Life has a way of twisting and turning. Christie and I have both been busy, but not on projects together. She has been working at the school and continues to teach music classes. I have since started teaching art lessons and bee doing a lot of painting for myself. The summer is here and almost gone.

My Husband sent me to Venice in June 2011 to inspire me to paint for myself. I have always wanted to create and have a show. However, financially, it was more beneficial to paint and create for others. Teaching the classes gives me the time and opportunity to, finally, do it. Since my trip I have been busy working toward my goal. Of course, I have taken time to create a few additional pieces, as well! LOL!!!

I worked on 3 shows creating scenery, costuming and puppetry. The first show was Hairspray at the Community College. Originally, I was contracted to co-design the show, but the other designer went AWOL on me and the TD. In the meantime, I was working on the Beauty and the Beast at the Elementary School and Seussical at the High School. Here are some shots:

The Tree I made and dressed with the Baby Flying Elephant.

The Baby Flying Elephant puppet in it's egg.

Close-up of the puppet's face.

Side View

Original drawing from Dr. Seuss of the Baby Flying elephant.

Here are some photos from Beauty and the Beast:

The pieces being built

Finished

Mrs. Potts

The Armiore's Chest

The cast with coggsworth to the left

Coggsworth's Clock almost done

Lumiere's Hat and Arm pieces

The Beast's Head dress to make him a foot taller

The Beast in costume.

I forgot to take final shots of Hairspray due to running around too fast and furious during those weeks. Not only was I doing the shows but I illustrated a children's book during that time. Yes, I had lost my mind, at that point, and a lot of sleep... ARGH!!!

Here is the book and the picture of the prototype I made for the book:

The Book "Bully Monster"

Here is the stuffed animal prototype I made based on the book.

I have stopped teaching for the summer and have had a little time here and there with my kids, family and friends. It is a CRAZY summer, indeed!

At present, I am working on a project in Ocean City, NJ. I am doing seven spaces. Some of it is fixing small issues, painting switch plates and plug covers to match wallpaper of old finishes fro 20 years ago. I am painting a floor and stairs in the house and the kitchen cabinets.It is a tedious project because there is a lot of prep work needed. However, I am excited for the outcome!

More updates to come...

The dog ate my homework...

I am sorry Father for I have sinned and it's been almost 5 months since my last blog.

After a summer of craziness, which I adored despite all of the road blocks, I am back. During my stint designing the sets for Learning Stages, an Educational Summer Theater Program, I played with wood, foam, plastics and so many other items. I am always trying to find ways to recycle. The two shows and program happened in a 5 week program. That's a tight schedule. In the meantime, Christie and I are riding the MS 150 Bike Ride together. Due to the tight schedule I was keeping, I did not ride my bike the whole time. The MS 150 is a 150 mile bike ride in two days and three weeks from now. It's not a suggested to ignore training... Oye!

Any how, the production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory gave me an opportunity to use recycled products along with new items. We made lollipops with recycled plastic from water and soda bottles, along with fizzy lifting drink bubbles. All of the kids in the show made their own sun catcher that was used for the Lick-able wallpaper. The lollipops were made with badminton rackets cut down with floral wire to attach them. There were Edible and Drinkable Flower Candies that used the shuttlecock from the rackets and flower plates and the flowers cut out from the melted down plastic. I am big on the environment, but sometimes the art over rules my need to save the ozone. When I am designing, I think of many aspects... how much time, what's my budget, and what I may have to do to my body to create what's in my mind based on the before mentioned issues! LOL!!! Let's just say the last three weeks I clocked 225 (maybe more) of hours.

Here is what they looked like after putting them together.

Here are some of the larger props for the show...

Here is what the set looked like.

The second show was Songs for a New World. The entire show was designed around the theme of time. I have a great love of the older Indiana Jones flicks and The Adventures of the Young Indians Jones (a 90's thing). I gave it a look that is presently called Steam Punk. I had the help of many people, the students (Casie, Haley and yes even Thomas LOL!!!), the Shining Stars teacher (Lauren) along with interns and stage managers (Stacie and Matt- I love you guys), Tom (TD- carpenter, lights, rigging and sound and GREAT friend! He gave me the rope I needed, although I felt like hanging myself a few times. ;-D) They are the people that kept me sane or a little insane... The cast was astonishing! The director's (Chic) vision was both unexpected and wonderful! The lighting (Harry) was terrific!

The staff of Learning Stages are talented, quirky (myself included), friendly, honorable and as professional as one can be in circumstances sometimes beyond their control. We were moved from Tohill Theater (450 seat theater) to Pfleeger Hall (1000 seat theater) three days before the program started. I had designed the set, built the model (with Stacie), and then painted it 2 weeks prior. Stacie and I were actually laying out the grid for the floor we were going to paint when they gave us the news. I was disappointed because the new stage wouldn't have a visible floor worth painting and changed the complete design. We had the lighting designer from Hell- she was an angry squirrel! In the long run, I was happy with the way it turned out!!!

In between the Theater Program, Christie and I participated in the Babes Burning Rubber Fundraiser at the Thunderbolt Raceway in Milleville, NJ. We had spent a lot of time creating pieces to be prepared. We, also brought our kids, Elise, RJ, Damara, and a friend of Damara's (Jacqueline). They helped us with face painting. Let's just say the day was scorching! (and the people- they did not come) They were at the other track watching Grand Am... We sucked it up and hung in there and made some lemonade out of lemons... I would have love some vodka with it, though! LOL!

This was RJ after his face was painted by one of the girls.

Two days after, my family and I left to the Poconos for some much needed R&R.We had four days together and then two other couples came up with their kids to join us. It was a perfect vacation!We went to Resica Falls and it is one of the prettiest places to visit. I wanted to hitch a tent!

Christie and I have since resumed our efforts. We will keep you posted! We need to take some photos of our latest work.

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Artists and the nasty "V" word...

Yesterday, Christie and I had a conversation about how after the Book Fair she would be done with her last "volunteer" project. Oddly enough, I felt the same way last Tuesday after finishing up the last touch-up of the scenery I had worked on for the past couple months, off and on.

I designed, built part of, sculpted and painted the set for Gateway Regional High School's production of "Camelot". I was truly happy with the results of my labor! I enjoyed having the kids help, even if they felt it was in a small way, because I know they learned something from the experience and I truly appreciated it. I love working with the staff and crew, always and forever! Theater ROCKS!!! However, truth be known, it was more like a "volunteer" job! I think I got paid $1 an hour! LOL!!! I dragged my family through the whole process with my blinders on attitude, again... and the many nights of 3-4 hours sleep for days on end, which can make a girl "very" cranky!!! Hyper-focus is an art form for me! *smiley face* I must love what I am doing... I learned a lot about myself as an artist and a person through out the process. I'll keep the lessons learned for future reference, whether they be creative or spiritual...

I spent Sunday through part of Wednesday paying for what I did to my body, just because I relaxed a little! I "healing" time was used for designing the  two sets for Learning Stage's Summer Theater production of "Willy Wonka" which will partly be changed to "Songs of a New World". I, also, put together two purses for Nokomis Nouveau and finished all the prep work for them! Yesterday, feeling refreshed, I went back to the High School to paint the stage floor black with the help of one of the students. I'm sure of what's left of the maintenance staff, due to NJ's Budget Cuts, is glad they have this crazy volunteer artist chick to do their job! *part of me is laughing*

Here is where I insert the photos for your Ooos and Ahhhhs!

The kids were so amazing! The director made every moment in their staging look like it was ART! The Lighting Designer made the scenery glow, especially since I designed it with him in mind! There wasn't one person who walked out after the show that didn't feel like they had gone to see a professional show, especially Saturday night!!! Sorry, I had to gush!

Anyhow, going back to the conversation...

 Christie and I will resume our business, Nokomis Nouveau, after she gets back from her family vacation during Spring Break at the Grand Canyon! We have lots to do and are excited to have a break before Summer hits and our kiddies and other responsibilities smack us in the face! LOL!!!

Now off to the gym to run 5 miles, get a shower, carve a couple of the stamps I drew up for Nokomis Nouveau, and head to the Babes Burning Rubber planning committee meeting... did I say "volunteer"?

Dresses, Purses, Vultures and Camelot!

It's been to long since my last Blog...
Christie and I have been busy making products along with creating two dresses for a Valentine's Bash in our town. We both lead busy lives in general and now we've turned up the volume. I am not complaining... I choose this CRAZY LIFE!

First off, I am going to thank my husband and kids for their patience. As usual, everything in the house gets turned on end when I am in a project. I am in many! My middle daughter is in Camelot at her High School. I designed the set for the show. I am building part of the scenery. I am, also, sculpting and painting it. Christie and I have agreed to sell product at the East Coast Vulture Festival. We are busy coming up with products to sell. We will be giving a portion of our receipts towards the festival. Normally, I am up on the stage for this event dressed as a turkey vulture do a dance routine. Yes, I know it sounds a little outlandish and a bit geeky, but I am both of those things.  ;-D We are, also, going be in charge of the face painting for the Vulture Festival. Our daughters and a couple of their friends have volunteered to be trained and help out! We are in the process of finishing up the logo for our company and researching Esty. com and a PayPal account. Starting a business is crazy hectic! LOL!!! We have, also, been up-cycling t-shirts, skirts, dresses, and making purses from scratch. It is very tedious! Luckily, I love patterns and tedium! LOL!!! The following shots are the before shots of the dresses Christie and I up-cycled. 

Notice the neckline and the A-line cut of the dress. Christie changed her neckline and had to adjust the size and I changed the size and form of the dress. We both hand painted them. We, also, painted and beaded two different purses based on the style of our dresses.

Here are photos of the purses I have taken photos of. I will get a shot of Christie's later, hopefully today...

Anyhow, I must be off... I am headed to the gym, then the High School to paint, back home to sculpt and then Belly Dancing tonight! Wahoo!!! As always, more to come... Thanks for reading!