Edie's Blog

Shamballa Bracelet Classes

2011-12-01T11:56:00.001-05:00

Will be teaching this class on December 5th and again on December 7th. both classes are from
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm and the cost of class is $20.00 pp with all the supplies or $15.00 if you want to bring your own beads from home ( 8mm size needed)

Call me for more details and location of the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
studio- 248-672-6299

Teaching or not teaching?

2011-11-04T23:02:00.000-04:00

I have recently started teaching beading and jewelry construction classes at the local Michael's Crafts Store, I love teaching but it's sort of up to me to get people to sign up. If I go to the store and just hang out talking to customers who are buying things in the jewelry section some times I can let them know we offer classes and talk them into taking one, but who wants to spend their days waiting around on someone who might just like a class?

I wish I knew of another way to get students. Most of the other teachers that I read about online also work some floor hours as either a cashier or stock person but at my store the instructors are not allowed to work other than their classes. I think I might invest in some small fliers that I can give to the cashiers to hand out to jewelry buying customers.

If you can think of an idea hit me up and let me know what you think!

Edie

Talking to the Wall

2011-08-22T01:18:00.001-04:00

Why is it like talking to the wall when you ask for things in life? Honestly, would it be so hard to just give me what I would need to be happy.

Frustrations

2011-08-18T22:59:00.003-04:00

Life can be so draining, even if it isn't your drama coming at you, it's always something. In my life right now my daughter took a job in another state as a full time nanny for a family. She Skyped with them several times before she moved away from home and everything seemed well ordered. She based her whole move on their word that they would be paying her set amount of $ for set amount of hours per day, and what do you know...after one week at the job she is told the mother is quitting her job because she misses the baby too much and they will not need her anymore. Hello, what about the fact that she moved all the way from Michigan to Louisiana for them? What about the $ it cost her to drive down there? These jerks aren't even willing to give her any severance or financial consideration above the exact hours she worked!!! I want to smack her silly, or set her hair on fire. What if someone did this to her daughter, would she like it, of course not. I don't know how they can live with this decision and still sleep at night. OMMFG I'm livid right now.

Of course it's not fair, but what can you do. There was no legal contract, she just trusted them. So then you begin to not trust, and only look out for yourself and then that makes for an ugly world. I want life to be beautiful and happy but that isn't the way of things, is it...

Love Summer

2011-07-16T15:14:00.002-04:00

Summer has been really nice this year, it's the first time in years that Michigan has had sustained high temperatures, and sunny days in a row!!! I'm loving it, but a lot of other people are not so happy because they live here for cooler weather.
Summer festivals are in full swing and I have been enjoying as many as possible. Just walking around and seeing what's new in the different art booths is usually fun for me, but I don't buy much because I look at what's there and say to myself, "I could make that" and I do if the mood strikes me. I don't copy, but I use the idea for inspiration.

Saw the last Happy Potter Movie last night with Al, we had a great Friday evening. This morning we went to an art fair and then came home and went swimming. Tonight...maybe out dancing. Tomorrow we are going to see a Pole Dancing Competition, one of my friends is entered in it, should be interesting. Ok, going to play with my new pool toy now. Enjoy the sun!

Bye Bye to the JCC

2011-06-23T11:58:00.002-04:00

After many years as an employee at the JCC, I decided it was time for a change. I need to be more challenged and to be learning new things. So a new chapter is opening up for me...who knows where it will lead? I will miss all my JCC friends, but hopefully we will keep in touch.

Jamacia this year was great

2011-06-13T03:56:00.003-04:00

Although we didn't take many pictures while in Jamacia, we really had a best vacation experience this year, Sandal's was fantastic! We didn't want to leave and a week went by so quickly.

Innocent Facebook Post

2011-04-21T19:32:00.002-04:00

Recently, I posted something saying that the sound sytem at the West Bloomfield JCC was broken during an exercise class that I took , the post said "Muscle Jam at WB" it didn't even say the West Bloomfield JCC...anyway today my direct supervisor comes into my office and says "someone saw a Facebook post that said something about a music system being broken...I stopped her right there. I told her that I posted it, and didn't really think anything of it, except maybe it would get fixed. She told me to be more careful, so I wouldn't get in trouble.

I unfriended everyone who works with me! Geez, what a place this is, I feel like the KGB is watching me. What ever happened to free speech?

Garage Sale to raise funds for summer camp at JCC

2011-04-18T07:43:00.003-04:00

I recently decided to organize a garage sale because the summer camp program that I work with as part of my full time position at the JCC needed money to buy supplies for the summer. This is a huge undertaking, and very time consuming. I'm spending extra hours at work these days on weekends sorting through donations. This past Sunday I found this item...Brand new BIG, BIG Bra! I had to wonder, who could fit something this large? Since it is in the garage sale, I can only hope the person who bought this has since gotten a breast reduction, and is now more comfortable!

Don't forget to order a new Kippah

2011-03-31T02:02:00.005-04:00

Here's what I've been up to...Just read The Lincoln Lawyer and couldn't put it down, it's a real page turner! Now reading Clockwork Angle, it's good but I'm only at the third chapter.

Probably returning P90X.

Interview in the morning, nervous and can't sleep.

My kittens are getting so tall and grown up, but they are still playful.

Had a great night out dancing last Friday, maybe we will repeat it again this weekend! That's it for now.

P90X Still no weight loss

2011-03-06T21:35:00.000-05:00

Although it's been awhile now and I have been using the P90X DVD's I have not lost any weight. I can't do all the moves the way they do them on the lesson, so I do what I can and improvise the moves to adapt for my old, kreeky knees. Still, no weight lost which I find a bit crazy. It's hard, and I am working hard when I do the DVD. Not going to give up just yet but it's discouraging.

Different note...we bought a fully automatic Burr Grind & Brew Cuisinart Coffeemaker today and I love it! I love that it can grind our fresh beans and that it can be programed to make the coffee for us in the morning! Doing a happy dance.

P90X DAY 1

2011-02-21T17:02:00.000-05:00

I just began the P90X program this morning. It was really tough, I don't think I can wake up early and do this before work, I was too tired to even take a shower right away. I took the day off because of snow so I didn't have to rush this morning. But I am going to have a hard time on mornings when I have to get off to work. I might try doing this in the evenings.
DAY 1

Happiness

2011-01-28T14:30:00.001-05:00

I watched Goldie Hawn on the Oprah show talk about Happiness the other day and although I have known that I was not happy for awhile now I didn't really know why. A few of the main things the show said about being happy was that happy people have connections with family, co-workers, and neighbors. That your daily commute to and from work is short, and that you spend at least 3 hours each day talking to people.
I am not the complaining type and usually I'm very positive but this is what I've known for a long time...my job at work is very isolating. I work in a beautiful private office, but I have little to no interaction with other people every day for 8 hours a day!

At home my loving and wonderful husband is gone M-F for his job which is out of town. My 22yr. old daughter who lives at home is not around that much and she has her own life. I don't know my neighbors, I have no other family here in Michigan, and life is too short. I'm getting depressed about all of this and I need to make some changes.

What kinds of jobs would be better for me? I thought of going back into the food and beverage business but I don't want to stand on my feet all day. Teaching art would be great for me but where do you find students?
Then it hit me, why not become a nanny? I love children, and I'm very kind and loving, I like teaching and children love art. So maybe it would be considered a set back from the corporate world but who am I trying to impress (No one). All I need to is be happy and appreciated and get paid a reasonable amount of money for the job and heaven knows The Jewish Community Center doesn't pay that well!!!

So that's what I'm thinking about these days.

My Blog

2011-01-25T02:42:00.000-05:00

My Blog Jan 24th Meet-Up Group

2011-01-25T02:41:00.000-05:00

So as I promised here is a picture showing all the PMC creations the group made this evening. What the ladies didn't know was that what they did in one night would usually take two sessions, but darn I'm a good teacher!

My Meet -Up Group/ Art Club

2011-01-23T12:00:00.000-05:00

This Monday my art club will be meeting in my home studio to make some PMC clay jewelry. I sure do hope we have enough time to finish the projects in one evening. I need to start cleaning my house now, so bye. I will post pictures from the group next week!
I love teaching art!!!

Die Hard AOL user

2011-01-02T18:04:00.002-05:00

Just got a new computer for home and much to the dismay of my husband I had my son help me to install aol desk top. I love the look and hate change.

Marly Zach Will Be Famous

2010-11-13T01:21:00.005-05:00

11/12/10 Tonight I was lucky enough to attend the Andover High School performance of Hair Spray. The Actress who played the role of Tracy, was portrayed by Marly Zach. This was my first time to see Marly perform in a play although I've heard her sing many times, I never knew what a good actress she was. Zach hit every line, was so in character that I thought I was watching the Broadway show, and she was funny! Her skill to convince you that this was all REAL was amazing! I can only say this... one day I will be getting back stage passes because I'm her friend.

They are only kittens for a short time

2010-09-19T16:45:00.000-04:00

Just look how they are growing...like cute little weeds!

Time for some art

2010-09-02T17:38:00.000-04:00

It's been a long time since I've made anything artistic, what with summer camp taking up so much of my time and now the new kittens. Which by the way are just wonderful, and growing like weeds!

So here is something I made for a gallery show I am in this month. It is a "Green Show" all recycled materials!

Not Enough Kittens

2010-07-25T22:58:00.000-04:00

We have new kittens, but these aren't feral, they are the newest members of our family. Litter-mates, Bella & Beau!

I even made them hammocks to sleep in, they hang from our kitchen chairs. We already love!

My Feral Babies are Back!

2010-06-27T14:10:00.001-04:00

Over the winter a new batch of baby kittens was born. Recently I got to see them for the first time this summer, the mother and grandmother cats brought them up on the porch to feed. There are four new kittens, but only two were brave enough to come out in the open.

Domino and new mother above.

Two of 4 new kittens.

Some Vacation is better than No Vacation right?

2010-05-24T22:47:00.002-04:00

We planned a short trip to Cozumel, Mexico thinking we would get away from the chilly weather and gray skies of Michigan because of course Mexico would be sunny and warm, but guess what? It was rainy and gray there too, at least 2 out of the 4 days we were there. It was beautiful, the resort was beautiful, the food was really fresh, I enjoyed being away with AL, but something was missing, oh yea...night life. There was nothing to do at night. Better go to Vegas next time!

Still it was better then no vacation, and I am going to New Orleans in a few weeks to visit my girlfriend Donna Forte, and she assures me it is hot and sunny there. Have no fear... we will DANCE! Oh, don't get me wrong, I had a great time with Al, and the evenings weren't a total loss... !!! Just look at this bed.

Empty Nesting is lonely

2010-04-29T10:12:00.000-04:00

Well, today my daughter Madison drove off, down the street on her way to travel to her new home. North Dakota is a long way from Michigan and although her best girlfriend (Alex) is there North Dakota doesn't hold much appeal for me or anyone else I know. Madison needed to leave home and learn how to be more independent but this is just a bit much...not to mention in the middle of nowhere, but it was her decision and even though I don't like it I am supporting her. In the back of my mind I secretly hope Madison will only be out there for a few months and then decide to come back home, it gets really cold in the winter, and how much fun can 60 degrees below zero be?

My home will be neater, cleaner, but also quite and lonely, I think I might break down and get another kitten. I miss her already and it just dawned on me this morning that none of my kids are ever going to live in the same town that I live in. I've always wanted to have all my children live close to me so we could have big family dinners and spend holidays together, but that was just a dream that I now know will only remain a fairytale in my own heart. When all my family gets together the reality is it's never that much fun anyway but I would still like to work on it...now it's not even a dream for me. People are busy, life goes on and before you know it another year has passed.

I think I might get a new kitten!
Shalom, till next time.

My November 2009

2009-11-30T23:42:00.000-05:00

This past Thanksgiving I had a birthday and my whole family was in town with me, it's the first time that both of my sons were here with me in 10 years! I was so happy that they were here and we could all be together as a family. No matter what problems we have, no matter how crazy we can be, there is nothing like being around your family. My husband Al is a fantastic cook, and he really made us a wonderful meal...poor guy he cut his finger, burned his arm, and hurt his back making this meal...but it sure was tasty! My brother-in-law (Ron Verbonach) is a super Mr. Fix it, and he got my electrical outlets on my side of the bathroom to work again...Al helped too and they both changed out the light bulbs in our lobby chandiler which is up really high and very hard to work on! So if that wasn't enough my carpet installers were able to get the guest bedrooms ready in time for my family so that they had nice new carpet in the guest bedrooms.

I'm full of joy, and life is good!

NEW Carpeting in my house

2009-11-16T14:18:00.000-05:00

The new carpet is here! Well, actually only part of the job is installed right now but next weekend the rest of it will be put in place!!!

The basement is the textured gray and the upstairs is a plush gray called Pewter which looks slightly purple at times. I love them both!

Thanks to seeking out an installer from Craig's List I was able to save a considerable amount of money. Also, thanks to the Andover High School Wresteling Coach Jerry for organizing some of his players to move the very thick and heavy dinning room glass table top for us, it weights around 800 pounds and we couldn't have moved it without their help. Thanksgiving will be wonderful this year...all my family together and new carpet!

Finding an Exercise Partner

2009-11-12T02:05:00.000-05:00

I would love to find an exercise partner, someone who likes to work out and could push me along till it got more enjoyable. I'm not only a hater of exercising but also very impatient and when I work out for two days and haven't seen 10 LBS drop I say "See this isn't even working" and quit. I work at a facility that has a full gym for crying out loud, why don't I get on board? I know I need the cardio stuff the most but that is the most boring part of working out...it's so BORING! So what I need is someone who will inspire me.

Do you know anyone?

Thanksgiving Gathering

2009-11-09T20:40:00.000-05:00

I just recently firmed up the travel arrangements for both of my sons to come to Michigan and see me for Thanksgiving/My Birthday. It has been years since all of us were together and I am very excited to see both of them and to have my sister and her husband here too. I of course want everything to be perfect but that means making some purchases which I'm good with but I wanted all the new carpet to be installed before everyone got here which isn't going to happen. So that is a bit upsetting...the installer just is too busy to do the job before Thanksgiving. We can't afford to pay a higher price which puts our job on the back burner till he can free up some time, it will get done eventually. Of course I need to be thankful that I have a house to put carpet in, and that we can buy carpet for our house at all, so it's all in the way you look at things.

I'm very fortunate, but I work really hard each day and that says something about it all too. We help ourselves, we work hard, we make sacrifices when needed so that we can have some nice things in life but mostly I think it is all about doing your best when the opportunity is there to take action. I don't really believe in luck as much as I believe in hard work!

Thankfully this November Sagittarius ... is grateful for so many things in life!

Family Gathering for a Simchah

2009-10-07T18:31:00.000-04:00

Recently we went to North Carolina for a double Bar Mitzvah for Al's cousin Steven (and wife Lori) Katzenstein. Their sons Benjamin and Jacob, were so well prepared and such nice young men, it was a preasure to be there to share this fun Simcha.

I have more pictures to upload but these were the first two I did... imagine that?

Painting Realistic

2009-09-26T15:44:00.000-04:00

So once again I've taken on a project that for me is quite a big bite. I am not a trained painter by any means, in fact up until recently I never tried to paint anything besides abstract designs or simple things like cup cakes. But now I've tried to do a commissioin of two sweet little girls and let me tell you faces are the hardest thing to paint. To be able to show depth and skin tones and hair colors as realistic is so hard. Maybe if I had gone to art school and spent many hours of formal training doing nothing but this I wouldn't feel so intimidated by this but anyway I am getting off the track... I am going to post the original picture that I ended up painting from, it's different from the one I thought I would use to begin with. Then I will post the follow up paintings and hopefull the final painting when I am completely done.

Tell me what you think?

Online Painting Class with Suzi Blu

2009-08-28T09:50:00.000-04:00

progression of the painting...

I have been taking an online painting class with an amazing

instructor/artist Suzi Blu! She is one of these people that on camera appears to be not on camera, she is so comfortable that you think she is in your living room with you, speaking to just you. I sometimes feel like I've made a friend with Suzi because we chat online and email each other often and since I've been on a quest to meet a few new friends this online relationship seems to be more real than some of my face to face friends here lately. Anyway, she is such a wonderful person and her ability to inspire and actually teach is incredible. After just 5 weeks I've been able to draw and paint so much better. Here is the most recent work I've done with her class.

Finished painting!

My Circle of Friends is Getting Smaller.

2009-08-11T22:13:00.000-04:00

It has occured to me that I just don't have that many friends that like to or are able to go out during the week day evenings. Some of my friends have small kids at home, most of my friends are married and have a husband or family obligations waiting for them, very few are free during Monday - Thursday evenings. I need to meet some new friends!
I tried to do this by answering an ad in a local paper (Craig's List) but when we actually met there was little the two of us had in common. So how does one meet friends when you are a mature age??? I like to make art, dance, have dinner out, and would exercise more with a partner. It's hard no matter what age you are to meet new friends but especially when you are older. My husband works out of town all week long and that leaves me with an open schedule most evenings and trust me there is only so much art you can make to keep yourself busy. So I am on a quest to expand my circle of friends.
If you like dancing the Somba, going places on a train, want to dance on a Wednesday, and you don't use a cane...
Contact me here and we can see if there is a connection!

Tie Dye By: Laura Willwerth

2009-07-23T13:34:00.001-04:00

This past Monday and Tuesday I had the pleasure of watching a real artist ( Laura Willwerth) create or rather produce about 40 beautiful tie dyed tee shirts as gifts for another one of our friends (Brenda Zach) whose daughter (Marly Zach) is going to be in the Stage Door Performance of HAIR! Laura offered her talents to Brenda who is generously giving each cast member one of these great tees as a gift. I wish I had thought to take pictures of all the different patterns that Laura made as we were unveiling them from the plastic bags, but of course I didn't have my camera with me.

I was lucky enough to get one for myself and I took this picture of me wearing mine, and as you can see it really is a thumbs up kind of thing!

Thanks Laura

Precious Metal Clay Lessons

2009-07-17T01:26:00.000-04:00

Contact me if you want to take PMC lessons!

CAll 248-967-4030 ext. 2028

Location is at the Oak Park Jewish Community Center, 15110 W. 10 mile road.

Just Catching Up:)

2009-06-27T22:37:00.000-04:00

Today I went to Plymouth, MI. for an altered art meeting with MISABA, and it was my first time at one of the meetings. Pam Yee made sure I knew about the meeting because it was so close to where I live. Most of the group meetings are held in Grand Rapids and I can never make those meetings. One of the members of this group Ingrid lead us all in making a lovely Butterfly Book, of her own design. I love the way mine turned out! I'll post a picture later.

Well it's time the the Detroit Dirty Show again! Yes in the middle of the recession the show producers have decided that the Detroit area could support a second show this year. Usually this show runs during Valentine's Day week, the last one was the 10th show. Now we are going to have a 10.5 show in September and I have entered another piece of art for jury. I am such a beginner when it comes to painting people that I'll be really surprised if my piece makes it into the show. In my opinion it's just ok and it is a first try at realistic painting ... I'm not holding my breath.

Summer camp has one week down and 7 more to go. The camps at JPM ran really well last week and everything worked out fine. I did have to teach the first day of pottery camp because our teacher got the dates mixed up but guess what? That time I spent teaching art at Hillel Day School really came in handy because I had to teach a pottery/clay building class then and it all came back to me. I'm did a bang up job of pitch hitting for that class if I do say so myself. I did hurt my back lifting a heavy box of clay and ended up taking one day off work to recover but you can't have everything, can you?

One of my good friends Lauren Ferguson just got published in a book (not a magazine) a book! I'm very happy for her. I am also waiting for Suzi Blu to open registrations for her online portrait painting class. She is the reason I even began painting faces. Everything I know about painting faces and bodies I learned from her online Petite Dolls class. It's a wonderful way to learn to paint, and her techniques are easy to follow... so do a search for her and check out all of her classes.

Love you all lots,
Edie

My Al-grande!

2009-06-01T22:26:00.000-04:00

I really am lucky... my Al is so sweet to me! I just want to give him a shout out! This man does all the grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, he even irons his own clothes... not to mention being the best (you fill in the blank) :)~

Stolen Cell Phone

2009-05-14T23:14:00.000-04:00

If you are following this please send me your cell phone number because I have to re-create all of my lost contacts.
Thanks

Post Operation

2009-04-27T02:39:00.000-04:00

Most people didn't think I was fat or fat enough to undergo such a dramatic surgery but I wasn't happy with my weight and just couldn't loose the belly fat. So I took matters into my own hands and
Well... after making the decision to have my body transformed by way of a Tummy Tuck and Liposuction procedures I am happy to say that I am very satisfied with the results! Although I am still not fully recovered and my doctor says that swelling will continue to go down for a few more months the difference is extremely noticeable and I am happy that I did it.

Surprisingly it was not as painful as I had prepared myself for, or maybe my imagination is just really good at conjuring up the worst? It's been 3 weeks now and I am still very tender and my skin feels very tingly and tight but not painful. I would post before and after pictures but I'd hate to scare anyone, let's just say I still have to make myself workout but after all this I do think twice about each and every bite I take and there is no more late night eating!

Unique Gifts I Can Make For U

2009-03-08T22:42:00.000-04:00

Contact me if you would like me to make a book for you.

It's been too long

2009-03-08T22:10:00.000-04:00

I know that I haven't been posting here lately but I have been posting blogs on my page at Suzi Blu ning site... I know that's no excuse but I have 3 different blogs now and it's really hard to keep up with them.

So what's new with me... hummm well my husband is in the auto industry and still has a job! I'm so grateful for that, I have a new lady living in my home with me because she didn't have a place to live and I said she could stay with me till she got up on her feet again. Diane is really a wonderful lady and I enjoy her being around the house, she is good company. Madison has been sick but seems to be on the mend now and she is presently with out a boyfriend and that's a good thing. She has the most curious way of always choosing bad boyfriends.

I've just made the cutest bunch of cupcakes that I saw in Cloth Paper Scissors about 8 months ago, I've been looking for the plastic cup bottoms for that long too. I was so surprised to find them at my local Dollar Tree this weekend so I rushed home to make my version of this project. They were so much fun Madison even made one.

What do you think?

Taking care of Fearl Cats

2009-01-30T01:02:00.000-05:00

This is Domino and Coco

Domino, Coco, & Ltl Black

Trying to trap Smoky

Not taking the bait!

I am fostering some Fearl Cats and if anyone has any hints for me please pass them along. I've tried to catch them so I could get them spayed or neutered but they are really smart and avoid the trap even with a can of Tuna inside it. I don't want them to keep breeding, so what can I do if they won't go into the trap?

They come on my backyard screened in porch and eat, sleep there at times but not always. I bought a special heated pad that keeps them warm because it is really cold here in Detroit. I change the water twice a day because it freezes, and I keep the dry cat food under a box so the snow doesn't fall on it. Other than that I don't know if I can do anything more. If you have tips please send them my way.

Original Art and it's Worth?

2009-01-17T18:29:00.000-05:00

If you know of an artist that has somewhat of a name and you really like their work it probably wouldn't be a stretch to say that you would pay more for one of their original paintings. That being said, if someone sees your work and likes it enough to hire you to paint them an original commission how much do you charge? Is it simply the materials that it costs you plus some "by the hour" amount that you are willing to paint for, or is it a more complex calculation? I'd really like to hear from other artists out there that do commission work... how do you put a price on your work?

Here is the original picture that was seen at a show and the client said she wanted me to make one for her with her daughter's images in the work that she wanted.

1 original

16 x 24 mixed media (still for sale) $225.00

2. Here is the one I did for the client.

30 x 40 mixed media (Sold)

December 25th was a Good Day

2008-12-26T00:58:00.000-05:00

I am Jewish, that being said I worked today at my job because I work for The Jewish Community Center here in the Detroit area. We held a Family Fun Day and everyone from the community came with their little children and enjoyed the Day at the "J"! It was very nice to be a part of this event and to watch all the families having such a good time. I was part of the Jerry Walberg Climbing Wall Team, and helped little kids climb across the wall, some little ones really got good.

Haven't been doing much art lately, I guess I needed a break? When the mood hits me I will start up again I'm sure. I did sketch a drawing last night but that was the first time I have been in my studio in a month or more. Well that's it for now, it's late and I have to work tomorrow.

Later to you all,

Edie

I always say I'm never going to do another one?

2008-12-07T17:47:00.000-05:00

Every few years I get hooked into or at least agree to participate in an Arts and Crafts show, and at the end of each show I tell myself I'll never do another one. So here I am today lamenting over the last two days of yet another show where sales were lack luster! In all fairness the first day of the two it snowed a lot and many people didn't leave home if they were smart. The second day (today) we had traffic but that was the extent of it... no sales. It wasn't just me, it was every one. I would begin to think I had lost my creative mojo if I was the only one who had no sales, but it really was everyone. Well I take that back, not everyone but more than 3/4's of the vendors didn't make any sales. So I am stating it here publicly...
NO MORE CRAFT SHOWS!

I'm getting better!

2008-11-12T01:06:00.000-05:00

Here is the latest painting... I love painting women and I really like this one! I don't care what anyone else says, I think it's good.

I see contours, and it doesn't look flat to me... do you think it looks flat?

Painting Realistic Faces?

2008-10-29T23:40:00.000-04:00

Today I tried my hand at realistic painting, man it's hard. Getting the skin tones right seems to be where I fall short. I've only been attempting to paint people for a few months now, and that is totally due to taking this wonderful online drawing/painting class with Suzi Blu on ning, she did video and PDF's to show everyone all the steps to doing a nice face. So now I must practice, practice, practice. Today's efforts were a waste of time as I ended up tearing the water color paper after trying to re shade the face too many times, in the end I scanned the whole thing and turned it all blue.

The 57th. Annual Jewish Book Fair is coming to Detroit!

2008-10-29T00:24:00.000-04:00

I have been decorating!!! I just love it when I can get up from my desk at work and go do a PROJECT. Yes, I am the JCC Queen of the Project. My everyday job is being the Administrative Assistant in the Sports and Recreation Wing of the JCC, not very exciting and sitting at a computer and well... just a job. But... I am lucky enough to have project status and when there is a large event going on at the center I usually get to help out with decorations. This year our building services team of experts assigned me to work with Jim our Carpenter, and he built me a wooden arch that I made into a Book Arch. I used old hard cover books and paint to create a display to show off - What else... BOOKS! You can go to

http://www.jccdet.org/ and click on the links for Book Fair to see the full schedule of events and here are some of the pictures of the Book Arch. Enjoy!

XXX Hugs,

Edie

My Day Today Sunday, Oct. 26th 2008

2008-10-26T22:22:00.000-04:00

Marly Zack singing at her school choir concert!

Because today was a Sunday that means Al, my husband does his usual weekend stuff and I do my own thing so today here's what I did.

Slept till noon.

Did an exercise workout with Fit TV show. Took a shower. Put rollers in my hair.

Called into the live radio chat that artist Suzi Blu had going on, and I got through to speak with her. That was really cool, I never seem to get picked for these type of things. I admire her art so much and she is just a really really nice woman. Although we have never met I feel like we are becoming friends via technology. I have this huge house and she needs a place to move so I am trying to get her to come and move in here with me. She doesn't know me though and I don't blame her for being Leary ... but with some time I hope this works out.

Brenda Zack my very good friend (adopted family) invited me to join her and her family go see her daughter Marly sing in her school choir concert. Now let me tell you a little something about Marly Zack... this girl can SING! One day I will be saying "Oh, I was a family friend of her's before she was famous" you just watch and see...

It was a country themed concert which is why there is hay in the background of the picture, and the Western Hats abound. Anyway, she did a great job!

So now I am here checking email and getting ready to settle in for my Sunday TV watching till bedtime. I think this is a great day... hope you do too.

Suzi Blu Did it Again!

2008-10-21T01:09:00.000-04:00

The most wonderful person I've come to know, who else... Suzi Blu!

First Commissioned Altered Books!

2008-10-15T23:01:00.000-04:00

Weee, I'm giddy with excitement about having someone actually hire me to create a special book for them! I've been making altered books for 2 years and they have all been for myself but all of a sudden I'm getting customers. I was hired to make a special book for the person who worked so hard to pull the Macabbi Games event together here in Detroit. Karen worked for a year organizing this event that brought in youth athletes from all around the world to compete in what I will call for lack of a better explanation "Junior Jewish Olympics Games" we had over 2,500 teens descend upon the greater Detroit area for a week! It was such an amazing event and it took so much planning and team work to get it done, she really did a bang up job, so I got to make a book for her. Then this past 2 days I've been working on a special birthday book for another person. This book is being given to Mollene from her future daughter-in-law and her son. Since I don't know Mollene at all it was especially challenging for me to create her book because it's theme is all about her life. Luckily Hillary has worked with me and given me help with photos and such. So here are some of the pictures of these two books that I've been making for others and feeling like I am really beginning to reach some sort of artist status!

I'm Back From Israel, Drattts!!!

2008-10-02T22:59:00.000-04:00

I honestly didn't want to leave and come home, although I did miss my family I would have rather moved them to me in the warmth of Israel. It was warm...not only the weather but the people too. Everyone was so friendly and caring, I was eating at a very nice restaurant at a table by myself and another couple at the table next to me invited me to join them, I smiled at some boys on the street and they offered me some of the chips they were eating, I looked a bit lost and another person walked with me and took me to the business I was trying to find. These kinds of things just kept happening so I knew it wasn't just a fluke. People in Israel will ask how you are doing and they really want you to tell them. WARM in every way!

I can't wait to go again!

My Trip to Israel!

2008-09-11T23:52:00.000-04:00

I leave this Sunday and I am heading to Israel and Paris! I'm so excited... it's been 10 years since I was there and this trip is going to be so much fun. I am going with 17 other co-workers, I just can't wait. I've been buying new clothes and packing for what seems like weeks now, somehow having the suitcases laid out and setting up outfits in neat rows has helped me to keep the excitement to a manageable level. I am not stressed at all, just can't wait to land. I plan to take lots of pictures and especially of doors... that's right doors on buildings on houses, then when I get back I am planning to create an altered book and use the door pictures in the book. I'm also going to make an assemblage entitled "BLOOM in Israel" and this is a gift for a special Mr. and Mrs. Bloom! More on that later. We only have one night in Paris but since I have never been there at all I am very grateful for any amount of time. I'll be happy to just walk around for 8 hours, but that is not all we are doing, no we are getting a tour and a boat ride as well. What an amazing opportunity the JCC and my special Bloom's are providing for JCC Staff!
Thanks

Information I didn't need!

2008-08-30T00:10:00.000-04:00

Today I was sitting in my office at work minding my own business and I get this phone call from another co-worker. She proceeds to tell me that she needs someone to give a new employee a building tour and asks if I am available. I tell her yes, and ask why I am being asked to give this tour since it is not really my job or my department. She then comes right out and tells me that she is letting - - - - - go, and this will be the replacement person. I ask why - - - - - is being fired? She says the person has been absent too many times and doesn't get along well with her direct supervisor.
Well, it is Friday and now I have this terrible information sitting on my heart, no one likes to get let go from a job. And for all this person knew I could have been the best friend of the one she is letting go. I've been asked not to tell anyone about all of this but I can't believe that she gave me this burden to carry. Hell, I didn't even speak to this woman for 2 years because she did something else that pissed me off a long time ago, and now she thinks she can confide this kind of information with me. I should go to her supervisor and tell her what I know. What I want to do is tell the woman who is being fired what is coming her way next Wednesday.. but I don't want to get in trouble either. I hate this! Why me of all people? This isn't my job, this isn't even my department, and I'm really not supposed to know this kind of information. I'd want to know if I was getting fired, I'm a good person, shouldn't I tell - - - - - what is happening?

www.ediesthisandthat.blogspot.com

2008-08-20T09:43:00.001-04:00

Visit Mixed Media With Suzi Blu

Don't tell me I'm not FAT!

2008-08-20T09:18:00.000-04:00

I know I'm heavier than I used to be, I know I'm older too but I also know that I eat too much. At work all the women are always telling me I'm not fat, that I look fine, that I don't need to cut back on my food intake... stop it! If you are my friend tell me to get moving, to hit the gym, encourage me to loose weight. I pick myself apart a lot and I know I am hard on myself, but you can't miss the fat arms, the huge boobs, and the gut...

I'm almost 50 and I can't continue to look like this. Send me helpful advise if you have any.

Hope to be smaller in a few months

This is now... let's see where I go by November 26th when I actually turn 50.

My article published in the E Magazine for Altered Arts

2008-07-30T19:04:00.000-04:00

A while ago I submitted work for a particular group of themed art calls, the theme was either fabric or altered clothes. Well I did use the fabric from old clothes to make these collages but I guess it didn't make the cut. The editor sent me back my work and that was that... then today I opened up my mail to find that although it wasn't printed in the actual magazine, my project did make it into the pages of the online magazine. What a nice surprise!

So here it is for all of you to enjoy. Remember Altered Arts Magazine is a subscription magazine not found in book stores YET.

Twilight Saga

2008-07-23T21:03:00.000-04:00

I just read the best 3 books since I read Harry Potter! I actually bought the 3rd. book in the series and read it first, then a friend of mine (Brenda Zack) went out of town for a few days and I volunteered to take her teenage daughter (Marly) out to dinner. We had some time before dinner and went into a bookstore, I pointed to the book (Eclipse) and said to Marly "I just finished this book" ... well we really had a lot to talk about at dinner after that. I found out that there were 2 previous books which I hadn't read and of course Marly had them. I read both within a week, and re-read the first couple of chapters of the 3rd. book again just so it all made sense to me. WOW! I can't wait for the 4th book to come out next month.

If you are looking for a really good read, buy these and start with Twilight 1st.

Went to The Ann Arbor Art Fair Today

2008-07-19T20:02:00.000-04:00

Can't believe I didn't enjoy the Ann Arbor Art Fair! It's not that the art was off, it was the RAIN! I thought it would stop rainning but it didn't, I got poked in the eye twice with people's unbrellas. We didn't stay very long, it was not going well.

Next year, I'm looking forward to next year!

To See STEP 1 please go down and work back up.

2008-07-05T08:40:00.001-04:00

These are all the little cupcakes I painted. I will try to sell some of them but mostly they will be gifts for friends. I hope you try to paint one for your friend too. Please let me know if you liked this instructional. Thanks, Edie
This is another version. Painted on canvas board and trimmed with upholstery fringe.
This is the finished piece. It was coated with Beeswax and embellished with metal scrap booking corners, stamped with the word Wish and I glued on some aqua buttons at the top corners after I cut off the shank on the back.

Steps 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20

2008-07-05T08:14:00.000-04:00

Close up of some of the details in this piece, notice the permanent black marker used to make lines, and dots on the cupcake, also the candle lines.

Step 20 - Paint in the candle and the flame.
-
Step 19 - Paint over the black letters with iridescent purple. Add glitter to the background.

Step 18 - Tear off a scrap of decorative paper which is not to thick and using gel medium paste it in at the left hand side of your picture. I also stamped Happy Birthday onto tissue.
Step 16 - I painted in some metalic bronze and irredicent purple atound the bottom and left side of the cupcake here. I also added some pink glitter paint to the icing over the dots.

Steps 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the Cakes.

2008-07-05T08:03:00.000-04:00

Step 15 - Paint in detail of the lines with thin aqua paint.

Step 14 - Tone down paints with light gesso.

Step 13 - Layer in light green over the tan on bottom.

Step 12 - Add dots to top and paint the bottom tan.

Step 11 - Use a heat gun and heat the puffy paint.

Steps 6,7,8,9,and 10 of the Cupcakes.

2008-07-05T07:54:00.000-04:00

Step 10 - Paint the icing with white puffy paint.

Step 9 - Highlight the ocher with light yellow.

Step 8 - Use ocher to paint center of the cake.

Step 7 - Added purple over sections.

Step 6 - Painted in some pink paint.

Step by Step Painting from Me to You!

2008-07-05T07:41:00.000-04:00

Step 5 -( sloppy) add walnut ink to the left side

Step 4 - Add lime green and extend the yellow.

Step 3 - Use med. yellow and paint a blob.

Step 2 - paint the edge in aqua paint.

Step 1- paint with gesso and sketch.

The 4th of July

2008-07-04T22:55:00.000-04:00

Happy 4th of July!

Do you Zumba

2008-07-02T23:26:00.000-04:00

I have to say that I am hooked on Zumba! It is an exercise form that is part dance and very aerobic, all to a Latin beat. It's so much fun if you like to dance. Of course each class can vary and a lot of the chemistry depends on your instructor. I have found the best instructor around, her name is Debbie Lim. My sister Jane takes Zumba in the Pittsburgh area and she too has a really good instructor named Alex. I have checked in on the Zumba class that takes place right where I work and I could take that class for free if I wanted to but... the teacher just doesn't compare... the long and the short of it is if your instructor knows the steps and and lead the class great, but the best instructors know how to be entertaining, friendly, and a bit goofy all at once.

Each song that is played has a specific set of steps and moves, so in actuality you could go to any Zumba class anywhere and know the dances. It's much like Israeli Folk Dancing in that regard. But this is much more fun and believe it or not a great workout. I'm adding Debbie's web site to my blog roll of great places to visit online. So if you happen to be in the Farmington Hills, Michigan area take a class with Debbie, she is wonderful!

A Great Day

2008-06-28T23:41:00.000-04:00

Today was a great day even though I missed the Suzi Blu live chat... but I was out on an art materials quest. I heard about a warehouse sale and it sounded pretty good although it was far away from my house. My friend Terri and set out early this rainy Sat. and headed off to Grass Lake, Michigan. We found some really cool stuff at Art quest America, like a whole roll of Stabilized Fabric from Jacquard. It boasts that you can run it through your printer and then paint over it, sort of an advanced paint by color thing. Boxes to decorate, steel rod picture hangers, pearl paints, parchment paper, mica, and Great Tape. Then we drove into a little town called Chelsey and had the best lunch at The Common Ground! The day ended up being beautiful after all the rain from the morning. I found some framed canvas that had flowers painted on it, and I brought it home and painted over the framed canvas because a lady named Miranda hired me to paint her an abstract. The end piece is the Red, White, and Silver painting shown here.

Edie

New position on the ISABA board, Edie is the new VP of Education

2008-06-28T01:53:00.000-04:00

I am proud to say that I will be working towards promoting the Altered Books Movement by posting online classes and tips which you can see on the web site for The International Society of Altered Book Artists. If you are not a member yet, then you should be! It's a non profit organization that does a great job.

Altering books has been such a wonderful experience for me. I have been able to work through emotional battles by making a book to express all the pent up feelings I was having and not able to share with anyone. When I've been happy I have made a special book just for those feelings and painted pictures in the pages of those books. When I thought my marriage was just about over a few years ago, I made a book that portrayed all my doubts and fears... believe it or not that book really helped me to sort things out. What I realized was this " What you hear yourself say inside your head becomes truth for you" So if you let yourself think that your husband is not a good guy, or that he doesn't really listen to you, then that is what actually becomes your truth.

So, creating these kind of books has really helped me to be a better person, a happy person, and a much better artist too.

If you are a book artist please send me a picture of your work, maybe I can feature you in our online pages.

Hugs to you,

Edie

Reading with Suzi Blu

2008-06-28T01:16:00.000-04:00

Well I've never been one to join a book club before, or to really read along with any kind of group other than when my daughter and I took turns reading Harry Potter out loud to each other, but now I'm reading "Wicked" along with Suzi Blu and a lot of others. Tonight I am only on page 130 and just starting the chapter called "The Charmed Circle". The book is moving along at a medium pace and so far has not grabbed me fully, but I'm still plugging along.

I'm going on a field trip tomorrow morning to a blow out sale in Green Lake, MI. I hope to find all kinds of cool craft supplies at good prices, I will probably have to stop in Ann Arbor too. Can't miss a chance to go to The Scrap Box!

I spent 45 minutes waiting in line today at my bank just so I could get a Money Order made out to my new favorite artist Suzi. I'm getting a personal commissioned painting for myself! I'm really excited about this, I usually don't purchase art because I make most everything I'd ever want, but her work is so special that I could never recreate what she does.

Hugs for now,
Edie

I have a large canvas

2008-06-21T16:21:00.000-04:00

Recently I was given a very large (tall) canvas to do something with. Originally there was a very dark and dreary painting on it and no one liked it so the whole thing was given to me. It's scary to paint on something this large for me. I've taken gesso and covered over the old painting and have been looking at the large, blank white space for about 2 weeks. It's intimidating to me, every time I walk past it I think what could I sketch here? What is so large and tall? I keep thinking maybe an abstract of just color and texture, but that seems like a cop out...

Does anyone have ideas to send me? I just can't seem to get started on this one.

Getting a Suzi Blu Painting For Myself!!!

2008-06-18T23:14:00.000-04:00

I am so excited, I am getting a Suzi Blu Commissioned Painting! Yes, I'm buying it for myself. I love her work and just have to have one. When I get it I will take a picture and let you all see just how pretty my little, sweet girl is!!!

Glass Bottle Project 2

2008-06-15T11:39:00.000-04:00

These are posted somewhere in a past post but I thought I'd add them again since I just wrote up the instructions in the last post. Just a few more examples of these bottles I've made.

Glass Bottle Projects

2008-06-15T11:07:00.000-04:00

OK, everyone this is such a cool project and it's really easy too. I've seen a lot of Fairy Jars in magazines, and online but this is my spin on those. You first have to be willing to work with a two part epoxy resin. Envirotech Lite is what I used. You mix it in equal parts, exactly! There is one bottle of hardener and one bottle of resin in the box when you buy it. In the picture above you see the black lid from the hardener which I use as a measure. I put in two caps of hardener and two caps of the resin into the small yellow rubber mixing bowl, then stirred them together slowly for about a minute. The rubber bowl is not in the kit. I found mine at a dollar store. It's nice because after everything hardens up you can squeeze the sides and all the left over resin just peels off.

What I did was print out a picture of my daughter on velum, and trim it up to fit inside this glass globe. Originally this glass was housed in some sort of metal stand but that got lost in a move so all I had left was the globe. It wouldn't stand up because the bottom is round so it was just sitting around. I also had a cute little glass ash tray from long ago hanging around. Not that I ever smoked but I just had it. So you roll up the picture into a tube and shove it up into the globe. When the paper gets in there it unrolls and opens up. Then you pour some of the mixed resin into the ash tray and set the lip of the globe into it to dry. I also added some embellishments into the wet resin and let them dry embedded as permanent decorations.

You could do this with pets pictures too. I'm going to try that next. Please leave me comments if you like this project, or if you don't I love getting them. No one seems to do it though?
Edie

Painting a Birthday Cupcake

2008-06-05T04:42:00.000-04:00

I have painted some really cute little pictures that would make a sweet Birthday gift for you or a friend and I've opened an Etsy shop with them listed. So go take a look at all of them in my Etsy shop.

Art Alternatives Art Club

2008-06-02T23:36:00.000-04:00

Here is Audrey's................................. This is Jacqueline's

Well we had our last meeting and had a bit of a larger crowd than usual. It was really nice to see Becky again as she had been out of town for many months, and also Linda is now back for the summer too. We made small little books, using a maze cutting technique that only required one 12 x 12 sheet of paper to create all the pages and it didn't end up looking like an accordion book either. We decided that our next meeting would be a gather all your extra goodies and bring them with you to class. Then we would pass them out and make up a challenge to create something using all the same materials but with no guidelines. JUST Create! It will be interesting to see what everyone makes.

I've added some pictures of the small books we made in class.

This is Teri's ...................... This is Becky's

Kippot For Sale - Enjoy the show!

2008-05-26T15:07:00.000-04:00

I now have the hang of this slide show thing, so I put another one up on this blog just to make sure I knew what I was doing. Only thing is you can only have a few of them on your blog or it looks over done. So now that I know how to do it, what am I going to do with the skills??? Well, at least it's a learning curve, maybe now I can figure out how to add music next.

Happy Memorial Day!

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-05-26T15:00:00.001-04:00

Wow I got the Slide Show to Work!

2008-05-26T14:20:00.000-04:00

After spending about 4 hours I finally got the Slide Show that I created in Slide.com to populate into my blogger page correctly. I don't know why it was so hard because I was doing everything correctly but it just wouldn't work, and then it did... just like that. Didn't do anything differently than before, just tried it again and again and waited awhile and did it again. What do you think of it?

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-05-26T13:12:00.001-04:00

The Date was Pushed Back - DRATT

2008-05-25T20:09:00.000-04:00

So I hired an attorney to go to battle for me and the date of the hearing was pushed back till June 15th. What a let down, the police officer didn't even show up. I thought that was immediate grounds for dismissal but no, not any more. Now the rules have changed and the city prosecutor has the final say, and he said he didn't want to do anything until the officer was present. So now it's time to wait again. Thankfully my attorney isn't charging me any more for the delay.

I have a court date set!

2008-05-13T00:49:00.000-04:00

I AM TRYING TO BE POSITIVE!

Well, I hired an attorney (Larry Lieb) and my court date is set for May 20th. I don't know how this will all pan out but I really hope that the system has steps in place to believe the average citizen when they are telling the truth. What I really hope doesn't happen is that the judge dismisses what I have to say and only believes the officer. That would turn out dreadfully for me because I'm afraid I will loose my temper and end up in more trouble!!!! I admit it I have anger issues when I know I am right. I expect things to be fair. Yes, I really do. My husband and many of my friends tell me that is an immature way to think but I can't help myself. I want to believe that things will work out for those that are innocent, and that there is justice left in this world. Who knows why this officer decided to point me over to the curb? It wasn't just, or right because I wasn't speeding in the least!!! Wish me luck, I might need it.

Speeding Ticket

2008-04-19T13:45:00.000-04:00

This is a picture of a street in my subdivision. Well the other day I was pulled over to the right side of this street while a motorcycle cop was just finishing up giving another person a ticket on the left side of the street, right where all the rocks are. I WAS NOT SPEEDING AT ALL! Can I say that again... I WAS NOT SPEEDING AT ALL! I don't know how he could even begin to guess my speed because he did not have a radar gun or anything. My reaction at once was to look down at my speedometer, I was going 28MPH. What really bugs me is why would he pull me over? Now I know that I have had a few speeding tickets in my life and I was speeding when I got them. I've pulled over and knew I was at fault, politely took the tickets and just paid them. This time I was not speeding and I'll be dammed if I will pay it. I'm going to fight it. But will a judge believe me?

I've contacted a few attorneys to see what they would suggest, one said fight it but realize that you are going to have to pay something. The judge will not take your word over the cop. You'll be lucky to get a reduced ticket. That answer is not good enough for me. I want this thing DROPPED! Mind you I was not polite to this officer. I bitched him out... He was being a Jerk.

How can you pull someone over without radar? And he wrote me up for going 41 MPH in a 25 zone. This is my subdivision, I drive through it everyday, I saw him before he saw me. Do you think I'm going to speed past a cop? I'm so pissed I could kick him in the leg.

Anyone have any advise for me? I may end up in jail... I will not pay this ticket. I hope the judge believes me.

Altered Books, Which Type is Your Favorite?

2008-04-09T15:01:00.000-04:00

I have put some examples of Altered Books that I have made on this blog entry.

When I first started making "Altered Books" they were books that told a story. Then after I made a few of those I started playing around with metal books. I taught myself how to make the hinges, and metal framework for the covers. Lately I've been making book sculptures. Taking a book and making it into a piece of art, where the book doesn't actually open because the pages are glued shut.

Do you have a favorite style of Altered Book?

The type that tells a story, the kind that just have beautiful artwork in them, Fabric Books, Metal, or Sculptures? Leave me a message and let me know what type you like best!

These were

created for

Altered Arts Magazine!

Art Club Challenge

2008-04-05T23:39:00.000-04:00

The last time my art club met I passed out these odd little plastic suction tips that I found in Ann Arbor the last time I went to the Scrap Box. I challenged everyone to make a doll using the triangle shaped piece of plastic as their doll base.

The Scrap Box is a fantastic find for artists. It is a recyclers dream, full of cast offs from automotive plants, manufacturing waste, and other items that are really cool to use as art materials. A lot of automotive manufacturing goes on around Michigan so there seems to be a lot of materials from that venue, and I think for that reason the plastic suction tips that I found were very heat resistant. I tried to solder some legs onto the bottom of one of the dolls that I made and the plastic was right up against the metal but it didn't melt. I was happy but surprised. I believe it didn't melt because it was made to withstand heat, like many auto parts are. So that is just one more benefit to picking up items from The Scrap Box.

My dolls are each very different, the first one was playful and fun. It has felted hair and arms, a skirt made of sheer organza and a fringe accent, along with a bead placed inside the neck area that reads Heart on the front and Want on the back. The head is stuffed fabric, with wiggle eyes.

My second doll was much more serious. At the last art club meeting we made polymer clay transferred images and I wasn't sure what to do with one that I made of a beautiful Japanese woman. So I decided to use this image as my head for the second doll I made. I rolled both sides of the image into the middle and glued it into the neck portion which looks like a tube. Then I wrapped a long strip of organza around the whole body several times to create a dress form. I glued metal leaves in place where arms and legs would naturally be, added ribbons to the back and an embroidered Dragon Fly to the front. I placed a crown on her head and a wooded stick up into the body. The whole doll was attached to a base and secured with wire to stabilize the up righted position. So this doll looks like it is standing up. Some embellishments were added to the bottom and another image of older ancestors was placed below a feather and an Elephant. Take a closer look at the pictures by clicking on them.

My last doll (I got carried away with this challenge) was the one that I soldered the legs onto an old key lock. So the lock is the base and because the base is nice and heavy it also stands up nicely. The solder wasn't so smooth, so in the end I covered it with handmade paper and gel medium. The head was made as a 3-D shaker box, and the eyes were just drawn on. The plastic suction tip is really visible with this doll as I only used stamped tissue paper and drawings to mask it. The inside portion of the plastic was stuffed with translucent polymer clay and baked in my oven with the keys in place. The brass filigree at the bottom was soldered to the base. The feather wings are glued to the back.

Kippot (head coverings)

2008-03-27T00:30:00.000-04:00

You all know that I am Jewish, right? Well if not you do now. Anyway, I have a website where I sell these beautiful ladies beaded, wire Kippot (the plural for the singular form of Kippah in Hebrew)

I've been thinking about putting the directions and step by step pictures onto a CD and selling the patterns for making them. I've never shared how I make these with anyone before, but maybe I could increase sales if I sold the patterns. Has anyone ever done that with an item that you have made? Was it a good experience? Tell me what you think...

Heidi's Gift! It's One of a Kind.

2008-03-27T00:05:00.000-04:00

Tonight a co-worker came over to my house to pick up a piece of jewelry that I made to give as a gift. The necklace is really beautiful! It was created with PMC. I began with a fresh orchid blossom, coated with many layers of PMC slip. I added parts of the branch and some PMC extruded out of a clay pump. This piece was fired about 4 different times, each time adding in more extruded clay, which added stability and captured different stones into the design. The back was filed down to a smooth surface using a wheel grinder, varied sand papers and polishing papers. I think it probably took me a total of 30 hours to complete this piece. It was certainly made with a lot of love. The back part of the necklace was beaded with some pearls, faceted quarts, and silver beads. Just lovely!

What to do with all this fabric?

2008-03-26T01:35:00.000-04:00

You know how people are always giving you things because they know you are an artist, and you will think of something to do with their cast off materials? Well... just as you might suspect this has happened to me. I have come into a fabric stash that is so big I could never use it all up. So if there is anyone out there with good ideas please send them along. I have promised to share some of it with my friends but there is still a lot more left, as you can see..

Teaching Altered Books

2008-03-22T00:19:00.000-04:00

I have taught several different groups on how to make an Altered Book. Last summer I held a week long workshop at my house for four students. We worked on our books in the morning and then took a break and swam in the pool, had lunch, and then went back to the books in the afternoon. This worked out really well. I forgot to take pictures of the process when it was happening. I really have to remember to take more photos while I am teaching. Then I had one private student who I worked with for several months on the weekends. His name was Eli Zucker. His book I did get pictures of while he was making it,I am going to share some of his pictures with you here and hopefully it will inspire you to make your own personal creation from an old discarded book. The results are really wonderful, and the books become a keepsake.

What is My Purpose?

2008-03-15T01:57:00.000-04:00

I don't know about anyone else but much of the time I feel like I am wasting my talents as an artist because I am not doing it full time. I'd just love to be able to dedicate my time to making new art and teaching. I love to teach and I'm very good at it too. At least all my students in the past have told me I am "The Best"! I'm very, very patient and that along with being able to explain things well is naturally a big help, but mostly I love to see other people get that look... you know the one you get when you have made something with your own hands. You step back and get that look of "I made this" It's the best feeling.

In my art club awhile ago I taught a PMC workshop. Everyone that came loved the material, the immediate gratification and the process. Some people have continued to come back for more club meetings, while others only came for that one PMC lesson. One of my students who has continued with us is Sue Screws... and yes she says "I really had to love my husband to take on this name"! Sue is a Polymer Clay Artist, and she does beautiful work. We as a group decided to try some Polymer Clay projects and Sue offered to teach. So last week we did some transfer techniques. We wanted to be able to use the clay transfers in the pages of our Altered Books. In the end they did work out but it was a bit tricky at first. Anyway, it was so nice of Sue to step up and lead this month's meeting. Here are some pictures of our group and one piece of finished PMC that actually belongs to Sue. Also, another picture of Audrey's Booklace from a previous club get together.

As I said I'd love to teach but I am not sure how to get one of those jobs that fly's you to another city for a big art retreat, or workshop. When I wanted to find other artists to meet with (on this side of my town) I had to start my own group, maybe I should start my own retreat? I could set up my own workshop and advertise it, who knows maybe some big name people might even come to it.... I'll have to give this some more thought. I'm patient, and organized, and I know people that would help me, I have a venue available to me, hummm... I just have to get off from work!

Cloth Paper Scissor's Paper Quilt Challenge

2008-03-08T16:01:00.000-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS!

Dear Artist,
Your “True Colors” quilt has been chosen for the exhibit in Chicago! I entered the Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine challenge -Mixed Media Paper Quilts search and mine was chosen. It was supposed to be something that represented your personality as well as being made from mixed materials and paper. So I took a digital photograph of the cat painting that I did awhile ago, which is my symbol design on this blog. The painting was called "Social Butterfly" . The inside body of the cat is made up of different butterflies, which represent how I like to flit around, yet I am also quite a loner at times like many cats. Then I cut the color print out apart, separating the legs, and head from the body of the cat. I created a fabric backing and a painted and stamped background. Then I began to sew the pieces together like you would do in a crazy quilt. I added the Tea Cup and the metal #4, along with a picture of two women to show that I do like company in my life, even if it is only something as simple as having tea. The buttons added a nice finishing touch, don't you think?

Maybe I'll have to take a road trip during the Make it University Event and head off to Chicago!

Check out www.clothpaperscissors.com for more information about "Make it University"

I'm Sick of being Sick.

2008-03-01T04:22:00.000-05:00

You know when you first get sick and you think "Wow, I don't have to get up early and go to work today"... that seems like a treat, even if you are sick. You get to stay in bed and watch Ellen, and The View. Then after a few more days and you are still sick it's not so much fun. Your back is sore from laying around, you can't stay awake to watch TV anymore because you are always dozing off. I'm finally able to sleep at night without coughing my self into a spasm. I can't wait to go back to work on Monday! I know there is going to be a lot of catch up work to do, and I will be tempted to stay and work late. I can't let myself do that, I need to pace myself and build up my stamina again, I'm still feeling pretty weak. BUT... I will be out of the house, and that's something.

Lube & Screw

2008-02-23T17:38:00.000-05:00

I usually buy Gel Medium and Gesso in large size bottles because it is less expensive that way. These larger bottles tend to last a long time and build up product around the lid that becomes sticky. Well, when you are using a sticky product like Gel Medium the last thing you want is for that stick effect to take place around your lid. So when I buy new bottles I rub some Petroluem Jelly around the edges of all the jars or bottles I buy. It really helps to keep things unstuck and screwing nicely :)

Do this to all your craft paints, gesso bottles, and glue tops from now on, you'll thank me later...

It's Always Good To Be Positive!

2008-02-13T23:03:00.000-05:00

I was so positive that my group members were going to show up even though only two people RSVP'd to me that I bought Greek Salad for 10. I planned for more than I should have... I guess I will be having Greek Salad for lunch tomorrow too! I need to look on the bright side, I don't have to wake up and pack lunch in the morning, so I can sleep in 15 more minutes.

We usually don't finish our projects all in one night but some of us got pretty far. I am going to post the Booklaces that I did as samples for the class now, and after our next meeting on March 12th. I will take pictures of everyone's finished work.

Altered Books

2008-02-11T23:41:00.000-05:00

Here in my town there is an Altered Books Art Show on display in several different areas. This project was a combined effort through the Bloomfield Township Public Libairy, The BBAC and Cranbrook School of Art. I went to see the display at the Birmingham, Bloomfield Art Center this evening on my way home from work and I was really impressed with what I saw! The whole Altered Book thing is really working it's way into main stream America. The type of Altered Books I saw tonight were really more like sculptures. Here are some examples of what I am talking about; one artist took pages from a book and balled them up into little puffs (to look like cereal) There was a placemat woven from book pages, on top was a large bowl inside the bowl were all the puffs, and then there was a spoon and a cup.

The Altered Books that I have done are really my own story created on the pages of another book, so these sculptures really intruiged me. I thought I would try my hand at it... I'll have to post the picture after mine is done. In the meantime try doing an online search and see what you can find. Here is a picture of an altered book I already have finished.

Create one of your own soon!

It's been awhile...

2008-02-09T17:20:00.000-05:00

I am not a daily blogger, and I rarely search other blogs just for the fun of it, I do go to other blogs just to see what my friends are up to and to keep in touch so it is not uncommon for me to skip a few weeks in between posts. This post is also just a little blip about how important it is to live each day as best you can. Recently a good friend of mine had someone close to them die, it was the second such death in a relativily short period, even though they were a few years apart. My take on this is that people and their connections are so important. I have been shown that I need to be more forgiving and ease up on petty matters, life is just too short sometimes and you never know when it will be up. To all of my friends and to many others who I may not think of as friends anymore, I will try to be better, to say hello and at least be polite when I see you. I know I am not perfect, I don't claim to be... but I do try to live by The Golden Rule, you know that one about treating others as you would want to be treated? Well, just because someone doesn't do that with me doesn't give me the right to be mean back. Two wrongs do not make a right, and I know that. So I will try, I will do better!

This is a kids project I did, it was so much fun! Kids make you smile and that's always a healing comfort.

Edie

Feb. 2008 in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

2008-02-01T09:51:00.000-05:00

Today is Feb. 1st. and I took the day off from work to help a good friend of mine decorate for her son Dylan's Bar Mitzvah, well we got hit with a snow storm last night and I'm glad I didn't have to drive into work today, but will I be able to drive to the location of the party to percisly place fabric here and there, or blow up 200 balloons? I have a huge driving fear during winter months, and although the city does a very good job of clearing the roads, mine are not done YET!

The plows haven't come to my streets, the driveway is full of snow and I'm scared. It's not quite 10:00 am and I still have time so I'm hoping. Here are some pictures of what real live snow looks like when I look outside my windows. Notice how the flag got ripped and tattered from the weather...

I'm Going to The Dirty Show!

2008-01-30T23:51:00.000-05:00

That's right... my entry was accepted. I got the official letter yesterday. Of course I was excited about this and wanted to share my news with friends and co-workers but you have to be careful who you tell when you are talking about an erotic art show. It would be different if the show was just an art show of baseball themed art, but this is art of a different sort. In fact some may think it is sorted... ha ha ha

Since I work at a Jewish Community Center and there are many very, very orthodox people that I work with, I wouldn't want to offend anyone, so it is a topic that I have to be appropriate with. My good friends of course know me and still love me... they are going to attend the show just to support my efforts. I get an official artist's pass!!! I'll have to take pictures of the pass before the show because there is a strict rule NO PICTURES TAKEN OR CAMERAS ALLOWED!

Will I see you there?

It's in the back, but it's in there!

2008-01-17T05:39:00.000-05:00

I've been waiting to see my picture in the pages of Altered Arts Magazine ever since I was selected to be part of the new Design Team, and lo and behold I got my Jan/Feb issue yesterday and there I was! Humbling, it's a small picture and way in the back, but it's in there. Such a proud moment to be selected along with so many other talented artists. I'm taking this to work today to show to all my friends who have heard about this for months now.

If you haven't seen this magazine before you should get a subscription to it, I have been getting it for about a year and just love it. It's a little know jewel!

Today was just another day...

2008-01-14T23:18:00.000-05:00

Today, I went to work by 9:00 am. and ended up working till 10:30 pm because one of my employees didn't make it in to work. I don't usually work the evening shifts at the fitness club/JCC, so it was a little bit of a change for me. What I did really like tonight was getting to greet the members and give my best customer service. I miss that contact that I don't usually get working in my office. The evening desk position is much more out there with the people, actually I have a day time desk person too but I just don't work the desk all that often. It was refreshing for me, I got to talk to people, remind them of the big fundraiser we are having this Sat. evening (the decorations are to die for) I will have to take pictures of what I am planning for the decorations. We are turning the gym into an open air market and making it look like we are in Israel.

It snowed on my way home and I skidded a bit which woke me up really quickly, not that I was sleeping but after such a long day I am tired. So that 's it for now..

Noodle Dance :) Can't wait for Spring!

Airing Your Dirty Laundry?

2008-01-13T18:16:00.000-05:00

Well, here is my gripe at the moment. I am never going to talk to a particular person and her husband again, they used me, took advantage of my generosity, and the last straw was when they sued another friend of mine when their dog bite the finger of their child (it was a very small bite, and she was told not to reach into the cage and did anyway). I think when people show you who they really are you should take notice and believe them. The first time I let this woman take advantage of me I said "oh she is my friend, she just didn't realize" and the next time I let the husband take advantage of my good nature I "just checked it off as never do business with friends again" The problem is we belong to the same synagogue and we run in the same circle of friends, which makes it very hard to be around our other friends when I don't want to be in the same room much less be polite.

My husband doesn't agree with me and says I should learn to say NO (which is right) because I get mad later when people don't act like I think they should. I personally would never ask a friend to help me do a project and then leave after the first hour to go do shopping that wasn't done. I would appreciate her helping me and stay till the job was done, I would then send her a thank you card in the mail, or buy her a small gift to say Thank you. I also would not hire my friend to paint a room for me and then wait till she had to call me about payment. I would not make her present me with a printed invoice when you already know the price that was agreed to before the painting took place. I would not ask her if she accepts credit cards (remember this is your friend not a person who has a painting business) and when she says no I don't, continue to whine about how you want the credit card points. So I guess I shouldn't expect other people to act as nice as I do, is that the lesson here?

All of this aside I expected my husband to back me up on this, to be at my side and ignore the offenders... but no he continues to be "CORDIAL" Well, I say sleep with cordial ...then!

Am I wrong? Am I being unrealistic?

The saying in this picture is what I should try to do, but what I want to do is Scream, your supposed to be on my side!

Just something new to look at!

2008-01-09T00:10:00.000-05:00

I didn't have time to write much tonight but I did want to add some pictures of a few new pieces I've made recently. They were all so much fun to make!

Noodle Dance :)