valentines

i've been making these cards for a few years now.  i can remember when i first started, sitting around with my daughter, coming up with ever more ridiculous combinations - you're the lima to my bean, anyone?  one that got rejected for being just a wee bit over the top was - you're the sid to my nancy.  yeah, very bad taste. 

i got the idea from a song that i don't know the name of and i can't remember who sang it.  but this is the line that inspired the cards - you're the chocolate in my pocket (sound familiar to anyone?)  so i love this idea of having this little treasure, this gift of chocolate, savoring it, anticipating it, and you keep it real close to you, in your pocket where it's comfy and warm.  and then you finally take it out and... well, it's soft and melty and now you have to work for it, you have to get a little messy to eat it.  and i feel love is like that, being in love, being married, being with someone for the long haul.

this might be why i'm single now.

but i love the contradiction, which i think is closer to real life. so... you're the itch to my poison ivy is the itch that you love to scratch but it can be a bit annoying too.  

birthday in gloucester

massachusetts, that is.

as i mentioned in an earlier post, my kids took me to see the ocean for my birthday.  the weather was amazing for january, a perfect day for the beach. so many people had the same idea.  it was as if we all recognized what a gift a day like this was and we all couldn't help smiling at each other. even the dogs.  

the top picture is the view from our motel room.  i was happy.

i have to give some love to the 2 restaurants we went to.  it's always tricky for a celiac to eat out, so we are always thrilled to find places that have gluten free items, let alone a menu.  the bottom two pictures show gf pizza from guiseppes (ask for the gf menu!) and gf waffles from mamie's kitchen.  if you're ever in gloucester you've got to try them.  to be honest, we'd be at mamie's every sunday for breakfast if we lived in the area.

 

  

new work new studio

a while back i started a series i called inner constellations.  these pearl constellations looked like stars that would guide and show the way to things that need to be learned or found again.  this second piece is called forgiveness.  to forgive ourselves seems to be so hard.

some photos behind the scenes, pearls from my father.

i just discovered wanelo and i'm having a blast wandering around.  while virtual window shopping, i found this.  i love it and just had to share it here.

then i saw this

these lovely prints are by bianca green. check out this neat project she's started.

i just might have to own one or two of these.

more goodness

love, v - another blog, has featured the humble hand drawn calendar and so i must (happily) spread the love with a mention.

this picture is from the post titled belly.  even if you're not a dog lover, (i am) this has got to make you smile.

i love the look of this room, so warm especially on this cold january day.

thanks love, v.

oh, yes, and i had a birthday yesterday.  i'm not talking age here but it was a big one, one that i might have wanted to forget but my kids made it awesome. one of the best moments was while i was upstairs and they were all downstairs in the kitchen, cooking, preparing, listening to music.  i could hear their laughter and feel their unity in the making of a birthday dinner for me and it was a beautiful thing.  as they get older i see them growing more and more into themselves and life taking them in other directions, and these moments of togetherness happen less and less.  and what i liked even more about it was the fact that i was not a physical part of it.  it was somehow like knowing that they were going to be alright no matter what, that they have each other, separate from me.  that was an unexpected gift.

another unexpected gift was an overnight trip to gloucester, mass.  middle son thought i needed to see the ocean for my birthday and he was right.  also got awesome music and a book about making art from books.  perfect, i'd say.

and those kids made a dinner to die for. soft, cheesy polenta, perfectly cooked steak, salad with grapes, (love grapes in a salad) and cheesecake for the singing bit. i took pictures but god are they terrible, so i will have to leave it up to your imagination.

mad awkward

is this mad awkward, as my youngest son might say, or just healthy self-promotion?  i don't know but i'm so thrilled and proud that i can't help it.  the humble hand drawn calendar was featured in 2 very neat blogs and a handful of etsy treasuries!

the first blog, such great heights is geared towards empowering teens. there are beautiful photos featuring awesome teens and the self-less, inspiring things they do.

spin. sew. sketch. features finds and projects by kate.  she has an amazing eye (not just because she found the humble hand drawn calendar) and i particularly love her very own calendar project below.

now for the treasuries.  thanks to all for including the humble, etc.