New mØsAi© workshop in the high desert… a®t, ßeauty, yOga..

A new workshop and a new look at RAVEN moSai©s Please click it and SEE more about a ßeaµtiƒul get-a-way to wOnder valley for yOga, mOsai©s and gOOd ƒood. Speaking of ƒood there has been a lot on my plate… HWY 62 Art Tours and new mosai©S, nEw pOst©ards, new photographs, new ceramics…  and I will be exhibiting at Casa Magazine on ƒirst Thursday in October in Santa ßarabara… and did I say mOsai© wOrkShop ?!?!? Makes my head spin. But I look ƒorward to seeing you all !!! somEpla©e and sOme†ime…

MILK

I am emotionally blown away by the film. Milk. I lived in San Francisco for 25 years. I lived on Castro Street a block away from Harvey’s camera store. He was an incredible sweet man to know in the neighborhood, always a smile. Shopped for film at his store, back in the day when there was NO digital. One thing that impressed me in the movie was a small, small part, showing Cleve making phone calls to rally people together… WOW, he was using a telephone. He couldn’t rally the troups with a click on facebook, he had to pick up the phone and DIAL !!! This film was like a piece of my life I am blessed to say. Blessed that I am still here to see the possible progress. I’ll not forget the day the riots broke out and the police cars burned at city hall. As I sit here at my computer today, MARRIED to my man, I am sad for the ignorance and hate that still exists and also joyous for all we’ve been through and for the small step forward we have made. Remember to use your anger and sorrow wisely and never give up the struggle to be free… for everyone. PEACE … and for another poignant view, Jackadandy’s got a story too.

In case you hadn’t read this on facebook, this is my button that I wore in San Francisco, 30 years ag0, proudly electing the first OUT human being to office.

©ßåµ∫µ˜≥ç…PARALLEL¬˚∆≈œ∑®¥ø

The date was March 24, 2002, according to my digital records. My friends Michael Johnstone and David Faulk, San Francisco based artists came to visit my little homestead in Wonder Valley. They promised me a dress up too !!! David being the dress up queenPalm/planetaryEmpress, she got dolled up. Michael and I took out our cameras. I lit the bonfire.
NOW it’s August 2008 and I receive a postcard in the mail from Michael. My EYES wide, I see that there is a photo I took on the postcard…but no wait, it’s not mine, it’s Michael’s. Yer but no but yer but no but yer but no but. Yes, folks it was Michael’s image. The photo posted here with the fire is one I took at the same shoot in Wonder Valley… WHICH leads me to another fascinating detail – OPEN STUDIO TOUR is coming to the desert. Please don’t miss it. This is an adventure you need to take. You won’t be disappointed by the inspiring art and artists of the high desert in Wonder Valley, just under the cradled mountains and Joshua Tree National Park. Chris Carraher will be joining me in the Tile House on El Paseo for Open Studio with her stunning pastels.


Michael Johnstone pumps up the COLOR… and this is where Perry and he hop on the same wave…
Cheers Michael and good luck with your show up in San Francisco.

Queer Postage Censorship is BACK

Clearly there are issues I am unaware of with zazzle and the postal system. Here’s a stamp they approved and now, without warning have deleted from my site on zazzle. What’s the deal? Here’s my original post.

Email just in: I am on with content review, they didn’t remove the image. There is no record of it being created. If you want to create again, they will get it approved ASAP as they do not see an issue with what you sent me. Best,-karen
OK the story really gets odd here. The zazzle people actually did rush this stamp back thru the hoops in about ten minutes and with extreme apologies. Well we’re legal again. I think I’m still married

Front Page Santa Barbara News Press

This morning our neighbor called over to us, to tell us she put our picture from the paper in our mailbox. Click the newspaper for a larger image.
For more wedding pictures click this.

1 day and Doug and Perry will be married.

Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah by kd lang:

I never thought I’d see the day that two native California men (one of them being me) would exchange rings and vows at the courthouse, just like everybody else does. OK, so we’re wearing orange kurtas!!! and marigold leis. And as for kd lang, only angels sing like this. end of story.

5 Days til we wed…neelo najma and nisho and kylie reMix

The Phone Rang…it was Zazzle

Well surprise surprise… my phone rang and it was Karen from zazzle. She noticed quite a bit of traffic around my stamp. She wanted to talk with me directly and set the record straight with zazzle. She explained why the first stamp design couldn’t be on a stamp or a coffee mug: The words California Supreme Court, can’t be on a postage stamp. So there you have it folks. She also said they loved my artwork and were pleased that the gay marriage initiative passed. Yeah !!! Also today Equality California put my stamp on their site. Tell your friends

7 Days til we get married.

Doug Smith, do you take Perry Hoffman…

Here’s the music video for the 7th day before the fair, sweet, glorious, historic and loving day…No one can take our love away. Certificate or not. We have love. I give you Barry White and Pavarotti singing together, You’re the First, the Last, My Everything… And yes, I do know what I’m putting on the blog on THE DAY

bug in my ear

A new collage reminiscent of the 80’s color xerox phase I was once deeply entrenched in. You might call this a Quflux. Also posted in a new site/group I was invited to join, via the European mailArt commmunity, called fluxLISTeurope. The original russian stamp can be seen at magentALTERego… possibly where the raven sleeps at night… or roosts and fidgets with widgets and photo slideshows. Also reactivated flickr recently so expect to see more there too. Peace.