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!

Autumn and her Pumpkins

Here's a little autumn goodness to cheer you... this is the centerpiece of our table. My daughter added the little doll (whose name is Autumn - by the way). The open work penny rug I made a few years back and it's a lovely addition to our seasonal table. Cheers!

Letterpress Lucy

I did this drawing some months back but just found it this morning and thought I'd share. I have a secret obsession with letter presses and wish I could work one :)

Autumn has arrived and I'm drinking in every moment possible. It's my favorite season and also, I just celebrated my birthday :) I hope to be sharing some of the things in progress around the house - they are woodblocks and some in the fiber category.

I've been down for the count, sick with pneumonia these past 2 weeks. Am finally coming up for air and feeling better - although my stamina stinks! When will I ever make it back to yoga...??? Who knows. Hope it's soon. Happy Saturday :)

Pumpkins and Needles...

Autumn welcome...

Here are a few sweet little felted animals I've been taking a stab at... (sorry, couldn't resist!) They are so much fun to make, I had no idea. Will be making more little sets of animals in the coming weeks.

Happy Wednesday! (It's also my birthday - and the weather is beautiful - all the leaves turning with tons of sunshine. Couldn't ask for better :)

My mom took me and 'baby girl' out for lunch today and tonight... hubby is taking us all out to my fave place. It's so very nice to be wined and dined on your birthday!!

Mastercarve Me!

Here are a few stamps carved this week... out on the deck during a few sun breaks before school pick up time. (in other words, the precious few quiet moments of the day! :) I'll be adding a little more detail but they are kind of fun and very 'off the cuff'.

I've been walking a lot lately, trying to store up every inch of sunshine before the darkness sets in. Yesterday I noticed the beautiful colors of autumn just starting to turn and fall from the trees. I picked up Walden at the library - on CD- thought it would add to the enjoyment of the changing season. Love it! Happy almost Friday.

Settling In

Our son's new hobby :) Had his first lesson today. It's not going to make the neighbors happy!

Well, school's been in for about 2 weeks and I'm finally getting into the new 'groove'. It's amazing how you think you've got it covered... when everything changes again. With our little girl now in pre-school 3 days (half days, that is) and our son doing more after school activities -

Mama's adjusting to a newly formed schedule - with art making included, of course!

Today I got up while the house was still quiet and gave myself an hour to mess with the Akua ink that's been waiting to be used down in the printing studio. SO much fun! I'm already hooked and will plan on getting up even earlier tomorrow :) However, the bed is calling much earlier in the evening. No one around here does very well without ample sleep.

We are so thankful for the great weather that has returned this week. Life is good! How's your September going?

October Doodles

Here are a few doodles destined to become Halloween cards. I love love love this time of year... easily my fave holiday plus 3 birthdays in our house are around the corner. Today I'm doing something very out of the ordinary... going to a knitting class on how to make a cloche hat! Never made hats before and am so excited to learn a new method. (thank you Mom for visiting and babysitting!) Happy Friday :)

Cordelia

Meet Cordelia - or Delia- she's Alasdair's sidekick. (he's from a previous post... that I don't have time to link right now!) Anyway, I was thinking about incorporating them into some Halloween cards. Maybe. First, I've gotta have a plan :) Hope you have an exceptional Friday. The sun is glowing through the leaves here today... blue skies all around. That pre-autumn warmth is on!

Woodcuts Inspired by Apple Pie...

Here's an apple pie made for our labor day festivities... mostly, I made it for my mom since she loves my pie! (this is very flattering because she's a very good cook and I have probably made 4 pies in my life :) Anyway, after peeling all those apples I got to thinking about autumn inspired woodcuts. I came up with these 2 doodles that are being carved. Planning on making cards to put in my etsy shop and in a few local galleries.

PS. Needle felted wool purses coming soon to the etsy shop!

What to do on the First Day of School...

More socks on the needles

Well, today was the first day of school for a little boy in our house but - our daughter is still at home with me :) After much excitement of getting dressed, making lunch, taking all the school supplies in the car... we were off to school! There were several kids having anxiety and sobbing in the kindergarten classroom but this time, it was not my son. He was happily waiting in his seat, teddy bear at hand, ready to 'get his day started.'

So, now... us girls are getting a new routine started as well. I predict lots of tea parties, knitting, stroller rides and art making in the coming weeks... whoooopieeeee!

Leaves are Falling...

Here's a post script to last week's Autumn Walk. In only a week's time the leaves have really fallen - it's unusual for our town. By now, the fall clean-up is done with just a little more to rake in November. These were taken this afternoon on a 'stroller ride' with my little girl...just trying to walk off that Halloween candy!

Afternoon Walk

I couldn't resist taking the camera on a walk yesterday to try & capture the sunlight glowing through the colored leaves. Pushing the stroller through the leaves, my daughter

added the sound effects, 'crunch, crunch, crunch!' She's jumped in her first pile of leaves too... love all those 'firsts', there's nothing like experiencing it through her eyes. It's gold!

Starting to mull over the ideas for ornaments and xmas cards... hard to think about that when we can still be outside!

By the Fireside

Here's a quote by Robert Lewis Stevenson... a very poor quality photograph :( sorry.

What is it about a fire that is so inviting? We had our first fire of the season tonight and it was (is) heaven. Earlier I was practicing calligraphy and writing little quotes on colored card stock. I was thinking with a little more planning and layout I could embellish some of them with illustrations and put them in my etsy shop. Who knows if anyone would ever want one, though! It seems like calligraphy is not that popular. With etsy - you never know what may appeal to someone... it's such a great place.

I'm adding a few new ink drawings with gouache to my etsy shop tonight... check it out!

Friday Drawing

Dinner Out

Here's a funny little scene in a Portland restaurant. I'll probably paint it today and Sat. I'm changing up my art time... getting up earlier and working silently (well - NPR's on) while the house is still asleep. I've been so distracted by the computer, the news, movies, etc. lately I have to 'turn off' in order to focus and enjoy. I'm even thinking of cutting down on posts to just 3 a week. (but, I do love the feedback, so that may be tough to do!) Oh, and... unplugging the TV.

Life gets too overloaded - I don't want to be so distracted I can't absorb the beauty of fall. We have had our first signs this week, the leaves are starting to turn ..it makes me want to sing a happy song! My daughter's 2nd birthday is Tuesday... I'm planning a little party for her - so fun! Have a good weekend.

Spooky...

I know it's a bit early for Halloween stuff but... here is My Underwood in black and orange. Who knew an old typewriter could look kind of scary with the right color combination! This is a woodblock print on black linen and light orange ink. Likely to become a pillow.

More 'Pennies'

I got so much enjoyment out of making the penny rug, I'm making another one but with smaller circles and in autumn colors in the orange/brown/gold family. This is just in the early stages... but I thought I'd share my work surface... I kind of like the random placement of the circles!

Penny Rug

The back... you can see the felting effect - kind of a cool look on it's own!

While listening to a book on CD late last night I obsessively worked on this penny rug... trying to assemble it while no one could come and push all the circles on the floor and disturb my 'layout'! I was thinking of autumn colors, trying to work with some wool I've had for quite a while... not knowing exactly what I would do with it. It will probably go to my etsy shop.

We had a great holiday weekend - all the cousins got together for a feast and chocolate cupcakes with candy corn decorations, then it was off to the park to play soccer - while the little ones played on the slide and in the dirt. Amazing how happy they are with the simplest things. School starts tomorrow for us... woo-hoo!

Little Trees

Tree Specimens

I spent most of the day yesterday making several needle felted pieces. I love geometric and organic shapes and repetition... here's an example! I know it's a bit early, but I'm already thinking about fall and all the colors. I want to make more in that palette... it's my favorite season.