My Faves This Day

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Art and Poetry, Poetry and Art

...And so often the twain shall meet. Being a moderator for the ZNE Verses forum, I decided I should join the ZNE group Artists and Poets. Artist Jodi Barone runs a separate blog for this group http://artistsandpoets.blogspot.com/, one of her two blogs.

I didn't know I would find already-blog-friend Laurie Marshall of Loud Life fame http://loudlife-laurieblaumarshall.blogspot.com/ with some cool poetry and a fabulous journal. I am also enjoying other ZNE friends' creative work and inspirational art- published there to jumpstart poetry.

What I also did not expect was to find myself featured there on the home page so soon, with one of my first works, shown there to evoke well, something, in someone(s). You can see it here http://artistsandpoets.blogspot.com/2007/12/gina-smith.html.

Jodi asked me what it meant, and first I told her the usual: it means whatever anyone sees, blah, blah, blah. But then I decided to figure out why I had made it as I did. Certainly, Teesha Moore's style inspired me http://www.teeshamoore.com/ and also Karyn Gartel http://altereddiva.blogspot.com/.

I also said I find that those who are too too outspoken and judgmental and presumptuous usually have to eat crow later, and to that I say, "would you like fries with that?" In other words, dig in.

Finally, I told her I might just eat all five cupcakes in one sitting and in numerical order if I want, and all of my family, friends, colleagues, customers, etc., whom I find have treated me differently since gaining a little weight can just eat crow. Or they can eat cupcakes with me. So enough of that. That is exactly why I hate explaining (or even thinking about) what my art means.

On the poetry subject, joining the group made me dig out my earliest poems, from about age 16, when I wrote a bunch. I was lucky enough to get one published by Indiana University in a book of mostly adult poetry, called Indiana Writes, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. Several other poems, including this one, were also published in the local newspaper, at that time called the Anderson Herald.

Genius

You sat there figuring the square
root of a multi-digit number.
There was a calculator in its case,
but only a worn down pencil and
a stack of paper was good enough
for you.

Your face mirrored your mind
working, and I was in awe of
your anger as another wadded up
sheet of paper was sent flying
to the trash can. If it wasn’t
math, it had to be history or
science, and of course weekends
were reserved for English.

I always said, “How brilliant.”
Or “That’s wonderful.” Then I
Hopped to the pencil sharpener
So you wouldn’t be without a
Sharp point. Other times I went
Off in search of more paper
For you.

That was a year ago and you’re
still the great genius you
were born to be and me-
well, you made me wonder why I
wasn’t an algebra book or
a grammar lesson or even a
pencil sharpener that you could
turn and turn until your pencil
was resharpened.

Gina Smith

Today's Faves- Eye Candy, Zero Calories

More info here http://www.flickr.com/photos/12448123@N07/favorites/.

Newest Flickr Faves-Such Talent!

Love, love, love all the artists from my various groups, and my latest obsession, Blythe (more on that later). Go here for more info on these photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12448123@N07/favorites/

Never Enough Pink!

Here are some fab photos from my Flickr friends in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Passionately Pink for the Cure- a Flickr and Yahoo! endeavor for the Komen Foundation. Thought I would share them with you. What's better than doggies in dresses and cupcakes with an edible bag to carry them?!

It is SO Fall in Indiana

Love it! Love it! Love it! Did I mention I love fall? Although we live on a corner lot in a modern subdivision, this is the scene from our back patio: corn, glorious corn, getting harvested by a big red IH combine and into a blue cart attached to a green and yellow (of course) JD tractor which is then augered over into a semi to be hauled off to the grain elevator. I am amazed how much farming terminology I've learned just living here. Twenty years ago I wouldn't have known where to get milk out of a cow! That all sounds so folksy. Actually, I am much more at home in the city, but it is somehow comforting to watch all this and know that some things are still done the "old-fashioned" way.

Inside, the comforts of fall mean lighting candles because it is no longer so hot that even a candle is unwelcome. Today I am hosting a little get-together and had fun making Halloween cupcakes as well as pumpkin cobbler from scratch- served warm with whipped cream, homemade macaroni and cheese with peas and mushrooms, cold cider and assorted cheeses and crackers. Tomorrow means football and chili in the crock pot. Yay!

Hello Fellow Bloggers & Bloggettes & Readers

I've updated my blog and website links on the right to include more of my favorites and fellow bloggers. I have been thrilled that some of these folks have seen fit to include my blog on their site and link to here. If I have missed anyone or you have a blog you would like me to list here, just let me know and we'll trade links!

Meanwhile, enjoy the new blog toy/psych test. I've also cleaned up my other links and blog candy, to keep it fresh for you, dear reader.

Stay tuned soon to see what posting a comment for my 100th post will get you. Photo of goodies/prize(s) coming soon....and herein is a photo for fun, just because, from ClaresCupcakes.

If You Can't Bake 'Em, Join 'Em

After all the eye candy at Cupcakes Take the Cake http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/ and at Flickr here http://www.flickr.com/groups/cupcakestakethecake/, I am having a faux sugar rush! So, here's my own little faux contribution, appropriately titled, I think.

Pastel wedding cupcakes

Pastel wedding cupcakes
Originally uploaded by Crumbs and Doilies

One more pretty bit of eye candy. If I'm not careful, I'm going to blog my art right off my own front page! These are by "crumbs and doilies." I am just in love with pastel cupcakes, so come along, dear reader. It's fun, and there's no calories for looking! Cupcakes are the new wedding cake, according to the thousands of members of this group! Fine with me!

Some close-up eye candy

little snail cuppie
Originally uploaded by be cheery

Isn't this snail adorable? I just admire people who can work wonders with dough and in tiny proportions! So cute!! Love the grass and mushrooms!! Did I mention the snail? Love the colors, too! Who thinks of this stuff?

The Cupcake As Art? Definitely!

These are just the most incredible, sweet, beautiful things I have ever seen! Who could eat it? Wouldn't you want to save it to show everyone?! These were made by ( karen ) of Flickr and Cupcakes Take the Cake group fame here http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenilagan/1428592838/in/pool-82187133@N00/?addedcomment=1#comment72157602126486018. I am so glad she gave me permission to share them here. I am in charge of a baby shower at work. I don't think mine will look like this! Such talent!

The Cupcake As Art? Maybe Not.

The cupcake bug has really bitten me. I love looking at the beautiful works of art on Flickr as I have mentioned before. In fact I've requested permission to post another incredible work of art; meanwhile, here is my somewhat lame attempt to decorate Halloween cupcakes.

It was fun; they are colorful. But, they look nothing like the creations from my cupcake group! I guess practice could help in any arena!

I was amazed to see this is my 78th post! Getting close to that all-important 100th post milestone which means prizes! drawings! free goodies! just for commenting. A time-honored blog tradition. Stay tuned.

And still more cupcakes, or is it eye candy?

While I'm on the subject of cupcakes, and what a great subject it is, here is a link to the most wonderful blog, which goes with the Flickr photo site below. http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/. It is amazing the art people can create with these tiny little cakes. I do like to make and decorate cupcakes, and always have. But, I am waaaay out of my league here. Still, I love to look. Believe it or not, the creator of the mosaic below is not a professional baker and has only been decorating cupcakes about a year. That is some crazy talent!


I am feeling behind and bogged down with all of my art projects. I want to create, create, create, but work and life have to come first. I have so many things due in October, from Zetti postcards to a witch hat to 27 handpainted book pages to.....I forget. I have the ideas and the supplies, but....


Another ridiculously frustrating thing is that I have to put away virtually all my art supplies every night. Not because I am an anal tidier, which I am, but because my cats will eat anything. So far they have consumed parts of the following: paint brush, wooden ruler, sandpaper, feather, ribbon, paint water, yarn, rubber band, rubber stamp rubber, glue-like crystal effects liquid and more. Mind you, I do not want them to do this for their sake, and I try to keep it out of their reach. But, they try to do this when I am sleeping. Grrrr, just when I was starting to embrace clutter! (just a little clutter on my art table, that is).

Finally another shout out to two of my special groups: ZNE http://zneiscrafty.ning.com/ and ARTchix http://groups.yahoo.com/group/artchixstudio/. These are such wonderfully supportive and talented people and fun and active groups!!

Welcome to Zetti Pre-School

I created this 8 x 10 paper collage on artist board today, using some heads I got in a Zetti swap with ARTchix friend Jade from Michigan. I made this for my Flickr Zetti group. There are nearly 300 members, fans and afficionados of artist Teesha Moore. There are also over 1,000 gorgeous pieces of art to view here http://www.flickr.com/groups/zettiology/ including some of mine.

Some of the bodies are from Lisa's Altered Art on ebay; some of the heads and hair were drawn by me. The wings are from a wall paper border (what a clever idea!) given to me by my CaaT friend Sue Young in Tampa for our Art & Scent swap.

The teachers' instructions are helpful: please leave extra-large wings, wands and heads at home on gym day. Bring nap mats and cupcakes on Tuesday. I did have a rabbit head girl I drew also, but she wouldn't fit. However, I have four Zetti postcards due October 15 for a Swapbot swap, so I am sure she will come in handy.

If you haven't scanned all the way to the bottom of my blog, there is an ever-changing, ever-growing slide show running, courtesy of Ning, the new home of the ZNE Talk art group, and home to a bunch of fabulous artists.

Sweet and Sinister Swap In Progress SIP

Here is the Haunted House I made last night (possibly) for my Sweet and Sinister Swap with Artsymama's group on Flickr. I say possibly because it is supposed to be black and white with thouches of Halloween colors, and this is possibly a little too colorful.

The potions bottle should be a shoe-in though, as it is black and sparkly, with a skull, black and silver fibers and my black cat charm attached. Makes a nice gift I think, as the charm can be detached for wearing, making into a pin or displaying on a tiny easel. The other swap pictures posted on Flickr are all luscious, so I am a little bit intimindated to send my offerings. I hope they pass muster- wouldn't want to be the target of an evil spell or something.

Speaking of Flickr and my new-found love for it (see below), there is a Cupcake group on Flickr which I have joined. Surely someone who not only paints but crochets cupcakes should be in this group! I just love like-minded (weird) people!

My other Flickr group is a Zetti group. Zettiology is the company of Teesha Moore (see links) and her husband Tracy, whom I have written about before. There are over 1,000 pieces of art (and now 5 of mine) in the Flickr Zetti group for admirers of this style. It is a color celebration! Check it out.http://www.flickr.com/groups/zettiology/.

What I Do