2 months straight!

It may seem like a small thing but I feel pretty proud of myself.  Today marks the 61st day in a row that I've posted a blog.  It's been a learning process for me... and a habit building exercise.  I feel like I've gotten much better about putting myself out there... even on days when i'm only passing on some lopsided doodles from a journal page. 

I had hoped that I would define my own style better during this period and I don't think I've accomplished that, but I feel more comfortable with the idea that it's not defined.  I'm okay with the idea that I'm still experimenting and learning and figuring out as I go.  And I'm having fun with it... so I figure that's what counts. 

Linking up for the last day of AEDM!  Thanks so much to Leah for hosting this wonderful project-- I have so enjoyed participating and meeting so many great artists!

Also linking to Paint Party Friday!

EDM #161: Draw something you think smells wonderful

I bought this inexpensive lotion at the local drugstore because I thought it smelled so wonderful.  Honestly, it doesn't do much for my skin... I end up putting on better lotion an hour after I use this, but every time I walk by it, I slather up my hands because I just can't resist the delicious summery smell!

 

 

Linking to AEDM #29 and EDM #161

EDM #297: Draw a bottle of water

 

Linking to AEDM #28 and EDM #297.

Going in circles

Just playing with lots of doodles and colors in the journal...  This one might have just a little too much going on at once! :-)

 

 

 

 Linking to AEDM #27!

Holly jolly holiday season

Linking to AEDM #26.

The end of a holiday weekend

I had a lovely holiday weekend and I will be very sorry to see it end tomorrow.  

Linking to AEDM #25 and Sunday Sketches!

Wintery greenery

Linking to AEDM #24.

Black Friday needs some happy daisies

Linking to AEDM #23 and Paint Party Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So many things and people for which to be grateful.   I hope everyone has plenty to celebrate today. 

Catalogs galore!

The snail mail box always seems to be extra full this time of year.  No matter how old I get, (or how many boxes I jump, as Tracey says), I never tire of kicking off the season with birthday wishes from friends and family far and near.  Then, just as even the belated birthday wishes begin to wane, the holiday cards start pouring in.  Whether people send long missives detailing all the highlights of the year or a simple holiday wish, it's always a thrill to hear that people are alive and kicking up their heels in anticipation of a merry season. 

But, I have to admit, I am one of those crazy people who love the plethora of catalogs that seem to multiply as the holidays approach.  Maybe it's because I would rather jello wrestle with rattlesnakes than head to a mall during the month of December (well, at any time, really, but during December is it's own brand of torture!).  I love flipping through the catalogs, getting ideas for just the right gadgety stocky stuffers that promise to arrive in plenty of time for Christmas, right up until Christmas eve.

I admit, I also manage to day dream about completely re-decorating all the rooms of my house over and over again to match the chic layouts found throughout the thousands of catalogs that all seem to carry roughly the same things.  Most of the time, I manage to refrain... although we do have cozy blankets and quilts (and multiple back-ups)  for every possible seat in the house!  No one will ever be cold here!

Some doodles from various catalogues that have arrived this year:

Linking to AEDM #21.

Fireplace

 

We're well into autumn now.   I've started pulling my cozy sweaters out.  I've had to give up my flip flops (well, on most days).  And I'm looking forward to the first fire of the season.  With Thanksgiving coming up this week, we will surely light a fire and snuggle in for some good, cozy family time!

Linking to AEDM #20.

EDM #251: Draw perfume

I wish I were someone who could wear any kind of delicious smelling perfume out there, but I suffer from migraines and am very sensitive to heavy, perfumey scents.  Fortunately, there are a few exceptions and one of my favorites is a light airy scent from Issey Miyake.  It takes me FOREVER to get through a bottle... sometimes, when I know I'm going to be spending most of my day indoors, I don't even use it, I just open the top and let myself take a little whiff to get my day going.  I even love the shape of the bottle!

 

 

 

Linking to AEDM #19 and EDM #251. 

peace joy love

I'm not much of a collager but I've been inspired by some of the amazing ones I've seen as I've visited artists every day throughout the month.  

i decided to give it a try... this is just a start...my hippy dippy version... but i'm not quite sure where to go from here and i'm not sure this is my thing. 

But, in the interest of sharing art every day, i'm posting and sharing with AEDM #18 and Sunday Sketches. 

Santa Claus is Coming to Town...

I have to admit that, as much as I love Christmas, I hate the fact that stores start advertising and putting out their holiday displays in July at this point.  Retailers are interrupting people's Thanksgiving dinners by enticing them into ever earlier Black Friday sales.  That name alone-- Black Friday-- should be enough to ward people off, but nooooo... the stores are packed with people sacrificing their Thanksgiving family time for a matched set of luggage at prices that can't be beat... until the next sale. 

I also have to admit that I'm a last minute holiday shopper.  Not because I don't care but because I always want to find the perfect gift for everyone on my list, but if I find it too soon, I can't resist giving it to the recipient long before Christmas... only to have to start over again so they will still have a surprise on Christmas day.

All this is to say... I'm really trying hard not to think too much about Christmas just yet.  It's sort of my own, unwritten rule not to do any shopping until after Thanksgiving weekend (that's right, you won't catch me out there on Black Friday... the whole weekend has to pass before I'll delve into the stores. 

And, perhaps it is awful for me to mention this but I am a hater.  A mall hater, that is.  I hate all those stores filled with the same old/same old junk.  In recent years, I've found most of my favorite gifts online or in tiny, unexpected, one-of-a-kind boutiques.  I try to find things that will have a special significance-- a leather bag reminiscent of a trip my sister and I took to Florence one year.  Beautiful art work from the galleries in one of the cities my sweetie and I love to travel to. 

Handmade books for my neices and nephews, personalized by the events and people in their lives. Of course, there are also Lego sets and plasma cars and animatronic dinosaurs that my sister stands there shaking her head about.  She's just jealous because I'm the cool aunt!

Anyway, sweet Jenn from Just Add Water Silly invited me to take part in her Artist's Playland linky and the theme is Christmas... so I am throwing away my rules and diving right in so that I might participate this week.  I thought I would be doing it with something of a grouchy spirit, but it turns out, I had some fun with it and I am getting closer and closer to being all over that Christmas spirit... so deck the freakin' halls, baby! 

Also linking to AEDM #17 and Show and Tell Saturday at Artists in Blogland!

Art porn in Atlanta

Several weeks ago I traveled to Atlanta for business.  I'm always excited about traveling to Atlanta because one of my favorite art stores is there.  It's called Binders and it is like a feast for the senses.


On my way to Binders, as I was cursing the 5pm traffic in Buckhead, I lived the perfect example of how a negative can turn out to be an amazing positive.   For years, I've been a huge customer of Flax Art & Design out of San Francisco, but I had no idea there was something similar in Atlanta, but there it was-- Sam Flax!  And I wouldn't have seen it if I hadn't been sitting through the same light 4 times!

Now, I consider myself very lucky because we have a FANTASTIC art store right here locally that has every supply you could think of at the best prices I've ever seen-- Jerry's Artarama!  (Even the name is great!)  But Jerry's is like a giant warehouse.  It's not pretty-- it's just wonderful. 

Binder's in Atlanta is exquisitely beautiful.  You enter at street level and then have to walk down the stairs to get to the store . You'd think that descending into a basement level shop would not bode well, but when that staircase opens up and you look out over the store, it's breathtaking!

 

Their display tables truly are a feast for the eyes, overflowing with brightly colored journals and stationary. 

Display stand after display stand of gorgeous handmade papers...

... in every color you could imagine.


Unfortunately, I did not even think to take photos while at Flax (I was too busy drooling), but I will certainly snap some pics the next time I'm there. 

I'm only wishing that I lived closer so I could take some of the wonderful classes they offer or pop in to go bankrupt as I drool over the wonderfully fun gadgets and pens and tapes and envelopes and journals and paints and toys and calendars and...   

Linking to Paint Party Friday and AEDM #16 for some more festive fun!