A Fresh Print or Two...

 Here is a lovely little boy, Porter.  He's a commission for a sweet friend and was so much fun to carve.  I haven't done many animals as portraits but he has me interested in doing more!  With just a little left to go, I should be done with him this coming week. 

Big Brother... can't decide on a title for this one but, it's drawn from a photo last summer.  There's a magical, beautiful trail through the woods to the ocean beach at Salishan, OR.  We're going back again... probably next year.  This year it's all about Cannon Beach :)  I'll be painting this one as soon as the ink dries and have another new ballet scene ready to carve.  Plus another little girl ballet scene.  I've got my carve on now :)

Summer Beckons

 Cory the neighborhood collie saying hello...

 Gorgeous blooms I want to paint,,,

A work of cherry art from the ice cream sundae bar!  Our son turned 9 over the weekend and for the first time, we did the sundae thing al fresco after birthday lunch over at Red Robin (the kid's fave).  After 4 days off from school (teacher day included) we are into our last stretch of school days before summer really hits!

On another note, I will begin advertising as of June 1st over at Soulemama!  I'm so excited to be working with the brilliant Amanda Soule and hope you will visit over there and check it all out :)  I'll be working on a lot of new woodcuts for the etsy shop in the next few months which I'll share here first.  Happy hump day!

A Really Big Show

 Last night was our annual dance performance... it was a great time!  The ages ranged from 3 to 18 plus a lovely Strauss waltz with the older girls and their Tux-togged fathers.  The 2nd photo was a beautiful lyrical dance in the style of Martha Graham.  The last 2 photos are from a snappy New Orleans tap number.  All of it was awesome and both our kids are new fans of Michael Jackson's Thriller... their jazz class danced it in their Halloween costumes.  A sweet night of memories. 

I'm hoping to share some creative things I've been trying to work on... just a few more whirlwind events until the kids are out of school. Attempting to make time for art with the little bit of mama time I have left in this school year.   It's official, this time of year is even busier than Christmas!

Happy Saturday.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

To all the mamas out there, young and old and especially to my mom, Happy Mother's day!  Without moms, what would we do?  They listen to our woes, take care of us and shower us with love.  Have a great day and enjoy basking in the sweet gestures you are about to receive :)

Beach Angel

Another old watercolor... size large (half-sheet of Arches).  I remember painting this from what I was feeling... my husband had just packed up a mini u-haul and had moved over here to Spokane to start his new job while I finished up a few more quarters of art school in Portland.  I was missing him so much and was a big scaredy cat at night in the house all alone. 

11 years later... here we are, living in the first house we ever bought (renters before) with two kids and two dogs.  Life is sweet :) 

Happy Wednesday.

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 :)

Tea and Toast

Still cleaning out the studio, this time it's the printing studio.  SO much junk, bags, scratch paper I've saved over time.  Why did I think I would actually USE it?  Who knows.  We'll have to pay the trash man extra for this week and probably the whole month but what a feeling when it's done. 

Found this old, large watercolor (from art school) - bone china and all sorts of toppings on toast.  These are some of my favorite things :)  Hope the weather is as nice as ours today... about 75 and sunny with a slight breeze.  Pure bliss!