Posted by: bz (54 posts)
June 13, 2009 9:56 PM

yes. its been a REALLY long time since i posted. Last we "spoke" i was getting married... well, i did... and then 9 months later (plus a day) i gave birth to a beautiful baby boy! needless to say, it's been a very exciting year.

i have just begun to emerge from the baby bubble... and will slowly begin to create again (time permitting, of course) but here's something recent that i designed & really like. i created the artwork & designed the poster for the riverfolk music + art festival in Manchester, MI. i hope for more fun projects such as this in the coming year.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
June 25, 2008 9:17 AM

so... i've been busy planning a wedding... which will be here in 4 days! we are honeymooning in tahiti and the french polynesian islands so i hope to bring lots of art and inspiration back to this side of the world... and to invisibleman which i have shamefully neglected over the past few months. our cruise ship is even called the paul gauguin. :)

also, when i return i'll post some of the custom wedding goodies i have been crazy making over the past 2 weeks. i think i may have found a future calling.

au revoir et salut

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
April 15, 2008 4:51 PM

here is an (inverted) image of my computer last night. it's seriously sick. it was in the hospital for two weeks, had 2 internal organs replaced (logic board and display) and it still appears to be not doing so well... and, it's not even 4 months old!

i love apple but i am not in love with apple today...

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
March 6, 200812:10 PM

so, i was leaving studio the other night, and while walking to my car, i noticed something strange hanging in the air...

(the photo somehow reminds me of ed ruscha... one of my favorite artists.) i've never lived in any place quite like philly!

ps: i got a lovely letter (email) from a gal in hong kong who was visiting the iman site and had such nice things to say. it's feels good to receive mail like that. thanks hilda! :)

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
February 21, 2008 9:00 AM

welcome home space shuttle atlantis! this was my pei wei fortune cookie word of the day. (yummy + how fitting!)

thanks to mr. biggs (my studio mate) for taking this fabulous photo!

for more space shuttle fun, click here if you'd like to learn to draw the space shuttle!

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
February 14, 200811:32 AM

i hope i'm not cheating by posting this... but i figured since it IS valentines day, it is à propos. there are what my save the dates look like. im getting great feedback on them. now it's on to the invitiations... have a lovely day everyone! :)

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
January 14, 2008 3:18 PM

i scanned some sketches of shirts...

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
December 20, 2007 8:19 PM

I am long overdue for a post. This image was inspired by two things which I saw this week.

First, a CRAZY ice storm which occurred last weekend. We were in Harrisburg and everything was covered in ice. Each blade of grass was encapsulated. I took over 200 photos... I think my fiances parents must think I am crazy. I was standing under the berry trees, getting dripped on, but it was so beautiful to see.

Second, my friend Gab just bought a fabulously interesting historic house in PA. The house belonged to Horace Furness, brother of the architect Frank Furness. The house has the original library dated from 1890. I was hanging out on those stairs yesterday!

One of the rooms in the house also had this great patterned (and flocked) wallpaper which I of course had to photograph. And then play with in illustrator.

In an alternate world, I'd play guitar for the band "wallpaper ice storm." I would rock.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
November 28, 200710:03 AM

New artwork for a cd +booklet I am working on designing for the band "Smile Pretty Mysery". Check em out. They are really good.

(To get the textures, I gouached some pieces of trace paper, cut them out into fun 'lil shapes, scanned them in and placed them in my friend, illustrator CS3.)

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
October 24, 2007 5:49 PM

This is the invite i quickly designed for my nieces upcoming 4th birthday party. Unfortunately the invites never made it to her friends school mailboxes, as her school was closed on Monday (and has been ever since) as the school is located near where the fires are burning in San Diego, and all the roads are closed. I am supposed to fly out there next friday... I guess we'll see how it goes. She was so excited to see herself on an invite. (Her actual quote: "I AM SO EXCITED!") Btw, she really is that cute and sweet and blonde. :)

Also - this weekend (and last weekend) was POST (Philadelphia Open Studios). Brian and I participated from 12-6 on Satuday. It was busy and fun. (So busy and fun that i didnt get to take any photographs!) Anyway we got some great feedback and I even got a lovely mention on a local design blog: design-phan. Thanks Caroline!

Also - i have 2 pieces in this toy art show at philadelphia's city hall. The opening reception is next Thursday from 5-7pm. I'm not sure if NY has something like this, but in Philly, it's a great opportunity for artists. (Especially since Philadelphia closed it's Office of Arts and Culture in 2004!) How crazy is that?!?

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
October 1, 200710:43 PM

started out as a simple birthday card...

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
September 19, 2007 7:55 PM

so i recently got engaged (yay!) and am slowly entering into the crazy/bizarre world of planning a wedding. so, that being said... anyone want some wedding cake?

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
August 16, 2007 9:15 AM

recently, i finished making 120 (phew!) custom mini-calendars for a california wedding. thanks invisibleman! (as i was found through here to get this fun project) and contratulations to the bride and groom. : )

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
July 25, 200711:01 AM

i was long overdue for a new sketchbook, so last night i made this. ive been noticing and obsessing over clouds lately... my dad was a huge fan of them. he used to take rolls of film of them... so i guess this is a recent self-portrait in a way...

the bookcloth is from papersource. i really wish there were one of these in philly. the binding is a "4 needle coptic". I've only done that once before, but i think the result is pretty nice and simple. the inside paper juts out from underneath the covers. i'm not sure if i like it, but i wanted to try it. (i usually like it on other books.)

the other bottom 2 photos show the rest of my sketchbook making "ritual." i always create a notes/calendar section in the back and i always write the "d.o.b." in the front. bookmaking is so rewarding.

ps stay tuned for > new studio < information. here's a peak at the new space that my friend brian and i will be sharing. it's in this philadelphia landmark building. fun fun!!!

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
July 2, 2007 9:25 PM

chirp. chirp. here's my illustration friday "twist."

as previously mentioned, i am taking an off-loom fibers class. last week we were shown netting. i decided to draw the loops and knots and what i remembered of the demonstration, and somehow the drawing turned into twisty, funny looking birds. (note: i then used the "live paint" feature of illustrator. if you've never used live paint before, you should try it. it's fun to use and much easier than the traditional way of coloring up art in illustrator. it was a new feature introduced in cs2.)

also, if you want to make your own net, check out this page.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
6:41 PM

garage sale. this weekend. long island. favorite thing. sold. 3 dollars.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
June 24, 200711:00 PM

i'm taking an off loom fibers class at fleisher. it's a great place to take classes (here in philly).

during the first class, i was given a bag of green handmade paper and some spanish moss to "make something with." after a few failed ideas, i cut the index card sized pieces of paper in a swirl patterm to make a single long strip and i decided to knit with the pieces. (so the green you see is handmade paper.) I had been thinking of eggs (see my previous illo friday "rejection" post) and somehow ended up knitting a cozy shrug for an egg. I then decided to knit a mini scarf for the shrug using embroidery floss... i then filled it (nest-like) with the spanish moss. it fits in my hands rather nicely and i'm pleased with the result. (if i take the egg out i can also wear the knitted piece as a cuff bracelet.)

last week, we also learned how to make a basic coil basket. interesting stuff...

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
June 19, 200711:43 PM

is there a difference between failure and rejection? i was thinking of that... and willy wonka. (good eggs and bad eggs) "rejection" was created for illustration friday. go & participate!

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
June 17, 2007 1:13 AM

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
June 6, 2007 8:53 AM

i have been gone from invisibleman for a few months and the reason is this...

in january, my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. he bravely tried to fight this terrible disease, but unfortunately was only able to make it a few months... He passed away one month ago today, on May 6, 2007. He was only 74. I miss him so much, every moment... every day. He was, and still is, such a hero to me and to all who knew him.

This photo is from my 5th birthday, when we were still living in Brooklyn. I made the popsicle stick frame. Weren't the 70's fantastic? I hang this photo, among others, above my desk. I know my dad is looking down and feeling proud. (And I know he is no longer in pain.)

Here is a website to learn more about pancreatic cancer. It is such a fast moving and under researched form of cancer. One last thing... this is "the place" where my dad spent his last 5 weeks. The place was absolutely wonderful so if any one has parents or grandparent on long island, they were great and made my dads last days memorable.

As my mom said in the nursing home, "No one knows whose tomorrow it is." So, we have to live for today.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
December 22, 2006 6:42 PM

they're back again. the 2007 bzdesignstuff handmade mini pocket calendars. you can order via paypal or email me to order. colors are subject to availability... so please specify a first and second color choice. colors avaiable are: lt pink, dk pink, pale blue, cyan blue, purple, kraft brown and charcoal. happy holidays everybody! :)

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
November 28, 200611:45 PM

so... i started to take a knitting class here at the (local) fairmount art center... which is actually through this neat store (rosies yarn cellar) and i am finding it hard to do anything else but knit...SO, tonight i took the night off from knitting to do work, and somehow ended up scanning in my first (ever) knitted project... and do something with it. (i am now on my second... which is a hat. stay tuned...) fast forward 2 hours. has anyone else out there "live traced" their knitting??? also, i highly recommend making your own custom brushes in illustrator. its fun. i made some calligraphic ones for this drawing...

PS i have to link to this. its too fun not too. oh the joy of bookbinding! :)

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
October 30, 2006 6:51 PM

yes. i'm still here... i've been busy freelancing, teaching and looking for studio space in philly. all quite time consuming. here's an illo i just did for my own homework assignment (from the illustrator class i am teaching). each student got a month to design... and was to be inspired by its birthstone. november is kind of interesting, as it has two. citrine and topaz - depending on if you are modern or traditional... after much internal debate, i decided to go mod. and cute. (see the whole thing here)

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
October 2, 200612:50 PM

while procrastinating, i did some illustration friday sketches. this weeks topic is QUIET. i used watercolor to create the original drawings and then scanned, reordered and soup'd them up in pshop. i'm not sure how i feel about these... but i am posting as to relieve some "not posting in a while" guilt. it was fun to break out the winsor & newtons and my japanese waterbrush.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
September 11, 200611:50 AM

yesterday was fun. it was nice to finally meet everyone. maybe next time maybe more creation/less production... but all in all a fun and productive day! we must plan another one. :)

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
September 8, 200612:05 AM

wow - 5 minutes past midnight... that's cutting it close! here is my illustration for "SAFE" - this (past) weeks illustration friday. i wanted to work in b/w, and for obvious reasons, i have new york on my mind this week. five years went by so quickly... i miss you nyc.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
August 21, 200611:11 PM

so, in prep for a class i am teaching in the fall, i was playing around with the gradient mesh tool today in illustrator... and as i promised, i was... i mean am... going to try and do illustration friday every week from now on. so here is my "killing 2 birds with one stone." (which upon reflection really is a terrible expression!) this weeks topic was "Match."

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
August 18, 200611:16 AM

that's alot of barb! i'm in the process of moving (my apartment and my studio)... so i havent been able to do much recently, but i was just perusing my files from the workshop i took in june and i definitely want to start using the techniques i learned. oy - where did the summer go???

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
June 29, 2006 5:19 PM

(crops from the poster - click above to see full image)

i'm back. here's a poster i created at anderson workshop. various (dynamic) flash components were used to create and distribute the top background patterns. i created a ton during this fun/intense week long workshop at anderson ranch.

(the type is backwards as when youre inside the ranch the type is cut out from the entrance sign and you can see the mountains through it. also, those birds are magpies. they're fun looking. kind of like flying penguins.)

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
June 27, 2006 2:35 AM

day 1. here i am in lovely aspen. here's an image (still) from some randomly generated art (dynamically via action script) which i did today. the color palette resulted from this ink drawing/image (previously shown on invisibleman a few months ago) and then refined in photoshop.

PS i saw the milky way tonight. awesome. highly recommend it.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
June 13, 200611:01 PM

last week we rented/rode segways around fairmount park in philadelphia. this photo is me (+ my guy) on the top of the art museum stairs. seconds later both our friends wiped out... but overall, it was a blast. you do look kind of dorky, but you get lots of attention & i highly recommend it. lots of fun! :) PS: we went with i glide tours

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
9:56 PM

it's been too long since i've drawn. "the real world" has taken over. here are some peeps i drew last week. (click the image to enlarge.) since getting my mfa (yay!) a a few weeks ago, i am quickly learning action script as i am going to anderson ranch in colorado (near aspen) in less than 2 weeks for a joshua davis flash 8 workshop. hopefully i will make some kickin' good art work to post upon my return from aspen (and san diego).

when i return i am planning to continue making books, work on my illustration portfolio (and make a regular habit of doing illustration friday each week), and begin to pay off grad school by freelance designing here in philadelphia... oh - hold on... i have a funny photo to post too...

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
May 9, 2006 3:45 PM

so i silkscreened some spirographs...

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
May 6, 200611:17 AM

film stills from a the 2 minute feature film "looking at me looking" which i may eventually post somewhere...

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
April 26, 2006 1:57 AM

two/2:00 am ideas for a silkscreen... the theme (which i did not choose) is "not lobster."

also, my MFA thesis show is now up in philly till may 1. i posted a few quick pix from the opening on my flickr site.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
April 3, 2006 1:17 PM

here is an invitation to my thesis exhibition. if anyone is in philadelphia between april 21 and may 1, be sure to spread the word and stop in! it should be an interesting show.

the university of the arts, mfa book arts + printmaking, thesis exhibitions
chapter1: April 21 - May 1 and chapter 2: May 5 - May 14

Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, 333 S. Broad Street , Philadelphia, PA 19102
Gallery Hours: m-f: 10 am - 5 pm / w: 10 am - 8 pm / weekend: 12 pm - 5 pm

The MFA Book Arts/Printmaking Program offers advanced study in studio arts, focusing on the book as a vehicle of artistic expression and printmaking in the context of the narrative. Students explore the book as an art form that incorporates two-dimensional as well as three-dimensional structure, time and sequence, text and image.

to see the group invitiation/card, click the image below.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
March 25, 200610:52 AM

omg... what happened to barb? oh, she's working on her thesis... which is less than 30 days away. YiKes! anyway, i made this little diagram of my space which i thought was kind of funny. we'll see how it looks in "reality" on april (- gulp- ) 21st... i'll post an invite soon.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
February 23, 200610:56 AM

it's been too long since a post. i've gotten into my acrylics this week. (thanks again "drawing methods" class.) it was somewhat liberating, though the other side of me wants to keep learning actionscript... there's never enough time to do it all. anyway, thought i'd share this lovely pollockyesque image.

enjoy!

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
February 14, 200612:54 AM

as i sit here thinking about my thesis show and the ideas of games and play... i decided to draw the long lost toys of my youth.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
February 12, 2006 2:44 PM

the 2 inch show is finally up and online. i hope these books will inspire you as they have me. i have been given many compliments on the show. thanks to everyone (over 50 people!) who participated.

see all the books/prints here and here are a few pictures of the books on display at the university of the arts

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
February 4, 2006 9:45 AM

i am taking a class called drawing methods. the assignment was to "have an idea. start the idea. forget the idea. change the idea. alter the idea." um. ok.

this started out as pencil drawing, then i scanned it and vectored it in illustrator, then printed it out and used pencil on the printout - responding to and drawing on the shapes... it was fun. i am thinking of silkscreening the first guy in on the second line. i like him. he is little billy and the giraffe...

ps i tried the custom photoshop brush thing with little billy and yes i agree - its pretty cool.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
January 24, 200611:28 AM

it's been too long since i have posted. here is my latest sketchbook and a detail of the cover art. it is so satisfying making a case bound book. hopefully i'll have some of what's inside it to share next.

ps i agree w keegan on the moma/pixar show. it's amazing to see such fun, innovative works created with gouache and colored pastel!

also - please consider submitting a book or print to my 2" show...

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
January 3, 200611:43 PM

call for art and aritists!

with my love for all things small - i am curating a 2 inch (or smaller) book + printmaking exhibition.

please please submit some mini books or prints! i am looking for a range of work and am excited to see what posting this here will bring. i know the time frame is short, but after all, 2 inches is quite small...

here are a few sites for inspiration:
the miniature book society
art on paper - a great magazine
fun comix 'n books
here's how to make a really simple book. it's one of my favorite ways!
small books exchange
philobiblon - the book arts web

happy new year and happy book and printmaking! :)

email zuckee@mac.com for more information or with any questions.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
December 11, 2005 1:34 PM

here is my fun little 2006 pocket calendar.

i sold 20 of them at the center for book arts holiday fair yesterday. now i need to make another batch for the uarts "book party" which is thursday.

they are $5 (+ $1 s/h) if anyone wants one, send me an email. (theres a chance i may not be able to ship it till after the 25th...but it'll still be good for all next year!) :)

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
November 27, 2005 6:01 PM

* it is so hard to photograph books... but here's my somewhat distorted solution :)

* this is my 30th "official" sketchbook since starting count in 1995. the cover uses imagery inspired by my "5 senses" prints. for this image i just played around with the images on silkscreens and i only "registered" where i wanted to.

* the binding is a coptic binding / single needle link stitch.

* for the inside pages, i used a variety of graph papers as well as some english and japanese alphabet practice paper.

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
November 14, 2005 1:19 PM

here are some pictures from "excerpt".

i am waiting to get some better pictures which were taken by my friend olivia, but in the meantime here is a little preview of what was installed. i hope posting them here will inspire me to continue working with the apartment and their contents...

see the images here

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
November 9, 2005 2:28 AM

12/1 : UPDATE: my piece got reviewed by art blog! (a pretty big thing in philly) :)
check it out!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

i am in an group exhibition photo west gallery in west philly which opens this friday. i was given a random photo (from Romania) to be inspired by.

i got a truck. (see top) i made a funny model (see bottom) it's too bad you cant see the back of the model. maybe ill repost. but for now this is it as its 2:39 am! i cant wait to see what others made.

also - my website is finally finished. come visit!

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
November 1, 2005 1:43 PM

these are images from my "i believe in coffee" book and this is my first gif animation :)

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
October 20, 200510:26 PM

here i am super busy in grad school. our show opens tomorrow! if any one is in philly. :)
(i'll post some pix of my works after i take them. my circle is the 1st one on the bottom row...)

ps i saw chip kidd, chris ware and charles burns speak at the philadelphia free library tonight. good stuff...

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
October 12, 200512:44 AM

did i mention i'm in grad school for book arts and printmaking yet i am loving the illustration...

brian biggs is my teacher. check out his site.

this illustration is for a mural in a bookstore...

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
12:13 AM

list 5 things you believe in. now illustrate one.

i believe in coffee.

yep. i do... feed your brain. milk. 2 sugars.

(PS the picture is 9" x 14")

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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
March 21, 2005 2:09 PM

Continue reading "super"
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Posted by: bz (54 posts)
March 17, 2005 2:58 PM

Continue reading "..flower power.."
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