Published twice this year!

I feel like I knocked it outta the park 

Two creative journals in two months!

Small California Press- Pochino Press

Much loved The Hand Magazine

Adventures

I have been adventuring and exploring and seeking inspiration.

I met my role models this last weekend

and the joy was obvious:

Find out more about this group 

HERE

A photo montage

There are too many new changes,

and not enough energy to write about them all,

so I will explain as best as I can in pictures:

this is still one of my favorite things to do

my page for a collaborative book, hidden in the background is a mantra:
"the loving are the daring"

Xander will always pose for the camera now...here he is showing what a hot day it was

Theo is camera shy, this is a favorite place for him to nap we call it the bucket

 

You have to use WHOLE eggs in matzo ball soup or it will look like this
*sigh*

I went to printers fair and drooled over letterpresses



I won an award

 

I got to burp my niece, see how scared I look.
She was kind enough to spit up on me just so I could get over my fear of being spit up on.
Reminder to not sweat the small stuff

I am still doing yoga, I can almost do floor bow like this...
except this isn't me and my boobies are bigger

Stepping out...

image via etsy

I met with a local painter I admire the other day...it was something we had been wanting to do for a while and the time finally lined up.

***

I know the painter I met with, in a casual sort of way.

You know when you are familiar with someone because you frequent their stall at farmers market, say hello and how do you do. The person you always seem to get at the coffee shop.

You know them but haven't had a meal with them kind of know.

She is someone like that.

She is amazingly talented, and making it as an artist and designer.

In all fairness she also knows me about as well too.

We are far more familiar with each others work then each other.

We agreed to meet at a coffeeshop in the town between my home and work...she told me the name,

I knew the place and agreed.

I arrived a little early because I wanted to seem cool and relaxed by the time she arrived, and so I ordered a chai, opened my current list book (book I am making to-do lists in) and relaxed.

Taking in the scene:

Be cool, you are cool enough to be here

Boy, there are a lot of yoga people here, everyone looks like models

I don't feel so cool right now

That table is talking codes and meta links, I kind of know what they are saying

Hummm that one looks like Justin Timber...

ohh I know this song, I like this album.

OK I am cool enough again

I feel like I am looking for a blind date, looking up at everyone that enters this place...

focus on your list

Sipping chai...mmmm

Wow there are a lot of laptops in here

Ohhh check out that guys mood medallion, it is huge but not overly sooo

I should try their chocolate chai next time....

What time is it?

*

Then the text came : looking forward to meeting with you today

I texted back I was waiting for her.

She said I am here where are you?

I, it turns out, was at the wrong coffee shop.

I was at the original location, she was at the newest.

I blew it!

I told her I would be there in a moment.

I gulped the top third of my chai, leaving the rest to be thrown down the drain and

my calm eroded as I walk/ran to the car three blocks away and drove to the correct location.

By the time I arrived, I was a half hour late!

ugh

Comfort zone shattered- check

I am never that late person, but today I was.

She was gracious and we ended up talking for an hour and a half.

I got to learn about her process and her other businesses, she has two others besides her painting.

It is funny to hear highly productive people say how they wish they were more organized or better at scheduling. We talked about personal goals, exchanged website inspiration and simply shared some time. We giggled with guilt at how unusual it feels to meet someone in the morning at a coffee shop, on a studio day and wondered if it fed the stereotype of what people think artists do all day.

We both then commiserated on how much work we actually do to get our work seen.

She had multiple client meetings so we visited as long as we could.

It was a good morning, didn't start out as calm as I had hoped but it ended that way.

I also know a little more about her making our next chat that much easier.

Things learned:

Triple check addresses of agreed meeting places

Be kind to yourself when things go wackadoodle, it isn't always bad

Try a chocolate chai, if you are gonna spend $5 on a drink make it a splurge

You are doing just fine...keep on keeping on

Lets start back at the begining...

*****

OK, So I am soooo very behind on posting I thought I would start by posting the posting I have been wanting to post for a long time...so we are going to time travel a little.

 

Back before my world got a little crazy, before now...way back in October I went to the LA Printers Fair. This is a fair for all things printmaking, I am in a personal geek heaven and amongst my people.

Thankfully, I am not the only one taking photos of machines, presses and printmaking type.

In fact I am only one in a crowd doing the exact same thing.
 I would go as far as to say it is expected to take pictures!

Linotype printer at work, the sounds of the machine makes me cry from sheer beauty.
Linotype makes lead slugs of lines of print, the operator types it out and the machine casts the type as he types!
Many of these machines were melted down post WWII
See one at work HERE

 

The Printmaking Museum opens its doors annually for this fair and shows off its amazing collection of old and still working presses. Believe it or not, I first heard of this museum in Carson via Huell Howser on one of his whats great about California shows...(pat on the back Huell, rest in peace)
 

I have made the trek to lovely downtown Carson twice now and it is a whole day event.

I go with a graphic design friend and she and I pack snacks and slather sunscreen and head out around 7:30am to get there by 10am when they open the gates. Not only can you see how ALL the presses work, but a far number of them are hands on demonstrations! So last year I got to print off a field press from the civil war. SOOOOOO COOLIO

 

This year it was even more packed and I am proud to say the crowd was 75% women printers!

 

The museum itself is only one part of the fair, there is also the vendor sections that run through the museum and into the back of the building and then into a large warehouse that stores, sad and forgotten presses (many are for sale at the fair) and then you file into the book arts building.

my girlfriend

 

Which houses "my girlfriend" the letterpress that I would tackle someone for.
This is one of the hands on demonstration stops and I got to print my own poster to take home...and figure out where to put.
 

This years fair had an amazing collection of printers making stationary and my pockets were lighter by the end of the day, but really, this was hardly bad, as I met some amazing fellow printmakers, introduced myself to people I was exhibiting with but had never met and got a bag full of lovely little gifts for myself, and maybe a friend or two.

Fugu Fugu press's booth

 

One of the many highlights was seeing and meeting Krank Press. I had spied their cards in the William Sonoma in Santa Barbara and was able to find out what I job like that really looks like. Owner/printmaker Elinor was very generous with describing the reality of this monumental job, the contract and a few tips on where to source a letterpress when I was ready to make the leap and had the space.

Chandler and Price floor letter presses

wooden type for sale

 

Another great inspiration was talking with Monique from Metal Doily Press she had attended the fair the year before and was so inspired she promised herself she would try and be a vendor the following year...she met her goal and in order to not overtax herself in the effort, she shared a table with a friend. Very inspiring and put that little bee in my ear and brain for this years fair.


Backwards and upside down,
I knew this skill from elementary school would come in handy someday!
(Learn, Print, Play)

1850's Proof Press
I have my eye on you my pretty!

 

All in all I was overjoyed once again after leaving, inspired and felt like I had found my tribe.
I might not be making a living yet as a printmaker, but it is for sure in my blood,
as I can not imagine a life without it.

There were too many AWESOME printmakers to mention in this post, so I invite you to check out the list of vendors and check them out one by one.
I was thrilled to meet The Library press, and Pup and Pony press, as well as ....you get the point.

 

How I spent my Thanksgiving

One month ago I tested mildly elevated for a CA125 ovarian cancer marker test.

It was considered an early warning sign for a cancer that is often diagnosed way too late.

Through the tears, I saw this as a gift and a reminder that life always offers surprises.

 

under the power of many mantras and bathed in love

 

On November 16th at 11 am I had surgery to remove the 5cm endometrioma that was causing all the commotion and concern. I knew going into the surgery that I might loose my left ovary to the disease.

I'm allergic to everything...
 

 

two hours after surgery, still a little green but walking per doctors orders
 

my swollen tummy and bruised button two days post surgery

 

My doctor was able to remove the cyst and save my ovary, she also declared that she saw nothing cancerous or cancer suspicious during the surgery. *
I can now report that all pathology came back clear...we got it in time!

 

I have experienced an OVER POURING of love, and kindness from friends and family.

I am beyond words, embarrassed from the fuss...but humbled and so so honored.

I can not thank you enough, really.

 

my oldest friend stayed with us for the first four days
She and hubby made it easier to ride the waves

 

Today marks one week since the surgery.
I have not taken a single pain pill, no need for them as there has been no pain!

I have spent it re-cooping and laying low.

My hubby has mostly convinced me that although it feels like I could sneeze or cough my innards out of my incisions, that is not the case. 

 

I have also spent a good bit of time burping and laughing.

I've got the music in me

So my adventures started back on Thursday night...I was super excited about seeing a favorite band play a really small venue in town, I had turned it into a really cool night in my head...I was conjuring up visions of  "where's fluffy"

What I ended up with instead was a really really late night and a couple of panic attacks!

There are times I am having recently where I feel like I am suddenly aware that I am the oldest person in the room. The room can be a restaurant or a bar or a venue...it has been happening more often, sadly.

I am just too cool I guess

The times for the concert were hard to find and so we arrived at 6 to eat some dinner before hand and then get into the all ages show that was suppose to start at 7pm....well 7 pm was arriving and no one else was. I snuck next door and they were doing a sound check!...I was so excited. I embarrassed hubby by dancing and peeking in the door between the sheets of concert posters posted.

It turns out doors were not  opening until 8pm.

No biggie, we sat in the car while I had a panic attack that I had left all the doors unlocked. ( I freak out about that when I stress) we went to a gallery and found it filled with children...then a coffeeshop to have a hot beverage while waiting for the doors to open.

We returned to the venue after 8pm to find a line outside, still no entry

We were quickly approached by two super cool guys who were from the bay area, one was a student and the other was days away from leaving for the Ukraine with the Peace Corps.

The tall bay area guy started to talk to us about the concert asking if we knew the opening act...at this I was shot a look from hubby. I didn't know there was an opening act I said...to which I was given a small course on how cool the band was and how they are so much like this band or that band...he spilled a list of bands out as comparisons and I knew most of them but hubs was lost and I watched his hair turn whiter in his beard.

When the ultra fan walked off, hubs turned to me and said "I don't know any of those bands, I am glad you do. Boy I feel out of it and old"

We got inside and it was already loaded and packed with the Ultra cool...we were clearly out of place!!

The super fan returned and told me that the opening band, that he was beyond stoked on, asked him to do sound check for them...he was now in orbit.

It was odd that of all the people he could have met up with outside and chatted with he chose us,

even if I was old enough to be his mother!

ignore crazed eyes...It was past my bedtime

At 9:30pm the opening band came on, Soft Moon...I was very very glad that I have become so obsessed about earplugs these days...years of post concert ringing has me wearing them in movie theatres and other music venues.

The music started and right away I could hear the similarity to their inspiration The Cure, except this band likes to play mostly in the low fidelity ranges...you know the kind that makes your heart beat differently, you feel the pressure of the sound waves all around you :

After a half an hour of it, I was starting to get concerned that I was causing some sort of damage to my brain.

I had secured two bar stools for us to sit on for the concert, and was glad for it, as this whole scene started to unfold and the people watching became more and more intense I began to laugh...really simply laugh.

I was laughing at life... it felt like I had found the secret underbelly that I had searched for all this time.

It was surreal and strange and new and EXCITING.

I watched a couple make out on the balcony overlooking the stage, I watched guys hit on girls at the bar, I made eye contact and smiled with good looking men as they walked into the scene....(some call that flirting) I watched the "pretty girls" steal seats of a couple and then act like they were theirs all a long.

I laughed when the band expressed the crowds apathetic feelings for them,

I held my ears and laughed at it all!

After a break and some more time...the band finally decided to come on stage at 10:50pm!!

I was an old lady by then, I had been up since 5:30am, worked all day and rushed to get food and to the venue in time.

At the break I bitched to my hubby, that they were being DIVAS and that I was disappointed it took so long to see them....I felt myself age as I said these words.

When the band began to play we left our seats and moved the the balcony for a better view. The band was, um... lets say....slow...and flat...and we stayed for three songs and then left for home.

I was so excited when this had all started and so jazzed when I heard the sound check earlier...but when they finally had their moment in the sun with me...they blew it.

Speaking of blowing it, remind me to tell you about the time I met Mary Ellen Mark....one of my photo influences

As we left we passed a burger bar and saw two people eating a handful of hamburger, my mouth watered and I got sad that they don't have late night veggie burger joints.

*note to self add that to my list of lottery winnings ideas

The following day had me feeling like a zombie, and realizing that I am not 20 any longer I can not be the noctural and daytime person anymore.

Friday was work and most of Saturday too, and then Sunday we drove 5hours to spend 5 hours with dear friends. We seem to be getting really good at that! Whirlwind road trips to spend time with friends or family.

It was worth it and I took a bunch of pics

My latest adventure was last night...at the urging of my sweetie, who is all about getting me to enjoy myself, I earned "passenger status" and sent text messages to some friends.

I am sorry but I hope they were amusing, they amused me!