Friendly Tennis-Art Journals

Tennis-art journal

This is the way Naieva Bookist travels. I load up all the latest things that my pals have produced and shove them in the suitcase.

When it's a tennis trip, which it usually is, I also carry an art tote to work on a tennis-art journal. This one started about four years ago and with just a few more touches it's done.

I've grown accustom to it like you would an old car, a dog or donuts. So, I'm actually a little nostalgic about it, and worried about that brand-new clean one.

There are absolutely no rules to this art - impossible to make a wrong page. The pages are anything from gluing in a pocket for ticket stubs or colored-pencil sketches of my husbands hands as he's driving (the steering wheel looks like a tennis ball).

I take photos of famous tennis players, glue them down and then paint over them, and if lucky enough to meet them at WS&F, I'll have them sign the piece.

Photo of Ferrer, painted and then I had him autograph it.

Painted portrait of Mimi

Photo of ripped ball, Gonzo and painted.

This year, thinking of getting more autographs, I carried my art journal to WS&F Tennis Open, which is a heavy task since we do tons of walking.

During Teen day, we heard speeches so invigorating that the two teens sitting next to me were doodling on the information sheet, and then one pulled out her art book to show her friend.

Should I show her my book tucked in the tote? Knowing that no teenager wants to speak to the old, I thought NO.

Ah, what the heck. I whispered, "I have an art book too." We stopped listening to such questions as, "should we drink more water?" Duh. 

I asked if they wanted to add something to my pages. They took out their colorful markers and made me a tennis art page and signed it (we don't have to just have the rich and famous sign the pages!)

Well, that was kind of fun, plus they gave us a free lunch of Skyline Chili, which was really the only reason we were hanging around. Then, I went to the tennis match because Fernando Verdasco was playing.

So, looking both ways before crossing the security people, I snuck into the better box seats right behind where the players towel off. The place is empty so what's the harm? Just before the match begins, a lady and her husband want to sit in this same row. Shucks, there goes my plans on getting better photos of Verdaso. Turns out their seats are a couple over and they don't care if I'm sitting there. As they're settling in, I notice her bag is lovely. She had it hand-made by Flash Bags from flashbagsonline .com. Their motto - carry a conversation. A friend made the art, she sent it in, and it costs less than the one I just bought at the tennis tent.

     Well, I had to take a picture of that. 

Rhonda Carpenter displays her unique art bag.

I mentioned my tennis art journal. Well, she journals too. Get out! She does water colors. She has a blog. We blah, blah, blah for so long her husband had left and returned and he was amazed we were still talking. We vowed to visit each others sites when we got back home -  rhcarpenter.blogspot.com.

This artwork is as great as everything in Somerset Studios, Cloth Paper Scissors, Artful Blogging and all the other magazines in my luggage.

The players are coming out, and oh forgot, we were suppose to come here to see some tennis.

These young ladies have purposeful art of their own to share with the crowd and especially Verdasco.

Translates: You are Hot Verdasco.

This is what the fuss is all about.

Perhaps this helps you visualize better.

Well, it was a great trip, we saw everyone from Roger to Roddick. Got some art signed, took pictures with a few fabulous tennis players, and worked on some pages on the long ride home.

Few days later, after getting everything unpacked and settling into routine, I was thrilled to get a post from Rhonda! I checked out her site, like we said we would, and she has wonderful watercolors.

Artful Blogging magazine discusses how folks make new friends through blogging, and I wondered, how that happened. Just a few months later into blogging, and it's happened to me. Rhonda would have even given me a vote for the Murfreesboro Magazine most beautiful article!

The only regret is that I painted over that  Verdasco private cell-phone number - what a shame, I could have passed it on to those girls. Ah, well, they should have purchased box seats.

Cover of the Rolling Stones! Uh, Murfreesboro Magazine.

TOP TEN REASONS TO VOTE FOR ME IN MURFREESBORO MAGAZINE!

Who doesn't want to be on a cover?

Maybe just Oprah, because she's sick of doing so many.

 

 

 

Here is a Recent Post from Murfreesboro Magazine:

Don't miss your opportunity to nominate someone who is beautiful inside and out ...for Murfreesboro Magazine's upcoming Most Beautiful People issue! The last day for nominations is August 12. http://tennessean.upickem.net/​engine/YourSubmission.aspx?con​testid=33921See More

By: Murfreesboro Mag

Here are the Top Ten Reasons that you could give ME a vote!

Reason 10. Physically, as you can see by these photos, I am quite beautiful on the outside.

Reason 9. Beautiful on the inside? Well, I haven't ever really yelled or been mean to people, not lately  anyways. Not since 1979 at that casino, or that time in '81 but I was provoked in both matters. And Julien Lennon, I'm really sorry I didn't invite you to the party. I truly was jealous. But I've matured a whole lot since then.

Reason 8  My husband and/or son could give me a shout out. This could make them feel good about themselves for all the sandwiches they forced me to make for the past 14 years. Maybe I WONT pick you up from school! Have you ever though of that? Okay, just kidding, I will still make the sandwiches and pick you up from school (ON Time, even), but see that actually proves how beautiful I am on the inside.

Reason 7 My library pals could give me a shout out - I work for FREE - shall I remind you. Don't you love me? I understand that my tennis pals wouldn't give me a vote, because I beat them on the tennis courts, regularly, and this makes them in a constant state of irritation. So, they can be excused.

Reason 6. Seriously, for someone of my age bracket (with TERRIBLE HOT FLASHES that make me crazy and run around to every vent in the house and to the point that I'm putting my head in the freezer), I still don't look too bad for what I am.

Reason 5. I have former experience. I actually know the former cover model who won it a few years back. Tonja Rodgers and I went to Bible study together. And I agree that she is both beautiful inside and out. Therefore, life is about WHO you know. I even went into Hastings to try and get the giant cardboard mock up of the cover of her, but her husband had already been in there and got it to surprise her. Now that's sweet.

Reason 4.  A couple  of my most famous bookist published buddies should help a fellow Bookist in need. Ah, well, maybe I should have done a blog for the Best Looking Dog Cover. Could have won that one.

Reason 3. It's a dream! Exactly like that Dr. Hook song, if you're old enough to remember it,  "On the Cover of the Rolling Stones," except in this case, it would be me and Murfreesboro Magazine. I was going to insert the video here of Dr. Hook, but they were all drunk in it and cursing, and Naieva doesn't like that. Then, I was going to insert the newer version of Dr. Hook (who is older) singing that song, but he was forgetting the words. The original is sooo great with the whole band. Besides, I couldn't figure out how to insert it. I've just figured out photographs, so you'll just have to UTube it for yourself. It's worth hearing all their songs. I cry every time I hear Sylvia. Dr. Hook is the greatest.

Reason 2. I've lived in many HUGE cities, and I LOVE Murfreesboro and It's HOME! Not ever moving - I hope.


The Number 1 Reason to give me a Vote. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE MAGAZINES! Worked for a bunch, love and want to be a part of books and magazines in any capacity. I am Naieva Bookist and my love for MAGAZINES should put me in the lead.

So what are you waiting for?

Maybe if we change the wording a little bit.

Don't miss the opportunity to nominate someone who is Kinda Okay and gets off the couch, and stops watching dance-competition shows long enough to feed the cat or take a photograph of her.
Thanks, ever so much.
By: Naieva Bookist.

Seriously Mom, wait for the Best Cat Cover.

Old Folks Meet New Technology!

As far as I know, Moshi Moshi means hello in Japanese. There is a trademark on this product  name. So, just wondering, how can you trademark Hello? Nevertheless, I've been telling anyone who is willing to listen - to check it out. There aren't many people who ever do listen to me, so that's when I just speak LOUDER!

The Moshi Moshi is funny for the older set, but the young may like it as nostalgic good as a Dean Martin song.

I'm sure other old folks have similar cell-phone questions. Where the heck do you talk into it? Where do you listen from? I'm constantly flipping the cell phone open, turning the volume up, mostly put on speaker (loud). This means everyone hears what I have to say even if they aren't listening. The Moshi Moshi plugs right into the cell phone and you know exactly where to listen and talk. It's lightweight, but still clogs up the purse.

Old Folks meets New Technology. The Moshi Moshi is an old-fashioned looking headset that attaches to a cell phone.

I hate talking on the phone. That whole business of WOMEN always chatting on the phone for hours is nonsense. State your business and get off is how I've been. But, I'm embracing change.

I'm at Hastings Bookstore, waiting in line for my son to make his purchase, and pull out my Moshi Moshi to order a pizza. Folks around me are chuckling. When I'm done with the conversation, some ask, "Where'd you get that?" The only place so far that I've seen it is at Stein Mart. The next question, "Does it work?" Some say I sound a bit muffled on the other line. But, this could be a lesser connection from where I'm standing. The cell phone does that as well. And, "Is it expensive?" In my book, it is expensive - $30.

     Some guy says, "Every attachment for a cell phone is $30."

Personally, I like waiting for technology to get old, and then find it for fifty cents at a yard sale. But, in my YoT (year of technology), I am now the first one on our block to have the latest thing and that's something to talk about. It may go the way of the Beanie Babies, but that's okay, I'm having fun now and I know from where I speak.

Impossible Book Serendipity

It happened again today. Impossible Book Serendipity.

I don't know if anyone else has Impossible Book Serendipity or it's just me. I'm driving around town enjoying Yard Sale Friday. I'm thinking, I'll go to Hastings later today to buy Nancy Werlin's books. I need to read them before our next Friends of the Linebaugh meeting to perhaps pitch an idea of bringing someone like her to the library. It's time we cater to teen authors.
     I'm searching through boxes of books with not too much there that suits me. The seller asks what do I like to read. Well, I read everything so this is a long answer, but I say, "ah, modern fiction."
     She says, "great, I have more in the house."
     She walks back out with a nearly-filled boxed set of Twilight and then she hands me Nancy Werlin's book Impossible. Oh come on now, that's impossible!
     I attempt to not be ecstatic because that could drive up the price. She's charging only fifty cents apiece. She also has the giant version of The Fountainhead. This is a thick fabulous $20 tome. My husband is reading the counterpart, Atlas Shrugged. So, now he's got more work ahead of him.

      This isn't the first time that I've thought a book title (or even an item) and then, there it is.

     A friend of mine posted tons of Dr. Who clips on Facebook. I'd never heard of it. So, I went to the BBC channel and watched the DW marathon. Three days later I find all of these on the clearance shelf at Hastings, $2.50 a piece.

Last week, I'm reading the latest copy of Somerset Studios. One of the articles gushes over artist Sabrina Ward Harrison and  her book Spilling Open. Never heard of it. I walk into McKays bookstore and what do I find. Yes, Spilling Open. This book was published in 1999. Obviously had to buy it.

It is an inspiring artsy book.

I saw the exquisite book Writers Houses in a magazine.

I had to have it. I tried ordering and ordering but nobody can find it. Obscure Out of Print.

To calm my nerves after a miserable doctor's appointment, I went to BookWoman bookstore in Nashville. There's Writers House resting on top of a box of books. The seller hadn't even priced it yet. Due to my ecstatic trembling hands, I paid more for it, but luckily had some credits left to offset the difficulties.

Vintage Vavoom, I will keep forever because it's the same scenario as Impossible. I saw a write-up for this book in a magazine. Thinking of ordering it later in the day, I walk up to a yard sale and there it is for $1. Vavoom!

When I worked at the Berry Company, a coworker was reading a Quantum Leap novel. I didn't even know they made novels of my former favorite show. So, I tried to find them at any bookstore. Nobody carried them. 

I visit this crowded odd bookstore (no longer exists) to see if anything is new. There in the Sci-Fi section is every Quantum Book written, and also an expensive flower book I'd just seen in a magazine.  Bought it all

Does Book Serendipity happen to anyone else?

There's more. It's happened with these books too.

Looking for book selections  for the Linebaugh Book Group, The Guernsey hadn't even come out in paperback yet, and there it is at a yard sale for a $1. What are the odds in that? The Finlker just came out in paperback and yep, there it is.

     I get a call from a library pal and she is in search of book number two to the Pendragon Series. What? Never heard of it. Does it have to do with King Arthur? I don't mind that stuff either.
     A few days later, I see a stack of some great looking kids books called Pendragon. Better get them. There is the coveted number two in the series here for my pal. The seller is charging a dollar a piece. Well, balancing them all on my left arm, buying her out, we might have to work out an even better deal. I'm also wrestling them away from another library friend who shows up.
     Went home, read, and LOVED the entire series. Gave my pal number two. So impressed with it, wrote the guy a letter. (It was tougher to find authors back then, you had to research it at the library or send letters to publishers). I found Sid Fleischmann this way!
     Both these men wrote me back the sweetest letters. They both came to town and spoke at the library.

My few days spent with them, having lunch, touring our lovely town, and hearing them speak, was magical.

Hobey Ho! 

Magazines are connected to all of this. Especially Victoria.

I read it on a Thursday, see a photo of this artistic end-table where you can put displays inside like a shadow box. Wow. nice. I'd love to have that.

Friday, yard sale, there is coffee table just like it. Hand-made. $20. Really!

If you think to yourself - "She's really cheap."

Well, I have to be I'm a housewife, mother, writer and you know there's NO money in that.

I do share finds. The struggling used bookstores get bags of good stuff. My bookgroup friends get my finds.  The Help, I've been picking up all over town.

As I explain this to my family, I look at that one missing book Breaking Dawn that goes to the $83 boxed set she sold for $1.50.  Finding it shouldn't be impossible.

Magazine Memories and Kid's Books

    Life would be easier for me, if I only could sit and watch my kid's match and not think of a children's book plot line. Anything at all makes me think - hey, that would be a good kid's book. As I stir the oatmeal, I can see creatures ooze from each bloated bubble.
     Just today as we pull the yucky cover off the green pool, I wonder - what if we didn't clean it? Those slithery interesting little lifeforms could become frogs, lots and lots of frogs, and they'd dance. A Frog Fest. But, that isn't such a great name, so maybe Toad Abode, and you see it all goes from there.
     My kid is a teenager now, but when he needed me more, I quit the creative design job, so I wouldn't sing the, "Cats in the Cradle," song. Our days walking around the zoo gave me a character called Sherbo in Sherbo Will Manage the zoo. He came home from third grade and told me that the Principles eats Sardines with the kids - well, that I turned that into Sardines with the Principal.
     We did a happy dance together, with the cat, when Memory Magic magazine accepted a photography-essay column I entered, called The Camera Bag! I ended each piece with those three words.

The assignment didn't last too long because it was a bad year for magazines and they canceled it, which by the way it's always a bad year for magazines no matter what the year. I know, I worked at Petersen Publishing for ten years, and they were always trimming the fat and dropping titles. When I worked on "Issue," each one we produced was always our last one.

I also did a few things for the local publication - Murfreesboro Magazine.

 In this garden article the gardener is named Sharon, and Rose of Sharon is a flower - attemping cleverness.Took the article photos too.


A Murfreesboro Magazine Cover.

 

Writing and photographing Yard Sale Fridays! Answering the question - what can we find for $20?

Wrote a couple things here and there for the local newspaper Daily News Journal.

So, now that there's more time - I'm collecting, designing, finishing all the kid's books notions, and now I need to find a publisher. So how do you do that? I'm sure everything is electronic now and no more slush piles. So, I don't know. Maybe it's all for my kid to laugh at, but one thing's for sure, life would be much easier if I didn't HAVE TO process kid's book ideas.

Publix Possum Awareness

Plastic, paper or the cloth (that I forgot at home)? Did you want a bag? Last year, on Earth Day, Siegel Middle School kids made drawings on large brown Publix bags. They're cute, so I said yes to paper. Why did the paper bags have to go away in the first place?

I love Kid Art. And they stuffed my groceries in these bags.

I could maybe do something with these, decoupage, bookmarks or just hang them in the art studio.



Curious to see the kids work, I peruse the stack, and tell him to put that possum one in my bag, I really like it.  That kid's work has some flavor.

The opossum looks happy. The others are napping?

Yes, this guy is a fine fellow.

Playing possum.

They will be happy if we recycle.

Who would draw Possums? Kind of funky, odd.

I put the groceries away, pick my kid up from school. He goes in the kitchen for a snack, sees the possum bag lying on he table, holds it up and says, "Mom, you've got mine!"

"No, way! Are you kidding me?"

"Get Out!"

"The Opossum one?"

.........

I actually asked for that one!"

Well, what do you know.

 

Chronic Chronicler Built for Bus Tour

Top 22 reasons why Jan Brett should hire me as the

Chronic Chronicler Photographer on Her Winter-Spring Bus Tour.

22. I chronicle my own day to the complete tedium of everyone, and I know the bus tour would be more interesting to my Facebook friends.

21. I'm in a good place; my kid is 14 and would be sooo happy to not pose for pictures anymore.

20. Not only could I chronicle everything and put our progression on Facebook and Blogspot, but in a pinch I could double as the mascot.


Resume For Being a Mascot: Clown in a Detroit Christmas Parade, Southern Belle in Opryland hotel (with a Detroit accent), Raggedy Ann waver at Opryland, Reindeer Comet (Rudolph went to the Director of the library who is obviously a stage hog), Miss Spider of Miss Spider's Tea Party book - nearly passed out from heatstroke and suffocation, but didn't - outlasted the young ones who were also having issues), a flyer distributor in Honolulu Hawaii, a cigarette girl passing out free samples on Detroit streets (okay, I was 17 in the 70s and didn't know better). Giant Paper Mache Moon-head from McDonalds (I made that one and came in 2nd place at the Halloween party, lost out to two nearly naked women). And a fork.

Okay, maybe I won't be the mascot, I'm having a hot flash right now and could die in that thing; this would be most traumatic to the young.

19. I need to get paid for photography or anything that's creative since I'm tired of working for free; impromptu weddings, perhaps pictures of hundreds of kids spelling Nashsturtion, Nasturten, Nasturtium, whatever, church photos, or take pictures for my portfolio so we can make a million dollars and you don't.

18. I have a boatload of BUS EXPERIENCE. I took Detroit City buses at 4-years old and survived. Not even lying here. But Jan's bus is very impressive - and those marvelous drawings! How did they do that? See, I would take pictures of the process of getting the drawings on the bus. I must know, and I must photograph it.

17. As adults, my sister and I took a Greyhound Bus tour from Tennessee to Detroit. If you can survive this, you can survive anything. We don't complain about airline travel any more.
(A ditch at 4 a.m. - I'll say no more.)
This was the answer to any question, "When will the bus come to pick us up?"

"How long will it take to get there?"
"There's No Way of Knowing!"
This has become one of our favorite quotes.

16. Total Children's Literature nut! I could brief (or just chit-chat with) Jan on all the latest and greatest children's books while we're bouncing along the asphalt. We could look at D.J.'s videos, James' latest eBook, photos from Kerry, as well as discerning the hottest Suzanne Collins. You get the idea. Plus, I have a degree in English Literature, but that hasn't really done anything for me, except that I can write that sentence.

15. I don't smoke.

14. I don't whine and complain about long stretches of boredom - I read a book or do my own art journals.

13. I don't get drunk, ever since the party in 1982ish when I told Julian Lennon he wasn't welcome. I regret this immensely. Have never been drunk since, Julian, so I learned my lesson, and  "I'm sorry!"

12. It's my YoT (Year of Technology) so I would say yes to all learning.

11. I would be Extremely excited about taking photographs of Everything! From sketching, crowded bookstores, kids, mothers, sisters, fathers, books, books on the shelves, Jan's art work, presents they give her, staff, the bus of course, other's art, playing cards on the bus, cows, horses, big cities, buildings, sunrises, sunsets, lost ring of the Ecliptixcs, ancient artifacts, Americana, reflections through windows, twigs in the shapes of letters, tennis-ball art, pronghorns, cats, dogs hanging out of open windows, and even coffee mugs; everything but bad hair-day in the morning (actually that too - but wouldn't post those on the Internet).

10. I would really dig stopping off at all Americana Roadsides (these photos could be a side book). You know, the stuff such as an 50-foot bowling pin, a house built into the rock, twenty-foot statue of Superman, 30-foot donut. Imagine the artist who spent his/her life creating this JunkArt must have been interesting.

9. Went on a cross-country tour for Motorcyclist Magazine in the 1980s (further experience) taking photographs published in the magazine. Today, my middle-aged body is suited for a cushier bus.

8. Did I mention that my husband would really like me to have a job and make money again; he misses this, ever since I quit my design job to take care of our son. He says, a paycheck would make him understanding of my inability to not be home to make oatmeal. What happened to those men who insist their wife stay home? Gone since 1952, I think. Well, I sure don't want to do something dull at my age. Life is short, and I'm only good at children's literature, tennis and witty banter. As my sister tells me, you have no clear visible talents. So, definitely a shoo-in chronicler for the next tour.

7. It's my destiny to take photographs involving Children's Authors. I've been bringing in children's authors to the Linebaugh Library Pen Pal Committee for ten years, and I have never met a children's author who isn't fabulous. They are all sweet down-to-earth great people - it's probably because they love what they do and it's important work.

6. I mix photography into my own work either as JunkArt Journals or Children's Books. And would be busy with my own stuff and not be bored for long stretches of road time.

5. I would learn from Jan because she's one of the best in America!

4. I'm about the same age as Jan, so I'd understand her aches and pains and issues of hot flashes and why my leg just fell asleep and I won't be able to move for about thirty seconds.

3. I'd photograph all the funky bookstores and compile that into a book. I'd be lost in all the BOOKSTORES! Big Yeah. "Where's Naieva Bookist? The bus is pulling out - somebody go get her, I think she's still in the kid section playing with the sock monkeys. What a funny person."

2. Okay, we're getting down to the final reasons that I should have a job as Chronic Chronicling Photographer on Jan Brett's Bus.

The number two reason is that I should not be the Chronic Chronicler Photographer on Mats Vilander's Tennis Bus touring America. It would be weird to get into my funky pajamas at night near a tennis dude, and then what about how I'm looking in the morning before coffee. But, I wouldn't mind doing one event somewhere, especially if he plays a round of tennis with my kid.

And the Number One Reason that I should be the photographer on the Jan Brett bus is . . . .
are you ready for the top Reason:

 "It would work out nicer than Real Housewives of Atlanta Bus Tour."

At least, I would hope.

So there you have.

We'd have to schedule it around the NALTA season, and I wouldn't want to miss the big tennis Cincinnati tournament we go to in August  either (I have to take pictures of buddies Fernando Gonzalez and David Ferrer). We've got our children's author coming to Linebaugh in Mid-Fall.
I will skip the parade (the Giant Podiatrist Foot Float Debacle a few years back isn't easily forgotten).

Winter 2011 to Spring 2012 works for me.
My kid can drive himself to school.