I am truly fascinated at the amount of time that these designers take from season to season to  prepare, from the sketch designs to the pattern concept, the facilitation and fabrication of the fittings to the finished product. One single design can involve several people and a lot of talent behind it all. Along with this entire year of preparation comes a lot of planning and stress designed for perfection.

My Glamour Muse

Our downtown Campbell is hosting its 3rd Annual Fashion Frenzy which will be a fabulous event for our downtown merchants and there will be several awesome owner operated boutiques and specialty shops participating.  A fun and successful showcase of variety of fashion, music and trends.

As as artist I feel the need to create and develop new works all of the time, not only is this pertinent in the visual larger scale paintings, but the fun wearable art that you can sport.

I am in the midst of designing several new products for this upcoming winter season that will debut at the fashion show on November 5th at the Villa Ragusa, I can verify that the amount of time it takes to get ready and ramped up is very stressful, even though I have had 10-12 weeks to prepare, there are obstacles to overcome and technical challenges to wade through… but these are the educational things that make us learn and grow. So, on with the design and a heavy date with my glamour muse.

If you are in search for fun new style of apparel and accessories come out to downtown Campbell for a night of fun, fashion, drinks, food, silent auction and so much more!  Make this is a great opprotunity to make it a night out with the girls and experience some fabulous new finds!   For more information, visit www.downtowncampbell.com .

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The “ooohs” and “aahhes” when someone would bring out a jiggly green molded jello filled with little diced fruit squares, a smell an tastes of yesteryear… thus the evolution of Edible Art…

I was amazed at all of the cakes when watching the recent movie, “Marie Antoinette” all of the cakes were real, edible, beautiful and memorizing. “let them eat cake” she says…. but just don’t go loosing your pretty head over it.

Yummy Little Cakes

Delectable beauties like little sushi all lined up in a row or much like a fondant colored cakes or decorative garnishes creatively carved from a turnip or mango.

My mother and I finally spent a fun day together recently, we had a nice lunch, saw a foodie movie (Julie and Julia) and then for an ice cream…. just like the oldie days.  Sometimes the most delectable things in life are those that are just flavored with the sweetness of the company of friends and family.  The rewards are instantaneous and memorable, the conversations, laughs and smiles are not to be taken lightly.  Much like the light whipped icing, the sweetest part is obvious and the rewards are most fulfilling.

The funny thing about sweets is that when crave it so badly, we go and look for it.  Visit the bakery, set forth to recruit the ultimate eclair or even to go as far as to whip up a delightful tray up cupcakes.  Sadly, when it comes to the craving of visiting with a friend or close family member the craving is disrupted by other idle commitments like domestic duties, meetings or other peoples schedules.

Savor the flavor I say! Make the sweet of the palette the sweet of the heart. Take it in, relish in the experience of it with all of the goo and gobs of marshmallow fluff and when all is said and done, laugh lots and crave it often.

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When do you get inspired…? What makes you tick…? Are you creative on the fly, or is it a desire… a craving… a fad… or perhaps a need…?

For most of the creative type of folk, it’s difficult to move with the motivation of being inspired, it is not unusual to procrastinate on this craving when it surfaces. Oh yeah, stop making that “face” you know you procrastinate, You do, I do, we all do… accept this and move on!

So, what’s the problem, no note book to jot the idea down, no pencil, no drive…? This may be the perfect introduction to journaling, this way you always have your arsenal at a moments reach. Book and pens/pencils, right there. read - set - go! Journaling is a fun way to be creative, especially mobile-wise and on the go. It’s not just writing or doodling, it’s a large scale creative outlet involving personal perspective, pencils, pens, painting, pasting and passion.

I am one of those people that when I write something down, I get a mental memo and remember it more so than if I type it or verbally state it out loud. (Sideline note: People that know me really well, are aware that I do this and they area also aware that that memo will retain in my mind for a long time. It kind of freaks people out too).

Dale Chihuly Glass

There is something to be said for the “studies” that artists create, I feel that these are the pieces that are most vulnerable, honest, energetic an to a point rather romantic. Even folks that create in the large 3-D format, the studies that mature for these are amazing. I once heard
American glass sculptor Dale Chihuly discussing the creation and history and facilitation of Venitian glass sculpture exhibit. Chihuly is simply fascinating and truly inspiring. During one of the cooling process of the glass he described it as having a “Romantic Patina”. These two words have stuck with me for quite some time, there is something about it that lingers bold creativity.

Simple statements with such powerful meaning. Carefree colors with simplistic hues. Prolific inspirations with tenacious perseverance. This is not a fad or a gimmick, it is a love for what you do, what you create and how it’s executed. The love for excellence.

Need I say more…?

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We often do not smile or reach out enough to those we encounter in our daily routine.. I wonder why this is? It makes me feel sad to know family, friends and colleagues don’t take that extra effort just for a simple “how do you do”.

Now, I do not want to go driving down “Assuming Road” of taking things for granted… but over the last few weeks I have reached out to several friends with a nice note to say hello, that I was thinking of them.  I received a small reply from some indicating that they were so busy and that life is busy — too busy to take a couple hours just to catch up and have a bite to eat and just catch up. I pondered this and found this rather interesting, I have always felt that life was busy, but I love a good spontaneous impromptu meet up.

I had been diligently attempting to get my back room in order - really in order. The chaotic mess of everything is starting to get somewhat suffocating. But I received an invite to do something with a friend I have not seen in quite a while… and as much as I could have thought toggle on the decision - I said Yes!  let’s do it.  Yeah yeah yeah… I know that the backroom will still be in disarray and there are a ton of emails that I have not yet responded to, but that was OK.  The backroom and administrative schtuff will always be there, but the invitation to connect with a friend may not pass by again in a looong while.

We hooked up and had a great time catching up and laughing, it was great.  The time flew by and it proved to be fantastic.

Time flies by, people grow older, kids get taller, communication gets smaller and calendars get filled. I wonder often when this all transformed, when we all weren’t so busy and life was ’simpler’.  I do not suspect that my blog or article will change all that, but perhaps those reading may also contemplate the “just do it” attitude and you too may wonder why it might be a fun mindset that can become a regular  scheduled program in your agenda!

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I was in elementary school when “Charlie’s Angels” first aired and how inspiring this was to me as a young girl, always enamored with the beautiful arsenal packed beauty with heels and the utmost style, who was so unassuming by their role. Whether she’s a secret agent, police woman or a private eye there was always the dream to be an Angel; the frosted blond Farrah Fawcett , bold brunette Jaclyn Snith or no fear Kate Jackson. Icons in time that I can fairly say impressed me with a fondness for a “no nonsense” attitude. I have this mindset to this day.

Charlie's Angels 1976

Just two years earlier in 1974 I had experienced another phenomenon of electric volumes that ironically inspired me with a number of things that I have kept close to my heart;

1.) The love for really (and I mean really) good dance music

2.) Talent, perseverance and persistence is key - a good lifetime foundation.

3.) Always get a good seat at a concert… always… if you need to pay a few bucks extra, then Just Do It!

The Jackson 5

Exactly 35 years ago today (07.07.74) I went to my very first concert ever. It was The Jackson 5.

I went with my brother and my cousin at the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos, CA. I can remember this like it was yesterday.

I vividly recall entering the Circle Star Theater and being excited to be there, we sat in our seats and I thought wow this is great, I can see the stage and my brother telling me that the stage revolves so we will be able to see everything.

Excitement setting in quickly and just when I thought I was in heaven getting ready to see “The Jackson 5!”… suddenly I was quickly summoned into the gates of hell. A group of about half a dozen 6′ 8′ foot tall concert goers with Afros easily measureing 20 inches in diameter sits directly in front of us. The larger of the hairdos aficionado sat directly in front of me thus not leaving me a whole lot of view.

In time the announcer got on the horn and announced the main event, The Jackson 5 came out and it was phenomenal. The lights, the colorful stage, the revolving center and each member of the group in their own color outfit (one in blue, one in green, yellow, purple… you get the point), and the lights on the color coordinated-ness and even the microphone foam was the same color as their outfits. Amazing.

Everytime I hear the song “Dancing Machine” no matter where I am, I immediately recall the concert and the colored lights as Michael Jackson did the robot on stage under the flashing strobe light. It was spectacular and I feel fortunate to have lived in a time where I have attended such events.

As the legends make their foundations with the music or film, each of us will have our own special memory of who these people are and what they mean to us.

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Antonio Gaudí

For instance, Antonio Gaud, the Spanish Catalan architect who belonged to the Modernist style - Art Nouveau movement and was famous for his unique and highly individualistic designs.
Gaud, throughout his life, studied nature’s angles and curves and incorporated them into his designs. Instead of relying on geometric shapes, he mimicked the way men stood upright.

Just short of three years after Gauds passing, Frank Gehry was born a few thousand miles away to eventually become another notorious architect who’s work was not only criticized for his unconventional design methods, however embraced by many. Thus taking the unusual and making it a reality. His designs of buildings that mimicked crinkled dented boxes and slick metal formations that keep the eye adventurous through light and shadows.

Truly amazing and incredibly inspiring.

Frank Gheary

I admire the gumption that these artists retained. For myself,  in most cases when someone tells me that I cannot do something or should never try something - it’s my passport to the rebellious nature that tells me different.

I find this style of tenacious mentality of the “auto-dismiss” very intriguing - imaging that… people who actually want others to fail and fall on their face is such an absurd waste if energy. Therefore challenging it to the extreme.

When I was in elementary school there were few people that were entertained by my “out of the lines” thought process. I often got criticized and put down by educators for having the imagination to for see elements in such a distorted dimension. Go figure…

I get asked often where I received my degree in fine art or where I received my masters degree… I simply state that I am a graduate of the UHK… University of Hard Knocks. Basically, a lifetime of hard earned learning, scrapes and knowledge. Just making it happen… Now now, do not think that I am dissing’ the educational system, but for some strange reason I have always felt that all of the self marketing and having the no fear attitude in business was perfectly normal. I mean, doesn’t everyone think in this way?

Cosmo Politician - Dark City 2002

Proving to myself more than to try and prove things to others was also a no-brainer. It is what it is and you “just do it!”  The more interesting and bizarre my works or ideas were (are), the better and more energetic the outcome is. True from the heart is what I feel and I never ask anyone for permission for creative freedom.

Never had and I can wager to say … I never will.    :o)

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This is what I believe all of us witness on a daily basis at the grocery store,  local cafe and at the park for that quality play date for that time with your 3 year old.

I fear that there really is no way to state my next comment without using all capital letters and shouting….  but  GET OFF YOUR FRIGGIN’ CELL PHONE!!!

I don’t want to hear your one sided family squabbles, your new business proposal, your idle ramble non important recent dating fiasco recap or witness your horribly uncoordinated ability to juggle the cell phone, your wallet, shopping cart, the debit card pad at Trader Joes while the whole world listens to your pathetic mumbo jumbo blabber about your ex-inlaws and their complaints about… um…you.

What on earth did you used to do before this small digit pad device called a cell phone was invented? Most likely had a life with laughter and quality family time and a free state of mind.

Got Manners?

I have noticed in more that one place of business that signs are posted asking folks to take their conversations elsewhere.  I love it, in fact I was in Port Townsend in April and saw this awesome sign at the pizza place we went to.  I could not help take a snapshot of this as a cool reminder of the honesty of the modest, yet to the point request for their cell phone patrons.

Ever since I had a woman come in last month to the gallery (with her grade school daughter) cell phone in one hand and Gelato in the other, I greeted her to let her know we were available to assist and quickly got the “one index finger shush gesture”. I gasped out loud and calmly stated, “I don’t shush for anyone”. From then on I have decided that I simply was not going to take that crap anymore.

OK well, maybe it’s me (naaaaa trust me… it is not me), maybe I am not being sensitive to their hectic agenda of importance and need to be heard by… well…someone.

Take it outside.   Take it home.   Take it to the river.

Get a clue and get a bag of manners. As much as you are the center of the universe, you personal drama and dilemmas are of little interest to others…. but on the other hand, your dating disaster or flatulent inlaws gives much inspiration and you may be the center point of a really nice painting.

You are welcome to come and see it, but leave the cell phone at home.

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Some Things are Scary - Book 1969

It seemed back in the day there was not as much visual stimulation as there is today, the scary things of this generation are they are right there, pretty much in your face  - plastered all over the movie posters, commercials,  Internet, magazines etc., the imagination factory is out of business… maybe… or just on temporary leave.

I believe that the power to create in my own mind was acceptable. I mean heck, it was just me thinking this, it did not seem unacceptable, to me at least. I am perfectly fine and the objects or visions that I create with my over stimulated power of thought was just darned normal. I was the hardest critic on myself and that lead to stride for perfection.

At the age of 8, I  had a cardboard store in my room, the fascination with being a business owner was truly a spectacular thought, I had imaginary customers, my made up products, a typewriter for my register and my dog Snoopy to keep me company. In my mind my imaginary store was an entrepreneurial enterprise.  This is what I believe was the right way to do things, I just emulated what I saw the department stores do, how the commercials marketed their products and it all made sense.

Today as an artist, a business owner, designer and marketeer of a very visually centric style of products and business model, I take the things that in my life that were/are scary, enticing, flavorful, disappointing, disturbing and for the most part, comical and use my imagination to give life to something so visually interesting. 

Dream City - Created 2000

Creation, straight from the brain is the best way to catch and release the most in depth inner workings of ones self. I used to the one most feared by my own imagination for how wild it would got, but after many years of conditioning my thoughts and getting closure to the silliness of it all, I have such a pretty ecclectic database of thoughts and memories, these are sure to explode into something that will truly tell a story about who I am and what’s really ticking. 

Hmmmm, maybe that ‘is’ scary after all.

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Brainfizz of creativity!

Day to day encounters can often lead into a myriad of interesting visuals, to take an experience and distill it into a fun piece of artwork that really tells a story - a mini peek into the thought process that never stops, one that keeps on rolling and rolling to every second of a day.

No artificial flavors or preservatives, no paper, no plastic, no caffeine or alcohol. Just the sheer romantic patina etched by melding thoughts assured to become something memorable. I create straight from momentum - off the top of my head, when working in this way I know that the emotions will rule the feeling and dictate the power of creation. Often the emotion factor works quicker than what the paintbrush can accommodate, it can truly be thrill seeking and intoxicating all at the same time.

The freshness aspect to this process is vital, it cannot ferment for too long as the flavors will simply dissipate and the finished works will never be the same as intended. Thinking positive and by turning uneventful encounters in your life, distilling and processing into fun flavors is a good thing. Be creatively adventurous and let those juices flow - no matter what!

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Also known as family game night, Friday night games, moral builders … you get the point. I grew up playing these almost on a daily basis with classmates and neighborhood friends are fond memories that I recall.  Inviting game families like Milton Bradley and the Parker Brothers into your home was truly a treat.  Puzzled about what I am getting at?  Then go out and create your own masterpiece with another family style board game entertainment of puzzles. Kooky you say… Naaaa. Visual and mental stimulation that you can piece together some real fun with family and friends.

I am amazed that there are so many people these days that have no idea what game night is. Many have gave given way to the electronic gaming that is entertaining. Oh yes, some of you youngin’s might even be thinking… oh yeah… old school gaming… well, I suppose in this day and age that this what I am talking about. I am not referring to the style of gaming where you need the strongest thumbs this side of the Mississippi or a joystick of sorts… but a logistical, strategizing board game where braincells and common laughter are the *joystick* emotion of choice.

No head games. No ill will.  Just a ton-o-fun that will keep you reelin’ the feelin’ and chuckling up a storm as you cruise through “go” and eliminate any board-um.

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