Tuesday

Today I finished a flat fabric flower collage. Actually, I had done the background months ago and then put it away. I decided to do flat flowers in the foreground. I like the look. I worked on another "collections" collage, but didn't finish. I saw this collage as an organized collection of random things that when put together would mean something, I have most of the collection items, but ran out of steam today.

It is cooler here now and at night it's downright chilly! So I am catching up on the sleep I missed when it was so hot at night.

I heard from my daughter today. Glad she's okay.

More art tomorrow!

Sunday Art

There was no Saturday Craft Day this week. I felt I was so far behind in my art "practice" that I just worked all weekend. Well, I did take a little time off to take the dog to the groomer. (Pictures tomorrow!)

I have been working in fabric--trying to construct collages with fabric and playing around with design elements and contrast. The latest of these is totally fabric. And while I was working I was watching two Shakespeare plays "retold." The first was "Much Ado about Nothing." and the second was "Macbeth." In "Much" Beatrice and Benedick are former lovers who now work together as local news anchors. And in "Macbeth" Macbeth is a chef. Both were excellent retellings. They retained the whole plot but put it in a modern context. Loved it! Thank you Netflix! So far I've seen "Love's Labors Lost, " "Much," "Macbeth," and "As You Like It." My art may not be improving, but my mind is!

Friday

An interesting Friday for me: First a long conversation with a friend. She and I bought blue hybrid tea roses at the same time and mine had a bloom! She doesn't have one yet. Then I told her my plan to buy the Black Baccarra rose for a reward for being on jury duty. So she asked me to buy her one too. She has had a couple of tomatoes, as have I. So when we got done comparing gardens, it was time to get ready for the dentist. I love my dentist and his whole clinic. The Western University Dental Clinic is sooooo fabulous! I asked Dr. Lee how long this procedure would take and he said about 30 minutes if it was good news (the metal bridge needed to be fitted) or 2 hours if not. But it did. Dr. Lee is going to the movies to see Horrible Bosses because it has Jennifer Aniston as a dentist (?). I then picked up Matt and we had lunch at Legends and then went to Armstrongs to buy the roses. They were on sale for $19. The picture makes them look black, but really they are a dark, dark red when they are in full flower. I sent my friend a picture just to make sure that she still wanted the rose bush, but she said she did. So right now on my patio I have TWO Black Baccarra rose bushes! Wow!

Then Matt helped me put up the white board/bulletin board/calendar that I bought months ago and couldn't hang on the wall by my self. Then Matt and I hung out and had popsicles and watched old re-runs of CSI. I just took him home--well, Nana's house, since tomorrow he is getting haircut.

This was a goooooooood day!

Jury Duty!

Yesterday I reported for jury duty at the Federal Courthouse in downtown LA. I took the train in, which, in the morning, is like taking a rolling cocktail party (without the drinks of course). There was one case and about 50 potential jurors. We had to fill out a 10 page questionnaire before we were individually interviewed by the judge, the plaintiff's and the defendant's attorneys. And I wasn't chosen for the jury! They didn't like me! They really didn't like me!

And as an added bonus, because I reported I got a certificate to show the County Courts so that I can be excused from County jury service, which I am supposed to have at the end of the month. I love it!

It's very hot and humid so I have done little art. I did try the handstitching on paper from a tutorial at NewHouse Projects. (Here's the site: http://newhouseproject.com/2011/06/30/idea-for-hand-stitched-card/). And here's her picture. Mine doesn't look so good. Try, try again! Love the idea!

Tomatoes for the Fourth of July

Yes, I have tomatoes for the Fourth of July! Three actually. I can't wait to have them in a salad for dinner with my corn on the cob and my grilled chicken! I am soooo proud of myself for actually getting something from my garden!

Happy Fourth of July.

The Blahs

Did you ever have one of those days where you just wanted to sit in front of the television and watch old reruns of Law and Order and not do anything? Well, that was me today. Although I did do some stuff. But I wasn't productive or energetic or positive or...

I have always wanted to be an artist. And now that I am I am finding it hard a lot of the time. It's hard work! I realize it's not digging ditches, but it's difficult and there's always a critic looking over your shoulder saying that the work isn't good--it's not appropriate---people will hate it.

I think it's time to find the next level of my work. Either showing it or selling it or both. And no more Law and Order!

A free day!

Today I tried to do a paining in the style of Matisse. But I quickly realized that like a lot of talented people, Matisse made it look easy. For me, the negative space in a Matisse painting is just as important as the positive space. And the heavy fully loaded brush strokes. Does mine have that? Well, no.

I finished an art journal today and so titled it and put it on the shelf. I have another one ready. And I watched Kenneth Branagh's version of "As You Like It." This is by far one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. And one of the best. It's on my top eight now. I love Netflix! What a variety of movies they have! I can see all the odd ones and foreign films that never mind it to the local theaters.

What a good day!

My top eight favorite movies:(subject to change without notice)

1. As You Like It

2. Love's Labor's Lost

3. Much Ado About Nothing

4. Grand Canyon

5. A Chef in Love

6. Midnight in Paris

7. All the Godfathers

8. Citizen Kane

Rosebud!