I'm popular these days!



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At the beach

Last weekend we took the kids to the Oregon Coast for a long weekend. It's really the first time Lil D got to explore the beach - last time she was only 6 months old! We spent some time at the Evergreen Air and Space Museum on the way down there, which was way cool. Hubby geeked out on all the planes and rockets, and the kids loved all the little flying games and demos everywhere. We had lunch there, and pushed on to the central coast.


We spent our next day just bumming around. The weather was too cold to go down to the beach first thing, so we did a little shopping. By the time we had lunch, it had cleared off and gotten warm and we spent the rest of the day on the sand.

Another lovely colection on Artfire.com - this one is water themed!

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Artfire Collections are a great way to pull together some favorite items. Imagine my surprise and delight to find I was featured in the "Pansy" collection with this photo:


See the full collection HERE

Summertime....

It has been forever since I have posted, and for that, I am truly sorry. Life, as happens, attacked.


It's been a good summer here, if a little cooler than I want. I've been spending time in my garden, which is a rich and rewarding thing. Harvesting my dinner is so fulfilling, and the kids are loving it, too.


We're growing Brussels Sprouts, onions, garlic, salad fixings, beans, brocolli, zucchini, tomatoes, and sunflowers.





Oh, and I got another tattoo... I think it's adorable :)

Paper

I am addicted to paper. And stickers. And glitter. It's a weakness. Nothing makes me happier than rifling through my stash, looking for the perfect piece, and combining things to make little pieces of art which I know will make someone smile.

For a while last fall, I taught an origami class to a group of 3rd and 4th graders at my son's school. It was a blast, and very fulfilling to bring to them an art form which I have loved since my days as a fourth grader.

There is something so peacful, so quieting about sitting down with my supplies and creating. It helps me to get my mind in order, to calm myself, and to find peace.

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Well, we made it to and from the coast. That's my fella there. He's a good fella. We've been travelling together for some time now. The surprising thing is how much we still enjoy each other's company.

It was good to get out without the kids. We did a lot of walking, and chatting, and looking at shops, and taking pictures, and eating rich and fattening food. It was a wonderful weekend.

In our wanderings, I came to a realization. I think I know why macro photography holds such fascination over me. I think people don't spend enough time. They don't pause, like a child would, to enjoy the little surprises hiding in everyday life. Somewhere in the journey from child to adult we lose the ability to wonder. This world we have been given is a gift. It is time to slow down and enjoy it. Look at leaves and puddles and bubbles. Smell the ocean air. Have a long conversation with someone you love. Eat some new foods. Thank God every morning that you are awake and alive and all is well.

Thank you for taking the time to look. Be blessed this week.

D and I had a good walk today.

I think the thing I love so much about macro photography is the chance to see worlds no one takes the time to look at. Like the above photo - how often do you look inside rose leaves?

Today was lovely and sunny and cold. Before settling in to work on our cold-weather garden, my daughter and I went for a walk. Lucky for me, I remembered my camera.

The wind was crisp today, and there was still a lot of dew on the ground. We walked for quite a while, seeing again the mountain and hills, the neighbors goats, the death left behind by winter, and the promise of regrowth from Spring.

New photos from today as well as new cards, just listed on my artfire!

This little guy to the right is one of my favorites.... I remember taking this around sunset, which accounts for the long shadow behind him. It's amazing the worlds you see when you take the time to look!

This fellow to the left is my garden gnome Ernie. I caught him napping on the job one day, hiding under a leaf.

New photos being added at the Artfire site as we speak!!

It's pouring rain today, so I'm spending my day inside with my ink and pencils. Expect new cards from me soon!

If you want to know why I am embarking on this journey, to the right are my two best reasons. My son, who is nearly seven, and my daughter, who is two.

I feel vulnerable, putting my creative self on public display like I am. But at the same time, it is exciting. I want to do this, I want to make money from my art, and I want to prove to my children that you can make a living from art, if you set your mind to it.

Also, I want to be home with them. I want to be able to go to soccer in the evenings and spend weekend afternoons at Powells with them, instead of working my tail off to make money for someone else.

This photo was taken in December of 2009, right after a pretty amount of ice coated our backyard. The canopy from our Chevy turned into a nice little skating rink for them, and they had a blast slipping around on it!

I love little moments like this, the times when no one know I am there with my camera capturing it. It's one of the reasons I love macro photography. I get to capture worlds that no one ever really takes the chance to see.

Welcome! I'm still trying to figure it all out - keep checking back as I will be updating things as I learn!