The Instagram Experiment

Now is the time to find wigs at thrift. I dig through the tubs of costumes to find them. This one will be next up for a dance video. Never worn, still with protective hair net in package. 

I also discovered I look better in the longer hair wigs, maybe because I wore my hair long so many years I feel comfortable that way. 

As I suspected, my first dance video received many more views than anything else I have done so far posting on Instagram. I like to dance (all the time) and I like to watch other people's dance videos. 

As a kid, I loved to watch the Carol Burnett show which ran on TV from 1967 to 1978. I pattern my physical comedy after her. Here she talks about one of her famous scenes from the show. 

An extremely happy find were these tattoo sleeves, also from tub digging. I am going to use those rather than go the long manicured nails route. 

The adult improv class went well but it is not my tribe. I am going to say it - theater people are kind of weird. I know performance art takes all kinds. There is another group starting up next month called Silver Stars, I will give them a go. The tap dance group I belong to is called Strictly Tap. We will be performing a routine some time in December. 

I am a busy, busy girl. Anyone who is bored in retirement needs to quit hiding their talents under a bush. 

Dance Away Dance

A surprising find popped up in my continued culling of items in the storage shed from my mother's estate. I was six years old with this hand impression. 

I continue to write comedy material for the Tami the Terror routine. Surprisingly, some of the funniest stuff come from other people's comments. As an example, there was a post making fun of the fact that some men don't help with bringing in groceries or helping with "man" chores. One woman posted, my best boyfriend has been DeWalt. For those not in the know, DeWalt is a tool brand in the U.S. 

My first dance video as my character has been posted on Instagram @Tamaschen. It was about my sixth try and I still didn't get my feet in the video. Costuming or cosplay takes so. much. time. Next up, I want to learn the Wednesday dance for an October video. 

Adult improv class is tonight and I will share how that goes. Finally, all moved in to my new place. 

A Return to Oil on Canvas paintings

It has been over 20 years since I have worked with oil on canvas. During the painting hiatus, fabric was my medium. I produced a couple of art quilts, a number of bed quilts, and scads of small table runners and doll quilts. 

Also, in between that time, I have completed a number of online art classes, one of my favorites being Introduction to Modern Art. 

A side story and sort of a sad note, when I first got with Mr. Wonderful (my former partner), he had a habit of getting angry when he deemed something to be "clutter." My artwork fell under that category. In an artist's fit, I burned nearly all of my artwork. Most of it had been photographed because of entries into California State Fair competitions. So I do have some evidence of my early work. 

I am posting snippets of my newest projects on Instagram @ Tamaschen. But here is where I describe in depth what I am doing and my process. 

$78 worth of new Winton oil paints for this painting. A sneak peek at the reference image. A 1955 abstract by Lancelot Ney, image from 1957 Dictionary of Abstract Painting, printed in France. 

This free-standing easel is located in the art studio where I live. Lots of natural light seeping in the area. I've placed a wet paint note under the canvas. I had just enough white paint left to get that canvas started. 

I knew I had this traveling easel but completely forgot I had more oil paints contained inside. Atop is my favorite painting knife I will use for this current abstract. 

I've got a Zoom meeting with a college counselor scheduled for October 1. Soon after the schedule for spring classes will post. Finally, able to attend art classes in person!

Sewing Pattern Seller Again

Macy's makeup finally arrived! Here is the new avatar for Tami the Terror, IG @ Tamaschen.

In my unpacking from the family home shed, I found another red hair wig. That is where most of my collectible items have resided for many, many years. I had been hiding my fabulous finds. Anyhoo, I don't remember when or where I found this wig but it is a beaut. 

Tuesdays with my grandbaby Mila resume again next week. I am beyond delighted. I self-quarantined for two months for a health condition I will not enumerate here. Going to play for her the country music playlist I created a couple of months ago. 

Starting over again at 67 is daunting. Luckily, being a thrifter means I can replace many kitchen-related items relatively inexpensively. The biggest expense has been new furniture. 

I am experiencing what many of my peers are going through - downsizing. Last year, I lived in a 4 bedroom, 2 story ranch house. At the beginning of the year, I moved to a 3 bedroom rambler. I now live in a ground floor one bedroom apartment. 

I have never lived in a major city like Folsom, California. I have either lived in the rural countryside, or outlying bedroom communities. You learn the rhythum of the city. Costco runs for food and gas are best done late in the evening. 

Everything your heart could desire can be found on East Bidwell street. It is one of the main thoroughfares through town. It is a shopper's paradise. 

Ending the post with back in the sewing pattern seller's business. I knew I would return to my love of selling patterns. I still have around 200 of them to go through and possibly list for sale. These beauties landed at thrift, all uncut. The best brands too. I am avoiding Butterick, McCalls, and Simplicity, while picking up Vogue and specialty patterns. 

And here is my homework - I pulled the best from my 2,000+ patterns I had listed for sale on eBay last year. Assignment is to keep those I want to sew, list the uncut ones, and send the rest to the Great Thrift Shop Beyond. 

Always Promote Your Business

A very important lesson I learned from Mr. Wonderful (my former partner), always promote your business. If you are out and about, make conversation with random people. Mention your business, hand out your business card. You never know what connection might be made by simply sayinhg something. I don't mean to throw the card around. If you happen to strike up a conversation and you find the opportunity to promote your busines, DO IT! 

I LOVE these business cards I designed through Vistaprint. I wanted simple, elegant, and include one of my cartoon drawings. Blocked out my phone number, I only want local work, if possible for now. 

Next assignment - doing the nails, gurrl. I have never been much of a high-maintenance manicured gal when it comes to nails. I want to be able to use long fingernails in the comedy act so I can click my nails together. Rather than pay $35-$40 for a professional manicure, I went to Dollar Tree and spent less than $6 on products. We will see how that goes ...

My social media focus has been to post on Instagram @Tamaschen. I have been experimenting with story posts, a "cooking" tutorial, and my first bikini shopping trip. That video got a little IG medal notation of over 1,000 views. Zippety doo dah! That was my first video combining two into one. 

I tried to edit a long sunset viewing video and ended up deleting it accidentally. Not just from iMovie, but from my iPhone. I don't think it was meant to be. 

I have taken another step with preparing the live comedy act. Adult Improv Classes are offered in my city so in a couple of weeks, I begin that training. 

Still waiting on the ordered makeup to arrive so I can photo shoot the head shots for a new avatar. Lots to do, lots going on. 

Costuming, Makeup, and Back to the Art Studio

On Tami the Terror costume and makeup (my newly-forming comedic act).

Happy gladness that I kept all of the wigs, costumes, and tiaras from thrifting. The red wig in the blurred image is the one I will be using in the act. Waiting on a makeup order to re-work the Instagram avatar. 

Haven't worn face makeup in ages so that will be fun. Especially the eyeliner, I am sure I can gork that up so I look like I've had a rough night on the town. 

I've written about 10 minutes of stand up material. I study the other comedians on Instagram for timing and jokes. I don't want to retell another comic's material, so I take pieces of their bit and change it for my older crowd. 

Art update:

Big selling point for my current home, there is the art studio for the complex two doors down from my apartment. Not only that, all of the materials, and even the cleanup are provided. Twice a month, an instructor is brought in and the group can work as a collective. 

Even though small canvases are provided, I have three blank ones left from my dabbling in painting days. I just unpacked my art books and supplies from the move. Still have a full-sized wooden easel in storage. 

My homework for the next art session is to choose an abstract image from my 1957 Dictionary of Abstract Painting. The publication was printed in France, how much more artsy could you get? There are more than enough images to choose from. I really didn't know if I would ever paint again. I may even go back to college for my art degree. The college is even closer and I could attend in person.😀I just missed the fall semester, so I will see what is offered in the spring. 

Preparing the Act

How do I plan to turn Tami the Terror into a comedy act? Start by writing material. Some of the stories I have and will turn into Instagram posts. 

For a stand-up routine, I estimate 10 hours of written material for 10 minutes. Meaning the ideas and jokes are distilled down. I prepared presentations more than once when I was a state worker. Hours are spent in the drafting and writing. 

I have ordered business cards printed with my hand-drawn logo. There is going to be a talent show at my retirement community where I will debut my first routine. In the meantime, I can videotape myself so I can get the timing right. 

This isn't something I just thought up overnight. Because of the explosion of influencers and every day people sharing anything and everything, it is the wild, wild West on the internet. 

There are comedians I would like to emulate like Becky Robinson aka Entitled Housewife, Christy Lynn, and Leslie Jones. The latter more bawdy than the other two, with an in-your face type of style. 

Do you have a dream of a new career? Time to get up off the sidelines and go!