by hook or by crook....

My mom sent me an email. It said, "new blog, please!"

I have a lot to tell, really. Several posts worth. Tonight: Penland.

I made the most of the "opportunity" my required furlough days provided by running away to North Carolina. I was able to attend the Annual-Benefit-Auction-Crew-Chief-De-Briefing for the first time in the eight years I have volunteered for the Auction. It was a pleasant four hours with some other good leaders I know and love. I'm not sure I ever posted a link to the TONS of photos from this year's auction...

Oh, and Halloween. I made a bluebird costume. Here is some documentation from when it looked like a bluebird exploded in my livingroom:









I don't know where this sequin came from. Sequins were never part of the planning phase.

As one might guess, Halloween at an art/craft school does not disappoint.





Here's the finished bird with coordinating beer:



One evening I drove to Boone and had a lovely home-made dinner with my oldest Penland friend, Jeana Eve Klein. In 2001 we met at the school and have remained in touch through the years, as both of us have moved around the country. We've seen each other for a few short minutes the past few summers at the Benefit Auction. (But Jeana is a contributing artist rather than a lowly scullery maid...)

I spent a lot of time wandering the woods alone and writing long letters to friends. I took so many touristy pictures, I don't know which to share...







Nice, huh?

I went to Asheville with this guy on his day off. We spent hours in book stores and antique stores, and then we nearly made ourselves sick indulging in mussels and beer.



I have been watching the Prisoner obsessively since the day after my birthday. The show was first reccomended to me by my father, and then this past summer my friend Wes really got me interested. Its an amazing show, and I highly recommend it to you people, all over the place.

Wes suggested I hold off watching the final two episodes, "Once Upon a Time" and "Fallout," til my visit. Wes and I, and a group of other friends (who did not know the show) watched them one night at Penland. I'm sorry to be done with the show. I've really enjoyed Patrick McGoohan's face. And yeah, I know AMC has a new version of the show. I love you, Ian McKellen, but I'm sceptical.

Michelle's Michelle Things.

All that orange stuff is (are?) california poppies. This was on my way home from Bakersfield a few weeks ago...a very circuitous route.


I've been busy.
I've been working hard.
I've been thinking.
I've been looking at good things.
I've been listening to good music.
I've been walkin' around town.
I've been trying.

I haven't been blogging. I'm okay with that...I hope you are too.

I have also temporarily closed my etsy shop. Fear not: I'll be reopening soon. New work.

New. New. New.

This week I'm heading to Chicago, for Southern Graphics Council. So excited to see old friends and a whole lotta art.

March Cold.

I have a nasty cold. This was taken a couple of days ago, when I was still in denial about being sick.

I've had so much going on, and I know that this sickness was partially caused by being run-down.

I went to Nashville the weekend before last, drove up to Murray, Kentucky to eat at Hihburger and see friends, and then back down to Nashville for a college friend's wedding. It was a really, really good time. I'd post pictures, but I have not scanned my polaroids yet.

I saw plenty of ice-storm aftermath:



It did snow a bit on my drive back to Nashville, but just enough to delight this city mouse.



It seems like mere moments after I got home to Los Angeles, my friend Jenni flew in to town, and stayed with me this past week. I was NOT on vacation, and actually had tons of work to do for my show in Bakersfield, but I managed to burn the candle at both ends, and we had a great time. I got to show Jenni some of my favorite California things, and we discovered some new cool stuff. And of course we laughed like crazy about stupid stuff the way we have since we met in eighth grade.



Jenni helped me haul my work up to Bakersfield this past weekend, and then we took the long way home...a very long way home. We took the time to trespass in orange groves, and we found a wonderful honey farm on highway 126.





And we went to the Griffith J. Griffith Observatory... Twice.



Most of these are Jenni's pictures, by the way. So we had a splendid time, in spite of the stress, and business, and work, and sickness. Now I'm just trying to pull myself together and feel better.

Say, my show at Surface Gallery in Bakersfield opens this coming Friday, from 5-9pm. The work is there, and perhaps even on the walls. I'm looking forward to seeing all the pieces together, because the way I've been working on them has been very one-at-a-time, due to my teeny-tiny apartment.



Do come. "A splendid time is guarenteed for all." I'll be wearing a stunning new frock from Anthropologie. Well, I wore it to Whitney's wedding, but its new-ish...I think all the smoky smell from the "after party" has aired out by now.

My cold medicine is starting to make me sleepy, so I should conclude this post.

Good evening.

So Long, Suckers.

I'm in the Burbank Airport, waiting oh so patiently for my oh so delayed flight to North Carolina.

Purchases made in my shop in the next week will be shipped a week from today. Hope that doesn't cause any difficulty or sadness or feelings of chagrin.

But if it does, remember that those feelings make you stronger and build character.

Or so I've been told.

Again?!

I've decided that for one week in August, I'm gonna wander over to North Carolina...you know, again. To breathe wholesome mountain air, see some old friends, and wash dishes.

This will be my SEVENTH year managing the dining hall at Penland for their Annual Benefit Auction. It may sound more glamorous than it is. My team and I will be washing dishes. A lot of dishes. And pots. And silverware. And bowls. And glasses. And then different shaped glasses. And maybe a third shape of glasses. And then some things that we're not-quite-sure what they are, but we gotta wash 'em.

And then we gotta wash everything again, the next day.

If you're a friend or a fan of my work, it should come as no surprise that this satisfies my conceptual interest in repetition.



I do find dish washing to be rather satisfying. No, really. I like washing my own dishes, (particularly with my lovely view from my kitchen window, and my vintage china and Lisa Miller ceramics....)

And at the auction we listen to a lot of good music and always end up having a good time. There's always a moment when I tell myself I'll never do it again.....it is hard work, but it's a good way to remind yourself that you're alive.

Today my friend Maranda wrote to me about how "we do this to ourselves over and over...it's like a way for us to remember we're alive. it's like pinchin' yourself when you've 'gone away' while driving on a long, long trip just to make sure you aren't in a dreamland and you haven't really run off the road." She wasn't talking about washing dishes, but it does seem relevant.

Anyway...

Away.

I'm off to bind books in Maine with Bonnie Stahlecker. Fare-thee-well, friends and well-wishers.

Here's a few images of my work at Henry Road. More to follow!

Penelope and an Earthquake.

Tonight is the opening reception for my show at Henry Road in Studio City. 6-9 pm. See you there? If I look a bit tired, please pardon me. My to-do list has been a little ridiculous lately.

I have been working so so hard. Sleep is boring. Almost ALL the work at Henry Road is new. The Newest New ever. I'm really pleased with these pieces...see if you don't agree. I will eventually post more images of the work in the store.

Still trying to get things together and ready for my Installation at Studio Channel Islands... I drove up there last week to look at the gallery, and it's such an interesting and beautiful place. There will be a reception for that exhibition on June 28, 4-6. If I look a little tired on that occasion, it's becasue I return from Maine the night before.

Oh, that's right...I should probably go pack for Maine.

I'm at 95 sales in my Etsy store. Lovely! I will be posting more pieces for sale in July.

June Gloom in May

I've been to the Observatory twice in the past two days. I took this picture in February, but it suits this post, and the weather outside, and my mood. And yeah, I'm listening to the soundtrack of "a Charlie Brown Christmas" in May....so what!?

My work is on the walls at Intelligentsia, and will be up for a month or two. If you're in the neighborhood, take a peek. I'll post some pictures soon for your enjoyment.

The next few weeks I will be preparing for my show at Henry Road in Studio City. Henry Road is a great little store....an interesting and eclectic selection of things for the home, gifts, art, and they have a fantastically wonderful book about treehouses. There will be an opening reception the day before I leave town for Maine, Thursday June 12. I'll keep you updated as developments develop.

ALSO making plans for my installation that will be a part of the "Print Matter(s)" exhibition at Studio Channel Islands Art Center Galleries. Very excited about this. There will be no picture frames involved.

In my spare time, I'll be brushing up my bookbinding skills in the coming weeks.

That's all.

She's leaving home.

I'm leavin' town today. It's coming up on 7:00am, and I've been up since about 4:45; I have tons to do (still!) before I head to the airport. It's grey and wet out. Perfect 7am cups-of-tea weather.

So, it may be a couple of days before I check in again. I posted a few new things in my store, and in the coming weeks I will continue making things and posting things. Making work while traveling is the best!

Til' next time!

Pencils Everywhere

Yesterday was the final meeting of my class, and the conclusion to a good semester. I need to enter grades before I make my getaway, but other than that, I'm done.

Oh, but I have plenty of other things to do before the getaway. Sunday is the Barnsdall Art Market at Barnsdall Park, and I am trying to finish lots of new things before then. Presently working on a batch of shrinky-dinks. Prismacolor colored pencils everywhere!

I'm squeezing in a trip to visit family before I leave town, which further complicates my to-do list. But I'm optimistic that "it'll all work out."