Chel in the Land of ZNE!

The Art of Happiness

2007-01-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

Hooray! I have a new blog. Same name, new address.

URL BELOW!

Hasta La Vista Blogger....

HERE IS THE LINK:

http://chelise.typepad.com/

MY NEW HOME! COME BY AND VISIT!

And if you link to me, let me know, I'll add you to my blogroll too!

xoxox - Chel

I love ZNE...

2007-01-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

Last month I spent some time udpating the ZNE Art Full of Heart pages, and the ZNE Members Do Good page. I was only able to document about a quarter of all the incredibly good hearted and generous things that our members are doing out there in this big world. It was an overwhelmingly heartwarming experience, receiving the feedback from fellow members and searching for member good deeds.

I also had the distinct pleasure of meeting another fellow ZNEer, Patti Victoria Crump. (Meeting members is one of my absolute favorite things to do. If you are a ZNEer and are going to be in Northern CA, let me know!) Patti is such a doll, and it was really fun to hang out with her.

Click here to see a picture of us. (For some reason this antiquated version of Blogger won't let me post a second picture.) Patti is the beauty on the left! I love this picture. I think we actually look related, like we could be sisters!

On a more difficult note, another ZNE member who I adore, Ms. Vickie "Mack" Mackinsie of B-Muse suffered a cerebral aneurism on New Year's Day. I am happy to report that she is alive and recovering in the hospital. Still, this was a completely unexpected and terrifying turn of events and I know it shook up the entire altered art community. Yet, once again, the creative calvary galvonized, and offerings of art, care packages, and more have begun pouring in.

Whether it is Bernie Berlin's extraordinary efforts on behalf of four footed friends in need of a home through A Place to Bark, artists everywhere making a difference in the lives of those impacted by Breast Cancer through Live Pink, or just one person out there, donating three dollars so that we could add a book of crossword puzzles to Vickie Mack's boyfriend's care package, so that he would have something to do while sitting bedside vigilance beside our beloved artist friend Vickie - every prayer offered, every effort, and every good wish inspires and touches me.

I am bursting with ZNE pride this month, and it was with this sense of community, artistic family, and connection - that I went out and did the unthinkable. Cuz' the unthinkable has been, by and large, the content of all my dreams coming true during the past few years:

(Yup! It's real! Actually, I already had the cherries on the top. I got the cherry tattoo along with fellow ZNEer tattooed artists, Kristin Hubick and JoAnnA Pierotti! I added the flaming heart, ZNE, and sparrows - this past Tuesday. Woo Hoo!)

Have a wonderful January, everyone!

xo - Chel

My friend JoAnnA...

2006-11-11T19:04:00.000-08:00

Click on the banner above to learn more about our program in honor of Miss Mossy.

JoAnnA and Chel, Spring, 2005

Doggie Dreams

2006-09-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

Bernie Berlin is collecting art for an upcoming auction which will benefit A Place to Bark.

ZNE is donating a membership to the auction, and I sent Bernie this silly piece of art, today:

If you want to donate too, you can!

Here are the details:

Please send your art to: Bernie Berlinc/o "A Place To Bark"375 N. Jones RoadPortland, Tennessee 37148(414) 732-3211

Art due date: October 25th

Enclose your name, address & e-mail & value of artwork. She will then send you a receipt for your donation that you can use for a tax deduction. All paperwork for prior & current donations will be done by the end of the year.

The Days of Our Lives...

2006-09-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

Oh, I can' t believe it, but another month has gone by!

I really can't believe how busy busy busy things get.

Adin is three months old now! I really need to upload another picture of his cute face! He is such a dream to spend the day with.

The ZNE Zine is ALMOST NEARLY JUST ABOUT out the door. Issue 2 that is. This issue is twice as long as the first one. 80+ pages! WOW!

Speaking of my wonderful nephew ! This month's ZNE Theme was: A Child's Mind. Isn't that an awesome theme? The art I uploaded above was my entry. And RJ got in on the fun this time around too! Here is his piece:

Isn't it fun! :D

Welp, I hope that you all are having a wonderful end to your summer, and that those of you with kids are enjoying the semi break that "back to school" offers.

xxoo - Chel

Stocking the Shelves!

2006-07-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

Oh, it seems getting a minute is near impossible these days. I am watching my (now seven week old!) nephew all day, three days a week. What could be better?

The ZNE Zine Issue 2 is nearly out the door and just chock FULL of goodies!

And, ZNE is opening up an OFF eBay (finally!) website store. We hope to have a grand opening within in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, stocking those shelves is taking me all night and day and night and day...

Plus, as if all that weren't enough ~ I'm taking the kids bowling on Tuesday. : )

Hope you all are having a fabulous summer too!

xoxo -Chel

YUMMY!

2006-06-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it has taken me A MONTH to update this blog!?? Honestly. I don't know where the time flies. Well, luckily for me - some of the time has gone towards creating.

Clearly, I am not spending as much time as I might like on the ATC portion of this combo, but I had a blast last month making whimsical earrings at my best friend's house, and I have been creating some quick ATC holders for them and selling them as a set.

I have several other sets listed right now too, and more coming!

I also had fun a few weeks ago bottling up some inspiration. Here is one of my favorite altered bottles:

Who is she? Why, bottle-o-betty of course! I have other bottles listed, and more coming too.

Check 'em all out!

What do you all think of my new blog template? That old pink one was driving me nuts. We'll see how long I can stand the green!

Speaking of templates, The ZNE Store has some fun stuff going on too. We have started selling eBay auction templates! Fun, simple easy, and I'll personalize them for you.

In addition - June 11 marked The ZNE Store's ONE YEAR ANIVERSARY! In honor of the store's aniversary, we are having a ONE YEAR ~ TEN DOLLAR ~ ONE DOLLAR DEAL! Just buy ten dollars or more worth of goodies in The ZNE Store, and no matter your total, your combined shipping will be ONE DOLLAR! This counts for international orders too. Woo hoo! Just mention the ONE DOLLAR SHIP DEAL when requesting your combined invoice.

Hope you all are well! AND hope to check in again in less than a month's time!

xo - Chel

A Little Rain...

2006-05-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I wish I had time enough to write! Something... Anything...

Ah well. For now I will just post my latest listing. Click on the picture to see the full piece.

Hope everyone out there is well and is ~ Enjoying Creating!

xo - Chel

5 Things, Sophie and Portals to Imagination!

2006-05-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

It's ZNE Theme Week again! The kids weren't around last weekend, so this time it was just me listing. ZNEer extraordinaire Lani Kent was the winner of last month's theme week, so she chose this month's theme: Portals of Imagination.

Click on my artwork above to see the listing and check out what's behind those doors!

Things have been crazy hectic at home. WE GOT A NEW LITTLE DOGGIE! Keeping our wondermutt Butter company - we now have Sophie - the most adorable little silky terrier - and a real sweetie too! Here is a picture of her asleep in my office:

She is teensy tiny and fits in a hat box. Can you imagine! Sophie is a rescue pup. We got her from Pali, (Rocket Dog Rescue) a little over a week ago. Sophie was abandoned by her original owner, and the county animal shelter was going to put her down because she has terrible allergies! ????? I just can't fathom it...

Also the ZNE Learning Scholarship applications are in. We have 42 applications! I have a wonderful committee assembled helping to choose our recipients for this year. But it seems I will never be finished with scanning the applicant statements...

Ah well - worth the effort!

And... the fabulous Chrysti has tagged me - dabnabit! For cinque cose - ie: Five Things.

I guess the idea is, you provide five answers to five questions and in the last question ~ you tag five others to do the same.

Ok, let's see:

5 items in my fridge:

1. A1 Sauce ~ I eat it on my fries.
2. Diet Coke ~ Always
3. Mountain Dew ~ Which I never drink, but the DH does.
4. Non fat milk ~ which the DH and Stepdaughter drink by the gallon on a daily basis!
5. Turkey Franks ~ I have kids. Nuff said.

5 items in my closet:

1. Big Blue Fuzzy Slippers - which I wear so often their are holes in the soles.
2. A Fun Seed Bead Strand Belt - which I bought because Abigail said it was too cool for me!
3. Naughty things that I can't share here. ; )
4. My wedding dress from when I got married two years ago.
5. My wedding dress from when I got married 11 years ago. Sigh.

5 items in my purse:

1. Loose change.
2. Faded Receipts I don't need.
3. My favorite wallet of all time. (Black leather with red leather on the inside.)
4. A key to my best friend's house - the back door.
5. Aleve. (Migraines.)

5 items in my car:

1. Garbage
2. Crumbs
3. Matches
4. "Surfer Girl" sticker on the inner driver door armwrest.
5. My Wetsuit ~ in the trunk.

5 people I tag for 5 Things:

1. Cinda
2. Izabella
3. Zorana
4. Mossy
5. Robin

Get going girls!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

xoxo - Chel

Dance!

2006-04-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

The Dancing Queen!

Art Squared is having its weekly theme week, and the theme is Dance! I had so much fun with this piece, The Dancing Queen! She is actually in one piece (ha!) and she is biggish - just over 10" square. I painted her shoes with nail polish! This girl is PARTYING! : )

I don't have much time to write today. It is Sunday, so that means - yep, Big Love at Jenna's. Last week was Easter at the inlaws' so I missed that episode - so I have to catch up (thank goodness for TiVo!). I am bringing earring making supplies again this week, so hopefully I'll have some of those to show off later this week.

Meanwhile, RJ got in on the Dancing fun this week too! Here's his silly offering -

MC Dance-a-Lot!

And, I have good news today, too. My friends who were not getting along, are speaking again. There is not much in this world as beautiful as the miracle of forgiveness. It offers so much to everyone involved. I think that God offers us a big ol sip from the cup of salvation when we drink in forgiveness, of ourselves and one another. (Well, and don't the two go hand in hand?) So, I am happy. I am pondering forgiveness, dance, and miracless. So I will end with this quote by Martha Graham!

The next time you look into the mirror, just look at the way the ears rest next to the head; look at the way the hairline grows; think of all the little bones in your wrist. It is a miracle. And the dance is a celebration of that miracle.

xoxo - Chel

Hope Begins

2006-04-15T16:58:00.000-07:00

I made the earrings at Jenna's house last weekend, and made the Art Squared (3" square) collage holder today. I thought it might make a cute Mother's Day gift for someone. I've been thinking a lot about mothers lately.

Actually, I am thinking about hope today. I am thinking about hope, and Anne Lamott, and motherhood. Of all things.

Of course, anyone who has ever read Anne Lamott will know immediately that there is a connection. But for the rest of you all I can say is - get one of her books and read it now!! There are authors I really like (Anne Tyler, Joyce Carol Oates, Sue Monk Kidd, David Sedaris) and authors I love (Wally Lamb, Augusten Burroughs, Jennifer Lauck) but never has any come close to Anne Lamott.

When I was pregnant, ten years ago, my good friend Carla - who has known me since the thrid grade (!) (aren't old friends the best) gave me Anne Lamott's incredible memoir - Operating Instructions. I can honestly say that book, and the books I read by her to follow, including Bird by Bird, Traveling Mercies, and eventually her fiction too - changed my life. Ann Lamott's outlook on grace and hope and love and spirituality and children and humanity is so utterly human and hearteningly imperfect and beautiful, that IT is grace in and unto itself. Her call to writing, I believe, is a calling from God - and I thank the heavens that she followed that calling and that publishers have the good sense to publish her - for needy readers like myself. Of course she is not only a devout Christian, but also an extremely liberal, addict in recovery, single mom, with an attitude and a sense of humor that could save lost souls all by itself. Though I'd never dare claim her wit or her calling, I will admit that the fact that we have/had a wee bit in common may count for something, in my eyes. I don't know. You do the math. : )

So. Motherhood. Let's get this out of the way. I am thinking of my own mother today. Here is a picture of my mother that I have framed and keep out. This picture was taken in November of 1949 - and my mother is right around 2 years old. I like this picture a lot. She looks so cute, and her little yellow dress is adorable. I suspect my grandmother may have made it for her. But there is something else I love about this picture. The family resemblance between her and my own son, RJ - is startling in this picture. I don't know if you could see it. I tried to find a picture of RJ when he was the same age, and I came up with this one:

We took this picture of RJ in 1999. We were in Athens, Greece at the time. Not that you could tell by the lovely cement parking lot background! For a while, I'd been looking at my son and marveling at how beautiful he was (well, all mothers do that) and too... how much he looked like my mother. Of course he has his father's blond hair - but he has my mother's brown eyes. He shared the same pug nose that she had as a child. The same fine straight hair. Her face shape. There it was. Right in front of me. In my son.

My mother was still alive of course. RJ was 4 years old when she died. But we weren't in contact, and hadn't been for many years, my mother and I. Not for the majority of my adult life. Oh, that of course is a long story and I won't go into it here. Time or place type thing. But I can tell you this, as most people who have lost their parents (either lives, or relationships) probably knows: it is not an easily settled thing. You can not easily move on or away from parental ties - and the pain and pull are constant. Before my own child was born, I had gotten fairly proficient at distance, distraction, detraction, denial ... whatever it took to get through the day with that unsettled pain and pull constantly there. But when motherhood hit - I could no longer look away. Because IT was looking right back at me.

It took me a long long time, till after her death in fact, for me to realize that my son looks like my mother, because he looks like ME. Before my mother died, I was not an artist. I was not a writer. I looked nothing like my mother. I couldn't allow anything of her in me, because that would open up that pain. It never occurred to me that motherhood might do the same.

But motherhood, miracle of all miracles, has done something else too. It has tendered forgiveness, too.

So. Yep. I am thinking about my mom. This month. This week... Two days from now it will be exactly four years to the day since my mother died. The aniversary always hits me hard - and harder than I expect. How do you plan for grief to hit you anew?

Me? I begin to begin to slow down. Not in that good ... you know, be-easy-on-yourself way - but instead, in that broken hearted life-comes-to-a-halt way. Somehow, I have managed to accomplish about 1/10th of what I do in a typical week. I just want there to be a closet or table nearby at all times as of late. Just in case I need to crawl into or under it!

But I hang on to something that reminds me that this too shall pass. That forgiveness - of myself and of others - also comes anew and provides new healing. That life offers up joy tenfold for every grief you live through. And, if I am not mistaken, I believe that this is hope. What more can I ask for?

I'll end with a picture, a quote from Anne Lamott, and a poem by Mary Oliver that Anne Lamott has referenced in her writing.

The picture is of me, nearly a decade ago - hanging on tight to another reminder of constant love, and miracles - my baby boy and darling joy:

"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up."

- Anne Lamott

Everything I have ever learned in my lifetime leads back to this:

the fires and the black river of loss whose other side is salvation whose meaning none of us will ever know.

To live in this world you must be able to do three things:

to love what is mortal;

to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it;

and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.

- Mary Oliver

So I wish for you all today, that you may hold tight when it is right to do so, and that you may let go, when it is time - with grace, and neverending hope.

xxoo - Chel

A Bird in Hand...

2006-04-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

~ A Bird In Hand is Better

than Two in the Bush ~

I've been feeling a bit down lately, so I decided to create some cheery art. I've been inspired by the many vintage calling cards in The ZNE Store, and decided to create my own modern take, in the form of ATCs. I made six last night while watching one of my favorite TV shows (I sheepishly admit!) Top Chef.

They are listed today, along with several other pieces. The earring ATCs that I listed, I made while at my best friend's house over the weekend. I am feeling SO APPRECIATIVE of her and her wonderful family. Some of what has me down right now is the fact that a few of my fabulous wonderful most favorite friends have had a falling out of sorts, and it has made me grieve over the frailty of friendships. I think that rather than write too much, I'll just post my calling card ATC's, and some favorite quotes. Sigh.

Humanity is never so beautiful as when praying for forgiveness, or else forgiving another.

- Jean Paul Richter

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.

Art is knowing which ones to keep'.

- Scott Adams

Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live.

-Jackie Windspear

"A friend loves at all times."

- The Bible: Proverbs 17, 17.

And finally, if you are wondering - why count your blessings? Why forgive? Why live in grace? Why hold tight to friends through times of sorrow, misunderstanding, and grief? Or even just, why give in to that impulse to work through and with your grief by creating?

Why do it? I think Ani Difranco sums up my philosophy, perfectly:

I do it for the joy it brings, cause I'm a joyful girl.

'Cause the world owes us nothing, we owe eachother the world.

- Ani Difranco

And so, I leave you with the wish that you may find grace in every minute, in every corner, in every life, today.

xo - Chel

Wings and Things!

2006-04-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

It's the week of ZNE Theme week! And the theme is "wings." Once again, Abigail and I hunkered down over the weekend and had fun with scissors, glue, and stuff... Here's her fabulous flying entry (on the right):

She named this fairy "Melissa." I'm not sure why, but naming art can be like that. Abs cut the wings out of a blue vellum. She was quite pleased with herself. I think it is a pretty fun piece myself.

My art (at top) is named Winky Pinkaling (why, the fairy with one blue wing, of course)! I had fun with her too. Especially the polkadots. I think if I could get away with painting polkadots all over the walls, I'd do it!

This week seems to be flying by. I am busy, as always, shipping, listing, with Zine production, and I have a few newsletters and web pages to work on. Alas, all in a days work.

Oh! Time for another ZNE Store Fun Find. I'll say! Here it is:

The ZNE Store has lots of these fabulous genuine vintage pharmaceutical labels. We have lots of different colors, styles, and "meds". Check 'em out. And if you purchase one and mention "ZNE Fun Find" when asking for an invoice - you'll receive 10% off your entire order. That's right, even the non-fun find items - so long as they are part of the same invoice!

Here's to hoping that all of you take heed when you see the word "POISON." And, that your art takes you places where you sprout creative wings of your own!

xo - Chel

I'm not MAD! Really...

2006-03-30T18:27:00.000-08:00

Now Agatha here, she's pizzed. Me? My week has been pretty low key. If anything I have been feeling a little under the weather and, downish... but not mad!

Last weekend away with the DH was SO nice. We really had a good time and snuck in a visit to the San Jose Museum ofArt as well - so that was very cool.

I am in the midst of Zine production and shipping again, so that is keeping me busy - though I've also managed to list a couple of pieces of art this week.

I saw the doctor today because I have this pesky scar / spot on my chest, where I had a tumor removed last year. The tumor ended up being benign (phew!) but the removal was still annoying.

My doctor says all looks good - and honestly, I thought he was going to say that the tumor had returned and that I was going to have to have it removed again. I was having some pre-doctor anxiety last night - but everything went well.

I think I am a little down though because I've been thinking of my wonderful artist friend Cinda a lot lately. I know her Dad has been very ill - and I am used to hearing from Cinda and getting a wonderful dose of her cheery and wonderful self, far more often than has been the case lately. Alas, she lives in in the Southern part of this country - and here I am in the west. I love the capacity for making friends that the internet provides, but there are certainly times when I wish we were all a bit (geographically) closer. Wherever you are tonight Miss Cinda, I am thinking of you with love!

Aggie up there though - the first ATC I have made in a looooong time - is just pizzed off. Why? It certainly isn't because of the cute blue lucite vintage/retro clothes pin that serves as her body and head. (I have these listed in The ZNE Store, by the way!) Nope, the thing is, Agatha has been called one too many names in her day, she says! And let me tell you, she's through with it! As the listing says:

Agatha Hates "Labels!"

Fat, Skinny, Dumb, Smartass, Happy, Hussy, Frigid, Fussy, Right, Wrong, Liar, Cheat, Scam, Spam, SHAZAM!

Give the girl a break.

And whatever you do, don't you dare call her a "DOLL!"

Well, you know how it goes. We all have those days...

Hope YOUR day, and night, is wonderful!

xo - Chel

March Madness!

2006-03-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

For one human being to love another that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof; the work for which all other work is but preparation.

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Today is my wedding aniversary! My DH has been an absolute doll this week. He suprised me with a "weekend away" - woo-hoo! We are going to stay at a luxury hotel tomorrow night, and on Saturday we are going to spend the day at a British Motorcycle Show. (Well, he gets to do something fun too, afterall!) Here's the show we are going to:

http://www.bsaocnc.org/images/2006%20Clubmans%20Flyer.gif

How cool is that? I had to put that Rilke quote up there though, because I think it is just SO true. And something to be remembered. Nothing about marriage, or loving someone else unconditionally comes easy. I am very blessed to have the support of so many friends and family, and my wonderful online friends - who are there for me and listen, or provide encouraging words - when the going gets tough. Of course - at the core of it all, is my wonderful husband, and our incredible children. A family. No matter how challenging, irritating, annoying, or stressful a marriage can be, I always come back to the same conviction, and it carries me through an awful lot. Family. Who could ask for anything more?

The altered journal I posted up there is up for bid on eBay right now. The collage piece in the middle is a print created from an ATC by the incredible Becky Christian. Speaking of friends I am blessed to have! Becky is a stunning artist and her whimsical and colorful creations are absolutely fabulous - but she is also someone I consider a dear friend. She always has sweet and encouraging words. She is utterly human and a complete angel at the same time. Love you Becky!

I embellished the journal, so in a way - it is a collaborative piece. Actually, I had so much fun working with Becky's collage images - I created 11 (!) of these journals and 6 greeting cards, all in one night. I just couldn't stop! Some are listed and some will be listed in the near future. Stay tuned to The ZNE Store listings for more!

Richard and I were married in Kailua Kona, on The Big Island. So today, I leave you with this:

He kehau ho`oma`ema`e ke aloha.

(Love is like a cleansing dew.)

May you all wrap yourself in a blanket of love today, and feel it's beauty and cleansing power.

xoxo - Chel

The Numbers Game!

2006-03-21T16:25:00.000-08:00

Oooh! It is Art Squared theme week, and the theme is NUMBERS. So, I pulled out the vintage bingo cards again. They are so fun to use as a background. And, I took a drive to the local antique store and found this fun kewpie doll collage sheet. I had to have it. I love kewpie dolls. They are SO cute. And so mischevious looking too. Kind of like my kids. And my dog. And my hubby... hmmm....?

Art squared is a size limited art piece. It is (generally) a flat piece, and the base is (generally) an exact square in size. The group started with a 4"x4" requirement - as this is also the size of most "chunky" or "fat books," and they make trading card sleeves for this size, too. However - the specification for eBay purposes has expanded to include any squared piece of art up to 14" on all sides. Gary is just over 5" square. The bingo card is not an exact square, so I added the yellow ribbon embellishment on each side to compensate.

Art Squared is a public group on eBay and separate from ZNE. The group has 400 members right now. Several months ago, when the call went out for moderation help in the group, I was happy to step up. My main contribution to the group is to coordinate the theme weeks. Which really just consists of sending out a bunch of emails and posting reminders. It is nice to have an excuse to force myself to create art once a month though! I am so glad that the fabulous Emma Fashokun coordinates the ZNE theme week each month. She does such a good job, I was inpired to be brave and take on the job for Art Squared. So, Emma's good deed for ZNE is reverberating!

Speaking of Emma, she is also a moderator for ZNE. I am SO lucky to be blessed with such incredible artist/friend/mods for ZNE. And Emma is no exception. She just recently debuted her own website ~ check it out!

www.fashcodesigns.com

Isn't that awesome!

Well, before I log off, I'll throw out another ZNE Store Fun Find~!

At that same antique store where I found the Kewpie Doll Collage sheet, I also found these fabulous teensy tiny vintage brass floral buttons. I think these are just ADORABLE! They have a tiny loop finding in the back.

I am offering them up in singles at a great starting bid. And remember, if you purchase one and mention ZNE FUN FIND in your request for an invoice, I'll take 10% off your entire combined order! Or, just the button, if that is all you want...

Have a great week everyone!

xo - Chel

Are You Wearing Green?!

2006-03-17T16:29:00.002-08:00

The Fuzzy Bough Beetle Fruit Trees!

This is one of 39 (!) 4"x4" pages I made for the Altered Art Obsession Tree of Life chunky book. I sent them off in the mail to the swap host, my dear friend and sister in spirit, Julie O'Neil (she's the ZNE Technical Director as well!) a day late, as usual for me... Actually, I only sent her 37, so I am listing two of them under my Chel*Art*Originals id on eBay. This one, which has a cream colored background, and this one, which is moss green:

Happy Saint Patty's Day and TGIF!

Oooh! Check out my wonderful friend Kris's MySpace site. She just started it a few days ago. Isn't that cool? Kris Hubick is a moderator for the ZNE Fondante group, and she is another one of my sisters in spirit. She's a gem! (Aren't I lucky to have such a fabulous extended family!)

Oh, and I should definitely mention that Claudine Hellmuth's live chat at ZNE was just wonderful! She is so very gracious and friendly, and was game for answering all of our questions. We found out some very important artsy fartsy stuff, for example, she is both a dog and cat person ~ ! ~ and we even got to see pictures of her art studio, up close and personal. This was my favorite quote of hers, from the chat:!

"My Art Studio Has No Doors..."

So, spend some time this weekend opening your heart and your creativity. Remember that no matter where you are - an art studio is bound to be at hand - so, here's to hoping that your art studio has no doors, either!!

xo - Chel

Oooh! We get to talk to Claudine tonight!

2006-03-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

I am so excited. We are kicking off the ZNE Live Chat series tonight. In 4 1/2 hours (not that I am counting. Tee-Hee!) we'll have a Members Only Live Chat with Claudine Hellmuth. It should be really fun.

I am nervous too. This will be the first time we've done this. What if we have a system crash, or everyone talks at once and nothing makes sense? Or... oh you know, all the rest of those site-mom worries.

But the worries don't outweigh the excitement! Claudine is such a talented artist! And she has experience in licensing, publication, teaching, many different techniques, marketing, and being successful in the mixed media art business. I am sure she will have lots of fun and valuable things to share with our members.

Ah well. Busy day then! I'll have to check in again in the next few days and let you know how it went! : )

xo - Chel

A New Fun Find!

2006-03-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

Not much going on today. I am still playing catch up with shipments and YIKES house and office cleaning.

On March 16, I am going to start a ten day spree of listing at least 30 new items a day in The ZNE Store, so I am allowing myself a break from listing until then. I only have a few new things up. Though - the new Altered Arts Magazine is there. So, if you are looking for it - take a peek!

I like this piece of art here. I had it made into into a tile, and keep it on my desk - while the original hangs on my studio wall behind me. That was the first Cercles D'Ame piece I created. That project is on hold right now because we are having trouble getting contributors (not all, just some) to follow through with moving art on, and it gets pretty frustrating when your art is in "limbo." However, this piece was worked on and completed by myself, Julie O'Neil, Kathy Selvaggio, and Shin Young. What I like best about it is that the fairy looks so relaxed, like she is floating on a pool float, except, mid air. Ah, a mid air pool float... if I could climb aboard - I certainly would!

Oh! And I have a new ZNE Fun Find for you today!

Check out this cool vintage Mexican Milagro. I have tons of them in The ZNE Store. I have men, women, cows, even a set of eyes. I had a pair of legs but they've been picked up already!

Milagro is the Spanish word for "Miracle." These little metal charms are used in Latin American countries as "offerings" to the Saints in church, to request special favors. They are really neat and very unusual, and could be used for a variety of art projects. And, though not quite a miracle, if you buy one from The ZNE Store and mention ZNE FUN FIND in your request for an invoice following purchase/s - you will receive 10% off your entire order!

Hope you all are having a wonderful day, and that you all are Enjoying Creating!

xoxo - Chel

Gone to the Dogs...!

2006-03-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

Oh, I do love puppies! SO so much. I've often said that i believe that dogs are just fuzzy little bundles of love. Anyone who has owned and loved a dog knows what I mean. Such forgiving, incredibly loyal and loving creatures. Their warm bodies and doggie breath. Not too mention kisses galore. Dogs are just the best!

Funny, I had to search for a piece of art I created that had a dog in it. Perhaps if they wore corsets or dressed like pin up girls, I'd have a few more!

This ATC, I created over a year ago. "Tea for Two" I called it. I did a big series of ATCs, where I started out by using different colors of acrylic paint to paint the playing card background. If you check out my entry on February 21, you can see another one of these. I love the way the card number and suit sort of peeks through from behind... I think that effect is cool.

ANYWAY, this week has just been tiring and sort of tough.

For one thing, I keep misplacing things. Where's my tape gun? Where's the ruler? AND, worse yet, I am misplacing product. SOLD product. Yikes! The ZNE Store deals in volume purchases of teeny tiny things, and I have a pretty good system down for organizing things. All the charms and jewelry are in one big box, seperated in bags by "sort" - shoes, letters, hearts and stars, animals... etc. And the vintage labels are in another box, seperated by label type. Soda, liquor, food, perfume, cigar, etc.. etc... and then I have great big boxes of toys, etc. Still, somehow - a label has been misplaced here, a charm there. And of course, I only notice when I am trying to fill an order. Yikes.

Next, the post office has been driving me crazy. I love my postman, and goodness knows he deals with a lot, schlepping boxes and envelopes up to my front door in the rain, every day, only to receive more than a handful back in return. But I keep getting packages BACK in the mail! This one had a stamp "taped over" - that one had a digit transposed on the zip code. WHY it takes the post office three weeks to figure out they aren't going to deliver something, is beyond me.

As if that weren't enough, today I got my first really negative response to the Zine. The buyer said: "I'm shocked! I expected so much more. I really feel ripped off." - among other things. Picture big pouty face, here. All of the feedback on the 60+ copies I have sent out has been positive so far. So, you know - this is one person. And, of course, I know, I can't expect everyone to like it. The thing is, in creating this Zine, I was down on my hands and knees gluing things and tying things and I coil bound each one by hand... and... well it is sort of like working hard to throw a party and having one of the attendees say: "Your party s*cks." Waaaaah!

Ah well, I issued her a full refund, plus additional money for postage, to please return the Zine to me. Now, I just need to take my own advice:

(That says: "GET OVER IT!")

Alright then. Picking up this pouty lip, and moving on.

Back to the important things in life ~ Doggies!!! A few days ago while perusing my wonderful friend Bella's blog ~ I noticed that she posted about the efforts of a fellow artist, who has made it a life mission to protect and save doggies who would otherwise be euthanized at shelters.

Bernie Berlin creates art that is truly drool worthy - or - in dog talk - worth a great big lick, I tell ya! Her stuff is just amazing.

But even more amazing, her efforts to create an animal rescue sanctuary are astounding. A Place to Bark promises to be (and already is) a loving, safe, haven for unwanted and abandoned doggies who are truly in need.

In honor of my own Butter Butt, ZNE made a $20.00 donation to help her in her efforts. It is not much, but having worked for non-profits all my life, I know - every little bit helps. If you can find it in your heart to help out somehow - I know that Bernie and all those incredible doggies will thank you for it.

So, sigh. It is good again, to remember the important things in life - eh! And along those lines, I'll end on this note:

xoxo - Chel

How Do YOU Do It?

2006-03-06T17:43:00.000-08:00

Ha! I created that piece of art months ago. That's just a detail of the larger piece. That girl is PASSED out, I tell ya! She is dying of exhaustion! She'll lay her head anywhere - and a copper acrylic painted piece of canvas panel was the perfect resting place for Terri the Nearsighted Fairy!

I certainly have days like that. ("Mama said...") My wonderful artist friend *Chrysti* sent me an email a few days ago, and among other things, she asked me this question: "how do ya do it?" - and she was referring to - you know - the whole shebang. Art making, The ZNE Store listing, ZNE Zine production, ZNE Group moderation, etc. etc. Funny, she should ask me this question! I often think the exact same thing about my wonderful art friends. Why Chrysti herself keeps up a fabulous store full of altered art goodies ~ Covet Me ~ (what a great name!), she is in the process of creating a fabulous website ~ The Altered Abbey ~ and her art is incredible. Here is one of hers that I have in my personal collection. I LOVE THIS PIECE!

And then there is Lani Kent, eBay's healingexpressions- who says: "I made a few new pieces today." And then she has like 10, 20, 30 pieces to share! And they are ALL gorgeous! All of us in ZNE have been chiding her about this. How DOES she do it? I mean, every single day, she has bunches and bunches of incredible new stuff. Me? Most days, I am lucky if I can rubber stamp a decoration onto an envelope of goodies being sent out from The ZNE Store!

But, then again, I do have a lot on my plate, and I do manage to get a lot done. So, how do I do it? Well, a lot of the time I don't do it. Whatever "it" is. I don't hug my kids as often as I could, and should. I don't spend as much time on my art as I want to. I don't spend as much time chatting online or getting to know our incredible (at last count) 450-ish ZNE members. Lord knows I don't keep my studio clean, and the dog will tell you his one or two milkbones a day certainly aren't enough! I can not possibly reply to all my emails, and I can't follow up on all my supercalifragilistic ideas.

BUT... I am pursuing a dream. And THAT is all that really counts - yes? I am creating some art. I do have a group of... 450-ish incredible amazing talented artists in this group~miracle~thing in my life called ZNE. I have made some fabulous friends along the way, and I do feel BLESSED.

What I DO "do," is I try to remember, every day, how blessed I am. I try my best, when I do reply to emails, to stop for a moment and give my reply some thought. When I am checking member listings for a new round of ZNE Needle in a Haystack - I try to stop and appreciate all of the incredible art and art supplies being offered up by our members. When people send me notes or emails, or call me on the phone to say Hi, or Hello, or "I noticed something..." I try to take a minute, and take IN what they are saying. And these are the things that in the end, give me inspiration, keep me going, and truly are the reasons that anything at all - in this hectic place I call ZNE Central - gets done! Perhaps William Blake said it best:

"To see a world in a grain of sand And Heaven in a Wild Flower, Is to hold Infinity in the palm of your hand and Eternity in an hour."

Time IS, after all, what we make of it.

SO, that tells you a little bit about how I do what I do. What about why? Aside from all the incredible art and all the wonderful artists and friends that I get to oogle, oggle, and play with every day ~ my dedication to ZNE also revolves around my love for my family!

RJ and Abs!
Would these two faces not inspire you to pursue joy? What better example could I provide?

And then there is my beloved. He doesn't normally wear that bandana on his head, but we were about to go off on a motorcycle ride, and that is his "helmut hair" preventative. Ha!

My husband is cranky and snarky and a big grump - but, truth be told, I've always had a thing for grumpy men.

Turns out he must have have thing for artsy opinionated emotional silly women who suffer (or rejoice in) packratism.

Voila. We are perfect for eachother!

So, I am off then, to hug my kids, kiss my DH, and give the dog a milkbone. I try to focus on what's important in life, and I am eternally grateful for all my friends and loved ones, artists and not, who remind me of what those important things are.

xxoo - Chel

Crowning Glory!

2006-03-05T15:05:00.000-08:00

Today is the first Sunday of the month, so that means it is ZNE Theme Week! Last month the incredible Izabella won, so she got to pick this month's theme, and she came up with a doozer!

CROWNS!

Last night the kids and I bunked out in the living room, until the wee hours (actually, Richard was there too, but he was asleep. Tee-Hee!) watching the Bethovan movies on t.v., and creating art! We do this every now and again. My niece Izabelle has joined us in creating theme week art, in the past, too. Those artists out there who have kids, know how absolutely wonderful it is to sit down and create art together. It is almost as good as snuggling! (Almost...)

I got this incredible lot of used bingo cards, thanks to fabulous scouting work of my friend sandee. So, I created Sabine, the Imperfect Queen with one of these bingo cards as a background. Sabine is an online group leader, and just recently she said some things she didn't mean to say, and now she regrets it. Worse yet, no one will let up on her. It's as if people have forgotten that she's human. So many people have forgotten, in fact - if you look closely you can see that she actually turned into a vintage manequin!

And here's the piece that Abigail made: She was clipping and cuttin' from magazines and had a lot of fun with the glitter glue and rhinestones. I have these tiny acrylic tear drop shaped rhinestones, and I love them. More recently - I bought a batch of absolutely gorgeous tear drop shaped vintage glass rhinestones. Those will go in The ZNE Store soon - so keep your eyes posted.

And, RJ created this guy on the left - M.C. Crown Rapper! How cool is he? He even has yellow butterfly fiver embellishing his crown!

The thing that I like about RJ's piece is the little water stain that appeared just below this guy's left eye. As you can see, RJ used his teardrop shapped rhinestones as crown embellishments, but still, a little tear appeared.

Hmmm... we all had a great time creating these. I don't know why they are all crying! Hard life, being altered and such... Ha!

The kids and I ended up pulling our comforters out and falling asleep in the living room, among all the scrips and scraps - we had a collage making slumber party! Sure, we woke up with glitter and glue in our hair, but in our family - truth be told - that's a badge of honor. If I do say so myself!

Hope you all have glitter and glue in your hair, if not today, sometime soon.

Stop by and check out all the incredible ZNE Theme Week listings by clicking here!

xoxo - Chel

The ZNE FUN FIND!

2006-02-28T12:39:00.000-08:00

WOO-HOO!

Well, I am tired and cranky and behind in shipping and Zine production... SO - sounds like it is time for something fun!

THE ZNE FUN FIND!

"What's that" you say? Well, if you look back a few posts - you'll find the first Fun Find, but no explanation of just exactly HOW FUN they can be. Here's the full deal:

Visit my blog and every now and again (with emphasis on the again and again and again) I'll add new FUN FINDS.

When you indulge yourself in a shopping spree at The ZNE Store - and you purchase an item that qualifies as a FUN FIND - then, you will get 10% of your product total for that shopping spree. That's right - off the entire shopping spree - so long as one of your purchases is a FUN FIND! In many cases, you can pay for your fun find ++ outright, by participating.

Here is the important part: YOU MUST INDICATE "FUN FIND" on your request for a combined invoice! You must you must you must! FUN FIND!

And, I'll then deduct the 10% from your combined item total, for that invoice.

Other FUN stuff about the FUN FIND: No dates, deadlines, or other details. So long as there are still FUN FINDS for sale, purchase one or more and your entire product subtotal will be 10% off. WOWEE! How fun is THAT?

OK, so now that we have the fun details, let's refresh. As per my first FUN FIND post, a few days ago - if you buy any of the items in this category (click to see!) and indicate FUN FIND on your request for a combined invoice - then you will receive 10% off!

AND, without further adieu - I'll add another FUN FIND - here it is!:

Just think of the assemblage art and art doll fun you can have with these!

Some say spool, but I see manequin forms, doll bodies, stools, tables, big funky beads... and more!

What do you see? Make your visions come to life by getting yourself a pair of these funky fresh brightly colored wooden spools. I am offering them in multiple colors and will be offering more soon! Best yet - they are an official ZNE FUN FIND!

Click HERE to see more!

Wow! I feel less cranky already. Hope you all have a funtabulous day!

xoxo - Chel

Coloring Outside the Lines!

2006-02-26T11:43:00.000-08:00

This is a picture I drew / collage I made, for my mom - when I was 11 years old. Tee-Hee!

Oh! This is so fun!

Writing writing writing … that click click click… I LOVE IT.

My mother was a writer. Click click click. Mama mama mama.

Three things bring me back to her, sitting in her lap, looking up at her through smokey misty lovely wonderful child’s mama-I-love-you eyes. Consistently, always there – and I surround myself with all three of them, often, sometimes it’s a good thing… sometimes, perhaps not.

Menthol smoke.

Collage.

And the clickety clack clickety clack of writing typing writing typing.

Mama.

El Collie Kress, 11/4/47 ~ 4/17/02

Here is a poem she wrote, 7 years ago:

A WORK IN PROGRESS, by El Collie

"Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself. (I am large, I contain multitudes.)" -- Walt Whitman

We want things in halves, easy to comprehend, but it's not that simple when everything contains its own opposite.

It's taken me a lifetime to discern an iota of my confounding complexity. No wonder I've been misunderstood from whatever sundry corners of the Universe took notice of me.

How can I blame them for being blind? I who was witnessing myself most closely of all barely knew who I was. It takes eons to circle from the circumference to the center.

The further in we get, the more difficult it becomes to pinpoint exactly where we are on the spiral of countless revolutions and revelations.

No matter how far we go,the journey's end remains elusive... It takes many, many turns around before we come to realize that incompletion is an integral part of the Complete.

* * *

I was checking out my wonderful friend Cinda’s blog yesterday and in a roundabout way I ended up on this fabulous Mama Says OM site! Their theme this past week was "20 Things."

So, I’ll go ahead and list my own 20 things. Who knew?

1. I wear pajamas, all day long.

2. My belly button is pierced.

3. So is my nose.

4. I have 4 tattoos. But you can only see three – because one is a “cover up.”

5. I love buffalo, cherries, spiders, art dolls, polka dots, and miniature chairs. Among other things.

6. My best friends-siblings-mustabeen-seperated-at-birth peoples are Jenna and Marc.

7. I’ve gone sky diving.

8. I’ve performed stand up comedy, in front of a live audience. Twice.

9. I don’t like San Francisco.

10. I love the San Francisco Bay Area more than any other place in the world.

11. I once dated a man with blue hair.

12. My son rocks my world. My step-daughter is a star in my sky!

13. I am constantly surprised at how snarky and cruel people can be when they are relating to each other via online forums.

14. I can not believe the number of incredible friends and loving giving people that have come into my life, through online forums.

15. My primary fear, when I was child – was of spiders. I was more afraid of spiders than any other thing in the world, and had more screaming hysterical fits over spiderly visits - than over any other thing.

16. I am not afraid of spiders, anymore. I once read that spiders were like artists. They pulled from what was inside of them, and created something sturdy, beautiful, their art which became their home, all around them. Nothing like affinity to soften your heart…

17. I don’t like to talk too much about my faith – because my calling has never been to preach. I do however believe in God, Creator of all. The One. I also believe that God can and does have many other names, most importantly LOVE and COMPASSION, and that ONE can only be completely expressed in a multiplicity of ways – a multiplicity that may appear separate ~ but if you get caught up in separation, between yourself and another, your ideas and someone else’s, your choices and someone else’s right to make their own (choices), or – assume that any worldly way or belief is the only way – then you are missing out on something very important. Love is the only way. That’s what I believe.

18. I like to color outside the lines.

19. I find that cleaning my ears with a q-tip is nearly orgasmic.

20. I believe in ghosts but not ghouls.

Happy Sunday Everyone!

xoxo - Chel

My Secrets...

2006-02-22T10:40:00.000-08:00

Shhhhh!

Do you have Secrets? Of course you do. We all do. Do you want to hear one of mine? Ok. Here it is:

I CAN NOT TAKE A FOCUSED PICTURE WITH MY DIGITAL CAMERA, TO SAVE MY LIFE!

Case in point, above you'll find a picture that Krissy Chadwick (yup, that's her teddy!) took of a box I altered - a box for keeping (what else?) secrets in.

Granted, not a close up - but the picture is nice and focused and sharp and, just generally easy on the eyes.

NOW, we move on to a photo I took of Maxie, my Madame Alexander doll (actually, she was my mother's doll, but I inherited her, so...)

YIKES!

Now, WHY is it mine looks like it was taken during the midst of a sand storm?

I suppose this means I need to actually read my instruction manual and figure out what all those little buttons on the camera do, since the ones I am pushing don't seem to indicate "take a focused shot." SIGH!

Maxie's cute though, eh? How do you like those cherries she painted? She's like me. She loves cherries!

(Ok, Ok, the Cherry mini pic was actually a RAK from Krissy. THANK YOU Krissy! xxoo ~ Your RAK ROCKS!)

Speaking of RAK's that ROCK - check out what rocked my mailbox today!!! WOO HOO!

Ok, ok, not the hand, that's MY hand. But the gorgeous gold brocade cloth, and that (that's right!) SPIDER ON A WEB ring! And it is a little box even! Have you ever seen anything so spiderrific!?

I am gonna fill it with ZNE Pixie Dust!

THANKS JOANNA! You are THE BEST!!

Well, everyone have a great weekend. It's sunny in Northern California. The daffodils are blooming in my front yard, and I have art to create and shipments to make.

xoxo - Chel