My budding artist...

this year's baby...



After watching me finish up some paintings, Jack climbed up into a grown up chair, grabbed a pencil in each fist and proceeded to write, and write, and write. He sat for 30 minutes at the kitchen table intently writing...

a masterpiece...

Holiday denial...

Last year's baby...





Okay, okay... I refuse to acknowledge the existance of holiday paraphenalia popping up... everywhere. I even saw a house with Christmas lights... on November 6th! What the heck. I feel like walking around with my eyes closed and my fingers in my ears singing the Star Spangled Banner so I that can live in blissful denial that the holiday season is quickly, and I mean quickly tiptoeng up behind us.

Most of all, I want to resist the temptation to look forward to the 26th, so I can relax until next year's frenzy. I want to relax, enjoy, savor, capture every moment this season, especially with Jack & Darryl now.

My friend Ginger over at Weiner dog tricks made a great list,something alongthe lines of: things Ilike about the holidays & things that stress me out about the holidays. Then she proceeded to eliminate some of the things that weren't her favorite... and add to the list of things she loves. I highly suggest this approach, way above mine... So hear goes. I'm gonna start with things I love about the holidays...

Things I love about the holiday season
Watching How the Grinch stole Christmas & Elf & Charlie Brown Christmas. Elf always makes me giggle, even though I've seen it 100 times.
Ice skating at the Hotel Del (okay, I've never actually done this, but doesn't it sound like fun?)
Christmas Eve Chili Party, getting to see dear friends and family
Opening each little square on the advent calendar
Garland and stockings on the mantle
Decorating the Tree
Going to see A Christmas Carol
Cinnamon smelling pine cones for sale outside of Michael's
Reading the Christmas story in Luke
Singing Christmas carols

Ummm... I know there's more, I just can't think of them... I'll get back to you. Oh, baking Christmas cookies, of course...

As Darryl and I have started our family & holidays with a child I want to be intentional about the traditions we create and the messages behind them. What we do and why? Is it for real or for show? Kids see right through your words...

I want my child to believe me when I tell them...
that the birth Jesus really is the reason we have so much joy.
that the most important things in life can't be bought or seen.
that Christmas really is about what we have to contribute to each other.

I want to create traditions that are a joy, not a burden. That bind us together and that are the heart of what we believe to be true...

What about you? What are your favorite holiday traditions?

A finished home...

I finally finished my home series. I started so long ago and the street fair made me finally dfinish. I don'tknow why it's so tough to finish. maybe because it's so... final. Does anyone else have that problem?

Here are the final homes I created...

The power of art.

Wow. I can't even tell you how encouraged and inspired... and well rested... I am. We had such a fabluous time at the street fair. Better than fabulous. We got to meet so many dear, sweet, encouraging, people. That's my favorite part. It just reminds my imporatnant, no essential, art is to life. like bread, no pedicures... Being connected to strangers through art, and all of the sudden these strangers become dear friends... all because of some images paint and paper, but really it's my heart and soul on display. So when people respond to it, it's like... I can't even describe it...

I am so grateful to the kind souls I met & connected with at the street fair.

thank you. thank. thank you.

It is always surprisingly emotional and wonderful.

So, my new collages are coming! As soon as this baby goes down for a nap, I'll get them up on my ETSY site... We'vegot abotu 4 hours to go!

Be the change you wish to see inthe world today! (Ghandi)



New Collages coming soon!

New prints

I picked up my work from the printer today and I'm so happy with the color & quality. It's tough to get a reproduction that captures the original. There are always differences, the question is just how much. I went to a local printer (Anderson Stationers) and he did such a great job matching the colors.

So... here are some of the pieces I have been working on... and I can officially say that I am done with them!

Off to the printer...

So I got 15 (yes 15!!!) paintings off to the printer today to make prints for the street fair Sunday. While I should probably be sleeping I can't stop wandering around grabbing inspiration from so many great blogs out there.

Progress

Okay, I am making some progress over here and it feels so stinkin' good! I finally feel like I'm moving forward, albeit at a snail's pace.

I'm spending my days dressing up like a banana (that might be what is slowing me down)and my nights getting ready for the Carlsbad Street Fair on Sunday. Yes, friends, this Sunday. As in, 3 days from now.(Insert &86%#$@%^ here. Take a deep breath. Sip freshly brewed coffee at 11:21PM. Keep going...Si, se puede!)



So, today's progress included adding charcoal (the almost-final stepin the whole process)to my home series: 8 home collages that I'm feeling a little insecure about right now. They are so fresh. It's a good thing I don't really have time for insecure/vulnerable art feelings right now. I've got to get these babies sprayed with fixative and off to the printer tomorrow.

So here's where we are so far...