I'm Such a Toad

Me, 65 x 16 x 10"

Yes, I have been a bit quiet lately. That usually means I am not in the best of moods. I try not to come to the blog in a wet blanket funk. So, I just keep to myself.

I have purchased the most recent copy of Artful Blogging magazine. I was hoping it would give me a lift. There are so many articles by bloggers that tell of how blogging has changed their lives. They meet so many people through the internet and then in real life. They refuse to share the negative aspects of their lives. Their blogs are bulging with poetry, photos and arty tutorials. They are fun to visit. But this fun does not seem to rub off on me. Why can't I be consistently witty, or fun, or bubbly, or optimistic?

One of these recent articles is written by Malka Dubrawsky, whose A Stitch in Dye blog is one of the several that I follow. She encourages fellow bloggers to be themselves and not self-censor themselves.

Don't second-guess everything you say or upload because you're worried that it's not serious, or witty, or sophisticated enough. Let your readers get to know you, warts and all.

I've been feeling very warty lately.

I feel that if I explain all of these warts that, you too, reader, will catch these warts. Isn't that one of those nature rumors -- that if you touch a warty toad, you will get warts.

I will share the largest of the warts with you. . .










O.K. so I did type it all out. Then I deleted it. It had to do with loneliness and lack of support from those closest to me. I went to re-read it and, well, it was too warty.

I'm now off to make some fudge for my dad for his birthday. Then I have to run some errands to get some things for my daughter. I guess my next warty post could discuss lack of studio time. Perhaps one of my errands should be to find some wart remover.

Signs of the Times XV and XVI

Signs of the Times XV, 6 x 6"

Signs of the Times XVI, 6 x 6"

Here are the two newest.

Signs of the times XV contains text cut from my favorite vintage book of city maps. The information is about Akron, Ohio, former rubber (as in tire) capitol of the United States. The map is from a vintage textbook of New Towns.

I believe the text in XVI is from the same textbook. I love those plastic letters. I did not purchase them for this purpose, but there they are. Perhaps I will have to find another set if I choose to actually sew them onto my pieces. I really need an excuse to surf Ebay.

These pieces are now for sale on Etsy.

It's A Small World . . .

Whee! We just came back from a trip to Disney World!

Aside from the bruising around my ankles from a multitude of collisions with strollers, I must say I had a wonderful time. Aside from the "Small World" song filling my head.


Yes, I was convinced to ride It's a Small World. The song definitely creeps into every crack, crevice, and orifice of one's self. Yet, it is a beautiful ride. So much great artwork from the 1960's. I could ride it over and over. With earplugs.


Epcot was incredible. So many lands. So little time. So close together. And a very clean Morocco.

Anyway, I'm not going into a travelogue here. Just wanted to let you know where I've been. Now I'm back to the land of ice and snow. Laundry and errands. And perhaps a little bit of studio time.

I wonder if I'll be able to get back into my darkish series. Am I now going to want to use pastels and princess sparkles? Mickey ears? Chipmunks and bunnies? Never.

Signs of the Times XIII and XIV

Signs of the Times XIII, 6 x 6"

Signs of the Times XIV, 6 x 6"

Signs of the Times XIII contains bits of map from a "new" town called Green Hills in Ohio. Signs of the Times XIV contains a map of San Diego. Perhaps I should check these places out on Google Maps.

I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't seek out a 12-step program to get myself off of Google Maps. I'm going to rationalize the whole thing by stating that I do not play facebook games. I do not have Wii, I am not a constant texter. Therefore, I have plenty of time to spend on Google Maps. I'm still considering it research.

I escorted a friend up to my studio yesterday. I proudly showed her my recent supply acquisitions, one of which was a vintage map of New York City. I now have a commission to look forward to using that map. Its been so long since I've done a piece with anyone else in mind.

I'm off to hack into that map. I find chopping up vintage items easier and easier. Nothing is safe from me and my scissors anymore.

These pieces are now available on Etsy.

Gray

Way too gray today.

The winters in central PA are grim. Cold and gray. Today is no exception.

My morning consisted of driving through the gray to the dentist's office. After some numbing and being roughed up for an hour, I drove home through the gray. Happy to be in my house. I'm going to turn on all of the lights and turn on some happy music.

Since it is overcast (a happier way to put it?), I will photograph some of the newer pieces today.

Perhaps I will take a little trip on GoogleMaps. For some reason it is always spring and summer in Google world. I'm off to take a visit. Think I'll visit the west coast today. Perhaps Portland or Seattle (where it will be gray?).

Photos soon.

Signs of the Times XI and XII

Signs of the Times XI, 6 x 6"

Signs of the Times XII, 6 x 6"

I have now completed 20 in the Signs of the Times Series. I have only photographed up to 12.

Both of these pieces contain squares cut from a vintage map of downtown Buffalo, NY. They are now for sale on Etsy.

I'm going to try some new colors for the next four in the series. Here they are in progress.



I'm hoping the ideas will keep coming. So far, so good.

Place

Image from www.constructscenery.co.uk

Everybody needs a place. Their place. It does not have to be a private place. This place could be under the clock at Grand Central Station. A person must be able to be themselves in this place. Unless they are looking to be someone else in this place, but that is another story.

I think my place would be a coffee shop. Not a hard-edged Starbucks. But a homey kind of place. It could even be one of those chains. I fell in love with Caffe Nero while in London and Oxford. But there's nothing like it in my neck of the woods. There are a couple of coffee shops in town, but after exploration, I know that neither could be my place.

I want my place to be just a couple of blocks from my house. A place I would be willing to walk to on even a snowy or rainy day. Perhaps this place would be next to other places. A clothing shop, antique store, old movie theater, restaurant, florist. I may not even need anything from these other places. I just need their presence. I just need to know that if I want them, they are mine.

I think that most people crave intimate places. Wouldn't most people choose the cozy coffee shop over the airplane-hanger-like coffee shop? The small movie house over the 12-stall cineplex? A small bistro with a fireplace over a vast Hard Rock Cafe? A bench in a pocket-sized park over a monolithic fountain in a concrete plaza?

Everybody does not have to know my name in my place. But it would be nice if somebody would recognize me and say hello. I would not have to feel superior and important at my place. But I do not want to feel little and lost.

I have not found my place yet.

Have you found your place? Where is it?