While gearing up for Mt. Dora's Arts and Crafts Fair this weekend, I decided to prepare by setting up shop in my yard. My neighbors must be rolling their sweet eyes at me. There is always so much to do before a weekend sale away, but this year's Mt. Dora's show will be particularly challenging! Since my work tends to sell better at art rather than craft shows, I made the decision last year to purchase only 1/3 of a booth, leaving the rest of the space to my RagTag Ruby buddy. Sounded like a good idea at the time, but now I'm befuddled trying to whittle down my display into just one wall.

This called for some creative work arounds. I realized that I desperately needed some more space to hang framed artwork. Setting up multiple easels just wasn't an option with my limited room. I decided to cut down an old piece of fence that was taking up space in my garage and bungie corded it on its side against my table. I also rigged up a wall using some hardware store purchases. Turns out they have inexpensive clips made for tarps and fabric that work out swimmingly! I just clipped them to my 6'X9' canvas drop cloth and zip tied them on to the tent posts. Zip ties (a.k.a. Nylon Cable Ties) are the single most under-rated piece of equipment for an art or craft show booth.

Next I unpacked all of my boxes and spread everything out. There is nothing like being under the time crunch to get your booth ready at an art show to make you wish you had planned things out better the week before. I'm learning.

I use floral wire to create little loops on the back of my paintings so they are easier to hang. It took some experimentation but I finally arrived at an arrangement I liked for the front of the table. It was time to move on to the canvas wall.

I held my breath hoping those magical clips would work as well as they claimed to. They proved to be a great little purchase. It was tight, but I decided to bring my giant cow canvas painting that I painted for Metro Church's, The Story, sermon series. It just makes me happy to look at that fat guy. So as not to double up, I swapped out the small framed cow print for the toolbox painting. I may even make a little side end cap for my table to hang another piece on. 

Here is a close up shot. I do plan to put a burlap cloth over the table but didn't want to mess with it for this practice run.

I'm feeling so relieved to have it all worked out. Some dear friends of mine have taught me to practice and plan ahead better than my natural inclinations would lean me toward. I'm never sorry when I do.

Hope to see you out at Mt. Dora for a good walk, some fresh air and greasy, yummy fair food!

I'm guessing you can figure out the answer, but what you may not know is how much your heritage can effect your inspiration...

My husband and I recently got hooked on the off-color HBO show, The Sopranos. It's raunchy and I'm not a big one for television so it's no surprise that I didn't watch when everyone else was hooked. Let me be honest and say that this show has hilariously brought up so many emotions for me! While my family was full of cops and not mobsters, some of the same themes bubble up. First and foremost it has brought up the reality that I've always struggled with thinking that rules don't apply to me. I think that's the reason my husband calls me by my maiden name, Lomonaco, when I'm in trouble. Secondly, being raised in my family is why I love love love to paint food. Sitting around tables having loud conversations was such a part of my childhood. Painting biscotti's and coffee reminds me so much of my late father, Salvatore and grandma, Antoinette a.k.a. Nettie, that the very act of mixing my colors moved me to tears.

As each generation moves further away from our immigrant roots it becomes so important to connect with and understand our pasts.  Seeing our heritage clearly can help us to learn from mistakes, see what to avoid in our own lives and celebrate what our families have done right! While this isn't one of my favorite paintings, it certainly held a lot of emotion for me.  I believe that our most meaningful works are inspired by what stirs our hearts the most. Sometimes this stirring is from our hopes for the future, but more often for me it is from experiences in the past with la familigia. Maybe because we have a long tradition of passion, hard work and conversation. Salute! 


What elements of your past or heritage motivate and inspire your work?