365/2013 - Day 242

working on the 2nd horn

Tonight I wrapped the long horns guy's second horn and tweaked the base of the first horn a little so that they'd blend in better.  I also added a couple more layers of plaster cloth around his mouth to define it a bit and I shaped it a smidgen with the wooden clay tool.

365/2013 - Day 241

another shift and then horns modification test

Today was my last shift at the Art House for Patti (in this stint) -- I took some photos of the doors that the kids painted at the Arts and Acts Festival children's table this year.  They look so cool -- I bet they were a blast to work on!

I registered some more people for classes, answered the phone, and (mostly) worked one more day on pulling magazine images for an upcoming batch of Animal People for Art-o-mat.

Tonight (after the medicate/elevate/cold pack routine) I decided to dive in and at least try putting  plaster cloth over one of the horns of the long horn guy.  I am not sure if I like it or not so I will wait to see how it dries before tackling the other horn and tweaking them both.

365/2013 - Day 240

not very interesting today

I worked at the Art House again today and I was able to put a lot of time into pulling images from the cat/dog magazines.  I signed a little girl up for a class and answered the phone a few times and welcomed exhibit-goers...but mostly I was pulling images.

This is two day's worth of work on pulling images -- and one brown paper grocery bag FULL of magazine scraps for recycling.

If you know me in real life, you know I am not someone who takes very many pictures of food...and certainly none with a cell phone (I don't even own one).  But tonight when I was making my "lettuce-less salad" everything was just so fresh and tasty-looking that I had to take a picture.  

SO yummy...cucumbers, cauliflower. grape tomatoes, sweet onion, and incredible radishes ready for Aunt Mid's garlic vinaigrette.

365/2013 - Day 239

another lovely Wednesday Morning

It was another lovely session of Wednesday Morning with Joan and Leann...this time back at my house. 

Joan and Leann came over this morning with projects to work on while we talked and talked and then talked some more.

I worked on the little spikey guy -- I focused on his head.  I got a basic shape and added to it. 

This is his body.

I decided to go with this fabric on either side of a green triangle on the top/sides of his head...I tacked the fabric in place.  I am making this up as I go along (no pattern) so I cut the fabric fairly large.

Two pieces are added...but the fabric on the left needed to be unstitched and moved closer to the horn.

That's better.  Then I folded the fabric down and made another stitch...I will add another color to be his chine and lower jaw...but this was all the time I had this morning.

Time went by SO fast while Joan and Leann were here -- suddenly it was time to pack up.  Then I met up with Joan at the Art House and filled in for Patti in the Art House Store.  Today I added address labels and stamps to the postcards for the upcoming exhibition that opens on Friday, September 6.

365/2013 - Day 238

pulling images and wrapping horns

Today I spent the afternoon pulling images of cats and dogs from magazines that my vet's office save for me.  After a couple of hours I realized -- duh -- this would be a great activity for me during not-so-busy times at the Northville Art House this week.  I am filling in for Patti Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Patti will be back on Saturday.  I tried working with Tookies last Saturday (early on when I first arrived -- before the crush started during the Food Truck Rally) but there really isn't enough room back there at the desk.  The magazines would be easily stacked and set aside when needed.  Yay.

Then I got an idea for the guy with the long horns.  I wanted to do something more with the horns than just paint them.  I grabbed a package of rope/clothesline from the basement and gave it a go.

before the wrapping

before the wrapping

the wrapping material

"Yeah...I kinda trust you."

tape and rope -- the beginning

both horns wrapped -- rear view

front view -- something's not quite right...oh...the rope on the right horn needs to slant down -- you may remember I am not very good at mirror images

okay -- right horn re-wrapped...nope...not right yet

re-re-wrapped on the right...still not right, but better...I will see how I feel about it once I  have put plaster cloth on the left horn -- it may turn out I am not happy with the rope any way...LOL

I need to turn the computer off now...we are supposed to get more thunderstorms (we had some this morning) and I wanted to get this posted NOW so I won't have to worry about whether we lose electricity or not.  There have been a couple of rumbles and it is already getting darker.

365/2013 - Day 237

what's IN the Art-o-mat machine at LIFT

Currently featured in Greeny, my Art-o-mat machine at LIFT Designer Toys and Gallery in Royal Oak, Michigan:

Sherry Paylor

Leticia Miller

Lemon Tree

Lisa Jordan

Jessica Guptill

Scott Blake

Beatriz Graells

How You Say

Patrick Harris

AND -- don't forget to get your customer loyalty card punched every time you use Greeny --

buy 5 artpacks and you get one free -- no expiration date, no limit.

365/2013 - Day 236

a little bit of progress

Today I have been tweaking the small spikey guy.  I think this will be the ONLY small spikey guy I make -- I am really really tired of getting poked with the needle.  This fabric is the major problem as far as I can tell.  It doesn't like to be sewn.  It must have to do with the color-changing process or something.  I will be very lucky if tonight is the end of the needle mishaps...geez.

Tonight I added the lavender, gray, and dark blue striped spikes on the left side of this small spikey's back.

This is his front...I stitched up both of the sides, added the stuffing, and put a (probably) temporary stitch across the top -- just to hold it shut so I could see what I have so far.

Another view.

365/2013 - Day 235

holy cats I am wiped out!

Today I sat in for Patti at the Northville Art House Store from 1-8 during the big Food Truck Rally -- there must have been about a billion people who had never been to the Art House before and I told them my spiel about the classes, birthday parties, the Michigan made artwork in the store and all about the exhibits and the current one and about First Fridays.  I just need to sit in my chair with my feet up.  

I had a good time talking with people and signing them up for the newsletter...but boy oh boy I am DONE for today.

Joan and Liz and Bob and other volunteers were outside mingling talking up the Art House, too.  Joan and Liz put out tables and chairs for the people to sit and eat their food truck food.  And they even had to take more out later in the day.  It was packed!

I had my sewing kit with me...thinking I'd work on Tookies or the new little spikey guy...ha!  That happened for about ten minutes when I first arrived.

It has been a very long day...I'm not used to this...LOL.

This was taken early in the day before it got really packed -- look at our art doors decorated at the children's table at the Arts & Acts Festival this summer...I will take better pictures of them next week when I go back.

365/2013 - Day 234

nothing for today

I've got nothing for the blog today.  The cats had well cat check ups and that is about all I can manage today.

Tomorrow should be more interesting -- I will be filling in for Patti at the Art House Store.

See  you tomorrow.

365/2013 - Day 233

they are in!

Patti Witte (the new Art House Store Manager) asked me if I would make some Tookies and Tooklets to sell in the store.  I said, "Sure!"   Today I delivered 6 Tookies (finger puppets) and 4 Tooklets (dolls). 

It would be cool if I could see these on a fairly steady basis.  They would be a nice lower price point item for the store and I could make a little bit of pocket money. 

Patti making the UPC labels for my little guys.

Just hangin' around, lookin' for customers.

The fanciest Tooky I have ever made.

One of my early Tooklets.

I like this display situation for now.

 Tookies are $5 and Tooklets are $10.

Stop by the Northville Art House Store sometime -- regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 1-5 p.m.  Call (248) 344-0497 for information.