365/2013 - Day 67 (updated)

a full day and night


A lot happened today...here is a little bit about most of it.

morning
I fell in love with Claudia Roulier's artwork a long time ago.  I don't recall exactly when I first saw her work, but when I was making and selling and collecting ATCs and ACEOs on eBay I bought this card by her.

a shot of a card made by Claudia Roulier (2005)

Jump ahead to January 24, 2013 and Claudia's blog post for that day -- I fell in love with the imagery instantly!  I got up my nerve two days later to comment (for the first time) on her post of the finished painting.  

The Juggler by Claudia Roulier

Several emails have been exchanged since then and today I made my first payment on this marvelous piece!  I am so excited I can hardly stand it!  The Juggler will be one of Claudia's pieces in an upcoming circus-themed show in Evergreen, CO that runs from April 26 to May 23.  Other artists in the show include:  Kathy Beekman, Penny Bidwell, Dave Sieler, and Tim Flynn.  Man...I wish I could go to see the show in person!

afternoon

The Northville Art House has given me the opportunity to curate a show of my own -- it will be in October of this year.  It will be called "Under the (Inspired) Influence" and I have chosen a handful of artists whose work has thrilled and inspired me beyond words.  There is so much planning and  preparation to take care of and this is the sort of thing I absolutely love to do.

October seems like light-years from right now, but I need to get down to work.  This afternoon I made an appointment with Joan and we discussed the first steps I need to get started on.

my friend Joan Potter Thomas...director of The Northville Art House

early evening

I picked up my friend Ruth and we headed to Juana's to pick her up.  Then we made a stop at the Woods Gallery to drop off one more piece of mine for the "Spirits" show.  

"Spirits" will be Baby Beast's last exhibition appearance

Lisa (in Gallery Director mode making adjustments) and Juana and Ruth snapping pics

Baby Beast casts really cool shadows in this lighting/setting

I'm SO excited to be in this show with my friends Juana, Lisa, and Renee!

evening

Next Juana, Ruth and I hotfooted it over to another incredible artist friend's solo show at Birmingham Gallery.  Kate Paul...what can I say about Kate Paul...how about just look at the photos and get yourself over to the show to see it in person!

postcard for Kate's solo show "Kateland" at Birmingham Gallery

this work is so cool -- it is interactive and lit from behind and you can adjust the background colors

my favorite piece in this show -- "Rebirth of a Rainbow"

detail -- "Rebirth of a Rainbow"

you may remember the painting I recently acquired -- "Earning My Stripes" (detail) -- this piece is not in the show, I just wanted to show it off again

night

Next Juana, Ruth, and I headed back up Woodward to Ferndale to see the exhibition "For the Love of Reading" at the Ferndale Public Library.  The show is an artful celebration of books, characters, stories, and reading.  Juana and Peggy have fabulous pieces in this show.  It is a really great show and the reception was packed!  Don't miss it!  (It is difficult to get photos w/o glare...but here are a few shots -- I'd like to go back and revisit the show when it is a little less crowded.)

Where Juana's piece is

closer view of Juana's "A Young Ladies Illustrated Primer" -- you need to see it in person!

Peggy's work for the show!

And you know how I rarely ever see anyone I know when I am out and about?  Well -- at the "For the Love of Reading" show we ran into Lisa and her friends outside of the library as we were going in...plus:

Peggy!

Carla!

and these two out of focus characters -- Mark and Leann!

After seeing the show Ruth, Juana, Mark, Leann, and I went to get some dinner.  Ha!  Good luck getting in anywhere in Ferndale on a Friday night!  We met up at one place (an hour and a half wait) and we moved back up Woodward to another restaurant with only a few minutes wait.  Good food, GREAT company...fabulous end to a long, FUN day!

2012/365 - Day 67

WHAT a day!

It started out this morning at 9:00 with a run to the gas station and bank, then at 9:30 it was another Wednesday Morning at Joan's with Joan and Leann and Scout...with a special guest appearance by Ben.




Joan worked on a design for a commissioned quilt. Leann worked on a box and then on her art quilt. I worked on some ATC's then my art quilt.

At noon we had to break it up and go on our merry ways.





From Joan's I went home, dropped off my stuff, and called Ruth. We went to lunch at Deadwood Bar and Grill -- wow -- it was deeeeeelish! And we had enough left over to bring home for dinner. Ruth had a NY strip steak and I had buffaloaf.


Next it was on to Ann Arbor for a trip to the most amazing paper store in the universe -- Hollander's.


Hollander's has every imaginable paper in every imaginable color you could ever want. It is just mind blowing. These pictures do not do it justice -- you really need to go there and see for yourself.

The staff are so wonderful and patient and helpful -- it is just a joy to shop there.













































I just love this display rack. I want one for my studio!



















































The stack of papers in the foreground is mine. The one in the background is Ruth's...she had just started her pile.






All of the paper I bought is for future collages and repurposed canvases. Maybe some will be used on plaster cloth guys. I allowed myself ONE piece on non-collage paper...I think I may re-work my ATC's for this month (the ones with the circle theme...maybe not). I just counted my haul...I got 45 sheets of collage paper and the one non.

I am too wiped out to go through and write down all the different kinds of paper but I am sure I will mention specifics as I use them. A few of the sheets are color variations of paper I already have. I am SO excited with all of them!



Then Ruth and I went to The Treasure Mart -- a gigantic thrift shop/resale shop wonderland of stuff.

I was looking for canvases in frames to work with...no luck this time...but I DID get this great piece. It will be perfect for a base for a plaster cloth guy!












And I HAD to get these great wacky motion toys. I have a couple of snakes in my collection, but none like this one -- such great action! And I have never seen a crocodile like this -- plus he's on wheels!












Then Ruth and I went to the Salvation Army Store in Canton.

I hit the jackpot when I found these three paintings...AND...it was Wednesday so seniors (55+) get a 33% discount! Woo hoo!

This gallery wrapped painting is a whopping 30" x 40" -- that is going to take a LOT of collage paper and gel medium!







This floral painting in a nice frame is about 11" x 16".

















So is this landscape...and this frame is also pretty nice.









After the Salvation Army Store Ruth mentioned there was a Goodwill Store just a short distance away. We thought "oh what the heck, we're almost there anyway" so we headed over there. On the way, we crossed over the street to go to the Red Twig Gallery in Plymouth. I have been wanting to go there but Ruth wasn't sure if they'd still be open (it was about 20 after 5). She thought she had the phone number of the gallery in her phone, but she didn't and for whatever reason directory assistance couldn't find the number so we said okay...we are really nearly at Goodwill now...let's just go and look and then drive by Red Twig on the way home and maybe the phone number is on their sign.

Well -- as we pulled closer to Red Twig Gallery Ruth said the "open" sign was lit and it looked like there were some people inside. YAY! Guess who one of the people was -- LEANN! I was going there in hopes of finding one of Leann's voodoo pieces that I have been wanting ever since I first saw it.



This is not where this fantastic piece will be permanently, but I wanted to get a decent photo tonight.

This is Bosou. He is in a wooden shoe.

Here is the info from his placard: Bosou is the three horned bull, he is temperamental and unpredictable. A meat eater by nature, he is a spirit that encompasses male virility. He will protect those that travel at night.

I just LOVE this guy. I will find him the perfect place in my house and all who gaze upon him will also become enthralled.


Oh -- and what a delightful place Red Twig Gallery is! Such lovely items. Such lovely ladies! I want to go back again when I am not all shopped out!

Gosh -- what a GREAT day...a very long day for me...but such a wonderful time with great friends. The weather was perfect, not a whole lot of traffic, just an all 'round marvelous time!