Good Night, Young Man

Rest in Peace, Dad and know you were loved by so many.
Anthony Eppolito October 13, 1930- March 30, 2010

Street Games

Remember when all we had was a pink .25 cent ball,
a wooden broom handle, white chalk, crayons, bottle caps,
Yoo Hoo's and Suzi Q's. Those were the days.


My heart warmed when I came upon this chalk drawing
at Shore Road Park in Brooklyn. It really reminded me
of the day when life was simple and carefree.

We fired up our imaginations.

Anyone remember the street game "Skelly"? now this
board here is a sophisticated screen-printed permanent
park floor installation.



When we were kids we'd draw this out with our white
chalk. It never looked this good but we got the idea. We
would melt crayon wax or tar into our soda bottle caps to
give them weight, then we would scuff them up on the
street to make them slick enough to slide.

There was a start line some 2 1/2 feet away from the actual
square. You'd slide your bottle cap from the start line
into the square marked number 1 and work your way
around until you made it into the center, number 13.

There were many quirky, fun little rules to make it
challenging and you always had to remember to grab
your skelly cap out of the street before a car would
run it over.

If you want to learn more about this awesome street
game and others check out: New York Street Games.

Let's keep these street games and our child spirit alive.

Thanks for stopping by and reminiscing with me.

~ Andrea- my other blogspot is here "ThE ArTful EyE"

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

This bridge named after the Italian Explorer
Giovanni da Verranzo, the first known European
navigator to enter the New York Harbor and the
Hudson River while crossing 'The Narrows'.
Completed in 1964, it was the longest suspension
bridge in the world at that time.

Today the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge in Japan is the longest
suspension bridge in the world at 12,831 ft.



The Verranzo-Narrows bridge is still the largest
suspension bridge in the U.S. at 4, 260 ft. in length with
it's double decker bi-ways -6 lanes on top and 6 lanes
on the bottom it spans the body of water known as
"The Narrows" from Brooklyn, N.Y. to Staten Island.


My dad lives across the street from this beautiful
bridge, so during our recent visit we took a stroll
shortly after daybreak, to enjoy the view.

"We do not remember days, we remember moments"
~ Cesare Pavese

I have alot to be thankful for.
Thank-you for your kind words, your visits, for being you.
~Andrea

My other blogspot : "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Laguna Beach, CA 2009

I heart old windows and vines.

Windows encourage us to look further,
our imagination conjures a story.
The vines like the peeling paint remind us
it's been a while. The heart never forgets.

Vacation photos coming soon, promise.
Sorting, reflecting.

My other blogspot where artful things happen:
"ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls- Benson Bridge built
by Italian stone masons in 1914 under the
guidance of Simon Benson

located just 20 miles east of Portland,
Oregon along the Scenic Columbia River Gorge.


It is the second tallest waterfall in the U. S.
The waterfall cascades an incredible 626 ft.

This was just one of the many beautiful
stops along the way on our vacation last year.
North by Northwest.

This year we are heading east to N.Y., and D.C., southeast
to Cape Hatteras and the Carolinas, winding our way back
west to Nashville, Tennesee.

I was just reminiscing, excitedly thinking about all
the wonderful old and new places we'll explore.

Looking forward to visiting the Great Smoky
Mountain National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
and photographing the many beautiful waterfalls in
this area.

We'll return home late September and
I'll have many wonderful photos to share until then...

May you find peace in every step.

Cheers!~ Andrea "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Dos Picos Park and Vintage Cars

Dos Picos Park is a lovely park, campground
and picnic area located just 7 miles west of our
home. Last weekend they held their annual
vintage car show. I love vintage cars and my
husband loves to restore them.

What intrigues me most when taking photos
of these oldies but goodies are the details.

This is what I saw.




Not sure how I got double image of myself
in this grille. I like seeing the clouds and landscape.

Another self-portrait.



I saw a couple hugging in the center of this
bumper.

You can see my reflection in the fender as I took
this photo.



Another self-portrait and beautiful day
in the country captured on the trunk
of this beautiful car.

The way I see it, there is always more to what
we initially see, if we open our eyes wider,
look deeper, and linger more intently.

My best to all of you and thank you for
stopping by! Happy Summer!

Be sure to check out my other blogspot:
"ThE ArTfUL EyE"

Orange/Bug

This week's challenge over at 2things is Orange/Bug.
Click on image to enlarge.


A Tarantula Hawk visiting our back yard. This species
of spider wasp is one of the largest in the wasp family.

They are known to prey on Tarantula as food for their
larvae. Yes, we do have tarantula and they aren't small. I
just wonder how these delicate wasps tangle with the big
hairy beasts. I just pray one never lands on me.

While this insect is really beautiful in person, it scares
the heck out of me as it flies by with it's long dangling
legs and iridescent body.

You can read more about he Tarantula Hawk here at
Wikipedia.

Nature at it's best!

For those hunting eggs, chocolate bunnies, and Sunday
buffets.

"Happy Easter"

My other blogspot is here at: ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Solemn/Playful

This week's challenge over at 2Things is Solemn/Playful.
Anyone can play along, won't you join us?


A ghostly rendition of Leonardo DaVinci's Last supper
taken in the ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada at the
Goldwell Open Air Museum. Click on image to enlarge.

I was so excited to see these sculptures amidst the ruins
of this ghost town.

Rhyolite ghost town, 35 miles east of Death Valley was
originally founded in 1904. There was speculation of a gold
and lots of it. 85 mining companies moved in with plans
to prosper. It had a population of 10,000 in it's day. 1907
financial panic set in, the town went bust, by 1920
only 14 people lived here. In 1924, the last resident died.

Today there are quite a few remnants of the buildings,
train tracks, a bank, grocery store and abandoned mines
that remain in this town and share the land with this museum.

Now for playful:

Barbie, Ken and friends on a Romeo's Holiday

Click on image to enlarge.

Romeo's Holiday Bed & Breakfast was just across the
street from where we stayed in Provincetown, MA.
On one of my early morning walks I discovered this
party still going on. It really made me laugh because
of it's playfulness.

Thanks for the visit.
My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Window/View

For this week's challenge over at 2things is Window/View.

We were sitting bayside in a restaurant about one table
back, we had asked for a table with a window view.
This was best she could do, I liked it for it presented
this still life.

I also like the soft pastel quality added by the window
screen.

Happy Spring!
My best to all. - Andrea

My other locale: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

A Walk Out Back

9" X 13' mixed media collage

"Floating Bridges"

Oh what a crush of People
Invisible, reborn
Make their way to into this garden
For their eternal rest

Every step we take on earth
Brings us to a new world
Every foot supported
On a floating bridge

I know there is no straight road
No straight road in this world
Only a giant labyrinth
Of intersecting crossroads

And steadily our feet
Keep walking and creating
Like enormous fans
These roads in embryo

Oh garden of white
Oh garden of all I am not
All I could
And should have been

I know there is no straight road
No straight road in this world
Only a giant labyrinth
Of intersecting crossroads

Comprendo que no existe
El camino derecho
Solo un gran labertino
De encrucijadas multiples

~ Federico García Lorca

Another journal page in The Book of Eve, I must
be on a sabbatical and don't realize it.

Enjoying my days, working on projects and
exploring new ideas.

My best to all of you and as always, gratitude for
your kind words and visits.

Andrea~ "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

2 ThingsChallenge - Corner/Door

A stroll through the archives for this challenge.

The corner jailhouse in Shoshone, Wyoming.


Front door beach cottage in Truro, MA.

In the window's reflection you can see the corner of the
cottage next door.


phone booths- Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone

Remember when phone booths had doors for
privacy? Old timey look with modern day price
$1.00 (4 min.)

A quote I felt apropos:
" When one door closes, another opens; but we often
look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door
that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
- Alexander Graham Bell -inventor of the telephone

Interested in others interpretation of this challenge,
look here at 2things Challenge.

My other blogspot: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

A Different Point of View

11 x 14 canvas board, acrylics, molding paste
collage fodder

"Everything happens for a reason it's just a matter
of moving your point of view around until you see it"

You can see the beginning workings of this canvas
in my previous post.

Today I'm thinking about "Karma" a Sanskrit word
which means "action."

Karma is neither judge nor jury it is simply the
universal law of cause and effect that says every
thought, word and act carries energy into the world
and affects our present reality.

Karma can also refer to the "work" we have ahead of us,
which includes lessons from both our past and present
lives. Part of our life's work is to understand our
individual relationship to our universe, our
connectivity to each other.

Based on the principle that individual behavior
mirrors universal patterns, the tiniest act -- a thought,
for example -- can have enormous impact.

The energy our thoughts and actions produce can cover
the entire planet, or even beyond, in the blink of an eye.

Buddha has said: "Do not overlook negative actions
merely because they are small; however small a spark
may be, it can burn down a haystack as big as a mountain."

Similarly he said: "Do not overlook tiny good actions,
thinking they are of no benefit; even tiny drops of water
in the end will fill a huge vessel."

Karma does not decay like external things, or ever
become inoperative.

It cannot be destroyed "by time, fire, or water."
Its power will never disappear, until it is ripened.

--Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Today, be mindful of your karma. Remember... "what goes
around, comes around."

I am grateful for your visit and kind words.

My other blog locale is here at "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Untitled

11 X 14 canvas board

This acrylic abstract is the beginnings of a mixed
media collage. I am collecting and gathering
ephemera to be incorporated onto this board.

I wanted you to see this painting before
it was transformed into something else.

I'm now off to see the snow. I know you
Nor easters are saying "what?" are you crazy but
those who know me, know I love the snow
fresh mountain air, the smell of pines,
and evergreens, skating, skiing and sleds.

So I'm dusting off my mittens and heading to
Lake Tahoe, CA.

I do appreciate your visits and commentary.
Thanks for stopping by and I'll be visiting you
all real soon.

My other blog locale: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

New Day, Renewed Hope

As I looked East from my backyard this jubilant morning,

there were cotton-candy skies, good enough for a parade

and the American flag. It was perfect.

As dawn breaks,

so begins a new day

of renewed hope.

We welcome our new president Mr. Barack Obama.

Cheers- my friends, I hope you find gladness in this day.

You can visit my other blog locale here at "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Searching for Blue Sky

Just playing, manipulating digital photos and having
fun.

It was a dark, dreary cold day and I was meandering,
through this deserted, dusty town. I stopped the car
to peer inside the windows of this old barn
and much to my surprise, I found blue sky.

Thought for today-
"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds
of men that the defence of peace must be constructed."

Thanks for your visits and kind words.
My other blogspot is here: "ThE aRtFuL EyE"

Happy New Year!

12x12 white doodle on black construction paper
w/ digital manipulation

I've laid my hand on the coming year and I'm officially
ready to take on whatever comes my way.

I am looking forward to our new elected administration
with hope that our country can begin to heal itself.
We must be mindful however, as Gandhi once stated,
"We must be the change, we wish to see in the world."

We can do this, one person, one act of kindness, one day
at a time.

Let's strive to make a difference in the New Year!

All of you my dear friends, have made a difference
in my life this past year. I am grateful and blessed.

Happy New Year!! - Andrea

My other blog is here: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Beaded Collage Pendant

It has been awhile, but trust that I've not been sitting
on my hands. In addition to my treasure trove of
interests, I am also a beader. Beading takes time and
patience, which I find myself short of these days.

I enjoy working with beads and just in case the thought
crossed your mind, I am by no means an expert. There
are many professional artist beaders out there.

I'm a bead dabbler.

Now for a longest time I have wanted to learn how to do a
Peyote stitch. I have tried tirelessly to teach myself
through magazines like "Bead and Button" and online
tutorials only to find my fingers tied up in knots and no
where near closer to executing this stitch. It took
some hands on training and a wonderful patient
instructor. I found Melanie teaching a class at one of
our local bead stores The Bead Gallery. Check out her
beautiful work here at "The Magpie".

This two-sided pendant is made up of (2) 1" X 3" microscope
slides, size 11 /15 japanese delica beads, collage fodder,
and LOTS of patience.

The piece is done in an Odd Count Peyote stitch. The
length of each side is beaded for a total of 4 sides, then
all pieces are stitched together around the glass.
The bail was added once the entire glass pendant was
framed.

I must admit there were moments that I thought
ingesting Peyote would be easier than stitching Peyote
but I managed to keep my resolve through the bitter
learning curve.

I'd still like to add few baubles to the bottom of the piece
otherwise I am very happy with the results.

Once I learned the stitch I decided to try a pattern I had
seen in Feb. '07 Bead and Button. It is a pattern of
the face of the Mona Lisa.

Here is my start. This pattern is done in Even Count
Peyote and size 11 japanese delicas. I've started this
piece over several times as I've had to learn how to keep
the tension consistent.

Next on my agenda... to encase (2) of these lovely glass
buttons back to back using the same Peyote stitch to
create a two-sided button pendant. Wish me luck!

Thought for today:
"It's up to each of us to get very still and say,
'This is who I am.' No one else defines your life.
Only you do."

With much gratitude, I thank you for stopping by,
your friendship and kind words. PEACE.

Please check out my other locale: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

2Things Challenge- Textures/Shapes

For this week's 2thingschallenge-Textures/Shapes, I defer to
some landscape images I took on my trip last month.

If you look closely you'll find that our landscapes are much
like quilts with many textures and shapes.

White billowy clouds, with ever-changing shapes we imagine
to feel like cotton. Golden hills shape the land, mounds of
earth covered with rocks and vegetation each in its own
shape. This glassine-like body of water in its organic shape
surrounded by spindly triangular shaped evergreens
and tall slender grasses. Do you see what I see?
Click image to enlarge.

Flathead Lake in Polson, Montana

In this next image you can see that the water's texture has
changed as it is pushed through the narrow gorge. It
becomes thick and opaque as it churns and foams, unlike the
tranquil glassine water of the lake. Each rock or boulder's
shape is constantly evolving, by wear and water erosion, as
rock and water exchange places. Click image to enlarge.

Columbia River Gorge- Oregon

You can see the many different shapes in this pool of
colorful rocks. This image was taken at the water's edge
looking into the lake. Under water their texture is slick
and smooth, once removed and left to dry they are
rougher. Click on image to enlarge.

Lake McDonald -Glacier National Park, Montana

What I know for sure is when you don't look, you can't see.

Please exercise your right to V O T E-Tuesday, November 4

Thank-you for your visits and kind words. -Andrea
My other blogspot "ThE ArTful Eye"

Shore Memories

9 x 12 mixed media

This mixed media piece began with a few fish image
transfers randomly placed and adhered with gel medium
onto a plexiglass sheet. I then painted over these images
working in the reverse, on the backside of the plexiglass
laying down an array of transparent color. The front of
this piece looked like stained glass. I took a photo of the
plexiglass mixed media painting and incorporated a vintage
photo of two bathers. Using PS craquelure filter, and
adjusting the opacity of the images I created this digital
piece from my original artwork.

I was thinking of the sea and the shore and for some reason
those stretchy bathing caps we had to wear. Mine had flowers.
There was something about the struggle to jam
my long hair into this small tough rubbery cap and wrangle
the chin strap across my neck as though I were going to swim
the English channel. The rubber had a smell, a good rubbery
smell if there were ever such a thing. I can remember it and
I felt fancy in my one-piece seersucker suit. I was 5.

Summer is waning and fall waits in the balance.

Thank you for your visits and kind words.
Cheers! My other blogspot ::: "ThE ArTfuL EyE"

Found Object Bling

Dabbling with bits 'n pieces of chain, buttons, charms and
baubles. I'm just scratching the surface with this jewelry
assemblage stuff and have lots of ideas mulling around my
head and quite a number of pieces started and strewn about
my studio. No expert here, just having fun and enjoying the
journey.

This past weekend was busy with 3 day PMC certification
class at The Shepardess with a wonderful mentor/teacher
Barbara Becker-Simon.

Life's been busy and hectic and the 8-5 has somewhat
morphed into what seems like a never-ending day.

The good news is my husband and I are off for the next
2 weeks and will be traveling the great Northwest, away
from email, cellphones, computers the craziness of the
everyday doldrums.

I've been amiss at visiting most of you my dear blog
friends and am pummeling myself daily. I do want to thank
you all for your visits and most wonderful kind words.

Jack Kerouac once said, "All of life is a foreign country "
I'm off to be an explorer in this uncharted territory.

My best to all of you! "ThE ArTfuL EyE"