Day 2713: What could go wrong?

"Bowers": photography, color, photoshop.

Want music?

 

Click here for Playing for Change, Guantanamera

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

This will be the story of a lady who ordered a 

cashmere top & pants from China. 

What could go wrong?

The attraction is slick photography and a reasonable price. 

The drawback is very slow arrival time.

Typically, by the time it arrives, you have forgotten the order. 

 

I had ordered size large even though I can wear a medium, 

to allow for tinier Chinese sizes. The time comes to try on.

The pants fit but with no extra room, at all. Next, the top. 

I was determined even though it seemed way too snug.

I pulled the long tunic into place and checked the mirror.

It was, in effect, a tourniquet. I started taking it off.

I need to mention both shoulders are destined for surgery.

The right, in particular, is painful, in need of cortisone. (1/16)

I pulled it 3/4 up but it was so tight, it was stuck.

A precarious situation, at best. I live alone, so no rescue in sight.

I finally called WonderWoman.  I said, "Hi, what are you doing"? 

She said she and Superman were on their way to lunch.

I explained my dilemma and heard SM laughing.

They made a mercy detour, arriving in 15 minutes.

Luckily SM stayed in the car, as it was not a pretty sight.

Wonderwoman had me raise my arms and with 

her WW strength pulled it up and over my head.

Freedom.

A smile for Tuesday ...

Day 2633: Musee de la Lavande!

"day 4": French junk mail collage.

Want music?

 

Click here for Billy Preston, Nothing From Nothing.

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

It rained!

Of course we had warning, so on our fourth day out, 

the plan was to go Coustellet, and the Lavender Museum. 

Like all of our daily trips, it was way less 

than an hour drive, and perfect for a rainy day.

An informational movie and a tour of necessary equipment, 

ending up in the gift shop full of lavender. A popular stop for tourists. The local lavender fields have been harvested just before we arrived for our two weeks, but we saw what was left.

At the museum their lavender was ready for harvest.

Another special day.

We used this visit as a photo op.

Ginny, Marj, Ardi and Jane.

Our group of 11 was very compatible. 

Some I met just before the trip.

Some I had known through Huntington Beach Art League.

 

me & Marj

 I have admired many for twenty years.

me & Marj.

I bought a dozen lavender sachet bags, for gifts.

I had the best smelling suitcase ever.

A smile for Saturday ...

Day 2538: Wouldn't you like to play?

anime fan: collage, acrylic & digital

Want music?

 

Click here for  Erik Satie - Gnossienne No. 1,2,3

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

2GN2S:

Fiber Art Network, recently posted this link about an art 

installation in the New Children's Museum of San Diego.

"The stunningly colorful 28 by 20 foot, three-dimensional textile structure resembles a giant hammock of crocheted circles, open pockets and hanging pendulums. Within this play-structure, children are able to move upwards through one pocket after another until they reach a vibrant expanse where they can climb, slide, bounce and rest. It’s a one-of-a-kind place to play and interact with others, and the first large-scale work at a museum in the U.S. by internationally renowned textile artist Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam."

By the numbers:

• 3600 hours of crochet
• 40 miles of hand-braided nylon
• 1000 pounds of net
• 14 hand-dyed colors
• will be in place for at least 5 years.
  

To quote McAdam, who works out of Bridgetown, Nova Scotia,

"To me, the concept of Whammock! is to connect with others through the waves of vibration in the net,” says MacAdam. “If a child climbs, jumps or crawls in one place then another child will feel the vibration and respond with their action, and in this way, they are naturally communicating to one another.” She also explains that the name Whammock! comes from the word hammock.

“Every culture has a hammock or type of cradle, and Whammock! is a giant one that impacts everyone who plays in it.”

Here's a time-lapse (1:48 min) video of Whammock's installation.

https://thinkplaycreate.org/explore/art-installations/whammock/

Wouldn't you like to play?

Sunday is family time for the Superheroes.

I love this photo of Sunday's chess session.

7/7/2019, photo by WonderWoman, thanks!

(L-R) Superman, GH#2, GH#1 & GH#3 ... kime.

Car Show, November 2015, before they had cars.

They grow up so fast.

GH#3, GH#2, SM & GH#1, photo by WonderWoman

Jordan, Zack & Jake, Villa Park, 2003 ... first wheels!

Ahhhhhh ...

A smile for Monday ...

Day 2143: ... one that is a guy.

step 4: ink, watercolor & junk mail collage

Want music?

 

Click here for Luther Vandross, Anyone who had a heart ...

then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?

My friend and Seattle artist, John Arbuckle said 

"I always love your portraits and then you do one 

that is a guy. I jump for joy because I know 

how much harder they are for you and, of course, 

it is a total success."

step 1

John is being kind, but a compliment from him motivates me.

step 2

Initially I use an ink brush to draw (step 1), 

followed by watercolor for skin tone (step 2).

step 3

Adding a wide Copic marker for the background (step 3).

step 4

Finishing with junk mail collage to enhance some areas (step 4).

Wow, great mail today from Japan!

 

I couldn't imagine what was inside.

The museum name rang a bell, but what was this?

Inside, a 207 page book and my memory was jogged.

In 2016, I believe "Dosanko Debbie", 

a wonderful Japanese etegami artist, asked if I might 

want to send mail art to a museum in Japan 

for a upcoming exhibit? I said, yes please, and did.

And then I forgot about it.

 

Accompanying the book is a letter ...

Basically thanking and explaining that the project took 2 years.

That funds from the book & mail items will be donated 

to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake-struck areas.

And that not all of the mail art was included in the book.

Let me know if you want an order form, 

I can e-mail a pdf form to you (jlonginc@gmail.com)

The wrap around book cover has many of the art works on exhibit 

To be honest, I don't remember what I sent? 

I think I sent 2?  I think they were postcard size? 

I looked through the book, even using a magnifying glass,

 to see if I could recognize anything, and I didn't.

Kinda like looking for a needle in a haystack, 

and you don't know what a needle looks like?

I am listed as a contributor, along with about 350 artists 

from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, 

Canada, Chile, Columbia, Croatia, Czech Republic, 

Denmark, England, Estonia,Finland, France, Germany, 

Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia,Ireland, Italy, Japan, 

Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, 

Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland,

Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Uruguay, & USA.

A nice surprise!

A smile for Friday ...