a life less ordinary

Yesterday I actually got out my real camera...as opposed to my phone...and shot some still photos.  I'm on deadline for a magazine article about holiday gift wrapping (yes, its August, its hot and dry but I'm trying to get in the Christmas spirit as I write this piece due on Monday) and I needed a couple of pictures to complete my tutorial.

I decided to play around a bit after I got the shots I needed...I was reminded this week of a book I own when I saw a shot on Instagram by Barb of Keeping With the Times, where she used the book "A Life Less Ordinary" as a prop...I was inspired...

Its a beautiful book...filled with simple and uncluttered images...and attests to the beauty of friendship between two women...

And it made me think...about my own life...it is a life less ordinary...for the last 15 years, I've been pursuing my ambition to be an artist...and though I am not rolling in the dough, I am rich in other ways...deciding how I spend my time, determining how my energy will be used, discovering a wealth of talents...

And I too have some wonderful friendships that have formed along the way...both within my local community as well as online...others who support what I am doing, offering encouragement along the way, building a network that strengthens all who participate...

One of which is Barb of Keeping With the Times...today I'm linking up to her Instagram post Sunday Sundries...which encourages each of us to celebrate whatever we wish...today I celebrate my life less ordinary...and the friends who are a part of it...

Gravitational pull

Do you ever wonder why you are drawn to certain objects?

How is it that an ordinary object can have extraordinary appeal?

a forgotten tea cup...
an orphaned saucer...
an ink splattered book...

Most people would not give
such items a second look...
why is it that they call my name?


Sometimes I can't help myself...yesterday walking the dog, I just had to pick up the rusty washer on the street...
as valuable to me as if I had spied a diamond in the road...













Sometimes I have to be sneaky...this old red pencil...the extra fat kind that children use in elementary school...worn almost to a nub...with perfect peeling red paint...it was sitting on a counter at work...can't believe that someone was actually using it...most likely dropped by a child in the store...yes, it's mine now...

My rationalization...if I left it behind, someone would most likely throw it in the garbage, mistaking this treasure for trash...I rescued it for a better life...

Paired with my favorite french postcard, they are a divine match...

And yes...that postcard...languishing in a pile of paper...
just waiting for me to come along and take it home...

its caption, "wishes of happiness" expressing my delight...
and providing more than its share of artistic inspiration...

Joining the group over at kim klassen's Texture Tuesday...my first four photos edited with kk texture carmel...
my last photo edited with several elements from French Kiss...

Art makes a wonderful gift!

Stuck on an idea for a holiday gift  Looking for something unique and inspirational?
I have the answer - give art!

I have three suggestions here for you - check them out...

#1 - Inspirational Quotes Illustrated by Lesley Riley is a wonderful compilation of quotes 
paired with a piece of art created by over 100 artists...

one of which happens to be me...I can now share my page since the book has hit the stands...

Each page is perforated so that you can remove the pages and post them wherever you need a shot of inspiration...

You can order the book from North Light Shop or on Amazon.

and if you want a little inspiration on your computer screen...my image (along with three other artist's creations from the book) is available as a downloadable wallpaper...a little bonus gift from the publisher... click here for the link...








#2 - 5 x 5 Series curated by Seth Apter is an exhibit that grew out of his book, The Pulse of Mixed Media.  Artists could submit an artistic interpretation of three different questions related to creating art and finding inspiration.  All of those submissions are now on display at The Empty Spaces Project, a gallery in Putnam, CT...
if you are in the area, I urge you to stop by. Click here for the link that describes the exhibit...

But if you are not nearby, you can still enjoy the gallery show...and own a piece (or give as a gift) yourself.  All of the compositions are for sale...and all at a reasonable price...especially considering that it is original art...from some of the best known names in mixed-media collage work...You can view the entire collection and make your purchases on Seth Apter's site - click here

And yes, I have two pieces in this show...
such an honor...








#3 - Mounted Petite Prints
I have a few of my Mounted Petite Prints available in my etsy shop.  These digital prints, mounted on painted salvaged wood and finished with a wax coating, are ready to hang...and ready to give as a gift...or keep for yourself...click here for the details...

Hope that gives you a few ideas for gift giving...now I just need to finish up a few projects myself and then its on to gift wrapping...one of my favorite parts of the holiday...I'll have some ideas to share about that next week...

On the horizon

With summer in the rear view mirror, it seems that my schedule for fall/winter is getting into high gear...on the horizon, there's a few happenings that you might be interested in so I'm giving you a preview...

I'm pleased to be included in the revised edition of Leslie Riley's Inspirational Quotes Illustrated...
a collection of over 100 artists, illustrating favorite quotes...though I can't share my contribution yet, the book is available for pre-order on Amazon now with a release date of mid November...a perfect gift for the art lover on your list...or for yourself...














November 1 is the Holiday Art Mart sponsored by the Mukilteo Arts Guild. A first time event for me, it is held at the beautiful Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo (just a stone's throw from the ferry dock) 
from 10am-5pm...this juried art event will help you get a head start on holiday gift ideas...

a preview of this year's holiday card

November 22 is my own Holiday Studio Show located at my Everett workshop studio. Along with Jody Cain of Latitude Studios (and maybe a few more artists) we'll have plenty of ideas for gift giving...along with a couple of laughs and a bit of holiday cheer (!), we'll make your shopping experience a joy...















December 6-7 is the annual Phinney Winter Festival and I'm thrilled to be a part of this juried show once again...Art, Music, Food, Community...its the perfect holiday event to get you in a festive mood...

but enough about the impending holidays...fall is in full swing...
get out and enjoy the glorious tones, textures, and tastes of autumn...no need to rush ahead quite yet...

Daily Ritual

As September begins, life settles down...summer always seems so fancy free...doing as you please at a moment's notice depending on the weather or the mood of the moment...

With the return of autumn, there is going back to school...which seems to get everybody into a routine...establishing a pattern, a rhythm to the day...which makes it easier to keep track of a multitude of responsibilities, duties, appointments and commitments...

Though I don't have young kids to keep track of, there is still plenty of hubbub that needs to be orchestrated... and finding a time and space to be creative can often be relegated to the bottom of the list...

My friend Kate gave me this book for Christmas...and I've been reading snippets of it...discovering how other artists manage their creative process...












I do find its helpful to have a regular routine, especially for the start of the day...I like to ease into the day...and even better if I can have a little solitude...since my work schedule is such that I get up at 3am, I have the quiet of the early morning to drink a cup or two of coffee, check my email, get a brief roundup of news...breakfast, shower - and then out the door at 4:45am...

I'm a list maker - sometimes on paper, sometimes in my head - so I usually have a good idea of what I need to accomplish in any one day...and I always include at least one creative activity.  The best advice I ever read was that if you are going to be an artist, you needed to show up and create - every. single. day.

Sometimes its prepping for a collage...sometimes its setting up a photo shoot...other times it can be designing a new product line...or playing around with metal, wire and wood...it can be as elaborate as building a new display or as simple as posting a photo on Instagram...but its always something...and usually more than one thing...

So I urge you to pick up a copy of Daily Rituals...your local library probably has a copy...and think about starting a daily creative routine...whatever it might be...

Joining the group over at kim klassen's Texture Tuesday...
kim's regular Texture Tuesday posts (and the Friday Finds posts) 
are two inspiring avenues to kickstart your creative mojo...
all of my photos in today's post were edited with kk texture reentry...

the ABCs of Style & Simplicity

It finally arrived this week...
and I had to stop what I was doing, break open the packaging and immediately immerse myself in it...

hot off the presses...Style & Simplicity by Ted Kennedy Watson

I've known Ted for over 15 years...and have witnessed firsthand how he has become a style star...with his combination of spot-on design sense mixed with a healthy dose of graciousness and a generous laugh...

This first book (because I know there will be more!) demonstrates how easy it is to have a sense of style...
from A to Z...

As I read through the book, I kept nodding my head in agreement...and to demonstrate his alphabetical approach, 
I created, in a matter of minutes, one such vignette...

A is for Art...and Apothecary Jars
B is for Birds...and Branches
C is for Candles...and Collections

E is for... Easy -  you need to get the book for yourself...and discover how easy it is to inject your own sense of style into your everyday life...and find the beauty in that simplicity...



















Want your own copy? (yes, you do!)    available at both Watson Kennedy retail stores in Seattle 
and online at www.watsonkennedy.com  

Linking up with Kim Klassen's Friday Finds...because this is, by far, my favorite find of the week!

Art Party - Recycled Book Journals

I have a thing about books...old books in particular...and its not necessarily about the content of the book...
but rather the composite parts...

That's why my Recycled Book Journal Art Party promises to be one of my favorites...taking the composite pieces and re-configuring them into a new creation...

Using the covers from a well-loved book, I take you through the steps of creating a journal, comprised of both new and recycled pages, and bound with a steel paper fastener...

And then you'll have time and a wealth of resources to embellish your book however you desire...













Since its an Art Party, you have no worry of what supplies to bring nor any concern about clean-up...just join up with other like-minded souls for an afternoon of creativity...

the details - Saturday, April 26 from 1-4 pm, at my workshop studio in Everett
$40 registration fee
there's only 3 spaces left in the workshop so don't delay if you want to join the party...

Registration info is HERE...

The Reveal

Since the end of January, I've been busy...absorbed...almost consumed...with turning my dark and dreary daylight basement into a new workshop studio...a separate space from my personal home studio...where I"ll be hosting art parties...creative classes open to the public...

If you've been following, you know that there have been glimpses and sneak peeks as I made my progress...with an armload of leftover lumber and a couple of cans of white paint...mixed with a little ingenuity and inspired recycling, 
I was determined to change the space from frump to fab...finally...the reveal...

As you enter the studio, there's a spot to greet you...and offer you food and drink...

Shelves are stacked with old books, atlases, almanacs, musical scores, encyclopedias as well as art papers organized by color...all of it, collage fodder...

Supplies and tools line this wall...with a smattering of personal artwork...and a large size chalkboard...
ready for instantaneous exclamations...

My old worktable, refreshed with a coat of white paint, is now a work station...

Next up...some of the details and upcycling tips...which you could easily use in your own space...

Excited now about my Art Parties...get all the info HERE...


sharing the junk love over at Knick of Time Vintage Inspiration party...and Funky Junk Interiors Party Junk...
what's not to love about vintage...and junk!
and finally...with Knick of Time Vintage Inspiration Party.and Funky Junk Interiors Party..where you share your best project of 2014...this is definitely it!