it started with a collage...

Purpose

As many of you know, my daughter and I have been trying to start a business with the hope we can be up and running by late summer or early fall. I have posted information many times on Twitter and Facebook and given info about our Indiegogo campaign. We plan to donate 20% of our profits to Alzheimer's research a cause close to our hearts. We have lost many relatives to this dreadful disease.

I am not sure if many of you are confused, concerned, indifferent or in disbelief that we are starting a business in this economy. Small business still lives in this country. That is why they have small business Saturdays sponsored by American Express. That is why we have "Cash Mobs" all over the country. People are tired of big business and big corporations eating the little guy alive. 

So, to the naysayers, I say fine. Think I/we are crazy. Think I will someday eat my words or hat. I may. I may not. All I know is that if you have something you believe in you should go for it. If there is a greater cause than "trying to get rich" that is even a better reason to go for it. Our cause is Alzheimer's!!

As of the first Indiegogo posting, several people have become different towards me. A change of attitude has been noticed and I fear it is because they believe I am asking them for or will ask them for large sums of money to start my business. The Indiegogo "goal" of $50,000 is a big, huge dream. We know that, we knew it when we went live with that amount. But they say if you are going to dream, dream big! I have never asked anyone to their face (except loan officers) for any money and I never will.

What I will do, is continue the campaign and post repeatedly for the rest of our campaign letting anyone and everyone know about it. If anyone needs more information I will be happy to explain.  If you don't want to contribute and sign up for your "perks" of free brownies, coffee, t-shirts, etc. that is fine.  I understand-the economy is bad, you have no money, you hate coffee and brownies, you won't wear t-shirts, you don't contribute to things online--I get it. Even reposting our posts can help by spreading the word to friends and relatives who may be affected by this disease and want to contribute or repost.

But, please-don't treat me differently when you see me, don't change the subject or walk away when you see me coming. If I talk about the startup, it is because I am proud to be working toward this goal. I am not any different than I was before this started, but now I have a bigger purpose in life. Thanks.

Thanks to T.K., E.W., L.T., J.R., J.E., B.M., J.M., J.Z., S.W., D.W., C.Z., L.N., D.T., J.G.,A.C.,M.J. for your kindness. Hugs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               This is why we do it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a change of attitude

floor plan done-check!

One more step closer to starting the build on the shop. Next step do some more fundraising and PR!! Get that logo ready. So much going on..hard to keep it all in my brain.Will update you every chance I get.

Here is our youtube video. Wow. Youtube. I never thought I would be on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbZioXN9PA4

Do you know anyone with Alzheimer's? Please watch and contribute today to receive your perks.

thank you thank you thank you.

campaign trail

I feel SO important saying that I am on a campaign trail. indiegogo.com campaign trail

Actually, this isn't about politics, but it is about raising funds for our bakery "Brownies to Remember" which will then raise money for Alzheimer's Research. Kind of a win-win situation. You can (pleaeeease) back my daughter and I in this venture, then you will receive some good and yummy perks and when our doors are open, we will send 20% of our profits to Alzheimer's research. 

For those of you who know me well, you know my Mom recently passed away after a 12 year battle with Alzheimer's. Three of her sisters also had the disease and passed away from it. It is a horrendous disease that is a slow, agonizing, depressing sight to live through and/or watch. More research is needed.

The research center we are contributing to, Alzheimer's Research Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, has recently been given a patent for an intranasal spray that helps with memory without side effects of the previous meds.

Until I get another blog up and running for Brownies to Remember, I will post updates on this blog with pictures and thanks for all of your support and kind words. Thanks.

OH, I forgot about you...

For a minute I forgot about blogging at all. I have ADHD or some such thing I am certain, because I can't consistently stay involved in keeping up with things. I can be cruising along just fine, then..."oh look at that shiny thing over there..." and I am totally off track again. Many.distractions.every.day.

I have made art (or my version of art) and just not posted. My latest thing is doing art for Art-o-Mat machines. I am kind of passing on entering local shows for now. Don't have the stomach for it I guess. 

More on Art-o-Mat  here.

Latest art here.

 

crazy new series?

I am doing this new series of ACEO's called Prose People. Made up of a 1929 novel page with words painted over except for a few. The words left behind sometimes make sense and sound a bit like a thought or a bit of prose. They never rhyme, or haven't so far. I then match up people from old photos from the 50's and 60's to go with the words. Some obviously work better than others. A bit of pen and ink or color and that is it. I feel they are sad and/or humorous and that may be because of the tone of the novel. I think it is about a divorce, always a cheerful subject...I may try others with another novel and happier pictures. So far, most of these pictures are from a bar, they came from a stash I got at a deceased barmaid's house. Cheerful, huh? 

You can see more on my Etsy page if you are interested. There is a link over there--------------->

If you have any idea or opinion about these, please chime in. I appreciate all comments and complaints. Helps me to know what to do next. Sometimes I even listen.  LOL.

This is titled "Many Proposals"

New show

A new show is opening soon at the Box gallery. Next week is intake. I am going to take these two pieces and see what happens. If I don't get in, then once again I have donated to the cause. That is fine too. This first piece is all the smaller ones in previous posts put together- title "His System" or maybe just "System" can't make up my mind. I am not good with titles.

Once again, this is "Pray for Japan" which was also shown in previous posts.

 

 

 

I haven't been posting lately because I have been slightly weirded-out about these so-called followers that are really just spammers. Every time I post it seems I get a bunch of followers in the comment section that cannot be deleted. They never make a comment they just stalk me. Still waiting for Typepad to solve the problem. 

One more thing,

I went to Joan's opening yesterday at Don Drumm's place and it was fabulous. Her work is always great and it was displayed in such a lovely fashion. I had not been to Drumm's  gallery for a couple of years and it was such a delight. If you get a chance, go see Joan's work, then wander through the rooms packed with every type of art you can imagine.  See ad below-

It definitely is "SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT"

Nice show Joan!

Fantastic!!

This was just too cool to pass up so I am posting the link here. Please check out this guy's work.  http://www.mattcusick.com/index.php 

If you go into each of his galleries you will be more impressed than you were with the one before. And yay!! he uses Bible pages in his work too. 

one-oneone-oneone

No, I cannot take credit for this article, but I thought it offered an explanation as to why I am so in love with 11's

1/11/11: The Missing Piece

Posted Jan 10th 2011 at 6:00PM by Tarot.com, Tarot.com

The date 1/11/11 looks pretty intense, right? What with all those Master number 11s... We know that Master numbers (11, 22 and 33) can hint at difficulty, but that certainly doesn't mean that 1/11/11 is doomed to be a difficult day. In fact, Jan. 11, 2011, is a date of opportunity -- but it doesn't come free of cost. We must be aware of the lessons available to us and take the action necessary to reap the rewards.

So what is the significance of all those 11s? It's not so much that the 11 is a Master number -- in fact, when working with dates, Master numbers are reduced to their single-digit counterparts. However, it is the repetitionof the number 11 in the date 1/11/11 that we must take note of. The 11 is tied to our intuition, instinct and faith in ourselves and our inner processes. Therefore, its repetition alerts us that we may be missing something -- be it right in front of our noses, or something we need to dig much deeper to find. Repeating 11s show us thatwe are not putting our power of intuition to good use, and that we must tap in to this inner part of ourselves to learn the information we need to make well-informed decisions in whatever situation we're facing in life. 

So if the repeating 11s are telling us that we need to heighten our sense of awareness in order to better ourselves, it should come as no surprise -- or be considered any random coincidence -- that this happens to coincide with, you guessed it: a 7 Universal Day.

The 7 is the seeker of truth. It takes nothing at face value, and is always in search of the hidden, underlying reality. 7 is a number of contemplation, awareness and problem-solving. Noticing the connection between the 7 and those repeating 11s yet? On a day when we are shown that we may be looking past some necessary information, the 7 steps in to help us to find that missing truth.

Whether it's an issue with relationship dynamics, politics in the workplace, the search for spiritual answers or any other situation you're facing, 1/11/11 is your time; your time to find the missing piece of your puzzle, to interlock it into your life and to start moving forward with the complete puzzle intact. When you actively seek all the information available to you, you allow yourself to make new progress through better decisions, heightened awareness and a well-rounded approach to life and its lessons.

On a health note, I am healing slowly and hope to be able to breathe/laugh/cough without any pain in the next week or so. At last I can sleep through the night without grimacing. Dr. Shirley says artwork is the cure, so I best start making ART!!

 

looking for inspiration

Been searching for something/one to inspire me online as I have been mulling over some ideas but not really DOING anything about them. Here are a couple of blogs I came across that are very pleasing to me. Check them our if you wish..if you are an artist who recycles found objects or uses photos I think you may appreciate these sites. Till next time...

alltheluckintheworld     

ronaldceuppens

something old, something blue

I have had oil pastels and soft pastels for about 10 years and have never used them. They look so pretty in the box (I am fond of COLORS) I hated to use them and get them messy. I've been reading about pastels lately and decided to give them a try. (I haven't done pastels in about 40 years).

So, here is my blue door using old, oil pastels. Thanks to my favorite photog, Ray, for the lovely pic I used for reference. 

It isn't perfect, but it really is my first try in a very long time. Also, I likely should have used a larger format (this is only about 6x9) for oil pastels.

The colors seem a bit faded in the scanned image.

To see more of Ray's work go here.. and click on link ray4cam.