Spring Schedule so far....

4 Bridges, Chattanooga April 12-14

Dogwood Festival, Knoxville, April 26-28

Arts Rockville, Md. May 4-5

Northern Virginia Arts Festival at Reston, May, 17-19

Decater Arts Festival, Georgia, May 24-26

57th St. Hyde Park, Chicago, June 1-2

Old Town, Chicago, June 8-9

Talbot Street, Indianapolis, June 15-16

Crosby Arts Festival, Toledo, Ohio, June, 28-:30

Boston Mills and Des Moines are waitlisted for now-so we will see if either comes through.  

The rest are in the jury process as of yet... I’ll let you know as soon as I know.  

Haven’t heard from me in a while-eh?

Yea, I know. It’s been winter and I have been in hybrrnation. Actually, I have been in my studio working for the last month and a half getting ready for April shows. Just so happens I’m driving up to DC this weekend for my niece Emma’s wedding so I am having some car time (that’s when I write). So far, I have completed 1-24x24, 1-18x18, 2-12x30’s, 1-18x24, 4-12x12’s, 8-10x10’s, 4-8x10’s and 174 new 6x6and 5x7 small quote paintings. That’s what having a healthy studio practice gets you. When I get back, I’m heading into my large formate work and hope to rework one that I thought I was done with but I’m not happy with(it happens) and do some new work too. It will be fun to get back to working large. It’s been a fun time but I have been kind of a hermit. I have three weeks before the next show and it’s finally Spring and along with painting I’m doing some planting of my gardens and also seeing if I can get the raised beds going this year. Life will become a bit crazy because since the tree fell on the house. The contractors will be coming to replace the roof and fix all the damage. Did I mention it before? Yea, a huge hickory tree fell on our laundry room and dining room right when we got back from Florida at the beginning of February. It happened around 6am in the morning and both David and I jumped out of bed. What a mess. Yesterday, finally the tree company got the rest of the tree taken out. They started over a month ago but because of all the rain they got stuck in the yard and had to wait to be able to bring the truck back in. My yard is a mess because of it. They are suppose to fix it but the contractors will start work soon so it’s kind of a moot point to fix. 2 months of construction I am facing and man, that sucks.  So, I guess as far as studio time. I’m glad I have done the gist of it while it’s been quiet in the house. I have been listening to the Golden Hour album by Kacey Mugraves... which I love. I’m not a big fan of country but she is really amazing. When I get tired of that I go to Amazon and watch the myth series or Jason and the Argonauts....Well, do you expect different? And also, Queer Eye for the Strait Guy series on Netflicks... which is the freaking most uplifting and funny and endearing show on that channel. I recommend it wholeheartedly. I’m doing a separate post to give you all my Spring and tentative Summer schedule.... so check it out. See you soon down the road.

It’s That Time Again!

It’s the 14th of January. After a great month of December, with the whole fam home for Christmas, and being that we got through the roughest part of David’s 61/2 hour hernia surgery last Wednesday.... (It was rough). I am finally gearing up to head to Florida for two shows. I think this will be a solo trip, and in a way, maybe that is good. First up, is Art Beth El in St. Petersburg. This is a first time show for me. It’s an invite only, selectively advertised show with a fabulous patron program and best is, I just deliver the work- then I’m headed to the beach! That one runs Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Then I’m heading down to Delray to spend a day or two with Neal and Audrey (hopefully) then on Thursday heading to Ft. Meyers Art Festival on the first Friday, Sat.and Sunday of February. If you are at either local, come by and see the new work. 14 new pieces being added that I have been working on for the last two months. Anyway, Florida sounds good right about now. Tennessee has been rather dark and gloomy lately. A shot of sun and warmth will be appreciated! See you there I hope!  

Happy Holiday!!!

This is my last post of 2018. I am honestly befuddled that time seems to disappear so fast lately, it goes exponentially faster the older you get. It seems to be galloping for moi. 2018 has been a good run though. 23 shows, from Miami to Park City and lots of inbetwen. Missed Kentuck this year, because I was teaching at Arrowmont, but hit most of the shows I wanted to get into, although, I doubt I will ever break the code of Jazz Fest or Cherry Creek. I will probably always send them $40, because, I don’t understand it but hope springs eternal. Won a slew of awards this year at Tennessee Craft, Crosby (Toledo) Peoria, and Best of Show at St James Court. There have been years where I wouldn’t even be able to post anything in this category... but this year, was an upswing. No rhyme or reason. Einstein said success is 20% talent, 30% hard work, and 50% luck.... I’ll buy that. Also, want to give a shout out to my faithful patrons, Amy and Allen, Courtney and Barry, Sherry and Al, Nani Lagenstein and The Robbin’s,  who I have lost touch with, Frankie, if you see this post, I would love to hear from you guys!  Also, anyone who purchased work from me this year, a million thanks yous for your support. I am thrilled that somehow my work spoke to you. That is the reason I do it and sell it in this manner. It’s all about the connection. Next, a gigantic thank you for my friends that I travel with and have become family in this business. Lisa, Karen and Paul, Matt, Clay, Kendra And Kristen, you all make this life a fun adventure. I may not think that on a Sunday night pack up in the rain... but honestly, it wouldn’t be half as fun without you guys. To Ann and John, my favorite people in Nashville, Thanks for letting me invade your home and for also storing my new furniture recently,  you alway make me wish I lived in Nashville so we could be closer. Same goes for Karen and Dan in Chattanooga. My longest running soul mate, friends since freshman year at UTC. You make coming back for 4Bridges the best time. Also to my homies, El and Cindy and Harriet,  who make living in Knoxpatch home, thank you. And most of all, the person that keeps me on track and gets as excited about this life as I am, my husband  and travel buddy, David, you know I couldn’t run this pace without you. We make it work. So right now we are headed to the Atlanta airport, it is a horrible day, fog and rain and way too many cars on the road. It’s the #1 travel day in the US.  But we are going to pick up Keegs and her boyfriend Robin, who are traveling from Berlin via Tulum vaycay and Atlanta. Robin is from Ireland and this is the first time he has been to the South.... should be fun and interesting ( on a social experiment scale-ha!). Tomorrow Griff and Nereida fly in from L.A. Dillon is throwing a huge party on Saturday night and hopefully we will go to Dollywood one night if we can fit it in. Robin needs to see Dollywood, after all! The house looks perfect, we killed ourselves spiffing it up. Even painted the living room and bedroom. I even made a chocolate cake.... So I think we are ready for the big day. I hope you are too, no matter how you celebrate. This time of year just makes me appreciate life more. I can’t say enough how grateful I am. A toast to you all, I’ll raise my glass, for a splendid 2019, throw one back for me if you get the chance.... love marge

Stick A Fork In Me.....

This is my last show this year....Ahhhh...It’s been a year of 23 shows and I am ready to put my feet up...That’s bad, considering the Winterfair show hasn’t even started yet. I’m ready!!! -In the last 2 weeks I made 130 new small paintings and 5-10 x 10’s , 1-8x10 and one kick ass-24x24. Not to mention I have had some all nighters recently where I redid 2 of my large paintings I was not happy with, no small feat. I realize that I might just be one of those people that only needs to sleep about 4 hours a night. Maybe, you just don’t sleep as much as you get older and that’s the reason,  but I seem to be able to do with a lot less. While David is usually in bed by 8pm, I am rockin it out usually at 4 or 5am in my studio. Go figure. Anyway, Columbus is a cool town and this is my 3rd year doing Winterfair. I am in my same booth #203, and if you live nearby, definitely worth the trip.....best Christmas show in the country. Not a formal show, a little bit of everything. Great place to buy gifts and other things. If you get sick of the craft show.... walk out the door to the next building and hit either the cat show, the gun show or the Chinese lantern show. Take your pick, something for everyone. Ha! After  this weekend, i’m Going to relax for about 20 minutes then go hang my work at my son, Dillon’s bar( The Brickyard) for the month of December. He’s been asking and I’ve been hedging, because there have been so many shows. No snob here, I go from “Old Town” to the “Brickyard”....equal access art, democratic as hell yah! My kiddo’s are all coming in for the holidays and I am so stoked. This year I think everyone has found their “person” and so it’s the way I always envisioned it and hoped it would be. I like their choices ( sometimes more than I like them) and I can’t wait to meet the newest addition, Robin, who is Keegie’s Irish beau. Should be fun. Christmas at the Luttrell house is always an event....I grew up as almost ( my siblings were 10 and 8 years older) an only child. Christmas was lonely and as I remember, if I didn’t put the tree up or wrap my own presents, it wouldn’t happen. So when I had my own kids, it had to be extra special. Not only do we have a ton of tradition’s, special to us, but we usually have a big crowd for dinner( around 15) and an intense game of Cards Againts Humanity” and the most incredible desert spread made by me and Keegs. It’s my favorite, favorite time of the year. Before they get here I’m going to try to take a quick trip up to see my Ma in Jesey. The body is failing but the mind is as sharp as a tac. At 102, I feel like I need to spend as much time as possible with her. After the Holidays when everyone goes back to Berlin and Cali, David will go in for major surgery on the 5th. January will be a recoup month for him and I will try to spend as much time as I can in the studio. The first thing on next years dockett is the Tempel Beth El show in St Petersburg and then down to Fort Meyers at the toe of Florida the last week of January and first week of February. Hope to fit in a swing by Neal and Audry’s in Delray Beach if possible in between. BTW, the show in Covington a few weeks ago was dope as hell, not just because I sold a lot, but because I ate the most insane, wonderful Cajun food all weekend. Definitely worth the trip. So, that’s the scoop, all the news that is fit to print, and I wish you and your’s  a wonderful Holiday, no matter how you celebrate! Thanks for supporting my vocation and reading my hidden blog posts this year, not many do, but that ok, I think I do them for me, as a record, as much as I do them for everyone else. Remember one word of wisdom for the next year, I don’t mean to preach...but do what you love, ( and buy what you love) until it kills you. That is the only way to live. Love you all... marge

Last outdoor show of the season, Louisiana , please be warm...

Lots has happened since Artlectic and I haven’t kept up. Sorry, life has been a little exhausting. Left Artlectic on a Saturday night  and got home around ten o’clock. Said hello to the kitties and hit the hay. Seven thirty Sunday, up and packing to head up to teach at Arrowmont in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. A wonderful Crafts School for adults, where I have taught previously three times. I love it up there, and to kick it off, I had three of my favorite previous students return. The class was made of 8 students, it was supposed to be eleven but two of my dearest former students had to cancel when their houses were heavily damaged in the Florida hurricane. Another person got sick and dropped out. Eight was plenty, We worked on big 36x36 wood panels and it was a rigerous assignment for everyone. It turned out amazing and everyone was so creative. Along with a rousing game of “Cards Againt’s Humanity”, and lots of glasses of wine and the amazing food and comraderie that Arrowmont always provides, we had a fabulous class..... Special thanks to Colleen who was a great assistant and better friend. I always come away from Arrowmont being better, all the way around.... but man was I ever tired. Back at home I had to get ready to head to Raleigh to show at the Carolina Craftsman Show, so I kicked it into gear again and although I just couldn’t get any small paintings done, I got there last Thursday and had a three day show, inside, thank god, and drove back 6 hours on Sunday night. So Monday and Tuesday I made 100 small painting somehow and here we are again, on the road, driving 9 hours to Covington, La. and hoping it’s worth the drive and the exhaustion. I sound like a giant wuss but man, I don’t think I have ever beaten my body up like this before. Oh, yea, of course there is a reason, David, has a major operation coming up in January and it’s my job to have enough to get us through until the end of January. So, I’m kicking it again and hoping that Louisiana will be good to me. This life sometimes.......@x#%£€¥@!!!... but I love it. 

On my way to ArtClectic in Nashville

First, I don’t like it when people toot their own horn, but I just have to tell you.... I won Best of Show at the St James Court Show two weeks ago! It was exciting and yes, I was totally surprised. That makes 4 major awards since the end of June... and yea, that never happened to me before so I guess it is alright to post it here. Hope you don’t mind. We are on our way to ArtClectic at the University School of Nashville. I did this show in 2015 and then didn’t get in for two years, so it’s nice to be going back. As far as school fundraiser shows go, this one is top notch. I do know that the last time I did this show I gained 10 lbs. so I need to lay off the good food. I have been dieting for about a month now and I am down 12 lbs.... don’t want to undo everything. The school is at 2000 Edgewood Ave. and is open to the public from 10 until 8 on Friday and 10 to 4 on Saturday. The nicest thing about heading to Nashville is that we get to stay with our good friends John and Ann...They always make Nashville feel like a second home. We will drive back on Saturday night then on Sunday morning I’m headed up to Arrowmont to teach an encaustic class.... I am looking forward to meeting new folks and seeing many former students coming back. Send up good thoughts for my friends Cynthia and Evelyn who’s homes were pretty demolished in hurricane Michael..... I hope they can make it to the class but I know it’s going to be iffy at best. I just can’t imagine how hard all of a sudden having your home gone must be. So, today, embrace life, smile and be thankful you are able to do the things you love. I know I am. See you at ArtClectic....Come buy some art! 

2 Down, St James 4th St, here I come...

Beautiful day, this 4th of October, sunny, not too cool, around 74... perfect for a Fall show and this is one of the big daddies. I just got back from the Peoria Arts Festival in Monday afternoon and tired but trying to get pumped for this weekend. This show is 4 shows in one-the “Court”, which I got into but declined because it’s a well known fact that you are in the back forty as a first timer.., Belgravia, 3rd St and .,... I decided to do 4th St... a less prestigious address but a better booth placement. As a first timer at this show, which ranks up there with the size of Ann Arbor, I hope the odds are in my favor.... I am in Booth 605 if you might be reading this and want to check out what I do.                                                              Life has been a bit nuts lately, The Peoria Show granted me an Excellence Award, which made up for a “meh” showing. Granted, the weather didn’t cooperate but I guess I was a little surprised. Up to this point, especially, Out West, I was kicking butt.  I do think that people are preoccupied with all the bombardment we feel daily from politics and last weekend was especially raw. As a victim of a violent rape in my college years, I know it had effected me and made all those horrible things come up to the surface again after I have tried for years to tamp them down into my subconscious history. Crazy, huh. Hoping for some possitivity and a weekend to escape from it. Sharing a condo with Karen And Paul Fincannon and Clay and Matt and Kristi are at the show also- so the whole gang is here and good food and fun are in the forecast. Now, if it will just be a rocking show.... 

The Fall Show Season Starts Now!

We are on our way to the 4th St Festival in Bloomington, Indiana today. A two day show over and this Labor Day weekend and I am in Booth 58..... for anyone interested. I have spent the last 2 weeks hunkered down in the Studio. I sold out of so much inventory on the Utah trip that I had a few large pieces left and only 2 medium sized pieces left and pretty much no smalls left. So, that is what I worked on and completed 11 new medium and smaller pieces. Yea, they don’t bring in the moola like the larger pieces but they are much more collage visible and I love doing them. There is something intrinsically satisfying to me when I get to play with paper, shape and the laying down of story. The fun is in the subtleties that can happen, the under and over and the in and out, physically and mentally in a piece.... and the surprises that happen when just one element can change the context of the piece. Needless to say..... I had a lot of fun and stayed up a lot of hours. I think it will be good. Can’t wait to see what the good people of Bloomington think. On the home front, Poster my 15 year old cat tentatively diagnosed with FIP.... seems to be doing better for now. New blood work came back almost normal. Not sure if this is the calm before the storm or a mis-diagnosis, as this cat desease is hard to get a hard diagnosis with. Now, Lil’ Mo my 13 year old girl hates when I am gone.... when I get home she sleeps right on top of me for a week. I think she thinks if she can keep body contact I won’t leave again....But hey, kitties gotta eat..... so i am on the road again. The schedule is brutal coming up but I’m trying to get a new van and hopefully this schedule might help. Next week is the Lakeview Art Fair in Chicago near Wrigley Field. A Saturday and Sunday show. Then a week off and I’m headed to Peoria, Illinois for a three day Festival. October has me at St. James 4th St....(1st time!) in Louisville where we get to hang with Karen and Paul! I have a wedding the week of Tennessee Craft this year and it will be the first time in 8 years I won’t be there-bummer, it is one of my favorite shows of the year. But, for you Nashville peeps-I will be at Artclectic at the Vanderbilt University School the week after. It’s open to the public so come see me! I come back from Nashville and head directly up to Arrowmont the next day to teach my class..... You can’t imagine how much I am looking forward to seeing everyone and hanging out in the Smokies for a week. My favorite time of year.... so that is it in a nutshell in September and October for me.... I’ll fill you in on November and December later- no sense overloading everyone... I’m overloaded enough for everyone anyway.... but hey, for now, that’s how I like it.

Heading Home

This is just a wrap up to our trip out to Utah and Colorado. As I sit in the car through the rolling plains of Kansas as they roll and roll out to prairie lands that stretch out to the horizon. It’s beautiful but empty and as we drive by an isolated service station every 20 miles I wonder who are these people that can survive this quietness. Ridgway, Colorado was a nice show, not as fruitful as Park City but knowing it was a filler for our return trip I was really happy with the out come. Plus, I won the third highest award which was a nice surprise. We ate great pizza and filled growlers of the local brews to bring home to our beer conessouir son, Dillon, I thought how fun it would be to live in this breathtaking local and have the 10 thousand foot mountains as your neighbor. The town felt like a big extended family and I met so many really cool people. Colorado, you are dope! And I mean that in the most endearing way. Twelve hours on Monday in a car is not fun, but I had a great book to read. Tara Westovers “Educated”. Wow! I could not put it down..... If you need a great summer read, this is it. The daughter of a junkyard survivalist dad becomes a Cambridge PHD...what a ride. It rained hard most of yesterday coming back and it seems like today will be the same. Hard to believe that the West is in a terrible drought with the smell of smoke heavy in the air and the East has flood warnings most every day. What a crazy time. Looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight... if I don’t see a Holiday Inn for a good while, that fine by me... Also, need to pet my kitties and check on Posty.  It’s been fun but I am ready to get back in the studio.... I have 10 shows and one week Teaching at Arrowmont coming up and it’s time to hustle....

Moab... you are beautiful but you are not my friend.

First off Park City was incredible. Beautiful place, cool art, savvy people... sold a ton of work, pretty pumped about it. We then drove to Moab... little did we know it was going to be 107 degrees I the shade there the entire time. Brutal, just brutal. First night, we stayed in a hotel called Big Horn Lodge, from the pics on  Hotels.com it didn’t look too bad. HA!!!! Dark and dirty... stayed one night and got the hell out. Unfortunately,  not soon enough. I had three horrible spider bites on my arm and face. We went to breakfast at a chill little cafe, in the middle of breakfast felt something itchy.... went to the bathroom to find a hitch-hiker in my bra from the hotel.... a live roach....shudder. We moved to a nice Comfort Inn and things were better.... not a lot of choices in little Moab. The parks, Arches and Canyonlands were magnificent...beyond earthly...Tatooine maybe. But so hot, it was almost too much to hike. We did though...went to a lot of the Arches and down to the Needles-nobody goes down there, it was so worth it. Packed the paintings back into the van and headed out on the Colorado River Road (wow)... at a stop off stopped to take pics and fire ants climbed up my pant legs.... It was so painful I had to pull my pants off right on the road... I’m sure it was a lovely site for the other travelers...ahem....man, they hurt-a lot, and for a long time.... I started to have breathing problems and had to take some Benidrill. We are on our way to Ridgway right now...maybe my luck will change....stopped at a cool Winery, that helped a lot.... I swear I am not a complainer but sometimes you just need to cut your losses and get away from a town that has bad juju. On and upward and a little ready to head home..

I vote Utah the most freaking beautiful state!

While I drive through this state today, I am blown away by so many different landscapes and vistas. Park City was last weekend and it was a stellar show. Brought 130 of my small quote paintings and came out of there with 22 left. Apparently, People out here like my sense of humor. Funny thing is everyone that came by had been told to come by from someone else.... Started feeling like a minor celebrity! If you ever get out here, you will love it. The town is perfect and flower-filled. Plus there are wonderful places to eat and a zillion coffee bars and brew houses. I met so many cool people and former student’s came by too....definitely a win-win. We are headed today down to the bottom of the state to Moab and Arches National Park for some R&R before the next show in Ridgeway Colorado, close to Teluride. Everything is very hazy and the smell of smoke hurts your eyes. Saw a massive fire outside of Provo, with a ton of bucket helicopters in the air battling it. Crazy. More when we get to Moab, who needs to read when you can look out the car window and be enchanted! 

If it’s August....This must be Utah....

It’s been six weeks since you have heard from me. My last show was in Toledo, Ohio, With lots of rain but I won the top prize in 2D so, that kind of made up for it. By the time I got back to Knoxville, I had done 3 shows in June, and although I was scheduled to be at Central Penn and the Ann Arbor Guild Show, I gave up my spot so that I could build some inventory and to complete some commissions. Inventory was severely depleted.       So, I have to admit that the first week home I slept and caught up on every Netflix show I had been meaning to watch... but then I got down to business. Man, was I on a roll, and it all seemed to come together. Completed 12 new pieces, most of them in the 38x38 size format arena. Kicked butt! New directions within same framework. Read a great book on the goddess Circe by Marilyn Miller, that inspired so many ideas and variations. Now, after packing the van this morning, we are on the way to Utah, to the Kimball Museum, Park City Show. It’s three grueling days through Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wyoming, Colorado and then finally Utah. I’ll try to keep you updated and hopefully the show will be good to us. After the show, we are headed down to Moab and Arches National Park for a few days of checking out the landscape and then to Ridgeway, Colorado for another show. Hope the weather hold up. More updates to follow....                                             

One down, one to go....

We are driving back from Chicago, somewhere in Kentucky right now. You get to this neck of the woods and the roads turn into ribbons. Up and down hills, in between mountains. Where as Indiana is flat as a pancake with amaricana vistas dotted by isolated farms. Lately, I keep exclaiming to myself, “ man, what a beautiful country this is”.... at least physically, right now. I don’t mind these long drives, well, my back does, but I kind of love the vistas. 57th St. Art Fair weather was cold and cloudy on Saturday and sunny and breezy on Sunday, the best kind of weather. I was in the same spot again between Joel, a wonderful photographer that shoots pics of rescued animals and abandon slave dwellings... one of the nicest people I have ever been lucky enough to be next to. On the other side was the irrassable and funny as hell fiber artist Marina.... Between the company of these two artists, we had such a fun time. And I got to see Leia Zumbro, who is one of the coolest artist’s on the planet and a jewelry artist extraordinaire. The show started out good with 2 of my favorite Chicago patron’s wanting one of my large paintings... unfortunately, it was a bit too large for the space they needed it for,  so I have a new commission to do in the same color format... But, other than that, I mostly sold small quote paintings. I’m not upset, I am glad that I have those when bigger work still hangs in my booth. But I had quite a lot of people who knew I would be at Old Town this next weekend and took pictures.... So, you can never tell, I could see them there. I hope so because as much as I enjoy this travel stuff, when it come to going back to the same city 2 weeks in a row.... I wish Scotty could beam me and my work there....Maybe next year we will stay for a week in the Windy City in between, but this year it’s back to Tennessee to get some things completed for this weeks coming show. If you are living or hanging around Chitown next weekend the show runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 until 5 each day. I’m in booth 210. Come see all my new work.... No pressure. 

A sad but important journey

It’s Wednesday, middle of May and we are in a rented car traveling to New Jersey to see my Ma. It’s a 14 hour drive... a lot of time to think, to tell you the truth. My ma is going on 102 and she is failing. I didn’t realize it because she is the queen of never telling me the truth about her physical condition. And my seeet ma, she is so sharp and always upbeat that she is still, after all these years is trying to protect me. Needless to say, it makes me feel terrible. After working so hard lately, I wasn’t listening carefully, it took my daughter Keegs, to pick up on what I was not noticing. So we hopped in the car and we are on our way. It’s not a long trip because she can’t handle too much company and I fear we will just tire her out more. She would still be fine if she was still walking and this has happed in the last few months. For a woman who was voted best althete at John Adams High School in Brooklyn and who drove until she was 99, this is hell. My Ma, she is one of most incredible, independent woman I have ever known..... In a time when it was rare, and with a husband that really didn’t want her to need anyone but him.... She still did her own thing. Just to be able to be independent, and because my dad was so demanding, she worked as a nurse until she was 84. That was her friend circle. After my Dad died from dementia in his 80’s ( she took care of him for 7 years) She got her own apartment in a senior living apartment and she became a party organizer extraordinaire. Since 1996 she has been the most popular girl at the old folks apartments, where she was in charge of every birthday and holiday party and scrabble tournaments and cookouts... To say  she finally came into her own, would be an understatement. As time has gone on she has lost a lot of her best friends, and she has gone on to make more, always welcoming new friend and they love her and are devoted to her. On he 100th Birthday she had 4 Birthday parties. She is some broad! And I say that proudly. Now a days, she’s home bound ( I know she hates it) but she still lives independently, and someone comes in to help her everyday get cleaned up and dressed. She still gets decked to the nines.... she is a New Yorker through and through, from a time when you wouldn’t dare go out with out looking fly. She has always been a constant in my life. Even though she never wanted to come to the South.... which kinda broke my heart.... But even now when she is being so damn stoic, she is still looking out for everyone else and not herself. Some people have such a life force. Even though I know she is sick of this world, she speaks in the future and present tense. She never can give up and I can’t see her going down without a hell of s fight. That’s just who she is. So, this is my hardest journey and I keep wiping tears away as I write this. I know I have had her for a very long time.... but it’s not enough, when it comes to your Ma.... it’s never enough. 

Three isn’t always a charm...

Rain, Rain go away.    That’s the story of this show. Rain on Friday....a deluge on Saturday and a beautiful day on Sunday that ended with a micro bursts and torrential rain. I can’t be too sorry I had some great meals and spent time with really good people. I even won a merit award and a bit of moola attached to it... So I’m not complaining but nevertheless.. I am thrilled to be headed home on this super wet, lightning riddled freeway to my own bed with my own fur babies. I need some R&R and some studio time in that order......yea!

2 down.... 1 to go....

Well, right out there... strait in front...I am not built for three shows in a row.... There was a time I could have done 6 shows in a row, no prob, but that bird has flown. Now three is pushing the limit. This has been my Tennessee month, first 4 Bridges, then Dogwood and now we are driving to Nashville to Tennessee Craft. I notice I have been a bit crankie lately.... and stress is not my friend( not that it’s anyone’s). Almost bought a used Sprinter this week and backed out because the seats were uncomfortable and it drove like a truck... heck, it is a truck-what was I expecting? Which led to my husband being really pissed at me and well, you know the rest, it wasn’t pretty. I don’t expect a Lexus... just don’t want to settle for what I don’t want.... and not sure what I do want. Anyway, on to TC in Centennial Park for three days of sunshine and good friends and people I love to see every season...The tiredness will leave once the adrenaline kicks in and I get to my booth. That’s the thing about this crazy artist life, once   show starts....we light up. 

On my way....

Well, just have to say, that packing the car after two months of being home working in my studio was quite the magic act.... I had to leave a lot behind and not sure if even then it will fit in a 10 x 10 booth space. So come see me at 4 Bridges this weekend in Chattanooga. My booth is 81... Saturday and Sunday 10 til 5 each day. Weather is suppose to be warm (finally) and sunny! Perfect for an outdoor art fair. Celebrate the end of Winter... hopefully.

The wasteland of March....and April.

It's been since the 19th of February that I have done a show. I was down in Florida for a run and came back pretty tired but ready to get moving on some commissions and a new body of work. It took about a week to start really cooking again,  but the commissions worked out really well. I then jumped into working on new work and being the best type of creative machine I can be. There is nothing quite like waking up in the morning, getting a cup of coffee and turning on the wax and knowing you have unlimited time to make work. I don't think that anything makes me happier (just my fam). So far I have completed 12 new pieces and also 210 new small pieces. Yea, I can be a beast. My next show is 4 Bridges in Chattanooga and I am pumped...actually, I wish it was tomorrow. I am ready to get this show on the road and get out there with people again. The life of a studio artist isn't exciting-except in your own head....you are alone most of the time, occasionally my best friend will come over and hang but for the most part, one is pretty isolated. I like that.....especially interspersed with shows because it fits the needs of both sides of my personality. But this has been a loooog stretch and I am ready to start the travel engine again. Not sure if it's because of the travel or because of the shows. Anyone who knows me knows I am antsy to go...always have been. This time last April I was in Bali with my daughter Keegs and it was divine. It fed my soul and I came back and was inspired to make new work based on the colors and feel of Indonesia. I feel the same way about traveling around the US.....there is always a corner you turn and something or someone new rocks your world....I guess it's just part of my internal makeup or else I was an itinerant Knight in my last life. On the other hand, I love home, my funny husband, my crazy old cats and my wonderful studio that feels like me through and through. I guess it's just the ying and yang of life,  and I am just happy to be doing what I love. So just for the record....4 Bridges happens on the 17 and 18th of April and then the Knoxville Dogwood Festival starts on the 27th to the 29th and then it's Tennessee Craft in Nashville on the 4,5,6th of May......Come see me...I'll talk your ear off.