Art & Soul... Rock The House!

Art & Soul... here we come! Tuesday after work, Bonnie and I are leaving for the Hampton, Virginia retreat. We'll be teaching "House of Rock" on Wednesday night and then playing (yay!) for 4 whole days and nights! There is even a Vendor night where some of the artists sell their wares and other merchants have lots of great supplies, ephemera, antiques and flea market goodies.

I am really looking forward to being creative and being amongst people who love adventure and creativity. I need this so much right now.

I'll post pictures of the retreat and of my creations when I return on the 5th. Stop back then...

I Know, I Know... But It's The Law!

Okay, I know I should be packing and shopping and sorting and getting ready to leave for Art & Soul in two days! But it was 80 degrees on Sunday, not a cloud in the sky, with a gentle breeze blowing. Here in a shore town, it's kind of "the law" that on the first nice day of Spring you have to go to the beach. So I snuck down for 2-1/2 hours. But I still cut my hair, washed my car and picked out my wardrobe. Tomorrow's another story...

Busy, Busy...

I've been so busy lately... sorting through all my flea market finds and random junk. I'm getting ready to go to Art & Soul... my favorite art retreat in Hampton, Virginia. My friend and associate Bonnie and I teach the opening night class, and then we get to play and be students. Maybe I'll see you there...

Happy Earth Day!

Today we celebrate our planet and help to inspire awareness and appreciation of the Earth's environment. So, just a little photo with two of my favorite things on this Earth... birdies and trees.

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Palace Bumper Cars

If you haven't already guessed, Asbury Park is one of my favorite places to take black and white photos. And one of my favorite subjects has always been the Palace Amusements building. Since torn down, the peeling, seafoam green walls will live on forever in my memory. Along with the retro artwork that decorated each side of the building...

Spinning, Spinning, Spinning...Oh So Dizzy...

My life these last few weeks has been a real Tilt-A-Whirl ride! Up and down and spinning out of control 'til you think you can't take one more second! But then it's over... you're walking off all drunk-like... staggering and laughing. And then you think... hey, maybe one more time...

Hey, you gotta give me credit for finding a pink Tilt-A-Whirl? Cool!

My "Master Card" Day: HAIR in NYC...

Round-trip train fare to New York City: $22.50
Yummy lunch with family & friends at Becco: $35
Ticket for HAIR on Broadway: $75.00
Getting to dance with the cast onstage at the end of the show... PRICELESS!

©photos by Patti Behan

True Confessions...The Tattooed Lady

Okay, okay, I confess! I love tattoos and I love getting tattooed! Over the fall and winter, in two separate sessions... I got this awesome half sleeve of my favorite sugary sweets. Of course, it all started around wanting a cupcake and led to half an arm filled with cotton candy, m&m's, peppermint pinwheels, a lollypop, double scoop ice cream cone, taffy, cherries, candy apple and some jelly beans.

I absolutely adore the piece and it makes me smile every time I look at it. And it's definitely a conversation starter! Kudos to my most awesome tattoo artist... Michele Haspel from Fat Kat Tattoo! I'll be back!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday (ok, Wednesday!): Asbury Carousel Building

This photo is of the roof on the Carousel building in Asbury Park that I used to visit as a child. It used to be part of the Palace Amusements... since closed down and replaced with condos. However, Asbury is saving the Carousel building and is actually in the process of refurbishing it right now. And in the interim, they are using the building as an open air venue for plays and exhibits.

Happy Easter...

Hope everyone had a nice holiday and got to spend time with loved ones. I had a nice dinner with my mom and brother... then we got to find our easter baskets. Yes, 40 and 30 years old and mom still hides our baskets... And I love it!

Full Moon Fever...

Full moon tonight. I love a full moon. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the "half," the "quarter," or the "crescent". . . but there's just something about a full moon... Howwwwwwwwl!

I Love Vintage Everything...

Not only do I like to use decades-old stuff in my art, but I also love to wear it too! Currently, this is one of my favorite combinations... a 70's polyester print shirt, complete with a groovy scarf... a steal for $12 at a local flea market. And a peach short sleeve shirt I got at J.C. Penney for only $1.98!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Dead Roses

One of my favorite techniques is the Polaroid transfer. You take a slide photograph and expose it onto the old polaroid peel away film (the gunky kind)... pull off the paper tab when it's done... and place it onto watercolor paper. The result is absolutely unpredictable. The roses above were left in a vase while on vacation and upon returning, they looked good enough to photograph. The transfer technique really lent itself to the overall feeling of the photo.

Listen To The Universe...

Did you ever wonder what the Universe is trying to tell you? Do you think twice about those serendipitous coincidences? Or perhaps those life lessons are more like a slap in the face (the Universe definitely has a sense of humor!). Well, wonder no more...

I totally recommend that you sign up for "Notes from the Universe" where you will receive a special message—Mondays through Fridays—via e-mail. And I'm not kidding when I say... the Universe is watching you! And that's a good thing...

Ahhhhhh...Sweet Relief...

Mom was going into town, so I said, "I need cupcakes." Not, "could you get me some"... no... I need them. Ahhhhh... and what good medicine!

Patterns...

Today was a day of looking at patterns. No matter how much you think you see as you're standing right on top of them... all you have to do is take a couple of steps back and your perspective totally changes. Take a giant leap back... and then you have quite another view!