A Smile in the Making

Ended up going to Nonna Ristorante in Newark, DE for dinner tonight. Had a chicken with crabmeat and spinach in a garlic sauce. Very good.

As you walk in the door you will see several Best of Delaware awards. This is something new to us coming from Wisconsin. When we first got here, we would go out to eat and just pick a place. We would walk in the door and find out that once again, we happened upon a place that was voted Best of Delaware. We thought, boy, we were really lucky.

I talked to my hairdresser about it and she told me that it was a regional thing in the northern part of the state AND that Delaware was a small state. So now my husband says he only takes me to the best places. Nonna Ristorante was good in spite of the award.

So on the way home, we were going to stop at WalMart. I knew there was suppose to be one in Elkton, MD. So I typed in Walmart on my Garmin and off we went. I knew it shouldnt be too far, but of course it seemed like it was way out of the way.

We didnt make it to Walmart cause the roads had been closed due to some flooding. We drove in downtown Elkton a little and I was really impressed with the condition of the older homes. Plus the streets were clean -- and actually felt wide enough for two vehicles! Saw a few flags on the street lights saying the Arts are Alive in Elkton. Thought that it would be worth checking out sometime.

Didnt touch the new piece. Got started on retiling our fireplace surround. Using tumble marble tile and wood fireplace mantel parts from Lowes. Anxious to get this done --all the parts are sitting in the middle of the living room floor and if I move them, it wont get done. While I am not an organized person, there also is only so long that I would be able to just leave the mess without doing something about it.

I did find out from my muralist friend Kim Senior that I will need a sales permit and will have to report taxable and non taxable earnings quarterly. Arrggh. Think I will hold off applying for one til absolutely necessary.

I had been looking through some old photos. I came across this one to post on a tropical fish forum. It is some display windows I did for a shop in Green Bay a few years ago. Decided to post it on my other blog, A Planet Named Janet. I was quite surprised to get alot of responses to it.

Meeting with some Philly creative types in a few weeks. Will be interesting to see what comes of that.

Listened to a teleseminar recording from Alyson Stanfield on her newsletter connected with Art Biz Blog. She was interviewing Paul Dorell . He is a gallery owner in Kansas City Missouri. He has written a few books and gave one away about a year ago free to bloggers, Living the Artist's Life. He had alot of good information, but alot was already things he wrote about in the book.

Have this idea for a blog. Well, maybe the idea isnt terribly new, but I like the name. What Did Delaware? Yeah, a fashion blog (maybe) -- like the world needs another one of those :-) I spend alot of my time down there as I am so close and there is no sales tax. I dont know that I would have the guts to up and take photos of people on the street like the Sartorialist , but maybe I could go around to shops and take photos of their inventory and the sales people. I would think they wouldnt mind a mention. Well. It is an idea I will have to address later.

Shadow Craft Fair at ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art ) at the University of Pennsylvania , 118 S. 36th St. Philadelphia, this Sunday March 11th from 11-6. Free admission from 11-1. Check it out if you can.

Update -- later this morning.

I just removed the tape and have a photo posted on my other blog,
A Planet Named Janet

The band my son is in The Dorothy Heralds has been nominated for someThe MAMAs (Madison Area Music Awards). They also will be playing at the awards show.

They have a new CD out, 100 Unnamed Things.. You can click here to hear some selections from the CD.

I know, shameless, plug. But I am a mom. :-)

Found out about the Art & Furniture Experience fundraiser for MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance) through InLiquid via the artsisters. Artists are given a blank pillow and are asked to create a piece of artwork with it and it will be sold at the benefit on April 18th at Dane Decor on Arch Street.

Picked up my pillow today and met Kim Senior . We stopped at Silicon Gallery of Fine Art Prints on North 3rd. Talked with Rick De Coyte. Kim is looking at having some of her artwork printed on canvas.

We looked at some print samples that were beautifully done. Ranged from fine wispy silk organza to wood veneer. Reasonably priced also. Canvas widths were up to 44 inches and whatever length.

Rick picked up on my midwest accent. Funny but I dont hear it except when I pronounce Wes-CAHN-sin.

Have been doing some work on my fireplace. I posted photos of the progress on A Planet Named Janet

Some new news soon from Wilkinson Studios.

One more day of The Furniture Show at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia.

Kim Senior has some of her gorgeous screens on display.

While there are many extremely skilled craftsmen exhibiting there,
Scott Pellnat's work is quite unusual. See if you can figure out what he uses.

This is the front and back of the pillow for the InLiquid fundraiser.

UPDATE Kim Senior got her pillow done and it is posted on her blog.