FromClaygary

I'm glad to hear that so many of you enjoy the Open Studio tours. My local Arts Center (I'm on the Board) runs one of them. It's a lot of work to organize and put on. We didn't do it this year because I couldn't get enough volunteers to pull it off. We usually do it around the time of the grape harvest and some people enjoy going to the wineries at the same time. I hope we can do it next year.

Here's the url for the Yates County Arts Center if you are interested.

Thanks for the link! I hope you can do it next year too, because I could (and would...) go! I'm just up here up topaya!

If you don't mind my asking, what are volunteers used for? In my experience, the vendors all have their own "staff" (friends and family) who deal with sales at the studio etc.

Oh I must be sane after all because I won't be cashing in my ticket and changing the date to Cleveland. Hey FromClaygary, it's me that is obsessed with the mail. I get into Minneapolis early on the 18th so will definitely go that day..and then it hit me if I don't finish..I'll be in town for two more days and one cute little boyfriend only needs my attention in the evening. heee

Hee, me neither, but the scary thing is I did think about going! Good God, I'm nuts! ...and it'll be you and me, babe, at that mall! MN Clayfans is putting together a shuttle from the Hilton (details yet to come) which will apparently run all day at least on the 19th. I think you're very organized, and am going to copy your plan toute suite if it's all right? Obsessed? Hail, no!

Off to go see Fifth Grader...latah...

ETA: OK, that's enough with the being on top now...

Heee....waves madly back to Scarlett...I WISH I wasnt' up at this hour but a meeting with my boss calls....

Bwah..but guess what I did. I printed out the list of all 520 shops at the Mall of America. Then I wrote down the name of all the people on my Xmas list. By the time I get to Minneapolis I'll know which shop I want to go into for which person and a general idea of what to get them. Of course you know this will take massive research cuz I'll have to click on many of the links to see exactly what some stores are all about. I am obsessed with that damn mall. I'm crossing off the list every shop I've ever heard of or I can get around the corner and around the way.

I have a feeling I messed up that quote...so apologies to whoever said it! But I'm SO in!! What a great idea!

As my family is all out West, we celebrate Christmas in early Dec when I am always there on business for about a week. I've been doing bits of shopping when I travel and can, and they'll be getting tidbits from Nova Scotia, PEI...and the studio tour LOL! Can't really wrap, as I have to pack them and take them on the plane...but I do love those wonderful little gift bags!

Or maybe I'll just get one of those inflatable pool toys that are probably on sale cheap now!!!

Let's see - a Dragon?

A Big Shark???

I'll have to think on that.

Hee! That I'd love to see...Cotton and the big shark on the plane to LV!

FromClaygary -- those pictures were gorgeous. We had open studios this past weekend around here too. I didn't go this time, but I do frequently -- here and twice a year in Berkeley. I love my open studio weekends!!

Thanks!...and me too! Berkeley would be a fab place to do that.

FromClaygary the photos from your studio tour are beautiful. I'm going to look into whether they do anything like that here, this is a pretty artsy area, if not I'll mention it to the director of our arts council to see what the chances are of starting one.

Great idea! Here is their website if it helps...Images Studio Tour. The brochure can be downloaded from there.

Colorways are patterns of colors used to make hand-dyed yarn -- eg. the self-striping yarn that can be used to make those socks he always wears. I've been making some based on his appearances, eg. I have a Raleigh NAT, Unicef 07, Fantasy (from AI3), SCC, AAF, etc.

I've been meaning to ask....have you gifted Clay with any "striped socks" from your colorways based on his pix? What a unique gift that would be!!

Kareneh, add me to the "fascinated with your adventure" crew! I think I must be part gypsy, I looooooove to travel...anywhere, anytime! Looking forward with bated breath to more of your wonderful pictures, and some description of the area and people. That is some house! Hope you get it!

Ooh! Sounds like so much fun! I wanna go next time!

Loved the pics. Wish you could have sneaked and gotten pics of some of the various art objects. Totally understand why you couldn't, though.

Me too! There was actually a lady taking pictures upstairs in one of the pottery studios; right nose to nose with some beautiful raku pieces. The artist of course....was DOWNstairs! I gave her the bigtime dirty look, but of course she just ignored me.

Ooh! Sounds like so much fun! I wanna go next time!

Someday, I want to make colorways out of all of them but especially these:

I thought of you as I looked at the countryside in its colorful dresses! Many of these, of course, were taken just for that purpose with my beads.

....and you're both invited! Anytime!! The Claydorm awaits.

FromClaygary... LOVE your pictures!!!

Aww, thanks! I know if I lived in CA the lack of season change would get to me after a while.

claygary - beautiful pictures - but what is a "Studio Tour"?? I must have missed that part.

This area is very "artsy"..probably partially because of scenery like the pictures. Regularly, "studio tours" are held on weekends~they print/publish a map, and all the fabulous artist's studios are open to the public, with demos, sales of course of their art, goodies...AND you get to tour the country that you may never have seen before while you're at it. This one was very busy; there were usually 15-20 cars pulled up at each of the studios when I got there. Some examples of the type of thing: potter's studios, paintings, fibre art, stained glass, photography, metal art, jewelry, woodworking and turning, furniture, rugs...everything under the sun! It was great fun and I got a few awesome Christmas gifts.

It's like a craft show on (your) wheels...but you get to see where they live and work as well.

Claygary, beautiful pictures! I can feel the cold edge to the air and hear the crunch of the leaves underfoot.

Thanks!...and funnily enough it was 30 above (ie, 90-ish F) and muggy. But I know what you mean about the feeling!

ETA: Eeeeeeehhhh!! My first time at the top of the heap!

Interesting conversation last night and continuing this morning...I wasn't able to respond, as once again Mother Nature saved you and started up the big lightning show. Better thank her!

She's chosen this morning, to start us off with buckets of rain and gloom...so I thought I'd post some brightness in case anyone else is having the same kind of day.

Here are a few pics from my Studio Tour on the weekend:

I love the little bits of purple in this one:

More here if you're interested

Thanks for the information re hotels, no1tvfan. I saw your advice elsewhere and have already booked at the Country Inn/Suites over on Peach St.

Guess that means, if I can get a ticket....this Claynadian will be there! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Oooh, FromClaygary, do post some pictures from your art trip!

I'll bore y'all with some of them later this week when I get them uploaded and fixed. As it was a gallery tour, I couldn't take pictures IN the galleries (the copyright thing) unfortunately; but I hopefully have some beautiful pictures of the area, and I'll take pictures of the painting and pottery I bought.

cindilu2 LOVE the banner! Any chance that became, or could become, a wallpaper? :6:

Yes, that's the one I mean...and Clay DID do a version of it that I've heard. He was young, I think it was for someone's wedding, the key was wrong for him and it was not. good. IMPO...but it was definitely sung by him.

What the heck movie was that in?

Back from the studio tour, which was wonderful! Picked up a few very nice Christmas giflts....and took a LOT of pictures! My GOSH some of these people have the most amazing homes/studios. Apparently art pays these days!

Thanks so much to everyone who responded re the .mp3 of Lean on Me; I had seen it when it was originally added to the vaults I guess, and just assumed it was the better-known version of the song...which is the ONE piece I've ever heard that I don't really like his recording of.

Made my day to find something I didn't have, anyway!

What does this mean? There's another Lean On Me?

Yes, there is! It's the Bette Midler version from "Beaches"; I like the song...but Clay's version, not so much...if you can believe it. Me!!

I'll have a dig and see if I can find it, even though, honestly, I'm not sure you want me to.

Ummm, pretty sure that song is Wind Beneath My Wings, not Lean on Me ;-)

And I do have it, thanks!

Oh, you're probably right that that's the name of the Beaches one...I'm NOT good at the names and artists of songs other than Clay...so I've probably got the source wrong. But I KNOW there's another version of "Lean on Me" out there...from another movie perhaps? It's the most-heard version of the song, I'd never heard this one before today.

ETA: "Lean on Me...when you're not strong...something something something...I'll help you carry on"

Striking any bells with anyone?

No luck, sorry...I've checked everywhere (that makes sense to me...) in the CV vault, and there's just the one we discussed today. Could be there, I don't always understand the 'tree" they use for filing in the vault.

I see I did have it in my Itunes before I lost my hard drive Spring 2006...but everything from there is gone. When I have some time tomorrow night I'll check to see if I ever burned it. Honestly, I doubt it.

Sorry! It should be out there somewhere though! I know I didn't dream it!

Back from the studio tour, which was wonderful! Picked up a few very nice Christmas giflts....and took a LOT of pictures! My GOSH some of these people have the most amazing homes/studios. Apparently art pays these days!

Thanks so much to everyone who responded re the .mp3 of Lean on Me; I had seen it when it was originally added to the vaults I guess, and just assumed it was the better-known version of the song...which is the ONE piece I've ever heard that I don't really like his recording of.

Made my day to find something I didn't have, anyway!

What does this mean? There's another Lean On Me?

Yes, there is! It's the Bette Midler version from "Beaches"; I like the song...but Clay's version, not so much...if you can believe it. Me!!

I'll have a dig and see if I can find it, even though, honestly, I'm not sure you want me to.

Here's a quote I just stole that I thought was interesting:

"Should you find yourself the victim of other peoples bitterness, ignorance, smallness, or insecurities, remember things could be worse, you could be one of them."

Author not referenced by the poster, sorry...

Back from the studio tour, which was wonderful! Picked up a few very nice Christmas giflts....and took a LOT of pictures! My GOSH some of these people have the most amazing homes/studios. Apparently art pays these days!

Thanks so much to everyone who responded re the .mp3 of Lean on Me; I had seen it when it was originally added to the vaults I guess, and just assumed it was the better-known version of the song...which is the ONE piece I've ever heard that I don't really like his recording of.

Made my day to find something I didn't have, anyway!

Done, merrieeee, thanks so much for the offer! Eeeeeehhh!! Is it crazy that the best thing about this weekend is going to be a new track of Clay's for my Zen?? No?? I thought not.

...and it's actually been a great weekend!

I'm off shortly to an art studio tour that is taking place around here this weekend...yesterday I did a bit of housecleaning but spent most of the day working on my pics from my Maritimes trip and doing some jewellery-making, and of course hanging out here.

Bought the new (fairly new) Enrique Iglesias CD "Insomniac" from Itunes and have been enjoying that...great for Clay fantasies! It's durrrrrty!

Saturday I spent quite a bit of the day and quite a bit of my money at a bead show in the city; does anyone here do lampwork? I'm addicted to the beads...may have to take some classes.

From Ch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7rSpxZDuD4

I have not heard this one before.

That song is from one of his Hometown Connection shows, I believe. The lady singing with him is Pam Shanley (or something that sounds like that). I lurve that song. Have it on a CD of duets in my car.

Thank you SO much for bringing that over! Probably not that great to be teared up practically first thing on a Monday holiday morning, but what the hey....it's Clay!

Is there anyone that might be able to rip the audio of that, or provide the audio? I've never heard it before either and I would love to add it to my collection, duet or no. It's beautiful.

I don't see this having been posted...kind of a cute oldie, taken at (apparently) a YMCA camp in NC in 2002 (clickable).

Suzanne to the left, I believe Kristy directly in front of Clay, one of his other college friends (can't remember her name) second from the right. I recognize the gentleman standing to Clay's left behind Kristy but can't for the life of me remember where from or who he is. Anyone? I don't think it's Jeff (from LTS).

luckiest1 I'd forgotten you were up here this weekend! It was an all-day doozie. I went down to the city to an art show in the afternoon and it was HOT there; when I came back I had no internet or cable TV, so I was forced to go downstairs and do laundry and watch scruffy's banter series which I burned to DVD last week. Laughed my butt off and saw some things I hadn't even noticed in concerts I'd been at.

If anyone hasn't downloaded it, I highly recommend you do.

First time I've been able to get on this morning, because we're having a DANDY thunder and lightning storm on this supposed-to-be-a-30-above day. Look out cindilu2 and luckiest and goldarngirl! Here it comes!

Good Lord! Thank you for those CApix pictures!

Dear Gawd!! The "look" one!......and the "smiling" one!!!!1!!1

I may have to get those mounted...or mount them...or something.

Again, I FLOVE when his eyelashes are dyed. It does something just magical to his eyes.

End of deep thinking, I am just barely breathing now as workmean left door open and dor ran out for an hour and 1/2. I hate the dog pursuits. I had to wait until she was so tired she fell asleep on someones lawn.

....with you right beside her?

Congratulations to all those who can now get to a new show.

Get ready for some changes though, there are people who are holding tickets for Omaha on 12/21. OFC has MN listed for that date. There be a glitch somewhere.

Yup, I have my Minneapolis tickets and it's the 19th and 20th; and hoping for Omaha on the 21st, because they were really excited! I'm sure it's just someone's typo.

Is everybody taking a nap or something? It's awfully quiet in here. Y'all must have lives or something....

couchie your comment about waiting for your tv to break down before you buy a new one cracked me up. I'm desperately wishing two of our tv's would break so I could replace them with the flat screen kind. I have one of those in my living room and love it! They're so lightweight, you can pick it up with one hand to dust the table and plunk it back down. I was tha-rilled last year when my dishwasher broke!

I'm playing with my new toy I've had a business cellphone for several years, but this week my company gifted me with a new Blackberry. It's very cool, but came with NO instructions...so I've been playing, and breaking things and fixing them and charging and doing voicemail box and adding contacts and....well, you know. It's a pain in the arse to carry around because it's necessarily larger than a cellphone, but so far I like it very much! The novelty will likely wear off shortly

Ooh! Ooh! re the flat screen TV. I've been looking at those, as I need just a small TV in my living room (watch TV in the family room for the most part). What kind did you get and how do you like it?

I've heard of Spam, the meat, but I don't think I've ever eaten it. The closest we got as kids was canned ham. LOL.

Luckiest...remember Prem? (or am I dating myself heee) Prem=Canadian Spam

From CH:

A little news from GAD about this week's episode of AI Rewind:

Clay will be interviewed on camera during this series, as well as continue to narrate. Ruben is the host of the NY Auditions; Charles Grigsby the host of the Detroit/Miami Auditions.

Apparently Clay looks really good in his interview clip.........*g*

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! He looks so great! What's he got in his hand?

what else, his bucket hat...

(seriously, that's what it looks like to me but I could be wrong. isn't that plaid on the inside?)

Dead right, I think! Is that the hat that will never die?? How come he doesn't lose THAT??

Seriously, I have to wonder if he's bought 2 or 3 of them since the original was gifted to him. The fan who originally gave it to him must be either over the moon....or kicking herself

Zena, maybe on one of these concert runs you and I will finally get to meet...'cause I think you're my kinda girl!

Are you off to somewhere for Christmas? Williamsport, Minneapolis and Merrillville for me.

How about this??

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07276/822326-351.stm

skip past the boring Brit story!!

Holy shit!! I would love that. It's a snarky, crazy, hilarious show, and he could really build some acting skills from an experience like that. It's the kind of OTT comedy that suits him as he is, but he could also grow from it. It would work! Also, one of the biggest shows on Broadway at a prestigious theatre.

I don't know much if anything about the show, but this COULD be the "thing in negotiations that might stop him from touring next summer" that came up in M&Gs. Mind you, so could a lot of other things.

If he wants to do it and it offers him some good publicity and a chance to "grow"....hey, I'm all for it!

Hope it happens!

Thanks for all the responses to my question as well. I'm just one of those people who's always curious about human nature.

Does anyone agree that the girl in the photo with Clay, way back in the old thread, looks like sweater girl? The debate was whether she was the girl from AI rewind, the ex-girlfriend saga. I think she looks just like Sweater Girl...

I thought "we" had determined quite a while back that it IS definitely sweater girl; his NY publicist apparently? But I still think that it looks like the AI girl

(And no I will not repeat what was written.)

Thank YOU!!

You kow what? I bet he helps sell some of Jenna's books, too.

He sold one to me. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Ii think it's a fantastic idea! I have a Christmas story I'm debating on sharing, but it's kind of sappy. No way I could read it on stage because I'd make myself cry.

Ooooo...I hadn't thought of that, but wouldn't that be cool? He could read a story and segue into a song that expresses a similar sentiment or situation. I can see that working.

Oooh, please do! I love the sap, and what's a Christmas concert without crying??

I hope you'll forgive me for being a little late to this subject....hey, a girl's gotta work! But I see an opportunity (maybe) to ask a question I've wondered about the answer to for a long time. Maybe someone here will give me an honest answer.

(and no, the answer isn't 8.5 inches)

So, here goes:

For those of you that would go right up to somone dolled up for an important event and tell them that, in your opinion, they look like hell....can you tell me what is the "win" in this? What is the "win" for the recipient of this information in that situation, and what is the "win" for the giver of it?

As I'm sure you can tell, I've been on the receiving end of this, and at the time I had a pretty hard time with it. It probably colors my feelings about it being said "to" Clay (well, on the boards).

I'd be seriously interested in the thought process behind the statement.

And, I can tell you how it felt from the other end if you're interested.

I didn't get into the discussion last night because I TRY to hold to much the same philosophy as luckiest...if you can't say it to their face, it doesn't belong on here. Besides the fact, of course, that I think his smile lights up the room and that's pretty much all I can see when he's smiling.

Goodness knows, I'm glad as hell that there's noone with a camera around when I go out, many days!

And yes, I think he "styles" himself for most of these appearances.

I'm just delighted to see him, and see him looking well and rested.

Having said that, I'm gonna be as shallow as it gets after that LA signing pic, and just say that I loooooooooooove!!!1!11! his eyelashes dyed. It looks mahvellous on him, dahling!

ETA: Kim, I think that's a very good explanation of the way it works for me. Well said.

Random Clay content. I was looking for directions on how to disassemble a cd jewel case (trying to replace a broken case and preserve all the paper items lining the original) and came across a do it yourself video. The artist held up THIS cd and I laughed out loud. So unexpected.

Source: cd jewel case into art

Well, the video didn't work for me~I quite likely need to update my Flash. Butttt......what a cool website! Love it! Thanks for the link...