so begins 2010...

Come quickly...for I am drinking the stars
Dom Perignon

No.3 Done and Dusted...

A fancy feast at the Williams home. I don't remember posing for this picture, but I do remember the dishes we used on the show. They were a charcoal gray with polka dots. I loved them then, and I would love them now...how cool...

and...it's Christmas...

The tree is bought....and the food for Christmas dinner...

and family gathers once again...to count our blessings and raise a glass of good cheer...

It's hard to believe it's almost a new year....

What do I get for this? I said & the angel gave me a catalog filled with toasters & clock radios & a basketball signed by Michael Jordan & I said, But this is just stuff & the angel smiled at me & swallowed me in her arms. I'm so glad you said that, she whispered to me. I knew you still had a chance.
Brian Andreas

time marches on...

Just thought I'd let ya know...I put together a new calendar for 2010 with my Altered Paradox images. You can get it here.
Also new journals, mugs, cards and more...

in the vault...

These 8 original works from my Altered Paradox Collection are available at my etsy store in the original art vault....

it's beginning to look alot like Christmas....

Everywhere you go the holidays are upon us. Before you know it Christmas Day will be here. It's already Hanukkah, can Kwanzaa be far behind?

While decorating the abode I came across this little Teddy.

Does anyone remember the teddy bear school? Did anyone have one? I Loved it when I was a child and played with it for hours on end...It had one teacher teddy bear who had a desk and chalk board and 6 smaller student teddies all with their own little desks. I just found my teacher Teddy...but she has lost her arms. I don't have any of the student teddy's though...what a shame...Why don't they make toys like that anymore...?

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.
~Roy L. Smith

No.2 done and dusted

$2.00...What a bargain...There's one on Ebay right now for $74.95...talk about inflation!

holiday night lights...

Even Mona was in Tujunga Village last night as people were out and about to ring in the holiday season. There were a couple of live bands and carolers and lots to look at, like Santa and Mrs. Claus and a line of old cars like this one here which my sister Veronica pointed was identical to our first car when we made our way to Los Angeles as young kids. Cool color...
Veronica and I kept warm in our Highland Wool Pocket shawls...which were perfect for this brisk night. Even my son Jesse found them cozy. Throw'nGo's (I'm wearing Poinsettia) including the French Terry which is a little heavier weight is available to arrive in time for the 25th...Available online and also at Vintage At Heart on Tujunga Blvd.


My pal Frank Bruynbroek was there selling his calendars with his awesome portraits of rescued dogs. Frank takes the most awesome photographs of dogs...and if you know someone on your list who loves dogs...this is the perfect gift. Here's his new calendar for 2010, you can order it here or at Trinkets and Treasures on Tujunga Blvd in Studio City. Proceeds from each calendar benefit the Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome abused and abandoned dogs.
Hard to believe the year is drawing to a close soon...and Christmas is just around the corner...

I have posted some original works of art from my Altered Paradox Collection in my etsy store in the ORIGINAL ART VAULT...and there are some other new goodies there too. And there are tons of new things in my Cafe Press store if you haven't been there recently...like notecards and mugs and lots, lots more.

I feel another Done and Dusted post coming soon...keep a lookout.

done and dusted...

With Thanksgiving under our belts (literally) the holidays can't be far behind. I was truly overwhelmed by all the responses to my question...What to call my archival postings...and I must say you are a clever bunch that follow my blog. There were many good suggestions...some were right on...but being unruly as I am... (I inherited from my Dad the love of a play on words)...so when all was 'said and done' I chose 'done and dusted'...thanks Pat...
I do plan to use some of your ideas in the future though...so keep an eye out for them.

Posting these pictures on my blog means I need to scan them...and that's my motivation see...to scan some of these old memories on a back up drive for...I don't know what...but some of these things are dusty and falling apart...so to preserve them all in one place seems the right thing to do.

These are from a modeling gig for I don't remember what. Perhaps it was to test different sepia tones. I don't even remember who the photographer was, I would have credited them...(sorry whoever you are, there is no stamp on the back of these shots.) But I loved the NY skyline backdrop in the background, and they have inspired me art wise...

The model in this photo below with me is Jill Andrus. We went to Milan together to model when I was 19. Now that was an adventure.

happy thanksgiving to one and all....

This is not a Thanksgiving dinner but a breakfast with the family...(note Veronica's curlers, and that's our family dog Miss Ellaneous at our feet catching some more sleep!) ...I'm passing the sugar bowl to Grannie Annie who was visiting from England, (too bad she isn't more in the picture.) That's my Mum and Dad and Aunt Mary...
I wish you all a great Thanksgiving with family or friends or just enjoying the day and counting your blessings....
cheers...

Pasticcio Quartz 8 and a cool night...

Pasticcio Quartz Issue 8 (our QUality ART Zine) is hot off the press.
This issue is packed with all kinds of art, info and two of my favorite things PLAID & PETS!
Sarah and I worked long and hard on this 72 page issue to bring you the latest and greatest in the artistic world...Hope you like it! I'm pleased as punch to get it completed before Thanksgiving...now I can breathe and take time to enjoy the season that is rapidly arriving.

Last night was an Open House at Vintage At Heart. There was a chill in the air which really made it feel like winter was on it's way. Connie agreed it was time to break out the Highland Wools to keep warm!

Connie's son Jake did a stellar job of playing his guitar and serenading us all evening.

It's a time for saying "thanks"...and my book "In This House" seemed like the appropriate book to display in the window.
Introducing Mairaude who is our fall ac studio 9 Theatre Doll. She's adorned with wheat and feathers, wears a miniature pocket shawl with one of my images on the pocket and she holds the word 'gather' on hand embroidered fabric. Her skirt provides a 'theatre' beneath where a cornucopia of the season resides. Mairaude is available at Vintage At Heart.

Tiffini is the owner of Vintage At Heart. Hope you'll visit her fabu store if you're in the area.
Check out this cool article that appeared on My Daily Find to learn more about her store.

Also I was part of an article on digital art in the Australian magazine "Get Creative."
Click here to read it.

Next post I promise I will rummage through those trunks and start posting those memories from the past...And I will decide on what I will call it...In the meantime...since it's the season to count our blessings...thank you for following my humble blog...and for hanging in there when time runs short and I don't post regularly. I leave you now with a picture of me and my shadow I took as I left the event last night...

The Portmanteau

It was a beautiful day for a Portmanteau...

What's a portmanteau? It's a case or bag to carry clothing in while traveling,

esp. a leather trunk or suitcase that opens into two halves.
And so our private event was called the Portmanteau...
clothing to wear while traveling through this life....

Can you see me in my Throw'n Go?

a few Holiday goodies help to make the spirit bright...

CW looks festive in the AC Studio 9 Hole'n One

Connie shoots a few pix in her AC Studio 9 Tulle Belt

Ladies sporting AC Studio 9 Throw'n Go's and Two Pocket Shawls from the Manhattan and
Highland Collections

The AC Studio 9 Traveler Throw'n Go - sold out till 2010, but we have the Pierrot which is in Linen, and the Throw'n Go in Cotton and French Terry.
A great time was had by all...

The Portmanteau was a private event but this weekend on November 21st we are having a Holiday Reception at Vintage At Heart - a unique little gem of a store nestled in Tujunga Village in Studio City.


AC Studio 9 art.wear, small art works from my Altered Paradox Collection, plus I'll be signing copies of my books "In This Garden" and "Mixed Emulsions" this Saturday
from 4:00pm - 8:00pm.
If you can't make this weekend there's a Holiday Extravaganza on December 5th in Tujunga Village where all the Merchants open their doors...and good food abounds at the various cafe's throughout the village. Santa is there too I think...
Till the end of the year...all my goodies will be at Vintage At Heart...but my art.wear can also be bought online at AC Studio 9. And if I say so myself they make great gifts...because they fit every size and make you feel good. The Pocket shawls have 2 pockets - (how I love pockets to hold my cell phone and keys and wallet or whatever), and the Throw'n Go's are just plain comfy. Anyway...that's the latest...and as soon as things slow down a bit - I'll be posting those archival photos I've been finding...thanks for taking the time to write all the title ideas...