Art Installation: How to Build a Forest

Wow! Eight hours, and a (beautiful!) forest was both built and dismantled at Brown University yesterday. "How to Build a Forest" is a provocative performance piece: a look at the earth, the world we live in, how we use it. It challenges you to assess the impact of these choices for the future. This interactive performance will be traveling to other sites; get there if you can! Check out their website, pearldamour.com for more information.

Illustration Friday!

It's only Monday, but I've uploaded an Illustration Friday image. (Will wonders never cease??)
The word of the week: whisper.
This little guy is getting ready to snooze! Shhh!!!

Illustration Friday!!

Back on track with Illustration Friday! This week, the topic is "wool." So here are a couple of my
fuzzy little sheep creations. I've made them with cut-paper and added a little bit of pen and ink -- if you know me, you won't be surprised, because you know how much I love to incorporate words and calligraphy. I've even added a little bit of colored pencil. (It's always a mixed-media circus around here!) Hope it makes you smile!

Etsy Shop Opening!!

It's done! My shop is finally available on Etsy! So exciting! I hope you're able to stop by and take a look. At the moment I have a sampling of greeting cards and luggage tags, and am in the process of putting up some original cut-paper pieces. I will add more items as I get the hang of it all. Feel free to get in touch via my shop, SusabeanStudios on Etsy, through my website: www.susabean.com, or here on my blog if you need any further information or just want to add a comment. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Coco/a's Adventure

Turns out, Coco/a is a reluctant walker. Going for "walkies" throws the majority of dogs into the spasms of a body-wriggling, tail-wagging happy dance, but this is not the case for Coco/a. I am determined to address and reverse this minor dog failing. With the blizzard behind us, snowdrifts and slush-filled roads ahead of us, I once again buckle on the leash and velcro up the dog's faux sherpa-lined coat.  

What should be a 20-minute walk from our College Hill home to the Brown University Bookstore begins with recalcitrant fits and starts. The hill looms large in front of us, but somehow, between sniffs, tugs, and much cajoling, we make it to the top of Prospect and Meeting Streets. We begin our downward decent to the bookstore. This, direction, for reasons known only to Coco/a appears to be mind-altering. She steps lightly and perkily. No one is a stranger -- unless they approach her. We reach our destination, and Coco/a, nose the ground, makes a bee-line to the children's book section. Books about dogs? Check. Leftover raisins? Check. Leftover Cheerios? Check. We just might be on to something here. Sated by the leftovers of previous -- and oh-so-thoughtful -- visitors, the dog sits patiently and supremely well behaved.

Introducing Coco/a

Back to blogging. Must be the storm. Or perhaps being inspired by the (relatively) new puppy, Coco, aka, Cocoa, Cocoa Bean, and/or Coco Chenille -- a little fiber artist joke, sorry -- who is eight and one-half months old. Coco/a is similar in temperament and activity level to a three-year old child.

In anticipation of cabin fever setting in -- both mine and the dog's -- I decided to take a walk this afternoon, before the storm was predicted to really kick in. Found the boots, the scarf, and the hat (ugh! definitely not a hat-head kind of girl). Put on an extra sweater, bringing the total number of clothing layers to four. Wrapped myself up in the very flattering puffer coat, mittens -- you get the picture. A fashionista I am not. Next, it was on to the dog, which, in addition to the locating of and subsequent buckling on of the reflective leash and yank free neck harness, included dressing her. Yes, DRESSING her. Something I swore I would never do. However, the truth is this: the dog could be described as a rather delicate, (she tips the scales at eight pounds or so) flower. With the predicted high winds and anticipated close-to-record-breaking snowfall, I thought it would be the prudent thing to do. Clothe the dog, that is. So earlier this week, I cast personal integrity aside, went to the local Petco, and purchased not one, but two coats. In my defense, one had a hood, and the fabrics are quite different. Once home I tried each coat, multiple times, ultimately deciding on the black and grey number with faux sherpa lining and appropriate touches of reflective tape. We were ready!