Shocking! Simply Shocking!

Shocking, I tell you ... Shocking!

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I have received three emails that have let me know it's been two days since I wrote a post. I didn't know that anybody was paying that close attention! I can't promise to write every day, but I'll try to do better! But, remember, it's summer - and I have art to make so I can keep the mortgage company happy!

I am appalled at the necessity of posting this:

I will never understand people who steal things from art galleries. I don't understand stealing from Walmart either, but at least when you steal from Walmart you're not stealing part of somebody's soul!

I have the distinction of being the only person, thus far, in the history of the Yale Art Space, to have a piece of art stolen. In spite of cameras and strolling guards, somebody managed to take a razor blade/knife and sliced the hanging sleeve off an art quilt and either stuck it in their purse or walked out with a pregnancy that wasn't there when they walked in. Yale was very apologetic (and upset) - and their insurance covered every penny - but I still felt invaded. Anyway, if in your travels, you run across the piece pictured above, please report it!

Heh heh. I try not to get political on this blog. I have other outlets for that. However, I took a test online that had results which really amused me. I always considered myself a liberal, with some conservative viewpoints. Turns out, I'm nowhere NEAR being conservative on anything - and I'm more liberal than liberals! I guess that makes me an uber-liberal. It turns out that I think the government's job is to keep harm from everybody - that loyalty is of utmost important in all areas of life - that fairness to all is paramount in legal proceedings - that authority is not always right - and that the "purity" of its citizens is none of the government's business.

Just call me John Reed!

I finished this piece this week. It will never be for sale, as it's my offering in a one-on-one art swap. The legend reads, "Where's the man could ease a heart like a satin gown." The image is the same image of Fanny Ward that I posted a few days ago (the original 1905 stage production of Peter Pan's Tinkerbelle). This piece is a little softer than my other collages, and I hope she likes it!

Friends of mine are taking a whirl on that Marriage Wheel of Fortune this summer, and I've decided to make them a gift.
But, first I have to learn how to do it! I found these amazing embroidery patterns at Sublime Stitching, and I know they would love these images as much as I do. So I'm going to embroider them a set of pillowcases. After I learn how to embroider. Nothing like planning on giving a gift you're going to make yourself, before you know if you can even do it, huh?! But, seriously, aren't all these fab patterns?!





This is the image that is this month's challenge at Mind Wide Open Fragments of Inspiration. The word prompt is "Wish." I really like the image, so I think I'm going to give this one a shot - even though, after winning last month, I can't expect to win again! But I can try. If you'd like to submit a piece, click here to get the details. Good luck - and I'm still going to compete against you! :-)

... and before I sign off, just a little post from Tristan's Entertainment Recommendations and WarningsWe watched Taken, Valkyrie, and W. this week. We also rewatched Finding Neverland and Marie Antoinette.

Taken was much better than I expected. It was predictable - but it was still suspenseful and there were a few surprises. My biggest complaint was the daughter-in-danger character. Perhaps a few of you remember the youtube clip about the girl complaining because the new sportscar she received for her birthday wasn't blue (If you haven't seen it, it's hysterical - and pathetic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5jxvEs3hYk ). The young woman in this movie wasn't much less spoiled...I always think what would happen if I had spoken to my father the way kids talk to their parents in the movies! I just couldn't work up much sympathy for her ... but Liam Neeson was very good - and the plot twists kept it moving to its predictable ending. It's a good Saturday night popcorn movie.

I really enjoyed Valkyrie, even though I'm not sure that it was that easy to follow. I knew a little about this event, as I studied it in college for a paper. And even then, I was lost a couple times; I believe because everybody looks alike - and they all wear the same damn uniform. But, even knowing the outcome ahead of time, it was very exciting and the suspense built quite well. I even rooted for Tom Cruise (and I can't stand him). Some of the period costuming and sets were wonderful - and the opening bombing sequence was perhaps the best since some of the bombings in Private Ryan - not nearly as gory - but as scary. I would highly recommend it to history buffs and suspense/war buffs - even Tom Cruise fans. But it's not a movie for those who like a light romantic comedy, or kids (as it's somewhat intricately plotted and they'd probably get confused by it all).

Then there was W. I hated it. I suppose the enjoyment of this movie will depend on how charming you find the Bush dynasty. I don't find them charming at all. Josh Brolin was quite good impersonating his movements and general demeanor - sounded spot on target like George W. But I just found it all too smarmy for my tastes. If you are still somebody who thinks that G.W. walks on water, I'm sure you'd enjoy it - for anybody else, pretend you're Dionne Warwick and just walk on by.


Obviously, as I was re-watching Finding Neverland and Marie Antoinette, they are both films I always enjoy seeing. They are both exquisite: gorgeous settings, costumes, photography and cinematography. Finding Neverland is, hands down, the better film - and I just adore the fantasy sequences of watching Barrie imagine "Peter Pan" with his young protegés - they are magnificent. And Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet are delightful in their roles. But, admittedly, the screenplay has some problems. When it comes to Marie Antoinette, I'm not even sure they had a screenplay. The whole movie is an absolute mess. But, it's an enchanting candy box of a mess. Kirsten Dunst makes a charming 'toinette - and all the cast does a very good job with the very very little they're given to work with by the author and director. But, one doesn't watch it for the screenplay - it's viewed for it's eye-popping stunning visuals...which are nonstop. I recommend both of these movies for people who love historical recreations and lavish sets and costumes. Even with the issues of bad screenplays, they're still a delight to watch.

One last image before I leave you for the evening. When doing a search for an image from Marie Antoinette, I found this Marie Antoinette costume for a Barbie that was made for the poster for the opening of the Dallas Ballet Company production of "Marie Antoinette." I thought it was about the nicest Barbie doll I've ever seen! - not, admittedly, that I've seen that many. But the details amaze me!


I hope I've made up for taking two days off from blogging! - and that you've found some inspiration, perhaps, to go make something beautiful!

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(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥