What Sebastian Is Up To

The other day someone asked me what Sebastian was up to. I have been so involved with my project I really didn’t know. It occurred to me that I hadn’t seen him in a while so I thought I had better check on him.

I had to look far and wide. I looked to the West and I looked to the East.

Finally I spotted something that was very curious.

I saw this small tent in the distance and decided I better investigate.

As I approached, I thought the paws protruding from the tent looked eerily familiar.

I was right! Sebastian has been hanging out at the beach.

I asked him what he was doing and he said he was saying goodbye to summer. “How is that?” I asked him and he replied, “By relaxing on the beach and reading and thinking.” He was re-reading the classic “The Three Bears”.

He said he had also been teaching himself how to play the harmonica. By the way, he still has a lot of practicing ahead of him.

Catching up on his journal entries also occupied his time.

He also told me he was reading all his old issues of Teddy Bear Times.

“How much longer are you going to be?” I asked. “Oh, just a little while longer,” he answered. He suggested I hang out with the seagulls until he was ready to pack up his tent.

The thing is I wasn’t sure this guy was quite ready to make friends. And I don’t think Sebastian was quite ready to say goodbye to summer either.

More

So many little parts and pieces. Here’s a few more - in various stages of evolution. I’m glad I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I started this project. My expectations are high for these creepy-crawlies. We’ll see.

Over time I have accumulated items that I had hoped would be useful someday. That day is today, yesterday and the day before that too. My spooky supplies have come in hand-y in many ways this time around.

Now I can see the end is in sight. I am hopeful it won’t be long and then . . .

I will be able to let this project rest in peace.

Two Tabletops at the Moment

The following photos show the current state of mayhem chaos creativity in progress on two surfaces. Yes, under all that, there is a surface – normally called a table or a desk. In my dreams, I am a neat and orderly sort of person. In reality, it seems to work out better if all the things I need are right at hand. Or at least under something close by.

When I get to a certain finishing point, I will look at these tables full of materials and say, “Now, it’s time. You have dutifully served your purpose. You must now return to your homes for a while. It was fun while it lasted. I will see you in a little bit.” And I snap my fingers and everything marches back to its place on the shelf. Oh, I’m sorry. I was dreaming I was Mary Poppins for a minute there.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  It helps to know if these things should fall on top of me that someone is there to dig me out – or at least put a sign up that says “Please go around.”

I’m still at it.

Making progress.

Slowly but surely.

Sebastian Meets Fred & Willie

Sebastian here to give you some insight into my our recent road trip. First, let me say that even though this trip was planned a few weeks back, I was only made aware of it when I was suddenly put into the car on Friday. They never tell me anything. I didn’t even have time to pack.

I discovered our destination was Asheville. While there is never enough time to see everything, we managed to have some fun and see a few sights.

Supposedly I was there to provide comic relief. That’s what they told me anyway. I can do silly pretty well, but they really didn’t need me. They’ve got that down pat themselves.

We decided to stop at the Chocolate Lounge in the afternoon because apparently the wait has gotten rather lengthy in the evening. Luckily, I was right in the middle of things to make certain the Crème Brule and coffee were distributed evenly – by my standards, of course.

I like this photo of my reflection in the coffee pot. I think I’m rather cute if I do say so myself.

It was taken just before the big arm wrestling match. I can’t take these people anywhere!

After the coffee and the chocolate, I think I caught the sillies myself. How do you like this photo? If you like it, it was all my idea.

We walked around downtown a little while longer and I got hungry. They said they would find a restaurant that would let animals eat at the table. What?! I am not an animal. I am a furry person. But they just laughed and said “Gotcha!” This particular place uses toys to match your order to your table. I made friends with Fred. He’s not mean at all. His jaw just got stuck that way.

I had this great idea to pretend like he was eating me. You should have seen the look of fright on you-know-who’s face! It was pretty funny! Now we’re even and I know how to get her goat too.

Today we took a short ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped along the way a couple of times. Just to prove I was there, here’s a picture of me high up on a sign. I had a great view from up there.

 

Then I went to meet Willie. This is Willie.

Willie’s job is to model for the Life Drawing class. I hope these photos don’t scare you because Willie is a really fun guy. He told me loads of jokes. I didn’t think anyone would believe me if I told them I had a skeleton for a friend if I didn’t have pictures to prove it. So here’s my proof.

This is me and Willie.

This is Willie trying to tickle me. It was hard to convince him I wasn’t ticklish when I couldn’t stop laughing. Silly Willie and Silly Sebastian.

My side hurts from laughing so much. I think I’ll sleep really well in my own bed tonight. In fact, that sounds like such a good idea I’m going to bed right now.

Exploring My Options – Stage 2

I’m not exactly sure if this is really Stage 2. Maybe it is if Stage 1 had a dozen steps. In any case, whatever phase I am in now I am exploring my options.

I picked up this bauble just recently. It’s not really my style, but I think I can use “dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones”. By the way, did you know those are lyrics to a traditional spiritual song?

I’m fairly certain I will be using some of these bottles. I like having several different styles from which to choose. After jingles bells and boxes, I think small bottles come in at number three for me. Bells, boxes and bottles. Must be a “B” kind of thing.

Lastly, this spray is under consideration. It’s not really a done deal. I have to see if I can work it into my plan. That’s a good one. How about we call it the flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants plan? That’s more definitive I believe.

Particularly Peculiar

I woke up this morning with a thought in my head that I might be heading down a rabbit hole. Do you ever start something and wonder what you’ve gotten yourself into and if it was the right choice? I’m talking art-wise – not life decisions-wise.

This was the conversation that took place between the two of us. By that I mean, me and myself. “It sure is a lot of work. Do you know what you are doing? Why on earth did you think this would be a good idea? Perhaps you need to re-think what you are doing.”

Then I got out of bed, remembered where I was in the scope of this project, and promptly forgot that any such conversation ever took place. The next thing I knew, I glanced up at the clock and it was nearly time for dinner. More support for the adage that time flies when you are having fun. And if you were to see the whole thing at this point, you might wonder what I’ve been doing for the last few days. That’s just how slow my progress seems to be to me.

Nevertheless, in spite of my doubts and the fact that I have to learn stuff as I go, I am going to keep at it. It’s a particularly peculiar form of crazy that I have.

Beginnings and Possibilities

Aren’t most beginnings possibilities or is that too esoteric a question for a Monday? Don’t mind me; I’ll try to keep to the intention of this post.

I am making progress on a Halloween piece or two and I thought I would show you the projects’ beginnings. If I had only known what I was getting myself into at the time, perhaps I would not have even begun but then that’s how some of my better ideas get created. I just don’t analyze the ins and outs too closely.

First up, this witch’s hat. I could give you some hints as to what I am hoping it will turn into but sometimes my ideas evolve as I go along and the end result is a slight deviation from Plan A.

Here’s how the conversation goes between my husband and me when he sees something besides mohair on my worktable:

Him: Should I ask?
Me: No.
Him: Just wait and see?
Me: Yeah.

Then I had left these chess pieces in the garage – what are they? Rooks?

I was never really very good at chess. I do like game pieces though so after going through all the ones I had – the horses and the ones with the pointy tops, I chose these. I know. I know. The horses are knights and the pointy ones are kings.

Next conversation:

Him: What are you doing with those?
Me: What?
Him: The chess pieces in the garage.
Me: Um. Well . . .
Him: Just wait and see?
Me: Yeah, that’d be best.

Finally, I had another idea come to me so I went and pillaged through my cigar box stash and pulled out these two.

I am trying to convince myself to pick one and run with the idea. Then I had this conversation with myself – back and forth, back and forth – as to whether I really think I can do “just one more” project in time for Halloween.

Only time will tell.

As an aside, my husband has the keenest eye for things he knows will interest me. While I’ve been inside ‘doing stuff’ with witch’s hats and chess pieces, he went outside and spotted this crop of mushrooms in the back yard. Of course I had to stop and go take a photo of them. Now you can see them too.

Back to the work table for me. I have to sort the fur from the fragments of various Halloween-y things. And I’m still peeling glue from my fingers.

Cows and Dreams of Flying

Here it is. Friday already. And I got – nothing. Nothing I tell you. Not that I haven’t been busy. I have been. Busy, that is. In fact, I have several projects on the go at various stages. Here’s the inventory: 3 for Halloween, 2 for Christmas, 4 bears in various stages and a list of ideas that goes on for two pages. The big question is: How much of it will I actually be able to finish? Yeah, I ask myself that about twenty times a day.

Busy, bizzy or buzzy?

I have been taking photos, but it’s a s-l-o-o-o-o-w process. Fun, exciting, challenging, and yep, sometimes, quite slow. And it’s not even on the scale of the Fairy Feast I completed about a month or so ago. Really? Has it been that long? Oh my.

In lieu of any works in progress photos, I thought I would entertain you with cows and dreams of flying. They have very little to do with each other. But they do have one very, very important thing in common. What on earth could it be, you ask?

First, let’s have a look at a couple of the cows from our Cow Parade. These babies show up in the most unexpected places so discovery is part of the fun. That and following the map that tells you exactly where to find them.

I haven’t seen them all but this one is probably among my top five favorites. This one was sponsored by Burt’s Bees. The wings are great and . . .

that stinger! Whoa! You wouldn’t want to be stung by that!

This colorful one is called Arcoiris. My favorite bits on this one: hot pink hooves and horns!

Now let’s move onto Dreams of Flying. This quirky sculpture is on display here for the next few months. In the artist statement he says it “depicts a shotgun shack that is transformed into a space craft of dubious reliability”. It seems people can’t help but stop and take a good long look at this piece. And take pictures! Check out those rocket thrusters. I love it!

So what do Cows and Dreams of Flying have in common? Other than being whimsical? They are pieces of art – each in their own way. Have a great weekend!