Fashion 1968 - News you can use

 I was unpacking an estate sale buy and lining the bottom of a box was a 1968 newspaper from Newport News Virginia.  On one side was the "Women's Society Page" Headline page.  Who was lunching where, when the upcoming charity events would happen, etc. 

 Across from the "Mrs. Henry Simpkins hosted" article was a series of perky sport wear ads "for the Modern Woman".

I used fabrics in my stash from the 60's and used modern transfer and collage techniques to make these beauties.  What do you think?  They are 11x14 on canvas.  Individually priced at $135.

Respite & Review

 I have to admit I was a little envious hearing about friend's vacations where there are zip lining through the rain forests and scaling large mountain peaks.  On the other hand I have a fine appreciation for things that are the same, year in and out.  Like my husband building sandcastles!
Or Bob saying "There's my boat!" every time we see an especially cool one.

This one was on the bay at Lewes Beach , Delaware. So Vintage looking!  I am not educated enough to know whether it is old or not but it looks like something out of a Cary Grant movie doesn't it?

Except for some recreational picking I took a complete break from work.  It worked I feel so refreshed and really ready to jump back into the day to day.  OK, so I did make a thousand mental lists of "cool things I can work on when I return".

 

This week has been great so far.  Got back to working out again and have actually been in my studio 2 days in a row! Results on that VERY soon.

 

The clouds on the way home reminded my kiddies that it is almost back to school time.

(Who are they kidding? They can't really wait to see their friends, or and learn something.)

Muse following Canvas?

 Working on a variation the Field of Dreams movie quote.  "If you build it, they will come."  I went to the art supply store on Sunday and bought the canvases that I will transform into my first solo show.  I will be the featured artist at 1st Stage in Tyson's Corner, VA. 

The theatre, located near Leesburg Pike and the Dulles Toll Road, is the creation of a group of teachers, artists and actors in Fairfax County who wanted to bring professional theatre to Tysons Corner and, in doing so, give local artists an opportunity to grow in their careers. In its first two seasons, 1st Stage debuted the talent of nearly 30 actors, designers and directors.  http://www.1ststagespringhill.org

As I have a BAD habit of putting my own work last I figure that the visual reminder of the MOUNTAIN of canvas will remind me to stay focused and do the (fun!) work that putting together this show will require!  Above is number of one of a projected 30.  Tell me if you like it.

CREATE, Recreate, & Road Trip!

 ROAD TRIP!  Gotta tell you when I expressed my dismay at schlepping my truck load o' mixed media art supplies and "stuff" to be a vendor at the 1st CREATE retreat in NJ all by myself, I was shocked that my 13 year old son said, "Mom, I'll come help you; it will be fun."   "Dude, it's a 4 hour drive, and being my personal Sherpa, and being nice to old ladies like me.  Ya sure?"   "Do we get to stay in a hotel?"  "Yes."  "Do they have a pool and a jacuzzi? Can we order room service? And watch movies until midnight?"  "Yes, son, but no room service, the food is always cold; but we can eat at the restaurant downstairs."  "OK, count me in!"

 So off , we went!  Me being VERY mindful of making it fun, when I was the one doing all the driving.
Especially when a tractor trailer overturned on the NJ turnpike.  Happily thanks to modern technology, (bless you oh Traffic App!) we took a bucolic alternate route and arrived in fine time.  Got checked in, met some new pals at the show. Chatted up the College Closet folks and author Seth Apter (who I had recently met at Judith Heartsong's This Way Up Art Salon.  Gave away door prizes to the happy mother daughter pair below who had flown in from Europe for the event: WOW!  Got to meet the staff from Cloth, Paper, Scissors Magazine, awesome ladies all.  Was especially tickled to meet Editor Jenn Mason, who encouraged me to submit to the magazine!  As I have always threatened to submit, it was thrilling to have an unsolicited compliment!

 Not so fun? The tepid Jacuzzi and Monty Python-like Championship Hotel Hallway Door Slamming Event that went on until 2 am.   Way fun?  My son convincing me that "The X-Men" counted as a fine movie SERIES to stay up all night and watch, while the doors slammed and toddlers wailed outside until 2 am.  Even more exciting? Knowing Bob was holding down the fort back at the shop so I could make some new connections.                 Unforgettable?  Our non-stop conversation there, during, and back.  It's heartening to know that  you are raising a kid that you not only love but actually like. 

We talked about the funky carpet pattern and how it was all different yet connected.  Like people.  That knowledge was tested when we returned home and were told the terrible news that a beloved friend had committed suicide.  After a week of numb disbelief we tearfully attended his funeral and now pray daily for all of the people that love Mark to gather strength to face another day. 

Including us.

Bob IS the best, soooo

 Am trying to decide what convaluted thing it is that I can get things done for other people, waaay faster than I do things for myself.  Is it the "Martyr Mom" persona?  Is it the "you can rely on me!" SuperFriend thing?  With my own work I want it to be perfect so it never appears.  When I am working on something for someone I can objectively evaluate, (good, better great) make adjustments and GO.   I AM determined to NOT make the same mistakes helping my husband like I do when I trap myself in my own details.  (Coach Lesley are you proud of me???).

Thus Bob's Best Quality BBQ is on both Etsy AND Facebook as of last night at 10.  And of course he had more "fans" by breakfast than I had at Stifel & Capra in a month because I didn't TELL anyone when I posted the shop page!  Amazing how that works, she said abashedly.

Of COURSE, it needs to be tweaked and I can see every flaw and every "thing to do" but you know what?  This party has STARTED!  Trying to let that be a lesson to ME.  Next? The website!  Charge!

http://bobsbestquality.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/bobsbestquality



I want to be Linda when I grow up

 Linda Vrogindewey of Clay Whimsy is not only just imaginative and talented.  She has a great family (who braved the HEINOUS storms we had at her opening on FIRSTfriday).

 Linda is also kind and patient (listening to me talk about my kid's adventures in high school ceramics).

AND she lives in Florida for half the year.  A lot of folks know that the only time Bob & I buy lottery tickets is when we are on the Eastern Shore.  I say it's so we know if we have to come home!

Not that I would REALLY leave, but wouldn't it be nice to have beachfront too?

***Get upstairs and see Linda's Whimsical World in the Alcove Gallery before the month is out.  You will be glad you did!

And the band played on...

 FIRSTfriday in June was certainly one for stalwarts.  We had a wicked storm blow through complete with gale and tornado warnings.  Eeesh.  I always laugh when I read stories about "the small yet enthusiastic crowd" but that is certainly what we had!  Special thanks to Charles Solomon and Rick Steele for rockin' the (small yet enthusiastic house).  Hopefully you will play for us again soon in the sunshine!  Next: Clay Whimsy -Artisan of the Month

Bushes Make Good Neighbors

My neighbor Henry is an extraordinary gardener and cultivator of the land.  As the only things in our yard that grow are perennials that thrive on benign neglect he constantly impresses us with his diligence & painstaking care of his garden.

Also impressive, is Henry's "walking the walk".  He takes the Biblical edict of giving away one's "first fruits" literally.  As such we have been the willing recipients of his largess, sampling the first zucchini or tomato in seasons past and just yesterday, these lovely raspberries. 

Henry is also the neighbor I call the "Silver Sleuth".  He takes great delight in digging antique silver out of junk shops, letting me re-sell it at the shop and donating the proceeds to charity.

That's Henry. A good man & a great example, in more ways than one.

Leaving the Nest

Spring is ripe with possibilities but THIS spring at the Stifel household has been rife with big turbulence, fraught discussions and very exciting decisions.
After much agonizing & trepidation, we made a family decision that my husband Bob would put in his notice and quit his day job. *GULP*.

The idea is that if he takes over the financial & operations end of the business it will leave me more free time to do pro-active sales and marketing to get the word out about Stifel & Capra.  Oh, and make my art, you remember? The reason I opened the store in the first place! 

The prayer is that we can achieve more family unity and life balance while working on ALL of our pet projects.  One of mine? Regular blogging.  Stay tuned!

And a fun time was had by all!

DeborahConn's Watercolor Monotype Workshops at Stifel & Capra are always a big hit!

For $60 you get 3 hours of instruction, get to meet new, always fun fellow students and you get to leave with art!  What could be better?

You might be surprised to learn that these efforts will all completed by first timers to the class!  It's always fun to see the some what magic results when the prints are pulled off Debby's big hand rolling printing press.

In the workshop you learn various methods of applying color and of making a print.  We have even heard of a large format painter that used her CAR to pull a print!

Want to join us next time? Email workshops@stifelandcapra.com for an invitation to our next class.

For the first time since 1962!

This is Mom & Dad Wells getting ready to cruise on Dad's New HARLEY DAVIDSON trike.
Now you know where I get my free wheeling attitude from.

Spring has sprung as you can see from this photo'sbackground.  We are crazy busy at the shop.  It is ALL good.  Come see.

Dorothy Parker & 5th Anniversaries

While the SuperBowl is always a fun party it is somewhat of a harbinger in the Stifel house. The days after are the anniversary of when my husband lost his leg and spent a month in the ICU after complications from a strep infection. 5 years doesn't blunt the fact that Bob is still missing a leg (one of the neighborhood kids did ask if it would grow back, like a salamander) and that he still suffers phantom pain as a result of the operation. I often tell him, "sorry darling, I am still in the 'happy you are here' stage. Hopefully that will never end.

To celebrate we usually invite the immediate neighbors over that helped me juggle kids, therapies, phone calls & doctors appointments. As I am pigheadedly stubborn about asking for help this time of year is also a great reminder of how one's friends can ease your pain and carry your burdens for you. That is, if you will let them.

Let's raise a toast to those we still have, those that we don't and all that we love.

road trip- New York!

We had a lovely weekend (yeah, yeah I know it is Thursday) visiting my old roommate & his family in North Jersey last week. They live in the VERY pictoresque town of Maplewood. Maplewood is the kind of place that is made for the likes of Stifel & Capra. The main drag is two streets wide and not a chain store in sight. ALL of the shops, & restaurants are privately held, most shopkeepers are the owners. Very charming and very friendly. Lots of eye candy.

Pete & Judy indulged us and DROVE us to the Brooklyn Flea Market on Sunday. In the winter the Market moves indoors into a GORGEOUS old bank. The architecture defies description. It was so intricate with the grill and fretwork. Hard to fathom all the tiles were laid in one at a time. Amazing.

I bought a funky mid century decanter set for the shop and some scrumptious gnarly metal letters to use in my art. Of course I am just carrying the letters around at the moment exclaiming to one & all how COOL they are. Junk Nerd, that's me!

Happy New Year! Can you tell what my resolution is?

I love New Year's. Even more than spring (although Beth Hudgens' "Spring" above appeals most) I love the fresh start that New Year brings.  New calender, clean slate, all the excesses of the old year (cookies, chardonnay?) blown away in the fresh gust that is the New Year.

Of course when I look back at the year past I have a bad tendency to see what I did NOT do.  Keep up with blogging, work that social media, make some art, ANY art.  Lose some weight.  What the HECK did I do all last year other than rearrange the furniture at the shop and drive my kids around???

I saw babies born. Saw friends, parents, sons and marriages die.  Worked hard.  Worked on getting over myself (still not quite there).  Laughed, threw parties, cried, prayed harder for people than I ever have in my life to no avail.  Tried to get over that too.  Partially succeeded. 

So here I am.  Older, marginally wiser, and ready to begin again for the 50th time!

When looking at vintage clothes folks are CONSTANTLY astounded by how little ladies were back mid century.  Skirts with 22 inch waists, impossibly slim pants (although some lucky ladies can still wear them, see prior post!) make them seem more like works of art then actual apparel! 

The other thing that was little? The PRICE TAGS!  This is from the 1950's check it out.  Makes you long for the "good old days", although I wouldn't want to wear the girdles!  Every body is beautiful in it's own way...  Cherish yours.

Just a little jealous.

Being 6 foot 2 inches tall I have an advantage. It doesn't matter how much weight I lose or how much I exercise I will NEVER be able to fit into the rockin' vintage clothes we have in the shop. So I guess I am spared the agony of all the ladies that wistfully say "I used to be able to fit into a dress like that." On the other hand I am more than a little jealous. They just don't make them like that any more, you know?

SO cute! She actually ended up with a beaded drop waist dress from the 1930's. Looked like a movie star! These two ensembles are still in the shop. As of today at least! Have a fashionable day!

Sweets for the Sweet!

Cutest baby EVER! Maybe the little guys in your life MIGHT be cuter but Mama Becca of "Tea with Mrs. B" and I might disagree while our man models his brand new Christmas tree hat. Super cute! We had out 2nd annual art and gift market on Saturday. Lots of fun guest vendors and a couple in house favorites (visit out facebook page http://www.facebook.com/StifelandCapra for more pics!).

We have been busy little elves pulling the vintage Christmas goodies out of the crafty cellar.  I am TRYING to pace myself on days like this but it is kind of like when you go car shopping "just to look" and come home with a new vehicle. 'Tis hard not to go nuts once you get started.  No one seems to be mind though...  Still feels like I am rushing the season a bit. Although one would never know it from watching TV!  I think I saw my first Christmas ad two days BEFORE Halloween. ugh.

I am SUPER excited about our new stock.  Almost to much to type.  will post more pics soon!

What's not there.

It's telling when the mundane crashes into the profound. 

No cute blog entry last week because all the awesome shots of Judy's daughter Haley looking marvelous in my oh so tiny vintage clothes somehow vanished from my camera. NEVER since I switched to digital as an entire file been deleted.  I am really at a loss to explain it.

Wednesday after tediously nagging my son about his missing, forgotten, misplaced shoes, homework, electronic devices etc. and explaining (again tediously) how when you have "issues" like my dyslexia one has to get in the habit of creating fail safes, adding columns three times, spell check et al I promptly misplaced my driver's licence, credit card and gift receipt for my husband's birthday gift because I had them in my pocket instead of the purse I was too lazy to carry into the store and now they are just gone. I am really at a loss to explain it.

Yesterday while meeting my friend Anna for lunch, she explained that one of the hard things about life after losing her 12 year old son to a freak flashflood is what's missing.  Hearing kids playing outside and knowing your kid isn't there.  They say time heals but I don't know how.  I really am at a loss to explain it.

Tending

Things need to be tended.  Friendships, homes, children, marriages.  My husband & I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary and my best-sister-in-the-whole-world offered to take the kids so that we could tend to our relationship.  It's reassuring that the things that can really dork up a trip, rain, horrific traffic et al, seemed immaterial as we cruised down the road catching up with each other.  Terribly pleasant really knowing you are heading toward relaxation and not homework or in-law issues!
The weather broke Saturday night, just in time for us to mow the SHIN high grass before the sun went down.  OOOohhh, how romantic.

But indeed, a reminder that everything regular tending.  Lawns and marriages alike.  Love you honey!

Enjoy the last flower of summer.