Seanie’s pumpkin Halloween 2007

Well this holiday sure snuck up on us fast ~ oh that’s right it could be that I’ve been moving this month among many, many other things. It’s all good! We’re going to rally tonight in celebration and join my oh so kind former neighbor for a little gathering/party at her place, assuming we can make it out of our neighborhood. We live a couple blocks away from one of the largest outdoor Halloween parties in the world on Santa Monica Blvd, seriously there are hundreds of thousands of people who come to this event. If you’re new to LA and have never gone, you must. Honestly there’s nothing quite like it and it can be a ton of fun, if you’re game for crowds of costumed drunk people. The best!! :)
I’ve spent all morning getting pretty packages ready to send and I’m seriously missing my paint brush (I think it’s been a whole week since the last painting) so I might be back later with a little halloween painting...
Have a happy, spooky day today and have fun with the kiddies if you are one of the wonderful parents out there! (Julie, you have to send me a photo of the ocean princess crown you made!)

This Creative Thursday, November 1st ~ I’m releasing a limited edition of my first ever calendar for 2008. It’s turning out to be a such a sweet little calendar. I’m very excited to share it with you!
(and thank you so much for all the Riley love)

Oh, I’m so HAPPY to report that Riley is back home!!! Just as we were about to go to sleep last night, we heard a muted sound that was a lot like a cat meowing. We went outside, Sean called for Riley, nothing. We went back to bed and there it was again, the same sound. We stood outside, listening and looking and still nothing. Maybe we just heard some kids playing, but it really sounded like Riley. Sean decided to look in the crawl space one more time with a flashlight and this time as he called for Riley, he heard a distinct meow. And, there he was, dirty and very scared. Riley is Sean’s "baby". He’s been with him for 11 years now, and the whole time Sean had this "hunch" that Riley might be under the house. It looks like his hunch was right. Riley may have been under the house all week, in a state of shock. Poor little buddy, he was more confused and scared than we thought. Well, he is home now, safe and sound and he’s been sleeping a lot in his usual spot at the end of the bed, and just sitting by his rat puppet that he loves. And now he’s hiding under the bed. He’s eating well though and seems healthy otherwise. I think we’ll be keeping him in for a bit until he feels more at ease again.
Many, many thanks again for sharing your stories here on the blog. I have to say one more time, how special it is to have this extended community right here within this blog. Your stories gave us hope and we really appreciate it. Now go hug your kitties!

Yippy!!! Just a little dream of mine to be included in one of my favorite home design magazines. That’s all :)
A very special thanks to Holly and the editors at Domino for including Lewis and Oscar in the Animal Art from Etsy.
Such a great way to start the weekend, have a happy one!

5 x 7 in.

Here they are, the newest daily paintings!

*Edit* October 26 ~ Buttercup is also available as a print over at Etsy.

How great is this? I recently heard from one of my lovely customers that the love birds inspired the cake for their engagement party. I think it turned out pretty wonderful. I LOVE it!! It’s all about LOVE and a great cake!

7 x 5 in.

As before, I’ll give my email subscribers first view of the new pieces and then post here on the blog shortly after that. Getting more settled every day and that is soooo nice. My office is still a mess, but what can you do ~ work is more important than the work space at the moment. We just got back from Ikea where we saw at least 20 other couples doing exactly what we were doing, discussing, negotiating, measuring, planning their new space. It’s all fun and games until you get into the all to familiar "IKEA" argument between couples, which we managed to avoid all together due to our efficiency and smooth negotiating :). So, we did have all fun and games at IKEA and even missed all the LA traffic. Now I have some furniture to build!
So, I’ll see you tomorrow. And many thanks for sharing your stories about kitties who return and for your thoughts on little Riley. No sign of him yet, but we have hope.
Oh, and in the meantime the little hedgie family is available as a print over at Etsy!

6 x 6 in.
On a happier note today ~ you can find these cuties in their costumes over at Twig! (my first official painting created in the new house)

The excitement of the move and getting settled in our new home has been clouded by a bit of sadness. It’s been 2 days now and our Riley is missing. We let him out as we always do, and he has disappeared. Riley has gone on "walkabouts" as I call them, twice before ~ but this is the longest he’s been gone and I’m not exactly sure how we go about finding him. Every morning I wake up, I keep hoping he will just appear outside as he always does.

home sweet home ~ and this is my office, in need of some serious organizing

One week later and 3 weeks after we found out we were moving ~ we did it! And I’m not going to lie to you, it was a very hard week, especially since I am still dealing with a cold from 2 weeks ago. It all happened so fast, I’m not entirely sure it has sunk in yet.
I do know that it’s all been worth it, because I already feel so happy here. And yesterday we WALKED to a grocery store (a little dream of mine, especially after living tucked away in a canyon for the last 3 years~ also my contribution to the environment and my health, to leave my car parked as much as possible.) Today, I’m also especially appreciative to have a place to call home with what my neighbors in Malibu are experiencing right now.

Well, I just want to say a quick hello to you all on this Monday morning ~ and now I’ve got a lot of work, cleaning and some serious unpacking to do, so I can have a space to work in and be ready for you this Thursday. I did find my paints though...a very good thing.

and this is what we did yesterday, take a very long NAP

8 x 6 in.

One of my favorite parts of Halloween is seeing all the little kids in their costumes. I certainly will miss the annual Halloween parade across the street at the elementary school this year (come to think of it, that is the only thing I will miss about that school) So, in the spirit of Halloween ~ this is the gang in disguise :) my Creative Thursday "kids" in their costumes.
I bet you can’t even recognize them...
Just incase you don’t know who’s who, from left to right, Bunny as a ballerina, imaginary friend as herself (she’s always in disguise), Ruby as the witch, Helmut as the vampire, Fern as a butterfly, Lovey as a bear, little sackbelly as a cat, and featuring Pearl the spider as Spider Man!
Of course this one must be available as a print in a limited edition of 25 over at Etsy.
(I’m so glad I didn’t pack my paints yet, because I had so much fun paintings this, I can’t even tell you) Now, I’m off to continue moving!
have a happy Wednesday!

sock monkeys 2 and 3
each is 5 x 5 in.

The brushes and the blog called to me today after all :)
I guess I need some familiar fun in the middle of all these changes. This one was inspired by a customer wish (you see, don’t hesitate to make suggestions, because you may just get your wish!), in this case, more sock monkey love to go with the first one I did back in May. And yes, these are available as prints over at Etsy. You can get 1, or 2 or all 3!
(the originals will be available on the 25th.)

8 x 8 in.

Ok, enough about me and the move :) You come here to see art, and art you shall see. So here you go, the newest creation! I have to say that the colors in this one are beautiful. I’m not sure exactly when I will be able to pick up the paint brush again in the next week, so I thought I’d paint a bigger one this time to tide me over. Also, this is a heads up to let you know that I will be releasing the next group of paintings (including this one) for sale online, Creative Thursday, October 25, time to be announced here on the blog once they are released to the email subscribers.
And now as I disappear into the world of packing...see you soon...thanks for all your lovely well wishes...and I’m sure I’ll miss you and have to poke my head up and say hi in the next couple of days. And, not to worry, business as usual ~ all orders will go out on time. In fact, speaking of orders, this one is available as a print over at the Etsy shop.

Sean, me and the Looooo in the new house (It has become our new tradition to visit the new house, have a glass of wine, and take a self portrait photo before the moving begins)

We picked up the keys to our new place yesterday. It’s official, and now...the FUN part...MOVING!! I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed already. I know when I just start somewhere I’ll feel better. So, that’s the plan for tomorrow. If I’m missing for a few days, you know where I’ll be...packing :) In one week, it’ll be done and we’ll be in the new housey. Yup, one week from today. Ok, deep breath now, I’m optimistic for a smooth move. We can do it!!

Sean and I in our Laurel Canyon house exactly 3 years ago.

Before I forget, and before Halloween comes and goes ~ I want to share my silly Halloween kitchen towels with you. Thought you might enjoy them! I’m crazy for them!! You can find these little skeleton fellow towels at a Target near you.
happy Saturday!

...and the dream continues in Los Angeles.

*Note to self* No need for worry or stress, everything always works out.

Yup, in a whirlwind 10 days, we found the happiest house and I can’t even begin to tell you the story of how it came to be. But I will, one of these days. What I want to say today is this. It’s true, there are crazy home prices here in Los Angeles for rent and for sale, and this is true not just here, but many places ~ but here’s the other side of the truth ~ It is how it is. And that is the end of the story (one of my favorite lines stolen from one of my favorite movies "When Harry Met Sally").
You either find a way to follow where you’ve expanded to, or you go somewhere else and follow that expansion, or you give up entirely and go away, or you give up entirely and stay, opting to ultimately settle for less. And I’ve recently decided that, that this may be a big reason why there is so much agitation in this city in particular.
As I said in my post a week ago, a lot of people come here as dreamers. And as I’m sure you can imagine, any number of scenarios play out for all of us who land here in this amazing city, called Los Angeles. But in each of these possible scenarios, I believe that dreams are realized if you are willing to follow your heart and pay attention.

It’s not yet time for me to part with this city (especially with my tail between my legs). And, I’m no longer willing to settle. That leaves one option left; Step up to the plate. And so that’s what we’re doing. Sean and I decided that we are ready to head to where we’ve expanded, even if we don’t yet know how that is going to come together. A bit scary, (and that feeling defined most of last weekend) but now after we did a walk through of our new home yesterday, so very, very EXCITING!!!

This is once more, (as I’ve done this many times already throughout my life), my leap of faith in me, and Creative Thursday, that my business will continue to grow in support of where I continue to dream. Sometimes, it seems that you have to be willing to step out in belief of where you’re going, just a little bit before you see the floor that you are stepping out on to.

4 x 4 in.

Today was a great day! It just was. I’m still coughing and everything is changing but the excitement for what’s coming next is spilling over. And I can’t help but feel that my spirit is back in full swing. Sometimes it leaves when I’m feeling afraid and fighting a cold, but it never goes away for long and when it returns, it feels especially good to have "myself" back.

In honor of all the changes that have been happening here, this is today’s painting. As it turns out, "Open" is this week’s topic for Illustration Friday, and I thought that it also happens to be the perfect sentiment for how I’m feeling right this very moment.

I’ll be back tomorrow with the good news I promised on Monday. I’m letting things settle back into place a bit, and regaining some much needed perspective as I head out on this new adventure.

5 x 5 in.

Do you know the story of the baby hippo who survived the Tsunami in 2004, and adopted a 130 year old male tortoise as his "mother"? This is my painting in honor of such a sweet story of love and comfort found in unexpected places.
I had to paint today, it’s my therapy.
I was sick with a cold all weekend (house hunting stress got the best of me, after all), still sniffling as I write this now, but feeling a bit better and I’m off to see comedy later tonight, (one of the great things about LA, being able to see this kind of comedic talent right down the street) Marc Maron & Patton Oswalt ~ laughter is always a good thing.

(psst ~ this painting will be for sale when I release the next group of daily paintings later this month)

Cornelia with BunBun, photo by Caroline

My goodness, this is the longest I’ve been "gone" from the blog, aside from weekends and vacations. So, you know it’s been interesting times here in the Creative Thursday world. Let me just say that this week has inspired so many podcasts...so get ready!

Really, truly, it’s been an interesting, scary, almost unbelievable, challenging and exciting week.

I wanted to share this particular photo with you for a number of reasons. First, this is Cornelia, age 7 with her beloved BunBun (the magical BunBun :)). I love this photo, and it especially speaks to me this week and here’s why.

When I was little this is how I felt about my Gund bear, named Snuffles. Nothing made me feel safer in this world than Snuffles. Of course my parents did, but yet as an only child, I could always count on Snuffles. This week, with so many changes happening, so many challenges to how I want to be in this world, how I want to live, how I want the next part of my life to unfold, I can honestly tell you that to have Snuffles to snuggle would’ve been lovely ~ to once again feel the security that I felt back then, like the feeling in this photo ~ but to be honest, I did. I found it. In the midst of chaos, I found grace and I found security, yet it wasn’t from anything outside of me, it was something I already have (with many thanks to my parents and to Snuffles, of course) ~ And now I’m also blessed to have Seanie, and a special community of friends and family, many of whom showed up for me this week when I really needed it and I also want to say thanks to you too.

This is the first time I’ve felt what it really means to have a blog, to have a community of people, people that you have never even met in person, who are there for you. So as silly as it sounds, thanks for your comments, thanks for being here, thanks for following this blog, thanks for your emails. I’m reminded that we’re all in "this" together, always.

After I rest, and recover I’ll be back with good news on Monday. Here’s wishing you a happy weekend. I’m reminded again, that everything is always working out just as it should and if you need a Snuffles or a BunBun ~ they come in many forms.

5 x 5 in.

It’s true, BunBun is one of my new all time favorites :) A commission of a little girl’s favorite stuffed toy ~ all I can say is BunBun is magical, because painting this cutie brought my creative spirit back.

Tree Bear 6 by the Wexford Girl

Speaking of buying fantastic art for one self...I recently discovered Annie aka the Wexford Girl over at Victoria’s blog. I followed the link on over to Annie’s blog to discover that among a multitude of talents, she also illustrates the most charming bears, (and as you know I have a fondness for bears) ~ so this adorable fellow I could not resist.
And I’m telling you, when you are feeling a bit out of sorts having happy art in your surroundings really makes all the difference ~ that and of course painting happy art...which I will share with you in a bit!
(To get one of Annie’s bears just hop on over to her Etsy shop.)

I’m delighted to have been invited to be among the first group of artists kicking off Jan’s exciting new venture, Poppytalk Handmade ~ a virtual street market featuring 75 emerging design talents. Jan has a great eye for art and design, so this is a perfect place to discover someone new, not to mention get some gift ideas for the holidays and more fantastic art for yourself ~ (which is always a good thing to do!)

My Home 9 x 12 in.

This is a painting that I did some time last year. It’s titled "my home" because I was thinking about what my dream home would be like if I painted it. I never knew if this painting was finished, but today I’ve decided that it is, because my "dream home" is still evolving.

We’ve been renting the same house in Laurel Canyon for the last 3 years. This is actually a new record for me, because over the past 15 years I’ve, completely by accident really, moved every 2 years ~ and believe me when the 2 year mark hit while living here, I felt restless...but I chose for the first time in my life to move through the restlessness and be at peace with where I was, not just in my home but in all areas of my life.

A person who likes adventure and even change from time to time, I’ve gotten used to chasing the “next step”. But, in the last year I’ve been experimenting with letting the next step come to me, just to see if that approach might feel easier. Well in a matter of 3 days, the next step came and it came fast. And the jury is still out on whether I like the approach better…

We’re moving! Just like that, a number of circumstances all hit each other like a fast moving train and it seems obvious that now is the time to take that next step. And to be honest there’s a fair amount of discomfort in feeling like something outside of you is forcing you to take a next step ~ that is when you resist it, of course. And I have taken the weekend to resist it ~ which surprises me really because usually I’m much better about going with the flow.

I think it’s just that I feel like a move at this particular time for many reasons, is not convenient ~ but staying in a home that is under intense construction with no parking, is also not particularly convenient either. I’m all about a life with ease and at the moment, it’s not feeling particularly easy.

Having been a home owner just about my entire adult life, it’s always been hard for me to rent; but obviously with the current state of the housing market, renting seems like a wise choice.
You’ll have to forgive me for just a second, as I’m very particular about not using this blog as place to vent but I just HAVE to say that people of Los Angeles (of course this does not apply to everyone), seem to think that A) It’s still ok to charge exorbitant prices for their homes even though the market is clearly trying to correct itself ~ and ~ B) The people of Los Angeles also seem to think that they can charge obscene rental prices for living in absolute GARBAGE, in the WORST location possible. I’m not exaggerating, even though I wish I was.

Ok, so we saw 3 places yesterday, that were AWFUL. I haven’t lost hope, but I can’t believe it either. When did this happen? When did this become OK? I’m beginning to wonder why the majority of the people of this city are so willing to settle for less.

You know, that this city is a city of dreamers ~ I mean this is Hollywood ~ everybody’s got a dream! And that makes it exciting and full of possibility, but if you stay here and you give up on your dream, this can get pretty depressing. Now I finally know why people cling to their below standard living environments, because they’ve given up on their dreams, especially their financial ones, and they don’t want to give up their "rent controlled" rent prices.

So, in one of the richest cities in the world, you also have amazingly talented people, just scraping by hoping that their big break will come. Personally, I haven’t given up on my dreams (in fact I’m finally living them!) and I especially haven’t given up on my financial dreams that include the ability to buy a wonderful home again. But at the moment I’m not yet sure if this city is where my dream continues...

A peaceful, happy home for me is one of the MOST important things in my life, especially because I’m a creative who works from home, and especially because I live in such a hectic city. And yesterday, I decided that I’m no longer content going "backwards". I have literally "squeezed" myself into so many places that just weren’t quite right and I just don’t want to do it anymore. I would love to find a place that feels right in every way, from a price that feels fair, to having laundry inside, to a dishwasher, to proper parking, to an outdoor yard for Lulu to sun herself, to nice neighbors, to a peaceful neighborhood, to lots of light, to a nice space for a girl to paint....you know what I mean, I’m sure :)

So, this is where Sean and I have decided to "make the best of things". You realize, the longer you live, that change, convenient or not, is inevitable, and accompanying the change is usually a fair amount of fear and discomfort (mixed with excitement) - so how do you want to handle it.? Being in the "grey zone" where you don’t know what’s next is a time to step up with grouchiness or grace. And for now, on this Monday morning, after writing this cathartic blog post, we’ve decided to step up with grace.

(so, please bare with me as I maneuver through this, presently unknown, next phase of my life, and if you have any suggestions on wonderful places to live, let me know!)

Thursday Bird by Marion Griese

Here they are, more Beautiful! Creative Thursday creations.

Teddy Bear Quilt by Karen Sedlak

Birds by Susannah Watson

My apologies for the delay in getting these up, but we had a bit of a stressful weekend and to cope I kind of fell off the face of earth for a few days.

Thank you again for sharing your art with me!!