Black Mountain Side

Here is one of the carvings I've been working on for quite some time.  It needed to be just right as it was for a special friend of mine.  They are big fans of 'yurting' in the wilds of Montana... This is not the final cut - but my favorite version.

Were are all trying to recover from a horrible flu/cough that has been going strong for a week.  Seems to have started up at the beginning of Christmas vacation.  UG!  I have 2 large commissions to finish, many Christmas cookies to bake and decorate with the kids and of course, shopping and wrapping.  I'm going to try to rally today and take the kids for a horse carriage ride.  They've wanted to do it forever and it's time to deliver!  Maybe hot cocoa after?  How's your merry-making going?

Gingerbread House

This princess castle was from a few years back at the majestic Davenport Hotel.  Every Christmas, they host a gingerbread contest sponsored by a local charity, Christ Kitchen.  The results are always magical!  We are hoping to go this week as today is the last day of school until January. 

I have some new work to share and hope to do more posting during the Christmas holiday.  We have lots of cookies to bake, horse carriage rides to take, sledding etc.  We are hugging our children extra hard these days in the wake of yet another heinous school shooting.  Those teachers, families... Those kids.  Same age as my daughter.  I'm praying for all of them in Newtown.  We need brand new gun control.  Like no guns.  Period.

Sounds...

 both images are detail of 'Take 5' - a woodcut in my etsy shop!

Music is in my heart and was all around me from the beginning.  Even in the womb.  My dad was a high school music teacher... and a musician/symphony member.  When I make art, music is always present.  So, I wanted to share a nice little write-up about one of my woodblock prints over at Martha Knox's blog about the art of woodblock printmaking.  Here's the link and many, many thanks, Martha!

Handmade Parade Spokane December, 1

Exciting news... if you are local (Spokane and surrounding area) please drop in to the Handmade Parade on Saturday, December 1.  It's a beautiful show, dripping with crafts, food and fine art of all kinds.  This is my first year of participating but have happily attended for many a year, buying up gifts you can't get anywhere else.

2318 S. Magnolia Court (just off Rockwood Blvd on the South Hill).  9am to 5 pm.

Get Out the China

I'm getting out the china soon and mapping out the table... probably the best part of Thanksgiving (or one of them).  Now, lets hope no one breaks a tea cup this year!!!  Have a great holiday!

On Your Mark...

Seems like the holidays are crashing forward like a big set of waves.  I'm not quite ready!  Think I'll run with these boys instead.  It'll help me figure out what to make.  (no one likes going to a vegetarian's house on turkey day :)

Happy Friday!

Still Untitled

Here's a painting I did in October, very off the cuff - just navigating by what I was feeling and not much more.  I may change the wavy edge of the hanging garlands below to send it where it should go.  Suppose it has a lot to do with life and death. 

Cold snap this morning.  Had the snow tires put on last night.  Winter is coming... just hope it won't be too heavy this year.  Happy Thursday :)

Normandy Horses

Here's a little progression of the ornaments I'm making this year for The Spokane Art School/Tinman Gallery artisan ornament show.  It's a black Friday event.  The Bayeux Tapestry was my inspiration along with many recent trips to a cousin's farm.

  I am a horse lover at heart... had 'em when I was a kid/teen but ended up in the ER at least 4 times with head injuries from being bucked off of spooked horses.  Being near them, that old feeling came back.  :)

Have an excellent, golden Friday!

Muriel at the garden gate

This is actually an older piece but I wanted to share since I was thumbing through old photos.  My grandma was named Muriel and her mum was too... It's my mom's middle name.  So , this painting is in memory of my grandma.  It's only now that I'm able to talk about her.  She passed on September 6th 2012.  Born January 15 1924 in Los Angeles California.  She was a beauty and a talker.  (Andy Warhol would've loved her.). She will be and is missed.  Still trying to figure out how to realize she's gone.

Twist

My awesome artist friend sent me a folded calligraphy pen.  She created an alphabet called 'Twist' 0 still trying to get the hang of it! 

Off to the pumpkin patch today with the kindergarten.  See you in the corn maze :)

Bicycle Parking

This drawing on Arches Cover paper (my favorite besides Rives BFK) with gouache is a larger one... about 14 x 14".  It's been sitting and 'curing' for about a month or two and I'm almost ready to finish it up.  This is a super fun kite shop at Cannon Beach, OR. which  I've painted before. 

I've been painting on canvas this month and feeling like I've 'come home' in a way.  Though it's a bit rusty, I love the process and immersion that comes with painting larger at the easel.  I'll share soon, but not ready at this point :)

A wool sunflower quilt is also in the works.  I like to work on it in the evening but a new love has come into my life, taking up more 'after 5pm' time.  It's the guitar.  My husband and I are taking lessons... it's a beautiful thing!!!  Thinking I may do a family portrait, guitar style. 

Have a great Thursday.

Sixth Birthday plus Show and Tell

 Mr. Knightley just outside of the school last Friday, on his way to show and tell.  My daughter loves her dogs and really wanted her Kindergarten class to meet the naughtiest dog in our house :)  Since he's so incorrigible, there were many entertaining stories to report.

 Walking to the front of the class... it was the cutest presentation!

 Jilly the ZuZu pet in her own little home made by our daughter.  She can do just about anything with an old shoe box.

The birthday girl's family party cake... a 'pansy cake'.  It was soooo cute even if it was store bought. (I love to make birthday cakes but she kept changing her mind from an ice cream sundae buffet  to a cake.) In the background you can see some very girly birthday loot.  It was a great day.

 

I'm hoping to share some new drawings and a wool quilt I've started sometime this week.  Hubby has been home most of last week and it seems nothing gets done when he's around, breaking the daily groove-thing.  The poor husband can't win for loosing :) 

Audie...

Meet Audie, a glamazon from the 1940s. She ended up looking a bit like Lauren Bacall, though not intended. I'm working on some acrylic paintings for the first time in I don't know when. Rusty is the word! It feels so good to get back into that practice. Will share when I have something worthy :)

The first tinges of crimson and gold have been appearing here... I love this time of year. Happy Tuesday!

Carving Lessons

Taken from my 'afternoon chair' out on the deck. I'm going to miss the warm after school time of playing at the park or our back yard. This is a favorite spot to knit or draw while the kids get the crazies out they've been holding in all day :)

My daughter's first carving! We used the Dick Blick grey stuff.

My son's first carving... I can't believe we waited until he was 9 to start carving. Just didn't feel like he was ready to hold the sharp tools. He loved it and actually wants to carve something he can run through the press. Music to my ears!!!

Happy Friday!

Shifting Gears...

School has begun and this mama is getting used to a whole new kind of life. It's an adjustment... like anything else. On one hand, I'm feeling sad and longing for the old days when my daughter had a half day at pre-school. We would often have a play date right after and at a nearby park and home for lunch together... or sometimes lunch out with grandma. Mostly, I'm missing that 'just the two of us' time. It's so rare.

However, the freedom and not so much rushing around is stellar! I've found myself mentally twitching with all the options there are to make art, take a class, do yoga, garden etc. It's staggering this kind of freedom! So, there will be much more art to share here in the next few months. I'm stepping into brand new territory :)

PS
Those prints will be in the shop by the weekend. And... I'm having a 20% off sale till the end of September. Coupon code: soulemama.

Giveaway!

Drop on over to Soulemama and have a chance to win one of 3 original woodblock prints today! Comments close on Monday morning. There's an interview too :) Check it out!

Buggy Barn Quilt Show

Every August, we trek out to Reardan, Washington and attend the beautiful quilt show at The Buggy Barn. It's in the middle of farm land, wheat fields and big skies. My favorite part is hearing the wheat rustle in the breeze. I'm a country girl at heart!

This year I'll have 4 quilts in the show, including my daughter's mermaid art quilt that I painted. If you're in Eastern Wa, come on over and visit!

www.buggybarnquilts.com

More Summer Quiet and a Givaway

Halloween quilt stitchery in progress...

The tracing of the witch's broom. (my mom is making the quilt blocks that go under some of the embroidery because I have decided I do not have the capacity to follow quilt patterns :)

More scrap booking, have lots of catching up to do on that front. It is more fun that I could've imagined.

Another form of spirograph art. These are so fun for any age... I'm still not over the magic of it all. Wish I still had the big set from childhood.

Big news... an interview and giveaway of three woodblock prints are coming up this weekend over at Soulemama. Check it out!

(can't seem to get the link to work but Amanda's blog is at www.soulemama.typepad.com )

Summer Wanes...

House atop Dunes - will paint today!
The building of a Playmobil village
Inside the sketchbook I took to the beach. Not much time to draw but I did get a few in.
Riding the Dragon Coaster!

Tracing the witch's broom for a Halloween/fall quilt my mom and I are making. This will be embroidered. The whole project will take at least 6 months to a year the rate I'm going!

We're back from our second trip to the soft-sandy beach of the Oregon coast. It was warm, sunny, slightly breezy and pure heaven. I'm making it last by drawing tons of scenes from there. Have not had much time to share here but once school starts, things will be different. Enjoying every last day of summer vacay and all it has to offer. Hope y'all are doing the same!

New Work and a New Show

Old Vic Conservatory Organ... ink drawing with watercolor on Arches Cover paper.

Here are a few paintings I finally finished for my show happening right now at the wonderful Picabu Bistro here> in Spokane. It's my first restaurant show - besides a few coffee houses here and there. On exhibit are only still lifes and landscapes. No portraits or figures, which is quite unique for me. Please visit and have lunch or dinner if you're in town. It's a groovy little neighborhood place and the food is out of this world. (lots of yummy vegetarian choices).

It's hard to believe we're already living August days. School is looming closer and I'm not ready for the hectic pace yet! But, my youngest will be in all day Kindergarten this year and my life is about to shift into new waters. It's a happy and bittersweet time.

In other news... I'm advertising once again over at Soulemama this month and will be doing a big give-away at the end of August. More details later so, stay tuned!


Yaquina Head Light Room - ink drawing with watercolor on Arches Cover paper.

So sad to hear the news Maeve Binchy has died :( Her books have been favorites for years and were particularly comforting in my early 20's. I think she had heart disease... never had children but was married and dedicated each and every book she wrote to Gordon, her husband. She will be missed!

ps blogger is not allowing me to do links right now, so I will try again later today :)

Back from the Beach

For sewing sails...

Ahhh, the beach was nirvana and it did not rain once! Not to mention, it was warm ;) I'm a happy girl. Am scurrying around getting ready for an art show (yay) but will write more later. Just wanted to say hello and share a few photographs of summer bliss. Hope you are in that summer state of mind (and body) too!

Here's a Flower for Friday...

Happy Friday!