Shocking, I tell you ... Shocking!
viaI 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 Warnings
We 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!
♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥
so - there I went - off in search of fabulous things that make us go 'ahhhhhhhhh' ...
First thing I rang across was this pieces of fabulosity. I love all the blue crystals .... it must make everything look like a wintry wonderland when it's lit up and all those blue prisms are shooting light everywhere. I have a feeling this lamp is in an antique shop, as the chain holding it up is hardly the way somebody would install this in their home.
I want this toy! Is this not the coolest tricycle ever?! In my mind, this horse is completely gold gilded and has accents of deep purple and green accents. I'm also pretty sure I'm big enough to take on both these kids and ride off into the sunset on my new bike!
Is this not the saddest photo yet? I totally relate to it. Without that blue chandelier or the equestrian tricycle, I really feel as if I'm adrift in a callous and uncaring world.
Well, not really. But I did think this photo was incredibly effective. Such a lonely looking girl. She's probably pining away for a blue chandelier and a pony bike!
I love these two contrasting images of children. The one so joyous and full of life - the other contemplative and wistful. I also like the contrast between the photographic art form and the drawing art form. Yes, the picture below is a pencil drawing - I had to look three or four times to see it! If you're interested in seeing more, please visit John Gibb's site.
I've wanted a fabulous vintage bird cage for the longest time. But I know that I only want one - and I want it to be fantastic. I hadn't found it - until I saw this one! A gothic birdcage worthy of royalty! I have no idea where it is located - or when this photo was taken. But, I want it! I want it BEFORE I want a blue chandelier and a pony tricycle toy! I think it's just gorgeous. And, if I can please have it, I promise not to put any glitter on it at all!
This shop window is what I always want ever shop window in Paris to look like. Beautiful, fanciful, vaguely mysterious, and completely inviting. Alas. They far more often look like the windows at The Gap. But when you run across one of the truly "Parisienne" shop windows, it's worth a stop and a browse.
