My Photo

And with out further adue...

THE FLOWERS!!!

Flower_fence_2


I got a new camera, and this time it is pink!
I super love it already and here are some results of my new purchase...

THE FLOWERS!... One by one... umm, over-photo-compensation much????

Naahhh, just every picture of every fence flower I've ever painted!... And it's about time!


Flower1

Flower2


Flower3


Flower4


Flower5


Flower6


Flower7


Flower8


Flower9


Flower10

This little cutie was made by Anna, Leo's Mom.
Annas_flower


Flower11


Flower12


Flower13

A bird really liked this one... Or didn't?
Flower14_bird_pooh_flower


Flower15


Flower16


Gate_flower

That is it for now, I'll save the Rocket-Ship scene for another time... I am going to bed now, Goodnight.

P.S...

MY CAMERA BROKE!!!!!
WHAAA!!!

I can't believe it... I picked it up and had a fishy feeling as I put it into my pocket to go capture those big beautiful wooden flowers on film... Well, digi. I had this sinking feeling the whole way over to the spot, and what do you know? It was true!

I always have that feeling--quite often when I am super excited about something (as I was with this- I was so excited to show you all the work I had done!)

I get this sinking-somethings-gonna-happen feeling when I get a new CD or a new pair of shoes... Like I am gonna get hit by a train before I ever even get to put those new dogs on my feet... I just know it!-- So that is the feeling, and it always goes right away when I push play or slip into my new kicks...

This time I push power on my camera and well, the stupid thing turns on but keeps zooming in and out, trying to focus but the thing just won't stop moving... It's like a Riddlin kid with a wad of Big League Chew (bubble gum) and a cap gun-- It just will not focus!

I tried everything people! It is toast!

So, until I gets me anotha'- it will be visually disappointing 'round these parts...

April Hours Bring May flowers


After 40 hours... That is no exaggeration, and you know how I love to exaggerate... but this is real folks, So yes, after 40 hours of cutting out, painting and mounting eighteen 24"x24" flowers and an entire rocket-ship scene I am finally done! I have got that project in the bag... or rather, shall I say, on the fence!

It was really fun and it looks super cool... I think the only reason I took any notice of the time I spent on them is because I had three shows worth of paintings I had to get done and was not working on any of them. But I usually work well under pressure so I thought the heck with all of that, LETS DO THIS! The fun stuff!

It is all fun, I love my job, and I loved this one (of helping out my son's school) even a little bit more!

It was the perfect weather last weekend to get the last of it done, the actual painting--my favorite part.

As I sat there on a drop cloth in the sun, painting those giant wooden flowers in every color of the rainbow, I noticed I was living my exact childhood fantasy, of what being a mom was gonna be like.

I had always imagined painting for the school along with other vivid imaginings like building crazy cool forts with spiral stair cases and a real working telephone. Sewing super hero capes and buttons back on when they'd come off... And so on and so on... Too many dreamies to ramble on about at this particular time... As always, I have a sink full of dishes to do, yet, for some reason this part of the job never entered into the dreams of being a mother, not once?

Anyway it was really super special, the feelings, the perfect blissful absolute right feelings that came along with the painting of those little flowers... I sure do love this momming business... I sure do love that boy!

In a bit of a whirlwind...

Around here lately... And I don't think I am going to touch down anytime soon.

You may find that at the end of each month... That I am scarce if present at all. The case is usually that I am hulled up in my glorious studio spinning out artwork like indian burns... Shoving every bit of time I can find into concentrated chunks, then forcing out masterpieces in multiples. That is the way I seem to work it out these days, with just a slight bit of pain.

As the story goes, much like the last, I have a number of shows to produce paintings for and the deadlines are, well, near, very near! Like... I have one show up (done), one half hung (with the rest of the paintings perched on my fingertips), and I was miraculously gifted a weeks push back for another hanging, as well as the opening reception (sheesh, still more time left there).

Sorry I have been missing,
I am smack dab in the middle, you see, of an all out art cram!

On the family fun side of art obligation... I have been working on a project for little Ree Bee's school. I am making Flowers... And a rocket scene for the chain link fence that encloses the playground area. I was supposed to start it last weekend, during their annual spring work party, but... I was called, last minute, to do a Nike commercial, for the 2008 olympics, and well... I could hardly pass it up, those gigs kinda make a days worth of work seem like a weeks worth of pay-- for those of you who don't know, that was my old life, I use to do hair... BUT NOT ANYMORE! I am an ARTIST NOW, STRICTLY... Unless you are Nike... Or anyone else who wants to pay $800 for a days work... No really I WILL do your hair ALL DAY LONG for $800... No takers??? O.K. then, I guess I am an Artist, so I will, instead, do a weeks worth of flower painting for free- and love every minute of it!

I will be back soon when this little duster of deadlines drops me off anywhere near my computer.


Cutting_flowers

Thank you friends...

Well, the moms and babes, they came and went...

And we had a real groovy time!

I don't know what I was waiting for? It was so fun to have our friends over... I guessed I just always assumed that our little tree house was a one friend over at a time type of joint, turns out I was wrong--that is rare.

Ree and some good-time pals

Reeses_friends_come_to_play

They played really hard and then one by one, started to melt down.
This was the scene about one minute after everybody left...

Nappy_time


It's to bed in red for this sleepy head

Red_on_red

While he did that I did these... A sure sign of good-times.

A_sign_of_good_times

The Moms are coming...

Tomorrow, my moms group is coming to our house for breaky. We all met at the hospital's new moms group, shortly after our little ones were born... Our kids have known each other pretty much their whole lives. We all do different things together, as often as we can, ideally once a week... We have been over to almost all of the other moms houses, but none of the moms have ever been over here... Oh yeah, Junko, Iris and Chris did come over to watch Ree one night, while we had a date to see John Prine, but mainly what I am trying to say is that I have never hosted the moms and babes... And I am super excited to have all of these lovelies over to our home!!!!

I will be making the usual, what I make pretty much every morning for Ree and I... Scramby eggs with diced, and sauteed spinach and onions. Delish... so quick and simp... And it just delights me that (for now) my kid loves spinach!... Oh and I had to make more of those cookies! They were just too good!

I just love an oven window with a light--don't you? Peak a boo... I see you!
More_cookies_2


Well, I don't have crystal ball (you'd think being raised by gypsies, I most certainly would have one of those, but nope. Two broken teeth... an eighth grade education... but no crystal ball). The reason I mention my lack of a crystal ball is because I would love to show you pictures of all of the festivities to come, but I have not the technology nor the witchcraft ... So you have to wait for the recap.

Although it is pretty safe to say that I can give you a clear depiction of what is to follow our gathering... The forecast (surprise, surprise) calls for more rain... And that, we have plenty of stock footage of... How about, here is one from our trip to Cannon Beach two weekends ago.

Smile_coat

So this is what well be doing after the friend filled morning indoors. We'll gear up to get drenched (as you can see, this is a favorite activity) then we'll head home and take a nice hot bath.

Spring is singing our names...

Watering_can

In late March, when Easter happened (that still seems weird to me) the spring time sprites left little Ree a basket full of gardening tools and seed packets.

And I am pretty sure we are just about ready to put them all to good use?... No, we ARE ready, it is the weather we are waiting on.

The weather has been especially freaky here in the Northwest. Bright and sunny with the temperatures in the 70's, then near freezing and almost snowing. I have been weary of putting precious little seeds in the ground, as I fear they may not be able to handle this roller-coaster-weather-ride.

But Billy is going to go head and build our little one his very first garden bed this weekend--for when the weather shapes up.

Ree is getting a head start. He made a little start to put into the bed once the weather gets stable enough. He poked his tiny little finger in to the soil, then dropped his seed in (am not sure exactly what he planted) and pinched a bit of dirt over the top of it... Now, we just wait and see just who is in there. and just when we can get to planting.


Now for a little something sweeter

Cookie_plate

I was a little emotional today--I worked myself in to a bit of a frazzle with the state of things... As you may have read.

SOOO, I did what anyone would do in my situation... I made a big ol' batch of JoAnnie's (that's my mom... one of them) famous famous oatmeal chocolate chip COOKIES!!!... with double butter!

Aww, now all is right in the... My world.

A sleeping angel babe, a snuggy husband, two frosty mugs of whole milk and a huge plate of cookies...

Thank You

&

Goodnight

I am not Political-- just human...

Thank you Billy! You are a true grown up!
So I plopped those five different envelops into one official blue box today... All thanks to the adult in our partnership, my loving and more importantly (today) RESPONSIBLE husband, Billy!

I wipe my virtually spotless hands (because I literally didn't touch the things-- aside from dropping them in the box) clean of that gawd awful mess of papers they call taxes... I call it Blood money, that pays for three rich guy's oil war! I am not all that political but nor am I blind. I can't believe we, our family (lovers of PEACE) are contributing to this genocide!

IT MAKES ME SICK!

I am all for taxes...
That HELP OUR CITIZENS... that FEED OUR ECONOMY... That PROTECT OUR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!

NOT THAT KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE, INCLUDING OUR CHILDREN!

Scream

So we paid our taxes today in money...
And guilt and shame and embarrassment and reluctance and resentment and fear and anger!

Knowing that (for now) it'll end up ill used.

I surly know it isn't going to pave the horrendous maze of potholes that lines our "unincorporated", "unimproved" dirt road... Or go to any sort of UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE to help with the fifteen thousand dollars it is going to cost to fix my teeth (which by the way, is as a direct result of growing up an all american welfare kid... Being seen at clinics by disheartened practitioners, with tied hands, authorized to do only the absolute bare minimum. As a child of unfortunate economic circumstance I was treated as a lower class of human, yet, given the the very best our country has to offer?)... Or to feed the countless number of homeless people, down the street from my studio, that line up around the block each day, at noon, to get their one meal a day (FROM A CHURCH--NOT UNCLE SAM mind you) It sure isn't going to aid in treating these people as our citizens, let alone as human beings! Or what about those solders (so many of them just boys, really) who fought for what they thought was helping their country, to find out that it was all just bullshit and that they were pretty much war slaves fighting a dirty, corrupt war to make rich men richer... Only to end up dead or ruined physically, mentally and emotionally... Oh and then abandon and forgotten by the very country they were fighting for...

SICK! SICK! SICK!

AND SAD...

I JUST GET SO SAD WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL OF US, OUR PEOPLE, SUFFERING, AND CAST AWAY... PEOPLE, KIDS IN OUR COUNTRY NOT BEING (IN THE VERY LEAST) FED!!!!... AND THE PEOPLE WORKING THIER ASSES OFF TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES TO PAY THEIR TAXES... AND HERE WE ARE... WHERE WE ARE... IN A POINTLESS WAR USEING OUR RESOURCES TO PAY FOR DESTRUCTION, CHAOS AND MURDER?????!!!!!!!

SAD, SAD, SAD

SO SAD!

Whatever we do people, whom ever the nominee may be, we have got to vote...

DEMOCRAT

in 2008

like I started out saying, I am not super political... and sometimes I am a bit insecure about using my voice because I don't know everything (I think I should)... But I know my feelings, and so I go with that... And just go ahead and use my little voice however shaky it may be. I think if we all did that--used our shaky little voices, then we will be heard.

Use_your_voice

USE THAT VOICE!

Gallery show!

I just wanted to share with you, that I got into a juried show, at the Cannon Beach Gallery, in Cannon Beach!
It is just one piece that I submitted, she is called "talk of the town"!

Here is a picture of my little coastal traveler.
Talk_of_the_town

I just noticed...

It appears that I paint my surroundings, this is an older painting but I thought it totally color matched the pic of the sombraro in my studio. It is like my friend Jennifer Mercede says, People totally look just like their art... I think that it's true. We were at Launch Pad Gallery for the First Friday opening, and she asked Sarah who the artist was, Sarah pointed him out, and Jennifer said, "Oh yeah that totally makes sense"... Then I looked over at him and Dude it did, He totally looked like his paintings!
You probably had to have been there to get the entire effect. But it was pretty uncanny. I must look like little red birds!

Red_birds


I am not sure who even reads these (except you Sally, Thanks)...

But I'll write them any how. Because I like having this little nook of the universe dedicated to my words and views and thing such as these... And to openly celebrate my life and my dreams and my struggles and my successes!

Speaking of little nooks...

I wrote a while back about my grungy art studio, the one where I had to step over questionable individuals to get into the bathroom... Well, since December I have been referring to a different studio, when doing so. And I will now tell you all about this new one!

It is quite lovely... Yes! Quite! The halls are white, white, WHITE--and if you know me, you know, I love white! The building is well lit with perfectly stained cement floors-- the exact right amount of rust, cracks, oxidation and spitter-splatter of paint specks. I have favorite areas of the floor on the way down to my studio, that I admire and look forward to greeting each time I arrive. It is in the Basement of a huge, dirty (but nicely restored) old building (over a hundred years old).

"Basement???", you say. Yes basement!... With 20 ft high ceilings and cool white washed exposed brick and beams... And a flood of natural light streaming over the tops of the three quarter built partial walls that separate the studios (as to allow for the sharing of the shining of the sun-- when it decides to do that).

The maintenance people are SOOO ON IT too! Telling US when stuff needs to be fixed... and asking, "when's a good time?" This is a big deal because at my old spot... Well... there was a hole intended for an "eventual skylight" that... Umm, was directly over my area and pretty much was just covered up with a piece of aluminum foil that would blow off every time a bird flew over head... So you can imagine my delight about the strong presents of a handy team in my new building.

I LOVE THIS SPACE!

It is tucked way in the back of the building and has two large weight & pulley doors between us and the rest of the studios It is like having a tiny, magic, secret corner of this big beautiful city!

It is full of art, laughter and music (recordings mind you, this little nook would be a lot deeper down in the earth if I were to be making any sort of music)... Oh, and christmas lights, lots of colorful bulbs dot and dashing, dancing a jig the perimeter of the joint!

Now you are probably thinking... Hmm? she just goes down in to her magic little corner and?... Laughs?... All by her self, she just sits down there in the music and warm glow of her twinkly lights and just laughs it up???

And the answer is yes... Sometimes that. But usually I am accompanied by my most magical and special studio-mate of the world... SARAH CRUSE! She and I are the absolute ingredients for Fun-Magic-Art-Love-and-Laughter Town Fest!!! We have so much fun and are so productive down there together! I was worried that having a friend as a matie would be all play and little work... But instead it is all play and ALL work! We are fabulous together!

I can't believe that this is my job! But it most certainly is, and I LOVE IT! When I am in the studio I feel amazingly free, and since I already went there, with the pouring it on of the magic talk I'll just throw it out there just one more time (or ten), full of magic! Time stands still, the need to eat (or the opposite) vanishes. I can spend eight hours in the blink of an eye painting, making... Loving--every minute of it! It is my haven, my sanctuary. It is my escape and my reality- I love that! Anyway... I guess I would pretty much be happy to make art anywhere, it is just that I get to make it in my most favorite spot to make it ever!

Wrapping it up here (before I just get too silly-love-struck on this place)... I am so fortunate to have a passion as a career, and this wondrous place to do it... And an awesome first mate!

Goodnight.

Love, Robin


I wish I had a better pic for you... Next time I am there I will take one for ya... Sally. I actually just cropped an old pic of the studio that I had already posted... What a cheater! but it was the only picy I had.
String_lights_sombraro


Wow, that last Picture?

It showed up pretty awful!... I guess You will just have to come and see that painting in all it's glory on Friday.

One last reminder

But first I am happy to say, I finished work for BOTH new shows three days ago and Ree is done with the latest teething bought ... What do you know? NO midnight whisper fights in three days! It is amazing what a fun bunch we can be when we don't have all the pressures... That is not to say that there shouldn't be deadlines for shows... or teething (we need art and teeth). All I am saying is that it is nice to be calm and breath once in awhile.

So a quick note about the opening again and then on to exciting news:

First Friday Opening:

Friday April 4th

Lille Boutique
(1007 E Burnside- one block east of Doug Fir on the opposite side of the st.)

6-9pm... With refreshies

Show title:

"Limbs & Leaves"


Your_colors_love

But if you miss it on Friday, it hangs the entire month of April

... Blah blah, blah... Reminder, Blah blah...

Ok, now that business is done, here is something really cool that happened today in regards to my art...

I was approached by two different curators-- both today! They each came up to me and said that they would love to show my work--at two different times... In two different locations. It was awesome, I am use to doing the asking.

The first one was at a coffee shop, down the street from my studio, which is also where his art studio happens to be. Same building, he is on the top floor I am on the bottom- random useless details, I know.

Anyway he said that he has seen my work around town (and many times in the back of my car --to and fro shows) He curates for 15 different Buildings in the down town Portland area!!!! And he wants to show MY WORK!!!!

Then... While I was hanging up my show at Redwing Cafe & Bakery... A woman (also a curator) saw me doing so and asked if she could exhibit some of my work sometime we exchanged info (the old fashion way--we wrote in down on little pieces of paper-- because we were both out of cards) and that was that!

I am so super excited about the magic out today... I wonder if it was brought on by all of this beautiful sun shine?!!

I miss you Billy!

So these are our days as of late:

Ree and I wake up and Billy has already gone off to work (sad face about that). He always says goodbye with kisses and whispers but sometimes I am so tired that I can't remember that this even happened.

Next (for the past week) the little guy has been cutting his eye teeth, feverish, sensitive and now with a awful ear infection... Need less to say he has been miserable!

My little heart just shatters for all of the discomfort my sweet baby is going through... I just feel so awful and powerless about not being able to fix it for him.

Because of his sensitivity and aches, he is constantly in my arms, on my lap or whimpering at my feet. This has put a huge damper on the my domestic agenda--that I already struggle to maintain. That is just to say, that once again the house has been hit a clothing, dishes and dust bunny bomb!

I repeat: The house has been hit!

Due to Ree's current condition, he has been nursing the entire night through, which means I have been getting NO SLEEP! As a result I am a bit of a grumpkin pumpkin during the day.

When Billy does get home I am so super spent plus I have deadlines to meet... So I escape to my studio!

A).Because, I need to just be me alone without giving any more of myself to any one, and B). I am cramming to complete my up coming shows.

I get home sometimes in the wee hour of the following day (2,3 in the morning).

Sometimes I get home and Billy wakes up to spend the slightest bit of time with me and I am so delirious and exhausted I find something, anything to fight him about...

So basically the only time I get to see my beautiful husband is at 3 in the morning for cranky delusional midnight whisper fights! It is horrible! When we... somehow find our way out of what ever ridiculous argument we (I) have created and agree to call it a night... Our feet DO always seem to find each other as we drift off to sleep for a length of time that would more realistically be considered a nap.

And then... We wake to do it all over again!

But not tomorrow. Tomorrow we have a date!
Dinner and Bruce Sprinsteen! I can't wait!

I MISS YOU BILLY!
I LOVE YOU BILLY!

Me_love


Why do I blog?

I wish I could track down a whole hour to share all the amazing with you all. Amazing stuff happens all daylong, all I want to do is catch it in a jar and come running in at dark to show you all it's glow....

Because??? I care about keeping you happy and entertained and... well...? Engaged. For some reason I choose to write about stuff that I think about and share it with you here in my little nook of cyber space. My little cobwebby corner of this vast webernet of endlessness... I actually think it might be a bigger world then even the one we live in. So why then do I bother with it this blogging business? Sending my words out in a rocket-ship to linger in space? When already it seems I am scraping the bottom of the peanut butter jar for little crunchies of time? I don't really know? Can't really tell ya why?

I guess I like the thought of being heard/read? I think, I might like the idea of loved and adored by strangers and fans... If I tell you true. This is where I pretend I am famous... At least that is one possibility.

This is where I pretend that my average days are special and of pertinence to others out there wandering around this strange place hopping from site to site like they were rocks on a river walk... That's what people use to do to explore things. Why I blog then?... Is, many times, to just get things out of my head... Out of my heart and well, most importantly share... Oh and exaggerate! Tell stories, make wishes, to connect I guess? I like thinking I might make someone laugh, or relate, or inspired.

To have the assignment of searching out amazement each and everyday so that I might have something of value, to pass along by way of words and pictures. Or to focus on the hilariousness in the other wise horrendous moments... To make fun of my mess, to tattle on myself for my imperfections and make short of my shortcomings.

I don't know... To pay closer attention to my life?

So now that this ramble has gone on this long and you are probably still searching for the part where I show you something special...

I think this is pretty special, it is my favorite blog, Soulemama, and maybe it is just exactly the answer to my question of, "why do I blog"? This blog is the reason I wanted to write one myself... Amanda Soule makes life seem so magical and full of simple treasures... She makes you want to pay more attention.

Blow_wishes


sneaky peeky

Here is a sneak peek at a little cropped section of one of the new gals, from the "limbs and leaves" series. You can see the rest at Lille in April.

Peeky


So the rants and the raves have been a little scarce...
I am in a bit of a whirlwind getting ready for two up coming shows... Painting like dog in the stoods (studio) lately... I'll be back soon though-- Promise!

The first show is at:

Lille Boutique
"limbs & leaves"
1007 E Burnside PDX
Opening reception
April 4th, 6pm-9pm

!!ALL NEW WORK THERE!!


Also at:

Redwing Cafe
"little house"
1700 SE 6th Ave. PDX
Opens April 1st


Hope to see folks peeking in... Here is a little preview.

Dream


Hillary all the way!

I can't hold it in any longer... and frankly the feeling just keeps growing in me!

Let me break um all on down for ya... My feelings... mind you... These are MY feelings!

I am a little sick of people just assuming I am a supporter of Obama.
Just because... Just because... I don't know why? But they just do...

And now, the two of you who read this will know where I stand.

What you should be assuming is that I am VOTING for HILLARY... And yes it is because I am a woman! I AM a woman!.. and I love women! And I have always thought that a woman should be President!
And now we have this awesome opportunity!!!

So... where is the celebration?!!?

This is a BIG FUCKING DEAL ladies!!!

I can believe I feel like a minority amongst women or at least the ones I talk to??
I just don't understand this need to perpetuate the male dominance of the world...??
Who would it have to be? In order to get a majority woman alliance? who??? I don't get it?
Then again we are taught to hate ourselves... Is that it???

Ok... Ok... Not to offend!

Just because you don't vote for a woman doesn't mean you hate yourself... It is just the only reason I could come up with in this moment of confusion, bewilderment... And a strong feeling of abandonment!

Not to be a gender stereo typer here but, now that I have a baby I do have some room to talk, because boy babies and girl babies are sooo stereotypical! I now know that gender (largely) instinctually instils certain attributes and they are amazingly specific.

Women are made to nurture and take care of their children & their people... Men are more the money makers and the defenders... Lets stop having our country run by money making "defenders" and lets TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE!!!!!!


Mainly these are my feelings/this is my criteria:

If "she" is not a republican

and if "she" is not the Devil

Than "she"-- ANY woman has got my vote!

But also I actually think that Hillary Clinton is an excellent candidate for the Job!
I agree with many of her policies. And I think that she is sincere and smart and strong and feminine and human...

About the negativity and those other bad wraps she seems to be so good at accumulating:
You try going on a year long public interview and not once say what you think people want to hear... And then try Not say anything bad about the other person up for YOUR job... I couldn't do it!

And yes, she may be a bit conservative...
What politician isn't?
Come on she's a Politician.
They are ALL politicians!!!
And the are ALL conservative to a degree.

Ummm by the way she is a woman and she is running for president... And THAT is pretty radical in it's self!

For the record -- to let you know just about how conservative I am... I would vote for Sarah Silverman for President if she ran!


(Sarah since you DO read this... how about it... maybe Hill can warm up the spot for you... sneak a box of o.b.'s into the Oval Office desk drawer for ya...??? Yay- pillow fight)

Anyway I don't want to offend anyone I just thought it was time I made my opinion public... even if it is not public opinion! I feel strongly about it and now you know.

A little more work

But kinda fun... Because I am excited about it and I really believe in him...

So, I just wanted to promote my husbands business a little.

Holdfast Woodshop:

Specializing in Fine Furniture, Interior Woodworking & Finish Carpentry
check out the website at www.holdfastwoodshop.com and tell all of your friends!

Dresser_fin