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Straight Out of Shirley's Basement 

We Are All In This Together

4/3/2020

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Just want to give a shout-out and a huge thank-you to all the first responders during the Covid-19 pandemic that is affecting our community and the world, thanks for all that you do!

For all of us that are at home and wondering what we can do with the time we have.  Here are 101 things to do while in isolation, quarantine or on lockdown.
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101 Things To Do On Quarantine

  1. Finish a crossword puzzle
  2. Stay up to watch Late Night or Late Late Night on TV
  3. Clean-out the basement or attic
  4. Watch you-tube and finally learn to braid
  5. Use your stove and make tea the old fashioned way
  6. Re-live childhood craft time, dye eggs, carve pumpkins and make marshmallow bunnies.
  7. Complete the couch-5K training program.
  8. Re-read your magazines and newspapers and then recycle them for good.
  9. Deep clean your scalp.
  10. Do a Korean facial mask.
  11. Create giant bubbles
  12. Ditch the swiffer and mop your floor (the old fashioned way).
  13. Actually call your friends on your phone contact list.
  14. Make your own comic book sketch
  15. Rearrange your food pantry by expiration date and category
  16. Clean out your freezer
  17. Pop popcorn the old fashioned way
  18. Buy a gift for yourself
  19.   Ditch the Keurig and make coffee, the old fashioned way
  20. Put up you Christmas decorations
  21. Deep clean your office
  22. Deep clean your house
  23. Make cupcakes from scratch
  24.  Make frosting from scratch
  25. Campbells is good, but homemade is better.  Make chicken noodle soup from scratch
  26. Facetime/Zoom friends and loved ones
  27. Delete your old emails
  28.  Get rid of old piles of papers
  29. Watch free movies on HBO 
  30.  Water your plants
  31. Cook beans over an open flame (safely)
  32. Dust your home
  33. Make homemade lemonade
  34. Buff and clean your shoes
  35. Sanitize your dishwasher and washing machine
  36. Organize your jewelry
  37. Clean your windows
  38. Give yourself a foot bath
  39. Paint your rooms
  40. Make taffy or caramel
  41. Digitize your pictures
  42. Organize your photo albums
  43. Watch a you-tube influencer and learn to do your makeup
  44. Write and self-publish an ebook
  45. Get 10,000 steps in
  46. Clean out your fireplace and chimney
  47. Clean your carpets and rugs    
  48. Sanitize your remote controls 
  49. Sanitize your door knobs
  50. Organize your cell phone apps
  51. Clean your pillows
  52. Turn your mattress
  53. Change your air-filters
  54. Tighten loose screws
  55. Play a virtual card game
  56.  Dance
  57. Create  your costume for Halloween 2021
  58. Redecorate your house
  59. Actually write a letter and mail it
  60. Bake cookies from scratch
  61. Clean out your closet
  62. Read an e-book
  63. Dye your hair
  64. Join a virtual happy hour
  65. Organize your heirloom recipes and make your favorite dish
  66. Clean under your bed
  67. Learn to sew
  68. Sew clothes for childs barbies and action figures
  69. Make your own mask
  70. Paint a picture
  71. Clean your garage
  72. Lounge all day
  73. Improve your selfie game
  74. Start a food diary
  75. Create a signature drink
  76. Create a signature sandwich
  77. Plan your next vacation post quarantine
  78. Inventory all your valuables for insurance purposes
  79. Write a song
  80. Write poetry
  81. Clean out your purse
  82. Organize your digital library
  83. Make a candle light dinner
  84. Play the lotto
  85. Scrub your pots
  86. Organize your Christmas gift list
  87. Clean your freezer
  88. Soak in the tub
  89. Replace missing buttons on your shirt
  90. Take a free on-line class
  91. Start an on-line degree program
  92. Check on your neighbor (from a socially-safe distance)
  93. Rake your leaves
  94. Start a garden
  95. Clean out your recyclables before you recycle them
  96. Clean out your recycle and trash bin
  97. Make your bed
  98. Learn to fix your bike tire
  99. Make fresh squeezed OJ
  100. Fill a piggy bank with loose change.
  101. Say a prayer

Try one of these or all of them and you are good to go!
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Black History Month Artist Inspiration

2/13/2020

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Inspiration

As an artist and designer I look within and outward for inspiration.  The environment around me is as important to me as the history and experiences that have shaped me.

​In my North Minneapolis studio there is a wall of  windows that opens to the outside world.  I observe the poverty, neglect, struggle, renewal and hope of the community.  My resulting collection of work is a reflection of these modern day struggles and the stories of my ancestors
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My Vision for 2020

The old church across the street with its wooden steps.  The creek running thru the neighborhood.  Kids playing in the street. Open spaces and vacant lots slowly filling and changing.  This painting is a reflection of what I see out of my windows.  

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The large stretched  canvas is open and undefined waiting to be filled with so many possibilities. The work that I do is about my community, its my story.

My Vision 2020 by Shirley Jones. Acrylic on Canvas. Showing at Homewood Studios Feb 1-28th.

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Opening Doors & Bridges on the North Side

3/24/2019

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According to the ​University of Minnesota's Racial and Ethnic Diversity Index, North Minneapolis is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Minneapolis.
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Plymouth Avenue, North Minneapolis
Diversity has always been a positive term in my book, but there can be two sides to every coin.  The positive side of diversity brings new opportunities and people into the community making it a wonderful place to live.  The flip side is that inequality still exists and separation of people and opportunities continues. 


I feel art can be used as a bridge to get people to come together and find common ground.  Doors Open is a city-wide celebration occurring on May 18-19, 2019.  The goal of the event is to bring the community into spaces they don't usually get to see.  I'm participating to share the story of the North Side and to get community members who don't normally get to meet together and learn the story of the community we all share.

Saturday, May 18, 2019 10-5:00PM
Sunday, May 19, 2019 10-5:00PM 


Plymouth Avenue Art Studios
2404 PlyMouth Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 



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Inspiration For The African War Angels Collection

3/16/2018

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Big Blue Box Project Update September 2017

9/24/2017

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We are still very excited about the big blue box project! We have collected over 400 toiletry items and boxes to date. We have already distributed some boxes to needy folks at the Night of Hope event in Minneapolis on September 25th.
 
We would love for more groups to come out to create art for boxes and help pack boxes.  Our next scheduled Big Blue Box workshop day is scheduled for:

Saturday, October 7, 2017
11:00 am-4pm
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Big Blue Box Project Update June 2017

6/15/2017

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The Big Blue Box Project is coming along well! A continued thanks to all those who have come out and donated their time, money and resources.  
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St. Stephen's Street Outreach is one organization we hope to create a continued partnership with. Click on the link above for more information about the organization.
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Big Blue Box Update: May 2017

5/30/2017

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First, I would like to thank all the community members who came out to help paint and create drawings for the Big Blue Box Project.  To date, community members have created 300 boxes and  unique works of art and donated 100 toiletry items.

For those who don't know, the Big Blue Box Project is a community art project that brings together local artist, youth and members of the community to create art boxes/hygeine kits for homeless community members. The purpose of the project is to engage community members, increase awareness of the problem of homelessness and provide works of art to people in need.
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​This project was born during my travels to the West Coast and Cuba this year.  I saw poverty and homelessness out in the open on a large scale. Homelessness is often hidden and not talked about, This experience opened my eyes to the problem of homelessness so when I returned home to Minneapolis I wanted to do something in my own way. 
If you are interested in creating  a box our next Art Box Workshop is scheduled for:

Saturday June 10, 2017.  11 am-4pm
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Plymouth Avenue Art Studio
2404 Plymouth Ave. N. 
MPLS, MN 55411


For Donations of toiletry items contact Shirley Jones 612-470-2787 for drop off times.
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April 15, 2017 Art Work Day

4/16/2017

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The April 15, 2017 Big Blue Box art work day was a success.  Thanks to all those who came out to Plymouth Avenue Art Studio.
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Volunteers assembled and decorated over 100 boxes.
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The next work day is scheduled for April 22, 2017 10am-5pm.  Contact Us for additional information and RSVP.
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Household Chore Hack

2/21/2017

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Everyday Gems

12/8/2016

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The word gems gives the impression of expense and luxery but they often glam up a simple outfit with very little expense. I often wear an older pair of jeans, a long sleeve white tee and a triple-strand genstone necklace and I am ready for anything!  Try it, get the wow factor with a simple gemstone necklace and give any pair of jeans a new life and you are good to go too!


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    Author

    Shirley Jones, MFA is a Minneapolis based artist, educator and studio owner.   You can find Shirley most days creating and building works of art in her basement studio in North Minneapolis.
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