Ojo de dios

Top left, the one that started it all. Bottom left, my own camping creation.

A few years ago, we had this band staying at our house and one of the visitors made me a god's eye as a thank you. This token, along with a huge pot of bitchingly awesome chili, solidified their stay as one of the top strangers-sleeping-in-my-house events. Little did I know that it would set in place a series of events that would get me to where I am today.

So impressed my future-sister-in-law, Molly, and I were at this lady's handiwork that we took a camping trip to more or less make god's eyes. Sure we did other things, like throwing my brother's hat out the car as a goof (see below), but one of the key highlights was the creation of some god's eyes of our own.

This also happened on our trip to make god's eyes.

Hats make the best goofs.

Since then, I've even hosted craft nights with the sole purpose of making more god's eyes, and they've continued staying in my bag of tricks when it comes to needing some artistic inspiration. Just lately, I've been itching more and more to get back on my god's eye horse, wanting to combine the creation of many a beautiful god's eye with a mind-blowing selection of carefully crafted macramé goods, which, so help me god, I will make someday.

So this has been my plan for like, a really long time. Of course, as we all know, ideas don't matter much if you don't act on them. And I sure got a fire lit under my bottom when I drove by the old Yeti Records store front and saw this.

Dreams realized.

SAY WHAT!?!?! What hot young thing started an art gallery and decorated the shop window with god's eyes?! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, all my wild jealousy unleashed on whoever this fictional new gallery owner was. A little bit of interneting, however, and I found that my deepest, darkest dream was not being lived out by someone else. Rather, the old Yeti space is the current pop-up shop for local gallery SooVAC, and features all local artists, including the maker of the god's eyes, Joan Vorderbruggen. Joan is actually really awesome, having put together a fundraiser to get a Guerrilla Girls billboard up against the bogus Marriage Amendment earlier this year. In fact, you can read her (and Cult Status Gallery's Erin Sayer's) thoughts on the matter in this very special C.L.A.P. interview. So if anyone has to actually start making god's eyes, it can be Joan.

Actually, screw it! Anyone can make god's eyes! Let's all rejoice in the four elements, shall we?

Colored pencil sketches.

Big, permanent, smelly marker.

In the meantime, I am putting my pen to the paper and getting wild with it.

Jewels!

Step one of the long process of adding materials to Etsy is (somewhat) complete! Check out some of the jewels I will be selling in the very near future. There's some beauts! Check out all the goods by following me on instagram: doublepeace (or....just see below!).

C.L.A.P. Call for Submissions!

We are starting to get things going for the Winter 2012 issue of C.L.A.P. Themed "Outerspace, Dreams and Other Deep Themes,"* anyone contribute reviews, personal essays, recipes, diy's, fiction, art...anything goes! If you want to get on board, or have an idea you'd like to workshop, email creativeladiesarepowerful@gmail.com.

Deadline is DECEMBER 1ST. 

We'd love to have you!

*Note: C.L.A.P. issue themes act merely as guidelineS to get those creative wheels turning. While it is great if you'd like to incorporate the theme into your piece, it is NOT necessary to do so.

Drawing lady towers

I'm sketching again. It makes me happy. Not sure if I'll keep this as is or if I'll utilize it in some sort of collaged painting, so I'm feeling that out.

This tower of bending over ladies is based off of this old, random photograph first featured here. I think I am going to start incorporating more people in weird positions from old photos in my art. I'm into it.

Also, in the spirit of being more proactive in my artistic journey, I finally started getting art up on the Double Peace etsy site. Older pieces, yes, but since I haven't had any art up there for a couple years, I was pleased with myself. Tiny victories!

Rocks!

Because I love them...

Get your whites whiter (more inspiration from before)

B & W inspiration

from of old...Motorcycle print by Richard Prince. Others from a weird book about Wiccans I found at a thrift shop.

Old Art! That I did!

Kay, I know this is kind of overwhelming, but in going through all my old blogs, tumblrs, facebook pages and etsy accounts, I've amassed quite the collection of old paintings that I've done. So that they will never fade away in the sea of the interwebs, I am posting them here for one last hurrah. 

SPACE in progress

I've been into "space" (as in outer) lately (hence the Winter 2012 issue of C.L.A.P. being themed "Outer space, dreams and other deep themes"), so it's no wonder my latest painting endeavors have started looking rather...spacey.

Invites!

Today I got the invitations for my bro Chad and his wife Molly's wedding reception in the mail! It was very exciting, even though I (along with a lot of help and suggestions from Molly and our friend Sara) designed them. The most exciting part was utilizing my "happy little tree" paintings for the background.

I like paper

I've always liked playing with paper and collaging. When I was in first grade, in fact, I almost didn't pass on to second grade because I spent so much time working on a paper collage of a rabbit. My teacher, however, just sent all the unfinished math and reading worksheets home with my mom, suggesting that I could work on them during the summer.

I haven't had much time to do my own art lately—between various writing endeavors, and putting the Fall 2012 issue of C.L.A.P. out (and all the C.L.A.P. events in the past month), my personal creative endeavors have fallen by the wayside.

Instead of just plunking myself down infront of the tv, I decided to return to my roots with some paper and glue. I've been collecting used security envelopes for years now (they have the best patterns) and picked some of these for my collaging tonight, along with some random ripped and taped up paper that was on the way to the recycling bin. As it turns out, art is an incredibly soothing way to pass some time.

"Peace, Love and Happiness" Fall 2012 C.L.A.P.

The Fall 2012 issue of C.L.A.P., themed "Peace, Love and Happiness" is out! Cover art by Lisa Luck, layout by Titi Phan. Contributors are all awesome. You can pick up a copy here on the Double Peace etsy site.

Vintage lady pics

I love vintage. I love ladies. I love photographs. Put the three together and you have awesomeness.

Photos from a vintage shop around the corner from the Blackbird in Minneapolis, which apparently doesn't not have an internet presence.

Ranch-style inspiration

This weekend, two of my favorite people, my brother Chad and his partner Molly, made it official by marrying in a truly beautiful ceremony on the equally beautiful Colorado ranch Molly's family has visited for the past 49 years. Here are some of my favorite shots of the amazing structures on the ranch and their stylings.