Tired of Waiting

Forty five degrees is feeling like quite a lovely warm day today. I am so tired of the cold and snow that I snatched up these 4" pots of tulips at the grocery store. I have tucked them into my dining room planter box. They are so pretty they actually look a little fake and tacky.

Recycle Monkey

I have long been thinking of a craft that could re-use yogurt containers. As far as recycling goes, I would prefer to not use single serving consumables that are packaged in plastic, but I just can't avoid yogurt. If each of my family members ate a yogurt each day, we are talking 28 containers in one week! While we don't eat it that consistently, I'm sure we easily consume 14 per week. I originally thought of covering them with felt and decorating with embroidery to make cute little critters of all kinds. This little monkey is made from 100% recycle materials. (Just a yogurt container and 2 different cereal boxes.) I didn't participate in the "Trash to Treasure" show last year. If it is, in fact, happening again this year - I have an idea that includes many, many monkeys.

Sold

At work last week we had another silent auction and bake sale for fellow co-workers. A mother and daughter who both work at the paper suffered a terrible house fire. We have had several fundraisers for similar situations in the past. The last couple times I brought mandalas, but I don't think anyone bid on them except 'becca - and she is no longer working there. I was reluctant to donate art if no one was interested. So I dug through my flat files and matted some of my Illustration Friday illos. Lately I feel I have been giving away quite a lot of work, as if I can't sell any, but there was interest in these pieces. All sold except for the boot. I'll miss that little flower girl, but she was just tucked away in a drawer for 2 years. More people seemed to have like the cup of coffee which is so so simple. I dream of this simplicity, but then go and make things more complicated. This makes me want to get back to participating in Illustration Friday.

Lots Happening.

Spring Blossoms, Acrylic 20x20

I tend to blog about nothing when not much is happening. Then, when there is a lot going on – no time for blogging. This year is off to an exciting start. The opening of my show at South Shore Arts went well last Friday. I can't thank Melissa and Darlene enough for what they've done! I'm most excited about getting friends and family to a gallery reception who wouldn't typically find themselves in that situation. One of my visions is to make art more accessible. I guess I am doing that on a very local level.

Last night, my friend Ish picked up some of my work for a show he is putting together in conjunction with a benefit for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana. I feel honored to be included in this show with 3 other amazing artists: Ish, James Jankowiak, and Tom Torloumke. It will be the first time I stick my big toe into Chicago. Maybe this will lead to getting my feet wet?

In addition to that, since January, I completed the sketchbook project and received 1 notification so far that someone has viewed my sketchbook (while it was in Brooklyn). I guess this means I have made it to NY as well?

I donated a painting to a silent auction to benefit the school where my cousin Barbara teaches. The auction coordinator was so excited about my work, she bought a painting from me. (Thanks, Liz).

I am awaiting a trade with another amazing artist who approached me when he decided his wall needed more than one of my paintings. I may name Eric Tucker as my first collector.

The painting in this post is one I started about a year ago, then set aside. I finished it this weekend to put in my upcoming show. My first paintings of trees and branches were grey and dormant. In Spring Blossoms, the tree is morphing, bursting and vibrant. Both periods of the natural cycles are necessary and appreciated.

Happy Valentine's Day

School Treats

I asked Ellie many times if she just wanted to buy a bag of candy or if she really wanted me to bake her class treats. I love doing it, but I don't want to if it doesn't make any difference to her. She was thrilled when she saw them. I added food coloring to the dough of my rolled butter cookies. [click here for the recipe] I have found that drizzling melted white chocolate is easier than decorating, and tasty, too.

I often send such treats in a a shirt box (this is tradition, right?) but, when I saw a Christmas cookie tin, I thought it would be easier to handle. Ellie saw me covering it in wrapping paper and mentioned that I am crazy. "Crazy-good...right?" "Yeah, Mom, crazy-good." I wouldn't want my little third grader to be embarrassed by my craziness.

So far this month, I have not posted anything to my theme of things I love. I guess I love doing little things like this. And, I love this tin.

No one yelled "Fire!"

It was recently that I tried to explain to Maya how the freedom of speech excludes such circumstances as yelling "Fire" in a theatre. Could you imagine what it would be like to evacuate a theatre packed with a panicked audience?

In actuality, everyone calmly stood up and headed for the exits simultaneously. Perhaps there would have been more pandemonium if someone had started yelling? Although, I don't think the example pertains to the instance when the stage curtain bursts into flames.

Tonight we attended the Shanghai Circus at the Star Theatre in Merrillville. About 40 minutes into the show, smoke slowly started billowing onto the stage. I'm sure many people thought, as did I, that it was a smoke machine, a special effect. I found it unusual that much of the smoke was near the ceiling, not the floor. And, it seems the stagehand half way behind the curtian with the fire extinguisher caught the eye of more audience members than the dozen, beautifully adorned acrobats center stage spinning multiple plates in each hand.

The audience was calm and confident that one short spray from a fire extinguisher had kept us all from harms way. Then, flames. It was surreal to see fire in a theatre as the stage curtain ignited. The fire alarms were fairly subdued. I see, in hindsight, probably intentionally. I looked and Darrin and said, "I think that means that we need to leave the building." The reality hit everyone concurrently. I was grateful to have the not-so-good seats that we did. Darrin grabbed the hands of our young daughters and their two friends and firmly stated "Stay with me" as we ushered them from the second to the last row and out to the parking lot in one short minute. I was also happy to have gotten to the car and out of the parking lot before a traffic jam had ensued.

News reports state that everyone made it out safe.

Enough Already

I've never been more ready for spring. I was ready before this last 2 feet of snow. School for today was cancelled yesterday. School for tomorrow was cancelled today. Darrin shoveled for hours before the neighbor came over with his snow blower. I called work several times to see what the status was of things. I couldn't get through to anyone on the phone. Being only 2 miles away, and working for a newspaper and all, I thought I might be able to help out wherever necessary to get the paper out. Turns out only about 2 other people decided to show up (in my department). So I worked for 2 hours and crawled home white knuckled in white out conditions. After it stopped snowing and blowing, Darrin and I cleared enough of the patio so that we may still grill. Who's up for burgers and dogs? It is exciting to see the kids experience a real live blizzard. Feeling glad I didn't get stuck anywhere... like the office, or Lake Shore Drive.

Upcoming Art Show

I am finally feeling ready (almost) for my show next month. Last night I finished my last canvas. Just a few more hangers and wires and all will be done. I'll fill you in on the details soon.

Blogging for the month of February, I'm thinking of the theme of things I love.

How do you like my new banner?

Sorry I missed you.

On a typical weekday, my alarm is set for 6:20am. I like to linger in bed and hit the snooze a few times. Only seven more minutes, but I could be dead to the world for 6 minutes and 45 seconds after I press that favorite button of mine. This morning, shortly after my first round of "just seven more minutes" the phone rang. A telephone call at 6:30am is so much more alarming than an alarm clock. It was the auto dialer calling to inform Darrin that there would be a 2 hour delay at school today because of a water main break. Six-thirty. He must have just left! Maybe I could catch him!? I threw the blankets back, jumped out of bed, ran down the hall, out the front door and he was just pulling out of the driveway. I jumped up and down flailing my arms as dramatically as I could and he didn't see me. He was at the end of our very short driveway, straightening the car out to pull forward on the street as I ran barefoot in the snow and did my little neanderthal dance on the driveway in my pajamas as he pulled away. In a panic, I threw open the van door and honked the horn, but off he went. I have never been so confident in my efforts that I did the best I could. I wonder if any of the neighbors heard me yelling "NO!" and saw me looking like a freak on my driveway?

The Sketchbook Project

My sketchbook is ready to go in the mail tomorrow

and then on tour across the country.

Breathe

Finding peace in the space between.

acrylic 16x20

Merry Christmas

Oh Joy!

More cookies and more snow. : )

A Partridge In A Pear Tree

We are encouraged at the office to decorate for the holidays. I never have, but this year I am feeling compelled to decorate using only the large scraps of paper Jeff saves for me from the large format printer. I found some nice clip art of the 12 days of Christmas that translate well to paper cutting. Gauging from this first day of Christmas, the whole project would take about 20 hours. Can I squeeze it in between shopping, cleaning, cooking, baking, working extra holiday hours at the office and painting for a show? I did say I am feeling "compelled", which is why I think I will give it a shot.

Happy December

The first batch of gingerbread! The first snow of winter! This post looks quite similar to Decembers of past years. I have a lot to learn about photography and my new camera. I am pretty thrilled with the photo of Ellie, taken from the warmth of my dining room, in my pajamas, shot through the window and the screen. Not bad.

Fizzle

Blogging everyday is not for me.

Happy Black Friday

I don't like shopping, but I do love my new camera.

Happy Thanksgiving

Every year on this day I swear my first 10k

will be next year's Pumpkin Plod.

Baker Cheat

If you buy ready-made pie crust, pinch the edge with

your fingers and it will look home-made.

A bit contradictory

I went to the library and checked out a few books about inflammatory foods, then proceeded to the store to buy the ingredients to make three Thanksgiving pies.

At the end of my leash

I don't know how much more I can endure with this dog.

The holidays are here

I enjoyed a lazy weekend, the last before the holiday rush.

Sorry Harry, I'm not that into you.

Daddy Daughter Deathly Hallows Day while I stayed home and painted.