I've GOT some catching up to DO!

Ed and I are on the MOVE!

I am never sure how much I want to reveal about myself or others on my BLOG. After the election Ed and I agreed to put our home back on the market (Indiana went through and re-assessed some, not ALL homes and by re-assessing them it changed the amount of tax we pay into our escrow every month.) At first we feared our house payment would increase an additional $1000- a month. Then the governor put a freeze on it and we waited to see what would happen. The freeze was lifted some things were worked out and our payment went up an additional $500- a month. Well $500- or $1000- it is more than we can pay and I do not want to be so burdened by a house that in the end it is owning us. So we are MOVING. There will be a new owner and I am sure he will love and take care of this house. In the end we never really own a home we just take care of it for awhile.

So, today, after my tireless Mother and I organized and threw out and packed away my studio for over a month. Some of my friends and family came over and we packed up 11 loads of STUDIO and GARAGE in 16 degree weather with snow on the ground and moved it to our new place. I actually have a studio in the house now. I never thought I would be so happy to have it that way. Mine had been outside and I found that when it was late at night, cold, snowy, raining or storming I didn't want to go out there. I longed for running water and privy.

My great friend and artist Kristina from Duluth, MN (was in town) (lucky her), her MOM, and our friend Kathy, My buddy and artist pal Mike, my Marine nephew who has more positive energy then anyone I know Mark, my step dad Jim who is always there for us and my Mom SWEET SUE who I depend on for so many things and is always there for me. Missing from this picture is one of my favorite neighbors Mary, My brother Roger who hooked up my washer and dryer and my husband Ed who was inside preparing lunch. Ed is a big old NERD who doesn't do manual labor very well. I learned that early on when I had the power tools and he had good cookware and too many books to count.

They were all a great help and I couldn't have done it without them. Many thanks!
Other things this week HUGE Icicles at our old place.
Another sweet shot of our stinky dog LUCY! Again, the cutest little Basset in all the WORLD. Laying on all of Mommas pillows. My friend Lori said she would give her dog a kidney if he needed one. I feel the same way.


I hate that I have almost been too busy to blog. I will look forward to keep packing and moving over the next week and a half. Then the nesting begins it is like a clean slate just waiting for me. I am even going to paint some furniture. Something I haven't made time for in a long while.

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

So, there is this new CRAZY Act going into effect in February. Lori McDonough of Fresh Picked Whimsy has written about it and here is her link http://freshpickedwhimsy.typepad.com/fresh_picked_whimsy/2009/01/did-you-know.html#comments

This is the link to the Forbes article.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

Candice Hartsough McDonald from Cordial Kitten has written about this on her blog too.

My husband is a Libertarian (it is rubbing off) and this Legislation is an example of what Libertarian's are fighting against. If you read the Forbes article the only Congressman who voted against this Act was Ron Paul, from Texas with major Libertarian leanings. The Lib's believe is smaller government which this is a HUGE example of what goes wrong when there is BIG government. As crafts people we can not survive with Big Brother breathing down our neck. I understand not having lead paint on a toy that a Large TOY manufacturer has imported from CHINA. That should of been the ACT pure and simple. But, extending it to craftspeople and thrift stores is SINFUL. I was listening Neal Bortz on the radio and he talked about this ACT at length one night said it was ABSURD. I say keep on keepin' on. If the government comes up with jobs for people to go to art fairs and surf etsy to sniff out these crocheting criminals we should all apply. This kind of thing makes me want to make children's GOODS. I say mark your items with a TAG that reads. INTENDED FOR ADULT USE ONLY. Nuff said. :(

(The BEAR (made by a craftsperson from KY) is handmade, expensive purchase for me. They were made with the collector in mind and not intended for small children. Although, say you were well off and wanted to buy this for a small child you would, could.)

I got them!

My friend Lori McDonough is one busy GIRL! She is featured in a magazine this month, her book is coming out soon and a rubber stamp company picked up her designs. These are the ones I bought and they just arrived yesterday. They are so cute. She has a great whimsical STYLE. I am going to give the P,B &J to my niece Jennifer who is in her Senior year as an Education Major. Anyway, check out Lori's blog if you haven't already. www.freshpickedwhimsy.typepad.com

Well it is confirmed 100%

I recieved my postcard offically stating that Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion has ceased publication. Of course the postcard also states that I am currently recieving Martha Stewart Living which I am not. I have in the past but I am just not feeling it for Martha anymore. With Home Companion I loved the artist features and the everyday joe-types showing us how they decorate. I will truly miss this magazine. I always felt like anyone of my artsy friends could of been in that mag. In fact the last issue featured Penelope Dullaghan, artists and designers on our radar. She is a native Hoosier that once worked in the Ad agency down the block from the little shop I owned and frequently stopped in and visited with me. She has gone on to do great things http://www.illustrationfriday.com/ In the article there is a photo collage of the Mass Ave area even showing the grocery store where I shop at on a sometimes aily basis. Oh well enough. Something great will take its place. Does anyone remember when Mary Emmerling had a magazine? I was so sad when that one ended too. I felt it was way before it's time. Sniff Sniff. So I will end this BLOG posting with wonderful photo of another piece of Robbie's collection. About the photo: These are wonderful dolls by Rosemary Huff who is from KY and the last I heard she stopped making them to sell. She got a day job. Boo Hoo. I do have one. I will show her later.

Robbie's COLLECTIONS

I went to Louisville to help my friend Robbie Moriarty (artist) with some computer work. Her house is like a Outsider Art Gallery - Folk Art Museum. She has the best artwork mostly from Midwest artists. I have about 20 photos to share on my BLOG of her collection. This is the first.

Stryofoam Project - DONE!

Okay...my New Years Resolution was to do challenges for Somerset Studio. The first challenge is to CREATE something from Stryofoam. In the past I have used Styrofoarm as an armature along with paper, wire, dowel rods and Celluclay. This time I racked my brain for one great idea and I am still not sure this was the right one.

The back story is: when the FRINGE festival was here in Indianapolis this summer. Ed and I housed a couple of performers who were from Austraila. Rani, wore a little bright RED hat and was cute as a button. Inspired by this I had planned to make a series of HATS out of cardboard and fabric. When this challenge arose I decided to make one from Styrofoam. NOTE: The hat looks way better on a real sized head with hair (my Mom wore it for a breif moment).

So, here goes. I bought a block of foam and a foam circle and carved it to the size and shape I wanted it. Papered it with gel medium, painted it 2 different colors of red and stained it with black. Dotted in with off white paint and then used brown stain on top of that. I have to say it is not a material I want to or like to use. So this a was a challenge. I also feel like I over embellished it. OW.

I adorned it with vintage ribbons, black netting, red glitter wire and a pretty bird. I hope I don't miss the deadline but it is boxed and ready to go. Again, we will see.