I’m signing off early this week, because I’ve decided to take a last minute trip to my very first Quilt Market. 

Hope you have a great weekend and a happy Halloween here in the states, and I’ll see you back here on the other side of my trip!

6 x 6 in.

The ghostie is also known as the "imaginary friend".

So I bought a Martha Stewart Crafts "bat" punch a couple of days ago, and I’ve been punching bats out of every bit of paper I can get my hands on.

{click here to buy original}

...and the yellow chest.

I was taking some photographs of our home this weekend, and this one = a new favorite.

An arbitrary cute picture of Garbo and my favorite yellow boots. ;)

My friends are having an art show, and it’s going to be GREAT!!  I cannot wait to go!!

Featuring the art of:

Christine Mason Miller

Gus Harper

Lisa Occhipinti

Trevor Meeker

Sabrina Ward Harrison

happy weekend to you!

Yup, sometimes food, the cooking, the baking, and the eating of  is the inspiration. And speaking of food, if you are in the vicinity of a Trader Joe’s, put this blog post down and run out right now and get these frozen chocolate croissants.

I heard they were great, but that is an understatement. They are amazing. The only thing is that you have to remember to set them out to rise 9 hours before you want to eat them. The night before is best, especially if you want to have the smell of chocolate croissant wafting through your house in the morning.

Not to mention the packaging, also inspiring. I am a sucker for all things beautifully, thoughtfully designed.

3 x 3 and 3 x 2 in.

Completely unplanned burst of creativity this afternoon, inspired by a glass of wine?

Now I’m not going to condone becoming a boozehound in the middle of the day. Oh who am I kidding, I’m also not going to judge. What I will say is that I had a midday glass of wine on this Tuesday and look what happened, not one but 4 tiny paintings that I am smitten with.

Inspired by our upcoming Halloween holiday, I love when parents dress up the tiniest ones. They are so cute in their costumes and half the time they don’t even know what Halloween is.

{originals are sold}

That’s our friend John. He’s standing on a blue square {waiting for a blue car to drive by} of a game that he developed, designed and painted with his wife Kim that is now on a sidewalk in Culver City.

For those of you not familiar with L.A., it is a big city and by big, I mean wide. It covers a large expanse, and for this reason much of the city is broken down into what I like to call "digestible" neighborhoods, each with it’s own personality or vibe. Culver City is one of those neighborhoods, originally famous for its film studios, that in the last decade has been through quite a bit of re-gentrification and is now extra hip and happenin' {also one of my favorite L.A. neighborhoods ~ umm, hello Tender Greens = one of my favorite restaurants}

On a *side note* please don’t quote me on my history of L.A. or Culver City, and John and Kim {because we know you did most of the work} I hope I have the facts right about how this game evolved, {but I am also guilty of having margaritas during the time you explained more of the details as to how this project came to you, or how you found it?}

Funded by an arts grant from the city of Culver City, John applied and won. Seriously, how great is that? a} that there are grants available for this type of creativity and b} John won. In his regular life, he is a writer, mostly television, a surfing friend of Sean’s {first} and then me via osmosis of me dating Sean.

I’m going to be honest and say that while a certain childlike quality exists in me, insert my art here,  I tend to shy away from game playing. What is that anyway? Is that called becoming an adult? Because I used to love games. In fact I could play them for hours at a time. You know I think it’s really because as adults we very rarely get to play games the way we used to as kids...unless there’s money involved and then your in Vegas. 

A game that asks you to move ahead a space at a time when a certain color car drives by in a certain direction, here’s what playing Culverland did for me: It brought me right into the moment. Since being "in the moment" is not only a catch phrase for our time but something I’m trying to do more of in my life {because it calms me down, keeps me grounded and appreciative of what I already have} I was pretty excited to find myself there....for a moment. Well, probably at least ten minutes.

It was crazy fun. All of us played together, Sean, I,  John, Kim and their son Ian who is 5. What’s the message of this story. Play more games. Be in the moment. Oh and have the best margarita{s} ever on a Friday afternoon with your friends at Kay N Dave’s ;) 

Now if that doesn’t make you want to run out and play Culverland? Do it soon! It’s only up through November 1, 2010.

...and inspiration. This is an Iphone photo of my 'Paris' paint tray. I had to save it somehow, and the way this photo came out, it makes me think I’m looking at an abstract painting ~ one that I could not have planned. 

I once met an artist who had made an entire hardcover book filled with nothing but photographs of her paint trays throughout her time at art school. I thought it was beautiful. 

I am fascinated by this idea of the art we create when we are 'not trying' to create it. It’s a lot like when we first start painting, for example, when no one is watching, or expecting our creation to turn out a certain way and neither are we. There is a complete freedom in that type of creating, that only happens once; when we begin and then as artists, I believe it is our job to learn how to tap into that sense of freedom again and again.

Does this happen to you? Sometimes in the process of creating; which also means letting my desk get 'messy', filled with paints, ribbons, and new paintings in the works, a particular arrangement will stand out to me. It won’t be an arrangement I planned, it will have happened on accident. Organically, shall we say? My eyes won’t stop going to it, because the colors, the positioning just keep inspiring me. It also keeps me from straightening up my work area which is why I’m typing this blog post on my laptop squeezed into the far right corner of my desk. I don’t want to move a thing. I want to leave it exactly as it is. So maybe I will. I don’t really need the use of my desk today.

Oh and paint trays, don’t you just love them? All the colors you’ve been using all blended together. You can see a section of my tray peering out from underneath the paintings in the right hand corner of the photo.

have a happy and inspiring weekend!

6 x 6 in.

A couple of solid days with the opportunity to play, and create some new work ~ and it’s so nice. 

happy creative thursday!

*On a side note this is officially my 1010 post. Can you believe it? Interesting coincidence that it is the same week of 10.10.10. A big fan of numbers lining up, I always take it as a good sign when they do.*

{original is sold}

6 x 6 in.

Recently I’ve been going through some personal things that have felt a bit more challenging than usual. And while I’m happy to share this with you, it’s not quite time. But when it is, believe me you’ll be the first to know and get ready....because I’m storing up a whole lot of thoughts on this experience.

I’m the kind of person who doesn’t believe in hiding things about my life, because I believe that the bravery of those willing to reveal vulnerability and share deeply personal experiences allows us all to gain peace and insight. Hearing other’s stories reminds us that we are not alone. And sometimes just that small reminder is all we need to find some comfort. I am, however, also the kind of the person who believes there is a right time to share those experiences.

Until that time, I’m sharing a painting with you of which comfort is the inspiration. Remember when you were little and you had a stuffed animal, blanket or doll that you could take with you to feel safe? Well, clearly an adult carrying those items around might be a bit awkward, which is a bummer really, but then again we usually outgrow the need to have them with us because we learn how to find that sense of well being and safety within ourselves. But sometimes, during those moments, when I can’t have anyone or anything with me, I still wish I had someone to hold my hand and I wish I had a reminder that all is always well.

That’s where Garbo comes in. This cat, my cat, reminds me that all is well every time I look at her. It’s not that she doesn’t have her moments of agitation, oh she does. But mostly, Garbo does not worry. Garbo is happy. As is evidenced by the fact that several times a day she will roll around on the floor in pure joy and contentment. And it’s this feeling that I want to put in my pocket and take with me everywhere, a reminder when I’m feeling out of sorts that everything is just fine.

So this painting, I suppose is a self-portrait, a reminder that all is well, and the statement that if I could I would stick Garbo in my pocket and take her with me everywhere. Because I LOVE her, and honestly how could you not?

And if you need her, you just feel free to go right ahead and put her in your pocket too.

{click here to buy original}

Did I mention? My mama is in Paris for month. Originally inspired by her 8 years in Paris we spent a month living there, as you know, in April of this year. Inspired by our month there, my mom is now spending a month there.

We skyped together today and seeing her sitting at the dining/office table,  it reminded me that I never shared photos of the apartment with you. The beams, oh those beams. I loved staring up at them from the bed. And let’s just say that some old Paris apartments were not built for a 6' 5" man, low, very low ceilings. Cozy it was, indeed.

I would say that I miss it, and I do, but I also feel like I will be returning back there soon. Not sure how that will come together, but hey! that’s how it seems to work sometimes. When the time is right, it just works.

the star lights in the bedroom ~ a filter attached to a halogen light ~ i just loved those

So, where will you be traveling to or maybe living soon?!!

I have to say that I love when blogs have 'regular' features, familiar posts that I come to know and look forward to every week or month.
Now, since I’m a spontaneous, creative kind of girl who shies away from too many (more) commitments, I will not make any big proclamations about having a regular feature (as some days just keeping a consistent blog while running a business is commitment enough) BUT... I thought I’d give it a whirl with a regular feature of sharing 'what’s inspiring me now', since there’s always something inspiring me. And maybe if it brings inspiration to me, you might enjoy it too!
Having the I-phone is a big motivation behind this idea, because I can literally shoot a photo with the phone and blog it here almost immediately, which is what I happen to be doing with this very post. So if you see any strange words (since I’m texting this) or crazy weird formatting, just blame the IPhone.
As you know, if you’ve been following me for a while, my IPhone, and all of my photo apps, has slowly but surely also become my camera of choice.
Ok, then. That was a whole lot of backstory to share what’s inspiring me now ;)
Farmer’s Market Zinnias in our favorite white pottery barn vase, sitting on the brick fireplace threshold next to our pumpkin. Something about all the colors and textures, I’ve been enjoying this arrangement all week. And shot through the CrossProcess App, it almost looks like a beautiful still-life painting.

I also wanted to stop in and wish you a happy weekend!

But only 3 of them, ever. {ok, fine. maybe the use of the word 'ever' is a bit strong ~ but for now, in this moment, only 3 exist}

I have one that I wear when I paint, when I teach, and I love it!! I just listed the other two, one of each "I am a Thriving Artist" designs over at the shop. {*Edit October 7* aprons are sold out} I also hand embroidered a little decorative trim on each one. The best part of the design, it comes with not one but three pockets for you to keep your supplies handy...especially if your like me and you’re constantly losing your awl...

Hope you enjoy them!

Another favorite commission created for a special family here in Los Angeles, welcoming the arrival of their first baby.

My client requested/suggested the addition of the names to this piece, and since this was my first time adding names to a commission, I have to say I love how it turned out. In fact, this very painting is what inspired my new "Welcome Baby" personalized print.

How’s everyone’s week looking? Just returned from the post office and am happy to say all calendars ordered through yesterday, are already on their way to you!! Efficient, if I do say so myself. It’s all that organizing I’ve been obsessing about doing that is slowly but surely beginning to pay off ;)

6 x 6 in.

Quick like a bunny, a new daily painting for you. 

Yup, those are their names. 'Trick' the bear and 'Treat' the mouse. The October spirit is beginning to grab hold and thank goodness the weather is slightly cooler...so that it is even feeling the tiniest bit Fallish. Maybe I can convince Sean to carve a pumpkin tonight...I LOVE roasted pumpkin seeds.

{original is sold}

Was just sorting through my commission work, and I realized that there are a few I’ve been meaning to share with you. Almost always working on commissions in the background, I’m probably more hesitant to share some of these with you because they feel more personal  than the work I create for myself. However, whenever I  ask if someone would mind me sharing their painting with you, they always say 'Yes, please do!'. So I will remember to share more of them with you, because sometimes these turn out to be favorite creations of mine, of which Buster is one.

As I mentioned, I’m taking John Cleese’s advice to heart this weekend, making boundaries for space and time, carving out some serious creative time this weekend. How about you? Which means I should be back here with a new daily painting soon.

happy weekend! and hey, happy October!