July 4th celebration in Harbor Springs, Michigan

We had an awesome holiday in Harbor Springs, Michigan. The town is an absolute blast from the past, at least the parade was. It felt like the old school parade of days gone by. We just absolutely loved it!!!

Harbor Springs is a city in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,567 at the 2000 census.

Harbor Springs is in a sheltered bay on the north shore of the Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. The Little Traverse Lighthouseis a historic lighthouse on the Harbor Point peninsula that forms the natural harbor there. M-119 connects with US 31 seven mile east and south at Bay View, with Petoskey just five miles away on the south side of the harbor.

During my holiday in Northern Michigan, I did alot of antiquing, shopping, dining and galleries. I did document some wonderful moments along with awesome ideas. I do love to spend time looking, seeing and absorbing, for my inspiration of course. I then come home and get to work so I don't lose the ideas. By documenting I mean: writing things down, taking pictures and or doing both. I did so enjoy the craft fairs as well, they are top notch in Harbor. One artist that sticks in mind is Rich Branstrom, his fish were amazing!!! He made them from recycled found objects and materials. He also made many other objects d' art. I can't wait to buy one of his pieces. You can find him at    adhocworkshop.com 

the backyard looking good

Looking at my patio, I think we have had a really good growing season this far. Plenty of rain, sun and cool nights. Love the fact that my terrace draws me outside to enjoy the season at its best, nothing like summer in the Midwest. Upon surfing I thought I would share this site that I found, it has great ideas on household tips and cool tricks including repurposing the old. Check it out you'll love it!    http://www.tipnut.com

10 Ways Herbs Can Freshen Your Home

Fresh Herbs From The Garden

Spring cleaning is in full swing this time of year, here are ten ways you can use herbs around the house to perk things up…

10 Ways Herbs Can Freshen Up Your Home

1. Homemade Herbal Carpet Freshener Recipe: I like to use dried lavender, but I included other herbal mixes to try as well. This makes a big batch of carpet freshener that will last quite awhile. You can cut the amounts down if you like until you find your favorite blend. To give yourself a small variety to choose from, you could split the recipe in three then add three different herbal fragrance choices to each container/mix.
2. Herbal Mattress Freshener: Using your blender, grind until fine 1/2 cup of dried herbs (try mint, lavender, lemon balm, etc.); Mix ground herbs with 1/2 cup baking soda; Sprinkle mixture lightly over mattress pad or cover then top with clean fitted sheet; Spread mixture more heavily on top half of bed where upper body rests to enjoy a consistent fragrance.
3. Freshen laundry with Homemade Herbal Lavender Dryer Bags: Fresh and fragrant laundry can be achieved chemical free with easy to make lavender dryer bags. Using lavender buds gives the benefit of a natural moth repellent, sleep aid and a natural antibacterial.
4. Bugs-Be-Gone Bags: The herb mixture helps to naturally deter and repel bugs and pests from the places you have stored the bags.
5. Homemade Herbal Cleaner Recipes: Recipes for Thyme Disinfectant Cleaner, Herb Disinfectant Cleaner, Herbal All Purpose Cleaner and Lavender Soft Scrubber. Also see this All Purpose Scouring Powder: Grind dried petals or fragrant herbs and mix with baking soda.
6. Multipurpose Herb Vinegar Recipe: Use as an environmentally friendly air freshener. For another freshener, try a pleasing assortment of dried herbs and flowers to make homemade potpourri, keep in open bowls and shallow vases to freshen rooms.
7. Store off-season clothing with Moth Repellent Sachets and Lavender Wands to keep moths at bay and stored clothing fresh. Tuck Lavender Sachets in closets and drawers for naturally fragrant clothing, bedding & linens.
8. Herbal Firestarters: Pinecones and dried herbs such as rosemary, sage leaves, and cinnamon sticks make fragrant kindling for a winter fire. Bundle dried herbs and small pinecones in a sheet of newspaper and secure the ends with raffia or cotton twine; As you pile up logs for your fire, nestle the herb bundle underneath, with paper ends sticking out; To start the fire, light the newspaper ends.
9. Fill homemade trivets and coasters with dried herbs, they’ll fill the air with the scent of delicious herbs when hot dishes and mugs are placed on them.
10. Consider growing a One-Pot Indoor Herb Garden, you can use the herbs for cooking and creating your own herbal cleaners and fresheners–plus a thriving herb pot is also a lovely addition to any kitchen decor.

landscape study turned official

These pieces are going to Phoenix and I think they are about 80% complete. I am shipping about 6 paintings there and I will most definitely insure them. I have many many layers on these two panels. They were painted once and I decided they weren't done. I think they need some more detail on the horizon line and in the foreground. I love the simplicity of these landscapes they have a very light and airy feel with a bit of a jolt. Love the juxtaposition! I am hoping to do alittle bit of a switch and work more traditional this fall. We'll see what happens.

As an artist I really can't make commitments, I love any and everything from nature.

work in progress

After revisiting this very large painting, I showed it to a client and she loved it!!! I knew it would fit her and her home rather nicely. What I will do is rework or paint over a couple of the squares to fit her and her personality perfectly. I will not deconstruct the whole thing. The good thing about oil paint is the fact that we can revisit a piece and rework it if we choose. I work very hard at trying not to get to attached to my pieces for this very reason, and I certainly do not throw pieces away. I believe in GREEN. This piece will be in Phoenix Arizona and be a part of a gallery walk. 

Birthday Celebration in the Cosmos

The world or universe regarded as an orderly, harmonious system. Oh, sure that is the technical definition for cosmos. I like to think of the cosmos as my beverage choice occasionally, that sends
me to that that happy harmonious universe. Think of me on June 25th as I celebrate my fo...ish something birthday with my loved ones in my own little world. For this special occasion I have
asked for an old fashioned bike, one would call a beach bike with the basket and all. I will have
one sooner or later and then I will be one of those gals taking all my goodies back home after a
fun little trip to the market. I prefer to transport flowers back home, since we all know how much
I love my flowers.

Oh my peony

My peony plant is ready to bloom and I am anxiously awaiting. This amazing plant is another one of my favorites in my garden. I cut a couple blossoms late week and every time I had a visitor they thought the flowers had come from a wedding, perhaps it is the white full blossom that makes it look very formal and ready for the stage or a very special occasion. I did do a painting of this and it went to my gallery in Lansing, I am searching for my documentation/picture of this amazing little painting. I did this in a small format and in mixed media with 14k gold leafing and oil. Sweet little painting! Peony plants bear an attractive, glossy green foliage that reaches 2'-3' in height with a similar spread. But their popularity is due mainly to their flowers. The most striking peony flowers are the highly fragrant, massive doubles, usually pink, red or white. Other colors and flower types do exist, however. There's even a hybrid with yellow flowers. Peony plants bloom in late spring or early summer. There are peony plants that are indigenous to China, Europe and the Western U.S. Oh what a wonderful plant!!!

Cyan in nature

• Cyan in nature
  
• Pure water is nearly colorless. However, it does absorb slightly more red light than blue, giving large volumes of water a bluish tint; increased scattering of blue light due to fine particles in the water shifts the blue color toward green, for a typically cyan net color. - wikipedia
  
• A greenish blue, one of the subtractive primary colors. n. cyan
  
• I couldn't help but find what the official definition of cyan was. This photograph of mine has not been altered. It must have been the lighting, time of day and camera setting. It is such a beautiful image I needed to share it with you. This is most definitely a painting want to be! It does remind me of my latest work with sterling silver leafing. I have learned to work in large numbers, most of the time 8 - 10 paintings at once. There are occasionally those pieces that I will paint over and repurpose. That is my latest modus operandi. I have a terrible hobby of collecting anything and everything, in the hopes of someday reusing the object or repurposing it.I love collecting old jewelry and new, dishes, glasses, vintage clothes, handbags, shoes and old furniture. Why? because you never know. This image was taken on Lake Michigan in Bay Harbor, during the winter. I will be vacationing soon in Northern Michigan and can't wait for more wonderful inspiration to happen. 
  

daily journal

I have found this old journal I onced used daily. This page from the journal is probably one of my favorites because of its simplicity. I love drawing and writing so perhaps thats why I am drawn to the black marker in this page. I also love the sunflower randomly placed on the page as well. I need to post the sunflower I painted most recently, it's an awesome painting! I love using photographs in my artwork along with maps, fun words and doodles.  I really adding just about anything to my collage pieces.This was my sketchbook daily journal I took with me when I went to Italy. I add pages that are primed and ready to paint as well. I also have pages in the book that are full paintings and some that are nowhere near completed. Thats the joy of it, it is therefore it's my art. Its a journal and a camera I always travel with or I would feel void. I always want to document in some way possible. I have since moved to many other journals that I enjoy equally. The object is to document and enjoy those special moments, objects, people, places etc...so we can use them in our paintings if we chose to. right?

painting clouds

Well today was a day painting clouds, I think they are looking pretty good. It's kind of fun painting clouds because I move my hand and brush very quickly. I like to blend so it feels very familiar to me. I am new to painting clouds but really enjoy them. These clouds need a little more work, highlighting I believe. I will hit them with some warm white. I continue to work with sterling silver leafing, oops this one is copper leafing. Like I said yesterday, I will start to manipulate the leafing purely out of boredom. I have to see the transition or evolution into a different subject or composition. This piece is in the beginning stages, and I so hope to make this evolve. When we look at landscapes we as viewers and artists deal with very predictable ideas, my goal should be to imagine the space differently. I want the viewer to look at the air and imagine the air and not have boundaries. But, I have laid in the horizon. I need to add other elements to achieve my goal, maybe mist or sun. I need to take a break, maybe I will go shopping. I am travelling to key west soon and I need a couple more summer pieces. I love shopping as much as I love painting. I know nothing about Key West, other than it is south of Miami. I am thinking very casual, fun, warm,carefree, okay so that is the way I am packing. I will not forget the camera, love those Kodak moments and my Canon 30D. I never thought I would adapt to digital, since I am a product of the dark room. Love the manipulation one can do on the computer. Too many interests and not enough time!

Creative process

"A father carries pictures where his money used to be." - by anonymous

Now all I need is a fishing pole in hand and then we'll get down to the idea of living life simple! I love the idea of simplifying. I do try to edit in my home and life including my paintings. The latest paintings have been very successful and I am so happy about that. These paintings will soon be evolving because I get to a certain point with the paintings and then I am ready to make them change. I will start experimenting with these landscapes and see where they take me. Time to put my thinking cap on and get creative. Perhaps I will add doodles, letters, words,repetition or juxtaposition.