Golden Compass

I started reading the Golden Compass last night. This is yet another banned book in some places. Apparently, if your you are an atheist author and you right a book whose characters are fighting religion, well, your freedom of speech is limited. I'm really tired of this.

I'm an atheist. There, I said it. I'm also a feminist, a liberal (of the bleeding heart variety) pro-choice, pro gay marriage, AND I read banned books. That includes the Bible. I read it cover to cover 3 times. How many Christians can say that?

Maybe now someone will ban my blog and I can get a really good following.

Photo Editing

One of the projects I'm working on is photo editing services. I've been sending emails to photography studios and people I think may be interested. So, in the interest of even more self-promotion, here are some examples I've been sending out.

I spent the day today cleaning the basement. It still isn't done but I made a huge dent. I've also been reading the last book of "The Bartimaeus Trilogy" by Jonathan Stroud. It's another fantasy book, but this time the demon has the lead in the story. It's a fun read, and I can't get over the footnotes made by the demon. it's hysterical. 

Lately I've been thinking about moving. The house is great and so is the neighborhood, but the payments are taking their toll on me.  I've been thinking that I can get a larger place at a cheaper price in a different location. Not to mention that with the economy as it is, places are much more reasonable. I don't know yet, but it's a thought.

Leo has decided to pitch in and deliver pizzas.

Quilts, Books and Fathers

Scottie Dogs quilt by Holy Dolkas

I've been working on more website stuff today, but I've reached a point where my eyes are refusing to focus, so I think it's time for a break. 

I love the idea of a long weekend. I'm finding myself really looking forward to them lately. It's funny, but the reason I look forward to them is because I can work all I want without too many interruptions. I also feel like I can read all I want. 

Being a book addict, I have to be careful when I choose to read. I can easily read a book in a day, but I try to spread it out over a few. It rarely works. Today I finished "The Divide" series by Elizabeth Kay. Edwin bought them for me. They're kids books, like 'Harry Potter." A light, easy read. 

The "new" father. Old picture.

My father sent me a necklace for Valentine's Day. simple silver with a pearl dangle. Pretty! It's been odd getting a parent at 47 years old. Even odder getting a parent who is truly interested in what I do. It's nice. I could get used to it.

Funding Fantasy Land

First order of business today: Find enough money to pay the bills.

This is the problem with artists. They really don't plan ahead. We know all about history. We've read about recessions, depressions and other disasters. We create art work based on them, stemming from them... we just don't plan on them. 

We work hard. Really! I work all day, every day. I eat, drink and sleep art. (remind me to tell you about the wereturtles.) We live in fantasy land, which is a very nice place to live, except that it doesn't pay the real life bills. So...  

Revised first order of business: Live in reality. 

Art Show

Tree Hugger made from plastic wrap, packing tape and trash.

Kelp made from PET bottles, old tent poles and recycled paint.

Desert.

Part of the "Rain Forest."

Aluminum can fish.

Under the "Sea."

PET bottle

The beginning of a cactus.

Climbing the trash mountain.

Recycled paper and paint iguana.

PET bottle shrimp on the kelp.

"PET" Anemone in progress.

Iguana in progress.

Watercolor for charity.

Crochet coral reef. Leftovers of embroidery yarn and rock from the garden.

"PET" Preying Mantis.

"PET" Rain forest flower.

Crochet coral reef. Leftover yarn and stereo packaging.

Edwin posing with his double.

Plastic World

My scuba diver.

I've been working hard on getting my solo show ready. It's a huge project, an installation of four different life size environments. Sea, Mountain, Rain Forest and Desert. Life size. I'm stressed.

The show opens Friday night and I'm making it completely out of recycled materials. The neighbors must think I'm nuts. Instead of taking out the trash I'm bringing it in. So far I've been cutting tin, melting plastic, tearing blue jeans and wrapping people in plastic, just to mention a few things. 

There have been a lot of unseen consequences, I've been burned, cut, bruised and I wake up every morning with my hands swollen. At this point they're staying swollen all day, but I thought that might happen. What I didn't see was how aware I would become of the environment. It's ironic. 

I wanted to make people more aware of what all this trash was doing to us, and hopefully someone will get it. I now see the reality of the problem. This process has made me pay attention. In my bathroom alone are plastic hairbrush handles, combs, deodorant containers, cream bottles, shampoo and conditioner bottles, tooth brushes, the water pick, toilet brush, scrubby, hair jell container, rubbing alcohol bottle, witch hazel bottle, hair detangler bottle,

hairspray bottle, razors, hair clips, hair pins, headbands, make-up containers... okay, I won't keep going, but trust me, there's lots more. And NONE of it will biodegrade. 

The problem is overwhelming. Recycling won't do it. It won't make even the smallest dent in the problem. We have to stop using plastic. Period.