Veteran's Day

I have spent my whole working career at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

With the words, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan,” President Lincoln affirmed the government’s obligation to care for those injured during the war and to provide for the families of those who perished on the battlefield.

A pair of metal plaques bearing those words flank the entrance to the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA is the federal agency responsible for serving the needs of veterans by providing health care, disability compensation and rehabilitation, education assistance, home loans, burial in a national cemetery, and other benefits and services.

The VA lost two brave employees at Fort Hood and one was injured. My prayers are with the families of all who are touched by this tragedy. Thank you for serving our country and keeping us safe.

The Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday paid tribute to two employees who were among those killed during last Thursday's shootings at Fort Hood, and a third who was injured. All three employees were preparing to deploy overseas as uniformed members of the military.
Russell G. Seager, 51, a nurse practitioner at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee and Juanita L. Warman, 55, a nurse practitioner at VA’s medical center in Perry Point, Md. were killed. Dorothy Carskadon, 47, a social worker and team leader at the VA Vet Center in Madison, Wis., was injured.
Seager was a captain in the Army Reserve set to leave on his first overseas deployment, according to a VA statement. Warman was a lieutenant colonel with the Maryland National Guard preparing to deploy to Iraq at the time of her death. Carskadon is an Army officer who was also preparing for her first deployment.
"I offer heart-felt condolences to the families of these dedicated VA employees,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said in a statement. “They devoted their working lives to care for our veterans, and they died in uniform, preparing to safeguard our Nation’s freedom.” Shinseki will join President and Mrs. Obama and other government officials at Tuesday's memorial service at Fort Hood.
There are 18 VA employees stationed in a civilian capacity at Fort Hood, working at clinics and benefits processing offices. None of them were injured in the shooting, agency officials said.
More than 850 VA employees serve military commitments with the Reserve or National Guard units across the country each day, according to the department.

Beautiful Grandchildren

A candy corn witch and a turtle - how cool is that?

Halloween Cat

Emma and friends are getting ready for Halloween.

Mad Cat video

Very funny cat video that we can all relate to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFoQ5Eqzsf4

Holy Cats

I use the expression Holy Cat instead of Holy Cow. Judi spotted this print in the window of a local are gallery in Leesburg. I just had to have a copy and put it right up on my bulletin board under the broken rosaries. How perfect is that?

Leesburg Adventure

Julie, Judy and I went on an outing to Leesburg, VA - it was an amazing clear, sunny, warm yet crisp fall day. The first place we saw was Mom's apple pie http://www.momsapplepieco.com/ everything looked and smelled wonderful. We settled on the butter pecan apple crumb pie. I got 1/3 of that pie and ate it ALL last night! We walked around the historic district and looked into the shops and art galleries for a bit then stopped for a refreshing iced tea.

We went into the wine shop - local wine labels are usually very cool. I saw one that said Bitch and without thinking a turned to Julie and said, "I think this one is for you" she was a little insulted but took in all in fun especially when her daughter called her and agreed that the wine was for her. She did end up buying it. Apparently, the grapes are a bitch to grow and that's how it got it's name.

We had a fashionably late lunch at Clydes at Willow Creek Farm (a huge place) and sat in the restored barn. Judi surprised us with a fried calamari appetizer - the surprise didn't really work out because Julie and I don't like calamari. I did try a small piece that tasted like the tomato dipping sauce. I picked one up by it's legs and the waitress said most people don't eat the ones with the legs - Judi put them away and took them home for her son.

After our yummy lunch we took a stroll up to their barn. I loved the bee's working sign, and actually saw the bees working . It was a wonderful girls day out.

My almost vacation

Taos, New Mexico was our vacation destination. This did not work out.

I am home and my husband is driving to see my mom and his mom. His mom fell and broke her hip and had to have two pins put in it. I decided that a two week car trip was just too long for me and the vacation part of the trip would work better in the spring.

So I get a week off to rest and do projects around the house. So far everything is working out great. Today I'm catching up on blog posts.

Dolls again

I'm working on some new dolls using small Christmas tins that had coco in them. This poor doll in the photo is on my design board and the air is drying and cracking the old plastic.

Cat corn muffins

I have this wonderful cast iron cat muffin pan. A few of the cats heads got stuck in the pan, but these guys actually came out and were wonderful with butter.

Jack and Emma

When my handsome grandson Jack was visiting, my cat Emma decided that she would not be willing to share any of her toys.

What's in your garden

Here are a few things that are in my garden right now. The air is crisp and the sun is warm. We are having a perfect fall.

Cat Pins

Elizabeth scored a bag of jewerly and very kindly shared the cat pins and other assorted prieces with me. I had one cat pin on my jean jacket and decided that it needed some friends.

The cat with the red eyes and rinestone tail with the little mouse with red eyes hanging from it is my favorite.

Beaded Cuff FINISHED

Today with a little help from my friend/teacher Elizabeth I finished my beaded cuff. The red, white and black jacket was my inspiration.

Amazing Jacket

Last Sunday Judy hosted a tea party at Artistic Artifacts http://www.artisticartifacts.com/ for all to show off their newly constructed jackets, pants, and dresses. Wow, everyone had such beautiful garments! I managed to wear a t-shirt that had the words China Tea on it. Feeling a little left out of the conversations on how the others made their garments - I started looking at the wonderful displays.

I spotted a jacket that I just loved - then when I tried it on it fix perfectly. Judy provided me with the phone number of the maker and I am thrilled that she is willing to part with it and send it to a new home. The amazing artist that made the jacket is Daine Herbort http://www.dianeherbort.com/

I picked up the jacket on Friday from Diane and had a lovely visit with her. Once in a while you just know something for sure and I just knew that this jacket was meant for me. The jacket changes colors depending on the light, it has amazing details, beads and a hand painted lining.

Beaded Cuff Update

My goal was to get all the beading done over the weekend so I would not have to worry about it during the week. I am calling it done!!! The class to finish the cuff is on Saturday. This is my first piece of bead work.

I made it to go with a red, black and white jacket. It was hard to get started but once I did I just kept adding beads. I think the next one will be a little easier.

Beaded Cuff class

If you take a look at Elizabeth's fabulous blog http://elizabethcreates.blogspot.com/ you will see her finished beaded cuff bracelets. I was so inspired that I just had to take her class. You just have to see them in person to get the full range of all colors and textures.

Here is the start of mine! The first part it sewing the zipper on. Then come the beads. I'm having a hard time getting started with the beading.

Dedicated to ART

I have not felt Dedicated to Art lately. I have purchased two wonderful books on mixed media art and visited the Renwick museum to look at Art. But I have been making any art. I signed up for a beaded cuff class months ago thinking that I would like to learn more about beading. My first class was yesterday. Let's just say it is definitely going to be a challenge for me. I will post photos of my progress. We have two weeks until the next class. The bracelet is supposed to be fully beaded by then so we can add the finishing touches to it.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful, restful Sunday. The sun is finally back and I may take a short scooter ride later.

Labor Day Weekend

A four-day weekend for me - steaks on the grill, purchasing a new Tomos scooter (for me) followed by a birthday lunch for cousin Joann at the Stray Cat Cafe, an afternoon of scooter riding with my husband, visiting my friends Theresa and Judi, getting surprise piece of art from my husband, reading art books, watching movies and eating tons of great food. This was another mini staycation. I think I put around 20 miles on the scooter and am feeling more comfortable riding it around town. I definitely prefer the neighborhood streets since the fastest the bike can go it around 35 mph. I'm such a speed demon.

Kitten Rescue

Genie takes care of her neighborhood stray cats by feeding, spaying, neutering and providing them with shelter in the winter. She recently found two 3 week old kittens that were not with their mom. She saw a fox looking for the kittens so she took them in. Genie is allergic to cats and is leaning how to be a kitty mama. One is very lively and loves to climb all over her sister - the other one is very quiet and loves her tummy to be rubbed. They are very sweet, we went over at feeding time today (feeding time is every 4 hours). The black one likes to eat from a baby bottle, her sister like to tray lapping up milk but is mostly snorting it up her nose. They both have long wild hair and the cutest little meow you have ever heard.

Anniversary and mini staycation

We celebrated our wedding anniversary by staying home watching movies and eating great food. I received the biggest most beautiful flower arrangement from my husband that I have ever seen. He also gave me a very lovely carved rose. The tag says, "A finely detailed carved Ivory rose - Chinese workmanship - pre WWII" and he got movie tickets to see Julie & Julia. We just got back from the movies - what a wonderful, fun, romantic story! I would definitely recommend the movie.

Jack baptized

Jack was baptized on August 1, 2009. He looked smart in his white satin shorts, shirt with a vest and tie all attached, a hat and some shoes with crosses. OK the hat was a little weird and didn't stay on very long. My husband and his sister are the godparents. It was a lively ceremony - we didn't know that 3 babies were being baptized on the same day at the same time.

The wildflower project

April 2009 - Planted millions of wild flower seeds.

August, 2009 - The first year is a success. Some of the wild flowers will reseed. They did not do well in the shade.

My Scooter journal

I have a variety of notebooks in which I write all sorts of thoughts. I've always admired art journals and decided to start one on my scooting adventures. I bought a blank book journal kit thinking once again - how hard can this be? Well, I found out that sewing signatures together is not easy if you don't have someone showing you how it's done. Blood, sweat and almost tears later I have a journal to record my adventures.

Earrings in design stage

I am designing earrings using frozen charlotte dolls. I'm even using body parts - can you guess what part is in the picture with the fish? Is this too werid?

Can you find the cat?

My cat Denys is having a great time in the garden. He is 12 years old and his health has not been good lately. He loves sitting out in the sun. We have had fabulous weather this weekend. Lots of reading and napping going on at my house.

Handmade Nation the Film

I attended the screening of Handmade Nation at the Renwick. The author wrote about her experience on her blog http://indiecraftdocumentary.blogspot.com/2009/07/oh-smithsonian-you-did-me-right.html

It was a fun and interesting break to my day! I really enjoyed the film and the spooky music throughout the film. I later found out the Faythe has a band and the provided the backround music for the film.

Frozen Charlotte earrings

I have a few tiny frozen charlotte's that I'm turning into earrings. Here is my first experimental pair.

Art filled Lunch in DC

The Renwick Museum http://americanart.si.edu/renwick/ (which is a whole 2 blocks away) is one of my favorite lunchtime haunts. There is a guard stationed inside that looks through your purse and bags before you can enter. As she was going through my purse, she told me that the permanent collection on the second floor had been changed and that they are installing a new exhibit on the first floor. I walked up the long stair case to the salon and saw lots of beautiful paintings that I had not seen before.

The exhibit that really caught my eye was Beth Lipman's Bancketje (Banquet). This piece of art is a twenty-foot-long oak table overflowing with 400 blown and lampworked glass objects. There are even pieces on the floor that look like they fell off the table and broke. Very cool.

While I was there I looked at all the books in the gift shop one that caught my eye is Handmade Nation http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Nation-Rise-Craft-Design/dp/1568987870 and the author is going to do a screening of her film and book signing on July 16 at the Renwick. Wow, I put that on my calendar right away. "Faythe Levine, co-author of Handmade Nation, traveled 19,000 miles documenting the do-it-yourself movement across America and has decided to travel a bit further to Washington, D.C. Enjoy a screening and a discussion of her wildly popular documentary Handmade Nation.Book signing follows." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apPrJtMyvNI

http://indiecraftdocumentary.blogspot.com//\

It's always a nice break in the workday to see beautiful, thought provoking art. I also found out that you can take photos of the permanent collection if you don't use flash. So I will be returning with my camera and share some of the wonderful art.

Prince Jack

Here's a picture of Prince Jack with Grandma Eileen and Grandma Linda. I used photoshop to add some fun images. I'm going to make postcards and mail them out to family.

Doll class update

This is what I have so far. It's done except the head is not really attached and I always seem to add more stuff.

I never think that something new is going to be hard. I have to say that I've been struggling with the doll class. First the boots and gloves were way to small (my seams were too big). I saved the boots but will need to make new gloves. When I sewed the doll the belt got sewed to the crotch which prevented me from turning it. I ended up with a hole in the crotch and one arm where the stitches pulled out - because now I'm barley leaving a seam allowance. The slit I used to turn the doll was about 4 inches long. I had a terrible time turning the legs and arms. Stuffing went OK. I made a doll about 10 years ago and still had a set of tubs and rods used for turning - I would not have been able to turn the arms and legs with out this tool.

The class challenged me to try something new. The first time through is always a learning experience. I have two more heads and I feel sure that I will have an easier time finishing them.

Thanks to Chaska Peacock http://www.artalchemystudio.com/ and Georgina Diaz http://lloronaarts.blogspot.com/ for hosting the class. I can't wait to see the other dolls!

Birthday Party

It was a beautiful day! The party was fun and the cheesecake was fabulous! Jack was having a wonderful time he is 4 weeks old now and I finally got to hold him.

Tree down

Last Sunday I was reading when I heard what sounded like a very large motorcycle in front of the house. When the sound didn't stop I went to see what all the fuss was about. To my surprise there was a van stuck in the ditch in front of the house and 3 police cars. Then I noticed the van had a tree stuck to the back of it. The van had taken out a row of about 8 little trees before it hit a 30 foot pine tree in the front yard. The van got towed but the trees are still where they were a week ago. They are all the neighbor's trees. I watched the pine tree grow up over the last 16 years. I hope that it will be replaced.

Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake

I will do just about anything to avoid cleaning my studio. Today I just had to spend the day making a chocolate strawberry cheesecake (the bottom layer is chocolate and the top layer is traditional cheesecake with sliced strawberries in the batter), chocolate coverd strawberries and an attempt to make chocolate leaves. I got some leaves from the rose bushes washed and dryed them then put chocolate on the bottom side of the leaf and put the in the fridge. I will try to peel the chocolate off the leaves and put them on top of the cheesecake.

UPDATE on chocolate leaves - I guess you have to put a thick layer of melted chocolate on the leaves. I got a few bits and pieces of leaves but mostly the rose leaf stuck to the chocolate or it just melted in my hand. The cheese cake was a bit hit, everyone said it was the best ever!!

The cheesecake is for Cat's 40th birthday celebration tomorrow. We also bought a traditional birthday cake from German bakery this morning. I'll get to see Jack tomorrow (he's 4 weeks old now) will be taking tons of pictures.

Great Stuff from Sister Joan

I received a package packed full of all kinds of interesting stuff today from my friend, and art sister Joan. Joan, Judy and Jan adopted me into their family as one of their sisters and even call me J-Linda. There are so many things that inspire me, I can't wait to use them. Some of them will be incorporated in my steampunk doll. Thank you Joan for being the greatest sister ever!

This is the first time I've received an art gift "just because". Here are a few photos of my new stuff:

This beautiful mirror is now in my purse!

I'm going to try and turn this glove into a doll!

The dolls I make are from larger alphabet blocks - I wonder if I could make mini dolls using these tiny blocks?

Doll heads - Just baked!

Here are my three doll heads. I just took them out of the oven to cool off. I still need to hang some things from their horns. This was first lesson in the online Steampunk Doll class. I think I'm going to use the purple one for the class.

A Beautiful Evening in DC

We took the Vespa scooter on a tour of our old neighborhoods in Washington, DC last night. We stopped to get a hamburger, fries and onion rings a Z-burger (I took some TUMS when we got home just in case the onion rings decided to cause problems) then on to our old Cleveland Park neighborhood. We drove by the Shorham hotel (we got married there in 1983). It looked so big and beautiful, I had no idea it had 834 rooms. We drove by the 3 apartments we lived in - the old neighborhood is a happening place now. Every seat in every outside cafe was taken, everyone looked happy to be out and about. We drove by the National Cathedral where a graduation was just getting out and everywhere you looked you saw beautiful young women in white summer dresses (with very high heels) and a single red rose. Downtown on the mall folks were enjoying the sites. What a lovely evening on the scooter!

Dream doll

I took the dream doll to Stifel and Capra tonight http://www.stifelandcapra.com/index.php I noticed one of my dolls had sold so I took this one in to place on the empty hook. Everyone was setting up yummy tables of food for the First Friday celebration! Now if it would only stop raining we could all get some much needed sunshine to improve our cloudy moods!

I am the LUCKY WINNER

I will be taking my first online class - I am the lucky winner of the free Steampunk Doll class. I've very, very excited and will be blogging about the class and posting the results! I can only hope that my doll is just as fun and funky as this one!

A cool monthly giveaway

If you love giveaways and free stuff - check this out http://www.theartinyou.blogspot.com/ what a great idea!

Chance to win a FREE doll class - drawing is June 1

Check out this class it sounds fabulous!

Online Steampunk Doll Class Offer!
http://www.artalchemystudio.com/
This is the final class until winter!Taught by Georgina Diaz and me, this class runs from June 5 - June 28. You will learn to understand "Steampunk", to sculpt a clay head without using a mold, and to fashion this funky, fun figure....with your own personal touches, of course! $30

Monday, June 1st, I will draw a name for a free class. All you need to do is post this class on your website or blog and send me the link to it in the comments.

My purchases

Here are the cards I purchases at Kat's show. When this card is closed you just get a little taste of what's inside and when you open it up you get a wonderful surprise. This card has the most amazing bead work and I love the colors. I am so pleased to have these fabulous pieces made with love by KAT.

Kat's retirement and gallery show

Congratulations Kathlyn James-Avila "KAT" on your retirement and gallery show. It was a wonderful party and show, good food, good company and the most amazing art I've ever seen. Quilts, art dolls, sculptures, journals, paintings and cards OH MY! I knew that I wanted an original piece of Kat's work - I ended up with two amazing cards. I am in awe of Kat's bead work.
Here are a few of my favorites from the show!

Kat's retirement card

This the the card and envelope I made for Kat's retirment party and gallery show.

Raw Materials

Assorted bling, a hand, beads, buttons, fibers and fabric. The hand is from a factory that used to make gloves. I think it was used to make latex gloves you can see a rough pattern on the palm and the finger tips. The beads are from a newly found bead shop. This shop is so amazingly beautiful that words can not describe it. If you live in the DC area the shop is in Alexandria, Virginia and it's called Beads LTD. The fibers, buttons and little knitted bags (cell phone size) were freebies. The beautiful japanese fabric and hand came from Artistic Artifacts http://www.artisticartifacts.com/ also in Alexandria, Virginia.

New in the Garden

This parsley plant is from last year. The winter wasn't cold enough to kill it. With all the rain it has gone wild! It's 4 feet tall.

My cat Denys is having a great time in the sun trying to figure out how to get the catnip from the tub above him.

Jack's here

Family and friends took up the whole waiting room for the whole day on May 13 waiting for Jack to arrive. He decided that 5:23 p.m. was the perfect time to be born. Jack weighted 8 lbs. 4 oz. and is 21 inches long. Morgan was so excited to see him and be a big sister, she was also the very first one to hold him. After a long day (with little to eat or drink) a few of us went to I-HOP and had a grand feast.

I only got a few photos of Jack at the hospital, but will have plenty of photo ops in the future. Congratulations to Catherine, Andy, Aidan, Anna, and Morgan, Jack is the perfect addition to your family.

Fruit flip flops

These are so much fun. Everyone notices them. If you are around them for a while you start craving fruit salad. I'm going to wear them for show and tell at the art group on Sunday!

Eights

The plan is to use these blocks of wood as doll bodies. I guess I'm not quite done with the dolls yet.

Morgan's First Communion

We all had a wonderful day. Morgan was so beautiful in her first communion dress. After lunch at Red Lobster we headed to Morgan's house for cake and presents. I had the bakery put a picture of the card I made for Morgan on her cake. She loved it. Then I got a tour of the baby's room which is the color of the sidebars on the blog. Very cool. We are still waiting for Jack and hoping that he will know it's Mother's Day and that would be a perfect gift for his mom to be born today. If not we will see what the doctor has in store for Caterine and Jack tomorrow.

Just for me

I bought this really beautiful, spring bracelet from a local artist. I can't wait to wear it on a nice sunny day.