$159,970 & NO OFFERS YET????

I am in the mood to bitch, piss and moan today...why? Maybe because the wind is blowing...maybe because I am really TIRED of bunches of people coming through or should I say "racing" through my house with not even an offer made since August 2010...

It started at $217,000 which all the stats show is the fair market value for this home. Now I just lowered it AGAIN to the ridiculous price of $159,970!!! Good God! Must I give this well maintained, one owner, LARGE, super CLEAN, 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 family room, formal dining, eat-in kitchen, double garage with additional carport in rear yard, 2 fully equipped "workshop" storage areas AWAY??? At this current price, that's what I will be doing!

I MISS MY Daughter and her two wonderful little children sooooo much. It has now been another year of not participating in their lives!!! I actually have moments when I swear I will be "trapped" in this 2200 sq ft tomb FOREVER!!

One thing for sure, I now know how to keep a place spotlessly clean Every Stinking day just in case "prospective buyers" show up....BUT, anyone who believes the cow pucky that the economy is on the mend and we're all just hunky dory...guess again folks!!!

And oh yea...buried the St Joseph statue and that whole ritual also...not WINNING!!!


Happy trails???

Arizona Artisans

Curated By: adamsarts

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

PIMA COUNTY FAIR, Tucson, AZ

The Pima County Fair comes every Spring to the Southwestern Desert. It is an event I wouldn't miss and haven't since 1976.
I have demonstrated "some" craft I was involved with every year since my return from Alaska in 1975. In Alaska my daughter, April, then a bitty baby, took the prize for the "smallest feet" at the County Fair in Fairbanks. I used to enter the Fairs too, but I simply cannot store ANYMORE ribbons, anywhere....and I am not saying that to brag.

The 2010 PC Fair was the 99th year! I couldn't believe that one. So the first county fair here in Pima County took place in 1911...a year before Arizona became a state. AMAZING!!

My own experience with the FAIR began as a tot since I was born in Tucson in 1949. I remember a few little rides and a couple bigger ones and the stinky animal barns when they occupied what is now the Rodeo Grounds in Southern Tucson.

The FAIR and fair grounds are no longer the possessions of PIMA COUNTY. They are privately owned and are for profit now. I have seen a whole lotta changes in the years. Adult entries in Home & Fine Arts have fallen off significantly even though the county has grown tremendously in population...SAD, but true.

The photo above is my display case at this year's FAIR.

The FAIR has added a whole variety of demonstrations of arts, hobbies & crafts in Old Pueblo Hall where I demonstrate beadwork every year now since 1993. More than one fair visitor commented to me on how much they LOVE to come just to watch the working artists.

The participation by schools of children's artworks has also grown immensely and I for one, think that is inspirational. What the youth of today need is artistic outlets to raise their self-esteem, instill discipline and release the creative muses within them.

Senior citizens need this also...I know, I am one!! Above photo of a hand carved wooden saddle is a prime example of the undiscovered talent in our seniors. William Milligan, who is the artist of that piece, told me he never tried carving wood until he retired 16 years ago. His specialty is birds that appear so real, people get angry with him for stealing feathers...but he doesn't. He carves each feather so intricately that they feel real, even to the touch.

The example above is a GOURD carved & painted to appear as an owl in a tree. Old Pueblo Gourd Patch puts on a wonderful entry exhibit as well as presents many fabulous local gourd artists to demonstrate each year. Their membership is spectacular and if you are in the least bit interested in gourds contact oldpueblogourdpatch@mail.com or me & I will tell you their particulars.

I always love the day the spinners and weavers come to demo at the FAIR. The lady pictured above, Jill Holbrook, has been a friend of mine for a very long time. She makes it look sooooo easy. Trust me, I have a wheel, tried to learn to spin and discovered I was the most spastic person on the planet. Doubt i could chew gum and walk at the same time.

This being an primary election year we had our share of politicians in the build. None surprised all of us like the former presidential candidate who stopped by. Senator McCain dropped in and it was not the adversary turmoil or chaos you see on the news. He was totally approachable, cordial, human and behaved just like an average fair attendee. He mingled with his constituents so casually one might have missed him. Thanks for coming by, John.

I have about a gazillion photos of the FAIR to share, but only 5 are allowed per post. So I recommend you go to my flickr page, picassa page or my facebook page to catch a glimpse of them all....you will be happy you did!

Phoenix Rising Glass Art put me in her BLOG

Jann Alexander-McCullough wrote about me and my artistic endeavors in her blog on October 19, 2009. How very sweet of her as she only knows me from my Artfire Studio and us both being members of Indie Public. Her blogspot is here:

http://jannadusblog.blogspot.com/

Please check it out...she has some neat info on there about alot of artisans.

What you see pictured here are some of her many eclectic talents.




These can be seen at her Artfire Studio:

http://jannadu.artfire.com







She does so many more artistic venues than I do. She wire-wraps, felts angora sweaters that are upcycled, creates enameled pendants and MOST especially...she does pencil drawings like the puppy below...she is AMAZING!

I highly suggest you visit her studio at Artfire and do some serious shopping from this talented lady.

She lives in Glendale, Arizona
so we share the Arizona Artisan
connection as well.

Her Boston Terrier is truly and amazing work of art!

SORRY IT HAS BEEN SO LONG......

I have been TRYING to GROW MY NETWORK and has it ever...but the greatest news was that my hard work on photographing my creations paid off and I was FINALLY accepted by the 1000 MARKETS site. My avatar is above. It is another shop that I plan to include my daughter's artistry in stringing beads on eventually...when she gets organized.. The new website address for this shop is: http://beadacious1221aces520.1000markets.com

I also finally completed one of my notable original designs that I have a difficult time generating for some unknown reason...this being my bead crochet bangle of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise A grade rounded chunks and firepolish crystals.
I will eventually have these listed on all of my retail sites and should they be the success I hope they will, I will offer them in choices of a variety of firepolish colors to accent the genuine turquoise.

I am ready to roll now on some innovative designs and creations for the upcoming Season of Cheer and Celebration!

I have been so busy trying to upload my new work now to TWO locations. I finally got bold enough to be a verified member on ARTFIRE...the Tucson operation.

These three photos are some of the items listed on artfire:
http://www.beadacious1221aces520.artfire.com/
which is to be a cooperative venture with my daughter, April who is clear across the country in NC...wow, I am getting brazen with this internet thing, huh?

Artfire is supposed to provide a shopping cart on my blog here too...when I figure that one out, you will be the FIRST to know...after me, that is...LOL. Please take a look at OUR new studio on Artfire.
Thanks

This is a Titanium enhanced DRUZY.
It has 2 white freshwater pearls wirewrapped expertly into a brilliant pendant that I have placed onto one of my crocheted ropes.

These are the sterling silver findings I knew I must use showcase such a fine piece of art.
My rope is composed of silver lined 11/0 seed beads from Czech.

This photo shows the splendor of the sterling silver wirewrapping done by Gay Nace whose website is:
http://www.designsbygay.etsy.com/

The sterling silver findings, clasp and end cones are of a leafy theme and beautifully constructed.
You can see more detail in the photos that follow.

I met this gal at the Pima County Fair while I was demonstrating beadwork....when I discovered she was on Etsy with me I was so thrilled. I knew I HAD to have some of her pendants for my pieces. This is the first of many.

Come and see my listing for this and many other wonderful items at my Etsy Shop:

http://www.beadacious1221.etsy.com/

Picture Perfect/Desert Bloom

This is the FIRST finished piece of what I hope will be a long and fruitful relationship between my shop and
www.sarahsetsy.etsy.com
whose artwork is showcased in the sumptuous cactus flower pendant on my intricately crocheted rope in the photos here. Please be sure to visit Sarah's shop to see her magnificent photography!
And now....THE REST OF THE STORY:

Early into my Etsy experience I discovered that we can check out who is local on etsy. In other words, shops who are in the same city or state as we are. This I thought was very KEWL!
I spotted this shop with really spectacular photography AND the artist made some of her prints into art pendants.....WELL

I sent a convo (message) to this gal, Sarah Whitney, that I loved her photography, but especially her handmade pendants with cactus blossoms, jack rabbits, southwestern skies, etc. My only problem was if the bails would slide on my crochet ropes. I expessed my desire to showcase her work in this manner. Sarah started brainstorming where to find larger bails. She is just the sweetest gal.

Shortly thereafter I was a beadwork demonstrator at the Pima County Fair just outside of Tucson. While chatting with different people, I learned of a shop not too far from my home that carried the larger bails we were looking for in sterling silver.
Sarah was more than anxious to acquire the right sized bails to start custom pendants for me to buy and use in my work. She lives miles and miles from the glass shoppe location, but she put her youngest son in her vehicle and met me at the shop.
It was so special for me to actually meet another artist on Etsy and sorta collaborate on some pieces together IN PERSON. And her son and daughter,who I met when she was kind enough to deliver her finished pieces directly to my door, are just precious.
The personal touch of meeting and associating with local artisans would normally have me all jazzed to form some sort of local Etsy group cooperative for support and networking.
That was the old me...jump in with both feet and mingle with the masses.

My situation is now changed and I am lucky to leave the house once a week to buy groceries or pick up prescriptions. Occasionally, terrific encounters such as mine with Sarah, remind me of long long ago. Seven years have taken their toll on my psyche but I guess somewhere my true personality lurks deep in my soul.