Get It Together

I pride myself in being a person who is organized, responsive and able to follow-through. I pay attention and very rarely let things fall through the cracks. So, I get extremely frustrated when I deal with people who are not like that. At least, when their carelessness or unresponsiveness directly effects me in a negative way.

For the last month or so I have been dealing with a situation like this that continues to be a thorn in my side. It's art career-related and I don't want to get into the specifics. But basically, because of what I perceive as incompetency, I do not intend to be involved with this organization in the future and have even, on multiple occasions, felt like backing out right now.

It is driving me nuts!

No one is perfect; I know that. But there are basic steps that anyone can take to come across as even slightly on-the-ball.

1. Return phone calls and emails

2. Set appointments and keep them

3. Have your paperwork in order

4. Listen to my requirements and follow-through

I think the above list is pretty reasonable and realistic. Especially when I am contributing my art to you and not feeling very confident that you are making much of an effort to sell it! If you can't manage to do that, maybe you should consider a different line of work. Just a thought.

Weather Perspective of the Day:

This unusual weather pattern that is causing cold and rain in the last part of May is freaking all us Californians out and causing us to bitch much more then usual.

Yes, it sucks. But I say, Get Over It!

Accept the reality and deal. The weather forecast for the long, holiday weekend is sunny and WARM. And we'll rejoice and appreciate it even more after having survived the torrential downpour that blew through yesterday. So, Shut Up about the weather. It's boring.

Membership Has Its Privileges

Back to the topic of I'm Not A Joiner. One thing I really dislike is joining arts organizations. I only do it when I have to which is usually when I show work in a group-run gallery. I just never see the benefit of it. I end up feeling like I've wasted my money.

Earlier this year I joined Pro Arts (the East Bay arts organization) so that I could participate in this year's Open Studios which is the first two weekends in June. But, almost immediately after, I regretted it. I didn't want to do Open Studios. My work never sells and it would be one to two weekends of my time just spent hanging out at the studio not selling any work while I could be doing other things with friends and family. I tried to get out of it but the best I could do was change my listing to "by appointment only."

Okay, that's cool. I'm still listed in the Pro Arts directory and I have a very nice display going on right now at the Pro Arts Gallery in downtown Oakland. That's a fair amount of marketing right there. So, I'll call the cost of the membership and the Open Studios registration fee "advertising expense."

Well, it's working. I was contacted recently by a salon/gallery owner with a shop in Piedmont (a nice little neighborhood in Oakland) who wants to feature my work in her gallery. We made an appointment for her to come by my studio yesterday to see my work and talk about what she wanted to do.

So, I gussied up my workspace, made it presentable, and proudly displayed all of my bottle cap art. The meeting went well. She seemed to like what she saw. I'm not exactly sure what she wants to display. I'm waiting to hear back from her with more details.

When she left I felt a little odd because I wasn't sure what the next step would be but I'm just going to wait and see what happens. The most important thing to note is that this would not have occurred had I not joined Pro Arts and signed up for Open Studios. So, I guess being part of a Group ain't all that bad.

Just don't expect me to make Little Pink Cats. I will always draw the line at that.

Another Group Worth Joining of the Day:

Museums.

That you frequent a lot, that is. Totally worth it. Just a few visits and you've recouped your annual fee. Plus, you can take other people to the museum for free, go to member events, get a discount in the gift shop, etc. It's cool.

Group Theory

I'm not a joiner. It makes me uncomfortable. What's that Groucho Marx quote? I'd never join a club that would have me as a member? That's exactly how I feel. I'm sure I've written about this before.

Anyway, the weird thing is, I think people perceive me as the joiner-type. At the very least, they see me as personable. You know, I get along. But deep down inside that is really not me.

I act that way a lot, though. It's gotten me pretty far in life, to tell the truth. I'm not a People Person, but I play one on TV! I'm not phony; I'm not pretending. When I act enthusiastic and joyful and happy it's because I really am. When I tell animated stories and laugh and joke around with others I am being sincere.

But this is not my default mode. I'd rather be home lounging in bed most of the time. And I'm not a night owl so late night parties and after-parties aren't really my thing. I'm lucky if I can stay up past 10pm.

Okay, I've digressed a bit about not being a joiner. Back to point. What's happening is that I've decided to help out with a big Burning Man art project this year which is something I've never done before. It feels strange. I feel out of place. And yet, I'm fitting in perfectly.

People seem to remember me, remember my name, they think that I Belong. The project is being built at the warehouse where I work, so I'm known for my role as miss manager there. Also, I have skills. Some, anyway. I'm not a master-builder but I know how to use tools - I even have a few of my own. So, I can dive into the fray and do shit.

But, so far, things have been a bit disorganized, there's no groove yet. There are a lot of eager folks willing to help with not a lot to do. Makes me feel kinda funny inside, like I want to run away. But I'm trying. Because I think this will ultimately be a good learning experience for me. Get me out of my little isolated box. Put me outside of my comfort zone for a while.

We will see how things go as the summer progresses. It helps that my workspace is only one bay over so if I get really uncomfortable I can always retreat. But I don't think I'll need to. I think overall it's going to be lots of fun. And satisfying, too.

Look at me - I'm part of a Group!

Clerks Movie Dialogue of the Day:

"You hate people!"

"But I love gatherings. Isn't it ironic?"

What Are Eyes For If Not To See?

I saw a female fox this morning. Not in the hills, near the hiking trails, running through the brush. Just jogging along the walking path that goes along the creek near Autodesk, where my gym is, parallel to the road.

It was odd to see her so close to civilization like that. It seemed as though she was looking for something down in the creek. Breakfast? Her kit? I stopped my car and just stared for a few minutes. The fox was totally oblivious, it seemed, to the humanity around her.

Last week, while hiking with Jasmine, I saw and heard a hawk catch a field mouse and fly away with it. The mouse was crying in anguish as it was held in the hawks talons. I was amazed. It was like I was living a Mutual of Ohama's Wild Kingdom episode.

There is so much to see, to notice, to take in. I can't believe sometimes the amount of time I spend looking inside my mind instead of looking at what is around me. Yesterday I was driving to an appointment and totally spaced and got on the freeway when I didn't mean to. I didn't notice until I was at the next exit. I hadn't seen one bit of the road during that drive.

How disturbing. Where had I gone? How could I see but not see like that? I enjoy being in my head. As an artist it's part of the job. But, I don't know, I think I need to spend more time observing. Take in the sites. There sure is a lot going on.

Classic Movie Quote From the 80's of the Day:

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. -- Ferris Bueller

Not Just A Job

Yesterday the Tour of California ended. It was a great Tour this year. At least, what I saw of it. Lacking television and then traveling made it a challenge but I kept up as best I could.

I was able to watch the final stage yesterday on-line in the Durango airport because my flight was delayed. It would have been great if Levi Leipheimer had won again this year but Rogers and Zebriskie gave a great race, right to the end. And George Hincapie? Boy, I would have loved to have seen him win the final stage but his efforts were incredible none-the-less. It was a very exciting race, indeed.

Okay, enough of me sounding like some cycling Super Fan. I'm really not. I've watched the Tour of California all five years in a row because it's in, you know, California! And I keep up with the Tour de France each year because it's, you know, the Tour de France! I'm familiar with the big-name American riders. But my knowledge of the various teams and my grasp of racing strategy is pretty minimal. I just like to watch.

Seeing all of these riders who I've never heard of, know nothing about, giving it their all for 8 stages made me think about the fact that Bike Racing Is Their Job. It's What They Do.

It's their job because they work hard, have natural ability and some company is willing to pay them to race. For most of these guys, their purpose is to help stronger teammates win. Maybe they'll nab a stage victory in some tour or another along the way. Or get to claim King of the Mountain. But mostly they just get on the bike and do the best they can for the team. Never really tasting celebrity (Lance!) or notoriety (Floyd!). Just doing their thing for as long as possible and hopefully not injuring themselves in the process.

How cool, right? Life is so amazing to me. We can do what we want in life. We really can. It's not just about the desk job and the mortgage and the kids and the annual vacation. Except when it is and that's cool, too. The point is, don't hold anything back!

As they say in the Soaps, "You've only got One Life To Live....." Bring It!

I Can't Believe I Did It of the Day:

Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

Ink At 6500 Feet

I'm going to Durango, Colorado tomorrow for a mini-vacation. And while I am there I have decided to......get a tattoo!

"What!?", you must be thinking. "At your age? Aren't you beyond this kind of self-expression?"

Well, I've had this one design idea since my early twenties and I was just too chicken to go through with it. But then Eric got a totally cool tattoo when he was in Durango last fall for the Single Speed World Championships and, well, it made me want one, too. So, here we are.

This is the design. It won't look like this exactly because it will be modified a bit by the tattoo artist who is doing the work. But it will basically be this.

Thanks to my friend David for contributing the art!

Weather Request of the Day:

Please let it be sunnier in Durango then it is here. This grey weather is bringing me down, man.

Big Shmig

I've recently had a revelation in regards to the art that I make. For a long time, since I started taking art to Burning Man, I was self-conscious about the scale of my work. I felt like I wasn't making art that was BIG enough. Because on the playa and at other festivals art needs to be BIG to be seen, to have an impact. And my art is just not that BIG.

I assumed that the size of my sculptures, which is, in some cases, rather big but still manageable, was a result of my not having the skills or ability to make anything bigger. But now I realize I work in the scale that I do because it's what I like, it's my style.

When you make art that is really BIG it becomes Installation Art and in order to do that successfully you need a team of people doing the work. This means that as an artist your hands are not involved in every aspect of the art because they just can't be, it's not possible. You are the designer, the architect but most likely not the builder or the installer. You need fabricators and engineers and heavy machine operators. That's how that kind of art gets made.

And I'm just not into that. I want to be completely hands-on, the only person in charge. So, the materials that I work with and the size of my art is a direct reflection of that desire. This is my art and how I make it.

I was intimidated by the BIG ART that was being made by people within the warehouse and by other Burning Man artists. I didn't feel that I measured up. But the fact is, there is noting to measure. I'm a different kind of artist with my own style and my own sensibility. And I LIKE it. I LOVE it.

There is no reason to try and emulate other artists, to try and be something that I am not. The best artist for me to be is ME.

It Was Fun Despite the Rain of the Day:

AMGEN Tour of California: Stage Two - Santa Rosa.

Boy, I tell you what, nothing was gonna keep us North Bay cycling fans from watching local hero Levi Leipheimer cross the finish line in Stage 2 of the AMGEN tour. Not rain, not wind, not cold. Nothing.

Okay, it would have been great if Levi had won the stage but there are six more stages left. Plenty of time for him to secure a fourth win.

The festival in downtown Santa Rosa was super fun. I can't wait to see what it's like when it's a nice day. Next year, mark my words, it's gonna be sunny and hot. And if this year's crowd is any indication, there will be a record turnout. PARTY!

What Makes A Masterpiece?

This Saturday the special exhibition Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay opens at the de Young Museum. It's a really big deal because this, and the post-Impressionism show that follows in September, is the only exhibition of its kind to be seen in the U.S. The de Young Museum is the only museum given permission to display work from the collection at the Musée d’Orsay. Cool.

Exhibition Description:

Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay presents nearly 100 magnificent works by the famous masters who called France their home during the mid- to late-19th century and from whose midst arose one of the most original and recognizable of all artistic styles, Impressionism. The exhibition begins with paintings by the great academic artist Bouguereau and the arch-Realist Courbet, and includes American expatriate Whistler’s Arrangement in Gray and Black, known to many as “Whistler’s Mother.” Manet, Monet, Renoir, and Sisley are showcased with works dating from the 1860s through 1880s, along with a selection of Degas’ paintings that depict images of the ballet, the racetrack, and life in the Belle Époque.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing this exhibition. (By the way, Eric and I are museum members so if you want to go, let me know!)

It got me thinking about how is it that some art can stand the test of time? What makes a Masterpiece? And what is the artist thinking when he or she creates it?

I can't imagine that any artist knows that what they are creating will have such a lasting impact. I can't really imagine what these artists were thinking at all when they were working. Did they have the same fears and frustrations and questions and concerns that I do? Did they often wonder to themselves, "what is this about, who is this for?"

It's such an uncertain career path, being an artist. Most artists, even the really, really famous ones, struggle to make it work. It's tough in a profession where oftentimes your greatest success comes after death.

Hmmmm. Makes me wonder, "why bother"? But I think I have an inkling as to what kept these Masters going. They just couldn't help themselves. They had to make art. There was no other choice. I can relate to that.

Oh, the Irony of It All of the Day:

So, they move the AMGEN Tour of California from February to May, which seems like a great idea considering how much rain there was during the event last year. And, of course, what is the weather forecast for today during the Stage 2 finish in downtown Santa Rosa (which Eric and I plan to attend)? RAIN!

True Dat

Never be afraid to Speak Your Truth.

Usually this fear stems from not knowing how others will react. But the thing is, you can't expect people to respond or act any particular way to it. You may or may not get the desired results but I assure you, speaking your Truth will set you Free.

Never be afraid to Speak Your Truth.

Max Ehrmann Quote of the Day:

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story

Dog Tired

Wow. I'm really tired this morning. Getting out of bed was a struggle. I've been working like a dog lately - productive days leading into long nights. (Okay, seriously, this is not at all how MY dog "works" - I'd kill to spend my day like she does but I digress.....)

Clearly my body wants me to slow down but my brain absolutely does not. Something is pushing me and I'm not sure the reason. But I am going to go with it for now because at least I'm making art.

I just met with a friend of mine last night who knows everything there is to know about LED lighting. He's going to do some research and come up with a bad ass plan for lighting up my bike rack. This is just for me and I'm really enjoying that.

Of course, I do look at this bike rack as a potential prototype for something I could market and sell. I've already figured out how I would make it better. I just have to cost out the materials (I used all scrap metal and other materials I had on hand so I haven't spent a dime) and figure out what I would charge for it.

This is something that people at Eric's bike races might see and inquire about. I'm not really into doing stuff like this but I need to acknowledge opportunity when I see it. Hmmm. We'll see. My interests get diverted so easily.

Anyway, yesterday was probably the last day I will spend much time working in my studio for a while. I've got other things going on and I'm also leaving on the 20th for Colorado for a mini-vacation in Durango. I won't be working like A dog but more like living like My dog for a few days. That Will Be Nice.

Bonus Jasmine Picture of the Day:

A typical day on the "job".

Authenticity

One of the things that my new work schedule is allowing is for me to go to a couple of classes at my gym that are held mid-day that I used to regularly attend. When I was working Monday through Friday in the office at American Steel I had to stop going and I missed them.

So, now I stay at home in the morning on Mondays and Wednesdays, go to the gym at lunch and then head over to Oakland and play in my studio until 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. It's working out pretty well so far.

But I am trying to make a conscious effort to do work at home those two mornings so that I'm not just slacking off. Sometimes it's household-related and sometimes it's art-related (and sometimes I use that time to catch up on my sudoku). Anyway, this morning I cleaned up the four marble sculptures that I had brought home from Fort Bragg last weekend.

They were not nearly as difficult to clean as I thought they would be. What a relief. I really wasn't in the mood to spend a lot of time re-doing the finish work. While I was polishing up one, I noticed that I had dated and signed the bottom of the base it was attached to. I was surprised. I hardly ever sign my work.

But I think about doing it. Sometimes. I know that the common argument is that artists should always date and sign their work. But the mediums that I like to work in don't often lend themselves to that. What, am I gonna take a sharpie and put my initials underneath a bunch of bottle caps?

I don't know. Maybe I'm lazy. But, really, I feel like the signature takes away from the piece. It's not really a part of it. I brought this sculpture to life and now it is its own entity.

How would I feel if my mom had decided to tattoo her name and my birthday on my butt before she took me home from the hospital? Not too excited. So, I guess I am going to just keep on not signing and not worry about it.

When I am dead and famous someone else can worry about the authenticity of my work. I'll give you a hint, if it's made with bottle caps and it looks like nature then it probably was made by me.

What ArtBusiness.com Has To Say on the Subject of the Day:

Signing your art is an important part of the creative process. The moment you apply your name to a piece of your art, you declare that art finished and ready to be shown. No matter what your signature looks like, what form it takes or where you put it, no work of your art is complete without it.

DIY

I made a bike rack yesterday. I have been wanting to do that for a while. Of course, while it's extremely functional there is no doubt this object was made by me; bottle caps may have been involved. (I'm planning a photo shoot for this coming Saturday so I will have images of new work posted next week).

It was super fun to make because I just used random scrap metal from my collection. I had no plan. Well, I had an inkling of a plan. But mostly I just made it on the fly.

I Love It.

I primarily made it to take with me to Burning Man. There is room for two bikes so one of my campmates can use it too. It'll probably live in my back yard most of the time. And it will be fun for me and Eric to take with us to some of his bike racing events, especially when we go to Downieville in July.

I was feeling a little down last week because I got two separate rejection letters in the mail. One was a submission for exhibition consideration at a San Francisco gallery and the other was for an art grant. Diving into a new project helped lift up my spirits.

Rejection letters suck, no matter how thick-skinned I become. I found out about not getting the grant on Saturday morning right before I was heading up to Valley Ford to drop off some of my alabaster sculptures at West County Design. I was feeling simultaneously rejected and accepted, which was an interesting experience. Unfortunately, the sense of rejection was stronger and it was a depressing 45 minute drive north.

But I felt a heck of a lot better after leaving the gallery because Sharon, the owner, was so pleased with my work. I sure hope something sells. But, if nothing else, it feels good to show in a gallery, and not just as part of some month-long group show or something. This is the real deal.

Oh, it's so crazy the emotional ups and downs of the artist's life. So many times I am ready to just quit the whole thing. Give up. Because, honestly, it's really tiring more then anything else. It takes a lot of energy to keep picking myself up when I get down.

But, obviously, quitting would be the easy path. And I am not about easy. If I was, I'd still be an accountant. I mean, what's harder then trying something new, right?

My New Favorite Author of the Day:

Christopher Moore.

I am currently reading Lamb and it is one of the funniest books I have read in a really long time. Just Awesome.

Friendship Cycle

Last year I lost two friends. And by that I mean, my relationship with these people ended voluntarily. I've had people in my life come and go, just like everyone else. But this was the first time that it was clearly stated, "we are no longer friends." It was sad but not devastating. When those individuals were an important part of my life it was great; I even thought it would last forever. But now they are gone and I am totally okay with it. Some friendships are destined to always be and some only for a specific period of time.

When I was in high school I thought I'd have the same best friends forever. But I haven't seen or spoken to almost everyone I went to school with in twenty years. I never did go to my ten-year or twenty-year high school reunions. Not because I didn't want to. I'm sure it would have been a blast catching up. But I had other things going on at the same time that were more relevant.

The weekend of my ten-year reunion I was invited to two weddings on the same day (1999 was a very popular year to get hitched). These were people who I was really good friends with at the time. This seemed way more important then my high school reunion so I went to the weddings instead. Now, I've completely lost touch with one of the couples and the other couple is divorced. But at the time, who knew?

Last year was my twenty-year reunion and I would have gone except that it was a) the same weekend that my sister and her husband were coming up to visit and I had already advance purchased tickets to see King Tut at the De Young and b) it was out of town and really expensive. If I was meant to stay friends with these people I would have, right? I'm sure seeing them after all of these years would have been interesting but at the end of the night we'd all go our separate ways back to the lives we were already living, without each year. Cynical? No. Truthful? Yes.

I think that we go about our lives encountering people when and where we are supposed to. And it's okay when the time that we are meant to spend together has passed. We move in, and then out, of other people's lives, hopefully, in a positive and meaningful way. There are people in my life right now who are very important to me whom I didn't know even four years ago and some whom I've known for almost twenty-five years. But then there are others whom I knew for years and now I don't even know where they are. It's all a natural part of human relationships. I wonder who I'll meet next?

Cheers to My Very Best Friend of the Day:

Me!

38 years and still going strong.

Mentor

Yesterday I had lunch with an artist friend of mine. Mostly it was so that I could talk to her about my project idea, Garden REtreat. She knows a lot of artists and other arts organization-types who may be able to help me get started. But, also, we got together to catch up; I hadn't seen her since only briefly during the holidays.

Carol is awesome. She is funny and funky and definitely goes her own way. She is a self-taught artist who makes unusual sculpture out of gut. Her work hardly ever sells. She is nothing like the other artists in her cluster studio in downtown San Rafael (or in Marin County, for that matter). She is 78 years old.

I can really relate to Carol. As artists we are a lot alike. It was nice to be able to talk about our views on art, society, the environment, the future. She has traveled all over the world and has seen a lot. She has opinions but they are very informed, very reasonable. She sees the world through her personal lens but allows for others to see things in their own way, too. She laughs. A lot.

She inspires me to keep going. To keep doing what I do. To see the world through my own personal lens and not get distracted by what others think. To not worry if I get strange looks or perplexed comments when people view my art.

She helps me to not care if people Get Me. I Get Me. And that is all that matters.

According to Carol of the Day:

The Artist's job is to Educate, to reveal the Truth.

Fun With Bottle Caps

Here's the latest in my series of bottle cap crafts. These table-top centerpieces are inspired by plants, perhaps from the world of Dr. Seuss.

Available for sale at Bottlecap Bizarre.

Super Funny Star Wars YouTube Video of the Day:

The Fastest and Funniest LEGO Star Wars story ever told.

Yeah, I know. Like, there isn't a ton of other Star Wars video spoofs out there. But this one is great. And short!

Way too clever to have been written by the boy narrator. But he adds a nice touch.

Let The Sun Shine In

Oh, it is definitely Springtime! My yard is in full bloom, as are my allergies. But I will endure morning sinus headaches when the cause is such beautiful weather.

The sun is making all of the plants in my yard GROW. I spent a little time outside this morning watering and fertilizing. My roses are super happy because I just added some local, organic compost to the soil. My neighborhood yard waste collection system actually does something that benefits me, besides giving me a way to get rid of my grass cuttings and such.

Last Saturday we were able to pick up 1 cubic foot per person of FREE organic soil amendment which was made from our yard waste and other compostable materials. Not sure where the "other compostable materials" come from since we can't put kitchen waste in our green bin but it's nice to know that all of the pine needles that I dump are being used as something good.

Oh Boy. Not only are the plants in my garden growing, so are the plants in my studio. My recycled materials plants, that is. I'm having a great time making new sculptures. My crazy world is definitely getting crowded. But in a good way. I will post images of new work soon.

I remarked to a co-worker at the warehouse, who came by my workspace to help me resolve an engineering problem, that "this [my sculptures and my workspace] is what keeps me from going crazy." He looked around and said that he thought perhaps I may need to reconsider my definition of crazy. But, hey, it's my World and I Thrive in it, even if it does look a little odd on the outside.

I feel very much alive in the warehouse these days. And I know a lot of it has to do with the warm, sunny days that we've been having lately. Sneezing be damn (I just did, twice), I'll take the sun any day. Even inside the dark cavern of the warehouse it feels brighter and livelier then it did two months ago.

So, if the sun is shining where you are, step outside, soak it up, even for just a minute. Let your senses feel that Spring is in the air. Come alive, just like all of nature around you. This is the time for growth and rebirth; all you've got to do is let it happen.

Bonus Garden Photos of the Day:

To Live With No Regrets

One of the biggest wastes of time in life, I think, is regret. What's the point? It's so easy to get bogged down in feeling bad about something that is in the past.

If you wrong someone, harmed them in some way, the best you can do is apologize, hope for forgiveness and move on. That's it. After that, there is nothing left.

Regret makes us feel bad about ourselves. Learn from mistakes but don't relive them. Feeling regret is just reliving mistakes.

Can we forgive others? Do we wish for them to live life without the burden of regret? Hopefully, in all cases, yes.

Then, can we also (and most importantly) forgive ourselves? If we would not wish for others to live with regret then should we also not wish to live with regret?

Let it go. Forgive and Forget. Ourselves and Others.

Okay. Oftentimes this is easier said then done. But it's good to think about every once in a while.

I Will Never Regret of the Day:

Following my dreams and staying true to my heart. You can go a long way in life on just that.

Busy Bee Weekend

I had an amazing weekend that ended in some disconcertion.

First of all, I am writing this on my new laptop which I bought for $400 on Friday. I'm pretty stoked. It was a screaming deal and it helped out a friend who was going to return it and incur a restock fee. I have been contemplating getting a laptop for a while and this one totally meets my needs and budget. So, that was a pretty cool start to the weekend.

Saturday was sublime. Truly. One of my best days ever. It was jam-packed with good times shared with people who's company I enjoy a great deal. The laughs were abundant, as were the adventures. A good chunk of the afternoon was spent going to various salvage yards, rummaging around. So fun.

I found this awesome coat rack at Recycle Town in Petaluma. I can't wait to make a sculpture out of it. It practically is one already!

Another highlight was meeting the owner of West County Design in Valley Ford, a good friend of my buddy James. James has been wanting to introduce us for a couple of years because he thought some of my stone carvings would be a good fit for her shop. So, we went by and I brought one of my sell sheets and a sculpture for her to look at. She liked what she saw and said right then and there that she'd like to consign three of my smaller alabaster pieces. I'm taking them up there next weekend.

Wow! Neither James nor I expected that to happen. It was just gonna be a "meet and greet". I was elated. I hate that I have all this art just sitting around in my garage. I would rather it be out in public, available for sale.

The day ended with a wonderful home-cooked meal at the home of our friends who, unfortunately, we don't get to see very often even though they only live a few miles away. After the Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine started to flow, lots of silliness ensued. It was quite a treat.

But, while Saturday was near perfect, Sunday was not so much. The marble sculpture that I carved last year in Colorado, "Self Spiral Emerging", was selected for Round II of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden's sculpture gallery in Fort Bragg. I had arranged that yesterday I would drop off the new sculpture and pick up the four sculptures from last year's Round I. This wasn't how I wanted to spend my Sunday (it would be a lot of driving) but it was the best day for both me and Eric.

But things were disorganized at the garden. There was supposed to be someone expecting me who would know where my new sculpture was to be placed. But no on knew anything. We packed up the older sculptures and finally just told the one person who was able to kind of help us that we would place the new one in a spot vacated by one of the old ones. The whole experience was frustrating but we managed to stay in pretty good spirits.

It probably helped that it was a beautiful day. This happened last year, too. The sky was perfectly blue, the temperature just right. So lovely (and rare) on the North Coast. But, it makes it impossible to take a good picture of a white marble sculpture. I need over-cast for that! Curse you sun.

Here's a shot I took yesterday but it's just too bright. Oh well. We are going back in June for the opening reception on the 12th. Maybe it will rain.

As the day wore on I started to feel unwell mentally. I didn't expect to be so unhappy having those four marble pieces back in my life. Once I complete a sculpture I am so done with it. I don't want to deal with it again. It's over between us.

But now they are back and they take up space. It's like when your ex-boyfriend needs to crash on the couch for a couple of weeks because he just got laid off and has no where else to go. You don't want to abandon the poor guy but you don't want him there, either.

These sculptures need tending to. They got dirty from being in a garden for a year. I need to do some serious clean up work before I feel like they are ready to be on the market again. I totally do not want to do this.

Anyway, slight feelings of uneasiness aside, it was a truly wonderful weekend. I love where I live, I love my friends, I love my husband, I love my life. As they say, It's All Good.

Job Update of the Day:

I have a new schedule in place at work starting today. I think it's going to give me more productive time in my studio and less stress when I'm working in the office. Fingers crossed, anyway. It's so nice to have a work environment that allows for this much flexibility. I really am a very lucky girl.