Let a joy keep you.

I have been stumbling into my studio in the wee hours

of the night in between feedings.

In the midst of exhaustion.

Because I find that I must create. I must. 

It's like breathing now. And I get antsy and depressed and feel icky without it.

And while I have no time or energy to create,

my muse is on overdrive,

filling up my head and heart with ideas and experiments to try.  

And so, against my better judgement,

I go in and tear up little pieces of paper

and lay them side by side and glue them together

and paint on them, then write on them,

then cover them up and start all over.

My little man who doesn't sleep or pee pee in the potty
who can throw a knock down, drag out tantrum in a single bound
who gets up at around 2 or 3 am every night to crawl in bed with us.
Last night at around 2 or 3 I was playing in the studio, which is right next to his bedroom,
 and he stumbled in and sat on my lap for a while I cut and glued and painted and cut and glued.

Then, he grabbed a piece of paper and tore up a little piece of yellow paper.
With such certainty and confidence he said,
"Momma, this piece goes here."

Then I gave him his own paper to make his own art
and over and over he repeated:
"This is my art. This is your art."
Sometimes he'd even throw in,
"Oh momma, I like that piece. That looks really nice."
"This is my art. This is your art."
And yes, I'm paying for it this morning.
but it was worth it.

Art Journaling: A Little Bit of Playtime!

We've been finding a new normal around here.
Getting used to being a family of four. And taking lots of naps.

I've been trying hard to do at least a little art in my art journal every day.

And it's hard. But so satisfying.

I'm such an all or nothing kind of girl

 that it's hard to create for 5 minutes here or there.

But, I'm finding that I can get a lot done when I do.

I painted a bunch or backgrounds last week.

And now I'm trying to make myself

think outside of my usual creating box,

take risks, and do things a little differently.

I usually just trade off: paint, paper,

more paint, more paper, more paint... you get the idea...

so I'm trying to experiment with different materials

line, line, shape, composition.

I would love to take this art journaling class.
Mostly because I love Aimee Dolich and want to grow up be her one day.
But I know from experience I'm a terrible online student.
I simply don't do the assignments.
Especially right now. I'm a little bit full right now,
but maybe you should take this class and tell me about it.

Happy Arting!
as my friend Janne would say.

Queen Bee Market Spring 2011, A Little Bit of Luke

Thank you for such supportive comments on my last post.
Honestly, with this bloggy world of friends, I really feel like I'm not alone.
Like we're on our journeys together.
And it's the community that I need.
 I'm so thankful for your sweet selves.

*****************************************************

I applied for this last month...

 and I found out today that I got in!

It is less than 2 months away.

If you are in the San Diego area I hope you'll stop by.

Now my head is spinning with ideas for my booth.

I've been working on a couple of different series for the etsy shop.

And this will help light a fire under me and get paintings finished.

*******************************************************

Today was the best day. ever.

I am 25 weeks today.

I had a doctor's appointment this morning.

Everything is looking good, entering my 3rd trimester.

He is kicking like crazy & I am getting ridiculously big.

But feeling great.

After my appointment I had a little time to myself

 (what is that?)

so I went to one of my favorite spots

Cedros Design District in Solana Beach.

Beauty. Creativity. Inspiration. Everywhere.

I actually sat down and read and sketched and prayed.

(Alisa Burke style sketching. Loving it.)

Luke 5

I read this story.
About Peter and the fish
and they had dropped their nets a bunch of times
& caught nothing.
then Jesus said to drop them again.
and it didn't make any sense to them.
but they did it anyway.
"But because you say so..."
faith & obedience.
that's exactly where I'm at right now.

I can't see it.

I don't understand it.
I don't know what you're doing.
"But because you say so..."
I will do it.

I love that Jesus is always saying,

"Do not be afraid."

In just about every situation.

To pretty much everyone.

Over and over.

Not just me.

I'm in good company.

 I talked about fear in my last post.

Fear of  taking myself seriously as a business owner.

Fear of telling anyone else.

Fear of announcing it.

Fear of stepping out,

trusting that God will show me

where he wants me to go.

That he'll give me everything I need.

And they were astonished
at the catch of fish.

Painting a Mural for the Kindergarten Yard

I fell off the blogging wagon, but I'm climbing back on. I've missed you guys, my blogging family.

Here's where I've been: at my school.
We have a great group of kinder parents at school this year who planned + made a kindergarten garden. When they asked me to help with the murals for the kindergarten yard I was more than happy to. I've never done anything on this huge scale before. I love large. Really large. And it was so fun.

Last Saturday 4 families came + we primed the walls to get ready for the big painting event. We all had a great time.I don't know why, it was just really, really fun.


Especially Jack. Ummm, are you supposed to painting that? I don't think so.


Then I spray painted the outlines for the 2 murals. An ocean on the handball court...


and a garden for our garden.


Yesterday a bunch of our kinder families came out to help paint...

and paint.

There is still a little more to be done + details to be added, but we got most of it done.

And today we're taking a break.
I missed you. I'm happy to be back.

Artfest 2010

5 days of nonstop making, creating, relating, learning, and more making...
where do I even begin?
the people. the making. the conversations. the setting. pure bliss.


My favorite photo of the trip: a log on the beach filled with rocks. Fort Warden is on the beach. unbelievably beautiful.



Here are the dorms and the campus. It was cold and drizzly, perfect weather for coffee-sipping & art-making.


I met her in Seattle & shared a car to Port Townsend. Complete stranger who became a fast friend. I know I will see her again.
Here we are on the ferry going over to Bainbrige Island.


My first class was making prayer flags with her. I have her books. I love her style. I tried not to be too star struck. She's great + approachable, and guess what... a mere mortal, like me...in a good way.



I took a drawing + collage class from her. I heart her. big time. she is one of the best teachers I've ever had. ever. she helped me think about my work in a completely new way. She has this online class that is on the list...



Stayed up way too late every single night talking + laughing + creating with her and others. i loved this part because I am so used to making alone. isolated & in my zone. so to share this experience with like minded soul sisters was really cool. and pretty hilarious.




And I came home to this guy. yet another shamless pic of the booboo. i can't help it, okay?
here he is watering the orange trees and refusing to wear pants. can you blame him?

if you ever, ever, ever have the chance, just go.
it was life changing... it was a gift to me and I know that one day I will go again...