Just Show UP

So…. I am committing right here in front of you all…” To just show up” and do my art practice DAILY… I am not picking how long, or how much , just “ I will do this daily” Todays picture started with a picture in a magazine… sometimes your imagination is on hold, so I am taking what i can from observation. I loved this picture and tried to add some of my creative touches from it… or maybe it is calling me to get busy and pick my own apple trees before they are on the ground. I had a great day yesterday with my Granddaughter Maeve in the apple trees, I saved all the apples on the low branches for her, she’s only 3 but got the “ twist and pull” method down.

Whatever your creative spirit inside of you says. Write it, make it, create it, garden it… Just do it … now I will have to post more just to show you that I am making this a DAILY PRACTICE

When Cats Are Part of the Process

There is one thing about cats and that they are very independent.   When you don't want them someplace that is where they seem to want to be.  Today my cat Porter was very much into my photo shoot, It was hard to say "scat" to him when he is so cute an loveable.

I would love to hear  your adventures with animals and how they make your work, fun, tolerable or the "Bain of your existence".

Creating a New Quilters Series of Cards

I have been working on a fun Quilting card series.   I am friends with many quilters and I have been known to sew a quilt or two in my day.  The idea of having just fun designs for a specific group has made me energized.  It might not sell but I want to do it because....well I want to do it.   Taking these 2 designs out of the 9 I have, I thought I would show you my process.   These were done with scraps of paper, ink , glue and a little paint.    I want to find something creative to write on the front.  So I googled " quilting terms".  Do you know that quilters have the best terms?  Meeting with my friend Rebecca at the local coffee shop we went over the terms and laughed and laughed at the made up stories we could tell from these terms.. take " jelly roll" and "fat quarters"  sounds like someone hasn't been working out.   " Long Arm". "Stacked",  " Prairie points" and that isn't even counting  the names quilters have used to identify some of the designs on quilts "  Flying Geese " "Drunkards Path" " Log Cabin".  I can tell right now I am in for a lot of fun coming up with something great to put on the fronts of these. But.... I might have to keep the smutty ones to myself.

The Presidents Photographer took my picture!

I was asked to get a professional picture taken and they sent out a John Lill from Seattle.

I enjoy finding out about people so I started asking him about how he got his start in Photography.  Senior Class Picture Intern when he was in high school.  Enlisted in the Navy, became a photographer in the Navy and became friends with the admiral and the admiral recommended him for his next tour of duty... The white house !   He served 1 1/2 years with Bush and 1 1/2 years with Obama.  He was the guy that just hung out with the president day in and out taking around 5,000 pictures a day............. and he is taking my picture! 

John has great eye ( you should see the pictures he does of rock stars!)  If you ever have a need for some photography... he not only does head shots, but weddings etc. He takes great pictures but has a rich history to talk about.  I had a really fun photo session  considering i was really dreading it.

Art and Holiday Shows

The season has started for those fun and festive Art shows.  You know the ones, they can be held in school gymnasiums', church social halls, residential homes as well as some of the larger venues. Many of you have your own special ones where you gather some friends and make a day of it,traveling to the different shows then going out for lunch to show off what you have bought

.   I have a tradition with my own group of friends where we go to the most creative of the shows and glean ideas to make our gifts.   Now that we are older and have done this many years, we enjoy peoples creativity but if we see something we like we buy it., who has the time any more to be that cleaver.

Next week I will have a booth at one of my favorite venues.  The Tacoma Dome Holiday Food and Gift show.   It starts on Wednesday and goes thru Sunday.  There is an admission charge but the amount of creative people you find there is well worth the money, especially if you don't have the time to go out each weekend to find your gifts.  

If you go be sure TO BRING:  your coupon  ( enclosed in the blog) ,  good walking shoes and YOUR LIST of people you need to shop for.   The great thing about this show is once you have paid the admission you are paid for the rest of the days as well.  

oh.... and stop by my booth   I will be in the Artist-in-Action area  # 0739  

Bring on the Flowers

It has been so hot here.... I am not complaining but that just isn't normal for the Seattle area.  We love our sun,  when it comes out we want to take advantage of it.   So when it gets hot here ( I am talking above 80- don't laugh)  and we have to find a cool shady space I have been hiding out in my studio with a great fan blowing away.   So my choice of painting flowers has been a no brainer,That and I am taking this awesome class from Lynn Whipple colager extrodinaire.  

Bowl of Flowers