Blue

The coolness of this photo is perfect for the hot days we've been experiencing. I need to look at cool things!

photo by Mim, taken in our studio in Paris, March 2009 What is the subject?

Summer time, pool time.

We've been going to our small salt water swimming pool every morning, just about, from 7h30 to 8h30 to do exercises. Since it's been so hot here (90s - 30s) the water has been, oh shall we say: tepid! In this photo, taken with my 'phone, you can see the shallow end of the pool and the little utility house. The whole thing is tucked into a triangle of land between a residential neighborhood and Interstate 95!! There is now a wall up, so that we don't see the traffic, though we hear the white noise sound of it. There are tall trees around, and at night there are bats who swoop down to eat the bugs. Usually, there are only 3 or 4 of us there this early, which is super nice. We're so lucky!!

Shifting Sands

I'm working on a new collage, which will be used as cover art for a book of essays, edited by Osie Gabriel Adelfang. Check out the web site for the book: here. Note that I have a link on my side bar, also. I'm very excited to be a part of this endeavor. If you're on Facebook, become a fan.

My collage image posted here is NOT the image for the book cover. I just decided to show you one of my older collages, which were responses to 9/11 and security.

New shades!

Here's the final look with our new shades and new windows. The shades are like an industrial kind of shade that we've seen in galleries and restaurants, and a some friends' apartments. They are so nice. They let light in, we can see out (kinda) and people can't see in. Ours were put in by Chandler Shades (a local company, of course) a family run business that was really nice to deal with. We won't be putting up any other "window treatments" as they're called. We're finished! Yay!

Wheelie bin!

Look at what I got last week! My own mini Wheelie Bin. It came all the way from the U.K. from Found-Art. I'm so excited. It was full of goodies that I'll be able to find a use for and I'll use the wheelie bin to hold my push pins in the studio. Isn't it so cute?

My Etsy shop, Fritzi

I'm so happy! I took the time this morning to post some new Purses for Change in my Etsy shop. I sold one the other day so needed to add to my stock. I love ETSY!! Oh, the link is on the left on my side bar. I fixed it so that it actually does link!

First time of the season....

I don't know why I waited so long, or why I couldn't figure out how to fit pool time into my day, but yesterday morning, quite early, I went with N. & C. to the pool for the first time this summer. The water was on the warm side due to the hot weather we've been having, but it was refreshing anyway. It's a salt water pool!

The pole and some views

Though you can barely see it, there on the pole where the shelf used to be, was the word "summer" with a flower in wire and beads, held in place by two push pins. I was deeelighted to see it. Previously, I found the word "Dream" on the pole and a day later, discovered it was on the sidewalk. So I took it home.
When I'm in New York City, I take photos of water tanks. For some reason, those ubiquitous structures fascinate me. What a surprise, while riding passenger in the car the other day, I noticed this water tank on the old FFV plant (Finer Food of Virginia used to make cookies in this plant, making the neighborhood smell like a big grandma's kitchen.) I never noticed the tank before. Notice all the visual clutter!

The other night, we had dinner at the home of friends, where we had a yummy summer salad of heirloom tomatoes, homemade mozzarella, and basil. Perfect hot summer food.

I really like this photo that I snapped as I left my friend's apartment for the last time. The chair was waiting to be moved to another apartment. It was quiet and still as I closed the door.

Tiny Collages and how they keep me centered.....

Here are some of the collages that I made in Paris in March, and recently sent off to the Art-o-Mat. Each one is the size of a pack of cigarettes, roughly. I was really pleased with these because they are way more colorful than what I'd been doing previously. I added some colored pencil marks to some of them because of an artist (Wilhelm Schlote) whom we met in Paris, whose work made me happy. Making these little collages, making Mail Art to send out into the world, has kept me from being off-center, from being stopped in my tracks, has kept me going while having to deal with something really sad, that I never, ever imagined I'd have to do. I had to help my friend, whom I've known since I was 14, move into a nursing home. The past week was most difficult, and yesterday was moving in day. I stopped by to check on her today and it wasn't going so well for her. Hopefully, things will be a bit better as she gets adjusted. Meanwhile, I have all of her portfolios of art work here at my house. They're wonderful. Maybe I'll post some images of them. Yes, soon as I get the chance, I'll do that. I'd love to show them to you. Meanwhile, back to making tiny art! ART RULES!