abstract

When I'm really feeling "free to do what I want" (thanks Mick Jagger), I end up with this sort of thing....  Need to grab that "free" feeling a little more often, I think.  This weekend is the great studio clean up so there will be space to have some fun since the rain keeps coming.  Studio time + rain = ART FUN!

www.staceybrownarts.com

Davis building

I forgot to post these really great photos that I took the night of Art Walk.  This is the Sydney and Berne Davis Arts Center.  There is an amazing light source outside the building that illuminates the street, the trees, the building, the people.... and casts the Latin names of Southwest Florida's plants all over the place.  The building itself is gorgeous.  Our friend Jim Griffith has led the restoration project and now it has been transformed from the old courthouse/old post office to a beautiful art center.  You can check out their website at www.sbdac.com.  There's always something amazing going on there.  I love taking photos of the building.  It's a happy place indeed.

www.staceybrownarts.com

new jewelry display

At a shop downtown the other day... in a rare moment where I had caffeine in hand and no children in my car.... I went browsing for the first time in a long while.  I love thrift shopping.  Not only have I clothed my three kids and myself in fantastic finds from thrift stores, but I have also decorated my home and found stuff for my artwork there.  So, after staying away for a while, I returned.

 I get totally supercharged, artistically speaking, by looking around at the displays, the vintage ephemera, other people's artwork and broken, rusty stuff.  While I was there, I found this super cool printer's tray.  I've always wanted one to display my rubber stamps in the studio and have not found one at just the right price.  This one is lovely... very sturdy and the right price.  Now, it's home with me.  And, I've decided to use it to display my earrings!

I think it's super cool.  Tell me what you think?  Maybe I will put little price tags on the earrings....   Should I paint it or leave it in it's natural wooden glory?

www.staceybrownarts.com

So, we had a lot of unexpected fun at Art Walk this past Friday. I thought we'd take the usual gallery walk up and down First Street, see everyone in town and find adventures along the way. But, as it turns out, we camped out at the Sidney and Berne Davis Arts Center and never left. My groom served as host to his students' one act play... twice.... and there were three fashion shows. The girls were long and thin walking on seemingly longer and thinner heels. Beautiful ball gowns started things off and then wearable arts ensembles and painted fabric (in day glow with blacklights) followed. It was all mighty impressive for our little town. But, the real show started after the tall beauties left the stage. The short beauties (about twelve kids) who had watched admiringly in the audience took over the runway and danced and put their own spin on runway modeling to Lady GaGa and Michael Jackson tunes. I realized at that moment that what our backyard needed was simply a long runway and a set of really good backyard speakers.

dinner girls

Here's a funny snapshot of the girls and me.... Clearly, I need to get into the studio more often. We all sort of went bananas drawing on the table during our mid-week dinner out. I love seeing my girls immersed in the arts.

Definitely making some jewelry this weekend....  yep.... definitely.  Got my new flexible shaft, got my crystals, got all my pretty things.  Making some jewelry this weekend.....  yep......

Ya-hoo!  We're heading out to the 3rd Anniversary of Art Walk tonight in downtown Fort Myers!  Not sure whether this will be a grown-up gathering or whether the children will tag along.  Either way, I'm excited.  I love seeing other people's artwork and getting inspired.  I'm especially looking forward to seeing the painted fabrics in the fashion show at the Davis Building.   Given the nice cool weather and ZERO HUMIDITY, it will likely well attended so I'll see lots of friends.  It will be a blast!

In the midst of living life.....  trying to sort out relationships, juggle career commitments, love on the children, dig my way out from  under laundry, manage a crazy allergy attack, and other day to day things....  we have been blessed by a mystery. We have two female rabbits.  Yes, they really are females.  We've had these rabbits as members of the family for about two years now.  And, we have now got three new family members.  How?  I have no idea.  I called our friend and bunny whisperer, Tommy, and made joking accusations about him sneaking a male bunny into our hutch but he denies it all.  He has pointed his finger at our unsuspecting nanny who "may have this sort of criminal mind".  Honestly, we are stumped... but thrilled.  This little surprise has really softened me around the edges.  These tiny little critters have grounded me this week and I'm thankful for that. And, I am amazed at the wonder of nature and how those tiny little ears are so perfect... just like when my own babies were born.  It's all good..... a mystery.... but definitely all good.

This week was filled with dental appointments, eye doctor appointments, birthday parties for adult and child friends plus the usual work at the offices.  I continue to read about artwork, think about making artwork, talk about artwork with friends and intend to start making artwork.  But, alas, something more pressing always seems to take priority.

So, in the evenings, I've been trying to convince my computer to work with me in an effort to save my photographs... which is sort of an art in and of itself.  I think I'm feeling a little better about it all, in that I have purchased a new external hard drive and I've started uploading photos to Picasa.  How do you back up your digital photography?