Whooping it up: Mardi Gras in the Bull City.




Christine and I with the damn Sloth Float in downtown Durham. God, I loved Mardi Gras.

 


Durham done done up the Bull for this night o nights.

 





Yeah. Definitely not a cow.

 

Through My Daughter's Blessed Hands New Orleans Ushers In The Golden Age of Accordion Making




The Instrument of the Gods;
The Celebrated Washington Accordion
on Sale in the French Market

  Today, America’s oldest public market, the New Orleans French Market, has attained its lofty purpose by becoming the temple within which accordion makers Shawna Washington  and Jon offer their sacred handmade accordions to the world at large and at last.

I Know Why Sloth A Sin.



Hinda and Christine seem like really nice people.

But, I can't say they were that great to work with. In fact, I don't even know if I would call what they did 'work'. They pretty much just kept eating the snacks and talking. Of course that left me with the responsibility for the Sloth Float. Whoever said Mardi Gras was fair obviously didn't know these two.



A Commitment To Excellence

It's hard for you. It's hard for me. I want to see what I am working on too! I am wearing a dog food bag because I am so tempted to look! But, I promised the guy that I wouldn't let anyone see it until after he after he did.

He is a selfish man. I mean I have a life to live and so do you dear reader. But, we are going to get through this.

To deal with this I am trying to stay busy. Today I get to play blues harp with the Beaver Band!!!Wooo. And then I am working on the Sloth Float for the Mardi Gras Parade on Tuesday. Which luckily means we will watch a movie and drink beer.

Mother Goose In The House

A Contest!

 


To make a client happy I am
painting in sunglasses and a wig.

  Nothing is too difficult when it comes to making my clients happy. This particular client abhors publicity and does not want anyone to see his banjo until he sees it.  S0 I am painting blind. The great thing is that painting to music actually works best on this one. This will all make sense when the mystery banjo is unveiled.

 CONTEST RULES:
Anyone, who correctly guesses who I am painting will win a free wonderful, thing made by me!

1. EMAIL ME WITH YOUR GUESSES AT SANDEELW@GMAIL.COM
2. Everyone who guesses will recieve candy.
3. You are allowed 1 question.

4. The winner must agree to having their picture taken wearing a wig and an accordion.







Who Am I?

 

Life Certainly Is No Picnic



There is  nothing like playing an accordion
to bring you face to face with the 
more sobering realities of life.



What in The Hell Is Going On?




I DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS.
I FOUND THIS PICTURE IN A PERSONALS AD.
AND IT WAS TAKEN IN MY HOUSE
AND HE'S PLAYING MY FRIKIN ACCORDION!

 

Adooration




This morning I go through the

Door into my room

to get ready for my new job!

 

Then I will go out the front Door to my new job!



The News




Nuthatch I painted on a door frame. 

 THE BEAUTY OPERATORS ARE in operation! We practiced last night. Talk about gending benders. Okay. Enough Said.

 I got a new job! So, I will have to become more disciplined on the art. My next projects are:
1. A bird in Mary's house. Shore birds actually.
 2. Another Banjo (Commissioned). 

Sunday Afternoon in the Neighborhood

Kia & Jac were hyper kind enough to help me pull down vines in the backyard. Then Jac wore 4 hats & Kia played the fine art.


Oh... talking about getting down on a hubcap banjo .... Here is a very nice tune by Seasick Stis hubcap banjo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4E7J6q6Pg8&feature=related  Thanks, David!

Please, Dear Readers, I NEED HUBCAPS!




With a hubcap this....

 


...became this!

  I don't know how people make banjos without hubcaps. If you see one on the side of the road please pick it up for me. Thank you! xoxo

Oh!





Liliana

  I woke up to the very sweetest FB post from Liliana's mom, my neice Mariah: "I love, love, love it! Oh man, you are so talented! Thanks so much. Liliana is going to love this too!  I can't wait to hang it in her nursery!  Love you!"

Oh ... thank you, Mariah!
Love, love, love, Aunt Sandee

I am trying to sleep



Shanna, Jon and Christine still going at 2am



Its 2am and the accordion people are still up. I am in my room with my giant fan on high near my head to block out the noise. Christine complains that she is tired all the time and then she straps an accordion on and stays up all night. I am not going to feel sorry for her anymore. This is not a sleep issue this is an accordion issue. And it is ridiculous.

Prelude to Mardi Gras: My New Orleans Baby Visits Home

Step 2: Take a break from accordion making once in a while. Life is to be lived! (Tip: If you keep your house at about 59 degrees your pretzels will stay fresh for hours.) So, when my daughter (finally) got up I took the opportunity to guilt her into invite her to put on a Mardi Gras mask, hold my new art item and pose for a picture. Unfortunately, she went right back to bed after the photo shoot. But, the trim was there waiting to be painted to look like an accordion keyboard and the pretzels were there to help soften the rough edges of a day of accordion making. The excitement continues!

Accordion Making: A Step-by-Step Guide

Today I am going to present a step-by-step photo documentary of Accordion Making.

STEP 1: First I cut the trim. Notice the pretzels. One of the challenges of Accordion Making is that it can be a bit boring. To add a little excitement to my day I eat pretzels very very slowly: This makes me appreciate life even more. I nibble off the tiniest little bit of a pretzel with just one of those box shaped grains of salt per nibble. I don't let myself have another nibble until the one in my mouth totally dissolves and I am not allowed to chew. Yes. I am an adrenaline junkie. I admit it. The pretzel thing kind of takes the edge off the day. That little plate of pretzels you see in the photo can last me 7 hours. An exciting day has begun for me and for you too, dear reader.  

Have You Ever Had This Problem?

Yeah ... Martha's happy. But she pretty much ignored me. All she did was play my accordion and tell me to take pictures of her. "Wow, look at me!" ... blah blah blah.

BEER AS PRELUDE TO TUNA

These two rowdy hipsters play a round of Beer Barrel Polka before the Hot Tuna Concert.

Having Reached The Age of Majority These Young Adults Strut Their Stuff




Having reached 21 this year my son, Sage, and his friend Hannah proudly sport the real machine!
(As opposed to my son Spencer, 18,  pictured below.)



Look How Happy the Little Guy Is and His Accordion's Not Even Real

Please, friends, DO NOT tell Spencer that his accordion is not real.

Spencer has been playing fake accordions exclusively since he was a toddler. At 21 Spencer will be allowed to play the real thing. I have raised my children with a healthy respect for the powerful machine that the accordion is. Some parents shake their heads in disapproval, and for good reason, but I feel that when played in moderation and with adult supervision the accordion can be a wholesome family past time.

Through her blessed hands New Orleans Ushers In the Golden Age of Accordion Making!

 

I couldn't go to sleep last night and I have been up since 5 a.m. because I am so excited! Today, Shawna is driving up from New Orleans where she makes and sells The Celebrated Washington Accordions and skulls in the New Orleans French Market. It is almost a religion down there: the total worship of all the accordion is to the people. Yes. My daughter is a priestess reverently ushering in The Golden Age of Accordion Making. Through her blessed hands, and the hands of her friend Jon, she is christening The New Orleans French Market as the virtual shrine of the instrument of the Gods.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY

 I can't stop thinking about this banjo and I have other important things to do. Like today I had to take my regular walk on the Eno river. I have to start working on my wardrobe for when I vye for the Beaver Queen crown. I have to start work on the Sloth Float for the Mardi Gras parade. I  know Christine just wants to ride in the grocery cart with her pajamas on but I am a frickin artist! Does she not get that. Talk about sloth! Its just one stressful thing after another. Every day... you know sorting shit and waiting on kooks at the Scrap, making banjos out of hubcaps, and this blog. Sweating this blog every damn day. Plus there is the constant accordion playing with the Beauty Operators and the Skinks. I think I just need to grab a beer and watch Skates of Glory. It's Sunday afternoon right. Why not! ... Oh wait, I have to go to Martha's high tea. And I want to wear a wig and pearls and ... shit... you see what I mean!

Squeezing the Best Out of Life: The New Orleans Line

 


From the Fabulous New Orleans Line:
Golden "Saints" Accordion
Who knows how much this may be
worth to your grandchildren after you are dead.



The Historic New Orleans French Market To Sell the Celebrated Washington Accordions



The Golden Age of Accordion Making Has Begun In Earnest

For over 200 years, the historic French Market has been an enduring symbol of pride and progress for the people of New Orleans. While the Market has existed on the same site since 1791, each new decade and governing flag has brought dramatic changes to the Market and helped to secure its special place in the hearts of the people of New Orleans. This year, 2011, marks the begining of the French Market as accordion provisioner to the yearning masses.

What began as a Native American trading post on the banks of the mighty, muddy Mississippi River on the site chosen for the City by the French, has become an accordion making mecca.  The French Market is the cultural, commercial, and entertainment treasure which the Crescent City proudly shares with the world.

Today, America’s oldest public market will  attain its lofty purpose by becoming the temple within which accordion makers Sandee and Shawna Washington  and Jon shall offer their sacred handmade accordions to the world at large and at last.



Yesterday, Shawna and her friend Jon went before the historic and pompful French Market board of directors and received official permission, and blessing (they loved the accordions and want to buy some themselves) to sell, the holy grail of handmade items, the Washington Accordions at the French Market.  The dawn of the golden age of  accordion making era has begun in earnest.





Operators Standing By to Recieve Your Call