editioning

Recently, I read an article, I believe it was Art In America, and it was about how the importance of editioning a print, had fallen to the wayside. It didn't add any value to the print.

I've always looked at an edition as a goal to head for, there something exciting about knowing that 33/50, means it's the 33rd print out of 50. That you created a block, or an etching that you were able to print, 50 times, and all of the them theoretically the same. As a printmaker, I tend to be more successful with that with Relief prints, it's hard, once you know how, to f*ck up a relief print once you get going.

I keep a small notebook for the prints I've made, what year i made them, how big is the edition, is there a special little quirk to the plate, that i need to remember to keep the quality the same.
With my relief prints, there are often hatch marks, to keep track of the edition, a lot of my smaller blocks I make blank greeting cards out of, i don't print 100 cards in one shot, but i figure I will over the years, so i keep track.

Years ago when I first started open studios, I made lots of blank greeting cards, that would sell pretty well.
Inevitably I would have a happy Patron,come to me the next year, and tell me how they loved the card they bought from me, but they didn't use it as a card, they framed it, and it hangs in their house. At first, frankly I was pissed, I felt a little cheated, out of money due to me, if they had bought a print, it would have cost more then a mere 4x6 greeting card.
So one year I didn't make cards, did I sell more prints that year...No.
Did I get a little disappointed...Yes.

So after that I thought about it long and hard, and I let go of all that stupid disappointment, and I began to see what I did, in the printmaking world as a gift, to myself and others. If that meant someone could only afford one of my prints in card form then so be it. In other words I got over my big bad self.

So this year if you see me on Open studios, and all you can afford is a card. I'm happy to have helped you, buy yourself a really unique card, and I thank you.

pulling the print

Today was my last day of printing, before Holiday Open Studios begins. I finished up some etchings, I had the last day two days to print, and I finished 4 on my short day, and 6 on my second day, which is usually 9 to ten hours long. Now dear reader , you maybe be thinking, that's not really that many, but these are multiple plate prints, each print has 3 plates, providing 3 different colors, that add tone and dimension to each print, so three multiplied by 10 is 30,

I have the bicep, to prove for all my wiping, and printing,and turning the wheel on the press. thinking of it as a creative way to work your arm out, unfortunately it's only one arm. So with one arm, I'm like this buff 40 something year old woman, but the left arm I'm a flabby armed 40 something year old.

There was something to that theory, of having a better side. Isn't that what Barbara Streisand does, she presents her better side to the camera. She will be photographed from only one side, I wonder if I am that self aware?

So back to my stiffening up right bicep,I haven't printed like that in a while, my tricep will be paining me, just as much as my little rotator cuff will, groan a little, it protest in what i did.
It's called pulling the print , for a reason. Often printmakers are just as attracted, by all the physical steps one has to do, to put the print on paper. We like the feel of palm wiping, we like tearing paper, soaking it.
It thrills us to our knees, to crank a tight press, to pull every inked line out of that plate of copper.
We like mixing inks, the consistency of how it feels, and it's smell, it's all a good thing, it definitely is. How we apply the inks , is a whole 'nother process, that includes, carding ink, or rolling it out, over and over repeatedly.

Printing definitely is a marriage of physical activity, and creative ability.
A perfect match if you ask me.

the Flat file project

At the studio, Liz has starting the flat file project, very similar to the Boston drawing project, started by Bernard Toale and James Hull in 1999 with the intention of “bringing together a group of artists, collectors and curators…to stimulate critical discussion in Boston’s cultural
community.”

So Liz is trying to do something similar with the members of the studio, it'll allow our work to be presented and purchased in a non-conventional setting. Hopefully it will open a dialogue about newer, safer printmaking techniques and the benefits of non-toxic art-making methods.

As a member, I was invited to submit works toward this, we could have 20 pieces in, and the committee, would choose up to ten. I submitted 18, and had ten chosen, which is so cool, and makes me feel accomplished, it's been five years of learning so far, and I'm a quick learner, and I'm self taught, and I've gone through some years of self doubt, but those have been few and far between. Though it's only five years, I feel comfortable in my artist skin, and feel open to whatever advice, or teaching I get.I have concentrated on on etching , and relief prints. I was lucky very early in beginning, to have two strong teacher's that had a knowledge, and the ability to teach it, and teach me the beginnings of printmaking.I consider these the foundation, on anything I have ever done since.

So where ever you are Tom Lewis,who taught me non toxic etching, and Antonio Fonseca,who taught me relief printing, I thank you both with all my heart, you sparked my interest, and shaped much of what i am doing now. I think you would both be proud of me.

blog, blog ,blog

So dear reader though, I posted last night's post a mere 5 minutes after midnight on Sunday, I am posting another Monday entry well to account for today,Monday. I'm on vacation this week from the job at the hospital. Every Veteran's Day weekend is the Holiday Open Studio for the whole building not just our studio, if it gets slow, I am sometimes lucky enough to see other artist's studio and see what goes on behind those closed doors.

Now you are probably wondering why I would need to take time off. It's mostly for all the prep work, well there's sorting out my prints, what's really good quality, and what will go in the seconds pile, usually these are prints, where i can see the registration is off, etc. i need to bag the prints, in these lovely Polypropylene sleeves, that not only protect but are archival too.Makes me have little fantasies about being found in some one's house of course posthumously, and becoming a famous printmaker.I need to figure out a price list, finish my job that volunteered to do for the studio, I make the name placards for each artist table.

Now that was the good part of my day, this was the bad part.I had my teeth cleaned today. A new hygienist, I understand her need to do a good job, but I swear she scaled me some new teeth.She was also one of those back handed compliment people. First she asked me if I flossed, I said " I do regularly, I use those little Glide flossers" where she proceeded to tell me that "using those are better, than using nothing" I guess she's an old skool kind of flosser, not one of those new fangled flosser users. And I got to hear once again, about my filling overhang, that will slowly cause my jaw to crumble to dust, if I'm not careful. I guess I'm not careful, because if I was I'd use the old fashioned floss and actually do a good job.Instead of being a plaque maven. ah well we can't all be perfect toothed, or maybe it's perfect gummed.

friendship

It's nice sometimes to just take a day off , and connect with a friend.Then forget to write her blog entry minutes after midnight, oh well so i post twice on Monday.
Since becoming a print maker, and joining the studio, I've had the privilege, of getting to know my friend Liz.She runs the studio, and has become a mentor firstly, and over the years ,a very good friend.

On Sunday we got together and saw the Chrysanthemum show at Smith College, had a great lunch, and then viewed prints, by William Kentridge, a South African Printmaker, at the Smith College Museum of Art.Over 120 prints,all varying techniques of printmaking, it was exhilarating to view , those velvety dry point lines, his painterly sugar lifts, his soft tonal aquatints. It was equally wonderful, and to share it with someone who knows those techniques, just like I do, who could ooh and aah over the the etched line, and know the paper that the artist used, because we've both used the same.

It makes me thankful, to have such a lovely friend.

I am a soap whore.

I think as I get older, I want(and need) to treat my skin with the respect it deserves, so it can continue to protect me, and not age too much....haaa!
Anti- aging, how to prevent those little lines, you know the crow feet, the laugh lines, the unmentionable age spots. Who knew aging could be such a dermatological drag.
I continue to feed my small addiction to skin care. In my 40's. I prefer natural ingredients, and chemical free if possible, life is short so why the hell not.


It began with Neutrogena soap when I was a teen, I faithfully washed my face with it, I loved the clear amber bar,that told me it was pure and only full of "good for you" things for your skin.
The clear amber bar, how it could melt away, if you didn't use the special little soap dish that came with it. well it's not really a dish, it's like a soap stand, that lifts the bar out of the water that collects in all soap dishes, so it can dry, remain intact, for your use another day.Eventually I stopped using Neutrogena,but that wasn't until my late 20's, when I moved in with my husband,who was my then boyfriend, and we lived together. We still use the little soap stand , but it's to keep our present brand, high and dry.


From the clear amber bar, I tried other bars, the honey wheat and lavender bar, the lemon and olive oil bar, by Jason's, they make a good soap, or was it made by Kiss my Face, another skin friendly brand, that uses natural ingredients in the most wonderful combinations, and makes my skin very happy.
From there I briefly visited the world, on those lovely slickery facial washes,one in particular made by Desert tree, the tea tree oil people, they put it into everything, and they make this facial wash, that does a great job, but only when the 30-something zits flare up,and you needed to banish them fast- I mean Fast! Otherwise a little too drying for daily use.

Now I have a separate soap dish attached to the shower wall, that keeps my special soap high and dry, presently I have a lovely Dutch soap , I bought at Hortis Botanicus, it smells of lavender, which FYI is very good for the glitches that sometimes appear on you skin, those area that need to be quieted and soothed, lavender rules that. This special soap has this honey under note to it, that makes my skin feel soft and moisturized, this soap also has the power to bring me back to Amsterdam, sniffing said soap, reminds me of where I purchased it, and that makes me smile, did I mention how good it is for maintaining a smile.

Today my purchase arrived from DHC, they are a San Francisco based company, that imports Japanese made skin products, when you receive a catalog from them, they include samples of there popular products, I used their Pure Soap samples for years,before succumbing to want to buy and own a whole bar for myself. It's a completely clear, see through bar, that cleanses, soothes, and ever so lightly moisturizes, which I find very important to me, now in my 44's. Not only was the delivery speedy, they also let you choose up to 4 samples, of their other products. Four! that's right four, not one but four free samples, and the list to choose from, is 25-plus items long! Frankly my head was in a spin of outright lust.Here is a company, that really wants me to buy their products.I mean really, how can you not be attracted to an over achiever, one who only want to do good things to your skin.

For my samples I choose some sunscreen,a mineral mask,and two different shower gels, the forth quickest way to my heart, if you can't bring me fresh figs,or chocolate, or have no sense of humor, you could woo me with shower gels.
Of course I've already used one of them, called Imperial Green Tea , it wasn't green, it was crystal clear and had rich heady scent of mint,it was invigorating.
My heart melted at the the packaging ,with it's simple instructions; wet skin with water, apply gel with hand, wash cloth, sponge or body brush, lather and rinse.And most importantly please discontinue it's use, if unsuitable with your skin. How's that for caring?

Will my quiet little addiction, keep me from looking older, who knows? But the joy I receive from merely using these products has to do something good for me, and my skin, and for mankind.

okay so I went a little over board, but I'm a soap whore, so get used to it!

it's all about color

In my printmaking I tend to use a lot of color, though I like black and white,I just like colors more. I use oil based relief inks, which clean up, quite easily with plain old vegetable oil and Simple Green.
There are other inks by Akua Kolor, wonderful water based inks, but they take longer to dry, so they can smudge, if say you are printing blank greeting cards, which is what I have been doing over the last 2 weeks at the studio, in preparation for the upcoming Holiday open studios.
One of the many things I love about oil based inks , is there open time, the length of time they can be out of the can, and still workable,you can set out oil based inks, for hours, possibly days, though I've never had a marathon printing session, that had I needed to have my inks out for that long, but I have printed on one day, and come back the next day to print all over again, I will cover my blob of ink over with foil, or plastic wrap to keep, the lint off of it mostly,
when I print consecutive days in a row, it keeps it from forming a skin, which oils will do
after being exposed to the air for an extended period of time.
Which brings up how to get ink properly out of the can, you could gouge it out, but there leaves an open area in the ink that will harden, and cause a skin to form, and since you can only remove that skin before, you use it next, it's better if you control, how the skin forms, an easily removed even thin layer, or a big irregular booger shaped skin, that causes you to dig out of the can forming a deeper hole,and the creation of more ink snot, yes ink snot,I'm pretty sure it's a term I've coined, but anyone I've said it too, nods knowingly, and gets what I mean.If you remove the ink, with ink knife, that pretty much looks like a spackling blade, in a circular fashion,so the ink that is left in an even flat layer, and you use a skin paper on the exposed ink in the can before you put on the lid, you may have little or no ink skin to remove the next time you need to use it.
I so love the colors, how vibrant they are, and frankly I like the smell of them too, does that make me some printmaking freak, probably but I'll wear that badge proudly. damn it.
I really love how they dry to this lovely sheen, something that i think adds to the print.
Would I switch someday to strictly Aqua Kolors, someday maybe but I'd have to have my need to procrastinate under control, and print well in advance, so there will be plenty of time for the ink to dry,and that another story, on another day.

and so it begins....

drum roll, please.
NaBloPoMo officially begins, start your engines, ladies and gentlemen.
Now what to write about, how many days I'm into NaBloPoMo? Just kidding it won't be like that, only as a last resort...ha!
Today we'll start with my" other job", not a job you hate or dislike, but a fun one, and well they don't pay me, unless i sell something at open studios.
I have been a part time printmaker, for 5 years. I began with a class at my local art museum, on non toxic printmaking,I took more classes, bought inks, and paper, and eventually moved from a 3 hour class once a week, for 10 weeks to a studio, where artist went to make art. I definitely felt like a novice, and it took me a while, to get over my big bad self, to feel comfortable enough to call myself an artist. i didn't go to school for printmaking, that was the one semester, we didn't get as Nursing students.In real life I work as a Nurse, have been one for 23 years, so this printmaking I'm still very a novice at.
What I love about it,the steps you go through to pull a print, I'm just as attracted to those as I am making the print. I concentrate on etching, on copper, and relief prints, on wood or linoleum.
I'm big into color, though black definitely has a place in my printmaking I would say, color is a big driving force , also.
I use oil based relief and etching ink, with relief prints there is something about the sheen, of the ink after it dries, in etching the strength of the color, along with the lushness of the paper, Yes, that's right, you heard it, I am a paper whore, from those deceivingly translucent, but strong as steel Japanese papers, to the lush velvety papers made by the Italians, and the Germans, they are all equally wonderful, and luxurious to use.
Figuring out how to use these papers, are as much of the print as the actually plate, or block it's printed from, your paper should be used well enough so you have healthy,meaning big enough, clean borders, and square edges. One mistake printmakers, can make is by using a too small sheet of paper, your edges are too small and it minimizes any detail in the print.Though you maybe be printing from a small plate, you don't really notice that, because the paper is too damn small.
I seem to have gotten away from why I love printmaking, but I have a whole month to write about it, and I will.
So now, it's off to the studio for me, to pull some prints.I'll continue this subject tomorrow.

1 day until NaBloPoMo begins

Is one the loneliest number? I think we are sometimes conditioned to think it is. After all our bodies mock us with their two-ness, we have two eyes, a pair of hands, a couple of feet,two breasts, two ovaries, two testicles, two ears, you get the idea.
So to say One is the loneliest number, well frankly, I don't buy it.I think it's a misunderstood number, like it's great to be number one, but it's not great to be the only one?
There are a quite a few things you can only do as one, watch that guilty pleasure movie, that you fully enjoy, with out having to feel bad at all that the other person isn't as in to "the Parent Trap" as you are, and I'm talking the version with Haley Mills, not the remake, with Lindsay Lohan, which was okay, but pales in comparison to Mills version .Yeah, I'm that old.
Eating that left over Chinese food for lunch,or sometimes breakfast, depending if I've worked the night before,and eat it cold!That's definitely an only me activity.
Sleeping blissfully in the middle of the bed, with your favorite reads, strewn about you like some protective wall, can only be done as one, unless your partner is really, Really, REALLY skinny, and likes to sleep on the very edge of the bed, so you can be the ultimate ruler of slumberland.
Blogging is a solitary activity,though you may have readers, it still you in your oneness,
writing it, proofing it and hoping the spell check will recognize the word you were trying to type.
It's you that will succeed, or crash and burn at trying to get your thoughts across.It's also you that makes the final decision on whether to post it or not.
So become one,with your one- ness, and get writing!

the great pumpkin....4 days until NaBloPoMo starts.

So Halloween is around the corner, A favorite holiday, all that cool candy, and dressing up in costume, what couldn't be better.
I think carving is another great thing about it, though I enjoy the pumpkins that are complex carvings, that show shadow and light, I am just as enamored with the jack-o-lanterns that are simple faces.
There is something creative, and energizing about carving, and creating a cool scary face, plus it's such a simple way to decorate, before I had an house, I lived in an apartment, i still carved a pumpkin, but i had no where to really put it, for people to see, which is part of the reason you carve,or maybe I should clarify it by saying it's why I carve.
Sometimes I make roasted pumpkin seeds, I used to have this great recipe from Martha Stewart, but I have since lost it.Regardless of what you think of her, she roasts a tasty pumpkin seed.
So here's to easy carving, and a dry Halloween, so all those kiddies can trick-or-treat safely, and dryly.
If you are a flickr-er (could there be such a word?) and you carve a mean pumpkin, or you take pictures of them, feel free to post your creation to the jack-o-lantern group there.

5 days until....NaBloPoMo begins

I think I'm getting a little NaBloPoMo anxiety, wondering if i can do it, hoping I don't fail, and I haven't even started.I think i have the dogged determination to do it, but I also think I will be wanting to write something clever every day, and end up writing my grocery list some days, so at least I can say i wrote.
I was a member of 365 days at flickr, it was a challenge, a self portrait everyday, for 365 days, that taught me a thing or two about myself, that i can commit to something and do it.
Though that was taking photos, and this will be writing, I take a deep breath an aim toward success.
Hopefully.

Snow White upon realizing, she's not over that whole apple thing.

So we all know the story of Snow White, she had a contract taken out on her by her jealous stepmother , who had youth issues evidently. She moves in with a group of dwarves, becomes their girl friday,then finally she's was poisoned by her wicked stepmother, a woman who can't take no for an answer.Then she marries the first guy that saves her from death.
After all the dust settles from that, and they've been married for a many years, does she look back on her life and wonder, "what the hell was i thinking?"
Does she entertain thoughts of eating another apple to see who'll save her this time.
Does she suffer from PTSD, unable to be near apples,very leery of their innocent packaging , but the not so innocent results.
Does this mean fall is her least favorite month, no apple dumpling with ice cream, no slice of apple pie at Thanksgiving?
Or did she get the hell over all that, and run her own successful catering company, after all she was used to cooking for eight people at any one time. So she uses those skills, to make a name for her self in the catering world, with the ever popular catch phrase "Snow White's Catering, our apple pie is so good, it'll kill you."
Who really knows, but I'd like to think she became a success, and even when she comes upon an apple, and it gives her moment to pause, remember, then move on.

NaBloPoMo|9 days until

this picture doesn't really have much to do with that. I have been keeping my eye on the arrival of November, after all it's the month that NaBloPoMo starts, or if you didn't know that means National Blog Posting Month, which is the first cousin to NaNoWriMo, where your writing daily pages to a novel, that's way beyond, what I can give for time, and this I might possibly succeed at, I hope.

lust

lust, originally uploaded by ms.Tea.

if this isn't the color of lust, i don't know what is.

grow baby grow

, originally uploaded by ms.Tea.

death

, originally uploaded by ms.Tea.

over the weekend, 5 teens hung out , they watched the Red Sox beat the Yankees , went out after,had ice cream,to celebrate the victory, and on the way home , a single car accident occurred. 4 of them died that night out, and only one will return home.
2 of the girls were from our town, they were best friends.
Julianne was 18 years old, I went to high school with her Mom and Dad.We
were teenagers together once . Then we became adults, our children were born on the same year.My son is also18 years old, and it stops my breath to try to begin to understand, how awful and numbing, and lost and sad she must be feeling.I can't even begin to comprehend , how you deal with the death of your child. My heart goes out to them.

Tommorrow is the wake, then Thursday the funeral.

this isn't supposed to happen,
to anyone.

lyman conservatory

this bulb show convinced me, i need to plant tulips this fall.

iPod nation

I should have posted this around Valentine's Day, but I was too busy eating chocolate.
For my family, Valentine's day is very much a "who's bringing home the chocolate" kind of holiday...we're not big into gifts, just chocolate.So this year i bought my portion of the chocolate, and I figured we were set.
It's the usual routine when I work nights, I sleep during the day, get up about the time Tom is getting home, but it's the winter,and he's on call for the heating company he works at,on a service call, so I'm up and surfing the net...specifically I'm looking at , or uploading pictures on Flickr. :)
I hear him come in, say hello from the other room, then i hear him and Zack talking, I'm not really paying attention to them.

Zack:"Mom, come and see these chocolates"

Me:"yeah, I'll be there in a few"

Zack:"no really you have to come see this"

Okay, so now I'm up, I come into the kitchen to see them standing there, with sheepish little grins, and on the butcher block is this heart shaped box of chocolates, except the cellophane is off, and well I'm think there something that will jump out at me when I open it.
so reluctantly I lift the lid, inside the box is empty of chocolate, but full of a new Ipod!!!!!!!!
My first reaction is the ever eloquent "shut -up!"
I pick up the box with the smiling pirate Johnny Depp on the cover,
"you guys, oh my gawd" opening the packaging...it's a black Ipod, wooo hoooo!!!
"I had no idea, this was a total surprise."
Needless to say i had two really proud guys happy that they pulled off the ultimate V-Day surprise...i wonder what will happen next year.

Amsterdam part2

this is a continuation, of my adventures in Amsterdam, that i started writing in October.
yes my middle name is procrastinator.



donderdag,May 11th
I'm liking it here, as the days pass. We are now alert to the fact that those wide cobblestone pathways are for bikes, and just as we wouldn't be walking down the center of the street, we also do the same for the bike paths, and use the sidewalks.today was pretty seamless, and the weather is perfect, nice and warm. So we walk around everywhere and eat .
A visit to the Rembrandthuis,(Rembrandt's house) which I find very interesting with my printmaking background,the printing press, the tarlatan and his etching are wonderful crisp focused lines, which contrast his dark velvety drypoints.
The only strangeness is the fellow American we run into who, as she's standing at the front step, asks us nervously if we know where the Rembrandt house is. Her friend gives her a double take , as I believe they just found it, and knew where they were, but her friend is acting like she's in the depth of the wilds instead, the easily maneuvered city of Amsterdam.
We quietly tell her yes she's here, and leave promptly, to head off to The Green House, and try the skunk, which the host tells us is mild and sweet, and perfect for a day at the museum, which is true.
I'm noticing after one day on the house boat , when i stand still everything, gently rocks back and forth, like I'm still on it, some of my friends, aren't keen on that feeling but I really like it.(perhaps the skunk, has helped me form this opinion)
We journey on, to decide between Rijksmuseum, or the VanGogh museum, we decide on the Van Gogh museum, and we buy a two day pass there, so we can see the Van Gogh's one day ,and return to see the Rembrandt and Caravaggio exhibit, the other.
As we walk through the museumplein, it is very warm and sunny,we notice all the locals sitting and soaking their feet in the oval pond/ice rink that is there...ahhhhh the water is a little on the cold side, but feels so wonderful after walking everywhere, and with the increasingly warm day, we stop have an ice cream, soak up some sun, before we head to the Van Gogh museum refreshed and ready to see his wonderful paintings.The range from his earlier darker paintings to the beautiful full of light painting he did at Arles, the almond blossom is by far one of my favorites. after viewing them, we return to the warm afternoon, and the different sales booths, in the museumplein, I find a shirt for Zack, and have a frosty cold drinks, and take the opportunity to soak my feet again.
we are off again to wander the streets, we come up on another lovely coffee house the Bombay Chai House, I recommend it for more than it's selection, the owner Tika, is so generous, and sweet, and make the most delicious chai,foamy and sweet and laced with warm honey.I also use a vaporizer, which removes , any little cough, you could ever have, from your green selection. with a vaporizer there is no smoke, no cough, just a wonderful grin.


one of things I enjoy with my travel mates, is we all enjoy the explore aspect of Amsterdam, we find a small market, that has better produce, then even Whole Foods, and is run by one family, who knows his neighbor by name. I witness him giving a young man from the neighborhood, and bag of 2nd day fruit, which benefits him in two ways, he doesn't have to throw it a way, and his neighbor get some great produce for mere euros. We score some lovely strawberries, figs, apricots,juicy cherries there.
we also happen upon Dirk Van de Broek grocery chain, there we stock up on jenever, yogurt, milk and beauty items. I am impressed with how it's common place to bring your own bags,I notice this after I wonder about the line of tables set up, I figure there for people to eat at, if they are hungry, where really it's for you to pack your groceries in said recycled bags, and head on your way.
From we head back to the house boat, as we pass buy our local shops in our neighborhood, we stop in the deli and the cheese shop , and pick up the rest of our things for our houseboat nosh,
which consists of white asparagus , chicory salad, grated celeriac salad with capers , snow peas with hariticot verts, potato salad, we also have some wonderful crusty bread from the cheese shop,some sweet pecan bars, and spiced carrot cake, all reasonably priced, and soo delicious.The rest of the afternoon is spent planning our next day, we're off to Keukenhof to see all the flowers. that night we go to dinner at Solenda Kalapa, which is just down the street on Utrechtsestraat, we have the rice table, which is delicious the food is fresh, the meat tender, the veggies cooked perfectly, all of it satisfying.
Two charming girls greet us and serve us, they were new but happy and not afraid to show there inexperience, they didn't get stressed , just continued to smile. the best part of the meal is we could just walk down the street and return home. it still make me pleased, this is our neighborhood, we live here (temporarily).

day 167 eyedrops

day 167 eyedrops, originally uploaded by ms.Tea.

where do I begin, with describing my freak accident, in shopping.
I was loading my groceries into the car, i had just finished a shift at work.
i grabbed the bag with the potato chips in it, it was one of those flimsy plastic ones,the bag of chips was big, shiny, sharp cornered.
I hoisted that bag and whap! hit myself in the eye, with the sharp little corner, there was major tearing from this eye,i wiped away some lashes, but my eye still felt like there was dust, dirt, jagged little pieces of glassdust, under my eyelid.

so i look around in that effected eye, and see nothing just watery redness, and then i se it, it's an irregular little island of shine on my cornea, i blink i look again... and f*ck, it's not going away...i have a scratched cornea...!!!!

luckily i was 10 minutes from the Emergency Room, at the hospital i work.I got treated, I'm using my eye drops, which sting like a bastard, and my ointment that smears my vision to this surreal shimmer.

i am healing, i didn't have to take any Vicodin today, which actually are a nice sleepy painfree place to visit, just a few Motrin.

the most important thing this corneal abrasion needs is sleep, and eye rest, so goodnight

a la gehry

I know If I worked at the Conde Nast Building in NYC, I would be in front of this wall constantly, taking pictures of myself.

the heating situation

yeah!!
we have heat again.
now I can pull prints, in a mere t-shirt!
woo hoo!!

Today I printed my Christmas/Holiday cards.
It was inspired by an article I read about Grant Wood.

day70-cold and chilly

day70-cold and chilly
Originally uploaded by ms.Tea.

here I am at Zea Mays.
where i get the privledge of time to explore printmaking.
normally i would be smiling, except there's no heat in the building , it was 59 degrees.
i had 4 layers up top , finished by this lovely sweater i purchased from j crew mens catalog.
it's warm and toasty wool, merino to be specific.

with all those layers, you'd think i'd be warm and toasty, well *the girls* were warm , but my ass froze(only 2 layers)...tomorrow i'm back to print more, but i'll have my long johns on.(damn it)

Amsterdam

I traveled this May,to Amsterdam have been meaning to write it all down on my return. So, I waited awhile.

I lived on a house boat,on the Prinsengracht canal.
It was a lovely neighborhood, from the buildings, to the cobblestone streets and bike paths.(more about those later)
In our neighborhood, there were a few cafe's on the canal, a gourmet deli and a wonderful cheese shop, where the owner, really knows how to treat you, if you love cheese. He very attentive and somewhat handsome, there are buttery paper thin slices of a young Gouda, and then the jagged chunks of the older goudas ...It was heaven. Plus he had a machine that would vacuum pack your cheese, so you could bring it home on the plane, in your luggage. Which was a good plan initially, but when I arrived home, my luggage was searched, because they thought I was carrying a wedge of explosives.
so wither further adieu...My trip.

Woendag, may 10th
we have arrived, in Amsterdam...In a bang!
the trams are too narrow, we packed too much in our luggage, we are sleep deprived, the morning hustle is so fast, and we are moving anything but fast.
I have already planned when I come back( and I will)
I will pack a smaller suitcase, or not and take a taxi, from Schipol.
After all that hustle and then discovering I have no signal on my cell phone (what, what,what!!!)I am worried in the pit of my stomach, that my family will be worried, and we won't have contact, at all...yikes! The hysteria of a sleep deprived mind.
with no cell phone signal,I can't call the manager, of the houseboat, to let us in. And we want to get in!! We are sleep deprived, and all ready sick of dragging our luggage across the cobblestones, and discovering that nice wide path that we think is for walking , is really a bike path, and they have the right of way. at first we don't notice, the far off insistent ring of riders, as they warn us of the imminent arrival, and we need to get out of their way.
I have to now get some coinage, or a phonecard, and frankly what color are they phones? In the U.S they are blue, In the U.K. they are red, in the Netherlands I discover,they are green.
I walk with Mary Jane,and we find a small cigar shop, where we purchase a phone card,walk only a short distance and find a phone. I leave a message for Phil, the house boat manager. I feel a little hopeless, we reach a machine....Will we have to wait long???

By the time we get back to the house boat, Philip arrives 5 minutes, later.
He is charming, and helps us with our luggage. He also is very proud of the houseboat,for he helped refinish the wood work inside. The house boat is a gem, and very worth every penny. It is beautiful rebuilt, with gleaming rich mahogany. Gorgeous stained glass. Every inch of space is used, there are little cubbies and cabinets, in every spare inch. There is a space under our bed for me to store my behemoth of a suitcase. The beds are loft style, and are so comfortable, and big! If this is a double sized bed, America needs to catch up. Over our bed, is a skylight, we like to keep it open at night to stargaze, and I loved waking up in the morning hours with a view of the local rooftops and trees.

Once we settle and get a grip, we are thrilled we have arrived, and off we go to explore our surroundings. There is a stop at our neighborhood coffeshop, called Barney's, and we sample the laughing Buddha, very good, some laughing but reasonable. I am still able to function , and visit to the Bloemenmarkt.

The Bloemenmarkt, is a sight on it's own, masses of flowers, amaryllis bulbs the size, of baby doll heads, it a wonderful gift, and completely enthralls me with this place.
We stop to have a bite to eat, we try the fried bitterballen, and I have a mushroom omelet,the mushrooms and leeks are sauteed, and I taste a hint of tumeric, or perhaps it's curry powder.
Back to the houseboat, to hang out and regroup. There is a lovely common area in the boat, there is a table for four, and two easy chairs, a two large stained glassed windows, open onto the canal. At dusk,the boat cruising begins, we observe boats filled with groups of friends, families, sharing drink, food and laughs,we see an occasional tourist canalboats, where we are no longer the observers, but the observed.
That night when we finally sleep, it feels sooooo good.

just because

in memory of

25 years ago, I was on my senior class trip.
I took this then.
before there was a 9/11.
now it is five years later,
and this old photo, has this sad significance.

we will not forget.

the view

emotions

It's funny how certain things, can bring a tear to your eye, and have you grinning wildly all at the same time.This is one of those things.
Where the hell is Matt?

up, up, and away...

Festival

This weekend, we go to the Green River Music Festival,in Greenfield,Massachusetts.
I haven't been in over 7 years, it's supposed to be hot and sunny.
We have a shadehouse, by Kelty and a left over red and yellow spinnaker sail, from our old flying Dutchman. That we are placing on top of it, to increase our area of shade, and be colorful all at the same time.
I can't wait!! It'll be so much fun to talk and laugh with Men(the hubby and son) all weekend long.

blue

amsterdam

homeopathy

I have been using homeopathic remedies for at least 10 years. I discovered it through my curiosity, and searching on the net.
I pulled up to Dana Ullman's website and learned about the top ten remedies you should use...Well I never bought all ten but there are 3 that I use in my life,on a fairly regular basis.
1. Arnica montana - it's a really good remedy, for muscle soreness, with bruising, and sudden injuries like sprain,or a fall it should be taken at the outset(i.e; after you pick yourself up after falling down the stairs on your butt) which is an experience I had when we moved into our house. It has steep narrow stairs, and as my feet slipped out from under me, I slid down on and landed at the bottom on my butt....Yow!!! The first time I did it, yes there was a another time...My ass cheek was purple, the whole thing, I never knew you could bruise that purple did what all first aid tells you to do, and iced my injury, to reduce swelling , and bruising...It did neither.
the second time I went downstairs on my butt, I immediately got up...And took some arnica tablets, under my tongue.I did so every 2 hours, for at least the first 10-12 hours, I did end up with a bruise, but it was the size of a golfball, not the size of A...Well never mind.
2.Ruta Graveolens-is wondeful First Aid treatment for sprains, injuries, strain, bruised bones, pulled ligaments.Sprains or fractures that aren't healing well.It's perfect for ankle sprains...something case in point I forget. I've been walking the dog lately, were doing the whole dog whisperer thing and it's working.After one of our walks I noticed my inner ankle is little sore, and I have some swelling, it's not too bad...Until later that night in the shower and I misstep and sprain it more ...Damn slippery shower gel.
Now not only do I have swelling it hurts to walk. hello feet, we're going to be walking around Amsterdam for the next 6 days, I need it not to hurt.
I try Arnica gel, and the tablets, for a few days, and it's not getting worse, it's just not getting better.I'm mildly concerned. I made sure I did the RICE mnemonic for strains, Rest, Ice,Compression, and Elevation.
While perusing the medicine cabinet and see the bottle of Ruta grav... and a light goes on , and I realize the error of my ways.Ruta grav is perfect of ankle sprains,more so than arnica.
Once begin to take it, I notice an hour later, my ankle is hurting less, I have more mobility,it's amazing the difference.I was able to work my night shift at the hospital with no pain,as I am on my feet most of my shift. I am still healing at this writing but it has made a huge difference in comfort, and change in my confidence of walking around for 6 days (in Amsterdam).
3.Pulsatilla Niger- I use this for three things, colds with cough , the kind that keep you from sleeping. As soon as you lay down,this dry wracking cough appears, this remedy will quiet that.Colds with runny noses, the kind that won't stop, even though you've mostly wiped the top layer of skin off and resemble a distant relative of Rudolf the red nosed reindeer.
but the most necessary use is for menstrual cramps...It smoothes them away, and it helps you relax,no crabbiness...No pain and sometimes you sleep better.

so I encourage you, to do your own research on homeopathy, you may be pleasantly surprised.

rabbit rabbit

saying these very words at midnight, at the first of any month, is supposed to set you up with good luck, or something pleasant like that.so mark your calender accordingly.

it has arrived

it has arrived
Originally uploaded by ms.Tea.

recently released from crown point press.
this book arrived just when i was having these nagging self doubts in my art.
that and a phone call from friend, was just what i needed to get a wee bit of attitude adjustment....phew!

beneath

at night
i love
the quiet hum
of sleeping upstairs dreamers
drifting along.
among hushed laughs and murmurs

the dog's
shushing small snores
curled in her chair
dreaming of marrow bones.

slow rhythmic breaths
of the cat wrapped
round herself fast asleep

i watch over them
relaxed and safe
blanketed warm
beneath the night.

ink

Self doubts as an artist, wondering if this is for real.
am I an artist, if I'm not passionate, am I quietly passionate? Do I need to be a suffering artist,or can I be giddy with excitement, because I'm an artist!

or should I just relax, and let the process be. Learning and continuing to grow.

sometimes I feel like such a poseur. I can do the techniques, but does it matter,if I feel unsure of what I am creating.

then I think, you have this golden opportunity,this lovely supportive community and you feel like running, because that's what you always do, you can't commit, so you don't, and little by little, you stop coming, and then just stop.

aaargh!!!

it felt good to express my fears at the studio and have everyone, share there little freak out stories.(you mean I'm not alone)(duh)
the other good thing was getting some validation, that I do know what I am doing.
I am a good printmaker.(damn it!)

knowing soon I will be calm again, and feel like less of a poseur, and more like the artist I am.

(I hope)
;o)

the first day of spring

So It's March 20th and Spring is here.
Well actually winter is dragging it's feet a little, as it's 26 degrees.
I'm still waiting to plant my sweet peas.Which i try to do as close to St. Patrick's Day as possible, but the ground is still frozen.
I have seen many robins, and the blackbirds are coming back filling the trees
with their silouettes and their loud caws,and the daffodils are poking their green shoots through the pale anemic leaves.
But it's still cold, damn it.
The other concerning thing is the lack of snow(water) we've had this year. I've heard many a person, breathe a sigh of relief about it, but come June when our lawns are brown and the flowers, somewhat lack luster, due to this mild winter.It won't be so wonderful.

So fingers crossed to Spring showers, for the mud and flowers that will follow.

nor'ester or is it a blizzard

I think yesterdays storm , was evident of how excited , we in New England get over storms. Granted it's been a pale anemic winter, with not alot of snow.
finally the atmosphere is right for a nor'easter, thank gawd!
and local news reported on it.... Over and over and over again. There was discussion at great length, at whether we had made the criteria for a blizzard.
or just a lowly snow storm.
whatever it came to be, it was blowing and snowing. There were birds on the trees, their chest feathers puffed out, taking runs to the bird feeders. The snow came fast and covered over everything brown or pale green, the ugly bare lawns were blanketed with thick beautiful snow.
all the cats were inside, sleeping. The dog went out briefly, but quickly returned.
the temperature dropped from 28 degrees to 16, as the low pulled in the cold air.
and everyone for the most part stayed home, a car here and there, but mostly the roads were empty.
There is something to be said for having no where to go, during a snow storm that just is cozy and safe feeling it make me feeling like cooking, what better time to sit and watch the Olympics,to warm the house while dinner cooks, and relax, it make you take a time out, and breathe and watch the snow fall.

Mr. Bento

the power of the written word.
I blame Ariel, I read her blog.
I have since i looked at Derek's pictures about Burning Man, or maybe it was something he wrote about it. Of course I met him, through reading Heather's webpage, and well she's his wife.

But really it's about the influence of the written word, and my love of useful gadgets.
Mr.Bento is a lunch jar as opposed to a lunch pail, and frankly this isn't Little House in the Prairie, didn't Laura "halfpint" Ingalls always have a lunch pail?

I digress, so I read this great review,on Ariel's blog, about the useful nature of hanging out with Mr. Bento, and frankly I am sold. Plus I get into little containers, little containers that stack and hold food.
Hell I have died and gone to heaven.
okay maybe it wasn't that profound, but damn lunch was good,it was damn good.

All thanks to Mr.Bento and Ariel.

by the light of the moon

this reminds me of maxfield parris, maybe it's the colors.


this reminds me of grant wood, if he was taking pictures out the window , in the middle of the night.

who knew

I truly am a Capricorn!!
I wonder if all Caps score this way?

Your True Sign Is Capricorn

Retro Driven Classic Reserved Realistic Trustworthy Appreciative Ultra Competitive

What's Your True Sign?

what famous pinup are you?

i vaguely remember my Nana, once remarking i reminded her of Betty Grable.
Could this be a sign, or a little hello from my Nan.

You are Betty Grable

The ulitmate girl next door You're the perfect girl for mostly anybody Pretty yet approachable. Beautiful yet real.

What Famous Pinup Are You?

forty three

happy birthday to me.
I decided to make myself cupcakes,
just like small tiny cakes, but bitesize, well a few bites and they are gone.
I made 24, not 43, I'd be eating cupcakes until next month.

i usually give myself a gift, this year i'm splurging on snowshoes.
if i can't leave the winter behind. I may as well enjoy it more fully.

last year I gave my self, a subsription to Heather Powazek Champ's Print Club. It was divine.
I recommend it highly.

why do i give myself a gift?
I guess it's a way to let myself know, how happy I am in my skin.
or perhaps I love getting gifts.

either way...it's all good.
so happy birthday to me.

resolutions

Originally uploaded by teagrrl.

I plan on adding to this list. so this is by no means final

1. more yoga, less avoiding doing it.
2. create art each day.be it photography, or printmaking.
3. walk with the dog more often, it's good for both of us..
4. learn how to snowshoe.
5.spend more time with my sister.
6.live in the now.
7. listen to that inner voice, it's always right. (always!)
8. grow older with grace and style (yeah i want to be the sexy older chick).
9. view my self with realism (yeah I'm the cute older chick).
10. laugh more.
11.travel more.
12. to be continued.....

the eve of christmas eve

Originally uploaded by teagrrl.

a moment of calm...reading I Spy books.

Eve of Christmas eve

this year different than any other , we did Christmas on the 23rd, it was a Friday night, and my whole family had the night off,kinda.

it was chaos at it's holiday best.

there was a *terrible twos* two year old, there and he was terrible, and loud, and amazingly rambunctious.

there was the 7 year old, and she was sick... and she puked, all over my living room rug. which honestly, the dog had bled on just days before, and we have been meaning to get another one,as this one had many stains on it. pale beige or umm sand colored rugs, just aren't very realistic, in the world of dogs and kids.
so right then and there, they rolled up the rug and out it went into the cold night air. gone.

so thanks karlie, it's all good.

who knew i had such nice wooden floors.

and then there were those ice lanterns, that never unmolded very well, or at all I swear...I will figure those out. But they wasted my time and stressed me out...

and gift giving was chaotic, too.
You saw nothing of what people gave or received, so next year we...Me ....The Man...and the boychild...er ... the Young man have decided to open our gifts together, after all our guests have left.So we can fully enjoy what other people are getting .

so next year my plan:

one less lasagna

christmas music

baked ravioli

italian meatballs...serve some with supper , and some as an appetizer. while the lasagna and the ravioli heat up.

no more shrimp, it was kind of uninspired, and limp.

dips and chips only.

no puking
no terrible two's
no stress.

just lots of chaotic fun.

Merry Merry and a Happy New Year~
to each and everyone.

16 days until winter

the days are getting shorter.
the temps are getting colder.
winter is on it's way.