The Velvet Trail

love to people of New Zealand

2011-02-23T10:18:00.000-08:00

this goes out to all the people in New Zealand affected by the recent quake.My hopes and prayers are that no more people get injured. Our love goes out to families who have lost loved ones and those injured. New Zealand is a place I want to visit. Our book is in 11 libraries there and we have met and had e mail communications with people there. I feel it is a Kindred Spirit place. So please take care of each other we love you! I hope someone reads this, I just don't know how to do all those other tweet things et al. LOve Caren and Carl

Velvet Paintings and the Beats

2010-11-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

Went to a really fun celebration of the Beats in Davis in October. There was poetry read to Jazz music. A reading by David Meltzer who I really dug. HE has a new book of poetry out called BEAT THING. He writes lyrically like and autumn leaf . Then we heard and outdoor concert/poetry reading of Michael Mc Clure poetry and Ray Manzarek playing the piano. It was really beautiful stuff . If you ever get the chance to hear any of these guys. DO IT!
I was born in 1953 in San Fran so some of this is in my blood. My Dad had jazz records Cal Tjader, Ahmad Jamal , Brubeck and I would do interpretive dancing to them in black tights and smoke candy cigarrettes.
Now, I don't think the Beats were into Velvet paintings but they set the stage for the 60's and voila, rock stars on Velvet. Think about, it must be true. Oh, a cool blog mentioned us and lots of people checked us out it is booksofadam.com .

Waiting for Godot or Alice Cooper

2010-08-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

From Nitwit Ridge to Taroko Gorge we are scanning the globe and looking at various proposals on where to locate the Epicenter of Art and continue our fight against cultural deprivation. thanks everybody for your continued support and inquiries. We Had a great time at the American Association of Museums Convention in May in BOSS Angeles. 93 KHJ. We met Ernie Cefalu, who has created over 200 album covers. originalalbumcoverart.com. He is working on Alice Coopers new record. we gave him our book and one for Alice. Alice Cooper on Velvet, Every Billion Dollar Baby's Dream, is on pg 164 in Black Velvet Masterpieces . We found this treasure in Union Gap, Washington. Did it come from Gary Puckett's yard sale? Only Lady Willpower Knows for sure. thanks Ernie and Alice for diggin the book. We saw Alice Coopers Halloween Show last year and as always, Alice schooled everyone on showmanship. from the desert to the sea to all of Southern California, that is the Big News. Stay tuned for our next blog Channeling Dennis Hopper.

Swimming pools , movie stars

2010-06-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

Hello, we just spent 2 months in S. Calif doing the American Assoc. Of Museum Convention . The convention was only a week and it was really interesting meeting other museum people. One museum owner we met was Prof. Oran Z. Belgrave who has Oran Z's Pan African Black Facts and Wax Museum. We will most certainly visit when we get down to LA again. www.oransblackmuseum.com
Besides being in our booth and meeting and greeting we attended parties everynight. The first night was an opening party at the Club Nokia, very cool and the band and dancing was great, the drinks were strong! Then all the partygoers were invited by the director of the Grammy Museum to tour. Very interesting, Leadbelly's guitar, and so much more, we needed more time.
www.grammymuseum.com
The next night we had the run of all the museums at EXposition Park , The California African American Museum,The Natural History Museum of LOs Angeles County and the California Science Center. You can see all of these museums for free and parking is only 8. When I was a child my father used to take me to the Natural HIstory Museum and the dioramas are amazing and dreamy.
The last night we went to the Hammer Museum near UCLA . It is a gorgeous space with an open courtyard. The art that is from Mr. Hammers collection is impeccable. The painting called "Juno" by Rembrandt is so beautiful, I had seen her in books but never expected to be inches away. The place was just so "first cabin"
We went to Olvera Street, the oldest street in LA, love that place. Ate at Phillippe's , it is worth the wait.
Before we headed back up north we went to Venice, we met some cool street vendors and missed going into the Freak Museum , it is only open on weekends. Lots of creatures with 2 heads, apparently. AFter all that we spent a week by the ocean pretty much staring and sleeping we were beat.

LA Convention Center

2010-05-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

It is almost time to show more of the world the glory of Velvet paintings. We will set up this Sunday at the LA Convention Center. People from all over the world are invited and I can't wait to see the reaction. This will be a convergence of hearts and minds to show the world, this blue planet just how very important museums are. Come talk to us and leave your card we will have a drawing and giveaway. DOn't be left out.

velveteria goes to American Assoc. of Museums Annual meeting

2010-02-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

Wow, my savvy sister urged us to go to the annual meeting of the American Assoc. of Museums or AAM it has been around for over 100 years. We will have a booth to tell the world about Velveteria and entice folks to do a traveling show. That is the idea.
The topic is also perfect , it is MUSEUMS WITHOUT BORDERS and many of the talks will be translated in Mandarin and Spanish. Attendees will be from all over the U.S. and the world. Los Angeles is the spot for this years meeting. Carl and I will be in rare form as allways. Since the museum closed we acquired 50 plus more works. We just can't help it!

last day at the Velveteria

2010-01-25T17:06:00.000-08:00

The last day was hectic and emotional Carl, me and two other dear fans cried right in the middle of a throng of visitors. Since we announced our closing hundreds of people showed up every weekend. We appreciate and thank everyone of you. The stories were pouring in , we couldn't keep up but there was a tale of a steakhouse in Long Beach and some hard drinking and a baked potato being hurled at a painting on velvet of Elvis.
Don't know what else to say, thinking of that line in the Jethro Tull song, "skating away on the thin ice of a new day" and the end of the book Huckleberry Finn where he realizes he needs to "light out for the territory." much love caren

facts on Velveteria

2010-01-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

"Just the facts, Mam." We don't sell any of our paintings they are the collection. Yes we are moving to Southern California, near the ocean. Yes we will do the Velveteria when we relocate. Yes there will be things I miss here and some very kind people. Will not miss the grey skies or rain. You can buy our book, thru us on line or at the museum. Our great tee shirts are dwindling so come in to get yours. Yes we are sad to be closing, it is a supreme bummer!

Oregonian article velveteria closing

2010-01-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

Really loved the Oregonian article today Jan 4th, great pics. Got a lot of comments that didn't have much to do with velvet paintings. I think the people with the negative comments would feel differently had they been in to see what is there. All I can say is, "Oh, well."

velveTEARia

2009-12-29T09:13:00.000-08:00

The nicer people are the more I want to cry, we have had a real slamming of support and love since we announced we are moving. "you don't miss your water till your well runs dry"
So I have the blues! I can't really explain what it has been like to create this thing and then see it come to life as people visit and interact with us and the paintings. It really is more about people , yes it is all about us, all of us.

feliz navidad

2009-12-25T11:25:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all. A quiet day at last. My hope is you can spend time with loved ones, appreciate them in new ways and rejoice in being alive, it is a gift! Love Caren

dogs bark caravan moves on

2009-11-30T22:27:00.000-08:00

Capote said, "The dogs bark but the caravan moves on." Yes, we are moving on, need a warmer climate, I can't help it I miss California. The museum we created took on a surprising life of its own and brought folks through our doors we never would have met.
I feel sad, but have known for a time this was coming, lease too high, economy too low and I need more blue sky. I know it is not an end for the museum, it will be created again. I am already envisoning some new ways to show our beauties off. We have made friends all over the world, we have gotten gifts and thankyou cards, e mails. The human spirit is strong and the thing that touches me is that for some kooky reason people feel at home at the Velveteria, we see people holding hands, blind dates, a blind woman visited and her friend described the works and I let her touch the paintings, marriage proposal in the blacklight room, laughing, and telling of hundreds of stories. We are so happy to have met some great velvet artists. Carl and I wanted to deliver something wonderful, we wanted to share something unique, not corporate, or hatched in some big building by a bunch of stiffs. It is art for the people and the people seem to like it. By the way if we had listened to reason or even reality, we wouldn't have hatched this dream. Stay, strong, keep your eyes on the prize, don't be afraid to strike out and live your dreams. There is always new territory to discover. Much love Caren p.s. you will probably hear from Carl too

tiki view the collapse

2009-10-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Aa I sit in a tiki bar on route 66 I sip away on my alacran watching the Depression of the world economy, I sink my toes deep into the sand reveling at the exqusite velvet paintings all around me. Stay Thirsty posted byEl Rincon

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL SHOW

2009-07-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

Our new show will be up Thurs the 9th. "BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL" this has been on our minds since we opened the museum in 2005. We will be showing history and popular culture on velvet. From Malcolm X to Jimi HEndrix, Martin Luther King to James Brown and a special memorial area to Michael Jackson. And so much more. Come see this show.

antarctica, Heather Watts and WWoof

2009-06-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

Check out the great velvet artist Heather Watts at her site. Heather Watts art. She is amazing. we had some really cool visitors and 2 stand out, one lives in Antarctica part of the year and I gave her a stretched velvet to take back and if all goes well she will get an artist to paint a velvet at the South Pole.
The other , was a young man named Noah from Maine who is in Oregon working on an organic farm with World Wide Organization of Organic Farmers aka Wwoof .
WE MEET THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!!When will we meet you?

Velvet Painting Psychic

2009-06-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hello EARTHLINGS, this is the velvet painting psychic. We get lots of e mails about velvet paintings but no pictures. If you want info about your velvets send a picture, my psychic third eye needs a picture. And while you are at it, what are you wearing?

Summer hours at Velveteria

2009-06-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Summer hours now open thurs Fri Sat and Sun noon to 5 pm. Four days to see our masterpieces.

our book Black Velvet Masterpieces review in FIBERArts summer issue

2009-06-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, we were reviewed in FiberArts magazine in the summer issue. www.fiberarts.com We are thrilled , even though I don't mention it I started making quilts in 1973 while I was in nursing school and did embroidery and even sewed my hair on a picture I embroidered. If you don't know about this magazine, you should the artisans and crafters are from all over the world. It is an eye opening gem. Book review on pg 28 check it out. Start enjoying your summer, now. It is never to early or to late to have fun and see new things.

Check out Bing

2009-06-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

check out www.Bing.com I really like the format it is easy to follow. I hope everyone is enjoying the start of summer. Donate to your local food banks.

air Canada mentions Velveteria

2009-06-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

Air Canada writes about the Velveteria and the hip Southeast area on Burnside. The major bummer is that there will be no Burnside bus going from downtown where many visitors stay for 18 months
to the museum and many other businesses.
Total buzz kill! People travel here specifically because we are transportation friendly. Oh, well.

california trip

2009-06-02T19:42:00.000-07:00

Ah, California the land of my birth and youth , first loves and love. Here is where we went Museum of Jurrasic Technology, this place can't be explained, just go. The Gene Autry Museum, wow nostalgic and amazing. The California African American Museum www.caamuseum.org four different shows, photos of The Black Panthers by Bingham, a whole amazing area of outsider art, a large area devoted to a very deep artist by the name of Dewey Crumpler. We stayed an extra night to check out this museum it was worth it.
We were told by some museum visitors to check out a bar called El Carmen, on 8138 w. Third street because it had velvet paintings of Mexican wrestlers on the wall. Yes, the wrestlers were there and I wanted to steal them. The drinks were great and the steak tacos were tasty. The other place was the Velvet Margarita, very cool hip scene with velvets all around and very plush velvet seating. Large screens playing old movies with Cantinflas. We allways try to hit the Tam-O-Shanter one of the oldest restaurants in L.A. it is on Los Feliz.
We went to Tommy's for Tommy burgers. I am getting hungrier by the second. We tried to go to Phillipe's but I couldn't take the crowds. IT was really nuts.
ON our way down we impulsively splurged and stayed at the Madonna Inn in a room replete with Cherubs, gaudy colors , a spiral staircase that lead up to a lookout and a Toto toilet with a warm seat. Ooh la la.
We stayed in Ventura for 4 days, and found another bar with a Velvet theme with only Elvis paintings. Also went to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose.
TAKE A DRIVING TRIP LIVE IT UP THE METER IS RUNNING!

Andrew Zimmern visits the Velveteria

2009-05-19T17:37:00.000-07:00

Andrew Zimmern visits the Velveteria. He is naturally really funny and really quick witted. No, he did not eat any of our displays , they were too bizarre even for him. The stuffed Jackalope was too gamey ! You can see this webisode on www.appetiteforlife.msn There are two parts to the piece . Click on the velvet painting of Andrew Zimmern with the monkey head under related videos.

President Obama, Chuck Norris, Steven Segal on velvet

2009-05-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

WOW, just got back from the opening of Ryan Legler's Black Velvet Paintings. Chuck NOrris, "the man who doesn't sleep, he waits!" Two portraits of the star. Barack Obama graces 5 different velvet canvases. The sheen off of Steven Segal's hair almost blinded me. Jean Claude Van Damme , the muscles from Brussels is spot on.
Go, go see the show at Luke's Frame Shop 2707 SE Belmont ST
Portland www.lukeart.com 503-841-6090

Ryan's paintings are in our book , in the museum and he has painted on t.v.

Marriage proposal at the Velveteria

2009-04-21T12:45:00.000-07:00

Wow, oh how awesome, I can't believe it, oh awesome. We heard these words coming from the black light room and thought , boy these two are really liking the Black light room. We went back to see what all the excitement was about. Matt bowed down on one knee on the cosmic bowling carpet and proposed to me exclaimed Brandy. Rings were exchanged birds sang and happiness abounded. Stay tuned for more. Velveteria is the Happiest place in the universe

Velveteria on NPR Roadtrips

2009-04-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

A CD just came out by NPR called NPR Roadtrips "Roadside Attractions" go to npr.org or www.highbridgeaudio.com, or a local bookstore. Velveteria is one of the stories. Roadtrip, yes!

Chihuahuarama now on view

2009-04-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

Finally, the new show "CHIHUAHUARAMA' it is now on view. Puppies and man's best friend abound. This might be one of our favorites. Continuing to fight cultural deprivation one velvet painting at a time.

Velveteria Takes on the Fourth Estate

2009-04-03T21:20:00.000-07:00

Velveteria is taking on the fourth estate with the unveiling of
CNN'S own Anderson Cooper. You have never seen so much of him before but here he is in all his glory. Who is next? Look out Wolf Blitzer.

American Gothic with Unicorns

2009-04-03T21:09:00.000-07:00

ello! We just got our copy of Travel Portland's magazine, and we are in it. It is a great way to show out of towners and Portlanders things to do and see. The picture of Carl and I in it looks like a version of "American Gothic" but with unicorns. "Oooh my soul" as Little Richard says.

protogoragalacafacas

2009-03-16T21:10:00.000-07:00

PROTOGORAGALACafacas
I don't know what it means but I heard it when I was 17 in Pasadena Calif from a student at Cal Tech. Don't ask me what a Rhiemann surface is either. Have a good day, hopefully tomorrow will be better for me.

bluebird guest house

2009-02-24T15:14:00.000-08:00

I just checked out this quaint and fab guest house, nice airy rooms in close in southeast in a big old house on 3517 Division. phone is 503 2384333 bluebirdguesthouse.com Check it out, check it outers.

photography wondrousness

2009-02-21T21:48:00.000-08:00

o.k. photography is fab, it is not velvet but we were just put in an online article in national geographic in their section called intelligent travel and it was submitted by Susan Seubert a really talented photog in the section i-heart-my-city-Portland . To see lots more of her work go to www.seubertfineart.com. She affectionately describes Portland in all its glory , complete with notes on "RAIN"
Next is the 3D center and shame on you if you havn't seen the Velveteria or the 3D center. It is more than "real" it's also amazing. There is a small theater which has changing 3D shows. One of the founders is Shab Levy (I kind of have a crush on him) and he teaches classes and just put out a book called 3D Art and Photography, The First Five Years. Go right out and get it .
www.3dcenter.us.
Last but not least is the www.23gallery.com A small gallery that really packs a wallop. Focuses on photography . Each show has a theme which to my mind seem to look perhaps quiet and even simple but then on closer inspection or a second look kinda remind me of a story that unfolds and meanders taking on new vistas. Plus I really like the owner , Laura. I am very happy this newer gallery is here in Portland.
I just have to say how hilarious the last group of kids were. We had 20 kids in about 8 years old. I had prepared ahead of time by taking some of the Naked ladies off the wall and devising an elaborate curtain that stretched across 12 feet of wall. Practically killing myself almost falling off a ladder cursing the little ones as I hit my finger with a hammer. Anyway the day arrived and they came in and at one point Carl says, "Oh, you gotta see this." I was busy in the front. There was about 2 ft from the ground where the curtain didn't reach and Carl told me later they were 7 or 8 kids dropping to the ground and rolling under so they could spy what was behind. You gotta love it ! I really tried. All in all the kids seem to love the place and isn't that the point? Later gators.

Velveteria's contest

2009-02-16T10:17:00.000-08:00

Win a prize who doesn't want too. Win a tee shirt from our store.

Here is the contest, it will be judged by me and Carl. We have many visitors and they love the velvet paintings but still get the questions. "Is it art?" "Why does it have a bad reputation?" So here is the question . "Why do velvet paintings get such a bad rap?"
Please answer in a paragraph or so. Contest goes till the end of March. Good luck!

Crafty Wonderland

2009-02-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

Yo, this Sunday the 8th is CraftyWonderland, a super craftabulous collection of artists and crafters in one place at the Doug Fir. It is not far from the epicenter of Art, the Velveteria, of course. Craftywonderland.com . Last week some energetic and curious kids from Art For Life visited the museum. Seeing a kids eye view is a great perspective.
We continue to collect pieces, when we can. Stay curious!

hulaseventy blog

2009-01-26T10:45:00.000-08:00

Thankyou hulaseventy.blogspot.com/ people are over creation looked at us from your blog. Very nice photos and stories.
A super busy weekend with great visitors, mostly Portlanders.Thanks ! We plan on doing our next show which will feature animals on velvet , first was Poodletopia 2006 then Creaturama 2007 now the wall shaking 2009 show called
"CHIHUAHUARAMA" IF YOU MISS THIS SHOW YOU ARE AN ALL TIME LOSER.Don't say you weren't warned. Peace , love. dove.

A new era

2009-01-20T22:49:00.000-08:00

I am happy to see people coming together, this is momentous and I hope for great things for the country.
We continue to bring in new paintings and meet new artists working in all mediums. For some reason the group Mott the Hoople came to mind and the song "All the Way From MEmphis" is an excellent roadtrip song. also Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Baby. None of this has anything to do with Velvet paintings except that listening to music while gazing at them can be beneficial to your health.

Anthony Bourdain No Reservations

2009-01-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

Hey, the No Reservations show on the Pacific Northwest is on again today at noon. We continue to get Tony's fans in everyweek, he is loved. When people ask what he is like, my first response is "gracious" and classy and then say he is like how he is on the show. The women have crushes on him, I had to tell one woman, "You know he is married."
Great weekend at the museum, more wonderful people,we have the greatest conversations.

open new year's day

2008-12-30T22:18:00.000-08:00

We will be open at 1 pm New Years Day. I am doing some redecorating more gold walls.

dicey weather

2008-12-26T16:08:00.000-08:00

I trudged in the snow for 20 some blocks down to the museum, was only there till 1:30 , will try again the 27th or 28th but call first. Rain never sounded so good.

winter bummer

2008-12-19T16:16:00.000-08:00

So bummed out, we live on a hill and are stuck here unable to open the museum. Drats! To say it nicely. We plan on being open dec. 26th and the rest of the weekend. Stuck watching the weather folks in Portland get ridiculously animated about weather as Mark Twain said "Everyone, allways talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it." Something like that, "the dogs bark but the caravan moves on." '
I walked 60 blocks in the freezing weather and took the bus part of the way, realizing that some folks were riding the bus to sleep and stay warm, When all this clears up and I can get around I will proceed with my plan to donate food and blankets.
Happy holidays, this whole scene is supposed to be about Love. It is still free to give that. You never know what someone is going thru.

Voice of America show Velveteria

2008-12-06T10:31:00.000-08:00

here is the fabulous piece by the wonderful Suli Yi of Voice of America. This is to be shown in China.

www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-27-voa50.cfm-36k

It is in Mandarin and English.

feeling the love

2008-12-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

So excited, yesterday in the Oregonian's A and E section there was Carl the piece is called "I love Portland" check out the web section http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2008/12/i_love_portland.html
As usual Carl came up with on the spot material I didn't even know he said. I loved the bit about "the sullen teen cracking a Mona Lisa smile" We now have some very spicy and attractive women's underwear, underwear that's fun to wear. Go out today and get some. Come visit the Museum.
s

superstars show Dec. 5th

2008-12-02T11:31:00.000-08:00

Our new show is going up ,it is" Superstars from Hendrix to Snoop Dogg this show will make you Howl." At Velveteria we try to represent the variety that is painted on velvet. We are still looking for paintings of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Tupak, in particular. Oh, and Cher.
I just want to thank all the people who visit, they are just as cool as the museum. New site to see if you are visiting Portland GoSeePortland.com and write a comment if you'd like.
Now on to curating! Oh book I am reading is Moby Dick and poem is Howl

Velveteria in MORE magazine

2008-11-28T18:18:00.000-08:00

We are happy to be in MORE magazine in this Dec. issue pg 32 it is about Portland and places to go. www.more.com A woman came straight to the Museum today saying, "I was reading More on the airplane and read about Velveteria and here I am." I recently found about the magazine and I am liking it, as it is geared to the 40 over crowd and I am way over that. Thoughtful articles. I will get a subscription.
More when I am not so tired, busy day at the Velveteria, lots of very interesting folks came in. Thanks

rock star show coming

2008-11-25T16:00:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is my favorite food holiday, my favorite being the last one with my Mom, my sister in law was practicing her chocolate making skills. There were chocolate ganache filled turkeys at everyones place and other chocolate wonderments strewn about the table. Our first course was a salad with endive, persimmons pecans and blue cheese. Maybe it was butter lettuce. We had poached pears, yams, lemon bread, pumkin bread, stuffing, turkey and three kinds of pies. Everyone was full as a tick as my dad would say and Carl and I were clearing the table and pillageing the chocolate into little bags to eat later. My sweet amazing cook of a mom is gone but Carl and I have the Velveteria and my bro and his chocolatier wife , Tracy own www.woodhousechocolate.com . I wish we could be with family but maybe next year.
What does this have to do with the Velveteria, well as much as family is great one needs to get out of the house so we are open and get on in and see what the world is talking about. We are curating for our new show Rockstars.

Twilight crew visited Velveteria

2008-11-21T17:41:00.000-08:00

The Velveteria was graced with visitors working on the film Twilight. One really sweet woman did makeup and I asked her if working on films was long hours. "Yes" apparently the makeup for this film started early in the a.m. to get the actors ready for shooting. I am not too into Vampires but look forward to seeing the movie for the moody lighting and scenery and make up. I am happy films get shot in Portland.
My experience with Vampires goes back to Bela Lugosi, a beautiful woman lying on satin sheets with hair perfectly coifed , sleeping peacefully and then pan to a bat outside fanning his wings landing on the balcony and Bela comes in face as white as a mime with two pointed canines bared muttering, "I vant to suck your blood." Next day the woman wakes up with fang marks on her neck. They really chewed up the scenery in those days and all in black and white. Sounds like a fun film and all the stars are so good looking. Have a good weekend, just don't fall asleep !

Michelle Obama to redecorate White House

2008-11-18T15:11:00.000-08:00

Is it true? Word on the street is that President elect Obama's portrait on velvet at the Velveteria may soon grace the walls of the White House. Michelle Obama may decorate the East room in velvet paintings. Thank God we now have someone with taste and class in the White House. We look forward to the Michelle Obama style. See the portrait by watching a show on Youtube done by Voice of America for China on our museum the Velveteria.

hai koo

2008-11-17T19:32:00.000-08:00

So here is my latest Haiku

Velvet painting

On the wall

Dig it

This is what I call Lo Haiku

coleslaw with shrimp Caren recipe

2008-11-17T18:43:00.000-08:00

Hello I was gently nudged to write my blog at least once a week. As far as the museum, the people visiting continue to blow my mind with their comments and just their "ness" Love it. Have been getting lots of feed back about my portrait of Liberace which people describe as "hilarious" Yes ,I will try to get a pic of it on but nothing is like the real thing.
Coleslaw (I am not a measurer)
Cut cabbage really thin and a half a big cabbage or so then three green onions, rinse small shrimp and let drain and squeeze lemon juice on shrimp. Put in glass bowl.
Dressing I mix a nice mess of real mayo, lite sour cream and some miracle whip, some cider vinegar a dash pepper to taste from grinder. The lemon on shrimp allows for less cider vinegar. Anyhoo toss it till it is right, Goldilocks it ,
not too much, etc. Great with fish or anything.
I come from a family of cooks and wine makers, so I love food and Woodhouse Chocolate , I am name dropping but so what my brother and his lovely wife are Woodhouse Chocolates.
Maybe the Velveteria Cookbook.
I just went to Fabric Depot, a very dangerous place for me as I am a fabric and notions junkie. I put in an order for 20 yards of black velvet 100% cotton. If I didn't live with Carl I would reupholster all my comfy chars and sofas in diferent shades of lavendar and hyacinth. I love the colors. More gossip a new restaurant is getting ready to open next door to us ,it is Casa Matador, there is already one on 23rd. The iron work is quite fab.Slated for late Dec.
Enough of my blather.

velveteria cookie party

2008-10-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

Since the economy is so crappy I would like to have a cookie party. Bring cookies, homemade of course and a small homemade gift. Everyone will go home with different cookies and a cool gift. Please e mail velveteria if you are a Portlander and are interested, will be on a weeknight at the Velveteria.
I am so sad to hear of Dolemite's passing. He was the best , lots of young rappers and comedians learned from him. I met him after one of his shows., a wonderful human being. He is on velvet in the museum,I placed some flowers and some history about him. He lived 81 years.
As hokey as it is tell the people you love that you love them. Everyone needs to hear it. Keep it fresh over and out.

Charles Phoenix visits Velveteria

2008-10-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

Very excited to have Charles Phoenix visit Portland and our museum the Velveteria. If you don't know about him, you should and go see him at the Clinton Street theater this Thurs Oct 23 at 8 p.m. He was graciously lured here by the MCMLeague.org, people who protect and serve midcentury architecture neon all things wonderful of an era. Charles Phoenix collects vintage slides and is referred to as a "histo-tainer" he celebrates the 50's 60's and 70's all the glorious culture of those years a time when people had one t.v. and actually had to get out of a chair to change the channel.

A time when trailers looked like canned hams and people ate canned hams and then made art out of the cans. Love it! Go see the show. He is a gem.

how now brown velvet cow

2008-10-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

Well, things are in a flux all over to say the least. Just to let everyone know we can hold events in the new space. Also we are willing if time permits to open up for people from out of town who want to visit on a day we aren't open.
We are so happy to have the visitors we do ,the best people seem to also be fans of the velvet. Dec 12th we will be having our 3 year anniversary, that is a mind blower to me. It has been a wild ride, lots of radio interviews, tv and articles and of course the book. If i ever had been shy I had to get over it.I am happy people like it.
over and out for now

vintage velvet lovers

2008-08-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

Just love the vintage velvet of the beautiful women of the Islands, met a fab fan and collector this weekend, and we would still be blabbing about the vintage Hawaiiana and velvet painting of the 40's 50's and 60's. Carl and I are trying to preserve a time that was chronicled on velvet, believe it or not. Lots of it is word of mouth, so you gotta share to keep it alive. Lots of collecting does seem to be word of mouth and lots of the experts are gone or quite along in years. Any velvet painting stories or pics , let us know.

Gold Ink Award

2008-08-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

Our book Black Velvet Masterpieces, won a Pewter award in the Fine Arts lithography category. this is a highly regarded print competition with over 1,500 entries. The winners are judged on quality of printing,technical difficulty and overall visual effectiveness. It is judged by graphic artists, production managers and print buyers.
We are in the current issue of VIA magazine the AAA club magazine. On the velvet front we are in the process of getting 16 new works, amazing I might add. First Cabin paintings! More later and I am going to learn how to add pics, soon.

Liberace and Tim Leary go to San Francisco

2008-08-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

We had an interesting time in S.F., met a man who calls himself Stannous Flouride who painted Stephen Hawking on velvet. Cool guy. We went to the Beat Museum is the heart of NOrth Beach. These segments in history must be cherished and kept alive. Across the street from the Beat Museum is the famed City Lights Books where we were overjoyed to find our book. I have been a poetry reader forever the liking Gary Snyder, Ginsberg, Ferlingheti, (spelling?) Robinson Jeffers the list goes on.
The thing about San Fran is the mist at night covering some of the tops of the buildings, love it. We walked back to our hotel and went thru Chinatown to my favorite bar the Li Po, it has been around since 1937, if those walls could talk.
We went to our book signing at the Minna Gallery which was mostly a bar. Our artist friend Richard Bustamante brought his amazing painting of Hoss Cartwright and Ledbelly and Zombo. We brought down from the museum another painting by Richard of Tim Leary and one I did of Liberace. My Liberace painting is one of those that people either love or have to look away. A young incredibly hip couple spent 20 minutes discussing the painting or were they just trying to hook up? Another man tried to get me to sell it and I said it wasn't for sale, he wanted to know how much and I said, "Oh, 600 dollars and my sister Jamie was standing there and said 15 thous. After the book event we went for pu puus at the Tonga Room with my bro John, my neice Caroline and Jamie and her partner Jan.
It was good to see family and Jamie and I caught the Frida Kahlo show.

Velveteria Goes to San Francisco

2008-08-06T12:35:00.000-07:00

Carl and I go to San Fran to sign our book Black Velvet Masterpieces. Iwas born in San Francisco and lived in Daly City my first year. So the place is in my blood, I heard the streetcars in the womb, my mom worked at Magnin's in the hat department..
We will be at 111 Minna on Aug. 15th from 5 to 8 signing books. I hope lots of folks come out.
The other super amazing thing is we will be on Voice of America and this show goes out to China. Our museum will be showing off it's wondrousness to 115 million people give or take a few. We hope they love it. One hundred years ago my great grandparents were missionaries in China, who would have thought?

IS IT ART? Yes Yes and more Yes

velvety velvet lovliness

2008-07-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

Carl is watching baseball, the thinking man's game, I like things like Weeds and Redeye and Law and Order Reruns. I noticed we just got listed on Weird Universe, along with the Museum of Bad Art, a place I would really love. Our next show is going to be Inner, and Outer Space and Beyond. Let your imagination run wild. We will , it is due to be shown the end of August. Bandito land continues to be a success. How can it not be? Unicornucopia 2008 may be a never ending show. Hope your summer is going well.

seawash and Tacoma

2008-06-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

We did a book reading up at Elliott Bay Books and it went well one man there was taking copious notes, about what? Then he didn't buy a book or speak with us. Note takers! We met up with some folks we had met in the museum who suggested the Coppergate in Ballard, having a lot of Danish Blood the Viking Ship Bar really turned me on and there were lots of naked ladies on velvet and otherwise. It was a bar that is a shrine to the female form. The best drink I ever tasted vodka and lemon ,I don't know the name, it is all good you cant go wrong. Scandahoovian food and great service. I'd swear the spirits of my father and grandfather were there. Then we headed over to the Tin Hat also in ballard, different scene cozy and cool some velvets there too. Helen and Chris showed us a great time. The fellowship of the velvet on the velvet trail. Peace and love Caren

CBS Sunday Morning

2008-06-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

Hi, Carl and I have been busier than usual. Bill Geist of CBS came last weekend and we did two long days of t.v. for a show that will air June 29th check your listings. I just fell in love with Bill and his producer Amy.There was a lot of hilarity and I even showed Bill my collection of Nurse Harlequin Romances from the 60's, we were both dismayed that I could'nt locate my copy of Trailer Park Nurse. After he left , I found the book called Door to Door Nurse who was a nurse servicing a trailer park and she wears a blue cape. What does this have to do with the show and velvet paintings, absolutely nothing. What does it have to do with the scheme of things, everything. We are one week late now in hanging our Wild West show but next week, my sweet velvet sweeties.

The wild west and TIKI

2008-05-31T10:46:00.001-07:00

The new show is going up by June 13 th we will have denizens of the wild west from the big screen and sage brush dwellers, banditos, Indian maidens, vaqueros, the Duke, El Indio but wait there's more if you come to the museum you will also behold the newly created South Seas and Polynesian Paradise, Total Tiki-a-thon-a-rama-fest-jubilee-tacular if that isn't enough go somewhere and beg for a personality transplant and a bag of chips. Do not be deceived by other offers, this is the real deal. Velveteria is the epicenter of art, the world famous museum devoted to art on velvet, mostly black velvet. Seek out the book Black Velvet Masterpieces and commit it to memory, it just might save your life. Quit navel gazing and try something new! I love to use acular on the ends of words. Have a fab day.

the book is out

2008-05-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

the book is out and we gave our talk at Powell's books. Thanks for showing up , all who were there.

Pop a Cork!

2008-02-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our blog, we just checked out our new location at 2448 E. Burnside Portland and we have a pink crystal chandelier, getting ready to get the dedicated black light room, going this room is Carl's baby we have close to 2000 paintings now. Hope to open our doors on the 8th of March. Our book is on its way, too. Check us out at Chronicle Books.