Another gnome hat

Another quickie hat.

Using the natural methods of 'biomimicry' to fix Cleveland's Cuyahoga River

from today's Plain Dealer...
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Maybe biomimicry can finish saving the Cuyahoga. The new, nature-inspired engineering could be the source of environmental improvements to the river that runs through Cleveland -- especially in the biologically challenged, steel-lined shipping channel. That someday is already dawning, some key river advocates say. Biomimicry is the fast-growing field in which engineers, artists and designers are drawing more and more from natural examples of successful adaptations to solve human problems.

Le petit japonais

Ott Lite

I purchased an Ott Light, which makes a HUGE difference working indoors. "Known as the father of time-lapse photography, Dr. Ott developed the first OttLite product while filming "The Secrets of Life" Series for the Walt Disney Company and helped Disney animators transform an ordinary pumpkin into Cinderella's magical carriage." Thanks again, CPAC.

Yumiko and Frenemies

Vicky and i went to the Frenemies show at The Front Room Gallery. We stayed for over an hour, but misssed the performance piece. It was an excellent show and i got to chat with some chums. i met John G:



Greg Witt - he did a great piece with a tv screen on a track that moved in slow motion around the room. It almost ran over my pal Vicky a couple of times!



Angelique, Michelle Murphy and Brittany


Sandy and I happened upon an art sale this afternoon. I bought a little xmas giftie from Yumiko Goto. She does incredible ceramic work. Look how adorable she is!!!

IMAGINE benefit

Sara and I went to a benefit for orphans in Nepal. I had donated a few items for a silent auction - the bids were up to $80 by the time i left. Here I am with the gorgeous Candy, who organized the event.

i look a bit crazed in this pic, but here i am with my teacher, Marni. Maybe i get a little nervous around her, i don't know.

JoAnn Giordano

After work today, I dashed over to the InTown Club (a private invitational ladies' luncheon club that meets for relaxation, fellowship, and enjoyment of the arts) to see my friend JoAnn's show. It was a treat to see a retrospective of her work. We are interested in similar themes and she has a vast knowledge of different ways to manipulate fabric. Congratulations JoAnn!!

Genghis Con

I went to a small press/independent comic convention today at the Beachland. The highlight had to have been meeting Derf. I got my picture taken with him on my cousin's cell phone. When he sends it to me, I'll post it. My brother Tom came - he asked Derf to draw him an original. I can't wait to see it!!! I was very impressed with the turn-out and the variety of artists. Another local hero of mine, Jake Kelly, was there. I met a cute CIA kid - she did some charming watercolors.

99 bottles o beer

appliques complete - let the quilting begin...

Earliest Exposures

Babies enter the world already having been exposed in the womb to chemicals from common everyday consumer products, according to a new study released November 17, 2009 by the Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC), Commonweal, and the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition. The groups say policy changes are needed to protect babies and mothers from toxic chemicals during this critical time of development. The study can be found at www.watoxics.org/earliestexposures.

The first-of-its kind study tested blood and urine from pregnant women during their second trimester of pregnancy and found their bodies contaminated with chemicals found in a wide variety of consumer products.

Spaces opening

Tonight I popped in at an opening at Spaces - I wasn't too crazy about the art, but there were some lovely people there.
Caroline Goeser and Alan!

Here is my dear friend Vicky (left) the amazing artist Benjamin Kinsley, and Cindy Penter

my old art school chum, Claire Sullivan. She is doing quite well - currently working on a mural for a new restaurant in Tremont.

Flying Fellini Bonnet

The final item for IMAGINE auction. I made the pattern myself.

Flying Fellini Kimono

Here is the third item for the IMAGINE benefit. My first item made from the fabric i had printed with my drawings.

Flying Fellini in 3D

here is another item for the auction - an experiment in 3 dimensions - it was a good first attempt

small drawings

i whipped up a few quick drawing this afternoon - I'm gathering some materials to donate to an auction. It will benefit young girls in Nepal.

Amy Casey visit

This evening i visited with the gracious and talented Amy Casey. I'm glad i got a chance to get to know her a little bit better. Like everyone else, i'm a big fan of her work. Thanks Amy!

Indian Summer

Another gnome hat for my nephew Andrew. I think he likes it!
it was almost 70 degrees today - Mary Helen & Amy came over to play in the leaves. We had so much fun!

Sculpture Center

Tom, Sylvie and I ventured out on a Friday night. Started out at the Sculpture Center - two quality shows going on. Yasuhisa Kohyama showed some very elegant ceramics. I was glad to see that he made these pieces in Cleveland.


and Elissa Cox's show, "with a twitch and a grimace" - lots of bloated latex. It was like walking into a body - very effective. She made great use of the space.

Gallery Talk

I went to two galleries today. River Arts and William Busta. River Arts is so close to home - it's got a nice range of ceramics, jewelry, paintings - very affordable/accessible. William Busta gave a talk at his gallery about "How to get your work in a gallery." I learned a lot and liked what he had to say. I must get out to more openings!! The William Busta Gallery is the real thing. Here he is giving some advice to an eager artist...

3 pumpkins, 3 punkins

it was a fun filled day of playing outside, eating treats and visiting with friends and family. i'm so grateful to be surrounded by so many dear ones. thank you thank you thank you... here's what super hero fetuses grow up to be:

may i present this year's jack-o-lantern collection

Garden Gnome

here is an attempt at a gnome costume - it was a good idea in theory, but the execution was a bit botched. Sylvie did not like to wear it, so i ended up buying a costume after all...

Great Lakes Sturgeon making a comeback

The mighty lake sturgeon - an odd-looking North American fish that has been on Earth no fewer than 150 million years and that coexisted with dinosaurs for at least 85 million years - is making a comeback in the Great Lakes region after nearly going extinct in the early 1900s

Last spring, lake sturgeon spawned for the first time in 30 years in the Canadian waters of the Detroit River. The site, at the head of Fighting Island, near Wyandotte, Mich., involved a reef built as part of a joint U.S.-Canadian effort in 2008.

Even with their gradual comeback-in-the-making, today's lake sturgeon make up just 1 percent of the numbers found in the Great Lakes region in the late 1800s. They are listed as threatened in Michigan and Ontario and endangered in Ohio waters of the Great Lakes.

Indeed, many Native Americans - especially the Menominee of northern Wisconsin, one of the few tribes in the Great Lakes region that was never pushed westward - have drawn parallels between the plight of lake sturgeon and of the American buffalo.

Individually, a lake sturgeon can live for nearly 200 years, some growing to lengths of more than six feet and topping out at a weight of 300 pounds. Toledo Blade

Day at the museum

What a gorgeous fall day! I spent the day with my dear pal Eileen. The museum was magnificent - i feel so fortunate to have this resource so close at hand. There were many new treasures to feast upon - i don't remember any Calders in the old space - and the Lee Bonticou was the best thing i've seen in a loooooooong time. I want to go look at it again soon. There was a CWF social event in the evening. it was a lovely time - i brought Sylvie and she had a blast. we topped the evening off with a birthday celebration for my neice, Amanda. it was fantastic day!!!!!

Scarf for auction

Here is a scarf i made that will be auctioned to benefit Ohio Citizen Action.

Fabric swatches have arrived

It's exciting to have these drawings printed on fabric. I am thinking about an entire line of baby clothes based on my drawings. My friend's daughter calls my fetus fish "Flying Fellinis" - which i really like. I might have to use that.

Matrix of fiber

Here is a length of material made from yarn and thread.

laptop case

a quick craft project that had been stewing in the queue for a while

The Leddy Collection

O momentous day - a picture of mine now resides in the private collection of my dear friend, Mark. It was a commissioned work based on some of his favorite junk.

Saturday at Sterle's

My first visit to Sterle's(beware of polka music if you visit this link) - East 55th and St Clair. It's a meat lover's paradise - schnitzle, sausage, pork in gravy. I'm not eating a whole lot of flesh these days, but i loved the cheesecake! The girls had a great time dancing - they entertained the entire dining room.

the cutest mommy and bebe girl evah

The Spook

inspired by a children's book illustration -

Fabric design

Another dream realized - my own fabric!
the fetal fish work well as a repeat - i ordered 3 different swatches in 3 color variations - my plan is to design a whole product line - clothes, toys, cloth book, etc...

Gnome hat

I refreshed my knitting skills with some youtube clips. I made this over the these past few evenings while watching Ken Burns on PBS - how domestic! It's too big for Sylvie, but it might make a nice gift.

Fine Points

Sylvie & I had a great time with my pal Eileen on Sat. We went to the fabulous Fine Points yarn shop on Larchmere. Walking into the space is an immersion into color and texture - so lovely.

Audrey embroiders Super Fetus

We spent last evening with my cousins Audrey and Brad - Audrey is holding an embroidery of one of my Super Fetus drawings. She does great work and has started to sell crafts on Etsy.

Dynamite Night out

This is old news by now, but i went to see Charles Walker and the Dynamites on Tuesday at the Beachland. While Tom and Sylvie were safe at home I got my groove on. It felt good to get out and dance.

Delegation & Drawing

I am managing my time at work little better lately - delegating tasks and such. If I'm not careful, I might delegate myself right of a job. Here is a drawing I made yesterday. I'm going to leave it alone for a while...