This is a new mixed water media painting that I am working on. Of course, it has sunflowers as a theme because like that gorgeous full faced flower I am always reaching for the sun. Not the heat, mind you, just the light!

My Studio Mates

My two loyal and faithful studio companions while away the day on the wool carpet in the warmth of my work space. They aren't much for commenting on designs but they do love to share lunch!
I have been working like a mad woman, as you all know, on getting things ready for Tucson. From early in the morning to late in the evening; I am making jewelry, sorting charms, printing signs and above all else, thinking of the show. How will the show be? Will I make money, sell charms, receive a good response to new designs, see old friends and customers? Make new frIends and new customers? Will I remember to have a good time, that life is short and today is what I have? We will see.

Off to the shop right now because even though I am swamped with show work, the shop is my number one priority and I truly enjoy myself while there! Have a wonderful day!

God bless this man and give him the strength and wisdom to lead this country and help us find peace, health and prosperity. There is so much work to be done by every US citizen!

This is a tree in the garden outside my front studio window with a lovely wintering bird in it. This is a funny tree. It looks all normal now and will be so pretty in the early spring and then it looses its' oompf and looks like an autumn tree, slightly discolored, shriveled and dying back by mid summer.
This is a picture of my oldest son, Michael on his Christmas morning so far from here. Isn't he handsome? I have been thinking of him a lot and when he had chicken pox. It was just he and I and he was so very sick! I kept the fire going in the woodstove around the clock because he was so cold.It seemed like he had those spots forever but it could not have been more than 2 weeks.Now I am reliving that experience all these years later with Jacob.
At last! Some sun actually appeared in the sky today! I think it is the first time we have had sunshine in weeks around here. We opened the front door on the building and breathed deeply the fresh air streaming through the lobby. It was wonderful and it seemed as if everyone's spirits lifted.

There is so much to do before leaving for Tucson that I can quickly become stymied and then I just do nothing. Or rather my take on doing nothing which is actaully quite a bit of something. I need to work tomorrow at the shop and then next week it is nose to the grindstone and work, work, work! I sure hope we see more sun tomorrow but for right this moment; I am content to see the stars in the ink black sky.

It was a swell kind of day today with a bunch of terrific customers in the shop, a tasty lunch with Marlene and a nice dinner at home. A day where off and on I worried about Jacob and his chicken pox and ran about visiting with other shops and enjoying the company I was with and the work I was getting done. Now it is rapdily approaching my drowsy time of the evening and I am winding down the day and contemplating reading a good book in bed.


I get up every morning determined both
 to change the world and have one hell of
 a good time. Sometimes, this makes
 planning the day difficult.
E.B. White

   I like this quote quite a bit as I found it while jumping around on the internet tonight. I love the twinkle and humor in it. It also goes a long way to explaining why I HAVE to eat some chocolate everyday.

Oh drat! It seems as if Jacob has the chicken pox! Poor itchy baby! This is probably just another passage of childhood but I was hoping he had escaped them and Phil thought he already had a chicken pox shot. No long blogging for me tonight - I think I will lay down with Jake and watch Wild Hogs. That crow flying into John Travolta on the motorcycle always makes me laugh!! Jacob is totally into slapstick,potty humor too.

This is a photo of a drawing that I did my first year in college that I had given my mother. It is all done in graphite stick and was for a family portrait assignment. It features me, my friend Sharon, my cat FeFe and the skeletal hand offering support was my mother. I think she got a charge out of the picture and it is with bittersweetness that I note she kept it all these years in her home. It is also with a mix of pride and pleasure on my part, that my son, Michael asked me if he could keep it. He wanted it! That is ever so wonderful to me! And then again, I wonder what went through my 17 year old head as I created this piece. What kind of artist did I think I would become? Was I pretentious, fearless, imaginative? All I knew then and still really know now is that I wanted to make my living with my art, my creative self. I am and have been doing that. A wonderful blessing to be sure!