Stripping for School

You know your ecconomy is down, when you find yourself stripping to fundraise for your kid's school. Ok, so I'm being a little extreem, but only a little..... read on.

Last night, we had an event that put the FUN back in fundraiser. Family School parent's night out at a great pub called Sam Bonds. Talent night, so we took turns entertaining eachother with songs and performances. Beer and happy hooting was plentiful. A wild pack of parents, I'm telling you.

One of the pieces we did was a runway show of Power Bras. Two friends, and I made up this idea to playfully decorate and sell new bras to make money for two friends going through breast cancer. It's been a blast. Last night, we didn't sell any bras after the runway show, but we did pass the bra purse and collected some cash for our friends. Nice!

Max and I were booked as the last two performances at midnight. We are members of the Emerald City Drama kings- we do drag king theater. Most people know what a drag queen is, but drag kings are women who don men's clothes, and impersonate men for fun. It's high theater! Our troupe focuses on fun, thoughtful, and thoroughly prepared gender performance. Cabaret. We don't just lip sync, each song has a full subtext of performance and storyline.

Normally, I'm either femme looking, or the jeans and t-shirt artsie mom, so people have no idea what an awesome dude I can be! None of the moms at my boys school have seen me perform.....

Max took the stage as a thoroughly confident character, in "Business Time" by the kiwi band, "Flight of the Concords". If you have not yet heard them, run run run to the next tab over and YOU TUBE them next. The audience was in hysterics. Max was in boxers and "business socks".

I did my performance of Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your Man". I sing and do a little soft shoe- cane routine with my character I call "Starlight Sam" (see photos-taken when I played Sam with long red hair). I'm happy to say we brought the house down and I had to hand out make believe permission slips for Starlight Sam as fantasy material. (blush). Playing with gender is a great deal of fun. And being an artist, as you know, means all of life is a stage.

Check out this amazing cartoon video I just found that was made for the song. I think it's awesome.

Big news!!!! Big hole beads!

I am very pleased to announce: I'm now respresenting my own jewelry line, Charmish on etsy. It is a great and unusual opportunity to represent the jewelry that I design for another company. Along with the things I create in my Bliss Monkey Studio, and share with you here, I also spend two days a week working with EuropeanBling and desiging their super fun charm braclets.



European beads are the new wave in charm bracelets and modular jewelry. You start with a gorgeous, thick silver braclet, and collect beautiful, sterling charm beads to go on it. The charm beads come in many styles and themes, so you can tell your life story (with birthstone beads, anniverary momentos, first house, zodiac, etc), collect them to represent special accomplishments (first race, gallery art show, spiritual quest), or collect your hobbies and favorite animals and colors. Our beads are fully compatible with other major brands of European charm beads, such as Pandora, Biagi, Troll beads, and Chamilia.

European style charm bracelets are normally rather expensive. We use the same quality, craftsmanship and materials, but create them with more affordable prices and super fresh designs. I hope you love them as much as I do!

I'm In Love With The Sky Today

There is another sky by Emily Dickinson

There is another sky,
Ever serene and fair,
And there is another sunshine,
Though it be darkness there;
Never mind faded forests, Austin,
Never mind silent fields -
Here is a little forest,
Whose leaf is ever green;
Here is a brighter garden,
Where not a frost has been;
In its unfading flowers
I hear the bright bee hum:
Prithee, my brother,
Into my garden come!

Spring Wrist Warmers - you choose the color

Here's the latest wrist warmers in my shop. A scaled down version for spring: walking the dog, driving, outdoor stuff, as well as in. Many many people buy them to type at work or home and keep their hands happy. Great for knitting. Sooooo soft and warm and cute!

Black licorice, chocolate, or latte- you choose the color!


Spring Palate! Lilac, Grass, and Denim.... imagine Spring is here, you are wearing your favorite old jeans, and beautiful blouse.... it's warm enough to lay in the grass, gaze up at the budding lilac and take in a new season...... ahhhhh................ Ok, try HARD to imagine it, as you look out your office window and see WINTER still upon us. That's why I've made Spring wrist warmers in these lovely shades......just for you!

I'm selling these in the full 10" length. Cute to fold at the cuff. Keeps your hands warm and happy till those WARM days really do roll around the calendar.

I saw two humming birds at the window today! They were looking longingly at the red window decorations. It's still freezing at night, why are they here?? Is this normal arrival time for Oregon? Should I put our new hummingbird feeder out?

An article on me by Stacy Schrak of Grow By Love.

She's also a designer, and a mom, and a great writer! Thanks so much!



A fun, monstery treasury!

Wake Up

Green Dots cup Wrist Warmers found here.
I'm So Green coffee cozy found here. Get green here.


I woke up to the sound of doves outside my bedroom window accompanied by the sound of my Grandmother snoring in the twin bed next to me. The sun would be streaming in around the edges of the pulled shades. I'd lay in bed, smiling to myself, for a few moments before getting up. If I woke early enough, my Papa would still be eating breakfast in the kitchen. I'd slide into the green vinyl seat silently, and he'd look up, pretending to be surprised and say, "THERE's my Leesie!" He always had a cup of coffee, small bowl of cereal and an egg on a muffin. He's fix me whatever I was in the mood for. We'd chat while he read the paper, then off he'd launch into his day of joyfully working outside and in the garage.

And I would start MY day! It was summer in Southern California. The birds were chattering in the side yard, and chirping in the palm tree, the scent of flowers heavy in the morning air. If Iwas able to get dressed without waking Grandma, I could slip outside without wearing sandals. Bare feet on grass, before it got hot out was delicious. I loved being outside while air was still cool in the morning and the ever-present California sun was just rising.

My friends weren't out yet so I had time just to be quiet. I'd walk along the yard, looking at the Bird of Paradise and Lily blooms, and check the Guava plant for fruit big enough to eat. I'd walk through the tunnel of Bougainvillea, touching the thick leaves of the money plant. Maybe Papa would be out back picking oranges to make juice.

I would feel quietly excited that it was summer, that the whole day was laid out before me to be enjoyed, that I had so many fun things to do, that the world was beautiful, that Grandma would soon be up and available to chat with inside, that Papa would be doing many interesting things I could tag along with outside, that I could play with friends. It was summer and the day would be mine!

As an adult, I love thinking back to that time of my life. The summers spent at Grandma and Papa's house, feeling so safe and loved and spoiled "rotten". My dreams often take place in that house. I was a kid, totally confident, happy, safe, with the whole day of fun before me. I like to tap into that feeling before I head into the art studio.

When were you so happy, confident, and relaxed about life? Go into that memory, hold that in your heart and restart your day smiling to yourself.






My new garden companion. Maybe he'll ward off real snails since he's so giant!

Here he is on his dirt mound. I'm hoping to get all this earth green with ground cover. This is a view of the fairy/moomintroll garden that I started two years ago. It's been slow going getting the ground cover to stay in this part of the garden. I think I'll try installing an automatic mist watering system this summer.

Santa brought us that "toad bath". It's turned out to be very handy, because, as you know, toads are incredibly filthy.

Nine!?

Long Legs McCormack is NINE today! How could that be? I've urged him to stop here, since next year will be double digits! He is clever, thoughtful, soulful, artistic, athletic, and oh so dear to everyone. Happy Birthday, my little Aquarian!!!

The kids are outside right now, climbing the back yard trees and playing with sticks. It's an amazing Oregon weather emergency: Warm and sunny in midwinter! Everyone outside! Go play! (so why am I at the computer? Does it count if I'm also sitting in a patch of sun at the same time?)

We are doing Thai food tonight, with a friend over, and tomorrow morning is the big party at the rock climbing gym. Every single kid invited said yes, because it's such a novel idea. I wish we could invite an even bigger group, because some of MY friends were left out. We usually do a fun indoor event for his birthdays because they are winter, and do a big park party for little brother who is late summer.