Kathie Olivas' new vinyl toys displayed at San Diego Comic Con this year.
Sea of rainbow Lefty feet.
One version of the new Lefty coming out in November. Glows in the dark... oooooooh!
My custom Lefty side 1: "Spaceship Lefty: featuring Gangsta Panda"
My custom Lefty side 2: "Spaceship Lefty: featuring Sly Fox"
My custom Lefty side 3: "Spaceship Lefty: featuring Well-Read Rabbit"
click on image for larger view or go directly to link below for high res pdf download.
The green arrow shows where I am located and Subtext Gallery is about 1 1/2 miles away South East of me.
It's was my first day back from a weeks worth of temporary on-site work with a marketing company in an area of San Diego I never even knew existed. I had to return briefly today to get some papers signed and while on my way I ended up behind a classy named business truck. I feel like such a "star" ;)
When I arrived at the agency I discovered a sweet cat that seemed interested in conversation. So we chatted a bit. I returned a few minutes later ready to leave and my new acquaintance was promptly waiting right next to the driver's side of my car. :( This is an industrial area so I knew he wasn't a family's missing cat. Well, the cat managed to talk me into "rescuing" him. Seriously, it's all the cat insisting such attention. Once in the car I think he had a change of heart and there was some serious whining going on followed by some frantic searching for an escape route. Luckily, he chilled pretty early on and became my lap companion while I drove, traffic was congested since everyone was just getting off work and for once I was thankful for the slow drive. Half an hour later we arrived at our destination... the shelter. It was a sad departure but I knew he would be better off in their care. *Note: this was a round cat and I thought it might be a pregnant female but the animal shelter confirmed that he was just fat... One fat happy cat, I hope I did the right thing.
My next stop was Subtext where I was greeted with 20 packages of Kokeshi dolls. It was like Christmas! The new arrivals will be getting photographed this weekend and I will be posting more "sneak peaks" on flickr soon. I am so lucky to get to see these works up-close and have to handle the art... seriously, I felt like I was unwrapping rare gems and you know what, they really are. It's going to be hard parting with all these lovely Kokeshi dolls but it's heart-warming to know I have a little something to do with their existence. :)
These are all the previous posts made on **Twinklings** regarding the Kokeshi and accompanying group art show at Subtext Gallery in San Diego. Opening night is coming soon and I'm excited to see all the pieces together. This is a wonderful project that I have had the privilege of working on. Thank you to all the talented artists who have made this show possible.
© 2007 Christina Conway (click on image to see detail view)
Ana Reinert's newly arrived blank Kokeshi, she said it was taunting her, poor Ana. Photo courtesy of Ana Reinert.
This is Bill Collins, a well-traveled gentleman who is so much more than just a woodworker. This man has heart.A little bio I received from Bill:
"Bill descends from five generations or more of woodworkers on both sides of his family. His Great Grandfather Collins was a cabinet, carriage and casket maker in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. His Grandfather Collins and his father built wooden tanks in the oilfields of West Virginia and houses and churches when metal tanks replaced the wooden ones. His Mother’s Wagoner Family ancestors brought woodworking skills from Germany in the 1700’s, and settled in Ohio and Kansas.
Bill has been an avid woodworker most of his life, and a member of the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association for more than twenty years. He chairs five different committees. His favorite wood projects are small utilitarian items such as stools, recipe, stationery and jewelry boxes, rolling pins, cutting boards, aids for handicapped people, and most recently, canes. Much of his work is donated to worthy causes.
His Grandfather Collins’ woodworking tools were the start of his extensive tool collection, which now includes hundreds of beautiful old planes, chisels, saws, measuring devices, hammers, braces, levels and other miscellaneous tools. He uses all of them before he puts them on display, and borrows from his collection when he needs just the right tool for a particular job. "
Part of Bill Collins' extensive collection of antique tools including "beautiful old planes".
Some of the necessities to the shop.
Other necessities: friends and fellow woodworkers. Left to right, Bill Collins, Al Devries and Jack Thurman.
Bits-o-Projects.
Jack Thurman making multi-colored cutting boards. They are beautiful, several different woods are used to create stripes of color. I was given a board as a gift that day, I love it!
Harry Feucht hard at work cutting moose, hee hee!
Harry met Bill 15 years ago and they have been working in the shop ever since. 
Finished blank Kokeshi with Bill working on another in the background.
A finished Kokeshi by yours truly.
Miss Mindy's incredible Kokeshi with Edwin Ushiro's piece in the background.
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