seeing spots

I suppose it's evident that I love multi-colored polka dots :)

~

One cozy morning I fixed some cheese toast and crawled back in bed to check my email, etc. 

When I got up, I saw spots, hehe - my flannel sheets, laptop decal, small plate.....

it made me smile :)

Which is why I like colorful polka dots in the first place :)

winter porch

 AND IT'S ABOUT TIME - SHEESH!

It took me a looong time after the holidays, to even think about my porch - I'm not even sure why.

Usually my porch is a favorite thing of mine to do, but I felt overwhelmed and under motivated :/ 

Several weeks ago, some ideas finally floated into my head - and boy was I grateful!

I needed to get outside and DO something, and golly, it was a fun project (thank you John for helping!)

My main mantra was: Color, Texture, and Levels.

So this is what I came up with - - - 

(and a new gnome... I mean a gnew gnome)

TA-DAAA! :)

fall

~ finally some fall color! ~ 

Fall color has been even more elusive than usual around here this year.

There are countless trees shedding crunchy brown leaves, of course...

But where is the color? The crisp air? The show that is supposed to be fall?

I'm sad to say I can miss my very most favorite season just by blinking.  

Then the other day I was driving down the main neighborhood street to my house,

and in between all the huge, crunchy trees, some beautiful colors caught my eye!

There stood a smaller tree, with it's little leaves like gems of fire and rubies!

The sun was hitting the top of the tree just enough to make it glow,

and the turquoise sky behind was the perfect backdrop!

You can't get much better than that! FINALLY!

Ah, now how lovely is that contrast? 

Leaves in their vibrant stages, on a canvas of green.

I just can't get enough of the beauty that is fall.

Now, I know ours can't hold a candle to a "real" fall -

and I hope someday I can see several up close and personal.

But no matter what, remember: always find joy in the little things!

Cuz the little things are really the big things :)

I'm an exhibitionist

Happy Monday and Happy November! I have so much to do today and so much going on I can't quite wrap my brain around it all! I hope everyone had a fun and scary Halloween yesterday! I am ready to welcome the next 2 months, as the weather finally cools (well, kind of?), and holiday excitement starts to stir in the air :)

Did my post title get your attention? Hehe :) Sorry for such a late post - I have a really fun announcement that I wanted to share with you early this morning, but couldn't find any links. I would still be looking if my friend Joanne hadn't seen this tweet from our City Hall, recognized my artwork, and posted it on Facebook - thank you Joanne!

My art has never been exhibited before. But 3 of my pieces are part of a special art exhibit at City Hall! I am so excited! Last summer my friend Traci found out the City was taking abstract art submissions, and suggested I send some photos of my artwork. Well, I did just that, and forgot about it. A few weeks ago, I was told that they would like to use 3 of my submissions - 2 large pieces and one small - for their "Why Abstract?" exhibit. Wow! So a big thanks to Traci, and to Jeff at the City! The exhibition has just opened, and you can read about it below. 

(You can see my 2 large pieces of art in the 2ond photo)

Tomorrow night (Tuesday the 2ond) is the official artist's reception which I will be attending from 7-9:00. I'll be viewing the exhibit for the first time myself, and will drag my family with me, since I have told them absolutely NOTHING about this and they have NO IDEA this is even happening - hehehe :) I would love to see you there!!!

*and sorry this post is so doggone WONKY! technical difficulties... !@#$%^&*!

City Hall gets Abstract!
By City of Santa Clarita

City Hall get its walls and halls filled with different type of Abstract Art.  What does Abstract Art mean?  An abstract art piece is about what the artist is feeling or trying to communicate with the viewer.  Looking at the colors and the patterns is meant to give you a chance to create your own vision of what you are seeing or feeling.  Abstract art is about the expression of feelings that can be seen differently by the artist and the viewer.

Abstract art is an act of an artist’s emotion and expression, and do not always present themselves in an obvious “fruit on a table” way.  The color, brush strokes, line, and movement of all abstract art forms is meant to stimulate the observers own feelings, while also expressing that of the artist.  Upon viewing an abstract piece of art, look deep, consider the colors, the sway of the design, and what it makes you feel.  Look deeper yet, and you may see the abstract is not so abstract at all, but perhaps an obscured face or some kind of starlit sky.

Come check out Abstract Art over at City Hall, and ask yourself these questions when you check out the art:

What do you feel?  What do you see?  What do you think?

hip to be square

In my efforts to leave no stone design blog unturned as I cruise around the internet, these are some of the things that have caught my eye as of late. Or in design speak, that I've been "crushing on" - though I make a conscious effort not to speak in trend. Just as I was disheartened with what seemed like nonstop white on white, which not only seems boring but c-c-cold to me, I finally found some color! Sheesh! And usually it's circles that I tend to gravitate toward, but I thought all these colorful squares were just too cool for school. 

Up above is an actual painting of an adorable blogging friend of mine, Sara Mincy. And I admit in front of God and man that I have coveted it for a long time. And now she's actually selling it in her Etsy store. At a reduced price! Be still my heart! To check it out, go to her Etsy store HERE. To visit her darling blog, go HERE. 

Next up we have a cool project that I had never seen before - or would have even thought of. These are all picture frames - no glass, nothing in them - painted in approx. 8 different colors repeatedly, and arranged as their own art statement. I thought this was genius on several levels. I've seen the odd antique picture frame grouped as a focal point occasionally, but I've never seen anything like this. Proves that you don't have to have photos in frames to have some great, colorful artwork on your wall. For the entire article by Sparrow King via Apartment Therapy (of course) - and more great photos - click HERE. Photo credit Dwell Magazine. 

And how seriously adorable is this? I mean, come on! And not just for a glorified headboard either - the possibilities are endless! And here's the most surprising thing of all. It's not paint! Not that painting a grid like this would be impossible - it would actually be a lot of fun. But I was shocked to find out that these are pieces of craft paper! I think the entire project was something like $20. It gets the wheels in your brain starting to spin, doesn't it. Well, visit the link for more information HERE. This article was by Heather Blaha from Ohdeedoh (via the Swell Life), the kid's section of Apartment Therapy. And bookmark Ohdeedoh - it's a great source of inspiration! 

wound up

Oh, I'm good. "Wound up" - get it? Wound up into balls like the recycled magazines in these photos? And the bowl they're sitting in? How they're wound up in an actual, physical sense? A pleasing, colorful esthetic? Compared to the irony of being wound up so tight emotionally? Like at any moment... without warning... whenever that last straw may occur... your eyeballs might explode right out of their sockets? Hopefully when you're not driving? Or your brain may implode and ooze right out your ears? Hopefully after your much anticipated episode of Hoarders is over? Either way, it's just not a good thing. No, it's really not. Being wound up that tight means you're under a massive amount of anxiety. And last week was quite a week. But here we have a new week and we're moving on. 

Which I'll get back to momentarily. But first let me talk about these photos. Because I love them. A lot. 

You all know how much I adore color. Color, color, color :) I also love things that are a bit artsy (not cutesy), a bit global, a bit primitive, a bit retro, and whatever else I happen to like. In other words, I love many styles and all kinds of things, but I'm very particular. I only get things I absolutely love - then I find a way to incorporate it. 

The photo above is my favorite because of the depth of field, and the main focus is on the bullseye in the center of the bowl, even though the balls are still a prevalent part of the photo. I had been trying and trying to get a decent photo of this compilation and it was driving me insane - with all that color and texture, I thought it would be so easy, but it kept proving me wrong. I hate being wrong! Since the bowl & balls sit on my entry way table, every time I passed them I became more determined. Finally, there was one relatively calm morning (I use that term loosely) when the lighting was right, and I got my camera and just kept snapping. Much to my surprise, as soon as I started focusing on the bowl instead of the balls, I got the *perfect* photo I didn't even know I wanted.


Still with me? The moral of this story is always focus on something made from the *certified fair trade community* 

So now we've got a brand new week and we're back to normal. Or as normal as it gets depending on if your world is as twisted as my little world. Even my blog is back to it's normal self after Valentine's Day (I hope you had a nice one!) and ready to go. We were all definitely wound up last week. Big, big things went on all at the same time. A lot of sorrow. A lot of joy. I am a huge believer in faith. I am a huge believer that we don't go through these things alone. And here we are on the other side of that week. I am ready to let go of being wound up and see what's up ahead. Because if I know anything, I know that there's always something up ahead. 

music in my head

First off, as you can see, I am still experimenting with light and shadows in my photos. Helpful hint: if I were you, I would get used to it, because I'm having way too much fun to stop just yet :) I love how these photos turned out. This is a Murono glass paperweight that I got in Venice Italy 2 summers ago. You all know how much I love color, and this little gem was just too colorful for me to pass up!

Now. Do you ever get songs stuck in your head? Of course you do. My brain is like a 5 disc CD player but each CD only has one song on it, and it's on automatic shuffle mode, and I have no control whatsoever what song is going to play, or how many times, or when those songs switch to new songs. Sometimes I can have a main song stuck in my head for days on end, with just one other song occasionally shuffling in to taunt me. I know: freak.

Yesterday was classic. It started out with the kindergarten song "Inchworm". Do you remember that one? 

Inchworm, Inchworm, measuring the marigolds

you and your arithmetic will probably go far

Inchworm, Inchworm, measuring the marigolds

won't you please just stop and see how beautiful they are?

Where in heaven's name did that song come from?!?! What file did my brain have to go to and dust off to pick that one out?!?! Driving around town running errands, I thought I would go mad. Oh but it gets better. All of the sudden an Imogene Heap song gets shuffled in. From Inchworm to Imogene Heap? Well, okay. Over, and over, and over. Now, I like Imogene Heap as much as the next person, but her songs are really intense and I can't do them over and over so well. Not to worry! Because "Are We Human?" by the Killers took over. Of course it did. Because this song must be on a CD in my brain that never gets removed. Whenever I have more than a few minutes of silence in my brain and the CD player is miraculously off, I can always count on this song to come on - autopilot. 

I love to share the songs that are driving me nuts. I'm such a giver like that. My family begs me not to but I can't help it. So whether it's "Dust in the Wind" or the theme song from Gilligan's Island, I must spew forth. I live to torment them. I have a secret weapon too. A song that I love, that they all detest. And it's one of those songs that will play on their shuffle for a long, looooooong time once it's been entered into their pointed heads. Remember the song "Brand New Key" by Melanie? The perfect song for maximum torment. The chorus is especially affective :)      

turquoise for 2010

So in early December, Pantone - the world's expert on color - named turquoise the color for 2010. 

I have mixed emotions about this and wish very much they would have consulted me before making this decision. On the pro side, it confirms my uber-impeccable taste, as turquoise is one of my all time favorite colors

 and I've been using it for years. On the con side, it means now everyone is going to start using it, 

and I will no longer be considered hip before my time, but just another follower of a trend. A trend! I do not want the color turquoise to be lowered to that of a trend. I'm not sure I can live with any of this, Pantone!

Here is an excerpt from Pantone's official press release:

2010 press releases

Pantone Unveils Color of the Year for 2010:

PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise

Turquoise Transports Us to an Exciting, Tropical Paradise While Offering a Sense of Protection and Healing in Stressful Times

CARLSTADT, N.J., Dec. 8, 2009 –Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT), and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the color of the year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens."

So there you have it, color fans. I will always be a fan of turquoise. Turquoise, red and yellow. 

BEST. COLORS. EVER. Best combination of colors ever too, hands down. 

And that's according to the Megan Walker official press release, if you need to quote me on that :) 

And then there's pink, of course. Ah, lovely pink, which is the sweetest color of all time. Sigh...

But a color I rarely use because I am the only female living in a male world. But that's another story. 

Colorful & Quirky

I've been having such fun with my photo shoots lately! A few of these pics are older photos I've reworked, and the rest are new. I'm trying to get ready to launch several more notecard sets into my Etsy store, along with 5x7 and 8x10 photos suitable for framing. As most of you know, color is the love of my life, and too much is never enough :) It's been fun to stretch myself to see how creative I can be and what I can come up with. So enjoy this quirky little taste of things to come - these and many more will be in my Etsy store ASAP - most likely next week sometime...

Color Love on Etsy

Ah, color... the cheerfulness in life! Today I'm highlighting several items from my personal "favorites" category on Etsy. I wanted to bring attention to small, affordable, handmade gems of color. I appreciate things that are useful as well.

First up, above, is the more-than-adorable Prism Flower wool felt pin from Pinksparrow $13.75. I heart it in a big way. Okay, I fess up - I heart several of her designs in a big way. They are all quite lovely - some are cute and witty as well. And they would go with everything from a jean jacket to a knit cap. What a great gift for yourself or a loved one!
Next I am highlighting an Amy Butler fabric pincushion by BuddyDesigns $12:00. Is is not just exquisite! Love the Amy Butler fabric of course - who doesn't! - but the cushion is made just so flawlessly. What a dream! Like the felt pin at the top, what a fun gift this would make! And what a special treat for your own sewing box too! Oh yay!
And speaking of sewing, this next Etsy store is my new favorite supplier. Regarding my last post... just LOOK at this example of fabulous floral mix jacquard trim from trimgoddess for $8.60! And seriously? This is the tip of the iceberg - she is truly the goddess of trim! Let's just say there will need to be a "Get Your Groove On #2" in the near future ;)
Last but certainly not least, these push pins are cute as buttons because that's exactly what they look like! Covered in Mary Englebreit primary color fabric, 22 large push pins by fabricfarrago $20. These would not only be useful, but fun to use! Life is definitely a chair of bowlies :)

feeling the love

Still feeling colorful love today peeps :)

Only instead of flowers, we have hand-carved soapstone hearts

The turquoise one is my fave. Are you feeling the love too?

Have an awesome weekend everyone!

signs of spring

Joy and rapture! Good things coming for sure :) The first little pink trumpets on my new trumpet vines. Are they just so sweet or what!
And just look! My roses are getting ready to bloom! I planted 12 new bushes this year and mixed pink in with my white, so I can hardly wait to see their lovely faces!
Speaking of pink, look at this little primrose bathing in the morning sunshine :)
And here are my ranunculus bulbs - about six inches taller now!
This tiny poppy on my porch wants to say it's cheerful hello :)
Also gracing my front porch, I'm a dusty miller lover - with it's soft, lacy, silvery plumes.

Ahhh - can't wait for more colorful little surprises :)

Prisma-Heaven

Have I mentioned I'm an illustrator? No? Well, I'm not exactly famous or anything. Have I published anything you'd recognize? Well, no. Have I published anything at all? Um, no. But I'm still an illustrator. And a mighty good one too. I can draw stick figures like you'd never believe. The most life-like stick figures you've ever seen. I mean seriously. They're awesome.

So this was my big art project today. I had recently received a set of 156 Prismacolor markers, and I needed to unpack everything, snap the holder together (can I just say that it was a LOT harder than it looks!), and put all my gorgeous new colors into their snug little homes. Ah, have you ever seen so many lovely colors at the same time? I could stare at them all day. Happiness in tubes :)
I have to admit, I have never - ever - seen so many fleshy tones, and shades of warm and cool grays in my entire life. I had absolutely no idea that many shades of gray were even possible. And the French must have invented gray, because half of them are assorted "French grays". Personally, gray doesn't come to mind when I think of anything French. But that's just me. And the only reason I even bring that up is because secretly I'm jealous of the person who gets to name all the colors. I want that job.  
Wow, just look at all those colors, standing there at attention like soldiers, always at the ready. The possibilities are endless! 

Now, I can see how some of you might be thinking "why in heaven's name would she need 156 markers on steroids when all she does is draw stick figures?". Well, you just never KNOW, do you. You just never know what inspiration I might have that requires 8 or 108 colors all of the sudden. Being an illustrator, I would know these things. 

Besides. As soon as the U-Haul delivers all the markers over to my desk, and I install the alarm to keep curious gooey hands away, I plan on writing a little book about my dog Angel. She has a constantly wagging tail. One of these days, we're sure she's going to just take right off like a helicopter. 

Oh yes, I definitely need all 156 colors :)