Five Flowers

Living Juicy

Well, things are crazy here is California.  Let's just say that all the talk of budget cuts may effect every aspect of our lives:: school, job, libraries.  A lot of it is grandstanding, but you never know.  So in times like these, I need a little inspiration to keep me focused and in the "let's not freak out about things you cannot control" zone.

Here is my latest::

Ink on my fingers

mati rose

sf girl by bay

Have a great Monday!

The Blog Friendship box...

One day I received a little treat in the mail:: it was the Blog Friendship Box from my friend Sheri.

She included a little bit of chocolate, and a great shot of birds from here.

 

{The box as it arrived}

{I added paint and circles, the color of the ocean here}

 

The box has also been to Hannah, Hay, Andie, Kristin, and Meredith.  It is fun to see the little touches everyone adds to the box.

And now it is off to Erin (aka Juneau Eco Mommie), one of my favorite bloggers at My*Bohemia.

I can't see wait she does with it!

Painterly Inspiration

As you may know, I have been wanting to get into encaustic painting for a long time.  The thing is, I really want to take a class, get a good set up, and do it right (so to speak), and right now that really isn't happening.  My kids are still young to be around a hot plate, and I need to check into the ventilation issue.  I then heard about this book on Craftcast, and I knew it might have my solution.

Rethinking Acrylic has a really cool section about getting encaustic-like effects without the wax.  I am certainly going to play with some gels, and see how it goes!

:::

And please go check out True Places to hear about our little getaway to San Francisco!  I really don't go there enough just to play and explore!  More of that in the future, for sure!

Come Visit Me!

Hi!  

I have a guest post up over at Cafe Mom's Home and Garden Buzz: go check it out!  And read the other posts while you are there: there are some really cool mamas interviewed for Mother's Day.

I also have a new little inspiration post up at True Places... have a great weekend!

Check Out The May Issue of Mankind Mag!

 

So the new issue of Mankind Mag is up!  This issue is The Pretty Issue, and I am so excited to have an interview in it with Angela from The Paper Apartment.  I am in love with this issue, I've got to say.  There are certain images in it that I am putting up on my inspiration board for sure!  Please go check it out!

::

And while you are there, check out the Dialogue episodes, which are interviews with designers about topics concerning artist and design .  So cool.  There is a new one every week.

Just In Time For Mother's Day!

I made these sweet little books for Mother's Day for the Grandmothers.  I wanted to do the whole picture thing, but then I saw these little accordion books at Paper Source and I thought they would be perfect for the Grandma carry-in-the-purse-to-show-everyone thing.

All I had to do was pick some paper, print some photos, and get to work.  Luckily, I picked up the cover paper at the store, and the rest was from the stash.  

I added some quick little elements since I was short on time, and I figure I will complete the back during the fall after Poppy's birthday and her first day at kindergarden.

In total, I made two in a few hours: cropping and mounting the images took the most time.  Hope this gives you a few ideas!

::My Week in Review::

::surf wax+ hair+ four year old with scissors= kit pistol 

::laryngeal paralysis+ pneumonia= sick doggie

::birthday boy + birthday cupcakes= happy

::spring fog+ the return of the swallows= finding joy

:: more pictures of the swallows can be seen here

:: more finding joy can be found here- please join in with sheri & shari!