Custom Work Available

OK...I did this a long time ago, but it's a friendly little reminder that custom pieces make great gifts. Wedding? Baby? Anniversary? No Reason At All? Prices start at just $55.

Humble

Humble, 6x6

Happy Fall

NYC or bust

Our anniversary is right around the corner. FIVE YEARS! FIVE YEARS? How did the time fly by so quickly?

A few nights ago, I pulled out a few pictures from our honeymoon in Hawaii and we looked so very young. (Mental note: Talk to Lisa about investing in better eye cream.)

Our anniversary is October 25th to be exact. We will be celebrating at the Kansas versus Texas Tech game in Lawrence. I've threatened to renew my vows at half time of the game. Maybe Gayle could read the Apache Blessing since she appropriately emails it to me every year on our anniversary.

If our marriage survives this election, Chris and I plan to go to New York City to celebrate FIVE YEARS of blissful marriage. Now, we did have to plan our travels around the election. I'm not sure how I feel about being in New York with Chris if the outcome isn't what he wants. Ouch. Could be a long vacay. Just kidding. I'm sure we will have a wonderful time, but this is where YOU come in...

We are New York City virgins and would love ideas and thoughts on where to go. At this point, there are no plans except that we are staying near Times Square in an outrageously priced hotel that might otherwise be $99 in a city like Kansas City.

Would love your feedback!

Trip down Memory Lane

As you know, I'm not a fan of the past. Just check out what I looked like back in the day and you might understand why...








And Chris...

Try it yourself at Yearbook Yourself.

I Have a Dream

So...I've never even met Tucker, the girl whom I'm writing this post about today. I know her Dad, Dave, though. I know how much he loves his girls and if you could witness for just a small moment the love and passion that he has for his family, you would immediately join in his efforts to find a cure for juvenile diabetes.

Now, Chris and I don't have kids, but plenty of you reading this right now have already have little ones or will some day. I don't want any one of your children to experience what Tucker has experienced everyday since she was diagnosed at the age of one with juvenile diabetes. Dave tells me that a cure will happen in our lifetime. Let's not wait until someone that we love is affected with this disease. Be proactive and donate to find a cure today!

On October 11th, Tucker and her team will walk for a cure. Go Team Tucker!

Happy Birthday Littlest!

Happy Birthday to my little black and white fur baby! We think your birthday may have been around the 25th of September when we adopted you, so today we celebrate you. We are sorry that we forgot the last four years, but does it count that we remember today? Happy 5th Birthday Annie (aka The Littlest Doggie in the World)!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...to me anyway

Happy Fall Everyone! Yesterday marked the first day of fall and the kick-off to definitely my favorite time of the year. I noticed on Saturday that the leaves were falling when we pulled in the driveway after the Plaza Art Fair, a few are already changing colors, in fact. I love tailgating at KU games and NFL is now that much better now that I'm 2-1 in my Fantasy league. I purchased a 6 pack of Samuel Adams Octoberfest and carried a butternut squash out of Hen House under my arm yesterday (the cashier asked Is this a butterSCOTCH squash? No, ding-a-ling) There are mums and pumpkins, even the green and white ones, which may provoke a special trip from Salina for my mom to pick some up for her own porch. The American Royal BBQ is right around the corner and my Meat Mitch fake tattoo entry arrived in the mail the other day. I have no more shows scheduled for the rest of the year, so I'm just going to sit back and enjoy a beautiful season! Cheers!

Here Comes the Sun...or not

What a weekend! Chris and I set up my art fair tent on Friday afternoon in cloudy, gloomy weather. Just as we were finishing, the tornado sirens went off. Weird. It didn't look tornado-y, but as we got onto the highway, we could see the cloud swirling above us. I do love myself a tornado! As we tuned into the radio, we learned that a tornado had touched down just two miles from where we had just left the tent with sandbag weights and all of my artwork in a Rubbermaid bin covered by a tarp.

When we arrived Saturday morning, everything was fine except for the fact that it rained all day long! There was a small break for about an hour and a half, but for the most part it was raining and the ground was MUDDY!

Sunday was a little better, but the sun only poked it's head out for about 10 minutes all day long. These poor people that have to depend on the weather to earn a living at selling their art!? How do they do it? A couple rainy weekends in a row and they have a hard time paying the mortgage. (Note to Chris: You might want to reference this post if I ever again say that I would like art fair to be my full-time profession. I think not.)

It's raining, it's pouring...

At Peace II, 6x6

Yep. I seem to have a dark, black, rainy cloud that follows me from place to place lately. I don't mean in the metaphorical sense, but rather the actual rain cloud that has been hovering for the past few weeks. Whether it's an outdoor event at work, or the slight drizzle at Zoe's wedding (sorry Zoe, but I can't seem to help it) or the rain in the forecast for my show this weekend here in Kansas City. Forecast: Rain. 100% on Saturday. Slight chance on Sunday, too. Awesome.

Nevertheless, I've taken today off to prepare for the show a little bit more, but in the back of my head I'm thinking I might just enjoy the day and not stress too much considering rain=few attendees=little sales. And so, I have facial at Bijin at 12:15. Destress.

For those of you that do chance to venture my way this weekend, I will be forever grateful. Here are a few new pieces that you might see...

Autumn's Approach, 12 x12
(This was my first attempt at an abstract piece. I actually love it and secretly want to keep it for myself).


Chicago Flower, 6x6

New work

As I prepare for the Hidden Glen Art Fair on September 13 & 14, I'll continue to post more work that you can expect to see at the show.

Three of Us, 4x6 original mixed media collage on 8x10 matboard

Making a Garden, 4x6 original mixed media collage on 8x10 matboard

My Home By The Ocean, 5x5 original mixed media collage on 8x10 matboard

Sweet Little Ellie

Often times the highlight of my day is when Em brings Ellie across the street to see me. On this particular day, Ellie was just looking too cute to not break out the camera. First Ellie studied the flower that Em picked for her...
..and then, like with almost anything she gets in her hand, she eventually puts it in her mouth.

Introducing...

The World Will Be Our Happy Home, 5x5 on white matboard

...new collages on paper, matted and ready to frame! Yay. It's about time I went for something new and three antique elementary school books from the River Market Antique Mall were all the inspiration I needed.

The collages I've recently finished are actually on cardstock leftover from my handmade wedding invitations. (Why didn't someone tell me I was insane when I decided to make 300 wedding invites, by the way?) Then, I've added book pages from the antique books, painted, added paper collage elements, mounted them on 8x10 inch matboard so they are all ready to frame. Ta da...

We Climbed A High Mountain, 5x5 on white matboard

Lesson VII, 5x5 on matboard

Bridesmaids Gifts, Part Seven

This one may look a little familiar. Kelli has two sisters and I used the same picture, but a slightly different treatment for each. Whew! That's a LOT of bridesmaids. Thanks again, Kelli.

Bridesmaids Gifts, Part Six

Bridesmaids Gifts, Part Five

Just around the corner...

Where has the summer gone? Seriously? Was it not just June? Now it's almost September. Halloween decorations are out. Whatever.

The Hidden Glen Art Fair is right around the corner. Mark your calendar for September 13 & 14. I got my booth assignment today. Number 54.

I MUST get busy over the next couple of weekends, which may be hard considering all remaining weekends are jam packed. I did recently venture into collages on paper, which I've matted on 8x10 white mat board. I'm pretty pleased with the turnout and plan to post some here soon.

Bridesmaids Gifts, Part Four

Some of you might recognize our little friend, Zoe. Too cute!

Only in Salina

Don't get me wrong, I loved growing up in Salina. Things like this will always make me think...only in Salina, though. (This happened earlier this summer and my mom cut out the article in the paper to warn her hubby of the potential danger in his daily Sonic "Diet Coke with lime pieces".

From the Salina Journal...

Man blames Salina crash on 'brain freeze'

A man said he crashed his car into the front steps of a house on South Fifth Street Tuesday afternoon while he was drinking a cold drink that gave him a “brain freeze.”
Robert M. Schulz, 66, Salina, told Salina police he had just purchased the flavored, frozen drink from a Sonic restaurant and was drinking it while traveling east on East Crawford after 3:45 p.m.

Schulz said he suffered a “brain freeze,” followed by a “chest freeze,” causing him to loose control, leave the street and crash into the front steps of the home at 703 S. Fifth, said Desk Officer Brandon Tomson.

Schulz was taken by ambulance to Salina Regional Health Center, where he was treated and released.

Bridesmaids Gifts, Part Three