Traveling tutu's

 First I will say I'm over stimulated from the weekends events.  WOW, it was off the hook awesome.  Ok, I can hardly catch my breath.  I went to the studio last week and tried painting a palm tree, big deal, well I hated it and decided to scratch it.  So moving on I tried the one I posted of me on the beach in Hawaii.  I was so psyched because right from the start it flowed.  I am not proficient at water, actually I haven't painted many water scenes and I find it VERY challenging.  So I asked obiwan-Bob-kanobi my studio mate for some pointers and boy did it help!  I decided to take pics of the process for myself and anyone else who is interested to see how a painting develops.  This painting is unusually light in paint, almost like a watercolor and this is new for me.  I am not finished but me being impatient and a spaz couldn't wait to share with my sweet bloggin fans.  I will post the painting when it's finished but people like Robin who doesn't do facebook and only check my blog can see what I'm up to.  Hi Robin!! wink wink....

Ok, so as you can see from the other pictures I SCORED today at the Alameda antique in the tutu department.  I bought 6 more tutu's to add to my party and boy what a party it is....I am not kidding when I tell you these things have magic in them.  I can't tell you how many people stopped and asked about these tutu's, "are these all yours?  what do you do with them?  Do you sell them? " No one could believe I didn't want to sell them and that I just collect them.  Kat my partner in tutu crime and I were stopped by tons of people who wanted in on the tutu fun....it got me thinking maybe I need to take pictures of people in them for some money....God knows I could use some bucks and this is a possibility for the tutu future, so on we went on our merry way collecting hats, parasols and what not to compliment the tutu scene.  We met fun people like Mariah who stopped us and said "Let me take your picture", which we coyly agreed...haha.  Then we met Joel and George who are fun guys and had a blast putting on a dress skirt and kickin their heels up...Thanks guys.  It was magic how these tutu's make friends and I said jokingly to Kat , "maybe tutu's can bring world peace" and I fantasized about President Obama wearing one to an International convention and spouting the joys and merriment of the colorful skirt.  Can't you see the President of China or Iran wearing one and how it would cause such a ripple of change?  I know it's out there but you never know, they are that powerful.....

So now I am going to kick back, take a deep breath and count my blessings for the weekend and all the fun it provided.  That Alameda antique is the best place for good times, fun treasure and meeting new friends.  I can't wait to bring my new tutu friends 'home' to Hip Chick and hang them from the ceiling, just like I was dreaming, and see what else they have in store for me.....I have no doubt they will keep leading me there. 

Silhouette art class and Mosaics to come!

Saturday I learned a new art technique, silhouettes. It's amazingly easy, extremely relaxing and ultimately addicting. Jan my former "Roomie" from Room with a Past, was our fearless teacher, providing all materials and cinnamon rolls on a stick for a snack. So cute and so Jan. She's a class act. I always admired her talent back when we met at Room with a Past, she can make anything cute with her uncanny flair. She used to make silhouettes on big window panes with different words and images and they impressed me. I thought it looked really labor intensive and tricky. Wrong. Cats outta the bag now, they are really easy and fun. Only hard part is not making a mess, and taking your time. Now for some this is no problem, yet hip chick is impatient and rather messy so there were a couple of  lessons I learned here. 1. slow down 2. slow down 3. slow down. hahaha. But really I jumped right in and started, didn't even wait for instruction, otherwise mine might have been put on correctly instead of incorrectly. Then I decided to use oil paint for the tutu part of the image, and in my excitement and haste I put the paper back on before the paint dried and smudged the image slightly. Classic hip chick move, I want to hang a thing before it's even had a chance to dry, doesn't everyone do this???!!! I amuse even myself with my impatience and this was just another time I saw my spaziness get in the way of a masterpiece. The other students however did great, they listened, they put together their pieces and were delighted with the results. Jan provided all kinds of silhouette choices from birds, initials, dancers, Halloween images etc. and you place the image on the glass (backwards) ideally and then paint directly on the glass. Once you remove the outline you have a lovely silhouette and you can see your handiwork. Jan gave us fun paper choices to back the images or you could just go au natural and have it be a black and white look. I loved it, and I want to do more, bigger and with themes for the shop. Thanks Jan for teaching me something new, for bringing new faces to the store and for being my creative friend. I hope you teach many more classes at the studio and it encourages me to do the same. Any time I make something with my own hands I am energized and happy. The next art class is going to be a mosaic class taught by Jean in Oct 2nd and 3rd. Jean will provide all the materials and teach this two day class at Hip Chick studios. The mosaics are garden themed geckos and butterflies equipped with hanging devices, really colorful and fun decor pieces to keep or give for the up coming holidays. Sign up before it fills up, Jean's email is jeancernigoj@comcast.net for any questions. It's very rewarding for this hip chick to help other creatives to do their thing and shine. I also benefit by sharing my place and learning new techniques. Don't cha just love win win scenarios? 

Butterfly mosaic for class

Eva came back, and new painting, " Lei'd back"

Today was a fun day at the shop, EVA my cutest customer EVER came back, and she brought the whole family with her....Thanks Eva. I missed you. Your mom is so sweet and generous, buying lots of goodies and you and Luke looked great in the pictures. I hope you will come back much sooner and I will keep my eyes out for Eva-ish things ok...I also had Miriam my part-time employee come in with friends and do a tutu photo shoot, the kids were dying for their M&M's, gotta get some more, the jar is getting low now....and I painted "Lei'd back". The painting is inspired from the recent Hawaii trip, Ben gave us flower Lei's at the airport and Abby my daughter took the picture of the lei with the beach in the background. I liked the combination of the flowers with the water and I am pleased with the painting. It brings me right back to the tropics....ah....

Tomorrow we have our first Hip Chick Art Class taught by Jan Ely. There is still space and it's only $25.00 so come on down and learn something, I know I will. It's getting back to being busier, summer was so slow and it made me a bit sad. I am happy when I see my favorite customers and it inspires me to keep doing my thing. So come visit me at the shop and put on a tutu and have a good time!!

Tutus in paradise

Hip chick has been on vacation in paradise and that's her favorite place to be.  I took almost 500 pictures and I will share a few, as I'm a sharin and carin' kinda gal. There is so much to talk about I hardly know where to start, I'll try at the beginning and see how we go from there.  We left on Sunday the 8th of August and flew to the big island of Hawaii.  My husband Ben is a pilot but he doesn't get to fly us, no, we schlep it on the airlines while he flies the fancy global express, but at least we get to go to Hawaii right?!  Ben met us at the gate with flower leis and a sign saying "my family" so cute and fun and we all went to our condo to KB (kick-back,  in case you didn't know).  Now I won't bore you with every day details but pretty much everyday we 1.snorkeled 2. layed out at a beach 3. ate yummy food 4. listened to island music and 5. had fun.  One day we tried to find the dolphins we swam with from last year but they weren't at Cap't Cook's cove so we snorkeled and used our rented underwater camera.  We took the turtle shot and the underwater tutu pics and that was really fun.

A particularly fun encounter came with a spontaneous stopping at an antiques shop in Kona.  Being as we were with the boys who hate shopping it was a real treat for Ben to stop and let us look around.  I was happily looking at trinkets when Peter the owner of the shop and I got talking about art and antiques.  I told him about my shop and he told me he did art as well, so I asked where his art was and he said at home.  I said "WHAT?" so he thought maybe he would bring his art into his shop to sell and I wholeheartedly encouraged him.  Well naturally the tutu topic came up and he was such a good sport he said he'd be delighted to put it on and then he asked would I like him with or without his shirt on?  Well of course I said without and he rocked that tutu like a Vegas showgirl.  Thanks Peter for your good energy and I hope you use the pictures to show your customers what a fun place your shop is! 

Another fun time was going to Hapuna beach where my GREAT friend Robin was married, and we finally met her friend Maka, who runs things at the beach.  He was so generous and I finally found Robin's hotel and saw how much she loves it, it is gorgeous. We ate at Bamboo and Jacky Rays which were amazing, I love the fresh fish and all the yummy fruit in the islands.  I feel so healthy in the tropics, it's all swimming and eating light, fresh food.  One day we went to the airport and checked out Ben's plane, Abby and I sat in the cockpit and pretended we were pilots.  The funniest thing is I hate flying, I am a NERVOUS flier and here I am in the cockpit of a 35 million dollar plane.  Ironic I married a pilot, I know!  Of course I brought the tutu, you never know when you will find someone who wants to wear it!  Lori the flight attendant happily put it on and I snapped her picture. The tutu has a way of making everyone smile who puts it on.....

As the pictures show Hawaii is just a magical paradise and a photographers delight.  It was hard to choose which pictures to post, these are only a few of the hundreds.  Janna and Meredith our friends from here in Danville moved to Oahu a few years ago and we got to spend a few days together.  We started at Pearl Harbor, which was very sobering and educational.  I was shocked the tour was free and it was a good experience to see this historic spot and take some time to ponder that time in history.  One of the best days was our last one at Waimea beach. Tuesday was our last full day there and Meredith was given permission to skip school and go beachin with us.  It was a blast, we swam and layed out and the girls all jumped off the rock.  I fantasized about someone wearing the tutu and jumping, as well as wanting a local Hawaiian to don the tutu.  As you can see my dreams came true and I have to thank Lance for this.  I tapped poor Lance on the shoulder and gave him my best pretty please smile and said "Is there any way you would put this tutu skirt on for me?" and he thought I was joking of course until I assured him I was serious and then with the help of his friends and family was wearing the pink tutu.  I was in heaven.  Then it got EVEN better as they said, "brudda you gotta go jump the rock!" I almost fell over with happiness and off he goes to climb the rock wearing my pink tutu.  As you can imagine Lance got a lot of support from everyone on the beach and I just took shot after shot of this special moment.  His leap in mid air is by far my favorite tutu shot to date, and I thank you Lance for your generous and fun spirit.  You made my day and I'm sure many others with your daring tutu dive.  

It was hard to leave paradise I can tell you but also great to come home.  I was excited to share my pictures, report on my shenanigans and get in the studio.  It's only been 4 days and I am still trying to get my bearings, vacations have a way of making you more tired than if you didn't go away sometimes.  But I loved it and I loved bringing my tutu with me on all my adventures, sharing her with new friends and faces and seeing how easily she makes a splash.  Who knew some fabric skirt would end up being my signature calling card???

Bob Bedwell, studio mate and friend

This is my friend Bob, I took this picture yesterday at the shop, and I love it.  It so encapsulates Bob's personality and mine combined.  Bob humors me.  He is a retired ophthalmologist and he has been painting at our art studio for 12 years or so.  He and I have only been friend's for over a year now but we both delight in each others presence on Thursdays, the day we are both at the studio together.  We have a fun routine, we happily chat, we both paint and then have coffee at about 1:00, Bob helps me with critiques and articles, I help Bob with all my wackiness and energy.  Yesterday I asked him if I could take his picture with the tutu as it's become Hip Chick's symbol of late and of course he agreed.  He liked it draped on his shoulders (more masculine) and then he let me put the boa and even the cowboy hat on his head.  I was laughing and taking pictures and when I got this one I knew I had a gem.  So Bob, thank you for all that you bring to the table in our relationship.  If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am in my business.  Your encouragement and faith in me always strengthens my day, makes me want to keep going even when I doubt myself and gives me joy.  I appreciate the love of painting that we share and how we can learn from each other and have fun.  It just wouldn't be the same without you Bob, you are a big part of the Hip Chick story and I thank you very much.  This picture should definitely be your facebook profile picture, it's a classic!!!

1,700 mile Journey from Danville to Sun Valley

I have never driven out of the state of California until this road trip and what a great adventure it was. We left on Sunday the 25th and drove all day, out of California and through Nevada, which was quite beautiful, into Idaho and stopped in Burley to rest. We got up Monday and drove the rest of the way to Ketchum which is the town where my friend Sharon lives and who we went to visit. I have heard about Sun Valley for years as Ben used to fly there often, years ago, when he worked for Thomas Wiesel. He has always wanted to show it to me so it was wonderful to finally see what all the hoopla was about. Idaho is charming, with it's lush countryside, quaint towns and mellow pace. Sharon lives there part time and she has a beautiful cabin/house and her husband has a condo which they generously offered for us to stay. We explored the downtown on Monday and had dinner at the "Pio" our first night. This is a real steak house, with cows, buffaloes, and moose heads adorning the walls. Good thing we weren't vegetarian, everyone had steak!

Tuesday Ben and I went for a mild hike looking for wildflowers and we took pictures with the tutu in the hollyhock fields. There was a large fire in Sun Valley a couple years ago and the forest was charred but in between the burnt trees were thousands of beautiful hollyhocks. Perfect for picture taking and frolicking in! Tuesday night was dinner at Tonga Lodge (Sharon's house) and we feasted on salmon, salad and homemade peach cobbler and met friends Norma and Kathleen. After dinner we sat outside near the open pit fire while Harry lite fireworks for our amusement.

Wednesday was our last full day and we planned to hike up Baldy Mountain, it's about 8,000 ft and the altitude was obvious as I went huffin and puffin on up to the top. We made it and took more tutu pics to celebrate. Off in the distance we saw dark clouds and before we knew it they were right on top of us, spewing lighting all over the place. The gondola and chair life were immediately closed (our way down the mtn) so we were offered rides down in trucks, very unusual. By this time it was pouring and cracking so we piled in and started our descent. As we were driving down there was a lighting bolt basically on top of us, I screamed and scared everyone in the truck, and even Ben said that's the closest he's ever been to lightening. I was ready for this adventure to be over and happily it cleared up as we got down to the bottom. I felt like we were in the movie Jurassic park for awhile there, geez, the weather sure does change quickly in the mountains!!

Thursday we wanted to get a bike ride in before we started driving and I borrowed a bike from Sharon and Ben and I rode to the town of Hailey (Demi Moore's ole stompin grounds). Hailey is a charmer and had a shop called "Vintage gypsy" much like a Hip Chick's with cute shabby chic furniture and accessories. It was 50% off so I was excited and purchased a few treasures to bring back to the studio....Then we rode back, packed up and said goodbye to beautiful Sharon and Sun Valley. We drove to lovely Reno (not) and stayed the night, setting off to Tahoe the next day.

Friday was great, we only had a short drive to Tahoe which is gorgeous this time of year and we stopped at the Sand Dollar beach to swim and lay out. Now I was in MY element, the beach and water are my favorite place to be, and the crystal blue water of Tahoe is breathtaking. I sat and painted the scene with my watercolors, while taking dips in the lake to cool off. We packed up and drove home in time for Ben to do his laundry, he had a trip on Saturday for a week so he didn't even have a day to relax. Good thing he likes to travel!

So here it is Saturday and I am getting back to business as usual. Posting pictures and then I will head on down to the studio and see if there is any business. I am only home for a week and then I get to go on another trip, this time to my favorite place, the tropics!!! ALOHA! Hawaii with the whole family and more fun and tropical tutu pics to follow....Thanks for checking in on hip chick's goings ons, and stay tuned for more adventures!!!

Tutus sometimes lead to boas....

Tuesday was a fun and special day in this hip chick's life. It was my 9 year sobriety birthday. This is a good reason to celebrate, not that I always need a good reason, but this was one. I went to a noon meeting with my sponsor Kae and my friend Kat and after wards we went to Chow's restaurant in Danville. We feasted on delicious food and Kae brought her customary sparklers to add the birthday flair for dessert. It's always a party when Kae is near which is why she is SO perfect as my sponsor. Kat and I took off after lunch in search of tutu's, she wanted to buy me one for my present and who am I to refuse? We went to a dance store and they had some, but not much sadly, we did find boas and wigs though, and took some fun shots before heading to a thrift shop in Hayward. Rumor had it they had some tutu's but this was one rumor that was dead wrong. ZILCH. Well being that we still had some energy left and we are determined crazy girls we went to yet another dance store and took more goofy photos as we realized tutu's weren't in the cards but pink boas certainly were. Kat generously bought one for me and one for her and we laughed our way outta the dance store. As we were driving home we realized matching pink lipstick would seal the deal so we stopped at CVS and found the perfect shade. WOW was it bright and we commenced to take photos with a little girl laughing at us all the while. What a fun and fabulous birthday and now we can add pink ostrich feathered boas into the mix. We realized we should've been Vegas showgirls and we might just work on our act and go on America's Got Talent, you never know, it's worth a shot!