Happy Easter

We had a wonderful Easter.

Hope yours was as sunny and happy.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Stella, Crystal, and Emily.

More, much much more, to come...

Hugger-Mugger

Hugger-Mugger

This is my first of five works for the Art Access 300 Plates show next month.  Here are a couple of the questions and my answers that will be usee in an "artist booklet" to go with the show:

*How do you usually approach your artwork?  Ideas come from any random moment, are jotted on a scrap of paper, added to the "painting ideas" list on my phone or, preferably, drawn in a sketchbook.  I just have to hang on long enough to get it down before slipping back into the atmosphere.  I approach my paintings as reactions to experiences got by consistently living.

*What were the challenges and/or rewards of working on the fundraiser's 10"x11" recycled litho plate?  I love creating art out of these plates.  This project gives me the most brilliant excuse to try something new, experiment with mediums and create with unbridled joy.  The challenge?  To apply this to all aspects of my work.

“Fat boys! Where are my fat boys?? I love my fat boys.”

Cardamom Milk

I just made this almond milk with cardamom.  It is a dream.  Cardamom is one of my favorite flavors, up there with fennel and cinnamon.  I got to use my mortar and pestle.

Sewing

My girls went back to school today.  I'm oh so ready to get to work, but I miss them!  On Saturday my sweet delia and I made a pillowcase with her sewing kit that she got for Christmas.  I need her to learn how to sew so she can teach me.  She loves it, I think good things will come out of this.

Spring Break

Oh Disneyland.  We had a wonderful vacation, and all our disney dreams came true.  Including wearing badges on our Birthday so we got tons of birthday wishes.  As we reviewed our maps on the last night, we were down to three rides we had not done.  That's right, we did everything else. Turns out five days allows you to be pretty thorough between the two parks!  (Says the exhausted, but satisfied mother.)  Anyway, Honey I Shrunk the Whatever was one of the rides we had left and we were debating whether it was worth hitting before we headed out.  Just as gavin repeated his sentiments that they should bring Captain EO back, considering recent events, we discovered they had!!  And it was every bit as thrilling as it was in 1986.  M.J. in his prime, remember when he was good looking?  I had a hard time staying in my seat, I wanted to bust out my fire girls 550 south moves.

My mom came down and did a couple days with us which was fun.  We took an afternoon to go the beach with my mom and some good friends.  Felt good for my soul.  I so wish I lived near the ocean!

We brought a project for our down time: fun with calligraphy pens and colored inks.  We didn't get too far (I couldn't stop reading cook books, I'm a little addicted as of late) but we had fun experimenting and are definitely on to something.  

Strange things happen when I am with my sisters.

Like THIS.  Mark that for when you need a little pick-me-up.  

And I come home with these: 

 And lots of jars of crafty bits and little porcelain doll parts.

It's kind of magical.

Where Have I Been?

One word: DEHYDRATING.

That's right.  Exactly 3 weeks ago I purchased Gavin and myself an early birthday present:  The Excalibur 3900.  Fifteen square feet of premium drying potential.  Can we say obsessed?  Since then I have dried 26 apples, 7 pears, 14 bananas, 1 huge papaya, 7 mangos, strawberries, green grapes, red grapes, lemons, nectarines, peaches, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and bell peppers.  I've made a variety of fruit leathers, all kinds of candied nuts, seeds, nuts butters, and nut milks.  A few batches of granola, some raw.  I was making creamy delicious yogurt, which turned out to be a mistake as I am officially self-diagnosed lactase deficient. Local, raw milk or not, I don't digest it!  Lame.  Consoled myself with a variety of raw crackers, flaxseed crackers, raw apple-raisin cookies, raw sprouted wheat cinnamon bread, raw pecan sandies, and carob-coconut balls. While I was at it I made some sprouted wheat bread and a couple seriously delicious pies: peanut-butter-chocolate (Gavin's favorite dessert ever, it has tofu in it) and raw apple pie.  My cupboards are crammed, as is my freezer, and I can't seem to purchase enough jars.  Got myself a bit up a creek, as I am up against some serious deadlines and we leave for Disneyland in a couple days.  Disneyland = Trail mix.  At least we've got that.

Sus Destinos Parecian estar Entrelazados

She set out on a journey; she preferred to call it an adventure.  Her first step was synchronized with his.  Sus destinos parecian estar entrelazados.  His destiny was intertwined with hers. 

When the hot, dry wind blew tumbleweed of doubt across the plain of her identity, she was consumed and he was near.  When the incessant, choppy waters of give and pull, demands and sacrifice rendered her nauseous; his shadow, cast by the bright sun behind her, remained in the corner of her eye. 

Her passions looped through his fingers.  Together, they danced on mountaintops, feeling the warmth on their shoulders, bringing in the clear, fresh air till they were fit to burst.  Together, they swam in the mysterious depths, discovering unknown caverns, wondering how they didn’t know already, and knowing they couldn’t have. 

Their thoughts touch, depart, intertwine, parallel.  Always one, always two, always three.  Destiny, continue our adventure: we are ready.

Illustrious Apiarist

In the intriguing field of entomology, which lies among the yellow blossoms of clover, bordered by rows of lavender and the occasional potted petunia, one among the celebrated apiarists wears the crown.  She is noted for her bravery and dignity in the face of danger, as well as the sweetness of her honey.  To her, we give our most loyal adoration and utmost veneration.

I Heart Running

So, I ran a half-marathon today.

P.F. Chang's Rock n Roll Arizona

2:04:14

Rocked it.

In Print

This is my latest print put out by the Greenwich Workshop.  I just got my artist proofs, and I am a happy girl.  I really like this print, so much that I keep opening one to take a look.  I think it is interesting and simple - an efficacious combination.  I like the colors and the interactions of the figures.  I would love to see one of these in a frame.

Sunday Drawing

Clocks and Hats

For Christmas presents this year I made hats for my 15 nieces and nephews and three more for my girls.  I made the hats on a circle loom with wool yarn and felted them in boiling water.  Felting made them  shrink  and gave them a cool texture.  Of course, the girls got felt flower embellishments.

I also made clocks for 14 of my nearest and dearest.  It was inexpensive, but took a lot of work and solving some tricky technical difficulties.  By Christmas day I managed to pull together a random menagerie of ticking and tocking for the taking.

Although I love making Christmas presents, I always hesitate as I hand out my homemade gifts.  I think they give the recipient a message of love and caring, "Here, I took time and effort to make this especially for you."  Warm fuzzy et cetera.  My hesitation comes when I imagine them thinking, "Great, thanks, what I am I supposed to do with this?  I can't throw it away because she made it.  Junk."  At least a clock is functional and hats keep heads warm, I think I got by this year.

Twenty-Ten

I am super pumped about this year.  I have some exciting projects started and I'm bursting to get to work.
     First will come studies for a large painting of the parable of the ten virgins.  Also, working on getting in touch with Owl City to illustrate one of their songs to make a children's book.
     My sister called this the "Year of the Race" because we have them lined up (starting next week).  I love it, but am trying not to let it distract me from painting.  Balance and hard work will be the theme.  It's gonna be a big one.  Bring it on I say.

Merry Christmas!