Triberet

9 in x 12 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor paper, magazine clips Sharpie Poster Paint, Copic Markers

Triberet is a form of belly dance style/dance that borrows elements of Tribal Fusion Belly Dance and Modern Caberet Belly Dance.

Almost 100th Blog Post

I am slightly surprised this is my 100th blog post. My original intent for the blog was to post knitting, belly dance and my art work.

I ramped up my blogging in October when I began the Everyday Matters challenges which led to other challenges and online workshops.

I began the blog and the year with continuing my addition to sock knitting. Though I have slowed down with my knitting considerably I did finish 42 projects. Not bad as only four projects were completed in the last four months.

Belly Dancing and the troupe I belong to, Rising Stars, are still important to me. We had our last performance of the year for a private party at the Falkirk Mansion. We danced in the main parlor. It was different and very fun. I like to perform for people who are not familiar with belly dance.

Mostly my focus has been to regain my actual drawing and painting skills. I was looking over the pieces I created this year. For several years I have been using a distress, vintage look. My color palette primarily was in the brown, orange and yellow range.

6 in x 8 in Canvas panel, acrylic and clip art

Around April I started painted more acrylic backgrounds using muted shades of pink, green and blue. Around July I began to get more in to various painting backgrounds.

9 in x 12 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor paper, acrylic, scrapbook papers

My color palette became much brighter as I started using heavy body acrylics and oil pastels.

8 in x 5.5 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor paper, acrylic and Sharpie Poster Paints

I had a few false starts with art journaling as the books/journals I was using or creating just wasn't work.

In the last two weeks I found I needed a larger sketchbook (9 in x 12 in), a smaller sketchbook (6 in x 6 in), and a journal (purchased several years ago, forgotten and unused). The sketchbooks allow me to work on sketches in pencil, pen and ink as well as acrylic paint. The journal is now for my everyday lists (grocery, errands), lists of books I want to read, quotes I like, doodle pad, remainder calendar and ephemera/articles I want to keep.

Bottom - 9 in x 12 in Canson 90 lbs watercolor sketchbook, Middle - Nick Bantock Journal, Top- 6 in x 6 in Canson Sketchbook

Left - Large sketchbook, Center - Nick Bantock Journal, Right - Small Sketchbook

Therefore, a couple changes are coming to the blog soon!

Monthly Sketch Project - December Water Feature

The second of my submissions for Monthly Sketch Project. The picture was provided by Martine. The link to her website is just for her sketch of this water feature, but please check out the rest of her blog. She does some amazing work.

Off to Papa's Taverna's to perform tonight in this year's Christmas show. This is my favorite show to perform in. Muddy parking lot (and it is raining hard today), dressing rooms in the upstairs seating with a view of the kitchen, low ceiling, big Christmas ornaments that we always manage to hit and the dip in the floor next to the stage. Love it.
Solo at last year's Christmas show.

EDM #214 - Draw something representing a favorite hobby

EDM #214 - Draw something representing a favorite hobby
Originally uploaded by NeonFog

You gotta love my DH - he thought my drawing of a stapler was a school bus and he thinks this is pecan cookies.
This is my set of zils for belly dancing. This is kind of my other hobby but I belong to a troupe (Rising Stars) since 2004 so it maybe more than a hobby.

North Bay Belly Dance Bazaar

I haven't posted about belly dance in a long time. Which was my original intent to ramble on (like it do in person) about belly dance. I really have been performing solo and with Rising Stars.

Today Rising Stars performed at North Bay Belly Dance Bazaar. It was rather sparsely attended (at least when we performed). There was only four of us. It is the same choreography we have done for months but my arms and neck are sore this evening. Maybe it was the three hours of sock knitting last night.

Where Did June Go?

Somehow June went by and I missed it.

On the belly dance front, Rising Stars performed at Aneena's student night one of my favorite shows and for the first time at the Marin Art Festival. We sort of have an official photographer. We saw his pictures of us on flickr from Rakkasah West this year and who came to the Festival just to take our pictures.

Craig's Aunt Bea was in town from Boston. Being Puerto Rican, Craig's parents took Bea and the two of us to Sol Food. I worked a block away from Sol Food and we were always ordering takeout. Even if you only get the limeade it is worth the expense.

Last week we took our first vacation in six years! We went to Sacramento to the Aerospace Museum of California, the California Railroad Museum and California Auto Museum (planes, trains and automobiles).

And of course, Suzie Burger located in a converted gas station. At least they spelled the name correctly.

We traveled Highway 49 through the Mother Lode from Auburn to Coulterville. In my continuing support of the LYS, I stopped at Auburn Needleworks in Auburn and By Hand Yarn in Sonora. I did pick up a small skein of alpaca and wool grown, dyed and spun by a local artist, Mountain Lady.

We stayed overnight in Jackson,

did a side trip to Volcano

And also found the Lincoln Highway marked in Vacaville and Auburn.

Sun and Fun

Yesterday was a busy day for us. We did an eleven mile bike ride at Rush Creek, went swimming and had dinner at the in-laws.

Views from the bike trail.

We decided to take a rest today. Other than being a little tired and sore, it is foggy and cold today.

I went to the Belly Dancer of the Year this afternoon (plus a bit of shopping at the East Bay art supply stores). This year is a new location in at the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center in San Ramon. This is not an area of the East Bay I have been to previously. All new buildings, homes, golf courses, schools and roads. I had to leave early, so I don't know who the winners were. Hopefully, it will be posted soon.

Tribal Fest 9 and Treasure Island

The past weekend was Tribal Fest 9. I have been going every year (and performed once) for several years. This year the weather was the star. In the mid 90s. As the vendors are primarily outside - in the sun - it only took a few minutes before I was sweating. I actually found a good seat inside and stayed put for about three hours.

Fellow Rising Star troupe member, Teresa and her wonderful solo.

I want these costumes:

Unfortunately, not a true color, they were gorgeous shades of teal.

On Sunday, we went to a "conversation" with Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter as part of a series honoring the 70th anniversary of the Golden Gate International Exposition. I have now found the idea place to beat the heat right here on Treasure Island.

Golden Gate Bridge from Treasure Island.

Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter was one of the "Pirate Girls" for the Exposition. She was the most photographed person in the world in 1938-39 and was recently voted an "aviation legend" by the Aviation Hall of Fame. She was absolutely fascinating and talked for over an hour. I am sure she could have gone on longer. She has had the most interesting and intriguing life.

Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter

A display from the museum to represent what Zoe Dell's dressing room would have looked like.

Pan Am Terminal at Treasure Island, San Francisco