Glitterfest Recap

Glitterfest is an amazing show.  It really isn't just a show, it is an event.

Sheryl and Diane go above and beyond to create and promote this event.

They make sure you are taken care of during the day.

It is so wonderful the care they take.

When I did this show last year, I knew only one person and barely.

Robin Dudley Howes who taught me to solder.

This year, I knew at least 20 of the talented women there.

My sales were wonderful.

It was wonderful to visit with friends, customers and some of my family showed up too!

A topper to my AMAZING day was to finally meet my friend Margaret.

Margaret found me through my blog and Facebook.  

We have become friends over the internet.

I have never met her in person, even though she lives in Long Beach.

Our schedules conflict...and as we are both single working women, it is hard sometimes

to stop to enjoy friendships firsthand.

To my delight, Margaret who is an AMAZING florist, showed up at Glitterfest yesterday with this beautiful bouquet for me.

  If you need a florist for a wedding, you need to contact her.

Her work is beautiful.

When it all boils down to it.

Art, work, responsibilities, Stuff...

the relationships you forge along the way are the most important.

So, thank you Margaret, from the bottom of my heart.

My wacky table...

 Got Arms???

Spider baby found a new home...

This guy could have found a new home, but is a custom order only...

Friends are the flowers in the garden of life...

Need to go finish cooking B-day dinner for my daughter Emily.

I promise to post more tomorrow!

XO,

Lisa

Working with wood

Many of my friends might not know that I took woodshop in 8th grade.

The teacher, Mr. Teats was this surly older man that most the kids didn't care for.

Liken him to a kind of Mr. Wilson character from Dennis the Menace.

He had to be strict, kids in Jr High School are jerks.

My Teats liked me though and appointed me shop foreman.

The boys hated it.  I of course loved it, being in charge of handing out tools

and helping some kids with cutting and operation.

My Pap-Pap was a woodworker, so I had an above average understanding

of the tools and how to use them.

Many years passed and I didn't pick up any woodworking tools.

As my life/work as an artist progressed, 

it was at age 34 that I married my second husband, 

who was no ordinary man.

He was a general contractor, fine woodworker, could weld, do A/C, plumbing, electrical wiring...oh and while he was building and furnishing a house, 

he could completely restore a car from the ground up.

Having him to team up with was such a blessing.  

We collaborated on many a project and he would cut out anything I wanted.

He also taught me a lot (although not welding...which is next for me to learn)

When he passed away  I sold off most of his shop tools, 

at least the tools I was most afraid of and didn't use.

My oldest son is also a woodworker/artist.  For a while I relied on him to cut stuff out for me, 

until his life became to busy to help me.

Why I was afraid to cut things out on my own other than simple ripped pieces, I don't know.

My Beau, Rob of 4 years has also helped me cut several things out.

But recently, preparing for Glitterfest...I have logged HOURS in the garage,

building/engineering my rather large display.

There has been the drilling of metal, cutting metal, 

cutting and sanding doll parts, soldering, wiring... all the while, re-acquainted myself

with some power tools I hadn't touched in a while...out of Fear? Sorrow?

Or out of just being able to hand it off to the man in my life to do for me.

Last night at 9 pm, I decided the last two assemblage doll pieces 

being made for Glitterfest were sorely in need of Wings.  

So, out came my brand new Bosch Jig saw my son bought for me and away I cut,

sanded and filed my wings.

 

Wings represent freedom and are such a recurring theme in my work.

Funny when we push ourselves, we discover what we are really made of.

My dear hands are Terribly sore today from everything I have put them through this week.

(no wonder contractors have great Arms)

What a sense of accomplishment I have at revisiting some

trusty old friends and happy old memories.

Forget Diamons, Forget Fancy shoes...

Power tools are a girls best friend!!!

Haute Handbags

I am proud and thankful to have one of my Hand Painted Leather Bags published in 

Stampington's Haute Handbags Publication.

Love this magazine.  Full of beautiful bags and great ideas!

Thank you Beth!

Ode To Alice!

My Glitterfest theme seems to be taking on a bit of an Alice in Wonderland theme...
No surprise really.

This is my new business card...

The little girl is me.

About 10 years ago I had a little store called Daydreams.

This was my logo then too.

Being the perpetual Dreamer, many hours as a child were spent

lying on my back with my Grandmothers dog, Sammy in the grass,

staring at the sky, imagining there were animal shapes in the clouds,

blowing bubbles, making wishes with dandelions,

talking to the flowers, creating mud pie masterpieces decorated with flowers

and creating quite the make believe world.

Everything was ALIVE to me as a child.

The garbage disposal had to be "fed" or it would die.

As I pondered my new business and art direction, it was clear that I return to my roots...

the essence of who I am, not just as an artist, but as a person too.

I truly believe within every thing living or not, there lies potential.

Trash to treasure, bad to good....despair to hope.

Call me Pollyanna, Alice, Mary Poppins or whoever.

Life is truly about what you make it to be and how

you respond to the negative that life throws at you.

As I tell my kids,

"Life is full or curve balls, you better be able catch it and hurl it back, or duck and let just let it pass."

Back to the studio.

See you all at Glitterfest or in Virtual Internet-land!

XO,

Lisa

Babies in Waiting...

Glitterfest fast approaches and I am happily busy

 be-bopping from Garage Studio to Inside Studio as I call it.

Magic is Happening and I am so excited to share it with you in only

4 days!

WOW.

These are my "Babies in Waiting"...

Patiently waiting to be transformed and get a second chance at life as Art.

Back to the studio.

Be fearless in your creativity!

XO,

Lisa

MORE Glitterfest teasers...

Charlotte's Web Necklace

Fall and Holiday necklaces...

More pretty flowers...

back to work...see you Saturday at Glitterfest!

XO,

Lisa

Glitterfest TEASE....

Twas the week before Glitterfest and all through the house...

Glue flying, saws grinding all through the night.

Kids starving - mate whining,

"Where was the Woman of the house?"

Buried knee deep in glitter, doll parts and trim,

bauble and gemstones filled up to the brim.

She's making some Magic to show to her friends...

Cackling with creativity?

No, hacking on dust.

When you see her next week excuse

the bloodshot eyes and crazed look...

cause she wanted to bring you all much Surprise!

Here are a few teasers of what will be coming with me to Glitterfest!

 

Eyeball spiders this year to wear!

Babies in Cloches...

 Dreamy Christmas scenes...

Sugar Plum Fairies danced in their heads...

 

While deers dreamed of Spring...

Barbie style hands....what could this be?

 

Lots of whimsy will accompany me...

Peace and Love,

Lisa