The unusual amoungst the usual

In my rambles around Montara I have found many items that you will not find anywhere else.

A nautical themed gate.

Home surfer crossings

Colorful floats in front yards

 

 

Whalebones on the porch

 

A surfboard fence

 

As artists it is our job to find the unusual amoungst the usual.  When you walk down the street-look around you.  What can you find?

 

Time for my walk!

 

ABC swap-Printers trays-First hand off

Welcome Everyone,
Its time that I update you on the Altered Books Club's latest goings on.  Because so many of the group had vacations scheduled (except myself of course) we decided that a smaller round robin project was in order.  What we came up with was pseudo printers trays by Tim Holtz.  Each cubby in the tray was just a little bit bigger than an ATC so each hand off could be completed in a much faster time frame.
My theme this time around was " Steampunk".  And I will post a picture of it when the swap is completed. 
For the first hand off I received Cindy's tray.  She chose "Vintage Calendar" and placed vintage items in the cubbies that meant something to her personally.  She requested that I take October and she really wanted skeletons. I usually try to comply with a fellow artists request if I can but this time I just couldn't make the idea of dancing skeletons work. I have to say that Cindy's project had a great deal of the "cute factor" that normally I just don't do well with.  Most people will tell you "Connie doesn't do cute"  Ask me to do grungy, aged, crusty,edgy or bloody and I'm good.  But ask me to do cute and you might as well plunge a knife in my heart. Which would make a great Halloween cubby by the way!
I just couldn't make the "cute" skeleton thing work for me.  Sorry Cindy but I tried.  So what was I to do now? Search the web of course!
My search brought up a wonderfully creepy picture of two pumpkin head children in Victorian clothing. It was perfect-creepy pumpkin children was right up my alley.  Not only that but since we are close to Half Moon Bay a pumpkin theme was totally appropriate! That's cute right?!
Now I was in business!
Cindy's one rule is that we use tiny vintage postcards to sign our name on in each cubby.  So I did this but partially covered up the postcard with a retro vintage Halloween polka dot fabric.  And so that I put something really vintage and personal to myself I added some black rick rack that my mother added to a Halloween costume of mine about a hundred years ago.  On top of the fabric I collaged my creepy Pumpkin photo.  I then created some miniatures: a witches broom, some tiny jack o'lanterns and a witches hat.  I added some dead moss and a spider there you have it!  One Halloween cubby that combined creepy for me and cute for Cindy.  You can see my finished cubby below.

Cheers!
And please guys no more cute.

In memorandum-Dynamo

I guess I am writing this in an effort to find some calm.  About an hour ago I lost my sweet little Jack Russell Terrier-Dynamo.
For the past 6 months Dyna had been battling renal failure and about a week ago she started to lose that battle.  Today at the vet she went into acute renal distress with so much pain and confusion that we had no choice but to put her to sleep.  She died in my arms.
I knew when she was first diagnosed that the end was near and I must be ready for it.  But if there is any lesson to be learned from death its that you can never be ready. Loss of those you love is always painful and must be endured because that's what it means to be human.

I want to sincerely thank Dr. Laura McKinney for having the courage and care to try a new therapy.  So many these days wouldn't even bother. By doing do Dr. Mckinney gave us an extra month to be together.

Words are indeed paltry things and I cannot adequately express just how much my heart hurts.

Sleep in peace little one.  You are much loved and will be missed.

Sleep in peace Dynamo.