Hooting a Few Hoots!

The man who doesn't relax 

and hoot a few hoots voluntarily, 

now and then, 

is in great danger

 of hooting hoots and standing on his head 

for the edification of the pathologist and trained nurse,

 a little later on.

                      ~Elbert Hubbard

Here is my new Streetside Chalkboard advertising art classes.

Otherwise known as my "monster's inc." door.

Here is a mosaic iris I am working on for a small outdoor table. I have applied it to mesh and then will glue it to cement board.

Here are my two grapevine trees for the front of the shop.

And here they are in their pots  with lights.

Vanessa is penciling out a frame for the indoor chalkboard. Soon she will paint it and it will host a salon menu.

These are just a few things I (&Vanessa) have been working on 

since ArtPrize has been done. The Luminary Angel Sculpture is still holding her own at the front of the shop;)

The mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it.

~Author Unknown

A New Beginning

What we call the beginning is often the end.

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

The end is where we start from.

~T.S. Eliot

 Here we are at the GR Civic Theatre to remove our angels. My son, Jack is here to help.

 She looks different without the incredible stage lighting; a busy stage with other artists removing their Artprize entries and stage techs getting ready for their next show 'Our Town', which opens next Sunday.

 Here the boys have removed the wings to start; they are a blur of activity!

 Dominic steadies her while Eddie loads her on the hand truck.

 Eddie loading her into the U Haul we rented for the occasion.

 Here are the wings ready to go into the truck.

 Jack took a picture of me directing the men with their load

 (Ha. Eddie has the whole thing under control!)

 Driving by last year's second place Artprize winner mosaic at the Children's Museum.

 Here is Luminary in the front of my shop in Lakeview, MI where she will stay until her 'rightful owner' comes to claim her! (I do believe in positive wishful thinking.)

 I had so many wonderful supportive Lakeview friends and family supporting me through this whole fun event, and now they will be able to visit her anytime at the shop.

 She will be the first thing you see as you walk through my front doors; a large welcoming presence.

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers 

connect us with our fellow men.

~Herman Melville


Many great things came from this event; here I am mentioned in one of my favorite blogs:
http://mosaicartnow.blogspot.com/2010/09/mosaics-of-artprize-incomplete-guide.html

Now back to a "regular" schedule for a while. Peace.

Luminary Flies To Her New Coop @GR Civic Theatre!

Waiting For A Normal Day....

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. 

Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may,

for it may not always be so.

One day I shall dig my nails in to the earth, or bury my face in the pillow,

or stretch myself taut, or raise my hand to the sky and want,

more than all the world, your return." ~Mary Jean Iron

Well, she is complete, up until her delivery when she will be dismantled from her wings and

driven in a large box truck to the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre on Monday, September 20.

It has been a very productive year since last ArtPrize. 

I have only gotten these two projects

finished in that year. 

They both took about 6 months each; 

the mosaic a few days a week, the sculpture just about every day of that time. 

Between cutting, hammering and sewing copper feathers, cutting glass, 

shaping various parts of her structure, stitching her gemstone headband and hair, 

I worked 4 -6 days a week to make sure she was finished in time.

And, today I finished!

 It feels like an amazing thing to be able to leave the shop at 5 pm 

and come home to cook dinner and help with homework and basically not

be worrying about what is left to accomplish...

I say my husband will be happy to have me back to help him out at home; 

he has been quite the Super House Man and is about ready to ride in the

passenger seat for a while. No more ArtPrize widower, at least for now;)

More next week when we have the girls in place. There are about 4 other artist sharing the

Civic Theatre Stage and we are all setting up the same day! Should be interesting.

Until then, Peace....

Womens Lifestyle Mid Michigan – September 2010 : Lakeview Woman Reconnects With Her Artistic Dream

The latest article in Greenville Daily News Women's Magazine! Thanks @Lori Hansen for almost getting it right. @ArtPrize starts in 11 Days. Are you Pre-registered?

Womens Lifestyle Mid Michigan – September 2010 : Lakeview Woman Reconnects With Her Artistic Dream

Spread Your Wings

"I'm no angel, but I've spread my wings a bit."

~Mae West

Luminary is about ready to spread her wings. She is being installed at the Grand Rapids Civic Theater on September 20. ArtPrize starts Wednesday, Sept. 22.  See you there!

Entertaining Angels?

Maybe we are entertaining angels unaware...

Luminary's wings are done and attached!

My installers...

17 Days until the start of ArtPrize!

Check her out @The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre on the Stage.

During ArtPrize, there will be three platforms attendees can use to vote for you

1. Text message
2. artprize.org
3. ArtPrize iPhone application

For each platform, your unique five digit codes are the fastest way to cast a vote.

Your unique vote codes are:

Vote up code:

35531