A give away to ring in the New Year...

Three Kinds of Luck

3" x 7.5" 

Time again for my annual New Year's give away! All you have to do to be entered to win this original encaustic/mixed media painting is leave a comment between now and 12 noon tomorrow with a hope, dream or wish for the new year*. I'll have more on my thoughts for the coming year tomorrow but wanted to send out three kinds of luck and so much thanks to all who have stopped in here and shared in the goings on of 2013 : ) 

*(I will use the names in a hat method to select a winner just after noon tomorrow)

Nourishment-

Another (very) early morning in the kitchen.

gifted: local coffee & a new pot

trying: pickled tomatoes

making: old favorites

&

a staple

xx-

b

Cheers...

Hoping your day was full of merry and bright.

This morning...

I'm not sure which made people happier this morning, the fact that it was the last day of school before break or that they woke to the smell of sugar cookies baking. It's been a day full of getting it done and now it is time for some good old fashion fun.  Happy weekend to you!

Slow art...

This is the third oil painting I have in the works and while I would love to finish them up, they are all asking for more time.  I am still feeling very attached to all three pieces which is how I know they are not quite ready to be completed.  As I work through a painting, I usually reach a point where it starts to come together and begins to make sense to me. It is important for me to allow a piece to fully form and find a voice during this time so that it can stand on it's own.  In a way it is like the painting is growing up and becoming an independent piece that is a part of me yet completely it's own thing in the end.  By the time I work through what a painting wants to say I almost always feel ready to let it go and these guys, well, they are just not there yet, so I am trying to be patient with myself and to embrace a bit of slow art.  

That moon is so gorgeous and more snow is expected. Hello winter.

Two if by sea...

I can't seem to make a single 'Night Swimmer'.  They always appear in two's and three's and play off one another in color, size and shape.  I Hope to finish these two up later this evening but thought I would share an image of them quietly waiting for layers of wax and a bit of shimmer.  Winter has set in here and we are gearing up for a weekend of Peter Pan and visits from family and friends who will be attending.   Bon Iver friends!

around here...

a special project

a tiny tree that needed a home

paper snowflakes 

(and real ones too!)

roasted brussel sprouts

talking block no. 6

yummy chicken marbella

talking block no. 7

a big tree decorated with memories

Warm wishes on this chilly, snowy Monday.

ps:  FREE SHIPPING THRU 12/17!!!

in it....

(peace and joy in the works)

With the holiday season in full swing and celebrations near and far I am feeling so in it right now (a line from Garden State I think).  An unexpected storm put our Thanksgiving trip to Maryland in question until the last possible minute, but we ended up packing at 6am last Wednesday and hitting the road by seven.  The storm was more rain than snow and after an unexpectedly easy drive we enjoyed a lovely meal and some much needed quality time with family and friends we don't see often enough.  Now that we are home there are new classes starting for the big kids (trimesters), tech rehearsals for the two boys every night and baking and volunteering for a Holiday Bazaar.  This means cooking and eating early each night so that everyone has the brain power and energy to get their jobs done.  This morning I found a window of time to get into the studio and start a few 'talking blocks' and the two words I chose speak volumes about how things feel right now.  Here, in it, there is peace and joy.  There is also messiness, business and dailiness, but mostly there is peace and joy.  I hope the same is true for you. xx-