6 years and counting

This is my sixth humble hand drawn fortune cookie wisdom calendar! I can't believe it. Where has the time gone? The calendar is still humble and still hand drawn but there will be a little upgrade this year. It will now be professionally printed! I like the idea of my little calendar taking this baby step and growing up a bit.

A few of the hand drawn originals, ready to be scanned.

The calendar can be pre-ordered and if you sign up for an MBS newsletter you can get a coupon code for 10% off, but hurry, it's only good through Oct. 21st.

I can't wait to get the calendar back from the printer!

We had a frost warning so I cut all the flowers that were still blooming in our little backyard garden. Now we've had a few days of Indian summer and the snapdragons and morning glories are back, at least for a day or two.

Fun with candy corn. Hope you all have a happy halloween!

xo

new work

spent part of the day taking photos of some prints for my etsy shop and thought i'd share a behind the scenes photo.

really, i just want to show you the chair i found while thrifting yesterday. it's all chippy and cracked paint, great texture. it's just what i'm trying to reproduce in my mixed media paintings without having to wait for time and use to work its magic.

a while back, i made a locket like these for my daughter with some dried flowers and bits and pieces i've saved over the years. things that are meaningful to her.

i had a lot of fun with it so i decided to make some for my shop. these have vintage maps and little starry watercolor paintings in them.

i've had this heart shaped pincushion made with an old quilt for a long time. it gave me an idea for a photograph - something raw and a bit gritty looking. painful.

there are prints and other assorted goodies at redbubble and society6 if you'd like to take a peek.

here

and finally, we have bunches of mint muscling in on the lilacs and delphiniums. to do our part and save the flower bed from a complete takeover we are having to drink mojitos...

it's a wonderful life.



xo

happy

lavender makes me so happy.

i have a couple of pots-full near my back door and i trail my fingers through it as i pass by. even the leaves smell amazing. it just makes me smile every time.

it's so true what they say about smell and memory.

a long time ago, when i was very pregnant with my middle son - i was tired and cranky and a little down and i had to pick up my daughter at her friend zach's house. when i got there, zach's mom could tell i wasn't a happy camper so she went to her pantry, rummaged around a little, and pulled out a gallon sized bag of dried lavender and handed it to me.  here, this is for you, she said.

zach and his family moved across the country not too long after that but every time i smell lavender, i think of zach's mom and that small act of kindness.

and now i'm thinking about what i can do with my tiny little harvest. i'm imagining something lemony and lavendery and yummy. like these maybe.

lemon lavender pound cake with greek yogurt
roasted cherry lavender ice cream roasted cherries... oh my.
lemon lavender cupcakes
lemon lavender pots de creme

or maybe some lavender sugar. seems pretty easy -

1 cup sugar
2 -3 tsps. lavender
1 vanilla bean (optional)

mix sugar and lavender together with the seeds scraped from the vanilla bean (if using) in an air tight container. shake every day for 2 weeks and then use liberally!


i went a little crazy so you can find even more lavender recipes and a cocktail or two on this pinterest board



xo

thoughts

here

yes indeed.


xo

call for artists

wanted to share with you my son Dylan's year long thesis project. i may have mentioned around here that he is a graphic design major graduating this year. it's a project that hopes to put art lovers in touch with artists by giving a taste of the artist's work, with the hope that relationships and sales will grow beyond that first taste. you can be a part of it by clicking here!

What is Amuse-Bouche: The Art Appetizer?

Amuse-Bouche (uh-mooz-boosh) is French for ‘entertains the mouth.’ In the culinary world it is usually a small, original, bite-sized appetizer which is created personally by the chef and cannot be found on a menu. It is an expression of the chef’s skill and style and can predict the culinary approach to the rest of the meal. We use the phrase Amuse-Bouche here in a similar sense. A small, original sample of art, created and inspired by the artist to help build the artistic appetite. Collect the art boxes and try out new artists and styles all without making the financial commitment of a large work. Amuse-Bouche brings a taste of different artists directly to you. Bon Appetit!

art box for the artist's work

working into the wee hours getting everything ready

a taste of art

another taste

birthday weekend

it was middle son's 22nd birthday this past weekend! i just love that kid.

his favorite birthday pie recipe

i love him so much i made him help me finish painting the dining room.

i'm such a terrible mom. i didn't even take down the origami stars hanging from the ceiling, our very own 100 million suns inspired by this snow patrol album cover. or the disco ball. every dining room needs a disco ball. especially when you're celebrating a birthday!

besides, i think it helps disguise the light. or does it do the exact opposite? i might not mind the light so much in this new and improved, all white room.

hmm...

and here is ginger the wonder dog, getting her most favorite thing in the world - a butt scratch.

ah, it's the simple things in life.

collage scrap exchange

i found this, new to me, blog, brown paper bag and signed up for the collage scrap exchange. sounds like a great way to be inspired. the deadline is nov. 15 so there's still time. go check it out, sign up and we can do it together!

happy halloween!

thesweetestoccasion

i'll be listening to this ryan adams song all day -  maybe not strictly a halloween song but i love it!

enjoy!

autumn finds

had some fun over at wanelo putting some of my favorite things together, including my grab life with both hands print, and thought i'd share them with you.

fortune cookie wisdom

it's here! the 4th annual humble hand drawn fortune cookie wisdom calendar is in the shop.

 

here's a behind the scenes shot while photographing the calendar. we're in the process of painting, please be kind! it will eventually be all a creamy white that will brighten this dark room. and i just had to show you my auction find. this amazing unfinished, but signed painting. i just love it. i've bought some beautiful canvases at auction and as an artist i find it kind of sad because they go so cheaply. but then again, i get to have some awesome pieces.... hmm....

and here's a calendar getting ready to be mailed.