tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83972073138437333452024-02-20T17:33:50.796-08:00Art With Love From PiCassieOThe art of "PiCassieO" is the result of collaboration between me and my late Airedale Cassie. She "painted" the windows and I photographed her work and still have my fun with it, although she is only here in memory and spirit now. "PiCassieO" comes from combining the names of a playful artist (representing me!) and a dog who was always in the center of everything. I have a new art partner now, Calli (Airedale#3). We are leaving the blog title as is, in honor of Cassie, who started it all.Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-59064328725040141162016-09-20T19:01:00.002-07:002016-09-20T19:01:52.333-07:00"Far Away"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwWReQk8cCJkGcO1T8Hpd1Tqskq8GWaS2fzwmEEa3u0YV-KKedWPL3Y0TDKaRtvnU7aKjfT6xNnxTCHNra3ZOHcq1jbyVHY1TW46GIP2lo-rTUGqQA9Xmx_xQX0pVuBAOxo9r4zFekZCN/s1600/corrected-far-away-print-co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwWReQk8cCJkGcO1T8Hpd1Tqskq8GWaS2fzwmEEa3u0YV-KKedWPL3Y0TDKaRtvnU7aKjfT6xNnxTCHNra3ZOHcq1jbyVHY1TW46GIP2lo-rTUGqQA9Xmx_xQX0pVuBAOxo9r4zFekZCN/s320/corrected-far-away-print-co.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is almost four years since my buddy Cassie died, but I am still working with her. She got hurt in 2011 and couldn't walk up the stairs for a couple of weeks, so we camped out on the first floor. She still had her favorite vantage points to see what was happening outside, but the marks she made on the door were more suggestive to me of a prisoner marking off days on a wall. I called the original print "Crossing Off" and had two color versions of it - an OK but not outstanding print. I have been working with new palettes and filters this year and thought it would be fun to rework some of the older ones. Wow - fun! "Crossing Off" really popped and became "Far Away", because the new shapes and colors created a fantasy landscape of sorts, someplace far away. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back to that summer - Cassie got really tired of the arrangement downstairs, and about 10 days into our 2-week recuperation she marched up the stairs when I forgot to block them - wasn't long before she was napping on the bed and couch and looking out the window again. She was one happy girl!</span></span></div>
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Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-25562142395996053602016-01-19T09:16:00.000-08:002016-01-19T10:22:33.461-08:00Another Round of "Brickworks"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I started using a glass brick as a viewfinder in 2010. When a print would misfire, I would take whatever came out and tape it behind the brick and photograph it, distorting the original image into something entirely new - great fun! I called the new works "second generation PiCassieO", since the resulting images came from finished art and not directly from master artist Cassie. It is incredible to see totally different images come from the same source! The one below was the first in this series. I think it started from a partial print of "Big Lick" as seen through the brick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This version was never printed and got lost in the files, but not before I had extracted "Da Bird" and "Da Bird, Too!" from it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQHnvFV6Hf6by6LE1QnPT6RiezZyTs1_ihT6b7nzQLcO-gaC5NxwFSTDBxYd2PP9Z0IadjzAuGvAtsWRts5V8Qczymp5E2jDX2mXLGc7i005RGJUa_cjsSG1I-8oTG_M5rrrZCPHPs8ud/s1600/bird+w+poster+edges+copy.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQHnvFV6Hf6by6LE1QnPT6RiezZyTs1_ihT6b7nzQLcO-gaC5NxwFSTDBxYd2PP9Z0IadjzAuGvAtsWRts5V8Qczymp5E2jDX2mXLGc7i005RGJUa_cjsSG1I-8oTG_M5rrrZCPHPs8ud/s320/bird+w+poster+edges+copy.tif" width="305" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last year I got a new computer, and in the process of moving files I rediscovered the original and a couple of versions I'd forgotten, and started playing with it again. "Brickworks: Advent" (below) was the first new one - if you look very closely, bet you can find da bird! I called it "Advent" because I did it during the holidays and the colors were everywhere.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAcVJOWbMw5sID9LOwo21pzU3tsSKZTQzwyvfLjZxqy-sGkORyUirATDGR5GFt1-hdWemdqaQVED0eZfXx_JqDjqBkaIOjDVJsMDeSfbEdmMmec6nwzY8ZfPJol1HnM1VoVbIc4byxVL1/s1600/Brickworks-hot-color-ab-pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyymI1hSpr-uUh5wfXKCyQRPwupaDwhqhy0RqdGfAPjroIp1kGVh7fmSxdJv2uQRWUbrLZ1gyXVavHHlqTpViAdNkYyeHrd1h3mXHOSnNvqFWymJMBJPlzgtV7eXoI_vvv7mhM0sG3CEU/s1600/brickwork-in-paint-daubs-co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyymI1hSpr-uUh5wfXKCyQRPwupaDwhqhy0RqdGfAPjroIp1kGVh7fmSxdJv2uQRWUbrLZ1gyXVavHHlqTpViAdNkYyeHrd1h3mXHOSnNvqFWymJMBJPlzgtV7eXoI_vvv7mhM0sG3CEU/s320/brickwork-in-paint-daubs-co.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I liked the colors so much I used it on a phone case and note cards in my<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo?rf=238834943388262025"> Zazzle store.</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34yNb8fnAiJ21U2TIKfchy_G9z2Wni5y7BHDXxRT_al8RsBFzhwGyQP8pcVy11zGnkKltu2UhW2ltOjGTLXm_-MkxIXEh_rlcUtK6GMp2KLJuTak2zKw6l6SmUDUZ30Q8FTF-jTTByapL/s1600/brickworks-Advent-Phone-Cas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34yNb8fnAiJ21U2TIKfchy_G9z2Wni5y7BHDXxRT_al8RsBFzhwGyQP8pcVy11zGnkKltu2UhW2ltOjGTLXm_-MkxIXEh_rlcUtK6GMp2KLJuTak2zKw6l6SmUDUZ30Q8FTF-jTTByapL/s320/brickworks-Advent-Phone-Cas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The image was so much fun to play with, I had to go further...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhx_wOv3X-TYyF94XUP8OjLiXw_b8DMIRI-w4jP9hh8mRK4ez6vxGKksISi6m39VK3QpLnw93wIq5U0yEIYkpVsWOGgbTQzwR_unZiVVhea_ITWtO5Jfi3ZRmCLUEzGKo7yP-eqZyrvjX/s1600/Brickworks-hot-color-ab-cop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhx_wOv3X-TYyF94XUP8OjLiXw_b8DMIRI-w4jP9hh8mRK4ez6vxGKksISi6m39VK3QpLnw93wIq5U0yEIYkpVsWOGgbTQzwR_unZiVVhea_ITWtO5Jfi3ZRmCLUEzGKo7yP-eqZyrvjX/s320/Brickworks-hot-color-ab-cop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...and further (can you see the difference?...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQqYryawo5AbLoNYR3O6Dn81WoRfNCMwrT-6paVUdnYkq7pWI9R52AFfC4JddsHpgwCRA5Xiqicy7QqC7LZ0MI8WqoNiWYoke1G378k84I0oyntidIX4HZuVL8bJaiAU-ZVraUxTDE6vm/s1600/Brickworks-hot-color-ab-pos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQqYryawo5AbLoNYR3O6Dn81WoRfNCMwrT-6paVUdnYkq7pWI9R52AFfC4JddsHpgwCRA5Xiqicy7QqC7LZ0MI8WqoNiWYoke1G378k84I0oyntidIX4HZuVL8bJaiAU-ZVraUxTDE6vm/s320/Brickworks-hot-color-ab-pos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It never stops, sometimes - I gave the top print to a friend, and she decided she liked it better as a vertical (to the right), which I had also considered. She named it "Desert Dream", which was fine with me since the best I could come up with was "Hot Colors"'. Then I switched gears and went for a more subtle effect, which was pretty but not nearly as exciting. There are two other versions which are presently lost, but I will post them sooner or later. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAHGhnPuyWmTy0lg8Edys3gfQI7ofuNjOFeoEM67n9fm3QoQm0h9NRu_QDWl4xmaSQHMUvfqhY1H9IGl7T1NbGoS_KqFICzKSvr6ujprEs01SDfwGW-qFEZlwU_VqtPsyt-nd9_sxlXtq/s1600/brickworks-new-color-ab-cop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAHGhnPuyWmTy0lg8Edys3gfQI7ofuNjOFeoEM67n9fm3QoQm0h9NRu_QDWl4xmaSQHMUvfqhY1H9IGl7T1NbGoS_KqFICzKSvr6ujprEs01SDfwGW-qFEZlwU_VqtPsyt-nd9_sxlXtq/s320/brickworks-new-color-ab-cop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The possibilities never end - I have lots of new material, but it is so fascinating to look at the older ones in a different way. BTW - this is the final version of the print that started it all - "Big Lick", named for obvious reasons when you consider the source. :)</span><br />
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Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-77455522033746419392015-11-05T18:06:00.000-08:002015-11-05T18:08:33.174-08:00Star Gazing?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Star Gazing" CalliGraphy by Calli and Beth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am beginning to have a theory about Calli's "visions" when she has her seizures - I think her nickname "space cadet" may have some justification, since star shapes frequently appear in her markings on the door. Her style is so different from my wild and crazy Cassie's; she is very quiet most of the time and her marks are a bit more controlled and less expressionistic than her predecessor's. She is rarely interested in what's happening outside - maybe this pup is an introverted, more precise personality who is recording her "notes" on her interdimensional travels. Of course, I play with what she's done, in this case using a brush to emphasize some of her lines, but all of the marks you see are hers. I never saw stars in Cassie's work - lots of other things, but not stars - and most of the time I used whatever natural elements showed in the photographs of the storm door (trees, the porch clutter, garden or whatever) and they worked because Cassie was solidly grounded in the reality of our life here. With Calli it doesn't work, which leads me off in other directions - not really a bad idea. Here are three more of her star paintings, although you'll have to search for the tiny one in "Miley Takes a Lickin" (I used to be thought of as a "serious" artist - ha!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> "Calli's Blue Star" CalliGraphy by Calli and Beth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> "Flower and Star" CalliGraphy by Calli and Beth </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Miley Takes a Lickin" CalliGraphy by Calli and Beth</span></div>
Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-24210118652312829882015-06-19T14:41:00.000-07:002015-06-19T14:45:49.214-07:00Cassie's Water Lily and How It Grew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently when I was looking for new jewelry designs, I reconsidered one of the early PiCassieO prints which </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I titled "Cassie's Monet", because it reminded me of Monet's ethereal water lily paintings</span> . <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved the tranquil water colors</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with the subtle hints of pink. Sure enough, it worked wonderfully on the bracelet, pendant and earrings below. The earrings sold immediately (I like that!); the bracelet ($35 + $5 S&H) and pendant ($30 + $3 S&H) are still available</span>. <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Message me <a href="mailto:beth@bethstafford.com">here</a> if you're interested!</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BTW - the print is available for $30 + $6 S&H</span>. <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is sized to fit on an 8.5 x ll" sheet of Epson Premium Matte Paper with an adequate border for matting and framing and is signed and numbered on the bottom border</span>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0idW4i1IaP-h5WvHcHiHPA5gdfOBtQGgEvRAiP9ktaxBtnxIy7RHdmEVwqCWL5YrCU-mil0h-yG-OgbXercNS5FIZDIJbms7bMC8vtYyBypJH_ydKVw0qzRdmhF1li0iusxmFDNPKM3VR/s1600/cassies-monet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0idW4i1IaP-h5WvHcHiHPA5gdfOBtQGgEvRAiP9ktaxBtnxIy7RHdmEVwqCWL5YrCU-mil0h-yG-OgbXercNS5FIZDIJbms7bMC8vtYyBypJH_ydKVw0qzRdmhF1li0iusxmFDNPKM3VR/s320/cassies-monet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Cassie's Monet" ©PiCassieO 2009</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Silver Plate Bracelet, 1" setting, fits most wrists</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tnj7UGkUYCcUGDFhGBxEipFX08aK1-3HndBirbV4DOTqunk-_8WF3tlY968kohY_SPS4i-hYlJpU2uo9STchab5XcN3_KE2Y1fLdpkQALJDsAK0ZS1-Ma4lNFccCJ3QnWnyM2wQ87FRl/s1600/cassies-monet-earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tnj7UGkUYCcUGDFhGBxEipFX08aK1-3HndBirbV4DOTqunk-_8WF3tlY968kohY_SPS4i-hYlJpU2uo9STchab5XcN3_KE2Y1fLdpkQALJDsAK0ZS1-Ma4lNFccCJ3QnWnyM2wQ87FRl/s200/cassies-monet-earrings.jpg" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Silver Plate Earrings (by special order)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcpsgZgUK_MU_tcdXrWsy2BmoVOyofHYq39U2LwYbm3FudoDRWvg90g4GAs5EF-tRIVria5Lc6aPGT9-hJJeGuealsaWsNmGv1y2b56A-KOOywmHtGKXxDTZbkGzIHnR5NXInhyphenhyphen4p7DTd/s1600/cassies-monet-good-image.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcpsgZgUK_MU_tcdXrWsy2BmoVOyofHYq39U2LwYbm3FudoDRWvg90g4GAs5EF-tRIVria5Lc6aPGT9-hJJeGuealsaWsNmGv1y2b56A-KOOywmHtGKXxDTZbkGzIHnR5NXInhyphenhyphen4p7DTd/s320/cassies-monet-good-image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Silver Plate Pendant 30mm (H) x 22mm (W)</span></td></tr>
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<br />Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-22484140521424062622015-02-24T10:47:00.001-08:002015-02-24T10:54:08.485-08:00It All Started As "Snool"!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes it's hard even for me to believe that what I'm doing with my digital art all started from my Cassie's "snool" on the door and windows. For the uninitiated, snool is (to be indelicate) a combo of snot and drool, which dogs make in abundance. Most of them will get creative when there is glass between them and the object(s) of attention, but few of us humans recognize the beauty of their expressive work. It helps to be an artist, because part of our job is to bring attention to things that others might not see</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">.</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The print below is a PiCassieO work titled "Laughing Lion", named for the cartoon-like image of some sort of feline that I saw in Cassie's marks (imagination I have in abundance!). I decided that the colors were too far-out in this first version, so I did the actual print with a more subdued palette</span>. <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last fall I took another look at it when I was playing with fabric designs, and abstracted a couple of tiny squares to put in repeat. The results blew me away! The colors and patterns remind me of art from India - but Cassie's big Airedale nose was the source of the striking patterns. Inspiration can come from the weirdest places!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I call the two resulting designs "Laughing Lion Geo" and "Laughing Lion Geo Diamond." It has been so much fun putting them on items in my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">Zazzle store</a> - the two stamps are incredibly bright, and the candy tin and wine charm can be monogrammed. They make great small gifts - I did a tin and charm for a friend's birthday and was really pleased with the way they turned out. That is my idea of FUN - slapping my art on unlikely items in the wild colors I love so much, and secretly laughing and remembering where the art started. I have only scratched the surface in these first two "LL" abstracts.Thank you, Cassie girl!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_ODhQ1R-JpoHhwk0ic02kDKyIZc8rZYyHcEzpC2nDO3yWJb-4mvM7nji6cmY2LSneYEULpMP9dMmpFhy1UL4sKAXaA62Ll7nDmC8djE0l0PGcl7-DXI0U7ns2SuXO14qyWqsAhPN3asR/s1600/Laughing-Lion.jpg" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Laughing Lion, Version 1" </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by PiCassieO</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1poMksPk3GxyPvt67OUvvkOq5i48wCHWyXcis1aA2xPEYDE69P1ehZfu1TJo787OoY0LnndIZPAdOch4CIQn6tusEMq37rT585txg7hx8NfSYs7YWZSa0uOzSf0CYqSHo5TXs6uZGuXh2/s1600/LL-geo-stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo?rf=238834943388262025" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1poMksPk3GxyPvt67OUvvkOq5i48wCHWyXcis1aA2xPEYDE69P1ehZfu1TJo787OoY0LnndIZPAdOch4CIQn6tusEMq37rT585txg7hx8NfSYs7YWZSa0uOzSf0CYqSHo5TXs6uZGuXh2/s1600/LL-geo-stamp.jpg" height="320" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Laughing Lion Geo" Postage by PiCassieO</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1w_BkJDRp_xq595_wXSGLjXgEW_rk9bh1ak-tvvoRaBl8NulkZy30wV-CFQqvISOwuDiCHe-g9rQBcIvD0ZFi34EpAPjRc7M_dToe1L4YNspO5tQMwxSIrvyuCBt41y2KayEDlpFktRb2/s1600/LL-geo-candy-tin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo?rf=238834943388262025" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1w_BkJDRp_xq595_wXSGLjXgEW_rk9bh1ak-tvvoRaBl8NulkZy30wV-CFQqvISOwuDiCHe-g9rQBcIvD0ZFi34EpAPjRc7M_dToe1L4YNspO5tQMwxSIrvyuCBt41y2KayEDlpFktRb2/s1600/LL-geo-candy-tin.jpg" height="320" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Laughing Lion Geo" Candy Tin by PiCassieO</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQp404SaeBxh98XcLYwf-yxslNzW6i-bEXANJCtzmu4jklkdMAuW6d2Z5n2yud3EZD3SfHjVPEQxrQPVpg6LATOh_7APXc8n2Fw88N9xjGd-H_FC2kHqqSGkyEjYX3KA286cSOevU2CACh/s1600/LL+geo+diamond+stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo?rf=238834943388262025" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQp404SaeBxh98XcLYwf-yxslNzW6i-bEXANJCtzmu4jklkdMAuW6d2Z5n2yud3EZD3SfHjVPEQxrQPVpg6LATOh_7APXc8n2Fw88N9xjGd-H_FC2kHqqSGkyEjYX3KA286cSOevU2CACh/s1600/LL+geo+diamond+stamp.jpg" height="200" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Laughing Lion Geo Diamond" Postage by PiCassieO</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIeISLHxWH_KOluZtU9dlYUXueZdW-TpmDyO8fhAoDUQqPX5NXiwbS81tHeFr3AvrxpDErRyB2cu8mMZrzkP8vsYolWPIB33DC6CPI4VRCs5zmNeTcsEXTUX1L0FoXCFtvrULF_xLOcSq/s1600/wine-glass-tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo?rf=238834943388262025" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIeISLHxWH_KOluZtU9dlYUXueZdW-TpmDyO8fhAoDUQqPX5NXiwbS81tHeFr3AvrxpDErRyB2cu8mMZrzkP8vsYolWPIB33DC6CPI4VRCs5zmNeTcsEXTUX1L0FoXCFtvrULF_xLOcSq/s1600/wine-glass-tag.jpg" height="320" title="" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Laughing Lion Geo" Wine Charm by PiCassieO</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BTW:
Young Calli continues to give me ideas, although her style and our
connection is still in development. Her epilepsy is a constant
impediment, but her "snoodles" on the door make me laugh! I think this
girl tends to be a cartoonist - more of her work in another post. </span></div>
Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-33155452891643310922014-09-30T10:42:00.000-07:002014-09-30T10:51:40.902-07:00Remembering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj383AjLpKp99pqtXdUJsEhEt1dsBR7mYVCs6JdnD_RZOf8WGunsbkAuji30JcvaqImsKz3TaskvU5bDJ76Q5aw0TZFa7oL6efUUUG3QX9jAmZP7qT3ALnGkmbA1VrfbbVrgFoTlDSdnhX1/s1600/cassie-memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj383AjLpKp99pqtXdUJsEhEt1dsBR7mYVCs6JdnD_RZOf8WGunsbkAuji30JcvaqImsKz3TaskvU5bDJ76Q5aw0TZFa7oL6efUUUG3QX9jAmZP7qT3ALnGkmbA1VrfbbVrgFoTlDSdnhX1/s1600/cassie-memorial.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> A week ago yesterday marked the second anniversary of Cassie's departure from this world. I say she left, but that's not really true, because I still see her everywhere in my memory and in the art we made. I am continuing to create from her "notes", which is therapeutic in that it reminds me of her wild enthusiasm for life and makes me laugh to remember, even when tears are falling. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> In the work above are some of her last marks on that storm door that was her favorite "canvas"; in the original print, the background resembles a beach and clouds against a deep blue sky. The elements had a glowing edge, and the total effect suggested a farewell, with the cryptic marks ascending toward the sky and clouds. I never was satisfied with the composition of those elements, however, and tried to tinker with it with no success, so I did a cut-and-paste with just her strokes to try them with a different background. This photo was in a screen saver file - it was amazing how perfectly the marks fit to give me the ethereal effect I was searching for. The original title was "What She Said" - I see it now as a message of hope instead of farewell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I will love you forever, Cassie girl - wait for me, I'm coming!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In loving memory of Cassie (aka Cassandra Queen of the Universe) - </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">April 12, 1999 - September 22, 2012</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7hSoUN-nW3KQjEIB9okBNCgr0GZNX5vJzFqCFgoN7dIOMk-WFIns461HXEgT22gCBwuRxtye2Tv7gxG5m3ph9IEIceQjsEjpWqUtn8H-vpbuU_4hHlBEWMHqs3bjRaG222Fr8QaQqvi_/s1600/Cassie-sunny-door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7hSoUN-nW3KQjEIB9okBNCgr0GZNX5vJzFqCFgoN7dIOMk-WFIns461HXEgT22gCBwuRxtye2Tv7gxG5m3ph9IEIceQjsEjpWqUtn8H-vpbuU_4hHlBEWMHqs3bjRaG222Fr8QaQqvi_/s1600/Cassie-sunny-door.jpg" height="320" width="270" /></a></div>
<br />Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-7918296243112674792014-08-01T19:24:00.000-07:002014-08-01T19:29:04.826-07:00A Different World<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Been meaning to get back here, but it seems I'm still doing more epilepsy research than art lately. I wondered why I am having difficulty connecting with Calli art-wise, and have concluded that the seizures have something to do with it. A friend recently made the remark that she thought Calli was "two dimensional" - not meaning Calli is <i>flat</i></span></span>, <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but that she exists in two different dimensions, one being "reality" as we know it, and the other, wherever she goes when she has a seizure. Several months ago a former painting student of mine</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">started doing "animal communication"; knowing her to be a very honest and loving person, I decided to throw Calli at her and see what if anything she could find out</span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">about this strange little dog of mine. I didn't mention any of Calli's problems, but when Kim called me to report, the first thing she said was, "Calli has seizures - she goes away and then she comes back." I was almost speechless at the simple explanation of her illness. The big question was, where does she GO?</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">No answer for that, but the "2-D" remark reinforced the idea of an other-worldly aspect of Calli's personality that makes it difficult for us to communicate sometimes. She rarely pays attention to what's going on outside; usually the only time she marks the door is when she's "gone away", or in a rush to get out for potty break. She is very quiet and solemn most of the time, without the overflowing joy and exuberance that was Cassie's hallmark. The art I've made with her is totally different from what Cassie and I did, which makes me think I should leave this blog purely PiCassieO and start another one and call it "CalliGraphy - Notes from Another World."</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thinkin' about it...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCd3gAVNML7sqntGymsBJK3_dqYpXEWcPDIXjts4uRueif3xZexvcIwdAk8SASz3iZeZFJu5l0j07UuPtWTULvzpwyomMwZmz0wFcrdYN02cqpLg1zYKVVmGu6RTEgAVeieXyCjheRidA/s1600/calli-pi-signed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCd3gAVNML7sqntGymsBJK3_dqYpXEWcPDIXjts4uRueif3xZexvcIwdAk8SASz3iZeZFJu5l0j07UuPtWTULvzpwyomMwZmz0wFcrdYN02cqpLg1zYKVVmGu6RTEgAVeieXyCjheRidA/s1600/calli-pi-signed.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Calli Makes a Pi" CalliGraphy by Beth & Calli</span></div>
Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-35563643665169479032014-01-09T18:36:00.000-08:002014-01-09T18:36:12.146-08:00Life Goes On, Sort Of...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am surprised that I could remember my PW to come back here, it's been so long. What I didn't tell in my last entry (way back in July): six weeks after Cassie died, an 11-month-old Airedale puppy came to me from rescue. That would have been enough to keep me busy; unfortunately, she also came with previously undetected epilepsy, which has made the last year very difficult and downright exhausting. Until July we were usually up three times a night with seizures, and more in the daytime. She was on so much medicine that she couldn't walk without falling, so I called a halt to that last January and started pursuing alternatives. At least we're getting a lot more sleep now, although she still has multiple seizures most days. Old-timers would call them "running fits" - not typical epilepsy. Calli is her name, and in spite of the problems she is funny and mischievous and turning into a good little artist as well. Who could resist that adorable face, especially those eyes with their two-inch-long lashes? Not me. She has brought me great joy with her shenanigans, as well as great sorrow due to her affliction. Everyone tells me she's here for a reason - probably to take up where Cassie left off as my teacher. Student is ready...</span></span></div>
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<b> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Calli, Nov. 2012 </span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Happy", CalliGraphy by Calli and Beth</span></b></div>
Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-34905179746150204822013-07-03T09:43:00.001-07:002013-07-03T09:46:52.858-07:00The Fun Continues...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Ever stopped by our Zazzle store? I am finally getting back to work and am adding new items frequently. It is so much fun creating stamps and gadget cases and other neat stuff there with PiCassieO art all over it! There is a July 4th sale going on now, and I'm sure there will be other great deals in the next few weeks. Here's a sample of what you'll find:</span></div>
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<embed flashvars="feedId=0&path=http://www.zazzle.com/assets/swf/zp/skins" height="300" src="http://www.zazzle.com/utl/getpanel?tl=My%20Zazzle%20Panel&at=238834943388262025&cn=238834943388262025&st=date_created" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/">make custom gifts</a> at <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo?rf=238834943388262025">Zazzle</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Have fun browsing and drop by often! </span>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-73377641027575034732012-10-01T10:35:00.000-07:002012-10-01T10:35:22.269-07:00My Teacher, My Friend<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent">My beloved art partner Cassie collapsed on the stairs on July 23 when we were coming up at bedtime. Since then I learned that she had a huge mass in her spleen in addition to the hematoma that we'd already found, plus other major problems that were contributing to her increasing weakness. Being a stoic and stubborn Airedale, she bounced back from four episodes of internal bleeding, but she finally got so weak she couldn't stand and I had to let her go. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent">Cassie went to sleep peacefully in my arms on Saturday, September 22, right here at home after a late lunch of her favorite
stuff, including chicken, Cheerios, graham cracker, Goldfish, canteloupe
(yep!) and apple. Her favorite "Dawn</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Treader" CD (Celtic music by our friend Jane Pope) was playing - it
always soothed her during thunderstorms, and we played it a lot while
she was sick too. She was surrounded by friends and family - there was
so much love around her, I know she felt it. One more friend joined us
about 5 PM - Dr. Jennifer Hawthorne from Lap of Love Veterinary
Hospice. She made one of the most difficult days in my life a little
easier, by allowing Cassie to leave this life in the place where she lived for so
long. </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lapoflove.com%2F&h=bAQE4kKSf&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Cassie lives on in her art and in my heart. She was a great teacher and my best friend. In loving memory of Cassie (a.k.a. "Cassandra, Queen of the Universe") - April 12, 1999 - September 22, 2012 </span></div>
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Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-10382512897938869352012-07-06T10:48:00.000-07:002012-07-06T10:48:45.411-07:00In a Matisse State of Mind<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Matisse Milk Can </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">© Beth Stafford 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We are having a hot time of it here lately - not much activity out in the yard (or here in the house). Cassie did manage to do a little work on the door, even though she's been a bit under the weather lately. She doesn't like the heat</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> at all </span>- <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">woke up one morning to find her like this - guess the blanket was too much, even with the AC!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anyway, I wanted to do something different with her marks this time</span>, <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">so I outlined them first, filled them in with solid color, and then cut and pasted them into a blank "canvas". Then I decided to do the same thing with the background, using the porch railing outline and the old milk can. It was virtual collage - lots of fun - and then I applied a cutout filter and different color gradients until I got this composition with its echoes of Matisse. Still playing with colors, so it's not an official print yet - might wind up as a large-scale painting (or who knows what?). Lots of possibilities there...</span></div>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-16000627687796594952012-06-05T10:40:00.003-07:002012-06-05T10:43:17.233-07:00New Pendants, Rehab, Etc.<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
Wow - get a little behind on this, and everything changes! I've been so busy trying to catch up on everything I got behind in while my hand wasn't working, there's been no time for updating here. Since I still am pretty stiff when it comes to handling a brush or stylus, jewelry a la PiCassieO has been the only art coming out of the studio - found a different way of mounting the glass which makes it a lot easier on me. The results look like framed art for the neck! Photo is of the collection so far. I plan to list them at our <a href="http://www.picassieo.etsy.com/">Etsy </a>store soon.</div>
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Cassie has been having a lot of trouble with her hips lately - we even went to a rehab center for an evaluation, which wound up giving her more problems due to their attempts to force her to lie down and roll over. Those ninnies should have known, you don't force an Airedale to do <i>anything</i>! We did get a list of exercises to strengthen her legs, most of which we were already doing. Don't want to go into how much it cost for that experience, but at least Cassie is doing somewhat better after recovering from the visit, with help from another round of prednisone. The only exercise she really likes is her cavaletti (parallel poles on the ground - helps her pick up her feet), mainly because she gets a Cheerio every time she makes it from one end to the other! <i>That's</i> how you motivate this Airedale!</div>
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<br /></div>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-3644467623005042192012-03-10T09:44:00.003-08:002012-03-10T10:38:41.886-08:00Unlucky Break<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Whew - so much STUFF happened since the last post. Sunday morning, February 22, we had a chilly rain, and somehow I managed to hydroplane on the dog ramp and landed on my right hand. Broke my radius and had surgery to put it back together. It was hard enough to take care of my creaky dog - especially getting her up and down the stairs- but I finally was able to handle it fine with my left hand. The tumor was another story, though; it got crusty since I couldn't clean it properly. My vet did find a clinic with a cryogenic probe - but I couldn't drive for an hour to get her there, and they wouldn't do it without sedation, which defeated the purpose anyway, so I hoped we could postpone dealing with it. Oh nooooo- Cassie managed to whap that tumor really good and bled all over the place before I could get it to stop. That was the last straw - I told my vet it had to go, and she had the surgery Tuesday. He did a great job and she's been a good patient so far - I wish I'd had it done months ago. Since she is really ornery about being handled and restrained, I had the vet to do X rays and an ultrasound exam while she was out. Now we have a new problem to deal (or not deal) with: a large hematoma on her spleen. No way of knowing when it happened, except it had to be in the last eight months. She's great at self-destruction; my guess is she whacked her spleen in that floor-shaking tumble she took last summer, or got hurt getting in and out of the car - always traumatic. She's been limping all week from the damage done on Tuesday. Any way, I don't know where we go from here. At least I got out of my cast yesterday and into a brace, so I can be a little more useful. Now, if I could just figure out a better way to get Cassie up those stairs, so my 80-year-old mom wouldn't have to bring up the rear...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Did manage to finish my Twitter art the day before I fell! It's already in Norway - I think the exhibit opens next week. You can check it out at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.davidsandumart.posterous.com/">David Sandum Art </a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhMoJu3KrJUdJrQBOjn82J4jBa4ebPyGxgr7DzWX5Az4EDwbxYzdaCHzwmstTbL2q8j-rg_J7PJ8Jivm6OGkdc5UZojtFkU2wWhSq3eeLPO4AOAi6OoZf2w8-ttD1L0-PCBeqhb1JkN1k/s1600/yellow-spots.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhMoJu3KrJUdJrQBOjn82J4jBa4ebPyGxgr7DzWX5Az4EDwbxYzdaCHzwmstTbL2q8j-rg_J7PJ8Jivm6OGkdc5UZojtFkU2wWhSq3eeLPO4AOAi6OoZf2w8-ttD1L0-PCBeqhb1JkN1k/s320/yellow-spots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718337313337048962" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Yellow Spots</span> © Beth Stafford 2012<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">This postcard-size acrylic abstract came from the PiCassieO print <span style="font-style: italic;">Cabin Fever</span>. Glad I finished it before break-time!<br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.davidsandumart.posterous.com/"><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class="" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span></a>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-1254146226839471502012-02-16T09:55:00.005-08:002012-02-16T10:32:02.938-08:00Cyrosurgery and Cabin Fever<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbHsu9DEhYq43-pvlTmv70rncWiE_71t1TKdHc6Rm8cVkHmXvnWCVOr64xns909ckW9ObYeFjWqZazUw2Qd8x-L17QIAF02mnEuBxU5ZaXrtETb1fbSuHDzVRAEW72LaykcvA7m6QwT5V/s1600/christmas-2011-cassie-table.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 292px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbHsu9DEhYq43-pvlTmv70rncWiE_71t1TKdHc6Rm8cVkHmXvnWCVOr64xns909ckW9ObYeFjWqZazUw2Qd8x-L17QIAF02mnEuBxU5ZaXrtETb1fbSuHDzVRAEW72LaykcvA7m6QwT5V/s320/christmas-2011-cassie-table.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709794408980079458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cassie was one happy dog when she found her way out from under the tablecloth at Christmas dinner! What you can't see in the photo, thanks to PhotoShop, is the large Meibomian gland tumor under her eye - not malignant, but a real nuisance! I've spent so much time in research on the best solution for this problem that not much art is getting made, but boy have I learned a lot! Best finds along the way: Preparation H facials, Visine for red spots, tincture of cannabis for tumors (debatable, but my vet and I had a good laugh over that one). Best solution: freezing it off with a cryogenic probe. Unfortunately, it's not that easy to find a hospital close enough that has the equipment. Still working on it.</span><br style="font-family: verdana;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">Life has to go on, in spite of distractions. My friend David Sandum in Norway is doing another Twitter Art Exhibit this year (read more about it at <a href="http://davidsandumart.posterous.com/">David Sandum Art </a>) , so I am working on a postcard-sized painting to be included in the show. It's PiCassieO-inspired, of course, and is a tiny piece of <span style="font-style: italic;">Cabin Fever</span>, which is a print from last February. Seems appropriate - lately it's either rainy and damp or cold and damp, or just DAMP; cabin fever is really getting to me! Cassie is quite happy to spend the day feet-in-the-air on the couch, but I need a little more outdoor time.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRw6Lod6GuIzTY89WnBA24RekJ-XGsMTeNLDEjMhmBb-8KfZJRUvErrt5DQbAbLBI-Qg0NGToCQbMunta7KtkrHuQca9tzIeB9g8J4cJHFMULolXQRnV20M5jf7_cIYbG2NL9SLckrjoR/s1600/cabin-fever.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRw6Lod6GuIzTY89WnBA24RekJ-XGsMTeNLDEjMhmBb-8KfZJRUvErrt5DQbAbLBI-Qg0NGToCQbMunta7KtkrHuQca9tzIeB9g8J4cJHFMULolXQRnV20M5jf7_cIYbG2NL9SLckrjoR/s320/cabin-fever.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709800059323247554" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;" >Cabin Fever</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> © Beth Stafford 2011</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkGzoAggu12UAYnG5h_5oHvs9A-3yNg7nBo0eAy_cqiUtiYURZIbNIIm629l4jVFntS2SIvrYvjj_isMCNVd19PzHZyEHac26KWblvJK7WoqeBS8MOeQcJEX0maGC7DaM-vsu0RZ6mAvK/s1600/My-furball.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkGzoAggu12UAYnG5h_5oHvs9A-3yNg7nBo0eAy_cqiUtiYURZIbNIIm629l4jVFntS2SIvrYvjj_isMCNVd19PzHZyEHac26KWblvJK7WoqeBS8MOeQcJEX0maGC7DaM-vsu0RZ6mAvK/s320/My-furball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709800061045465794" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">"What - me worry?"<br /></div>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-73162170618915557162011-11-26T18:15:00.000-08:002011-11-26T18:46:46.426-08:00"Singin' in the Rain"<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE5_Y7IHKq4rdcwzjLXq9zt0qhKotlpSolJL3F3nOGte19LK8ugimG84QCTJIoSw_twd3xDHGgElIetg94AZn758WJp8mD_lxCW0hD_R2KdMcT-Hd7vL5J3Qwg47D27yEjKKS8_kJx9CZ/s1600/Singin-in-the-Rain.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE5_Y7IHKq4rdcwzjLXq9zt0qhKotlpSolJL3F3nOGte19LK8ugimG84QCTJIoSw_twd3xDHGgElIetg94AZn758WJp8mD_lxCW0hD_R2KdMcT-Hd7vL5J3Qwg47D27yEjKKS8_kJx9CZ/s320/Singin-in-the-Rain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679493880615255522" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Singin' in the Rain </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">© Beth Stafford 2011</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cassie is now off her meds and getting her hair back after getting a few bald spots from the months on prednisone, but her joints are too creaky to let her jump in her chairs to paint the windows, so the front storm door is her only "canvas" now. When I got ready to photograph her latest work, there were a bunch of parallel wavy lines that didn't look like my dog's usual style. Upon closer inspection, I realized that they were on the <span style="font-style: italic;">outside</span> of the door. We've had a lot of rain lately, and Cassie has a "raincoat" made out of a large trash bag (she hates to get wet!). When we get back to the porch, I take it off, shake it, and hang it on the door handle. The bag must have blown around a little and created lines that look like music bars. Cassie had added her own wild notes and lines, so I used the stylus to "write" <span style="font-style: italic;">Singin' in the Rain - </span>a symphony in primary colors. Fun!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thank goodness we finally got some sunshine - Cassie likes to lie at the door during the brief time it comes in, this time of year. She's either contemplating her next stroke of genius, or thinking about a nap! </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyf6Qa8FjOiec4OMgYqGhagF184GfReakHeoXqm1tpHBoLrRw2EspmR0E-C5JdMFKUUl9m2YHfd9NLuds8nSZ3xb-ybVKdHkcYZ4fqs_QeTb6FvRxnDiHB_bzFa9stQKXbkGaXJMAZPdq/s1600/Cassie-sunny-door.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyf6Qa8FjOiec4OMgYqGhagF184GfReakHeoXqm1tpHBoLrRw2EspmR0E-C5JdMFKUUl9m2YHfd9NLuds8nSZ3xb-ybVKdHkcYZ4fqs_QeTb6FvRxnDiHB_bzFa9stQKXbkGaXJMAZPdq/s320/Cassie-sunny-door.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679494442289937554" border="0" /></a>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-54380717901688468102011-08-30T13:38:00.000-07:002011-08-30T13:54:52.868-07:00Back to Work!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNlgkvNDAMFWu4VokGDpmlFY82jdskUJWLMsDgJMONHCKyDM4LD2lIMstGZczAuVB7dqYEENQFI4GzcaiBFqTAmTSl7tenpMOOQjK7rkrcHVT4KHgX4womVYw6b1lkmtVoNEPZGtwQ-6U/s1600/cassie-new-nap-aug-feet-up.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNlgkvNDAMFWu4VokGDpmlFY82jdskUJWLMsDgJMONHCKyDM4LD2lIMstGZczAuVB7dqYEENQFI4GzcaiBFqTAmTSl7tenpMOOQjK7rkrcHVT4KHgX4womVYw6b1lkmtVoNEPZGtwQ-6U/s320/cassie-new-nap-aug-feet-up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646751657218257394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">As you can see, Cassie is hard at work again after being sick most of the summer (she's dreaming up new art, I'm sure). Actually she stayed quite active at the front door, which is the only place she can really see what's going on out there since she can't jump on the furniture anymore.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Both these photos came out dark online, but I think the energy in "Crossing Off" comes through anyway. The marks reminded me of someone counting days; maybe she's counting down until she's totally off the meds - me too!</span> </div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JLzyPUvDm0K1SDydeoi_zMpxLWZli0KpcHYi-7RFIv2TKwVjgJX8aYcXoNYLJEsnKTxGD94BntAg9BVYBa6fRBN_zztP8tHw6Fe-TasmX7thVgPSaas9-XGMXbSvF9yYHXvZ6wFq5PuX/s1600/crossing-off.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JLzyPUvDm0K1SDydeoi_zMpxLWZli0KpcHYi-7RFIv2TKwVjgJX8aYcXoNYLJEsnKTxGD94BntAg9BVYBa6fRBN_zztP8tHw6Fe-TasmX7thVgPSaas9-XGMXbSvF9yYHXvZ6wFq5PuX/s320/crossing-off.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646751655544267650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;" >Crossing Off</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> ©Beth Stafford 2011</span>
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<br />Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-67795284125526728982011-06-16T14:36:00.000-07:002011-07-19T14:28:37.230-07:00Lost in "LOST"<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blame it all on Cassie - she started me on this evolutionary journey into "LOST" art. From her original door markings, I created the print below as the series was nearing the end and titled it "Lost: Going Home", reason being that all the mysterious marks seemed to be heading upward toward the light spot in the upper left. Eventually I zeroed in on that location and did a tiny abstract for a pendant, liked it so much that I enlarged it to a 7" x 5" panel size, painted it, and then applied gold leaf to the marks for a more metaphysical quality.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Lost: Going Home</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigACW1bhiNq7PcMFF260ZfGWEsB-_4SSs6I9CnSDgMzUZXDBy070dBza5yQhAvZqNBld6noApcffp-mGBqzlIh4D4MlR9WvspbWaG-CygUFfwhnFVisUnjXdZ9ELUt2d-VRsxrCX9HY_p_/s1600/Lost-jungle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigACW1bhiNq7PcMFF260ZfGWEsB-_4SSs6I9CnSDgMzUZXDBy070dBza5yQhAvZqNBld6noApcffp-mGBqzlIh4D4MlR9WvspbWaG-CygUFfwhnFVisUnjXdZ9ELUt2d-VRsxrCX9HY_p_/s320/Lost-jungle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618938049402265010" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pendant Abstract</span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBi1FNVi_X4qrx9DfXqUfDUS8jQ8kPlR7HDe3bEzbVx6gKe6noh5dxovtpVb-PGsFDf-8gdqsfbwRiATnqqmzlTGQQqNY0-xiZY3zftytfmsDt2T6qw_G00WUQ8UpaPyIDTzqz8pEEz9Ir/s1600/lost+going+home+5+x+7.tif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBi1FNVi_X4qrx9DfXqUfDUS8jQ8kPlR7HDe3bEzbVx6gKe6noh5dxovtpVb-PGsFDf-8gdqsfbwRiATnqqmzlTGQQqNY0-xiZY3zftytfmsDt2T6qw_G00WUQ8UpaPyIDTzqz8pEEz9Ir/s320/lost+going+home+5+x+7.tif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618938040948622914" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">7 x 5" panel with gold leaf<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjii_4wumNPwEaVG6MVPBkiMit6AT37_OpayojjH_h4lzuhEJ1PmXYM3JzynWVWxUWWTgDX4RS9ylTI6PWQcOBkrmP-rETSJXmWDYi7gEzFpH2xNAqQvkZTpfQ3Z7yIXJGBLi3qAgh1ai/s1600/lost--with-gold-leaf-view-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjii_4wumNPwEaVG6MVPBkiMit6AT37_OpayojjH_h4lzuhEJ1PmXYM3JzynWVWxUWWTgDX4RS9ylTI6PWQcOBkrmP-rETSJXmWDYi7gEzFpH2xNAqQvkZTpfQ3Z7yIXJGBLi3qAgh1ai/s320/lost--with-gold-leaf-view-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618935794105985570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next Phase: when I tried to photograph the panel, one photo was blurry but interesting, so of course that sent me on another tangent, and I got three more "Lost" prints with a totally new look.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Lost Abstract No. 1</span><br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuJC7OvdTboJmQawB4WnUxZtLCBmnMr5DOWbDpjmRdnC3Ba8CFu9qSoYwnR9KCow2p9K08bPTpFTe2cYP3qjWhSXRhNN9gbzcE2inuid2P7dUEMpkNsDJtHJjK7YoT_dYZzxK1RlYNmDa/s1600/lost-ab-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuJC7OvdTboJmQawB4WnUxZtLCBmnMr5DOWbDpjmRdnC3Ba8CFu9qSoYwnR9KCow2p9K08bPTpFTe2cYP3qjWhSXRhNN9gbzcE2inuid2P7dUEMpkNsDJtHJjK7YoT_dYZzxK1RlYNmDa/s320/lost-ab-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618935795975409202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Lost Abstract No. 2</span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqTl0rnyruRdj3Ldnqima1rY12unkcnu4qhXCSRhJX0oy0bdWzosu6_nokAuCUwupxwqogfeFqjIA-4-AS6IYLaQbnqB8lVxHVbCdPGsQzNvb5RYU_leoWvUcQysESHnlA1RdAWaAdG44/s1600/lost-ab-2-.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqTl0rnyruRdj3Ldnqima1rY12unkcnu4qhXCSRhJX0oy0bdWzosu6_nokAuCUwupxwqogfeFqjIA-4-AS6IYLaQbnqB8lVxHVbCdPGsQzNvb5RYU_leoWvUcQysESHnlA1RdAWaAdG44/s320/lost-ab-2-.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631169871181127714" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Lost Abstract No. 3</span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSADf9W5JcgU5fObd_ToHiCTo3q6cLkVJIXhJDtWYX7RMZSC8Mi7jiMVp2ekAgaK8W6zwoqBoonpm3KvPliLwbvdefnagXv-mIK19nikxPF1zjsLLdWVgnBChbF8JWqdre3qCqQQLnmNy7/s1600/lost-ab-bottom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSADf9W5JcgU5fObd_ToHiCTo3q6cLkVJIXhJDtWYX7RMZSC8Mi7jiMVp2ekAgaK8W6zwoqBoonpm3KvPliLwbvdefnagXv-mIK19nikxPF1zjsLLdWVgnBChbF8JWqdre3qCqQQLnmNy7/s320/lost-ab-bottom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631174555789085058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THEN I just had to put one of the prints behind the old glass brick, and got four more interesting and increasingly metaphysical prints in the "Lost" series! </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Lost: Black Hole</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZmbI4-kJqHbLvvHWsJ5NFqeqCYSPuqNI3XDozNcmSayyS1drLqPlq97NFuehQG9kfgQR0pYV1OARgnyCW_2ZX3-Xq3Q6YQTelEFxDT986N1VwanXCOyGv1L1P4pEMqgb88fgdCT_NZOg/s1600/Lost-Black-Hole.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZmbI4-kJqHbLvvHWsJ5NFqeqCYSPuqNI3XDozNcmSayyS1drLqPlq97NFuehQG9kfgQR0pYV1OARgnyCW_2ZX3-Xq3Q6YQTelEFxDT986N1VwanXCOyGv1L1P4pEMqgb88fgdCT_NZOg/s320/Lost-Black-Hole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618936725501609154" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Lost: All That Remains</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMgPUsuSZlRfUxOQWj4dSJLjg-sUaZb2yLVZiWNxOIzZFl-YEyIe7wOqHSX-KQGQjwJ1hsqdHQAzmxVOPMbmT8FWSn7P-b1c3T-TlHwuVzV1MwPt1A-o9LdFb6k7j7ZPVCVVeCEiDaEFn/s1600/lost-all-that-remains-copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMgPUsuSZlRfUxOQWj4dSJLjg-sUaZb2yLVZiWNxOIzZFl-YEyIe7wOqHSX-KQGQjwJ1hsqdHQAzmxVOPMbmT8FWSn7P-b1c3T-TlHwuVzV1MwPt1A-o9LdFb6k7j7ZPVCVVeCEiDaEFn/s320/lost-all-that-remains-copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618936720274547602" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Lost: Redemption</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wSut1iDgc6VpEL4lUFpT-9Ih6baSAFVng1jJESnatSrCvwzsxbDkvG903uaglfhr5ItOwh0TnIsMaHt5JWYA7xhSFZtmGDB3WE8_RcshK0YV9EMvQtBkJBSEVPDwOtcfR0nhQgQEVV7R/s1600/Lost-Rising-black-and-white.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wSut1iDgc6VpEL4lUFpT-9Ih6baSAFVng1jJESnatSrCvwzsxbDkvG903uaglfhr5ItOwh0TnIsMaHt5JWYA7xhSFZtmGDB3WE8_RcshK0YV9EMvQtBkJBSEVPDwOtcfR0nhQgQEVV7R/s320/Lost-Rising-black-and-white.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618936734134812146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91TfXLtwHz5TNqW322r37Rhi3SofOs4HLin6LqQwO2L7QIWjPwwIPh6YxrLkL2dqt2nYp-c549XCN58wvpCqO8ttjt9oPJUF4A6dI1WMO3XOQU9Ab0UFZske4kwV5Gt_hoDV8bRPH8u9c/s1600/lost-series-4-pendant.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Lost: Through Time and Space</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRIvAQmX7zIQiTfPaB3hbOWCr8o12rOmlFkaTBQEQUMYgYeIfrUDfAh0vqeBQ6lfeoUXGicLD_pxQdDpR5vPwMWvK-8U0pbLUxuV5uZ8-aa2ynHvbtTTDeRqOEWB0lCaTxVXZ7g5sAZiL/s1600/Lost-through-time-and-space.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRIvAQmX7zIQiTfPaB3hbOWCr8o12rOmlFkaTBQEQUMYgYeIfrUDfAh0vqeBQ6lfeoUXGicLD_pxQdDpR5vPwMWvK-8U0pbLUxuV5uZ8-aa2ynHvbtTTDeRqOEWB0lCaTxVXZ7g5sAZiL/s320/Lost-through-time-and-space.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618935804849923938" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">About the time I finished the last ones, Cassie injured her back and got sick simultaneously, so I've been her intensive care nurse for the past month. Happy to report, she's getting better, though still not well, and is still making art! All these prints are available, though not listed anywhere but here. Interested? Contact me in a comment!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuJC7OvdTboJmQawB4WnUxZtLCBmnMr5DOWbDpjmRdnC3Ba8CFu9qSoYwnR9KCow2p9K08bPTpFTe2cYP3qjWhSXRhNN9gbzcE2inuid2P7dUEMpkNsDJtHJjK7YoT_dYZzxK1RlYNmDa/s1600/lost-ab-3.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjii_4wumNPwEaVG6MVPBkiMit6AT37_OpayojjH_h4lzuhEJ1PmXYM3JzynWVWxUWWTgDX4RS9ylTI6PWQcOBkrmP-rETSJXmWDYi7gEzFpH2xNAqQvkZTpfQ3Z7yIXJGBLi3qAgh1ai/s1600/lost--with-gold-leaf-view-2.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGvJg1qFbpoqo02x7oqyequd1zHRzlv_4Pu2OvsX2Ke-rIr27sZteiyOfhwkD7cvIkgwQ0bzlnV23tfOkabvOpsvC7-nWNlOHJzL_zQGVd78nH47ldLqRieyYPu1f8ILChZNXuDujaNhf/s1600/Lost-series-3-pendant.jpg"><br /></a>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-79865402287620474422011-05-10T14:02:00.001-07:002011-05-10T14:28:17.057-07:00"Captive"<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BGw20BREBQReQERzToQgpISW0BDP2GVOaYcZQ8muoH7Wz4FEq1-qtp_exJ6Tj70SCK-H5XHxpBsddSJ_4VAtv1TdvNfYPOQrbk80paw2DaW2pbIQJ0YkCqAnXhQ-Bicjn9tuogO2BHJI/s1600/captive-abstract-2-for-zazz.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BGw20BREBQReQERzToQgpISW0BDP2GVOaYcZQ8muoH7Wz4FEq1-qtp_exJ6Tj70SCK-H5XHxpBsddSJ_4VAtv1TdvNfYPOQrbk80paw2DaW2pbIQJ0YkCqAnXhQ-Bicjn9tuogO2BHJI/s320/captive-abstract-2-for-zazz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605196150698616146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Captive , Version 2 </span> ©Beth Stafford 2011<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">These are color trials for the latest PiCassieO. I titled it "Captive" because it came from a larger print in which the linear forms resembled a bird or butterfly caught between two vertical strips of color. My pictures loaded out of sequence (whatever can go wrong, usually does!). Version 1 has lots of cool color with my favorite black lines; in the second one I decided to switch over to a much warmer version that is a little more subdued than other recent work. Version 3 is totally changed: I inverted the image, changed the palette, and then used a filter to "paint" it. Looks like summer to me! Got a favorite? Let me know - I welcome your feedback!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQhfygTnXD6k-rDaFZzpUr8QBBUibPM2fH-dXkN0oFuGIynyBUzY6wFjazUjfVtxc6_oxa2xjqwvfPDz1NSaEgwKbz8jNBw489oQMzYortrb32EVw5qpiG7cxGeGzwdnb9hQ_DBf15m-A/s1600/captive-abstract-1-for-zazz.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQhfygTnXD6k-rDaFZzpUr8QBBUibPM2fH-dXkN0oFuGIynyBUzY6wFjazUjfVtxc6_oxa2xjqwvfPDz1NSaEgwKbz8jNBw489oQMzYortrb32EVw5qpiG7cxGeGzwdnb9hQ_DBf15m-A/s320/captive-abstract-1-for-zazz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605196149968603010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Captive, Version 1</span> ©Beth Stafford 2011<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEqqTzod6oxA-pR_ODCoeivtj2DO6I_nM9Yr-BF-wCTX1v5Mp50uetvRc6r09KKZMNQwESdRCWTcQYeXaYm0i40hoGadUoM3AqH47Pl35y6pKwhVsiDu4WwYe5pttNb9j-LiDP9dvV76i/s1600/captive-abstract-3-for-zazz.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEqqTzod6oxA-pR_ODCoeivtj2DO6I_nM9Yr-BF-wCTX1v5Mp50uetvRc6r09KKZMNQwESdRCWTcQYeXaYm0i40hoGadUoM3AqH47Pl35y6pKwhVsiDu4WwYe5pttNb9j-LiDP9dvV76i/s320/captive-abstract-3-for-zazz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605196155926221698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Captive, Version 3 </span> © Beth Stafford 2011<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, there's always the possibility that one or more of these will show up on Keds and other cool stuff at our </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">Zazzle</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> store, so drop by and have a look!</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Prints are always available on request if they aren't yet listed in my </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.picassieo.etsy.com">Etsy store</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> or </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.bethstafford.com">website</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">- contact me.</span><br /></div>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-25377743248828996252011-04-25T13:54:00.000-07:002011-04-25T14:13:56.824-07:00The Ears Have It!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EpbJUWXfgYRwbAPPoMmmCORkcFlwWU1UeWUomr3rlRMb-7vo3beORWAlEVdORBiZUmT8bNJxAo2e4siGKCB2J7bQFc_ijtgDjwT5gM5t6BDChkA2WdfhgELih3ELIWe1DKqrkxcQbPaS/s1600/underwater-earrings.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our PiCassieO art is so colorful and unique that it lends itself to all kinds of decorative possibilities. The latest venture is earrings for the "bold of 'art" - great colors and interesting designs at a great price ($15 + 2.95 S&H). I only had four pairs made to see if the colors would be true - and the answer is YES! Unfortunately, the company is in Hong Kong (didn't know when I ordered) and unless I can find a stateside source there probably won't be anymore. One pair which featured my "Confetti" print (last post) is already sold - the other three are available at my </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.bethstafford.com">website</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (click "Earrings") They are 1" button earrings with wires, and will make a great artsy fashion statement! Get 'em while they last!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl63uZofzqMehpTG0xkDlF2Ad1hVV1VmiyyNpoeUlj8z3IPLgBPs3IWJ-krqQLBlqhE5aCWaaIG489aGPQWrzSJY_l11yEVD-bllCU2ChDHWWtliCkfKs1Iduj3_7Yesrcr9k7-VsFJAn/s1600/storm-door-3-earrings.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl63uZofzqMehpTG0xkDlF2Ad1hVV1VmiyyNpoeUlj8z3IPLgBPs3IWJ-krqQLBlqhE5aCWaaIG489aGPQWrzSJY_l11yEVD-bllCU2ChDHWWtliCkfKs1Iduj3_7Yesrcr9k7-VsFJAn/s320/storm-door-3-earrings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599627978058780706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Storm Door 3</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Earrings by PiCassieO</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdYgiiyy52Spo5-JglO5djurd-ti3358yoAz9mRWgfBZ3E99mv-ePm6F3YaIjn0HzPDdVoAERatAIZy_-jKAy6ULdPfNaq6xT4eIp0Vhd2L7ke8A0v5TqyvgLCK3e3nU4xqYQqWOoK3bE/s1600/storm-door-2-earrings.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdYgiiyy52Spo5-JglO5djurd-ti3358yoAz9mRWgfBZ3E99mv-ePm6F3YaIjn0HzPDdVoAERatAIZy_-jKAy6ULdPfNaq6xT4eIp0Vhd2L7ke8A0v5TqyvgLCK3e3nU4xqYQqWOoK3bE/s320/storm-door-2-earrings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599627978104733010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Storm Door 2 </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Earrings by PicassieO</span><br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EpbJUWXfgYRwbAPPoMmmCORkcFlwWU1UeWUomr3rlRMb-7vo3beORWAlEVdORBiZUmT8bNJxAo2e4siGKCB2J7bQFc_ijtgDjwT5gM5t6BDChkA2WdfhgELih3ELIWe1DKqrkxcQbPaS/s1600/underwater-earrings.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EpbJUWXfgYRwbAPPoMmmCORkcFlwWU1UeWUomr3rlRMb-7vo3beORWAlEVdORBiZUmT8bNJxAo2e4siGKCB2J7bQFc_ijtgDjwT5gM5t6BDChkA2WdfhgELih3ELIWe1DKqrkxcQbPaS/s320/underwater-earrings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599627981317926162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Under Water</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Earring by PiCassieO</span><br /></div>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-12751369498680156952011-04-18T09:02:00.000-07:002011-04-18T09:58:13.255-07:00"Confetti" - Celebrating Color!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H-kI0J4-YSo9b795DluRPfIk4ePCyGNCf-Ox5Es0OAig5EcJeqrSSHkW2fiL2bCJoGgq24GY8PZ1-6qK6ssDMk7To30dUkSsUV2aVaZ-gm4xrK-svnzNaSLr9wjfjoXPN-m9jghV43C2/s1600/confetti.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H-kI0J4-YSo9b795DluRPfIk4ePCyGNCf-Ox5Es0OAig5EcJeqrSSHkW2fiL2bCJoGgq24GY8PZ1-6qK6ssDMk7To30dUkSsUV2aVaZ-gm4xrK-svnzNaSLr9wjfjoXPN-m9jghV43C2/s320/confetti.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596956206419179778" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Confetti </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> ©Beth Stafford 2011</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Confetti</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> is one of Team PiCassieO's most colorful, joyful prints so far! I have been having so much fun with it - the colors and energy are incredible, and look fabulous on a variety of items in our expanding repetoire on <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">Zazzle</a> and elsewhere. The print was actually "roughed in" over a year ago, but I left it for reasons I've since forgotten (maybe it was just ripening). It was recently rediscovered and reworked, and boom - </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Confetti</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> appeared! Looks like a party to me! We'll use it to celebrate Cassie's 12th birthday - she was 12 on April 12 - and hope for another good year for my wonderful friend and partner in "PiCassieO". The original print, in a limited edition of 50, is available for $30; inquire through my </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.bethstafford.com">website</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here are a few of the cool products on </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">Zazzle</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> that are adorned with </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Confetti</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">:</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-scq-GVQPUNAf13mH6ho2geQJjlHIlN9AIDMQ4YPeMkuCSQsXMq-4lBNV3M5YE90S5t9qXkE0GdH9Maxm0byA1WhG5kJFg-imeaK_qnMUt6F3SaXZPtl2CJpp7P0G_NNs_5SkjwTsPR2H/s1600/confetti+mug.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-scq-GVQPUNAf13mH6ho2geQJjlHIlN9AIDMQ4YPeMkuCSQsXMq-4lBNV3M5YE90S5t9qXkE0GdH9Maxm0byA1WhG5kJFg-imeaK_qnMUt6F3SaXZPtl2CJpp7P0G_NNs_5SkjwTsPR2H/s320/confetti+mug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596962337497420562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Confetti</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Collectible Mug on </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">Zazzle</a><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcP7mYTJ6Nq2MaMswDwhkfC1CYiX-IbzvwdWhJAobAxNXYMXzkMrtq_vhEa9hksdfRHZZYtT-DwAoH4NaCqlw7JdAmTCXjTJHqGNFiHJHCI0HQN_OmQErxaCK4XwuAblwBA5IP7LlIWVO/s1600/confetti+ipad.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcP7mYTJ6Nq2MaMswDwhkfC1CYiX-IbzvwdWhJAobAxNXYMXzkMrtq_vhEa9hksdfRHZZYtT-DwAoH4NaCqlw7JdAmTCXjTJHqGNFiHJHCI0HQN_OmQErxaCK4XwuAblwBA5IP7LlIWVO/s320/confetti+ipad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596962333440550450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Confetti</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> iPad Case on </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">Zazzle</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yJkbtvm9SZ3xpF4kfK58L22ubb5NULaACnysuihrqC2cy33V6Jf7jz_TkuXS75O_TO93avmHnwf-ww7U4Lay1IJykyVmhV8zvPBGXfz-qoW9p_-6KcJmBGcymfq9DtVq4qo4MMHiMHde/s1600/confetti+hi+top.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yJkbtvm9SZ3xpF4kfK58L22ubb5NULaACnysuihrqC2cy33V6Jf7jz_TkuXS75O_TO93avmHnwf-ww7U4Lay1IJykyVmhV8zvPBGXfz-qoW9p_-6KcJmBGcymfq9DtVq4qo4MMHiMHde/s320/confetti+hi+top.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596962327893717762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last but not least- </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Confetti</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Pro-Keds Royal Hi on </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">Zazzle</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Almost forgot - check out a new link we've listed, for all you big dogs out there! At </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.mammothoutlet.com/large-dog-beds.htm">MammothOutlet.com</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> there are dozens of high quality beds, with special attention to the needs of large breeds like my Airedale Cassie. Nothing like a good comfortable snooze for our fur babies!</span><br /></div>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-25266775939682481802011-03-25T10:34:00.000-07:002011-03-25T10:42:39.113-07:00Showing Off!<div style="text-align: justify;"><embed src="http://www.zazzle.com/utl/getpanel?tl=picassieo%27s%20Store%20at%20Zazzle&ch=picassieo&at=238834943388262025&st=POPULARITY" flashvars="path=http://www.zazzle.com/assets/swf/zp/skins" width="450"></embed><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />Cassie has been slacking off in the art department, so I've been playing with creating more products in our </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">Zazzle</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> store. Lots of knock-your-socks-off Keds, with a few new items - iPad and iPhone 4 Cases! More fun stuff in the works - but you can take a look at what's there now. Hey - Cassie could use some acupuncture treatment - we need to sell some shoes!</span><br /></div>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-28913144927758785202011-02-24T13:05:00.001-08:002011-02-24T13:25:46.545-08:00"Line Dance"<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholKxBJ7Ob7pvcbDr_80ZS-RJFyB4ZKEVeYx_A5TimENTXodb0U0oZ9-T1KUXfiwL5Hxx0JD1OYdUo6CWEW962-66keuEqaRtyF3VzRL-6OujpgpMAEVvpV6VRTdekU86YCbubAMcFd3P9/s1600/Line-Dancing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholKxBJ7Ob7pvcbDr_80ZS-RJFyB4ZKEVeYx_A5TimENTXodb0U0oZ9-T1KUXfiwL5Hxx0JD1OYdUo6CWEW962-66keuEqaRtyF3VzRL-6OujpgpMAEVvpV6VRTdekU86YCbubAMcFd3P9/s320/Line-Dancing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577365651897031698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Line Dance</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> © Beth Stafford 2011</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Line Dance</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> is my latest PiCassieO - to me it looked like a pair of dancers floating against a rainbow of colors. I like it so much that I reformatted it to use in my shoe designs on </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">Zazzle</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> .</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Below is a sneak preview of my first Keds for kids featuring </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Line Dance</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">. There are four other styles available for adults: Pro Keds Royal Hi, Pro Keds Royal Lo, Lace Up, and Mini Slip On.</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6UKqsy63L9LwnxuI-4XUsyIUnzTPUhXEAoJSXpjQM1y4Kzs-OTnulV7h6dYtt6IE9iCY_CR-DD-z2Ph3X0BELwyy29f8KfTg_oKgiGcot9qBacFWobvJpPKArnxtFd7ug0XFof3qq928/s1600/Line+Dance+Kids+lace+up.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6UKqsy63L9LwnxuI-4XUsyIUnzTPUhXEAoJSXpjQM1y4Kzs-OTnulV7h6dYtt6IE9iCY_CR-DD-z2Ph3X0BELwyy29f8KfTg_oKgiGcot9qBacFWobvJpPKArnxtFd7ug0XFof3qq928/s320/Line+Dance+Kids+lace+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577365647305712146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">The art was fun to make, and the shoes are fun to wear! Interested? Go to </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">PiCassieO</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and check 'em out!</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Are you creative? Zazzle is a fun place to use your photos or art on lots of things besides shoes. See for yourself:</span><br /><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom/tshirts?rf=238834943388262025&CMPN=ban_customtshirts_120x60"><img src="http://asset.zcache.com/assets/graphics/_zletter/2009/banners/customtshirts/customtshirts_120x60.gif" alt="Custom T-Shirts" /></a>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-37290508587650307012011-02-16T13:36:00.001-08:002011-02-16T13:53:24.563-08:00's Not Bad!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdvu08TQ8GN7V4P-lX00qJag8Pkn2xeTUE0QZguLVnzeh7sngZSQkzxLYG5oeKVYPWJll-FChvISFWzw11mB8HbBoiUMGeSMH4xHDL8-3H6IGLqG7sCJtbcXT220NqtQSq-XEwG-2wJ82/s1600/snot-bad.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdvu08TQ8GN7V4P-lX00qJag8Pkn2xeTUE0QZguLVnzeh7sngZSQkzxLYG5oeKVYPWJll-FChvISFWzw11mB8HbBoiUMGeSMH4xHDL8-3H6IGLqG7sCJtbcXT220NqtQSq-XEwG-2wJ82/s320/snot-bad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574404648572883154" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">'s Not Bad</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> © Beth Stafford 2011</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Don't know why, but these web images always seem to be darker that the original jpeg. I couldn't resist playing with words on the title, since if you've read how these images originate, you know what "medium" Cassie uses. Anyway, the more dignified title is </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Enigma Variation</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, since the two central marks are something of an enigma (and I like the music with the same name). The colors of the original are brilliant - not nearly as dark as they appear here.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think I know what happened just before the marks were made on the door. Cassie and I have both been sneezing a lot lately. Last week she had a really explosive fit, right at the door, and somehow managed to leave a perfect print of her nostrils on it, with a little embellishment...I got a good laugh when I saw it. The background of mats and shadows was perfect for those two dramatic marks. So now you know.</span><br /></div>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-9759701192485927032011-02-07T09:38:00.000-08:002011-02-07T09:55:16.130-08:00Cabin Fever!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia38kmfmDkkEiCOPIBPN7zhx7fOy3m-XQ6DFq3ohyAcXfM2OJAZXRYj7UAcwkDiZ3C3Nj7P8vQC5JBnfqqioO6AICVOgOEUqv6gvvrPHMR4Z080mVrrV8Kro8aUyY_KXwslDZMVjsAYBXN/s1600/painting-feb-1-2011.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia38kmfmDkkEiCOPIBPN7zhx7fOy3m-XQ6DFq3ohyAcXfM2OJAZXRYj7UAcwkDiZ3C3Nj7P8vQC5JBnfqqioO6AICVOgOEUqv6gvvrPHMR4Z080mVrrV8Kro8aUyY_KXwslDZMVjsAYBXN/s320/painting-feb-1-2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571003852728755330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Cabin Fever</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> © Beth Stafford 2011</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The title pretty well describes the mood around here - lots of gray, damp weather, and mud </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">everywhere</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, which limits where Cassie and I can walk (when weather permits). Yesterday I tried to soak up the few hours of sunshine we had, to store it for the week ahead. Feels like the supply is already running out...but at least there is plenty of COLOR in my art to brighten the day! </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Cabin Fever</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> is the result of Cassie's markings on the storm door during January. I drew over them with the stylus and then used several filters before applying a custom gradient for the color. I've used the gradient before, but the results were a total surprise - I really </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">love</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> the purple and orange and black combo. No subtlety here, for sure!</span><br /></div></div>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8397207313843733345.post-71076833897673405352011-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:002011-01-25T14:24:57.488-08:00"Pink Lady"<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj5z9V13BP-3USVK4-MkyHYAtCZydcjg2-oqGxOMOpHTpRdDJPy3x3rRMXsB5h9ZwlBpYD_057nExC-vcrBiog5MF9QDzokkaH5chjj9MMih9UExcc-2_fbnpLLJIPViBiT2l8McRHD5n/s1600/pink-form.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj5z9V13BP-3USVK4-MkyHYAtCZydcjg2-oqGxOMOpHTpRdDJPy3x3rRMXsB5h9ZwlBpYD_057nExC-vcrBiog5MF9QDzokkaH5chjj9MMih9UExcc-2_fbnpLLJIPViBiT2l8McRHD5n/s320/pink-form.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565443403338817442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pink Lady</span> ©Beth Stafford 2011<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">To me the diaphanous pink form in this one resembles a woman (sort of an ink-blot form to be sure) - hence the title </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Pink Lady</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">. This is another second-generation PiCassieO, seen and photographed through my favorite toy (my glass brick). I thought it looked familiar, and finally realized that it was the original file for my </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Floral Fantasia</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> shoe in my </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.zazzle.com/picassieo*">Zazzle</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> store. The colors are soft and subtle and the overall effect is one of tranquility. Print Number One is available - I will post it on <a href="http://www.picassieo.etsy.com/">Etsy</a> soon, or you can contact me here</span>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cassie hasn't come out of retirement yet - the cold weather isn't helping her creaky joints, so the storm door is the only place she can still work. We were iced in for almost a week - not much activity on the road or in the yard for her to comment on, since most animals (and vehicles) don't enjoy ice-skating. Our cats tried it and decided to hang out on the porch until it melted! I think the last time I photographed her marks on the door it was a collaborative effort - the cats had been pawing on the outside with their wet little feet, wanting to come in! That would definitely revive Cassie's enthusiasm, which is why they're staying outside. :)</span><br /><br /></div></div>Beth Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11664774059957477231noreply@blogger.com0