life is like...

What could be cuter than a print of 

one of my mini paintings 

resting on a homemade cardboard easel,

 machine stitched around the outside,
 and ready to sit on your counter

and inspire and greet you?

Get it here for only $5.00.

Oh ya and next week I will have a give-away 

so stay tuned...

Let the holiday gifting begin!

for sale!!! Get your gnomes, sheep, goats, and artist fun here...

It's getting to be that time of year when we think of holiday giving.

I just posted new cards and gift-packs for sale here -

The first gift-pack features a Moleskine plain 80 page journal

with 16 detachable pages and inner pocket 

with my photo and 'crafty' quote stitched on the cover...

plus 3 cards to inspire your favorite artists too...

The second gift pack is all about gnomes,

my favorite, faithful garden gnome to be exact...

It features 3 humorous cards, a bookmark

 and small Moleskine journal in which to jot all your brilliant ideas...

all packed in a cello pack ready to gift...

The last gift-pack is full of goats and sheep and riddles

and will bring a smile to the recipient's face...

all machine-stitched too!

So think ahead for gifts or let anyone who has obsessions in these areas know...

I really appreciate it!

again, you can purchase here at my Etsy shop.

Blue Dog in many colors

We finally finished up our first after-school art lesson

based on George Rodrigue's book

Why is Blue Dog blue?

What color do I paint Blue Dog when

she plants lavender?

Lavender...

What color do I paint Blue Dog when 

he plays in the grass?

Grass Green...

What color do I paint Blue Dog when 

he goes to a Husky game?

Husky Purple and Gold...

What color do I paint Blue Dog when

she sunbathes?

Sun Yellow...

(Can I go to this island now please?)

What color do I paint Blue Dog when

she picks roses?

Rose Pink...

these kiddos are so talented and super quick -

I foresee many wonderful projects!

breathe deeply

my husband brought this dried lavender bouquet home

from the office.

someone just brought them in to share.

love them offset against my dining room table

that was my grandmothers.

it seems that someone of the black furry kind likes them too

as there are lavender kernels spread all over the table each morning.

Matteo's a closet lavender addict - hides his obsession and

only does it at night!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

I am planning on art tomorrow - yay!

Ella's big day...

the birthday card was made...

the cupcakes were ready...

the birthday girl was waiting patiently

 (in a dress I gave her mom way before she was born)...

to make new friends

(bunny puppet from us) ...

and laugh...

and to even look cute as a cupcake...

Happy Birthday great niece Ella!

one can never have too many croque monsieurs or too much art...

ok after devouring Croque Monsieur at Cafe Campagne last week,

we felt the need to expand our vistas and search out more

croque monsieur spots...

so we stumbled into Cafe Presse

right next to Stumptown Coffee

and next to Seattle University with the absolute jewel -

 Chapel St. Ignatious.

and we were not disappointed...

croque monsieur and pommes frites twice in one week - 

no wonder the pants are tight!

and then lo and behold I small scream emitted from my mouth as we passed

the king of all art stores...

when did Blick Art arrive in Seattle???

actually only a few months earlier 

so I am not feeling too left out of the inner circle...

except my poor husband had been telling me 

about a new art store he wanted to show me,

and I had not been overly eager - and this was it...

I always should listen to my husband. 

 

she was tree sitting in a shop window -
looks like some place I would like to spend my time too...
So where do you want to spend your time?
I for one did not enjoy shopping for a new vacuum today 
(didn't buy one - any suggestions?)
and I am really in coveting mode as Nick is at a Cloud Cult concert,
but happy to be home with my hubby as he reads on the sofa
while Zoe sleeps at his feet
 and Matteo dreams of catching mice
as he sits in the darkness of the cool garage,
and the book Little Bee calls to me to read again 
(I adore that book, but it is a tough subject and I don't know if others will like it)
so I can lead our book club discussion,
as the rain quietly pitter patters on the roof
(after a glorious day so no complaints).
pheww got that out...
Have a blessed Sunday and wonderful week...

oh I actually also made some arty cards this morning so definitely a good day

(I will share later as I don't want the birthday girl to see).  

My finger is still pretty numb and 

I am sorry to say that I have not really painted since

the unfortunate  boxwood trimming accident in June,

but I am managing.

the doctor says nerves should get better slowly over a year and 
every week is a little better.

commit to thrive

if you need a little push this morning,
and you need to feel that you are on the right track
 as you work quietly by yourself
at your kitchen table, 
pouring your soul into that newest piece of art
and you stop for just a sec and have doubt,
doubt as to why you are doing this,
and does anybody even care,
and will this creation help the world in some way...
then please watch.
thanks to Tania from Indo Bay Inc.

meow meets moo...

needed a little giggling this afternoon...

maybe you do too?

What are spots on black and white cows?

Holstains...


What do cows wear in Hawaii?

Moo-moos...


What do you call a cow that has just had a calf?

Decalfeinated...


I made this cow about 30 years ago so she is getting on in years.
She resides on top of my pine armoire 
and oversees the comings and goings...
knew it was going to be trouble when Matteo noticed what I was doing...

a Sunday blessing

 If the vessel of our soul is still tossed

with winds and storms,

let us awake the Lord,

who reposes in it,

and he will quickly calm the sea.

Brother Lawrence 1614-1691

I love this quote and thought it paired nicely 

with this photo that I took in Spokane at a winery

a couple of weeks ago. 

 I didn't really see the reflection until later -

a serendipitous event.  

The water was so still, inviting

and calm.

I have definitely been feeling a little tossed by winds from all directions lately,

feeling a little battered and not sure which way to direct my boat,

 like I've lost my compass...

why do I so often rely on myself to figure 'it' out instantly,

instead of quieting my soul and

drawing near to the one 

who knows my every need?

art begins...

When my daughter was about seven years old, 

she asked me one day what I did at work.  

I told her I worked at the college - that my job was to teach people how to draw.

She stared back at me, incredulous, 

and said, "You mean they forget?"

Howard Ikemoto

out of the mouth of babes  -  and that is why I teach...

Class begins Monday.

First lesson will be about George Rodrigue

and his blue dog...

What color do I paint Blue Dog when I go fishing?

Salmon

What color do I paint Blue Dog when I want a hot dog?

Mustard

Can't wait to see what color they make Blue Dog?

The next lesson is inspired by a card (lower left) that I had filed away for years,

and just came across in my files. 

We will portray an autumn field or crop painting...

made with stamped rectangles out of my favorite Wonder Foam,

and lots of yummy layers of paint and ink, and whatever we decide.

I will take you along for the ride later.

Can I have this please?

I know what my sewing machine 
and I would be making right now 
if I had all the time in the world...
just love House Beautiful magazine - always find something I adore.

mountains, gnomes and dreamin' of France...

Saturday began the fun -

Doug and Nick left for a big all day hike and...

I said, "goodbye, be careful and I will miss you"...

but inside I was saying, 

"yahoo, au revoir, can you hurry it along - things to do ya know".

and of course it involved gnomes,

lots of gnomes...

in the form of bookmarks...

and sweet little Moleskine notebooks with bead bookmarks

for 'thinking' and 'doing'...

and 3 different gnome cards for giving...

so 11 hours and 37 cards and notebook creations later

I guess you could say I found my 'doing' cap...

my boys returned home and we each had the perfect day.

Now I need another perfect day to get them photographed and listed on Etsy.

The next day we took Nick out for a promised brunch at Cafe Campagne in Seattle

so we could relive his Parisian experience.

We parked and walked by this wall...

and this one too with mixed media...

and we pretended we were in France -

well I did... mais oui!

There was no teleporting involved,

but it was delicious just the same.

Croque Monsieur avec...

pommes frites et aioli...

yummo.

and Parisian pistachio, raspberry and orange with chocolate

macaroons from Le Panier to take home.

ahh c'est magnifique!

Today's Labor Day activities involve yard work 

and painting screen doors

and cleaning the roof and... 

see a pattern here?

Somehow for us Labor Day is always about 'labor'!