What I Bought on Etsy 2/11/11

For our anniversary I got Bob "Mooks" to put in one of the nichos (niches) above our fireplace.  We have a traditional kiva fireplace with 2 small arched holes.  They were perfect for a pair of owl masked "Mooks."  Last year Bob gave me a pair of vintage owls that live in the other nicho.

When I first saw a "Mook" from the Etsy shop: I Love Grey Skies it did not have a mask.  I was drawn to this Bigfoot, Yeti, type creature.  When I saw the owl masked together on a branch--had to have them.  They hang beautifully in our living room.  There are new masked Mooks in her shop. 
Take a look : http://www.etsy.com/shop/ilovegreyskies?ref=pr_shop_more

In my collection of Etsy photographers,  Frankenkitty was the first I gave hearts to.  The surreal and dark nature of her images drew me in immediately.  I've posted photos of movie crew dressed as demonic candy robbing rabbits around Easter.  If you look back to last Easter, you will see one holding a gun to an AD's head on the set of "In Plain Sight" which films here. I worked on the pilot pre bunny suits.

This photographer did a series of work in abandon locations.  She is also prone to putting masks on various subjects creating a surreal feel.  I feel the purchase of "Return of the Party Girls" will be made soon.  Her work can be found in her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Frankenkitty

My first real steampunk skull flew out of my new shop.  More to come.

I've been a little under the weather with a ruptured eardrum.  Hope to be back out in the shop making all the new pieces that are on my workbench.

Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz

S H E L L Y!!!

 "Shelly" ate lunch on the project table in the shop. 

Yesterday morning I was leaving to do some errands and saw a shell in the middle of the road. Not a sea shell (I'd need more than coffee to see that in the desert), but a turtle shell.  I pulled over. Indeed, it was and I stopped traffic to pick it up.  A head popped out and looked me in the eye.  "Hello there.  You shouldn't be crossing such a busy street kiddo."  I swear the turtle opened and closed it's mouth.  I released traffic getting thumbs up from two drivers.  I set  it on the floor of the passenger's seat and drove back home.

"Look what I found on my way to the store" I said to Bob.  The one thing about Bob is that he is an animal lover too.  He has welcomed every beast brought home by me or the kids.  He got a big grin on his face.  There wasn't even a discussion about keeping it.  I put he/she in the walled back part of the yard.  I'd deal with food and such later. I did put a saucer of water next to the turtle.  I knew it's name would be "Shelly"...very androgynous because I don't know how to sex a turtle.  "Shelly Turtleman."   The internet would provide answers, but I had to get those errands done.  I even posted on Facebook that I'd found Shelly.

Shelly likes my tomatoes!

I was standing at the sink near the window that faces the mountains.  A black cloud darkened the window and I looked up.  It was no cloud...it was a hawk.  So I grabbed my camera and walked outside to try and get a photo of it. It was perched in a tree.  It saw me and flew away.  I could see Shelly in it's clutches.  The same shape I saw in the road, but this time flying through the air!  "Shelllleeeey!"  I yelled.  The hawk and Shelly flew out of sight.   Very sad.  :-(   I again posted Shelly's plight on Facebook.  Getting lots of support from friends.  Bob and I woke the next morning, both having dreams about turtles and hawks. 

Is this the cutest face?!  Shelly's belly.

I was out watering, as I do almost every morning.  When I came back through the gate...who was sitting there?  Yes, Shelly.  Tucked in his/her shell, the dog giving Shell a good sniffing.  I picked Shelly up and probably scared the reptile out of him: "SHELLLLY!"  I trotted into the shop and exclaimed:"look who I found when I was out watering?"  Again a grin.  Bob and I examined Shelly.  He has many marks on his top shell that look like a beak had tried to get in.  I gave him more water, carrot and lettuce.  Then he went and hid.  Smart Shelly.  I posted again on Facebook that Shelly had returned! Also Shelly's head shot.

Shelly looks concerned...as the dog is very close.

Later I got a call from a friend who said:   "It's a tortoise!!!"  Oh, uh, yeah...sure.  I don't really know the difference.  But the internet will provide.  I am off to look up what a tortoise eats. Tomatoes are on the list.   What will Shelly do when winter comes?  I have such a great visual for a story of "Shelly the flying tortoise."    I have wood and lathe laid out to make Shelly a porch to eat in safely.  No jokes about using the tortoise shell for a knife handle.  What a face!

Shelly's new view from our yard. The "Sandias" (watermelon).

I sent Shelly's photo to a turtle lover in Albuquerque who said Shelly is
a garden variety Desert  Tortoise.

Thanks for reading.  Each day is a gift...open now.

xo
Suz

College Field Trip: UNM

 A beautiful New Mexico Day at UNM

Going back to college was easy last week.  I went to UNM to see a presentation in the Biology Department by my future daughter-in-law.  She had prepared a presentation of fruit fly research they were doing in her lab.  She's a beautiful and brilliant "creature" (as my son fondly calls her).  Frankly, I understood little of what she said.  I tried to follow her poster (below), but knew little of the terms she framed it in.  I was proud, none the less of her hard work and determination.

Last weekend while I was frolicking in Durango Colorado, she was presenting in Washington DC at an annual Drosophila Melanoganster conference.  In layman's terms...a Fruit Fly conference.  I didn't realize that for over 100 years scientists from all over the world have been having this conference. Her lab is studying muscle involvement and genetics (I think I have it right), that will hopefully help, some day,  people with Parkinson's Disease and other similar diseases. 

Fruit Fly Genetics

is sort of Scientific Porn! 

Afterward I went to see my "nephew by marriage" as I fondly call him, Darrell.  I passed this sign on my way...the Potters are everywhere, I tell you! An entire wing in the Potter name.

 Who knew?  See, everyone loves those Potters!

Darrell is an employee at UNM Art Department, and teaches a "Metals 1" course.  I entered a land I knew something about.  I was really impressed by the size of some of the machines.  When entering the wood shop I came across a sign that I feel should be made into t-shirts.

Beautifully Macabre!

Darrell in a student installation in the hall.

Darrell introduced me to Chris, one of his art colleagues who also teaches art and "shop safety" at UNM.  When I went to school there were no "safety" classes.  We weren't the litigious society we have become now.  Professors just said wear goggles when using power tools and don't put your fingers near the blades.  That was my safety class...I have all 10 fingers I am typing with.  These days we are a helmet wearing, knee pad wearing people.  I am still not convinced we are better off with all these precautions.  But no one asked me, did they?

Below are Darrell's students final projects in Metals 1.  I think the assignment was brilliant, and I was impressed with these tiny Henry Mooreish silver and copper pieces.   Each is a masterpiece in it's own right.  They were photographed with my iPhone through glass... but you get the idea.

Of course I had to be ridiculously silly and asked Darrell to take a photo of my putting my head in the giant band saw.  Chris was there, and I asked him permission to do this.  He asked me to wait a minute while he turned off all power to that part of the shop.  The antlers on my head are actually "pushers" to guide pieces through the saw instead of using your fingers. 

Look at the size of this saw...and the blade!  

That was my UNM field trip.  Chris shook his head as Darrell snapped the photo.  He said: "I see you two have a similar sense of humor."  Mmmmhhhmmmm.  

Thanks for reading.  I'm still amazed that you do.  

xo

Suz