In Another Life, Far, Far Away

I was a photostylist - (still am, just haven't done it since I moved from Wisconsin to Texas)...What that means is I set up shots for commercial photographers, who usually have a client, who has an Art Director, who dictates there "vision", and then, I am off and running....a giant scavenger hunt.... whether, hardline - furniture, window blinds, room settings, or food (I know how to make fake ice cream, and I have been known to "roast " a turkey with a blow torch) or whatever the challenge,I once had a rat poison shoot, with real rats..ew - it sounds like fun - and it can be, but it is hard work...For once all the props are gathered and the the scene is set, there's the lighting, the "tweaking", the climbing on ladders to install window blinds, the painting of the set, the setting in of the floor, the crawling around under funiture and picking up lint, the steaming of the bedding...it goes on forever....

It's all an "optical delusion"....For example..the little handbag is Marzipan (almond paste with green food coloring, and gold-leafed clasp)....
It's also several days to a few weeks away from home, in a motel room...16-hour days on set, lots of flaring tempers, and hot lights...but, the pay is pretty good.
I did a 17-hour shoot for Sub Zero. A video, that I never saw, as it was shot and then, whisked away to Paris, to introduce Sub Zero Refridgerators and Wolf Ranges to the French...oh well.

This was a shoot for Springs/Graber Window Fashions....These are all sets, which are meticulously set up, photographed, then, torn down, and everything has to be returned...Sewed the window valence and ironing board cover in the conference room, while everyone was waiting impaitently on set. By the way, laying your tile diagonally gives the space a more spacious feel...just a little hint.

The people from the sporting goods store, where I got all the props ,were not impressed when I returned them all...In fact, there are stores from which I have been banned, once they caught on.

Springs/Graber have products at different price points, directed at different age groups, and finacial status...This is geared towards the younger set...The red does scream a bit, but it made for a dramatic shot.

Not my favorite shot, but again, the Art Director dictates the theme, and she/he knows who the customer is, and if very good at gearing it towards them.I like the serenity of this bathroom shot...and I do like the "towel ring dog".......

I used to have a pickup truck, for it's difficult to stuff a palm tree in the back of the Buick.....

So, if you need someone to roast your turkey with a blow torch, I'm your girl!

I'm Painting as Fast as I Can

The Art Fair at The Vineyard in Florence (Texas, that is) is on the 13th, and I've been painting everything I can get my hands on..


This oil painting was a struggle...She keeps turning out to look like Cher...I call it "Dreaming of Miguel"

These are "floorcloths", hand-painted canvas for your floors...love them on our stained concrete floors..they are practically bulletproof....

Watercolors...."Gathering Desert Storm"

Watercolor: "Coral Fish" (okay, I don't know if that's really a coral fish, but that's really coral.

Watercolor: "Of Course Their Yours" (referring to the roe - it's a joke, son")

Watercolor: "Aneome and Friend"

Watercolor: No title..any suggestions...I found these wonderful, iridescent watercolors..

There are fabulous glass paints, made by a French company - Pebeo...paint the glass, bake the glass, and they are permanent.
Off to paint some more...just one more week.....................

I Was A Centerfold-a House Centerfold, That is...

I told my husband I always wanted to be a "centerfold", but I didn't think it would be as a house..."Madison Magazine" introduced it's new "Habitat" magazine insert by featuring a house I had done from the ground up.

Certain challenges presented themselves along the way; as in the clients were combining furnishings from their two, previous homes...one in Arizona, which was "Southwestern", and the other, a very traditional Tudor style. He was oriental, and their existing furniture from the Tudor was Asian-influenced. She (who has become one of my dearest friends) loves "whimsey", Country French, and they both love lots of color. So, I was presented with the dilema of designing an Oriental, Southwestern, Country French house. Winters are long and dreary in Wisconsin, and fireplaces are pretty much a necessity...Lot's of color, lots of light, a fire buring, and did I mention that Wisconsin has the highest level of brandy consumption in the Country?

I have written previously about personally glazing their 1,000 square-foot gathering room and dining room. I've since done alot of glazing and faux finishes, but will never tackle that kind of project again...that's why God made assistants.

The kitchen is/was my favorite room in the house. My client and I sewed the window treatments...she with her sewing machine on one end of the trestle table, and I was at the other end with mine...we had bloody mary's in between...very nice sweat shop indeed.

Okay, maybe the powder room is my favorite...again, I had to be hands on, and gold leafed the ceiling, door, niche, and trim. The little oriental guy in the niche stood guard over the black toilet. I usually don't like to put black toilets in bathrooms, but in this room, it was appropriate.

So, there you have it....my centerfold story...I miss my friend(s) in Wisconsin, but not the winters....when I said I was moving to Texas, everyone said, "It's going to be hot", and my reply always was, "You don't have to shovel hot".......Want to read the article? Click on the images to enlarge them...