the camp

..a new roof..

2011-01-19T14:32:00.000-08:00

...with the wicked help of a girl named anne and a little bird

in a north west nest. we have a new roof. please stop by
anytime. we promise to have colorful parties - often...
*peace
{ please click above and hop over to the new site. would love to see you there!}

..happy mail..

2011-01-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

sprout bobs.

i have looked looked at sprouts bobbie pins for years. literally -
i am sure it has been over 4 years. i have never purchased any
because i have such baby fine hair i was worried that these bobs
would just slide out of my hair. they dont. i love them.

so imagine my happy surprise today when i found two bags in
the post. the biggest one was new packaging supplies from pretty
tape. as i opened the parcel, i giggled. the supplies were wrapped
up in what looked like a package of braunschweiger. i opened it
up to the cutest string and brite japanese masking tape. i can't
wait to use all this stuff! it is so happy and fun.

then i noticed that the other package was from a friend far away.
just appeared in that red post box. of course i was so excited to
see what was in there. when i opened it...out flowed fun paper
confetti and a postcard of the sea. and the cherry on top - sprout
bobs! yep. my very own pair. how on earth did she even know.

the fact that i got a gift today on the surface may seem like i am
only happy for the bob's. but the beauty of getting mail, not email,
not facebook messages - while those are always fun and nice. real
mail is a sign that someone is truly thinking of you. they spent time
to write a note, fill it with love and send it on to each of us.

i have been thinking about this a lot lately. i never send out christmas
cards anymore. i always plan on doing a fun new years card. that never
seems to evolve. so a few weeks ago i made the decision that i would,
each week send 3-4 cards and note to friends. so far i am sticking to it.
and i don't say that to spout off about what i am doing. i am simply
putting it out there, that i am working on something that is important
to me. to send a message to someone who needs a lift, or deserves a
thanks or maybe i just miss a bit and i was thinking about them.

so here is my whole point...yes yes, it takes me a tad bit i know.
snail mail deserves some promps. if you know of someone who
needs a little light send them some. we are living in a crazy busy
stressful world. and i know for a fact that opening the post and pulling
out a little unexpected bit of happy - really makes a day.

go on...i double dog dare ya.

***and thanks for the sprouts. i love them

..sunday soup..

2011-01-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

ellie measuring cups.

today's sunday soup is brought to you by - some
happy musing. ones that i love and want to give
a little shout out to.

the curious girl.....i met lisa at squam. the first
year i watched her walking around and i was so
drawn to her. i really didn't get to know her until
this past year at squam by the sea. i adore her.
she makes sense and i like that. she also makes
a mean margarita. i mean, the only thing i remember
is lots of giggling, i mean a lot. please go say hello.
she's pretty cute.

catina jane.....she paints the most colorful paintings,
makes fun little necklaces. her little sailboats makes
me smile. her message is strong, as is her faith. you
gotta love a girl on a mission. i love stopping over
at her blog and today she shows up, tells her truth,
she is true and brave. she makes me smile

kolleen my heart-wingsister
we met at the unearth retreat. i drove up at her
cottage to pick them up and take them all back
to the main house. she said something very funny
and sassy and i knew we would be friends. she has
a way of making you feel at home. and her
i'm better for it series, pushes you to listen
and know that each of us have a story that matters.
she is also an artist who creates fun and sassy chicks.
she is my midwest connect, my sister.

sara of sarab jewelry. her metalsmithing is amazing.
her silver creations make me drool. i had seen her
work several years ago at the broadripple art fair.
the she magically appeared at my booth this year
at the earth house show. she is adorable and being
able to reconnect and share some stuff was the
very best medicine of the day. she is a hometown
girl, go say hello and check out her wares.

tricia....i have much to say about tricia. but will
keep much of it close to my heart. another unearth
sister. she is quite at first as is her sister judy. they
come as a pair and you can't help but get a kick out
of this dynamic duo. tricia makes handmade journals
they are full of paper and good stuff. i can't wait
to get mine in the post, but i have to send her my
old dr. seuss book that she is going to turn to magic
first. yes, i am kinda slow. but my scarf sisters know
this and are so sweet embracing my nutty self.

jennifer....i don't even know where to start with this
chickadee. she is my poet pal. she is kind, sweet
and wants for nothing but a loving world full of
good stuff. i mean really don't we all. i go to her
spot to find balance, to breath deep and to smile.
she sends me little texts to let me know she is
thinking of me and they always seem to arrive
at the perfect moment. or rather when i am having
an imperfect moment and they make me smile.
she is such a nugget, and if it is raining you might
just see her out in the middle of the street with
her rainboots on, giggling.

check back next sunday for some more soup.

....my cup spills over.

your story....join it here.

2011-01-13T07:06:00.000-08:00

your morning view

your comfort and community

your story....

...know all those kartwheels i keep talking about. well i have done
so many - celebrating this little nugget - that i am dizzy. how do
i feel aboutbeing a mentor at this june's "Your Story" retreat,
you ask?

excited . happy . blessed .

now for the big stuff....

your story

june 15-19

gearhart, oregon

registration begins - wednesday january, 19th.

for all the low down on the location, info and mentors. hop on over
to the be present page and check it all out. oh how i would love
seeing you there.

*peace

artfoolishness no. 1

2011-01-13T02:53:00.000-08:00

Danielle Donaldson and I, are up to it again. oh yes we are
let me explain...we met two years ago at Liz Lamoreux's
Unearth retreat. she mouthed off to me as i was coring what
seemed to be my 100th apple, sweating madly and a mad crap
in my left arm. that was nite one, but the third nite she had
me pinned up against the industrial fridge talking kids, graphic
design and holy moses - i think we may be long lost sisters.
danielle is one of those girls who the walk of her life pretty
much runs parallel to mine. so to follow suit with her description
of our friendship...she is the left to my right (brain), the lug to
my tire, the phthalo to my magenta, the salsa to my chip...i kick
her ass and she smacks me around a bit.
our first challange was a bunch of bitty mermaids last year
and dang that was fun. so in this hectic thing we call life, we
decided we need more creative fire in our life - so we are doing
another one. and with that the next challenge was born...one
quote, a color, and object and a little musical inspiration.

quote: "i have been sustained throughout my life by three saving
graces - my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of
resilience and hope" ~elizabeth edwards

color: pink and include a heart(s)
pandora playlist: gillian welch radio
ready . set . go
what do you get when two creative, silly chicks paint on two
different lands - nothing but pure unadulterated fun! our own
styles shine and we fall in love with the others work. yep - i
say it is - what stephen covey calls - a win win.

and now a word from our sponsors...thats ME! danielle pushes
me hard and i love that. she cheers me from the side line and
i love having her over there with her pom-poms and spirt hands,
but she is one of my favorite artists and creatives. she runs a
land called wishbliss studios. there you will find her digital
scrapbook creations. they are fun, colorful sassy and full of kart
wheels. check them out!

psst....the story of orphan girl, will be told soon. i have to say.
she speaks deeply. her story up next and then she will find a
spot in my shop.
peace.

..workings of an orphan girl..

2011-01-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

background prepped, sprayed and sketched

the faceless girl filled

shades . text . tattoo

a little ponder session

workings of an orphan girl..

trying to finish up several paintings. can't wait to finish
her up. this piece is another mini collaboration with my
girl danielle. she inspires me, pushes me and torments
me. but i kinda dig that.

what else am i working on you ask? well i have a new little series
of my girls. itty bittys with a new little twist. hoping to have those
ready for the shop soon.

off to finish her up.

peace.

..preps..

2011-01-10T11:09:00.000-08:00

a blue betty.

what am i up to you ask???? oh lots
over here in middle earth. right now, today i am
working on a few display and packing items. there
never really seems to be enough time in any day for
me. so today, when i got home from my p.t. early
morn - oh how i hate to get up that early - job, i swore
i would fight off any signs of a nap and just get some
stuff done in the studio. as many of you know
kelly + focus = good luck. but today i am bound
and determined to get some quality work done
in an high quantity volume. whew. so far so good.

i have ordered new packaging items for my baubles
and prints, repainting a dress form for display and
photography needs and will soon be printing some new
fun labels for packaging and mailing. later i will hopefully
make a dent in a website i need to finish up.

there is so much that i need to work on in january.
things i want to accomplish

1. submit to several arts and craft mags
2. finish up my website, with the help of the little bird
behind the curtain
3. re-photograph most of my baubles [this week]
4. finish up 5-6 paintings
5. continue to renovate the studio.
6. finish sketches for a special order original [this week]
7. work on some class descriptions and bio works
8. taxes [next two weeks]

yikes....no naps here! so if you see that i am slowing, please
send me a nudge. i might just be resting my eyes.

************
on a side note, i want to send out a big thanks to each of you who have
been stopping by recently. comments or no comments, i feel the support
and kindness everyday and lately, it has been such a nice reminder of why
i do what i do.
**************
there will be a special giveaway coming up soon and some shop fun. so
please stay tuned! you know that the month of red is coming soon!

peace.

monday smiles

2011-01-10T04:17:00.000-08:00

12.30.10 - me and bryce.

a little about the boy...

he runs marathons, works ridiculously long hours, asks for

very little in return, loves athletics, has legs of steel, loves

to dance to vanilla ice, asks me everyday how my day was,

has the tiniest butt, looks good in blue, rides a fierce roadbike,

looks up at me in the gym with a smile, is a papa to my three

kids and you would think they were his. rode ragbrai this summer,

is qualified for boston, does a wicked job of keeping us out

of debt, cooks and cleans - but sucks up the handyman stuff,

hates to go to movies - but loves summer concerts. rarely is

in a bad mood, yet deals with my mood everyday. lucky me.

we met when i was 32 and he was 22...he lied about his

age. somehow 13 years later we are still laughing at each

other while getting on each others nerves.

i kinda dig him.

..true..

2011-01-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

i choose true. (a jenlee tee, moodswing and bellawish pendants)

early september it came to me. as each month passed and i
gathered with girlies on two coast, the words shared with me
continued to remind me that this was what i would hang on to.
a little token for myself.

of course, there will be days darkened by hurt feelings, stress
and feelings of not enough. but this is why i feel so strongly
about this word that plopped into my little lap in the fall.

i couldnt deal with a word last year, my head spun with too much
"stuff". so on that day when true radiated thru my crazy nutty
head. i grabbed it and ran.

..true... i believe its a pretty good one.

good stuff

2011-01-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

kellybarton.com coming your way soon.

another bit of goodness going on over here. hopefully
in the next couple of weeks, i - meaning the mad web
programmer behind the curtain - will have the up and
ready. i am doing kartwheels over all the fun things going
on. retreats, new girls, baubles and now my website.

thinking that january is gonna be a good month...a bit
busy, but good none the less. time for me to put the
boots on and get started.

thank you to each of you who have stopped by and
said hello, sent me notes of cheer and held my hand.

my cup continues to spill. kinda dig that.

peace.

good stuff

2011-01-07T04:51:00.000-08:00

she wanders...coming to a canvas near you.

there are moments that pop into your day so quickly, without
any notice - that it is hard not to pick you jaw off the floor. today

you did that. you told me to allow you to get your words out with

out interruption. "aw shit" i am thinking as you begin. and then you

say it. you give me the gift that is so poignant and so free that i

just sit and listen. do you know how hard that is to do? to sit there

and own what is being given to you? i have found myself doing this
more. sealing my little red lips so that i can embrace what is being
sent my way.

to you who gave me this today . you who is rarely looked at as giving

out anything good . you who most look upon as not so nice. today, you
had my back. you looked out for me . you felt bad for what had been
directed my way. so i say, thank you for giving me that power, those
words. and most of all for showing me, that you are human, just like

the rest of us and through the crusty layers, you have a soft spot too.

about the girl

2011-01-06T14:16:00.001-08:00

instagram 1.6.11

about the girl....how about a few things you may not know. cmon,
you know you wanna know.

.. my husband is 10 years younger than me. thats right, move over
demi moore. i was a cougar before cougar was cool.

.. i walk around in a blanket almost daily. i am cold everyday, yet
i live in middle indiana - where the sun seems to never shine through
the winter. many mornings you will find me out getting the mail, blankie
wrapped tightly and a bad case of bed head.

.. i have several major goals in my personal life, relocate to a warmer
land, buy a vintage camper and ford falcon and camp on the weekends.
bryce is not going along with this one. gee i will miss him.

.. i am an accomplished snacker. i can snack with the best up them. ready
for a throwdown? line me up some swedish fish and a beer, start the chant

.. i love fiercely, but if you hurt me - then i am hurt and tend to carry
that around for too long. but i am really working on this one, don't
worry the voodoo doll pins aren't for you.

..i use the word dang along with religious icons such as
the big guy, jesus or moses. and apparently i type just like i talk.
DANG you poor poor peeps are expected to follow all of it.

.. i have sat before the dalai lama, three times and i am blessed because
of this. he likes a good belly laugh like me. nothing like a silly man with smarts

.. i am sometimes referred to as a "pez" girl. i tend to throw my head back with
my mouth wide open when i laugh. i tend hit my head on walls. doors and chairs
doing so. holy moses...there is nothing like a good belly laugh. ***i have a partner
in crime, in all of this. i swear she laughs louder than me. you will find us many
days at little mexico causing a ruckus.

.. i love color - more the better. my dining room is pantone 021. my mom says
my house doesn't "flow"....sorry karen - it flows the kelly way.

.. i would be quite content traveling around our nation, setting up stakes
every couple of months, working in diners and just chatting with the locals.
if i ended up on a beach somewhere warm - i would buy a beach cottage
and live out the rest of my life.

.. if it is attached to a bobby pin, i will wear it in my hair. you know like
frida. yes, i love frida. i love the girls story as sad and dark as it is and i also
love that people crinkle their nose when i tell them that.

....i have recently discovered that my crazy blooms and faceless
girls are my style and i am just fine with that. i mean how many times does
someone have to tell you that it is true before you yell HELL YEAH and run with it.

yep....just a little about the girl.

born again...

2011-01-04T04:35:00.000-08:00

instacolor.

holiday hangover is still lingering, but in my haze i have been
checking out some really fun stuff that can send you on the
merry way of creativity. sometimes we just need to be born
again, at least as an artist. here are some ways to make that
happen

check em out.

.........
color your world. hop on over and check out bonnies colorful course
.........

.........
the vivacious viviennes....she will show you the world.
.........

.........
the beautiful juliette crane has a "how to paint an owl" workshop
heading your way. stay tuned
..........

..........
mccabe - the dancing mermaid has a video course too. i took
her journal class as squam by the sea. she rocks.
..........

..so aren't you ready for some new year fun? go check them out!

*peace

looking for a little new.

2010-12-31T03:23:00.000-08:00

on the eve of new. 12.31.10

after yesterdays post...this popped up in my inbox. gotta love
that universe. always keeping my ass in check. i realize that
whoever signs up on tut.com, gets the same message everyday
but isn't that the beautiful part....we each get that message and
from there we are all working on the same thing. magic.
............

kelly, soon the new year starts, so now's a great time to:

1. Wipe the slate clean.
2. Focus upon what you really want.
3. Chart your course.

Right?

Well... only if you want to risk having to repeat these steps for
the same wishes next year! Maybe this is splitting hairs, but
here's an adventurous alternative:

1. Give thanks that life is... just as it is (and that it's been... just
as it's been). Because of it, you're now "READY."

2. Define what you want in terms of the end result. Don't worry about
the hows, or even the course. KNOW that what you want is ALREADY
yours in spirit, by divine LAW, just focus on the certainty of this
ownership, understand it, claim it, and "it will be on earth, as it
is in heaven (spirit)."

3. LET THE UNIVERSE show you the way via your impulses and instincts
that appear as you take inspired action. Don't worry that your first steps
seem silly or futile. And if you don't know what to do, do anything! Go!
Get busy! Do not insist on intermediary successes, only upon the end result.

2011 is going to be your year (it already is),
The Universe
.........

so with that - to each of you be safe tonight. and in the following days. a
quick thanks to each of you who send me the sun. 2011 is gonna be good.

*to our universe....lets add more peace, kindess,compassion and more
giggling to the mix. our world needs more of that, i know i do!

peace, ya'll

good stuff.

2010-12-28T05:42:00.000-08:00

some good stuff happening....

hoping to get my website moving. i have
a person to put it together, now i just have

to find the time to organize the files and send
them off. the holidays really put a wrench
in this.

.......

going with this feeling that 2011 is going
to be a swell year. 2010 was to say the least
an emotional journey. i found that i was allowing
old wounds to fester and friendship of many years
steer my path. what i found is that i don't have
to own anyones juju but my own. with that comes
much introspection, some rather uncomfortable
days and constant reminders, that i am me, and
unless the other party is honest - there is nothing
i can do to change the mood. so i am working
on maintaining my mood and living the life i
believe to be mine. although i have to say, there
are days that sadness creeps back in, i miss some
of them, but i am no longer willing to jump thru
all those hoops like it is show time. i am me . i am
okay . i am enough.

......

several ideas i am mulling around to send
out for submission. this makes me so nervous.
what holds me up most?
1. fear of not doing it correctly and it being
sent back

2. time. there just never seems to be enough time

.......

the studio is a wreck, yes - again a wreck.
the vintage suitcases with what is left
of 5 holidays shows litter the floor., found
papers, paints, bubble wrap. all covering the
ugly berber carpet. soon the deconstruction
will begin and hopefully with the help of
my hubby and kids - this space will soon be
what it is intended to be. new color on the
walls, no more carpet and a load of stuff i
don't, want - use - or need sent away.

........

christmas morning spent where it needed to be,
at home, with my kids, bryce my parents and the
pooches. this made me so so happy. holidays need
to settle down and be enjoyed. sometimes you have
to be a rebel to make that happen.

yep...i don't mind being the rebel.

some good stuff i think,

hipsta dig it.

2010-12-28T04:33:00.000-08:00

emancipate....an original

christmas cheer

mcdonalds cup

i finally broke down and went with an iphone. after

4 months of no phone. i am excited about what i will

be able to do with some of the apps. the hipstamatic

has been so fun. honestly i have barely taken any

pics with my cameras of late. i have been feeling

rather elementary with photography attempts, my rebel is

refusing to load on either of my computers. i have about 3

months of images on there that i can't work with. so the

hipstamatic apps has made things fun again.

the trick for me is not to be pulled to the darkside

with constant texting, answering while having company

or at dinner. fingers crossed i will stay over here.

because i hate that crap.

so what are some other fun apps

so this is christmas.....

2010-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

a christmas altar

i am tired, my hands are sore from the cold
and the wrapping , white snow is falling
out the window. snuggled in for the eve, waiting
for the kids to come home. i have a love hate
party with christmas every year. i really wish we
could all soak up the message that these winter
holidays bring us. regardless of our faith, our beliefs
or world...the message is clear. and here is what
i love about it all. show compassion, extend kindness,
give love...even if it is a warm hug.

to each of you who touches my life i thank you.
for the love, the compassion, kindness and most
of all for letting me be my silly crazy emotional me.

my blessings are big i tell ya!

peace be with each of you and yours today.

smooch!

drive by

2010-12-24T14:53:00.001-08:00

the skyway toll road....three bucks a pop!

navy pier....lake shore drive

brakes.

gary.indiana

monday smiles

2010-12-20T13:21:00.001-08:00

Lindsay Wilson PHOTOGRAPHY

...becauses sometimes mondays need a little extra
shine.

happy mail

2010-12-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

Sharing her heart she healed.

handmade package by bonnie rose

mystic heart

live peace necklace.

the whole fricken stash.

monday was a happy mail day.

1. mystic heart and sharing her heart she healed. by
the so very talented juliette crane. i am so happy that
i finally have a little bit of her love for my walls.

2. i finally found some puncherilla to use with my spray paints. i fell
in love with this in mccabe's class and have been looking everywhere
for it. bonnie rose sent me several sizes - you can find it in her shop.
she also sent me funky paper blooms. so cute and fun. i am thinking
about using them in a garland!

3. and last....my new all buttoned up necklace. handmade and inspired
by my live piece original. amy's necklaces are so much fun. if you happen
to fall deeply in love with amys wares, i can hook you up.
and when she finally gets my art on her arm - dont' you worry your pretty
little heads - i will be sure to show it off. i know she will be!

i love happy mail.

views from a show

2010-12-14T15:12:00.001-08:00

earth house - lockerbie - indianapolis, indiana
[apologies for the blurry images. i am not rocking the camera right now.]

saturday was spent at my last holiday show of the season. this is
my first year of shuffling my wares at multiple holiday shows. i can't
say it was a successful season, but what i am grabbing a hold is, the
warm faces, the caring and kind words spoken about my work and
all the fun chats. i love getting to talk about the be present
retreats and squam. these have been true gifts in my life. they have
opened up my world both creatively and spiritually. each one has
presented something that i have deeply needed. and to be able to
tell young women who are searching, to show them the books - it makes me
stand taller, smile and breath deeply. so deeply sometimes i release
the sigh that is a beautiful release. and with that release, each of
my scarf sisters, each chick who sat on the dock and read tarot cards
with me, who created next to me in a class or took a picture of me
whether i loved it or hated it, all those who wear my baubles
throughout this world - each one enters my thoughts, as a smile
shines across my face. i call that happy pride. yep i surely do.

i have been a bit bummed about the shows, the lack of sales
but as i sit here the gifts have been presented. the ownership
is known. talking with two who i lean on - i have been reminded
of the path i am on - and so i walk on.

i am a lucky girl. so thanks a bunch - you. and you too.

five for sunday

2010-12-12T18:11:00.001-08:00

mantle.

1. a day spent with b

2. meeting up with friends, heading to
the pub for lunch

3. irish coffee that warms the tummy and soul

4. seeing more friends at barnes and noble and
getting to walk across the store to finally see
this in indiana

5. the white snow that is falling outside my window
i love it even more since i am wrapped in a blanket,
with my feet kicked up on b's lap warm and home
safely.

was a good day.

seek the journey

2010-12-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

seek the journey. 2010

seek the journey lockets...in the shop.

seek the journey is one of my favorite paintings so far.
it was one of those pieces that i started, painted over
different areas and just began building up those layers.

and as those layers thickened...so did my thoughts and
i knew where i wanted to take it. deep within each of
us is the elephant....strong, brave, nuturing and the protector.
i have felt it as a child, a sister and a mother. it is where we all
pull our daily strength

so with that....the seek the journey original is now in the shop. and
through the month of december - no shipping! i will wrap it ups
gently and send her your way. she is so bold and colorful. and to
carry on that message...my new seek the journey lockets. they
include a little fortune inside each one. a simple reminder you
can carry with you each day.

*peace.

2010-12-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

one of my beloved tim's sally christmas balls

one last holiday show. i am really hoping this a good show, that i
meet some new possibilities and friends. you never know what these
will turn out to be. but i have met so many amazing artists at each one
and i love that.

bryce and i will be heading to dull's christmas tree farms
to pick out our new fir, that we will place in the foyer. why the foyer
you ask. because we have two airedales who with little supevision,
could have the tree torn down in about 30 seconds flat. how they
love anything shiney. hopefully we can get this done sunday, but
with this weather forecast...it may not happen.

two new originals entered the shop today....go check them out.
i am offering free shipping on them both, just for the holidays.
hope you enjoy them.

*peace.

2010-12-09T05:29:00.000-08:00

the creative fire. zena moon

Art is my chosen form
of MEDITATION-where I feel
closest to my true and
HAPPY self. -- Mary Stanley

things of my everyday.

2010-12-08T06:40:00.000-08:00

my bag from kendra

my little alters with carla's candles

my 2 orangyporangy skirts

creative books...a new fav.

a daily dose of kind

my days are filled with many
things, but here are five that
right now, in this moment
get me through, inspire me
and bring me peace.

1. handbags for healing bag...i have 2
messengers, 3 purses and 4 pockets.
oh and two of her "favorite things.

2. zena moon candles are the best.
carla is an amazing soul and her candles
are gentle reminders of what we need
in our lives. i have little alters throughout
the house and each has one of these candles
liz introduced me to these...they make
my house happy.

3. orangy porangy...natalie makes the
best skirts. i was so worried about the
fit, especially with the poly, but they fit
perfectly and dont' show my imperfections.
miss jen gray swore by these skirts....she
was so right!

4. liz lamoreux....inner excavations.
this book means the world to me for many
reasons. i have sat with liz over the past
few years and have learned so much about
myself and other women. i am blessed to
call her my friend. this book...so full of good.
i will have more on this journey soon.

5. if you haven't been over here....then
please go check it out. kind over matter
rocks, in my book. i am now a sponsor
because i believe in what they are putting
out.

what are yours...come on tell
me - it is fun to share.

2010-12-08T05:47:00.000-08:00

live peace. 2010

If someone thinks that love and peace
is a cliche that must have been left
behind in the Sixties, that's his problem.
Love and peace are eternal.
...john lennon

a new look and shop

2010-12-07T06:03:00.000-08:00

new logo...cheri m. studio

i have a new etsy shop too!

the happygirl shop will continue on, at least through
the beginning of the year. still trying to get it all figured
out and organized. so for now you can conveniently shop
at either shop! how fun is that.

it has been a very busy end to the year. a workshop but the sea,
a retreat by the sea, 5 holiday shows, gallery show and plenty
of new paintings. it feels so good. and the best part is all the
support and cheers i have received along the way. in celebration
there will be a G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y. coming soon. so keep a look
out for details this week. i hope you play along.

there will be another sale soon in the shop. keep your eye
out for that too.

some pretty good stuff, i say.

*peace.

training wheels and some grace.

2010-12-06T04:33:00.000-08:00

spring and summer shine in my kitchen

It's not real, kelly.
It's not now.
You're not here.
And nothing matters for the reasons you think.
Yet in spite of all this, there's order, you're learning,
and everyone is having the time of their life.

Talk about training wheels,
The Universe
--------------
love me some universe. this past may, my two girls
tracey and sarah came to stay with me. tracey had
scheduled a "universe" workshop with mike dooley.
sarah and i hit the broadripple art fair after we
dropped her off downtown...promising to pick
her up later in the afternoon.

once we were done hopping around the art festival
and slurping down some delicious smoothies from
the monon coffee shop we headed back downtown
to pick up the girl with golden glow all around her.

i just remember driving us all back to the land of
corn and listening to tracey talk to us about the
workshop. she was so full of energy and life. it
was catching.

so for me...the universe coming to my inbox each
day has been a gentle reminder that goodness does
exist, that we need a little love each day and
sometimes some grace.

i have to say i am one that many days focuses on
that half empty glass. i don't like to admit that,
but i know that i am not the only one and i do
try to change this.

last nite before heading to bed. i took one more
lap on fb and i found this from a girl named amy.
it really took me home. so i have rubbed her shoulder
and i am hoping a little grace has rubbed off today
for my grace fix. tomorrow i will try going it alone.

todays forecast is a little painting with a chance of
more goodness in the shop and my world.

peace and grace for you today.

the sunday soup

2010-12-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

sliced potato....around 8

saute approx. 2-3 of the potatos with some of
the leeks and onions

in another pan....saute leeks, onion add remaining
sliced potatoes and chicken stock

cook until soft, the do a rough mash, add heavy cream

add remaining potato mixture. i also added prosciutto and red pepper

serve it up hot with a slice of artisan bread...yum

before we heading out of manzanita we ate lunch at the bread & ocean
a couple of the girls got the potato soup with prosciutto. of course
i had a couple of bites and had wished that i had ordered the soup.
it had big chunks of potato that had been sauteed. it made the soup
extra thick and smokey. ever since i returned home i have been on
a quest to find this recipe. well i didn't, but i did find this one that
i converted to suit my needs. this is an easy, hearty soup. once
you get the potatoes sliced...it moves so so fast. i followed the
recipe, except i sauteed some potatoes with a portion of the leeks
and onions, then added the prosciutto. once i mashed the potatoes
in the big pan, i added this mixture and the cream.

i love soup. i could eat it everyday for lunch and now that
there is snow here in indiana....time for soup.

the story desk

2010-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

..the story desk..

this is my new little vintage desk i found at our trinity mission
thrift store. i paid $15 bucks for this beauty. and i put her in
my new little studio space. after i got her in place and went home.
i was on facebook late getting ready to head to bed, when i saw this
little note.......

"so I get to the gallery and I check out the cool new girl in the spot
right next to mine and what do I see in the back of her studio but an
old shabby chic desk...so let me tell you the history of said desk...once
upon a time ...that very desk resided in a dumpster outside of my
apartment. Matthew my friend at the time rescued it as I told him I
would paint it. A year went by then Matt the friend became Matt the
husband and it resided in"our" garage for two more years. It was only a
couple weeks ago when Matt built some shelves for the garage that I
finally said "I don't think that I have time to paint that - I was going to
donate it to the gallery but I don't think it would go..." so he took it to
Trinity mission because at GoodWill they sometime ship the items out
of town and he wanted to keep his donations local. hahaha Unlike a bad
penny - the shabby chic desk looks divine in the cool new girls spot."

my new studio mate, nina had walked into our area and spotted the little
desk she just had her husband haul to the mission. seriously it was kismet.

i am still giggling.

don't you think athropology clearance drawer pulls will be sweet!

( and now a little plug for nina....nina smith cunningham has been one
of my artist idols since i saw one of her paintings in our fall art show. this
was over 4 years ago. i sat looking at the window thinking, someone who
i can relate to. over the years we have gotten to know each other a little
better, we have brainstormed a little and i am a great admirer of her art
and i adore her. and now, i get to share a studio space with her. she is
such a talent, i wish you could see her body of work, it is amazing)

..live from the studio!..

2010-12-02T07:55:00.000-08:00

my studio mate nina...she is quite the talent.

tin ceiling full of stars

the pinky tree

my unfurl piece...waiting to be finished.

loving the newness

the new digs.

love how our spaces meld.

..i came from here..

2010-12-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

one of my very favs...she lives in los angeles now

the old studio

my first blog banners...this makes me smile....b.i.g.

2008 doo rag.

i love this image of me. because for once the doo rag
did what i wanted it to. and no heather...i don't look like
brett michaels twin brotha.

tuesday happy

2010-11-30T19:26:00.000-08:00

betty beads and a hello.

sitting here chatting with pals, sipping some tazo calm
that b made for me and thinking of all the goodness
my life holds. so here we go................

1. my new etsy shop. kellybarton.etsy. please stop by
and check it out. i will be keeping the happygirl shop
through the end of the year too! we would love to see
you there. best part. there will be plenty of holiday sales,
new baubles, orginals and cards. perfect holiday gifts!
also....a giveaway, very soon!

2. my new little art studio, here in town at the athens
of indiana art and studios. i am so happy to be part of
some amazing local artists. if you are a local, please
stop by and support our local arts. art saves!

3. the support i receive, the cheers i hear and the love
i feel . thank you

4. watching miss clancy finish the 500 free tonight
and see her beat her old time.

5. the to do list, although full. seeing all that i have
ticked off since october. if feels so good to be
moving again

so there it is...my short list of goodness.

*peace.

on waking

2010-11-25T05:31:00.001-08:00

the wayfarer . canon beach . love
. . . . . . . . . .
I give thanks for arriving
Safely in a new dawn,
For the gift of eyes
To see the world,
The gift of mind
To feel at home
In my life,
The waves of possibility
Breaking on the shore of dawn,
The harvest of the past
That awaits my hunger,
And all the furtherings
This new day will bring.
{john o'donohue, on waking.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

reflecting on the past year, even on those bumpy days
that sadness and anger swirled around me. i see the
hope and blessings that greet me each day.

.three healthy . funny . gorgeous little beings who are mine

.a partner in crime who is secure enough to be married to me

.a warm home with the studio on top

.my tribe who sends me energy . friendship . love from afar

.a community of friends that we love and gather with here

.parents that pretty much hung the moon, siblings to match.
nieces and nephews that make me laugh and who tell me....
aunt kelly did you make that, who wear my baubles and nephews
who curl their noses when they see me, like i am the old auntie
with too much lipstick, ready to smooch their cheeks.

.my nutty girl mind that pushes me forward with my
brushes and bag of color

.and you. yep you whoever is reading this, visiting this blog
and supporting me. my art . my vision . my life

this i know to be true, even on the hairiest of days, life
is filled with some good stuff.

today i will sit with bryce and my girl cheri' and soak it all up.

my your day be filled with warm laughter, the nourishment
you crave and love. and if you sit alone today. know you aren't
alone. i am here sending a little lite and a few giggles your way.

peace be with each of you.

kelly

live it.

2010-11-23T08:51:00.001-08:00

fat blooming everywhere!

:live and let live:
so easy to do, if you
don't live with fear of others
lifestyle and beliefs.

..getting it together..

2010-11-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

preparing for the show.

yesterday bryce and i packed up the car full of my
pieces of art and headed downtown to our new
art gallery and studios. i am honored to be the
november featured artist. when nina first asked
me i of course said i would do it. then reality set
in and the demons got the best of me. i had numerous
paintings sitting on the studio floor to be finished,
a week long art retreat in october and a holiday show
the day before i was to hang my art. yup...once
again, kelly chose to bite off the biggest piece of
sweetness only to get a slap of reality. time and
creative minds don't always add up. but last week
i came home from squam by the sea, and for the
first time of three years of retreats....i felt renewed.
i mean don't get me wrong i always feel renewed after
each retreat. the problems lies in coming home and
crashing. by the grace of the universe - this time - i
was able to find my mojo.

so yesterday as marlene and nina hung my artwork. marlene
the ever so sassy designer, walked around with her hand on
her chin...something was missing. we had removed the primary
color blocked rug, major clash. she just wasn't quite feeling it.
i sat back and let her do her work. never once worried. because
i trusted her creativity. all the while...poor bryce, already out
of his athletic element, was figgiting. he made lists on his
cell phone for me, he answered text and he stood there wide
eyed watching marlene think.

ah-ha! my unfinished dress form. she said, "don't finish it just yet.
lets use it - to show your process. i wanted to cry...happy tears.
because so often people ask me what my process is and i have a
hard time explaining. but the dress form - i can be used as a creative
visual in the little room that holds my artwork.

so again...i left feeling renewed. i had new energy, new ideas
and the best part of the day. nina and marlene asked me to paint
my "featured artist" board. of course. i knew what i would do with it.

today i am in the studio....finishing my board before i have to work
at the course. my heart and mind are full of what my path is filled with.
this time, not worrying about leaving the bread crumbs pointing towards
home. in this moment, i have a clear view, no longer lost.
............................

support your local arts . support arts . because art saves!

athens of indiana arts studios & gallery crawfordsville, in a project for the arts made possible by Crawfordsville Main Street.

..coming soon..

2010-10-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

re-birth of me.

coming soon...my ponderings on a week
by the sea.

..echoing day..

2010-10-25T20:01:00.001-07:00

..my blessing was found here..

Blessed be the mind that dreamed the day The blueprint of your
life Would begin to glow on earth, Illuminating all the faces and
voices That would arrive to invite Your soul to growth.

Praised be your father and mother, Who loved you before you
were, And trusted to call you here With no idea who you would be.
Blessed be those who have loved you Into becoming who you were
meant to be,

Blessed be those who have crossed your life With dark gifts of
hurt and loss That have helped to school your mind In the art
of disappointment.

When desolations surrounded you, blessed be those who looked
for you And found you, their kind hands Urgent to open a blue
window In the gray wall formed around you.

Blessed be the gifts you never notice, Your health, eyes to
behold the world, Thoughts to countenance the unknown,
Memory to harvest vanished days, Your heart to feel the world's
waves, Your breath to breathe the nourishment Of distance made
intimate by earth.

On the echoing-day of your birth, May you open the gift of
solitude In order to receive your soul; Enter the generosity
of silence To hear your hidden heart; Know the serenity
of stillness To be enfolded anew By the miracle of your being.
{john o'donohoe, to bless this space between us..}

...michelle smith - the gift of our class - the best...

moving through

2010-10-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

new backgrounds = new originals...soon.

the creative vibe is coming back, as painfully
slow - as it is, i welcome it each day. yes i do.

Love is My Religion

2010-10-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

Love is my religion, Love is my religion, Love is my religion
I'll take you to the temple tonight

so don't let nobody stop us, free spirits have to soar
with you I share the gift, the gift that we now know oh oh oh

I don't condemn, I don't convert
this is the calling have you heard, bring all the lovers to the fold
no one is gonna lose their soul

Love is my religion, Love is my religion, Love is my religion

...right on.

a guest post by jenna. sponsored by the alchemy: the art & craft of writing.

2010-09-28T19:33:00.001-07:00

Carousel beneath Space Needle, Seattle (Diana+; Kodak GC400)
photo credit: jennifer mcguiggan

***********************************************************

miss jenna is hosting an online writing course this fall called Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing. i met
jenna my first year of squam. she was the pilot and i was the co-pilot as we whisked through the woods
of new hampshire on our way to our creative journey.

jenna understands how we each have a unique voice and through her e-course - she will help you find
yours. so hop over and check out all the goods. most importantly, until September 30th she is offering her course for $30 off too.

and now for the rest of the show...presenting Ways to Enliven Your Writing
(In The Word Cellar)

***********************************************************
This week's nitty gritty writing tips are short and sweet, or maybe they're quick and dirty. (You decide which cliché
you like better.) How can you make your writing more lively? If you're bogged down in a section of writing that drags its feet and bores you, try a few of these tips to perk it up. In fact, they're good techniques to use all the time.

1. Avoid clichés. Wait, that tip itself is rather cliché, isn't it? Sometimes a cliché can be funny or drive home a
point as a sort of cultural shorthand. But if you use one, be aware of it. Use it because it's the best way to say
something, not because it's the easiest and quickest way to say it.

2. Use active voice. In active voice, the subject of the sentence does the action. In passive voice, the action of
the sentence happens to the object. This is passive voice: The omelette was dropped on the floor by the chef. This
is active voice: The chef dropped the omelette on the floor. Passive: The baseball was thrown by me. Active: I
threw the baseball.

3. Use good verbs, not adverbs. Strong writing uses strong verbs, not weak verbs modified by adverbs. Don't run quickly out the door; sprint or dash out the door. Don't cry profusely; weep or wail. Don't call out angrily; shout or yell or scold. Some writers swear against adverbs at all costs. I'm not that strict, but I believe in the power of lively verbs to strengthen writing.

4. Use fewer "to be" verbs. To be verbs include the following: be, am is, are, was, and were. Sometimes you need
to use a to be verb. But often you can find a much more interesting way to write the sentence.

5. Avoid word bloat. You probably need fewer words than you think you do. Remove unnecessary phrases or replace
them with shorter, more direct phrases. Less is more. (Hey look, another cliché!)

Do you have any favorite tips for enlivening your writing? Any questions on how to handle specific sluggish sections? Share in the comments or email me: jennifer{at}thewordcellar{dot}com.

..In The Word Cellar, is a writing column that runs on the second and
fourth Wednesday of the month..

...pink martini..

2010-09-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

..in the process of becoming..

2010-08-29T10:06:00.001-07:00

..becoming..

the summer is near the end. the deep humidity is slowly easing
here in the cornfields of middle earth.

the studio has been less the productive the last three months and i have
to be honest, i can say it is because we had so many commitments in
our summer schedule, we did. but the truth is, i just don't have it in me
right now. i feel far removed from my art, several friendships have seemed
to crumble and i am searching to find my way back....why the hell didn't
i take the basket of bread crumbs. i simply feel lost.

am i lost forever, of course not. will this ease - i believe it will.

today while cleaning the studio...prepping for the big R.E.N.O.V.A.T.I.O.N.
i found a little piece of heaven. my gal valerie, shared a simple handmade
bookmark with me, while we retreated on the beach in manzanita.

"we are in the process of becoming"

ah-ha! there are those breadcrumbs. i had them all along, just that in the
muck of the studio, the were buried.

this process of becoming, i believe, is a life long journey. i have become
a daughter, mother, employee, friend. some days i become who i am meant
to be and other days, i stumble, becoming someone i don't recognize as i
gaze in the morning mirror. sadness and low energy greets me along with
a bad case of bedhead.

as i look around this studio, i see the simple things that i love the most as an artist,
my brushes, a table so full of bottled color - i am like the dog of pavlov. so as i regain
my footing, i give this studio a big hug and continue in becoming the artist i know i
am.

do you ever think you have no influence on anyone, that your voice is not heard? i
seem to do this everyday, but then i am reminded in an easy carefree way, that i have
made someone smile, or their day a little better. and with those moments, comes a
severe tongue lashing for myself, for being so selfish and insecure. we all make
a difference, each and everyday. and if we skip a day, that is okay. there is someone
there picking up our slack, like maybe we did for them the day before.

"we are in the process of becoming"

just another reminder of my becoming came from the artist known as twiggy. she
gave me this l ittle box wrapped in a big bow today.

embracing the little things is how i hop back on the path of becoming.

2010-08-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

..the golden year..

today we celebrate 50 years of family
which means we embrace the love

the arguments, nights of playing spoons,
long road trips with no air, days spent
on the football field and years of a couple
who always had another spot at the table
for anyone who needed a family to
sit with.

shawn, kelly erin and casey
becky, bryce, frank and steph
hilary, cheri, gabe, clancy, clare, delaney
colleen, alison, graydon, annie,
mac and liam.....

this is the house
that pat and karen built.

nine

2010-07-28T19:40:00.001-07:00

..a little tattoo art..

it is pouring rain here. i am listening . i am reflecting . i am unclear .

we each hold responsibility, for our words . our actions . ourself

i often ask why. i almost always ask why. i am not afraid
to ask myself what part i hold in any of this. but when you can't
communicate with another you are missing part of the solution.

it is raining . i am unclear . i ask you why.

to go from here..

2010-07-12T23:11:00.001-07:00

short north, 2009

dear monday....so happy that you turned it over to tuesday.
just sayin.

..on to a new home..

2010-07-11T08:35:00.001-07:00

bunny....a mixed media painting.

bunny and a few of her sisters have found happy homes,
and this makes me so very happy.

thank you for supporting my art. the old heart is full.

..new look, new doo, new day..

2010-07-08T20:40:00.001-07:00

strawberry fest 2010

whew...i can't believe that we are already well
into july. summer is half over and i haven't even
started.

there are some new happy things coming to the camp.
new marketing pieces, new blog look and a new
shop on the way. hoping that a re-focus will put
me back on track to goodness.

i am sending out three pieces to the squam art show
in the next week. this makes me so happy and i am
very honored to have been included again this year.

i look forward to setting my feet in the sand for my
birthday week and hoping that the followng month
i get to gather with more of the chickadees that i
love and adore. to say that i am blessed is an
understatement. i just wish you all lived next door./
once a year, isn't nearly enough.

another chickadee will be leaving the nest soon.
the last few months have been crazy busy with
the kids. bryce will soon be training for another
marathon and the lovely miss c will be heading
back to the hills of cali. just one chickadee left.

am i sad you ask, no...not at all. will this mean
more time in the studio, well yes if i get off
my ass and make it happen.

for any of you in the indy area, i want to pass
along a bit of goodness. this past week i went
to ado hair design, for a fresh style. danny
worked his magic. my hair no longer looks or
feels paper thin. he is such a fun guy. i will
be going back for more. gives a wicked head rub
too. and if you stop by, make sure to check out
my artwork! they were so kind to let me hang
some of my pieces there. they are top notch!

so with that, it is late . late . late and i need
to hit the hay....ready for that new day.

peace. out.

..open here..

2010-06-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

because i said so.....

2010-06-29T16:31:00.001-07:00

funk tee hangin' with the baubles.

here are some good things from my week...thats
right, maybe not be for everyone, but i say they
are goodness.

...bob getting the a okay
...sending clancy off to see michael buble with
her squeeze. i know they are loving it.
...sitting on the deck enjoy a relaxed everning
...knowing that no matter what, there are plenty
who love me, for just being me. even on my
bad days
...bantering with a pal who makes me laugh and
smlie
...listening to kids on the street riding bikes
...the ice cream truck singing to us all
...spending the day with miss cheri', toodling
around trader joes, pier 1 and target
...the breeze that is whistling through my windows
...the boys at the course, always making me laugh
...my blushing epidsode. as silly as it was - i realized
that somethings can still get me.

hope your weather is fine.

peace.

how i spent the last 48 hours

2010-06-21T04:50:00.000-07:00

2 girls + sometimes a too stressful life, decide to create
in order to get through it. and we did.

once again danielle and kelly pair up for a little fun.
the best part, besides a blooming friendship....you can
play along too. if you have 48 hours and you know you
do....show us what you can do.

c'mon - you know you want to.

it's an ingrid kind of morning!

2010-06-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

strawberry fest....this weekend

2010-06-09T16:15:00.000-07:00

come join us this weekend at the crawfordville

strawberry festival...good food, not too sure about

the music and many familiar faces.

peace.

..squam love and more..

2010-05-05T18:27:00.000-07:00

splash....journal pages.

1. check out my squam love over at athena dreams! it's an interview!

2. summer weather in middle indiana, window open wide. loving the
fresh air smell throughout the house

3. celebrating cinco de mayo with some silly chicks

4. the new display from steel dreaming...lots of fun here

5. and this chickadees birthday, today. she brings so much
light and fun to my world. happy birthday danielle!!!!!

mermaid chalenge no. 6

2010-05-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

velma jane, sassy . sweet . fiery

2 friends::creating, supporting and cheering on
6 weeks::mermies galore keep us both on track
2 daughters who love coming up with names
3 descriptive words for each mermie

week no. 6 is upon us, the last of the mermies
from the challenge. and this one is going to
a chick who is just starting her cupcake biz.
i can't wait for her to name her company so
i can put it on the banner.

here is what i learned from this challenge...thanks to
my friend danielle.....

1. i need to push myself. more
2. weekly painting is a must.
3. it really isn't hard to put time to the side each each
4. if i sketch it, i will paint it.
5. gorgeous beautiful friendships are formed at art retreats

we double dog dare ya, to come up with your
little mermie or another other creative challenge.
talk to a friend and do it!

and i have to say, don't these really look cute
together. love it!

..days of not..

2010-05-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

bouncey balls + brain = kelly's crazy mind

i like to think that i am in control, that i can fix the unfixable. that

i am okay.

i like to think that i mask my emotions well, that even on my worst

day, my worst isn't visible

but then i have to pinch myself and remind - me - that i am human.

that some days i can't hide my sadness, my fears, my anger.

most days i yearn to make a difference. i love making someone happy

and i feel that i can do that just by smiling or laughing. you know -

those little random acts.

most days, i don't do enough.

but with all that, i do know that i am okay. that if i am not

up to "par" today, then tomorrow - maybe.

mermaid challenge no. 5

2010-04-25T19:53:00.001-07:00

heather ashley, glittery . fun . bubbly.

2 friends::creating, supporting and cheering on
6 weeks::mermies galore keep us both on track
2 daughters who love coming up with names
3 descriptive words for each mermie

so we had to skip a week and take a little vaca, but
we are back with mermie no. 5. these has been so
much fun. i am not sure if my version is glitterly
but bubbly yes.

i still get so happy waiting for danielle to send me
her newest creation. i have to say, this little challenge
has really kept me on my toes in the creating dept. just
what my a.d.d. brain needs.

we double dog dare ya, to come up with your
little mermie..

mermaid challenge no. 4

2010-04-08T08:49:00.001-07:00

miss flora aurora, spunky . independent . full of light.

2 friends::creating, supporting and cheering on
6 weeks::mermies galore keep us both on track
2 daughters who love coming up with names
3 descriptive words for each mermie

we have made to week no. 4!
danielle and i have finished up flora aurora.
my lord that name makes me smile!

each week, i get so excited waiting to see
our two pieces together. now onto week
no. 5 and as always, don't you want to play along too.

we double dog dare ya, to come up with your
little mermie..

mermaid challenge no. 3

2010-04-04T20:25:00.001-07:00

jillian rebecca...she could turn a head.

2 friends::creating, supporting and cheering on
6 weeks::mermies galore keep us both on track
2 daughters who love coming up with names
3 descriptive words for each mermie

danielle and i have made it to week three!
i love how each piece of art compliments the

other. and i really love the fact that i have
hit each of our deadlines. you know how rare

this is for me!

seriously...don't you want to play along too.

we double dog dare ya, to come up with your
own jillie love.

fix you.

2010-04-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

..some days there are people who i miss in my life..

the mermaid challenge :: week no. 2

2010-03-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

clio penelope..soft, peaceful, full of grace.

2 friends::creating, supporting and cheering on
6 weeks::mermies galore keep us both on track
2 daughters who love coming up with names
3 descriptive words for each mermie

danielle and i have made it to week two! few injuries

in the process, with the exception of a bruised ego

here and there. due to our own critical minds.

we had a couple of gals play along last week and

would love to have more. wanna see more of

clio penelope....hop over here.

..the mermaid challenge+week no. 1

2010-03-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

2 friends::creating, supporting and cheering on

6 weeks::mermies galore keep us both on track

2 daughters who love coming up with names

3 descriptive words for each mermie

stop by each week to see what danielle and me

are coming up with. our creative process my vary

greatly, but our love for color and each other is

always true. we would love some cheerleaders too.

and if you want to join in - please do. the more,

the merrier.

..peace..

2010-03-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

tired dogs + kelly = another run

..happy thursday, ya'll

..illustration friday - brave..

2010-03-08T17:48:00.001-08:00

..brave..

to see more brave folks, head over to

illustration friday.

..in the studio..

2010-03-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

..seek the journey.. 11x48 found wood panel

..brave.. 8x10 wood panel

..i belong to me.. 6x6 wrapped canvas

..swoon.. 4x4 gallery wrapped canvas

the studio has been buzzing with flying colors!

new pieces heading to the ado hair design salon,
broadripple, indiana. this salon is amazing and if
you live in the indy area, go check it out!

i won't be listing these on etsy at the moment, but

if you are interested in one of these new pieces,

please contact me and we can make arrangements.

peace...

..mr. whyte..

2010-03-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

..start close in..

start close in, don't take the second step or the third,
start with the first thing close in,the step
you don't want to take.

start with the ground you know,the pale ground beneath
your feet,your ownway of startingthe conversation.

start with your own question, give up on other people's
questions, don't let them smother something simple.
to find another's voice, follow your own voice,
wait until that voice becomes a private ear listening to another.

start right now take a small step you can call your own
don't follow someone else's heroics, be humble and focused,
start close in,don't mistake that otherfor your own.

start close in, don't take the second step or the third,
start with the first thing close in,the step you don't want to take.

{start close in, david whyte.}

..a wednesday view..

2010-03-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

..fine arts day..

..tissue flag..

..dreaming of my tattoo career..

" the soul should always stand ajar,
ready to welcome the ecstatic experience. "

..emily dickinson..

..keeping it all straight..

2010-02-18T11:11:00.000-08:00

before and after - studio cubie and new ikea boxes.

i don't know about you, but keeping the studio clean and organized
seems to be a daily action. storage area done, now on to the desk.

and since it is thursday, and it has been yet another week, how
about we just go with FIVE really good things for the week.

1. boys swim sectionals tonight and saturday. gabe is once again
bald. his senior year, last time to watch him swim....happy and
sad about this one.

2. winter olympics coverage....usa rocking the winter games.

3. dalai lama on his way for may.

4. more miles covered on my runs....healthy mind, legs and
body helps.

5. keeping with my new productive attitude

hump day happy

2010-02-10T12:46:00.000-08:00

if you know me, then you know what i wanted to drive it home

because we have all been cooped up and snowed under - here is

some hump day happiness....

1. little monters and monkeys that i adore. check out junker jane

and these favorite things. they are nothing but for the smiling.

2. a very productive winter spent in the studio, creating, purging

and organizing. feeling very productive and that makes me feel

better about me.

3. a spirited rock from this mermie who was so sweet to send

little extras along they way. they are already spreading their

good vibes.

4. realizing that my lifestyle changes are working, i feel stronger

in every sense of the word. and would never have thought that

i could run over 5 miles.

5. little love notes that find their way to me, sometimes the

simplest phrase can turn your day around. i find peace in each

one of them.

so....where is your happy in today?

studio is a-buzz

2010-02-09T10:02:00.001-08:00

geraldine...the devil made me do it

love me

bunny, love me and geraldine

studio has been filled with music, brushes and paint
flying, baubles in the making.

two new originals in the shop,geraldine and love me, you
can check them out here

my color ..yellow..

2010-02-03T12:45:00.000-08:00

manzanita, oregon 2009....a little piece of my soul left here.

i am blessed to have you in my world, each arm that guides

me gently each day, who sends me little spirited cheers from

all sides of this land. when you take the time to call, the light

radiates deeper.

this week when i was getting my massage, by the ever so healing

hands of kasey, she was at the end of the hour and she was working

on my head. i allowed myself to find that breath and go deeply

into my head. that warm yellow light appeared. a gift.

some days i feel like that little snail, slowly trudging along.

my underbelly occassionally snagging along the path. but then

you, whoever you may be, reaches out and i begin to glide.

aw...thanks you.

on to two

2010-02-02T11:38:00.000-08:00

..nothing sings happy like a pair of hot pink shoes..

looking over my year goals. i have realized i have gotten off

to a decent start.

january was spent

1. organizing, filing, running numbers for taxes and getting

my biz on quicken. pretty happy with this

2. etsy has been busy and i love that, working on getting

several new originals and new cards in there soon.

3. looking for some runs this summer to participate in

4. maintaining my new body and health

5. finishing the paintings i have started.

february here is what i am looking at....

1. scrapartist shop up and running, huge learning

curve here. yes, i procrastinate because it scares me.

[note, learn to ask for help]

2. paint 3 hours, tues, wed, thurs

3. keep studio hours, so i am not working on

weekends.

4. pick out paint for studio.

5. submit to mags

oh...and this. i will be working on pieces for this...

so...what have you been up too? how do you keep your business

organized? i would love to hear all about it.

it's in you...really

2010-01-26T11:52:00.000-08:00

c'mon and celebrate with the betties....10,000 views!

okay, so here is the what of the what. this week i have been

overwhelmed with so much goodness going on. little random

acts of kindness, proving to me that we still get it, there

there is hope and that i am not alone in this crazy, stress-ball

of a world. so today in celebration of all the help heading

to sister haiti's way, little acts that mean the world and

just because some days we need a little more light than

others. here is my list of 5 superbad-ass things!

1. scrappybetties are celebrating their 10,000 views. their blog

is full of happy. i love hopping over there to see what they are

working on and this week there is a party. so head over, each

day they will post another prompt and the best part is, if you share

the link with your friends and let them know - your name goes

in the fishbowl.....free giveaways! day 1 is send an anonymous

card. i have a list! so i better get busy. go on...i said hop on over

to here.

2. myriam has began her own little push to raise money

for her homeland, haiti. born in the states, as a little girl she

was sent to live with her family in haiti. today, she is showing

up and believing that she can bring them hope and love. i love

that! joy for haiti is an easy way to give back and show a little

love yourself. if you can, please make a donation, size does not

matter here folks. it is simply about taking a little step. together

we can make a huge dent in this. since i made my donation last nite

the amount has grown by $2,000. that just makes me smile.

3. and i can't continue until i give you a little more encouragement

to donate to myriam hope. the most talented kelly rae roberts has

a little opportunity to anyone who does take part in myriam's quest.

head over to her blog to find out what she is up too...calling all hearts.

3. etsy....lots of little shops are supporting haiti. and the best part is

you can find some really fun and unique arts and crafts while you

donate!

4. indiefixx has a haiti fundraisor as well. it is all in the bidding on

this one.

5. ....and last, just a little excitement for me. the dali lama will be back

in may. i will be there! this makes me so happy.

now, how can you even feel down today with all this kindness!

peace.

..alter..

2010-01-24T13:58:00.001-08:00

...love for haiti. peace for all.

i have several little alters in my house. they

are reminders of places i have been, moments

of life. my alter on my mantle in the family is

filled with little tea candles and twinkle lites.

several icon pieces and my holy candle. she has

burned quite a bit lately...first for brian

bowman, our sister HAITI, kurt glancy and now

for a family i hold so dear to my heart. they

have lost a son, grandson, brother, nephew.

his name is henry. i never met him, i love and

adore his family. today i send my thoughts and

prayers to circle them with warmth and care.

just as i raise our sister haiti up. that they find

a speedy way to find homes for all those children

who are without a family.

january will be leaving soon. dear february -

show us all a little kindness and grace.

peace.

..honor..

2010-01-13T10:08:00.001-08:00

spc brian bowman, our hometown boy, was killed jan.3, 2010

today our little town step up to show honor for a young

man who has died protecting our country. i knew they were asking

people to show support and stand along the funeral route around

11am today. bryce had my car and was going to swing by the house

to pick me up at the same time and i had decided to run on the

treadmill, at the high school when i took him back to drop him off.

...i was really feeling bad that i wasn't going to be standing on that

route. but i hadn't ran since sunday and with our car situation, i

had to take the opportunity to get there and exercise. so we headed

out to the high school and as we hit st rd 47...you could see hundreds

of people lining the street flags held high waiting to show their respect.

...i had mentioned to bryce, that i wished the school had the kids out

lined up in front of the school and he told me they would be out there.

we decided to head to the school, taking the back way, incase the drive

was blocked . as we pulled in you could see the whole student body

standing along the highway. it is so cold here today, but the sky is blue

and the sun is shining...but the wind is pretty crisp. what does that

really matter....doesnt. what mattered is that as bryce and i walked

towards the crowd of students and teachers...you could see flags of

all sizes, the students were braving the cold, they were participating.

....i found it very hard not to lose control of my emotions. i hold so

many deep inside about this war. and regardless....i respect every single

one of our men and women who sacrifice for each of us.

..as the sirens of the motorcade came closer, i suddenly realized the hush

that had come across the line of students. those kids step up and got it.

it was a beatiful sight.

...from the cars you could see some of the people wave, some smiled at us.

many held flags outside their car windows and two large double decker charter

buses full of supports, also passed.

...our little city hasn't experience a hometown loss since 1969. and that astonishes

me. as a mama, it is not even possible to put my arms around the emotions that

his mother is experiencing and as a wife, can't go there either. but today i am

proud to be part of this burg, thousands left work, left their warm homes and our

school stepped up and allowed our kids to experience something important.

..honor..

..spc brian bowman my thanks and respect follow you..

..gettting there..

2010-01-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

getting these is the battle.

since my birthday in october, i have been working on a diet. as

much as i hate to call it that, that is exactly what it is. what pulled

me to this specific plan was the "clean" eating. and in the beginning

it was pretty radical. i have cut out sugar, salt and caffeine...and

that was just the beginning. cutting sugar meant no more lattes,

no more dirty hippies, peanut butter m&m's...nada. no salt meant

no longer shaking the salt over my food 3-4 times during he meal

and of course no caffeine also meant cutting out the lattes, diets,

chocolate. all of it. and i did. the first two weeks weren't terrible

but by the end of it, i was literally gagging on lettuce i had had so

many salads. but by week three....the menu opened up a bit

and one of the biggest savers was getting fruit at lunch. so after

2.5 months....today i weighed in and ihave lost 25lbs.

...before i go any further, i just want to say this - i am not looking

for any kudos, or cheers....i put myself in such a bad place with my

eating and my weight, but i am writing this only because i know

there are so many others out there feeling the same way. so if

you are someone who is down on yourself because you feel you

are too heavy, or you feel tired and unmotivated - you can do it to.

i was at the point where just a drive down the street meant me

sitting in the car very upset because as we drove, my belly jiggled.

i had quit all exercise because i had no energy and i hated feeling

my flabbyness in constant motion. i was so self conscience, that i

found myself always tugging on my shirts to make sure they were

pulled down over my waist band. and most would say...kelly you

really aren't that heavy....well yes i was. since bryce and i got

married over 9 years ago - i had gained over 40lbs. for someone

who is 5'3.5 - that is way too much extra weight and the worse

part was i would eat so many high carbs and sugar, that i would

literally crash almost daily. it wasn't healthy and i had begun to

hate myself because of it.

i have 5 weeks left before i work on the stabiliazation period

and 10 more lbs to go. i still will be keeping sugars, salts

and caffeine out of my diet. my goal is to never put myself

back into that bad place....will i eat sugar again...sure

i already have. i allow myself a spoon of ice cream, i have

nibbled on a french fry. because that just isn't in my reality

never to have those things. but what is in my reality is that

i feel the best i have since we got married. when i run on the

treadmill now, my stomach isn't in the way, i can run with no

pain...it is glorious.

so...if you are wanting to start, or you are down on yourself

because you have gained more than you are comfortable with

then find what will work for you. you can do it. i sat for over

5 years, feeling worse and worse about myself, refusing to

believe that i could do it. never daring to just pick myself

up and say no more. but after a little over 2 months i have

lost a significant amount of weight. see you can do it - and

in a short amount of time, in a very healthy manner.

really....

..full tank..

2010-01-10T18:33:00.000-08:00

hula's ttv class - squam art workshops 2009.

still pondering my "word" of 2010. i mean, seriously...the choices

are endless. when i think back over 09', i see much transformation.

which was necessary and very good. and i am ready for goodness

this year. and for a really quick short list of what i want to accomplish

here we go.

1. work harder to be organized and keep up on the biz side of things

2. work along with my craft inc. books

3. paint several hours each day...excluding weekends.

4. work on ideas for new products

5. move forward in my new venture in digital scrapbook designs.

6. open my new website and etsy shop

7. take a vacation...a real vacation. beach, beer, books and me.

8. keep a book with my goals. update as things happen

9. read more

10. continue to take care of myself. maintain weight and exercise.

11. finish a sprint tri

12. run another 5k

13. paint the studio, add inspiration board and artwork...damn gabled walls

14. add new painting station. so i can stand to paint.

15. find fun new boxes to store and organize.

okay...15 is plenty for now. lets see how i am doing by the end of july.

peace, ya'll.

...baubles...

2010-01-07T14:39:00.001-08:00

new baubles in the shop.

stop by and take a look....

peace and thank you.

a new gig

2010-01-05T14:14:00.001-08:00

there are times in your life when you meet someone
and don't realize where that may lead. i met
miss danielle in october at the be present retreat
and we really didn't talk to much until the last nite
when we both leaned against the fridge door and
just started spilling. we both soon realized that
our path was quite the same. we had both gone
back to school to get our graphic design degree,
we have kids about the same age, we are blonde
and we love color and to paint. most importantly
we have kept in touch.

and my curiosity about her "off hours gig" lead
to a new gig for me. this month i am the featured
artist at scrapartist.com. an online digital
scrapbook resource.

some days you just need a little warmth on the bun
and my how those creative juices begin to flow.

please head over and see all the fun stuff. you might
just find some fun kits to work with for your own digital
art!

this has been so much fun!

happy . happy!

new goodness...in the shop.

2010-01-04T20:38:00.001-08:00

bloom girl one . bad fog vintage locket . free me

new originals, prints and baubles in the shop.

..come on over for a visit. we would love to see you..

merry and bright.

2009-12-25T05:30:00.000-08:00

santa, kelly and shawn, circa 1967...ish

may this day be filled with peace, a little love and
spent in an unhurried manner.

many blessings today and through the new year.

peace ya'll

eve of eves

2009-12-23T05:24:00.000-08:00

..elf on the shelf..

as i sit here, i am working so hard not to
melt down until after the 27th. yes - that
is how long it will take us to get through
the intitial "holidays". actually it will be
jan. 2. but the first push begins today.

today...i have to clean, put things away
and hopefully get the pooches in the tub
for a bath before my miss c flys in from
her journey to spain.

i sit here gazing at all my twinkle lights
and my new vintage finds that make me
smile. i can't help but think about my
childhood and what christmas meant then.

it meant one big family gathering on
christmas. it meant my grandmas
traveling down from lafayette to stay
with us so we didn't have to leave
home and could enjoy our day with
our gifts. it meant my parents, always
on a tight tight budget....making every
christmas eve and christmas morning
magical. it meant my dad saying...."this
year i wonder if santa would like us to
leave him a beer and pretzels rather than
milk and cookies. apparently santa loved
a cold beer and snacks.

most years at least one nite we would sleep
under our tree with all the twinkle lites, my
brother shawn would lay in bed with erin
and i, and tell us to hush - he thought he
heard sleigh bells. and then around 3am,
he would come get us out of bed and we
would run downstairs to find what santa
had left under the tree. santa never wrapped
his gifts at our house and to see everything
sitting is a big group for each of us was
drool worthy.

in those days....the word global warming
had not been spoken and there were
many snowed in days, igloos and snow
forts were built, hot chocolate warming
on the stove and mom's cinnamon rolls.

as i reflect, it makes me a bit sad that my
kids have not been given these simple gifts.
they have had to be shuffled back and forth
between my house and their dads. they have
had to give up many fun vacation options
only to head to the pool for two a day practices,
holiday invitationals and numerous family
gatherings because in todays world, we are
all flying from here to there trying to make
everyone happy rather than just saying -
this year christmas will be spent together
in an unhurried manner...with hot chocolate
warming, toboggans lined up on the porch
and bing crooning softly in the background.

i can say this - this year i have worked to
enjoy the preparation. i have tried to put
a doable schedule together, so that we aren't
so burnt out before christmas even arrives.

i do count my blessings of my three gorgeous,
usually heathly children. cheri' will be returning
from her little journey to spain. and i so look forward
to sitting in little mexico on christmas eve afternoon
again this year so she can tell us abput the trip
and we can laugh. i say a little prayer so that gabe
and clancy will have safe travels to their dads and
then back again after christmas so we can watch
them open more gifts here. and i look forward
to spending some time with aunt lynnies family
for christmas eve dinner, then on to mom and
dad's for our traditional eve gathering with our
beloved labbes'.

to each of you who stop here occassionally, who
have been a brite lite in my life....i say peace
be with each of you. enjoy and celebrate with
those who mean the most to you.

....and to all my chickadees who are on the
artist journey with me - holy crap! new hampshire
and oregon just what the dr. ordered.

regardless of the holiday you celebrate - blessings.

peace. kelly

views of a camp day

2009-12-16T17:07:00.001-08:00

life has been very full at the camp, of late.

shoppers stopping by. so many baubles going to new
homes...and new tees.

new originals in the works

healthy, beautiful kids

miss cheri' heading home from spain soon

silly pooches who drive me crazy

a husband who cooks occassionally

and the friends who make me laugh like i am 5 again.

i bet your life is full too....so tell me - all about it.

hurry! its a giveaway

2009-12-12T04:33:00.001-08:00

..giveaway from the guilded bee and pretty tape..

today is the last day for this fun giveaway! head on
over to "tell love and chocolate and enter to win.

the eyecandy in these two shops just makes me drool. and
maybe you will win!

no go on, do it!

the elves have been very busy..

2009-12-11T14:44:00.000-08:00

new items appearing in the shop.

originals, graphic tees and baubles.

Now through december 31, 2009....free shipping
on any order over $30.oo! see shop for details!

tees and baubles will perfectly fit in your loved ones
stocking!

happy friday.

Ingrid Michaelson - Maybe (Official Music Video)

2009-11-20T14:22:00.001-08:00

..love..

the betty process

2009-11-18T12:18:00.001-08:00

seek : the journey

2009-11-04T14:13:00.001-08:00

workings : seek the journey

i have been messing with this piece since, well forever it seems.
trying several different paths to work it out. each time, i put it
to the side. but it really bothers me peeking out of its lonely corner.

the last time i worked on it put a little elephant over the eye of
the girl. the elephant is actually a piece of an ikea napkin, that
i took from a party.

today i put her back up on the table to show her some love and
as i sat there looking at that little pink elephant...it slowly
came to me. i am a great admirer of pixie campbell and her
knowledge of how the wild protects us, how they walk with us.
her love of the "wild things" is something i am so intrigued by...
and inspired by pixie and all that she offers this world.

and with that i began to think of the gracious souls i spent 5 days
with on the oregon coast. each one showing up, checking the ego.
each of us again peeking into each others windows, realizing that
no matter what is on the outside, it is the inside that is most
beautiful. we each hold our fears, loves and goals inside that
plump red heart that glows the yellow light. right. always finding
that she may be just as scared as i am. that she is working so hard
to keep her family together. that she is working 3 jobs too just
to maintain.

so with all of those thoughts and inspirations....today i am working
on me and my painting. not done yet. i have a way to go. but right
now, i am happy to have the elephant in my house, towards the door.

home.

at our core...

2009-11-02T17:38:00.000-08:00

"At our CORE, buried deep within the foundation of who we have
come to know ourselves to be, we find our truth, our spirit and
our art. Our intuition hangs honest & heavy, resting in the bellies
of the bodies we were blessed with. Our spine holds our heads up
high, keeps our courage close and allows us to stand up tall for all
the good things we believe in. Our spirit & our light - the very forces
of our life - spark somewhere softly in the middle of who we are,
reaching out toward one another with longing, forever hoping
to be heard."

Saturday November 7th 2009
6-10pm
822 Wall Street 2nd Floor
Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90014

i am so excited to be part of this exhibition. hop on over and
check out the other wonderful artists, if you are in the area.

check out the woman i have the honor of sharing the
floor with...

Christine Mason Miller
http://www.christinemasonmiller.com

Marisa Haedike
http://www.creativethursday.com

Jessica Seaton
http://www.jessicaseatondesign.com

Pixie Campbell
http://www.pixiecampbell.typepad.com

Cathy Nicols
http://www.cathynicols.com

Michelle Caplan
http://www.michellecaplan.com

Liz Kalloch
http://www.athenadreams.typepad.com/design/

Mati Rose McDonough
http://www.matirose.com

Sarah Ahearn
http://www.sarahearn.blogspot.com

Carla Terwilliger
http://www.twiggyoriginals.com

Nicol Ragland
http://www.alyssanicolphoto.com

Outi Harma
http://www.outiart.com

Linda Esterly
http://www.kitasmom-gettingby.blogspot.com

Karin Collins
http://www.SpoonFedArt.com

Anne Carmack
http://www.folkandfable.com

...leavin' on a jet plane.

2009-10-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

...friendly skies, somewhere over our universe...

tomorrow i leave for the oregon coast. to say i am elated is an
understatement and for so many reasons. one, i have never
been there and i am flying into seattle - a city i have always
wanted to visit. i am going to be surrounded by beautiful creative
souls again, within three weeks. yes, i am a blessed and spoiled
girl. and in that group are many who i get to sit with and just
be. and i love that part.

bryce will be running his first marathon while i am gone. i am so
proud of him getting to this point. i wish i had half his dedication
and determination.

i am sitting her looking at a little note i received from the 2008 squam
retreat, " your dreams deeply matter. you can trust that." oh yes they
do and yes i can.

peace out.

..for the moment....i got a buddha-tude..

2009-10-10T20:00:00.001-07:00

the girls of sommers - squam lake 09

in honor of today's buddha-tude, my
overdue list of 5 happy, good things....

1. tuesday i leave for oregon, to be
part of this chicks first art retreat.
you can find more info here.

2. new work in the studio, slow but sure.

3. sitting in harry's tonight having a beer
with mr. b. this is a rarity. and a quick
trip to von's for fun little chatzky's. oh
how i love that place.

4. miss c's sense of adventure.

5. the pink book that sits beside me. at
last - a little something that shows me
that i can be a little wacky in this little
town. it is a ray of sunshine. thank you
mr. doonan.

hope this finds each of you well and happy.

peace.

squamlicious

2009-09-24T11:04:00.001-07:00

wednesday, early morn...on my way.

i sat on the plane.....giddy that i was on my way to the woods
of new hampshire. on my way to old and new faces. so happy
that i was sharing a ride with my girls from last year, tracey
and sarah. we were the girls of hamilton last year.

my unfinished box from lisa's class. last year i remember
watching lisa - a bit intimidated by her striking beauty.
this year i was blessed to have her as a teacher. and
the best part was, she was wickedly funny and even more
giving in her knowledge and creativity. i sat there saying
to myself....seriously kelly, why do you form an opinion
before it is even validated. i so want to have more classes
with this chick! what a talent and gift s.a.w. has with her
in the mix.

ah....miss hula 70. i have followed her blog for about 2 years and
her short querky bangs are a true love of mine. [ i am chopping mine
soon - hope you don't mind!] her free love approach and giddy
personality wraps around you so fast that all you can do is go along
with it. i am sure she was the one in high school always forging the
way for crazy antics, like dancing on tables and playing spin the bottle!
i am so happy that i have a new contraption to play with.

my third class was with helene. i have never meditated and i didn't
find her white light. but what did happen was even better for me...
i was able to slow down my breathing and the ping pong balls that
reak havoc on my gray matter simply found a resting place and i was
able to simply be in that moment, and rest. i was able to calm some
anger that i have been carrying. not totally letting it go yet....hell
it was a 4 hour class people...i will work on that one, but slowing
it down, validating me and moving on to calm. i will take that
little gift. oh yes i will.

this is sommers...where the girls are,
where the girls played and where the fun
happened. i love the girls of sommers and
i have to admit, the first nite was a bit rough
for me. i missed my roomies from last year
and had a bit of guilt that i didn't stay with them
this year. but i went upstairs to the room that i
was sharing with someone new, sat on my bed,
shed a little tear and then miss georgia came in
and i was all better. two years of loving, fun and kind
roomies. oh yeah...i am one lucky chick.

my girl georgia...need to laugh, curse or just be silly -
georgia is the one!

i have to say friday nite has to go down in the history
books as one of my best nights ever. liz and i walked
down to the dock to find 4 other beauties putting down
a little sheet to rest on, layered with bottles of wine,
crackers and cheese that they had conveniently borrowed
from the rdc dining hall and a candle. we sat out under the
dome of stars on that dock and we were simply girls. there
was some dipping involved, plenty of spirits ingested and
reading of the cards [ who wants to do a tarot reading
and i sat there like a block of ice from the ice house,
at first with this thought running through my mind...if my
mother gets wind of this she will not be happy. i will be
reminded that this is sacreligious and i will go to hell!
that lasted for about 2 seconds and then a quick I LOVE IT!]
it was so safe on that dock. i was among the girls of sommer
and a couple of our adopted chickadees - friday nite on the
dock was simply home.

...and this is me - wickedly happy.

[ this is my 2nd year for s.a.w. - i have to say this. i am blessed
to have had this opportunity in my life. i live in the middle of indiana,
middle of soybeans and cornfields, middle of 3 kids, two dogs and
a husband who works overtime - every day....sundays included. and
until i met some creative souls through blogs, then the big leap
to spend some time and money on me and head out alone to new
hampshires, squam lake - i was a very lonely creative girl. each of
you who have smiled at me on the path, taken my hand as we walked
through the woods, giggled at my silliness on the dock or in the cabins
have made my journey shine like no other day. and maybe you have not
truly been introduced to me, but i have seen you, i have heard
you, i have learned from you. what we have is a bond, a creative
sisterhood...along with a few brothers that ties us all into a neat
sometimes messy little bow. and because of that - i can lay off my
husband a little more about moving me out of this conservative
little burb - and he says thanks a bunch!, me too! ]

peace. out.

gone squamming

2009-09-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

squam lake 2008 - rockywold deephaven camp.

[ the exciting qualities you see in others also exist
in you. you may not be able to see your potential,
but it's there and it is enormous. ~edge keynote]

----------------

i will see you there, and if you aren't going this time round - i will
miss you, and if you have never seen your enormous potential and
don't dare go to a retreat like this - then seek that potential, hold
on to it, then give that gift to you.

be back in a week!

peace out.

..goodness..

2009-09-10T16:13:00.001-07:00

the hamilton....home. - squam lake 2008

so much has been going on here. i feel like i have been
thrown into a cyclone. last weekend was such a crazy
one, filled with plenty of goodness and memories, but it
is funny how all that goodness can throw me into a weird space
in life. i had an odd few days, of dealing with some emotions
that were brought up. and it is hard to go into it without sounding
like a giddy girl, so lets just leave it at that.

um...so - right - concentrating goodness. i have had plenty
so here is a little look into my window for the week.

1. in just 6 sleeps....i am heading back to meet up with so many
that i adore and can't wait to sit on the dock with, sipping some
cool drink.

2. tomorrow is the gallery opening for the "vision of squam"
i have a couple of pieces in the show...so hop on over to
the artstream gallery and check it out. susan schwake and
liz kalloch have been so kind to all of us.

3. and with the squam show - susan schwake is doing interviews
with some of the artists. you can check mine out here!

4. i have some new items heading to squam with me for the
art fair. liz kalloch and i are sharing a table. plenty of goodness
there, so please stop by and said hello if you are there!

5. and last but never least.....my boy has officially reached
manhood. no no....just the ripe old age of 18! gabe - is
one of the kindess, caring and funny boys i know. he plays
guitar and sometimes even sits with his mama, strumming
out some coldplay while singing the tune. how i love this
kid.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABIE BABY.
YOU ARE WELL ON YOUR WAY!
please....just stop leaving homework piled at the
bottom of the locker, turn it in for the love of god!

well there you have it....a little bit of goodness and
a whole lot of crazy!

bad fog of lonely

2009-09-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

how is it you are around those you love,
friends, kids and you still feel this fog. it weighs
deep on me, causing me to question, wonder and
yearn.

stages of feeling like you aren't where you
need to be. you have some how missed
out on on specific moments, chances
..moments of lonely

i breathe, breathe so deep that the filling
of my lungs hurt. but i have to go that deep
that the breath evens out my pulse, my thoughts
and my mood.

i ask, am i the only one who feels unsettled.
is it that i am so selfish in my wants that i
yearn for more or is it that i haven't reach
my point, my reality, my place where i truly
belong.

the unsettled feeling rushes over me, it
pushes me to places i really don't want
to go. that roller-coaster feeling returns,
right as you hit the top, your belly fills
with butterflys and suddenly you feel
queazy and out of control.

i tend to blame the scorpio in me,
i am too fickle, to passionate. and
at the same time, i am happy, i love
my kids, i love my life - and yet this
little voice tells me - you aren't there
yet. a gypsy wandering through the
daily channel.

bad fog.

weekend scenes

2009-09-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite chickadees...

happy couple..

wedding flowers..

heading to campus for pictures..

blurry..

the bearcats

the glory..

the mac daddy..

friday nite frenzy

2009-09-04T19:53:00.001-07:00

north montgomery sky - friday night frenzy

here in indiana, every friday nite football is played. and
occasionally an indy news crew comes across the fall
sky, in the glory of a helicopter. it was amazing tonight
to watch the blue and orange crowd as the helicopter
graced the sky.

tonight was a reminder of where i come from, my roots
planted here in middle indiana. rooted deep in this county.
my growth began in 1964 when my parents brought me home
to the little house in new richmond, home of the coal creek
bearcats. my father a teacher and varsity football coach. i grew
up on wooden bleachers, splinters in the arse, let me tell ya!
i grew up to the smell of popcorn and fountain cokes. when
students had a love for their school and respect for those
who taught them. my forth year, the bearcats entered
football season with a perfect record and as they came to
their last game, a perfect season.

tonight that 1969 bearcat team was honored during halftime.
i watched my 73 year old father, walk out on the track with his
assistant coach and family friend of over 40 years by his side.
i watched each player shake his hand, wrap there arms around him
and they still address him as coach. as i stood to the side getting
pictures - i could smell the popcorn, i could smell the locker room
and the 5 gallon bucket full of salt tablets. i was 4 again, riding home
after a game on the gravel road, moths smacking the window as the
breeze came through our open windows. i was 4 again, watching my
dad on the sideline, proud of him. to watch 20 some men, still show respect to
a man that coached them 40 years ago, to still shake hands, i was proud of
the job he did.

bearcat football - 1969 - undefeated.

oh happy day

2009-08-28T12:42:00.001-07:00

oh happy day apron.

i have no clue where to even
begin. life is crazy right now.

making lots of new baubles.

long phone chats that nourish
my soul.

19 sleeps till squam.

6 tee shirts that i need to
screen - bit off way more than
i can chew on this one.

need to paint, need to find
to paint first.

trying to get in shape
and shed this weight.

missing so many right now.

gabe has shingles....but
not too severe, love that
blessing.

clancy shot a 40 in her
golf meet and medaled.

both will be getting there
braces off in the weeks to
come.

another child we know
has been fighting cancer
and damn it - it has spread
to his spine.

but....with all this crazyness - i
am ready for squam.

i am part of this happy place..

stop by and check out all
the great artists and crafters
there! i say let the holiday
shopping begin!

...and i will have a few more
fun announcements coming
in the next couple of weeks
about another show, retreat
and goodies in the shop!

oh and...my friend liz made the
apron i am wearing above. this
is my second, i love them - i do!
so if you would like one....toddle
on over here to check out her
fun little room.

happy friday, ya'll!

lookie:lookie, 5 really sweet things

2009-08-21T18:40:00.001-07:00

little baubles from moodswing studios. super sweet.

1. kristen at moodswing studios has her new fall line
of baubles up and ready to own! go check them out.
i am so in love with mine. i was so excited today when
i found the package in the post, but when i opened the
envelope and found the little additionals surprises, i just
sat there with my mouth on the floor. kristen...you are
a jewel. thanks so much for being so kind.

2. this chickadee....cause, i love our long chats. they always come
right when i need a kick in the arse. i am so proud of her and
all the crazy things that she is doing. namely.....be present retreats.
i am so fired up that i am heading to oregon in october to see it all
first hand.

3. peach and gladys ride tonight through cool rain and some gutsy
winds. but the ride left me feeling so clear. better than i have in
weeks and that makes me happy and content. the crickets are loud
tonight making their presence known through the window - wide open.

4. the mannequin that was on my front stoop today. i feel so blessed
to be part of this upcoming show. more info soon

5. today....today was a sweet day, filled with long chats, much needed
clarity, lunch meeting with a new opportunity and time with many friends.

to each of you who have touched my life this week, who have smiled at
me, who have given me that token kick in the arse and to the boys at
the muni....i am blessed.

oops....here is a 6th. i am loving this bit of inspiration. go check
out the retrieval project. i am simply amazed. jenny and her family
have taken an idea and turned it into a lesson in life. i kinda like
that. go check out there story and maybe you will find a little something
to remind you of those lessons.

peace out.

the camp

..a new roof..

..happy mail..

..sunday soup..

your story....join it here.

artfoolishness no. 1

..workings of an orphan girl..

..preps..

monday smiles

..true..

good stuff

good stuff

about the girl

born again...

looking for a little new.

good stuff.

hipsta dig it.

so this is christmas.....

drive by

monday smiles

happy mail

views from a show

five for sunday

seek the journey

Art is my chosen formof MEDITATION-where I feelclosest to my true andHAPPY self. -- Mary Stanley

things of my everyday.

a new look and shop

training wheels and some grace.

the sunday soup

the story desk

..live from the studio!..

..i came from here..

tuesday happy

on waking

live it.

..getting it together..

..coming soon..

..echoing day..

moving through

Love is My Religion

a guest post by jenna. sponsored by the alchemy: the art & craft of writing.

...pink martini..

..in the process of becoming..

nine

to go from here..

..on to a new home..

..new look, new doo, new day..

..open here..

because i said so.....

how i spent the last 48 hours

it's an ingrid kind of morning!

strawberry fest....this weekend

..squam love and more..

mermaid chalenge no. 6

..days of not..

mermaid challenge no. 5

mermaid challenge no. 4

mermaid challenge no. 3

fix you.

the mermaid challenge :: week no. 2

..the mermaid challenge+week no. 1

..peace..

..illustration friday - brave..

..in the studio..

..mr. whyte..

..a wednesday view..

..keeping it all straight..

hump day happy

studio is a-buzz

my color ..yellow..

on to two

it's in you...really

..alter..

..honor..

..gettting there..

..full tank..

...baubles...

a new gig

new goodness...in the shop.

merry and bright.

Art is my chosen form
of MEDITATION-where I feel
closest to my true and
HAPPY self. -- Mary Stanley