violetismycolor

IF...tea...

***You know the drill...click on the image to see a really close up view***

When I heard the prompt was tea, the first thing I thought of was my favorite children's stories of all time, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.  I love these stories because they are whimsical and crazy and imaginative...all the things I adore.

I had so much fun working on this illustration, too.  I put fun leaded glass windows in the Mad Hatter's windows and front door.  I popped a little funny tea cup on his roof.  I had fun with the colors, and the patterns...just everything.

I think I will be sad when I have to take it down next week. 

something funny...

Since my life has been totally boring lately, I thought I would post the "Best of Bonnie".  My daughter is an absolutely awesome writer...very funny and thoughtful.  Here are some excerpts:

1) I managed to almost set my bed on fire last night. Because, really, that's all the people in my dorm need--the fire alarm going off at 11pm during Finals Week because some girl's bed is on fire. I like play format, so I will describe the situation that way:

Me: *studying*
Part of lamp that is always periously close to bed: *lurking*
Comforter: *innocently going about its business of being sat on by me*
Me: *still studying*
Comforter: *now partly within cone of lamphead*
Lamp: Heh
Comforter: Hot! Hot!
Me: *oblivious*
Lamp: Burn, baby, burn!
Me: Hmm..smells a little smoky. Someone must have had trouble with popcorn in the microwave again...
Comforter: Help! Being burned here!
Lamp: Long have I awaited this moment!
Me: Still smells smoky...odd...
Comforter: I'm surrounded by idiots
Me: OMG MY COMFORTER IS IN MY LAMP!!!eleventyhundred!!! I ALMOST SUCCUMBED TO FIERY DOOM!!
Lamp: Damn

My comforter was actually smoking a little by the time I pulled it out. Brilliant, simply brilliant.

2) I believe in interactive studying. I talk out loud. I summarize information with plenty of salty language to keep it interesting. I make sarcastic comments. It is all fine and dandy when I'm in my own room. However, unfortunately my studying habits do NOT work when I am sitting in the dining hall eating breakfast and looking over my notes one last time before the final. This morning I managed to get out an entire half sentence of interaction with my worksheet before I realized that I was speaking out loud. This led to me looking around wildly to see if anyone had noticed and then promptly sliding down into my chair in humiliation.

3)  *(she was asked to videotape a hockey game)* Enthralled as I was in the game (/sarcasm) I often zoned out and forgot I was filming. Kind of like when I had my learner's permit and forgot I was driving. My mother was very not amused about that. The ditch I almost drove into was not very amused either.

4) The cover story of Newsweek this week is entitled “Sex & the Single Boomer: The New World of Midlife Romance.” This is ridiculous. As we all know, middle-aged people do not have sex. And nothing, not even logic, will persuade me to the contrary (and please, no comment on this topic).

5) For those of you who don't go to Colgate, you may not know about the Icicles of Death. These are the icicles that form every winter off the roof of every building, grow to be taller than me, and if they decide they don't like you, then you be dead. They also have a tendency to come thundering down when it heats up just enough for the ice to start melting.

As I was leaving the Cooley library, there was a sign on the door to the outside that read Stop. Wait. Listen. right above the one warning about icicles. However, this sign is pointless, for EVEN DOING THIS WILL NOT PREVENT YOUR QUICK & STABBITY DEMISE!1!11!. Icicles are awfully tricksy and if they want to get you, they will. Unless I am there to prevent it, of course.

6) I AM DOOMED TO LIVE ON THE STREET AND DESIGN HORRENDOUS SKATING COSTUMES FOR ICE PRINCESSES LIKE SASHA COHEN WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY DRESSED FOR HER SHORT PROGRAM BY A BLIND HOBO!!!!!!!

Now, who couldn't love someone who can describe her life with so much humor, wit, and verve...

Stephanie...

Yesterday, I met up with Stephanie of CreatureBug.  We drove on down to one of my favorite parts of Portland, the Pearl District.  We wandered around a bit.  We lingered a long while in a French Interiors shop that had some of the most gorgeous fabrics.  We wanted to take home most of them, but settled for being totally inspired.

Then, we wandered over to Oblations Papers, which had so many fantastic and original cards and papers that we were again overwhelmed.  We both brought home some little treasures that were just not to be resisted.

We had lunch at Manzana...light lunches=salad + sharing a creme brulee.  Yum, yum.  We talked and talked, of course.  Steph and I always have plenty to say when we get together.  She is one of the very nicest people I have ever met...a very loving and devoted mother and teacher. 

And the weather even held up for us.  Weren't we lucky?

IF...song...

*Click on the illo for a larger view*

My husband suggested using a siren's song for this week's illustration and I thought I would try it.  It was harder than I thought since my idea was to use a 16th caravel-type ship and a sailor (I use the term loosely) for the illustration, too.  Complicated but I managed to work out most of the kinks. 

a mother's love...

I bought Bonnie a new purse yesterday.  The one she has is teeny, and the buckles that hold it together no longer do what they are supposed to and she has things falling out of it all the time.  I was very worried that she would be pick-pocketed (or rather purse-pocketed) when she was traveling back to Colgate in January.  Meier and Frank was having a sale, and I found a lovely, soft leather, olive green, small purse (originally $48) for only $20. 

I went the the post office to mail it this morning and the post mistress said, "something else?"...meaning:  which one of your kids are you sending something to now?.  Being me, I went into the whole story about the purse that needed replacing.  (This is a very small, neighborhood post office where everyone knows everyone.)

Her response really startled me.  "Bonnie is so loved.  She is so lucky."

My initial thought was, "She's my daughter.  Of course, I love her."  That is just a given, for me.

It made me realize that not all kids are as treasured by their parents as ours are.  I guess I knew that.  Kids are neglected and abused all the time.  Just read the papers.

I just was so stunned to be praised for behavior that is so natural that I cannot imagine behaving any other way.  It made me very happy for my kids but made me feel so sad for those kids out there who don't feel their parents' love on a daily basis. 

That simple comment really made me stop and think...

meeting friends...

The weekend was a wonderful one, made even better by the addition of good friends.  Today, I met Margaret for brunch.  She was in town for her daughter's gymnastics meet and we had so much fun talking, though we did not have nearly enough time together.  We talked about 'lite' subjects like politics, religion, and teenage daughters.  Good thing we are both reasonable people (meaning we share a lot of each other's views).  She was, as always, lovely to spend time with.

Yesterday, John and I attended a Democratic Party of Oregon brunch with special guest Al Franken.  We were strategically sitting at one of the tables closest to both the food and the microphone, so we were lucky enough to be be one of the first to speak with Al Franken, and to be directed to start loading our plates with all the wonderful food, provided by Mother's restaurant. 

John had invited our friend, Shahriar Ahmed, and his son, Shehab.  Shehab is a sophomore at UCLA and an aspiring comic, and he was given more than 10 minutes of great free advice from Al Franken, himself.  Of course, having a conversation with Shahriar and Shehab is always great fun and very interesting.  I asked his views on the whole Muslim/Danish cartoon thing, and he was as reasoned and reasonable as I would have expected.  Basically, freedom of expression and the press are our rights, but our rights come with the responsibility not to try to harm or insult others.  And the reaction on the other side was an over-reaction.  That is what I was thinking, too. 

John and Ross went skiing today, taking advantage of a gorgeous, sunny, warmer day.  After my brunch with Margaret, I went to visit my lovely MIL, who has been really ill for the last 2 weeks.  She has turned the corner on this problem, though, and is finally recovering her health.  I have been very worried about her and probably smothering her with too many visits and lots of fussing, but that's what mothering is all about.  Me mothering her, that is.

All in all, a wonderful, carefree weekend...just love those, don't you?

brrr....

Yeah, it's Cold Here...27 warm degrees this afternoon.  The weather put the kabosh on a ski day that John and Ross had planned.  The weather on the mountain was around One Degree with the windchill (that's right...one) and the forecasters said that at these temperatures, one could get frostbite within 10 minutes.  Plus, the winds were gusting up to 40 mph and that meant all the upper chairlifts would be shut down...and what fun is that?

So, Ross went to school (sound of a big sigh is heard from the boy) and John is using the day to move his new desk into his NEW office.  Today is move day, so he is off work. 

On the Ross front, he went up to the valentine-toting mystery-woman in his 6th period class to say thanks for all the goodies.  Then, before he could ask her name, she said thanks and basically ran out of the room.  Awkward.   But now he feels that he has done his part, and was happy that the awkward moment has passed.

Then, there's Adam.  A couple of weeks ago, he asked me to send him some computer software disks from his bedroom.  He was sure that I could find them in a certain box in his room.  Of course, they weren't THERE.  I finally found them today in a cupboard where he keeps old Magic cards and Dungeons & Dragons books from his younger days.  When I had suggested looking there, he had assured me that they couldn't possibly be there.  It was after looking everywhere else that he may have seen them in the house (playroom, family room, John's office), that I finally looked in the they-couldn't-possibly-be-there-places, and found them.   Hmmm...

Valentine's Day...

Having only John and Ross around these day, Valentine's Day (for me) becomes about the two of THEM.  I made them French Toast for breakfast and Steak Diane for dinner.  Yummy.  The way to men's hearts IS through their stomachs.

Ross got the jolt of his life yesterday when a girl left treats for him in every single class.  He got chocolates and a homemade cupcake and a balloon, among other things.  This girl is in his last period class and he doesn't even know her name. Of course, Ross is clueless when it comes to girls. She came up after that last class and announced it was her that left all the goodies and then ran away. 

He is pretty anxious about how awkward things will be when he sees her in class tomorrow.  I just told him to be polite, say thank you, and whatever he does not to ignore her.  He's a nice kid, so I am sure he will be all right but boy, is he flustered!  I spoke with Adam today and he says he was the same way when he was a senior in HS. 

Adam IM'd his dad to find out if he is up-to-date with his MMR vaccines.  Seems they are having a mumps outbreak at St. Andrew's and they are giving free shots to any who are not covered.  I told Adam that we had to fill out his vaccination history before he went to Willamette and they American universities require that all your shots be current.  I put in a call to his pediatrician to track down his history, anyway. 

Illustration Friday...simple...

*click on Image to get a larger view*

I always wanted to do an old-fashioned valentine for this week.  So, I took the prompt 'Simple' and used it IN my valentine.  Works for IF and works for me. Win-win. 

I thought that the hairstyles, dress styles, and the look of the doggie were all very 20's-looking.  I was trying to capture the style of the antique valentines that I see in antique stores and on Ebay.  I had fun with patterns in the clothes and socks.  I tried to find a font that would also give that same feel of a valentine that I could have given out when I was in grade school.

basketball...

My niece, Maria, plays for the varsity basketball team at Gonzaga.  She is only a freshman, so this is a big deal.  They were in town today, playing the University of Portland.  Lots of family members went to see her play, including John and I.  The game was a close one in the end and Gonzaga pulled it out in the last minute of the game and won by 2 points.  It was fun and I got the chance to sit next to my mom and chat a bit with her. 

When we got home, I checked the mailbox where a friend was leaving tickets for me for something tonight.  We have a locked mailbox (mailbox theft is rempant here) and she had left them in the part of the mailbox where one leaves letters to be picked up by the mailman.  We never use this, of course, since it is too dangerous to leave outgoing mail there, lest it get stolen. 

So, wasn't I surprised to find that, in addition to the tickets that Sandy had left for me, there was a wrapped present.  Christmas wrapping.  Addressed to Bonnie, from one of her friends.  O-oh.  Said friend is probably well ticked-off that Bonnie never acknowledged her gift.  If it hadn't been for having Sandy leaving tickets in the mailbox, that box could have been there for months more, years maybe...since we never, never use that part.  Now, I have to tell Bonnie that she has to contact her friend right away and let her know what happened.  How uncomfortable...

Illustration Friday prompts...

I am always really excited to see the prompts for Illustration Friday every week.  I get an email bright and early on Friday morning.  It's almost like getting a little present in my mail box.  I look forward to the challenge of coming up with something interesting, original, and challenging for myself.

What do I find this morning? The new prompt is 'Simple'.   Simple?   

So, I go to the Illo Friday website to see what folks have been doing.  There are already 63 illustrations put up by the time I go to look around.  There is nothing consistent.  A line drawing.  A daisy or two.  Something abstract.  And lots of other things.  I think to myself that the prompt 'Simple' really means 'Draw whatever you want.  We don't give a ...'

I hate this as a prompt.  There is no direction.  It's hard to be clever.  So, I let it roll around in my mind.  What I wanted the prompt to be this week was 'Valentine'.  Apparently, too 'simple' a prompt. 

I decide to use it anyway.  I am trying to design an old-fashioned valentine that says something like, "It's just this simple.  I want to be your valentine."  So, that is the direction I am heading...

We shall see what I come up with...

solar theory...

Adam has informed us that he is taking a class in Solar Theory this term.  Apparently (before you ask), it is the 'physics' of the sun.  Like sunspots.  Solar flares.  Like that.  It's part of Applied Mathematics (if that makes any sense...).

He has a professor at St Andrew's who is a great teacher and St Andrew's is well-known for their level of teaching in Solar Theory.  Click here to see their 'fascinating' web page.  And to think that I had never heard of it before...

Anyway, this prof was writing a recommendation for Adam for a Robotics internship he is applying for at Texas A&M for this summer, and he suggested that Adam apply for HIS Solar Theory internship at Montana State this summer.  Which would certainly make me happy.  Montana is a whole lot closer than Europe or Texas. 

Who knew there even was such a thing?

really good movie...

John and I went to see Mrs. Henderson Presents last night.  Judi Dench is up for the Academy Award for Best Actress for this film.  She was, as always, fabulous.  The film only got  a "C" when reviewed in our local paper, but we thought it was definitely an "A".  It was funny (but could, at times, bring on the tears), well-written, well-acted, interesting, and fun. 

This is 'based on a true story'...a widow buys a theatre and, when she starts to lose money, she decides to put nude girls in the show.  She attempts to convince old friend, Teddy, the minister in charge of approving all theatre content, to let her do this.  Her argument is that beautiful women's bodies are like works of art and should be seen as such.  Well, he takes her at her word and approves the nudity as long as the women don't move, at all.  Like works of art.

Kelly Reilly, last seen as Mr. Bingley's stuck-up sister on Pride and Prejudice, plays the lead (nude) girl.  She certainly had that stuck-up sneer-thing going on P&P, but she is obviously capable of much more, if this film is any indication.  She was very good in it.  Interestingly, Judi Dench also played the stuck-up Lady Catherine de Burgh in that same movie, so they were reunited in this film. 

Recommendation:  Go see it...

IF...chair...

*click to see larger version*

The prompt this week was 'Chair'...which I thought was pretty boring.  I had been working on this woman with the striking blue eyes this week, so I figured I should just put her in a chair and call it good. 

When I thought about what I would put in the illustration (well, besides the chair), I decided on this painting:  Paolo Veronese's Venus and Mars in Love, which I read about in this morning's NY Times.  It will be at the Frick soon, apparently.  I thought it was gorgeous, so wouldn't my heroine love to have it hanging on her wall?

I also used a couple of the patterns that I was playing with (in Illustrator) this week.  I love this color of blue and would love to paint one of my walls this shade.

Mary Doria Russell...

I went to see Mary Doria Russell, author of The Sparrow, Children of God, and now A Thread of Grace (which is what we are reading for book group this month).

She was so smart, funny, fascinating, and fabulous! She is a paleo-anthropologist by training, and she is the most incredible writer. She was absolutely unafraid to speak frankly, but always with such humor.

One of the funniest moments was when a women in the front row had her cell phone go off for the second time in about 10 minutes. She said, "Let me talk to her..." She took the phone and said, "She can't talk right now. She's at this book signing and a very famous and important writer is talking to the group right now. So, STOP CALLING HER." Everyone in the room (about 60 people or more) were just howling with laughter. She held the phone out to the audience and everyone just cheered. What a laugh!

About 7 of us from book group went and it will give us so much more context for discussion when we meet this Saturday (at my house). And to think I almost didn't go...