Dizzy

I started writing a really long post about the last few days...but it seemed too word laden...so instead I will post a small album of images instead...I am a visual story teller anyways....
I am dizzy from trying to process all that has happened in the last couple of days.

front window as viewable from the street.

When I got my first glimpse I fought back tears of extreme joy and thanks

a lull in the crowd

two people looking at two of my three images at the show

Impressive as they needed to wait to get this view.

the next morning I scrubbed what was left of my mascara off my cheeks

and spent the morning at a holiday boutique at my husbands work.

I sold these little terrariums, necklaces and paper goods

The sea on the way home to two more art openings!

It was so striking, I stopped and took a deep breathe of the sea air and watched the gulls play in the wind

"One Night Stand"

an impromptu one night show of the printmaking from the Inkspots of Ventura

at Project 643 space

Some of the artwork for sale at the VITA benefit

Christmas trees being delivered to Home Depot....

I had never seen this happen before, I always see them all lined up in lots but never right off the train container and to the shop. I was struck by it.

Conversations with myself this week

Incoming storm clouds from my patio

So this week has been kind of weird, and I think it all started last weekend....

I had every intention of simply staying home and printing all weekend long. The forecast called for rain and I love the hermitting that rain causes for me.

Like a Sunday morning, laying on the couch reading the newspaper with a cat curled up on my lap encourages me to nap. Simple as that.

Well I got off to a rough start and it bumped along that way the rest of the weekend!

Friday night I did my gallery crawl with the hubby. The first Friday of the month is open gallery night and all the galleries stay open late, SB does it on Thursdays....well this last Friday had a an opening I wanted to see. The VITA Art Center had their March show that focused on the achievements of women. It was a great show and really well attended. I always love to see what people do with a theme (I didn't get my act together in time to meet the deadline for the show)

Art quilts, paintings, assemblage it is all there and beautiful!

The Avenue was buzzing with people at the galleries, I was most struck by the quiet of the panaderias after dark. So lovely.

nighttime Mexican bakery

Saturday got away from me distractions and all...and that afternoon I was headed to the Spring Art show, and the sky opened up and it started to pour! I meandered off to Summerland, but I really just wanted to hermit.
I had an opening to attend so I went...
but as I left I saw a partially naked man walking up the street in the freezing rain (well cold for CA) and I tried to take a picture all casually, but I think he saw me and then he was watching me and it freaked me out...so I locked the doors on the car and drove away.

nearly naked man

I mean he was on a public street and mostly naked for goodness sake! What else should I have done.

Another well attended gallery show at Montecito Frame and Gallery, even on a wet afternoon

I mean water was falling from the sky people!

I spent the rest of Saturday working on my latest Lino under a UV light and continued Sunday morning...then spent all Sunday afternoon printing artist proofs that became an edition.

My latest Linocut, I think I am calling it "Irving"...but that might change as it sits with me.

This is the third in my new series on Fading Memories I am feeling happy with them so far.

Sunday night was Oscars and I stopped working so I could watch. I invited a friend over so we could have a
loud and open dialog with the television and critique the fashion on the red carpet and speeches.

Wheat beer with lemon

Monday kind of sucked, so I got a beer after work with the hubby and some co-workers.

The bar served popcorn with drinks and although I am usually not a fan of popcorn

(I am a little OCD about the whole kernel thing)

It tasted good with the fresh beer and I went with it.

On the way back to the car, I passed a homemade Virgin of Guadalupe shrine.

I love this element of my local culture, although I do not ascribe to the same beliefs, I respect and love these homemade tokens of love and protection.

Miss Gabirella

We got to take our Goddaughter to school this week.

We got to hear her tell us that "I'm really not that awake yet" and listen to her sing and laugh as we passed yawns back and forth.

Dropping her off at school was sort of sad....it will be several days before I get to see her again.

But it made me realize that my week was gonna get much better.

December is happening

Have had a busy month and I am only at the 11th day!

The month started out with new work being delivered to the studio space we have a First Friday here in town and our group makes sure to hang new work every month for this event.

Then onto a holiday fair inside a secured building! It is a brilliant idea...this business has a holiday shop open up inside their offices so that the employees can shop while not having to drive anywhere.

My scrabble tile necklaces were a hit...not only that but I got to meet some amazing new local artists and bakers!

Next was the VITA art center reception for their "Anonymous Show" that benefited the youth art scholarship program. It was really well attended and many of the pieces sold right away.

although I am not suppose to tell you...mine is the woman image the ladies are looking at

(top row, fourth over from the left)

It was a long day but great people watching!

Now is the holidays and with all the sewing and crafting and artmaking I have been doing for other events I am very ready to settle into making art for me!

My goal of making donations to KIVA and Heifer Intl is still a slow one, but I really believe in them and have already made donations to both ahead of time hoping to be able to make some more as time passes.