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Big Day Tomorrow: Art-o-mat® + Detroit Derby Girls

Tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 1) Opening Night festivities for the NEWEST Art-o-mat® machine in Michigan! It will be located at Tiny Studio in Kalamazoo. Read the article here. Arto-Founder and Bureau Chief Clark Whittington will be on hand, too! I am SO excited!

AND it is the 2nd Women's Tug O' War at the St. Andrew's Highland Games in Livonia, Mi. A re-match between last years winners -- our very own Detroit Derby Girls -- and women's football team The Detroit Demolition. Make sure to arrive early for this...Tug O' War begins at 1p.m. but allow at least a half-hour for parking/shuttle and making your way in to the games area. Tickets info here. This is a pic of the two teams from last year...DDG is in the red shirts.


And ... tomorrow morning (before I leave to go get Juana for our trip to Kalamazoo) I will post finger puppet #50 in my Arto-series "All Ears". (You can see #49 in the post below this one.)

Early next week I will be packaging them up and sending the series in to Artists in Cellophane for distribution to machines across the country!

Whew!

Day Two Hundred Twelve

Wow -- that morning sun is really bright today!!!

Two colors in her eyelashes, lotsa red x's on her bottom edge, colorful red yarn on her side seam -- the only other way to top off a photo shoot with this stripey girly girl was to pose in front of my Art-o-mat license plate!

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Day Two Hundred Eleven

Note: No puppets were harmed in the photo session.

Note #2: "All Ears" finger puppets are not toys...not intended for young children...and definitely not pet toys.

It was inevitable that at some point the cats would want in on a photo shoot. Avalon is in the background...maybe he is reason for the "heh heh...get me outta here" look on the puppet's face. No deadly accurate teeth or claws involved...just a friendly pop to the ears...the puppet did not leave my finger.

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Day Two Hundred Ten

every morning my mom makes a cup of joe

Yesterday I had a lovely lunch with Andi and her daughter Annabella (who I believe is 7). On the way home in the car, that statement popped out of Annabella. The way she said it was so matter of fact, it was hysterical. I knew it needed to be a collage. If it isn't the exact wording, it is really close.



This is another collage for my Art-o-mat® series called "Animal People".

Day Two Hundred Nine

Q: Which puppet is the first one with eyelashes that are two colors?

A: This green stripey one! Her lashes are purple and light blue.


This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Day Two Hundred Eight

The photo may not show it, but this guy is very red...not fuschia. And his mouth is neon chartreuse.

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Day Two Hundred Seven

45 down, 5 more to go until I complete this series!

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Day Two Hundred Six

Today's puppet puts me in mind of citrus and sherbet and salt water taffy...all rolled into one.

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Day Two Hundred Five

Sometimes I like a nice, simple, uncluttered collage. This is one of those times.

I like the way the shades of blue came together.

Today was a long, long car day. Lotsa driving and I hate driving -- especially on the highway. This one makes me feel calm and still. Yep, nice, simple, quiet collage for today.

This is another collage for my Art-o-mat® series called "Animal People".

(for) Day Two Hundred Four

I'm the sideman. That's my gig. The sideman has to make it all happen and make everyone else look good.

What else is there to say?

This is another collage for my Art-o-mat® series called "Animal People".

oh dear...not again!

I. Cannot. Beee-leeeeve. I. Did. It. Again! I missed my midnight deadline!

I got home at ten to eleven, sat down (in my recliner) to make an Animal People collage and the next thing I know I am waking up with my scissors in my hand and it is 2:15 a.m. Sheesh!

Obviously, I will have to double up again tomorrow...and after having just gotten caught up on my delinquent posts. Cripes, this is beginning to get embarrassing!

August 1 -- Detroit Derby Girls back for more Tug O' War!

Come out and cheer on the Detroit Derby Girls “Tug O’ Warriors” for the tug o’ war grudge match against the Detroit Demolition (women’s football)! http://www.detroitderbygirls.com/

The Tug O’ War takes place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 1 at the St. Andrew’s Society Highland Games...held at Greenmead Historical Park (Newburgh Road between 8 Mile and 7 Mile in Livonia).

Get your tickets early and arrive early -- the place gets PACKED! There are several shuttles to the Park, information is at their website. Detroit Derby Girls will have a merch/info table on the main road into the site...stop by and pick up cool swag...chat with derby girls...take pics...JUST COME OUT AND SUPPORT DDG!

Here are some photos from last year -- DDG won the FIRST EVER Women’s Tug O’ War trophy!

Day Two Hundred Three

This collage seems fitting since I have been so preoccupied with my new plantings lately! An alert Viszla girl with her sweet Persian cat.

The background is a handmade paper that has teensy pieces of botanical things in it. Nice textures.

This is another collage for my Art-o-mat® series called "Animal People".







Yay -- I am all caught up with my delinquent posts and back on track!

(for) Day Two Hundred Two

Q: What puppets have decorative stitching ALL the way around?

A: Just this guy (so far)...Mr. Fancy.

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

(for) Day Two Hundred One

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

I like her eyelashes.

(for) Day Two Hundred

Q: What puppets have a button nose?

A: Only this guy!

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".












(well...there WAS a very early one, but he is not going to be included in the series that is sent to AIC)

just finished 3 pieces...

I'm posting (just in time for the deadline) that I made my 3 "catch up" pieces today.

I still have to photograph them and it is too dark to get good shots. I will post them separately tomorrow with updated pics.

(for) Day One Hundred Ninety-Nine

Beagle Puppy presents.

This is another collage for my Art-o-mat® series called "Animal People".




(I am falling asleep -- guess I need a little more recouping time than I originally thought! I will catch up the rest of the way tomorrow.)

Cool -- I'm in an Arto-related article!

Take a look at this...my Animal People were in the initial start up of an Art-o-mat® machine that was recently installed at Canteen Vending Company's North American Headquarters in Charlotte, NC. to mark the company's 80th year in business. Pretty neat!

And check out the photo album, too! (You might have to be on Facebook to view it, though.)

(That's the only reason I joined Facebook again...to be able to view photos that I get links to.)

(for) Day One Hundred Ninety-Eight

This is to make up for missing my actual day-of posting for last Friday, July 17.

Q: Who has the smirkiest smirk and bushiest multi-colored bushy eyebrows?

A: THIS stripey guy, that's who!

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

tsk, tsk...bad Took!

I have been totally swamped since Thursday and I really really meant to make stuff each day but I was just so dead by the end of the day(s) you have no idea.

I also meant to get back to it today but just sitting simply felt too good...
-- AND -- I HAD to water the new plantings and find out what to do with the lupine seed my lovely plants gave me. If you know me at all, you are probably quite astonished/amused/bewildered by my growing interest in flowers. (I am, too.) (That watering-the-plants-thing takes a long time!)

Tomorrow is Monday. I only have a couple of commitments and I swear I will be posting 3 make up posts plus a daily post.

There -- I blogged it so now I have to do it!

Day One Hundred Ninety-Seven

"Oh, you're one of those."

This is one of those collages that I enjoy because I can't decide if the cat girl is the one making the statement or if the statement is being made about her.

What do you think?

This is another collage for my Art-o-mat® series called "Animal People".







This is number twenty-five in this current set of fifty -- halfway there!

Oooh, finally -- "WHIP IT" movie trailer!!!

Oooooh -- the trailer!!!


(Look for Detroit Derby Girls Black Eyed Skeez and Sass Knuckles in the clothing store!)

Day One Hundred Ninety-Six

everything is always so iffy

Isn't it, though?

I really like the way the colors blended in the background on this one.

This is another collage for my Art-o-mat® series called "Animal People".

Day One Hundred Ninety-Five

One of the few red guys. Cute eyebrows.

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Day One Hundred Ninety-Four

Arrrrrgh...there be a piratey girl come to call.

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Day One Hundred Ninety-Three

No, I just like mojitos.


She gets so tired of being grilled about why she likes mojitos. She just does, dammit. Why does she need a reason? Geez.

This is another collage for my Art-o-mat® series called "Animal People".

Day One Hundred Ninety-Two

Wow...it's only a little after 8:34 in the evening. This is better -- nowhere near the midnight deadline!

LOL -- my house is not that color...and the puppet is more saturated than this...it is just the strong light...but the photo is clear, so it will do.

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Day One Hundred Ninety-One

Made it -- I'm reeeeeeally close to the deadline, but I am back on track.

I like the way the bottom edge of this guy makes him look like he's on fire. Ha.

I will try and take a better pic tomorrow when there is more light.


This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".




Updated pic: (I gave him some eyebrows which also gave him some 'tude.)

Day One Hundred Ninety (late AGAIN!)

Sheesh...my other real life stuff is trying very hard to take over and it is succeeding lately, with this post being another second-in-a-row days of late posts. I hate that.

Anyway. This girly girl was a pleasure to make from start to finish. She is soft and cuddly and the yarn felt so good on my fingers. No big knot issues. Very smooth and easy time working with her.

I love those glowy chartreuse pupils in her red eyes!





This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".


Yes, that IS Kill Taupe artwork in the background (again)!

Day One Hundred Eighty-Nine (belatedly)

The guy woke up announcing that all he needed was a cheeseburger.

It was a bright sky blue kinda day. He went to bed hungry...all those fast food commercials on tv.

This is another collage for my Art-o-mat® series called "Animal People".



















Yes, I know...this should have been posted yesterday. I suck. I could give you a l-o-n-g explanation (not excuse) for all the stuff that is going on but it really doesn't matter, does it.

Detroit Derby Girls & "Whip It" news/pic!!!

SO exciting!

Take a look at this article from USA TODAY about Drew Barrymore's new roller derby film "Whip It". Several of the skaters on the derby teams in the movie are actual derby girls from Detroit Derby Girls and Grand Raggidy Roller Girls. Also within the article is a link to the article "having a derby name is like being a super hero".

This is the photos link from the article and here are the DDG members who are in the pics:

1/8: Summers Eve-L (red helmet on left)
5/8: Sass Knuckles (far red helmet), Sarah Hipel (formerly known as Killbox...red helmet, plaid skirt), Vega Vendetta (red helmet, black & red tie)
6/8: Jackie Daniels of GRRG (Michigan "mitten" tattoo, plaid skirt, behind Ellen Page), Sarah Hipel (red hair, plaid skirt), Racer McChaseHer (braided hair, white socks with black stripe)

All of the DDG links will take you to the skater's team profiles at the DDG website. Within their profiles you can click on "next photo" to see more shots of that skater.

Day One Hundred Eighty-Eight

Oooh...did I say the last one was cuddly? You should feel this one! I want to keep this one...I like how simple it is and yet colorful and -- did I mention -- cuddly. I won't keep it, it will go into the series.

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Day One Hundred Eighty-Seven

A bunch of stuff has come up tonight and I have to set this aside and finish it in the morning. BUT I am posting it now because it is more than halfway done.

I will call this one Smirky. I will post the updated/completed photo tomorrow, but for now...here is a scan of what I've got so far.

This is another finger puppet for my Art-o-mat® series "All Ears".

Update/7-7-09: Here is the completed Smirky. I like the colors on this one.

Day One Hundred Eighty-Six

There is something very telltale in these last sentences.

Hmmm...wonder what it could be?

This is another collage for my Art-o-mat® series called "Animal People".