tangled sky studio

Wishing you...

2012-02-14T06:29:00.001-08:00

a happy valentine's day!

flying...

2012-02-09T07:59:00.000-08:00

And So It Goes

3.5 x 4.5

Is it just me or does time seem to be flying by in this new year? A last minute road trip, gallery deadline, sick kiddos and a steady stream of ideas have kept me so busy that I'm finding it hard to believe we're in February already. Extra sunshine and milder temps this week have people talking about the end of the school year, bathing suits and summer road trips...yikes! I'm thinking it's time to slow it down a bit (i'm sure old man winter still has a surprise or two up his sleeve). I'm starting on a large (for me) multi panel painting today which I will share step by step as it progresses over the next week...or two...or three.

a little bit of everything...

2012-02-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

everything in between

4 x 2.5

The in between is where all the messy, happy, sad, silly, small-but-oh-so-important stuff goes on. The in between is the everyday and I've got plenty of the in between going on around here. I still have two kiddos home sick this week and so I'm only getting small bits of time in the studio but was able to finish up this piece I started over the weekend. It's made up of three separate wood blocks pieced together to form one painting. I've been spending big bits of time in the kitchen and am just about to cook up a pot of super yummy tomato bisque for dinner. What are you putting on your table tonight?

ps: i'm also spending lots of time with the knitting needles and am almost done with annabel 2 : )

end...

2012-02-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

small talk, big love

6x6

outside and in

2x3

sometimes i get ahead of myself

3.5x4.5

where it's at

2.5x3.5

she felt spring take her by the hand

3x4.75

there was something between them (that day at the beach)

3.5x5

Between the beginning and the end of this week there were three kiddos home on three different days even a mama who caught the nasty little bugger of a cold. Fortunately for all of us it was short lived and today everyone is back at school and I was able to wrap up this new group of paintings (so I can reopen my etsy shop as planned). I'm not sure if it's the extra time indoors, the mood of the more-often-than-not-grey skies or the gentle murmur of spring that brings it on but I feel a creative shift every year right around this time. I fall in love all over again with my studio and find myself knitting into the wee hours of the morning and cooking or baking when my hands aren't in wax or wool. I've got another cook in the kitchen these days(theo), a new knitter in the house(sage) and someone shadowing me to learn about the "science" of working in encaustics(phoebe). So things are busy, busy, busy but in all the best ways.

Thanks for reading and have a lovely weekend : )

middle...

2012-02-01T08:01:00.001-08:00

(the sweet spot where everything starts coming together)

I love the middle. I love that time when you've worked past getting started and the door is open for ideas, images and bits of this and that collected over weeks and years to find their way to each other and take on new life together. It's the point at which what you want to say or share rises to the surface slowly and quietly and greets you with an unmistakable familiarity. Yeah, I love that part.

quick comfort...

2012-01-31T06:25:00.000-08:00

I spent lots of time in the studio yesterday and a little time tending to a sick kiddo who was home from school (a different one is home sick today). For dinner a quick, nourishing and satisfying soup was needed to go with leftovers from Sunday dinner. This Tortilla Soup is the perfect combination of rich flavors and earthy goodness that Rick Bayless dishes are known for and it comes together very quickly. I always use an extra chile and find that the recipe needs a good amount of salt to make it sing. Today there will be more painting and tending (and leftover soup for lunch) but that's enough about me...what are you up to this week?

beginning...

2012-01-30T07:47:00.001-08:00

(always the hardest part)

ten for eleven...

2012-01-24T07:09:00.001-08:00

all you ever need

glass 1/2 full

my plus one

sometimes i don't know if i'm coming or going

some days

inner light

bellwether

she gathered her thoughts(and began to tell her story)

miss you

dreamed enough to be true

I just packaged up and shipped off my 10 pieces for the 11th Enormous Tiny Art Show. I really love being a part of this eclectic show and in the company of such amazing artists. I started so early this time around but still came down to the wire in wrapping up this large family of tiny art. Now it's time to breathe, slow down and pick up the knitting needles as we pack up for a thrown-together-at-the-last-minute-road-trip. We are taking advantage of an exam week break and off season rates and heading up to Northern Michigan for a mini ski/snowboarding/waterpark vacation. I've got the chicken sitters lined up and the packing started but there are still a few things to pull together. So, I'm checking out until next Monday and wishing you a warm and wonderful rest of the week.

in the shop...

2012-01-18T06:01:00.000-08:00

So here's the deal...

As I was putting together the group of paintings for ETA 11 I happened to take a look in my Etsy shop. I realized that after an amazing couple of months of sales my inventory had really dwindled. So in the spirit of the new year and starting fresh I am offering 25% off everything currently in the shop today (1/18) thru Sunday (1/22). After that I'm closing up the shop for a wee bit and will re-open with new pieces on Friday February 3rd. I'll be checking in here with sneak peeks and bits of this and that but I'm planning to spend lots of time in the studio over the next 2 weeks. So far, this new year has brought focus and inspiration and I'm loving it.

H a v e y o u n o t i c e d t h e s h i f t ?

love.love.love.

2012-01-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

Did I mention that I finished this sweater? In fact, I just ordered a few skeins of Crow to start a 2nd sweater on an upcoming road trip. I don't know if it's the three quarter sleeves, the lofty yumminess of the yarn or the ease with which it knit up...but I'm smitten. I'm putting the finishing touches on many of the pieces for the Enormous Tiny Art Show and will share a few of the paintings here tomorrow and the rest by the end of the week : )

Fashionably late...

2012-01-12T20:12:00.000-08:00

Hello Winter

(we might be skating soon!!!)

A whole lot of new...

2012-01-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

Well, there is a whole lot of new going on around here these days. I have a new, slightly shorter, much more layered haircut, I am loving a few new pieces of GORGEOUS jewelry from a new friend and I am especially excited about having so many new paintings in the works. As soon as the third child was out the door for school (after a really low key and fun 2 week break) I was in the studio waxing blocks and laying out snippets of newsprint and color and creating stories for this large collection. Next, I will be using pigment sticks and oilbars to paint the backgrounds before I start the layering process, but I thought I would share this first step and say a quick hello before the day flies by. I hope your week is off to creative and productive start too : )

Friday...

2012-01-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick peek at two more pieces in the works for ETA 11. I'll be sending the three kiddos back to school on Monday and plan to spend lots of time in the studio next week finishing up this collection. I'm off to get my haircut but wanted wish you a lovely weekend!

A new way of working...

2012-01-03T10:37:00.001-08:00

(multi board painting in progress)

Hi there. I've been busy in the studio working on a method of painting that will enable me to create larger encaustic paintings. This mini version of a multi board painting for the next Enormous Tiny Art Show is my 1st attempt at something I've been thinking about for a while. I composed this piece as a whole but painted the boards individually and then put them back together (i have an idea for framing it but am not sure it going to work). Each of the boards in this piece are only 1.5" tall but the painting as a whole measures 7.5" x 9.5". Once I finish up the ETA paintings (which must of course must be tiny) I'm going to work on a group of 5.5" boards to create a much larger piece which I'm really excited about.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you soon with more new work : )

And the winner is...

2012-01-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

happy 2012 peeps!

New Years Give Away!

2011-12-30T05:39:00.000-08:00

and so it goes

(she celebrated the future still standing in the past)

It's that time again! Time to celebrate the ebb and flow of the years with the wave of 2011 on it's way back out to sea and the small swell of 2012 just a bump on the horizon. I'm still learning how to ride out these years, the good and the bad and the mix that most of them are, but I always feel optimistic at the beginning. I always feel like the new year is something to be met head on and greeted properly and so I stand on the shore and lets the first wave gently wash over my feet. In celebration of the new year I am hosting my annual give away. Anyone who leaves a comment on this post between now and midnight 12/31 will be entered (in a random hat drawing) to win the 3.5"x5" block painting shown above.

Warmest Wishes for a Happy New Year and best of luck!

ps: the writing at the bottom of the painting says 'beautifully suited to share a glass'. i raise my glass to all who have visited this little blog in 2011. i have truly appreciated your insight, your time and your support throughout this crazy year and i thank you for stopping by....cheers!

cookie love...

2011-12-20T15:34:00.000-08:00

(they are almost too cute to eat this year)

I always start to second guess decorating the sugar cookies as I mix the frosting, fill the pastry bags and set out the coconut, candies and sprinkles. But it's so worth the mess and everyone is always so proud of their work. This year we added a Welsh Terrier cookie to the line up (note the black and tan dogs on the rack). I'm signing off until next week but wanted to send a round of warm and yummy wishes your way : )

these two x 3...

2011-12-19T07:31:00.000-08:00

these two (are almost where they need to be)

take one::take two::take three(sold)

This is exactly how this time of the year feels to me. I'm swimming in the thick of it and enjoying the journey through murky waters. Many things have now been checked off my holiday to do list and most of the running around has been done so this week is about home and tradition. Today after school there are many sugar cookies to be decorated and tomorrow there are gifts to be wrapped and placed under the tree. There are Holiday performances and parties at school. There is Christmas Eve dinner with friends and a drive to see family Christmas Day. And then there is the realization that another year is coming to an end.

Thank you for taking the time to stop in and visit and happy, happy holidays!

ps: there are also many, many eggs now : )

Q&A...

2011-12-15T08:43:00.000-08:00

what we think and what we know

3.5"x10.5"

Have you ever noticed that once you know what question to ask you have a pretty good idea of what the answer could or should be? It's in those moments when we step back from what's in front of us that the questions begin to form. Big picture questions that lead to subtle shifts in our thinking, which in turn, slightly alter our actions and interactions. Dreams are amazing because they allow the mind to wander out of the clutter of our daily concerns and often lead us down paths of discovery. I would like to bring more of the open-minded-much-less-cluttered-way of-dream-thinking into my life. What are you wanting more of in your life these days?

What's been keeping me up at night...

2011-12-14T08:51:00.000-08:00

As you may or may not know I am a huge fan of the Chicago band Wilco and this week they are playing five shows at five different venues in the city (each one smaller and more intimate than the one before it...love that). Chuck and I went to the opening night at the Civic Opera House (with Theo) and it was a gorgeous and inspired show. They unexpectedly opened the show with this song which is the kind of long rambling song that you can drop yourself into and wander around. The evening ended with Wilco, Nick Lowe and Mavis Staples on stage and it was truly magical. We went to the 2nd show last night (with friends) and will go to the 3rd show on Thursday(just me and C). That is a lot of late nights but I'm loving the vibe at the shows (and all of the energy, joy and dancing). During the days I've been busy wrapping and shipping art work (thanks to all who have visited my shop lately!) and packaging up gifts to far away family. I have one painting so close to being done that I look at it every day and think... today I will finish you and then for one reason or another I just don't get to it. But today after a trip to the post office with an armload of packages I will head in to the studio to finish that little piece and start on three others. So, I'll be back here tomorrow with a good night's sleep under my belt and a new painting to share.

Oh my...

2011-12-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

This morning when I went out to give the girls fresh water something caught my eye in the sand of their run. And there it was...the 1st egg. Followed this afternoon by the 2nd egg casually laid in the center of the back lawn. This is a very exciting development and I can't wait for the kids get home from school to share the news!

PLAY IT LOUD.

2011-12-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

I'd say there is a 100% chance that I'll be painting and playing this in my studio this evening...beginning to end it's really, really good.*

*i'm especially loving this tune right now

Hello darkness (and light)...

2011-12-05T14:50:00.000-08:00

Contradiction, I so get it. While the days are nearing their darkest, I am loving the warm glow of holiday lights inside and festive white lights strung in the yard near the chicken coop (over what will soon be our 1st ever skating rink!). And, I am happily preparing to say goodbye to 2011 (such a difficult year) and opening my arms wide to what 2012 has to offer. Over the past week I've been away from the blog, the camera and the studio. My parents were back in town for my 13 year olds performance in a local production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (which was so, so good) and my in-laws arrive on Thursday to see next weekend's performances. We hosted an unexpectedly large sleep over for five 15 year old girls and still managed to get the tree up and the pantry restocked for the week on Sunday. The time away is filling up my creative bucket and I am and doodling ideas in my notebook and clipping bits of this and that to use soon. And while I may find a bit of time here between house guests, baking, making and wrapping I expect that most of my ideas will patiently wait for the quiet of January to make their way into the world. I love everything about this time of the year, don't you?

Let the cooking begin...

2011-11-21T08:10:00.000-08:00

I love Thanksgiving. I love the traditional dishes, the family gathering, the moment of reflection on the good parts of very tough year and the smells which fill the house and take me back to all the other Thanksgivings I've ever celebrated. We spent a busy weekend cleaning and reorganizing parts of the house for our six house guests who will be arriving Wednesday. We also spent a little more time cleaning things up outside and going through tubs of winter gear to see who needs what this year. The house is in good shape and I'm turning my attention to the basics of the Thanksgiving Feast starting early this morning with the gravy base. I find gravy to be the lynch pin of the meal and the one thing that can throw off the rhythm in a kitchen full of people. I was so happy to find this make ahead gravy recipe in the NY Times a couple years ago and have used it every year since. That gravy base and this method for cooking in just the turkey (in just 50 minutes!) have turned my holiday into a pretty stress free event with delicious results. Our guests are bringing homemade rolls, pies and snacks and lots of love and laughter and I'm looking forward to their arrival. But right now there is work to be done so I'll see you back here next week and no matter how you celebrate or what's on your table I hope that it is fabulous...Happy Thanksgiving!

oh and....free shipping in the shop now thru 12/17!!!

New girls...

2011-11-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

::so beautiful::

::the surprise of memories::

::lost in wonder::

:: finding the poetry::

::growing strong::

::only in dreams::

::no sleep for a beauty who seeks adventure::

These little mavens hold many messages which I have gathered over the last few weeks. In the past I have created small groups of Party Girls (party hats) and Glamour Girls (crowns) but this time I added a few Dream Girls (black caps) to the mix. Each of the girls wears a dress of inspiration and carries a golden heart filled with love, patience, kindness and forgiveness. I love that no matter how many of these girls I create over time they all have something different to say. The four girls in the top row are 3.5" x 4" and the three girls in the bottom row are a wee 2" x 3.5". I'll be adding them to etsy later today or first thing tomorrow. I'm off to runs errands and tie up loose ends...what are you up to on this gorgeous Tuesday?

Block Party...

2011-11-11T12:02:00.000-08:00

Block Party

(it takes all kinds)

Not much to report today except that I'm happily busy painting, baking bread, trying to finish Annabel (the curse of the simple sweater is that it allows your mind to wander and so I found myself repeatedly making mistakes and having to pull stitches back), folding loads of laundry, giving the chickens some free range time and starting on a weekend of yard clean up with three kiddos who had no school today. I finished the painting right up there very late last night and am loving the colors, the mood and the energy in this piece. I know which house in Block Party would be mine the question is...which house would be yours?

lost in wonder...

2011-11-10T07:48:00.000-08:00

The first snowflakes drifted through the air this morning so light and sparse and beautiful. It was yet another reminder (along with darkness at 4:30 pm) that autumn is behind us and we are heading gently into winter. Right now as I try to write this post, four men are cutting concrete and using a sledgehammer right outside my studio window. I'm not sure what they're doing or how long the mind numbing noise will go on but luckily I have a field trip planned. I'm heading to Owl Lumber to pick up a few large boards and some hopefully lots of scrap wood for painting. The collage I put together in my last post led me to an a-ha moment about a way to work larger and I'm super excited to get started on something. I was planning to start on a group of Party Girls and Glamour Girls this morning and have my wings, words and blocks all ready to go but they will have to wait until this evening. They are very patient girls and I realized yesterday just how long they have been missing from my shop. I worked late last night and have almost completed my 2nd 6" x 22" painting and will share that tomorrow. I've got beans in the slow cooker for dinner, just ordered lots of the best bacon ever to put in the freezer for soups, pots of beans and sunday morning breakfasts which is another sure sign of winter is upon us. Stay warm, be well and may you find yourself lost in wonder today.

In between dreams

2011-11-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

in between dreams

6" x 22"

(a closer peek at in between dreams)

You know that time of the night in between dreams when rogue thoughts randomly appear and interrupt your slumber? This piece is kind of about that chain of events which changes the course of your thinking ever so slightly but just enough to matter. This is about those visual or verbal morsels which hang over your dreams like a cloud waiting for a break in the action to make an appearance. They can come from your something you saw, something you heard, something you meant to do. They can be from just yesterday afternoon or from your childhood. But, they are like a string to unravel and follow, a key to what you know to be true, a treasure waiting to be discovered.

late night work...

2011-11-02T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe it's been two weeks since I've been in this space. The days have fluttered by with many good things for which I needed to be fully present. There were two birthdays to celebrate in ways big and small, visits from family and an emerging writer's work to see performed live on stage, bulb planting with oh-so-many first graders, days way to warm to let go and days much to short to seem real. So after an unanticipated absence I'm back here and in the studio giving voice to the images and ideas that have been finding there way onto to post it notes, the backs of receipts and scraps of paper. I am in love with this time of the year and the sense of gathering and that it brings. Looking back, looking forward and remembering to enjoy the in between is what has been on my mind as I've been away. Last night, when the house was finally quiet I found my way back into the studio and started on the 6" x 22" panel shown above which had been patiently waiting for me. Once I started working it was hard to stop so I took some advice from Earnest Hemmingway who was known for saying he never stopped writing until he knew what came next. That makes perfect sense to me. Having somewhere to start is a good thing and though it doesn't necessarily mean you know where a thing will end it opens the door to finding out. See you soon...

nesting and knitting...

2011-10-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

A new round of houseplants have found their way into my autumn nest. As I washed slipcovers, vacuumed out closets and tidied up before my mom and dad came to visit last week I had to face the fact that another couple of indoor plants had died. I'm great with outdoor flowers, shrubs and trees and I'm rocking the raised bed garden and have huge pots of herbs thriving just outside my kitchen door. But once a plant crosses the threshold and comes into my house it seriously has no more than 6 months to live. I water them, talk to them and need their cheery green company but I just can't seem to meet their needs over time. So, I have a couple of new, gorgeously alive plants and as usual I'm very optimistic about our relationship : ) Over the weekend I received and rolled six lush and lovely skeins of Quince and Co. yarn and started Annabel. It's been so long since I've knitted something on size 10.5 needles and it is knitting up so quickly I find it difficult to put down! If I can tear myself away from the meditative garter stitch I will begin working on two beautiful 6" x 22" panels that I picked up in the city yesterday on a mini field trip with a friend. I hope the middle of this week finds you all warm and well and I'll see you in a few days when I have some work to share.

Side project...

2011-10-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

Hi there. I think I've mentioned before that I'm helping out with Sage's elementary school garden and now it's harvest time. Over the past week when I wasn't in the studio or getting little people (and not so little people) where they need to be (or finishing up knitting projects and reading this book) I've been busy helping parents and children harvest what's growing in the school garden. I am in charge of coordinating the dishes to be served at the "taste of the garden table" at tomorrow's Harvest Festival. Things were a bit stressful earlier in the week but everything is falling into place with lots of volunteers and helping hands now. I chose to pick lots of tomatillos for my dish and am also busy cooking other things and cleaning for my parent's visit this weekend. However, for dinner on this chilly and rainy Thursday, I'm planning to make a quick pot of tomato bisque to serve alongside it's bff grilled cheese. I couldn't resist the super lovely watermelon radishes (pictured above) at the farmer's market last weekend and am wanting to use them in some type of salad tonight...any suggestions?

Going, going but not quite gone...

2011-10-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

::places from the past colored her dreams::

::tick, tock (she found herself lost in the poetry of the seasons)::

As I finished up these two paintings in the wee hours I was thinking about how much more color has found it's way into my recent work. I am still smitten with (and wearing) lots of oatmeal, faded blue, lavender, rose or any shade of grey but my latest pieces have a bit more vibrancy than all that muted fall beauty. Maybe it's the lingering summer temps these past few weeks. Or, maybe it's the gorgeous zinnias growing in the raised beds (where all but the pole beans and chard are done for the season). Or maybe it's something more, something inside, something yet to be fully realized.

Waxing and waning...

2011-10-07T21:43:00.001-07:00

most of the time i can't tell if i'm coming or going

(one)

most of the time i can't tell if i'm coming or going

(two)

This kind of says it all...see you Monday.

Art in the everyday...

2011-10-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

Art takes many forms around here and this week I'm loving art in the form of the-oh-so-perfectly-me handmade shoes from the Aurora Shoe Company. I spotted their shoes on Soulemama's blog and was smitten with their product, their story and their commitment to craft (love.love.love them). The other everyday art I'm celebrating is the first home baked bread of the season. My starter died over the long hot summer and so last week when the skies darkened and the weather cooled down I created new starter and yesterday I used it to bake my first two loaves of Tartine's Country Bread. Grilled in a bit of olive oil and topped with an amazing pesto from the farmers' market (basil, greens, spinach, garlic & asiago) it was nothing short of food as art. As I was enjoying my meal I read a detailed NY Times article about Steve Jobs. Having already composed this post in my head I was really struck by his amazing and inspiring gift for putting art into everyday objects. He had the ability to create something we needed and make it something we wanted. I love both the art and science of my Mac and my iphone.

What everyday art do you celebrate?

the art of making a shoe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9ndaEUA1Fw

Falling into place...

2011-10-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

night shift

(under the full moon dreaming)

earth, sea, sky

(everything & still so much more)

Good morning to you on this beautiful Monday. I'm happy to report that all kiddos are back at school (although the oldest seems to be coming down with something) and that the weekend was just exactly what I needed it to be. I finished the two pieces pictured above over the weekend and am really loving the way the background color in the top one so perfectly captures the skies of the past week. And the whale, what can I say, I love that creature. Things seem to be falling into place with the school year one month in and after school activities in full swing. I have stumbled a bit finding my rhythm in this new (and very favorite) season. But I think the shift has occured and I am painting, cooking and knitting with a new joy and energy. How about you, have you settled into the season yet?

Embracing what is...

2011-09-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

embracing what is

(she held her dreams close)

embracing what is

(she nurtured a deep sense of place)

embracing what is

(she quieted her mind)

Have you ever had one of those moments, kind of like an epiphany of sorts? The kind of moment in which you just realize things are-what-they-are and the only thing you have control over is yourself. Your actions. Your words. Your thoughts. That's it. It's a moment I have to keep having over and over. It's a lesson for mr about embracing the moment, who I am now, what I know, who I love and the things I hold dear. The rest of the stuff comes and goes and works itself out, or it doesn't. This week I've had sick boys home all week. The big one went back to school Wednesday but the little guy is still here only slightly improved. So this week has been yet another lesson in letting go of expectation. A week of realizing that by letting go what I expected or wanted to get gone and just embracing what is I am left with what is most important. I'm off to join what is most important on the couch with a blanket and some knitting : )

Have a lovely weekend!

embracing almost...

2011-09-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

Hi there. It's been a while, right? I can tell you that had I not embraced almost it would have been a lot longer. I thought I would have the above knitting projects finished up over a week ago and ready to share but as it turns out knitting 15" of a sweater bottom is an endless task and so i'm showing the almost done sweater in all it's knit-from-the-top-down glory and moving forward. The fingerless gloves are a must have item now that the chill in the air is here to stay (i'm wearing them as i type...see how handy they are?). And the hat was inspired by some lush yarn I had in my stash. The knitting has been keeping my hands busy at soccer games, doctor's offices and pick up lines at school. After setting the needles aside for a while it's a great feeling to pick them up and turn out some wooly goodness. Since I was here last we've had a fox visit the henhouse (early one morning) and raccoons two nights in a row (picture me in my yard. broomstick in hand. 3am. scolding a raccoon for bothering my girls. seriously.) Needless to say, I haven't been getting much shut eye (the coop is super secure, still I worry). Over the weekend we attended the The Hideout Block Party and saw the inspiring and legendary Mavis Staples and the uber talented Andrew Bird perform. And then on Sunday we were part of the Windy City Chicken Coop Tour. We were only expecting 2 or 3 people since we were the only location this far north of the city and it was pretty rainy and cold. So.Very.Wrong. We had 50-60 people show up over a three hour period! It was crazy fun talking about chickens all afternoon with so many kind and curious people. Well, that pretty much gets you up to speed on the happenings around here. What in the world have you been up to lately?

ps: I've been working on some new paintings as well and will share and ramble about them tomorrow : )

the whole love-

2011-09-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

Oh Monday, you just keep getting better and better.

I have more to share tomorrow but right now there are some tunes to be played and dinner to cook ...see ya!

In the works...

2011-09-20T08:16:00.001-07:00

Just a small hello on this gorgeous Tuesday: )

My, how they've grown...

2011-09-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

This week has been full and good for me and I hope the same is true for you. I have a few things in the works, a few things completed and a few things I need to start (i should be ready to share photos of the knitting, painting and dyeing projects on monday). As you can see from the photo above the hens are almost full grown. They are expected to start laying eggs sometime in October (at 4-5 months of age) and we are all very excited about that. We have started letting them out into the yard at least twice during the day and they are loving it. Someone is always outside to keep an eye on them and with everyone back at school and work that someone is usually me during the day. I'm finding the time I spend out there with them knitting, reading or working in the garden slows me down in such a very good way.

Do you have something that makes you slow down just a little bit each day?

Looking back...

2011-09-12T08:07:00.000-07:00

9/11/01

Ten years ago yesterday I filled the kiddie pool and gave my two little ones popsicles while my heart broke over and over and over. All I knew how to do in that moment was to make them feel safe and loved. Yesterday I shared my experiences from that day with them and we watched a documentary about 9/11. My heart broke over and over and over like it was just yesterday.

I'll see you here in a few days with new work...

Shiny and new...

2011-09-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

up and away

(she gathered the memories of a colorful past)

night magic

(the flower bed dream)

Here are the two new pieces I've been working on this week. I'm going to add them to my shop and then I'm dashing off to lunch in the city with friends I haven't seen in seven years.

Happy Friday and have a lovely weekend...

ps: this weekend soccer/knitting season begins!

Parenting is kinda like this, right?

2011-09-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

I'm back. Actually I've been back from Northern Michigan since Monday evening (later than expected) but can't seem to catch up with the week so far. We are into week two of school but there are still some issues being ironed out, lots of meetings going on and team stuff and clubs starting up for the kids. In addition to all that I have this overwhelming need to stock up on groceries, plan meals and make sure everyone has enough socks, jeans etc. (i think all of the 9/11 anniversary talk is subconsciously kicking my nesting instinct into high gear). But today, all of that is done and I'm heading into the studio to continue work on a piece I started last week (which I promise to share tomorrow). When I saw the picture of myself swinging in the tree (up north this past weekend) it so hit home as a visual image of what I'm experiencing as a parent with kids ranging from 7-15. There is the overwhelming joy of swinging, the stomach turning feeling of spinning and the need to hold on tightly. But there is also the need to recognize that you are only 2 feet off the ground and it is ok to let go. The letting go is the tricky part. Sometime you fall off clumsily and stumble other times you just step off with very little drama. And actually, I'm learning, the stumbles end up being the moments you remember, the special times, the laugh out loud funny times, the extra hug times. It's all good here and I hope the same is true for you...see you here tomorrow : )

Opening...

2011-09-02T04:33:00.000-07:00

The 10th Enormous Tiny Art Show officially opens today. If you are anywhere near Portsmouth, New Hampshire stop by and check out all the tiny goodness. If your not in the neighborhood be sure to take a look at an amazing collection of work here. We are off to Northern Michigan for a long weekend of canoeing, fishing, hiking, knitting and board games.

Have a lovely weekend : )

Chop, chop....

2011-09-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

New hair and a new scarf...loving both : )

goodbye dear summer...

2011-08-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

We sent summer off with some good old fashion fun at the Chelsea Fair. We attended the figure 8 demolition derby and tractor pull, saw a baby cow being born and visited lots of other farm animals in the five barns at the fairground, went on a few rides with the kids (yep, i went on that one), drank $1.00 lemonades and had many bags of fresh popcorn. We enjoyed time and meals with cousins and grandparents and got ourselves settled back in and ready for a new school year. Today the house is quiet and I am busy in the studio and out of the studio. It's only the 1st day but I welcome the routine, the quiet and the time. That, and I know we have a long weekend in Northern Michigan just around the corner : )

Make room for beauty...

2011-08-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

Hi there. This is the commissioned piece I mentioned a few posts back. It is finally complete (except for a little paint around the edges) and it makes me really happy. It took me so very long time to complete this 16x20 inch piece but it found it's voice and taught me a few things along the way. The title is "Make room for beauty" and while it's hard to see the detail, the top is covered in silver leaf and the phrase "make room for..." is repeated many, many times with many different words (tears, joy, yourself, magic, etc...). It is for a special young woman and I hope she loves it : )

ps: we're off to my parents for the weekend so I'll see you back here monday on the 1st day of school!

new work x 7...

2011-08-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

once she accessed a place of wildness (there was no turning back)

hindsight (she learned to treasure unexpected bits of wisdom

enormous tiny thing (a curious detail shifted her perspective)

the past drifted through her dreams (like a poem she used to know by heart)

magical thinking (or how ideas take shape)

she came upon a whisper (and it spoke a hundred truths)

elements of order (the sum of what is)

This collection of work is heading to New Hampshire and can be found on line here within the next day or two. A big high five to the amazing women who run Nahcotta for putting on 10 great shows filled with tiny goodness!

Happy Monday : )

early morning roasting...

2011-08-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

As the last two weeks of summer begin to play out here they promise to be full of work time, play time, nothing time and everything time. I woke up today thinking about food (which is often the case around here) and realized we had not made use of the oh-so-gorgeous sun gold tomatoes we picked up at the farmer's market saturday so I set aside a handful for lunch today and then quickly tossed the rest in the oven with some olive oil, thyme and salt so they can be used in omelettes, pasta or on pizza later in the week. They smell divine and should be ready within the hour so I thought I would pop in here to say hello. We had visitors over the weekend who are now safely back home and yesterday as the weather took a autumnal turn I caught up on laundry, cleaning, marketing and still found time for knitting and sipping wine with friends. So this Monday I feel industrious and well rested and plan to get busy finishing up my pieces for ETA 10 as well as finishing up a last detail on a larger commisioned piece I created for the friend that visited. The self imposed pressure of creating something for a friend had tied me in a creative knot for some time but I worked through it and I'm happy to say that she loved the piece the minute she saw it. My soon to be high schooler has track practice twice every day, there are dentist and orthodontist appointments and school supplies to shop for as well as trip to my parents to enjoy a small town fair and a trip to Northern Michigan to Canoe, swim and fish and eek out one final hurrah as we kiss summer goodbye. I am looking forward to all of these things and am looking forward to sharing new work here as well as I get my creative mojo back in full swing. Sometimes I can get pulled under by the energy shifts that occur with the seasons and sometimes they wash over me and I feel renewed. So what's on your plate as summer winds down?

pieces of the puzzle...

2011-08-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

After weeks of filling my days with summer follies I made time to get into my studio and get to work on my pieces for ETA 10. I've had the boards for quite some time but had put off getting started while I slowly accumulated snippets of newsprint and bits of color that inspire and scribbled titles and ideas in my notebook. Yesterday (when rain cancelled our plans for the beach) I went to work putting together the pieces of the puzzle I had gathered and I'm so happy with the way things are coming together. For me the real work is in the gathering and getting started, after that it's just working the pieces until they sing and that's the part I love. My parents were in last weekend to see my 13 year old perform shakespeare in the park (an adaptation of twelfth night which was fabulous) and a dear friend and her son are coming to visit and explore Chicago this weekend so I may not be back here until early next but these pieces should be ready to share as my 8/21 deadline is just around the corner!

Have a great week and thank you for stopping in...

when there are enough hours in a day...

2011-07-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

We were supposed to be visiting my parents in Michigan this weekend but the excessive heat, violent storms and our recent travel led us to postpone our trip until later in August(thank you mom & dad) and it was a solid decision. This weekend was that unexpected one where you gain time and it magically unfolds in slow motion and you are able not only to do the hours of yard work that need to be done but also to visit the farmer's market, cook*, bake* and take time to enjoy it all. The past few days have been full of physical labor in my own garden and the elementary school's garden, time in the kitchen and time with board games, lots of time in the kitchen and time at the table, time in the studio and time reading the paper (and snipping bits here and there for new work) and at the end of each night a walk for the dog and a glass of wine in the chairs by the the coop with C as we watch the chicks enjoying their new digs.

This was a full circle weekend around here and I can only hope the same is true for you : )

*sweet and spicy bread and butter pickles

*blackberry buttermilk cake

(also made these which were awesome)

last week (or a few things that go too fast)....

2011-07-20T11:26:00.001-07:00

time on the water & time to notice things

go karts & being seven

17 years & dusk at the beach

Time with family is one of those things that always goes by too quickly. After a few days together in a lovely house set up for twelve you kind of get into the rhythm of living large. There's lots of noise, someone always around, someone always cooking something or making plans to set off to the beach, go for a bike ride or walk and once we part ways I always feel a little melancholy (it's as if I instantly feel nostalgic about events that happened only days ago). We've done a handful of these trips thanks to the generosity of my in-laws over the past 12 years and they have become a treasured means of looking back for our family. But now we are home and settled in, unpacked and trying to stay cool as the temperature hovers around 115 : ( I am on a mission to keep the chickens cool now that they are living outside 24/7. So far today I have fed them frozen baby peas, cool cantaloupe and blueberries and misted them with the hose (they didn't like that last one). I have also set a small plastic tub on it's side in their run and put a few frozen ice packs in it so it it a bit like a cooling room. They haven't come around to lying inside the tub yet but I'm going to keep putting treats in until they get the idea. I'm so happy to say that the office is cleaned up and put back together and my studio is calling my name. I have a looming deadline ( ETA 10!) and nine boards prepped and ready to go. I didn't realize how much the chicks sharing my space would hinder my ability to work. The heat lamp, closed door and fine layer of dust that took over the room led to zero painting being done for a number of weeks but now life and painting go on. I'm hoping to share the foundations for these new pieces within a few days and am looking forward to working on a large family of pieces which is something I haven't done in a while. What are you up to during these dog days of summer?

Down to the wire...

2011-07-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

Moments after I started this post yesterday morning I received a phone call about the darkening sky. Within 10 minutes I was on my belly in the coop gathering wet and scared chicks into their coop (see the area under the coop...it makes gathering them in a hurry a wee bit tricky) in the middle of an insanely powerful storm which lasted only minutes but brought down trees, crushed cars and skylights, and left us without power for the 3rd time in two weeks. I only have a few moments before the cab shows up to take C and I to the airport. We are off to The Outer Banks of North Carolina where the kids have been since Friday with their Grandparents, Aunts, Uncle and Cousins. But before I take off I wanted to take a minute here to share the finished coop and the fact that the girls have officially left my office/studio for good. We put the finishing touches, locks and claps on Sunday and the chicks spent their 1st night in the coop. The timing isn't great for our trip since they are not yet in the groove of going into the coop themselves but we are so, so grateful for a few friends and neighbors who enthusiastically offered to chicken sit. We realize it's a lot to ask but then again who doesn't want to hold a chicken? Have a lovely week!

for a special someone...

2011-06-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

wings give her flight

(but the stars hold her dreams)

What you can't really see in the photo is that the wire

between the two antiques screws in the top hold

countless little silver stars from Germany.

When the piece moves they shimmer

like real twinkling stars (like magic).

I hope she likes it!

how summer is playing out...

2011-06-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Summer has been a bit tricky this year with many distractions involving summer school, a two day power outage and chilly temps (just to name a few). These happenings have left me a little late in getting my summer groove on. But a brief get away (on my own) this past weekend with very special friends and a beach town set things right an I'm moving into full time summer mode. Tara inspired me to fire up some homemade pizzas but I have a problem. I have so many great crust recipes I can't decide which I like best and which one consistently results in a beautiful blistery crust. So this week we are doing our own little pizza cookoff to determine which recipe will be our tried and true favorite. I'm also experimenting with toppings and am going to start with black olives, rosemary and roasted garlic, spinich, feta, slow roasted tomatoes and pine nuts and pesto, roasted red pepper and goat cheese. In other kitchen news I am addicted to sweet and spicy goodness of the caramelized cashews with cayenne pictured above. I've made peppered pecans and candies walnuts in the past, and while they are lovely, they've got nothing on the buttery cashew encrusted with crunchy maple syrup with the kick of cayenne and warmth of cumin (although i have been using 1 tsp ground cumin instead of the 1 1/2 whole cumin called for). In the studio I've been working on a block print which still needs a bit of tweaking. I've gotten the image where I want it to be but still have to fool around with the text for the dinner plate. This week I will surely find my way back to encaustics and hope to share some new works by the end of the week. I hope your summer is in full swing!

ps: what's your favorite pizza topping?

This week and this guy...

2011-06-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

Over the past seven days I have celebrated a 16th wedding anniversary, Father's Day and a 44th birthday with this guy. There is so much I could say about Chuck here but once again I'm going to let Billy Collins do the talking for me:

Litany

You are the bread and the knife,

The crystal goblet and the wine...

-Jacques Crickillon

You are the bread and the knife,

the crystal goblet and the wine.

You are the dew on the morning grass

and the burning wheel of the sun.

You are the white apron of the baker,

and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,

the plums on the counter,

or the house of cards.

And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.

There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,

maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,

but you are not even close

to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

And a quick look in the mirror will show

that you are neither the boots in the corner

nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.

It might interest you to know,

speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,

that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

I also happen to be the shooting star,

the evening paper blowing down an alley

and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

I am also the moon in the trees

and the blind woman's tea cup.

But don't worry, I'm not the bread and the knife.

You are still the bread and the knife.

You will always be the bread and the knife,

not to mention the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine.

Billy Collins

discovering what they were meant to do......

2011-06-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

Watching these chicks over the past two and a half weeks has been like a meditation of sorts. Witnessing their journey from cute and clumsy balls of chirping fluff to their first outside experience where in an instant they discovered their inner chickeness has been fascinating.

this was day one...

2011-06-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

They were such sweet, clumsy, chirping balls of fluff just over two weeks ago!

Some summer news...

2011-06-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

seen but not heard

(there's so much more to it than this)

sun, rain and a sea of color

(hello summer)

everything has it's place

(but some things are always shifting)

Summer is up and running in these parts with a bit of rain induced coziness. It's funny how even on a 70 degree day the wind and rain can bring about a chill that makes the wool socks a must in June. My oldest is attending a 3 week prep class at the high school every day and while she gets out the door early with Chuck the house seems so quiet with just the boys, the dogs and the chicks. Actually the chicks are getting louder by the day and flitting and flying about in their new expanded digs. I'll share a few photos (or maybe a video if i can figure that out) of them soon. We'll be taking them outside for the 1st time this weekend if the rain holds off and the temperature really reaches 80. I can tell these girls are ready for a little outdoor adventure (of course they will be safely enclosed in hardware cloth to protect them from the foxes, raccoons, hawks, falcons and stray cats we have around here). I am so happy to let you know that I was invited to be a part of ETA 10 which runs from September 1st thru October 2nd at Nahcotta Gallery in NH. I love being a part of this amazing series of shows and have started a small body of work for the show which I'm really excited about that I hope to share a bit of next week. The other summer news is that 2 of my paintings were selected to be a part of the "Autobiography" exhibit at this years' Milwaukee Avenue Art Fair here in Chicago(7/29-31). I haven't shown work locally in a while and will be sure to post more details once they are ironed out. I hope your summer is off to a creative, inspiring and engaging start...

Saving some Summer for later...

2011-06-12T15:14:00.001-07:00

A big thanks to Erin for lighting the jam making fire in me last year which I finally got around to acting on this year. Many hands helped with the freezer jam, the no-knead bread, the yard work, the coop building and the chick maintenance this weekend. And after one hour of school tomorrow (to make up for a snow day in February) we are ready to officially kick off summer around here. I've got two new painting in the works, an idea for a block print, and an itching to get to the beach. Wilted spinach salad from this book for dinner tonight and a glass of wine with my name on it waiting for me...cheers!

food.truck.love.

2011-06-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

I wasn't planning on being here until the week of endings had ended but I came across something very special. Very share worthy. Evanston's first food truck. I had spotted it once last summer right after it started rolling around town but it was at the beach catering an event and so I kept my distance. But today, just as I discovered my parents were arriving two hours later that I expected (due to a miscommunication..ahem) I was out running a last minute graduation errand when I passed the Hummingbird Food Truck. I did what any super-hungry-can't-wait-another-two-hours-type-hungry girl would do and pulled into the next spot I found and got myself a little something to hold me over (fries are not really a hold me over type snack but the only other two items on the menu were sandwiches and i really wanted to support the truck while saving room for what will have to be a very small lunch with my p's). The fries were cooked to crispy on the outside-light and fluffy on the inside perfection and the were tossed with shaved garlic cloves and chili flakes (they were addictively spicy and possibly the best fries i have ever eaten). I'm so excited about this trend which brings amazing and diverse food to the street for a reasonable price thanks to the low overhead. I mean walking down the street and coming across a tuna nicoise sandwich on a fresh cibatta roll with roasted veggies and black garlic aioli....pure yum . Do you have food trucks near you? What's your fave?

The last Monday....

2011-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Accessing a Place of Wildness

Star Spangled Dream

(home sweet home)

This is the last Monday before school is out and everyone got out the door without much of a fuss this morning. There are field trips, parties and an 8th grade graduation to keep us busy and then just like that another school year will have ended and next year I will have kids in elementary, middle and high school. I meant to post these two new paintings Friday but am finding myself very distracted by my four new office mates. They are all chirping away right behind me as I am writing this and then all of a sudden there is quiet (which draws me over to the box to see them all snuggled together in a big fuzzy, sleepy pile). "Accessing a Place of Wildness" is actually painted on a piece of scrap wood from the coop : ). Today the chicks move to a bigger box and I paint more boards for the coop which is coming along nicely. The bounty at this weekends' farmers market reminded me of the joy of summer dining. A bit of this, a bit of that all enjoyed outside and savored. Because of the extreme weather things are coming in a bit slow but there are lots of great greens, radishes, carrots and spring onions around right now. Lots of salads going on in these parts...what's in season and on your table?

Best package ever...

2011-06-02T09:09:00.001-07:00

i know they were too small but...

2011-05-31T17:08:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't help myself. I've been eyeing the radishes for weeks. They are supposed to be ready for harvesting somewhere around 23 days after planting but lots of rain and too little warmth had slowed their growth this year. They are so close to being ready that I just couldn't wait any longer so I sent Sage out to the garden and after careful consideration he picked a few of the biggest he could find and we had them on our salad with dinner tonight. They were delicious harbingers of summery goodness which seems to be arriving a little more fully ever day. We planted three types of radishes each about a week apart so we'll have plenty more to munch on raw with butter and sea salt but for now just that little taste was enough. I found time to clean out my studio over the long weekend and I'm planning to spend the better part of tomorrow painting. If that actually happens I'll see you here with new work later in the week. But enough about me...what are you up to this week?

Quietly working on living out loud...

2011-05-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

in the garden

lush and lovely

(waking to beauty)

Another week almost gone and a long weekend just around the corner as a warm up to summer vacation. I feel ready for less structure, ready to stop making lunches, ready to just be in the moment more often than the crazy end of the school year allows. Summer I'm ready to welcome your warm ease and long days. But for now, I am here quietly working on living out loud as an artist, a mother, a wife, a daughter and a friend as the rain falls and the wind howls for the way-too-manyeth-day-in-a-row. The two tiny paintings are an ode to the summer days ahead. Be well and have a lovely weekend peeps : )

nesting (literally)...

2011-05-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

After lots of discussion, much excitement and plenty of paperwork preparations are under way for the arrival of four baby chicks in just under two weeks. Last October, the city we live in passed an ordinance allowing households to apply for a permit to keep up to six hens (no roosters) and we were smitten with the idea of chickens and fresh eggs. Lots went on in our home between then and now but as soon as we knew we were staying here for good we picked up where we left off in the application process. There were lots of hoops to jump through and we are in the final stage which is to build the coop to city specifications and have it approved by the health inspector. We are building this coop (reversed and slightly larger) with bare bones plans and are still searching for just the right used windows. I started staining the frame dark slate grey yesterday and am loving the way it looks in the yard. The chicks will live in a brooding box in the laundry room (which is fully tiled for easy clean up) for the first six weeks which gives us plenty of time to make their coop solid, predator proof and gorgeous. I'll be sure to share photos of the four little sweeties once they arrive and can only say that the excitement level around here is growing daily and that name selection is almost finalized. It's rainy and cold today which is the perfect time to get back in the studio and work on two pieces I started over the weekend. Have a lovely week and I'll see you here Friday.

this week...

2011-05-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

teaching

learning

growing

(it's all good here and I hope the same is true in your neck of the woods...)

New work x 3...

2011-05-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

of all the hats she wore (the unexpected ones were the most fun)

sliding into the sea (her dreams were full of clarity and heavy with flowers)

the butterfly effect (she dreamt that change was coming)

Have a lovely weekend

Happy Happy Mother's Day!

Greetings from the middle of the week...

2011-05-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all the lovely Birthday wishes. Thanks to my beautiful family and sweet friends I had an amazingly relaxing and fun filled day which is just what I needed. There were a few goodies from Anthropologie thrown in(see the cute skirt?), a new journal(much needed), a bit of encaustic paint(what a gorgeous color!), a milk frother(love it) and a less complicated and totally awesome mandoline (thanks Mom) and a new book which may come in handy soon. We are taking out the sandbox in the photo and building a special little something in the space behind it. Can you guess what it is? I'm very excited about getting the garden boxes back in business after our snowy mishap which claimed the lives of the blue lake beans (rabbits also managed to eat most of the rainbow chard). The radishes, beets and carrots have sprouted and are almost ready to be thinned and yesterday I picked up some organic seeds for micro greens and mixed baby greens which I'm going to plant today. Phoebe is on a 3-day class trip and both boys are home with the same miserable cold I have but a little fresh air and sunshine will do us all some good in our sneezy, sniffly condition. I hope Spring is ready to stick around for real this time : )

Sunshine...

2011-04-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

It's sunny and 60 something and although I planned to show these three new pieces in detail that will have to wait until Monday cause I just need to get out in that lovely-warm-your-chilled-rain-weary-bones-sun right this minute. I cleaned my studio earlier in week (after the big sparkely mess known as the silver leaf incident) and spent lots of time painting. I found myself embracing the grey drizzle outside and cranked up Wes Montgomery, Oliver Nelson and Miles Davis on my ipod. In those moments where the music and the grey came together the color, unpredictability and beauty of Spring found it's way into my work. In other news I turn 44 on Sunday! We are planning to spend the afternoon in the city sharing lots of yummy food here and walking around exploring public sculptures or visiting a museum depending on the weather. I wish you a weekend filled with good food, love, and exploration too. See you Monday!

Finding what we need...

2011-04-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Modern Nature

(this is my lucky feather)

A few weeks ago I came out from under a rock of cloudy and grey. Out from a fog that enveloped my sense of being in the world and made me take a look at many things with new eyes. As things were slowly sorting out in my grown up world Mother Nature came through with an amazingly warm-sun-filled-birds-singing-children-laughing-and-swinging-kind-of-days that filled me with hope and happiness. On that day as I was working in our garden thinking about happenstance and the lightness of letting go and I came across three beautiful feathers. I'm pretty sure they are from a woodpecker but they were so tiny and so beautiful that I knew right away I wanted to paint them. I wanted to create a piece out of the feeling I experienced that day. The painting picture above is what evolved over the past couple of weeks. It is encaustic and mixed media on a 1.75" thick piece of oak that I've been saving for something special. It's a combination of cloudy and grey, color and energy, luck and letting go. Thanks for reading...

Ummm...

2011-04-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Really? I was so surprised to find the cold weather crops I planted last week shivering in their raised beds this morning. I know snow in April is not unheard of in the mid-west but I really felt we had turned the corner to Spring already, didn't you? I'm pretty sure the chard, romaine, beets and radishes will survive this brief turn in temps but I'm not sure about the blue lake beans (seeing them looking super sad way at the end of the bed?). I guess I really could have waited another week or two to start my planting but the joy I felt last week when getting my hands in the dirt so needed, so rejuvenating and so grounding. So I guess I'll file this note to self for next year and keep my fingers crossed for my frosty little seedlings. I have an appointment in the city this morning but I see lots of studio time and cooking in the cold wet week ahead. See you soon...

i am....

2011-04-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

able to share 2 new works-in-progress

thankful it's friday

still thinking about dinner last night*

sharing some potato love (the variation is amazing)

planning to try this today

seeing my kids with new eyes

planting cool weather crops

getting involved in the slow food in school project

loving that inspiration sneaks in at unexpected times

happy to say that we are staying in our house

(yep, that last one is a biggie)

* i brined and grilled pork tenderloin instead of chops

More light...

2011-04-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

This Spring I find myself more mindful of the warmth and energy the sunlight seems to be infusing into my very being. In the past I've welcomed Spring with a tip of the hat or a passing glance but this year is different. This year I find myself embracing the season, breathing it in deeply and radiating it's sense of renewal. When Chuck and I were dating (long, long ago) we were hooked on the quirky 90's show Northern Exposure. Over the past few months we have been working our way through each season on DVD with the kids and they have fallen in love with Cicely, Alaska and all of it's characters too. Over the weekend we watched one of my favorite episodes about the Winter Solstice and 24 hours of constant darkness entitled "Northern Lights". If you have a minute or two check out the ending which is an homage to light, art and community.

Have a lovely day...

an unexpected bit-o-sunshine...

2011-04-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

Hi there! I know it's been awhile but a last minute spring break get away came our way and so we traveled by plane, train and automobile to Florida. My Dad took the train from Michigan to pick up my three kiddos here in Chicago. They rode back to Ann Arbor and piled into my parents mini-van with their two cousins for a Spring Break road trip. My sister and I flew down to join them separately (her via business trip and me on frequent flyer miles) and voila... instant and unexpected fun in the sun. The long days by the pool relaxing, swimming and laughing were just what we all needed and I'm super grateful to my P's for all the time and energy they spent to make it happen. I've a bit of shopping and catch up to do here but am ready to get back into the studio and paint this afternoon. I should have some new work to share later in the week but until then i wish you each an unexpected bit-o-sunshine.

I'm just saying...

2011-03-30T13:49:00.000-07:00

This dish was amazingly delicious but I'm going to have to say it is a dish best made for one or two. Making each egg and tortilla combination individually for five peeps had me feeling a bit like a line cook (eggs get cold so quickly that I can't imagine them being as delicious if made too far ahead). Of course there was also the fact that I made the beans in the slow cooker then finished them up "cowboy style" in a sauce pan, whipped up the creme fraiche and lemon zest, fried the capers and decided to make guacamole as well. By the time I put dinner on the table it looked as though the Tasmanian Devil had been through my kitchen. As Chuck and I cleaned up after dinner I came down with a bad case of the giggles every time I looked at the counter. The amount of pots, pans, dishes and plates I used for this one simply delicious meal was just shy of crazy...but in a good way.

ps: people who feed people should see this video

hello friend.

2011-03-29T13:08:00.001-07:00

Well it was bound to happen sooner or later: major food blog crush. I know, I know you would think that with my crazy mad love of food and cooking it would have happened long ago. But in an effort to maintain studio time, parenting time and partner time I held off. I tried to only check in on fellow artists and a few friends and limit my lists of blogs to follow. In a sense I guess I was protecting my time from being sucked away by all the yummy goodness I know exists out there. I've followed a link here or there to get a recipe but for the most part I've stuck to my cookbooks, Epicurious and Bon Appetite (i still miss you gourmet). But in my crazy home-for-sale-not-sure-what-comes-next state of continuous distraction I stumbled upon 101 cookbooks and now there's no turning back. There is so much real food awesomeness out there!

So do have a favorite food blog I should check out?

ps: tonight I'm whipping up these with a pot of Rancho Gordo Rio Zapo Beans "cowboy style"

feeling spring...

2011-03-22T09:53:00.001-07:00

Her colors began to emerge::Spring (from dreaming to waking)

Are you feeling spring? I smell it in the air, I can see it in the landscape but more than anything I can feel it. Inside I feel the stirrings of optimism and hope that the season embodies. The dark and grey days of winter will end (they always do) and sure enough spring will emerge in all it's green glory. I love being back in the mid-west where the seasons are well defined and there is an almost communal joy that people share as this change from grey to green begins in earnest. I've mentioned before that Autumn is my favorite season but this year I need Spring and all it's sunshine, rain and growth.

In other news, remember when I told you a while back that a painting of mine had been purchased to be in a movie? The movie is "The Lincoln Lawyer" with Matthew McConaughey and Marisa Tomei. I was told when I signed the release that my painting would be hanging in the apartment of a girl in her mid-20's. So Friday night I was super excited as I went to see the movie with C by my side. Unfortunately, the 20 year old girl is the victim of a violent attack and every scene in her apartment was really dark and fast paced and so despite all my squinting and looking I wasn't able to spot the painting. This however did not diminish the sense of pride I felt walking out of the movie theater. I've grown so accustomed to sending my paintings off to real people whom I make a mini connection with through notes or email. I can't help but wonder where the painting is now? Is it hanging in a cast member or production person's house? Is it in a storage facility or at an auction? I guess I'll never know about this little starlet. By the way the movie was really, really good and I loved the soundtrack. It's kind of gritty-city-summertime-music with a laid back 70's vibe. Anyways, I would definitely recommend the movie and if you happen to have better eyes than me and you see my piece in the movie drop me a line.

ps: 10% off and free shipping in my etsy shop for the rest of march : )

Spreading my wings...

2011-03-18T13:31:00.001-07:00

you are loved

this tiny bit of goodness got me back into the studio

(it's for a special someone who needed a reminder)

sometimes words won't do the trick and a hug just isn't enough

(i think this is perfect)

Have a lovely weekend!

let them eat rainbows...

2011-03-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

Rainbows bring big smiles and when it comes to finding one in a cupcake even better, right? I used a white cake mix and then divided it into four bowls and added food coloring. I then put one or two spoonfuls of each color into the paper lined muffin tin in a willy nilly kind of way. The results were nothing short of magical. I made a quick home made butter cream frosting (with a bit-o-green dye in honor of St. Patrick's Day) and served up some rainbow yumminess after school today : ) Happy St. Patrick's Day!

keeping busy...

2011-03-07T07:51:00.000-08:00

A weekend trip to the library fueled my domestic fires. As the monotony of keeping a big old house in "showing condition" starts to wear thin I have turned my thoughts to what comes next. And yes, my friends, I'm talking about backyard chickens. I was actually in the process of applying for a permit to keep hens here in Evanston when things started unravelling and our life plan unexpectedly changed. Although there is still a bit of uncertainty in the big picture department I feel chickens may be in our future (dairy goats might be a bit of a stretch but I'm feeling curious about lots of new things these days). I like the part of uncertainty that allows one to believe anything is possible, you know? The Tartine Country loaf with walnuts (pictured above) is gorgeous to look at and super satisfying to nibble. The tannins in the walnuts streak the bread purple and served with herb and lemon goat cheese spread* and a glass of syrah it was the perfect snack for reading by the fire late Sunday afternoon.

I wish you a week full of curiosity and inspiration...thanks for stopping by: )

*Herb and lemon goat cheese spread

5 ounces goat chees at room temp

2 tsp chopped fresh thyme

2 tsp finely grated lemon peel

1 clove finely chopped garlic

1-2 tsp olive oil (enough to get a spreadable texture)

mix all ingredients and enjoy

thinking in color...

2011-03-01T11:31:00.000-08:00

So I know it was just a few days ago that I mentioned not being ready for spring. I wrote about still needing the quiet and muted palette of winter to create but as often happens as soon as the words fall onto the page they become a bit removed from me. Maybe it's the fact that by the time I am able to put something into words I've come to terms with whatever it is and am ready to move forward. Does that make sense? Well, shortly after writing about my "winter-love" I began to think non-stop about new growth, color and the lushness of spring. I have two new encaustic pieces in the works but also started on the slightly larger oil painting pictured above. I'm not sure I'm over winter (note the fire) but I am feeling that tinge of hope and optimism that spring brings. See you tomorrow.....

We should talk...

2011-02-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

Hi friend. It's a quiet Monday around here. It's actually the first quiet Monday in quite a few weeks. If we lived near each other I'd invite you over for coffee or tea and we'd sit and talk about curve balls, perspective and optimism. But what we have is this connection across airwaves, miles and oceans. So here's the skinny on my sporadic and reserved posts over the past few weeks. My husband unexpectedly lost his job during the 1st week of 2011 and although there is a more complicated version than that let's just say it was a life altering event. As we struggled through weeks of uncertainty we talked for hours about where we've been, decisions we've made, what we truly value and what we need and don't need. I'm so happy to say that after many, many weeks and hours of interviewing he started a new job today. A really good job that should fit him like a glove. But with that said I have to tell you our gorgeous old house by the lake is on the market and there are some changes still to come for our family. Now that I've gotten all of this out there I feel like I will be more free here with my words. Images have been speaking for me since 2011 began but you know how much I love words. A few weeks ago when I commented about making lemonade out of lemons a dear friend said that she would lend me some sugar to sweeten it. I love that. Thanks to you for listening, commenting and sharing bits of yourself ...you are all kinds of awesome : )

grey skies and tumbling houses....

2011-02-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

element of change

a line of houses

(like a trail of bread crumbs leading me to my story)

My daughter commented that my latest work seems sad. I like to see it more as "winter work". I see it as reflective, emotional and quiet work that speaks truths. I like Winter. I like the inwardness of the season and find that regardless of what else is going on in life it is a restorative time. It is the big in breath to Spring and Summer's out breath. And while many people enjoyed the unseasonably warm few days last week I was not one of them. I'm not

ready yet. I need a bit more time to mull things over. To be still.

How about you?

Hey you...

2011-02-16T13:12:00.000-08:00

How the heck are you? I know I've been away from the studio and computer for a wee bit but the ideas have been flowing. It seems as though most of my work is a variation on a theme but I'm ok with that. It feels real. Anyways, today I just wanted to stop in and share a piece coming to life from my sketchbook. The wax is cooling right now so I can't finish it up but I hope to get back to it (and a smaller piece) later this evening. So, what are you up to on this-way-too-warm-Wednesday?

Crash...

2011-02-09T20:35:00.000-08:00

Photoshop crashed and so the images of the french onion soup I eeked out of the stale remnants of my Tartine Bread loaf can't be shared here. But it was good. Really good (in a soul-satisfying-and-oh-so-beautiful-kind-of-way). But there have been a lot of crashes around here lately (leading to lots of uncertainty). Much too much to talk about here until things are sorted out. Let's just say I'm trying to make lemonade out of lemons and I'll let you know how it turns out. I need to get back into the studio where things seem to make sense. I hope all is well with you....is it?

keepin' it real...

2011-02-04T06:54:00.000-08:00

her song washed over me

she dreamt of all the places she had lived (and a few still took her breath away)

Have a lovely weekend : )

too much of a good thing (but i love it)

2011-02-02T15:48:00.000-08:00

The 20+ inches of snow that fell overnight led to lots of baking, cooking, shoveling, playing, fighting, making up, laughing and painting . School has already been cancelled tomorrow as well because of impassable roads and single digit temps so it promises to be another day of family fun . We're off to skate on the neighbors ice rink under the stars to wrap up this day. For tomorrow I'm thinking about knitting and board games (if we can get a certain someone to play something other than bananagrams). Any snow day suggestions?

stories stitched and sewn...

2011-01-31T17:55:00.001-08:00

Each of the figures in this painting is stitched into their own little pocket of humanity. A few are in it together and some are in places where the stitches are frayed and worn but still holding strong none the less. All are surrounded by magically continuous but broken lines that intersect over and over. I've been giving lots of thought to the things that hold us. In my work over the past few weeks the perfect simplicity of the stitches and the beautiful complexity of the sewing machine are helping me to express complete thoughts about strength and fluidity (two things i've been trying to reconcile lately). But enough about me...what are you trying to make sense of these days?

"Oh, it's the awesome bread!"

2011-01-30T17:20:00.000-08:00

"Yes, T it is the awesome bread (formerly know as the Tartine country loaf)." I just stopped in to let you know the second attempt was twice as good and I'm loving the new moniker!

oh and-

Happy Sunday!

They arrived!

2011-01-29T07:20:00.001-08:00

A huge thank you for all the collective finger crossing which I'm sure helped my lost parcels find their way to Nahcotta. One package arrived Wednesday and the other just yesterday morning. My pieces are up on their site and the show officially opens next Friday. I am so happy to be a part of this celebration of original art and encourage you to check out the deep and wide assortment of tiny goodness! I'm spending the weekend in the studio and will have a few things to share with you on Monday. Have a lovely weekend and thanks again : )

Wednesday...

2011-01-26T07:08:00.000-08:00

the endless cycle of thought::two in the woods::bee 1::the silent commotion of the sea

Hello from the middle of the week. I had planned on taking a few days away from the studio to allow my dry, cracked hands to heal. But I needed to paint. Needed the calmness of the colors and beauty of the ideas spilling out onto the proverbial canvas. So here are a few small blocks I finished up last night. Today I'm working on the sewing machine silhouette piece from last week. I overworked the piece and had to start over on the bottom portion because the figures had become too muddled. I need them to be obscured but clear (i'll let you know how it goes). The two boxes I sent to Nahcotta with my eleven tiny paintings were misrouted and although it looks like one will arrive today the other is still on a magic postal adventure. Keep your fingers crossed for their safe arrival...thanks : )

slow food....

2011-01-24T07:53:00.000-08:00

Bread at a snail's pace. Twenty nine days, two failed starters, lots of trial and error, a tenuous relationship, evening prep, 8 hours rising and two glorious loves of singing bread. Well actually, one was glorious the other was just ok. I learned lots about shaping and creating tension to get a good oven rise and I am totally going to be making two more loaves later in the week. Now that my starter and I have come to understand one another the process is still going to be slow but it's the kind of slow that you can fit into a day of doing other things. It turns out that a super old house in the middle of winter (when the temps outside hover in the teens) is not the best place to keep a starter alive. I found after moving the girls to a few different places in my house that on a small table directly over a heating vent in my office worked perfectly and if i shut the door at night it stayed very toasty and the girls were very lively at their morning feeding (i had two starters going as a kind of experiment and did not want to name them or get too attached so i just refer to them as the girls). These two loaves are the result of a long and rewarding journey Chad Robertson led me on and in case you are interested "Tartine Bread" has an insane number of photos and very detailed instructions (which I read and re-read many times during this process). So there you have it. As this week begins my paintings should be arriving at Nahcotta and my bread is baked so I am taking a big long breath out...what are you up to this Monday morning?

ps: i also came across an article on chad and the recipe for the country loaf in the last issue of martha stewart.

And they're off....

2011-01-21T13:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a sneak peek at the 11 paintings I just shipped off to Nahcotta for The Enormous Tiny Art Show. It's been a crazy-mad-busy couple of weeks getting these pieces finished up and I am truly in love with all of them. I'm not sure when they'll be up on their site but the show opens Friday February 3rd. If you're anywhere near Portsmouth New Hampshire be sure to stop in and check all the tiny goodness!

Peace and warmth this cold winter weekend...

Small versions of big ideas...

2011-01-17T09:32:00.000-08:00

the thread set out like a lone traveler (and soon a bond was formed)

dwelling in running stitches

when i am lost (the water holds my shifting weight)

I'm sure you've heard the saying "big things sometimes come in small packages". Well on Friday night as I painted into the wee hours to finish up a few pieces already in the works these three little block paintings were created from scratch. The images and ideas came quickly and I went to bed knowing I loved them. When I had another look at them the next morning I was struck by the story they told and came to the conclusion that art is most definitely a form of therapy. Anyways, I really felt these images could be expressed in a slightly larger size and so I am going list these little blocks in my shop and work on slightly larger versions for the ETA 9 show.

Wishes for peace, tolerance, patience and understanding on this special Monday...

A little sumpin' sumpin'...

2011-01-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take a moment here to thank my brother-in-law Dave (who drew my name in the family holiday exchange) for the Anthropologie gift card. I'm sure Dave could have picked out something really lovely that would have suited me but after a long and trying week it was really nice to wander through the inspirational store of lovely displays and racks of clothing and pick out a little sumpin' sumpin' for myself. It was a much appreciated treat which is becoming fast friends with my old jeans and white t.

Warm wishes on this chilly Sunday...

On the table today...

2011-01-14T05:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday you lovelies! These are two pieces I am working on in the studio today. I'll have more to say about these two (and all of the other pieces I've been working on) in just a few days. So thanks for stopping in, for your patience with my lack of words lately and your quiet encouragement...

In the works...

2011-01-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

Here's a peek at a few more pieces I've been working on since I saw you last. I have about 15 paintings at different stages and I am really enjoying the process of watching them unfold. A few of them are still plain blocks with bits of this and that fluttering on top, some are waxed but colorless and one or two are even complete (and i'm sure a few will end up being recycled). Once they all find their way to completion I'll be sure to share them here. In other news, my first starter went nowhere and I had to scrap it. I'm sure part of it must be the chilly winter temps so I'm trying a new location with #2 (thanks for all the bread starter loveand if you have any tips i'd love to hear them). Snow is falling outside for the first time since Christmas and it looks so lovely. But now, I'm off to Bikram Yoga to warm up, stretch out and melt away. I hope your Tuesday is filled with warmth and beauty...

they called it cookie heaven...

2011-01-08T22:35:00.001-08:00

Chocolate chip w/sea salt and lacey oatmeal. I made the cookies big thinking it would take less time but the dough seemed to replenish itself after each tray went into the oven and so there you have it: cookie heaven. See you Monday with some new work.

She's ready...

2011-01-06T06:20:00.000-08:00

This is my starter for the Basic Country Loaf from "Tartine Bread". I'm trying not too get too attached and have put off naming her until she proves herself. I took the book to my parents over the holidays and created what seemed to be a successful starter but it didn't survive the trip home and so I waited until the New Year to give it another go. It looks likes she's ready to feed as she has a brown bubbled crust and has the aroma of stinky cheese and a sharply acidic taste. So today is time for the first feeding....wish me luck : )