Ten Years Ago.....

This spring the Ojai Valley Museum's show for the Ojai Studio Artists group is a theme of 10 or X.....the idea of ten (in all it's definitions), or looking back ten years ago at our work.

I've gone back in my files and found a few pieces. Somehow I will 're-work' or perhaps do some new take on the old theme but with the difference of my style now verses then. Only, as I look at these images I don't see much change at all. I hope that's not a bad thing. I've just picked my three favorites and will still have to choose one among these three.

Just thought I'd share. Then when I'm done I can share the results.


It just struck me-(duh)- the hands theme going on here in all three of these I chose. Ah, what does it all mean?

The Museum of Baby Joe

Well, looking over these photos I've come to the conclusion I need to make another trip down to visit my friends Joe and Pat to a better job documenting the Museum Joe is creating there. And as you will see both Jim and I are prominently featured. What would we ever do without such supportive friends? I think Joe has more of my work than my parents! (sorry Mom)The main reason for the LA trip was to deliver this cabinet that Jim made that Joe is adding to his collection. We thought It would fit a bit more easily than it did in the truck, and barely fit through the door.
Here is the "Bobo" cabinet with it's new parents Joe (left) and Pat.

Joe has a great collection of art. I love this ceramic owl and house.
Antique stove and Joe's collection of vintage clocks.
Every inch has been re-done in Joe's collection of favorite antique and art finds. (He even has added tin ceilings.
A bathroom cabinet Jim made to fit a vintage sink Joe had.

Chris-Jim mirror. (don't remember making this. I's always fun to see stuff you haven't remembered)
The big black framed paintings are by me and I painted the little bird house (years ago)
A collection of birdie like ceramic pieces I love. (I did the paper-pulp creature on the bottom years ago)

A CD cabinet made to order. This was fun for Jim and I.
The bird cage Jim made years ago had a tiny painting of mine at the top finally had to go to make room for the new "bobo" cabinet. They kept the bottom and after removing the painting Joe donated the cage to Jim's friend with birds. (Joe had traded the last of his finch family for cats)

Bobo

Dog eat Dog Toys

I know why they call it animal magnetism now. I think I'm getting to work, and before I know it I look over and there she is. I have to stop what I'm doing and squoosh her.

(And all she want's is non-stop squooshing).

We had 13 Tanya Heggestad stay with us for a week and Abby was in love. She wants a little girl of her own.

And now just about every evening there is the Abby-Channel, where we just play and stare at the dog.
Yes we have become those gewey parents who think that their dog/child is perfect.

Birdies for the Baby

Here are some birdies I made for my friend 'Baby Joe's' birthday/Christmas present.

I played around with some paper mache birds with my niece when she was here at Thanksgiving and I wanted to make some for myself (or rather by myself).

It was fun but for some reason the first was my favorite and the last my least my least favorite, pretty much following in that order as I went along. I finished and thought "Huh? What happened? I thought they were good and then something just sort of fizzled"

But as often is the case not everyone agreed and that helped to redeem them in my own mind. At least Joe said he loved them.





Oh and merry Chris-mas, happy New Year. (now that it's almost February)

Fall After The Rain

Things are looking happier here after a bit of rain last month. The succulents seem happier and even have a bit more color. I'm never sure if the cool weather brings it out or more water.After another frustrating gopher summer I have resorted to planting some of my more favorite things in cages or even in pots. Here is a little rusty truck filled with Hens and chick plantings.


Ouch. It was finally time to admit that the oak tree by the side door is happy healthy and showed no signs of laying off the roof. Even after I tried to get along better by cutting a circle out of the over hang to give it room, it grew right back into it.- It it quite a bit chunk of the tree but the tree guy seemed to agree it would be just fine.
Here is the before shot. Lots of fire wood for next year. Be well tree.

More Germany....

Well I just noticed that the little blogger slideshow had been somehow showing the Germany photos instead of the art photos as I set it up. I of course have no idea why and it took a while to switch it back but it did serve to remind me I had many more photos that may be nice to share. Here are some, out of order of course. But as you can see anything with a bird is the fabulous bird park.
A rare Jim and Chris photo in one of our hotel rooms.

I always love the european farmer's market flowers and wreaths. These were only about $5 bucks each. Wish I could take them home and that they'd last forever. Somehow they have a way with arranging that you don't see often here unless it's a fancy florist and then they would be $30-50.!
Very cool clock that even had a face with eyes that ticked left to right with each second.
This above shot is of a church bell that fell half melted to the ground in world war two bombing. Sad signs that sometimes overwhelm when you think/read ponder all the loss of war.

This is a dinner at the underground cellar where they held massive barrels of beer (you can see one next to my sister in law Ingrid sneaking a photo). We didn't get to go on this tour but apparently the underground area is the size of many football fields. (that's a lot of beer)




Lovely burdies.

Dog Days...Meet Abby

Abby the dog. Tuesday eve I was ready to turn her in. Wednesday was a much better day, I had my hour and a half cello rehearsal so I took most of the morning to tire her out before the big separation. Of course I can't really know how she did as I was gone the whole time. I think I need to set up a recording device to find out if she is barking the whole time. It has only been two weeks but she obviously is a bit afraid of men approaching her (especially in the house) and she does NOT want to be more than ten away from me. I made the mistake of thinking she wouldn't wander when I went from the studio to the house and unfortunately she caught site of the chickens and all hell broke loose.- Of course a "come Abby" had no effect whatsoever and it took some very frantic (the chickens AND me AND the dog) few minutes for me to catch her. I carried her into the house and went back out to find one chicken missing. I spent around 10 minutes looking for Flo the hen and found her huddled in a frightened puddle up against the outside of the coop. She was fine but allowed me to pet her and just sat there. Which is not Flo's usual behavior.-So much for the easy chicken introduction.
People say she is a poodle with a lot of Bichon Frise in her. She has a long body, big head and short legs. Strange little shape that seemed quite awkward and silly when I first saw her and now seems adorable. Am I one of those parents who thinks their kooky looking child is just beautiful?
I have a trainer coming over on Monday to help with some of the worse problems and check out what I'm doing (or shouldn't be doing) to help get Abby over some of her phobias. As she is a rescue dog we have no history of her past. She is about one year old and VERY fond of children. (She would have me adopt an 8 year old I think instead of another dog for her to play with)