No Welding Today / James Randall visits

Truly, I had every intention of working on my tree sculpture today. Rolled out my mig, measured twice, cut rods once, then this and that happened and that's all I accomplished. Rolled the mig back in and locked up the shop when James Randall came in from Denton for lunch. He, Bob and I to Chili's and then he drove me to mod.shop to take pictures. This picture is great because Randall's in it.

James Randall gave me an earful of computer/music stuff. I had to get him to dumb it down a bit so I could understand. If I could get him in a car once a week for 30 minutes and then digest for another week, maybe I'd really start to understand a bit of how his music/computer collaboration works. On the way home we stopped at Starbucks. Swallowing a mouthful of a green tea frappicino with extra whipped cream, I told him I'm reading Carrie Fisher's "Wishful Drinking". He knew who she is - well of course, Star Wars. One of the best lines of the book is George Lucas tells Carrie during the first week of shooting she can't wear any underwear underneath the weird white dress she wears for the whole movie. She asks why and he says, "Because there's no underwear in outer space," so sincerely she believes he believes and then so does she. And you think I'm strange?

Bowling in the Garden

Unseasonably warm weather created the unique "perfect storm" for mosaic bowling balls. The balls crashed around the back yard simultaneously creating havoc with the stationary non-mosaic balls. The mosaic balls rammed and slammed into the unsuspecting naked balls reducing them to tears as they huddled between bare root plants. One lone bowling pin stood up to the balls only to be crushed beneath the weight of cheap china parts. No tears were shed for the rogue balls or the coward balls still hiding.

BlackJack will be out first thing in the morning to mark the winner.

mod.shop gallery opening continued

More fun photos at the gallery opening.

mod.shop Gallery Opening Reception

Last night was the big opening at mod.shop. No one had a better time than me. But as you can see, everyone else was, too. I as so glad James Randall and Jezzelie came in for the opening. They lent the artsy atmosphere. In my opinion, this the first Friends of Lottie event of this year. Weldon took a great picture of Bob and me. Thank you, Weldon.

More pictures tomorrow.

artist reception mod.shop

Again with the invitation to tomorrow's opening reception. This is very exciting to me, so I have to go on and on. Please come by if you can.

mod.shop artist reception

Here's the official invitation to the Artist's Reception this Saturday. Try to attend. Check out moderndallas.com, the owner's weekly on line magazine.

mod.shop Artist Recption

There's an artist's reception at mod.shop this Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 with some of my pieces included. Try and stop by.

mod.shop
presents
featured artists

James Hastings
Todd Camplin
Lottie Minick

Glass Sculpture by
Italian Artist
Dino Rosin

feb 21st

6-8 pm

5840 Alpha road #B Dallas, TX 75240
214-604-6362

www.modshopinc.com
for more information check out moderndallas.net

Kiln Firing

Squares of glass ready to go in magic kiln in back yard and burn into dots. Some for future earrings, some will attach themselves to chair that's morfed into table.

Manolo Blahnik Sea Dragon

Nearly extinct Malano Blanic Sea Dragon is on display at Decorazon Gallery during the Farwell Shoe Show.

Ode to Sea Dragon:

If you don't believe in dragons
It is curiously true
That the dragons you disparage
Tend to not believe in you

Disclaimner: Yes, a Manolo Blahnic was destroyed in the making of this Sea Dragon.

Table Beginnings

My Studio is now in control of my welding.

My Project - Bathroom Chair.

The Studio Project - TABLE.

After welding, I take a good look at the new Bathroom Chair. Seat to small for a child. Legs too tall for a giant.

Studio wins - Chair Morfs into TABLE

Now it’s time to “Lottie” up the TABLE. My big box of jewelry, beads, buttons, wire, all vie to bling up the as yet unnamed Morfed TABLE. Suggestions welcomed.

Happy Valentine's Day - Hearts Abound VI

Happy Valentine's Day on Valentine's Day!

Last night this glass heart pushed out the red heart in the frame and took it's place. The red heart was lying on the floor "heartbroken", too embarrassed to have it's picture taken. Hearts are so cruel. This is the last heart I made and of course last in the series of Hearts Abound. Who knows what it's been plotting since I took it out of the kiln?

Suspicious me, thinking this heart has an agenda, but I'm sure it just wanted to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day - Hearts Abound V

Hearts In Bondage

Yes, it’s getting weirder now. Hearts preferring bondage to freedom. And THREE hearts? Weirder still. Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day - Hearts Abound IV

Large Mosaic Heart Floats Like Balloon

Thursday, February 12, a large Mosaic Heart floating in an East Dallas back yard was found to photograph only when still. The oddly menacing floating heart pulsed with a rapid beat while brazen brown squirrels jumped and nibbled on it. Photographer's jaws dropped when a giant mouth appeared in the middle of the heart and swallowed a brown squirrel whole. The large Mosaic Heart seemed to also enjoy munching on the newly blooming daffodils. Photographers and onlookers kept their distance.

Happy Valentine's Day - Hearts Abound III

I told you Hearts Abound around here. Here's a piece I made for the White Rock Artist's Studio Tour. The buyer is picking it up this week.

Our most important Valentine's Day gift arrived yesterday, RAIN. Forgot what it looked like. Gone now and none on the way, but thankful for yesterday. I'm sure my front yard daffodils appreciated the drink. They look like little saluting soldiers in the front garden bed guarding the house. Thought I'd pick a few and take a Valentine card and the flowers to Miss Mary's. I like to leave little gifts on her front porch. She will be surprised to find real (not store bought) flowers from my yard.

Happy Valentine's Day - Hearts Abound II

This little heart can cut you up. Literally. Made the glass a bit too sharp. Ted told me a goofy blond walked into his gallery picked up one of these hearts and went, "Oooh, it cut me." My response would have been, "Love Hurts." Probably would have worked. I asked Ted if he looked directly into her eyes and saw the back of her empty head. Come on, you know this girl, in fact you know several.

The BlackJack walk was a mystical world last night with all the fog and mist. Clouds covered the moon and stars, so only porch lights glowed spreading wet yellowish circles, spooky. Perfect atmosphere for Super Power Spider Woman. Bob's not embarrassed when I'm in my true Super Power Spider Woman ensemble, but like James Randall, BlackJack is easily embarrassed, so sweats are dress code for the his walk. Not to worry the power's is always with me.

Happy Valenetine's Day - Hearts Abound

Hearts abound this week. I'm going to find all the hearts hanging out in the back yard and in the shop and send you a Valentine every day until the big day.

This cement Heart Monster stares at me every day - the biggest reminder of projects started and never finished. I pile stuff in front of it so it's hidden from my view, but somehow it creeps around to the middle of the yard to stare at me like a pit bull waiting to attack. Won't die, won't go away and apparently I won't finish it until it changes it's attitude toward me.

Heart Monster powers are very scary this time of year. Be aware, be very aware.

The Shoe Gods

The Shoe Gods were with me yesterday. Dropped a nice size piece of metal on the top of my feet. Landed more on the right foot. Hurt, hurt, hurt. Afraid to take off my shoes and look. Because I'm an idiot, sometimes if I'm just tacking something quickly I'll not change from my U.S. Keds to my welding shoes. Who knows the damage if I'd not had on the heavy shoes??? The Shoe Gods decided my ice cream colored U.S. Keds needed washing (very much) and they were still wet when I went out to start on my little table. When I dropped the table on my feet, I said a big thank you to - THE SHOE GODS.

In a related story, The Shoe Gods did have the last laugh. Had lunch with my aunt on Wednesday. She loves The Mermaid Bar inside Neiman's Northpark. She insists I dress up, no jeans. I was looking pretty fine, brown slacks, cream blouse and a little brown jacket. Before lunch we went to the makeup counter to get our faces made up. I never buy (use drug store stuff), but I'm swinging my feet as I sit on the tall stool looking in the mirror. My aunt says in that stern voice when I'm in trouble, "Lottie Kate, is Bob out of town?" No, Ma'am. "Did Bob see you before you left the house?" Yes, Ma'am and I wait for her to tell me how nice I look. Nope. "Lottie Kate, I'm assuming you have another pair of shoes just like the pair you're wearing right now?" I look down. Sure enough, I have on brown loafers, one with tassel, one penny loafer. Could my newly made up face turn any redder? You could see the makeup melting off.

Scary still is this is the second time this has happened.

Laughing Shoe Gods.

HeART AND SOUL a the Bath House Cultural Center

A few events I forgot to tell you about. Cynthia picked me up and we went to Todd's Plan event. Cynthia told me later her Bamboo Breeze went for big bucks at the live auction. Don't know about my little camera in the silent auction. On to the Bath House for the HeART AND SOUL show. Diana did a great job. She put on the show through the Creative Art Center. Everybody was there. Bob came around 8:00 after Jay and Phyllis. That's us in the first picture, then Babe Cathie (always cute) and me. Last is Bill and Babe Marty with her new haircut. Her hair was so healthy and shiny it looked like light from within.

Earlier I ran into Kathy and complimented her on Best Of Show at the Shoe show at Decorazon Gallery. I saw the big blue ribbon, but she told me that was best presentation or something. Another shoe got Best of Show. What a rip. Her piece was fantastic. I can't believe she didn't get the top prize.

I wore this blouse because my chair is in a zebra pattern. Now that I see me in the blouse I realize - I look like a zebra. I'm surprised people didn't get dizzy when the saw my stripes moving. Betcha there were people there wondering if I have a full length mirror in my house. What I wonder is if the store where I bought the blouse had one and I forgot to look. Scary! I'd have done better going as the Superheroine Spiderwoman I truly am.

Forest Hills Garden Club - Cutie Pie Garden Girls

Cutie Pie Garden Girls - kinda says it all, doesn't it? But the Tomato Lady outshines us all.

Meetings, Meetings, Meetings

Meetings this week. First the Forest Hills Board meeting, (the last picture), next the White Rock East Garden and Artisan's Tour (the one with the lamp) and this morning Forest Hills Garden Club, with the fabulous Tomato Lady. She wowed the crowd.

The two meetings not at my house blew away my little cooking adventure. Donna had home made dips, pigs in a blanket, rollups, home made brownies, a lemon square dessert and all kinds of other foods. I think everyone attends the tour meetings for her food. When I have the meetings at my house, turn out is LOW say the least. A date was decided on - May 17, so mark you calendars now. Andie's yard is one of our gardens this year and she came with me to the meeting. She walked in and knew nearly everyone there. I'll be at her house as close to her big dinosaur as I can. Wait, maybe not, her dinosaur will make my metal pieces look insignificant.

Hard to get up this morning in time for the Forest Hills Garden Club meeting. I stayed up half the night with my new James Lee Burke novel. The setting for this one is not New Iberia, but I don't care, still has our hero and his wife and friend. You must realize for someone like me from a very small town in Louisiana, I was amazed when I opened his first novel. Our Hero is sitting in the New Iberia Parrish Courthouse parking lot waiting for the pouring rain to stop so he can take his prisoner inside to the jail. If Our Hero would turn his head to the left he would be looking at my Aunt Rita's house where I spent half my childhood. How can I put down a Burke book? Worth staying up all night to read them.

Jumped out of bed, brushed teeth, threw on clothes and to the Forest Hills Garden Club with our featured celebrity speaker, The Tomato Lady. She was terrific. We love our "gentle giant" oak trees, but they do make growing any plant who needs sun a challenge. Great hat. She says she also has an herb hat and other plant hats. What's not to enjoy about this lady? Barbara, our hostess, had a wonderful spread of food all gluten free. Delicious and her home is wonderful. A good time was had by all.

MAY I HAVE YOUR RECIPE?????????

In my 35 years of marriage, for the first time ever, someone asked me for a recipe. When the garden club met at Katrina's she served these rollups and I loved them. Asked for the recipe and then said, "No, never mind, I can't cook these." Katrina insisted and emailed me the recipe. I printed it out, and Bob had to eat 3 batches before the garden club met at my house. Some ate more than one.

Last night the Forest Hills Board met here, I cooked the rollups and guess what, guess what???? First Margaret asked me for the recipe and this morning Judy emailed for the recipe. Katrina's husband, Mark, is on the board and every time someone complimented the rollups, I gave Katrina credit, not only for the rollups, but for pushing me to cook them.

I'd love to impress old friends with this story, but they wouldn't believe me. Just assume my "exaggerate" gene was kicking in. No one was surprised when the recipe Barb gave me tanked, just surprised I tried. I must have stepped through the cooking portal to the Parallel Universe for the rollups to come out edible. Hope I can get back there once again.

ModShop

There's a new gallery about to open in town, ModShop. Here's a few pieces I brought Saturday. And here's the gallery owner, Jeff Levine. Great guy. He came out to the State Fair of Texas and wrote a wonderful piece on the Friends of Lottie Totem and Sculpture Show with pictures of every sculpture. Check out his magazine, ModernDallas, on the internet. He showcases some incredible modern houses. I look forward to the weekly link he sends. Hardy has written for him. Jeff just got the certificate of occupancy for his perfect new space in a really good location. I'll write soon about his opening.

HeART AND SOUL a the Bath House Cultural Center

The Creative Art Center is putting on HeART AND SOUL at the Bath House Cultural Center. Cynthia has two pieces and my chair made the cut. I hope you'll try to attend the show. The reception is this coming Saturday, February 7th at 7:00 pm. I've entered pieces in the Bath House shows a couples of times and been rejected. The last rejection was OK only because the Hot Flash Art Girls luncheon was a few days later and all of us were rejected. Misery does love company.

Now I'm bending hardward cloth to make an armatour for a Japanese Kimono for Jay's show at the Museum of Cultures. I'm going to ask Cynthia for some bamboo, which is all over her property, to use for the kimono's stand. I'll get a picture today so I can show work in progress. You can always tell when I'm making something with hardware cloth. My hands look like 6 little kittens used them for scratching posts.