This is my new favorite sculpture to create. I made a little family of them last week and kept them to myself for this week, because I love them so. What can I say, tiny things always get me. I have decided to part with them today. Hopefully they will find good homes soon. *Edit* 8/1 there’s only one little fellow left.  If not they are staying with me ;)

Also, I added some new magnets to the shop!

happy creative thursday! I’m painting today and you?

Not all in the same day of course. But that could be fun?

I was invited to teach at the Urban Craft Center here in Los Angeles. Santa Monica to be exact. Such a cool, creative space here in L.A. if you haven’t checked it out yet.

So, this weekend! I’m teaching 2 classes. All levels are welcome.

• Gocco Printing on Saturday evening 4 - 7 pm
• Create a Painting in a Day on Sunday 10 am - 4 pm

It’s my first time offering these kinds of workshops in my city, or even on the west coast for that matter ~ so I have no idea how many of you living in L.A. are following me here on my blog and on twitter. Just in case, wanted to let you know. Would love to see you there!

Forever.

That’s how long I’ve been meaning to share these with you. {you might recognize a portion of one of them that I’ve been using as my avatar for the last couple of months ;) } You know it’s moments like these when I’m about to post a series of photos from my personal life that I realize just how private I actually am. I think there must be a tiny struggle that happens within me every time I reveal more of my personal self on this blog. It’s awkward. Not even sure why? and it’s not really that important to know why, because I’m doing it anyway.

I’ve been an admirer for a while, so this was a treat! Earlier this year, Sean and I had a shoot with Wendy of Blue Lily Photo. And she’s awesome.  That about sums it up. So fun to shoot with, so effortless and efficient, and such beautiful photographs, I could hardly choose which ones to share with you, as is evidenced by the first and last photo {i just love that sky with those bright yellow flowers in the last one}. Let me also add that Wendy is a great teacher, particularly a very patient one. The day before the shoot I took a photography workshop with her, and now I’m proud to say that I might actually know how to properly use my Nikon D40. finally

Another reason I love Blue Lily is that she and her husband Tyler have taken their 2 children and are traveling the world this year. I mean really, traveling the world. It’s so exciting and so inspiring. Me next please. I think Sean and I secretly wished that we could have fit in their 2 suitcases ~ is that right Wendy? did you really pack everything in 2 suitcases for your family of 4 to travel to Australia and beyond? For now we will continue to follow along with them on their blog.

Oh, and my love for Sean. Well that’s in the photos. 

2.5" x 2.5" in a brand new circle shape

There’s a story to this one.

I’ve been sharing, in multiple conversations recently, that I can no longer truly connect with those who aren’t willing to reveal their underbelly. Oh I can chat with you, but I’m never going to connect with you. And what do I mean by this exactly?

I meant this: It’s life. We all have soft little underbellies. They are our vulnerabilities. And the question is are vulnerabilities flaws? It seems as though that is how they are perceive. In fact, it has been taught to us that’s it not a good idea to reveal our vulnerabilities because this makes us appear weak? You see it in the animal kingdom all the time. When one animal shows submission they roll over and reveal their bellies. So it makes sense probably, way down there in our DNA, for us to always try to protect our underbellies. But we are not animals, we are human beings, many of us with an evolved level of consciousness living on the planet at this time.  So what I’m suggesting is that if we all have underbellies, what if we started becoming comfortable in revealing them more? You know, I’m not talking about airing dirty laundry will nilly ;) I’m talking about seeing our vulnerabilities as a genuine part of who we are coupled with a willingness to work on them. That’s called being human.

The work it takes to communicate with someone who chooses protecting their insecurities and vulnerabilities as their primary way of operating in this world - is too much. Too much work people. I don’t have it in me to figure all of that out, before I maybe, just maybe get a glimpse of the real you.

Can’t we just save it all that energy for something else, like being creative perhaps?

What’s it going to take for us to be real, right away. 

To me it is not a sign of weakness to acknowledge your soft little underbelly, accept it, maybe even embrace it. Instead I see it as a sign of strength.

{click here to buy original}

Truth be told. I participated in my very first craft show at the age of 13. 

{you’d think that I might have this down by now ;)}

I sold $100 of my hand painted ceramics. Such a proud day. 

There’s nothing quite like selling your work in this way

And, there’s nothing quite like selling your work in this way. Some of the hardest work ever.

And, some of the most rewarding work ever.

On twitter this morning I wrote something like this: to all the artists and entrepreneurs out there who:

create, sell, {travel} set-up and break-down at shows like this regularly. I honor you more.

I think I might be coming back with a podcast on this one, as soon as I get some rest. If only there were 8 days in a week and 36 hours in a day? whaaaaa? am. I. saying. I need a nap.

Thank you to everyone who braved/ignored the Carmageddon warnings and came out to the show this weekend. It was a really great time.

Booth #62. That’s where we’ll be. Me and my booth mate, HannahMade.

I did it! Dipping my toe into the world of pattern design and released my very first one today.

Now you can make your own little Creative Thursday fellow to cheer you on in all your creative endeavors. 

With my fabric almost out there in the world, this is where I’m headed. I’m inspired to create more that you all can create with.  Hoping this will be the first of many patterns to come.

Ric Rac Rabbit is right here over at the shop

8 x 8 in.

Ever wonder how painting ideas come to me? 

Ok. So last Monday on the 4th of July we are sitting in a park in Brighton, NY with my dear friend Kimm and her family watching the fireworks. Following each firework, a little puff of smoke remained and it would trail off to the left until there was a row of little puffs. You know how clouds often take on a familiar shapes? Well, one of those puffs, for a moment, looked just like a duck holding an umbrella. That’s that. Painting idea born. #inspirationiseverywhere

Does a duckling ever need an umbrella? Maybe he just wants one for a fashion statement?

{click here to buy original}

is BEAUTIFUL.

That’s where we went for a quick, much needed and much appreciated vacation. It’s amazing how even a short break away can be so refreshing, leaving you with an entirely new perspective. {Why do I forget this? particularly the part about actually taking time off and away} Especially when shared with some of my favorite people, who also happen to be such wonderful hosts. {thank you again for everything}

{there’s a rainbow in this one above, on second glance maybe even a double rainbow, do you see it? you might have to squint, tilt your computer screen, and/or pretend that you see it}

We experienced {it all}: black caps! lush green foliage, especially {and I say this as someone coming from L.A. where we just don’t genuinely say hello to one another enough} friendly people and neighborhoods, beautiful old houses, from farm houses to barns filled with rich histories, wild flower graffiti, more creative inspiration than I know what to do with, very tasty Gimme Coffee,  picnics on the grass, fireworks, and my new favorite lightening bugs {oh why don’t we have those out west?} humidity, thunderstorms, rainbows,  lake swimming, raspberry coolers, finger lakes wines {whites=yes! reds=not so much} really great meals at charming local restaurants and awesome veggie flatbread pizza cooked on the grill at the Nelkin household, and smores {how could I almost forget the smores? and Sean being labeled the "Marshmallow King"} time spent with some amazing, very spirited, lovely, kiddos age 6 - 12, hour long conversations that went into the early morning on more than one occasion, not enough naps {simply couldn’t miss out on all the fun} and one incident with a salad spinner bowl that will remain sacred knowledge among a select few. 

these are a series of photos from Kimm

Wish I had more photos to share, but I’ve got to be honest and say that maybe for the first time in a long time, I actually {well almost entirely} un-plugged, and it felt really good.

good to get away and good to be home...

...and back to work this week preparing for Renegade Los Angeles this coming weekend. Come see me at Booth #62! Yes, it’s true 'Carmageddon', where Los Angeles is closing its' famous 405 freeway for the entire weekend ~ that seems to be worthy of national news these days {not entirely sure why} is also happening this weekend. So either: no one will come to Renegade or there will be zero traffic and just the people who really, truly want to be there will magically get there in five minutes flat and have a fabulous time. My hope is for the second option to be true. Either way we’ll be there, me and my booth mate Hannahmade.

And just like that, we’ve gone on vacation. 

Special thanks to my awesome, dedicated, you are the ones who keep this Creative Thursday business going, I don’t know what I’d do without you, customers for last week’s shop update. All the packages ordered during the update shipped out on the Saturday before I left, so they should be arriving soon.

I hope everyone celebrating in the states had a happy 4th! Maybe you are also on holiday this week? If so enjoy the time away. I know I am.

Taking some time to breathe. 

I’ll see you back here on the other side, early next week some time.