Tuesday, January 19, 2010

alligator pie - original painting

Alligator Pie
Dennis Lee
From: Alligator Pie. Toronto: Macmillan, 1974.

Alligator pie, alligator pie,
If I don't get some I think I'm gonna die.
Give away the green grass, give away the sky,
But don't give away my alligator pie.

Alligator stew, alligator stew,
If I don't get some I don't know what I'll do.
Give away my furry hat, give away my shoe,
But don't give away my alligator stew.

Alligator soup, alligator soup,
If I don't get some I think I'm gonna droop.
Give away my hockey stick, give away my hoop,
But don't give away my alligator soup.


An ity-bity canvas measuring 2.75" by 2.75".   I just posted this on my Etsy site this evening!

This little painting did some great crackling that looked to me like alligator skin, hence the name, alligator pie. Not that I've been that close to an alligator. Not that I want to eat alligator pie either! But still, the crackling effect is pretty cool.  To finish off this mixed media piece, I added a stamp of a bird, along with a 'love joy peace' stamp that was embossed with silver and then coloured with watercolour pencil crayons.

This little piece of art would do well in a cubicle suspended by two push pins (hence the name 'cube art'), or with the addition of a magnet or two - a fridge magnet.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

NYE


For New Years Eve we had friends over and I made these great tenderloin steaks with butter and soft cheese to melt deliciously ontop.  As well, I had made Roasted Red Pepper soup, since I had been to Costco days before and had a package of 8 peppers to use up.  As I sat on the floor of my kitchen trying to roast the damn peppers in the broiler section of my gas stove, which is ever so conveniently located on the bottom of the oven where most people store thier pots and pans.... (sigh) I thought "maybe we should get a new @$#! stove".  So we did.  We went to Sears and then came home and researched which fridge that we wanted, and then which of those fridges had a gas range, and of that which ones had an Over the Range microwave.

And then we parted with a great wad of cash (wave bye bye) and a great deal of time trying to install them.  Actually the dishwasher took most of Scott's time, but I had misplaced my camera by that time, so I only have this one of him behind the gas range, hooking it all up.  In case you missed the international 'thumbs up' sign, this is a bit of a dig at my Dad, who can't help but stick his bloody thumb up in almost every photo.   Sorry Dad.  Makes me laugh.

Anyway, I made the soup (prior to the new range) and paid attention to my sister's instructions, as well as a recipe off the net, and then added other stuff too.  It was so good I had a bowl before bed on the 30th, and then dreamed about how to serve it on the 31st.  Unfortunately, my ISO was set too high to take a good shot of it.  I've tried to recreate what I did and haven't quite gotten there yet.  I made a batch yesterday with 1/2 tsp of cayenne and I nearly blew my socks off.  So 1/4 tsp should do it next time.  LOL 


Good grief - it looks like a photo out of a 70s cookbook!  I told you my camera setting were wrong - this the proof! 

When I get the recipe down, I'll post it.  Until then, I'll enjoying using my new range to roast the peppers where they should be roasted... on the top rack close to the broiler without me sitting on the floor!

studio re-do


"It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top."  Henry Ward Beecher

Half of the studio, with a wall taken down (the gaping hole beside the breaker box).


Wall built by Dad on the West of the room, to seperate the TV room (and truthfully, my husband playing Civilization on his PC).

The blessed door.

One would think we're on the home stretch, but we're not.  Who knew mudding and taping and sanding was such a pain in the patootie?  (well, besides drywall professionals?)  So after we get that done, then there is the painting and then the load in of all the stuff I had to take out of the studio.  And then, well then there is the other half of the studio.  A couple doors, a casing around a window, fixing of dryway imperfections and then more painting. 

And how about the flooring?  Should I just put back the sticky backed tiles that were here, or should I paint the concrete, or ... (and I like this the best) just run away and forget I ever started this project.

Monday, January 4, 2010

finished advent

"Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans."  John Lennon




Thought you would like to see the finished product.  Although I did finish it about 3 weeks ago and handed it off to the client, I've just not got around to updating the blog with it!  Busy busy busy.  We're in the process of knocking down a couple walls and putting up doors.  And just to add to the fun we've ordered new appliances and are looking at renovating all the bathrooms in the house as well.  So work in the studio is of a different nature instead of the creative type of work I usually do!  Enough of a break, I have to go and put up a barrier between the drywall dust and the rest of the house.  :)