West Seattle tidepools

field trip,

sun,

sea creatures,

happy kids...

did I mention there was sun?

no words necessary

until I come to this guy...

see that quite large snail next to him?

well it fell from the sky right in front of us.
then we realized it had been dropped by said bird
as he was smart enough to use this technique to gain access 
to its interior...
smart bird, lucky snail as he gave up with us standing there.

destination - ABC Home store NYC

be still my beating heart...

 a little bit of heaven...

 and my favorite color...

 and I oh so want these for storage in my studio -

pretty please with sugar on top...

 and it just kept going...

I thought I had died and gone to heaven,

 but no it was the abc home store...

7 floors of pure bliss.

here's the view looking down the stairs at the coffee bar -

clear glass counter with strings of light embedded into it.

and who came up with the idea of covering an eames chair

with fabric and even needlepoint on the headrest?

pure genius.

and if you are lucky enough to discover the basement

you will find a whole Conran shop 

neatly tucked in there...

and going back up you just may spot this elevator wall...

and these indian wood stamps...

and these gorgeous trays...

and a little bit of serenity on an upper floor...

and you can crash here
 if your brain just can't wrap itself around 
all this wonder of wonders.
i promise i will post more from the trip soon.

how does your garden grow?

how does your garden grow?

hopefully not with moles devouring your harvest...

but the kids thought this part was a hoot

so we do what makes them happy.

I have been intrigued with the idea of painting a garden scene

that looks like a cross section

of sky and earth...

with a furry creature residing it its depths.

first we stenciled a design that resembled dirt,

added some splatter,

and then planted some root vegetables,

gave them some stenciled green leaves,

added tunnels,

and a happy gardener

who hopefully befriends his furry companion...

and the following verse...
You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
the streams of God are filled with water 
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows
and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers
and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
Psalm 65: 9-11
I have not even thought about the garden or yard
to be truthful.
I am definitely a fair weather gardener
and our weather has been depressing to say the least... sigh
So I would like to know what the weather is like 
where you live and
what is the favorite thing out in your garden right now???

a corgi mother's day

definitely a corgi kind of day

as both sons gave me corgi items...

 first this lovely towel arrived from Jonathan and Kim

(thank you Zoe for modeling)...

 my daughter-in-law was oh so clever

and peaked at my etsy favorite list to find the towel

I had long ago forgotten about...

 and then Nick showed up a day early and 
couldn't wait to share his wonderful find -
a beautiful pen and ink adventure Korgi by
Christian Slade...

pure artistic genius if you ask me...

he knows his corgs...

or maybe I should say korgs...

Do you think she's had enough posing?
better stop and give her a treat.

then we spent the afternoon with Doug's family
and my favorite great niece Ella,
who is growing up way too quickly
(looking at the rain drops here -
I know I look pretty dorky,
 but don't think anyone is looking at me really)...

 and we went for a walk...

and I got to hug my youngest too.
Hope your day was wonderful!

mom day

I miss my mom so much...

the sore spot in my chest just won't heal.

Here is one of her poems I love.
"Statue of Liberty"
They jeered,
as she came up to bat
and froze over home plate.
Therapies later,
she learned to smack life
with a flaming torch.
That was not the answer either,
so she undid her statue
and emerged - 
naked, vulnerable
and free.
Phyllis Selleck
1980

artEAST auction begins

 our local gallery auction began last night.

150 different painting for sale on line

with all proceeds to support the gallery.

click here to see all the wonderful pieces.

#62 - mine at $75 so far.

and I happen to love...

 #13

 #48

 #61

 #81

 #82

#126

my friend Carrie Schmitt's

#25

please tell your art collecting friends

to take a look

and buy one!

living in a bell jar?

well it's time to come out and play...

figured these little guys needed to come meet my art clubbers...

so while I was getting out of the old bell jar and

enjoying some much needed time in NY,

 these little guys got to play with the art kiddos

and Ms. Dillon who graciously taught them in my absence.

 looks to me like they had quite a bit of fun...

 with red polka dot mushrooms

(never could understand how these ones could be so 

pretty and so poisonous).

and each of these magical worlds was again created on

 a Michael's miniature frame.

I really must get some stock in that company...