Friday, November 30, 2012

craft fair time!!!



i've spent the last few weeks getting ready for this.  it's exciting.  but also a bit scary.  i have to make myself do these things once in a while.  you know, step out of my comfort zone.  it's good for me.  even though i might rather be home in my cozy little studio.  i'll probably have fun.


i've been working hard.


on some new designs.


and some old favorites.


and some one-of-a-kinds.


which are my favorites.



and maybe they will become someone else's favorite.  so, i've attached the last price tag.  checked my list 129 times.  it's all packed and ready to go.  except...


...ah, here it is.  just what i needed. 



Wednesday, November 28, 2012

bare inspiration...

this morning the sun was so bright and so happy, i grabbed my camera and went outside to take some pictures.  as i looked around though, i didn't feel very inspired.  everything was so bare and brown and drab.   so instead, i went back inside to make myself a cup of tea to go with that leftover brownie.  as i waited for the water to boil, i looked out the window and had some thinking time.  i'm an artist, i thought.  shouldn't i be able to find inspiration even when there seemingly isn't any?  i thought, maybe i just need to look at things a bit differently.  there must be something of beauty out there on such a sunshiny day.  


so, i stepped out onto the back deck, where the sun was making nice shadows over the old worn wood.


i noticed a few stubborn flowers on a summer plant.  reaching towards the sun it seemed.

i decided to walk out into the yard a bit.  our backyard is like this.  a nice clear area with some grass and then a really leafy area (because i can my husband can only rake so much) with some cool big rocks and then the forest.  when we first moved into this house we had about 6 inches of backyard and then the jungle forest.  but my husband has single-handedly (meaning, i didn't help at all) cleared a much larger yard area over the last 7 years.  so every year, our yard gets a little bigger, but we'll always have some forest back there.  anyway, as i was saying, i ventured past the grassy area.  normally, i would never do this because of large forest bugs and spiders and ticks and who knows what else.  but, it's been chilly, so i was feeling safe from small creatures.  and i had my boots on.


i found some rocks with some really green moss.  i love moss, don't you?  it always reminds me of fairies.  and i do believe in fairies.  that inspired me to keep going.  down a leafy hill, whoops-a-daisy, grabbing hold of some branches on the way to keep myself upright.  all the way to the water. 


 which doesn't look like much really, a small, rocky stream, maybe 2 feet deep in some spots.  but it runs through all the backyards, under some streets...  a few miles, i think.


without the leaves, the sun shined down in a beautiful, warming kind of way.  i basked for a little while.  feeling the sun on my face.  listening to the water trickle over the rocks.  i stayed there until my fingers got cold.


and then i headed back up the mossy, leafy hill.  back to my warm little studio to do some work.  but something was different.  i was feeling refreshed from my little trek into the unknown.  i was feeling calmer.  and yes.  i was feeling inspired.  sometimes, you just gotta look a little harder.



Friday, November 23, 2012

a haircut of epic proportions...


he asked me to make him an appointment for a haircut.
  he said he was thinking of something a little different this time.


his hair had gotten pretty long, longer than mine even.  so thick.  and golden.

i settled down with a magazine.  there were gasps in the salon.   


all that hair now on the floor.


our neighbor, the one who always good-heartedly kids with him about getting a haircut, did not even recognize him when he walked past.  his cute little girlfriend squealed with delight.  his sister said it made him look taller.

i like his new "faux hawk".  a little bit unique, just like him.

now, i'm going out to find some really good gel.


Thursday, November 22, 2012

happy thanksgiving...



i wish you all the happiest of happy days

today...

  put your worries aside
think happy thoughts
count your blessings
smile
laugh
give some hugs
get some hugs 
eat too much pie
with extra whipped cream
have fun
xo



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

thankful .04



i was looking through my most prized treasure box this morning.  it is a sweet little cedar chest filled with little notes and hand spun gifts from my kids over the years.  it's helpful for me to look through this box from time to time.  especially since i have teenagers.  it reminds me of a simpler, more innocent time.


my favorite is this little tin of "wishes" that my daughter collected for me.  she thoughfully lined the inside of the tin with masking tape, as this was formerly her special tin for collecting ABC gum.  for those of you who don't know, ABC gum is "already been chewed" gum.


there are some sweet little notes as well.


and drawings.



and little works of art.  like these carved "fairy chairs".


really, none of this stuff probably looks like much to someone else.    but to me they are great and wonderful treasures.  which brings me to the thankful part.



i'm so very thankful for my family.  they stick with me in good times and bad.  they love me despite all of my quirks and i love them back fiercely.  they make my life worth living.  and, as Martha would say, that is a really good thing.



Wednesday, November 14, 2012

thankful .03...


thankful this morning for "muffins with mom".  this was a little event that the PTO put on this morning at the middle school.  i went to school with my son and had muffins and lively conversation with him before class.  it was a nice time and a fun way to start the day.

i've been a stay at home mom since my daughter was born 17 years ago.  it wasn't something i planned.  i really thought that i would go back to work, but once i held her, so tiny and precious, i got a deep ache in my heart at the thought of leaving her for a job i really didn't enjoy all that much.  so, with the support of my husband, i followed my heart and quit my job.  we were so unprepared.  but somehow, we survived those years of having no money and those other years of having even less money than that.  life is mostly easier now and in retrospect those really were good times.  times that helped shape me into the person i am today.  and i have absolutely no regrets about any of it.

i'm so very thankful that i was able to stay home with my kids.  thankful for my husband, who at times worked two jobs to make it all work.  thankful that i can do these little things that mean so much to my kids.

all that from a lil' ol' muffin...





Tuesday, November 13, 2012

thankful .02...


thankful for this little guy...my favorite furry little friend.  he gives me comfort and unconditional love.  i love how he plunks his warm little body on the couch in my studio and naps while i work.


i love how he will do anything for a biscuit.  anything.  he was so easy to train.


  i see him graying at the temples, just like me, and i hope for a few more good years with him.
yeah, i really love this guy.



Friday, November 9, 2012

thankful .01...





so thankful...for days like this.  days when the sun shines so brightly, that even the trees and the grass weep for joy.  this is the kind of day that makes my heart fill with gladness to be alive in this world.






Wednesday, November 7, 2012

i got hit in the face with some love...


i was taking my morning walk today and i walked right into this heart-shaped leaf.  it literally just smacked me in the face.  so i plucked it right off the branch and took it with me.  for my daughter, i thought.  because i do corny stuff like that.  i occasionally leave them little flowers or feathers or a little note by their bedside.  just to remind them that i love them.  and it's been a while since i did that.


a little ways later i noticed another one, this one a bit smaller, but very much heart-shaped.


and then this little pair of hearts.


and then a really big one...

it seemed like they were all over the place and before you know it i had one for everyone in the family.  even the dog.

i've been quiet lately.  sometimes i get busy.  and sometimes i just can't think of anything to say.  i like to keep things positive and inspiring.  i really believe in that.  but occasionally, as is true for all of us, i let my pessimistic side take over and then i have to take a little break.  to recharge.  to look for inspiration.  to get hit in the face with a heart-shaped leaf or two.  and that really helps.  so thanks for being patient and coming back for a visit.

i like November because of Thanksgiving.  i think it is the best holiday.  i like to celebrate it simply.  a casual dinner with my husband and kids and a few days of relaxation together.  just hanging out.  no shopping.  turkey sandwiches.  and lots of pie.  this time of year always makes me think about all of the things in my life that i am so thankful for.  and over the next few weeks i would like to share some of those things with you.  and i would love to hear from you as well.  so, i'll see you soon...