ding destiny compelled

Persevere gently.  Steve Nachmanovich

Or in the language of graffiti...

 Yesterday all day I worked on my little book-box.  I really got a lot done on it and today I just have the sides to add.  I finished up the top piece and got the handle on.  Finished the bottom too and added the 4 tiny bead and button feet.  So, not a whole lot to do today, just some precision assembly and perhaps embedding a couple of magnets to hold on the top.  I found some that are 1/16th of an inch across so first I have to figure out how to pick them up!  My hole punch is the same size but aligning them may be a problem-  my so-called precision ain't all that grand!  Here's some pictures-

sides, ready to attach

closed box

ceramic button and scarab handle and little ivory feet, almost done!

Hey, I might make a slew more of these for presents, don't say I told you, it's a surprise.

Found another lace grandma chair the other day on my Surfin' Safari-  add this to your collection of things you don't want to do.  Ever.  

Then, a Boston friend sent me the link to the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection  at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  I spent hours poking around looking at their amazing stuff.  here I've just sent you some 20th century hats-  the silver embroidered one above is to die for, I'd wear it now to (ahem) all my cocktail parties!  (as if...)

There was even a section on paper doll clothing.  I never really got into paper dolls as a kid, probably because it would involve my mom actually buying them, something that just didn't happen.  Occasionally I would get the back page with Betsy McCall and her paper outfits from McCalls Magazine but I think only when somebody gave it to us.  I don't mean to imply we were so poor, but my mom was uber-thrifty and nothing escaped her ways of saving money.  

This was a gene that mutated in me, perhaps a bit too far! 

It's considered poor taste to take a cooler to church.

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We're nearing the end of the Covey Commandments now, only 1 more after today. Covey's 1990's seven habits of highly effective and successful artists are:

6. Open to maximizing all opportunities

A successful artist is ready to leverage any and all opportunities that come their way. Whether that opportunity is to fill in quickly for another artist at a gallery, give an interview, write an article for a blog or give a speech to a group, a successful artist sees that as a chance to network, promote their art and build their brand.

Unsuccessful artists see those opportunities very differently—as situations that interrupt what they were doing! But any artist who is engaged and ready to capitalize on those opportunities will get a LOT back in return.

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 Also, winging our way through my past, today I have the construction collages.  These are all photos I took of the dumpsters in the neighborhood as new houses were going up, admittedly before the last recession hit when they were as plentiful as cars it seemed.    I printed them 13" wide on matte stock and then cut them into simple quilt pattern shapes..  Actually, are there any other shapes?  They were then mounted on stretched canvas and the edges were either also collaged or painted.  These are only 4 that worked well together, I have many more. I was obsessed for a couple of seasons!  We then spent several years with no dumpsters at all, but I'm happy to report that there is a green one right next door that I will be crawling around on Sunday when there aren't any workmen around.

 One time I was stopped and questioned by an angry boss who thought I was inspecting his imagined violations.  That's why I restrict my photography to weekends now.

 I stay away from brand new dumpsters, very uninteresting.  Here one had hunks of construction fencing poking out.

 This red one had huge lumps of plaster or cement dripping on one side, one which resembled a lion's head-  right up the Leo Alley.

 Here they all are hanging together in a show in Lowell called 'Dirty Smelly Noisy', a comment made by neighbors during the permitting when the Western Ave Studios were planning construction.  

This one was multi-colored with peeling paint, my favorite because it looks so much like aerial photography of terrain or maps.  

These are now hanging in a 'Private Collection'.  OK, it's my son's apartment, so sue me.