Reflections
A Wonderful Night of Jazz- Celebrating The Birthday of Jazz Player- Harry Sheppard
This past Saturday my entire family went to a wonderful event. The 80th birthday party of my dear friend, and adopted dad, Harry Sheppard. Harry used to have regular birthday bashes, and it had been a while since the last one. It was like homecoming.
When I met Doc Severenson years ago, Harry told me, “Ask him about Heshy and our Europe tour”. Harry has met many people in his musical career.
There was a slide show playing at the party with many of the people Harry has met and worked with over the years. Including Jimmy durante, Sammy Davis Junior, Billy Holiday and Benny Goodman to name a few. Harry is the history of jazz. It was a great night.
I was especially excited because the event took place at massraffs where my son has recently gotten a job in the kitchen learning to be a chef, ( because of Harry). I’m a proud momma. My daughter came in from Tulsa making the night just perfect.
The pictures- I can’t seem to get blogger to take them. I’ll have to post them later!
Me and Harry
Joe Fulgham (drummer) and myself
Bob Chadwick ( the best darn flute player) and myself
Harry playing vibes with his 88 year old brother
The band
Myself, sculptor David Addicks and Harry
Happy Birthday Harry!
I am absolutely exhausted. I have completed a milestone. It took me about 3 months
I am absolutely exhausted. I have completed a milestone. It took me about 3 months, but I now have a shipping department! WOW!
Besides having to research and purchase all of the necessary materials, scale, hopper to hold peanuts, boxes, bubble wrap, and because each piece in my gift line comes with a card and a note from the artists, I had to purchase filing cabinets to hold cards, sales material, and create box labels. That was the easy part. Our garage was filled to the brim with things. I moved everything out and purged. We had to have AC/HEAT in the garage so when they put in the new unit we had it run to the garage as well. A new garage door was installed and the old rotten jams replaced. (I have lived in this house for 23 years and don’t think I have opened the garage door more than 10-20 times.) All of the drywall needed repair and then it took 4-5 coats of paint, the last coat was bed and bath paint to prevent mold. Every crack has been sealed. The floor spray washed, and then an acid wash before it was painted with fancy little sprinkles added. A threshold was added under the garage door, and weather stripping to the sides. New plastic bins for storage and plastic shelves for both storage of some garage stuff, and then the entire inventory was moved in.
We have not checked to see if the laptop and Internet connection works in the garage. That would be ideal, with a small printer. Then I could print off my labels from FedEx right there. But for now I have to run to the other building and up into the offices, a minor inconvenience. IT is so good to have my house back in order. IT seemed like the garage just vomited into the house, studio, porch etc. I have not been in the studio in a day and I kept telling everyone, “move this box into the studio, I’ll go through it in there.” I know I’ll scream a bit when I see the mess down there, but for now… the house is clean and I HAVE A SHIPPING DEPARTMENT!
She Is Learning
The new dog, we should really find a temporary name for it, has learned the process. We are always here. Shadow would be a good name as she goes up and down the stairs following me. Our offices are on the second floor, the studio on the first. Thank God she has learned not to jump up every time I am downstairs and need a tool on the shelf, or to warm my coffee in the microwave. Or upstairs when I run from my computer to the accounting computer. She so wants someone to play with her, and Emmy could not be bothered. Our retriever that passed away was the great foster uncle. He would play with the puppies and tire them out.
I guess having someone around all the time is good, but we really work a lot here and only play on the way to the house.
Hubby said, “she has not jumped into the pond yet.” No, she has not. I wonder why as she appears to be a lab. But all dogs that come here consider the pond their personal watering dish.
Still no home for her, on the upside, she has been a good resource for the growth pattern of hair for my little dog sculpture.
The Pets Have Our Number
At least that is what my son suggests. This is why,
On Christmas morning we found 4 kittens on our doorstep. We have been feeding them and the mom and trying to learn about how to take care of the problem of ferrel cats and the endless cycle of reproduction that seems so cruel.
Then we noticed this lab eating out of a dumpster. My husband noticed she had rope wrapped around her neck, and chest and legs. it was so sad. I coaxed her over with a turkey hot dog. It took some time to get the knots out. Now we are trying to find a good home for her. She looks to be about a year old.
Our home does seem to attract those animals in need. I think we have fostered 5 dogs in the last 3 years.
I Am Excited about The New Year- But Accounting Hurts My Brain
I am excited about the new year. Even if I am still a little foggy from the flue. We are setting up an e commerce site for my collectible series. For those of you who have not seen them you can find them on the God’s Word web site. Setting up an e commerce store that works with the accounting system, changing the accounting system to a new computer and on a PC none the less. I am a mac girl. Is making my little brain hurt. All in all, we are excited about this new endeavor for 2008. The site should now be functional and I plan on spending a lot of my time marketing the site, and the artwork. I am also creating a few new pieces for the collection. Creating for God’s Word Collectibles is really the only time I get to create out of my head. Everything I do is by commission.
Happy New Year!
I wish everyone a wonderful 2008!
My new year started with the flue, but I am coming back around… slowly.
The Skirt article is postponed, and will not be out in January.
Sometimes There are Things You Just Have to Sculpt!
Sometimes there is artwork inside of you that just has to come out. I have had several of those in my life. Does that make the final piece a masterpiece, or is it just therapeutic? I don’t know if it will be a masterpiece but I do have one of those in me that I am working on. It must come out. I tried to create it around 2 years ago. It was tossed into the clay scrap bin. Maybe I wasn’t ready. Maybe I needed another experience to happen. The new piece will be one of my God’s Word Collectible pieces. The subject is an angel catching an elderly person who is falling. Very personal as my mother is recovering from her fourth fall.
Dare I post a photograph of the roughed in version?
Happy Thanksgiving!
I have made my turkey and eaten what I could. Now I am in my office playing on my new computer. I am thrilled to have the new mac pro. It offers me the opportunity to do more than I have been able to do with just my lap top. Here is the rundown of the new computer plans.
* Radio
Next year I hope to start an online radio podcast. I recently bought the url spotonradio.com. Yes, I will have to have one more website. Oh my! For those of you who don’t know, spot on is a term from the UK that means.
1. correct: absolutely correct or perfectly accurate
2. ideal: exactly what is needed
I’ll let you know when I’m live. This will be a downloadable podcast. For any that are interested. There is still much to put together. I am learning much about mixers, microphones etc. and just filled out my amazon wish list.
The radio show will have two different formats.
Art
I want to share what I have learned about the research for the book that I am finishing titled, “Bringing to life the spirit of the deceased- A Sculptor’s Journey” I will also be interview those doing research in the areas that I am interested, as well as authors and artists. I hope also to put together programs that will help artists promote their work.
Inspirational
This part of the radio show is directly related to the Giftware pieces that I sculpt. (www.godsword.net) I am thrilled to be creating part of this format as something I call generations this is a show that will consist of myself and two woman that I respect. My mom and daughter. Some of the topics- generational faith, forgiveness, changes, even difficult subjects like sex and death. I am thrilled to have this opportunity.
* Video
First video is for the godsword.net website. Others I hope will follow.
Well enough of this playing around. I suppose I need to get back to the downstairs studio and all of the work that is backing up down there. I’m trying to get many jobs out of the studio before the end of the year.
Happy turkey day. There are many things to be thankful for!
blessings and blossoms,
Bridgette
I Love My New Chair!
I bought this new chair to place in my office. We found it at a used office supply store here in Houston. I know it is just an office chair, but I really like it. This is the chair that many sit in when they come to meet with me in my office.
A Wonderful New Photographer and Press Release
I have a wonderful new photographer her name is Georgina Longoria. We are working on some editorial pictures and other creative endeavors together. A few of the photographs that she has taken for me. These were taken in the cemetery.
