We Were MAX-imized!

On Thursday, we delivered this custom commission to a client in St. John's. It was an amazing piece to work on and we always love it when we are given photographs and real-life memories to work from. It is wonderful to bring a place to life in my funny and strange, higgledy-piggledy world. SHE says that I am lucky that so many people appreciate my strange, higgledy-piggledy world. I told HER that she just THINKS she is normal. Truth be told, She is not only a citizen of my higgledy-piggledy world, but might, in fact, be the Prime Minister. The Emperor. The Chief in Command. SHE is the President of Crazy Town. I, am merely the clerk who works at the border crossing. (And sometimes The Queen, but only on my birthday and on days when I feel like wearing my crown.)

This is "The Gorgeous MAX", who lives at the house that now houses our new piece, featuring the houses and churches and stages of Blackhead. It was very hard not to hide him in my coat and sneak him into the yellow peril. It IS a shame. He would have made a wonderful King.

Images: "Memories of Blackhead" Hand-carved, mixed media by Cara Kansala and Pam Dorey

"Max is Telling Me Telepathically That He Wants More Than Anything, To Move Around The Bay, To Upper Island Cove"

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow.

Yesterday, we took a break from what has been an incredibly busy work week and went to St. John's with our Darling P.P. to see "The King's Speech". When we got home, SHE said that my hair looked quite like the Queen Mum's and needed to be dealt with. After a lengthy kerfuffle, a small skirmish, much complaining and a great deal of gasping, I now have a new, MUCH shorter head of hair. I look like one of the Kellog elves.....I think Krackle, the middle one, but it could be Pop. It will take months to recover from the trauma and will be at least a year before I get my bun back. (I loved my bun.) SHE thinks I look very stylish and sophisticated. I am now finishing a glass of wine and heading off to the kitchen to melt marshmallows for the Rice Krispy Squares. Snap. Krackle. Pop.
P.S. THIS is what happens when we go to the movies. SHE gets all kinds of kooky ideas. Next, she'll want to go and see "127 Hours". I think not.

L is For Love.......B is for BooBOO in her Bed

The Wee Italian has a new Valentine. He and Wilma Feral have become quite obsessed with each other. BooBOO, in a jealous rage, told W.I. that he should not be hanging around with girls from the wrong side of the window. HE doesn't care at all...he doesn't mind her scratches, or that she eats birds or that she runs with a rough crowd. Ever since he saw an episode of "Happy Days" last week, he thinks he is "The Fonz". Wilma is his "Pinky Tuscadero". It is all too much for BooBOO to bear, and she has taken to her bed with a large bag of Temptations. SHE told BooBOO that SHE would be her Valentine. Thank goodness for me, the pressure was off. All I had to offer was a bottle of Barolo and a Hershey's Kiss.

Come On Baby Light My Fire.....

This is the sort of thing I have to deal with. Signs stating the obvious. Everywhere. SHE does not like it when I start the wood stove, so she leaves me signs for when she isn't here. Light Me. Next, she'll have a sign on the milk "Pour Me", on the cat "Pet Me" and on the bananas "Peel Me."
So much to cope with. I have put signs for myself, all over the wine bottles.
"DRINK ME".
Image: "Papa Was A Night Owl"Acrylic on Canvas by Cara Kansala
HOW TO START A FIRE...OH, but what do I do with the matches? How do I make the fire come out of the end of the match? Where is the note for THAT mystery?????

Monkey Businesses Never Go Out of Business!

I grew up constantly hearing "Stop horsing around!!" and "that's enough monkey business!" Now that I am older, I have come to believe that there is definitely not ENOUGH horsing around and that monkeys really should go into business. If I was a monkey, that's what I would do. Monkey business would be great. BooBoo agrees with me, at least. She has started her own monkey business. Monkey rides, $2.00 each.

Hooray! We have both been invited to do an artist in residence in Battle Harbour, Labrador for a week next autumn. I am so excited and can't wait to get there and start painting. SHE is excited about the scenery and the drive. SHE has told me that it is a very long drive and I will have to behave and not ask "HOW MUCH LONGER" every five minutes. I told HER that she should get me an ipad to keep me occupied during the trip. That way I can do paperwork, emails and business stuff in the car.

Business stuff. Yes, indeed. Monkey Business! Now, I just need a horse!

Image: Midnight Dreamers by Cara and Pam

BooBoo's Monkey Business "Monkey Rides, $2.00 each"

Would You Like Some Fries With That?

CHOMP ! Num,Num,Num...

CHOMP ! Num, Num, Num...

Once in a while, we are late with commissions and custom orders. Is it because we are sipping pina coladas and reading trashy romance novels? Nope. Is it because we are sitting on the sofa, eating bonbons and watching soap operas? Nope. Is it because we are busy getting our hair done in pin curls and having our nails done? Nope. It is because one of the cats has chewed on, torn up, scratched or sat on the piece in question. The piece in question then has to be re-sanded, re-carved, painted and varnished.

SHE was supposed to put the cats away while I did the portfolio photo for this custom mirror frame. SHE forgot about the Wee Italian and so we were a week later than planned for the mirror. SHE is now in the dog house. I am thinking of getting her cable and a new sofa for it....maybe even an ottoman. Since she brought the W.I. home from Italy, they have been spending a lot of time in there. I imagine, it will only get worse.

Images: W.I. Takes a Bite Out of "Spring!"

There's Always Time for a Cup of "Tea"...

Even though every bird in Newfoundland is enjoying an all-day-every-day buffet in our back yard, the Wee Italian is bored. He has now taken up floral arranging and has coerced the others to do the same. It seems his classes are every day at 2pm. At the moment, I am taking a break from painting and enjoying a cup of tea - but if the mess of amaryllis, water and dirt gets much bigger, I do think I will switch over to whiskey.

Image: Come In M'Love" by Cara and Pam

THE BIRDS!!

The W.I. gives BooBoo her first lesson. #1. Tip over pot and sift through dirt looking for something good to eat....

P.S. THANK YOU Darling Jason for the gorgeous Amaryllis....it was spectacular while it lasted.