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This is Vicki Johnson. I met Vicki through Girls’ Rock Camp ATL, where we discovered we had two things in common: we were both new drummers and both moms to six-year-old girls. As you can imagine, this is a pretty rare combination to have in common. The motherhood community is not exactly flooded with drummers. But if Vicki and I can help it, it will be soon!

Vicki started playing drums at Ladies Rock Camp, a weekend camp for women to learn new instruments, form a band, and perform a show. The camp also acts as a fundraiser for Girls’ Rock Camp. The next Ladies Rock Camp Atlanta is February 18-20. Registration is still open, so if you want a chance to meet some amazing women and play music, sign up now!

You can read more about Vicki and her drumming adventures in my interview with her at Tom Tom Magazine. Head on over there. It’s worth the click.

photo by Nate “Igor” Smith at Siren Festival 2009

This is part two of my interview with Violet Clark of the band Grand Duchy. If you missed part one, check it out. Otherwise, read on to hear Violet talk about her musical background, influences, dorky facebook posts, and how she manages creative projects, including how she handles balancing her own career and kids while her husband, Black Francis, is on tour with The Pixies or as a solo artist. Good stuff, right? You’re welcome. (more…)

Violet Clark is the mama of five children, a musician, and a visual artist. After experimenting with a solo album, she joined forces with her hubby, Charles Thompson, and together they created the band Grand Duchy. Of course, we all know Charles as Black Francis/Frank Black of the hugely influential band The Pixies. (more…)

artist. interior designer. architect in the making. mama of three.

1. What’s your name and the names and ages of your children?
Corrie L. Machado, mother of Zolan, 12 (I’ll officially have a teenager in March!) Lydia, 7, and Gabi, 6.

2. What is your main creative outlet?
Creating LaLa Architecture and sketching various subjects. LaLa Architecture is my term for designs you create while in architect school. Instructors give crazy creative assignments that would almost never happen in the real world, but they are fun and challenging nonetheless.

3. What inspired you to try this creative outlet?
When I was, I think 9, I received a Crayola Interior Designer Drafting Kit for Christmas. I loved the process I learned through the kit of drawing an isometric (a pictorial drawing with 30 degree angles). I had no idea I was drawing an isometric, but loved the result when I finished. It made me imagine spaces that I could create in real life.

4. What are your current goals (professional or personal) with this creative outlet?
Graduate (honors) with a Masters in Architecture.
Become a registered architect in the state of Virginia.
Own my own architectural/interior design firm!
Personal: spend more time with my three babies.

5. Who are the artists you most admire?
Mary Stevenson Cassatt and John Lennon. Learning too much about architecture at the moment to say what architect I most admire. This week I might say Gerrit Rietveld and next week Michael Graves. Who knows where I’ll end up?

6. How has parenthood affected your work as an artist?
Parenthood has elevated my interest of the arts in general and provided me with tons of inspiration. My three children are all very artistic, and their creativity makes me want to create and share with them what little I know.

7. What or who inspires you?
Color, Music, Shapes, Texture.

8. What band or songs are you currently loving?
Arctic Monkeys and I really like Mia Riddle at the moment. I find her honesty about relationships refreshing and easy to relate to. Oh and Ruckus Roboticus. My children spontaneously start cleaning when I play them!

9. What’s your favorite way to de-stress?
Home alone with my husband and wine! I love him (and wine)…can’t help it.