Alter Ego Mexicana

On Saturday, My Buddy Sal and I will be heading to Puerto Vallarta
to take a week-long mosaics workshop from master artist and teacher Susan Wechsler.

We will be staying at Hacienda Mosaico, run by Sam(antha) Leonard,
who moved down there from the states years ago,
and bought a small hotel where various art workshops are offered throughout the year.

Susan initially gave us a choice of different “nichos” to mosaic,
but later offered the option of making a mosaic dress,
which I was all over!
Check out Susan’s incredible website @ http://www.mosaicsbysusan.com/.

Here’s the naked dress form…

and most of the materials I’ve gathered so far.
Upon my return, I’ll be sure to share the finished product.

Can’t wait to sip Margaritas by the ocean where it’s 90*…it’s been too long!!!
Ole!

Posted in Uncategorized

My oldest and very dear friend, Sallie, is an artist living in Cottonwood, Arizona.

Recently, she was invited to show her work at Gallery 527  in Jerome, AZ…
an old mining town built on the side of Mingus Mountain
that overlooks Cottonwood and the Verde Valley.

She is also now sharing studio space with a friend in the Old Jerome High School,
which has become quite an artists’ enclave over the past few years.

Her studio is bright and open, with high ceilings and wonderful old slate chalkboards.

She can finally display her work and really spread out.

Sallie is now surrounded by like-minded creative types
and is putting herself “out there” with openings
and art walks on the first Saturday of each month.

Way to go, girl!

Check out Sallie’s website @ http://salliecross.com/.

Posted in Random Thoughts
Tags: 'Cuz I Like It, Art Work, Friends, Inspiration, Love, Private Spaces, Rites of Passage, Southwestern Culture, Venues

Every time I go to see my parents,
my father tells me to bring a project.

Every time I bring a project, it’s basically the same thing.

Dad cuts out wooden shapes for me,
(I have no band saw)

and I work on the metal.
This time I cut some small milagro shapes out
and I have some ideas…

With January’s weather in the 60′s,
it looks likeI’ll be out there working sooner than later.

Thanks again, Daddy-O!

Posted in Uncategorized

Mr. E and I went to Palo Alto for Christmas
where we took a wonderful bike ride through the Stanford campus.

In the main quad, we came upon the chapel…
built in honor of Leland Stanford Sr.

On it are the mosaic angels of LOVE

HOPE

and CHARITY…
all so intricate, so sweetly benevolent, so utterly magnificent.

Then we happened upon the grave site of Mrs. Stanford’s brother…
silently speaking of devotion and anguish…
of honor, mourning, and enduring love.

I do believe it was the most exquisitely beautiful campus that I’ve ever set eyes upon…
and it happens to be where my husband was born.
What a delightful place to still have family!!!

Posted in Inspirations
Tags: 'Cuz I Like It, Adventures, Angels, Holidays, Southwestern Culture, Virgins

Taking winter’s pause
Studio’s patina grows
‘Til the spring doth thaw

Every winter I take a break from making serious art,

partly because I prefer to work outside…

but my shop isn’t heated anyway…

but mostly because I’m recharging my creative juices

just like Mother Nature!

Happy Holidaze, all!

Linking with Rebecca’s Haiku My Heart @ http://corazon.typepad.com/.

Posted in Haiku My Heart
Tags: 'Cuz I Like It, Art Work, Holidays, My studio, Nature, Private Spaces, Rusty Stuff, Southwestern Culture

In memory of Joe Spadoman
Peace Warrior
Sweetheart

Does she fill your heart?
Wondrous mother of us all
Countenance of grace

Let us not forget 
Benevolence of  Mary
Constant love abounds

Linking with Rebecca’s Haiku My Heart
and Twelve Days of Mary @ http://corazon.typepad.com/.

Posted in Haiku My Heart, Virgin a Day
Tags: Catholicism, Celebrations, Inspiration, Love, Mary, Southwestern Culture, Virgins

I visited my Mom and Dad this fall
and while my Dad was cutting out some wood retablo shapes for me,
I stood at his workbench and cut out lots of metal components.

These are cut out of antique ceiling tiles,
which are just the right weight for hand cutting.

This is the lot with a little paint added.

My favorites are the birds

as I was having fun with some new shapes.

Here’s another one I liked…

but it got scooped up before completion.
I won’t mention any names…

Posted in Making Art
Tags: 'Cuz I Like It, Art Work, Family, Folk Art, Friends, Inspiration, My studio, Southwestern Culture

Bountiful harvest
Still I wonder how they fared
In the olden days

Linking with Rebecca’s Haiku My Heart @ http://corazon.typepad.com/.

Posted in Haiku My Heart
Tags: Food, Gardening, Health, Our yard, Southwestern Culture

You know what?
After 20 years of doing this show, we put on a pretty darn good party,
if I do say so myself!

There were nine artists this year,
the weather was a gorgeous 67*,
the old timey music on the back porch went for over 2 hours,
snacks were plenty,
sales were brisk.

And a ton of friends came…some of which I hadn’t seen in a year.

I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more pleasant day!

Posted in Inspirations
Tags: Art Shows, Celebrations, Folk Art, Friends, Gatherings, Inspiration, Venues