Good Cause ~ Great Event ~ Art for Kyrie

This is rather late notice, but if you are available this evening, Metamorphosis Art & Gift Auction would be a worthwhile and fun event to attend! Great music, wonderful food and a silent art & gift auction! You can order tickets here, or buy them at the door. Find out all the details here and read more about the Kyrie Foundation here ~ all funds raised are used for pediatric brain cancer research ~ a most worthwhile cause!

Halloween '09 with the Colonel

When it comes to Halloween, I either go all out or do next to nothing ~ usually that has to do with whether or not I've come up with a good costume idea or not. This year, I was inspired by my own surroundings......

{my boyfriend, Dick}

{Sprocket, our dog that crows like a rooster}

Dick and I worked all day Saturday making costumes and carving pumpkins ~ all for 5 seconds worth of photos ~ Speck and Sprocket were not as calm as I had fantasized ~ they were too interested in all the activity going on in the neighborhood and in getting out of their costumes! I had visions of all of us sitting in the front yard together giving out candy to the trick or treaters. Instead, it was just Dick and me in our costumes with a bucket of candy ~ the barking dogs being locked up inside. We had considered giving out fried chicken instead of candy, but decided against it. As you can see, I disregarded my own advice for a costume this year ~ we had a good time anyway ~ saw some great costumes and enjoyed the neighborhood kids. Hope you had a great Halloween too!

Halloween Advice for Women & Girls

This is the story of one Halloween long ago ~ a lesson well learned and worthy of passing on to every woman & girl. My friend Gina & I were debating whether or not to attend the annual Hallmark artists' Halloween party ~ we hadn't come up with a good costume idea, but really wanted to go to the party to see everyone else's costumes. As a last resort, we decided we would go to the party dressed as single girls sharing a girl's night together ~ eating popcorn, trading beauty secrets and reading about how to attract men in the current Cosmo.

What a great idea we thought ~ easy too! We rustled up our housecoats, popped up a bowl of popcorn, gathered up some junky magazines and even stopped at the local drugstore for the finishing touch ~ cold cream ~ which we smeared all over our faces. Ready in five minutes, we headed to the party where we met our other girlfriend, who for some reason was dressed as a pig. The party was in full swing when we arrived ~ great costumes and lots of people. We weren't there too long before we noticed that few people were talking to us. It was dark and a little hard to see so we headed over the brighter area near the bar for a drink ~ it had gotten rather hot in the venue. When Gina got her drink and turned around, I noticed that the cold cream on Gina's face didn't look so great anymore ~ instead of being an opaque white mask, it had become a transparent greasy and globby mess ~ I cannot tell you what it looked like, afterall, this is a G rated blog! Of course, I looked the same ~ it was no wonder no one was talking to us! Our other friend in the pig costume was faring no better ~ she discovered her boyfriend had run off with someone else ~ they had a big fight and broke up. Miserable night ~ we felt like the ugly stepsisters!

Maybe if we had worn sexier bathrobes?

Moral of the story: If you are a female and want to have fun on Halloween, do not dress as a pig or put cold cream on your face ~ I recommend either a pretty costume or a sleazy one ~ either way, guaranteed good time! Try your luck with one of these:

{click on images to see sources}

Favorite Movies ~ Harold & Maude

Last night I was up late working on my art projects for the holiday shows I am participating in ~ as luck would have it, TCM was running Harold and Maude ~ one of my favorite movies ~ so staying up late was much more pleasurable!

I don't remember when I saw it for the first time, but I know it wasn't in 1971 when it was released ~ probably wasn't a blockbuster at the time ~ now, it is a cult classic. In it's own odd way, I find Harold & Maude to be an uplifting film, despite the black humor, the characters' obsession with death and the unique love affair between a young boy and an elderly woman. Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort are a delight to watch - along with many of the other quirky characters like Harold's mother and the string of blind dates she arranges for her son in a desperate attempt to set him on the right path. If you haven't seen it, try it, you'll like it ~ according to the AFI's 100 Funniest Movies, Harold & Maude is #45 ~ for a sneak peek, click below....

BH&G Christmas Ideas

Better Homes & Gardens Christmas Ideas is now on newstands everywhere ~ this year, it was exciting for me to have some of my work included! Debbie Dusenberry's (Stylist & Owner of Curious Sofa) beautifully decorated home is featured in a lovely multi page spread ~ her unique style and impeccable taste is evident in every image. Debbie borrowed some of my book sculptures and paper ornaments for the photo shoot ~ I am flattered that she chose to use my work and I love seeing how beautiful it looks in the vignettes she styled! Even though only one of the images shown below made it for the final cut, I thought the other photos are worthy of sharing too.

There are lots of great ideas in this issue, so go pick up a copy ~ visit Curious Sofa Diaries to see more of Debbie's home.

{book sculptures ~ image from magazine spread}

{Paper ornament ~ see more here}

{more book sculptures}

Fun With Mad Men

What better way to start the week than to waste a little time finding out which Mad Men character you are! Spotted this over at the always entertaining The Bedlam of Beefy ~ looks like he and I have lots in common! The housewife gig does sound pretty good to me right about now ~ two out of three times my answer was Betty, so it must be right. Take the quiz and see who you are here.

If you are still looking for more excitement, Mad Men yourself here.

Cheers! Have a good week!
xoxo ~ Julie (aka Betty)

Show Tomorrow!

Looking forward to the fall show starting tomorrow ~ Saturday too! Find out more specifics here.