Heavy Sigh...

I can waste time in more ways than you can imagine.

The only good thing is that I think writing and art (and probably motherhood, too) need fallow time to regenerate.

I spent over FIVE HOURS working on the pool on Monday. Seriously, over five hours. (Lest you be misled, here, let me say that it's a Doughboy under a deck. Nothing fancy--but it's big, and it was seriously in need of intensive cleaning). So, the kids come home from school yesterday, get in their swimsuits, go outside to the pool, and then come back in to get me. BECAUSE THERE'S A GIGANTIC TEAR IN THE POOL LINER. IN THE POOL THAT I JUST SPENT A WHOLE DAY CLEANING.

So I'm thinking that this is why I haven't been terribly productive today. I used up all my productivity on Monday's totally useless project.

In my defense, I did do some work today. I vacuumed, and cleaned the kitchen, and cooked dinner. And did two loads of laundry out of the neverending stack of dirty clothes. (I could never in a million years have imagined how much laundry three kids and two parents could generate. It's unbelievable--like a science fiction story, where the laundry keeps replicating itself as it prepares to take over the world or something).

Oh, and I mailed two paintings that I sold last week, and mailed a DVD of the musical Katie was in this spring ("A Little Princess") to my dad. Now that I've made a list of accomplishments, I'm feeling a little bit better, although terribly boring. If you're still reading, my sincerest apologies. I'll try to be more exciting tomorrow--when I get to go to the movies with the first graders, to see Shrek--oh, yes, much more exciting. Ahem.

I'll include a picture of Katie from the musical. I'm biased, but I'll tell you, she just glowed up there on the stage (she played one of the students, no lines, no solos. Maybe next year, she says.)

Funny, in sort of a quirky 14-year-old way...

Just went to check out Joel's blog--he hasn't written in ages, but I'm hoping he'll start again this summer. And even though it's somewhat morbid, and he doesn't necessarily edit/check spelling etc., I like this post. Like I said--It's funny, kinda, in sort of a quirky 14-year-old way...

click here to read Joel at Boneless Wings

Arghh!

Made two loaves of banana bread last night for lunches today--Katie mashed up the frozen bananas, I mixed up the batter--and OOOH! did the house ever smell good! We each had a slice before bed--yummy!

After we finished our bread, I went to the kitchen to put our plates in the sink (a novel idea that no one else in my family has ever heard of). When I got there, a thief was just finishing off the uncut loaf of banana bread. She'd silently taken the pan off the counter, carried it into the dining room (she has manners, after all!) and absolutely devoured it. Katie came running downstairs, and when she saw what had happened, her face even scared me.
I was mighty glad that my name wasn't Dinah the Dog.

Star Flower Quilt

Just pulled this out and finished up the vermicelli quilting (don't ya just love that word?) that I worked in embroidery floss. Had to back it and bind it--now it's all done!

Yay

Katie mentioned the other day that she wanted to have her own symbol in the address bar when people were at her blog. So I did some research, and found out that it's called a "favicon."

I've now made one for my blog and one for my web site. Anyone else want help with one, let me know.

Graduation Cards

A good friend of mine teaches Food Services (is that the right term?) at one of the local high schools. She asked me to design some notecards that she could give to her students for graduation. These are the two samples.

Illustration Friday: Cars

A Series (and More to come)

Sequoia Foothill Art Show

I took three pieces up to the art show yesterday--when we went this afternoon, I had two blue ribbons!

I certainly felt different this year (last year one of my art quilts received a second place ribbon). This year I felt confident in my art ability, not apologetic or shy. I even put prices on them, which is huge (for me). The abstract hanging below my red canvas was priced at $864, and mine was priced at $39--but at least I put prices on them.

Ephemeral

I'm on a roll right now--these three just jumped right out of me--no idea where they came from--

Illustration Friday: Signs

Worked some more on this image from the other day--this will look nice matted and framed.

Do Not Look Back

An Experiment

I'm going to make some prints of some of my digital collages for a local art show this coming week. They're coming out really well--haven't made prints of this one yet. Up until now, the digital collages didn't seem "real" but seeing them printed up and matted makes all the difference in the world.

I am so Excited

A piece of writing that I submitted to the Huffington Post was accepted and is up today!

Here is the link:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/becoming-fearless/

This is so exciting!

But it's not all bad...

I'm going to add in a request for some comments today--if you stop by, I sure would like for you to say 'hi'. It's been kind of a tough day.

Picked up my mail on the way up the driveway this morning, and there was a wonderful Mother's Day card from my dad. I miss him so much it makes my chest hurt. He hasn't been out here for a visit since last summer--he had been spending ~3 months here with us and then back to Michigan for ~3 months there. Even though he's legally deaf (no ear drums, no stirrup/anvil etc. bones in his ears) he could always hear a little bit in person and on the phone if he had his hearing aid in. A couple of months ago, he lost that last little bit of hearing--just woke up one morning and it was gone--the hearing aid doesn't help anymore. So now I can't talk to him on the phone a couple of times a week like I've always done. I miss his voice and I miss him. My kids miss him, my husband misses him. I want him to come here for a visit, but I'm not sure he will now that he can't hear. Sometimes I get emails, like

cant get this dammmmmmn thinggggg to work. dad

but it's not the same...

Also received my latest issue of Teesha Moore's Art and Life zine. Can't recommend it highly enough. This issue's in color and I'm going to sit down and read it as soon as I hit 'publish'. Which would be now

Now I'm a Pissed Off Housewife

and I'll tell you about it when I get back from the school.

I did art with the eighth graders this morning. They are finishing up their collaged canvasses. Once again I'm struck by how wonderful the kids all are--brilliant and funny and real. This is what I will always miss about teaching--the kids. Even the kids that can be difficult are terrific when you finally make that connection. And that's what we all want, after all, isn't it? A real connection to other human beings.

I'm going to try and get signed permission slips so that I can scan their artwork and post some of it here for everyone to see.

What I was so pissed off about this morning still has my stomach churning. And I feel like Auntie Em in The Wizard of Oz when she says in a wavery, crying voice, "Elvira Gulch, I've always wanted to say what I think, and now, because I'm a good Christian woman (substitute school board member here), well, I can't say it."

I taught math (and English) for nine years at the high school level. During my last year of teaching, when I was pregnant with Joel, my schedule consisted of Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Math Analysis (Trig), and AP Calculus. I tell you this so that you understand my background--I'm a mom--yes. I'm a board member--yes. I'm married to a school administrator--yes. But at the heart of it all, I still mostly come at things from the point of view of a teacher. I want kids to learn the things they're supposed to. I want teachers to work with kids (and parents) to try and make sure that this happens. It's not about the grade, although many parents are satisfied with a good grade (and assume that learning is taking place). IT'S NOT ABOUT THE RIGHT ANSWER--it's about understanding. And teachers should know that and act on it. There is a difference between understanding a concept and getting the right answer, and for me, the former is vastly more important than the latter.

In general I'm just frustrated and disappointed. And I do wish I could be more specific, but (sob) I can't. I just think that in the long run school should be about learning and understanding, not about grades. Sometimes there is a correlation between the two, but when there's not, you don't raise one to mask a lack of the other.

Humphh.

A Collaged Tile

This coaster/tile has a collage adhered directly to the tile, as opposed to having the image transferred to the tile as I wrote about here.

I'd like to do some of these on bigger tiles. I like the look.

Digital ATCs

This is from a photo of my dad that I copied and then played with in Photoshop. He played AAA ball for the Phillies and then the Yankees in the late 1940s. I may do a whole series of ATCs using this picture.

You Are Surrealism

Dreamy and idealistic, you've created a world that is all your own. It's very likely that you've either dabbled in drugs or are naturally trippy. You are always trying to push beyond the boundaries of your culture and society. You believe that art, love, and freedom can change the world.

What Art Movement Are You?

You know what the hilarious part about this is? I guessed I would be Surrealism, but I am the ultimate rule-follower--never tried any illegal drugs, don't really want to push beyond any boundaries...

Illustration Friday Citrus

This is an experiment. I haven't decided whether I like it or not; I may work on it some more. I'd like to try something more graphic.

The pictures of the pickers is an actual snapshot of men working at a citrus ranch here in the Central Valley in 1895. I have a wonderful old snapshot of a little girl, big bow in her hair, sitting on a ladder in an orange orchard, but could I find it this morning? Nope. I need to scan everything and then tag each photo, I guess. Then I'd be able to pull things up by keywords...

Waiting for a response to some work I submitted (writing and artwork)--it's a little nervewracking. I'm teaching art at the school tomorrow in two classes (8th and 1st). Busy day.

My project for the week is to splice into the phone lines (under the house?) and run a phone cable out to the studio, as the cordless phone just doesn't get very good reception out here. I'll put in a jack out here, so I don't have to rely on the cordless setup. This is the kind of thing that I would have hired someone to come and do for me, ten years ago. Maybe it's a sign of growth that I'll tackle it myself? Hmm.

You Poor Little Scrumplet

'Little Scrumplet' is my new name for Jenny, taken from the book she was reading to me today.

Didn't come into the studio yesterday at all, but came out here today with Jenny--she read The BFG by Roald Dahl, out loud to me, while I worked. What a pleasant way to spend an afternoon!

It's a wonderful book, by the way, about a little orphan girl, Sophie, and the Big Friendly Giant that she meets. Just like all of Dahl's other books (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, etc.) it's a bit dark, but oh! what wonderful language he uses!

'The human bean,' the Giant went on, 'is coming in dillions of different flavours. For instance, human beans from Wales is tasting very whooshey of fish. There is something very fishy about Wales.'

'You means whales,' Sophie said. 'Wales is something quite different.'

'Wales is whales,' the Giant said. 'Don't gobblefunk around with words...'

The BFG--highly recommended!

Stardrifts and Dreams

Another dream...

Illustration Friday: Neighbor

Tweaked this a little bit this morning--this is one of my favorite pieces.

Blog Header

Finished (I think) the blog header for Radiant Woman. Hope she likes it. I used her pictures of hubcaps for the circular designs.

Okay, this being without a car really stinks. Normally I am perfectly happy staying at home and working out in the studio, but I've been transportationless SINCE LAST WEEK so staying home is not nearly so appealing! I'm lonely and I'm craving things. Normally, one morning a week I let myself stop and buy a big fountain drink after I drop the kids off at school. Can't do that, so I'm craving a big Pepsi. Normally, I meet my good friend Dianne once a week for lunch. Can't do that, so I'm craving lunch out with Dianne. Normally, I go to the grocery store once a week--and believe me, folks, this is usually at the bottom of my list of things to do--but now that I can't drive anywhere, I'm finding there are all sorts of items I need from the store. We dropped the truck off last night at the mechanic's--hopefully it will be done soon.