BEEN HIDING!!!!

WOW...been ages since I have posted anything... you never realize it until you look at the last date you posted...ZOWIE!!! We have been super busy around the Creager Studios... Our weather has wonderfully delicious so trying to be outside a bit more ...biking around the island, working in the yard and of course working on our Tipi...
We have started to paint in interior linings...(see picture) 1 down 2 to go....it is very time consuming, but a real labor of love... anything with the tipi is. Eventually we will paint the outside of the tipi but we are working still on the design we want...









I just had my 57th Birthday on March 10th ...(my how time flies when you are having a Ball)!!! Anyway, my dearest friend and husband Richard gifted me with something I have ALWAYS wanted.... a REAL Buffalo Hide ... I almost fainted!!! It is absolutely magnificent... 8 1/2 feet by 6 1/2 feet and is regally placed inside the tipi at the back of the lodge... it is PERFECT!!!! (see pics) ...I swear to you all... there is magic there.. a New spiritual awakening that I can't explain...and everyone who enters the tipi and sits on 'TaTanka' feels it....The story of the hide... it hug for over 50 years in a Native American Cultural Teaching Center ...it was tanned in the native way by Native Americans... it has the original stake down marks and is a 'full' hide...meaning not 'cleaned up' with excess hair cut off to make it 'pretty' ...but rather the full hide...with leg hair, and full belly fur...tail also.... this is very exciting to me... rare to find. I love that it is older too... and I think of all those viewed the hide over the years and all the school children that 'touched' him and learned from him...
So on my Birthday I spent the night in the tipi on the Buffalo and slept the most peaceful sleep I have ever experienced. I normally dream hard and active...waking up very tired... this night I did not dream...or if I did...it was gentle and non evasive ...I awoke to calm and relaxation... and the smell of coffee and campfire in our tipi... Richard is the sweetest Man Alive.....and knows how to make me happy...
It was a PERFECT Birthday..........

We are busy with our Artwork as well.... keeping busy with several commissions and getting ready to start on more EBAY Art.

This July we travel to Las Vegas for our Annual NIADA (National Institute of American Doll Artists) Convention.... been 7 years since we attended one... so we must create at least 3 dolls for that.... YIKES!!! Time grows near...

So much more to write about but I have to get back to work now... so will come back and add more soon...lots of tales to tell.

Jodi aka 'Story-Teller' (name given to me by my Dear Ojibwa Friend)

Yet another YOUTUBE!!!

OMG!!!! I think I might be 'slightly' HOOKED!!!! This is tooooo fun...I really like the combining of Photos and music.......timing everything and all the cool stuff that goes with it...might have to break down at some point and get a movie camera!! Down the road!!!

So I have made a short little 'ditty' with a few of my 'Altered Photos' just for fun...

Just fun stuff to play with...and I DO like to Play!!!

Besides I am dieting 'BIG TIME' ...so I have to fill that extra time away from food and drink with art stuff to do.....hee hee!!

Creager Studios



Jodi

We Made the Leap to Youtube!!!

Well... this is what happens when I get bored... I look for things to create. I have always been interested in Youtube...but not having a video camera... thought it was not possible to post anything....how wrong I was... 'stills' have a lot of impact I think...added with a tad of music etc.... Now I am HOOKED!!! LOL...

Check out our first attempt.... we have much to learn... but that will be fun as well...

Creager Studios

Happy New Year to Each and Everyone...

Jodi

It seems I have been TAGGED AGAIN!!!

Well my friend Lyndy has found me 'hiding' and gave me a quick...'Tag, your it' ...so I have answered the questions as best I could... be afraid!! Be VERY Afraid!!!

8 COMFORTS I'M COMPLETELY PASSIONATE ABOUT*

1.)My Husband Richard, whom I love with all my heart and from whom I am never apart!2.)Our Dog Tess, who brings joy each day to my life
3.)Friends who make me laugh, bring me tears, show me the way and stand by me steadfast and true!
4.)Our home, that surrounds me with comfort and makes right now the best time ever!
5.)Our TIPI, that has reintroduced Native spiritual guidance into our lives.
6.)The Desert, whose vastness and beauty takes my breath away
7.)Music, without it the quiet would be painful and sad
8.)Art...through it there is a past, present and future ... it defines who we are, even if we do not think it does!


*8 EXTREME WISHES BEFORE I CROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE*

1.)To finish every last one of my creative ideas
2.)Write all the words and feelings that I have in my head and heart
3.)Live several good years in our TIPI...Full Time!
4.)See several good friends that I have not been able to in many years
5.)See our First Woman President! (not so extreme)
6.)To have a good handle on Global Warming
7.)To make and Buy American Again!
8.)To be at a great cocktail party with many people, and I would walk up to a piano in the middle of the room and start to play beautifully, all would gather and listen...I would play flawlessly and be totally connected to my music....not even really knowing anyone was watching.... I would finish, there would be a few seconds of silence...then rousing applause, I would smile, stand, take a small bow and walk out the door...that would be wonderful!! You see, I don't play...but it has been a desire!

8 Things I often say*

1.)Hi Ya Toots!
2.)No freakin way
3.)Just give me a few more minutes
4.)Howdy
5.)Bitchen
6.)Another Beautiful day in Paradise
7.)Peace
8.)Wine Me in the Tipi

8 Things that attract me to my friends*

Honesty
Loyalty
Humor
Intelligence
Talent
Fairness
Politeness
Caring Heart




8 ADAGES I WILL SAY MORE OFTEN*

1.)Slow life down, there is much to see
2.)Use it up, wear it out...recycle!
3.)"Peace"
4.)"I love you buckets full"
5.)"Just shine it on"
6.)"Enough is as good as a feast"
7.)"If you didn't know how old you were...how old would you be?"
8.)"life's a journey, enjoy the trip"


*8 BOOKS I'VE READ RECENTLY*
I am not a reader... I listen!
Audio Books are wonderful...




*8 SONGS I COULD LISTEN TO OVER & OVER AGAIN*
1.)Summertime (Sara Vaughn)
2.)Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
3.)Happy Trails to You (Roy Rogers and Dale Evans)
4.)Mahk Jchi (Ulali)
5.)Appalachian Spring (Suite...Copeland)
6.)Take Five (Dave Brubeck)
7.)Nature Boy (Nat King Cole)
8.)What would they Say (written and sung by Paul Williams)


Fellow Taggers Sites that you should really visit

Lyndy Ward
Becky Federico
Lori Davis
Christopher Klingler

Johanna Parker

I HAVE BEEN TAGGED!!!!!!!

OK.... 5 Random things about me!

1.) I Once worked as a Program Manager for a Radio Station in Las Vegas (early 70's)... pre CD's, Pre Cassettes...everything was tape or cartridges ....YIKES!!! It was the days of SHORT SHORT skirts...and at that time I have a good body...so I was given the name 'Legs' by the DJ's ... and became a 'radio personality' because of it.... sitting in on several shows each day...fun stuff.

2.) At 15 my dad (who was a musician in Las Vegas) introduced me to the wonderful singer Nancy Wilson... she found out I painted portraits... so she commissioned me to paint her portrait.... which still hangs in her house to this day.... proud moment for me.

3.) I got the name 'Jodi' from Louie Armstrong... he was a good friend of my dads (both trumpet players) ... and Mr. Armstrong called my dad 'Jodi Boy' (his name was Joe) ....so when I was born...Mr.A told dad..."Ya gotta call her Jodi"...and so it was.

4.) I once painted a portrait of a woman 'Hull House' Worker... she was very young yet looked very old due to the hard work of the Hull House.... I showed the piece in a local Library Show (in Las Vegas) ...and a woman's league President saw it and asked if she could feature the piece at a local 'Woman's Conference' ...I said sure... it turned out to be the National Woman's Right Conference Convention at the Las Vegas Convention center...a pretty big thing...and they kept the portrait on stage most of the conference.... it was a VERY PROUD Moment for me!!! I even got to stand on stage and speak about it....

5.) I once worked at a Drug Store on the Las Vegas Strip .... and I got to hand deliver medication to Elvis Presley's Hotel Room at the Hilton...and actually met him... a very nice guy...and gentleman!


More Great Sites to Visit

Lyndy Ward
Becky Federico

Our Recent Commission

We at last finished 2 of the 4 piece commission that we have... at the half way mark you might say. We have absolutely loved working on this piece...when completed it will represent a family of Nez Perce Indians from Idaho during the mid 1850's ...there are still two children to be finished. They will stand on a natural earth display base with a few more accessories.
They are hand sculpted from Polymer Clay, hand tinted leather clothing, hand beading. Rifle is hand made from Metal and wood. Feathers hand painted. Hand made basket. The dolls stand approx. 15 inches tall.

Lost in Time!

For some reason I have lost several days since my last post.... no, I have not left the planet or been hiding under anything that resembles a rock ... the time just slipped away as it has a tendency to do at times. We have been very busy campers with this and that...work mostly....finishing up commissions and starting New dolls for EBAY Listings.

On our 'down time' ... we work on our TIPI... getting lost in a delicious world of Peace and tranquility.... forgetting about all things pressing in our lives... and just focusing on another place and time.... we love it.

At this time we are making various items to 'dress' our little 'home' ... which requires working with Rawhide, various leathers, metal, beads (all sizes) Paint etc. We are enjoying the historic research aspect of working with the TIPI (always one of our favorite things to do when we create our Dolls) what is used, why it's used and how long has it been used that way....fascinating ! Our plan is to eventually 'comfort out' the entire inside so much so that visitors will not willingly leave...but rather choose to lay back in comfort drinking wine or cider, enjoying a small fire and speaking of things that please all....this is our perfect world... a world we are so enjoy creating.

From time to time I will add pictures as the Inside progresses...

For now I have added a pic of Richard and Tess enjoying some afternoon cider...since this shot we have changed things quite a bit...adding a flagstone frame around the fire pit and a few new wool blankets and herbs, necklaces and leather items.

By a Native American friend we have been given the camp names of 'Gray Badger' and 'Storyteller' ...we wear them with pride...

Enjoy...

Jodi 'Storyteller'