Birds, Book, Calvin Klein is Still a Prick

Birds

These are my two newest birds, available on Etsy. They are both 6.5 x 4.5" and are $26.00. There are at least two more to come this week. My Etsy shop will be well stocked soon, as I will be adding a new house quilt (as soon as I can name it), three 10 x 10" pieces, and pieces from my Ebay store which I am closing down.

I spent an hour or so this past Saturday at our local antiques mall looking for more vintage books. No luck. I did find a seller on Etsy just a few minutes ago. It's difficult to buy a vintage book without actually seeing it, smelling it, and feeling the pages. But I have no choice. So new inspiration for these little quilts will be coming in the mail soon.

Book

As I was suspecting, the next chapter in Eat, Pray, Love has left me unsatisified. Unlike the completely enjoyable Italy chapter, this one leaves me feeling inadequate. I am not as enlightened as our dear writer. I have not come close to meeting God. Or course, I haven't been trying. Apparently, it takes vast amounts of work. You must leave your life behind, head to India, and live in an Ashram for months at a time. I have a feeling that there's a load of people in this world that aren't gonna be finding God anytime soon.

Mediation is the word of the day here. For hours. I did not feel sorry for our dear author when her mantra was not working for her. She selected a new one. Seemed to work. I do have a feeling that I'm probably not the only person who felt somewhat repelled by this chapter. Sure, meditate away if that is what does it for you. But I have a feeling the majority of this world's residents just don't have that kind of time, nor the money to run away to find themselves. Their mantras probably relate to the economy. . . pay the bills pay the bills pay the bills.

Should I assume this is the only way. It is one way. It is also a way for someone to earn some money. Would a drumming circle give the same effect? What about just loving and hugging each other? Is it necessary to sit outside and be bitten by mosquitoes for two hours, just for the sake of doing it and getting through it?

Still, this section is not a complete loss for me. On page 178, there is a discussion on selecting your thoughts. Eliminating the bad. Ms. Gilbert mindfully repeats the thought, "I will not harbor unhealthy thoughts anymore." This is something positive to take away.

And speaking of unhealthy thoughts . . .

Calvin Klein is Still a Prick

I've done some Googling this morning and have yet to read about that sign being removed. I have yet to read an apology from Mr. Klein. Therefore, Calvin Klein is still a prick. Men of less "importance" (I say that with a snarl), have been listed on the National Sex Offender Registry. Mr. Klein does not show up on this registry. Yet. I hope that blasted sign is down by October when I go with my family to New York City. Wouldn't it be ridiculous for me to be arrested to attempting to destroy the sign?

Birds, Eating, Praying (?), Loving and Summer "Vacation"

Birds

First, here are a few new little birds.  There will be better photos in a day or so.  I'm finishing up another one, so there will be a total of six.   I love making these!  I hope the ideas will keep popping up.  I'm having such fun cutting words and phrases out of old books.  

Eat, Pray, Love

I hope I do not get sued for using those three words.

I am almost through the first section of Elizabeth Gilbert’s travels in Eat, Pray Love.  I am in love with Italy.  India and Indonesia are coming up, but I’m guessing I will not feel the same about those countries as I do about Italy.  We shall see.

So far, the book is going well for me.  I was completely expecting a self-righteous, nose-in-air, feet firmly on ground author.  You know the kind.  Someone that makes you feel nasty.  Like grease, dirt, or snot.  No, this book is written by a human.  Flaws and all.  I can relate to that.

The writing is strong.  There is no poetry here.  No flowery passages.   Nothing heart-felt, but gut-felt.  This is not a book about getting cute haircuts, coordinating handbags with Manolos, or the agony of a broken nail.  Real life happens here.  There is, however, a mention of a latte.  I guess a trendy coffee is ok now and then.

Have I been affected by this book?  Is that why people read books?  We’ll see what happens with the wrap-up.  I’m hoping to be somewhat of a different person.  I’m hoping for a little bit of an education.  At least in what NOT to do with my life.  Right now, the greatest change I want to make is to trade my Rosetta Stone French language set for a Rosetta Stone Italian language set.  I really want to curse in Italian.  My idea of fun is apparently a bit limited.  I’m hoping for some expansion in my life from this book.

Summer "Vacation"

Today is my daughter's last day of school.  I am now on vacation.  I was hoping to finish 6 little bird pieces by noon today -- I only have a couple of stitches left.  Today is cold and rainy.  NOT what I expected for the beginning of summer vacation.  Perhaps things will look up when summer is officially here.

Tomorrow, we wait for the exterminator.  Then we go to the bookstore to pick up some summer workbooks for my daughter.  She is already missing school.  She will be totally depressed by tomorrow.  What a better cure than to do some math problems.

Friday, we will go downtown and have lunch together.  Then we will go to the toy store and fondle the merchandise.  Perhaps we will put on raingear and sing and dance in puddles.  Aint much else to do.  Go to the pool?  Ha!  Not when it's 60 degrees.

Next week. summer camps start.  Something different almost every week.  Each Monday, I get to wake up in a panic and figure out when and where my kid is supposed to go.  I'll have to pack lunches and snacks, smear on sunscreen, spray on bug spray, get out the map and locate the camp.  Each afternoon I'll head out in the car and wonder where the hell my kid is and attempt to point my car in the right direction.  I miss the school bus already.

Now, I'm off to eat chocolate and be slothful.

Eating, Praying(?), Loving and Thanking

I am not in the studio today.  Last Friday I finished up four new pieces which have yet to be named and photographed.  As usual, the naming is difficult.

I spent this morning cruising blogs, cursing the computer, staring at the ceiling, and email whining to my oldest  (not age-wise, of course) blogging friend Paula.  Paula and I have done lots of bitching and complaining through emails.  I do appreciate her putting up with me.  We have been able to complain together about sales and dozens of other things I do not want to reveal here.  Like me, Paula is a self-taught artist.  Unlike me, Paula is a self-taught marketer.  When I tend to put my head down and whimper, Paula is resourceful and full of grit (that is a good thing).  She has put in a lot of time and effort to get me going.  And it takes a lot to get me going.  Paula is my own personal Wise Woman.

I do my best not to whine on my blog, although I know it still comes through at times.  And then, sometimes I rant.  Lately, it seems I have been a little quieter.  I’ve been overwhelmed at marketing myself and underwhelmed with the marketing options.  I have to calm down, gather my work and wits about me and get going.  Soon. 

Anyway, onto eating, praying, and loving. . .

When I read an artist’s blog, I like to learn as much as possible about that person, including what books they are reading.  Well, one very popular book seems to be Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.  For some reason, I would always dismiss this book by thinking, “well if everyone is reading it, I don’t want to read it.”  Makes sense, right?  I told myself today, if I found one more reference to it, I would buy it.  I found one more.

I had to go to Target again this morning.  I had a request from my daughter for kids’ gardening gloves and Magic Markers that were not all dried out.  How could I not comply with a request like that?  So there in a display at the end of the aisle was that darn book.  I bought it.  And now I’ve got to read it.

I’m usually the one who poopoos what everyone else is doing.  I usually don’t care.  Sometimes I even roll my eyes.  Those who recommend this book seem to be nice, sweet, loving, “Zen”, wholesome women.  If I hang out with anyone, it is usually the surly, sarcastic, cussin’ crowd.  But I do look over enviously at those sweet, loving, wholesome women who seem to be having a good time together.

We’ll see how well this book sets with me.  I’m probably not going into it with the best of attitudes.  Although I do love eating.  Can’t cook worth a darn, though.  As far as praying, I don’t look up to a higher power who is capable of guiding us.  I do believe in this power in each of us, just not outside of us. And love, well love is good.   I could live without eating anything but raisins, but I couldn’t live without love.

So, wish me luck on this adventure.  See if I’m a changed person at the end.  If I don’t mention this book again, well, you’ll know that I’m off reading something dark, scary and sarcastic.

Anyone else read this book that didn’t admit to it already?