gratitude

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Melodie Beattie

Hope everyone is enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday!

doll follies

In the latest issue of "Art Doll Quarterly" there is an article on a fun project for the holidays about my ornament dolls. At our Christmas Mah Jongg game we always exchange ornaments and last year I made these for my gal friends with their images. I also made some for my kids. They are fun and easy to make.


There is also an article about my "Sound of Music" sister Debbie Larsen who played my younger sister Marta in the movie. She makes her Santa Clauses all by hand. I remember when we went to Salzburg, Austria for a SOM reunion, we hit every store in the city looking for buttons and accoutrements to add to their clothing. Check out her website where you can see them and her other endeavors.
I don't think I have mentioned it yet that I am working on my second book for Rockport Publishing. My first book for Rockport, "In This House", I wrote with Sarah Fishburn and embraces the art of 11 other artists. It's due to be released July 2007. This book that I am working on now is consuming every waking moment of my life...more about its contents when I get the ok to talk about it.
Let's just say I wish Coco Cellini was a better typist...

I had better get back to work now...

the dwelling place

Some new pages for an old altered book



a new twist on an old classic good job Gwen - Wind It Up!

countdown...

If you know me you know I am a huge fan of '24' and I have been so patient waiting for the new season to begin in January 2007. So imagine my glee when I was sent this link to pacify me until January. So I thought I would post it here if suspense and thrillers are your thing too.
Miss you Jack...
24 trailer

ghosts, goblins & kids

It was not so long ago I was out trick or treating with my tv buddies here Teddy Rooney and Jay North in a TV special "Ghosts, Goblins and Kids". It was Dinah Shore special that we hosted and there were no adults in it only kids. I remember having a blast filming it...I sang "I enjoy being a girl" as I put on my costume...but the best part was we got to fly...how cool is that!

This Halloween be safe and have fun with the goblins...

and GO LAKERS!

captured art

My pal Tiffini Elektra X and have joined forces to create what I call Captured Art. Tiffini is a master at creating bottlecap jewelry and capturing art to place in Earrings, Necklaces,Optical Pendants,ID tags, pocket mirrors and wine glass ID charms. I so loved her work and I asked if she could create a line of jewelry with my handpainted images...she has done just that.


I'm always wearing these bottlecap earrings and necklaces and people stop me all the time to ask about them. They are fascinated by the mini works of art captured in a bottlecap.

This Optical Pendant holds the picture 'Dreamcatcher'. It's an image of a spider web perched high in a tree.
The mirrors are perfect for your purse and come with a velvet bag. They make great gifts.
These ID tags can be clipped onto keys to identify them, snapped onto your cell phone or clip it onto a zipper.
The wine charms make a great hostess or housewarming gift. Never lose your glass of Chianti again.(I've also wore these as earrings.)
Captured Art with my handpainted photos is now available to purchase on my website in the Pasticcio Bizarre so drop by and take a look if you have a chance. Just in time for the holidays! Thanks Tiffini for doing such a great job capturing my artwork.

Coco Celini Gump says "Life is like a box of Chocolates...You never know what you're gonna get"

boobinsons unite

The top picture here of the "Lost In Space" cast was our interpetation of the parody MAD MAGAZINE did of our show. We were the 'Boobinsons'and it was called "Loused Up In Space". I think we did a pretty good job looking like they drew us!


And here we are today. Bill Mumy, Marta Kristen, me, Bob May (the man inside the robot) and June Lockhart. As always it was fun to see everyone at the Hollywood Collectors Show in Burbank...

Heather (my 'Sound of Music' sister 'Louisa') was there...

...and Bill and I got to meet Chubby Checker...that was a blast.

Bill has a new album out "With Big Ideas"
check it out if you get the chance.







Coco Cellini drove us to the show, but didn't have a ticket to come in...

there's no business...

On Thursday night my sister Veronica and I (escorted by my son Jesse)appeared at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 60th Anniversary. The event was hosted by Beau Bridges and took place in the theatre where it was packed to capacity. The evening was filled with tv clips and actors reminiscing about the last 60 years. It was so much fun to see Dick Van Dyke and Art Linkletter both as sharp as a tack, both of whom I worked with as a child.



They showed a clip from "The Danny Thomas Show" and one of Veronica from "Twilight Zone" and we spoke about our show biz past. It was a fun evening filled with memories.

There is a reunion of the "Lost In Space" cast going on this weekend October 14th and 15th at the "Hollywood Collectors & Celebrities Show". Bill Mumy, Marta Kristen, Mark Goddard, June Lockhart, Bob May (the robot) and I will be there. All of us together doesn't happen very often. Hope you can come by and say hi. For me it is a double reunion as Heather Menzies Urich (Louisa) Kym Karath (Gretl), and Marni Nixon (Sister Sophia) from "The Sound of Music" will also be there, I think. Should be a fun weekend.
Hollywood Collectors & Celebrities Show
The Hilton Burbank Airport Hotel & Convention Center
2500 North Hollywood Way
Burbank, California 91505
Saturday Sunday
October 14th, 2006 October 15th, 2006
10:00am - 5:00pm 10:00am - 4:00pm
'OPEN' to the general public.



fun link

one hundred squared

These are my 100 1x1 inch squares...they were a blast to make. I thought I would find it challenging to make something so small...but I found it inspiring. I made my mini collages on paint chips with my handpainted photographs...










Coco Celini spent the day outside chatting with the garden gnome.
If you have asked me a question...I have answered them under the comments...
Happy Columbus Day!

lost & found

I turn around and it's been a couple of weeks since I posted...it's unbelievable how time is flying by....

Here is a page from my 'lost & found' altered book round robin. The ones below are pages that I did in book that was sent to me. This is my first altered book round robin and I think exchanges and swaps and round robins are a great way to stay on top of making art...even if you have a million things going on...you still have that deadline...I work best under pressure...




I had a visitor last week. My artist friend Celine Navarro came and stayed with me. She is a darling, a terrific house guest and so very talented...and we had lots of laughs and good times. I took her class she was teaching at Zinnia in Pasadena this last weekend...I find classes great for learning and trying new ideas and products. It was lots of fun. One day when we were out shopping and seeing the sites she bought me this stuffed animal named Coco...I call her Coco Cellini...and I took to her to the class with us...where CC did some serious artwork.

We went to the Grove, and I drove her through Hollywood and we also took a walk in one of my favorite places on earth...Descanso Gardens.
Here's a shot I took of the koi pond...colorful isn't it...

Have fun sketching with this link ....

How cute are my parents...

How cute are my parents? They drove into town for a visit over this last weekend.










We celebrated birthdays and took a trip to the old Farmers Market on Fairfax. The Grove has been built onto the back of it...but the Market remains the same, thank goodness.
We ate at the market,



walked around and enjoyed all the colors...

and marveled at all the goodies...

and then we meandered through The Grove and went to see "Little Miss Sunshine" at the theatre there. Loved that movie...what a hoot.

Time with my parents zoomed by...as it always seems to. I try to clear my schedule so I can spend quality time with them...so this past week I spent catching up on what I had put aside and started making lists...I'm a good list maker...plotting out the rest of the year so I don't go crazy...wishful thinking? perhaps...but every day I get something done so I feel good about that...
To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to.
~Kahlil Gibran
I have been trying to watch the new shows on TV so I can stay up with what's happening. I've watched alot of television the past week...(thanks to Tivo)...but I like to keep on top of the biz and at least catch the premier show...anyone have any favorites out there?

I love this sign...Sarah Fishburn and Christi Wich gave it to me after my visit to Fort Collins, Colorado earlier this year. Sarah brought it with her when she came for her visit this summer. I have been wanting to put it up for the longest time (you rub the letters onto the wall)...and finally I found the time to do it. I put it over our front door...and everyone loves the way it looks...I love the sentiment...big thanks to you ladies...Home truly is where your story begins...