Recycle your own TV ?

I was playing yesterday, drawing out a TV in Illustrator, to see if I could create a screen print template. I of course took it to far ... And ended up with a coloring book page. I mean nothing is as inspiring as a blank TV n'est pas? Thought you all might enjoy. Feel free to print it out on the back of an old sheet of paper, or recycled paper.

Click here for the pdf
plus... feel free to send me a picture of what you made :-)

Memorial Day

Rolling Thunder, honoring our veterans

Today I rode down with friends and my lover to see Rolling Thunder for the first time. It was a gorgeous day, the sun was shinning and the ride down with friends was wonderful. I was amazed at all the motorcycles we saw, lined up all along the streets.

Thoughts of my brother weigh heavily on my mind. Thoughts of soldiers still fighting, that I wish were home. Thoughts of vets, who still struggle day to day with the memories and effects of war. Thoughts of the family's and loved ones of men and women who did not return.

My brother is home, and we count the days till he can no longer be called back with a stop loss. I love him, and I am sorry for all that he has had to see, and has had to go through. For him, and his buddies, I send up a wish today, a wish for love, support, understanding... but most of all for a place for peace and happiness in their lives. Thank you.

Good Advice

I was standing in a friends office yesterday, chatting & enjoying her company, and absentmindedly eating some of the little chocolate candies in the bowl on her desk. Mmmm chocolate.

Well in to the third one, I realize they had messages in them!! So a little later, when I had a few minutes to myself, I diligently pull the crumples up ones out my pocket, and un-crumpled them.

I had to laugh, they both seemed to be speaking to the TV project I'm currently working on and it seemed like good advice to me :-) .

Some days require cookies

Friday is usually my day to play... i've been struggling a little bit to keep it mine (Some how my day keeps taking back seat to many other wants & needs, sometimes not even my own). I was attempting a reclaim, and working on one of my TV's when sure enough, my lover calls... and mentions that the little one's teacher has called. Uhhh ohhh.... And boy was it trouble.

Now, i have to preface this with the fact that i'm fairly new to the world of parenting. I didn't make any of them, I got the pre-packaged variety... And man do I love them. We are all part of an add water and stir family. So this weekend, starting Friday, i had to become the wicked witch. i've had to do this on occasion before... but this time it got to last ALL weekend. I think my skin has actually turned a new shade of green, and there's a bump on the end of my noes. I do so hope it washes off!!

It was hard, i wanted to cave...

This morning we finally saw the light, creative essay consequences are done (the little one can thank MY parents for that). I'm exhausted, my lover is too. Will they ever know it REALLY is harder on us than it is on them?

I needed cookies.

Awesome Copy Cats!!! Open source Art.

You know you're kitty is living in style when they can sit inside a Van Gogh!

Nope, this isn't another one of my art TV's... this one is made by AMoonShadow ... it's on her Etsy store here... and she has some wonderful painted computer mice, and bags here. I really LOVE her piece.

Her e-mail raised an interesting question though.. One that many of the artists I work with struggle with every day. You see, in one of my other lives, I'm a web designer & Flash programmer.. and I get to help other artists put there images, their ideas, there baby's out on the web. For the whole world to see... Their concern, will it get stolen, borrowed, left uncredited... will they see it in a shop 2 years from now with someone else's name on it making millions? It's scary.

Or is it? As a programmer, I know flash scripts, javascrips and html pages, and CSS, get "borrowed", all the time. Many try and credit the authors... many do not. But without this free exchange of information Firefox would not exist (what are you browsing on?).

As an artist, I'm inspired everyday by things I did not have a hand in making.. tree's, animals, steam engines, other people's art, computer monitors and TV's for that matter. No I'm not trying to copy anyone, I'm trying to continue a conversation. I would love to see people dumpster diving for TV's & monitors... get them out of land fills, recycle them, and find alternate uses for them. I know others feel the same, I've seen more patterns for shopping bags on the web than you can imagine.. grab one, make one, use it, or buy one from an artist you know.. let your voice be heard.

I challenge you, put you're art out there! Don't hide it in the cave that is your little home for fear that it will be stolen. Let other's be inspired, let them hear the voice that is uniquely yours. See what comes back, I bet you'll be surprised and perhaps inspired yourself! I know I have been, Thank you AMoonShadow!

Brainus Interuptus

Ever have those days when your brain seems to be flying in all different ways at all different speeds, and you want a rope to wrangle it all together so the world can stop spinning?

Mmmm, yeah, I think I'm dizzy. I've been trying to work on my "heart" TV... It's becoming a lamp, but It was hard finding 10 calm minutes in a row. Many other cool things happened today though, and so I will accept my defeat for today, and appreciate what has been given to me.

An artist from Etsy, contacted me, because she was inspired by my "kitty TV", and as a result built her own, featuring Van Gogh's Stary night... (I'll put up a picture & a link soon).

The whole family has been receiving very kind donations so we can ride together next month, to support the American Diabetes Association.

A headhunter called... (always nice to be wanted).

I got to enjoy a cup of tea and a morning chat with a good friend.

... I suppose the TV will come when It's good & ready.

Climate Ride 2008

Ok, I've signed up... now I'm scared. Late September I'm now due to ride my bike from Manhattan to Washington DC, as a fund raiser for the Climate Ride 2008. It's an effort to raise awareness, and motivate change about the climate and this blue green earth we live on. I'm a little LOT out of shape compared to my younger years. But I think the more daunting task is raising the $2250. Ughhhh what was I thinking again??

So, I had this brilliant idea... And those always scare the heck out of me.

I was thinking it would be wonderful to do a silent auction, featuring "green" artists. Artists who recycle & reuse in their art, Artists who are inspired by the natural world around us, Artists who craft & create items that we can use & reuse in our everyday lives instead of using disposable goods. Artists who inspire us to think green.

Only, now... to tell you the truth, I have little idea how to go about pulling something like this off. I have a place to book a room, but would artists be willing to donate (it's slow money in the art world right now)? How I could handle credit card sales? Could I put it on E-bay.. or Etsy?

I like the idea, because I think it could bring attention to a cause, as well as providing some solutions, and inspirations. Artists have these wonderful voices that come through their art.

Ideas anyone? I'm here... I'm scared, ... but I'm willing to give it a lot of energy & my best shot.

p.s. If you want to donate, and make that number a bit smaller.... my page is at:
http://climateride2008.kintera.org/alpinebutterfly

I think I'm supposed to put that in.

Magic People

You ever notice how sometimes life is just a little magic? That one thing you wanted, or needed simply happened or was. The person you were thinking about calls you out of the blue.... I simple refer to it as Magic. I guess it seems like the easiest, simplest & perhaps there for the most likely explanation to me.

What I really get excited about though, is when I meet Magic people. You know them.. those magic people, the ones who get you thinking about things in a new way, or reminding you what's most important to you. The people who have glowing souls in spite of hard times.. or perhaps because they've over come them. I have a few wonderfully magic people in my life. They make me feel blessed.

I think Judith HeartSong knows what I'm talking about... she seems to have magic friends too Judith HeartSong: MUD.

Thank you for the reminder Judith :-)

Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race !!!

Today was amazing... chasing kinetic sculptures all over Baltimore... watching wonderful contraptions, and people being light hearted and fun. This event is put on by the visionary arts museum (I love this museum, if I ever wanted to see my work in a museum, it would be this one)... Clearly lots of hard work & good fun went in to every piece. Hmmm, wonder if I can play along next year?


My Personal Favorite... strange garden it was. There may be pink flamingo's playing at our house soon :-)


OK... I really liked the flying pig too.


Meet Fifi!! lol!



And the shoes she was sporting!!!