Art Therapy #8

I am happy that Nancy and I are getting our lives back under control. She's moved. The Miata is gone. The Summer construction is finished. And we are back to sending weekly postcards.

A psychic once told me that I had 3 happy lives in Paris. I do believe that. I often search old photos seeing if something seems familiar. I have moments of deja vu when I see photos of the Montmarte area and the Sacre Coeur. This photo made Nancy think of me. And frankly I can't stop looking at it. When I see it I have that feeling when you are in a dream and can't quite remember something.

I think Nancy is happy in her new creative space. And it is showing in her postcards. Looking forward to a fall visit to see this new space!

These are all shots of textures from the Forge Art Show that was in our neighborhood. It certainly has a moody feel to it. Scroll down if you want to see more from that show.

I spend most of a day drawing these little mid-century looking trees for a Christmas card and then just tossed it all in the trash. One of those days when nothing works. I made this postcard out of the scraps and actually liked it. Maybe it will resurface again some day.

The new porch...

I love porches. That love probably comes from playing on my Grandma's porch when I was little. We have added them to 2 houses. Our condo always has a leak somewhere. So this was the year to address those leaks with a 3 fold plan. Guys who installed the really high windows came back and re caulked those. We put a new rubber roof on the overhang and the area behind the half wall...

And we added a screened in porch. This is above my office so we really needed to address the leak problem.

It is a small space, only 7.5 x 13' and is off our bedroom. It is a little piece of serenity with a 90 degree lake view.

Flooring came from IKEA. It is stained wood and came in 1' squares. They just snap together. I laid half the floor. Feels good on bare feet.

This was old living room furniture on loan to a young doctor friend who is living in a studio apartment. Throw is from Justine. Tray and bird clock are from Julie. Lake coasters from Jane. The girlfriends have good taste. Yes, I know that I have upholstered furniture against a screened window. But this will do until I find vintage 50s heavy bamboo furniture. I will recover the cushions in some Auntie's old grass cloth living room drapes.

Love those bases. Love mid-century modern. Perfect size for small spaces. I assume these are a knock off.

This is an authentic Bertoia chair. Heart made by Justine. On the Handy Andy creeper are Rosie, Betty and Harold sculptures that I made.

I was delighted to furnish the small space with treasures I already own. And when moving things up from the basement what do you think we found? Yes, another leak. At least it is in the basement.

Plz vote for Rae.

I hate to ever ask anyone to vote for me in anything.

But things have changed in the last few years with how we buy things... Netfix, Amazon, iTunes for movies, music, books and pretty much everything else. Buying fonts has also changed. Now there are discount places where you can buy a $1500 bundle of fonts for $39. I can't compete with that.

So I am trying to break into Minted. Minted is a website that has Challenges, which are really Contests, which is really Spec Work. Artists create art based on the current challenge and people vote.

If you do not win you get nothing. I you do win it can be profitable and then you get your own store.

Here are my entries for the latest Christmas Challenge.

Wilderness Christmas will be offered in both color ways. https://www.minted.com/design-rating/821679

Contemporary Ornaments with a retro feel. https://www.minted.com/design-rating/827401

These 4 Holiday cards all use my doodle font illustrations with a few extras drawn and tossed in. https://www.minted.com/design-rating/827381

A water color tree with Outside the LIne fonts. https://www.minted.com/design-rating/821675

This one is probably a bit out there, but I am trying to find my Minted style. https://www.minted.com/design-rating/821661

So, if any of you have the time and energy to vote that would be great. If not I completely understand. We are all too busy.

If you do... 1. Click on a link. It will first make you sign up on Minted. (Sorry)
2. Go back to this post and click on the individual links to vote.

thanks!
Rae

Forge Art Show

If you like old buildings, rusty stuff and art, do catch this art show. It is open through the weekend.

John stumbled on this art show when riding his bike to work on the bike path. It is kitty corner from the Goodman Center, who owns this building. If you have ever been in the Goodman Center you know what a beautifully restored that building is. The same architect will be doing this building.

20 artists have their work displayed here.

If you go
What: "Forge," an industrial-sized installation created by local artist.
Where: Madison Brass Works building, 214 Waubesa St.
Exhibition hours: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 4 to 8 p.m. June 16; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 17.
Admission: Free
Please note: Visitors are advised to wear sensible, close-toed shoes and be prepared for walking on uneven surfaces. Many of the spaces are not accessible to people with disabilities. 

Website: forgeart.org

Above info from the Wisconsin State Journal

Art Therapy #7

Nancy and I have gotten off schedule. She is moving and my Miata died.

This was a pattern that I was playing with for a possible Minted card background.

And here are a couple brush strokes that I really like that I did use as a Minted background.

With the demise of my car I got a cool, red bike. On a bike ride I did a little watercolour. I like the water a lot. I could do this one again with much better results. For me the third time is generally a charm.

This one I did specifically with Nancy in mind. She loves the Mississippi and is in the middle of a move and rethinking the next chapter in her life.

This card is a Mother's Day card that is part of a book that Nancy is working on. Hopefully her new space will be a new creative writing space.

This card is Nancy's life right now. Lots of new changes, some life and others creative. Keep traveling in this direction Nancy, you have what it takes.

We may or may not pick this up when the dust settles. Either way this Art Therapy has been good for us, especially for me in the Winter months.

Easy Chicken Curry

We are always trying to eat better. That means more meals at home. This recipe was a hit.

1 rotisserie chicken -  I like rotisserie chicken because someone else cooked it. Just shred it.
2 T butter
4 green onions, chopped
3 T curry powder - Sounds like a lot, but yes you do need 3 T.
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup chicken stock
1 can of pineapple tidbits, plus the juice
3 T crystallized ginger - I chopped it in my new NINGA food processor that I love. (No one paid me to say that.)
Ground red pepper, to taste
4 T raisins
1/4 cup lime juice
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Trader Joe's brown rice. I get the box with 3 packs of rice in it. It is in the freezer section. Just microwave for 3 minutes.

Shred chicken, set aside.

Heat butter in sauce pan. Add onions and saute 2-3 minutes. Stir in curry powder. Gradually add the coconut milk, chicken stock and juice from the pineapple.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add the ginger and red pepper. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add chicken, simmer for 15 minutes.

Add raisins, pineapple, lime juice and cream. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Serve over rice. Enjoy.

Why I consider this easy is the substitution of rotisserie chicken vs. poaching chicken. Plus the tasty, easy microwavable rice.

Just want to share these fun Jack + Ella Paper recipe cards. 20 pack, 4 designs, double sided. Jack + Ella's design, my lettering and illustrations. http://www.jackandellapaper.com/misc-paper-goods

Chair Bliss.

People who know me know that I am crazy about chairs, good chairs, designer chairs. A well designed chair is a piece of art.

In February I spent an afternoon at the Art Institute in Chicago. I wandered into the Architectural Design room and said, "Ohhhhhhhhhhhh," loud enough that people turned and looked at me. Pure bliss. SO. MANY. AMAZING. CHAIRS. And all in one place.

I was beside myself to see this Small Diamond Chair designed by Harry Bertoia, 1952. Why? Because I own two.

One day my friend Nita called me and said, "When Terry and I come to see you for lunch I am bringing you 3 chairs and you will pay me $____ . I thanked her and said that was nice but I didn't need any chairs. She said, "You need these chairs." And by god I did.

I so love this Mid Century Modern Tulip Chair designed by Eero Saarinen, 1957. I wish I had a set of 4 and the marble table that goes with it.

More great lines... with the DKR Side Chair designed by Charles and Ray (Kaiser) Eames, 1951. Love those little feet and the openness of this chair.

Just look at this stool. The base... the repeating shapes... that tiny little circle back. The Birillo Stool by Joe Colombo, 1971

If you get to the Art Institute do visit this exhibit. I could easily go back again and again.

Jessica, Rae, podcasts, magazines, dogs and more...

I know from time to time I talk about my talented friend Jessica from Jack & Ella. We meet, we collaborate, we drink coffee. She chats about that and more on this podcast. I am so glad she is my friend. All creative people who work from home and run their own business need to find this kind of relationship. I am lucky.

If you want to listen go here.