I have lots to do yet...

....for Queen of Arts...But at least I feel like I have something!





Think I will get this done?

Jill is trying to get a screen mural done and some jewelry....We can only hope.

....and of course I can't post without a cutie shot....

simple yet precious

Originally uploaded by * Eartha Kitsch *

Uploaded by * Eartha Kitsch * on 23 Oct 09,
Sung by Washington Phillips. Enjoy...

How do I start....

Probably by the time I post this it will be the anniversary of my brother, Steve's birthday. He would have been 69 . Even though this year has brought me many joys it has been the roughest year of my life. I like to keep my blog positive and fun but this is the time to let you see how I feel a little... Most of you know my husband fought off cancer this year and it was a hard battle that he has won and we are so thankful for that. But at the same time I was slowly losing my older, but not oldest brother.

Even though growing up, in our family we were all jokers and loved to laugh, Steve was the best at jokes and good stories. He had a tough time with school work but was well liked, handsome, could work on cars and loved gymnastics. Everybody...especially the girls...liked Steve. After he got married at 18 he would come by and talk for hours about what he had been doing. I was always amazed that with all the close calls with power lines while tree trimming, brush fires, driving and boat adventures, he was never seriously hurt.....until 8 years ago when he was on a motorcycle trip. That was almost the end then. I am thankful it was not even though it is what led to his death. I got 8 more years of shared stories, shared additions to our families and shared love and respect for each other. No one knows you like a sibling does.....Not much else I can say but I love you Steve and will keep you in my heart ...til we meet again....I think I will call Neale and Nate tomorrow.

Mark your calendars...

It is going to be the biggest and best one ever...lots of new artists and great stuff from the returning artists. This is not to be missed!

new stuff.....

I am likin' these....

There was a party goin'

Well we had a shindig at the Art Clinic Friday that was something else.... Carol is now the big 5 0...and she brought it in with a bang. There was food and dancing and lots of wonderful people and laughs. I did not get but a few pics but I enjoyed seeing Carol so happy.
I think this is Finnish for "You are so over the hill now..." I could be wrong.

fun day....

Some art girls went to Penny's to play today. Fun to catch up with everyone. We did a little project...a hand sewn (except for Penny) house pin cushion


and had a great lunch with Penny's potato salad, green salad, fried chicken and carrot cake. We got to see some of Wayne's and Penny's recent work and we did a little goofing around...I know hard to believe
....we admired Penny's amazing house and recent yard work
and just had a relaxing day. Some could not come and some had to leave early but it was still a fun day. Thank you Penny!!!

New restaurant in town

...well not really. It is an old place that moved to a new building. Earl and I sat outside at the Touch and it was perfect temp...so rare for Solvang. It is Chinese ...if you didn't already figure that out.

Tomorrow Mary Stanley is having a rug hooking class at the ART CLINIC. I will try to get some picture. Barbara Carr is planning a felt bag class with a resist lining for Sunday Oct.25. I am so excited to have these great teachers back at the Art Clinic.

Poor Madison

This is what teething looks like......

My little love...

I should start the morning watch this....

I love it...Thanks Maili for finding this cool site! turn it up

a peek at my world....

This is what I call "Lala"...I share a spot with my buddy, Lansing, in the Los Alamos Antique Mall. I have been really busy since Madison came into our lives and have not been working it like I should. Lansing has all the excellent pottery. He is very good at identifying unmarked pieces and knows the year they changed the molds etc. I price things more loose. I paid x so I will sell it for xx....I enjoy doing this and I am happy when I cover my rent. I need to put about half of my various collection in here.....but that takes time I don't have right now.....

And here is my main job....
After Madison did her thing at Jill's...Joe thought they had been broken into....She is an amazing mess maker! ...but so sweet. She is starting to pretend and play with dolls and stuffed animals. She is tucking them in, gently patting and kissing them...but she hits and pinches the cats...no matter how much I scold her......drives me nuts. Then she puts her arms around me and gives me a little pat and I am better.

Fun day at the Art Clinic

Sukey's amazing piece....

We all got plastered at the Art Clinic today...I mean we did some art with plaster of Paris. I took a class from the amazing Stephanie Lee last May and I was ready to do some more art like she taught me. So I invited Diane R., Carol. Sukey, Mary, Barbara and Sue to come play with me. It was really fun and exciting to see what everyone did.



This is my latest abstract called ...Floral Arranging 101....

I just got this cool piece of Wodaabe handwork from Lori. I love it! There is a little burn in the fabric that they did handwork over...Lori knew I would love this piece.

a little beach time

It so fun to watch Madison discover all the wonderful mysteries of the beach.....

La Brea fire

I caught this pic just as the noon wind was picking up and blowing all the ashes our way. This fire has dumped more ash on us than any fire has in the past. It is 75% contained....now.

Here is what I am doing Saturday

"Art Round Up at the Grange"
Annual Art Show by the Artists Guild of the Santa Ynez Valley

Held in conjunction with "Quick Draw" in Los Olivos
Saturday, August 15, 10 am

The Santa Ynez Valley Grange will be ablaze with color on August 15, when members of the Artists Guild hold their festive annual fine art exhibit. The theme is the Infinite Variety of Art. Guild artists express their artistic visions in a variety of intriguing ways. You'll enjoy seeing the exhibit and talking to the artists. Refreshments will be served.

The Grange is located at 2374 Alamo Pintado Avenue, right next to the Park in downtown Los Olivos where "Quick Draw" takes place. Sponsored by the Los Olivos Gallery Organization, this is an all-day visual arts experience. There will be gallery open houses, special art exhibits, art demonstrations, and a silent art auction. Highlight of the day is the actual Quick Draw, where professional artists race against the clock in the park to create a finished painting in 45 minutes. These art works are then sold to the highest bidder in a live auction.

When you're in Los Olivos for Quick Draw, take in the Guild's special exhibit,
"Art Round Up at the Grange." Saturday, August 15.

I am not in the quick draw. I am exhibiting in the grange during the event. Come by if you are in the area. I have some new work I will bring. The quick draw is fun to watch.....

LE went home

Madison's first sentence.."bye bye auntie LE" with a wind up for a kiss to throw ....with a wave finish. It just melts your heart.

We all wish LE could have stayed longer. It was so fun to have her here...and she hardly had to do any work. She got to just hang out. We went to the beach, had lots of Mexican food, visited with friends..my friends anyway...and hopefully she caught up on her sleep.
Anyway today we had a get together at Susan H's magazine-worthy house ....so good to see everybody again....then LE to the airport (sniff) then on to Santa Barbara for the First Thursday Art Walk. I maned the wine bar at Santa Barbara Arts most the night. I met some fellow artists and there was a weaver set up in the gallery from Teotetlan de Valle, Oaxaca weaving a rug with natural dyes. Really beautiful work! Georgeanne Alex had done the window using some of my pieces and it looked fantastic!

Great weekend...

The biggest thing is LE is in the house! She is getting her Maddie fix... LE came Saturday while I was doing a show at the La Arcada in Santa Barbara. Sunday was a very nice gathering of friends for Fred Carr's memorial in Santa Barbara. Then Earl, Jill, LE, Madison and I went to sushi in Solvang tonight and played a fun game of Pictionary on the deck.It feels so good to have the girls here....sigh...

What I am working on...

I have a show in the La Arcada walkway in Santa Barbara on Saturday the first....so I am busy trying to get a few things done...I had "a wild hair"...and did some fun birds and have 2 other painting started. I had some down time at the doc office to get some drawings of ideas done ...that helps alot.
Cpme by the La Arcada in Santa Barbara if you are in the area Sat. It is just down from the SB Museum of Art.

Madison at daycare

They just sent this pic of her...which makes me so happy since she was crying when I left her...2 handed artist....