Halloweenie

Normally I don't dress up for Halloween, because I hate what it has become.  When I was a kid it was awesome.  I could dress up as a robot or an angel or a cowboy and it was all good.  Costumes were imaginative and magical and mostly home made in those days.  Somehow, sometime between then and now it has become a prerequisite for all women on Halloween to wear as little as humanly possible.  It has to be a sexy robot or a slutty angel.  Go to the Halloween store and try to find a modest costume.  Just try.  I dare you.  Unless you're in the men's section you won't find one.  And Halloween decorations have gotten so much less fun and so much more gross.  No more smiling pumpkins.  It's all coffins and blood spattered dismembered body parts, and of course, zombies.  Everywhere.  I've even seen life sized dummies hanging from trees in yards before.  From nooses.  Which to me is not only gross, but totally insensitive to anyone who has actually known someone who has hanged themselves.  It's also racially insensitive.  Wow!  When I started this I had no intention of ranting.  Lol.  Where did that come from?  Ah, well, I have long said I am the Grinch of Halloween.

Anyway, the original point of this post was to tell you that since I work in a building that participates in the downtown trick or treat thingy, I will actually be dressing up tomorrow.  In fact, as I type I am wearing part of my costume, a pair of disco ball antennae.  They are surprisingly comfortable, and oh so chic.  Perhaps I might possibly post a photo.  We'll see :)

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I never really noticed before, but none of the books pictured here on my blog have titles on the spine.  Hmmph.  Now that I have noticed it kind of bugs me.  Too bad I can't name them myself.  "The Mysterious Case of the Missing Trousers"  "Women Who Love Cheese Too Much"  "A Fine and Subtle Stench"  "Why Football is for Sissies"  "My Life as a Hoochie Mamma"  etc...

Madison Avenue Floral and Pegasus Gallery

I have opened my own flower shop.  I am woman, hear me roar!!! Lol.  My friend Michelle and I used to work at the same florist and we've been talking for years about either buying out our old boss or opening a place of our own.  When I found this kiosk for rent we knew it was time.  It's located right outside a Starbucks, so there's more foot traffic here than anywhere else in the city.  Also, the next nearest florist is miles away.  There are only 3 other florists in town, none in the southern end of town or the downtown area, which is where we are situated.  We've been open for a month now and things are going well.  We started out slow, but it's picking up. And most importantly, we love what we do :)  Our very basic website, designed by yours truly: www.madisonavenuefloral.com

 Here is our lovely kiosk :)

One of the perks of this location is that everyone else in the building is super nice and supportive.  The building was originally a JC Penny's, but the current owners have turned it into a hive of small retail spaces.  It's been really fun meeting new people and getting outside my introverted shell.  You'd think as a bus driver I would have to be open and friendly but it's actually made me so cynical and antisocial.  It's really nice to be able to be more trusting and open, to let people in a little more than is my wont.  The folks at Einstein Bagels, right next to our kiosk, have been particularly friendly and accepting. 

In other news, I have been invited to exhibit my book art at Pegasus Gallery over the holidays :)  Woo hoo!!  I'm so officially excited!  It's great to have someone seek me out and say, 'hey I love your stuff and I think a lot of other people will too.  Come sell at my gallery.' I can't wait to see it on display and to see how the public reacts.  It would be so cool if I actually made some money from this ridiculous obsession.  I dropped off a few book sculptures at the gallery last week, just 45, not too many... :D  I think the exhibit starts November 1st.

Happy 3rd

I wonder if they celebrate birthdays on the other side of the veil, you know, like their last day here is their first day there. If so, Happy Birthday Charlie. Today is the 3rd anniversary of your departure from us and your entry to the other side. I hope things are going well for you there.

Nye Beach

I had a very relaxing afternoon at the coast yesterday. The weather was perfect. Sunset was gorgeous. I needed that.

Ho Ho Ho!

When we were kids my brothers and I all had Santa mugs. I remember drinking milk out of mine and dunking cookies in it. I liked it, even though none of us ever really believed in Santa as kids, and as an adult I think Santa competes with Jesus for attention at Christmas. This year I decided to make new Santa mugs for all of us as a nostalgic reminder of our childhood Christmases. I started painting them traditionally but didn't get any farther than red hats before I got bored. Here is the result of my boredom.


I laughed myself silly over these. I love them, particularly the zombie Santa. I know, I'm sick. I don't know why I find the idea so appealing and humorous. Lucky for me, the recipients also liked them :D

Alpine Holiday Festival

Yesterday I participated in my first ever art/craft fair. I was very nervous about whether I would have enough inventory to fill a whole booth, and whether my first time amateur greenness would look chintzy next to the seasoned veterans of the craft fair circuit. I need not have worried. I totally over-prepared. This is my booth:

I really like how it turned out. I think it's homey and cozy and inviting. Our neighbor vendors were all so friendly and helpful. One of them loaned us an extra table and one offered some peg board to help with the display which we didn't end up using, but the offer was much appreciated.

So many people as they walked by said they had never seen anything like my book art and how cool and impressive and intriguing it was. Equal numbers of people remembered seeing old Reader's Digests folded into angels or Santas or Christmas trees.

My friend Coral came with me for moral support. She also had a few books to sell of her own. We did all right. I figure we about broke even, after the booth rental fee and the gas to get there and the supplies and all. Not to mention the money I spent at other vendors' booths ;) It was fun. I'd totally do it again.

When we arrived in the morning to finish setting up there was a diminutive visitor to our booth. I know the photo is blurry and horrible, but we considered it a sign of good luck that the ladybug decided to grace us with her presence. We liberated her from the confines of the building after quickly taking her portrait :)