new work in progress...

Greetings from Sunday.  We are getting ready to head to Chicago for a quick visit with friends but I wanted to take a minute to share this new 18" x 30" painting in progress.  I am using a combination of oil paint, encaustic sticks and collage on these 1st layers and soon I will begin adding layers of wax and etching.  Summer is definitely finding it's way into my work and after attending an absolutely amazing concert last night lots more Beck tunes will be finding their way into my studio :)  Last week was full of color, food from the garden, travel, reunions, growth, art, music and inspiration.  Summer is spilling over into my journal and my work and I am doing my best to go with it and not get in my own way, you know what I mean?  

xx- 

Nothing but blue skies (a story in two pieces)...

Nothing But Blue Skies

3.75" x 7" 

These two have a story that involves summertime, the beach and beautiful blue skies.  Each block measures 3.75" wide by 3.5" high and they can be hung directly on top of one another (as though they are one piece) or with a slight gap between them.  I really like the idea of a small space  existing between their physical body and their shared thought and that comes through either way it is hung.  The spare bit of color here feels loose and light and a lot like summer. I'm loving summer right now and I hope you are too:)

Too much of a good thing...

Perhaps picking 13 lbs of tiny, perfectly rip and oh so delicious berries was a bit too much of a good thing?  I was definitely feeling a bit overwhelmed as I worked to clean and preserve this bit of juicy summer goodness yesterday afternoon but after a batch of Strawberry Preserves with Black Pepper and Balsamic (to be served with goat cheese and crostini) and Simple Strawberry Jam (for summertime toast or a winter treat) I ended up freezing 4 lbs to use in smoothies, homemade ice cream and strawberry shortcake.  Making two or three trips is a better way to go but it's been very busy around here and the season is short.  So I'll just say it was too much of a good thing all at one time :)

Since I was here last I sent my youngest off to a two week summer camp with all his friends from Evanston.  He is the 1st child to head off on this type of extended adventure and I had mixed feelings about the whole thing but am so happy to say he seems to be having a great time.  I've received a classic camp note which I will put away and cherish and just returned a call to give him permission to ride horses this week.  I will head over to West Michigan on Thursday to spend time with two dear friends and then pick him up from camp on Friday morning. Can't wait to see him and hear all about his experience.

While the little guy was away C and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary.  He had to be in San Francisco for work and thanks to frequent fly miles I was able to join him.  We spent a day in Dry Creek/Russian River Valley tasting wine and sharing good food and conversation.  The next morning we headed off the beaten path for breakfast before visiting Mill Valley and reminiscing about our time there. Then we drove back across the Golden Gate and spent the day walking our old neighborhood in the city and had an amazing and inspired dinner at State Bird Provisions.  It was a short trip but it was packed full with the best of everything Northern California has to offer and togetherness.  It was just the right amount of a good thing:)

So as you can see summer is in full swing around here.  The garden is going wild, ALL of the lettuces are ready to be picked and we will have salads every night this week.  The snap peas are begging to be picked today and the green beans aren't far behind.  Soon we will have zucchini and summer squash galore and the tomatoes...well let's just say that with 14 plants thriving they are probably going to fall into that too much of a good thing category!  

So, now we are caught up. The kids have different places to be over the next few weeks but I will be here painting, cooking, sharing new work and enjoying the mostly unstructured days of summer.  More soon...thanks for reading.

Taking it all in...

Taking It All In

3.5" x 3.5"

For Safe Keeping

3" x 3.5"

It all goes by so quickly (it sounds so cliche but it feels so true).  School ends for all three kiddos later this week and we will celebrate one year in our new home.  Pretty soon after that people go different ways for different parts of the summer and we all go some ways together. But right now, all is good and I am taking a deep breath, taking it all in and getting ready to wrap my arms around summertime.

My favorite kind of day......

Dreaming Big Dreams

It's no secret that I love grey days.  Overcast skies (even rainy days) feel comfortable to me.  Those are the days that my wheels spin, the days that I am my most quiet yet most vibrant self.  I'm not sure I always felt this way,  though as a child I remember Autumn being my favorite time of year,  and I am sure that spending almost all of my 20's living in San Francisco watching the fog roll down my hill every day must have something to do with it.  It was a time when I was growing into myself and truly waking up to the world.  So many feelings I carry with me from those years that are gently stirred when the skies are hazy.  Those are the days I dream my big dreams. What about you...hazy or sunny?

Stacking up and paring down....

How  Things  Stack Up

7.5"x7.5"

She thought about treasured memories too numerous to count, tucked away like hidden gems. And on top of those she carefully gathered and gently placed the beauty of the here and now and all the things that filled her days these days. As she looked to the future she felt a new lightness knowing that she would let many things go and just carry what mattered most.  More new work in the works...see you back here soon :)