Wednesday, April 8, 2009

This and That and a Little More of the Other Stuff

Geesh. Two posts in one day. That's what comes of getting dizzy from either an ear infection or the medications for the ear infection. Nothing much gets done - even though there's lots to do! - and I just type blog posts. Sad, isn't it? I need a real life.

You new to town, pardner?

I'm going to Collage Camp with K.C. Willis, artist most well-known for her vintage-looking cowgirl fabric collages. I'm out scrounging up stuff to use at camp (old tatwork and lace, ticking, cowboy/girl/western-inspired jewelry, etc.), and have found some very nifty photos that I want to use. If you would like to take this fun workshop (it's online!) click here to read and learn more - and to look at K.C.'s beautiful work. I hope some of you will join - it would be fun to take a workshop together! The people who are already signed up all seem really nice and fun!...which always makes a workshop/class/walk in the park so much more pleasant! This should be interesting for me to go from Marie Antionette and Paris inspired pieces to cowboys and horses and rodeos!

I discovered Abby Glassenberg's work today. I just fell in love with this tiny piece. I didn't realize how small it was until I noticed the piece in relation to the spool it's sitting on - it's tiny! She does many different soft sculptures and mixed media works. You can check out her work here, if you're so inclined. I'm very attracted to the somewhat naive and country look which has a decided contemporary aesthetic.
So, what have I been making. First a very small (four inch square) Marie Antoinette mini-theatre. It has lots of details which are impossible to see in my horrible photograph. I don't know why I am so bad at taking pictures! But it's properly frou-frou-y enough for Marie, I believe!

I also finished up a few tussie-mussies for my Etsy shop...which I probably won't get around to listing until Flea Market Friday. This one I call the Versaille...LOL. It's loaded with glass glitter and Florentine fine gold glitter, with Dresden scrap and silk ribbons, and a bottom beaded tassel.




This is a fun little angel piece. It pretty much speaks for itself ... I wish the lovely little piece of German scrap would show up better - it's really a sweet angel!




And this one I think I'll call Parisienne Latte...the colours just remind me so much of lattes and mochas and con leches and cappuccinos. It has so many lovely trims of metallic cords and velvet. The ribbons on the bottom tassel are such luscious colours - I want to eat them!






OH! I first got a little interested in papercutting art from reading and seeing the photos on Ulla's blog, Ullabenulla. If you haven't discovered Ulla's blog yet, you really owe it to yourself to check it out. She finds the most incredible stuff and posts all the inspirational photos. If they can't give you a creative goose, I don't know what will!

I know that paper cutting is far too intricate and delicate for me to even attempt...but I've enjoy seeking out interesting pieces. In my wanderings, I have found Elsa Mora, a contemporary paper cutter. I find her work very provocative. Some of it is merely lovely - but pieces like this one I find intriguing. Again, a wonderful vintage art form with a decided contemporary point of view.
Oh - some bad entertainment news. Remember the classic western "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" with Paul Newman and Robert Redford? It's such an iconic movie it's hard to believe that it's being remade. Yep. They're gonna mess up another good movie. And it's starring ... are you ready? ... Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Talk about one really really really bad idea. I think it was a deal put together by the casting geniuses who put those gigantic vocal talents, Peter O'Toole and Sophia Loren in "Man of La Mancha" ... or Lucille Ball in "Mame." Why don't they ask me before they do these things?

Well, Paul and Bob ... I won't be watching the remake ... I'll grab my copy of you fellas and watch it instead!

Well, that's all for today. I'll leave you with this photo of Mae very late in her career. She seems to be playing on some middle school cafeterium stage. She must have really really wanted to perform. However, I certainly wish I knew what song she is singing which required her chorus boys to be in diapers and sandals.
Hope you had the opportunity to make somethng beautiful today!
♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

30 comments:

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Yeah---I think the diapers are a bit much...maybe if they were wearing sandals and thongs....
Geez Tristan; you're sick and you still can do all this stuff which is amazing!
I just gave up and went to bed this afternoon.....slug that I am......

peggy gatto said...

remake???????????? Don't they know what CLASSIC means!
Thanks for the 2 new sites you you posted and now I have 2 new bookmarks!
I love your tussie mussies and your tiny theater is just a delight!
I wonder what the fellows are doing in their underwear at the saloon.....strip poker????

Anonymous said...

Your work is amazing no picture can do any of it justice :)
I hope you feel better, I've been under the weather, blankets, myself. Blech.
And in the words of Miss West,
"When I'm good, I'm good; but when I'm bad I'm better!"

The Joy of Nesting said...

Hi Kiddo,

I think the Spring "festoonies" have crawled out of there Winter holes and are spreading viral and bacterial havoc :( LW and I are drawing straws to see who takes care of who these days :)

Finally be glad you live in the antibiotic age!! The treatment for ear infections pre-antibiotics was... no you don't want to know.

Take care get well come visit when the world quits spinning.

Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.

studioJudith said...

loveLOVElove the Marie Mini Theatre!!
The top frouf is especially divine ... . JJJj

Sue said...

You amaze me. So much energy and feeling crappy. Your Marie mini theatre is fabulous! And love the tussies - my fave is the Parisiene Latte one. I received my tussy mussy today! Love it.

A remake of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"? That is just wrong. Casting Cruise and Travolta? That is worse than wrong!

mo.stoneskin said...

I hope that little bird doesn't have an ear infection, it could effect its balance disastrously.

Teresa aka Tess said...

I always find your posts so amusing and your art so delightful. A remake of Sundance is just down right disgusting. And Cruise and Travolta, no way. I'm with you, I'll watch the classic.

Sugar and Spice Art Confections said...

Tristan~ Your Tussie Mussies are beautiful! I also like your Marie Theater and that Mae West photo is KILLER! I got to say her famous line in a school play once...hip shake and all. Ha! It was fun! Have a better week! Rebecca

Anonymous said...

First of all Tristan I want to wish you & yours a very Happy Easter!
Mae West??... Well, I am a huge biography fan & I just ordered the new Bio about her called "She Always Knew How". (Kind of a leading title). As for the diapers & sandals? Ew-w-w-w...Not so much!!
Why do the movie people insist on remaking everything?? No imagination for something new?? I wonder how long before some "genius" remakes Harry Potter?!?
Gotta' Run!!
Love Ya',
Marilyn
xxoo

Nancy said...

Love the tussie-mussies! Have a great day (hope you are feeling better)!

Recycled Rita said...

Hi Tristan!
Loving all your creations!
Ohhhhh! No!!! Not Tom Cruise... I do not like that guy and then to put him in Butch Cassidy...???? What are they thinking? I do love John Travolta but he doesn't really fit either...Hmmmm me thinks someone was partaking too much of the "hootch" while casting this movie!!! hee! hee!
have fun with your workshop, looks like fun! karen...

{oc cottage} said...

Holy cannoli! Your mimi-theatres are beyond amazing! And those tussie mussies are the mussiest! What maddening detail!!You are so disgustingly talented I hangeth my head in shame! You are a "real" artist, sir.

m ^..^

Pam @ Frippery said...

Love the tussy mussies and tiny Marie theater. Very nice work. I was thinking of taking that workshop as well but haven't decided yet. The diapers are a bit creepy, not sure what was going on there.

Anonymous said...

Oh Tristan if you only knew, that adorable boy was blessed with the same awful manuscript as his mother!
:)

Chris said...

I love the tussie-mussies. I have been kicking around the idea of trying to make some.

Yours are so gorgeous, maybe I'll just buy one from you ;)

Lola Enchanted said...

Just pure beautiful bliss everytime I enter your world!!! And NO you don't need a "real life"!!!!! We like you here!!!! hahaha!!!!!~


Happy Easter my dear!

Lola Enchanted said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Light and Shadow Studio said...

I hope you are feeling better. that can just about drive you crazy! Love your new stuff, especially the tussie-mussie. Thank you for sharing all these vintage photos. I don't know where you find them but they are so entertaining. Thanks for the keeping me smiling.

Anonymous said...

Hi Tristen, sorry to hear you are under the weather with an ear infection. Those babies hurt! Get well soon.

Love your theater...looks delicious, like you could eat it. And the tussy-mussies are beautiful!!

Keep up the great work. I love reading all the things you write about.
hugs,
joanna
www.mosshill.blogs.com

Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

ok I am going along reading your post, loving your work...thinking what your trim and ephemera stash must consist of. I am thinking I love the wee theater and actually want a big one in my yard. I am going along thinking I agree about Ulla (who I've met and she's lovely) and Elsa's work, well she has quite a background! AND THEN I READ.....
Butch Cassidy is being what????? remade??? with Tom Cruise and John Travolta????Say it isn't so? Please tell me that's a rumor because I swear I think I just threw up a wee bit.(sorry) What's next? A remake of Gone With the Wind starring Susan Lucci and David Hasselhoff???? oooh there's that queasy feeling again!!

I AM very anxious to see the Gray Gardens movie....they better do them justice! So far the trailers look ok but we'll see!!!

ok this is the longest comment in history....
XO

Debs said...

Good evening,great post as usual.I had forgotten how extremely gorgeous Paul Newman was,thanks for reminding me.I think your tiny theater is beautiful, can you do one in the theme of Wizard of Oz,that would be fun!
Love lots,Debs xxxx

Sheryl Parsons said...

They've got to be kidding! Tom Cruise and John Travolta? I think I'm catching what you have....lol!!! Love your blog! Very inspiring.

:-)
Sheryl

Tristan Robin said...

can you do one in the theme of Wizard of Oz,that would be fun!

that's so funny - it's actually what I'm gathering things to do!

Just Jules said...

this is all just so darn fun! thanks for the peek around....

Carolee said...

Cruise and Travolta as Butch and Sundance?? That sounds downright painful, lol....

Love the Mae West photo - toooooo funny, hehe. :)

Hope you're feeling better!

~ Carolee

Glennis said...

Wow, those diaper boys - how can I say it? - seem to have big butts!

Love your French latte colors! What a perfect description.

I'm scurrying over to the cowgirl camp; love that kind of stuff!! Tooled leather is cool stuff, and I bet you can find some good scraps of it in vintage shops. bandana prints? gingham? could be fun!

I will just pretend I never read your paragraph about the remake of BC&tSK - lalalalalalalal I can't hear you!

Tracy M. said...

I heard about that Movie remake. First of all I can't stand Tom Cruise and can only tolerate John Revolt... I mean Travolta. At least pick two guys that could actually pull off decent cowboys, geesh.
Have a great day,
Tracy M.

Susie Jefferson said...

Put the blame on Mame, boy! Seriously, Mae West was definitely a unique original... surely there's a mention in a biography somewhere? If so, you'd be the one to find it!

Nelly said...

Love your tussies! I've tried one a while back and hated it, but so want to try one again and make them this beautiful!