Thankfulness

I hope you had a happy PIE day!

From our early morning Turkey Trot...

...to a Vegan feast!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

So much to be thankful for.

Cloe

Clover Iona chose to be baptized and confirmed a member of 

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today.  

She is a good girl and I love her very much.

Speaking of churchy things, I have a mormon.org profile!

Little Red

This is my Cloe as Little Red Riding Hood. I am keeping this, actually giving it to Cloe for her eighth birthday next week. Lil' Red's cape has wolf ears.  The cape is symbolic of being your own worst enemy. That might sound despairing, but I don't mean it so.  It is about taking the weaknesses that give you a disadvantage and overcoming them, and becoming more for it.  My Cloe is good at this.

Happy Halloween

Name: Phi Phi 

Totem: Phoenix

Weapon: Night and Day

Skill: Daggers

Magic: Controls Fire

Name: Violet

Totem: Dragon

Weapon: Rainbow

Skill: Slingshot

Magic: Voice Stealing Rocks

Name: Ravon-
ista

Totem: Raven

Weapon: Midnight

Skill: Sword Fighting

Magic: Speaks with Birds

Everdeen the Elf and
Reggie the Celtic Warrior
with Amaranth the pseudo-axe
And her Elfkin baby

Skills and Magic: Drool

The Armory

Have I been painting? Yes, I have. 

Weapons. 

From top to bottom: Amaranth, the pseudo-axe; Night and Day, the daggers; Midnight the sword; Celeb Asea (silver leaf) the bow; and Rainbow, the slingshot, with a pouch of magic, voice-stealing rocks.

Sunday Drawing

Ghosts and Ghouls

I can't stop!

 We got "boo"ed by a neighbor, so we made cupcakes to pass the booege along.

I can be pretty fancy sometimes.

Out in the night, strapped in for some quick, doorbell-ditchin' getaways.

So Much Love, it's Spooky!

Here is what I love: Everyone who made a comment on the last post.

Here is what I don't love: Choosing one to share a little spook with.

So... I've made a spooky sign for everyone who commented!  

I can't help it, Miss Mayer! Love. Sister! Love. Sister-in-law! Love. Pam! Love. Chandra! Love. Marlene! Nicholas! Megan! Jessie! Brooke! Love, love, love. I don't think know Angela, Manda, Annalee, Cat, Sarah, Alabala, and Jennifer yet, but I'm feelin' the love!! Email me your address (ecmcphie@gmail.com) and I'll send one out right away! It's almost the big day!!

Spookey!

I love Halloween!!!

We have been out of school for fall break and working hard on making Ewan's first Halloween really spooky.  I made these signs:

This one is for my front door.

 I'm sending this to my new friend, Jefra, who lent me her socks.

I'm giving this one to my sister-in-law who gave me a blank stare when I asked if she had decorated for Halloween yet?!??!!!

And this is to give away!  Leave a "boo" in my comments and I will draw a lucky winner!

(Don't get too excited, it's a piece of cardboard, and try not to get too scared.)

First Halloween

Welcome to earth, little boy.  Let us introduce you to one of the best things about it.

BOO!

TRICK

or TREAT!

A Rose

A Rose is off to the Howard Mandville Gallery in Kirkland, Washington for their 21st Annual Invitational Small Works Show.  This is my Delia as the puppeteer for a shadow puppet performance of Romeo and Juliet.  She's a romantic, that one.  I am a little obsessed with shadow puppets these days.  I did this piece partially as a study for a larger painting in which I wanted to explore this shadow puppet theater concept.  

Most of this painting is oil, but the "shadows" are done in india ink.  I have had fun experimenting with a different media.  The use of ink, with calligraphy nibs and brushes, was inspired by the project I did for the Phoenix Symphony.

Yes, I said nibs.

On Writing

I was treated this morning with a happy memory.  Eleventh grade english, the Waterford School, Mrs. Sorenson requesting I stay after class a minute.  I don't remember what she said, I remember two things:  1. Suspicion that I may have cheated on my paper.  2. She thought  it was a really good paper.  I had not cheated.  What did have was my first taste of being in the zone.  I was focused, I knew my stuff, and I let the writing muse guide my thoughts into the words that flowed through the word processor.  And it felt good.  I'm pretty sure she told me I could be a good writer.  Anyway, that is what I took away from the moment and it stuck with me.  Confidence.

The memory was inspired by a group discussion with various writers on the Mormon Chanel's All Things Creative podcast.  I have the Mormon Channel app on my phone and listen to these programs on my morning runs and in my studio.  To my surprise and memorial-satisfaction, one of the "writers" voices on this mornings discussion was the influential Mrs. Sorenson (Kimberley Heuston).  Find it here.

I particularly like hearing from writers on their processes and struggles.  Words are a bit of an enigma to me.  I find writing tedious and painful.  I think people sometimes think an artist picks up a brush, lays the paint on a canvas and magic happens.  Out comes a beautiful something.  And they say, "I could never do that."  Neither could I.  For some that may be the case.  But I, and most artists I know, have a multi-step process with the use of resources and tools in order to create their art.  Sometimes the process is beautiful, on occasion it can be rather painful.  I have been guilty of thinking of writers the same way.  Words come to them easily, they just purge their thoughts and out comes a story. So, I relate from a creationary aspect when writers say that even for them writing is labor intensive.  I enjoy hearing musicians discuss creativity as well, but don't find the same connection.  Did I just do it again?  Accuse musicians of having it easy?  Maybe, but I exclude song writing.  But they are writing, not playing or performing.  So there.

If you get on the Mormon Channel, be sure to give my sister's fabulous documentary a listen.  It's really good.

Phoenix Symphony

What the heck did I do the whole time I was pregnant?  I don't remember.  I know I didn't paint much.  I did get to draw a lot.  My friend and photographer extraordinare, Jared Platt, asked me to help him with a project for the Phoenix Symphony.  He took photographs of the musicians and I made ink drawings to float in the backgrounds.  I love drawing and enjoyed the challenge of coming up with images to match the music and that would work with the figures in the foreground.  I used a calligraphy nib and india ink on parchment paper, then added some inky washes.  Here are some examples of the drawings and a finished product currently being used on the Phoenix Sympony's website.

(He's way cuter than the drawings)

Ewan James McPhie

Born Tuesday, 12 July 2011, 2:20 p.m.

7lb13oz, 21.25 inches

My parting words Monday night, "I didn't know it was possible to be so ready for something."  After a few frustrating days of waiting, hoping, wishing, expecting, disappointment, and trying to be patient, I had had it.  All day Monday I was in a hormonal stupor.  Peaceful, weepy, introverted and detached from any of the aforementioned emotions.  Gavin stayed with me every minute, helped clean the whole house, took us all out to lunch, and to do some last minute baby shopping.  When we got home I wrapped up the very last of my projects, tidied up the studio, and set out a painting to work on in the morning so I could have something to look forward to.  I went to bed very content, all was well in the world.

At 2:30 a.m. I was about to fall off my bed and realized I was being pushed off the edge by two sweet little girls.  I woke up Gavin to take them back to their room and headed for the bathroom.  With a full force gush, my water broke in the toilet!  We called our midwife, Wendy, to let her know, then went back to bed.  Was it hard to sleep?  Yes, I was very excited, but I also knew what was coming and wanted to get as much rest as I could.  We got up about six, didn't have much to do since we were seriously sooo ready.  So, we ate breakfast, walked, took a nap, walked, the midwifes were in and out, the girls watched movies... finally things got going just before noon.

Once labor got serious, everyone - Wendy, her two apprentices Ada and Ashley, Gavin, and my three beautiful, patient, and sweet girls - pretty much just sat around staring at me.  Usually at this point I am totally in my own world, curled up on my bed visualizing ocean waves.  So, this was different.  It was like a circle of love.  I was alert and clear between every contraction, sitting on the floor, conversing and absorbing all the love and affection around me.  

I had asked for a slower labor, one where I eased through every stage, and this is exactly what I got.  I usually slam through transition, with throwing up and whatnot.  I almost couldn't tell that I was there, it was so different that I was a little confused (just when you think you have these things figured out...).  I had one heavy contraction that felt like a bulge moving downward.  Instinctively I knew what was happening, but it took me a minute to connect that it was go time.  Gavin had the tub ready, so I went ahead and got in.  We figure I had eased on through transition, with no puking, per request.  

Oh, the water was so soothing!  It felt so good to take some of the pressure off and ease my lower back.  I took my time getting to the pushing part.  I think I was waiting for that euphoric anagelesic feeling that comes with babies head pushing on the pelvic bones combined with the insatiable urge to push.  I didn't really get that this time, actually I was having a hard time getting comfortable enough to start pushing.  OK, I was being a wuss.  I didn't want to push,.  But, I wanted to see him.  I wanted everyone to see him.  So I got to work.  And work it was!  Two giant pushes and out his head came.  I waited for him to turn sideways, took a deep breath, and glup-glupped him out with one good umph.  

So purple!  So squishy!  He would not open his eyes, but he gave a mighty cry straight off.  He had a nice long cord, so I got to hold him comfortably, keeping him in the warm water.  His brow was so wrinkled and concerned.  Gavin made me double check that he really was a boy first thing.  That was tough because he was so slippery, but he is indeed a boy, with all the requisite parts.  He wasn't super happy about his arrival, till I nursed him and then he was ready to join us in ernest.  He's a sucker!  He actually had a little blister on his hand from sucking it in the womb. 

It took forever for the cord to stop pulsing.  My bum did not want to be in the tub any more and I was so hot.  But, it is so much easier to deliver the placenta in the water, and wash away all the ick getting out.  When it did stop pulsing the midwife clamped it and Gavin cut the cord.  They took sweet baby to dry off while I finished up.

  

Finally done, I got washed up and went to my bed to help get baby measured, weighed, tested, and wrapped up, sucking on my finger the whole time.  I am so in love with him I can barely stand it!  Ezra asked if all the girls in the house could be his moms.  Four moms, works for me.  These girls are pretty smitten as well.  Then, there is the proud daddy.  He is so happy.  We have a brother now, family of six, pretty fun.  

Baby Project #6, #8, and #9

Project #6

Crocheted Bears

I've been working on these for months, Monday morning, finally finished.

Project #8

Cradle

Ok, really I just got new sheets and washed them.  I had thought about woodburning a little boat on one side and the names of all my babies and their birthdates on the other side, but decided not to do it.  Maybe I'll still get to it, maybe not.

Project #9

Files

I reorganized all my files with the rearranging of guest room to office, office to baby's room.  We got Gavin new office furniture with file drawers, so I inherited the old 4-drawer file cabinet.  I have drawers for business, scrap, and other art stuff.  My old two-drawer file cabinet moved to the kitchen to file school stuff as it comes, and the keepables for all three girls from the school year.  Also, I have files for coupons, store credit, reference, take-out menus, manuals, etc.  I'm an organizational genius!

And, 9 projects, finished.

Baby Project #3, #5 and #7

Project #3

The Crib

I reconstructed this mobile (it was really old and ugly).  I painted the base, cut off the old animals and made these little swimmers.

Here is what baby will see:

Project #5

Bookshelf 

Project # 7

Curtain

Phew!  I've been saying I'm ready for baby every day for three weeks now, but every day I don't have him I get so much done and think of so many things I forgot that I'm glad I didn't have him yet (sort of).  I've done tons of organizing (yes, including the top of the closets), I have a new filing system, and my junk drawer doesn't have any junk in it!  I've gone through all my girls clothes and they are ready for school!  (This may sound a bit over the top, but they start July 25, which is in two weeks!)  I've even moved into getting the house company ready for my mom and sister to visit.  I have a few things left on my list, but I'm about to run out!!  Do you think you could ever really run out of things to do? 

My current task is getting the studio painting ready so I can get to work as soon as the dust settles.  I am so excited to start a new batch of paintings.  Speaking of dust, I was really hoping this haboob would put me into labor!  No such luck, but we have a few monsoons coming this week...  I'm due Tuesday, I've never gone over a due date and I'm sticking to it.  Maybe Double Dream Hands will do it.

Baby Project #2

 This was the big one, painting the room.  Super glad to have it finished.  These are the most delicious colors, I want to hang out in his room all day.  Three quarters turquoise, one quarter aqua all around the room.  The ship was fun to paint, I hope it gets his imagination rolling... as soon as he can see that far.  And the sheep are above his bed to help lull him to sleep.

Sunday Drawing

Lil' Red

Baby Project #4

 Another project down.  My girls used their wonderful embroidery kits, thank you mimi, to design and embroider these pillows for their baby brother.

 I finished them up, and recovered an old ottoman.  We are ready to rock!

Barefoot and pregnant, classic.  In the kitchen whipping up a batch of delicious eggy-strawberry-macadamia muffins.  

Today we said buh-bye to our chickens.  We gave Stella, Crystal, and Emily away to a loving family this morning.  We will miss the eggs, catching them walking by the french doors out of the corner of our eyes, their enthusiastic greetings, and most of all eating cookie dough.  But, we won't miss the poop!  We can't wait to get our patio back.  It is going to take some serious scrubbing.  Maybe it will put me in labor... just two and a half weeks till my due date!!