VeggieArtGirl

Oh baby!

2012-01-21T09:40:00.000-08:00

I always said that if I ever become a mom, I wouldn't be one of those moms who is obsessed with their baby and doesn't maintain a "normal" life after baby arrives. I thought I would be able to put this little munchkin down for a nap and get HOURS of work done each day. I thought, hey this seems like a piece of cake. I can do this.
It was recently brought to my attention that perhaps I was looking ahead with rose colored glasses, as they say. Maybe it was the giant belly and all the brainfreeze from the strawberry smoothies I was craving that distorted my perception of how life was really going to be. Because yes, I can do this, but boy have I had to rearrange a few things.

I have found myself in a place where I am both more exhausted and inspired than I have ever been. Not the best mix. I have been finding the time here and there to paint (and am loving what I am doing!), but it unfortunately comes in the wee hours of the morning when I should be sleeping. (They say when baby sleeps, you should sleep too...which is kind of a load of crap. There's so much to do!)

But it is all worth it of course. I wouldn't change a second of it for anything. I mean, look at this cute 13 pound meatloaf:

The truth of it all now is that I am one of those moms. I am obsessed with this baby. I cannot even remember life without him (though I do have vague recollection of a time when I slept through the night and didn't always have dried puke on my shoulder.) Normal? What's that? I am finally ready to admit that no, I cannot do it all right now. I thought I could but a certain three and a half month old begs to differ.

So, life can wait. He's only this teeny once and for the shortest time. Art is happening here and there, and when this little one is a little more self sufficient and doesn't require every second of my attention, look out! Big things are coming out of my studio and into the world! :o)

And now he wakes...where's that binky?

Why hello there, blog.

2011-12-01T13:31:00.001-08:00

Oh my...it's been a while. What's new in my world? Just this little guy! :o)

Little Harper was born on September 30, weighing in at 7 lbs., 12 oz. Life sure has been busy since he got here, but it's filled with sooooo much joy! :o)

Anam Cara

2011-07-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

People ask me all of the time about Anam Cara in Asheville...a lil' shoppe that my biz partner Erinn and I have made out of an old bingo hall in West Asheville. She's the director of the Anam Cara Theatre. The shop is called The Anam Cara Collective (translation: "soul friend"), and it's a little combination of what she does and what I do (consignment artsy crafty stuff). Here's a lil' peek into the shoppe...Repurposed ceiling fixtures and decorations. I don't think ANYTHING cost us more than $10.00 in the whole shop! Just a lot of imagination and a whole LOT of elbow grease to get the shop up and running! Of course you can find my signature signs, hula hoops and cards in the shoppe. And a GREAT selection of vintage clothes! Aaaaand: check out this awesome stage in the back of the shoppe! Perfect for parties, poetry readings, performances and more! :o)

Thinking of visiting? Shoppe is located at 203 Haywood Road, West Asheville 28806. Website coming soon!

An enchanted cottage.

2011-07-19T05:37:00.000-07:00

One blue kitchen ceiling + a funky mix of paint = one happy ceilling!
Now how can you be grumpy when you ALWAYS have sunny skies in your kitchen? What fun!

Getting ready for tour.

2011-06-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

As my boyfriend was getting ready for a 2 week long stint on the road, I tried to help out with little marketing details so that he could be a driving/walking billboard as he traveled the east coast. First detail: vehicle lettering. (And here's a tip to all you small business owners: letter your car! It's quite possibly the best way to stand out and get attention for the least amount of advertising dollars!) Jim is a graphic designer as well, so he had a clean and quirky design all set for his t-shirts and stickers. I just added it to the car (his new Mini Cooper!) with two colors of vinyl. TA-DA!Then I got to thinking about the dates Jim was leaving...and I thought maybe I could go too. So I did! I drove down to the Carolinas with Jim and flew back a week later while he traveled on. Best road trip buddy ever.Yessssssssss! For more info about Jim's tour, you can check him out at http://www.jimtyrrell.net/ or view his live streams of music at http://www.thejimtour.com/

garden goodness.

2011-06-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I have made it this far in life without ever really having a garden. I have done some container gardening with little success. But after diving in and learning what the heck a perennial even was (and with some help and inspiration from my awesome friends!), I finally have a pretty front yard garden! Thanks Tina & T-Rej!Half of the fun was being able to add funky things to the swirly garden bed. This sled here is one that my mom used as a little kid. Oh, the Christmas wreath. Yeah, I can't take that down. There's a family of robins living in it. Sure they poop on my plants, but they look too cozy to move. So Merry Christmas!Have you ever smelled the sweet smell of dark mulch? It's warm, it's delicious. It smells like worstershire sauce. I wanted to eat it.

Yay! Garden!

This Saturday, June 11th!

2011-06-08T09:46:00.001-07:00

Come one, come all to Veggie Art Girl's Flea Market & Craft Fair! We'll be selling crafty goods and flea market finds from 9-4...swing on by! For more info: http://www.veggieartgirlboutique.com

A cute lil' chicken house.

2011-04-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

These Asheville chickens needed a fancier home...When I stayed at the DIY B&B this past winter, Erica and I spruced up the chicken's abode. The color concept: mint chocolate chip ice cream. The design concept: funky, retro chickens, flowers and the encorporation of an excerpt from one of Erica's grandfather's favorite books. ' "Ever had a drink of watermelon wine?" he asked. He told me about it, though I didn't answer back....Ain't but three things in this world that's worth a solitary dime, but old dogs and children...and watermelon wine.'I'm pretty sure Bubbles the chicken liked it. :o)And this is the cute lil' staked sign that I painted to go in front of the house. Need a place to stay when you are in the Asheville area? Check out the DIY B&B in West Asheville...it's super groovy! :o)

Vintage awesomeness.

2011-02-25T15:50:00.001-08:00

Check out this lovely new addition to my home!
Gosh, it's a good day when you stumble upon a groovy chair like this at the thrift store. :o)

Grand Opening Success!

2011-02-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

Following a beautiful weekend of sunshine for the painting of the building, we were lucky enough to have another great weekend for our grand opening of The Anam Cara Collective!Erinn and I created this sign on wheels out of an old billboard I found on the side of the road in downtown Asheville. We rolled it out to the street in the early afternoon, got the cupcakes set up, stocked the wine and beer and prepped the stage for the lovely Nikki Talley. We were soooo excited to reveal all of our hard work to the public. :o)Nikki won over the crowd with her beautiful southern folk rock. Store sales were flowing. Energy was upbeat and positive. Everyone really loved the space, the vibe, the music. What a great night!Yay! A full house! Nikki Talley rocks! If you are in the Asheville area and see her playing anywhere, I highly recommend that you get the chance to see her. For show info and musical samplins', you can check out www.NikkiTalley.com. Thanks again Nikki for making our grand opening such a success!

Crafty goodness.

2011-02-03T22:15:00.001-08:00

They say one's trash is another man's treasure. Well, that's pretty much the story of my life. I make art out of crap and try to creatively repurpose any junk I see beauty in before it makes its way to the landfill. Setting up shoppe #2 here in Asheville has been super inspiring and I have found many ways to cut corners with my moola and still make beautiful displays. Here are a few examples of my Crafty Kathy ideas to share:

I needed something to hang small print, cards, photos, etc. on the wall with. And here in NC, there is bamboo a-plenty, so I took a couple of lengths and mounted it to the wall. $1.00 in vintage ribbon and clothespins from a local thrift store later, I have a fun wall hangy thing...perfect for my homemade moustache stickers and swirly tree greeting cards! (But you could use this in your home for photos!)

I love old windows and try to save every one (and shutter) I see abandoned in piles on the side of the road. Here are a couple of examples of displays that are the perfect project for slightly cracked windows. I cut scraps of foam core and cork board to fit in the window panes. And rather than buying fabric, I found some old velvety skirts at the Goodwill, cut them up and stretched them around the boards. I used liquid nails to adhere them inside the window panes.

Now anything can hang in these windows (jewelry, photos, etc.) with simple push pins or straight pins.

This display piece I take a lot of pride in: the orange ironing board wall hanging. Here's a tip for the thrifty: visit out-of-town dumps in your travels and see if they have a swap shop. I was about an hour out of town one day and stopped at a dump (mainly because I had been admiring the beautiful sign for years). They initially told me to leave because I didn't have a dump sticker. But when I explained that I was leaving nothing and wanted to see if they had a pile of junk I could look through for art projects, they waved me through and guided me to the swap shop. And there I found this orange beauty. I yanked the legs off the ironing board and mounted it to the wall with initial intention of making a magnet display board. But then I discovered that the holes were perfectly spaced for pegboard brackets. Excellent.

This was another dump find: a rusty old cart with a bent wheel. A quick coat of paint and some fabric scraps cut to size for the inside shelves and voila!...a gorgeous plant or display stand! This one is going to be filled with funky potted plants for the Anam Cara shoppe.

Everything is coming together and we open in just 1 day! Yippie!

You know what else is cool about living in Asheville at the D.I.Y. B&B?

2011-02-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

The kitties! This one is Marie. Or Mimi. I cannot remember. I call it Cat. (It looks like a giant here, but in real life it is teeny.)

This fluffy beast is Sylvester. But I call him Sylvia. Or Orange Cat.

Meowz!

Fringe Freak Fest!

2011-02-01T08:09:00.000-08:00

I have been working hard here for the past 2 weeks, setting up shoppe. But you can't have all work and no play! The Fringe Fest is a staple in my winter stays in Asheville- a 3 day festival of sorts where you can, well, fly your flag. Be yourself. It's all about performance, music, dance, costume and just...being strange. Here is how our Friday Night Fringe went: Step 1.) Get fringe-on-stick.
Step 2.) Wave your fringe (see video below).

Step 3.) Watch brilliant, wacky, zany, funny small plays, beautiful dance, enjoy local brews and laugh with friends in make-shift performance studios in the River Arts District. (This stage was in a pottery studio.)

Step 3.5) Watch funny puppet shows, too.

4.) I don't know if there IS a caption for this photo...

Oh, and here is a little more Fringy goodness:

Transforming the building...

2011-02-01T07:26:00.001-08:00

Our new shoppe has undergone MAJOR renovation. From wall building to carpet ripping-out to scrubbing and cleaning and painting...it is completely new inside and out, evoking giddy screams and "I can't believe what you have done" gasps from people who saw it when it was the infamous Beach Bingo. (Still to be determined what Beach Bingo actually was...we think some sort of underground drug and gambling operation.) We have been working night and day on this place!

This was the outside of the building BEFORE we attacked it with a beautiful spectrum of paint this past weekend. Trust me: this photo makes it look good. It was a hot mess, but Erinn, myself and many of our super supportive friends saw the diamond in the rough.

Steph- putting on the first strokes of paint!

Take a look at the sky! Nearly 70 degrees- just gorgeous...perfect building painting weather! Lots of our friends (so graciously) stopped by in paint clothes to help. THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who helped make this happen!

Somewhere around 5:30 p.m., it was on the brink of dusk and Laura exclaimed, "let's put the sign up now!" (We were going to do it on Sunday.) Our adreneline was pumping and we didn't want to stop. So (despite the fact that I look like I am not helping at all in any of these pictures), I finished striping the awning and climbed the ladder 15 feet in the air to hang the giant sign I made. I completely conquered my fear of heights. Sort of.And here we are, soaking up the last few minutes of sunlight, exhausted, dehydrated and sunburnt under the fancy new sign of our Asheville business! Yay!

Wall transformation.

2011-01-30T20:29:00.000-08:00

I have been in Asheville for 2 weeks and I am amazed at how much has been created, painted, transformed and is coming together. The concept of the shoppe we are building here includes a small stage and performance area (we have been approved for a 49 seat theatre house! Yay!) So we had to transform the back wall and stage into something fantastic and magical...on a shoestring budget, of course.

Weee! Paint!Dark walls: check. Flowy handsewn red curtains (that once were my livingroom drapes): check. Clearance rack Christmas lights: check. Scallopy, flowy curtain topper sewn out of an old shower curtain I found at the Goodwill for $.50: check. $2.00 red windows for wall to add architechtural elements and pull the color scheme together: check. The look on people's faces when you tell them this entire stage was created on a $10.00 budget: priceless. :o) This is going to be amazing. (And the sign laying on the stage is a little sneak peak- will post pictures of the building and hung sign soon!)

Be kind to one another.

2011-01-27T07:17:00.001-08:00

Walls, inspiration and naked girls.

2011-01-26T09:06:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest: it's been a while since I have felt so inspired, so alive with creativity. I experience inpiration in the little things in life...it is always there for me. But it has been a while since I have experienced goosebump-y, jumping-up-and-down, oh-my-gosh-I-can't-breathe inspiration. This has been a whirlwind week of sketching, envisioning and imagining...then painting, creating, gluing, stitching, nailing and building to bring these ideas to life.

Next on my wacky life agenda (as many of you know) is to be a partner in the Anam Cara Collective in Asheville, a consignment art shoppe (much like Veggie Art Girl!) paired with a performance space for intimate shows and performances. The marriage of the two concepts feels so natural to me, that I knew it was going to be a smashing success the minute that my partner Erinn starting talking about it over beer at the local pub a year (or two?) ago.
Now, everything is becoming an exciting reality. We've been transforming this olllld building on Haywood Ave. into a beautiful venue for our first show performance on Feb. 5th (Nikki Talley!), which is going to be followed by two weekends of Naked Girls Reading. Our art shoppe is going to open a couple of days prior. People have really been working together to help make this happen. Local press has been creating a buzz! It is all overwhelmingly amazingly inspiring and humbling to me.

And now (drumroll please!)...I will share with you some of our cool construction. First off: we needed to divide the space a bit for sound, seating and all that. So we built a wall.

In trying to stay green (and save some moola!) we decided to use old doors and shutters. I brought some with me (in Janis!) from NH and we created this beautiful wall! (Dad, you should be proud- everything you taught me about framing out a wall, I used- it's all 24 on center! AND amazingly square and level!)
The best part? The wall is hinged to the wall so we can fold it flat to open up the space. I have to say that I have taken a lot of inspiration for this wall project from Melissa McCarthy at The Studio- whose wall on wheels I have been admiring for some time. :o) (And all of the funky architechtural pieces are taken from old shelving I dumpster dove for!) There are pieces and parts from all over the place, making this installation so rich in texture, but history. I love this wall!

And I love what I am doing here. I can't wait to share more pics of our progress, shop and shows. Awesome things are happening! Cheers to art! :o)

Asheville or bust!

2011-01-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, I packed Janis to the brim with all sorts of creative stuff and headed south for a month-long adventure in the best city ever. And while this stay is going to be shorter than most, I have giant, GIANT plans for my 4 week stay! See Mom? I am wearing my seatbelt. :o)

I packed my two travel buddies: Kermit the Frog and Michael Jackson...

Beautiful skies and sunshine led me through the mountains to my favorite city in the world...

On the last leg of my trip through Tennesee, I got to enjoy this beautiful sunset. (Well, I didn't stop to TAKE these pictures...I just strapped the camera to my arm, hung it out the window and kept on driving!)

And now I am here, safe and sound...Janis all in one piece and this crazy city out my front door. Stories of Asheville awesomeness coming soon...and pictures of my new business adventure here! I am so completely overwhelmed with inspiration, that I cannot wait to share with everyone! :o)

Vintage awesomeness.

2010-12-29T08:24:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted one of these (but I am not sure why). Happy, happy rooster cheese plate!

The youngest Veggie Art Girl fan!

2010-12-27T07:16:00.000-08:00

(And probably the cutest) :o)

Merry, merry!

2010-12-24T06:55:00.000-08:00

From my heart to yours, happy holidays to all! May you be surrounded by love, light and happiness! :o)

Open House recap

2010-12-21T10:18:00.000-08:00

Business has been good at the shop and it's nice to see so many people shopping locally this holiday season. We celebrated last week with an Open House shindig- lots of fun, delicious food and great energy! Jim Tyrrell rocked the stage with a fantastic blend of music while people shopped and socialized. Hannah Banana loved the cake I decorated!

Anna was a naughty girl...

This is my lil' shop helper, all dressed up in her party dress. :o) She made the BEST raffle ticket master!

Happy Holidays, everyone! :o)

A lil' holiday baking...

2010-12-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

I made this cute pie! And it was guh-huh-hood.
*nom, nom, nom.*

Nutty design.

2010-12-11T09:14:00.000-08:00

This has been an exciting design project- package design for a locally made organic granola (that is DEE-LISH!) I've done everything from the logo design (a vintage truck drawn in my sketchbook) to the package concept and sticker design. I've loved working with a vintagy color palette, giving the package a classic feel...but keeping it a little bit funky. I love the green rice paper bags that the granola comes in! The granola is sooo yummy, loaded with nuts and comes in small or large bags. They even have a crunchy baked or a soft baked and make it right here in Holderness, NH at the Holderness General Store!

For more info, you can find Nutty Granola on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/search.php?q=nutty+granola&init=quick&tas=search_preload#!/pages/Nutty-Granola/133333246703973

Holiday Open House!

2010-12-05T09:04:00.001-08:00

I'm really, really, really excited about this.

It's our third annual Holiday Open House at my store, and last year we had such a great turnout that we're doing it again! Join us Friday, December 10th as we provide you with an alternative Christmas shopping experience. Jim Tyrrell will be playing some music as delicious refreshments are served and we giveaway great homemade items! At the end of the evening, we have a Yankee Swap style raffle, which is ALWAYS a hootin', hollerin' good time!

Aaaaand...recently I have admittedly become obsessed with giving away prizes at my shop for knowing a "secret word." There's one in the flyer here that I made. Find it, tell me what it is on the night of the Open House and you win a prize. :o)

'Tis the season to be crafty...

2010-11-29T04:12:00.000-08:00

I have been spending hours and hours in my studio, painting away! Lots of new signs will be coming to my store AND to my etsy shoppe...stay tuned! :o)

THIS is the chaos that is my studio. There's paint everywhere, and usually bad 80's music is playing... Been painting a lot of birch trees...

Paint, paint, paint...everywhere! :o)

Gobble, gobble.

2010-11-25T04:25:00.000-08:00

Happy thanksgiving, y'all! Wishing you peace and love with family and friends this holiday season! (illustration compliments of Natalie Dee: www.nataliedee.com) :o)

FREE CLOTHING SWAP!

2010-11-24T10:05:00.000-08:00

I have seen so many of these in my travels, but not so much in my hometown. So I got to thinkin'...why NOT make one happen? After turkey time and family gatherings, swing on down to my shoppe Sunday for a little clothes swapping. Everyone has that pile of clothes that they don't wear anymore...or think "someday they'll wear"...but alas, they sit on the top shelf of the closet. :o) Bring 'em in (men's, women's, children's AND accessories welcome) to the Veggie Art Girl Boutique this Sunday and go home with something new!
And the best part? Any leftover clothing is going straight to charity! Come have fun with us!

Veggie Art @ Jewell & The Beanstalk!

2010-11-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

My handpainted signs have made their way to another location! On the little side called Somerville, hides a hidden treasure: Jewell in the Beanstalk. It's a funky diner, with serve-yourself coffee and tea, made-from-scratch goodies, delicious (and healthy!) meals and NH made arts, crafts, jellies and jams lining the walls.
My lil' handpained signs and The Beanstalk seem to be a perfect match, with so many nooks and crannies to hang my funky signs...

While I was there, I was treated to some homemade brie & bacon quiche, fresh fruit, homemade bread and rosemary potatoes that were uh-maze-ing. If you are ever in the Manchvegas area, swing on in for a delicious meal and say hi to Amber...and be sure to check out all the local art!

Local Shop Hop!

2010-11-20T13:47:00.000-08:00

This is another thing I am doing: organizing this event along with nine unique businesses an all-weekend event of sales, raffles and more! The fun starts Friday, Dec. 3rd and goes through Sunday, Dec. 5th with a giant raffle at the end. All shops will feature in-store specials and refreshments for your shopping pleasure. Mark your calendars...this is not an event to miss!

Need the map to download? Here you go! Have fun!

roar!

2010-10-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

I originally wanted to be a dinosaur for Halloween this year, but the second I discovered that I could just add some wings to my costume and then have an excuse to breathe fire, my inspiration turned more to a dragon. Or as people have been calling it: "an alligator with wings"... Whatever. I don't care. I had fun making it. It's all scraps and findings and a lot of hot glue and thread. Total cost: $1.75....and about 8 hours in labor. :o)...but I don't really think it's all that scary. And I haven't mastered the fire breathing trick yet, but there's still time... Happy Halloween everyone!

ink.

2010-10-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY got a new tattoo this summer...not the owl that I want next...or the cherry blossoms or the foot piece I have been designing. Ok, I want a lot of tattoos. But my lil' sister and I went to Forever Bonnie to get inked this summer with our buddy Carol (who got a sweet trinity knot on her wrist). Now that I can see this new piece (the other 2 are on my back, so they are surprises in the mirror at times!), I want more! This was my original sketch...

...which turned out like this!

And now my sister and I have matching tats! This is the piece I have on my back shoulder.

Please send money by mail or carrier pigeon. I need more ink. :o)

Follow your dreams.

2010-10-06T07:01:00.000-07:00

My freelance projects as of late have been all across the board. On any given day, my creative tools range from a paintbrush to a heap of junk on the side of the road to just my lil' laptop. This week, I worked on a whimsical book cover for Glenna Rossi, a local dream worker. It had been a while since I picked up oil pastels, which is how I created the base of this design. I added the digital aspects afterward, but wanted to really capture windy, fall weather at dusk in northern NH. It reminded me how much I love the color and emotion you can get from layered oil pastels. Onward with this newfound inspiration...I think I will do some more oil pastel pieces this winter when I am working in my new shoppe studio. Thank goodness for sloves and hot cocoa! :o)

Asheville!

2010-10-03T10:55:00.001-07:00

I just got back from my favorite city in the world. It was a whirlwind week, full of sweet surprises, creative affirmations and fantastic friends. Here are a few snapshots from my trip:

Sunshine in the city!

Some of my favorite Asheville peeps.

The Smoky Mountains!

This is the site of a new creative project I have in the works...more on that later!

Inspiration, inspiration everywhere! :o)

Iluvasheville.

2010-09-04T13:50:00.001-07:00

I am getting ready to take a quick jaunt down to my favorite city at the end of the month and cannot wait! While I do not plan on spending a giant chunk of the winter down south this year, I am anticipating a few trips. In getting all excited to be in the heart of that wacky city for 6 fun filled days, I got to browsing through some Asheville pics from this past spring...The Sky Bar: a fantastic place to see the sunset, enjoy a glass of wine and view the whole city I took Jim up there (via old fashioned, slightly sketchy elevator) on a whim and we enjoyed a glass of white as the sun set the night before I left to come back to NH

The architecture in Asheville is so varied and beautiful. There's literally art on every street corner!

Ahhhhhhhh... IcannotwaitIcannotwaitIcannotwait. Weeeeeee!

Doin' Flipz!

2010-08-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

I have been painting quite a few murals lately, and this one was a fun challenge. First of all, I had to paint a portion of it on a trampoline! The goal: fill a GIANT gymnastics studio with some elements that would fill the room, match the color palette and be easy to paint around. This was tricky.

These are some of the inspiring elements I came up with (note the trampoline location!)...

I think my old high school English teacher, Mrs. Beaudin would approve of this wall...

That was fun. But it certainly reminded me that I am no acrobat. :o)

Crafty Kathy: pimpin' out a vintage suitcase

2010-08-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

This groovy suitcase was my grandma's from before she married my grandpa. It has her initials embossed on the top and is so beautiful, but the inside smells not so beautiful. So it has become a prop in my store. It already had one old label stuck to it (the middle round one), and I decided that I was going to add more bling. I picked up these labels in MY travels and decided to give some new life to this treasured vintage piece by mod podging them on. Mod Podge is awesome stuff, man. You can stick anything paper to anything: furniture, walls...anything.

And it dries clear. Now it's a beautiful piece that shares a piece of my grandma and my travels in one. I just love it! :o)

Tip: if you want to make something like this, scope out thrift stores and yard sales for old suitcases. Save those wine bottle labels or use squares of funky paper and a lil' Mod Podge to create a vintage piece of awesome!

BIRTHDAY SUSHI!

2010-08-11T16:57:00.000-07:00

OhmygoshIlovesushi. I am beyond excited that we now have raw fish delight up the street. The restaurant has been open for 3 weeks and I have been there 5 times. I love, love, love sushi.

I got to eat this. Yum. In Plymouth, NH? Try Fugaky. You will not be disappointed. :o)

Money for gold!

2010-07-22T11:54:00.001-07:00

Here's a cool thing that is happening around these parts! Got old gold? Friends of the Arts and Artistic Roots (the groovy co-op on Main Street that I just joined!) is having an "Out with the old, in with the new" party on August 19th. They have a gold lady there...someone who is weighing your old jewelry and giving CASH on site for it. Aaaaaand, there will be a room full of jewelry makers on site for you to spend your moola. My momma (Earthwear Jewelry) will be one of the vendors and is going to have a table of her fancy jewelry designs. This should be a ton o' fun (and FINALLY- a place for your old 80's, mismatched gold bangles to go to die!) Come on out!

Triple Meat Threat.

2010-06-27T12:29:00.001-07:00

You know when you are STARVING and you are standing in the grocery store like an idiot, wanting one of everything?

Me too. Happens all the time.

I was hanging out in the meat section of Bob's Shurfine, practically foaming at the mouth one evening on my way home from work. I LOVE their meat section. Not really sure why. But I do. I was staring at all of it, trying to think of the crunchiest, cheesiest, saltiest, meatiest combination and it came to me:

Chicken cordon bleu subs...with pepperoni and sauteed mushrooms. Yesssss.

Ingredients:

Sub rolls

butter

garlic

swiss cheese

crumbled bleu cheese

sliced ham

chicken tenders (uncooked)

sliced pepperoni

I did a basic garlic rub and splash of Italian dressing on the chicken tenders and threw those on the grill. While that was grilling, I opened 2 giant sub rolls (not cutting all the way through) and (inspired by the Biederman's balboa) made some garlic bread out of the rolls. While that toasted, I flipped the chicken and sauteed a few mushrooms in splash of olive oil on the stove. My vision started to come into reality when I heard the *ding* of the toaster oven and then I assembled. Oh yes, I assembled.

On the garlicy (lightly toasted) rolls, I sprinkled some blue cheese so it got all melty. I layered ham. I relayered blue cheese. I grabbed the chicken tenders and tossed those on next, topping the chicken off with the sauteed mushrooms...and probably more bleu cheese. Pepperoni came next and I topped it all with Swiss cheese. I threw the sandwiches under the broiler while I poured myself a frosty beverage and once that cheese was melted to perfection it was time.

Triple Meat Threat. Gross and awesome and delicious. Suck it, Martha.

Mmmm...melty cheesy goodness.

Oh, my poor arteries.

Vegas, baby!

2010-06-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

It was so completely whirlwhind, that it was almost like it didn't happen. But now that I have finally gotten around to downloading all of my pictures, I guess it's true: I did go to Vegas last month! Jim and I flew in Friday morning. We were there by noon and home by midnight on Sunday. Perfect.

Now I had never been and neither had Jim, so we had to get in some of the Vegas staples: the MGM lion... We saw Cirque de Soleil. I couldn't sneak any good pictures inside, but I did convince the ticket guy to pose with me...

We tooled around the casinos in our bathing suits...

...and lounged in the sun at the resort at Mandalay Bay, the hotel we stayed at. The weather was absolutely perfect!

And of course we went out at night and had ourselves a hootin', hollerin' good time. And that's all I'm going to say. :o)

(What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.)

Sunny days...

2010-06-02T18:14:00.000-07:00

As I head full force ahead into the summer months at my shop, I am *trying* (I said TRYING!) to take some time for myself so that I don't, well, go crazy. My time off is far and few between these days, but it makes it so much more magical when I can spend time appreciating everything around me.

...and spend time with Horseshoe! (Or, you may remember him as Blink, from his AT adventures last year). No, this was not the AT...this was just a little jaunt (hey, it kicked my butt!) up Rattlesnake West on a sunny Monday.

THIS is my backyard. I sometimes forget just how great this place is. I think I'll stick around for a while. :o)

Catching up on life...

2010-05-19T05:18:00.000-07:00

Boy, have I been busy! I have been working on getting my shop opened (http://www.veggieartgirlboutique.blogspot.com/) and it seems to be the season of design- lots of clients are in search of new marketing materials for the summer season. I have been straight out, working late nights on some new accounts (that I am REALLY excited about!) and trying to get ahead a little. But oh how I have missed blogging. (My apologies to all those who have tuned in and found April's post still lingering at the top of my blog page. I've got some juicy stuff in store!)

But first, I have to back track. Seems like just last week I was leaving Asheville to come back to NH, but after looking at the calendar, I guess it has been 8 weeks or so. I have come back, painted a couple of murals, been to Vegas and back (more on that in a bit) and opened my shop. So while I have lots of fun traveling pics to post, I am going to share pics of one of my last nights in Asheville at 205 Logan. Ahhh, how I do miss that place. Look how cute that house is!

Late night game of Simon Says in the street. (Thanks, Charlie for running the show!)

Potluck Wednesdays! Always delicious food and fantastic people!

And yes, I miss the chickens, too. Without getting too ahead of myself, I am considering plotting out a square on the side of my house to have a lil' chicken abode and some little beaked buddies. If you know of anyone who is throwing away fencing (or selling it on the cheap!), I am hoping to have chickens next spring at the 191. Bok, bok, bok, be-gok!

Roots Cafe.

2010-04-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite new places in Asheville to eat is the Roots Cafe, in the River Arts District of Asheville. They're a little breakfast and lunch place that supports local farmers, has a fabulous veggie menu and gorgeous outdoor seating on giant rocks. Makes for some fun eats in the sunshine. :o)

I ended up doing a couple of creative jobs for Roots during my winter stay, including a redesign of their bathroom. I went with a simple and clean, retro-inspired design and created the custom curtains to coordinate with the spring green tone and funky black and white tiles. The hallway was painted a funky red, with simple vinte climbing floor to season. Tying it all together was the teal doors, that look beautiful against the red and subtly match the curtains in the bathroom. It's such a simple, happy design.And here is a sample of their delicious food. This is their house salad- an Asian inspired dish with quinoa hushpuppies and Thai chicken skewers. Deeeelish.

Trudi

2010-03-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

It was love at first sight. I went back to visit her for 3 days in a row and called twice to make sure this fabulous green bike hadn't been sold. And then I remembered the wise old saying, "if you love something, set it free," which I did...for an entire day. But then I got nervous, called the antique shoppe back, and had them put a hold sign on it. I scrounged together every penny I had, decided I could live off the box of pasta I have in the back of the cupboard and tap water for the next week and bought my groovy dream bike. Fantastic.

I asked the cashier what she thought I should name it (as I was shaking in excitement) and she kind of stared at me blankly. The fun lady behind me in line showed a little more enthusiasm about my purchase, told me she had a similar bike and offered to take a picture of me. And just like that my new bike had a name: Trudy. Named after the fun lady with the purple pants.

Trudy and Janis become friends:Oh, I heart this bike so. We are going to be soooooo happy together. :o)

Don't worry about a thing...

2010-03-26T09:03:00.001-07:00

Being in Asheville this season has been a beautiful experience in such a different way for me than in previous visits. It has come with a fair share of trials and tribulations, scattered with bursts of creativity, inspiration and concentration on who I want to be. It's been a bit of a roller coaster, but I have made it work. I have had to make a housing shift, lost 2 part time jobs to business downsizing (which I thought *might* be a sign that I am not supposed to work for anyone else?), and have been happily living out of a teeny orange room on the west side, finding clarity in what once was cloudy to me. I know where I want to be and am excited to get back to NH to keep burying my creative roots in New England soil. Money has been tight, but I have received official confirmation from my (fantastic!) accountant that I am in fact doing everything right, following my first full year of self employment. Woot. *Insert sigh of relief here*

So I have had to make simpler choices and work with what I have. This has forced me to really get down to the nitty gritty of who I am, and have come to realize more clearly what I want in life. And y'know...call me crazy (go ahead!), but when you are walking down the sidewalk on a sunny day reflecting upon these things and you stumble upon THIS adhered to the pavement, you just have to smile and think for *one second* that it was put there for you.

Homemade ceramic tile says 'It'll be fine.' I think so.

My dream bike.

2010-03-24T10:53:00.000-07:00

I was toolin' around the Screen Door here in Asheville (my FAVORITE crafty shoppe!) and I stumbled upon this beauty. Woah. Check OUT this thing. $72.00 USD. I want it. Oh, how I want this bike. Not sure if she'd fit in the back of Janis on my trek back to NH, but I'd be willing to tie her to the top and take the backroads! :o)

New homemade crafty goodies.

2010-03-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

I can't stop. I am on a crafty rampage, getting ready for the reopening of my shop. I am finally tapping into the pages and pages of sketchbook ideas I have been filing away, and finding my way to the bottom of the bins of crap I hoard, thinking, "someday I'll do something with this." Here's an example of one of those ideas. I made these cute headbands from my old wallets, sweaters and vintage buttons. I'm not that much of a headband wearer, but I love this one. Kind of reminds me of a roaring 20's vintage hairpiece. I think it could pair well with some finger curls and fishnets. :o)

But in the meantime....

2010-03-21T05:48:00.000-07:00

...I have been pimpin' Janis out. Yesterday was so sunny that I decided to show Janis some love and paint her plain black tire cover. This is one of my new owl designs (which is actually going to be a new t-shirt design this year at the boutique!) The next owner of this van is in for such a treat! It's not everyday that you come across such a sweet ride, complete with murals, a sticker collection, vintage leather seating AND a rockin' tire cover. I just hope she goes to a good home...one that loves her for who she is!

Time for a change?

2010-03-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

While my self-employed earnings have been not been*quite* as much as I would be making at my last cubicle day job, the completion of my 2009 taxes (yessssss!) have proven that I can in fact do this. 2010 is going to be a smarter year for me. I now know what I need to itemize, write-off, budget and pay annually. I feel this year I can make better choices. And while I do LOVE my van (Janis), she may need to get traded in for something smarter in the near future. I'm thinking something that gets good gas milage, has 4WD (oh how I have missed that...the luxury of being able to visit my friends up on the hill in the wintery weather!) and can of course fit all of my crap (I mean art) in it when I travel and go to art shows. I have always loved, loved, LOVED the Jeep Cherokee, and think back fondly on my time with Jeffery (my 1994 beauty) that I had a short relationship with. I loved that it was green and looked like a box on wheels. I liked that it only played tapes, had a stick on the floor and the windows whistled on the highway. But it may be time to even upgrade from that. I'm thinking Honda Element. Couldn't you just see me in this sweet lil' ride? Suggestions, recommendations and offers to sell me your vehicle are all welcome. :o)

What a hoot!

2010-03-15T06:16:00.000-07:00

I had a vivid, crazy crafty themed dream some weeks ago, like I do most nights (last night I was playing badminton with curling ribbon spools!) which involved me making owls pillows. I woke up, drew the pattern I made (in my sleep?) and got to work. I made these 12 little buddies out of completely recycled materials (pillowcases, vintage fabrics and felts). Modeling with the little owlies are my roommate Erica and her cute lil' dog, Star. :o)

The GWCC.

2010-03-12T06:04:00.000-08:00

Everyone asks what the heck the GWCC is. I have a group of friends here who are addicts like me and we meet there in the afternoons like its a secret tree fort. I try and tell people about it, or bring my friends when they come to visit. It's hard to explain...you just have to experience it. The Goodwill Clearance Center: you never know what you are going to get. It's a recently expanded warehouse of bins, bins and more bins. These giant blue bins on wheels line the floor as people wander around with numbered blue shopping carts, sifting through the bins for the ultimate thrift store score. Each hour, they change out the bins as people line up for the new ones to come out, like a herd of cows to some feed. It's unlike anything I have every experienced. It's an every day yard sale. And every time I go there, I think, 'Man, my Noni would have loved this place!'

C'mon Spring! :o)

2010-03-09T06:49:00.000-08:00

I have to say, as much as I loooooovvvvveeee Asheville, the weather has been kind of terrible this season. There has been a scattering of sunshiney days, but they have been massively outnumbered by New Hampshire-esque, blizzardy, snowy ones. But, it's all about making the most of it! And as the sun is shining and it is a near 50 degrees out today (woot!), I think I will post the last of my wintery pics, and then store them far, far away. Most of these were taken when Jim came to visit me in February. (Chainsaw: did YOU grafitti this wall?) Fig snow art.

I have to say that while Janis does okay in the snow, she does prefer the springtime. :o)

Sew much fun!

2010-03-08T06:43:00.000-08:00

I have ALSO been on a sewing rampage. Unable to find a groovy tote to carry my laptop around town (AND protect it!) for reasonable monies, I decided to just go ahead and make one. This cute lil' bag is made from 2 pillow cases, an old holey t-shirt and some stuffing. I have gotten tons of compliments on it in coffee shoppes, and since it was so easy and fun to make, I am going to sew a few more for my shoppe. Earth friendly laptop bags...coming to VeggieArtGirl this spring. :o)

This cute lil' buddy is Star, my roommate's doggie. She really loved my new bag. :o)

Peace. Love. Etsy.

2010-03-04T20:34:00.001-08:00

I have been painting and painting and painting these days. A combination of my fueled excitement for the reopening of my store and the unpredicatable cold weather has brought me down to my lil' basement studio with a space heater for some creation station time. (Anyone remember that show? Creation Station? I will defintely be YouTubing that later). I have been challenging myself in many ways and growing in technique and style. The body of work I am going to be hanging at the shop (and featuring at a few local boutiques and shoppes in New England) is primarily my classic handpainted signs. But I have found different types of wood, salvaged pieces, am shakin up my color palette and new ideas are flowing. Here's a little sampling of what's in store. Literally. :o)

This piece is one of my favorite quotes of all time, handpainted on a vintage children's xylophone.

An old cabinet door now tells a story:

If you want to see more of what I have been creating, check out my etsy shoppe: http://www.etsy.com/shop/VeggieArtGirl Enjoy the new naughty section! More coming soon!

A chicken poem.

2010-03-04T03:59:00.000-08:00

Happy, happy crazy chickens,

out the back door.

Happy, happy crazy chickens

live on dirt floor.

Happy, happy crazy chicken

was once dinosaur.

Happy, happy crazy chickens,

I sleep no more.

But thanks for the eggs, little buddies.

Anam Cara Awesomeness.

2010-03-02T03:35:00.000-08:00

I have been working with Anam Cara (Celtic translation: "soul friend") Theatre Co. here in Asheville for about a year down, helping with design projects and such. They just celebrated their first birthday on Saturday with cupcakes and live music at Firestorm Cafe and are on the brink of getting non-profit status. This company is different than most theatre groups, because they try to fuse as many aspects of the arts into each gathering as possible. From music to visual art to theatrical arts and everything in between, it is a fun and diverse group of people who come together with great pride for what the group is doing and promote social awareness.
March 13th will be a HUGE fundraiser at the Garage at Biltmore. We're calling it "The Gathering at the Garage" and if you don't have plans, you should mark your calendar. The goal of the evening is to not only raise enough moola to afford non-profit status (through silent auctions, raffles, t-shirt sales and more), but to have loads and loads of fun! Come join!

Crafty Kathy.

2010-02-28T03:03:00.000-08:00

It's been muuuuuch colder than anticipated here in Asheville, so I have been hybernating. No complaints from me, though....as long as I have my space heater and my paintin' pants, I am all set. I have been making crafty goods to both sell and display at my shoppe (which I am uber excited to reopen!). Here's a little how-to project that is going to adorn the walls of the Veggie Art Girl Boutique in the spring:

These little people clothes were all finds from the Goodwill Clearance Center here in Asheville. I used scraps of fabric with iron on material to create letters and cut them out in my signature font. They are going to hang on a make-shift clothesline with vintage pins on the wall above the (new and improved!) vintage clothing section of the boutique. Fun!

Free sign giveaway!

2010-02-23T07:28:00.000-08:00

I'm teaming up with Steals, Deal & Heals, a groovy giveaway blog site this week for a (literally!) sweet giveaway. This sign is going to be raffled off this week to all their blog followers and sent to one lucky winner:All you have to do is go to the site and sign up. You get extra chances in the raffle if you buy something from my etsy shoppe, become a Facebook fan or comment on my wares. More are coming soon and the contest is going on all week. Be sure to check out Steals, Deals & Heals for more info! Good luck! :o)

Jim comes to town.

2010-02-18T05:54:00.000-08:00

Jim came to Asheville for a week's vacation and well, I was pretty much on vacation too. :o) Unfortunately, the weather was not warm and sunny all of the days (he actually drove in AND out of Asheville in a nasty blizzard!), but we certainly made the best of it! We went on walking adventures down the snowy roads, saw lots of live music, caught the Found Footage Fest, fit in some of the classics (y'know...bowling, thrifting, karaokeing), shared many-a-laugh and ate (ohmygosh!) sooo much delicious local food.

You see this? Yeah, I'll say it. The BEST cheeseburger I have ever had AND the best sweet potato fries. Ever. And that other plate in the background: that there is the BEST quesadilla I have EVER had. Insert shout-out here: go to ROOTS CAFE in West Asheville. Maybe the best cooking I have ever had. Click here for their menu.: http://www.rootsfood.com/

We did have a couple of sunny days. On this particular one, there was a traveling puppet show...and a dude dressed as a can of raviolis? They were advertising for Asheville Vaudevale, and I'm *pretty* sure we had "tourist" stamped on our head, so they insisted on picture taking.

And for the record: the puppet did indeed ask me to lick it. I typically do not lick puppets.

Jim took pictures as I dragged him on fun and exciting adventures to places like the fabric store for just the right fabric for a curtain install I had coming up.

And then we just walked around and looked at stuff. This is certainly the place to do just that.

Oh, did I mention there was bowling? I think you should take note of my form here:

...Although Jim pretty much doubled my score. (Check out his shirt- a Goodwill Clearance Center score....more on that place later!)

And oh yes, we drank beer. Lots and lots of yummy, locally brewed, hoppy goodness. Ahhhh. (This one is an Abbey Ale from the Wedge brewery here in West Asheville)

Woot.

My Play Space

2010-02-16T04:24:00.000-08:00

Before I traveled back to Asheville, I got the amazing opportunity to paint My Play Space in West Lebanon, NH. This play space has a new concept that is going to take off and be a huge hit in the community: an educational and diverse place to bring your kids (ages 1-6) and be an adult too! Parents have to stay with their kids, but there is a lil' wifi zone and cappuccino for them on the upper deck, where they can watch their kids play. And boy do the kids get to have an experience!

It is an internationally themed indoor play arena; I did all of the mural designs and assisted with the design of the play structures. From a double decker bus to an Eiffel Tower (both with slides! Weeee!) to a deli to Lego Land, the place is chock full of fun activities for kids. (Oh and one of my favorite parts? The Sit n' Spin station- remember those from the 80's?) These pics are all from when it was under construction. Now that the new carpet is in, I'll have to go back and shoot some better pictures! This part of the mural is my favorite: a representation of Japan and China, with a wall full of cherry blossoms and mountains.

The double decker bus is the main attraction. Kids can climb up top, slide down and even control the wheel! The Eiffel Tower later got a slide, a net and some rock climbing pegs added, but how much fun would this be to climb?This was one of my creations: a deli where kids can serve up magnetic food (it all sticks together!)...anything from sandwiches to ice cream!

One of the rooms in the play space is a classroom, where birthday parties and classes will be held. I designed giant boards (painted on the wall) for chalk and dry erase markers.

There is so much more...the space was nearly 2000 square feet of high ceilings. So really, this is just a small samplin'! For more info about My Play Space, visit them online at http://www.myplayspace.net/, or just swing on in and say hi sometime!

A Super Herbal Workshop!

2010-02-15T06:27:00.000-08:00

I know, I know...I am slightly biased. But my mom (Susan Lucas of Wise Woman Tradition Herbals) sure knows her stuff when it comes to herbs and is an excellent teacher. She's offering a 2 hour workshop at the end of the month, focusing on stress reduction using all natural herbs. It is being held at one of her practicing locations: Peace of Infinity Holistics in Bethlehem, NH.

Here is the flyer (if you want to pass it along, that would be great!). You can also now find Susan Lucas (my momma) on Facebook if you want to see what she's up to. (She IS going to be starting a daily herbal tip, so she's be a good one to follow for tips of the herbal trade!)

If you would like more info, please feel free to e-mail Susan directly at: wisewomantradition@yahoo.com

Hope you can make it!

The Bacon Cupcake.

2010-02-14T12:15:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you: the bacon cupcake. It's compliments of Short Street Cakes, which is just a stone's throw from my abode. Oh yes, it's cupcake. Oh yes, that is bacon on there. And oh yes, it was guh-hoooood. Happy V-Day y'all. :o)

Happy Birthday, Lyss!

2010-02-13T05:29:00.000-08:00

My lil' sister turns 25 today! Happy birthday and cheers to many more!

Wow. That makes this picture.....24 years old? Well despite the fact I am not *really* smiling here, and I *did* get your head stuck in that Cookie Monster puppet that one time, I do love being your big sister! I love you, Lyss!

2010-02-12T06:42:00.000-08:00

My roommate Erica called me one afternoon.
“Do you want to go to the Free Store with me?”
“Ummm...(insert half a second pause here)....YESSSSS!”

This place is fantastic and I am not sure why we don't have one in every town. People drop off their unwanted or unused goods and student volunteers sort it out in a way that is easy to navigate. They have everything from clothing to beauty products to office supplies to furniture. What a great way to recycle something that would otherwise end up in a landfill! If I had to chose one thing that Asheville has opened my eyes up to, it's the amount of waste we use. I have learned so much from this community about reusing, rethinking what you buy and passing on what you do not need. Every little bit *does* help.

Here is another example, for instance. A free market. Same concept as the store, but a one day event. Why can't we get something like that going in NH? I would certainly like to help be a part of it!

And then there is my room...

2010-02-11T06:35:00.000-08:00

My rented room is small, but adorably quaint, with just enough room for a lil' creation station. The orange walls are fantastically cheery and my new bed that I just bought is soooooooo comfy. The snowflakes are a little reminder of NH- they were created on the evening before I left NH to come to Asheville, during a random art lesson/wine drinking/snowflake making party. They make me smile and remind me of home. :o) (And thanks, Rox, for the *awesome* snowflake making paper! Resume paper? I think not! Snowflake makin' paper? Yessssss.)

(I Spy: Can you find the Michael Jackson glove and the Kenny Rogers belt buckle?)

Living at Logan.

2010-02-10T06:22:00.000-08:00

So, the first place I moved to in Asheville didn't quite work out. Luckily, I was (quickly) able to find a living situation that worked muuuuuuuuuch better for me. There are chickens out back and the world is your oyster out your front door. I can walk to thrift stores, the cupcake shoppe and the River Arts District. It's a sweet little space. My roommate is great. And there is a little bonus doggie, Star, is quite adorable (even though I am more of a cat person- but don't tell Star).

Check out some pics from my lovely digs:This wall of jars reminds me of my Noni, and her cozy little kitchen that always smelled like hot simmering soup.

Geaux Saints!

2010-02-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

Sorry y'all, for falling behind on the blogging. Life has been busy and I am getting back on track. Had a wonderful visit with Jim Tyrrell last week, so I have lots and lots of fun pictures and stories from our adventures.

I started a new job: a side gig as a cocktail waitress at the Beacon Pub in Swannanoa (right up the street). I know I am going to love this job, and hopefully can make some extra loot for my guilty pleasures, like excessive sushi eating, Goodwilling, yard saling, buying exotic coffee drinks, and making strange crafty projects.

My first day was Superbowl Sunday, and it was fun to watch the big game and get paid for it (and enjoy their Texas award winning chili- yum!). But boy did the Saints earn that win...what a game!

Bubbles, the chicken.

2010-01-28T04:12:00.000-08:00

This is Bubbles, the chicken. He lives in the back yard and when I open the door to say hi, he is always the first to come greet me. I have honestly always been afraid of chickens...I think it is the pecking and the unpredictable flocking and squawking. But I've come around on the chicken issue and kind of dig the idea of someday raising chickens.Hey, fresh eggs. You can't beat that! Check out this quiche I made yesterday morning...yum!

You KNOW you want this shirt!

2010-01-27T06:04:00.000-08:00

This is a true gem...probably one of the sweetest vintage pieces I have EVER come across. It's a baseball style t-shirt in super condition with the JACKSON 5 on it! A similar one once old for a near $200. If I can fill Janis' gas tank with my earnings, I'll be happy as a clam. I just wish the shirt fit me! Check out the eBay listing (I am thinking of posting a few vintage pieces to see if I want to join the wonderful world of eBayers, so any feedback or suggestions are greatly appreciated!)

Man, I love, love, loved Michael Jackson.

Now THAT'S a bag sale!

2010-01-25T12:33:00.000-08:00

One of the things that is so great about Asheville is that it is a community of reusing and repurposing. This is perfect for an artist like myself, who can find use for odds and ends of vintagy pieces and parts. I love searching for retro clothing, fabrics and the makings for displaying and creating art. One of the local thrift stores had a $5.00 bag sale last weekend and THIS is what I came away with:
Several rolls of red vintage wallpaper, a retro bathroom mirror, a 'Flight of the Concords' t-shirt, new pillow set, a bunch o' vintage ties, some groovy new threads, a giant faux flower and a Dee-Lite CD. Ha! That was a funny morning with a basement full of yard salin' mommas. :o)

Get yer freak on!

2010-01-24T14:17:00.000-08:00

Every year, Asheville hosts the Fringe Freak Festival: an event where you don't know WHAT to expect, but can count on a variety of local talents. This year was no exception. The LaZoom bus (a biodiesel purple beast that I have spoken of in the past I am sure) carted us around the city to some live music on Saturday night for a crazy good time. We stopped at to see someone's "time traveler." There was a puppet show, theatre and dancing. And, of course: a zombie brothel. My pictures don't really show you what happened because my camera had to be sans flash, but the images seemed to really capture the weird. Photographer capturing an image of a belly dancing lizard lady at the zombie brothel Uh.maze.ing. marionettes and puppeteer. I hadn't laughed that hard in a while! Oh yeah, and the bus crashed. Whoops.
Weeeeee!

Oh Asheville...how I love you so.

2010-01-13T09:31:00.000-08:00

I'm back in Asheville for another winter stay and finally getting into the groove of this crazy city. From N.H. to N.C., there is definitely a bit of an adjustment period, but I am finding myself falling right back into the aweseomness: great people, uber creativity, beautiful sights, stunning architecture, delicious local food and random happenings. I'm still getting my feet wet and exploring the town, so I'll have more to post later. But for now, I just want to let y'all know that I am here (sans one mudflap) and will share more stories sooooooon! :o)

So long, NH!

2010-01-09T04:31:00.001-08:00

Janis is fixed, she has new new windshield wipers, HEAT and is road ready! I'm hitting the road for Asheville this morning and looking forward to another winter adventure in that crazy city. I will of course be blogging religiously when I get there and sharing lots of stories, so stay tuned! Thanks to all my fun friends who came out for 2 nights of silly goodbyes, game playing, sandwiches, belly-aching laughs and hugs. I will miss you all and see you in the spring when I return! :o)

Last call for hoop making!

2009-12-27T07:53:00.000-08:00

Before I hit the road for Asheville and right after the New Year, I will be featuring a final hula hoop making class. This one's on location at The Studio in Laconia, NH and will run from 1:00-3:00 on Sunday, January 3rd. The cost is $15.00 and you will come away with a homemade, sparkly, swirly, twirly hoop of your very own! Space is limited in the class, so please e-mail me at veggieartgirl@gmail.com to reserve a spot!

Help get me to Asheville! :o)

2009-12-12T06:15:00.000-08:00

Looks like I will be heading back to Asheville, NC for the winter again this year! Yippie! The dilemna: I am trying to raise money to fill Janis to get me there! As part of the Open Studio (at 'The Studio in Laconia, NH), I am silent auctioning off a GIANT painting I created. It's about 4x6.5' and organically hung with hemp twine from a giant found piece of driftwood. I hand stitched a pole pocket so it hangs straight and makes an instant mural! The bidding is starting at 49 cents at noon today and will go 'til 6:00 on Sunday. Swing on by 'The Studio' (see previous wall post for more info!) to place a bid, attend the Open House, listen to some live music and check out some FABULOUS artists! We're there all weekend! :o)

OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND!

2009-12-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

OMG...I am SO excited. (I "OMG-ed"...THAT'S how excited I am!) The Studio, a FANTASTICAL, magical, creative place in Laconia (right on Union Ave., above 'Too Good To Be Threw') is opening their doors for a super duper Open House all weekend and I am going!

Melissa McCarthy is the magic behind this operation and I am so excited to have gotten to know her. She's shaking things up in Laconia...changing minds and lives and inspiring and you should come check it out! My good friend Jim Tyrrell (who you may remember from the hoppin' Holiday Open House at my shoppe!) is going to be the featured musician on Saturday from 3:00 & on. Come rock out and get your art on! Pass along the invite to ANYONE you think would love to be a part of it all and swing by from noon to six EITHER Saturday OR Sunday!

OMG.

Ho ho ho!

2009-12-06T10:44:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I did. I switched my blog music player over to holiday tunes (regular tunage will resume post-holiday). My apologies for those who dislike the Christmas tunes.

I wanted to share a few pics from the Holiday Open House at the Veggie Art Girl Boutique last Thursday. It was quite a success and a fun way to kick off the holiday season! Special thanks to Jim Tyrrell for playing some great music and all that came to show your support!

Meat pie.

2009-11-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

So I'm not all that much of a pie eater. And I will generally opt for a vegetarian option on any menu. But the marriage of both meat and pie is a beautiful one...especially when you look through the cabinets (late at night, in your pajamas) four or five times hoping for something to make itself for dinner. I got creative and this came out. And it was guh-huh-huh-hoooood. Because of it's awesomeness, I will share the recipe (it is probably a great one to make with Thanksgiving leftovers!):

Ingredients:

Meat (I used chopped cooked chicken, sliced pepperoni & a few chopped slices of ham)

One can of Cream of Chicken soup (though any old Campbell's Cream of whatever will do)

1/4 cup milk (Cream, soy milk, hemp milk...whatever)

One can crescent rolls

I mixed all the meat, soup, milk and a generous sprinkling of ground pepper and garlic in a bowl and poured into my favorite pie plate. I simply arranged the crescent triangles on top of the pie and baked it according to the temp. on the can until it was golden brown. (375 degrees for about 20 minutes).

It smelled really good as it was baking, and surprisingly tasted even better than that! I know...not a healthy meal....but it sure hit the spot on a cold fall night AND I didn't have to go to the store!

My creative zone.

2009-11-17T12:13:00.001-08:00

My day started with a cup of coffee and I have not stopped since. I have been sanding and painting and cleaning and creating and organizing and painting more and sanding more and designing and...

You get the point.

In the midst of everything, it is difficult to be completely aware of where you are and just...appreciate. So following a 30 minute power clean of my basement studio space, I thought I would snap a few pics and take it in for a minute. I am always stressing over cleanliness and organization, and often find it difficult to be creative if I don't have a sense of that (I know...kind of defies the typical mentality of an artist!). But today, I found satisfaction in all if it and have been enjoying my space more than ever. :o)

Ok, now I need to get back to work! Got lots of holiday shows coming up!

SAVE THE DATE.

2009-11-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

Thursday, December 3rd will be the 2nd Annual Holiday Open House at Veggie Art Girl & Taylor Made Graphics! There's gonna be everything from free raffles to live music (with JimTyrrell) to a local author Ray Carbone signing copies of his new book to hot appetizers....dancing, sales, free gift wrapping and more! Mark your calendars and be sure to shop local this holiday season! :o)

Bathroom Renovation, Part I

2009-11-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to redo my bathroom for years. But rather than fix the gross old tub and move the sink to under the mirror, I would go the cheap route and distract myself with a fresh coat of paint and some new towels.

(I'm not sure WHY the old drain was clogged?!@#!)

Well, this year I decided I would take the jump. Thanks to an extended credit line at Lowe's (crap...so I *have* to pay that back?) and a little extra money I was able to put aside as a buffer (hey, I know how these things work), I came home with a tub and a tub surround in the back of my van one day, figuring "how hard can this be?"

Ummm...I'll get back to you with an official answer on that in a bit, but first I thought I would share pics from my plumbing journey. I ended up calling a friend to help demo the old tub, which was NO easy task. At the last minute I *did* have to call an *actual* plumber, because the new tub wouldn't fit and the piping had to be rerouted. (Thanks, Mr. Rooter!)

But all in all, it is coming along slowly but nicely. I have plans for a mosaic backsplash in the tub and around the sink. I got a fabulous Mexican tavalera style sink that will look fantastic...once I finish the custom built countertop to fit it in. All in a days work! If you are bored and would like to help, shoot me a line. But...you have to work for pizza and hula hoops. :o)

Best Google EVER.

2009-11-04T18:34:00.001-08:00

This made my day. HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY, SESAME STREET! Gosh, I love Big Bird.

A Day at the fair.

2009-10-31T14:09:00.000-07:00

I broke *another* digital camera. This one sadly fell out of my bag and was discovered in my friend's driveway with a cracked screen. I am so bummed and in the process of writing a creative letter to HP to see if they will be nice enough to help with my dilemna. Probably not, but hey, it's worth trying.

In any event, my point: I *was* able to save the card from the camera, and I came across a scattering of fun photos from the past month. The first in the series: The Sandwich Fair! I finally made it back this year and had a fun filled day of fried food eating, beer sampling, people watching, antiquing, and driving through the beautiful foliage. Sometimes there is nothing better than being a tourist in your own town. :o)

Hey there, little buddy!I bought a bushel (or was it a peck?) of these yummy apples, that were later made into a scrumptious apple crisp. (Well, except for this little guy...he was the taste tester)Oh yeah I did. Gotta get a Bloomin' Onion when you are at the fair (and a picture of the dude making it?). I fully support any business that gives you the option of 2 dipping sauces with any product.

WREN Farmers Market on a super cold Saturday

2009-10-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

I became a member of WREN (Women's Rural Entrepreneurial Network) this year and it has opened quite a few doors for me. I was able to join in on one of the final Farmers Markets of the season with a display of my hula hoops and handpainted signs. The hoops were a big hit! Here are some pics from the freezing fun! (Brr...it was sunny, but it was cooooold!)(That's my mom on the left...she's become quite a master of the hoop!)

Since then, I have started selling my works (and hoops!) at the WREN Local Works Shoppe on Main St. in Bethlehem. It's such a cute little store, full of a great variety of locally made, handcrafted goods. To learn more about WREN, go to http://www.wrencommunity.org/. More great people, doing great things! :o)

Reasons why I love, love, love fall.

2009-10-10T08:13:00.001-07:00

1.) Color, color, color. The drive down 175 from my house to the boutique is pure magic--a windy, colorful road of awesome.

1.5.) On Rte. 175, I get to drive by Owen's farm stand everyday (where I got the mum in the picture). The funny scarecrows, the abundance of pumpkins and freshly cut sunflowers can't help but make you smile on just a drive by.

2.) Halloween. (Still trying to figure out what I am going to be, though)

3.) It reminds me of my Noni. She (my grandmother) was a lover of life; she was a dancer and an artist with a passion for the small details in life. Her favorite time of year was fall (hey, she used to decorate her bathroom for the season!) and I miss her, but think of her fondly when the season rolls around. :o)

4.) Hot apple cider. Apple crisp. Caramel apples. Anything apple, really.

5.) Pumpkin carving. (This year I am going to do it up! Look out!)

6.) Sweater weather. Nothing's better than a jeans and sweater day.

7.) Those last few yard sales. Crisp mornings, pumpkin spice coffee and vintage bargains. Sweeeeet.

8.) Gourds. They are just so interesting and strange.

9.) And of course, Thanksgiving is just around the corner...

New Greeting Cards! :o)

2009-10-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

I have been printing and folding and (of course) glittering bunches of my lil' homemade cards. Back by popular demand is the purple swirly tree moon card and a new one (which is a digital replication of a wall mural on canvas!)

This new design is (like most of my work) Untitled, but it was painted at a time of great change in my life this year. I made some big decisions that made my shoulders feel a lot less heavy, and when I went to paint...this came out! :o) (The original size is about 4 feet x 6 feet)

Mmm...glittery goodness.

I've got lots of new, polka dotted and greeeeeeen envelopes to coordinate....each one is a little different (I used all recycled stock for this big ol' batch, so there are all sorts of textures and card stocks).

You can check 'em out at my etsy shoppe @http://www.veggieartgirl.etsy.com/. Enjoy and happ fall y'all! :o)

The Karma Balm Mobile!

2009-09-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

You've all seen me in my van (Janis), decorated in swirly doodles and colors on the sides. Little known fact about me: I have been lettering vehicles for nearly ten years and have all of the equipment to make your vehicle super unique. Here is my latest job: turning Corey's PT Cruiser into a Karma Balm Mobile, so she can travel about and advertise her wonderful (earth friendly, bee-free) products. (Side note: you should check out her AMAZING lip balm, lotions and potions at http://www.karmabalm.org/) Here is the final product and spread the word that I can letter vehicles! I'm trying to get save monies to get back to Asheville this winter and need to line up more work to do so!

What have I been doing lately?

2009-09-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

Making cakes apparently! While I have never loved the baking part, I find the decorating part to come easily and is so much fun. Here are a couple of cakes I have made recently. I am seriously considering adding a little cake link to my web site...why not? Shoot me a line if you are in the market for a unique cake...I can do it up for ya!

Jessi just moved to CA for college and her mom threw her a fantastic party...complete with this chocolatey cake I made (that included her faaaaavorite color pink in the frosting) :o)

This one was tricky, but I was happy with the results (even though the humidity was melting the frosting on the way to the party!). When soon-to-be six year old Shannon was asked what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday party, he replied, "marble." (Apparently he was just fascinated with the idea that a cake could be two colors when you cut into it!) He is a lover of aliens, and I wanted the cake to be special. So I built a base out of dowels and cardboard, and attached some lights to the sides, creating the light-up effect. The cake itself was of course marble, but simply frosted, with little alien men stuck in all over it for the full-on extra-terrestrial effect. It was a big hit, but I think Shannon was more interested in getting the cake off the base so that he could use it to build a UFO out of legos than he was eating the cake! :o)

Ahhhh....

2009-09-07T19:00:00.001-07:00

...it's football season. AAAAANNNDDDD....my computer is up and running like a champ now, so I can continue blogging! My apologies for keeping y'all hangin'...I have been trying to get my digital ducks in a row and have had to do some mega cyber douching. I am virus-free, I am all updated with that there Flash nonsense, and all is well in HP LaptopLand. So now, I share with you: a plate of meat that I cooked. Oh yes, there is teriyaki steak. But what's that next to it? My first time trying ribs on the grill. Pretty flippin' tasty. Yep. And what's that behind the plate o' tasty meat (and vanilla scented girly candle)? The Pats winning! Happy Football Season everyone.....GO PATS! :o) And stay tuned....

A Homestar Happy Birthday.

2009-08-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

I wasn't quite sure who this Homestar dude was, but when Andy wanted a Homestar Runner cake for his 9th birthday, I looked him up online and knew this was going to be a lot of fun. a.) it was. & b.) you should check out lots and lots of Homestar Runner online @ http://www.homestarrunner.com/. The blue and red frosting turned your face colors, but all the kids approved of the lemony, sugary goodness. When presented with his cake, Andy exclaimed, "that's GREAT!" What fun. My next cake mission: create a UFO cake for a six year old that lights up. Stay tuned...

Redneck Ridiculousness.

2009-08-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

Per usual, my BFF and I teamed up for a birthday party (We're 1 year and 8 days apart in age). Here are a few snapshots from the birthday extravaganza '09:

Heading in Janis to the party...really I just grabbed something from my closet to wear, but Anna got all decked out in this fancy zebra striped number.

It's Jay Hiscock: hide your children. :o)

Rox and Johnny in their homemade Budweiser hats...fancy!

Ladies, ladies, ladies....

Rox made her specialty: Fritos chili taco pie on the grill. Mmmm!

30.

2009-07-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

I turned the big 3-0 on Tuesday. And while I am not one to dwell on numbers, statistics or age, it has not passed without the ineitable 'am I where I want to be in my life?' reflection. Across the board, I'm pretty psyched to be where I am at. I have great family and amazing friends. I am not wanting for anything in life....I have more than enough. I have found a teeny, tiny niche in the crazy art world that has allowed me to spread my wings and be on my own. Translation: I am broke but happy. Opening my new store has been waaaaaay more work than I thought it was going to be, but I am am still ironing out the wrinkles and every once in a while can come up for air and take a breath of self satisfaction. But every once in a while I wonder if I made the right decision when I came to that huge fork in the road...trading in my cushy job with benefits and my domesticated relationshipy lifestyle for a completely independent, unpredictable and creative life. And this week more than ever I can say that I did. They say everything happens for a reason...a motto I believe strongly in. Everything I have done prior to today has helped me get exactly where I am, emotionally and physically, spiritually. And it is all good. So am I where I want to be? Yes. Exactly. Bring on an amazing year! :o)

Silk Screenin'

2009-07-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

I knew I was going to like silk screening, but I didn't know I was going to love it THIS much. I have been doodling ideas in my sketchbook all winter, and now that I have the screenin' setup in my studio, all of my drawings are becoming t-shirt designs! I am using pre-loved clothing (mostly collected from the Goodwill of Asheville!), and doing lots of funky designs and placement. They'll be coming soon to a Veggie Art Girl Boutique near you! :o)
I'm addicted! I love working with the textiles and colors!

This was a blog post way back when...I drew this design and asked people if they would like to see it as a shirt design. People said yes, so here it is!

Open House.

2009-07-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

It's time to celebrate!

Mark your calendars: July 11th is the Open House celebration at the Veggie Art Girl Boutique on Squam! We'll be going from 12-6, with live music starting at 2:00. We'll be featuring FREE face painting (bring the kids!), door prizes, refreshments, sales and more! Swing on by!

It is also important to note that Ashland, NH is hosting their Music & Arts Festival from 9-4 that same Saturday in downtown Ashland. They have got some amazing musical acts lined up and will feature some great arts and crafts. Planning on going to that? Make a day of it and swing by Veggie Art Girl Boutique afterwards...I'm just 2 miles up the street and we'll be going 'til 6:00!

Please help spread the word and pass this link along! :o)

Hannah Banana.

2009-06-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

I got to spend the day with my favorite five year old girl (soon to be six) all day yesterday and we had so much fun! She was my helper at the shoppe, we made some art projects, and she was more than happy to demo the hula hoops for any customers that were remotely interested in purchasing a hula hoop (and we had matching sneakers!). Thanks for a fun day, Hannah...I look forward to doing it again! :o)

Simplify, simplify, simplify.

2009-06-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

I am heading into week 2 of small business owning, and have been busy managing all of the unexpected details. But now that I am (mostly) unpacked from my travels, the shoppe is set up and I am finding my rhythm, I am trying to simplify, simplify, simplify! There is a yard sale in my near future, that's for sure! I know I have also been behind the eight ball on my blogging, which has been getting to me...blogging is like journaling for me and I miss it! I will be back in a couple of days with more fun stories to share and pictures to show. But in the meantime...anyone need any display stuff to set up a creative art display? Here's what I am trying to unload (tell your friends!):

Spinning display...uses standard bracket hardware

seafoam colored handcrafted shelf unit

print rack holder

2 pendant lights

Scrolly Mirror

Antique vanity top that I used for a jewelry display

Open for business!

2009-06-13T10:22:00.001-07:00

Look out world...I am officially a NH small business owner. :o) The doors to my shoppe opened this morning and I am all smiles...groovin' out to some Simon and Garfunkel, hanging vintage clothes on the racks and ticketing my goods. I'm so excited about it all!

(Day before the opening shot, before I stocked the shelves)

That's me (with my homemade hula hoops in the back!)

Swing on by! I'm open Wednesday through Sunday from 10-6! Check out the shoppe at www.veggieartgirlboutique.com! :o)

Settin' up shoppe.

2009-06-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

I am back in New Hampshire, working hard on my shoppe and getting it ready to open the doors on the 13th! Soooo...I will be a bit out of the blogging loop for a while as I am most likely covered in paint and dirt! But I'll be back soon. And here are a few pics of the happenings at the shoppe--lots of painting and colors and swirls! :o)

Decoupaged wall of old children's book pages

Ta-da! (it dried to more of a sepia tone...this pic looks kind of yellow)

So long, Asheville!

2009-05-30T04:20:00.000-07:00

I have done more than I ever could have imagined I would during my time in Asheville. It has been a whirlwind of life experience that I will come away from even more empowered and with a stronger sense of who I am. I went there just to see and experience a different place, with intentions of living in a new community. It was no time before I felt I could call Asheville home, as it fit like a glove and I cannot wait to return! I have met so many wonderful friends and have truly had the best time. Thank you Cheyenne for being such an amazing friend and for giving me such a cool place to stay! Goodbye to all of the friends I have made; we will cross paths with very soon and I will be back! :o)

This morning I am leaving to head back to New Hampshire, but will be in transit for a few days with stops in D.C., New Jersey, Connecticut and more . My friend Jim is driving back with me--should be a fun roadtrip to say the least! I'll try to blog from the road, but if not, I'll see y'all when I get back!

So long, Asheville!