I was feeling bad about not getting around to picking up a lawn sign...

And so I took advantage of this seasonal blank canvas

 (Sage's most excellent skeleton is shown here as well).  

More new work later this week...until then I wish everyone in Sandy's path shelter, safety and warmth.  

new work and a thoughts on perspective...

sometimes things get turned around

modern love (anywhichway)

how we got here

These days I'm spending a lot of time thinking about change, home, relationships, communication, support and love.  For me, all of these things are mixed up in identity, self awareness, surroundings and family.   Some days the question of how we got here occupies my mind but more often, recently, it is where we are going that has me exploring, humming a tune and thinking about what really matters.  It all comes down to perspective and what I'm realizing is that sometimes turning things sideways or upside down is the best way to hit the reset button.  This weekend we've got soccer, showings, a play, a belated birthday dinner and pumpkin carving on the to do list around here.  And of course I will be roasting pumpkin seeds and watching "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' with the kids.   What are you up to this weekend?

In the works...

Oh,  there is so much in the works around here.  We put our house on the market just over a month ago and it has kept me both busy and distracted.  We have an ever-evolving-lets-just-wait and see-what happens kind of plan going on but it is becoming more fine tuned as we talk and talk and talk.  I'm sure I'll have more to say on this later as things work themselves out but the house and these big life decisions are what have been making my head fuzzy.  Earlier this week, amid the chaos of school garden activities, conferences and showings,  I was drawn back into the studio and these are the two pieces I started.  It felt so good to be in the moment of creating and not over thinking and analyzing and worrying that I found myself back in there the next day and the next.  Painting quiets my mind and taps into something louder than the noise in my head and I love that. 

New work...

Trunk Show

(inner beauty)

Trunk Show 

(promises, promises)

Happy Monday afternoon.  I had every intention of posting much earlier but the day seems to be  slipping away from me.  In fact, it seems this is just going to be one of those weeks that leaves the head spinning.    There are end of the season garden tasks to finish up with the kindergartners, composting work to be done with the 3rd graders and 3 rounds of parent teacher conferences to attend.  When the kids get older and you have to juggle meetings with numerous teachers for each child it can get a little crazy.  Add to that C being downtown all week and missing most of this and it adds up to me being one busy Mama.  And we will wrap it all up by heading to Michigan on Friday for an early sweet sixteen birthday celebration for Phoebe with my family.  It's hard to believe that she is that old, that I am that old, that she is so close to being on her own....that really has my head spinning and my heart aching just a little bit.  Have a great week : )

What's inside...

Trunk Show 

(kindred spirits)

Lucky Feather No. 4

Lucky Feather No. 5

Well hello there and Happy Monday!  Little did I know as I wrote my last post that my little guy would miss 4 days of school and spend the weekend recovering.  We are both still on the mend from this nasty and lingering virus but it's good to be getting back to some semblance of a normal day. I have a few more 'Trunk Show' paintings to finish up but am so happy to share the first one here today.  When I started this series I envisioned a small clearing in a magical forest for resting and thinking about all that is and will be.  In this place, once glorious tall standing trees have been cut down and the circles which mark their years are exposed for all to see.  Sometimes it's not until we are cut down or cracked wide open that we show the beauty of our years.  When we are standing tall we can sway and bend with the wind and with change, but it is when we are broken we can truly transform. 

And I just can't stop with the 'Lucky Feathers' series because who doesn't need a little extra luck every now and then???

Have a lovely day : )  

Mom's sale...

Hi there.  I'm back from four -roll up your sleeves-get busy-move furniture-price-till you drop-go to bed late-wake up early- days in Michigan.  My Mom and her partner started gathering antique, vintage and discarded furniture last spring and they have been busy fixing, sanding, painting and giving new life to these items all summer long.  We ended up pricing over 600 items if you include the furniture and accessories and they had a fabulous turn out over two days.  I had (still have) a killer cold but the weather was perfect, there was cider and baked goods and I met many interesting people, had some great conversations, and spent lots of quality time with my Mom.  My Dad got in the action too by collecting old soda crates and building the side table pictured in the middle which is super cool (he built two and sold one...yay!).  This was 'Two Birds" first bi-annual sale and they are working on getting an Etsy shop and blog up and running Once that happens I'll be sure to pass on their information so you can see all the upcycled goodness they are creating.  I have a sick little guy at home and am still on the mend myself but the stump paintings in the studio are calling out to me so I'm hoping to find some time to paint this afternoon.  See you here in a day or two with that new work : )