Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

Winter in Los Angeles

I know, I know. This is mean of me. Although, it has been raining here, has been since yesterday, and looks to continue for a few more days.  And I LOVE it! There is something about the rain..or any weather at all for that matter.  You might not think it, but unrelenting sunshine and 72 degrees is rather boring.

So, we do have winter here and this is what it looks like.  As my family in the midwest and east coast, I do bulbs every year.  My amaryllis are already bloomed out, but the paperwhites are still fragrant.

I plant bulbs outside, too.  And, as soon as I am actually home when it is light outside, I'll take some pictures to show them to you.  Now THAT's when I'll be mean....

 

A New Toy

It's fun to try out new things, new tools, new colors.  Especially when it comes in the form of a 40% off coupon from Dick Blick!  Why not?

I'm still learning what these can do. They are watercolor WAX sticks.  Seems incompatible.  But the colors are yummy.  I played with them as watercolor and did some washes.  But, the most fun is putting them on top of things in their waxy form.  If you warm them, the colors are more intense and you can spread it around.  

Like I said, still learning...but fun.

Have you tried these? What's the last new thing you tried?

Long Beach Flea Market

Sorry for the delayed post here...I couldn't find my camera cable and there is no point in posting without some pictures, after all!  (Of course, now it's Friday and it's raining HERE...).

It's been a loooooonnng time since I got down to Long Beach.  Of course, it's been raining on them the last few months, so I guess I didn't miss much.  No rain today...78 degrees!  It was hot.  And the market was hot...here is what I scored.

An old medicine cabinet - so cute! The inside is painted golden yellow and has more than the usual cubbies.  I'm not sure what I'll do with it, but who cares?  It's such a find.

I love little stools, especially ones with a bit of green on them.  Alas, stools seem to be another "collection" for me, but I like the way they look lined up on my porch.

And here's the little stuff.  I can't wait to put that battered round keyhole (?) onto one of my book covers.  I am trying to make the faucet handles into necklaces, though they may be too heavy; we'll see.  I have no idea what the three round disks are, but they were just too neat to pass up.  They are almost like pulleys, but they are covered with what seems to be a leathery material.  Interesting.

This odd thingy will go onto a book cover also.  The wheel actually moves, which presents some interesting possibilities.  And here is another item destined for the cover of a metal book...

I'm excited about this last piece.  It's wood.  The numbered holes go all the way through. The metal circles along the right side are angled.  I'm going to flatten them out or bend them even more. Either way, I think I will be doing some kind of lacing number for the front of the book. We shall see, but I'm looking forward to it.

And the last thing of the day, because after all, I am sewing books..

Next...a new toy....

 

52 PickUp

Remember that game?  We used to love it as kids...especially if you were forcing a sibling to clean up a mess when you weren't actually playing the game.  Ahem.

But, this is a different game.  Lesley Riley, of Artist Success has some programs that really help you get off the dime and keep moving forward.  For 2013, the new one is "52 PickUp" - weekly prompts sent to you by email.  

I love the focus on small steps and not getting overwhelmed by thinking you have to do everything at one time.  Really?  I can't? What a surprise :-) !

You can still participate, if you are interested.  I highly recommend it.  Lesley Riley, Artist Success.

 

Composting

The only thing that feels better than reorganizing something is ending up with something to show for it when you're done. 

I pulled out my trusty old compost sifter this weekend.

It looks lovely hanging on that wall all year, but it is very practical as well (the perfect combo, wouldn't you say?).

My compost piles were woefully in need of attention, especially since some critter was digging into it (first time in decades of composting I've had a "visitor").  So I restacked and forked and added some starter and felt quite virtuous.

But the best part is the lovely, fragrant, mulchy brown stuff left behind.

Only a gardener will know the joy it brought me. But if you ARE a gardener...well, then you know.  It may only be January, but in Southern California, that is early spring - trust me.  

Next weekend, I'll show you how the bulbs are progressing. 

International Mail

Thank goodness for the connectedness of our planet, for the wonders of the internet, for the realities of physical mail winging its way from one continent to the other.

And thank heaven for Corey Amaro, of Tongue in Cheek and her brocante habit which is at least as bad as my flea market habit - hers just sounds fancier.

Mail Call Today:

I feel as though I've struck the motherload!  These wheels of rubber stamps are so much fun to use.  The smallest wheel is just 2 inches in diameter, so the numbers are really small, but perfectly formed and beautiful.  They're easy to carry around in a travel journaling kit and fun to boot.  I love them!!!

Thanks, Corey!

 

 

January Flea Market

And now, we return to our regularly scheduled programming.

It was raining and cold (well, cold for Pasadena) and most of the outside vendors weren't even there.  But that would not stop me, oh, no.  It actually sort of forced me to wander further inside the parking structure and that's where I found my most interesting stuff.  

There is a vagabond booth (it moves; you never know where they will be set up) run by a charming British couple, who seem to have an endless cache of old medical and scientific items.

I think I will use these for paint when I'm in the mood to drop pigment on something.  I also got a nifty tin filled with what she thought were "pins" to connect bones.  And darned if I wasn't doing something at work today and there they were in a journal photo, doing exactly that!  I'll use them on my book covers.  And YES, you sickies, they are UNUSED. Please.

The little books above were from another vendor and include a diary from 1932 and a prayerbook from 1921 that seems Norwegian.  I couldn't believe the little red velvet one was $5!  1884, Iowa, autographs, poems, some colored butterfly pictures.  Just beautiful.  Thank you, Miss Hattie Sailor.  I will keep your memories safe.

Met a man who was selling some cool rubber stamps and had quite the conversation with him. He is librarian and these are from a school library when they digitized.   We reminisced about the joys of standing at the counter, watching the librarian stamp the cards and tuck them into those nifty pockets. Sometimes, I'm not sure if progress is progress.  Miss those days.

I can stamp myself "WITHDRAWN" when I'm having a quiet day.  

Some pictures were tucked into the diary.  Wish I knew the stories.  I am a bit dismayed that the only words I can understand for June 1st are "bat guano" and "potash".  Not sure I want THAT story.

To round it out, I found some colorful hankies, a great wooden box for only 7 bucks and a little cheese box to hold my awls.

Awl in awl, a great day.  

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Confession

I went to the Pasadena City College Flea Market today; first flea of the year.  And I really will share my finds with you soon. I did not bring home much and for good reason.  I was embarrassed. 

Yesterday, I was dusting and cleaning house and emptied a bookcase in the bedroom.  It is filled (oh, I DO mean FILLED) with most (but not ALL, heaven help me) of my collection of celluloid vanity pieces.  I dusted each and laid them all out on my bed.  Hold on to your hats.

 I don't remember where this started, but in my defense, I will say that I have been collecting for over 40 years.  Does that help - or just make it more pitiful?

I just love the honeyed color of this "french ivory" - it has striations through it, almost like ivory.  It's a calm color and I like calm around me. Oh, dear, I am making excuses, aren't I?

A veritable landscape of early plastic, as far as the eye can see.

I love these little brushes, though they are not actually celluloid.

And all sorts of manicure implements.

I think it's time I stopped, yes?  Well, I have.  Unless of course, something REALLY unusual shows up and then....

You know, when I took these pictures yesterday,  I was appalled at the quantity.  Now, actually, it doesn't seem like such a lot to me.  Uh, oh, I really AM in trouble, aren't I?  Ouch.