ART AFTER DARK

ENCHANTED FOREST OF VULTURES

2012-01-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

On a dark and stormy winter's eve, a lamp glows in the sacred trees.

Circling silence in the quiet of night. Stillness with no sound of flight.

Entering into their final hours with solemn silent wings...

The wind turns and feathers rest on the breast...

Of the secret song they sing.

Poem and photography by Janette
These photos taken at Eagle Mountain Lake. Hundreds of black vultures nest in this region and on magical nights such as this, we have the privilege of watching and listening to their evensong.

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR CHRISTMAS MONEY!

2011-12-24T15:24:00.000-08:00

You are getting a little "Christmas Money" aren't you?! Well, I have a few suggestions for treating yourself! Check out a couple of items at DejaVuDream.

Spring is not far away and this gorgeous shell necklace would be a perfect start for your Spring wardrobe!

Get your Retro 50s vibe on with this Saint Germain electric blue jacket. Great detailing and a classic!

The "cat hat" boy will capture your heart with this vintage Chico vest. Check out mom on the reverse side! 100% cotton and made for a great pair of jeans!

If you haven't visited us lately, hurry back for more quality vintage. More Bob Mackie Wearable Art will be added soon like this stunning Egyptian inspired embroidered Peacock feather tunic!

Happiness Is......

2011-12-13T17:45:00.000-08:00

A favorite "daddy sock"....

A long afternoon nap....

A sunny spot on a sick day!....

A beautiful day at the lake.....

Toasting a "cat brain" under the lamp....

Getting a "daddy hug".....

Meditation on a full tummy.....
Have a Happy Happy week!!

BODY PARTS!

2011-11-19T23:23:00.000-08:00

Sharing some of my work companions at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. I work in Lewis Library and we check out "body parts" to the medical students, professors, and outside teachers. I didn't have room to share all the bodies with you, but here are a few favorites!

Edgar's "in the closet" for repairs, but he likes to take little sneak peeks to check up on his companions!

I told you Edgar was keeping an eye on everyone....especially the "pretty girls"!

Handsome Harry waits patiently for someone to notice him! He could use a facelift or maybe just a little more skin!

Everyone could use a hand once in awhile....we have a few to go around!

Maxine and her new beau are just hanging out! Maxine is the one with all the patriotic colors....a girl has to be different to get noticed!

You do want your doctor to study brains....in case he finds one while examining you!

Now for the best one...... ALIEN BABY ........our personal favorite!!

All the OB/GYN students get to meet Alien Baby and the pelvis he (or maybe she) comes from! Guess I could title this "Mother and Child" (at least parts of them).

Okay folks.....ready or not.....it's Showtime!!

Hello world, Alien Baby has arrived and is ready for lunch....which way to the breast buffet!

Maxine bids you farewell for she is busy making Halloween plans....and you hurry back for more ghoulish posts in the near future.

EYE FOR AN EYE

2011-11-17T04:26:00.000-08:00

Just posted this mixed media art in my ArtAfterDark Etsy shop and I wanted to share this "handsome" guy with you! I created this piece for a mask themed show and liked it so much I kept it for several years. Now, he wants to live with someone else who considers him "a catch"!

Love this lightweight modeling clay. Beautiful terra cotta color! The Arches paper background has a watercolor mix of blues and greens. The canvas is Lumiere bronze! I sprinkled the mask and paper with Lumiere gold.

The gallery wrapped canvas is 8 x 10 inches! Click on the photos for a closer look.

Honoring a Loving Companion

2011-10-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

It is with great sadness I begin an overdue and long delayed blog post about the passing of our beloved Dalmatian, Oreo. In March of this year, Oreo became very ill. Within one week she was so seriously ill that we made one of the hardest decisions....to part with our girl, loving and faithful companion of ten and a half years, to mercifully spare her the agony of a disease we could not cure or control. Oreo was suffering from a previously undetected, deeply embedded, abdominal tumor. Causing her extreme pain, it was an aggressive invasive malignancy. After many tests and a week in the animal hospital, trying to determine a diagnosis and/or treatment, she became suddenly worse. We were told it might possibly be inoperable and if removed,the tumor would cause Oreo many weeks (most likely months) of chemo and painful rehab with a good chance it would return. We loved Oreo too much to let her suffer because of our selfish wish to keep her with us a few months longer. We were with her until the last breath and we have added her small wooden box of ashes to a growing collection of our "fur children". We miss her every day. ShuShu, our cat and her constant friend and companion, misses her very much too.

Oreo and ShuShu, the constant nappers!

A more gentle soul was never born.....we miss you, our sweet girl.

BLUE MONDAY!

2010-07-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

Just a quick hello to let folks know I'm still among the living! It's not really a "blue Monday" since I have found my "MUSE" again and am on a creative roll! A wonderful thunderstorm and the approaching Autumn perked up my imagination! Thought I would share the gorgeous blue glassware a friend of mine collects! Isn't it beautiful?!! Have a great week and stay tuned for more posts!

OREO'S NEW TOY!

2010-04-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

Just a few pics of Oreo with her new favorite toy! It's a slow day and I thought I would share this pretty girl and her new soon to be demolished obsession!

2010-04-15T12:44:00.001-07:00

HAPPY EASTER!

2010-04-02T01:35:00.001-07:00

A time for renewal and rebirth....and launching those big new projects with much success!

art by Janette

MOMMA BIRD....MASTER BUILDER!

2010-03-13T20:08:00.000-08:00

I saw this little tree in a busy parking lot and upon closer inspection, noticed this amazing work of art. An industrious and talented little bird built an incredible nest of twigs, plastic and (most of all) string! This little momma wound the string around branches, twigs, etc. to create an anchored work of art! Look closely for the string....I've never seen a nest quite this unique!

See towards the center of photo (the straight line) for string that is repeatedly wrapped around small branches!

Click on any photo for a real close-up and you will see even more intertwining of various types of string! This was no "bird brain builder"!!

The string is visible in the nest along with her assorted building materials! She was so creative! Look to the upper right branch, this little bird wrapped a piece of string around the branch and into the nest!
Look to the left of the left branch and you will see a straight anchor string....very clever!

Here is another view of an "anchor string" (towards the middle). This little momma wrapped that string around the bottom branches (see limbs on bottom of photo). She was building a nest to withstand a Texas tornado.....and it did! Isn't Nature amazing!?

JUST BECAUSE......

2010-02-28T19:38:00.001-08:00

Just because......I haven't posted much lately and it is beginning to look a lot like Spring! The moon is full, the air is balmy and I smell Spring on the horizon. Listen to the earth and you can almost hear those little leaves growing and buds popping! Rebirth and renewal are here.....can Halloween be far behind (yes, I know...I'm always thinking about Halloween)!!

art by Janette

DID SOMEONE MENTION VALENTINES!

2010-02-14T21:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I almost slept thru Valentine's Day! After being snowed in for several days and so cold I couldn't sleep, I had to catch up! Eight or nine inches of snow may not sound like a lot, but in Fort Worth, it is a major event. Over 200,000 homes throughout the Metroplex had no electricity for several days. We were "trapped" in our home with no electricity or heat because of downed tree limbs and icy slopes. We packed our food in snow and burned every candle and flashlight we could find. We don't have a fireplace so no heat source was available and the temp in our house was forty degrees for three days! Hotels were full and taxis were scarce. It was a nightmare, but it is over and we are so thankful for all the things we take for granted....heat, hot food, transportation, lights!! Now, you know why I had to take a nap!!

We still have lots of tree branches to cut up, a fence to repair, a downed power line in our driveway to avoid (until the power company makes it to our neighborhood). We are slowly returning to a normal schedule, but we just wanted to take a few moments to soak up the heat, hot water, warm food and lamplight!! Happy Belated Valentine's Day to everyone!

art by Janette

CELEBRATE ODD ETSY!

2010-01-30T14:43:00.001-08:00

On January 28, http://www.celebrateoddetsy.blogspot.com published three pieces of my art from my Etsy shop "ART AFTER DARK"! Thanks Celebrate Odd Etsy! Click on this fun blog in my "links to enjoy" and see what wild and strange things you can discover. I love the food pillows! Who wouldn't want to lounge on a chocolate chip cookie!?!

art by Janette

Unable to Fly....and Happy New Year!

2010-01-06T19:58:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope every one started the New Year with renewed hope for a great 2010. I have been absent from this blog and not tending my Etsy shops because I recently discovered I am unable to fly! I was injured when I tumbled down some stairs at a movie theatre and am recuperating. Nothing was broken, but I sure could have used some "fairy dust" and "lift off" as I plunged down those stairs! I feel fortunate to have only bumps and big bruises so I guess 2010 did start off "okay" for me. I should be walking without a cane by the end of the week and ready to start the New Year properly!

art by Janette

IS IT PARTY TIME YET?

2009-12-27T13:12:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas is gone and 2010 is on the horizon! I, for one, am glad to see 2009 disappear over the hill! What a traumatic and crazy year. Life is not a rehearsal so it is time to move on and get the "party" started! Resolutions are in place and plans are being made! I'm going to have more fun this year than I have ever had before! How's that for Resolution No. 1....what are you resolving to do in 2010?!

art by Janette

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

2009-12-21T01:45:00.000-08:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND WISHES FOR A SAFE AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
All you "naughty cats" know who you are....let's do better next year!

art by Janette

MERRY......??

2009-12-21T01:41:00.000-08:00

Well, some folks know how to celebrate!

HO Ho ho!
Ten months to Halloween and counting!

SEND CANDY!!

2009-12-06T18:36:00.001-08:00

Well....what is Christmas without a sugar high!? Wrap your comments in a 10 lb. bag of Hershey Kisses and mail it right away!! We are waiting.....

art by Janette

Beginning to look a lot like.....

2009-12-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Rudy is ready and looking for the other "ravendears" so old Santa can deliver all those Etsy goodies! FREE SHIPPING IN ALL MY SHOPS to anywhere! Get the spirit and check out the bargains!

art by Janette

COLD TATAS FOR SHUSHU!!

2009-12-02T20:15:00.000-08:00

Don't have much going on today. Feel like crap with allergy and sinus attack so I thought I would post one of my favorite girls on today's blog! ShuShu is a "big boned" beauty weighing in at over 16 lbs. She is definitely an alpha cat and pack leader in this house. She loves to play with my Dalmatian's tail... much to Oreo's chagrin!

She cannot grow hair on her boobies and proudly displays her "Dolly Partons" for all the world to see! She has a "skunk stripe" down her back which makes us wonder if PePe LePew isn't in her lineage somewhere. She wandered up to our porch and established her territory so we had no choice! We adopted her when she was starving, but with the spirit of a lioness! Irresistible!

PARTY PINS!

2009-11-27T19:04:00.001-08:00

Get ready for the holiday season and upcoming parties with these fabulous vintage pins from Deja Vu Dream! We have a large variety....something to dress up your evening no matter where you might go!

Just click on DejaVuDream.etsy.com and your shopping is done!
(This lovely pin has already sold so hurry before the others disappear!)

Theatres or open house....you will be in style with these lovely little pieces! The art deco butterfly pin by Liz Claiborne is a symphony of elegance and simplicity!

Be mysterious with this mask pin and attract attention for a festive evening!
Art Deco Wing Pin will make any angel sparkle and shine! (Sorry, this beautiful pin just sold to a lady in France! They are going fast....hurry to DejaVuDream and shop today.)

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN!

2009-11-24T20:38:00.001-08:00

Well, here it is coming at us like a freight train....CHRISTMAS!! I'm still basking in the glow of my favorite holiday...HALLOWEEN! Christmas is delightful because I never get enough twinkle lights, but I resent a full blown presentation before Thanksgiving! We don't have time to slow down and savor each celebration and their meanings. By New Year's Day, I'm shell-shocked and glad I survived another "holiday season"....wondering if I had fun and barely remembering the details! Maybe better preparation and less bah-humbugging would be in order for a grump like me! HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ONE AND ALL! Try a meatless holiday and let the turkeys have some fun too! art by Janette

COMPLETE PROTECTION!

2009-11-20T18:10:00.000-08:00

Considering all the diseases and disorders crawling around our world these days, I have the perfect Christmas gift! A Full Body Condom! Protects against flu (all types), sexually transmitted diseases (try having sex in this outfit), and actually cures wrinkles (who can see you)!

Comes in only one color, but very effective! Just a suggestion..... happy shopping for the holiday season! HO HO HO!
art by Janette

Another Passing......

2009-11-18T04:01:00.000-08:00

I think this is my year to fully realize my "mortality". When we are young, we are going to feel great, have fun, and live forever! After attending seven or eight funerals this year (I've literally lost track), I am understanding the cycles of life and death as never before. Everyone comes to this point...maybe I'm a late bloomer on this score, but it has finally hit home! Today is Wednesday and I will be attending another relative's funeral at 2:00 PM. I can see, at my age, it is part of life and a way for us to prepare for our eventual passing. I've seen so much suffering and death this year...I finally understand the process and truly do not fear the inevitable.
I took these photos on a recent trip to Lake Worth... which is always comforting and peaceful. This post may seem morbid, but I felt the need to express this as I attend one more passing.
photos by Janette

Friday the 13th

2009-11-13T16:29:00.001-08:00

Happy Friday the 13th.....I see in my crystal ball that many large white birds will soon be sacrificed in ritual feasting. People will gather in clans and gorge themselves with voracious eating until they fall into a stupor lasting many hours. Violent games will appear as visions before their eyes and they will cry out strange words and gesture rudely. After this day has passed, the remains of the feasting will be reluctantly consumed over a period of days and all will return to "normal" until the next gathering and ritual of offerings. A brightly clothed old man will streak across the sky granting wishes and crying out "HO HO HO". And many think Halloween is weird! Very strange indeed!

art by Janette

APPLE MUMMY

2009-11-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

Here's a curiousity you don't see often. We packed my mother-in-law's things from her assisted living facility into a POD unit for storage. The POD sat in a warehouse for the summer and was recently unpacked. In one of the boxes, we found a mummified apple. How it got there is anyone's guess! It was perfectly perserved....tag and all. I love life's little mysteries! Click on the images to see the lucious crinkles in the fruit!

Almost Born!

2009-11-05T22:28:00.000-08:00

I found this enormous wasp nest and on closer inspection, noticed a little leg sticking out of one of the chambers. A wasp tried to break through and didn't make it. Kind of sad.....
These structures always amaze and fascinate me. What engineers these little creatures are!

BEREBI BUYS

2009-11-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

One of the few good fashion items arriving in the 1980's was Edgar Berebi's distinctive earrings! His bold enamel and gold designs are recognizable and collectible. Berebi is now known more for his museum quality jeweled boxes and home decor with only an occasional jewelry collection. I am reluctantly posting some of my collection (to make room for more!). Check out these recent postings on DejaVuDream.etsy.com. Just click on the shop site to the right and check out the new items....

It's Over! Gone for another year?

2009-10-31T22:39:00.001-07:00

Ring the bell, close the book, quench the candle....

Halloween is over! Or....is it? FYI....I've decided to have Halloween all year long! Christmas is nice, but a little too "merry and bright". So Halloween will continue for another 365 day limited engagement....for me!

art by Janette

Demon....a poem for Halloween!

2009-10-30T21:29:00.001-07:00

DEMON.....by Janette

I've never seen my demon,
but I can feel it.
Squirming around,
Way down deep inside,
Trying to position itself,
In a cradle,
Just behind my heart.

Snuggling under my ribs,
Catching my breath,
Clawing and scratching against my lungs.
Choking,
Coughing,
Clotted with blood.

I sense a shadow passing behind my eyes.
The swish of a tail stirs the wind inside my bones.
It laps the soft blood beneath my breasts.
Sweet slurping sound, rhythms surging in my ears.

The weight of its belly sinks
Into the darkness of my womb.
It rests in the melancholy of twilight,
Keeping the secret of my soul.

I am devoted to its silent rituals.
Its corded tendons twisting around my spine,
Tremors creep across my fingers
As it stirs in the stillness of my heart.

It flows with my blood, slithering upward.
Upward into electric darkness,
Snaking through memory beyond time.
My brain surrenders to its hungry tongue.

Copyrighted and published in "Anniversary DiVerseCity", an anthology celebrating ten years of the Austin International Poetry Festival, Austin, Texas, 2002. art by Janette

Fred's in a Treasury!

2009-10-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

Thank you Rebecca, KneeDeepOrginals, for including Fred in your new Halloween "Zombie" treasury! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=73227

New Etsy Mini for Favorites!

2009-10-21T14:58:00.001-07:00

I have a new Etsy Mini sidebar with some of my favorite Etsy items and shops. Take a few moments to click on these thumbnails and discover a new favorite shop of your own! It is located just after the Etsy Fort Worth button! They will change at least every two to three weeks so keep watching for more fascinating goodies!

Spider Lace and Fuzzy Face!

2009-10-19T10:34:00.001-07:00

Look closely in the leaves and see the wonderful lace I discovered on a dewy morning. I never saw the spider, but she does beautiful work!

Okay, I admit it, I talk to caterpillars! "Fuzzy Face" and I had a lovely morning chat in the sunshine. He was so gorgeous with his lemon yellow fuzz and black spikes! Not much to say, but quite a flirt!

Urban Street Bazaar and Etsy Fort Worth

2009-10-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

On October 11, I went to the Urban Street Bazaar in the Bishop Arts District of Oak Cliff (Dallas, TX) to support the Etsy Fort Worth team. I snapped this shot of Chase and Stephanie in their booth "Sketch Customs". Check out both their shops beginning with http://www.sketchcustoms.etsy.com for really great tees and more!

It was a cloudy, cool day...perfect for browsing all the handmade, vintage, and art booths.

"Jane Joss" has wonderful flowers and plants made from vintage fabric. Check out the shop at http://www.janejoss.etsy.com for some unusual home decor ideas.

More vendors can be browsed at http://www.TheMakeBazaar.com

Lots of wonderful galleries (my favorite in the area is Artisan's Collective), restaurants, and shops in the Bishop Arts District so I took my muse and wandered thru the inspiring afternoon!

No, this is not "my muse", just a happy customer at the local sidewalk cafe!

Texas State Fair

2009-10-17T00:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the State Fair of Texas. I always go directly to the Midway. It's hard to get excited about the latest John Deere tractors, Aunt Ida's best jam recipe, or the new cars of 2010! I'm looking for the sideshows, freak shows, haunted houses, anything strange!

The dazzling light show of what has to be the world's tallest ferris wheel is always hypnotic.

The carousel....did anyone see the movie "Something Wicked This Way Comes"? (The book is so much better!)

At last, the Haunted House! The gargoyles were awesome! They were huge and the grunting and growling was deafening! I love it! It would be so cool to have one on each side of the driveway! The neighborhood association would burn us out!

The tufts of gray hair hanging off this handsome fella's chin and boobs is a nice touch. He had a bit of "navel hair" too!! With all the grunting and growling he did, you would think he was "sitting on the can"....kind of looks like it doesn't it!?

This big fella is my favorite! His roar was earshattering and the wing span was over 12 feet across! I wanted to take him home! He was in constant motion so this shot is a bit blurry.

We wandered the Midway listening to the barkers shout their wares, enjoying the light shows, and screams of terrified kids trying not to barf as they spun out of control on this lovely autumn evening!

Big Tex wishes everyone a "Good Night" in a booming voice! He is over 40 feet high and dressed in Dickie jeans!

Be Yourself!

2009-10-10T22:17:00.001-07:00

"Be yourself....everyone else is taken."......Oscar Wilde

art by Janette

Deja Vu Dream is a Reality

2009-10-08T19:00:00.001-07:00

I love little purses you can throw a few bucks and a cell into and off you go! I can wander around a museum, art show, park and rarely realize I have a "handbag" slung over my shoulder. Here are the little beauties of Deja Vu Dream Etsy shop I have recently opened.
Some are name brands, some are just fun and who cares! There will be quite a variety and more to come. I have discovered boxes of these vintage items in the depths of my scary closet. Also, clothes will appear soon. Oddities pop up whenever! Put Deja Vu Dream on your favorites list and check back often!

Love the purse with license plates....a perfect roadtrip accessory!

How about a little 60's hippie horoscope bag! It was the "Age of Aquarius" for much too short a time! (Sorry, this one is sold, but there are more to see!)

Lipstick Red...metal mesh. Silky and sensual. Great for your Christmas party and sexy new dress! (Sorry this red beauty just sold, but visit my shop for more things of interest!) Don't wait until they are gone!!

Feed the Turtles

2009-10-07T02:28:00.000-07:00

I have two little turtles just waiting to be fed. Click on the blue water and food will appear....so will the turtles! They will swim and eat as long as you feed them! When you touch their heads, they backpaddle! Cute, huh! Doesn't take much to entertain me! And I don't have to clean the tank!!

Trout Fishing in America....Ezra and Keith

2009-10-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of Trout Fishing in America and I wanted to share them with you. I came across this drawing I did when I was inspired by their song "Back When I Could Fly". I encourage you to use the link to check out their site and plug into "Trout Radio" for some great music.

This is a photo from one of their concerts...l to r...me, Keith, my friend Elsie, and Ezra. I have a few other photos to share of us when I did a poster for the LibraryFest they participated in and Ezra signing a t-shirt I designed. Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet are very special, generous folks and you will fall in love with them and their music! Check it out!

Keith and Ezra signing a CD...and a shot of the Christmas CD inside cover, "Merry Fishes".

Trout is in the Top 100 most influential indie artists in the past 15 years. Four time Grammy nominees! Check out the "News" section on troutmusic.com for more great facts....even a CD in space!
A Trout concert is more fun than you can imagine with folks of all ages from toddlers to seniors clapping and singing along to well loved songs!

I'm holding a LibraryFest poster I designed with Trout's image and lots of fish! I'm glancing over to my friends who are heckling me with "you're too old to be a Trout groupie"....not so, never!! Well, this is the end of my "promo" for one of my favorite bands and if you have anyone who loves beautiful music and funny songs for kids and adults alike....their CD's are the answer! You can't beat standards like..."My Hair Had A Party Last Night", "Pico De Gallo" (used in a salsa ad campaign), "Snow Day", "The Eleven Cats of Christmas", "Baby's Got The Car Keys", wonderful "Lullaby" and, one of my many favorites, "Back When I Could Fly"....all great and a great gift!

Doggie Porn

2009-10-03T13:58:00.001-07:00

Bogart is "happily" neutered and feeling great again! Here's a little "doggie porn". I think it's a cute picture. He enjoys life with "wild abandon"....totally uninhibited!! Part of his charm. I would like to encourage folks out there to spay and neuter their pets. They are so much happier and healthier! We don't need more unwanted animals in this world. We rescued Bogart, but there are so many more sad cases we could prevent with responsible ownership.

Countdown to Halloween

2009-10-01T15:31:00.001-07:00

Check out the official Countdown to Halloween and join the fun! Just click on the "links to enjoy" listed site to the right of your screen and find out what's happening all over the country!

art by Janette

Children of the Dark!

2009-09-28T23:47:00.000-07:00

Haunted Hearts is slowly "coming to life"...check out the little ones lurking in the shadows.
SKELLY is not just another pretty face....she is very proud of her red eye!

Isn't he a handsome fellow...

Unfortunate FRED's leg was shredded off by a swamp gator...

BOO BOO is an accident waiting to happen.... and it often does!

A Day in the Garden!

2009-09-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

A beautiful pond with heron sculpture is a wonderful meditation area at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.

This "dinner plate" hibiscus attracted photographers and amateurs...like me!

I would love to "capture" a pair of these frogs for my yard art! They stand about four feet high and have a joyous aura! There is one at each end of a long rectangular pond in front of the Botanical Garden's flower center. They always make me happy and put a smile on my face!

It's a glorious autumn day and I wanted to share one of my favorite spots in Fort Worth....the Botanical Gardens. The fountain is on one of the "small lakes" throughout the garden. The lakes are full of turtles and Koi. This is a long shot of the rose garden and the path to the first "lake".

If I want to experience nature in the city, this is the place to linger......

....and catch a little sun!

Meow Mummy!

2009-09-26T02:49:00.000-07:00

The Halloween shops are stocking and will be open soon! I peeked in the windows of two huge stores in my area and almost drooled on the glass! I love to see the new zombies and monsters! I punch all the buttons on the interactive toys to get everything screaming and squealing in a chorus that sounds like a bad cat fight! Music to my ears!

art by Janette

Celebrate Autumn Equinox

2009-09-21T23:19:00.001-07:00

Autumn Afternoon

In the caramel glow of an autumn afternoon,
Candles pour dark wine over cobweb dreams,
Warm wool and sparks of flame caress my soul.
Drowsing in amber, cool shadows fill the corners,
I drift into the light of a winter moon.

.....Janette 1999

Photo by Janette

Blessed

2009-09-19T19:33:00.001-07:00

"Blessed are the cracked for they let the light shine through." I'm not sure who said this, but I love the concept. God bless old Edgar and all the crazies this Halloween season! art by Janette

Making Progress

2009-09-18T22:19:00.001-07:00

My cats are getting bored watching me make "ugly little dolls" and if it ever stops raining, I will be able to complete their photographs. The misty grey days have been an artistic inspiration. An early morning chill and the scent of damp leaves is so exciting after a grueling sweltering Texas summer! We are on Halloween countdown.....can you feel it!? Art by Janette

September 11

2009-09-11T15:02:00.000-07:00

September 11 is the "Pearl Harbor" of this generation. I ask anyone reading this to stop and take a moment of prayer or silence to honor the many heroes and victims of this tragedy. Our nation is still in mourning. We should never forget. There were so many.

Donuts and Dollies!

2009-09-10T18:46:00.001-07:00

I sat down with my "cup of Joe" and started kicking around dark dolly ideas.....I love the creepy ones! I'm having a blast making these so I hope you will stop by "Haunted Hearts" beginning October 1 and take a look. There will be items posted throughout October.....you know how Etsy is.....trickle them in and hope folks will notice ya! Sooooo.....keep visiting and see the new ghouls as they appear! I'm thinking of previewing a couple in the last week of September....a teaser! Art by Janette

Let's Be Frank!

2009-09-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

" Frankenstein" is one of my favorite characters! He has become an iconic image for Halloween. We have sympathy for the "monster" with no name (we gave him his creator's name), his only parent a mad scientist, abandoned and stumbling thru life seeking someone to love him and understand. Sounds like my old boyfriends!

Happy Halloween and remember.....
"Let's be Frank!!

art by Janette

New Shop on the Horizon - Haunted Hearts

2009-09-05T13:34:00.001-07:00

I will be opening a new shop on Etsy called "Haunted Hearts". It will be devoted to "dolls".....not the ordinary doll, but something a little on the dark side....it will open appropriately enough on October 1, 2009 so I hope you will visit my little pretties! They will be waiting for you!

art by Janette

Swine Flu Precautions in Texas

2009-09-05T04:16:00.001-07:00

We don't worry about swine flu in Texas. Here is an example of how cautious we are! Some helpful person adorned the bronze man with a surgical mask! How thoughtful! When I spotted this, I had to turn in and snap these shots!

I'm finally Flickring!

2009-09-03T21:07:00.001-07:00

I'm finally a member of Flickr! It's quite fun posting and seeing all the other photos. I have a mix of art and photos. I have a link on the right side so click away. Most of the photos are my animals, but I will be expanding each week with art and photos! Now, all I need are followers! It's getting lonely out here! Let me know you care!>!>!

art by Janette

I am as you will be....

2009-09-02T16:02:00.001-07:00

art by Janette

Good Evening.....

2009-09-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

Good Evening.....is anyone out there? I can hear you breathing....I'm watching you....soon it will be time.....

art by Janette

Art by Janette

Artist's Creed by Jan Phillips

2009-09-01T04:02:00.000-07:00

I wish I had written the Artist's Creed....when I feel like I should be doing laundry instead of creating art, I read this!

I BELIEVE I am worth the time it takes to create whatever it is I am called to create.
I BELIEVE my work is worthy of its own space which is worthy of the name "Sacred".
I BELIEVE that when I enter this space I have the right to work in silence uninterrupted for as long as I choose.
I BELIEVE that when I open myself up to the gifts of the muse, I open myself up to the source of all creation.
I BELIEVE that my work is joyful, peaceful, and constantly changing, flowing thru me like a river with no beginning and no end.
I BELIEVE that what it is I am called to do will make itself known when I am ready.
I BELIEVE that the time I spend creating my art is as precious as the time I spend giving to others.
I BELIEVE that what truly matters in the making of art is not what the final piece looks like or sounds like, not what it is worth or not worth, but what newness gets added to the universe in the process of the piece becoming.
I BELIEVE that I am not alone in my attempts to create, and that once I begin the work, settle into the strangeness, the words will take shape, the form will find life, and the spirit will take flight.
I BELIEVE that as the muse gives to me, so does she deserve from me - faith, mindfulness, and enduring commitment.

Wise Words from a Noble People

2009-08-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

A Pueblo Poem (North American Tribe)

Hold on to what is good
even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe
even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do
even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life
even when it is easier letting go.
Hold on to my hand
even when I have gone away from you.

Art by Janette - Raven's Cry

New Family Member!

2009-08-30T03:40:00.000-07:00

This charming little guy is Bogart (Bogie). He is only 9 months old and weighs over 40 lbs. Yes, he is a pit bull and the sweetest thing ever! He has one blue eye and one brown eye, black spots on his white ears and freckles! We "inherited" him from a family member and we adore him.

Bogart is learning manners and we hope he will be the star pupil in his training class! He gets neutered in September! He loves toys that squeek and water sports! Our Dalmatian, Oreo, is not too sure about her baby brother. The cats...ShuShu, Tabby and Baby Grrrrl are in denial! How could you resist that face!?

Halloween Howlers

2009-08-29T23:35:00.000-07:00

Here's my poem for all you little pretties.....

On a dark and frosty autumn night, in a distant windy field,
The Howlers start their evensong to the clang of a church bell's peel.
They cry and moan with wailing howls to warn the village folk,
Of spirits, ghosts and magic spells beneath the twisted oaks.
The edge of the wood holds the light of a Halloween hunter's moon,
Howlers know there soon will be snow and the sound of a witch's rune.

art and poem by Janette

2009-08-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

BOO is a 5 x 7 print available on ArtAfterDark.etsy.com. Perfect to get everyone in the Halloween mood!

art by Janette

2009-08-29T21:24:00.000-07:00

The first hint of autumn is in the chill of twilight! It is so exciting to know Halloween is coming.....the scent of damp earth, leaves rustling in the streets, quiet cool evenings with shadows dancing on the horizon. The Howlers will soon appear in my shop collection as they do every Halloween! Watch for their arrival......it will be fun at ArtAfterDark.etsy.com!

Art After Dark

2009-07-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new site....Art After Dark! I'm excited to begin this new adventure and hope you will be a part of my newest creation.