not very many people have voted for the next altered bits zine theme but i’m pretty dang impatient so dut-duh-da! i’m picking! i’m allowed to do that. okay, i lie — 20 people voted, but i’m still picking based upon the results gathered thus far. there was a tie and the winners were: notorious (kerin!) and words and symbols (robert!). so next zine theme for december is notorious and the next-next one is words and symbols… for marchish. (then, print version! but shhh. can’t think about that right now.) i picked that order because we just did numbers and… you know… letters and numbers are similar. i like to keep things mixed up a bit. kerin “wins” page one of the notorious zine and robert “wins” page one of the words and symbols zine — see! you guys just committed yourselves! (you don’t really have to play if you don’t want to.) and i’ll also bundle up some goodies for each of you too since i think that was part of the deal.
as for the love page theme, the guys didn’t like any of the suggestions BUT i’m seriously behind on emails so there could be more that i didn’t show them yet in all honesty. regardless, where’s the love? hmmph. apparently nowhere, at least until i get caught up. they said things like “just call it artist interviews” and “why does it have to have a ‘fancy’ name?” um, maybe i want one? didn’t someone say plain ol’ “artist interviews”? i’ll have to check. speaking of which, i have three amazing artists lined up for september and beyond. i don’t think i’m going to spoil it just yet though by admitting what/who is up my sleeve. i will just say that you’ll be giddy with bliss when you see. promise.
my sweetsweet friend kim passed me the wonderfully kind meme award. this, fortunately or unfortunately, requires me to reveal seven things about myself before passing it on to seven other people. i’m weird and shy and don’t like attention so this will be tremendously difficult. seriously. i’ll try to keep it short for all of our sakes. 🙂 (this does not take away from the fact that i appreciate it so very much and want to smooch kim smack dab on the cheek!) (funny update: took me three days to write the seven things.)
i am freakishly shy… at first. social situations with large amounts of people i don’t know well oftentimes makes my tummy feel funny. after that, beware — i’m just a ball of giggles and outgoingness.
(i just got really stuck there so went to ask my husby, saying “i don’t think there are seven things interesting enough things about me to share. what do i do!?” he rolled his eyes and said “there are over 700 interesting things about you, wifel”. whatever. he’s required by law or at least by paper so say that crap. and he didn’t help at all.)
i’m absurdly allergic to anything even mildly chemical: bleach, varnishes, adherents, anything containing latex, etc. until just recently when my husby bought me a respirator (latex free!), i was unable to use many art supplies which always made for a fun challenge to find non-toxic solutions. i’m still a bit paranoid about some things, like epoxy resin, but i’m working on it. the worst that would happen would be difficulty breathing to the point of blue lips, dizziness and huge oozy skin welts so i just need to get over it. sheesh.
i love gardening. if i could quit doing web design and just garden for a living, that would rock. wait, no. quit coding, keep designing and garden at the same time, while having time to create at least one art piece every day or three. i’d be giddy. too bad no one would pay me to dig in their dirt what i charge for design work. so i’ll just keep building garden beds in my own yard (and a chicken coup and a tree house) while planting anything else i can get to fit. ohoh, i think i’m getting two columnar apples (malus domestica) this weekend for the side yard!
see number 1. i’m often seriously weird about my art, and only photograph about 1/3 of the things i create, or less. i sell mostly unsigned pieces in three primary portland locations that i am not going to currently fess up to but will give a vague hint in case you want to go peek: a bar, a shop, and a gallery. don’t even ask ’cause i have no idea what my issue is. i once did a whole show of unsigned work and pretended just to be an onlooker and gave a blank stare and a shrug when this guy asked me if i knew whose work it was. he bought two pieces so i later had to admit it was me so as not to be rude, but it was awkward.
i “collect” things that many people may find mildly creepy or weird, such as bugs, bones, chick/stingray, etc. fetuses, anatomical and medical curiosity/mishap related imagery, etc. most of you already know that anyway. if not, surprise, surprise.
i’m a secret math and science whore. but in a good and un-creepy/un-weird sort of way. mmmmm. numbers. grand unified theory. yeah. i could go off but i’ll spare you.
i’m a procrastinator and a pack-rat. my studio’s work-space appears to be totally disorganized but typically know where most things are (except tape and scissors — always lose those). i think it’s a pisces thing. the shelves and other places are meticulously organized and the contrast looks like multiple personality disorder.
and on to part two… i would like to pass this along to these seven beauties (in alphabetical order):
debbie: debrina’s diary
donna: layers
gaby: colorful adventures
jo: the crow road
joanna pierotti: moss hill studio
(i’d say KIM here but i don’t think i’m allowed to “give it back”)
leslie: snips and snails
lisa: mudhound primitives
i have art crushes on you seven, stalk your blogs often, and always feel endlessly inspired by you. thank you. 🙂 and thank you kim!
16 comments
Comments feed for this article
5 September, 2009 at 3:42 am
Kim
Where’s the love, right here honey, a huge hug from me! Love the themes chosen for the upcoming zines, but you know that anyway. The seven things. Like you I found this caused me some major sweat production for the same reasons as yourself. I’m sooo shy too and it is soo difficult to write about yourself! I always think I’m uninteresting to others! I’m a secret science sister too! Have such a love of biological sciences and astronomy stuff! Talk about suffering for your art with allergies! You know blue lips and oozy skin welts are sooo in! I love all the people you have passed MeMe along to as secretly I stalk their blogs too! They are all such a wonderful creative and talented bunch! I’m soo glad you took part and shared a little of you here, especially as I know how difficult it was for you. Hugs girl, you deserve it! Woohoo, thanks for making my mark stateside, LOL!
6 September, 2009 at 5:08 am
Seth
Lokking forward to ANY theme for your zines. But both of these sound like they will be wonderful and challenging! And it was nice to learn a little more about you from this post too!
6 September, 2009 at 6:54 am
Debrina
Yay! I love all the suggestions!!! I love the two themes that have come out of the competition and I can’t WAIT to do them!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the 7 things about you too. I was given this award a while back, but I’m not an award kinda girl…but now I’m thinking…hmm…maybe I should..and I just won’t list it on my sidebar. See, I’ve got a thing like you and your unsigned artworks …only mine is about owning blogging awards (as opposed to my own artwork, lol!).
I’m into science and math too! Talk about geek sisters! I’m studying New Zealand’s natural history at the moment. I think I’m a naturalist in disguise (and not a nudey one, btw!). Have you heard of the book: 50 mathematical ideas you really need to know by Tony Crilly.
Now, back to art: I’ve been real busy making things (including some neat o’ things for you). ATC’s for Africa, you could say.
Will email you soon my sweet friend and thanks for the lovely award!!
6 September, 2009 at 10:02 pm
alteredbits
they are great, aren’t they!
i’m not at all an award kind of girl either and this is the only one i’ve fessed up to receiving. kim is such a sweetheart so i had to give in. took me three days to finally post it ’cause i’m weird like that but i felt it was so sweet of her. ❤ kim! no sidebars for me either.
somehow i'm not surprised that you're into science and math too. we seem to have much more in common every day. 😉 can't wait to hear all about new zealand's natural history. i with you — a clothed naturalist!!
i'll have to look up that book indeed, ty!
ohoh, can't wait to see what you're working on. i've been working like crazy on the gallery piece (can't do the one for the show that i mentioned because i can't ship it and don't have the time to drive 2+ hours there and back so am starting a third), working on some challenges and swaps, your book (spent the most time on that lately), your other little thingy, bundling goodies for lisa and debbie (yaya) and laura and forgetting to mail them every day… you know. oh, and working on the zine. i have over 100 hours invested into this issue so people better like it. i wish some mystery governmental entity would pay my design time on that 'cause i could use the $7500 right about now. haha! just playing — it's super fun and i always love the final result.
off to go school clothes shopping and return to my projects. will ring you again soon (not now — it's 5 am your time on monday).
7 September, 2009 at 12:04 am
Kerin Gale
Hooray!!! I won!!!! Thanks Alicia! It was pretty easy to come up with the notorious suggestion being as I’m wanted in five states. Which reminds me it’s time to move again. In reference to #6 above I’ll send you my new address coordinates encrypted and encoded since I’m sure you’ll be able to easily find the algorithm to break the code.
7 September, 2009 at 6:41 am
alteredbits
you are so silly and cute! but yes, i could definitely decode your encrypted coordinates. easy, peasy!
7 September, 2009 at 6:45 am
alteredbits
ooh, and are you really that surprised that you won? sheesh. doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out you’ll always be at least 50% on the winning end due to your utterly brilliant mind.
7 September, 2009 at 3:44 am
Lisa Jurist
Notorious…love it.. that got my vote.. after all anything can be notorious right?!!Was that really you on “America’s Most Wanted” Kerin? Now that’s some quality TV watching there…(winking emoticon)
Alicia.. thank you! thank you! for the oh so sweet award..The best part was I got to blog surf on all the other noted ladies sites and delight in their wonderful works of art…wow..what a treat! I am afraid I am with the rest of you…hate the spotlight..love lurking in the background…prefer being anonymous when possible. I’d be a crappy celebrity.
Loved your 7 things about yourself! I think you have alot of interesting qualities. I am total agreement with #1 and I love #5…my secret passion is forensic science.
I still owe you a couple of emails..hubby was on the computer today doing taxes so i just got on! I got a big box of bob’s red mill gf mixes in the mail the other day.. they’re right in your neck of the woods!
Thanks for thinking of me!
7 September, 2009 at 6:50 am
alteredbits
ah yes, anything can be notorious. i think you already know what i’m doing for my piece or two. 😉 kerin does too. and debbie.
i saw the same episode of america’s most wanted and thought it was kerin but wasn’t sure. i only watched during the commercials of forensic files (yes, forensic science is a weakness of mine too, in any way i can get it).
and you are very, very welcome, miss lisa! haha, i’d be a crappy celebrity too. no way. i would buy a f-ing island and have my food dropped from the sky before i’d let anyone stalk (or talk) to me. the terror. yikes!
i think i owe you some emails too, and i need to bundle your bundle and pop it into the mail. i’m great at packaging things (meaning motivated), then horrid at actually taking it to the dang mailbox. i have FOUR big boxes here that need to go out, one of which is my mum’s last year’s birthday present (december).
7 September, 2009 at 7:02 am
remnants
If I *knew* I was on that show I would have been long gone by now. Next time please ladies give me a heads up! All I can say is thank goodness they quit putting wanted posters up at the post office. Bye for now!
7 September, 2009 at 4:01 am
Sam Marshall
They are very interesting insights!!
10 September, 2009 at 12:24 am
Jo Archer
Thanks lovely Alicia! You also are a constant source of inspiration and a great support. xxx
10 September, 2009 at 12:38 am
Jo Archer
New name for The Luuurve page! How about Batman and Robin’s “Dynamic Duo”? (Tongue in cheek of course!)
10 September, 2009 at 12:42 am
Jo Archer
Oh and you’re pisces! Me too! Sorry I’ll try to co-ordinate my comments into one box next time.
12 September, 2009 at 4:37 am
Donna Watson
My god, you are busy. Having a little one start school should help. My 3 sons are all grown and on their own– but I remember the first day of school every Sept. I went out to lunch to celebrate!
16 September, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Gaby Bee
I enjoyed reading the seven things about you 🙂
Thanks for the award, Alicia! I will have to give some thought about the award and play along.
I just saw the new themes for the upcoming zines. Notorious – what’s the exactly meaning of this? Sorry about my bad knowledge in English language.