Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving & an Observation

Well, hope you all  are looking forward to what I call here, "Hajolote Day!"  I'm not sure if I spelled it right, but hajolote is "turkey" in some Mexican-Indian dialect.  I grew up calling it that or "pavo."  I prefer, "hajolote" it's a mouthful!!  LOL  This year is one of many changes for my family.  For the first time since 1979, I won't be making oodles of sides, pies, breads, etc., and all that goes with a family type Thanksgiving meal.  It will just be my sister and me and perhaps a couple of other friends who may or may not come over.  I told my sis to bring her jammies in case it gets late or she has a bit too much wine, vodka, or any other spirits, in excess.  Also, that turkey can make one a bit sleepy.  No football games going on here tomorrow...will be watching some rented flix and what ever they might have on the boob-tube.

Ok, here's the observation portion of this post.  Well, it's more of a commentary/rant/observation.  The other night, my honey and I were watching television and a Viagra commercial came on.  We actually left the sound on instead of mute.  The scene begins with a cowboy dude driving his pick-up, pulling a horse trailer in a mountainous, desert landscape (looks like out here in west TX), after a huge rain.  We weren't really paying much attention to what was being said, but then the next scene, shows same man, truck, horse trailer now with the 2 horses pulling the truck and trailer as the viral cowboy maneuvers it from inside.  I then turned to my husband and asked him what was the purpose of that or rather, what's the connection between that and the effectiveness of Viagra.  He then turned, looked at me and kiddingly said, "It allows him to think better."  So let's get this straight, He's riding along on an old desert highway, it's rained and now he decides to go "off-roading" in the mud!!??  Wha?????  In other words, Viagra obviously allows men to "think straight," gives them "clarity" and hones in on some "critical thinking" skill???  Wow, and I thought it was just for sex. Commercials...for sure I will hit that mute button from now on!!

I wanted to show you a little bit of artwork I did for an old friend.  She's having a bridal shower for her niece and the theme is "Dia de los Muertos."  She asked me to paint a tableau to be used for the future brides chair at the shower.  I was going to drill a couple of holes for her to insert the ribbon that will be used to tie it in place, but my drill and drill bits have gone, "tits up," so I suggested she ask her sister to use the staple gun.  Anyway, I told her that I had been reading the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," previously to her request and I got the idea from one of the characters of that poem, Life-in-Death, a ghostly woman. When she requested it be painted horizontally, I had to really think how I was going to do that, then my sweet man suggested I display her lying on a couch.  So here she is, in all her ghostly splendor, lying on a settee with a "come-hither" look!!



What was even better, she and I met at Starbucks for the painting-exchange, (neither of us know how to speak, "Starbucks,") and we sat there for over 3 hours just chatting away.  This little painting was two-fold, not only was it so much fun to paint, but it brought together two very old friends again for a long-overdue visit.

I wanted to bring attention to a very funny, ulta-talented artist friend of mine.  I've been so much out-of-the-loop since I misplaced my blog, only to find it again.  But she has temporarily re-opened her Etsy shop.  Please go on over and check out Yve's offerings; she designs and produces these amazing hats and dolls.  So go on over to her blog and check out her wonderful work and buy!! http://freakylittledolls.blogspot.com/

Well, my friends, I still have a few errands to do before I run on to the nursing home to visit mom.  Yesterday, one of the CNA trainees stepped on her hearing aid and of course, the audiologist's office will be closed till next week, so it looks like we're going to be engaging in lots of loud conversation with mom for a few weeks...OEY!!  LOL  Have a great weekend, my friends and for those on this side of the pond, Happy Thanksgiving and remember, no calorie counting allowed!!  Peace out.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Some New Stuff

Good Morning, Friends,  I have a few minutes to dedicate to computer time, so I'm going to utilize it to update some stuff on my blog.  This has been a heck of a few weeks.  I did a second art show, the first being in Oct., was almost 20 years since I had participated in one.  The one I did this past weekend was somewhat of a bust.  No, it wasn't the venue, the venue was most excellent, but around here, the winds come up from no where and cause a real problem for out-door activities, ie., art shows.

A few of us locals were talking about it, and we remember when we were kids, this area got the strong "winds" in the Spring, you know the saying, "In like a lion, out like a lamb," well, that doesn't hold true anymore.  Call it global warming or the natural flow of climate change, kinda like an Ice Age!  Now the wind blows whenever!!  If  Northern  NM or CO is getting rain, we get wind and blowing real estate from not only my home state, Texas, but from New Mexico and Mexico, the country (I live on the border).  When there's a cold front pushing through, we get the warm winds, before the cold air hits the following day.  This weekend, Canada is sending us our first winter weather, thanks Canada, I was getting tired of the mid to upper 70's temperatures, about 24 degrees for you Celsius folks.

Anyway, winds (the climatic kinds for you British types) and art fairs don't mix.  We tried to keep our canopy up, but the wind was catching it and causing more problems, so down it went.  We tried to put up peg board barriers as to keep the wind down more from it catching all my work and tossing it around and to the ground.  Well, at about noonish, we decided to call it quits and leave.  I was told that later on that day, the winds calmed down and there was a surge of attendees...just my luck!  Sunday, turned out to be a nicer day, breezy, but in some circles, you'd call it windy, but that's breezy around these parts.  Unfortunately, since we had to take down our canopy and remove everything from our original spot, we found ourselves in the "back row," of the "square due to the fact, it's "first come, first serve" rule...my hubby, or the "princess" as I call him, takes an hour to get ready, hence making us a bit late to the venue.  Needless to say, we hardly got any traffic and for those who were "curious" and came back there, they were holding bags filled with purchases and were pretty much spent-out for the 3 of us vendors in the back.  The people next to me were selling homemade doggie/kitty treats and I thought they were getting lots of business.  If I hear another "doggie or kitty" story, someone's gonna get a butt-load of hurt!!!  LOL  Later, I found out, that they were giving out "free-samples," hence why people lingered and told their canine and kitty stories, ad nauseum.  Hey, I love my doggie and if I had a kitty, I'd love that little critter too, but it's kind of like talking to people about how wonderful and talented your kids/grandkids are to those that have their own set of wonderful and talented kids/grandkids!!  For all counts, it better make me laugh...kid and critter stories can be very funny because, they are very funny beasties at times.

Thankfully, Shawn and John, the proprietors of  "Jonhnny Lolita's, " the art show venue, asked to sell my work in their coffeehouse/store.  So after the show, I took what was left of my inventory, which was pretty much most of it.  I sold a Santa doll, 2 dog, a cat and one bird ornies on Saturday, and did a trade with this fabulous, crazy Canadian lady who now lives in La Union, NM, for a great and funky crochet hat for my granddaughter.  I told her we Texans don't really utilize that kind of "warm" clothing, but she had a great way of putting it, she calls her work "fashion accessories!!"  LOL  Loved it!!  Then Tensy, one of my all-time favorite arteests, who hails from Las Cruces, NM, came by and purchased a bird ornie.  So I took Shawn my box of Santas and ornies and told her to just take  the ones she wanted in her store.  She wanted the whole shebang; she assured me they'd all sell...from her lips to God's ears!!

My sister mentioned that after viewing the selected artists at the show, she told me my work was very unique, different and outrageously wonderful (comments I received from others who found my work unusual and different).  However, it doesn't appeal to the norm;  it seems people prefer "cutesy" and I'm not a cutesy kind of gal...never have.  So my fellow artist pals, please tell me what you think and would my work be worthy someplace else?












So today, I'll be spending it here at home, working on Christmas gifts for family and friends and there's won't be any pressure for any shows till Feb.  One thing that reminded me of why I love doing shows, is the new folks one meets, whackies with like minds!  I had such a great time meeting new people and spending time with them.  A few of us will be having workshops at Johnny Lolita's in the future... we even discussed having pot-lucks and just sitting around and exchanging ideas and information.  I'm looking forward to 2014 now that I have found my little niche of lovelies and fun-loving folks who get pretty close to that edge and for some, take that leap.  I'm grateful for my experiences and those I call friends, both old and new, near and far.  So I thank you, my blog buddies for your friendship...if only many of you lived closer...we'd have to start saving for our bail money, though!!  LOL  Peace out.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

GREAT NEWS!!

I've found my dashboard.  Yes, I was lost, but now I'm found!!  LOL  I thought all was lost, but somehow, luck, not technology or my understanding of it, brought me back.  Don't know if I'll be here tomorrow or even later today, but just letting you all know, I'm here now.  Also, I'm unable to connect with the address here at yahoo.  Don't know how to figure that one out yet, but I know one thing, my connection is just fine.  According to them, I'm unable to read my email due to my Internet connection being disconnected, I guess.  How odd that I can connect everywhere else, including places I don't really choose, but my email is "no workee" and judging from all the gripes listed on the Yahoo trouble-shooting page, it's contagious!!  So for those who want to just contact me the regular way (no, not snail mail) here's my new address on yet another server.  Kind of bringing back memories for me back in the day when I first began my adventure on the Internet, so here's the other address you can reach me:  gcdiaz05@aol.com.

Just a shorty one, my friends, but I've been very busy the last few weeks.  If your on FB, you've seen all the great pics of my nieces wedding last month in Phoenix, AZ.  Was a great weekend and quite frankly, I can't remember the last time I had such a great time at a wedding, including both of mine!!  LOL  Also, I've been busy with preparing for a Holiday show this weekend in La Union, NM.  For those of you on FB, go to Johnny Lolita's and hit the "like" on their page...Shawn and John are just two fabulous people doing so much for El Paso, TX/Las Cruces, NM and all the communities in between.  Here's a little sample of what I'm selling this weekend:


I call it "Trashy Chic," because...well, you can see why.  Shawn asked some of her artists to paint a Christmas board, one that was already painted and prepped with the tree design.  Of course, when I saw the bright pink one, it screamed, "YESs, more IS more!!"  Thus, the result.  She is selling the Christmas boards at the shop and all proceeds will be going to her charity...name escapes me now, but it's going for a good cause.  My sis texted me this morning and told me she had to have it, so I'll have to let Shawn know to put a hold on it since it's already sold.

Well, I just remembered, I haven't downloaded my art pics of the rest of my stuff from my FB file, so that I shall leave for later.  Below is a pic taken at my nieces wedding of my children and me.  From l-r, Ian, my youngest, me, Andria, the middle child and only daughter and my oldest, Joel.  We finally were all together for a family shot.  Like I said, it was a great weekend and we had so much fun.  My daughter hadn't  been without any of her 5 children in probably 13 years, the age of the oldest, so she had one helluva time being a free-wheeling, single, well, single in the sense she was without hubby and kiddos, but she had a great time.  I'll post more pics of our weekend and my work later, so my darlings, I bid you farewell and peace out.