My Photo

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


Responsiblity Day

So I have four hours to get some stuff done... No Baby just dumb boring bills, e-mails, tax stuff, passport stuff, ... and so on like that there! All the stuff I am totally horrible at! So there will be no fun pictures or inspiring sentiments... No hilarious stories or contemplative thoughts on life, no relatable dilemmas or new glorious master pieces... Or any of that! NO, NO, NO! Just a little typing tantrum about how I have to be a regular adult and endure regular responsible adult type activities and how I totally can't stand doing all the normal stuff. I am so glad I have a husband who is good at it and takes care of a vast majority of all the... Yuck!

Painting Dress...

Because I love to dress up for work!Painting_dress


Art Marketing 101...

Who new that it would be so fun?!?

I was recently invited to join a small group of women to be a part of their art marketing group... Sure I thought, that could be helpful! I will learn a few things get together with some ladies...Talk business? Yeah that sounds like it could be alright... Or... ??? Totally F@$king Awesome! It was great!... To get together with other artist and brainstorm some ideas about getting our art out into the world. Who ever said two brains are better then one, should have tried four! The group consisted of Artists Katie Simpson, Sarah Cruse, Jennifer Mercede and now, Me! It was fun and inspiring and really really productive. We came up with so many ideas and had so much fun that it was like, We should do this everyday! But once a month works for me too! It really was the start of something, I think, truly amazing-- Well, it is not the start... But for me it is, and I am pretty sure I have stumbled on to a special group of artists here.

So thanks ladies, for the invite!

Because it was a group on marketing and this was a blog about that group on marketing... I suppose I will just have to sneak some in here... By showing you all one of my latest. Snowy_hilltop
"snowy hilltop" 12"x12" $140


Done with all that... And on to THIS!

Ahhh... To start tomorrow out with mopped floors and every dish done, just make the bed and I'll be off to the studio for a full day of painting my heart out, then...
OMG! Billy got me a gift certificate, for a Massage at 5:00!!!

It was so cute.
The card said,

"For: Relaxing
Form: Being Mangled"

(referring of course, to Ree's current behavioral situation-
the hitting, biting, clawing situation that is-
But we'll not mention that any further)

So, after painting and pampering it is home to my little lovies!
Oooo?... maybe I put a pot roast and some veggies in the slow cooker so we can have magically made dinner when I get home!

I can't think of a better day!!! Can you?!?

What a treat!

And now here is a treat for you... It is not nearly as sweet as my all day treat tomorrow... But I think it's a little sweetie never the less... It is my current favorite painting.

Pdx


Yes! They are gone...

... For like the whole day... Or for AT LEAST four hours! That means I get to CLEAN... and YARDEN (maybe Yarden? Maybe not??) But CLEAN... I get to clean, alone, all by myself!!!... Oh glourious day (I wrote that in my singing voice, in case you were wondering)! I get to wash away a weeks worth of... Holy F#%king disaster!

Little Laundry piles tipping over on every surface... Dust bunnies and raisins hanging out in shady corners of the house-- obviously up to no good! Towels on the back of every door knob and hanging over every door, bath toys beached on the bottom of an empty tub... books and toys enrolled in some sort of sick storage swap!?... Well I am sending them all back to their right homes, immediately!

Ree's bed looks more like a toy box then a bed... but I guess the only thing that actually makes it a bed is Max, our cat, who sleeps there and gets his stupid black hair all over it... Just because no one else sleeps there doesn't mean it is up for grabs, MAX! One day... Oh one day Ree is gonna sleep there too! And we will once again have a grown up bed (but that is a-whole-notha' blog)!

Dishes- not much to write about there, except that there are always, ALWAYS... some dished to be done. That is something to depend on, something you can be certain of! And then there is the real stuff the really really real stuff... That never gets done during a whirlwind three minute straightening attack... I am talking about the Scrub-a-dub-dub... The moping and toilet bowl and tile and grout and oven (well maybe not the oven) but the windows and the fridge... Oh my, there will be no mercy! Step aside Mrs. Meyer's. Back off Bi-O-Kleen and Simple Green! I am bustin' out the Bleach and the Comet, 'Cause I am not F@$king kidding around here... It's all about the kill the fishes and change the ph of the soil type sh*t... Sorry Planet, I am gettin' dirty with the cleaners today!

Oh yah, LET'S DO THIS!

MEXICO!

So this is that story I promised... I am not in the most magical of moods so this story may not have all of the colors that it should... All the colors of neon tropical fish that is!

We are going to Mexico! (so there is the ending)
Here is the beginning:

Just recently I was telling Billy that I would love, Love, LOVE to go somewhere tropical. "Like Mexico", that is what I said, "Mexico"! I have never been there, I am from California and I have never been??? I know that is just a little bit redick', but it is true.

Living so far North I have been missing the mexican culture that I grew up around.
I miss hearing spanish spoken in the back round of everyday.
I MISS the food (have yet to find a decent Mexican food joint up here).
Communicating with gestures and smiles when there is a language barrier.
The smell of tortillas and laundry detergent wafting through the air at sun down.
Brightly stripped wool blankets and posters of low riders and jesus for sale on every other street corner.
Home made tamales-- a dollar a piece off the tail gate of a truck.
Flats of strawberries bags of oranges.
Flea Markets.
Family. I always admired how the Mexican families stuck together. I wanted to be a part of something that strong.

So, I am not mexican, But I love coming from a town where much of the community was graced with a strong Mexican presence. Most of what I know of any sort of culture I learned from them, I have kinda adopted it as my own. So I thought I would love to go see the origin, the roots of where all this magic originally came from.

Anyway I love stuff from mexico and like I said, before I went off into my little ramble, I was just telling Billy how badly I wanted to go to Mexico... and how could we ever make that happen? etc...

I even made a painting that had "you should go to Mexico" scratched in the paint.
like I had been and highly recommended it, but really I was talking about me, us, we should go to Mexico! And low and behold... WE ARE GOING!!!!

Here is that part; How we are going:

When Ree and I were down in California, visiting Friends and Family. my Friend/Mom was looking for tropical places to celebrate her 60th Birthday... And of course I recommend Mexico, we started looking around the internet for places, flights, villas etc... and before you knew it she and Ronny were flying us all down to stay for 9 days in a villa on a lagoon in Akumal MEXICO!...
What the F#@k!
Are you kidding me?
It was like Magic!
These people are pretty magical!
ALWAYS are!

THANK YOU JOANN & RONNY--WE LOVE YOU!!!

Someday I'll tell you the story of how we chose each other as Family (when you are ready for more magic) Mexico_bag


lovely evening...

I spent a fab evening with some special lady friends... "My Moms" as I call them-- It turns out that when we get to hang out laugh and really get to know one another, when we don't have midgets tugging at our pant legs, we all get along quite splendidly... And ya know, I rather like these ladies quite a bit. Not that I ever thought other wise- It is just hard to build onto friendships when you are hither and tither with the baby wrangling. Every time we get to hang out as who we are as people in real life and not JUST mothers it really is awesome and reenergizing!

Not to mention we ate dark chocolate and sipped on specialty espresso drinks by candle light and glowing paper lanterns at a chattery little patisserie while the raindrops collected on the window turned the street lamps and traffic lights into a thousand little twinklies and invited them in as even more ambiance.


The company and the setting were a perfect break!

And then...

I got to drop by my quiet midnight studio for a little painting. I had not been there yet since I've been back home. I was jonesing for some time in the studio and this was the perfect dose.

A scripted evening, truly.Ne_corner_of_the_studes


Today I love these

little pine cones (O.K. so this is just a picture of one of them)
Little_pine_cone

I found them out on our walk. I just looked up and there they were, dangling from a giant old pine, like chiming little silver bells. I plucked a few down to make a bouquet... But I must say they really were more charming, gracefully diving from the bows of that old tree. Nature always does it best.

So that is what I have for today. I do have a really good story but I'll have to save it for tomorrow. It is just to good to rush--and I don't really have the time right now, or the energy, to convey the magic.

Well, Orange You Cute?

I am kinda obsessed... With orange trees... And contrasting colors.

So you can imagine my delight when I found this lovely little gal sweetly swaying against this bright blue back drop. Prettier to me than any flower.
Orange_you_cute

Orange and Blue are my favorite of the contrasting colors...
Maybe that is why I love orange trees so much?
Looking up at those juicy little gems chattering away against a vibrant blue sky just makes my heart sing!
It's true I'll prove it to you...


exhibit A:
This is the orange tree I painted in Ree's Room while I was pregnant with him. I couldn't help myself I had to smoother those little oranges in orange glitter.
Lil_rees_orange_tree


Exhibit B:
Here is a "Girl and her Orange Tree" painting. I had to douse this one with glitter too--this time it was the bird. I think I painted it in 2005?
Girl_woranges

I actually have plenty more orange paraphernalia but I will let you go already. 'Cause you are getting bored, orange you? mmum...Tee-he...he. Maybe more another time?

Getting back into a groove... Kinda.

Sunsetfeb08

I'll start out with a picture of this awesome sunset that I got to hang out with the other night... Because I have a feeling this post is not going to be that pretty... And I would love for your time here to be worth the visit.

Trying to get back into the swing of things... I hadn't be doing this (blogging) business for all that long before our trip and returning to it after 10 + days kinda feels like starting all over.

If you know me, you know that I am not all that organized... Did I just say "not all that organized"? Wow!, That was a generous understatement. Because, quite honestly I am a mini tornado, who reaches out into thin air to grab my flying keys and swirling wallet on my way out the door- My trusty organizational system is firmly based on magic. For me if it is "misplaced", that means I know exactly where it is!

Anyway- I gently like to blame it on my crazy creative artist brain... That makes it all somewhat justifiable. And usually that is exactly what is going on. How can I hardly keep track of boring, mundane, aching details such as keys, cards, money, bills?... Yuck!

I am too busy admiring cracks and stains on the sidewalk for their composition, studying pealing paint on sun bleached wood, scoping out my route home for sparkly piles of broken auto glass, trying to remember where I saw that tree with the two leaves left on it, and wondering whether or not I'll find it again if the leaves have fallen. Figuring out what colors I used to make the color of my paint water and how I could recreate that color if I were to just use paint. Deconstructing peoples outfits to rebuild them in my mind out of bolts of antique-esque upholstery fabric and old drop clothes. Saving this art project for this medium, storing that one away for that and filing the rest in the back of my mind... Now that I am mentioning it, I am realizing that I am kinda, in a way, sorta... Organized?!?

I guess this is where I spend that organization-On lovely little paintings and things.
A_home_for_your_heart
you can see more of them at MotherMade.org

I just keep it all inside then export it through my hands when the time is right. I have all sorts of goodies tucked away in there all neatly awaiting their turn- all assigned their specific color schemes and materials, meticulously planed out. All in some sort of order, whether it be by series or complexity of the piece and so on... The kind of attention to detail "normal" people apply to "order" and "responsibility" in their adult lives.

YES! YES!.. I do believe I have a rhyme AND a reason!.. To at lease one aspect of my life... Besides, of course the (nursery) rhyme and Ree-son of being a Mother.

I guess where I was going with this was...???

Not quite sure- Although I am pretty sure it was not solely to highlight my disorganization...
Anyway I am not. I am "Differently-Organized"

Bare with me, I am just swinging back into the ramblings... So they might be extra rambley for a while.

Since I can't take a picture of my tidy little brain, I'll leave you with this fading sunset picture taken from my porch the other night. It was amazing and lasted forever!
Sunset2feb08


And We Are Back...

Ocean_whispies

Reese and I were all over northern California for the past ten days. Sorry we didn't warn you before we left this space high and dry, but I kinda figured most everyone who reads this already knew where we were, we were with them.

OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!!

We had so much fun... And miss you all so much already!

It was so wonderful to see all of our loved ones.
Living away from our support network has its challenges as you may have previously read on this blog and being around supportive family just makes it that much more obvious to me that I miss a village.

It is hard to have a village when we are separated by miles and miles and state lines then many more miles...

But it sure is beautiful when our family comes together. It is instant caring and involvement as a WHOLE. All the kids and adults coming together to form our little village. So much energy, joy, cooperation laughter and LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! It felt (almost) like a complete unit... Except for, of course, the absents of our Papa-Billy-Bear (but he is on board for the next trip FOR-SURE!) , together we form the truest kind of community with deep roots and even deeper laugh lines.

WHAAAAAA! I wish we were closer!!

I would love that- But we all have roots where we are and for some reason it just works out best, for our little separate families, that we all stay put...

BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR VILLAGE!
(I guess for now it'll just have to be a sparse one)

That is until you all wise up and decide to move on up here.

I didn't really have an opportunity to get any pics of the Village Magic as it occurred. I was too busy living it. So here is a painting I found in an ally next to a dumpster, in Santa Cruz while I was home. I had to take her picture seeing as how I could hardly check an eight foot painting in at baggage... And now others can be so lucky to find her. I thought of Dispatch from L.A. ,when I found her, she finds really cool street art all the time.

Trash_2


Grump Cloud

Cuddle_cloud

This was my Valentine to my dear poor husband. It is a little cloud pillow... With, rain drop hands and feet, and a little "I heart You" pillow hand off. The back unsnaps and tucked inside was this message.

Luv_u_always_2

I have been a little on edge lately... OK, it has been an all out Grump-Fest, sponsored by... Me! So, I made Billy an Apology in stead of a Valentine.

The constance and self sacrifice of full time momming has been wearing on me lately, and I have been less then lovely when Billy gets home at the end of each day. Usually he gets home and I head for the nearest exit (that can't feel good for him). I just don't have much left to give away. We are going through a little bit of a rough patch, me and Ree that is. I'm pretty sure that he is verging... On what? I am not quite sure of--after all, everything new that happens is a first for us both. But I think we are at the peek (or at least that is what I tell myself). He is waaaaaaaay clingy and gets Suuuper frustrated! He'll stand there at my feet repeating the same "marble-jarble-waar" (that is what we call baby talk- because it was the first distinct phrase he ever said) over and over... and over and over, the same exact set of nothing-I-understand. He is clearly saying something very deliberate... But we just can't understand each other!!! For me it is saddening and for him it is maddening! I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for him. Like being in a foreign country and you don't know the language... But here's the twist-- You rely on these foreigners for everything- you depend on these dummies (that's me) to meet your every vital need (that's him) and they don't get it... THEY, just keep feeding you bananas. So that is our current situation
(to make a short story long).

Color Explosion

First_painting
This is how it started

He worked on his first "masterpiece" today... Brown seems to be a popular theme these days, and that is just how this whole thing ended- In a big ol' brown out- I guess that is his style. It was hardly prettier then the ones he produces on a regular basis. How is that for supportive mom??? I just called his first piece of art "baby crap"(wince). I can't help it, I am more vain then I am sentimental and sometimes I have a hard time pretending, it just wasn't that pretty folks. Lets face it he is a 17 month old little baby who can barely use a spoon to feed himself... What did you expect, a Robin Carlisle? In any case I was thinking... Umm... Well, maybe we'll have to practice a little more before we just throw any old thing in a frame... And this one, I think he just may have scribbled
"to: Grandma" some where in that mess... Oh, yeah! There it is... Aww... How sweet!

Yep this ones going to my mom.
First_painting2
And we are almost done... See that green over there? Here is where we should have stopped.

As for the experience, it was AWESOME! We all had so much fun! He clearly loved the exploration of all the colors and textures of the paint. And we could not stop cracking up at the huge mess that was so quickly getting away from us.

Painted_foot

Where to go...

Shine
"shine" 12"X12" $150

If you would like to see some of my little efforts in real life.
I just hung a new show at the-

Clinton Corner Cafe
Se 21st St. and Se Clinton St. in Portland, Or

Running from Feb 1st through the end of March
Featuring the "Little Houses" series
as well as some from the "Birds on Wire" series

You can also see "Little Houses" Hanging at Tandem Coffeehouse through the end of February (Se Division & 31st)

Today I Paint!!!

All_you_need_is_love
"all you need is love" 12"X12" $150

I made it to the studio today...
Where I worked on a new group of paintings-- Love birds!

LOVE, LOVE... LOVE-BIRDIES... LA, LA, LA, LOVE BIRDS!

Ohpp, and apparently I made up a song as well... Amazing how a smidge of a break can restore one's sanity. This one is called "all you need is love". It maybe should have been called, "all you need is love... and just a little time to paint". Because boys and girls that is the truth! It really is the best medicine (for me at least) just to smear some paint around.

In the Zone Out

Zone_out


I got that break I so desperately needed!


I would love to tell you that I used it to do any of the following:

Make amazing art-- Sew my little heart out-- Have an all out laugh riot-- Knit even half a round on the year long hat I've been (not) working on for Reese-- The unjustified buying of clothing (for me this time!)-- Play super hotty dress up, in real clothes (ones without evidence of motherhood) involving make-up, hair products, handbags (which contents don't include diapers), wide belts, and skinny heels-- A grown-up snuggy with my husband and maybe more (wink-wink)-- Hanging out with girly pals feeding our friendships dark chocolate and laughter-- The checking off any part of any of my endless "todo" lists-- A nice long run and a hot bath... No! No! No!...N,n,n,NO!

NO... I had no energy for any of that.

Instead I fled home to an unfamiliar coffee shop across town, where I just sat in the surround sound chitter-chat of the (seemingly) baby-less young people and waited for my breath to return to a place of moderate, steady, normal--instead of short, shallow, restricted.

A little time to zone out and let the mush I call my brain settle.
I just sat there wasting time, pretending I had nothing to do and no where to be.
Not that I had much choice, even this was, perhaps, a little over exerting to my mental capabilities.
Considering my exhaustion.

I must say though it was quite effective.

sweet.

simple.

nothingness.

Yeah I'm Talkin' About This Guy.

Baby_blue


Here it is, all dolled up in mud and tears, the awful truth about today.

I am going to, I think, I hope not, but I am pretty sure it is going to happen, Lose My Mind!!!!

Trapped in the house by rain and wind. No longer able to go to our favorite dining establishments-- due to a sudden on-slot of horrible public behavior, on both of our parts. First of all he has a new aversion to the highchair- His feet kick and sputter every which way but in, once I am able to finally stuff his flailing little body into the seat he starts with the grabbing-- of anything, everything, all of it! He wants the entire contents of the table in his little mitts and not to just have in his possession, but to have and then hurl... Fling and throw across the restaurant at people/targets-- once sitting peacefully enjoying delicious meals, now being hit in the side of the head with spoons, napkins, sugar packet, or worse- gobs of wet baby-slobber pancakes and scramby eggs! It is an absolute living nightmare.

We use to escape the house and go to a variety of baby friendly venues... But now we are trapped inside our home, because I don't know of any monster friendly joints in our town, nor anywhere for that matter... If you know of any, let me know would ya? He is not the only monster either, It is actually rather contagious this phenomenon of reverse exorcism--of putting the demons inside rather than pulling then out. Myself included--I have become a complete MOMster! Once doting over my little angle- I am now constantly breathing my way out of wringing his little neck, or more realistically dumping water on his head... I know it sounds awful... because it is!!!! I feel terrible about the whole thing. I would love nothing more than to go back to constantly adoring him, but these days he is driving me crazy! I wish I could be this amazing zen mama... but that would take a Buddha baby and well it is clear that those days are far behind us.

I can not believe how high this hurdle is.
I thought it was hard before, when I was trying to figure out how one just sits all day and stares at ones precious little baby... Well I figured it out now, so can we just go back there and do that again?!? please! Oh!... Have I gotten to the part where my little Hercules bites, slaps, scratches and punches me? NO? Well he does, and I don't have a single clue about how to handle this! He is so mean to me sometimes. I swear he has me in tears at least once a day... And you would think that it must be just mentally painfully, well that's true, it is... But it also actually hurts! This guy is strong! He is really strong, I have bruises and scratches and he has even drawn blood! So there is that little gem of information. Just a little Icing for my Yuckday cake.

Like I said, we are trapped inside our 560 sq. ft home, that feels like 200 sq. ft, which feels more like a boxing ring then a house to me. Anyway we are going out of our minds... board out of our gourds! Just praying for spring to spring up fast! So we can escape out into the light of day. Because it is dark in here, even with a thousand twinkly lights twinkling. And every curtain flung as far open as they are able... And lovely music trying to sing us down from out ledges... It is still so dark... AND BORING... Did I mention boring?

I just need a break... Would LOVE a break!
Honestly, I think he is just as board of me.
We need us some breaks y'alls!!

Thank you DOG, that it is Friday!

Go Time!

Stained_glass_nap


So here I am, he Finally went down for a 20? 30? 40 minute nap... Maybe even an hour????!!!!(yeah right-I'm dreaming). Any how, he is down and it's go time!

That means I am scrambling to...

Get those dished done
That laundry put away (quietly)
Maybe jot down this idea I had for an art piece (before it slips away forever)
Take a shower (at 2:00 in the afternoon)
Fill out some tax papers
Sweep the floor
Respond to 27 e-mails
Find the cord for the camera
Download the above picture
Update the MotherMade website
And post this blog

So far I have jotted down the art ideas
(for later use- Hopefully I'll get some studio time this evening)
got that picture up loaded
and written this blog...
Opp... And there he goes- He is up... And sadly, so is my time!

Damn!
He is up in 10 min--And here I thought I might get 20.

Red_coatblue_coat


Having my little Baby-Angel-Monkey-Butt is truly the most incredible and motivating force I have ever known... It is also the most work and the most time consuming task??? Endeavor??? Project??? No. No. No. Responsibility? I guess that- Responsibility (though it is still understated) Ever! And those two things put together, the grand emotional heart driven passion to make art -- mixed with the scarcest of opportunities for creative follow through... I tell you, it is, at times just a little bit maddening!

I look at him and think...

I want to sew you colorful quilts and tiny little gentleman clothes.
And knit you warmth in wool & stripes.
And hand stitch out our little family life in an album illustrating each of our days.
And draw your tiny baby hands in every pose they have ever graced.
And paint an ocean in the shade of your eyes and the sand the milky color of your skin.
I want to build you cardboard castles and grand puppet theaters.
Then come up with an all star cast and do all sorts of silly voices.
I want to write you a thousand lullabies (which my singing would only butcher).
And saw your name out of sheet gold and wear it dangling over my heart.
And canvas your bedroom wall in a mural of a fruit tree that hangs heavy with glittery oranges.
And make you the hero of your own storybook, to send you on magical adventures.
I want to paint your wildest dreams, each one, as they come true.
So that I can mimic all the beauty that you make.

I want to express my love for him in a million different mediums, with every color ever made and by every art form that I push through my hands...

But that is the thing, my hands are full... Full of him usually. I have the real thing in my arms most of the time. And some times it is a struggle to see this. Or to just be there. Still. In the moment. Or charged, in the moment (as is usually the case).

I just want to run off and make him the rainbow he put inside me... To show him and the world all the love that I have. But he needs me... To act as his jungle jim, follow him up and down the sidewalk a hundred times, be his all you can eat, baby Vegas milk buffet, change his poopy diapers, read the first two pages of every book he has- before he throws them across the room, constantly shuffle danger-ables out of his hands and out of his reach... And lots and lots of hugs and kisses.

So this is how I express all of that inspiration most of the time. By being with him, caring for him, holding him... Hugs and Kisses. I am sure that this translates far more clearly to him as my all encompassing, unconditional love and adoration than, "NO! NO! NO! You can't have mommy's yarn!... She is knitting you a love plaquerd." Or, "Not now young one, We'll play later...I am writing you a great adventure!"

So for now I'll just have to sacrifice a little sleep to slowly chip away at my homemade artsy mama love notes...
And my days, they belong to him.
Snow_snuggle


A Letter to Linzy

Liz_at_pix


So this is my post for today and it goes out to my best girl, Linzy! We have been Best-ies since I was 13 & she was 15, though at times she would be hardly admit to it. Once she even put a two foot boundary on me. That stated I wasn't allowed within two feet of her... Due to my hyper activity- and how gravely uncool I was. In a time where it really was the thing to just play it cool, pretend to be way older then you actually were, chill back and act nonchalant about everything, I was always making a total scene and consequently totally blowing it for her... Because she was seriously THE COOLEST!!! She know every band that she was supposed to and then some. Not just because she was supposed to but because she she actually like them- all on her own. She smoked cigarettes on her moms front porch, and played the base guitar she could skateboard- and push really fast. She listened to records (wouldn't touch a CD), went to shows and hung out at coffee shops... Where everyone was older then us, but she totally knew how to play it cool, and to tell you the truth, I don't think she was playing, she really was JUST THAT FUCKING COOL! I wanted to be just like her... except, that I was me... and let me tell you, THAT WAS NOT WHO I WAS! No matter how hard I could wish it were so, I could never pull it off. Me, I was a total dork and not dork like I mean cool. But DORK like I mean DORK! Tall, Awkward, goofy, flaily, loud, inappropriate- I was 13 but at times I would act 8- dramatic, loud, obnoxious... Yep, that sounds like 8 to me. Oh and I thought I was hilarious... And ya know? I'm pretty sure I was? But, Yah, I may have totally blown it for her in public. And it was always a little risky for her if we were around other people (especially the coolies). But when it was just us...Oh, were those the days?! They really were some of the best times of my life. She would get just as dorky as me and we would laugh so hard we'd cry or even pee... Either way it often ended in droplets of some kind (see there it is, the inappropriate coming out) it's true. I pretty much lived at her house. Sometimes we would be in fights and I still didn't go home- I would just sleep on the couch instead on the futon in her room. I would ride her to school on the handle bars of her Cruser. We would walk home from the coffee shop late at night along west cliff and sit on a little remaining slab of the old road that had fallen into the Pacific Ocean. We would spend hours talking and smoking cigarettes. We'd sit there under the stars staring out sea on that quiet cliff and share everything with each other and laugh... And cry... No idea where our lives would take us. From there, on those rocks, we have both lived a crazy many lifetimes. We've had great adventures, and maybe even greater heart breaks... Had major scares and seen wild dreams come... and have always twined back into one another's lives. I could probably write all night about our Wonder Years, but I'll save it for another time... Because at this point I am actually bawling my eyes out. So to wrap it up...

Linzy (Auntie Linzy- as we call her now) was just up for a visit, and it did, like always, have the flavor of old times. We love you linzy and miss you already!

Here we are at Pix... for mmmm... Chocolate!!!!! Can you tell who is who?
Little_pixies

Bridge tour USA!!! Well... PDX

We started off with the Sellwood bridge and ended with my favorite, the St. Johns for the grand fanally. I do believe it is the most marvelous of all the bridges in all the world... Well, again in all of PDX. If Oz had a bridge between it and Kansas (which, if it did, Dorothy would not have had to take a tornado in) The St Johns would be the one.

Like I said, we started off with The Sellwood Bridge...
Bridge_tour_pdx
Then...

The Ross Island...
Bridge_tour_ross_island

Marquam (i-5)...
Bridge_touri5

Hawthorne...
Bridge_tourhawthorn_2

Morrison...
Bridge_tou_morrison_2

Burnside...
Bridge_tour_burnside_2

Steel (Billy's favorite)...
Bridge_tour_steel

Broadway...
Bridge_tour_broadway

Fremont...
Bridge_tour_fremont_2

And dunt-di-dunt-dah... The St Johns!
Bridge_tour_st_2

All the beautiful Bridges -- just another reason I love Portland!

Little preview...

Chicken_barn

I am getting ready to hang some art shows. Lots of new work! The first of the shows is going to be hung at The Clinton Corner Cafe on the corner of SE Clinton St. and SE 21st Ave. The show goes up on Feb 1st and hangs through the end of March. Please stop by if you are in the neighbor hood and enjoy Stumptown Coffee and tasty treats.

Getting on the wire... To sing my little songs

Well I did it, I took that blogging class... And let me tell you, I hardly have all the answers. It was a cool experience for sure and the instructor was great! A real Queen of Craft herself, Diane Gilleland from D.I.Y. Alert and the Portland chapter of Church of Craft. She covered a lot of information but sadly, I have a feeling it was just the tip of the ice burg. I do however feel that I have a little more direction and if you ask me a little direction is worth it's weight in gold. Although I am not sure that direction has an actual weight. Anyhow- what I came away with, was to be consistent (which I was ascared of- Not exactly me) and to be genuine and inspiring (which, I hope I can make this sound anything other then freakishly conceded... I am). So if I can do this thing more often, maybe someday someone will read it. Enough with the boring blah,blah.

Now with the inspiration... They do it perfectly.
Birds_on_wire1

Have I ever told you?...

Danish_tapestry


About our 560 sq. ft home? Well to say the least, it is quite small. For any one single person it would be tight quarters. And us -- we are a family of five! My usually orderly, and for the record mostly organized husband. Our (above) average toddler doing his normal toddler stuff... You know, the scattering, smearing, spreading, smashing, smooshing, throwing, tracking, trailing, dumping, clumping, messing, thrashing, tearing... I am sure you get the picture. Two cats- and I am not exactly a cat fanatic or anything and under normal accommodations I would hardly count them as members of the family (call me cruel but they are more like pets to me then family members Purr-say)... But, in a house the size of a tree fort, by default they are counted as people. Because in an area this small everybody is fighting to have a little whisker room... And the two four legged boys are certainly in on that fight- and usually winning. Then there is me... Oh brother where to start? I am a clutter bug and a scatter queen. I love pretty things and I must have them when I see them. knickknacks and paddy whacks galore! So I pretend that I must surely have a palace to keep all of my lovely little keepers. I bring home all sorts of treasures and realize there is no palace- nope I live in a nut shell... So, I just tuck them away into the basement for someday. And the stuff that makes it into the Museum of "560 sq. ft " ends up all cluttered and crowded with no proper stage for its adoration. That or they are lost in bags, boxes and piles- all patently awaiting their turn. so that is how I am with things- Now clothes, we wont even get into how I handle those. Suffice to say I am a creator of all kinds of arts and crafts and lovely little messes... I am not much for the clean up. However, I do partake on occasion, out of obligation, or madness and that sense of accomplishment that comes with, walking on the moon, moving mountains, or for me making order and just a little more room in our tiny bird house.

I do love our little Bird house...

And these guys too.
The_kitties_43

Limbs & Leaves

Let_go
"Let go (...it's time)"


I am working on a new series. Here is a little preview of what's to come. It's a celebration of nature and my appreciation for learning from the lessons that it holds. So simple and accessible are all of the answers when you look to nature.

I was in my studio late the other night after a LONG day of momming. Struggling especially with my ambivalence about continuing to nurse or not. Feeling torn between, so desperately longing to have my body back and NOT wanting to take away this comfort that Reese has known his whole life. Besides childbirth is it the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. At one point it was his only source of nourishment and vital to his survival. It has since become more of a comfort, a connection and a bond between mother and son. It truly is precious and sacred to me- Yet somehow, I am ready to call the whole thing off- mostly I am feeling ready to stop... Although I know that I will morn it, and the process of weaning is going to be an emotional one. The thing that makes me most resistant to stopping is that I don't know if the little guy is ready for it. I want to do it in the way that is the best for him... But any signs of quitting, on his end, are scarce. If I left it up to him he would nurse till he was 35, and well that just won't do. So... I do?... What then????

As I was saying, I was in the studio painting, getting ready for up coming shows... Thinking I am just painting... Simple pretty paintings - to fill in space for my viewings... When a little bit of magic seemed to be happening. You see the painting above was intended to be quite literal, speaking of a tree letting go of it's leaves because it is just that time of year... Nature gracefully bowing at the end of her yearly dance...

Sweet_was_the_song_2
"Sweet was the Song"


Then I went on to paint the second painting "Sweet was the Song" (part of a different series for another show). About ten minutes from being finished I had all but detached the little yellow birds beak from the big green birds chest... when I noticed, OMG that bird is totally nursing off of that other birds breast! I could not believe I was so blind not to have noticed this sooner- or even to have done it consciously as some sort of process. But NOPE I was just filling the gaps for my shows. It is so funny how I totally painted my heart (in two different paintings) and didn't even know it. I am always amazed by how we manifest our feelings through our art and in our lives.

So there I have it, Magic! "Let go... it's time." and "Sweet was the Song". The answers to my situation.

Art Up...

Knitting_at_kentonart_2

New Artwork now hanging at Lili's Patisserie.
SE 17th ave. one block south of SE Umatilla. The art is fine... But the food is divine, and it really is! I am not just saying that because it rhymes... Although, you may catch me doing that from time to time. I apologize in advance for my clanging.

More Pretty Things... More Often

Snow_glow

I am taking a blogging class this weekend... So get ready to be dazzled by all my new found blogginess. But really I am and I can't wait. I don't think I have quite found my voice... Maybe I need to go to New Hampshire? Basically it is a class on how to market your crafty business through your blog, and well, that is what I am trying to do over here (well partly). So Look out Looky-Lous here comes a new grade of blog from MotherMade! Stop back by. I promise -- more pretty things, more often. But I am not making any guarantees about spelling or grammar- Not that kinda class- Thank goodness!

Rainy_windshield1

Nap time again, and we didn't quite make it home. Usually when he falls asleep in the car (which, I must admit, is far more frequently then not) I go park at the train tracks and read, write, knit, draw... Breath!

This is one of my favorite places for peace, quiet and perspective. I can see for miles down the railway in to the South and to the North, the steel rails make a sharp turn and disappear around the bend. It feels like my own private corner of a wide open world. On days like these, when the rain is pouring down, it is especially quiet... And amazing. The sound of rain on the roof, the constant sheets of water dancing down the windshield, the distorted warbly tracks dot and dashing above the horizon of my dashboard... It is like a daytime drive-in movie theater, playing a silent love story... Between Nature and Industry.

Rainy_windshield2

And then I look into the back seat and see another love story... One of my very own.


Sleeping_at_the_trax

Snowy_walk8

Everchanging (I think that should be one word)


So, as some of you may have followed... or stumbled behind, as patient observers--MotherMade is ever-changing. It is an idea, a passion, a community of mothers (and supporters of moms), both a source and an outlet for creativity, and I guess most tangibly - a website...??? We have been live, on the web, since August and have been growing and changing ever since . Slowly transforming into what we will become... What that is exactly- I am not quite sure of just yet. There are a few basic fundamental elements that we grow from, Supporting: Mothers, Creativity, and Community... and from there we just see what organic shape we take on as we move forward.

You may have become familiar with the site through a project I created and WAS making & selling- The Spitty (baby Puke Poncho)- I am no longer making the Spitty nor am I coordinating the making of the Spitty by other Moms either. Unfortunately I was unable to find the time to devote to this project. With the running of MotherMade and building of the MM website, being a full time mom to my crazy-rad toddler, Reese, and an after hours Artist - Painting and hanging shows, and promoting + booking not only my own art, but my husbands as well (he is a woodworker - you can visit his site here - WWW.HOLDFASTWOODSHOP.COM) and then there is always just plain life... Enjoying the quiet times when they happen to sneak up on me- Making time for tea & friends - Dates with the man I married - Knitting little stripped pants for my son - Walks in the rain to keep the blood flowing as well as the inspiration... You know all of the little things that are SO HUGE to me. I just had to make some decisions- Every once in a while I have to do some serious weeding through and make room for the flowers -I always have about one million pots going at once and this means that I am always having to let one or two of them go so that they don't all boil over... And so I say good buy to the Spitty...
It was fun.

Now back to Business-
Still on the search for mother Artists and Craftswomen to represent on the website.
Send in your submissions to www.mm@mothermade.org!

Thank you all for grooving with the ebb and flow of all that we are creating over here at MotherMade.
Goodnight for now
Snowy_walk7

Tree_family_2

The Little Tree Family

This year for Halloween we got all dressed up in our leafy greens and hit the town as the Tree Family. Both Billy and I were Oak Trees, and Reesie our little Acorn. As usual we partied until the wee hours (you know, till like 7:45...pm) at the Tandem Coffeehouse. Cait and I had put together sort of a baby pumpkin patch kind of a swarey... for the little ones and their folks. A warm, cozy, glowy vibe where we could all hang out inside, out of the weather and sip warm sips of a bevy of bevies (translation: coffee, coco, and spiced cider galore) with our little babies all decked out... As Acorns, Garden Gnomes, Pirates, Livestock and of course plenty of Pumpkins. It really was a lovely time. Halloween has never seemed more fun to me and now, even special. I loved making Reese his first costume, It's like everything you do for them has more meaning then anything you would ever do for yourself... It's not like I wouldn't dress up in years past, it is just that in years past, not every stitch was sewn with pure love. Did that sound weird? Am I making any sense? I know I am not getting this quite right... for as much self love and nurturing I have for myself, which I am not lacking... And am now starting to sound a bit arrogant and full of myself. What I am trying to say is that I love life, I do and I mostly always have... I think things are fun and I enjoy doing all sorts of stuff for myself and others... But never has it ever felt so pure, selfless yet gratifying and unconditional. I mean he had no idea that he was looking especially adorable because of me and my stiz-nitchery... he could not have cared less- he truly was none the wiser. But none of that mattered, because it never does with them... No expectations- everything for them is done out of the realest love you have in you and that love just makes you want to do your very best. I love that! The feelings he brings out of my heart are incredible and un-convayable-- unless you have one of these little gifts of child yourself, and then you know what I am talking about, and I can just shut it on up now, because I am getting weird and rambley and emotional. But aren't we mama's and papa's so lucky though? Acorn2_6

Look, new look!

I finally did it, I got an official blog post site that I have attached to the website... So it won't take me hours to post one single ramble-on. Now, Hopefully, I will keep more regular logs of the haps over here at MM and beyond. Also, I have been up in to the wee hours, making stuff, like a little elf... Or, more accurately, like a rather large elf. So my neglect to the blog comes from good use of me time. I will now though, give you a little sneak peek into what some of that looks like.

Well there is the making of the Halloween costumes for one. We are going to be the tree family- Billy and I are both going as Oak Trees and Reese is going to be the cutest little Acorn you ever did see. I just finished the acorn suit, shoes and all, today... And I must say that I am quite pleased with the out come. For a second there it even had me contemplating the long term, psychological effects, of growing up being dressed as an acorn on a daily basis... It didn't stop at acorn either-- turnip, radish, potato... I had a hole cornucopia of outfits whirling around in my cruel mama mind. That poor guy, if my imagination ever gets the best of me, he is in for it. I guess then, he could quite literally refer to his childhood as the "salad days"... Have I ever mention that I am a giant dork? Well The cat is out of the bag now! Anyhow, as if it weren't bad enough that I fashion him little clothes made from my old cut-ups... In a way it is like he wears his mothers clothing- that can't be cool on the playground.

I am working on pages for some new Crafty Mamas as well- Which I am so excited about- I can't wait to get them onto the site. You are gonna love 'um... And of corse, I'll let you all know when the pages go live.

Then there are the ponchos and such- taking and making orders for those, always.

I also just started a new body of work - Art that is. It is a Mixed Media series with Encaustic Wax Painting as the foundation for each piece. It is pretty dissimilar to any of my other series... So I have been working out little kinks and learning as I go. I am sure I am doing all sorts of things "wrong"-- or at least the hard way. I think this is how I start most things- having no formal training I tend to have to reinvent the wheel every time I venture into new mediums. This is alright with me though, 'cause I love the exploration and play. I expect that this series will probably take about a year to complete. With all the pots I have got going, and considering the small increments of time I have to dedicate solely to this project, a year seams like a fare allotment.

And more sewing, sewing, sewing!-- I love this part because I get new clothes out of the deal. On the menu for this fall... Coats! Lots of fantastical coats! And these I will share as I go along... The first in the line up is named, Queenie- appropriately made from a Queen sized bedspread... The fabric, an orangie-fushia Velveteen- need I say more? Once made, I just might be the fanciest dame in Portland, No, actually, I WILL be the fanciest dame in Portland, It's Portland!
More on the other coat projects as they get closer to my sewing machine.

I should go now- to bed... With my head, now full of makey magic and glittery embellishments.

goodnight