Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

Dia de los Muertos

I am so drawn to this beautiful celebration.  There is such peace and solace in creating the ofrenda, the altar for those we have lost.  It feels like a sacred task - but not a duty, more like a gift.

I usually put it out on the porch, but this year, it's inside and much nicer, I must admit, to be able to see it in passing.

My beautiful mother on the right, sharing a cup of coffee and a smoke with her sister Rita.  Can you tell they are both wearing the same wedding dress?  It was during the war, so they shared it.

The blackbird is in honor of one of her favorite songs, "Bye, Bye, Blackbird".  

 Dad.  Oh, Dad.  A pipe, a bit of Grand Marnier and some pistachios. A picture of you as a child, holding a horn; a calavera with a clarinet.  Music and family were your life. I miss you more than words can say.

My sweet and strong mother-in-law - eleven children.  She loved each one. My mom had nine.  I know what it takes.  But I don't know how she did it - and turned out some great human beings.

I miss you all, my loved ones.  But I treasure the amazing gifts you've given to all of us - the gift of life and the special joy of having had you in my life.  Vaya con Dios.

 

Halloween

 

It's been a long hard month and I'll eventually catch up. But for now - It's Halloween!  Cat quilt above made by my talented sister, Chris.

I love this time of year. Autumn colors are MY colors and I am drawn to them whether I'm painting or buying clothes.  It's nice to indulge in them for this season.

The only way I can get away with this candy display is that I can't stand candy corn and the black and white sugar sticks are about 4 years old. Otherwise, I would eat it all.  We won't talk about the age of the black skulls and white bones.  Sugar lasts forever, but it stops tasting good after awhile.  Not that I've tested it, mind.

I can't seem to get enough of the apothecary jars and laboratory bottles.  I'm running out of places to put them.

I made up these little gifties for my collegues at work. Design courtesy of the amazing Heather Bullard. I'll give her credit for it, even though she is IN PARIS now and I hate her.  Well, sort of.  I'm just jealous; I wonder why?

Happy Haunting!

 

 

"Home is the Sailor; Home From the Sea"

Redondo Beach, California.  Two weeks at sea. The adventure is just beginning.

But for now, it's time for hot showers, a load of laundry, and Tbo's moveable feast.  Tonight - taquitos. Tomorrow - carne asada.  Gotta get these guys ready for months in Mexico.

"Saltbreaker is OK."

Journal Madness

I must confess to a very bad habit.  A very strong habit.  A habit I am unlikely to break.

I make books.

I make blank books.

I create journals and don't write in them.

 

Confession is good for the soul.

Actually, I seem now to be able to create a very specific journal and work in it.  It took a class with Judy Wise to get me in there and I have, for the first time, completely filled a journal.  Every page is painted, collaged and written.

However, most of the ones you see here are either empty or have a few pages completed.  I obviously have a ways to go in conquering my addiction.

Next time up, I'll post some pages here.  Perhaps it will keep me on the straight and narrow.

 

 

Long Beach is the New Paris

Oh, OK, I'm exaggerating - the Long Beach Flea Market is not a Paris Brocante.  But, it certainly is a joy.  It's my new favorite.  Pasadena City College is so close, I'll still keep going there on the first Sunday of the month.  But Long Beach is so HUGE and everything is great.  I don't do vintage clothing but if you do, definitely get to LB for rows of great clothes, purses and shoes.

Yeah, that's another "Mother" plaque there.  I needed it, OK?  I love the cutesy little wooden trays and you can never have enough tins, right?  Canvas bank bags - and a fun tool apron - and you do know I love Pepsi...LOL.  That large sphere is a holder for a ball of string.  Or something else, you never know.

I've been collecting these little pencils to use as the focal point of some necklaces for an upcoming show.

I love the colors on this sweet box.  Along with its little buddies here.  I'll use the little silver salt shaker in a necklace as well.  Where that clunky, rusty, ballbearing wheel will go is anyone's guess.

This will have to hold me for a few weeks, as I never do the Rose Bowl.  But soon....PCC here I come!

 

An L.A. Way to Start the Day

If you live in Southern California, you will get this.  If not, come out out and I will introduce you.

Note the time on the clock - you will understand that, though we went for breakfast, I could NOT pass up the french dip pork sandwich, cole slaw and dill pickle, though my DH did have the corned beef hash and eggs. If they were around, my Dad would have gotten the beef french dip and Mom would have eaten the coconut cream pie - no matter what time it was! It is always so hard to decide at Philipe's - what to eat and how to pronounce it!

 

 

 

Foodie Alert

You know that my husband loves to cook and is more than quite good at it.

But, did I tell you that my daughters are also inventive and talented?

Here's what Sara made to go with our lowly burgers.

 

Nice presentation, yes?  They were as yummy as they look!

 

I'm in Love!

After looking for years,  I finally found it.  Pasadena City College Flea Market. About 100 years old.  Clean.  Works great. Feels good in the hand. A bit pricey, but hey, these things obviously don't come along that often.

I first encountered one in Keith LoBue's class. Ah, the things I have learned from Keith. The Master of Tools.  He was singing the praises of this little gem. And opined that they were easy to find - sounded as though they were practically lying around every little sale and flea market.  Right.  Maybe in Australia, Keith!

So, what is the name of this new love of my life? It's a hand vise.  For all those times when the bench vise is too big and the pliers is too small.

Oh, ok, I know I am weird. But really. 

This is the new love of my life. 

Sorry, bub.

 

Mini-Flea Market?

I never go to the Rose Bowl Flea Market anymore, so the second weekend of the month could cause flea market withdrawal.  

Except that there is a "Sidewalk Sale" the second Saturday of the month, outside the studio of Clare Graham-one of my favorite local artists.  There are not a lot of tables.  But, as Spencer Tracy famously said, "What there is - is 'cherce' (choice)".  It's always fun, but this time, it absolutely gave me my market "fix" and I am content.

This seemed to be the day for old wooden spools and wire.  Some of this is from a really intriguing artist, Jeffrey Kibbe - wish I could have bought more of his very cool stuff.

Another table had a whole box of baby/children's shoes and I was charmed by this pair - mostly by the attached tag.  So sweet.

I have no idea what these were from originally, but I see its various bits in a few necklaces, yes?

The Sisty Uglers

I miss my sisters.  I am all alone out here, anchoring the West Coast. My next younger sis - Chris - anchors the East Coast.  The other three are clustered in the Midwest.  

There is a balance in the Force unless one of us is traveling.  Then, you never know. Chris paid me a visit last week and it's a wonder Rhode Island didn't tilt up and slide into Connecticut.   She's in Chicago for a visit now, and I sense a disturbance in the Force but California still seems oddly stable.  Perhaps our balance theory if faulty (little pun there).

We call ourselves the "sisty uglers" from a very very old comedy album that will take too long to explain.  It's from Jack Ross and a twisted version of "Rindercella" if you want to listen to it.

We may be sisters but I don't think we're that ugler.  We are about 9 years older than this picture, though - darn.