"Dear Diary..."

I'd rather be...

...in the studio"
this is actually the title of a book that I have seen on several blogs, including this post on Claudine Hellmuth's.

it's an interview with the author, as part of a "blog tour" to promote the book.
it looks like just the kind of information I have been looking for in my never-ending-quest-for-meaningful-and-useful-tools-for-self-promotion.
every little bit helps.

well, it's Sunday, and I have this odd feeling, reminiscent of the Sunday blues I used to experience as a student, and later, as a teacher.
spring break is over around here, and it's back to school tomorrow.
and, in my newly renewed capacity as a substitute teacher, that means selecting clothes, setting up the coffee pot, checking the cell phone and alarm clock, just in case I get that any-time-after-4:30 am call.
I much prefer when I'm called the night before, but I know that most of the time it will be in the wee hours of the morning.
I'm trying to make myself available as many days as possible, and establish myself in the districts around here before summer vacation.
and I've been taking my vitamins, in case it's first graders again!!
later,
Patty

book sale

just a quick note, have to hit the ground running this morning, as they are predicting another big snow storm, so everything I had planned to do in the next couple of days involving travel outside the home will have to be done today.
I re-listed books on Amazon yesterday (see the BOOKS FOR SALE list on the right), and added several new ones to my online storefront.
I also LOWERED all the prices, so every book I'm selling is just $5.
and a quick comment about something I discovered about selling things on Zazzle.
for those of you artists out there that have thought about offering prints of your work, this might be the way to get started.
I made a print of a collage of mine, entitled "willing," and discovered that when a zazzle customer orders one, they have the option of three different sizes and up to seven different paper/canvas choices, depending on the size of the print.
AND, they can choose to have it matted and/or framed right away, too - hundreds of them to choose from.
so, I don't have to decide what I think people will like, they can choose!
gotta run, have a great day,
later,
Patty

it's a woman's world

I just received advance notice that Woman's World: A Novel will be available again, later this month.
I've had this book on my wish list for a long time, having seen it at the same time that I purchased A Humument: A Treated Victorian Novel, Fourth Edition.
the novel was "written" by assembling over 40,000 fragments of text cut out of women’s magazines!
now, I often use text cut from various sources in my art, and know how much time it takes to gather a handful of specific words, just a sentence or two.
I can't imagine what it must have taken to create an entire novel!
besides, the cover is very cool...
I think I'll pre-order it, and consider it a belated birthday present to myself.

we're in the midst of a big freeze here, so I plan to hunker down, work on new art, and wait for warmer temperatures before I venture out much.
and since I live in Wisconsin, I have to say it, "GO PACK!!"
later,
Patty

oh!
I almost forgot!
my "not alone" card is the featured "map of the day" on Artella's daily museletter!
I'm very pleased and grateful, they do so much to support artists.
thanks, Artella!
Patty

lazy afternoon

I have finally joined a book club.
for years I've been saying I wanted to do this, to get back into the habit of reading.
REAL reading, not flipping through magazines or eye-candy art books.
we start this month, and I'm so excited.
it will also get me out of the house one night per month, something just for me.
our first book is Prodigal Summer, by Barbara Kingsolver.
I've started a list in the right column of our book club selections, if you want to read along with us.
I packed the orders to go to the post office tomorrow, and I laid out the background pieces for those Cedarburg entries, so now I'm going to make a fresh pot of coffee, and get comfortable on the porch (it's another beautiful day) with a book.
ahhhh...
later,
Patty

BOOKS FOR SALE

the studio cleaning continues.
and, after retrieving my books from all over the house, and discovering there was no room on my shelves for all of them, I decided it was time for a BOOK SALE.
you can see a list in the column to the right, or you can go to this page, for my storefront listing at amazon.com.
it's an odd assortment of philosophy, interior decorating, women's issues, a novel or two - I'm sure you'll find something!
I've loved them, used them, and now it's time for them to find a new home.
almost time for supper.
we're making "paper bag chicken" - I'll let you know how it turns out.
later,
Patty

new books and a new gig

I hate to shop.
and there are very few things that I will willingly go into a store to buy.
clothes are the worst.
food is a close second (you run around, buy all this stuff, haul it home, put it away, and in just a few days, you have to do it again!).
and because I am working more and more recycling techniques into my art, I rarely buy what you would call "art supplies."
canvases, paint, and jars of medium, thats it.
but books - that's another story.
I love them, I would surround myself with them, if I could afford it.
one of our favorite day-off activities is to drive to Green Bay, and spend a couple of hours in Barnes and Noble.
this last trip, I drooled over and fondled this one so long, I felt obligated to purchase it - lucky me!

Kaleidoscope: Ideas And Projects to Spark Your Creativity
I have lots of books specifically about collage, so I've decided I need to expand, include some books that deal with the creative process, ways to be inspired, etc.
and last night, I was catching up on some blog reading, and discovered my next purchase:

Living the Creative Life: Ideas and Inspirations from Working Artists

that should hold me for awhile.
oh - I have very exciting news!
Jenn Paris, the art teacher at Kewaunee High School, e-mailed me, asking if I would be interested in doing an artist-in-residency there next April.
she had seen my work at Kavarna, and talked to Jodi Brey.
Jodi has worked with Jenn's students in the past, and recommended me. (thank you, Jodi!!)
I am flattered and thrilled - and have so many ideas flying around inside my head - I'll keep you posted on the project.
but right now, I need to get back to work.
I have been reading several blog entries the past few days, from people attending/teaching at Art & Soul in Virginia this weekend...
I want to go to a workshop like this so badly, but I just can't afford it right now.
so, I'll concentrate on making more stuff, selling more stuff, and cultivating more teaching opportunities.
maybe next year...
later,
Patty

poemcrazy

here's another book that I'm using in my class this weekend for WFOP:
Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life with Words by Susan G. Wooldridge
it's filled with exercises to get you writing, and would be great for anyone who is journaling, or blogging, not just "poets."
there's a bit of poet in all of us, isn't there?
there are several references, comparisons of poetry to collage art that I found particularly interesting.
still feeling a bit anxious about this class, need to reorganize my thoughts, get some more ideas down on paper, but streamline my handouts.
and want to make sure we have plenty of "play" time, hands-on activities.
better go to work.
later,
Patty

mutts

I love mutts.
all the critters I have had (and currently have) the pleasure of sharing my life with have been "mixed breeds."
Lady, the sweet terrier mix, abandoned along the highway in winter, who had to have "knee" surgery twice...
Tramp, who wandered into our life as a kitten, and had a heart defect - it was only physical...
Tucker, the orphan runt-of-the-litter farm kitten who selected us after Tramp died, and always considered Lady to be his mother...
Thumper, delivered as a kitten by two neighborhood children, who melted everyones' hearts with her tiny extra pink toes, and has grown into this funny bowling ball with legs...she did NOT consider Lady to be her mother...
R.C., short for Ray Charles, the blind, part-Siamese with a limp, that found us, and stayed, and sang the blues, and ate popcorn...
MacGregor, our dear old Westie mix, lost, then adopted, who helped my husband get through cancer treatments, and then died of cancer...
and Snickers, our funny, scruffy sheltie/terrier mix who amazes & delights us on a daily basis...
I also love "Mutts," the cartoon series that features the friendship of a scruffy dog and a cat with a lisp.
there is a new little book, recently published for Christmas, entitled "The Gift of Nothing."
I've posted a link to more info. in the column to the left, and I would highly recommend it for anyone who loves mutts or "Mutts" or those on your gift list who have everything...
(by the way, if you have mutt stories of your own, please share them - I'd love to hear about them!)

later,
Patty

in this place

I grew up in South Milwaukee, WI, a small, close-knit town on the south side of Milwaukee.
it was predominantly conservative, Polish, Catholic, and blue collar.
I was none of those, except the part about the blue collar, and longed for the promise of a white collar life in the Big City.
didn't we all?

when I was about 11, my two best friends were Mary Pribyl and Gwen Bindas.
Mary played piano, Gwen played flute, I played the cello.
we spent every possible moment together, talked on the phone every night, got good grades, were good girls, laughed until we cried, and cried until we laughed.
thiry years later, I've been wondering about what happened to my friends, and with some googling and searching, I recently found Gwen - actually, I found a lovely book of poetry she wrote and published.
we've e-mailed each other, and I hope we continue to re-connect.

I've posted a link to Gwen's book, and Mary, if you're out there, drop me a line sometime...
later,
Patty