Finally ... after the all the rain, and two warm days ...

the world is blooming here in New England!

Now, go make something beautiful!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

Moanin' Low with Libby

I'm having a terrific time reading the biography of Libby Holman, "Dreams That Money Can Buy: The Tragic Life of Libby Holman" by Jon Bradshaw.

Libby Holman was a Broadway star in the hey days of the roaring 20's. She was known for her unusual voice - deep and husky and raspy - and an outrageous and uninhibited personality. She introduced such blues classics as "Body and Soul," "Moanin Low," "Am I Blue," and "Find Me a Primitive Man."

She married Smith Reynolds, the heir to the Reynolds Tobacco fortune; six months after they were married, he was found dead of a bullet wound. Libby and Smith's best friend were indicted for murder in a scandal that made front page headlines and later became the basis of movies starring Jean Harlow and Lauren Bacall. Because of the intervention of the powerful Reynolds family, however, the case never came to trial and Libby was set free, to be haunted by the ambiguities of her guilt or innocence.

Although she and her son inherited almost $7million after Smith Reynold's death (back in the days when a million was worth a million!), her career was in ruins, and thereafter, almost every man she touched died violently.

The year after the murder, Cole Porter asked her to play the lead in his new play "Anything Goes," but she turned it down. The role was Reno Sweeney - the role that made a huge star of Ethel Merman.

I'm taking the entire afternoon off and finishing the book ... I'm riveted to her story. It's like a faery tale - well, a very very dark and disturbing faery tale!

Here is Libby singing her classic "Moanin Low." She would never make the cut on American Idol - but her unique sound epitomizes the glamorous and shoddy 1920's of speakeasies, Harlem nightclubs, midnight swims off yachts, and drinking champagne out of women's slippers.



Enjoy your afternoon!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

Does Anything Change?

I am totally fascinated by these photos. They are taken of a woman's dorm room in 1904. Click on the photos to enlarge and really get a good look at the details in these rooms!

Too many people in one room - music, studying, and writing all going on at the same time .... souvenirs and knick-knacks and photos of friends all over the walls ... dried flowers from long past dates and dances ... extension cords running from the outlets because there are never enough electrical sources ... a mostly-dead fern on the window sill. Has anything really changed? It all seems pretty much the way I remember my years in college!

I also love the hanging remembrances and hand-crafts. So much time and care taken with things that today would probably be bought in a Hallmark store and sent out in the post for a quickie-make-do greeting.

I've seen many beautiful recreations of Victorian rooms in films ... but none have the uniquely personal (and dusty!) appearance of these dorms!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

It's the Perfect Glorious Spring Morning! It's Good to be Alive!

The weekend is over and the festivities of Mother's Day have come to a close. I enjoyed reading so many of your blogs and your lovely tributes to both your mothers and your own children. I laughed a little and teared up a little a few times. But, on to my less-than-touching tribute to my mother ...
Thanks to Peggy at Peggy's Mixed Up Art, I got the link to send my Mom this little tribute from CNN. Just click here...it's worth the 30 seconds, I think.

Maude Always Dresses for Spring When in Paris

Okay. Here's my entry in the monthly challenge at Mind Wide Open Fragments of Inspiration. Every month, Gail supplies an image and the challenge is to use it in a piece of artwork of some genre or style. This month was a lovely little poster of a showgirl with the Eiffel Tower in the center. Please click on the image above to see all the entries - there are some real beauts! And - if you think you like mine - please leave a vote for me! The winner of this little challenge receives a gift certificate from Gail's shop - and we can all use some goodies to play with, right?! Clicking on the little mini-theatre image above will take you to the contest ... and some really nice art work.

In searching out images to use on my work being produced for the Collage Camp, I found this cabinet card. Now, is it just me, or does this woman look as if she's forty years early to play the Bride of Frankenstein? I know that they didn't have the same access to hairdressers as women do today - but, did anybody think this looked good? ... or that it should be memorialized on film?! I remember girls who stayed home from high school because they had bad perms that weren't as bad as this!

Isn't this photo adorable? A long-lost-and-newly-refound friend, Sue, took this on her lovely upstate New York property. The mother had popped the baby in there to keep him safe from a crow!


Today, I'm going to work on finishing up these two collages that I started over the weekend. The first one here is a cowgirl (whose name escapes me at the moment) who is known as being the first woman to ever wear trousers in a rodeo. I have no idea why the images that are printed on the canvas are so difficult to photograph, but I've given up trying. This still needs some writing and some embellishments and some focal interest. But I like the composition thus far.
Of course, even working with stained and torn fabrics and rusted findings and clumps of lint and threads, I can't stay completely away from sparkle and shimmer! I've used some German glass glitter on this one - as well as putting some gold leaf and copper leaf flakes on the image of the circus girl and her horse. I also think the piece of beaded chiffon (torn from an old dress) adds a nice touch of faded vintage show-biz glamour. Nothing has been actually sew down yet (except the image on top of the cardboards and art papers. I may have to wait to finish this one until my order of red stripe mattress ticking arrives. This one needs a lot of stuff yet! But it's start.
Here's my overnight results of using the instant rusting products! I'm really impressed with how much it looks like rust! Well, I guess it is rust - but it doesn't looks like "instant" rust! I'm particularly fond of the rusted photo corners, which are really pieces of balsa wood architectural details for doll houses! Don't they look like rusted metal now?!

I found this wonderful late 19th century circus toy at an online auction yesterday. I was determined to get it. But, I had to drop out at a couple hundred dollars - too rich for my blood! But, then, this morning I see what a joke it was that I even tried - it sold for $1275. Oh, well. In another life 0r another time 0r another auction. But, I can still enjoy the photo! Isn't it just a magical toy?! I'm sure some child spent hours being enchanted with it ... I know I would have been! Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge and see how beautifully made it is!


Well, I suppose while I'm feeling artsy and gritty and vaguely deluded and artistically challenged, I should go make some art.I'm going to try to make something beautiful ... how about you? Are you up to creating some beauty in the world today? Take the challenge....

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

The Loneliness of Dogs

The Loneliness of Dogs

About spelling the human masters
were never wrong, making me wonder
at what age did their cleverness reveal
that god spelled backwards was dog?
Later in their lives, a larger orthography
came to define them in their own letters:
somewhere between animal and angel.

But for me it's always been a dog's life.
And if a deity ever entered my shaggy
existence, it was only the unlettered moon
to whom I howled all those nights
when a restless emptiness slipped
over my fur like a black glove,

and I became the hand that fed me.


Copyright © 2009 Tim Mayo All rights reserved from The Kingdom of Possibilities Mayapple Press Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission




Happy Mothers' Day!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

Almost Too Late Pink Saturday - Short and Sweet

I had no idea what to post this week - I've been really really busy, and haven't been playing much online and finding cool and wonderful stuff. But, then, thombeau at Fabulon posted this and I decided it was perfect.

I mean, it's sparkly and PINK and very unusual ...

oh - by the way - it's not a shoe ...


It's a bathtub.

HaPpY PiNk SaTuRdAy!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

Pick a Little, Talk a Little, Pick a Little, Talk a Little, Pick, Pick, Pick, Talk-a-Lot, Pick a Little More

From my friend, Annie, comes this announcement of an exhibit of art dolls that is coming up in Paris soon...I think the invitation/announcement is simply gorgeous! The doll is so unique and fanciful...it's clear this exhibit is not going to be more of the same old same old!

These dolls are by American, Holly Robinson, one of the artists in the exhibit. You can see more of her unusual work at http://strangedolls.net
It's interesting what blogging brings about for you to observe. I've never had much interest (any?) in dolls...just not my cup of tea; however, I've often been impressed by the obvious talent and care and attention that is put into handmade dolls.
Nonetheless, since I started blogging and have now seen so many truly exquisite and original works of doll art, I'm getting more and more interested in them. I will probably never have any desire to make one - and nor will I be much of a doll collector. But, I can tell that there may come a time when I have to live with one or two really special pieces!

This was sent to me from Rebecca at Sugar and Spice Art Confections. Please click on the image to make it grow into a more readable size. It's a wonderful article about how to "Make Merry on Shakespeare's Day." It has all kinds of ideas for games and decorations and all things you need to make a successful William Shakespeare Day fête! I wish I had the time - or the friends who would enjoy - such a fab idea for a Sunday afternoon.
Just wanted to share the latest news. I'm so honored that David Beckham chose to get my photo tattooed on his famous body. I knew that we were definitely best buds, but I didn't realize how deeply he felt about me. I'm touched. Really.

Look at the lovely award I received from Robin at Robin's Blue Nest!

The rules to follow are:
1. Accept the award and post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award along with their blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know that they've been chosen for this award.

Frankly, there are so many blogs that I just love - and have become addicted to! - I simply have to take time to gather addresses. So I will post my forwarded awards in a few days.

Thanks, Robin! I appreciate the award.

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre
presented their annual
May Day Parade, Ceremony and Festival
Minneapolis, MN

I'm so embarrassed. I found this information on another blog - and somewhere I lost the post it with the blog address! If you are the person who had this article on your blog, please let me know and I'll update this post with your link!

You can read more about this event at In the Heart of the Beast May Day site.

Isn't that super fabulous pole?! I can't tell for sure if they're doing a May Pole dance, but it looks like it. Whatever they're doing, they're doing it in grand style!
Now, that is how to make an entrance! My little May baskets are starting to look rather pathetic!
How about this huge puppet/float/character/what-ever-it-is?! I so much want to walk with it! We have nothing - nothing - like this in New Haven. Ever!

So what does all this instant coffee stained fabric and canvas and ticking ...
...and clumps of threads and fuzz and unraveled fibers ... have to do with ... anything?
They're the beginnings of my work being done in K.C. Willis' Lipstick Ranch Collage Camp. What a lot of fun! I'm certainly nowhere near being accomplished at it ... but so far I'm learning a lot about what to do next time - and what not to do! I do enjoy the more improvisational technique than I'm used to with all my measuring 1/8" in odd shapes! Now I can just tear and rip and topstitch - and add torn papers and corrugated cardboards and whatever else I can come up with. Jon said he was impressed (if that's the word) how I could take beautiful new fabrics and trims and make them look like they'd been buried in a dumpster. I think he meant that in a good way.
This is an Annie Oakley photo ... I love vintage western images.
...and this is a charming photo of a Great Depression era child washing eggs at a very primitive indoor sink. I plan on doing a lot of Great Depression era children pieces.

I also want to use some of these techniques to do a series based on the book "Wisconsin Death Trip," which I've wanted to do for some time, but never really knew how to get it started. I think these aging and decaying techniques are the way to get them going. By the way, if you are unfamiliar with "Wisconsin Death Trip," by Michael Lesy. The book is based on a collection of late 19th century photographs by Jackson County, Wisconsin photographer Charles Van Schaick, mostly in the town of Black River Falls, and local news reports from the same period. It emphasizes the harsh aspects of Midwestern rural life under the pressures ofcrime, disease, mental illness and urbanization. It's filled with amazing photographs and often shocking - really shocking - newspaper accounts.

Look at the lovely piece of jewelry I won at Baroness Bijutery and artist C.J.Vierra. I have won so many prizes lately I'm rather bewildered! I love them all - of course - but for somebody who never wins anything ever, I'm surprised by all the prizes I've received lately! If you haven't seen Baroness Bijutery, please visit her blog (linked above) or her Etsy shop.
Well, I'm sure my coffee staining should come out of the coffee "pot" and onto the dryer rack for the next round of camp collage fun!

Having so many new ideas - and supplies! - I feel like a kid pressed against the toy store window!



I'm going to try to make something beautiful today - how about you?!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

A Short-and-Sweet-Post-for-Beverly's Pink Saturday

You’ve gone on vacation before and left the keys to your place with a friend. Maybe you have a cat, a fat belly-dragger, or a red panda who needs fed, some houseplants that need water, mail to collect. Your friend does a good job, maybe has a few people over and doesn’t take the trash out: you make sure you wash your sheets. No major damage down. Nothing like coming home to find every single object you own–from the picture of your mom, to your three spoons, to your mayonnaise–wrapped in pink wrapping paper.

That’s what happened when 5 friends got together and pulled the Pink Apartment Project on their friend Jacob while he was in New York for a week. Wrapped every single object in his apartment in pink wrapping paper: 271 items, 203 yards of paper. Hell, they even wrapped his posters.

It might have actually been a good thing for Jacob. His apartment has never looked so clean! While he unwraps his possessions he gets the chance to consider where everything goes, get organized. Those are good friends you have, Jacob.

I am totally awed by the blind devotion to the project these five people had! I mean, have you ever even attempted to gift wrap an adjustable, spring jointed study lamp?
The pink kitchen! I'm loving the pink paper covered air duct!
Even inside the fridge ... pink! ... gives new meaning to the phrase mystery meat, eh?!
I totally love that they wrapped the poster on the hall wall - AND that tiny little smoke detector waaaay up there! Seriously. Are you paying attention? Look at the venetian blinds!


Okay. I warned you that today's Pink Saturday was going to be short and sweet. I was working on another post when I discovered this - and just couldn't resist sharing. And, since there doesn't seem to be any way to link this to another pink post, my original will have to wait for next week! Until then, be sure to visit Beverly's Pink Saturday and see all the participants for this week's postings.

Then after you've gotten a lot of inspiration ... and you realize just what too much pink can do to a person' head...


Go and make something beautiful!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

Am I a Lucky Dog, or What?!

So, how do I feel?



Another day of swaps and gifts from far and near! I feel as if today I should be channeling Julie Andrews and singing "I Must Have Done Something Good."

First, I received my swap Carnival Tokens made of altered poker ships. These were part of the wonderful Carnival Soiree that Lisa Kittell at Faery Enchantment threw a few weeks ago. I love the tokens - and amidst all the sparkle and glitter and noisemaker, there are several of her marvelous paper clay embellishments that I can't wait to paint and use in a piece of carnival/circus piece!

Then, I had mentioned that I was on lookout for some vintage trims and laces and tatwork to use in my collage camp workshop at K.C.Willis' Lipstick Ranch.

Well! Just look what Joyce Stahl from Enchanted Productions sent me! A virtual treasure chest of laces and trims and lovely stained tatting - all ready to be incorporated into new artwork! Is that just the sweetest?! If you're not familiar with Joyce's work, be sure to check out her blog - she makes the most adorable and creepy dolls ever! ... sort of like Walt Disney meets Tim Burton.

And, finally, a fellow member of the Collage Camp, Patti, was in New Haven last week and dropped this box off for me at her friend's business for me to pick up - which I did today. And was completely gobsmacked again. I knew that she was going to share a piece of nest paper with me that we need for our workshop - and which has suddenly dried up on the internet and is not available anywhere. Now that I've seen it, I can't wait to work with it. It's about one quarter to one half inch think, and has bamboo and vines and who-knows-what-all in it. It's gorgeous.

However, in this BOX (I was expecting an ENVELOPE) was a rolled piece of the most lovely fine handwoven cloth - like soft-as-silk burlap (I don't know what it is, but it's gorgeous), and another piece of handmade paper tied up with a lovely piece of trimming.
Just look! The silken burlap was actually wrapped around all these gorgeous pieces of ticking to be used in our work. I had collected a few to use - but none as nice as this! And the handmade paper package was filled with ribbons and trims and ledger sheets and gorgeous vintage sheet music and lace trimmings and pearl jewelry and and and...! Amazing! It is, indeed, an embarrassment of riches. But I'm grateful for every single item! I would never have been able to collect this much beautiful stuff to work with at once! Obviously, Patti has been collecting awhile.

As I said. Gobsmacked.
I am so excited - and humbled - by all these kind generous people, I'm not sure I can cut into these things to work with them ... but I'm going to sit down and look at them and decide what to do.

Have you started making wonderful things yet, today? I'm going to do it. Really, I am!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥

Flea Market Friday

A lavish mini-theatre, worthy of the queen herself! This 13"high x 7" wide x 6" deep theatre is constructed on a sturdy papier mache base and embellished with vintage and reproduction papers, jewelry, crepe papers, ribbons, organza, rhinestones and glitter. The frame has been gold leafed and Dresden scrap and pink "pearls" have been added to enhance the drama. It's difficult to see all the detail on the interior - there are several layers of embellishments.

Please click on detail photos to see quality of materials and workmanship.



The character (a Tom Tierney paper doll of Marie Antoinette) is on a separate stand. She can be removed if you have a doll you'd like to display in the theatre.

Please note that although children seem to be intrigued by my work, they are not toys. They are well-constructed of quality materials, but are designed for display and not hard play!

The portico styled awning is held up by Florentine fine gold glittered scrolls, and houses two pink and gold glittered swans, bearing pink feathers and a gold-coloured royal crown.
The price of $95 includes free shipping to the continental United States.

That's my Friday offering! If you are interested in acquiring this piece, it's the first listing in my Etsy shop.

I'll be back later today to show off some other new goodies that have arrived for me! However, right now, I'm off to make what-I-hope-will-be wonderful things from paper and ink and stuff I find!
I hope you're going to do exactly the same thing today! Commemorate this gorgeous day with a gorgeous piece of art!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥