Confession

I am utterly and perfectly addicted to chocolate covered goji berries.  I just ate that whole pile while the picture loaded.  Heavenly.  Wondering what to do while you indulge in heavenly delights?  Try this Mr. Picassohead website. Big hit in our house. 

Sunday Drawing

Love

Love is like the truth, sometimes it prevails, sometimes it hurts.

-unknown

Lettuce

makes an appearance.

Restoration

I got this painting, that I painted three years ago, sent back to me to fix. The paint on the crackled sky was pealing off. Yikes. It took me forever to get going because I was afraid I would ruin the whole painting, or the owner wouldn't approve - and then what!
First I had to sand off the varnish and most of the paint, but just the sky, trying not to ruin the figures that were fine, with super fine sandpaper and water.  Then I repainted the sky.  The hardest part (and I mean scariest) was the crackle because it is so unpredictable. I lucked out big time. Finally I rubbed in a glaze and voila!

It ended up all right. In any case, finished!

My Pirates

My girls pirate costumes for Halloween were too cute, we had to do something with them.  I had some Heritagemakers credits that were expiring (don't get me started on credits that expire), so we made a book.  The Pirates McPhie and the Indian Treasure..  And yes, I let out a big yelp of completion when I finally finished this one.
The key clue on their treasure map was chewed away by a rat.  It says India....  So they go to the Indian Sea to visit a princess, they go to Indian Jones who is occupied, and the Indian Reservation where the Chief laughs at them.  Finally they go to Indiana-comma- Gary where they find the treasure:  Raisins from Fresno (Music Man reference).  
We had a lot of fun making this book.  The girls love it.

Sewing her Heart on her Apron Pocket

Finished!  Look at me go.  I have nineteen - wait make that eighteen - paintings in various stages of unfinishedness hanging about my studio.  So hip hip for the first finished painting of the year!  With many more to swiftly follow.  This piece is about wearing one's heart on the apron pocket.  The process of "sewing" the heart on the apron is one of selfless sacrifice, unconditional love, and bare vulnerability.  The thing is, at the end of the day you can't feel sorry for yourself or tally up all you've done for others.  It is your role.  No thanks needed, (though it is nice on occasion) it does not come with the job description.

2009

Happy New Year!  Yip yip for 2009.  I don't make resolutions, so passe.  But, I do make themes.  I like everything to have a nice, tidy theme.  So, 2009: I am a finisher! (Said with gusto).  I have always been a primo starter.  Seriously, the ideas abound, plans are made, things get rolling, and then  new ideas come along (and/or life) and all the best intentions fall by the wayside.  The biggest tragedy of this sad lament is that I feel like a failure for what goes unfinished or poorly executed.  My theme is all about organization, prioritization, and self-congratulation.  Lists galore and realistic plans and, the best part, I get to throw my arms up and shout, "I AM A FINISHER!" every time I finish something, anything really.  To be followed by rolling eyes and hands over ears of the little people.