A Kiddo- Gift Guide

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I have already started planning my gift giving for the holiday season and I think the toughest to buy for the kiddos.  Between the hubs and I - we have 6 to shop for and they are all under the age of 12. I want to be a semi cool auntie but still give them something of substance.

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein.  I think some of the best imagination is in this book.  I often still of several of the poems that have inspired my art work. Hopefully I can pass on some magic that inspired me to someone else.

Sharks really freaked me out as a kid- I think it's mainly because of the Jaw movies ;) but they make this cool puzzle anatomy models now. 

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Of course I want to give art supplies! but I found this really awesome pack that teaches kids about the modern art. I think it's so important to teach kids about art especially art history.  Wouldn't you want this if you were a kid :)?

I love giving science gifts- but i have to admit i love giving kid gifts that make a mess. I know it may drive my sisters crazy but the kids love it!

Have you started making your Christmas shopping list?

monday monday monday!

Hello! I am back.. I have been completely under the weather.  I think I caught that flu bug that was going around and I just needed to unplug for a few days.  Don't worry my little pugs did an excellent job snuggling me back to health.  My hubs .. lets just be honest.. can not cook. I am not sure if he even knew where the kitchen was until this last week but he did some how manage to make me toast and chicken soup :).  My email box has completely exploded and I am behind on my painting.  yikes! So if you sent me a note and I haven't responded- I am working on it :) I promise.

I am glad to be back to me ol' self just in time for Thanksgiving.  I can't wait to catch up- and missed hearing from you.

Did you have a good weekend? 

Monday Funday

Happy Monday! Did you have a nice weekend? This time of year is always seems so much gearing up for the holidays! and I already informed the hubs that I have plans on getting a real tree and he is in charge of Christmas lights :) Also I'm planning on a few chirstmas giving DIY's that I can't wait to start and share with you.

This weekend we did have a little movie date but we did take out and watched the movie Melancholia with Kristen Dunst. It hasn't been released in the US yet but you can watch it on i-tunes or direct tv. It's a movie about the end of the world but it isn't as action packed as typical end of the world movies are but an interesting take.  The end of the world is another planet crashing into ours.  As we watched this the hubs informed me that another asteroid came close to earth again. yikes! this is why I really can't watch national geographic channel.  Interesting flick and perfect for a date- but not a family flick- (a little nudity.)


Today I plan on getting some painting in and the pugs are very excited to be getting their weekly bubble bath :) What are you up to this Monday?

11.11.11.

Happy Friday :) Is feels like complete winter time in my neck of the woods.  The fluffy fog has rolled in most mornings and I have a sudden craving for hot chocolate.  I think this weekend me and the hubs are going to do a movie date and I really can't wait. I can't think of the last time we went to the movies and had a big buttery bowl of popcorn. I am not even sure what movie we are going to see, but it feels good to have plans.  We don't get out much.. in fact I told the hubs that I might be turning into a shut in.  You know one of those people that never leaves the house- since my art studio is in my house- there is no reason to leave? right?  I also discovered that you can get library books snail mailed to your house..  for free... See no reason to leave right?:) lol

On another note.. Did you know it was 11.11.11? I noticed the moon looked a little brighter last night and a big black raven jumped on the hood of my car- think it's a sign?

What are you up to this weekend?

BIG 200 #3

Here is my next piece for the Big 200! and this is an old but busy street in Portland- called Hawthorne. There is an old movie theatre, lots of fun vintage stores, and yummy eats.  This street hasn't changed much in since I can remember- I remember when McDonald's try to come to the street.. or maybe it was BK but the neighborhood petitioned against it.  This street still holds that special something that has never really went away.

This urbanscape is painted on a wood panel- with vintage oils. :)

Details:
The Big 200 is an annual event that 200 amazing artists paint 10 panels and they are all 8X8 and every piece goes for only $40.  This is a cash and carry show- which means you can take the work off the wall and then take it home right then and there! There is a very long line to get into this amazing event- so come early. 
Date: December 12th 2:00 pm-10:00 pm
Place: Peoples Art of Portland
700 SW Fifth (3rd floor) People’s is Suite 4005
Pioneer Square Mall, downtown Portland

Want to see more paintings for the Big 200 show? click here.

A Treasure hunt

I have been doing so much thrifting lately and it seems like my little addiction is getting worse!.. I know I have been promising to show you some of my latest finds but here are a few of my favorites.  As you know I collect typewriters.. and you won't even believe but I found a typewriter that types in cursive!

I am so lucky this typewriter found me.

This camera is from around 1939 and it actually works.  I took it in to the local camera shop- and the camera man told me all about it. I can't wait to try out.

and of course this cute dress- it has little birds all over it :) I just love it.

The hubs has been trying to talk me into selling a few of my treasures. He has been trying to convince me into opening a small vintage shop on etsy for quite some time because he knows how much I just love vintage and have a bit of the thrifting fever! In fact I started talking with a woman at an estate sale- and we got to talking about some of the WWII memorabilia- I always have thought those old medals are pretty amazing.  Can you imagine receiving something like that- that person must be so proud and was probably such a great moment in that person's life.  She let me know that there was more in the back that she wasn't sure if she wanted to part with some of the items. She wanted to make sure her treasures went to good homes and I think in that small moment I realized maybe I should have my own little vintage shop.  So I have been busy taking photos, polishing, and deciding what should go in the shop- and plan on opening it up soon in the next couple weeks.  I will have a few vintage cameras, typewriters, vintage dresses and lots of other fun goodies.  I can't wait to show you more. and all the typewriters I plan on having in the shop- completely work.  :)

a little music for your monday.

Happy Monday! This weekend just zipped by and I did a ton of vintage hunting and lots of painting. (can't wait to show you).  The hubs and I have both been pretty been busy little bees working on our art projects and seems like that always happens in winter time. 

Have you heard the new song by Yuna? She did the remake of Come As You Are by Nirvana.  Nirvana brings me back to the flannel grunge days in the 90's but I think Yuna gives it a fun twist.  Listening to any new music lately?

Big 200 Piece #2

Here is my 2nd piece for the Big 200! and I am doing a couple of land/urbanscapes for the show. I painted pretty much only landscapes before I embarked on painting urbanscapes and I still love painting the fluffy trees.  I wanted a gray cloudy sky and just love how there is only one little intersection with a huge monster tree.  I always think it's interesting seeing the tangled up power lines and how there is so many power lines- out in the middle of no where. :)

This is an oil painting on wood- and I am using vintage oil paints. 

Details:
The Big 200 is an annual event that 200 amazing artists paint 10 panels and every piece goes for $40.  This is a cash and carry show- which means you can take the work off the wall and then take it home right then and there! There is a very long line to get into this amazing event- so come early. 
Date: December 12th 2:00 pm-10:00 pm
Place: Peoples Art of Portland
700 SW Fifth (3rd floor) People’s is Suite 4005
Pioneer Square Mall, downtown Portland

Want to see more paintings for the Big 200 show? click here.

Sketchbook Project_Treehouse

So this year I decided that I was going to the 2012 Sketchbook project.  I have about a million sketchbooks.. notebooks.  I recently cleaned out my studio- and stacked up all of the little blank/lined/graphed books- each filled with scribbles and little notes.. magazine clippings.. newspaper clippings.. lots of little sprinkles of inspiration.. actually I was a little surprised I had so many! . I have a confession to make, I rarely complete a sketchbook were I draw on every single page. So I am going to do it! with the Sketchbook Project.  They have different themes to choose from I and chose tree house theme.  I plan on showing my progress along the way so that I finish and do it!