Political Artventures

Late Night Artventures

I was watching a commercial promoting a movie about America last night.  I loved the way the U.S. colors were splashed across the screen in no particular order.  I decided to make something similar in my journal and since election day was in the near future I chose to create a political statement.  
Today as I left work with sore feet and a tired body, going out to vote was not at the top of my list.  As I drove past the polling place I became very discouraged as I saw the line of people out on the sidewalk.  I drove around three times before I found a parking spot around the corner.  By the time I walked up to the building the line had moved inside.  I saw an elderly woman being helped to a seat because she was not in good health, I saw a young woman surrounded by 5 little girls waiting patiently in line and a very confused but ready to vote (probably for the first time) young adult.  Suddenly my feet didn't feel so sore anymore, my tiredness had lifted and it felt good to be there exercising my right to vote along with these very diverse and dedicated individuals.
So did you get out to make your vote count? 

    

Playtime

Playtime Journal Entry

I did a lot of playtime with my children.  I made "play-doh" for their little hands to mold the time away with, we made cookies, planted seeds in the garden and we even had a picnic in the backyard (on the floor of the concrete portion of the patio) but I never once got in the crib with either one of them!  
You can imagine my surprise and huge smile when my DIL e-mailed me pics of my son and granddaughter in her crib enjoying a little "Daddy and Me" time.  If you had told me 16 years ago that the boy who was good at giving his opinion when it was least appreciated or not even asked for would be climbing in the crib of his baby girl, I may have not been so hard on him.  But a momma's gotta do what she's gotta do when faced with the teen beast.  Well, maybe I should take a little credit for attempting to tame him.  I mean, look at him will ya.  He's playing with a baby and a lamb!  In a crib!  sigh.
  

Memories

80 What?  How?

My mom recently celebrated her 85th birthday.  Eighty-fifth.  As in eighty five.  Wow.  Talk about someone who has stood and watched changes all around her.  
Mom is the fourth child out of 13!  I say is because all 13 children are still living.  She was born and raised in Los Angeles in an area that is now surrounded by high-rise buildings and small warehouses.  It was probably because of her strict Catholic up-bringing that she would do the opposite with her own children.  Don't get me wrong.  We did not get off easily and we did get corrected, if you know what I mean.
During the 60s I remember her enjoying music and listening to Pop and Soul radio stations.  She thought she knew the lyrics to some of the popular songs but we didn't say anything, we just let her sing.  She loved songs like "I Can't Help Myself" by The Four Tops and "Baby Love" by The Supremes.  
When it came time to tell me about the birds and the bees, that's what it was called back then, my mom did not hesitate to answer my questions although I wished she had.
My sister and I were having lunch one afternoon when we heard some stomping sounds coming towards the kitchen.  It was our mother streaking through the kitchen.  Butt naked.  It was the "trend" back then.  We laughed so hard as she ran past us!!
My mother's hearing is now almost gone so she doesn't listen to music. Her leg gives her problems so streaking is a definite no-no.  But she still does not hesitate to answer any questions.  Although sometimes I wish she would.
Happy Birthday Mom....and many more.

THOUGHTS OF PAST HALLOWEENS RESIDE WITHIN.

Halloween has a special place in my heart.  

Last Sunday as I was driving through my old neighborhood, I passed the building that was once a little mom and pop market that had the best candy counter.  It was at that counter where I first discovered Lemon Heads, Apple Sticks, Hot Cinnamon Sticks, Sweet Tarts and during the Halloween season, Wax Lips and Wax Harmonicas.

Isn't it funny how some things are almost forgotten and not thought about until years, even decades later?  That is exactly what happened to me today when I asked myself what was my favorite Halloween costume.  I thought about all the hobo outfits I put together at the last minute, sometimes adding a patch or two onto an old pair of jeans.  I thought about the time I was a Gypsy, a very happy Gypsy because I got to wear make-up.  And then I remembered "The Dress" and what it turned me into one Halloween back in 1968.
On my 12th birthday I received a wrapped package with a tag that read "Para Linda."  Strange how that one little detail just entered my mind.  I can't remember what kind of wrapping paper it was, but I remember the tag with those words.  It was a gift from my grandfather.  When I unwrapped the package my 12-year-old eyes fell upon the most beautiful piece of fabric they'd ever seen.  It was soft and shiny like satin and the colors were amazingly beautiful in various shades of blue.  My grandfather told me to make something out of it and so a year later, I did.  A year later.  HA!  Some things never change.  To this day it takes me a while to get going on a project.  Anyway, a year later I decided to make a dress.  It was the summer of 1968.  My sewing skills were zero but I had an idea and based on that, "The Dress" was born.  It was literally handmade.  All the stitching was done by hand and when I did the top stitch (I didn't know that's what it was called) on the neckline,  I made sure to keep all the stitches tiny and evenly spaced.  It looked good and I wore it several times before I decided to make it my Halloween costume.
I was going to be a Hippie and I was going to wear "The Dress."  With a couple strands of beads, sandals and my hair down, I had transformed into my costume.
As my brother, sister and I went trick-or-treating from door to door we came upon an elderly couple.  It was rare to see Mexicans in our neighborhood back then and so when my siblings and I shouted out "Trick-or-Treat!"  the elderly woman who answered the door and who laid eyes on me first, exclaimed "Hey, you're a Mexican!"  To which I replied, "No, I'm a Hippie!"  Cause really, that's what I was.  LOL!
So what will you be this Halloween?

Autumnal Jaunt

I was recently inspired by scraps of paper and paint.

It helps to have a clean desk too.  I spent a good amount of time (six hours minimum) vacuuming, dusting, organizing and purging my art space this past Saturday.  I ran into this journal, an almost empty bottle of paint and a couple pieces of scrap paper.  Then I forgot about cleaning my room.  

I still have a somewhat untidy art room but I have two new pages in a journal and I'd call that an improvement.  Now, if I can just keep it up.....      
    

Fall's Gift

Wishing you a peace-filled fall.

These painted, stamped and embellished envelopes should have been in the mail during the month of August.  They'll be in the mail first thing today!  I applied the same painting techniques that I use on my tags.  I wasn't sure how well the thin paper would hold up to acrylic layers but they held up fine and I like the soft texture the paper developed when the paint dried.  For those who have taken my classes, try painting on envelopes to see what I mean.  You may not want to part with these envelopes but they make great partners for arted up tags or cards you send out.  By the way, I've started painting my own faces and the two models below are samples.  I have a long way to go but I'm pleased with what I've done so far.  Practice makes perfect, practice makes perfect, practice makes perfect.  I don't know how many times I typed that in Typing 1 but in my case, practice makes it almost perfect for me.  

Yesterday Penny and I received a package in the mail from my friend Carolee.  She has taken several of my classes and knows all about Penny.  shy smile.

I'll have to wait for Penny to grow a little more before I can read this exciting book.  I'm thinking of other titles to start getting now!  Thanks Carolee!  This book has a great story line.  It's about a little girl (Penny) whose grandma is an artist (BIG HA!) and her grandma lives in the kind of building I could see myself living in if I didn't have a house!  The author (Devon Kinch) and Carolee, nailed it!  

Fall is off to a great start.  Enjoy the peace it brings.

O.N.E. Really?

Has it really been a year?

A beautiful dessert table created by Penny's mommy and Grandma Carmen.  Grandma Carmen made all the sweets including the birthday cake!

Penny has to have inherited the crafty gene.  There's too much creativity in this family.  Look at the cute bag my niece made to hold her gift.  

It was a beautiful day.

In Los Angeles no party is complete without a pinata.

 I think you've probably guessed by now that this was a lady bug theme.  I don't know how my DIL found all the lady bug accessories but she pulled it off and it was a big hit with everyone from this little one year old to the 83 year old couple (my parents)!  

Thank you Penny for coming into our lives.  I always heard that being a grandparent is different.  People should have been telling me it's AWESOME being a grandparent cause that's what it's like being your grandma.  AWESOME.