One Last Weekend in Alabama

Today marks the final countdown for Phil and I. We have four days until we leave Ft. Rucker Alabama, head home, then get to Germany. The past two days comprised our last weekend in the South. (for now) To mark this occassion we partook in some typical activities. For instance, Saturday night we drove to the local Christmas lights show. It is a privately run affair. Some four neighbors, or so, decorate their houses and lawns and let us townspeople drive through. The entire route is a winding quarter mile I'd say. The above photo notes my favorite part of the display. What would Christmas decorating be without a nod to you favorite SEC team?

"Happy Birthday Jesus"

"P.S. ROLL TIDE!"

In Philly it would look more like...

"MERRY XMAS"

"HEY BIRDS - YOU SUCK"

This was my first experience with people taking their holiday decorating to an extreme. Coincidentally we went home and watched those shows on TLC about all the people, around the world, obsessed with Christmas lights. Crazy.

I guess we all have our passions.

So then on Sunday we did something very Southern. If you know Phil and I you wouldn't even believe it. We went to church! And had a good time! (Absolutely nothing against organized religion. We just aren't in the habit.) I wish I could say it was a Baptist church, but it was Methodist. Phil's aunt sings with the choir. They had their cantata this weekend. It was wonderful. I'm really glad we went. I love that word "cantata." I find myself saying it to myself now and again. I don't know if it's typical of Southerners or Methodists, but everyone in the church was incredibly nice. It was great to meet them all, but kind of obnoxious to say, "Oh, thanks for welcoming us, but this is actually our last Sunday here."

After church we tried to go out to eat. because that's what people do. At least at home that's what people do. You go to brunch. Not here. 90% of the restaurants are closed, including the ethnic ones. We settled for Chinese food, not really a southern favorite but we don't love the BBQ in Enterprise.

I will say that Christmas songs followed by a little General Tso's isn't a bad way to spend a Sunday.

So now it's Monday and I'm packing up the rest of the house. I've still got a few items left to post on Etsy, of course. And there'll probably even be a few more once we get home.

Oh, I almost forgot. I baked this weekend too. I also feel like it's pretty Southern to eat sweets. Gingerbread cookies! Except I didn't have a rolling pin, or cookie cutter. So, for your information, I made them like peanut butter cookies (where you roll them in a ball and press them with a fork) and it worked great.

11th Annual Juried Exhibition in Ozark

I can't believe that it's been over a year now that we've been living in Alabama. This art competition in Ozark is the first thing I participated in when we moved here last summer. Phil and I have come a long way. More significantly, my art has come a long way. Like last year, this year I have two entries. The first is a chair lift at a ski resort and the second is a girl. I didn't realize until recently, but I guess I like painting girls and resort vacation themes. (maybe I should start to combo the two)

I'm sure you've seen these works before, but here are my entries.

( I appologize for the picture being kinda-bunk. I took it with my phone.)

Those of you that have seen Eat Cake before will be delighted to see it framed and decorated.

The other painting is a portrait of a chair lift at The Canyons in Utah.

The chair lift exemplifies my love of winter sports, and also that of the use of spray paint in combination with oils. I handmade the canvas it is on. It's a bear of a canvas. (for my standards anyway)

Eat Cake is a celebration of the quirks of feminity. It's a page in a chapter of a book about the love/hate relationship that I (and all women) have with fashion and society. This piece is also a celebration of the art making technique of collage, and garbage art, and the marriage of found objects.

Both of these pieces, along with many others from great artists in my area will be on display at the Ann Rudd Art Center in downtown Ozark, AL until September 23, 2011. The opening reception is August 13th at 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

From the entries I have seen so far, it will be a wonderful show to come and see. I am excited for the reception. This show has wonderful prizes thanks to the Alabama State Arts Council.

Oh, before I forget...

I took some photos of my process of making a picture frame out of garbage.

If you're interested read on, it's a semi-tutorial.

First I get a huge cardboard box and measure out the three sides of the frame.

Then I cut the cardboard on my lines. From here I fold it to make sure my calculations were correct.

Then I cover the cardboard in the most ridiculous fabric scrap I can find. Mod Podge works perfect.

Once the glue dries on the fabric frame I glue the canvas down in the center. That's when the fun really starts. I dig through my boxes of tchotchky to see what else I can find to glue down around the painting. Here I have chosen a couple of big fake flowers, flowers I constructed from old lace trim, some vintage buttons, and also some painted wooden buttons.

And what, may I ask, would a piece of art from me be if it didn't have an anchor?

Allow a few mintues for everything to dry before testing on a wall.

My First Military Holiday

As stated a few days ago, my holidays are over. Boy, am I relieved. As I sit and reflect on this past season I've become more aware of the impact being in the military had on the business. Initially I thought it was going to be a miracle to sell even one scarf out of Alabama. What actually happened is completely different.

My husband and I have a combined average age of 30. We have been in the Army exactly one year now. It's definitely a bit old to be starting this style of life, but we're always up for an adventure. My husband is going to fly helicopters. In order to do that one must first complete training at Ft. Rucker in Alabama. Everyone thought we were crazy. Most specifically, they thought I was crazy. "What are you going to do down there?", everyone asked.

I'd had Florida Scarf for three years already, and had moved three times previously. I thought running the business from (practically) the middle of nowhere would be an interesting challenge. What I found was that it was no challenge at all. At best, the challenge was keeping shipping cost effective.

Being a part of any military is being a part of the most supportive community on the planet. I made more army-friends with Florida Scarf than anything else. Some of these "new friends" live near post, but many of them are supporters from around the globe. My experience this season has shown me that not only active duty members, but their spouses, and distant family as well, do what they can to be supportive.

It isn't easy for spouses of active duty members to find jobs, or be creative, or work toward personal goals. One's life really has to revolve around the soldier. Because of this, when a spouse can be creative and/or work out of the house the community really gets behind it. Customers that have bought my scarves have been my best marketers. I'm excited for it to continue.

I want to thank everyone for welcoming me to not only Ft. Rucker, but to the Army as well. I look forward to more of 'Florida Scarf, Chapter 2:The Amry'. I hope the experience brings new adventures, friendships, materials, and tools.

http://www.floridascarf.com/