Just wait a minute now...

Unbelievably, this is my 499th post since March 2004, unfortunately not much here that will be memorable except maybe this speech by
Isabelle Allende from last spring's TED conference. Take a minute- this is worth your price of admission.

Next, some things I hate to see-  Christian boots.  These say 'Lovin' Life' on the backs, and are available from Neiman Marcus for those that feel the need to decorate themselves with their religious and political stands.  These drive me nuts, thankfully I don't see many cowboy boots in Boston, let alone Christian boots.  Please understand I don't care what your religious affiliation might be, but couldn't you display it more modestly in, like maybe, a full body tattoo?  I would feel the same no matter what the symbol so don't come at me with your six guns.  By the way, these are $395 and made in the ever-lovely, leg slimmin', stain repellin' UGG style.  Save your money.

Here is another thing I hate to see:  unused art supplies.  They are SO pretty all lined up- how can anyone ever disturb the order.  I see this with crayons, colored pencils, pastels, paints and markers as well as new brushes.  If you ever take a class from me, bring supplies that have been tried and crumbled and broken off and rubbed to stubs.  And I don't appreciate mahogany cases with no scratches either.


But I agree, a new set of anything IS beautiful, but the point is that they are only as pretty as what you do with them.

Here is a picture stolen from a how-to page on fimo (or maybe it was sculpy, I don't remember).  It shows how to make a simple cane and extend it to a very complex design.  I hate this too because I don't have any clay and cannot DO it!  Admittedly even if I had the clay my proportions would be off and it would look amatureish BUT that's how you get to make beautiful things, by starting out as a beginner.  There are NO shortcuts, no one can do the thinking and the prep work for you, don't even ask.  Take a class, buy a book, whatever works as a learning tool, but the only real learning comes from doing something over and over until you make the technique and the tools singly yours.  I continually see folks asking questions of an internet list that clearly display that no work has been done- they are looking for a 'recipe' for their work to come out perfect without the prep work.

I HATE that.  Internet lists are great, they kept me going for many years, and I am still on a few but don't participate very often any more.  They are great for technical questions, like 'I have done this and this and this but my metallic threads keep breaking-  anybody got any tips?'  or  'What permanent markers don't leave that awful yellow halo that appears several years down the line.  I've done four tests on different brands and the results are this this this and this-  help!'  

Instead I see, 'Tell me what new sewing machine to buy without spending over $2000'.  Well, duh.  No research, no special needs given, no test runs, so it doesn't deserve an answer.  I hate that.  

There was an interesting article in a magazine section of the NYTs today about how art schools are offering a baccalaureat year for their graduates to work in their major fields to establish a body of work so they can apply to grad school for their MFA.  Seems that undergrad work doesn't allow enough time to mature one's work so this extra year gets them over that hump.  I found this interesting because it admits that 4 years of studying art is just not enough to get it going.  To make it as an artist, you need additional work-  of course one can do this on ones own but it goes much quicker with a goal and input from peers and good teaching aiding the actual WORK.  So, what I am saying is, again, do the work!  Somehow!  Explore and experiment and change horses in mid-stream-  all are fuel for what will come.  Then when you are finally there, do more work!  Once you find a formula that's successful, it's got to move and change and morph or it becomes stale and boring quickly and the educated viewer senses this immediately.  Excuse my back while I climb down off my high horse here. (Can you tell which ass you are looking at-  the horse or me?)  Don't answer this, thankyew verry much.

And now on a happy happy note, I finished the baby quilt and will get it mailed out tomorrow to my daughter's MIL who is giving her a shower next weekend.  I cannot go but I do want her to have it to open at the shower so she knows I am 'there' even though I'm not.  On that same front, she got the go ahead from her OB that she is free and clear to use the midwife she's been wanting to and that they aren't considering her high-risk any longer.  She is so excited that she has a chance at a natural birth and is feeling so much more positive about the whole thing.  Hope she makes it.  I didn't.  So, here is the finished quilt and details:

Also I was able to start a small collage for a present coming up.  (You probably can't see in my dark image here but I have a bunch of peeping Toms in the tree). Things are perking again.  And there WILL be a companion piece---  or three.
                                                                                                                                        Hallelujah.

And now I have nada left to say for my ground breaking 500th post.  Damn.