Just Havin' Fun Doin' What I Do!

Domaci is housed in a beautiful old building that is being lovingly restored and updated!

Fortunate to call Helen a new friend!

Oh yeah, did I mention we did some great henna that weekend?

E. got some awesome bear claws on his back.  The dye came out pretty dark for being on his back! 
We had a lot of paste on there though.  It took quite some time to dry.

The Copleys

So pleased with how this collaboration turned out!!  :)

  How lucky am I to have so much fun while "working" !  Friday August 5th, through Sunday August 7th, I has the pleasure of working with Tim and Mary Pritchard at their gallery in Rogers City.  Yearly, the small town in northern Michigan comes together for their Nautical Festival.  It lasts almost a week with everthing from fireworks and a parade to the art fair and music tent, and much more!  For three days I did henna outside the gallery.  So many interesting people!  And what a great atmosphere.  C'mon, don't the smell of roasted almonds put a smile on your face?

  I started the day off by stopping at the new bakery in town.  Three Heart Bakery (http://www.threeheartbakery.com/ sits right on US 23 across from Hoeft State Park, in the old park store.  What a fantastic job they did restoring the inside and outside!  The romantic in me totally appreciates that they kept the integrity of the building.  The original knotty pine counter is a focal point as you walk in.  The homey smell of warm, fresh bread, draws you in, and the friendly people are what bring you back!

 I made my way into town and stopped in at the Painted Lady.  https://www.facebook.com/thepaintedladyrc?sk=wall&filter=2  The best coffee around!  I wish they had one down here!!  Makes Starbucks taste like cheap swill. 

 I'd then walk my coffee down to Domaci https://www.facebook.com/pages/Domaci-Art-Gallery/123975104306079 and set up shop for the day!  They have some amazing pieces in the gallery.  Many of the artists call Michigan their home.  I had the pleasure of meeting The Copleys. http://www.johnacopley.com/home.htm I love John's work, and he and his wife are just the nicest people!  Salt of the earth!  Can I say that?  Or does it sound too cheesy?  John drew out a cicada for me to henna on his wife's ankle.  (The most unusual request I've had!)  But apparently, a certain sub family of the bug hatches only once every seven years, which has happened to coincide with many of life's major events for her.  I was happy to do it, and pleased with the results!!

 Sunday I had my youngest son with me for the day.  The rest of the family had headed home.  He was such a help!  He did everything from entertaining Mary and Tim's little girl, to explaining the henna process to customers and delivering coffee carafe's to the Painted Lady!  It was nice just to have him with me.  We ended the day by going out to dinner with our gracious hosts.
  
We met artists, farmers, students and fishermen! ~Just to name a few.  Some were there for the weekend, some had been there for a lifetime. Every one with a story. I love to hear peoples stories. You miss out on so much when you don't take time to listen to people. One woman had spent every summer for the past 70 years at her family cottage on Lake Huron! (With a brief time out for the war!) Another friend shared her story of cancer, and inspired me.  I always have on the pink bracelet she gave me, and whenever I look down, I think of her, and my sister.  So much to learn from each other.  People ask me all the time if I like what I do, I love it!  Strangers, I would not have otherwise have been blessed to know.
 

Henna at Taylor Yoga

This Thursday, July 28th @7:30 p.m. I will be doing henna at Taylor Yoga.  This should be a fun night!  A great way to learn more about this new Yoga studio and the art of henna!  Summer isn't over yet, not too late for some body art!!
Taylor Yoga is located at
8935 Telegraph Rd. Taylor MI. 48180
For more info, call 313-292-YOGA
Or, check out Taylor Yoga's fb site!

http://www.facebook.com/tayloryoga

No Henna, BOAT!

Sorry, no henna posts this time!  But it is summer.  And it is hot!!  And I'm selling a boat!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2267570932280.2133381.1338773434

Life is Good!

REMEMBER, the first day, the stain is a light orange!  It will become a dark brown.  I only get to see the light orange.  :(  Send me some pics!!!

A Celtic knot.  The purple color is from the watercolor pencil.  This is with the paste on, and some glitter just for fun!

I LOVE how Bess' hand turned out!  Unfortunately, this is not a good shot.  Taken in poor lighting.  This was the next day and her fingers were already starting to darken up!

  I had a great weekend at Michigan First Art Fest!!  (Formerly Lathrup Village Art in the Park!)  Saturday was a perfect day for the fair.  Upper 70's, blue skies, slight breeze, good music and a comfy spot to do henna.  Shout out to my assistant Brenden.  Loved his company!  I think he also provided entertainment for our guests.  ;)  Smoooooth!  (that's his new stage name)  Coin flipper, napper, guitarist and all around good guy.  He, along with the assistance of his new manager Jackie, will go far!
  I love doing henna with the tent.  People are intrigued!  There isn't a product that they can see.  The atmosphere is inviting.  The faint smell of incense on the wind.  Music playing softly in the background.  A lounge with pillows, "they" aren't quite sure what it's all about, but they know that they just want to come in and sit a while and check it out.  And that's what people did!!  Some would stay just long enough for their henna to dry.  Others would watch while the next person got their henna, fascinated by the process.  Always good conversation to be had and friends to be made!  People of all backgrounds stopping by.  The cop on the night shift stopped by.  An amusing psycho therapist!  An entertaining librarian.  An artist from Grand Rapids.  A schoolteacher from Bay City.  Late in the day a student from Groves High School.  Early in the day an elder care worker, and so many others!  But that is what henna is about.  It's not like fitting a nail appointment into a work day, NO!  It's an event!  It is a time to relax, and share with others and take time to enjoy life.  Enjoy the simplicity of life!  Finding the beauty in every day, and in other people.
  And of course, the amazing staff (Maralee!!) and volunteers at Lathrup Village.  What a great group of people!  They were there if you needed anything.  A super friendly bunch.  I wish I could have spent more time in the beer tent with you!!  Thank you all!

This Weekend, Henna in Lathrup Village!

  Just a quick reminder, I will be in Lathrup Village this Saturday, (12 Mile and Southfield on the east side of the road, in front of City Hall) in the art fair section with the henna tent.  Stop by and see me.  Sunday I will be clowning in the kids tent and painting faces.  Weather looks good.  No tornadoes like last year!!!  Check out the link for details...

http://www.lathrupvillage.org/index.aspx?NID=127

Party Allll Night Long!!!!

 

Wow!!!  What a weekend!  June is always a busy time of year for me.  Clowning and henna at grad parties, birthday parties and senior all night parties make for one busy entertainer.  This past weekend I was booked Friday and Saturday, all night long with henna and multiple clown gigs during the day.  I'm still catching up on sleep!

Saturday night/Sunday morning I was at Harper Woods High School.  I like these kids!  I did the show last year and had the same impression.  It's not a big class, perhaps 120 kids?  But they all seemed to legitimately get along, whether they were jocks, band people or if they hung out in drama club.  I mentioned it to one of the girls and she agreed, citing class size as the reason. Everybody knows everybody. 

All were super polite and had fun getting all kinds of henna!  Lot's of custom work.  Did a Tasmanian devil, Snoopy and Woodstock, along with the crazy guys pictured above who requested the large "rooster".  (btw, good luck at Grand Valley State!)  One liners were a little, eh-hm, questionable!  Teens!!!  Wish I had pulled my camera out more often...I'm so bad at that!

Anyway, thanks to Acme Partyworks (my awesome agent Dan!!!) for booking this for me, again this year.  Looking forward to doing it next year!!

Refresh!

En Gedi, meaning "The Spring of the Goat", is a town on the west side of the Dead Sea in Israel. En Gedi is the place where David fled from King Saul. En Gedi, where fresh water springs erupt from the desert wall and create an oasis of fertile ground for plants and animals. En Gedi has long been used as a place where desert travelers could come and rest, regain their strength, then move back out into the desert.  That's what a Henna Party should be!  A place to come together, relax, and refresh!