Paris Cafe Art Quilt... Done and a Rocket Quilt Started

 Well, I did add a few more final touches after these photos were taken, but it's done!  It's 40 x 50 inches with a white border.  This was made especially for my machine quilter, Annie who has done a wonderful job on all the art quilts I've made so far (except for the small ones which I did).  I hope she likes it...

 To the left is the latest art quilt.  Last year around this time, I made a mermaid quilt for our daughter (drawn and painted on Kona cotton, then sandwiched and quilted).  She loved it and my son wanted a 'rocket/blast off' quilt.  I had a mind block about it for a LONG time, since... well... I'm more in tune with mermaids than rockets.  Finally I asked him to draw me all his fave rocket ships and BOOM!  I had the basis for the quilt.  It will fit a full/queen bed nicely.  I'm so eager to get it all painted... but will take a lot of drying time before I can do all the sections.  (our dining room table is only so big :)

Will report back on rocket progress in the coming weeks. 

Now if I could just get that Light Project zine started... have not found time but hope to before school is out.  Happy weekend :)

Happy Easter... and Spring (maybe)

Check out the Easter egg hunt from a few years back... the kids are monumentally bigger now. It's all going so fast :( I need to find out a way to slow it down - when I do, I will share :) We'll be having another one tomorrow along with the standard fare and celebrations at Grammy's house.

I'm off for a dog walk, window washing and secret Easter shopping (for the hunt and such). We went to Portland for spring break and all the cherry blossoms, pansies and daffs were EVERYWHERE. It has me pining for flower planting and maybe a few veggie plants, if I can manage NOT to kill them. (our soil stinks, mostly rock and sand).

The sun is shining for now, better get the dogs leashed up!

Ballerina Butterflies and one Bumble Bee Boy

Picture day for the upcoming May dance recital was Saturday. I took about a gazillion backstage/preparation photos. The one, lone boy in the class was a bumble bee... but he would not line up with girls so it was tough to get a photo, darn!

Happy Sunday - the sun is actually out today, hooray :)

Let's Pause for Some Real Art...

I think it's about time we had a little picture from a 'real artist' :)... my daughter. She was missing her friend so much last week - who had gone on a trip with her family - and wanted to make a card for her. This is just the envelope! Sweet and colorful... just what the doctor ordered on a cold, grey winter's day.

Flutter Kicks and Noodles

Here's where I've been for several weeks. It's amazing how fast they learn to swim when they're ready. Both the kids are having a great time in their lessons and then the reward comes: free swim! For me, it's like sitting in a sauna - with one benefit... my face is dewy. :)

I'm determined to get the bathroom painted before school starts. Will be choosing colors today. What are you getting done before September?

Do the Happy Dance

Here is my happy daughter... wearing her brand new swimming goggles. She and big brother will be having swimming lessons for most of the summer. I've never seen anyone get so excited about goggles. Too cute. This is an acrylic painting - in progress. Am doing a series of them because - well - I can't help myself.
Happy Friday!

After the Party

Our son turned 8 about a week ago and these are the remnants of his 'first party'... the family party. (minus the train pile-up which he created to make room for the new toys and books he set up in photo no. 4 :) Yesterday was his 'kid party' where they played many field games, got hot, sweat and thirsty... played many more and finally pooped out. But, after drinks, chips and cake the kids were quickly resurrected. Oh to be 8 again!

Now that the party's over the girls in the family are treating ourselves to an outing. We are go to the Farm Chicks. Can't wait! Happy Sunday.

Happy Valentine's Day

Have a great red heart day! I'm spending most of the day at our children's school helping and watching them celebrate at their parties. I even got to pass out valentines this morning... haven't done that since childhood :) Oh the thrill of opening a decorated shoe box with a pile of valentines all for you. Sweet!

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?

Summer Banners

Baby girl's banner...

Big brother's banner...

Special summer breakfast. (usually it's just Cheerios!)

I finally finished the first art quilt/fabric painted thing from all the 'Turtlemoon' exploration I've been doing since late spring -meaning the banners above. I used bias hem tape for the 'string' and it sure was easy just to open the package... no cutting out! Getting ready to start another big piece, I just have to decide on the subject matter. Better get back to the old sketchbook (drawing board sounds better!)

Butterflies and Art Class

My daughter has an art class every week at a beautiful historic mansion in town. This week, they learned about butterflies... there was a lot of paint flying and copious amounts of very fine glitter everywhere. The butterfly wings above will be worn -along with the crowns fashioned in class - next week for another nature walk in the gardens.

After all the making, we took a walk (more like a hike) through a newly restored Victorian era garden. It's quite steep but has glorious views of the city. The remains of the garden were discovered after an ice storm when downed trees and brush were getting cleaned up. With the help of a local benefactress, (she also restored the Fox Theater) the gardens came back to life with the help of historic photographs. I'll be posting pix of the gardens this weekend :) Happy Friday.

Balloon Guy

Balloon Guy, originally uploaded by Tea and Ink.

This man made the best balloon hats and other fun stuff. He was at Pike's Place Market in Seattle.

On another note... I've had crazy bad luck this past week. We were in a car wreck (someone pulled into traffic without looking and hit our car... my daughter in the back seat) and my computer crashed on the same day. (all our photos on there of the kids from birth til now!!! Shudder, shudder, sweat, sweat) Plus, the week before, my cell phone died.

I hope this run of bad luck is over. I'm now *ahem* 'borrowing' hubby's computer for now.

Cupcakes and Mr. Darcy

Mr. Darcy checking to see if there's any pizza and cake left for him.

Hey, I have a handy hint today! I was looking for a box or something to transport the cupcakes to school and found empty pop boxes... they each hold 12 cupcakes perfectly. Love when I can think 'outside the box'. :)

We had a fabulous birthday party for our son who turned 6... Star Wars party stuff and a Batman pinata. Plus, cake 2 days in a row - what kid doesn't love that? I can't believe my baby is 6 years old. But, no matter how big he gets, he'll always be my baby. Happy Friday!

Tree Church

As we were driving to 'visit the ducks' as we often do at our local park, we drove through the tree lined streets of Manito Blvd. The leaves have finally come out and it's a bit surprising to see all the green. My son (5) says from the back seat, "Oh, it's a tree church, Mama." I was amazed and so impressed. It's kind of like what my fave art history professor used to say... "Throughout time, people walk into a cathedral and they just get it." (they feel small, humbled, surrounded by something much greater...) I just love those little moments and wanted to share it. Happy Friday :)

A Little Gift...

Here's a last minute Valentine's gift for my husband. It took much longer than planned... but he unwrapped it this evening. Next time, I'll give myself more time, don't like feeling rushed. **Will get a larger frame for this one... because my son's heel is touching the edge. (hate that!!)

I'll be putting my new, organic lavender sachets in the shop tonight... they smell divine!

Egg Scribbles

Oops, I left my pencils and pens out... and a little person came along and added to my hand-colored print. Whah! It had to be the only one I printed on book paper and I liked the way it was working. That will teach me to leave stuff out. :( I'll be printing more soon.

Tomorrow I'll be going to the Farm Chick's Antiques Show, fun! If it sounds familiar, they have been featured in Country Living Magazine several times and the editors will be there for an appearance. Have a good weekend!