Positivity Journal

I'm working out the details for a new class at Merrymeeing Art House called the "positivity journal" using my stamps and designs from Art Gone Wild -- and it just so happens I'm waiting for my next release of stamps to arrive in the mail!

Thanks for visiting -- have a great day!

New Art Journal

Between my Daily Practice Notebooks and my Art Journals -- I'm moving on to journal #8 for this year. Here's my latest!

This is a 140 lb. Strathmore Mixed Media pad. I'm currently in love with them, of course that's only until the next new thing comes along, LOL.

The last page from my last journal, trying new things here and there. I like how this turned out. In the new journal I have vowed to use more color!

Thanks for dropping by, have a great day!

Meeting Students

Last month one of the students that has taken many of my on-line classes came to Maine on a cruise and we spent the afternoon together. It was such a joy sharing my favorite restaurant with Barb Lambing and her husband --and Portland Head wasn't to bad either!

Of course we had a selfie! 

And the weather was perfect that day -- love that the black eyed susans were in perfect bloom for them!

Flowers on the table at my favorite Dim Sum in Portland.

And one more selfie -- thank you so much Barb -- it truly was a lovely afternoon. Hope to see you again soon!

Brunswick 10 x 10

Last month I contributed to a fun art show in Brunswick called the 10 x 10 Brunswick Benefit Show and Art Sale -- and I'm happy to say I sold one painting!

My two paintings are in the middle! I chose not to frame them because I used Birch Panels.

The sunflower painting is the one that sold, it is one of my favorite ones but I know that it went to a good home.

The proceeds from the sale go to Arts are Elementary which helps Brunswick Elementary schools. I think it was a great success, thanks to all the came out to see all the beautiful work -- and thanks to the person that purchased my painting -- forever grateful for your support!

Have a great day all, it's raining cats and dogs here.

Food…….as always

I think I am as creative in the kitchen as I am in the studio. Sometimes I think about a recipe or particular food I want to cook for days. Even weeks. I do spend a lot of time thinking about how best to make something yummy for my family. I'm not afraid to try something new, I often think that if I wasn't teaching art in the studio for my career I should have been in the kitchen.

But then again, I often just make it up at the last minute because I didn't take the time to plan out dinner and we should be eating soon because our man-boy is starving. For those times I cross my fingers and hope for the best. 

I recently made this amazing raw beet salad. No recipe -- just things that had been bouncing around in my head (much like how a piece of art comes together for me)  fusing themselves together until I was ready to make them for supper.

For this recipe I used a mandolin to matchstick cut: 3 freshly picked and Scrubbed Beets, 1 Macintosh apple and 1/2 of a vidalia onion. I also minced 1 tablespoon of ginger. Then I combined the fresh fruit/veggies  with: 1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon coconut sugar and let them sit on the counter for an hour or so while I cooked the rest of the dinner. You could also add carrot, red cabbage, cucumber or even daikon.

My husband STRONGLY dislikes beets and was a little put-off that I would even serve it to him for dinner. ha ha. He went back for seconds and couldn't stop saying how good it was.

Now, if only I could get my BiBimBap to look this good!

Have a great day, thanks for stopping by!

Mixed Media -- Issue THREE!

I'm happy to announce that Mixed Media Issue THREE is ready for you to read over on ISSUU. Just click on the image to link over!

Have a great day, thanks for dropping by!

Girl Scout Troop 2022

I had a sweet group of Girl Scouts come by the studio recently to make a Halloween House. Oh my, they were amazing crafters and glitter flingers.

We had so much fun. I'm still cleaning up glitter. They worked on two badges -- crafting and visiting a local business. It was great to see such young girls craft and really feel good about taking the instructions and then doing their own thing with them. They all had the same materials but the end result was just a little different. It's good to give them permission to create and craft the way they like!

I'm looking forward to having them back again soon!

They were amazing at working with glitter and following instructions!

I couldn't stop smiling!

A heartfelt thank you to Mandy Russell and Troop 2022 for coming to the studio to craft with me!

Studio Flowers

I had quite a few friends and family bring flowers for the opening of Merrymeeting Art House -- it warmed my heart to know that so many people are wishing me great success.

I tried to take a still life of all of them -- to remember how amazing they all are!

Sunflowers from my Mom. She knows how much I love sunflowers. They lasted a long time.

 

From my sweet friend Nim -- so colorful and lovely. She said the white lilies have a special meaning and now I can't remember what she said. As the flowers ended up going I made 3 different arrangements from this huge one -- some of the flowers lasted about 2 weeks!

Pumpkins and squash from my friend Loretta. They are still going strong a month later with another bouquet of sunflowers my Mom brought. 

Hydrangea  from my sweetest friend Kelley. Hand delivered and from her garden. I have another bouquet hand-delivered this week from another friend. Flowers are definitely welcome here!

Thanks all for dropping by today -- have a great week! Happy Columbus Day!!

Private Art Journaling Class at Merrymeeting Art House

I was blessed to have a friend schedule a private "Intro to Art Journal" class at Merrymeeting Art House a few weeks ago. We painted covers for journals, talked about art and enjoyed each others company.

I showed her some of the different journals I keep. But mostly we made art together.

She left with a beautiful journal and I had a few more samples to use for Intro to Art Journaling. 

Thanks for coming Hannah! See you again soon!

Oh Canada!

I can't believe it's been a month since I blogged last. What a whirlwind of a month -- opening the studio and teaching classes and traveling to Canada seemed to take up the majority of my time -- oh and not to mention that my trusty computer was at the apple store for a facial.

Having my computer away from me for over 10 days really flipped my world upside down. Now I feel myself struggling to get back in the swing of blogging and updating my website. Thankfully I have great friends that help keep me on track.

Teaching in Canada was great fun - the Art House Studio is an amazing space and when I'm ready to expand Merrymeeting Art House -- i will certainly keep her space in mind. It's a great size and the layout and organization are perfect! Her students are pretty amazing too! 

On the way home from teaching at Karen Ellis's studio in Cambridge we had some extra time to spend at the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. I was a little (well -- really who are we kidding --  a whole lot surprised) with how cheesy and Las Vegas -- or country fair like like it was. These dinosaurs were adorning a mini golf site. The main drag had a big statue of Frankenstein and lots of other things that I didn't expect!

I thought that it would be all water and nature and stuff.

You know, kinda like this?

Thankfully I hadn't convinced my husband to go on vacation there to find out my idea of it was busted -- I guess I can cross that off of my bucket list.

Thanks for sticking with me, have a great day and I'll be back more regularly now that life seems to have settled in.