So most of you are football widows...I am a runner's widow. Hubby was off for a 3 hour run this morning so my girls find the most interesting ways to entertain themselves. Here is my sweet Toby after a little Sunday morning dress up. He is a such a sweet boy just wagging his tail as he was dressed up as Tobyrella. As you can imagine there was a lot of giggling going on around here.

Then mama made an executive decision that we would all get pedicures this morning as the summer is winding down and we will be out of our sandals and into our boots soon. I always find it amusing to see the colors my girls choose. Lindsey opted for the lime green...I am trying to let my oldest be her own creative self...so you can imagine my fear when she picked out the brightest green nail polish, but they turned out cute and fit her personality. Lauren was torn between bright blue and pink, but pink was the final choice. Definitely a girls morning out.

I am happy to announce the winner is Candice of The Sparrow's Post blog. A truly wonderful person who was one of the hosts of the Artnest retreat I went on in June. If you ever have a chance to go on one of their retreats...you should.

I have a baby shower for my sweet friend Stacie of Bailey's Bliss. I love shopping for little baby things...they are so soft and sweet. She is having a sweet little girl and I went with vintage blue for the wrapping instead of the traditional pink, but I assure you there are sweet little pink things inside. I met Stacie at one of my early ArtFests...she was so sweet and open. I just love that about her.

This has been a week of transition for me. My sweet baby is in Kindergarten and my oldest daughter is starting middle school...this school starts at 5th grade, but is a huge change from her elementary school. New schedules for everyone is causing me to be a bit off balance, but I hope to get into the swing soon. Art & Soul is around the corner in October so I will be gearing up for that over the next few weeks.

For now I stand bravely on the shore trying to find the path I must go...still trying to figure it out.

I will do the drawing tomorrow and post the winner soon!

I finally finished one of the three jewelry holders I have been planning on making. I will hang them in my closet to organize some of my jewelry as well as use for displays at my vendor table at Art & Soul. I plan on making little hooks to hang necklaces and bracelets too. I originally was going to use chicken wire, but the openings were too big for jewelry, so this really worked out better. I do plan on making some more frames with the chicken wire to organize some of my ephemera. One project down...557 more unfinished projects to go. I am trying to organize, finish projects, and clean out some of my stuff.

Now the Big News...A Give Away!
Do you have a Trader Joes near you? You need to see their grocery bags. I love the graphics and color. Clever...offer cute bags, give customers a small discount when they use them for their purchases, and save a tree. So I bought two...one for me and one for the lucky winner of my drawing. I have been going through a lot of the stuff I have been collecting, and I have "too much" stuff. So I am pulling some of my goodies and sending to the winner. Leave a comment and email address and I'll draw a winner in one week. You see two vintage anagrams from my stash...the winner can choose their own letters. So don't forget to leave a post.


Wishing you peace and joy this holiday weekend!

I have just returned from Glacier National Park. We had a wonderful family vacation to end our summer break before the girls return to school. How I wish we could have spent more time exploring Montana. Perhaps next summer we will head to Yellowstone. I will share with you a few of the gorgeous views...this is just the tip of the iceberg on photos because around every corner was a beautful view.

We started our family adventure in Idaho and the mission pictured here is the oldest building in Idaho built in 1850...the inside was amazing. Set in the mountains among trees...so peaceful.


We met these mountain goats on one of our hikes at Glacier. They would just wonder over the trail not bothered by people invading their territory.


Who didn't want a horse as a child? Both of my girls and I love horses and perhaps one day they will own a ranch (along with many other animals) and I can come visit and be a "cowgirl". Here is my sweet petunia on her big trail ride. This is her first time on a real horse...not a pony and it was a thrill for her. I was the proud mom watching her march right up to that big horse. This was truly a highlight for her.




I hope you all are enjoying these last few weeks of summer.

The following is a paragraph from "Foolsgold" Making Something From Nothing" that really struck a chord with me....

"When I was finishing a degree in art and writing, my friend Jim Karman suggested I be like the water buffalo. To ford a river without getting stuck, the water buffalo needs only to keep the slightest motion forward. If it stops entirely it gets stuck in the bottom mud."

So for now I will be like the water buffalo and try and keep moving forward. Here is a picture of a piece I finished last week. I use these colors a lot in my work, and I never tire of them. They remind me of the blue blue tropical water.

I created some new pieces with vintage charms I have been collecting for a while now and hope to post some more pictures soon.

Last week we had family photos in Seattle at the locks...so here are the two best things I ever made....





Remeber the lips
where the wind-breath originated,
and let your note be clear.
Don't try to end it.
Be your note...
Sing loud! Rumi

(sneaking in another quote from the book! I just love this one too!)

So today I am feeling in between...not good or bad...not happy or sad. What to do is the question I keep asking myself. Too many questions that it makes my mind dizzy. So I continue to search for my purpose. I have been reading "Foolsgold, Making Something From Nothing and Freeing Your Creative Process" and perhaps it is just making me question my choices. I am not in a rythm...How do you get it back is yet another question...what helps you?

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." - Lao Tzu

Here are some of the beads I am playing with these days. Those cute little hands are not my own, but one of the two elves I have that help me in the studio. Both my little elves love to touch the beads too. It is really fun to have two girls that love them as much as I do. My youngest got to go to the last bead show and was a wonderful little helper. I think every vendor was smitten by her lovely manners. They each gave her a little trinket...strand of beads or chain. Needless to say she can't wait to go again.

We go from rain to glorious sunshine here in the Northwest. Above is a picture just a few days ago as I was off to the beach to pick up my daughter from her sailing lesson. Today we have beautiful sunshine. I am anxiously awaiting the listing of ArtFest classes that will be posted tomorrow. I hope to hear from some of you if you plan on attending. Also drop me a line if you will be at Art & Soul in Portland or ArtFiberFest in Port Townsend in October. I would love to meet or see you again.

If you haven't read the Somerset Blogging issue...go out and get it. A ton of eye candy and thoughtful writing on why these artists blog. I had posted on a blog of one of the writers about her comments pertaining to being photographed, and she emailed me back almost immediatley...how cool is that. Blogging makes our world so small and I love how it connects us all. If you read a blog regularly be sure and post a note to say "Hi!". I think we all wonder is anyone reading this? I believe blogging has replaced the sewing bees that used to happen years ago. A way to connect even if virtually with other artsy souls.

I met with a back specialist after my MRI and I will be on medication and physical therapy for a while and hope to get back to normal and if not...then other option is an epidural. Last option is disk replacement, but I am seriously praying that will not be necessary.

Here is hoping you are enjoying the weather in your area!

Hello again my dear friends and visitors! I have been away, but have not forgotten you. I know it has been a while, but all my trips are done until August. So I have some catching up to do.


ARTNEST
Perhaps I have been delaying my post on this since I have not found the right words to articulate how wonderful it was. Candice and Julie hosted a wonderful and personal event. They looked after every detail and it was wondeful. Four days in a cabin with truly wonderful ladies. Dinner on the deck every evening with linens and dishes it was a special. Some quick memories...Shari causing me to laugh so hard my side hurt, meeting Rebecca at the airport her warm and caring spirit shining through her wonderful smile, sitting next to Misty in Kristin's class and her graciously tolerating my silly sense of humor. Passing by the Osmond Family Studio and remembering fond childhood memories...way too much information here. Diana who was the most prepared person I have ever met. I don't know how she packed it all.Jen a fellow beader who is just starting out on her journey. Sitting by the fireside at night with such wonderful discussions. I can't even begin to describe the wonderful time I had. Pictured here is the cover to my fabric journal made in Kristin Steiner's class.


Seattle Classes with Dallas Lovett
I keep trying to love seed beads...but I am just a metal and wire girl. Dallas combines metal with seed beads and was teaching in Seattle...so I had to take his classes. Here are a couple of my projects...I may have convinced him that the patina on wire gives it a wonderful vintage feel. The third bracelet is almost done, but will have to wait for another time to share. I did change the designs a bit from class...I can be a rebel.





Classes with Teesha and Tracy Moore in LA


I met my friend Renee early and she took me on a whirlwind shopping tour of California and then on to classes with the adorable Tracy and Teesha Moore. I have always wanted to take a class with them and when this opportunity came up I had to go. I have to "thank" my understanding and wonderful husband who holds down the fort while I am away. Here is my metal journal from Tracy's class.

Puget Sound Bead Festival
Well this is local and a definite stop. Again took some seed bead classes with the darling Marcia DeCoster...I love how her pieces are components. I can't wait to finish this one...it will have a total of 5 little medalions...here are three and one I think I am going to redo.


Then on to weaving with extra fine gauge wire using a basket weaving technique to create these little pods...my oldest thinks the green one looks a little like a slug.


I am having an MRI on my back on Thursday and hope to find out what is causing my serious back pain. It all went terribly wrong when I started working again and now there are days I have a spasm and almost fall over...so wish me well. I hope to finish up a few more projects and will share them soon.

I have tons of jewelry ideas running around in my brain right now, but since I have been working I just can't find the time to get them done. I am hoping that mid June when I switch to part-time, I will have more time. I am trying to figure out how to fit it all in...work, art, kids, exercise. Right now the exercise and art are suffering, but I hope to get some kind of a system down.

In two weeks I am going to "Nest" an art retreat in Utah. I am looking forward to a few days of art with other artful ladies. Three days of classes with amazing instructors...Misty Mawn, Sallly Jean, and Kristen Steiner. I have never been to Utah, so I am really looking forward to my little adventure. I am traveling to this retreat by myself, but I am sure I will meet some lovely people.

Here is the little quote I put on the back of the tags I created for the swap. I first heard it while watching "Akila and the Bee", but later found on the web the full version. It comes from a book by Marianne Williamson. I just love it and I hope you do too.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

I hope you shine!

I Love Mail!

So I have received my tags and just love love love each and every one! Take a peak...







Now I have to hang them so I can see them in my room. Each tag is beautiful.



I also got this lovely banner from the super delightful Tracie Lyn Huskamp. My friend Edina bought the last one at ArtFest, but Tracie said I could order one...so here it is. The picture doesn't do it justice, but trust me it is lovely. She has such darling things in her Etsy shop....definitely worth the stop. What did we do before the internet?



Oh...if you are doing some spring cleaning and have extra supplies, stop by Gina's blog. She is gathering up supplies to support a great cause. Here is my package.

Don't hate me because I have drawers...I just got these installed and will start trying to store some of the "stuff" I have gathered. I have rubber stamps in the guest room, ribbon in the craft closet, beads and stuff in the studio, paint in the closet. So now I am trying to gather everything in one place. Well everything except the fabric. That will have to wait. Here are some more photos of the studio.












Looks pretty neat in the old studio, but I am sharing the next photo so you can truly understand my "need" for drawers. Here is a room that very few people see...it is what we call the "craft closet". I can barely open the door and it is not pretty. The children are not allowed to go in here...frankly it's just not safe. so I hope to clean this closet and my studio this weekend.

Well I have done something I haven't done in 20 years, and now I know why. Do not under any circumstances trim your own bangs unless you are a trained professional. I got my hair cut the other day and the bangs were not quite short enough. No time to go back to the salon so I did it...I got my scissors out and before I knew it I was sporting the old "your mom cut your bangs too short" look. Not good. Anyhooo on to better news...

I finished my tag swap and will be putting them in the post tomorrow, but here is a sneak peak.

I also got some new drawers and you can see Jeff assembling them. I hope to get all my stuff organized and the old studio cleaned up SOON! I do hope it is possible, or I am going to be in big big trouble. You may be seeing some ephemera on ETSY soon...cause if it doesn't fit in the studio or my closet it has to go. I'll post pictures as soon as it is clean.


Lilacs are one of my favorites...so here is a photo of a bunch I cut from the garden. The roses and peonies are just about to bloom. So more photos to come.

ArtFest is one of my favorite retreats, and I am sorry it has taken me this long to post. So here is a brief overview of the whole shebang. The new banner is just a small piece of the big project I was working on in Anahata's class, Funky Wallpaper People. I struggle with working large and thought this would be a great opportunity to experiment. I kept wanting to cut this in half and do two instead of one, but I did continue on. So...when I get back to this, I hope to have a ton of flowers in the upper section, kind of a secret garden with a house etc. But as you can see by the first image, I can use some of it as background for my banner.


I also took adorable Misty Mawn, a sweet, quiet, soul with a smile that eludes to a secret sense of humor she only shares in small groups. She was amazing to watch and a great teacher. Now this project too is in progress. Imagine a sepia toned tree in the center panel with a bird or two and branches that stretch into each of the panels and then my other daughter on the far right. My daughter on the left still needs some arms etc.




I also took Nina on the last day...I love her southern accent and sense of humor. I am always a little tired on the last day and wanted to just have fun and chat. So jewelry is my comfort art...here is my bracelet. The beach is a pretty constant theme in my jewelry. If I can't be at the beach, at least I can wear the beach.

Vendor night is a huge event at ArtFest and here are some of the goodies I managed to get...
Box by Misty Mawn. I collect boxes...big, small, metal, wood. It doesn't matter I just love boxes. This was beautiful and a box. How could I not get it?

I bought a few of Amy Hanna's jewels. I had tried to get some of her items online, but was never quick enough. So when I heard she would be vending I knew I was going to her table first. Now I originally only planned on getting a necklace and pair of earrings, but after being at the table for 10 seconds it was swarmed and I was slowly pushed into the table. I just decided to buy what I had in my hands and leave before being trampled.




I purchased this sweet face from the delightful Katie Kendrick. It just made me smile.




Last but not least, a gift from Minnie. I met her at previous ArtFest and she made this little necklace just for me. ArtFest has always brought me new friends that are so different, but love making art. I think gathering all these creative people in one place just feels comfortable. No one questions you when you pick up that rusty bolt...they get it.

Looks like image import is working now....I will do Hawaii today and ArtFest in the next post. Notice how I didn't promise tomorrow. Trying to keep my promises and not feel the blog guilt.

So here we go...Hawaii. I am a sunshine kind of gal. I am just happy when the sun is out. Here we are the first morning off to scout out the location. Most of the time the girls were bent over picking up gifts for me. Oh...did you notice my toe ring. We were walking one day and my husband spied toe rings and thought that our oldest is a toe ring kind of gal. Now my husband is not a shopper so when he stops to shop, we all stop. So she tried it on and it was sooooo cute on those little piggies. I then thought...I need one. My husband smiled and said, "You are not a toe ring kind of gal." Hmmm, I really really want to be the toe ring kind of girl. So here you see me sporting my new toe ring. Now you may be wondering what is a toe ring kind of girl, and I am not really sure...but to me a free spirit, do what you will, jump first think second, wild kind of girl that's is what I want to be.

I spend time traveling to art retreats without my family and the event is always kind of bitter sweet. I love attending the retreats, but each night I am just missing them a little, and at the end of the retreat I am rushing to get home. This vacation was so different. Granted they are older so makes traveling so much easier, but we tried to keep it very low key and relaxing and it was. We met so many people that just vacationed in Hawaii once and then decided to move there...oh to just pick up and move without a thought. It is truly a beautiful place.

Sorry for the rambling thoughts...but now that I am working again my mind is groggy from all this computer work.




Here is the mermaid lagoon for our little collage.

I hope you enjoy the photos