Icky - icky

 

I'm hoping some of you are still reading this thing. Our house is still being held hostage by the aftermath of that dumb virus that started round here two weeks ago. It has turned into a sinus infection for me, and a raging ear infection for my kiddo. No one is sleeping very well, spirits are low and tensions are high. We did get a nice 2 day break over the weekend where every one was feeling pretty OK, and the weather was beautiful. I even stole away for a few hours to chat it up with some of my old pals from my last job-job. Such funny people they are. I'm sure all that laughing had to do me some good. Then last night it all came back again, and here we are. 

So, if anyone is out there - please hang in there. I want nothing more to be back to my regular schedule. Both in my life and on this blog. 

No images today, as my scanner is hanging out in my studio. Instead, this wonderful video suggested by the talented artist Ingela Arrhenius on her blog today. My god, I love this thing. It does stir up memories from Art History 103, in a really good way. Enjoy.

Silent Retreat

A little while ago, a friend asked me if I'd ever be interested in going on a yoga retreat with her. My yoga skills are a little lacking these days, but I was still open to the idea. Then she added - "the one thing is...it's a silent retreat". I had to chuckle. Me, silent? It seemed impossible. Anyone who knows me knows I can't keep my yapper shut for more than about 30 seconds on average. My parents claim I was born talking.

Well, the past few days proved me wrong; I can be completely silent. I lost my voice due to this horrible cold I am fighting and I was forced to shut it. For about two days if I tried to speak, it sounded like a muted balloon seeping old helium. It was not pretty. I had a lot of time to think, and it wasn't so bad to just be lost in my head. Laying in our quiet basement with my eyes closed I've gotten a lot done: redecorated our house in my mind, tried to recall details of pleasant times past (see above sketch) between hacking up my lungs, designed my next few prints. I know that isn't really the point of a silent retreat - I think you are supposed to shut your mind off too, but hey. Baby steps. That silent yoga retreat may just be doable at some point.

In true geek fashion it wasn't long before I employed a little technology to get me through. On day 3 of my 'retreat' I walked around with my laptop, typing things into the text editor and selecting 'start speaking'. So what if my new voice sounded like something from an early episode of Star Trek? I thought it was brilliant, I think others in my house were might have been kinda sad my silent retreat was over.

More soon....now back to bed.

Something new

One of the three projects have going this month is done! Here's the poster I did for Seattle's Book-It Repertory Theatre's production of The Cider House Rules Part One: Here in St. Cloud's. It was a really different way of working for me, and it was a fun experience to use photography in a sort of collage type way. It pushed me, which I always think is a good experience to have.

In addition to the two images I'll be wrapping up in the next week or so, I'm also going to be focusing on wrapping up this damn head cold I seem to have caught.

Happy weekend friends, hope to be back with more regular posts, (and maybe even a voice) next week.

old vs. new

Hi readers. Here's this week's equation. 100 (Projects) + 1 sick kiddo = 1 non blogging mom. We've been watching a lot of Sesame Street to pass the time. A LOT. Did you know Sesame Street has this whole new format? It was kind of jarring to me at first, but now I am getting used to it. I do miss all the wacky clips like this one though from my childhood. No wonder I turned out so weird. The wig on that first Muppet is awesome, no?

More tomorrow..

And the winner is....

..#39 on my mailing list, JessicaP! Congrats Jessica, I'll be sending you this lovely little print in the mail! Yay! Happy Weekending Folks! Tune in for the May giveaway announcement next week and make sue you enter to win the monthly giveaway by signing up for our e-newsletter. We just sent out our second edition yesterday.

Illustration Friday: Detective

As a kid, I fancied myself a bit of a detective. Being the only living creature under the age of 35 on my block - things got a little boring. Inspired by Lois Lowry's Anastasia Krupnik books, I created a secret notebook and began to watch my neighbors closely.

A neighbor lady I code-named George Washington was one of my favorite subjects. With a pure white beehive hairdo, her loud Chevy Nova, and the string of younger men she had going in and out of her place she was the perfect mystery. More than a few times I got ballsy enough to actually peek in her windows, in broad daylight. My banana-seat Schwinn waiting for a speedy getaway should I be discovered.

I think I was hoping to catch her doing the nasty, but the only thing I ever saw her doing was her beehive.

Oh well.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

I'll be doing Wall Wednesday again soon - I haven't had the time to collect images and contact artists int he past few weeks. I'll be back on it soon ( I miss doing it) but for today I'll give you a little color on this rather dreary spring day (at least in my part of the world).

Last week I pulled my kiddo out of school to take her, and my mom to see the tulip fields in Mount Vernon, Washington. In all the trips I've made to Holland I've never gone to see the tulip fields there - and I have lived just 45 minutes away from these fields for nearly 15 years now. I have nothing against tulips, I'm just lazy! It was stunning. The dense stripes of bright colors, set against the blue sky and mountains in the background was completely awe inspiring. Next time I am feeling grumpy or blue, I will just close my eyes and remember this: