Things always seem to be crazy around our house, as I'm positive for most people. One of the simple things to slow us down and gives us some humor are these two beautiful creatures. They have only been in ours lives a short time, but they are already family!!

Sully and Piper are Ragdoll kittens...Sully the orange flame and Piper is a sealpoint.

After losing our longtime cat Pepe (16 years), I really never believed I wanted another. As a couple months went by, we (I) realized it was very lonely without our little feline friend. So I went on the hunt for another. I had heard over the years about a breed called Ragamuffin and Ragdoll, but knew little. So with some research, I found they are a very people friendly breed.

The search began, and we went through a few months with finding one, losing one, finding two, and then losing them as well. I was heartbroken, but then met these two. We were skeptical, but soon they drove home with Shayna and I, and we haven't looked back. They each have a distinctive personality...and we love them just for that. They bring joy, laughter, and mischievousness into our every day. So today, I'm thankful for the furry four-leg friends in our family!

Hey all...

been busy with family and school starting lately! Did another smaller piece similar to my last post, for Shayna's friend Jenna. She has been dancing for a very long time - so here was her birthday gift. Made it a blondie since that is her hair color!

I created this piece for a fundraiser to open a children's hospice/respite center in Minnesota.

It's called Children's Lighthouse of Minnesota, and is very near and dear to my sister (and our entire family). It was my niece Maryah's wish before she passed away last year, to see this happen.

This was inspired by a work of art I saw in a boutique last year. It so reminds me of Maryah, and her love of dance and life!!

Here we are again...another month has gone by. The summer is fading away, and I'm not sure if I have accomplished much at all? I do know that we've made some fun new memories at the cabin, and with friends and family who have never been up north to visit. So I suppose it's all good!

Looking forward to working on some new art soon...

be well!

Creating today...feels good!

Oh how summer days are lazy! I find myself doing a few things around the house, playing outside (or inside on the rainy ones ), and just hating the thought of preparing dinner. What is it about cooking that sends me running?!! Maybe my picky family!

Well, I've neglected this blog...not that I really have followers...but the promise to myself to get my thoughts and days out here and documented for myself. BLAH! I guess onward I'll roll, and just keep doing it when I feel motivated.

Here's a few shots of some cabin fun over the 4th with the Martinson gang!

Peace...

Dorian's first attemp at wake boarding...

Shayna and Jessica tubing...

at the beach...

The Sketchbook Project

I can't believe I'm going to do this! Better late than never...so I'll be receiving my sketchbook soon, and I'll have to really put my butt in gear to get it sent off for the end of the 2011-2012 "tour"! Go here to check out how it works. Very excited to have this goal, and move into a new "out of my comfort zone" project!

See you soon...

Just thinking about good memories and good times!

How does a space that brings me so much happiness...get so incredibly messy? Keep bringing more fun supplies in, with no where to put them! I really need to organize my art studio and fast...it's making me crazy and I'm not getting anything accomplished!

Well, I'm back from Donna Downey's Inspired workshop...and it was worth every penny!

I met some amazing ladies and leaned some new art from a few extremely talented artists! This experience will follow me forever, and I'm so grateful to my wonderful hubby on encouraging me to go and get out of my comfort zone. A special thanks to my sister as well for kicking me in the butt, and reminding me how independent I used to be...and helping me find that strong woman again!

Here are a few photos of my time in North Carolina:

Brenda, Mary, me, Blayne, Andra, Rebecca, and Laurel

The terrific ladies I met and were in my group

Miss Brenda...VERY talented girl!!

Andra...my kindred soul sister

Miss Suzi Blu

The star...Donna Downey and me!!

Can't believe I'll be in North Carolina tomorrow! It is such a dream come true...I'll be meeting such talented women! Donna Downey, Suzi Blu, Alisa Burke, and so many more! My stomach has been a little nervous, but I think the excitement is ruling right now.

I hope I can keep up with these amazing artists. I will post some pictures as I get into the mix, and hopefully some of the art I'll be creating!

Sorry for such a gap in posts...been trying to get ready for Inspired workshop with

Donna Downey in North Carolina next week. I'm so excited I think I'm going to

jump out of my skin!!

I'm posting a couple more ATC's I did for April over at Willowing art community.

Our theme was umbrella for the swap.

Enjoy!

I don't go on youtube as much these days, but I was really touched by the kind video from my ATC partner for the March swap on willowing.ning. Amanda (from Oklahoma) said the nicest things and showed my "mail art" and ATC's on this video.

Thanks Amanda...and love your work as well!

Hello all...

just another quick snippet today with a bit of art love!

Some days just seem to be easier to get my mojo going with creating. Although I keep

telling myself to become more deciplined, I have THOSE days where it isn't easy and

the little child in me says, "I don't wanna-you can't make me!"

So here's to a happy day!

Loving wildlife in the back yard! Saw daddy with

a few babies today, but babies were fast!!

Have a wonderful Monday evening!

After waking up to snow in the middle of April, I suddenly felt the urge to be back in warm Florida! Although I'm grateful for each day...this weather just SUCKS!

So I'll just bask in the memories of warm vacation days...

Time just flies on by, and I swear I have the most blonde moments of anyone one I know! I really think I'm an intellegent person, but there are days like yesterday that make me go hmmm?!

So today I'm lifting myself out of this fog I've been in, and getting a few things accomplished.

I wanted to get a note out about my sweet sister's blog she just started, and have more people exposed to such an amazing and extremely funny woman. I am so proud to call her family, and to be her best friend. So go take a peek and have a good laugh at her wonderfully beautiful and crazy life! www.mommytosix.blogspot.com

I'll leave you today with a little journal page...my blog name taken from

this particularon.

Thought I would throw a photo on of a piece i painted for my sister and her family
a while back. It's painted on an old piece of a large barn door they picked up. They
love barns and vintage things...so I was all too happy to do this one!
Enjoy!

Hello blog friends...
a couple ATC's I did for the March swap at www.willowing.ning.com
Our theme was little red riding hood, and was my first trade. I had a lot
of fun doing this, so I've decided to sign up for April.
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great evening!

Already April...and the snow here is finally melting away. My family spent the weekend at our cabin up north and worked our patootie's off! Did a lot of unpleasant packing up of James' folk's things. It's a strange feeling of knowing they are both gone now, and we have to carry on without them there.

I am going to try and get some new photos up tomorrow...I have been working a great deal on my Suzi faces. The sketches are coming with more ease now, and they seem to be improving.

So, until tomorrow...I bid you a good night!

Happy Saturday blog friends!

Seems I just started this blog, and I'm already slacking. So I'll just add a little art flavor and
call it a day. Have a great week to come- I'm just hoping for a little spring to show itself! Needing
some warmer weather to get me out of this funk!

Hello!
This is my first post for this new blog, and I really have been meaning to begin this sooner! So...better late than never.
I've been doing lots of creating lately, and wanting to get some of it here to get myself even more motivated.

My hope for this place is to just jot down some daily thoughts, photos, and basically have a spot to laugh at (with) myself and the daily stuff of my life.

With all that said, here goes...


p.s. HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!