Tempus Fugit

Where shall I start? Maybe where I left off last night, 12,692, sheep that is!

I am a certified (if there were such a thing) insomniac.

Sleep is practically an exotic luxury for me. Much like a lush oasis in the middle of the desert!

{I say, who are you there peering through at me, and what delicious delights do you possess?}
12,693,
Sleeping at times is like chasing the elusive pot of gold at the end of my rainbow! It is certainly a highly prized event when I do get a good nights sleep!

In those precious too few hours that I am able to nod off the time passes by in a sort of continuous moving picture show,

reel to reel and in vibrant technicolor! Accompanied by what sounds to me like it can only be Dolby Stereo!

I recall, I always have the fleeting thought that, I wish someone would please turn it down a smidge ( you know, like with the TV dream remote control ).

{A little nonsense now and then is relished by the best of men! My homage to Daffy Duck in the cartoon The Mustache Bandit!}
12,694,
I awaken many days more exhausted from the previous nights adventures than before I actually went to bed!

Don't get me wrong, an overactive imagination is most certainly a blessing, albeit somewhat disguised( at least that's what my Grandpapa used to tell me)! I have learned to live with it, even take advantage and make good use of it, maybe I am just a night owl?! Huh, never thought of that before!

I guess I must catch just enough Zzzzz's to keep me going because really my only complaint is that there doesn't ever seem to

be enough time to implement all the ideas that come rushing in, to recreate and capture the dreamy visions I've just been privy to!

I do my very best to keep up, there are sketch books stacked high simply filled to overflowing, and yes, even stuffed with odd bits of doodled napkins.

{Look at the world thru sapphire colored glasses for spectacular signs of life!}
12,695,
Countless scribbles on restaurant receipts and theatre tickets with written notes jotted down on any available blank spot!

I think if I could live 9 or 10 lifetimes, there still would not be enough time to create all I would wish to!
And all I have plans for!

Oh to be magical, mystical, I would "Pop" more hours into each and every day!

{Remove that skin you've been hiding in! Yes, it can be cold, but only for a moment!}
12,696,
"Zap" more minutes into every hour!

"Zing" more heart beats to the all ready too short span!

And blow many, many, many more breaths, ah, to catch, to catch! Where does the time go?!

And while we're on the subject, will someone please tell me how the 80's got so far away?!
Time is of the essence and I would like another serving! Please, may I have some more Sir?
Sweet dreams my friends!
12,697, sheep that is!
And counting!

What if?

Eye was thinking...

When is a doll just a cigar, I mean doll? ( I know my attempts at humor are awful!) Le petite french poupee sitting quietly on a shelf,

countless books have been written of their wide eyed far away stare, apple cheeks and painted titled smiles.

Are the little mannequins just the sum of their parts,

graceful elongated china arms,

to gently hold you,

delicate sloping legs ending in two tone button down boots,

or even sweet little woolen knee highs and bow tied mary janes.

Perhaps a fully jointed composition body ready for restorations and repairs?

Maybe she is but a mere silent treasured novelty

with cork pate and curly wig and

the teeniest tiniest pair of chestnut brown sleep eyes, all the better

to see you with my dears! Or is she a wealth of information waiting to be tapped? Does her mood change when her wardrobe does?

A lacey Edwardian fit neatly around

a gusseted kid leather body.

Maybe a playful "A" line made from Great Grandmama's cast offs.

Does she feel happy or sad or silly or mad?

Does she yearn to taste a cookie or two or three and a sip of warm chamomile tea with just a touch of honey, no lemon, yes milk. Thank you.

Will she become a spoiled naughty girl when I put her bits together or what if,

what if, I indulge in my more playful desires and turn her into an art doll,

a piece only to be studied and evaluated, never to be held in the arms of a young confidante?

Will the others laugh at her, call her names because she is different?

Will she care and what if, what if, she can never, ever become a girl at all? These thoughts cross my mind, do you wonder if they whisper when we walk away, "Silly humans, so complicated, they should try to be happy just dressed up and pretty"! "It's easy, it is, it is! A doll is a constant faithful companion a friend not a foe, she will happily cheer you up and chase away your woes.

Countless secrets have been shared and tears have been shed and sweet little prayers said just before bed.

Is her worth in dollars and cents, rare and valuable or just that she sees your point of view? I think that I vote for the latter of the two. All in all be a kind curator to your trusted friend, tend to her needs, keep her lovely and dusted and dry, for you never know... I could swear I have walked into my room and out of the corner of my eye just caught the slightest glimpse of, well, I'm not quite sure, but I know I saw something!

You see, I've been thinking. Adieu, see you later!

Wet Paint at Romantic Homes!

Do you ever get the urge to just paint something?!

To paint absolutely anything and quick?!

I've found that a fresh coat of paint can revive a some what lackluster piece and send an already outstanding piece right into orbit! To become yes, Uber Chic!

Ever since I was a kid this funny sneaking sensation would ever so oddly pounce on me, some times at the most inopportune of times and whisper into my ear, PAINT SOMETHING!

I simply could not resist! Strange I know but it certainly was fun!

Once I had a perfectly good bike, shiny and pink with those handle bars that dipped way down in the front, with a pretty little

white wicker basket attached to them and a sweet banana seat covered with the most fabulous pink glittered vinyl, you know,

like the racing boats used to be painted in the 60's!? Well, one day I was minding my own business just kicking back

watching Bugs Bunny cartoons and Gumby, when it hit me! I MUST PAINT THAT BIKE! Never mind that it was practically new! Ok, I know right about now you are beginning to ask yourself, Hey, Wonder what the heck her bike with the glittered seat has to do these Pop Art picture frames?! Well I will get to that,

And so off to the garage I went, on a mission! The only paint I could scrape up was a partial can of powder blue and a

small can of a deep plum purple, I poured them both into a another can, used the end of a wooden hammer to mix them together and went to town!

When I was finished the garage floor was painted, I was painted and my bike was now painted, I had even painted my tires blue, a very delicious ,

shade of periwinkle blue!

I, for one just adored it!

But as you can imagine my dad on the other hand, not so much!

WHAT ON EARTH EVER POSSESSED YOU! And at the time all I could muster up the courage to say was,

I dunno! I dunno! Fortunately for me he understood the artist within me and even greatly encouraged my sometimes misguided attempts at self expression!

And so in conclusion, as you can see I still get the uncontrollable URGE to just paint something anything! The best way I can relate it to you is like this; When you get a craving for something, like lets say a hot fudge sunday, nothings stopping me till I get that hot fudge sunday!! Now I'm positive it's all much clearer!

For all the how to's and specifics of mixing paint colors, pick up the March 2008 issue of Romantic Homes magazine and don't miss out on the free artwork. I have included exclusively for Romantic Homes an elements sheet for you to photocopy and use to create your own 3-D paper statue! Quick and easy and lightweight!
Also a reminder to check out the project I created for Teresa Mcfayden's Bellatoria E Zine, before it flies away!