My Alter Ego

{Frenchie}

During one of my last weeks of Unravelling (siiigh)we have been exploring our alter egos. I have a little french girl that always lives inside of me. She spells her name the fancy way, Madeline. She has a classic dark colored blunt bob with tiny bangs reminiscent of Amelie.  She weaves and bobs through the city cruising on her Vespa that can hardly hold all her treasures found at the various vintage markets.

She sits on the benches below the Eiffel Tower while writing + sketching in her journal. Before she heads home she always stops to pick up her favorite fresh baquette from her local boulangerie along with seasonal fruit.

All Things Circus

{Ferris Wheel}

{Carousel}

Lately I've had a renewed fascination with all things Circus. I did a few fun little ink sketches. I first drew them, then scanned them into Photoshop. I then scanned in some pages from a cookbook from 1908 that I found at a vintage shop. I love the feel of old paper like that... but couldn't bare the though of actually drawing directly onto it!

For fun I photocopied the simple ink sketches for my son to color in. He loved them and now keeps asking to go riding on a ferris wheel.

I'm going to enlarge them to an 8x10 and probably hang them in his room. After all, his room does have yellow stripes on the ceiling! It's very fun + fitting.

Bathology

{Bathology 101}

I'm overdue for a post... sigh.

'tis life!

Unfortunately I slipped a disk and pinched a nerve in my neck 2 weeks ago. Needless to say it has been slow going. But I'm getting things back on track and moving again! 

I've really been enjoying Unravelling these past couple of weeks with Susannah Conway + fellow unravelers from around the world. My photo above was from one of our weekly assignments. I wish I could say I have really dived into it all, but again, when you are stuck as a mannequin for a week things fall behind!

I have started to receive my artist interviews for my workshop and let me tell you, they are all phenomenal! I can't wait to share. It is always so fascinating to me to see the process of other artists. It makes me feel less 'alone'. It's is very easy to get quickly swept up in your imagination all to yourself. So its a breathe of fresh air to see what others are doing! And wonderful 'oil' for when things get sticky in my imagination.

Ok, I'm off to get busy before my little one is out of school for the day.

xo

Winter Wonderment

A few moments of winter magic while we were on holiday.

Here comes 2010

{Christmas Wonderment}

Over the mountains and through the forest to Grandmother's house we go. Our festivities began with the beautiful wedding of my brother (and now) sister in-law. It couldn't have been more beautiful and every detail was thought of. 

Then we relished in a few tiny snow flakes, got in a few snow balls and tried to keep our feet warm while we were inside. We had wonderful dinners with family + great traditional Christmas Eve parties. We left our cookies out for Santa, which he delighted in, and Christmas morning was a strewn paper blur. 

 

{Our elf Gingy}

Our elf Gingy reported back all the details to Santa and we're sad to seem him go. Do you have your own elf?

Back through the forest and down the mountains... 

Home, Sweet Home.

The sunshine has never felt so warm and basking in the calm after all the holiday rush is golden gift cherished in itself. It's wonderful to be back, the laundry clean + bags unpacked. I am so thrilled for my upcoming workshop... Filled with such amazing Artists, I can't wait to share!

Wishing everyone a wonderful new year ahead overflowing with an abundance of love + warm memories to come!

xo

Storybook Wedding

 {Clara + Brandon's Wedding}

Featured on Offbeat Bride are some pictures of a fantasy wedding I wish I had though of! Perhaps for our vow renewal. Clara + Brandon are featured for their storybook wedding, which couldn't have been more unique or cute.

Photographed by Helmutwalker Photography, you can find more details from their story there.

This bride is so charming + inspiring.

Belated Holiday Wishes

With the scramble of Thanksgiving I haven't had a chance to wish everyone Happy Holidays! Between myself and my son getting sick, things have been falling to the way side over here. We've been busy taking vitamins, setting up our Christmas decorations and getting crafty for our home + family presents. I'll post more on that soon (but not too soon to give away what we're making!).

My workshop with Madelyn Mulvaney wrapped up & I'm already missing the Sunday inspirations. However, after waiting for a couple of months, registration arrived for my new year's class with Susannah Conway.VERY excited to bring in the new year with her!

On top of the holiday gatherings and preparations I've been feverishly working on getting everything in order for my own e-course I'll be hosting in the new year. With lots of help from amazing fellow artists, it should be something truly inspiring. I'm up and night busy scribbling away at all the ideas that are pouring in. 

In the meantime, here is some inspiration I've found lately over on i.Anton's flickr photostream. I get lost in these amazing images over and over again.

Always Catching Up

{Soaring to my Wishes}

Does it feel like you're always playing "catch up" with all the things around you? Groceries, crayons, missing socks, lunch boxes, split ends, roots, bills and more bills, that blank page staring at you...

I forget the need to breathe!

This past weekend my family and I spent a wonderful day at the beach on Sunday. A friend showed me this cute little house that was for sale about 3 blocks away from the sand. And like lightening, I was struck!

"Why don't we live down here?!"

Of course it has always been it the back of my mind, but never such a clear thought. Our quality of lives would be so enriched with being able to be out in nature more, the 'relaxed' vibe that comes will beach living and the welcoming of everyone in a great neighborhood. While doing my workshop we've had assignments on 'how would you paint your life' which naturally has really gotten me contemplating everything.

So, why not? There will always be another bill to pay, another 'well maybe we should wait for [fill in blank here]', or what if we don't stay here?

I am ready for my roots to grow solid. I don't think anyone knows if they will be in one particular location for forever, but why not make the most of it?! It seems completely senseless now NOT to live at the beach when that's the biggest thing our city has to offer!

Shells, shark's teeth, endless sand between your toes, outdoor showers, BBQ's and honey glazed skin... mmmmm.

We say '~Yes!'