My grandson Max appreciating my art:

Max's appreciation of my work is all the motivation I need! Pretty compelling wouldn't you say?

Since I haven't really been able to spend much time in my studio lately, I fiddled about and sketched on my IPAD.  Had lots of fun. Here are the results:

As you can see, I had a lot of fun.  Now for some real painting, I will definitely get back to my studio!

A note...

Just to let you know that I now accept credit cards.  Too late for the sale last Thursday, but just in time for some people who are coming to see my work this weekend! Many of the ladies who came asked if I accepted  cards, so since I do my best to listen, I am now able to do that.

If you see anything that you like, just give me a call at 305-582-1419 and I'll get your information and mail your order immediately. Have your credit card information ready and voila!

I will soon be on Etsy and maybe you can follow me there.  Thanks to everyone who came on Thursday for their wonderful energy and marvelous support.

The Day After the Night Before...

What a fun evening! It started at 6PM and people came steadily to the Open Studio party and stayed until almost midnight. At a certain point there were so many people in my living room that it looked like a bazaar and I couldn't recognize the space!   I was happy to see my Shibori scarves handled, tried on  and taken to their new homes.  Lea Nickless showed her eco-dyed scarves which she makes with flowers and plants and nuts and objects she finds along the way. They are beautiful. Eda showed her beautiful hand-made jewelry creations and all in all, people had plenty to choose from.  We had delicious food provided by star chef Charmaine and had other culinary contributions which were enjoyed by all.  Lots of bottles of wine and good cheer made the evening a total success. A good way to kick off the holiday season. A big thank you to all who came and made the evening such a great success!

Open Studio/Open House on Thursday, December 8th at 6PM

Art Basel, Art Miami and the many offshoots of galleries and special exhibits ends in a few minutes and Miami can get ready for a little less commotion (although this is an exciting city) and more time to just peruse local galleries and art studios without being trampled!

I'm having a little event of  my own and while not as grand as what this weekend brought to town, it will have pretty things to stuff in Christmas stockings and lots of wine, food and good cheer.

If you're in town, come on Thursday, December 8 from 6PM to my studio/home. I will be joined by Eda and Lea who will show some of their offerings.  Charmaine is bringing delicious munchies and all in all, I'm sure we'll have some fun.

Art Basel we're not but we can guarantee a good start for the season. You are cordially invited.

A little technology

I use my computer a lot. I also read on Kindle, play with my IPad and of course, text and take great pictures on my IPhone. My son admonishes "you have entirely too much technology mother!" He's probably right but my magical machines keep me company, delight and annoy me in equal measure and keep me current. That in itself is worth all of it.

My first computer was a Commodore 64. It was a lot of fun and helped me enormously in my work. I also watched the little man who lived in my computer. I had to feed him and make sure he thrived.  I had another little guy who lived in an island after being shipwrecked. He had parties with girls who passed by on luxury yachts but he never left his island. He was a happy little chap. Such innovative programs.  I enjoyed them all.

I remember DOS, I remember the first time I used Windows and took mental note of every bit of progress I made and was happening in my relationship to my PC. It helped me produce mountains of handouts for my students and keep tabs on who was signing up for my classes. I remember when my daughter Natalia introduced me to the internet!  It was in Tokyo and she had just gone to school in Montreal.  When she told me that we could be more connected if I learned how to use this new bit of magic.   I was game, bring it on! My brain froze somewhat cause  I was sure I wasn't going to understand what she was about to teach me.  It took 3 minutes and I was a convert. I could send emails and read way into the night as long as my eyes weren't exhausted and ready for bed. I re-connected with so many friends, I read so much fun stuff, I felt closer to my daughter. I had a virtual umbilical attachment to her and her siblings when it was their time to leave home for school.

I embraced each and every little step along the way.  Changed from PC to Mac, bought one of the first IPhones and carried my Ipod everywhere. All of it wonderful, new and exciting. I worked and played with my gadgets and looked forward to more,  but recently I realized that while absolutely wonderful, they were starting to replace other things that I also enjoyed.

I like to go to the mail box and find a handwritten or  typed card or letter from a friend.  I like paper invitations and real birthday cards.  I enjoy friends calling to say hello. Texts are beginning to irritate me.  They feel like an afterthought!  They are replacing the mindfulness of knowing when one of my friends might need to hear my voice or I theirs.  When a good hearty laugh over the phone with no visuals (Skype later) connects hearts and experiences.  Not to mention face to face encounters.  Love those. I certainly prefer to chat in person or by phone than by "chat room."   I want my grandchildren to know that writing a "thank you" or "I love you" card, putting a stamp on it and sending it to a friend (or to their grandma) is still thrilling and that it will be treasured in a drawer or a box for a long time to come. I want my children not to forget to teach them that.

While shopping for certain things online is convenient and usually cheaper, I still like the thrill of the hunt in the shops in my town and feel that its much more fun to go say, to the real GAP than to peruse their pages online. I like to touch, smell, see the real color and even try it on and figure out if I really like the style on me!  Then I like to stop for a coffee and watch the world go by.

I like to hold babies and pet real animals and while the funny videos of pets online are often touching and hilarious, they're even funnier in person. I'm funnier in person too. In person you can see my wrinkles and my crazy outfit...you know...not like the pictures you see on Facebook!  In a phone call I can find out what I can do make you feel better or celebrate your great idea or remind you that whatever is worrying or upsetting you too shall pass.

I guess I want a good balancing act between our new technological friends and our flesh and blood encounters.  When one outdoes the other, I feel I'm in trouble and there's something missing in my life.

Santa's Little Helper

Thanksgiving, Art Miami, Art Basel, Christmas Oh my!  Between visits from my delicious kids, visits to my delicious kids, an impending visit from one of my best friends and trips to NYC there's little time to think about anything else.  Three boutiques have asked me to exhibit and sell my jewelry and Shibori scarves so needless to say, I'm delighted and enormously busy.

Here are some of the earrings which will be sold in Coral Gables.

And some Shibori Scarves

Never a dull moment in Coconut Grove!  These should make nice Christmas presents or enhance somebody's wardrobe.  They were all made with love and good energy.