Wow, I actually made something!

Jackie bought one of my collages for her daughter's room and asked me if I had any collages featuring boys as she both a daughter AND a son.  I shamefacedly reminded her so did I , and uh, no , I had photos collages with boys but not mixed media works.  So here is my first attempt!  I really like how it came out.
I also had fun making these two soft pieces for clients.  One is for a birthday present for a sister who is a music teacher and the other is about the cutest birth announcement I have seen in a while.  Good wishes all around!


It has been a rough couple of weeks.  I did my civic duty and pulled jury duty recently.  Not so much fun as it was a particularly gruesome situation.  I was struck by and grateful to all of the people that make up the public service sector.  The ambulance crews, police teams, forensic professionals, attorneys, social workers and administrative staff all subject themselves to unmentionable situations in the name of justice and healing.  It's impressive.  Peace to all.

Everything's Cool

Everything inside is cool that is. We have been hit with a sweltering summer. Getting the kind of weather in June & July that Wasingtonian's don't normally have to tolerate until August. Ugh. Luckily we have some ongoing events that will help maintain your equilibrium. Amy Brecount White's book "Forget-Her-Nots" is a great summer read. Pick up a copy while to read poolside. Come enjoy the air conditioned comfort of Deborah Conn's Portrait display through July 30th. Debby is so talented she can take your favorite snapshot and turn it into a real work of art.


Forgive the lapse betweeen posting. I am having a hard time keeping up with my fulltime family duties along with the business back end of the store. It is SO much more fun to interact with customers and rearrange the furniture than it is to process accounting entries and think about next quarter. But it all has to get done!

Happy 50th Bill & Nicky!

Here are Bill & Nicky hanging with some of their old cronies (their words not mine!) at the 50th wedding anniversary party we threw in my back yard.  Dinner was yummy. Kudos to Bob for prime rib and Robin for cakes!  I made all of the salads and set the tables and the bar(!) with my lovely vintage cloths.  Now you know where the shop stock comes from!  Everyone seemed to survive the sultry weather to raise a glass of champagne.  Hip, hip HOORAY!!  Love you Mom & Dad!

Speaking of parties... Do you like that segue?  Make sure you stop by FIRSTfriday to meet Debby and Amy or pop over on Saturday for our 3rd annual Birthday Bash! (details at right or on Facebook.)

See you then!

the countdown of days...

The countdown begins.  Three days to my son's birthday. Eight more days until the end of school.  55 days until my beach week.  77 days until school starts again...  Aah the cycle of summer!  I did get to mix business with pleasure as Bob & I took the family down to Rehoboth (treasure hunting for the shop along the way!) this last weekend.  We had PERFECT weather.  Really to chilly for us to go in the ocean although we got quite the show on Saturday from the windsurfers off the beach.  Sunday we went for a not terribly arduous paddle on the bay side.  Wind had dies down.  MUCH more my speed!

Even though Washington area traffic can eat the large part of a weekend getaway. It is still a good thing.  To get away that is!  To recuperate and rest from your daily existence.  I was so motivated when I returned home I energetically went through, sorted and culled all of my fine art supplies.  Got to tell you I felt very professional seeing it all lined up there just waiting for me to make something.  Of course you will notice that I am not showing you 4 walls of photos, mostly because what I am making is a big mess!  Still sorting and culling and donating a mountain of things that rock but not appropriate for the artistic direction I have taken. 
I did however, get a very small project done from start to finish yesterday in less than an hour.

I was feeling all smug when Cathy called to tell me my 10:30 was at the shop waiting for me.  Oops, I had the new Business Director of Homestretch's coffee appointment down for NEXT Wednesday. Homestretch is a Falls Church based organization that helps homeless families rebuild their lives.   Luckily I live 2 miles from the store so fifteen minutes later we were in Natalia's (area's BEST coffee & party shop) talking about this September's Homestretch Days and this year's 2010 Artists Helping Others show.  Both should be lots of fun to work on.  I am actively seeking exhibitors for the art show so see the website if you'd like to apply!

Great FIRSTfriday turnout for Sherry Hickey!

Local author Sherry Hickey seems quite tickled as her fans (young and old alike!) came out to get their copies of "Card Auntie's Wonderful Workshop" signed on FIRSTfriday.  This charming paperback is now available for sale at the shop and would be great as an end of year teacher gift for a class library or a special friend.  Sherry has autographed all of the copies for a special treat!

My buddy Betsy and I went treasure hunting up in Maryland yesterday.  I said that I was going to behave myself but somehow I picked up 3 bins of treasures and oodles of jewelry (because more is MORE!).  Do go with our Hawaiian tiki specials this month I found another crazy parrot head mug and semi-matching parrot sterling pendant along with a crazy sequined hula dancer bag.  You really DO have to see it to believe it!  We've got them all priced and they will be on the sales floor this afternoon.

We are gearing up for the next Art & Antique Fair this Saturday from 10 to 2.  The Tinner Hill Blues Festival is this weekend as well http://www.tinnerhill.net so stop by when you are roaming the Little City listening to the Big Blues!

A matter of expectation.

Here's my son helping me take pictures of my latest collage so I can make cards and get the image up on line.  Dawns on me that the quote "Life is largely a matter of expectation" certainly applied to this last weekend.  Just like fields should lay fallow to heald a productive growing season, we have fallow periods also.  Although I must confess sometimes mine are more inertia and paraysis than rest.  My husband Bob is entering a new productive phase.  With the help of good friends power training cycling coach BJ Basham http://www.powertrainingcoach.com/  & Andy Clarke http://www.bikeleague.org/ Bob shopped for , test rode and purchased a new 3 wheel bike that he can actually ride with his prosthetic leg!

As you can imagine, the bike is a little more forgiving from a balance standpoint from a traditional cycle but Bob will have to learn how to best use his existing muscles to get the show on the proverbial road.  Bob used to enjoy driving to Mount Vernon and back so Sunday's 3 mile round trip ride to the Falls Church Scout House and back might seem less than profound but it was a triumph!  To be able to go up and down steep hills navigate road crossings and sidewalks with relative ease was really exciting for everyone who knows Bob.

Happy trails guys!

Oh+Golly+Day!

I was tired yesterday. Why, because I joined the ranks of parents who were trying to book camps for their school age children during summer break. Registration started at 5am and woe to the uninformed parent who thinks that they can reserved them on their lunch hour and get the dates they need! By 5:28 two of my son's choices were over half subscribed. Eek! I came late to this party because in the past my kids attended year round schools and had shorter summer breaks (plus I worked from home). It's humbling when you become the person you used to make fun of! Kind of how childless adults feel about baby strollers in public places. I used to feel so unencumbered, yes free, until I became one of those double stroller wielding wild eyed mamas! Happily mine are a little old for strollers these days...

Time is ticking onward. So if you missed Anne Schwarz's ( above and below right) opening on FIRSTfriday in May please do stop in and take a peek at her wonderful featured exhibit right in the front of the store! Anne has such a lovely, calm, contemplative style, you feel transported when you look at her work! Anne's feature runs through the end of May.

I finally have the art & antique fair applications ready! Please email me for a copy. My next mission to to get them posted on both the website and our Facebook page, look for them there. A 10x10 booth is only $15 for our Saturday events. Will post updates and attendees as they sign up. Look for your favorites soon!

Jane was right; the Basilica is spectacular!

Before I left my friend and fellow artist Jane Coonce said "you HAVE to go to the St. Louis Basilica,it is amazing." Jane was right! I cannot even contemplate the man hours that went into the spectacular decoration in this building.

Quite awe inspiring.

And humbling.

Happy Sunday!

meet ME in St. Louis

Do I look excited? I am! This terribly tidy studio belongs to a woman I have admired for years, Mary Englebreit. Mary inspires me because she has built a career and an international reputation while remaining true to her artistic vision. Many pooh-poohed Mary's self taught sentimental view but the self -proclaimed Queen of Cute persevered and built an empire with out leaving her home town of St. Louis. Her latest foray is hosting a conference about art & the business of art. After enduring an "express" flight (flying is not fun for those of us over 6 feet tall) I shared a cab with a fellow conference go-er Justine and checked in to the gorgeous Chase Park Plaza Hotel, unpacked, had lunch and scurried 2 blocks down for my tour of Mary's studio.

Everything about it was cute as can be (naturally!) and it was fascinating to see pencil sketches and lay outs of Mary's book in progress. We got a sneak peek at 2011's calendar pages and learned lots of "behind the scenes" stories from her trusty assistant. Then I headed up to the Stardust Ballroom (really!) and met all of the other terribly friendly, creative and charming women who are unabashed "Mary" fans. It's good to know you are not alone in your obsessions!

Happy Birthday to me!

Transitioning is hard. Transitioning form chore to chore, duty to duty. Parenting, home keeping, shopkeeping, artist, and paperwork, paperwork, ppaperwork!  When exactly is it I am supposed to whip up gourmet meals, exercise to lose this spare tire, make art, take my husband dancing, not neglect my friends, pursue my spiritual life and ugh, do more paperwork?  Seems like if I actually finish any one task it is always to the detriment of another.  Anybody out there have any advice about structuring one's work day?

One day that is never work is my BIRTHDAY!  Turned (gulp) 49 on Friday and my awesome neighbors and my usual suspects came over and had copious nibbles and raised a toast!  Thanks everyone for all of the birthday goodies and a wonderful time.  Here's a toast to my awesome sister Robin who attempts to keep me on track (and stands in for my left brain as I have none!).  Cheers!

"Found" at The Art League, Torpedo Factory

Actually Beth kept saying "Of course, you'll get in, it's what you do" I actually did!  Get into this month's Art League show "Found" - art featuring found objects.  Actually I got TWO pieces in (see March 17th post for part of the other entry http://stifelandcapra.blogspot.com/2010/03/this-weeks-challenge-found-objects-part.html

But, ahem, one is not ALLOWED to have two pieces in so I spoke to the director and picked the wall piece as it is larger (2x4 feet) and more graphic.  The bummer is that had I juried in for the "found" show AND the all members show I would have been qualified to show in the Bin Gallery next year.  For that privelege you have to juriy into three shows throughout the course of the year.   As I am on a mini-roll you might think I was home free but the League's fiscal year ends in June.  Now there is an incentive to actually submit every month!  Stay tuned!  

Happy Birthday, Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

Downloaded my camera last night and realized a lot of time has elapsed since my last post. Eek. Nothing like the kiddies being out of school to throw off one's inadequate routine. April's FIRSTfriday was a lot of fun, between it being a school holiday and Good Friday I wasn't sure who would be there but my daughter's Girl Scout posse was there en force to wish her a Happy Birthday! The young ladies also modeled some of Ashleigh's lastest vintage fashins. Cute, eh?

Not as cute as Cathy in her bunny ears! The tradional Stifel and Capra sale is "wear your Easter bonnet or bunny ears and get a discount" and there were those awesome clients Charlotte, Jane, Stephanie, Margie and more parading in their bonnets and working the (mostly bling!) discount!

Beth Loftis and I went down to the Art League at the Torpedo Factory on Tuesday to drop off art and ran into a mini-Stifel and Capra meeting - artists Jane McElvany Coonce, Sandi Douglas Parker, Elizabeth Hudgens & Bud Hensgen were all there either submitting pieces or volunteering behind the counter. Fun. More fun because both Beth & I got in! Those photos tomorrow!

If you can't go to the beach...

Our beach weekend got curtailed because my husband's employer got a Friday afternoon Request for Proposal from a client. This is a good thing UNLESS you had plans to take the kiddies to the beach for spring break... So as a condolence prize we decided to bomb up to Baltimore for the day and go to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. We had a great, goofy time. I was enamored of the new Jellyfish exhibit. I won't bore you with all of the photos I took but I love this one!

The harbor "chessie monsters" were not running but the "4-D" nature movie was playing at the Aquarium so we got to rock out the 3d glasses! The kids had fun eating up at the bar in the Hard Rock Cafe'. Signature Munchies and souvenir glasses later we headed home and made it back to Virginia in an hour! Woo hoo, my traffic juju holds!