I just got introduced to an amazing site!!!

I was on the vintage shasta forum and someone suggested www.cheaprvliving.com  It talks about EVERYTHING, well pretty much.  I am in love with the site and am joining the forum right now. You gotta check out the "Where to park" page for seriousness and a good laugh.  It has a great section on VW Busses and how to convert them in getting ready for a road trip written by a 70 yr old, dude sounds super cool, maybe one day I will meet him and try some of his stew (read the page!!)

Server nightmares, server nightmares, server nightmares!!!!

I have had server nightmares almost every night this week!!!  That is why I am awake right now!!
Its driving me crazy!

Look! A shelf! & organization by Velcro... my favorite thing, right next to duct tape!

The counter in the trailer started to be cluttered all the time.. so I put up this shelf. I put black duct tape on the sides so stuff wouldn't fall out & some across the middle then put a strip of industrial strength velcro across it. Put the opposite velcro on the bottles and wahlah! They won't fall out when driving!

I also put a strip of black industrial strength velcro across the back of the counter near the wall for misc items including:  an exciting bottle of hand sanitizer, the 2 peas in a pod salt & pepper, my mini flower vase, a potato scrubber dude, & the pig whisk, oh and the pig timer!

Riverside Arts Market 2012

I have applied to the Riverside Arts Market and have been accepted.  Returning venders form the last 3 years are automatically accepted with the same wares from previous years.  This year, if my friend is approved in time, she will be sharing my booth with me.  She has some awesome work.  The Riverside Arts Market's prices went up this year, however if you reserve the whole entire year in advance (and pay) then you get previous years prices.  I can't do that since I am going out of town in May.

I have however reserved the first 10 Saturdays in a row.  I chose booth #404. This was the booth I was in, in most of 2009, part of 2010.  Here is a map. There is only a slight difference in this map. The row of the #800's there is a split for a walk through, doesn't make a difference to where my booth will be located.

Click on the MAP to make it larger.

Working hard for that money... $4,000 of gas money

I worked today at Mossfire Grill.  Valentines Day... 2 toped to death.  But everyone was very nice and I enjoyed serving them and the prime rib was amazing as usual!!  Its nice to see lovers and friends out on such a lovey dovey holiday (is it considered a holiday?).  I got all dressed up in pink and red (one of my favorite color combos) just thinking of those colors makes me want to paint a painting with those colors!!

I have been working my booty off by the way.  Close if not over 40 hours for the last few weeks.  May is just around the corner and I need to reach my goal of $4,000 for gas money (ouch!)

I know its crazy, I am just saving up for gas money.
I plan on using my tax return for the booth fees and application fees for the fine art shows.

I am not sure how I am going to pay for KOAs and campgrounds to park my trailer in, or what I am going to do about food,  tolls,  painting supplies, canvas making supplies and maintenance of my van.

I was thinking of doing a www.kickstarter.com thing.   I'm thinking of making a book, something to do with my art.  I would use www.kickstarter.com to make enough money for the funds I will need to make this road trip doable, gotta eat, gotta have a place to park, gotta have supplies, gotta do maintenance or I won't get very far.  Check out the links to kickstarter and you will see that its not donating its pledging money.. and you get a unique collectible piece of art or paraphernalia.  You choose what you want.  Its a really neat concept!!

I was also playing with the idea of helping out people with hypoparathyroidism.  There is just not enough funds for research.  I thought if I traveled around and interviewed some people for their stories, paint their portraits and made a book and donated the proceeds to the foundation... I might help get the word out.

I have never made a book, so not sure how to go about something like this.
Comments are certainly welcome!!!


I will post more ideas as they come and will post when I start the kickstarter idea.

MutoArt & Ideas for promoting

Darlene Muto is my name and I am an artist.  My big dream has been to go cross country.  I have decided to add some things to this trip of mine.  I will be showing at art shows, festivals, galleries, markets, coffee shops, and many more places.  I might even be showing at gas stations if someone inquires.

I want to add something to my trip that can help other people too.  I am thinking of some sort of how to book.  Or maybe a challenge for myself for example painting at every location I stop at.  I am not sure, if you have an ideas please comment away.