A Little Deer

So I uh must have left my head in Maine because I haven't been really "present" for awhile. Summer is just too much fun! And wouldn't yah know we are going back on Fri! Yipee! 

In other new David and I have started to look at houses again after a horrifying start a few months back. We seem to have found a realtor that's really nice and wants to see us in the right house.  We also know what we want in a house and what we can afford so, here's hoping. Not much else to say and I'm pretty sure I'll be scarce around these parts for a few weeks as I gear up for a show this fall and enjoy our fleeting New England summer.

spontaneous

this picture has nothing to do with this post, just thought I would share a WIP.

I have a hard time being that - spontaneous. I like to research and plan and make lists. Last night I just wanted to get out of the house so we headed for Newport with no real plans of what we were going to do. It turned out fantastic that way.

 It's been pretty steamy in the city and I have been hankering to get back to that town for awhile now (I lived there for 2 years almost 10 years ago). We ate at one of my favorite restaurants there (Salvation Cafe) and then played in the waves at the beach. Gabe was thrilled by the the waves. It was surprisingly warm for new england waters, next time we'll be bringing our suits! We then headed back home stopping for ice-cream on the way, actually I got a root beer float. SO good, talk about a perfect ending.

 I have been obsessed with root beer for a few weeks now. David and I have been root-beer connoisseurs, picking out fancy brands from Whole Foods. Ok I have been picking out the root beer and letting David sample some of it with me. I think I may be needing to pick of fancy vanilla ice cream to go with them now. 

Mmmm, summer. 

breathing s p a c e

 

Yup I'm back, It felt good to take a break and reestablish what is important to me. I have really been thinking hard about a lot of things and have decided to stay in this little space of mine. I really enjoy the sharing and the community I feel with all of you and I feel like it's important to make time for that in my life. You might notice a subtle change around here, the way I write and how and what I share. Kinda hard to explain but you'll see. =) I have been cutting a lot out of my life lately, no not carbs (sacrilege!) more like heavy stresses, unnecessary clutter and a work ethic I can live with. 

One of my biggest struggles right now it my yearning to be more present and engaged with my son without feeling that pull toward "work" which in my head translates to guilt and then  "not working enough", "not producing enough", "go , go, go, sell, sell, sell", "make money". All of which are NOT conducive to happiness and inspiration. I have decided to take a break from my art business for a bit and concentrate on child rearing. Gabe will only be this age once, and I refuse to be ashamed for "only" being a stay at home parent. I'm proud and lucky to be able to stay home with my little guy. He is at such a fun age right now (minus the crazed tantrums) and I really want to create an environment and home life that he can flourish in. Everyday I am coming closer to the realization that simple is good. It's better...for me and my family.

 I'm not really going to stop being an artist ( I don't thinks that's possible), but I'll be cutting back and only taking jobs and projects that are really exciting to me (and trust me I have a few in the works), my Etsy store will be bare for a bit.  I will be stock piling work over the summer to share in the fall, I have SO many ideas I want to work slowly on. I don't want to rush anymore. Thank you all for being here and contributing even if it's not through comments but just through reading. I'm happy to be back.

Time for a break

After much thought and consideration I have decided to take a break from this here blog for a bit. Not sure how long, may be a few weeks may be a few months.

I'm finding it a bit difficult to keep up with everything at the moment. House hunting, staying home full-time with Gabe (no more daycare), daily chores and responsibilities and being a good wife and mother, not to mention that whole business-art thing I do. I'm not striving for Mother Teresa or anything but something I can live with and be proud of.

I find myself racked with guilt over silly things and unable to live in the moment and enjoy my time with my family. I'm always anxious and overwhelmed about this and that and I feel that this time on the computer is really contributing to that and taking away from me LIVING. I'm so impressed with you crafty/artistic moms out there that can maintain an online presence, juggling everything. I have never really been good as juggling with out falling to bits under the pressure. I want to find myself as an artist again, I have a lot of ideas I want to explore and I'm finding that more and more each day I am better off FAR away from the computer to have such ideas come to fruition. The time has come to start cutting things out. I will still remain on Flickr but I'm not sure what will come of this blog.
Thank you all so much for sticking with me and leaving sweet comments that I can NEVER keep up with, even if it's like 2 comments. I know I'm horrible. I hope you all have wonderful summers and I look forward to seeing you all around Flickr. Perhaps I'll be back soon!

dropped off for a bit

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but he cracks me up so I though you all would get a kick out it, at least my dad will. Hi Dad! Yup he TOTALLY reads my blog, I think it's the cutest.

Sorry bout that...My eyes have been glued to the computer screen for several reasons,among them,looking for houses . BTW- Thanks for all the well wishes about the house hunting. I only have one thing to say about the house we saw last weekend...squatters, nough said. EWW. Onward and upward.
I should be packing as I'm going down to NY for the stationary show, no, no, not showing just walking the floor, meeting with some clients. Hoping to present at Surtex again next year. I'm also hoping to go to the Brooklyn flea market, as I will be staying in Williamsburg with a friend.
I also rearranged my studio for like, the umpteenth time. I am was so disorganized and overwhelmed. I have a big space to work in but it was not working for me and I was totally stressed out. When I get like that I totally shut down and CAN'T work. I finally dragged myself in there, it took me 3 days but it's done. It was a huge purge (3 GIANT trash bags full) and massive organization process but SO needed to be done. I feel better already. I now have designated areas for every aspect of my "business", i know what's with the quotation marks. It's just feels weird calling it that. But I do pay taxes so I should be ok with it by now. ANYWHO... there's an area for packing and shipping, printing, computer work, sewing, painting, supplies and even an inspiration corner! I even organized all my papers and "things" for my mixed media collage work. I had no idea I hoarded so many paint chips, I'm a freak.

Eek, it's wonderful though. When I get back next week I will be starting on all the work I have been meaning to do ALL month. Next project is tackling a book keeping/e-mail system that works!

Happy weekend to you all!

OH YEAH- I totally forgot to tell you all that I'm part of the designer series for PINGG a new and really great online greeting card site! Check it out yo.

I think I need a computer break

I think I have been in computer overload the past few days. I had an odd dream last night...This lady was having a clothing swap and among other people Jen and Meg were there. I had brought some twinkies for Meg (cuz you LOVE those, right Meg?!). There were technicolor poodle puppies running around reminding me of this picture I have seen on Flickr a few days ago (ok I can't find it but it was of hot pink, purple and blue vegetable dyed baby chicks * UPDATE-Found It ! *). There was more but I forget most of it. But ahhh yeah, I'm doing a little self imposed computer break until the weekend I think. I have managed to be creative.

This one is just for us but I plan on making some more of these, using this one as a jumping off point creativley speaking. Avoiding the computer will make me more productive for sure.

Happy rest of the week to ya'll!!

Nostalgic

Our anniversary was 4/16 but we didn't do anything to celebrate that day. The end of this month we are going to hike Mt. Greylock, just like the good ol' days to celebrate 4 years! Here are some old pics from 2004 when we got married and 7 months later hiking in Acadia Ntl. Park.

I love you David!!!!

day to day

Moods are a funny thing you know. Yesterday was awful...nothing seemed to go right and it kept getting worse. Amazing what a good night's sleep will do for you, that and telling yourself before you drift off to sleep that tomorrow will be a better day. You know what?

It is. The sun is shining, there are games played with Potsticker, there was a walk to the playground and windowshopping on Thayer St. Following was a simple lunch of juice, crackers, hummus, cream-cheese and dried fruit. Not all together though. The city is just beautiful right now, all the flowering trees and budding flowers. A long walk through the historic parts of Providence does wondrous things for the soul. Life is good.

I also wanted to share a SERIOUS source of inspiration today. Every picture is so so so wonderful and lovely in every way.

Here is a list of other things that are really truly inspiring me right now:

~ a bohemian life
~ mismatched linens
~ rustic & simple food
~ homemade bread
~ india
~ long flowng skirts
~ paisley
~ embroidery and crewel work
~ going barefoot
~ dreamy purples, pinks, yellows and turquoises
~ gypsies (NOT the kind that pick your pocket)
~ bearded irises
~ not sweating the small stuff
~ dreaming of a small farm just for us

love rainy days

Today has been good so far. There were ricotta fritters with lemon curd for breakfast , story-time at the library, books and a few videos (YES videos) to be checked out. Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty bang bang and Bed-knobs and Broomsticks. There was time made for puddle jumping and the exploration of water spouts and buckets filled with rain water.

I just put Gabe down for a nap (thank goodness he still takes one!) and now it's me time. Usually that would mean studio time but I'm feeling lazy and quite tired. We stopped with the pacified at naptime and nighttime and now the naps are seeming to be shorter and the mornings come earlier ( a whole HOUR). I'm trying to recoup. That and Gabe has been quite err whiny for the last few days, he's specializing in NOT listening and it's the perfect combination to make parents exhausted. Sooo before this his nap ends I think I would like a quick catnap too. I will try to ignore the enormous mess on my desk that's spilling onto the floor around me and dished piled high in the sink. That's what rainy days are for right?

ugg

Reasons I'm irritated:

1) computer is slow, like slooooooooow
2) Taxes
3) I reset my safari so now I have to try and remember all user names and passwords. riiiight
4) I erased like 500 pictures(NOT on purpose) from my iphoto trying to make space so said computer would run faster.

On a lighter and brighter note let me show you two people who are inspiring me like crazy right now...

Sarah Ahearn: her paintings are just driving me insane I love them so much. Go Check out her shop!

AND

and Anahata Katkin. Go check out her work at PaPaYa!

P.S. - If anyone has any suggestions on how to make my Mac run faster I'm all ears!