I couldn't wait til the 1st to post this month's Gypsy Bonfire Story.
Jean McBride has given us an award winner. This one has romance, summer longing and a nice handful of Cajun Spice. I'll stop babbling on and you? just GO. Read. Enjoy.
Wait up!....hold it!.....it's not quite July 1st, so I'm holding back the next Gypsy Bonfire Story. It's not easy because next month we have an award winning story. I decided to do something new and give you a sneek peek.July's talented author is Jean McBride. We'll give you the whole scoop on the 1st, but until then, have a look. By the way, although this installation may read as Chick Lit, I invite my guy readers to jump in. It may evoke a memory or two....or three......
Excerpted from the middle of Jean McBride's: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO EDDIE RAY:
I met Eddie the summer I turned sixteen. He was the most exotic creature to ever set foot in Cheyenne, Wyoming, more god-like than mortal. His eyes were the color of Hershey’s Kisses flecked with gold, and they lit up like a Fourth of July sparkler when he flirted, which was all the time. His skin was tanned; his black hair glistened like a raven’s wing in the sun. But it wasn’t just his looks that attracted me and every other female. We had our share of good-looking boys in Wyoming. No, it was that he was from Louisiana, a full-blooded Acadian. To an inexperienced Wyoming girl, the Cajun patter that flowed out of Eddie Ray’s mouth like strings of silk was better than any aphrodisiac. One utterance of “bebe” turned me to mush.
I was the first person he met when he arrived in Cheyenne. Everyone wanted to go out with Eddie Ray, but I had the advantage, because he was spending the summer with his grandmother, my next-door neighbor. We had proximity going for us, along with a chemistry that, by all rights, should have set fire to the entire neighborhood......
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.....how's THAT for whetting your appetite?
WAIT!!!......this is not another book with tons of stuff that you already know. Trust me.
Most of you do not need another "How do I maximize my Creativity?" book. Neither do I. I know what to do. I know what kind of art/writing/film making speaks to me. I know exactly what to pick up in the studio when I walk in. I know how to stay true to my vision. THIS book is something that allows humor, artistic momentum and VERY PRACTICAL BUSINESS ADVICE to collide. This book is not dry. This book is delightful with a salsa-snap of sarcasm. There are a few naughty words here and there, so Big Deal. You were warned. If you never intend to sell or market one thread of canvas, you can still adore this book. I will buy it for every young creative that I know. This may be the best "career/advice/here's how it works" book that I have EVER read, and I don't need any of that.
In fact, if you know a young creative and do NOT give them this book, a number of thugs will appear at your door and shout: "No. REALLY?????....come on.....REALLY???"
Give it to an Old Creative too.
Hugh Mcleod has a Blog too: gapingvoid.com
It's okay, but the book is great.
Here it is on Amazon.
Next post will be an excerpt from our next Gypsy Bonfire. This one's an award winning story. REALLY!
A HUGE thanks to Stephanie Hilvitz and her Mango Studio F.A.C.!
We had a fantastic turn out and all of her Guest Artists were delighted.
There was food, wine, margarita's and excellent company. Lucky Coloradoans can spend the 3rd Friday of each month skipping through her garden enjoying excellent Creative Energy.
We really needed more photos, but it was both crowded AND busy, so here are just a few....if you look through the garden above, you can see me chatting with my son in the pre-show lull...isn't the back of Stephs house adorable?
....remind me to make lighter panels to schlep.....
Thanks again Steph......!
This week?
New items on ETSY.....
Yeah...who ARE you?...I guess we'll find out tonight, Friday the 19th, if you happen to be in Colorado...you could also leave a comment and introduce yourself, but that might be too much pressure.
Scroll back a post to get the show details or click on the button to the left here that says "Click here for show info..."
Above?...a few PEACE POLES.
Below?...more conventional sizes. Each one's different, but you know how we Blog Readers hate to scroll through 5 zillion photos...
Below, a sign based on that classic question:
The sign below sums up my hopes for Stephanies first Friday Night event:
So I have things to post on ETSY after the show if you're interested. It may take me a couple of days, but hang in or just email me. If you're coming to the Event, remember to mention my Blog and get a discount on already shamefully affordable stuff.
See you tomorrow?
If you happen to be in the Northern Colorado area, I'm giving you a week to clear your calendar and plan to come to Stephanie Hilvitz's exquisite studio/garden for her newest event: F.A.C. in the Mango Studio.
After you finish picking yourself up off the ground from being Blown Away by the adorable house, garden and studio, we'll give you wine, something non-alcoholic if you wish, a little something to eat and a TON of ART. Art to buy, gaze upon, gift, swoon over, laugh at (mine, it can be funny in that one way) and take right home to put in the Perfect Place. If you're NOT in Northern Colorado, my stuff will be up on ETSY after the show. Hey, all you RSS people: If you actually click on over to my REAL Blog, you'll see the ETSY button and look to the left, scroll down and you'll see a new button (Oh Goody!) that says "Click here for Show Info"......this post will pop up again so that you can get the details right before you hop into the car next week. Feel free to email me if you need directions. Anything for Art.
If you mention this Blog you get a Discount for my stuff.
24" x 9 1/2"....Lisa Hoffman
Nothing's finished, but at least I have a big stack of stuff in process for the June 19th event.
Stay tuned, I'll keep you posted.
Don't ask me WHY every creative, beautiful show gets canceled when the Reality Circus roars on. Do I HAVE to agree with my Euro pals when they hold their heads and bemoan our vulgar taste?
If you were in love with the amazing PUSHING DAISIES, know THIS (and tell other Daisy Freaks) :
It's back starting THIS Saturday on ABC for 3 weeks. They have to wrap it all up before sending it to "Great Shows that got Canceled by Putzes" Heaven. You have better things to do on a Saturday night? ...that's why God made Tivo. I was delighted to find this show after seeing a review in my NY Times: Beautiful People
If you happen to be a HUGE Simon Doonan fan (and if not, WHY not?) this is the story based on his amazingly crazy and eccentric childhood. Sure to be canceled in 12 minutes due to creativity, excellent acting and endlessly hilarious writing...this is one not to be missed. Find it Tuesdays on the LOGO channel. By the way, you can catch BOTH of these shows on line if you don't have cable or even a T.V. for that matter. I may not be Bob Mondello, but I think that you'll love these shows. Think of them as Visual Vitamins.
I like this type. Think about it. Some artist was merrily cutting out stencils and asked themselves:
"...what if I didn't bother making little bridges to create the floating "holes" in numbers and letters?..."
this was the result and it's great. If stencil cutting interests you, go HERE and keep it bookmarked (I'm sure that you already love Mary Ann) so that you can sign up for her summer Stencilry 2 class when the time comes.
THIS was the sloping front lawn of the Loveland house "BEFORE". Gross. You can see where the spray paint "carves out" the brilliant future plan. Here we are a couple of years later. Better?....better. Lets hear it for Low Water landscaping. Welcome to the High Plains. So this weekend?....weeding. Serious weeding. Mulch does NOT prevent all weedage (is that a word? the city girl asks)
Next....let's go round back and plant a bunch of containers. Herbs. Tomatoes. Peppers. Sure, I know what I'm doing. Please feel free to play the sound track from "Green Acres" right about here. My herbal eyes are apparently much bigger than the skimpy patio. I had to line 'em up out on the lawn for a while.
CLEARLY, I need to get more cinder blocks and planks. For now I'll put them up on very bad looking gravel buckets. Trust me, we want our kitchen herbs out of ....um.....dog range. I'll re-shoot after I get the thing built.
A family of robins were watching me and rolling their little black eyes as I hauled a zillion pounds of dirt. Guess the umbrella stays UP.
I hope that your Memorial Day was a nurturing and contemplative time.
