for audrey eclectic...

It has been so very rewarding making friends on the world wide web. I've been blessed with getting to know a handful of extremely talented and awesome ladies. One of which I did this portrait for: Heather of Audrey Eclectic. She amazes me with her delightful paintings inspired by historical time periods, folk takes, ghost stories and southern living. She, along with her husband and gorgeous daughter, live in a nice little homestead in Oklahoma that I would love to visit someday. Her blog is full of her beautiful art and craft (check out her ceramic mugs!), photographs of everyday living and her posts featuring Tasha Tuesday and WWMID (What Would Ma Ingalls Do).She encourages me to continue to reach out for my dreams artistically and creatively and to live life with passion. Every one she take a visit to her neck of the woods, I promise you will not be disappointed ;)

nettles, storybook places and a birthday too

 one.

 

two.

three.

four.

five.

 six.

one and two--I don't remember exactly how it came about but we were being silly with one another and I brought up nettles. Nettles, Nattie, Natalie. We were both extremely playful and happy and now Natalie (also known as bubelah) has yet another (new) nickname: Nettles. My daughter the Nettles. On Mother's day after church, we came home and changed into comfy clothes, made popcorn, snuggled and watched a movie together. I also drew to 'nettle' pictures, for my daughter and the new name..

three and four--Our passes have cleared up again, allowing us to visit Disneyland until the summer comes around. three is a photo of the top of the Peter Pan Ride Building and four is from Mr. Toad's Wild Adventure..

five--Never far from Mother's day is my husband/love/best friend's birthday. We made banana cream pie from scratch (including the pie crust!) and decorated it for him. She put blueberries to make a 'R' and out a cherry in the middle for him..

six--the Nettles herself, a self-portrait..

Addendum--just came across this on an email from All About Thyme:

Celebrate Be Nice to Nettles Week by listening to Susan's podcast on this interesting "weed" or reading about 101 surprising ways you can use nettles.

an old house, a window and drawing for things to come...

The Heritage House by day. Two of our friends made their wedding vows in front of it. This place brought lots of memories as it was also the place where we had our wedding reception.

The Heritage House by night. I didn't want to leave this night filled with so much joyful celebration!

Luciana's dress at my friend's house.

Drawing on index cards for a little home craft project I am in the works of making. Also giving me ideas for bigger illustrations to try, perhaps with water colors even...

little bees, other sketches and small thoughts

Finding myself falling in love with bees again and at the same time reminding myself to find motivation through being 'busy as a bee'. There is always something to do and I still learning to manage all those 'somethings' that need to be done....

I always love times of doodling and playing with my best little partner in crime, miss Natalie while we wait for our meal at a restaurant. The best is when the table is already dressed up with paper! Endless amount of fun like dress up the girl, playing hangman, decorate your own pumpkin (and valentine too!), drawing nice vampire girls, writing out or names in flamboyant cursive, making portraits and writing and drawing stories about a spooky cat...

the end of summer comes...

"September's Baccalaureate
A combination is Of Crickets -- Crows -- and Retrospects
And a dissembling Breeze
That hints without assuming --
An Innuendo sear
That makes the Heart put up its Fun
And turn Philosopher."
-   Emily Dickinson, September's Baccalaureate 

Time has been busy. It has been both too short and too long. It's nice to get away for a few moments to rest and to refresh too. I have to be getting ready for new things. The 'have to' is because I want to motivate myself more than any other time before. I need to manage my time, my efforts and my creativity with discipline and ambition. There are things I need to do and things I want to do. So, here's to the end of things and to the beginnings of new things!

(After note: Anyone one pinterest? I'm there now too, come by and peruse if you like...)

the swan comes in summer...

Summer has finally remembered us here in Southern California. Yesterday was its first day and today is the day that I accept it. July has been productive in ways of ideas. I've been stealing away moments here and there for sketching, drawing and coloring. I've done several little drawings and though I never share their 'stories', in my head, I see the stories, I hear it.



I've just changed the header on my blog to the above illustration. Who knows how long it will stay but for now it's here and I love the story it brings me. When I started drawing this in my sketchbook, I was thinking of girl who rides upon a black swan in the dead of night, through the marshes, guided by a jar filled with fireflies. She seems like a ghost that helps the dreams of the nearby children make their way. Or at least, something like that.

I am sure with the heat upon us now, I'll have more ideas. There is so much to do (along with a few sewing projects I really need to get a move on) but I'll have to time it right. To fit the summer vacation schedule with both Natalie and Rick and working around the inevitable heat. I hope I will continue to be productive with imagination, creation and progress. Until then, hello summer, hello...

inspirations and independence

I've been so happy to pull out my newest black apple sketchbook and just start drawing. I'm starting this one with more pieces intended to be completed. More drawings, less sketches. With the several new ideas/drawings coming to life in this book, I've been getting inspired from past things. I love how this wonderful, beautiful place has so many corners to draw inspiration from. Earlier this year it has been the sea and the Northwest with totem poles, inuit drawings and aurora borealis. Now my thoughts are turning to a constant interest of mine (though sometimes it takes the back seat to newer ones). Things like the bayou, folk roots, victorian, 'bohemian' and other vintage times. This is more my commonplace at times and I am happy to be venturing there again.

This is my 'blackbirds and roses' directly inspired by Karen Elson and her song 'Stolen Roses'. I did a little post about her at magpie apples where you can see the video as well.

I just finished a simple little piece today with a ghost and a bird cage. Antique bird cages are so beautiful and I've always wanted a place where I could collect a few and decorate with them. I haven't done a little ghostie in awhile and for some reason I paired the two ideas together.

I have an illustration in the making but I'll give a sneak peek. I thought I would do something a little bit Victorian but in my weird way, I didn't want to draw a woman. I'm going back to a blackbird as my muse. You can see the cage of the previous drawing on the following page.

As always for my need to begin and create, I add another new flickr group under my belt so to speak. I invite you to be a part of Bygone Drawings, for those illustrations inspired by times that are no longer ours. 

On another note, our Fourth of July was spectacular once again. We gathered at Rick's grandma's house and ate, laughed, enjoyed company with one another and reveled in the fantastic street (illegal) firework show. We have done this for three years now and this by far was the best. Even all of the neighbors were rooting for our displays of sights and sounds (by the way, this is in LA where everyone has illegal fireworks. The cops even make visits and just wave as the past by).

I captured some moments with my wee camera phone but I hope to one day have a fabulous camera that can really showcase all the sights. The photos still serve their purpose of course, and I am forever grateful for our country, for my friends and for my family.

mornings.

• open windows
• gardenias in glass bottles
• old timey music
• magpie apples
• fireworks
• bicycles
• new sketchbooks
• prayer
• faith
• hope

owls and gratefulness

The days here in Southern California are fickle; going back and forth from overcast and drizzle to bright blue skies and sunshine. As I write this, I feel quite and still, trying not to give in to some discomfort in my body. Every day is day to day and I am thankful that for a good while now I have felt okay and not have had to make an ER appearance. Monday was another endoscopy with a new GI and so far, what the results tell me are: evidence of Grade I relux esophagitis of the esophagus. The mucose apperared granular. Evidence of erosive gastritis of the antrum. The mucosa appreared granular and erythematous. Evidence of nonerosive gastritis of the antrum. The mucosa appeared granular and erythematous. The duodenum appeared normal. I meet with the GI again in early June to go over the biopsy results and take it from there. 

My intent in this post was not to start off with this subject, so I apologize. Life is a mixture of so many things and though I do want to share all the good in my life (like most people do) there are shadows that lurk here too. This issue with my health is definitely one of them and in my attempt to always be real with myself and others, I share it here. 

With that said, I move on to the subject of things that make me happy. I am deeply devoted to my daughter as most mothers are to their children. There are obvious reasons why she is dear to me but I am also grateful just to have her. I am not sure if we will ever have another child again, not that we don't want to. All these issues add up and it can be very discouraging to know that this might be the extent of our family. Those times when I feel the pang of wanting more children, I just look at the one I  have been so graciously given and I am thankful. It amazes me how much she wants to be with me and wants to be like me. I am doing my best to hold on to every moment since there very well may be the day when she won't want the similarities anymore. For now I am grateful when she wants our tuesday movies (and/or games and spa) sleepover nights (just her and I, no daddy!) and when I rummage through her backpack and find her sweet little hand drawings of momma's favorite: owls.

Recently, in an email. I found out that Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets is having a contest. It's design the best bag ever and the winner of the contest gets free groceries for a year! I thought it would be fun to enter in, even though I know there will be thousands of amazing entries most likely. Nat was thrilled too, until she found out she could not participate because she is not old enough. That knowledge came as a blow and she was devasted. While consoling here, my brain was already trying to come out with what I would submit but that didn't last long. To ease her pain of not being able to draw something herself, she quickly came up with an idea for me to draw to enter in. How could I say no? I told her I would do this in her honor, to show her creativity through my drawing. Of course, her idea including an owl, a tree and a reusable bag. Here is her sketch she did for me and after is the final resuly I am submitting to the contest. 

I finished this last night while having our movie night in her room. She approved and gave suggestions (the color of the owl for example). She also wanted to include a eight point star above the owl and I traced over it for her. I am proud to submit this in and though I prepared her that we might not win (because she is sure we are) and told her the fun is in that we did it together. These are the little things that hold me up. Her enthusiam and her wanting to be a part of everything that I am. I pray every day for her and that the ties that bind us together will never be severed or damaged. I know she is becoming her own person with every day and I want to encourage her in that way but there is nothing like her fondness to be like me and like all the things I like too. 

As I wipe tears of joy off my face, I also wanted to share a couple of new things. I am putting it here not only to share, but to keep myself accountable for discipline. I have had the idea of littlebighead opening up another shop on etsy for awhile. A place to extend my love for the natural world of herbs, tea and more folklore ideas. A place to also serve the 'business' that Nat wants to have with me to sell our own blends of teas and herbal products. Awhile ago we agreed on the name Kindly Owl Herbs and I used it for my second twitter, herb and flower. I've held off on this idea for awhile with various other things taking precedent but now it's returned, thanks to the encouragement of my friend Helena. I won't say too much (yet) but we are currently collaborating on a line for both our shops (kindly owl and hers at faunfare) that I am pretty excited about. I am thankful for her organization and drive because it is certainly helping me out :) So more about this project as it continues in growth and in execution. 

For now, I wish everyone a blessed day. I have domestic duties, artistic endeavors and a commission job all waiting for me...

be still...

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.


10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”