Sophie is such a card.

She literally is. Actually Sophie's a good sport. Look at what we put her through; what self-respecting canine wants to be dressed up as a ladybug? A wolf, maybe. But a ladybug? How humiliating...

Bead Stuff

I'm so glad I got on facebook: it's allowed me to reconnect with friends from grade school and jr. high (aka "middle") school. Jennifer: I'm posting these beads I actually made almost two years ago now, along with some of my 'stored stuff' that's waiting for my new studio to set them free.


I've been collecting this stuff off and on for several years; but since I don't have a place to set it up...it's stored in various locations around the house.


I'm still trying to decide what kind of jewelry I want to make. Everything catches my eye; and the possibilities are...well, overwhelming. I just get the stuff and plan to work it out when I get some 'quality time.'


This is one of the pieces I haven't given away: the little silver rectangles are PMC (Precious Metal Clay) that I made. It's not technically very good, but I like the whimsical, rough quality of it.


I made these lampwork beads for Mallory when she was in her 'pink phase.'


I made these "Illini" beads to make my mother-in-law some earrings to wear to the home football games. But this is as far as I got.


Brooke's always been into 'green' but since I made these, she's told me not to get her any other 'green stuff.' Day late, bead short.

My Favorite Movie...

Post-it Doodles

I love doodling; it's a great release and a fun way to create new art. mindless. silly. comfortable. I need to do it more.

More Michigan...

Here are just a few of the reasons we love Michigan.
And here are the McMahon Women: Marianne, Mallory, Megan, Julie and Judy. We made big plans for a McMahon Michigan Reunion, and fast work with the Fenville Winery's Demi-Sec.

Is this Heaven? No: it's Michigan

Here's the reason why we try to go every year.



It's just a little bit of heaven in one stop.

Garage Metamorphosis

It's only taken us 18 years to finally get the old garage (aka "shed") taken down. And it actually took a storm which took out the remaining pine tree...along with our satellite dish.


It was just the push Mike needed on the otherwise designated "AC" (After College) project. That and the fact that the back end of the shed was about to fall over... Anyhoo: we got a good bid from an independent concrete guy, and did Menards Magic with a garage-building kiosk so we can build our own garage, within a relatively manageable budget.

Here's the before: minus the crab apple tree that Mike and our nephew Will took down.
This is really kind of a neighborhood project: Alan and Barb, Joe and Edi have been monitoring the progress and adding support.
A little side benefit of taking out the tree in the hosta bed on the east side of the garage is that we found out it's a wild cherry...I plan to keep as much of it as possible (know anybody with a lightweight chainsaw?) for projects in my studio.
Did I mention that I get a studio space at the back of the garage? It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Anyway, here's the magic that Brandon the Concrete Guru has done for us.

Weather or Not

The bad thing about inclement weather is when it disrupts the creature comforts: like TV. This almost put Mallory over the edge. On a good note: there's one less tree we have to pay to have taken down.

Studio Days

Here I am in my studio in downtown Champaign, in 1979-80. Cheapest model I could get. I took it over after my professor, Doug Hilson, left. It was located in the downtown area over what was the Blum's Outlet. I did a couple of portraits there, Val Taylor and my mentor and professor and David Bushman, as well as several drawings...before I moved out.
The above picture was my friend Val Mangion in front of one of my portraits of her. She was a great subject.
David Bushman passed away this past year. He was a gifted artist and a generous teacher. He saw and depicted life in way that was both ornate and sensual. His patience and commitment to detail was astonishing, intriguing and compelling. He made a difference for many up and coming painters. He kept me from dropping out of the painting curriculum. He believed in me when no one else did, and I'll never forget his support. He lived his life to the fullest and I was happy to have been his student.

Watching Sophie grow.

We haven't really figured out Sophie's birthday, but she was 10 weeks old when we got her on Christmas day. She's really growing fast. Some days I feel like it's not fast enough; other days I'm so glad we got her as a puppy. Despite the scratches, torn items, and occasional 'accidents.' The funniest thing she does is when she listens to the audio on my laptop. I gotta try to get a video of her cocking her head back and forth. It's endearing.

Meet Sophie: our newest family member

Here she is with Brooke!

Holiday Labels

'Tis the season: here are the labels I created for Mike's Beers.

I-L-L...I-N-I

Randy and Pam Thomas made it back up, with friend Bob, for the Illinois/Ohio State game. Bob came because he's an Ohio State fan, and a good friend. Here they are: ready for the game. In order: Chris, Randy, Bob and Mike. It was crazy cold that day. Pam and I were smart enough to pass on the game. And a good thing: who won the game? As Pam put it, "Bob was the happy one."

The Great Fall

This was the view of our back yard yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work. The gingko leaves were coming down like snow. It was the same all around the neighborhood. Pretty neat.

Holy Cow: Sometimes you feel like a nut...

New beer (a brown nut ale); new label for the William Street Brewery, in honor of Harry Caray and the valiant efforts of the Cubs this season. Mike burned the SI, with the offending cover that cinched the bad luck, in our Smokey Joe...alas too late. Maybe next year.

Dad: outstanding in his garden

I guess when I think of the person I most admire, I don't even have to think about it. Dad taught me that life is what I make of it. I get it, even though, sometimes I don't want to. I know that it's too easy to blame circumstances or situations, but he's the one who told me, "endeavor to persevere." He even taught me that I should live like the world is black and white, even when the grey areas are shadows that mislead. Goodness and truth are brilliantly white. And wrong can be temptingly masked in luscious shades of darkness. But it's still wrong. It's hard to see it some days. It's often more convenient to squint or to get lost in the shadows. But at the end of day, it's a risk where you find yourself on the wrong side of everything you ever believed in. I guess that's what makes us human. I'm hoping not to be taken in by such demons.

Check out this awesome pond. It's an oasis. Just looking at it gives me peace. I think that's why people put beautiful ponds like this in their garden. So they can wash away the worries of the day and drown their troubling doubts. Or maybe they just like fish. (sigh) Anyway, Dad's my hero. Thanks Dad.

Dad's Day Gift

Here it is...so far. My first glass mosaic stepping stone. The question is: will the glass stay connected once it dries? Stay tuned...Hopefully you can tell it's a fish–koi to be specific. My dad's pride and joy.

Black Velvet Orchid

I just bought this plant because I thought the leaves would look nice in this planter. Boy were we surprised when it started blooming! Our neighbor informed us that this was an orchid, and that it's quite unusual for it to bloom. Nice surprise.

Jewelry

Here are the chalcite earrings I made; combined with the PMC (Precious Metal Clay: 99% pure silver) cubes I made in my glass class.

Glass Platters

I've been trying to get back into my designs: this platter is 15"x15" and you can almost see the greens in the transparent base.
This was my first 15"x15" platter that I gave to my dad. The branch is iridescent.

Santa Sauvignon

It's that time of year; Mike's back at it, making gifts for Christmas. This is his first Sauvignon. Simply Santa (Moose) for 2008.
It's been a while, but Mike needed a new label for his Christmas wine. Simple.

Garden Time...

It's so nice to have things blooming again!





Today was the first real day of spring for me! But I'm just beginning to garden.

Fuse II

Here's a couple of views of next fuse project, actually set up in the kiln: there are four pieces that will be fused and then slumped.

More Fun w/Glass Beads

Here are the ivory and turquoise glass beads I've made to-date

And here's what I made tonight.

Glass Fusing: next project...

Here is the design I've come up with for my 15" platter mold. It may not turn out like this...

Glass Beadmaking Class

Here are my first glass beads. Well, actually my second group of glass beads. The first set looked like molars. The ones in front are what I was really hoping for. Thanks to Emily who helped me perfect the bead shape.

Glass Fusing Class

Here are three pieces from my Glass Fusing class:

It's a two step process: the first step involves fusing 2-3 layers of glass together;
The next step is "slumping."

This is where the glass that has been fused together is then placed in a mold to make a container shape. Like this:

New Brew: Leprechaun Stout

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, here's my proposed label for Mike and Randy's latest brew.

IF: "Hide"

Edwin Emory Wright has super powers, of this I'm certain. And with the help of his magic invisible cape (which doubles as a blanky), he has the ability to disappear...anywhere, anytime. He's here; and then he's gone in an instant.

Glass Works

This is my first piece of "fused" glass. The prism-like geometric shape in the middle is dichroic glass, which creates a very brilliant effect. I'm looking forward to the next class where we'll deal with slumping.

I took a couple of stained glass classes MANY years ago, and plan to additional stained glass classes to create at least two more companion pieces for the glass I created below.

IF: "Communication"

In case you can't read my chicken scratch: "Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don't understand the language that you're singing in, they still know good music when they hear it."–Lou Rawls

IF: "Gravity II"

Here she is–in color. Still flying high. I love swings.

IF: "Gravity"

I was "getting air" long before there were extreme sports. The higher, the more free, the more lost I could get...defying gravity.

IF: "Red"

"I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille." It seems like every week there's been a red carpet event. This is a work in progress. I love drawing w/a #2 mechanical pencil, but I'm adding color in Photoshop as I go.

IF: "Super Hero"

Before there was Mr. Chicken; there was...dun-duh-duh-dah: Poultry Man. Chick magnet, barnyard badboy and all around good egg.

IF: "Buzz II"

Here's my first attempt with the prismacolor pencils I got for Christmas. I haven't used them in years.

IF: "Buzz"

Whenever I see Buzz Lightyear I think of Jay Leno. I'm not sure about my "style..." still working on my Illustrator skills.

IF: "Phoenix"

What a beautiful tale: "It was said that only one phoenix existed at any one time, and it is very long-lived with a life span of 500 years, 540 years, 1000 years, 1461 years or even 12,994 years (according to various accounts). As the end of its life approached, the phoenix would build a pyre nest of aromatic branches and spices such as myrrh, sets it on fire, and is consumed in the flames. After three days the birth -- or as some legends say a rebirth -- the phoenix arises from the ashes. According to some sources, the phoenix arose from the midst of the flames."

IF: "Help"

My husband made another batch of wine to give out this xmas, but he has a hard time with french, so I made this label to "help" him sound it out...(the first word's not the best pronunciation, but you get the idea).

Popcorn

More exercises in Illustrator; actually done for a sign.

IL Fri: "Mask"

Cat's faces always seem like masks to me. My cat seems to have the same face, even when she's about to pounce! This was also more practice in Illustrator for me.

IF: "Clear"

I know Mals thought these glasses would make her look smarter, but did she realize they made her lips look bigger too? It may not have been so clear to her...but I could certainly see it.

IF: "Smitten"

Well, maybe not to a flame, but you get the idea.

IF: "Quiet"

Silence can be defining. So can quiet. Sometimes when I'm quiet on the outside, my insides are screaming. I just finished this for a wellness article.

IF: "Phobia"

Frigophobia- Fear of cold or cold things.(Cheimaphobia, Cheimatophobia, Psychrophobia)

IF: "Change"

In the right hands, change can be creative and emancipating, dontcha think?

IF: "Safe"

Wow; it's been forever since I posted anything to IF. I keep checking it out, though. You all are great inspiration. Hopefully you can make out this gal's safe space.

IF: "Dance"

I didn't realize that Mark Twain was the author of that quote...just another bonus. This is based on a photo of my daughter dancing at a wedding.

IF: "Cake"

My best friend's birthday is next month, so i thought I'd let her eat "cake."

IF: "Sorry"

There's nothing like a stinky stocking to make Santa sorry he didn't pack a clothespin or gas mask!