"Don't Think, Don't Blink"

December Gallery Showing....

The show was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan as part of the MAJIC Concert Series (MAJIC-Musical Arts for Justice in the Community).  The Opening was December 9th 2011 with music by Sergei Kvitko and Ken Beachler.  The artwork was up until January 9th 2012.  

"The Magic Armadillo" Click Here

Textile Tree--made of all repurposed materials.

Watercolor Birdhouse--Made of recycled materials.

"The Mad Owl" Click Here

"The Mad Owl" Click Here

"Budgie Baby" 

"Up up and Away" 

"Up up and Away" 

"Up up and Away" 

"A Day to Dream" 

"The Excitable Misunderstood Genius" by Cam DeCaussin Click Here

"Portrait of the Excitable Misunderstood Genius" Click Here

"What are Your Thoughts?" 

"What are Your Thoughs?" 

"Dancing With The Trees" 

"Dancing With the Trees" 

"Penguin Waddle Bottle" Click Here

"Stumped" Click Here

"The Rooster" Click Here

"Baboon Creative" Click Here

"Beach Blissed Seals" Click Here

"Come Along With Me" Click Here

"One Small Discovery" Click Here

"One Small Discovery" Click Here

*GLUB-GLUB*

In a new addition to the Funamals collection, Penguin Meets Fish! 

Another new addition to the Funamals studio, is Amy's assistant, Grace! 

And this is Grace, writing her first-ever blog as Funamals :)

With his scuba helmet made from recycled plastic, he dives under the sea, in this new tote bag design. Named the most imaginative tote, by the creator herself, it is definitely my favorite. 

This fabulous new tote is up for sale on etsy.com. 

I love it not just because I helped a bit with the design....but, then again, I may be a little bit partial ;P

While photographing this new tote in Amy's studio, I also took some photos of her fish, Rain, with his giraffe. He is a very photogenic fish.

Tonight, I am sleeping over at Amy's house.  Aside from all of my next tasks for tonight, I think that Amy's "Desk Buddy" needs a night-cap.  Maybe I can slip in some Grace time on the sewing machine when she is not looking.

 Tomorrow we are leaving at 7:00 am to go to an art market in South Haven, MI.  This will be the first art fair I have ever been to as one of the vendors, or vendor's assistant, I should say. :) 

Life in the Moment

Rose Beerhorst is an artist that I really admire.  She has the kind of work that rewards you when you look closer.  

If you study them closely, you get the sense that there is something meditative about her work.  This reminds me of the time I spent studying at Ox-Bow Summer School of Art.  There they emphasize a sense of "being" with your work.  It looks like when she makes a piece, she sits with it for a long time.  She puts a lot of thought into it.  She laments each element, each tiny detail.  

Rose works almost entirely with recycled materials.  She reuses what is already available.  Even the buttons are reused.  Most of them are vintage.  This is why I say that Rose represents "life in the moment."  Her used and vintage elements add a story and a history to each piece while her young ambition adds a sense of new ideas.  These two qualities combined play into what I receive as something contemplative in her work.  She seems to reflect a calm hora, carefully soaking up each moment in life.  Perhaps Rose has a little wisdom beyond her years.

You can shop Rose's work at sockmonster.etsy.com

...So I got a New Cell Phone...

(I switched to AT&T)

And I sewed a textile cover for it because I am pretty clumsy.  This upcycled piece will protect it. 

Now I have a Samsung Evergreen

What is really neat about this phone is that 70% of the handset is made of post-consumer recycled materials.  The package that it comes in is recyclable and and printed with soy inks--a very earth friendly choice.  It also comes with a bag that you can put your old phone in and send to be recycled.  You don't even have to pay to send it!

AT&T has a Recycle program for old phones. Click Here for more info

AT&T and the Environment Click here