I am working on a new painting. This one with tall, skinny, waving buildings with hats. Party hats as a matter of fact. I have this thing for drawing structures occupied by humans and I like them with something on top. Like peaked roofs or hats or spiralling antennas. I am not sure when I will get this done, maybe after the B&B show. It is only 12"x18" but I am going to pack a lot of color and texture in it.

I heard a political pundit today say that Hillary Clinton supporters were " rubbed raw " by this primary and I agree. While it has been exciting, remarkable and amazing; I am sad that the end is near. I am in such a quandry of emotion that yesterday someone had stuck an OBAMA '08 sticker on the Farmer's Market poster in the lobby and I agressively ripped it down and tossed it in the trash. It is not that I do not like Obama; it's that I like Hillary Clinton better and you bet, I am rubbed raw! Raw emotions, that is! Good night and have a very pleasant tomorrow, Lois

new works in progress

The packing is done and everything has shipped to Bead & Button so knock wood, it will be there on Friday and I will be there on Tuesday. Whew! Now maybe just for this evening, I can relax a bit and play around with little projects I have wanted to finish for awhile. Jacob rode his bike today 25 miles during the school's bike a thon fund raiser. Their goal was to raise $1200 for school supplies. I don't know yet if they made it but I do know that after the 5th mile; Jacob fell and tore open his knee. It probably needs stitches or at least crazy glue but he is too wriggly to try it! I made hime take a hot bath to fix him up. It is kind of creepy though staring into the hole in his knee. " Look ma, I kin see his innerds! "

In honor of finishing the packing of 11 boxes to B&B; I am posting a picture of a bead embroidered brooch I am working on. I think she is beautiful in her finery!

Sweet dreams - Lois

Stupid is as Stupid Does!

This image was emailed to me and I think it says a lot without really meaning to. HA HA ! Good grief! Good night! Lois

Memorial Day

On this day of remembrance, I am thinking of my father who died in 1983 and the service he gave his country. I do not know much about his time in the SeaBees during WWII except that he went to Japan to rebuild immediately after the war. I am honored by the service he gave his country, honored by the service from both my husbands as they were also in the Navy during war and peace times. My wish for this day would be that no other mother's child, man or woman, would ever, ever have to fight in a war or battle again.

I also want the retired and disabled service members to get the very best medical care and never have to want for this care. We need to provide for them. I hope in my lifetime, another veteran never has to live on the streets again or die from neglect or poor medical care.

Above all on this day of thanks, prayer and remembering; I want peace on this planet forever more.

Lois

Spectacularly Pretty Day!

It was a beautiful day but you will just have to take my word for it as I have no photos for proof. Spending the whole day working in the shop, I just don't get around to taking pictures! Everything was swell today ... customers were in a fine and friendly mood, Gina and I snuck away for a lunch not in her restaurant and I had a bowl of fresh bing cherries waiting for me when I got home this evening, I do love cherries and Jacob is sitting here with me in the studio right now saying, " let's go watch most outraegeous moments on TV and eat cherries. I hate to tell him this but it is way past time for him to be asleep! Anyhow, I leave/lead with a picture of Jacob watching TV in my room practicing to be a teenager!
Lord love a duck tonight!!!! Lois

A Follow-up.

I think that finally I have finished the painting that I first posted on this blog back in March. At that time I showed you just the underpainting of the piece. Now it is loaded with texture and color and pattern. I don't get as much time as I would like to work on my paintings so I think this absence has made me work slower. I like all the images in this piece.

A fun afternoon today, buying beads from Nita. Lots of beads for the shop. I probably will stash them though for a few years and bring them out much later when they for sure will seem new. Great dinner with Phil and Jake at Fiesta Jalisco in Port Hadlock. Jacob loves that mexican pizza! As for me, I am making a date with Harrison Ford this weekend! xxoo, Lois

Terrific Gift

My stepdaughter, Paula and her family gave me an absolutely fabulous mother's day gift; one that shows they truly understand my love for PT and retail business. They sent a lovely card with wonderful pictures of the four kids included and a $15.00 check for me to spend on my local economy! I spent it on this vintage felt from Joan and Eve's shop, Edge to Edge. I am going to use it to spell out the word " charms " to make yet another banner for my booth. I love making the banners and keeping my fingers crossed here; I should have it done for B&B.

Many thanks and much love to Paula, Nathan and the kids! The best gift ever! xxoo, Lois

Sunday, Sunday

I am working like mad for the Bead & Button show! Trying to get together charms, jewelry and bead treasures that no one else will have. I also have to plan ahead of course, to what projects I am taking on the trip with me. What knitting? Which journal? Which sketchbook? Maybe Andrea will even let me post to my blog from her computer since I never travel with mine.

I am just going to post a couple of blooming pictures for you because I never get tired of seeing the things growing in my yard! Oh, and the little playhouse behind the flowering apple tree? That is going to be my new planting shed. Phil has aready hung cabinets in them for me! After these three hot days here and all the rain before that; EVERYTHING is growing like crazy! Very pretty! Especially my moundof wallflowers. I will someday make a charm of them. xx00, End the war now, Send the troops home! Lois

Too Tired to Make Sense Tonight

I am pretty tired at the moment and my ancient yet soft, deep mattress is calling me. The heat of the day has wiped me out, zapped all my energy and is sending me quickly off to dreamland. I thought I would post a picture of Phil, Jacob and their friend and fellow Paws 'n Claws member, Mikhalia, as they were dressed in their 50's clothes to walk in the annual Rhododendron parade. M had on her poodle skirt of yards of very warm felt, poor kid, and instead of the poddle; it had a cat on it. Meow! Jake and Phil were dressed like surfers from California in the '50's except they decided it was too hot to carry boogie boards. Aren't they all just fabulous!!!?

Just when life seems really busy and all we can think about is the next project that lies ahead; the universe and spirits that be send us a message to slow down and be grateful and remember life is short and precious. Live as if there is no tomorrow because none of us were promised that tomorrow!

I am particularly grateful this morning for the handsome Harrison Ford who looks as yummy now as he did 20 years ago in the last Indianna Jones! Whoa baby!

Have a terrific day ... NOW! xxoo, Lois

Where has the time gone? the last few days since I posted have just flown by and every moment has seemed filled with activity! I am getting sleepy just thinking about it all! Our weather is changing for a few days and we are due for some HOT, HOT temperatures. We, here in the great western half of Washington state have a very small comfort zone. It is supposed to be near 90 degrees so we will moan and complain like there is no tomorrow! We want a little sun and temps in the mid 70's. Like I said, a small comfort zone that happens to be very specific!
This sweet book, written by a very nice woman, Danielle Fox, has some of my silver charms in it. She has even given me credit for the pieces in the back of the book! I could not be more excited to have my work in a book! A book!! Books are awesome and can live on forever!

Way to go Hillary Clinton! Great West Virginia win! Women for a change!

From Out of the Past

This is a pen and ink sketch from a zillion years ago when I was younger and still drew a lot of self portraits as a way to examine my life both inner and outer. I must have been in my 30's and I called the piece, " Some Flower ". It was for a postcard I did for one of my solo gallery openings. The young me was and the old me is still, in love with crows, sunflowers and big eyeglasses! HA HA ! Honestly, I have had a sweet lazy day and a wonderful long conversation with Howard ( Justin to everyone else! ), a Happy Mother's Day call from Michael, gifts, chocolates, roses and breakfast from Phil and Jacob and 30+ minutes to lounge and read the Sunday papers - all of it! HAppy Mother's Day to all the women who have nurtured not only their own children but other women through friendship. xx00, Lois

A Bead and Button Preview

This is a necklace of lampworked venetian white hearts, wire wrapped sterling and some cast pieces. I have also used one of my favorite toggles and made it long enough to wrap around a neck twice. Today I oxidized it and then ground or sanded a not so shiny finish on the surface. It is one of my favorite and latest ways to finish sterling. I have much more B&B work to do but everyday I feel I am making progress. I think the toggle has sort of a Hawaiian flavor. It reminds me of hibiscus flowers for some reason.

My cold is feeling better although I would probably be good and sick if I had not wimped out and vegged quietly for a couple of days! Lots of naps and chocolate chip cookies! Now if I only had 2 more weeks to get the show on the road!! xxoo, Lois

One More Thing ...

When I left Beckett Point here in Port Townsend and moved on after living in my 450 square foot cabin for the better part of 19 years; I knew I was leaving a part of my life that was encompassed by the beach, saltspray, vegetable gardens and lots of cats. It was a bittersweet move and one I had to do to save my life. I also knew that I was leaving a place in time that had brought me not only some happy days but little gifts of nature that I could not leave. I went to Auntie Evelyn's cabin at Beckett Point one cold afternoon shortly before she passed away and quickly, without being seen or noticed; pulled up by the roots a handfull of the wall flowers that grow wild at the Point. It is the only flower that seems to be able to thrive down there. I lost a lot of the plants ( I mean who pulls flowers from the ground by the roots and expects them to live? ) but after many years of carefully yet distinctively ingnoring them; they are GROWINING and FLOWERING and TAKING OVER my garden by the studio!!! I could not be happier about all this! They are the brilliant rich oranges and yellows that fill my drawings and paintings. The color soaked flowers that make my heart leap with the lust of earthy firey plants! What a sap I am all over these flowers. Tomorrow I will take a picture of my complete garden bursting with these plants and you will see more of their energy than the little begining I have pictured here. xxxxoooo, Lois

Cinco de Mayo! Happy day or rather what is barely left of it! I spent the morning in the studio and the rest of the day snoozing away because I have managed to catch Jacob's cold and all I want to do is sleep! I shouldn't complain though, I haven't had a cold all winter! Here is a sneak preview of some of the vintage lucite leaves I have been dying in my kitchen. I have made a real alchemy of mysterious dyes and colors but I think these greens are some of the most exciting I have ever come up with! Press on - Bead & Button is only 3 weeks-ish away and will not wait for any cold of mine! Goodnight, Lois

Just a Quick Hello as I ....

Mmmm ... I have the house all to myself! As much as I love my family, it is so nice to have the place to myself and operate on my time schedule! I run in and out of the studio, office and house. I have the TVs on and the stereo and my mind is leaping around at all I want to do this afternoon and evening! I fell so much freer when no one is here except my faithful guard dog, Regina. It's a bit cold and gray right now so I think I shall have a nice cup of hot tea, decaff of course, some choclate covered raisins and a enjoy a full, uninterrupted TV show!

To entertain you, I am posting a picture of some of my resin pieces. I will be offering finished ones and ones for you to do yourself at the Bead & Button show next month. They are great fun to fill. Have a great evening and Andrea, eat german chocolate for me, please!! Lois