Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a fun little V Day party last night complete with poker and champagne and few episodes of LOST. I made these dear tiny ice cream sandwiches and cherry-iced sugar cookies (my mom used to make these when I was a kid). It was nice to relax with my favorite peeps and enjoy some giggling and bluffing.

The sun is out today and the chickens are running around happily hunting for bugs in their fresh straw.

Just Do It

Thursday night I attended a reception at UCB for Gloria Bowles, the founder of Cal's Women's Studies Department. Hearing a bit of the story behind the evolution of the program reminded me of how much I take for granted in my own life. Not to diminish our ongoing struggles but the progress made thus far is remarkable.

Ms. Bowles read from her new memoir and I was moved by her description of trying to maintain a lucid train of thought amid daily matters of home and heart. I battle this as well--the need to justify time given over to introspection as "important." Even time spent on art has to be borrowed (or stolen) from one's real work or daily chores. I appreciate anew the need for self expression and the importance of following through with intellectual and artistic urges.

Off to do something about it!

Mr. Phoenix's WIld Ride

Master Phoenix has been delivered to his new home. An hour in the car with a rooster? One for the record books. Here are his new friends:

TOMMY:
PEEPS & TUCKER:

And many more who were less than thrilled to pose for my camera. Rooster problem solved and now I will get on with my life!

It's A Boy!

We've determined that dear Phoenix is actually a rooster. He crows at 6:30 am quite reliably and again around 7:30 am and often fires off around 2 pm. We are going to find him a new home in a rooster rescue facility out in Dublin. I'm sure the neighbors will appreciate it! We'll be sad to lose him but we can't have a million little chickies running around.

Here is Vesper, she is a hen:

New Stuff Posted!

At long last, I have posted some new pieces in my Etsy shop! Let's hope some fellow chicken lovers are shopping around for some new art. I am busily at work on a new series of prints featuring strips cut from old books and adverts. Also, I am going to burn a few screens using the photos snapped during the Gilman tracks crawl a few weeks back. Should be great!

"Prinsty"

A fellow Etsyian, Amie Roman, has created a blog specifically for Etsy's print making artist community. She was nice enough to invite me to join and I am just thrilled. My interview will be posted in April. Her Blogroll is a great resource for both inspiration and great prints.
Check it out:
http://printsy.blogspot.com/

Hell's Bells, it's 2010!

I'm back with a renewed pledge to post with more frequency! The holidays are past and it's back to reality and...ART (let's hope). I entangled myself in a conversation about New Year's resolutions at a party a few weeks back and ever since I've been pondering my lack of resolve. Past resolutions have included: Have Better Posture, Be Nice and Keep Clutter at Bay. None of these little promises have really taken hold (though I'm mostly nice). This year, I think I'll keep it simple with "Make More Art."


Here are the chickens feasting on cottage cheese and oats:
Phoenix is still in charge and has begun asserting her status as head of the pecking order with 6 am "crowing". Being a hen, she is not truly crowing but I suspect the neighbors might not like her noise making.