Love, Lucy

Treats for two sweets.

In mid February I was diagnosed with stage IV Metastatic Melanoma.  Between work and my medical appointments I have been strengthening my immune system, educating myself on how make my body an inhospitable place (for the cancer) and nourishing everything but my malignancy.... mind, body & soul. Although my blog has been neglected I still find time for my art. A super artsy friend of mine, Natalie Hansen says, "Art IS therapy you know?!" I have to agree.

Ok, so onto the reason for this entry. Whilst seeking treatment at UCSF, I have met some beautiful people. I am doing my best to take the time to thank these individuals.... whether it be with a homemade thank you card, small piece of art or in this case, jewelry. I made the below jewelry for two fabulous girls that coordinate the clinical trials for the melanoma department. I can call them girls when they are younger than me, right? Anyhow, their upbeat personalities and smiles alone, make my appointments enjoyable. Isn't it amazing how someone else's attitude and/or energy can help or hinder your journey.

This goes without saying.... I recognize this.

I've always said, "it's the small things" and since my diagnosis I truly understand what that means. The small things mean EVERYTHING.

Love, Lucy.

hello.

Another one of my many bird paintings. A couple years ago I made this painting for a beautiful family member/friend, Jewels. I thought I should add it to my art blog as I have been neglecting this place.

Life is taking place right now, but I will be back in a jiffy......with a whole lot to say. Promise.

love, lucy.

Because we love gypsys.

My dear friend Lorena de las Mariposas, aka the Urban Hippie, and I both share a love for gypsys.  There is no doubt we were gypsy girls in a previous life. We most likely traveled near and far, selling our wares and handicrafts. 

Lorena is such an inspiring friend, artist and overall human being. I love her soul.

Below is a necklace I made especially for her. The saying on the back fits her ever so well as one of her many talents is collage art.

run.

give credit where credit is due.

Yep, a wise friend always tells me that. This "wise one" is my good friend Val. This weekend we got together so that we could make some jewelry. I had big plans to teach her a soldering technique taught to me by the amazingly talented Ms. Natalie Hansen, check out her awesome blog Life is a collage....

Well, as my skills failed me this particular day.......... Val outdid me and made this amazing piece. It is a bracelet which is easily converted into a necklace just by attaching a long extension chain.

She is my little free bird friend. Therefore, her charms spell out FREEDOM.

So here I am..........giving credit where credit is due.

 

hootenannies happen.

Saturday evening we had a few friends over for an impromptu dinner/hookah night.............and it turned into a lil' hootenanny. When people share the love of music, as well as odd instruments, this can just happen. 

As a child, Mia and I grew up a "country block" away from one another and as adults we once again live a block apart. Mia is a heirloom tomato grower extraordinaire (True Love Tomato Co.)/keeper of chickens/pit bull rescuer/olive curer/indian food lover/closet musician and lawyer. She is a regular Renaissance woman. Our new friend Mark is a banjo strumming/world traveler/bee keeper/a purveyor of humour, and Lauren is a passionate writer/photographer/collage making/flea market loving, artist.  I am SO fortunate to be surrounded by colorful people.

These images were stolen from Laurens blog The Urban Hippie .

 
   
 
 

home before the holidays.

 

 
 
Thank you Lauren for the beautiful photos.
 

I am a closet painter.

Well, I am definately not a "closet" anything, I wear the world on my sleeve. But this in fact was a painting I did on a old sliding, closet door which I saved from a house.  Notice the pull handle at the top? When I say that I "saved" it, I imply that its much better off in its current state. Hah! So, this was done for my super cool sister-n-law Michelle H. Its quite large and OH SO HEAVY (right Jimmy?) Not sure of the exact measurements but approx. 6ft by 4ft? hmph. Anyhow, Michelle and her husband Jimmy have a love for Venice. They honeymooned there. In the lower right I constructed a very inacurate, exaggerated panoramic rendition of the canals, with some of their actual pictures. On the lower left there is a saying that says, "and they watched us from above......." I finished it all off with one of my favorite details, copper cut tacks.  As always. 

all love.

 

i'm a risk taker, quilt maker

My first attempt to make a mini quilt turned out quite favorable. I made this for my beautiful sister-n-law, Monica, for her baby shower. Monica is an amazing mother to baby Viviana, as well as an Earth mother. Therefore, I used only vintage, pre-loved fabric remnants that I had laying around my craft room. I even cut up a few items of clothing that no longer fit me, to finish it off. The colors turned out nice, not too girly and yet, not masculine. Just right. P.S. excuse my horrible photo taking skills. As always, love.

 love.

Flea market art + Thrift store Art = Love.

It goes without saying that "i love Art." I especially love flea market & thrift store art. When I buy something sitting on the ground or on a shelf amongst misc. housewares....I feel as though im saving it's life. That might sound odd. It just hurts me to see some of these pieces sitting there, rather than being "at home" on someone's wall. Especially since someone put so much thought into making it. For some reason I appreciate this type of artwork moreso than I would any other.  Art does not have to cost alot to attract me. The design, the colors, the craft; is what draws me to a piece. Not the price tag. Etsy is another place I love to buy art. The artists are all "small people" like me, just doing what they love, hoping to make a few pennies in the process. Gotta respect that. My problem is that I don't have enough confidence to sell my work.  Besides, how do you put a $ figure on something you put your heart and soul into? My art usually becomes a birthday gift or a gift "just because." 11 of the 22 pictures below were done by myself. The other 11 were bought at a thrift store, flea market or Esty. The car one was purchased by my husband, in Cuba, by a street-side artist, several years ago.  The spanish senorita is a vintage paint-by-number purchased on Ebay. I love her.