KA BOOM!

"KA BOOM"

"Ka Boom" is what feels like happened to 2009! I can't believe how fast this year went by. I love painting Angels & just listed one today in my Etsy shop, but I truly am having so much fun painting these "Happy Souls". It has been therapeutic, they no longer scare me like they use to, but I am still not calling them clowns. haha I can make them as willy nilly & wonky as I like. I like that freedom. I have had quite a few tell me they make them smile. I listed some on Ebay this week, including "The Little Dare Devil" & "KA BOOM" I may list a lot more things next week to make room for 2010 so keep a weathered eye out. (ok yes that was pirate talk)

I am looking forward to putting this year to bed & waking up to a brand new one. I have a few resolutions I am hoping to keep this year. I also have a few things in the works and January is already getting busy. I may be showing at a gallery in Sacramento or Woodland, dear friends may be coming to visit for a few days, and my oldest son & I are working on a collaborative cooking blog. The Tree & The Apple. We will be doing lots of challenges, cooking, having food fights, & loads of fun. As silly & competitive as we both can be in the kitchen I am sure it's going to be a real "happy place", if not "happy" it will be definitely be interesting! haha

A New "Happy Soul"

I hope you enjoy the new painting progression video. I had a load of fun making it. I actually did this one all by myself! A big shout out goes to Fashion Crochet Creations for including my painting in their wonderful Etsy Treasury!

Heavenly Inspiration

This child is amazing & her story is touching.



WISHING YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Super Stars! A Recycle/Reuse Project

Sparkle, sparkle and so "green"! These were fun to make today & hang over my skating snowmen that are on my table. This Christmas Eve we are having the family dinner with the kids a la A Christmas Story. We are making oriental food. We are always up for an adventure and I love that about my family. I am making my Vegetarian Curry with Cashews & Banh Mi (Vietnamese pork meatball sandwiches), my special Egg Rolls taught to me by my friend Noi, Cucumber Sesame Salad & my own Red Ginger Noodle salad. I've never made Banh Mi before but I made the mayo for it already and it is fantastic. My son couldn't leave it alone & even ate it on toast, it's gone already! So it's fun that everyone is excited. I am grinding the pork for the meatballs so they should be nice & lean. I found the recipe in the new Bon Appetit Magazine . My oldest are bringing their famous crab dip & lemon squares. I don't know what my youngest is making yet. I bought red & white Striped Chinese cartons to serve the salads in & brand new chopsticks. The table will be fun. Both of my boys were eating with chopsticks when they were 2 years old and I plan on using those cute little panda bear chopsticks that I still have to teach my little JJ in the near future. My youngest son was once the center of attention when we popped into a little neighborhood Japanese restaurant in San Francisco, his blond hair almost white shining amid a sea of dark hair, sitting in his high chair, eating something most kids at his age wouldn't touch and with big boy chopsticks, he had the whole restaurant just going gaga over him. He was so cute.

These shiny stars are made of a recycled 2 liter soda bottle, fishing line, glue & glitter. Cut off the top & bottom of bottle. Then cut open the cylinder & cut into strips then squares. I got 12 squares from one bottle. I cut the stars freehand folk arty but you could use a pen & star template if you wanted them all the same. Using a needle make a hole & insert fishing line then tie a knot. Put glue on both sides of the star & cover with glitter. Shake off excess glitter & hang. I put a star on each end of the fishing line. Super easy & something you could do with kids. I think I'll be saving all my soda bottles to make stars for outdoors. I think they'd be great hanging from all my trees no matter what time of year it is!

Still Shopping...

Welcome To My Christmas Home

I have been enjoying The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes and I decided to participate myself. Please visit her blog to view her lovely home and others that are participating. There are quite a few so I haven't been able to visit them all yet. There is bundles of Christmas decorating ideas & I love getting a little glimpse into the Christmas Spirit of so many.
A little trick that I have used since buying an artificial tree is that I hang silver or gold ornaments as close as I can to the trunk before putting on our special ornaments. It makes the tree look like it has twice the lights! Thanks for visiting!

Music by John Morgan

Boo Hoo & Something New

"New Beginnings"

I came down with a terrible cold or flu and I missed my Gallery opening last night in Sacramento. I was a crybaby yesterday because I was so upset even though I knew I was doing the right thing. I wouldn't want to pass this on to anyone. It's been one thing after another. If I had a regular job I probably would be fired by now for missing work. I am ready for a "new beginning" & ready for the new year. When I'm much better I am going downtown to see all the art hung & take pictures.

I am totally back up & running now. I listed new things today in my Etsy Shop so please stop by & check it out!

In Loving Memory...

Dec 11, 1959 - Nov 26, 2001
...of my brother Eddie. Happy Birthday Eddie. I love you forever & miss you terribly.

Burrrrrrrrr

This week it's been all about keeping warm. With a party tonight & gallery show on Saturday I have been squelching the urge to pull out my needles & yarn. Our electricity went out about 3am on Monday and it was turned back on about 11pm that night. The house is all electric so it's really miserable but we are so blessed that our power was restored & had water. Many in our area have wells so not only do they have still have no power, they have no water either. Photos & article. We are not strangers to snow, it's snowed a few times at our elevation, & have occasional power outages but this week was out of the norm.
Even though we were chilled to the bone & could see our breath when we talked while sitting on the couch Monday night, we had the most fun! The house glowed in candle light & I had my own private concert. My youngest son played the guitar while my hubby sang. I'm so lucky. When the power was booting back up it went on & off a few times and then our main heater quit working. Ugh. We don't know what's wrong with it yet. Fortunately we have a pellet stove in the fireplace but it doesn't heat the entire house so we are still cold. We still have snow in the yard & it was about 32 this morning. I can't believe how many things are breaking all at once around here. Very aggravating. One thing that isn't broken anymore is my computer! YEA!!! Santa stopped by yesterday! After the gallery show I am going to be doing a lot of catching up, listing new pieces and I will be catching up on you too!

I'm Off...

to take 3 paintings to hang at The Coffee Garden Gallery in Sacramento today for the 2nd Annual Swell Sister show is next Saturday. I had to take these pictures with my camera so sorry they aren't very good. Just wanted to give you a sneak peek. Also a picture of the magazine trees I made. Thank you Martha. I love folding paper! I was an oragami geek when I was little. They are covered in big fat silver glitter which doesn't show up well, again phone picture. If you know me you know what a thing I have for magazines (and jars) so magazine trees instead of throwing them out is partly me hanging on to them just a little longer! haha These are lots of fun to do and the directions can be found here . Hopefully my computer will be fixed soon or I'll have a brand new one.