Magda Hiller: News

February ~ Happy Valentine's Day

I hope this little note finds you healthy & happy and the animosity some of you may have been harboring towards me with regard to my lack of communication, has subsided or better yet vanished. Maybe if I post of my return to the academic world I might be viewed in a kinder light :smiles:* Only 35 years later, ahh the wonders of math!


* Note the Feb. 17th info. in Calendar Dates - Rebecca Zapen & Jeremy Douglass ~ a must see/hear *


I hope to see you at any or all of the upcoming shows :smiles:*




*:smiles: (plagiarized from Diane Ward)

HI and welcome to November!!!

FIRST things first; my insanely (multi) talented sister, Nancy R. Hiller, http://www.nrhillerdesign.com has just had published by the Indiana University Press her second book, "A Home of Her Own", stories about women and their relationships with their old homes. The writing is as exceptional as her detailed cabinet making and the 100 plus color photographs by Kendall Reeves are spectacular. A large format paperback, beautiful for a coffee table.

I have been even more out of touch than in the past and I sincerely apologize. I can only attribute my internet absence to the many hats which hang in my closet. I've come to the realization that all of the technology intended to save time has virtually sapped every single second, hence my husband is snoring in the other room while I sit here on the computer! I am laughing, it amazes me.

'Magdaphanalia' Recycled Bottle Cap Art-to-Wear (see photos on http://www.facebook.com/magdaphanalia) has taken on a life of her own, she is extremely demanding of my time, so much so that I have enlisted the help of a few very dear friends, acquired an out of home studio/work space and am doing my best to keep her from vampire-like attacking Magda Hiller the musician, Magda Hiller the mother, the wife, the house keeper (I seriously try), the neighbor, the daughter, the sister, the relative, the FRIEND. New photos are imminent, it's all just a matter of time, no? I'm actually not complaining though you'd never know, would you? I am LOVING my alter ego, she's very much alive : )

Please join me for one or more of my upcoming performances, I look forward to seeing you!

Praying that all are safe and that folks heed warnings, please. Hurricanes are not to be messed with.

Written after the last hurricane 'Irene' and recorded with Jack Shawde on "Icing on the Cake". Now, let us pray that she folds her wings over the ocean, never to be seen or heard from again.....

This song as well as the other 14 from 'Icing' have all been uploaded for your happy little ears and my extremely tired brain.

Goodnight (Irene)

Hello!!!

Being one of the 'many scattered folks' as opposed to that of 'Love, a Many-Splendored Thing' I have a single item on my bucket list and that is to become organized in all areas of my life. Nay, not a trip to bella Italia or a lush jungle encased zip line in Costa Rica, I am desperate for some organization. I hear a resounding laughter emitting from my computer, is that?, could that be YOU??? Ah, you know me so very well.

This, my friends is what my poor daughter's summer will have looming over it, organization : ) I feel like the Wicked Witch of the West....."my pretty". Of course, mommy dearest will also be throwing in some beach time, camping, swimming and F U N!

Here's to you all having a fun, happy, safe summer,

Love ~

How fabulous, this morning when the rain stated to fall. It's been too dry too long. I am serious when I write that last evening the leaves on the Drake Elms out front were barely visible and now they're saying, "Good morning DeLand!"

I am so very fortunate to have such a wonderful family, friends & life. It's a good day today, Dr. Seuss Day in Wyatt's 2nd grade classroom! I'm running to finish errands, volunteer in Wyatt's class, practice (ooh, what a concept) and make some necklaces. Nothing too ambitious for this one : )

Happy March, Happy Spring, Happy birth month to my brilliant, beautiful, hilarious daughter Wyatt and my dear father-in-law Jerry Wilson, also to sweet Joseph Longley and all of you March babies.

Love ~

Happy Holidays to you all!

A true Floridian, writing this little note while sitting in my office, freezing in the 60 something degree temperature of my home.

I had an order for a couple Magdaphanalia necklaces from a man in Massachusetts. While speaking with him I commented on how cold it was here,(because I am obsessed)and he laughed quite loudly, saying that I didn't know what cold was, or something to that effect : ) Listen, after living in England for 11 + years, I know what cold is BUT the fact remains that I was born in South Florida and "Homey" ain't happy when the temperature drops below 70! Now I just saw that it will be BELOW, yes BELOW 30 degrees next week!

So, in my constant search for the 'glass half full' I turn my energy toward those less fortunate and take blankets or whatever I can, (please do the same if you are able) to my daughter's school guidance counselor. There, I feel warmer already.

If you're in the DeLand/Central Florida area, please do yourself a favor and go see the absolutely fabulous live musical production of "A Christmas Carol" now at the historic Athens Theatre. It is a MUST SEE show, my mother, daughter and I went last night. http://www.athenstheatre.org

Again, happy holidays and may the force of your choosing be with you.

Love,

Magda

The first zephers of Fall have been felt in the lovely hamlet of DeLand, FL. Forced into a sweater I was this morning and was that frost on my windshield? Yee Gods!

The 7yr old girl child is performing famously in school and reading like she's being paid or something! She is wonderful, precocious and very sweet. We're working on 'A place for everything and everything in it's place', note the "we", I'm not just pointing the finger I OWN that finger : )

The husband, Chip Wilson, (along with his best friend John Freeland) is a BBQ God, "Free-Wil BBQ" as well as his work at Stetson University. People come from all over for the ribs, pulled pork and brisket, seriously.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Love,

Magda

Hi there,

It's obviously been a while since I've updated my journal here. Where's my assistant? Help.

I've been performing at some choice festivals of late and more intimate listening venues and house concerts. Good times, seriously.

Between the music & performing I have become slightly obsessed with making recycled bottle cap necklaces. I have many scanned on my Facebook page if you'd like to see more. The inspiration is endless, I am a pig rolling in the proverbial mud pit from hell. Yee ha.

All is well, I am the luckiest person to have such wonderful family and people in my life. Now, if I could just learn how to be organized!

Love ~

 

My sister, superior cabinet maker, artist, writer, animal lover and humanitarian Nancy R. Hiller is in town (DeLand) and will be giving a lecture at Stetson University on Monday Feb. 22nd at 7pm. here is the press release (and I hope to see you there):

 

The Women and Gender Studies Program is pleased to announce “Sex in the Kitchen: Gender and the Development of Kitchen Furnishings in the Twentieth Century,” a lecture and conversation with professional cabinetmaker and writer Nancy Hiller. Hiller will speak on Monday February 22, at 7pm in Room 25 L at Stetson University. All welcome. Refreshments will follow. Cultural credit available for Stetson students. 

This illustrated presentation will discuss the origins and historical background of the contemporary American kitchen, considering how gender, advertising, and other influences have shaped its development. Hiller will also talk about her experience as a woman in a field traditionally occupied by men and will present several examples of kitchens she has designed for houses of various period styles, including Queen Anne, Tudor and Georgian Revivals from the '20s and '30s, and a mid-century modern ranch.

Hiller is based in Bloomington, Indiana. After earning a City & Guilds of London certificate in furniture making in 1980, she was employed by several custom woodworking shops in England and the United States. Since 1995 she has operated NR Hiller Design, Inc., a custom furniture and cabinetmaking business that specializes in period-authentic kitchen cabinetry, in addition to built-ins for other rooms. Her writing, furniture, and cabinet work have been published in several national periodicals, among them Fine Woodworking, Fine Homebuilding, American Bungalow, and Old-House Interiors. Her book, The Hoosier Cabinet in Kitchen History, was published by the Indiana University Press in 2009.

I hope this letter finds you in great spirits. 

I started the new year by losing my sweet friend, protector and dog of 14 years, Beaner Hiller Wilson, aka Beanie Wheenie Peepolini (his Italian name). 

I first saw Bean and his mom Nellie in Miami's design district, hairless, walking the streets. Nellie barely approaching people, begging for food with her eyes and cowering body, Beanie following behind, visibly afraid. I thought about them for 2 weeks and then returned to the design district to visit my friends Michelle and Steve at their photo gallery. There were Nellie and Bean on the street, I told Michelle I was going to take them home. 

Two hours later, after pinning Bean under a car to catch him and Steve rigging a comedic trap in order to catch Nellie, I had my two red mange and flea infested, hairless dogs! Yippee. 

They stayed at the vet for a week or so and then came home. I recall sitting in the garage with them staring at me, mess everywhere, thinking, "What the hell have I just gotten myself into?" I cried and called my mother saying, "It's like I have two children!" I would walk my hyena looking Nellie and giant eared Beaner in the upper middle class Skylake neighborhood, nervous that someone would haughtily ask what kind of dogs they were. I finally decided that Nellie would be a very rare 'Mongolian Hairless', (my own breed). 

They tore up all the plants in the back yard, dug holes, drove my boyfriend crazy. They grew hair and Nellie was gorgeous, with a long gold/red coat.

They lived on Drayton Island with my parents for some years while I did some touring, then back with me. I moved to St. Augustine and they were in heaven. We had a wonderful time, the three of us. Going to the soccer field near my apartment downtown, the dogs chasing each other, smiling, I can see both their faces. 

On one of my early dates with my husband Chip I was returning from a couple performances in South Florida and had the dogs with me. Chip let BOTH dogs sit on his sofa and I almost fell over. He scored out of the park with that move.

Neither dog ever showed much affection to anyone other than myself or my mother and father but during his last couple years Bean would actually walk up to Chip for a scratch. He even walked up to a very few select friends. Nellie died two years ago, they were wonderful dogs.

I can't believe how much I miss them. 

(Please excuse any grammatical errors)

 

I am venturing back to the bowels of South Florida for one show in February! It will be on Valentine's Day at The Downtowner in Ft. Lauderdale (ok, not quite the bowels). More to follow!!

Peace

 

Happy * Healthy * Prosperous * Calm * Organized, (please Lord, let me learn the fine art of organization) New Year to you all!

 

Love,

 

Magda 

La la la la la la la la....it's getting cooler.....la la la....please look at the Calendar page for what's goin on in the world of Magda!

Caliente baby!

I have been making bottle cap jewellery like a mad woman and slightly neglecting my internet duties...

That said, please check out the Cap Jewellery page and you'll see what I've been doing. The creative juices are overflowing.

Now that Chip, John, Dave, the Woodnight guys and I have redone the front porch, I can get go outside, prop open the case and start writing again. It is the most beautiful setting.

My 7 year anniversary to Mr. 'Fabulous' Chip Wilson has just passed. We're still locking each other out of cars, houses and supermarkets, so all is well. Wyatt is growing like a weed, her incredibly long legs have nothing to do with her mother, that's for sure. She is a great reader, artist and friend and is one stripe away from her 3rd belt in Kid-Jitsu!

Off to the next!!!!

Smile and say something nice to someone. You could make their day and yours when you see what it does.

Peace, love, health & happiness,

Magda

I wish you all a most healthy, happy, safe and prosperous year.

A few choice performances up and coming this year and more to follow...

I've started putting photos up of my bottlecap necklaces. Prices range from $15 ~ $30. I can do custom with photos of family, pets, anything! I am having the time of my creative life between making music and necklaces.

Love,

Magda

I'm sliding in here like a dog on ice.
October is travel month pour moi; Indiana for a long overdue sister visit and then California for Love Ride. Check out the Calendar Dates page for Love Ride info and check out www.Magdaphanalia.etsy.com to see another of my creative outlets. I am in the midst of uploading photos of my recycled jewelery which was a hit at my 1st craft show 2 weeks ago!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Love,

Magda

Please hug your loved ones. Google Dancing Matt, he will make you smile. Watching this guy made me sit back and breathe. A little something to take you away.

And now, about ME. Been doing more voice-overs lately than performances so am very excited to be back at The Mill Top this month. Come on over to St. Augustine and have a few cold ones, hang out and listen to your favorite Magda Hiller tunes!

July is for celebrating some family /friend birthdays, reordering all cd titles and writing...

Happy Birthday!!!

Nancy Hiller (www.nrhillerdesign.com)
Herb Hiller (www.floridaattheedge.com)
Frank Carmelitano
Bernard Hiller
Polly Wilson
Carly Gibran
Lisa Grant

...and all of you July birthdays

Summer's here and the time is right....(think of the tune)....

I hope you are enjoying your summer.
Been working a bit on some live tunes/living room video with Mr. Jack Shawde and hoping to have the last House Concert with Diane Ward, Jack and myself available on DVD in the not too distant future.

Love to all,

Magda

Hola,

My Mother.....(regarding Mother's Day), I think my Father put it best when he dedicated his last book to her, "For Mary Lee, without whom
nothing happens". How could he possibly have nailed that so well? She fixes the toilet or replaces the whole thing if need be because she
can, she is an amazing welder (this from many a man) and artist,
tackles electrical problems, cooks like a trained chef, drives a bush
hog and is a supreme Grandmother. I could say so much more but time is slim pickins right now, so much for the internet.
I am the person I am because of my Mother (and Father who believes
that these holidays were created by Hallmark) : )

Happy Mother's Day

Hello!

I cannot tell you how wonderful the people and settings of these past performances have been. March was one of my favorite months for new folks and venues. Clay Gallery in New Smyrna Beach * Gronto Springs in Dixie County performing for Paddle Florida (what an amazing experience) * The Larimer Theater in Palatka and the 1st Annual SteveFest (honoring late, great Steve Blackwell) at the beautiful Bayshore Live Oak Park in Charlotte Harbor - what an inspiring extended family.

And now...ta da ~ APRIL!


Saturday, April 5th, 2008
Will McLean Folk Festival
Magnolia Stage - 6pm
Withlacoochee Campground
Dunnellon, FL
United States
352-465-2167
Price: check http://www.willmclean.com
Duo performance with the awe inspiring Jack Shawde (http://jackshawde.com) on guitars. This festival is sweet* sweet* sweet* honoring "The Father of Florida Folk" Will McLean. Performers include Bill and Eli Perras, Grant Livingston, Doug Spears, Jim Carrick, Still Friends, Ashley Gang, Frank Thomas, Lis Williamson, Mindy Simmons, Amy Carol Webb, Rod MacDonald, Valerie C. Wisecracker James Hawkins, Peters Road Swamp Blues Band, Bob Patterson...this is a smidgeon of the fabulous talent showcased here at the new location in Dunnellon.

Sunday, April 6th, 2008
Will McLean Folk Festival
Cypress Stage - 1:30pm
Withlacoochee Campground
Dunnellon, FL
United States
352-465-2167
Price: check http://www.willmclean.com
Duo performance with the awe inspiring Jack Shawde (http://jackshawde.com) on guitars. This festival is sweet* sweet* sweet* honoring "The Father of Florida Folk" Will McLean. Performers include Bill and Eli Perras, Grant Livingston, Doug Spears, Jim Carrick, Still Friends, Ashley Gang, Frank Thomas, Lis Williamson, Mindy Simmons, Amy Carol Webb, Rod MacDonald, Valerie C. Wisecracker James Hawkins, Peters Road Swamp Blues Band, Bob Patterson...this is a smidgeon of the fabulous talent showcased here at the new location in Dunnellon.

Saturday, April 12th, 2008
EUROPEAN STREET CAFE - http://www.europeanstcafe.com In The Round - TBA
5500 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL
United States
(904) 725-3929
Price: TBA

This is a first - Don Oja Dunaway is performing In The Round with Larry Mangum and yours truly - I CANNOT WAIT, this is going to be such a wonderful evening of entertainment GUARANTEED!

Sunday, April 13th, 2008
VFW Post 4250
Relay for Life - 2pm
TBA
New Smyrna Beach, FL
United States
Price: TBA

Relay for Life Cancer Benefit. Please come and support these wonderful folks who have fought for our country, as they raise money for the fight against cancer.

Friday, April 18th, 2008
MIll Top Tavern - http://www.milltop.com Solo Performance - 9pm
19 1/2 St. George Street
St. Augustine, FL
United States
904-829-2329
Price: $2

Back at 'The Top' in the oldest city in the US - St. Augustine!

Saturday, April 19th, 2008
MIll Top Tavern - http://www.milltop.com Solo Performance - 9pm
19 1/2 St. George Street
St. Augustine, FL
United States
904-829-2329
Price: $2

Night #2 at 'The Top' in the oldest city in the US - St. Augustine!

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
Blue Spring State Park
St. John's River Classroom - Entertainment - evening
Blue Spring State Park
Orange City, FL
United States
386-467-8223
Price: Please go to: http://www.stjohnsriveralliance.com for details or call the number listed.

Solo performance on the 2nd evening of the Inaugural St. John's River Classroom April 22-25, Blue Spring State Park Orange City, FL.

Happy Spring

Happy New Year!

We're rockin and rollin here making things happen! New cd coming, new fun swag; my friend Matt has dubbed 'Magdaphanalia', I laughed and continue to do so : )

Please check out the calendar dates page, there are some interesting performances upcoming. Including one with my father, acclaimed travel writer Herb Hiller on January 19th.

Be safe, healthy, happy and say something nice to the person behind the counter : )

Love,

Magda

New adventures abound though I still have a huge problem with procrastination. I will update as soon as I have the appropriate info on January and beyond. Soon!

Happy New Year to you.
Drive safely, be happy and say something nice to the person behind the counter : )

My my my, where to begin?

First I must start with a big HELLO to all the new folks from
Washington State who signed up on the list! You are insanely cool people with giant hearts who know how to have fun. I loved my time
with you and my Menzels at Seabrook (I'm looking at a picture of
Darci, Robin and Holly). The hiking, the beautiful beach, the fire pit, leftover seafood from your amazing 4th of July bash, Mr. Wacky, and all of the wonderful families. Thank you for returning the Menzels to us, the neighborhood just isn't the same without them : )


Chip, Wyatt and I just returned from Jamaica where we had the best of times at the FDR in Runaway Bay (www.fdrholidays.com). It could not have been better. Some pictures are already up on the web site and more will follow.

Happy summer, be safe, courteous and healthy.

Love,

Magda

Julio's niece Aris Julie Home was found! Thank you for passing on the info and contributing to this fantastic outcome!

JUNE

To the tune of "South Park" -

'Goin out to Washington gonna have myself a time...on the plane, havin fun with Linden, stuffing guitars in the overhead. Goin out to Washington gonna leave the fam behind...better make sure I find a pink kitty and a funky t.shirt from Wacky's Warehouse.' Doesn't work you say? I tried.

Please check out the gigs and meet me out there!

Peace,

Magda