Black Friday - Etsy update and 80s look of the day

It's been a very busy Friday here in our little corner of the world. I've been working on new projects- including cutting matte board for ACEOs, Peeling paper from the back of some gel medium transfers I made, unpacking and organizing my workroom and listing and relisting some things on Etsy.

It's also Jack's birthday, so we spent some time at Talent Skatepark this morning before a gluttonous lunch of cheeseburgers, french fries and ice cream sundaes. Yum!

Lastly, in honor of black Friday this week's 80's look is punk/goth legend Siouxsie Sioux. Don't go with the flow. Don't be like everyone else- Dare to be different! Celebrate the black and stay away from the malls and big box store this weekend. Buy handmade, buy second hand, recycle, upcycle. Just don't support rapamant consumerism. Besides you might be safer at a punk show than at a Walmart. The crowds are a little nicer too.

Don't forget to add a comment to my blog to get entered into the Giving Thanks Giveaway. Details below.

giving thanks

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. A Schweitzer

To this end- I wanted to find a way to thank all the people who have support and inspired Glimmering Prize over the course of the year. I've put together a little collage artist's dream pack and will be giving it away in a drawing on Monday. To enter, leave a note on this blog about your spark- where it comes from, who inspires it or what keeps it going. On Monday, I'll draw one name from all the entries and send out this sweet little collage pack to the lucky winner.

Thanks everyone for all you have done to see me through this most amazing year.

Yours

Lorraine

80s Look of the day - Friday November 21

I have DD on the brain lately. Probably because I'll be heading to Montreal in 20 days to see them at the Metropolis! Loving the leather pants and the pouting lips. Dontcha just love a man who can wear eyeliner??

Snow and Shows

I woke up this morning to light snow showers. The light flurries quickly accumulated to 2". The morning rush hour turned interested with cars sliding off the road. The temperature out side has dropped so the chance of the white stuff hanging around is pretty high. It's good for the mountain resorts especially with Thanksgiving weekend around the corner.

Living in Vermont where winter lasts from November to April, you get used to the snow and the cold. It might take a squall or two, but you eventually find a balance between you and nature.

And speaking of balance, I have been putting more art back into my life, little by little. It's taken a while since we moved. My studio/workroom is still not set up yet. I've been working on some new books in the dining room. I still have to sort through piles of images that I've somehow accumulated over the past few years. I'm going to do a few give aways on my blog. Some lucky person will win a parcel full of collage materials.

Then there is the Middlebury Actor's Workshop. They contacted me to design, a three women show, On The Verge. The production opens in March, which give me some time to get everything done. With my responsibilities at home and work, it's the only way I could have agreed to do it. The play is about three Victorian women who stumble upon time travel while they are exploring the globe. Thinking some steam punk influence here. We'll see.

80s Look of the day Friday November 14th

I suppose this week's 80's look of day is inspired by my election day playlist. I kept listening to Culture Club's War Song and VOILA! there he is! Lip gloss and all.

Welcome Home - Mickey the Chisel

This past week has flown by. I don't know where the time went but some how it is Thursday night already. I think it was the lack of any real downtime this past weekend that has put me in this head space. I really like my regular boring weekends.

This is the norm for me:
Friday night, quick dinner and then work on art projects in the studio. Multi task by doing a load of laundry or two. Do some organizing, downsizing of some part of this cluttered home and post things to give a way on Freecycle, usually by multi-tasking while I watch a movie with the kids.

Saturday: Do some house cleaning, go to the post office and ship orders, run errands, do the weekly food shopping, continue working on art projects, do yard work, take a long hike or walk with my youngest, multi-task dinner preps for the week ahead. Play cards with the boys,

Sunday: Sleep in, make a big breakfast. Jack and Henry love stuffed french toast with not so crispy bacon. Make more meals for the week ahead or bake. Work on art projects, clean. finish the laundry. take a long walk work on art projects. Hang out with my kids. Go to bed early.

Yep, BORING......

This past weekend- not so boring and definitely not relaxing.

Henry's birthday was last Thursday. His birthday wish was to go to Carnagecon, which is a gaming convention here in VT. Friday night, I had homework to do from my day job, and getting Henry ready for his busy weekend. No rest for the weary, for sure.

We got up at the crack of dawn and drove an hour and a half to Fairlee for the convention. We hung out with Henry for an hour or so and then Jack and I went to the Montshire Museum of Science. It's a fabulous educational place to entertain your child(ren) for hours on end. Then Jack's favorite road for, BK for double cheese burger kids meals ( for the both of us) and to meet Mickey in Ascutney, Vt.

Mickey is a german shorthair pointer, who was being put up for adoption by his family, who had one too many GSP's too care for and not enough time to give him all the attention he deserves (and needs.)

Jack and I fell in love with him. He's a fantastic dog and very sweet. We were convinced he was the right dog for us. We just had to convince the rest of the family he was. We drove back up to Fairlee, met up with Henry and my hubby who had drove over from where he was working on the other side of the state. Henry played more Magic cards, Jack was in a Rock Band contest. And we all crashed out in the hotel.

Then it was back down to Ascutney with Jim to decide on the dog. He fell in love with Mickey too and decide we would try him out and see how he worked in with our home. With the new pup in the car we drive back up the state, cruising through old haunts in White River Junction and Wilder and eating lunch at an old favorite: the 4 aces in West Lebanon, NH. Bellies full, we got back in the car and picked up Henry in Fairlee at the convention. He was beat from playing cards all day but stoked about the dog.

So now it is Thursday. Mickey has been with us for 4 days and it feels like he has been a member of our household forever. How quickly dogs can bond with you and take over your heart. I love hearing the clicking of his feet on the wood floors and the way he pushes up against me when he's snuggled up on the bed.

Hopefully, we are his forever home. He's a keeper in my mind for sure.

80s Look of the day - Thompson Twins

it's all about the hair!

and yes t twins are a trio... go figure....