Puzzled

"Puzzle"

8" x 8" acrylic on paper

2013

Besides working on lots of new paintings, I'm sprucing up my studio a bit. Can't show you the whole space just yet because it's still a work in progress. 

I WILL show you these cool new gray chairs and red rug I bought at IKEA for a corner "relax and contemplate" area. You can change out the fabric covers whenever you need to...so if Maisie decides to step in paint and plant her little paw marks on them, well, you get the idea!

Still here!

Hi everyone...just wanted to pop in to say hello! I've been working hard in the studio and will have some new paintings to show you soon. I'm very excited with the new direction I'm taking in my abstract work...so hope you will be too.

I'll be back to blogging in about a week. I'm looking forward to catching up on all YOU'VE been doing too!

Have a great weekend!

Leaving on a jet plane

Here's the entrance to my studio...with Miss Maisie's ghostly image appearing lower right. How does she manage to be in EVERY photo I take?!

Anyway...I'm taking a little break to head out to Petaluma, California to see my mom for a few days. I'll be back blogging the week of September 21st.

Enjoy the last bits of summer this weekend because I think Fall is fast on it's way. Yay! Our trees are just starting to turn. Makes me quiver with excitement.:)

Take care everyone. See you all soon! xox

Oh Maisie!

Maisie in doggie dreamland

I think I'm having one of those days! I finally got around to painting this afternoon...but look who decided she liked the spot right where I needed to be! You can see that her big fluffy dog bed is at the bottom left of the picture but...oh no...she wants to be laying on the towel under my easel! What a crack-up. Guess I'm going to hold off on the painting for awhile. Gee, I wonder who's the boss in THIS studio!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Loving a dog...

...is one of the best things in the world. Here are a few shots of my studio partner...doing some of her favorite daily things that always make me smile.

Protecting the yard from vicious bunnies

Enjoying a Fall day while surveying her domain

Trying to get my attention by looking cute

On fly catching duty in the studio

"If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious excitement and affection, you must be a cat ~Author Unknown

Dog Days of Summer

Lucy and Maisie

Maise on her new dog bed...NOT!

First of all, I want to thank all of you wonderful friends out there for your comments and emails supporting me through this move. You have made such a difference and I feel very lucky to know you. You've lifted me up!

Cute photos above, eh? That's Lucy...Maisie's best girlfriend, snuggled up together after a long romp in the yard last Saturday night. As you can see in the other photo, Maisie thinks the new bed we ordered for the guest room is HER new dog bed. What a princess!

Things are moving along with the studio but I'm not fully up and running yet...I'm having some computer issues too. James had to order me a wireless router yesterday because we can't get my computer working in the new studio without it. I have also misplace my invaluable Wacom pen and I feel like a fish out of water without it. My scanner has decided to putter out too.

Sooo...I'm sort of out here without a technical paddle at the moment. A little time and a little patience will solve that matter though and then I will be back at the drawing board.

Back soon with a progress report. Have a happy Tuesday!

One Day at a Time!

"Where is my professional organizer?!"

Hi everybody. I'm finally rising from the depths of moving hell! Seems like I've been away for a long time and I've missed you all!

The move went well...but was harder on me than I anticipated. I think you could call it "buyers remorse" syndrome...or even relate it to sort of a "postpartum" depression. James and I have had quite a lot of change and loss in our lives the past couple of years...and this was yet another big event. It kind of knocked me over.

As Artists...I think many of us are extremely aware of our surroundings and very sensitive to changes in them. I have definitely experienced that with this new home...new sounds, the bigger yard, the new work space, finding new routes to walk Maisie girl, etc. Giving up our old comfortable smaller house, moving away from our wonderful friends and neighbors and leaving everything else that was familiar hit me in a way I didn't expect.

Anyway...one day at a time (or should I say one box at a time)...we are settling in and getting things organized. James helped me with the studio yesterday but as you can see from the picture...we have a ways to go. Not quite ready to dive back into work yet...but I think I'm getting there.

I plan to catch up on all your blogs this week. Even though I've been out of touch...I've been thinking of each and every one of you and hope that all is going well.

I'll be back soon after the dust settles. Have a great week! xox

A New Beginning

So you won't believe this...(although some of you guessed it)...we bought a new house last weekend! The timing is so strange being so close on the heels of Steve's passing...but we all feel that Steve had a hand in guiding us here. It's a little overwhelming right now...but it's something James and I have wanted for a long time.

The above picture is my new studio. It's almost too wonderful to believe! I will post more pictures tomorrow...of the house itself and the property.

Right now, a nice glass of white wine is in order. My head is spinning with all that's to come. It's a good spin though! xox

Bless this Mess

My temporary work table

This is my teeny tiny workspace of late. Since we've been living and working in one big room with Maisie...it's been a bit of a squeeze. Ok...let's be honest...a big mess is what it really is! This weekend, however, we plan to get our house back together and hopefully a decent studio space for me again. Until Maisie gets some of her pent up angst out though...I need to stick close to her and keep an eye on her antics. Let's just say it's pretty amazing that we don't have holes in our sofa yet!

I'm playing along with my friend, Kate today...to keep a book meme going because I think it's a pretty cool meme. Here's the scoop...

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

The book closest to my desk that I could actually grab without getting out of my chair (lazy butt) was "A Three Dog Life" by Abigail Thomas. Here it goes...

"You don't want to return to unhappiness. That's all." I will never forget that instant of absolute clarity.

Hmmm...sounds like something I need to listen to! Join in if you feel like playing along!