I am beyond excited to share with you that I will be going back to Squam this fall!!! I will be teaching a class that feels very dear to me, The Painted Icon.
I would love for you to join me!
& thank you so very much for your wonderful comments on my last post. they mean a lot to me! this is such a strong art community we have all built together. i am grateful to be part of it. thank you.
I just had to pop in here for a second to share with you this very exciting moment for me... I made the cover of the latest Somerset Studio magazine! What a great way to start off the new year!!!
How thrilled & grateful I am to see my work on the cover. Thank you Somerset Studio! Thank you Ricë for writing the article! And thank you to all of you that have given me so much support over these past few years! It's been such an amazing ride!
Wishing you all a most beautiful year ahead!
ah, winter is here!
Merry Christmas!!!! ~ Happy New Year!!!
i'll be on a little winter break until mid february.
i need to pour myself into my upcoming online workshop.
so, until we meet again... have a very warm & cozy winter.
~
there is still time to sign up for my workshop if you haven't already. ;)
Check this out ~ Stephanie is having a very generous giveaway over here! She's giving away 3 spots in upcoming workshops, one being mine. cool!
Thank you to all of you that left a comment or emailed about my upcoming workshop. Registration is now open...here.
~
You can find me over at Crescendoh all week... as a guest curator! Where I share a few of my most favorite places to find inspiration online!
~
Hope you had a great weekend?! Ours was an exciting whirlwind! I think it's official... i am a soccer mom married to a soccer coach. My daughter's soccer team had their big Frostbite Tournament this weekend, 4 games in two days in the freezing cold! I never thought I could love watching a sport so much, {or be a cheerleader} but I absolutely do! Their team, the Crazy Navy Ninja Ladies, won 3 out of 4 games, coming in second place. It's amazing how wrapped up and intense you can feel about something just because you love someone so much.
now it's time to do some serious decorating, carol singing, gift making, package wrapping, & cookie baking. our poor christmas tree was brought home last week and has been completely neglected, standing naked, so eager to be decked out!
i made these to take to our friends Hanukkah dinner party last night. the apple latkes were good, but the carmel sauce and a spoon is really all you need.
loving this site for great Christmas gift ideas.
have you seen this book? i love it!!!!!
we finally dug out our stack of christmas music! what's your favorite holiday song?
Finally! I am so excited to share with you...
My next online workshop.
Registration opens Monday, December 6th.
Have a beautiful weekend!
when we left virginia last week it was still fall. with each passing mile the remaining leaves left on the trees became less and less. we drove 400 miles, right into winter. where the trees were so stark and so lovely. it was cold and gray, like november often is in pennsylvania, at least near the lake. on the day before we came back it snowed. i woke to the voice of my boy... so excited, "muuuum, muuuum. look. it's snowing." ahhhh. everything was covered in white. we bundled up and headed out into the muffled song of winter.
now back in virginia. it's the last day of november, closer to winter, but it's rain and still a few leaves that are falling. secretly, like my children, i am hoping for more snow.
listening to winter, & these two covers by tori amos
my next post {hopefully later this week} will be about my upcoming {january} online class. {i apologize to those of you that have been waiting to hear about it.}
tomorrow is a brand new month already...
Happy last day of November!
a few more pieces of fresh art listed in my etsy shop. i finally feel like i am falling into a good place in my studio again. it's been awhile since i have felt this way. i hope the feeling sticks around for awhile.
it's that time of year here, when we share our gratitudes. ;) just a few...
i am thankful... for the sweetness of her face, that i noticed even more so this morning, as she was laughing with me. i am thankful for his effortless ability to make my heart feel all warm and mushy. i am thankful for the love i share and receive. i am thankful for his genuine and understanding heart. i am thankful for the vital friendships in my life that continue to flourish, near and far. and i am thankful for the friendships that have gone astray, as things sometimes do. i am thankful for the leaves, raining down today in all their brilliance. i am thankful for afternoon walks in the field. i am thankful for sliced oranges and green tea. i am thankful for music and how its vibrancy fills my soul. i am thankful for long car rides that take me home. i am thankful for my body, and the way it works. i am thankful for my art and being able to do what i love. i am thankful for you. i am thankful for this moment.
♥
wishing you a very happy thanksgiving!
hello! ;)
i've been tucked away in my studio, working on a few new pieces that i have listed in my etsy shop.
it feels sooooo good to have time to play in my studio, and do other things i haven't had as much time for. i've been doing a lot of cooking. making pumpkin bread, chunky apple muffins, west african peanut soup, tons of kale & collards, and other homey autumnal foods. cooking this time of year is better than any other, isn't it?!
i've also been spending time with dear friends, near and far, and realizing just how essential friendship is in my life. i only wish all my friends lived close enough to drop off some warm pumpkin bread.
with all that i've also been trying to get outside whenever i can. to soak up these amazingly beautiful fall days. the leaves are slowly, slowly falling. surprisingly we still have most of our leaves here, and they are so brilliant from all the rain we had earlier this week... but we are so ready for some serious leaf pile jumping, so i hope they fall soon.
exciting news... my book is on amazon! {even though it's months away from being in my hands, it's so cool to see it there}.
♥
i have been working on my next online course. it will start early january. i will be posting more about it soon!!!
thank you for your lovely comments on my last posts. although i am inexcusably awful at emails these days, i do greatly appreciate your words. thank you.
listening to this song again and again... and this poem.
i hope life has been treating you kindly!
to a place not too far from here. where life is a little slower, sweeter, and perhaps even a little more lyrical. to a place where there are olive trees in full bloom, cobblestone pathways to follow, grapes waiting to be turned to wine, sunsets to be marveled, hours to roam, and dreams to be told, to a place called Orvieto. How lucky and how grateful I am to have been able to live in such a place for a few short days, and with some of the most beautiful people I now know and hold dear.
Sharon... such a brave and wholehearted woman. I have "known" Sharon for some time now through the blog world, meeting her in person could not have been any more sublime, and in such a far away place. She was always aglow with a smile that was just as much internal as external. Her work is constantly evolving into something more beautiful than the last. I think she (and a few others) would have stayed in the studio all night and day painting away, if possible...
but there was cooking class to attend, wine tasting at the vineyard, duomo's and Etruscan caves to explore, gelato to enjoy, and much fun to be had.
Beth... sparkling and witty, with a lovely mystique. She came to the workshop with good intentions... to fearlessly make art, have a great time, and to paint a face! Not only can she paint a face, she can paint a story with her brush that begs to be told... not to mention her ability to play the piano... wow! I loved watching her pages evolve and change as they became about her personal journey.
Janice... so well poised, dedicated, and high spirited. When I first met Janice in the convent courtyard I felt like I had known her for a long time, there is something very comforting about her presence. Over the week it only became stronger. Her enthusiasm in the studio was contagious and still is. Seeing her artwork is evocative and inspiring, and makes me want to get in the studio and create! She was so determined to make this trip happen and she did!
Margarida... so very passionate about life, and always says what's on her mind, from Portugal. Our time together would not have been the same without Margarida. She spiced things up and gave a little more flavor to the day. I so enjoyed having her there and watching her work at an amazingly fast pace. Her journal was pretty close to being finished at the end of the week and it couldn't have been any more original. Her art is filled with truth and empathy for humanity.
John... my gentle-hearted and wickedly talented sherpa. John and I met just a few years ago and ever since he has become one of my dearest friends. I adore him immensely and love that he joined me for this week in orvieto. He added so much to the class and made us laugh often. His work, be it painting, journaling, book binding, or whatever his heart is set on, is exquisite. If only I could get him to share more of his work online, you would see what I mean.
of course, give any of these seven beautiful souls a little (lot) wine and they are nothing like I describe, but I can't say too much...
and last, but not least... our beloved hosts, Bill & Kristi. Aren't they adorable? Even more so in person! I first met Kristi at the very first Art Nest years ago. There was an instant connection, and still, I continue to be in awe of her soulfulness and gentle nature. I remember hugging her goodbye at the Utah airport back then, feeling so blessed to have met her. This was my first time meeting Bill, so encouraging & kind, with a great sense of humor. When she and Bill invited me to teach in Orvieto of course I was ecstatic, but I didn't know what I was in for. I didn't know it would be quite the amazing experience it was, from the beginning with my family, to the end... with all of you.
to all of you, thank you. it would not have been what it was without any of you. How hard it was to say goodbye. I miss you all and hope we meet again, and soon, very soon!
and.... I have been invited to return in the fall of 2012. More about that soon. I can hardly wait!!!
i haven't even been home a week and already i have fallen right back into myself, my old routines, my old ways. which most might think would be a blessing, but how can i fall back into my old ways so easily when i feel that i have been forever changed by my albeit short, sweet time spent in a far away dreamland? maybe these things take time.. maybe next time i need to stay longer? ;)
for just a few days i was falling asleep before 8 pm, waking at 3am, wide awake, still on italian time. i wasn't annoyed, i liked the oddness of being so wide awake in the middle of the night, thinking about those awake with me, while i lost myself in a book for a few hours. then last night i couldn't resist more studio time, i found myself up past midnight, inspired & painting. this morning i woke feeling tired, not so wide awake. how effortless it can be to fall right back into place.
as the days slip by my memories of my time in italy are starting to get mixed up and slightly distorted. i have already forgotten some of the sequence of things. i cannot seem to intensify the sounds of the bells ringing by just thinking of them, i can't conjure up the exact funky sound of the sirens in the city, or the smell of the air that danced in my hair while standing on the gray coastline at dusk, the anxiousness i felt while climbing all the many wooden stairs to the top of the tower in lucca and the reward of getting to the view, the feeling of sitting on the train with my family, euphorically watching my children as they oohed and awed about the view just outside the window, the timid excitement of trying to speak/learn a few words of a language i do not know, the humor we found about the differences of their lives and ours, the warm, honey smell of candles burning in the basilica's & duomo's, the long afternoon lunches served first with wine and then with espresso, the unbearable heartache i felt as i wept in the hotel room, after my family left to go back home, how badly i wanted to go with them, and how badly i wanted to stay to find my way to orvieto for the next part of my journey...
i am trying so hard to hold on this spectacular feeling of whoa, before it slips away into the piles of endless laundry & comforting daily routines... and so life goes on, as it should... but i haven't even begun to tell you about my time in orvieto, my workshop, my brave & beloved students & hosts/friends, the art, the convent, the golden sunlight...
"...a lifetime isn't long enough for the beauty of this world
and the responsibilities of your life...
scatter the flowers over the graves, and walk away.
be good-natured and untidy in your exuberance...
in the glare of your mind, be modest.
and beholden to what is tactile, and thrilling."
~ mary oliver
it's these words that stayed with me while i was spending my days & nights in italy. words from a poem called 'flare' by mary oliver, that i read again and again. it resonated with me in many ways, as most of her poems do. it's a genuine mary oliver poem about life, about being aware, and about the joys and sorrows that we carry with us throughout our lives as we make our way to where ever it is we are going. i am still quite unsure where it is exactly that i am going, but i do know where i have been. now the hard part, to bring it to life here, or try to. i hope i can find some of my own words to verbalize my emotions and thoughts that never seemed to let me rest while away... and if not, well there are many, many photos that seem to capture where i have been, what i felt, whom i was with, and the beauty that surrounded me these past few weeks in a country more romantic and stunning than i even imagined.
the first half of my journey was spent with my family, it was our first time traveling this far together as a family. everyday was filled with new discoveries, pigeon feeding (my son was smitten), childhood bliss for each of us, and so, so much exploring. we spent the first few nights in rome, in awe of everything. there is achingly beautiful art, crazy traffic, stunning monuments, street performers, and delicious gelato everywhere you look.
from rome we took the train to siena, where i felt like i had walked into a painting of the medieval times. being there felt absolutely wild. there was a festival going on of some kind and the whole town was in an uproar of celebrating, it felt like new years eve in the summer in a far away land. from siena we took another train to lucca, where the whole town is completely surrounded by a stone wall that you can walk on, which we did late one night, before spotting a playground that distracted us and perfectly wrapped up a long day of playing. while in lucca i so gratefully met up with sweet suz and her most beautiful family, we shared stories over gelato and strolled the charmingly crowded cobblestone streets, it felt like we had known each other forever, even though it was our first meeting in person, i love that {thank you, suz}. from lucca we schlepped ourselves and luggage to one of the most beautiful places i have ever been, called cinque terre. five little breathtaking italian towns nestled into the coast of italy. we stayed in vernazza and hiked from town to another by mountain/oceanside trail. can you image? i still cannot, it was a dream. a beautiful & magical dream.
with each town we visited i fell more and more in love with italy, with life... and i still had many days ahead of me and more experiences to share. i had no idea of what was to come...
and home again. home from spending almost 3 weeks in italy. i fell so madly in love with this beautiful country and cannot wait to return.
there is soooo much to share, i have a feeling it will be many posts....
but for tonight, after a long 24 hours of travel, i am soaking up a little cowboy junkies & vino... a perfect pairing.
more soon...
ahhh, the very last day of summer... ♥ i raise my cup to the sky, here's to celebrating this day & to welcoming autumn.
i've been on the run, soon to be on the fly. ;) it sure has been one heck of a busy summer, perhaps the busiest time ever in my life. but it's all good. i am finishing up my book (letting the cat out of the bag here) and packing up for a vacation & workshop in Italy. i can't believe i am going to italy, not sure when it will sink in, perhaps when i am there... i can't believe i am going to have a book out, and i think that will sink in once it's in my hands... maybe?
i want to wish you a very happy autumn. this morning, while driving i really noticed how much autumn is painting the landscape, everything is changing. needless to say, it's very bittersweet! however, i am going to soak up the fall until i am so fully saturated that i just might burst from all the soaking... yes, i am! fall is such an amazing time for photo collecting?! i can't wait to collect photos while in italy, perhaps, if possible, i will share a few here while i am away.
{the cityscape is of shanghai, where my husband was last week. i stole it from his camera... it's too beautiful not to share.}
a few songs i am loving... bloodstream, this version of sitting on the dock of the bay, slowly, uh uh uh, & this version of mad world~
"it seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them." ~ George Eliot
♥ happy autumn ♥
today... like all week i have been fighting the urge to runaway with all my dearest ones in tow. it started when i found myself wandering around the archives of this american life, looking for some verbal inspiration. i stumbled upon a story about a family on the run, living each day together - fully. from my perspective it sounded exciting, adventurous, and oh-so-tempting! it got me thinking about how much we give up to live the way we do... the choices we make and the choices we let others make for us. before i know it these radical-offbeat feelings will fade or pass on by, but for now my mind wanders to what it would be like to change course, to live wild and free. perhaps it's that fall is definitely in the air. it smells like sweet fermented melancholy. and makes me feels as though i am so ready for change and yet, not wanting anything to change at all.
i found it fitting that i clicked on this link to find this quote from one of my favorite dylan songs, isis, today. perfect.
however, i do feel like a new woman, after seeing lady gaga perform in person this week. whoa.
i want to do this to my hair...
the tiny poem is famous by naomi shihab nye
~
this time of year always makes me feel so pensive. it didn't help at all when i pulled out my old ornery laptop and looked through my photos from the past few years... when did my children get so big? ~ my heart sighs ~
as always the days have been flying by. and as always i am trying to squeeze out as much as i can from each day, especially as summer dwindles away. even though there are still weeks left of summer on the calender our summer pretty much ends when school starts. late nights & bathing suits get traded in for early bed times and new shoes. and as always i am just not ready for the change. however, it will be good to get back to a routine of sorts, maybe...
meanwhile, i am looking for ways to cure the back to school - end of summer blues. i'll get over it eventually, at least by the time school ends...
thankfully, there are beautiful songs like this, and this, and this to keep me from throwing myself on the earth's floor, begging for more summertime.
very soon i am going to be listing a few original paintings in my etsy shop, finally.
“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
~ Jacques Cousteau
“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach;
one can collect only a few,
and they are more beautiful if they are few”
~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh
"I am in love with Ocean
lifting her thousands of white hats
in the chop of the storm,
or lying smooth and blue, the
loveliest bed in the world."
~ Mary Oliver
“The waves of the sea
Help me get back to me.”
~ Jill Davis
i dream
of living on the ocean shore,
where the morning brims
in lightness.
wild horses roam,
wild and free.
shards of shells tumble
dancing on the sand.
faint blue and white waves pull in, push out,
bellowing their gentle ocean song.
it feels much like being inside a poem,
serenity wraps around each and every moment.
alas, night comes too soon,
wearing her famous cape of stars.
exhausted from a day of dreaming,
i fall asleep.
~
listening:
&
a beautiful cover of wild horses
to flourish while you can
giggling is the best medicine
a little sunlight does a lot of good
take what you can get, when you can get it
a little generosity goes a long way
children are so achingly amazing
it's so easy to fall in love
living vicariously isn't always that bad
the days are no longer drifting by, but soaring at supersonic speed
staying up late does have its rewards
red is my favorite color
life is strange, fascinating, and so weird.
<><><><><><>
trying to hold on to these summer days for as long as i possibly can. although, once summer packs up and leaves i will be packing for a few days in italy. i can't hardly believe it, nor will i until i am standing on italian ground. i can't wait to do as the romans while in rome and then wander with passion the cobble streets of orvieto, make some art, and share some wine... there is still time for you to be spontaneous and join us. it's a small group and we would love for you to be there, too!
have a beautiful weekend.
listening to some new (to me) tunes: by carla bruni & Jonathan Richman
a few songs stuck in my head. rewind to 1988, (there's your warning ;) i was 12, this song was my absolute favorite song. this song was #2 on my top five. #3 was this song. #4 was this song (i just loved the video). #5 was this song (and the beginning of my love of 'alternative' music)
have a beautiful weekend.
