXV

cheers to a light in my life...

stuff it...

2010-07-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when you get stuck...you just have to say stuff it and do something different. And I was stuck...stuck in art purgatory. Having a problem moving ahead with any of the many projects I have going. So I took this class from Joe at Zinnia's and made these sock dolls. The break was just what I needed to unstick myself.

You start with a sock...

Cut out some ears and legs and sew them up...

Add buttons and odds and ends and some of the cool stuff you can get at Zinnia...and voila...
Their personality comes to life...Alot of fun was had by all...

Here's a group sock picture of the motley crew and all of Joe's students...

Sometimes you just have to stick a sock in it to get unstuck...

So I'm just saying...

2010-07-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

There's a lot going on right now...and with the summer months, I always feel I want to clean things out and clear things out...Kinda like a spring cleaning...only I procrastinated.

good news...I have an article in the July/August issue of Somerset Studios Magazine.

With the changing of the guard over at Stampington, the magazines are taking on a new look...with a new punch...Check it out if it's been awhile.

If you don't have a news stand where you can purchase this magazine and you want to...

you can order it online here . You can get alot of items at the Stampington website. Worth perusing...

Here's the link for the entire Altered Paradox collection .
You can also view my article here also. And throughout the month I will be listing a few of these pieces in the original art vault section on my etsy site.

Such a cool cover by Anahata Katkin. I love her Papaya art line. I still treasure the piece of Anahata's art that I bought several years ago and hangs in my art studio.

Believer...that's me...

happy birthday America....

2010-07-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Francis Scott Key

Be safe...

get ready to smile...

2010-07-02T18:42:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of So You Think You Can Dance and if you aren't, then you may not have seen this...I loved Twitch when he was on the show a few seasons ago...and now we know Alex Wong CAN dance...To take his ballet trained body and reteach himself to do hip-hop in the few days they have to rehearse...well it's awesome.
Pause the volume on my music at the bottom of my blog page cause the music just won't mix with this...

63 years and counting...

2010-06-25T23:47:00.000-07:00

I've been out of town...celebrating a very special day with my parents.

How do you celebrate being married for 63 years?
You go and see "Toy Story 3" in 3D...

which is awesome by the way...Dig those glasses...

It was great to drive to Las Vegas with my sister Veronica to visit with my parents for a week and to celebrate with them their special day. That's my Aunt Mary to the left of my Dad in the top picture...She'll be 90 in October.

Spread the word...
check out this cool art item collaborated on with 29 talented artists and hoping to raise much needed money for A Place to Bark, Bernie Berlin's animal sanctuary in Tennessee.
Take a look...it's on EBAY till June 29th.

Still waiting to hear from the winner of my Book of Inspiration...Giveaway!

IM Shop Girl...where are you? I've emailed several times and not a word...I'll give her till Sunday and then I think I will have to dip into the hat once again...and pick another winner...

boys to men...

2010-06-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

Today I'm celebrating the men in my life...

It is so hard to believe...how quickly time passes...
It seems that in the click of the shutter...
my little Jesse has gone from this...

to this...

Happy Birthday hugs to my 25 year old...
He has turned into a fine boy...um... I mean Man...

and not to be forgotten are all the dads out there...
Happy Father's Day to you all...
including the father of my two kids...cheers to a great Dad...
my kids can attest to that...

and of course to my Dad...He has been such an inspiration to me... a person I feel privileged to be connected to.

He just might be the best Dad around...
at least in my world...