Lancaster Indie Arts First Group Show

This dog is jumping for joy because Lancaster Indie Arts is having its first group show, "Dog Days of Summer", which we hung up today!


LIA members pictured left to right include myself, Katy, Rachel, Cinda, Maggie, Debbie, and Ann. Missing from picture is Deirdre who was busy teaching. Everyone's art will be in the show, and for more information please check out my blog post from July 6th.

Knee frustrations.

My knee is still sore, and this really bugs me. It still crunches, but I agree with my PT - something about it seems better than it was. We're apparently going to really "step it up" during PT next week, and "wail on it" to build strength in my quads. Seeing as I am a weirdo and I love this kind of thing, I'm looking forward to it. I just want to get better so I can become a better skater, pass my skills assessment, get my skater name, and start learning contact.

Until then, I'll be skating casually at open skates to build up my leg muscles, and taking it as easy as I can stand to during practices. From what I'm told, tendinitis (that spelling seems so wrong) seems like a "nagging, annoying condition", but it can get really bad if I ignore it and try to work through the pain. This reminds me so strongly of mono - I'd have periods where I felt *fine*, but could in fact rupture my spleen if I did anything remotely physical. While I don't feel fine, I feel better, but I can't overdo it like I want to. Dammit.

Argh. I wish I had a ray gun with which I could just zap away the pain.

King George

This is a close up of a small art quilt that I did. It features bits of vintage textiles and various buttons in addition to an old children's playing card from a game called "Snap". Although not shown in this photo, the piece hangs from a small branch wrapped with more vintage fabric. The words on the card read: "What if this branch should snap? Well! You know, I'm a reckless chap." Anyone care to guess why I called this reckless monkey-boy "King George"?

Mixed Media Art Quilt

Molasses Update

I am so happy to report that Mo is doing much better today! By yesterday evening, she was so weak and tired she just slept and slept. We were unable to give her water, due to her being unable to keep it down, but she looked so dehydrated, that I would put just a few drops in her mouth every half hour or so. Throughout the night I would awake, making sure she was still okay, as she lay at the foot of the bed. This morning I awoke bright and early anxious to get her to the vets first thing. She still looked compleately drained, lying on the bed. But, miraculously about 45 minutes later, while I was still waiting for the vets office to open, she jumped out of bed, stretched, waged her tail, and galloped down the steps, anxious to start the day. I felt like I had just witnessed Lazarus' awakening. By the time we got her to the vets, she was looking the picture of health! What a relief, but what a mystery. The vet is as stumped as we are. More tests, and more meds, but for now we are doing good. And you can't ask for much more than that!

Molasses Boodil

This is our beloved dog, Molasses Boodil, the greatest dog on the face of the planet. We call her Mo for short, along with apx. 100 other various nick-names, (including Silly Boodilly) and she answers to every one. On Halloween she enjoys dressing up as a pirate, or as her alter ego, Spike Plaploski. At Christmas she eagerly opens all of her presents, and will try to open everyone elses if she feels they are going too slowly. Molasses adores her toys, walks, car rides and most of all belly rubs. She has great disdain for cats, but is very gentle with all the wild bunnies that visit our yard. She knows an amazing array of tricks, and loves to be the center of attention, but is never annoying or pushy... not her style...she is one cool dog.

We got her when she was still a pup, seems like yesterday but it was 10 years ago already. She was a runaway, that the pound picked up one day as she was hiking down the road. Covered with ticks, and full of buck shot. Yep, someone actually shot her repeatedly with BB's. you can feel them under her skin, mostly on her back legs, but other places as well. an x-ray of her one paw shows a BB and the unset bone that healed from the wound, but left her paw to flip out a bit at a funny angle. Despite her early months, when she was on her own, she is a model of forgiveness, reminding me with her gentle disposition and big brown eyes of one of my favorite quotes, " Forgiveness is the sweet sent of the violet that still clings to the heel that crushed it."

Molasses has made us laugh, or brought our hearts to near bursting with love every single day since we were blessed with her. I am feeling at a loss because she keeps getting sick this last month and a half. And so far no one can figure out what is causing it. She will be fine and dandy for days or weeks even, then all of a sudden gets really sick, over and over. Tomorrow we will take her to the vets again, third time in 6 weeks. I hope the third time is the charm and they can figure out what is going on. And I pray that it isn't anything serious. I just want her to feel better, and to live forever... and to know how much I love her.

BEAN SMASH

We did some off skates blocking tonight. I could do that all day and all night and feel totally satisfied. GOD I like smashing into people. I'm really, really looking forward to being solid enough on eight wheels (and passing the necessary skills assessments after MASSIVE amounts of practice on my own) to be able to do that on skates.

I really think I'm sick in the head. I can't even begin to describe how much I liked that. The more I bashed into people (and even when I was bashed into by much bigger girls) the happier I got. It was like a weird little light turned on inside me.

Holy crap, do I have problems.

Hot off the Press!

Somerset Studio

Three pieces of my artwork were choosen to be included in the "Expressions" section of the current issue of Somerset Studio. (July/August 2007). Pictured along with my 3 pieces, ( which are the top two and the bottom right) is the artwork of Kristen Robinson, (bottom left). The theme for this issue was "Natured Preserved". It is always a thrill to see one's artwork published, and I encourage anyone who is interested to try submitting to some of the wonderful art and craft publications that are being published today! You can often find submission guidelines, and any current themes or challenges in the magazine itself, or go online to their web sites where the guidelines will be posted.

HandCrafted

I was delighted when Stampington and Company choose to reprint one of my articles and some of my artwork in their newest edition of "HandCrafted", (vol.3, pages 163 to 165). The article is on making small memory boxes, shrines and/or keepsakes from small altered tins. It originally appeared in their 2004 Autumn publication of Legacy. Some lovely artwork from other artists who contributed to this article, such as Glenda Bailey's round tin pictured in the upper left hand corner, appear as well. Be sure to check it out!

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo

This morning started off with a fun treat when my husband came home after running a few errands and told me to grab my camera, he had something to show me. Off we went down the road, me giddy with anticipation, wondering what he had come across on his travels. About two miles from our house, I spotted his surprise!

I adore, ( As my husband knew I would) this marvelous new road side addition, smack dab out in the country, overlooking farmfields and rolling hills. It will make me smile everytime I get to drive past it!

"Dog Days of Summer" Art Exhibit

I am excited to announce that the Lancaster Indie Arts group, which I am proud to be a member of, will be having their first group showing! A themed show entitled " The Dog Days of Summer". Above is our show announcement, (just click on the image to see it larger) that was designed by LIA's Magdalen C. Mowery, and featuring our new logo designed by LIA's Ann Kimmich. Pictured clockwise starting in the upper left hand corner is artwork by; Rachel-Marie, Deirdre Foley Citro, Deborah S. Serdy, Cinda Collins, Victoria Gertenbach, and Magdalen C. Mowery. Above the announcement is pictured one of my pieces that will be appearing in the show. Show runs from August 1st until September 1st, with an artist reception on Friday August 10th from 7-9pm. The Gallery exhibiting the show is State if the Art Custom Framing & Gallery, located at 1945 State St., East Petersburg, Pa. 17520. For more information call the gallery at (717) 581-0767. If you are in the area, please be sure to drop by and see this diverse and fun show!

Aprons

I am so happy that there seems to be a renewed interest in aprons. They are extremly fun, fashionable and practicle! Terriffic for quickly adding alittle zing to plain old jeans, or an ordinary skirt. These two flower print aprons were made from a never before used vintage bedsheet from the 1960's.