the girls of sommer::#2

porch life....squam lake

jenica at the one little one has started some end of the "sommer" fun.
if you attended the squam art retreats last september you will recognize
jenica and this weeks giveaway sponsor - kristen.

kristen is the outgoing, sassy, and most talented force behind acukiki.
what you might also not know that she is also a roller derby queen,
an acupuncturist and chinese herbalist, a the mama of one sweet little cherub.

when i met miss acukiki, in our superhero class, i was immediately drawn
to her generous, sassy spirit. i have been blessed this past year with phone
calls, notes in my postbox and one of my alltime most cherished gifts....my
polaroid camera.

piscina...original polaroid

i am the proud owner of fruit. kristen's images are
raw, beautiful images of everyday happenings. many
that she finds as she strolls the streets of nyc.

fruit....fine art print

kristen can be found in her space, in her shop or on flickr.

if you'd like a chance to win...head on over to jenica's place.

leave a comment with what is inspiring you today.
comments will close on thursday, july 30th, at 11:59 MST and
winner will be announced on friday.

***this is week 2 of 8 weeks of giveaways! so head over each

week to check out another girl of sommer.

peace, ya'll!

..five fabs for milwaukee..

1. food....simple delicious food at ever corner
look up water buffalo, swig and charlies
old 3rd ward


2. the architecture made me drool. little cafes with
outdoor seating, pooches laping water as their
trusty companions dined on breakfast.

3. miller park....home of the brewers
i have never sat under a retracting roof and
sitting there getting to watch was part of the fun
and of course, my hank.

4. little art and design shops everywhere.
i mean - everywhere!
.heaven.

5. drinks....i favored the lemon ginger cooler and
the vallemonde. tom decided to live on the wild
side with a schlitz. seriously.

so where have you been lately?

..hello monday..

the water buffalo, historic 3rd ward, milwaukee, wisconsin.

..up next - 5 really good things about milwaukee.

..five woot friday..

backyard glass - july 2009

five funky finds for friday.....oh yeah, their all good.
pouncing is fun.

1. ib watson - check these out.....for the photographer in each of you.
2. coup - have to get one of these tees.
3. pinkytoast - her girls rock and make me giggle.
4. vm jess - i just got happy.
5. smollthings - my friend tracy, who is so talented but just refuses

to believe it, is making these oh so cool mugs. i dig them.

okay that is my five for friday. you got any?

now go enjoy your weekend.

..9..

..how i dug those shoes..

he's academic, i am creative
he exercises, i used to
he runs, i walk
he is salt, i am pepa.

..this is happy..

..not because he has a girlfriend

..because it just allows you to go back to that time.

come on, you know it does.

this is me..

this is me.

and i am happy. really good day today.

how was your day.
c'mon tell me.

check em' out!

pink smooch....new girl art pendant, now on etsy

five new baubles on etsy....please go check them out.

part of a little collaboration with liz elayne. my girls, her
charm. i love them.

so with that i am going to give you five really happy items
that are going on in my life.


1. working away in the studio.

2. being part of the good hearted - heather, wow what
a kind chick. i am so happy to be part of this.

3. two, count em' two giveaways on the horizon. stay tuned
more info will be coming in the next week.

4. 4 of my original pieces of art will be part of the 1st annual squam art show.
you have no idea how happy this make me.

5. i will be part of the paper and stitch gallery starting next
week.

more to come. so much goodness. i so appreciate everyone
who has been giving me a nudge.

peace. out.

lilac dangles.....here

new earrings in the shop! 4 new originals coming saturday. heading
to zionsville for their brick street gallery walk tomorrow nite. i will
be set up in front of The Best Little Hair House" located at 255
South Main St.

stop by and see me if you are around.

..baubles..

hot pink..now in the shop.

new baubles in the shop!

i have a little collaboration with liz
too. new girl art pendants with a little extra
love, one is in the shop - more coming
in the next few days.

whew.....busy busy month.

peace out.

[ thanks so much elizabeth...you made my
heart swell ]

happy friday!

swell...on etsy soon!

happy friday ya'll.

i am ready for a slow down weekend, maybe some time

sitting on the edge of becky's pool, little sushi, long bike

rides and taking sometime to put some new originals

and baubles in the shop. stop by over the weekend and

see what i have been working on!

i think i need to list my five swell things for the week. so here

goes.....

1. feeling good about all the painting and creating i have gotten

to the last few weeks. and knowing that there is so much more to

do.

2. this giveaway on indiefixx, go visit jen and wish her a happy

birthday too! there is some really fun shops in the giveaway.

3. two, count em', two really exciting shows that i am a part of.

again....life is sweet. more info coming on each of them

4. oh....and lookie here. this chickadee ceases to amaze me. i love

watching her skip down the path. go here to read about her big BIG

news and.....she is offering a little download to spruce up the ol'

iphone...hurry up, now go get one!

5. watching little devon coco walking into work with her pigtails.

peace out.

the view from here

the strawberry festival


vintage bikes


biking 26 miles for diabetes

life is sweet

chic-a-boom

"You only ever have to do what you're capable of doing, kelly,
because by design, no matter how things appear, you'll always
have enough time to do it, you'll do even better than you would
have thought, and life will get even richer than you could
have imagined."

Chic-a-boom,
The Universe

do you tut? oh you really should. it is crazy how the daily
love fits. seriously - i have been feeling a bit frazzled, probably

from a craZy weekend. 3 days of a booth at the local strawberry

fest. saturday at 26 mile ride for diabetes, plus a hot day in the

booth, more on sunday and i am really missing my friends that are

sprawled out across the nation, on other coasts....i yearn to meet

up again in september.

i have so much to do. i have new baubles to make, new originals

to put in the shop, along with several vintage pendants and note

cards. i am working on three sets of wedding announcements. lots

of goodness.

life - richer than i could have imagined.

how rich are you....cmon - tell me.

five. five - o, count em' dan-o

sassy....in the works.

it has been a long, energy filled week. i had major deadlines, so i
had no choice but to paint like there was no tomorrow, wrap beads
till the tips of my fingers ached and print out a pile of new cards.

here's hoping to making the vibe last and last....so with that, i am

grateful and count 'em, i've got five, five-0.

1. this ditty by this chick
2. a new discovery via liz's - nine interviews.
3. spending the weekend with peach and rachel

working our tent at the local strawberry festival
4. the tour de cure ride, tomorrow with missie and gus
5. anessa's dang paintings. i dig them

okay...i am out. big festival weekend, big ride for a great cause

and drooling just thinking about the fried green tomatoes and

funnel cake.

peace out

today

i open our local park and rec each morning.

i get up between 4-4:30am each day to go
to my am job, so that i can maintain my studio
and freelance biz. i am not a morning person
and it is beginning to weigh on me. it is so hard
to go to bed at a decent hour, so that i get enough
rest.

i get to to talk to so many fun and kind people
each day. many come in every day at the same
time to work out. i also get to deal with some who
aren't so kind or happy.

there is one guy who comes in, he graduated a
couple of years ahead of me. he played football
and we weren't friends, but knew who the other
was. this is a small town.

he is married with two girls.

today, his wife was meeting him to exchange one
of the chickadees. i looked out this large window
and saw him greet them. the little one slowly walked
over and wrapped her little arms around his big
legs. he pats her on the back several times, as he'
talks to his wife. they work different shifts - they
are always passing in the daily grind. then he bends
down and hugs his daughter and gently kisses her
cheek, smiling the whole time. he and his wife then
meet each other for a gentle kiss and then goodbye.

a simple gift for me today. one more day.

simple. kindess. today.

polaroid....west end tree.

really....i am still here! just taking a little time
to breath after several long stressful months.
but when looking back - are there ever lulls
where you look back and say, whew, those
months were totally stress free.

my uncle tom passed away last month after
a year long battle with cancer. he was my god
father, wed to my auntie juju and together
they made life fun. he loved golf, i don't, and
he was addicted to his cell phone, i am not.
he had a laugh that could bring the roof down
and i miss him terribly already. but with all the
tears, i smile knowing that someone loved me as
much as he did and that i have been blessed with
amazing aunts and uncles.

i am busy in the studio, getting ready for the local
strawberry festival. i am sharing a tent with two
other local talents.

i am also yearning to hear all about squam in june.
so if you have stories.....i would love to hear them.

what's new in your neighborhood....

10 on the edge

..tables edge..

"in the beginning, the price of giving great love is risking that
it won't be returned. until you understand, of course, that great
love is always returned." `with interest,the universe

the studio has been a busy place, so much goodness going on.

here are some new things in store....

1. squam art submitted and waiting

2. checking off the list

3. new baubles on the horizon

4. new shop updates coming, new shop, new look

5. listen and she wore pink featured at pecannoot!
6. two new works from this amazing duo
7. penny's new find, go - its a little daily gift

8. my gift from lizelayne....i wear it everywhere!
9. ideas for the local fall art show

10. creative sessions with peach.

"Accidents, coincidences, and serendipities don't create dreams.
Your dreams create them. ~Dream away,The Universe

got your daily dose?

jessica gonacha....you have heard of her - right! how

could you not. she rocks. i am in constant amazement

of her talent, drive and kindness. so if you haven't

already toodled over to her new abundance site. do

it today. think of it as a little gift to yourself.

she is also looking for abundant

inspiring submissions, cmon -

you know you have been painting -

send your artwork in!

and....go here to look over all of her goods.

i am diggin' the new coasters!

plenty of thursday goodness.

5 things to dig.

"bad fog of loneliness"

one.... completed.....squam submissions, all four. yippie!

two.... heading to meet up with this chick tomorrow.
i have to say that i have had a month of happy on the
tribe front.

three... this should be in the post next week. can't wait to see
her hanging on my wall

four....a lovely new glass star from my girl sarah. image will
be coming soon

five....all the blessings that fall upon me each day

peace.

monday : monday

monday
Originally uploaded by indigochickie

monday....winding down from a weekend filled with
some crazyiness, some downtime and much happiness.

how was yours

[your task is not to seek for love and beauty – but merely to seek and find all the barriers you have built against them.” -rumi]

ah....now that's better.

monday.....



tueday.....


new bauble displays....


workings to submit....

miss liz has been inspiring me to stick with my lists. if i knew how
to put a line through my list items that i have accomplished i would
do that, but i don't so i am putting the whole lists and you can just
guess what i have gotten done.

1. purge the studio
2. re-work my etsy shop, blog and website
[ have already created a new etsy shop, will be
announcing the new addy soon]
3. paint 3 pieces a week, or new baubles
4. keep desktop clean = file paperwork and put supplys away
5. organize paper goods area
6. set up a weekly calendar for art, biz/taxes and design jobs
7. file ideas/doodles in binder for easy creative access
8. purge closet
9. set up shipping and packaging area
10. get out my screen and work on some hankies.

for more creative biz ideas.....check out liz's list and
modish biz tips

self reflection

spt - april 09...studio time

about me . i love deeply and fiercely
about me . my eyes are really blue
about me . i am a scorpio....true scorpio
about me . my life is surrounded by a cast of characters who i adore
about me . i am still discovering me
about me . my toenails are pink for today
about me . i am a daddys girl
about me . my home is colorful like me
about me . i love being in my studio, alone with a little music
about me . my deck is a happy place.
about me . i will finish my squam submissions today

now....what about you.

life lessons

the past month has been a long one in the parenting
department. some days, parenting can be a lonely,
dirty job. but then you see this through your
viewfinder and all is forgotten, at least for a bit.

we love them fiercely....some days you want to
squash em' like a bug.

me on thursday

lush green green wall - how i love you

it's thursday my little cherubs and it is so nice out! can
i get an amen?! oh how i have waited for a blue blue sky.

so lets celebrate with a top 5 list....some really sweet stuff.

one.. be present art retreats. oh it's gonna be sweet! only
a couple of spots left! get in while you can!

two.. we all need our daily dose of abundance...right?! so
go check out what the most talented jess gonacha has been
up too. she is sweet enough to share pecannoot with each of us.
psst....she also has new necklaces in her shop!

three.. have you heard ingrid michaelson???? just found her on
pandora! this song is my song. far away....watch it now!

four.. polaroid girls on etsy. their imagery there is drool worthy
and i am in awe of darlene and kristen's talents. kristen has also
opened a shop, abishag, full of her gorgeous images. please go see her!

five..two weeks to finish up your submissions for the squam art show.
now get off your duffs and produce!!!!!

[ well i know i say 5, but i have one more. liz elayne is having a sale! and
she has some really sweet new pieces. so go check it out, go on...scoot!]

pure.

eat



drink



oh so merry.

------

weekend filled with so many giggles, good food, just enough
beers and one sweet waiter. right girls, you were drooling
too!

my life was blessed the day i strolled into hamilton 71, on
squam lake. two kindred souls who i love and adore. i will
see you on the lake soon.

5 days

tracey, kelly and sarah...the roomies
in 5 short days i get to see my girls

on this sunday....

...blessings to you and yours.

indigo-als

polaroid no.4

1. Paint for the month of april, keeping design jobs at a minimum
so that i can use this time for painting. [no more taking jobs that
suck just to say i made a little money this month.]

2. submit work for group shows, publications and summer festivals

3. commit time for photographing etsy shop items, once a week and
add more to the store
4. keep the studio cleaned up and organized....including my desk.

5. find new outlets for my work and pursue them

6. say no to jobs or other things that don't fall in line with my vision.
7. look for new ways to network and market myself
8. focus on no more self loathing and self- sabotage
9. contact regional gallerys, coops and stores about hanging my art.
10. rather than being afraid - begin contact others about process, ideas
and collaborations [check - one down and many to go.]

**learn to make mojitos...oh c'mon - summer is on her way,
and all work and no play makes kelly a very dull girl.
------------------------

i was inspired today by miss kalloch of athena dreams. she is
a source of inspiration. and she found her's - here

so - you got any goals?

goodness

goodness :: mixed media :: paint by numbers refurbished

i found this paint by number at a local antigue store and knew
i had to put my touch to it. An artist friend of mine has several
paint by numbers on her casa walls. everytime i have been there
i can't stop looking at them. she has refurbished each of them
with her own style and touch. i have been wanting to give it a whirl
ever since. so much fun.

if you would like to check out kendra, you can find her here. she
not only paints, but she makes the best purses and pockets ever.

peace.out.

where did i go

spt . march 09 . canon rebel

some days i feel like i am flittering
up above the world, looking down
seeing each of you busily working
away, while i just float. i feel like
the last 6 months i have struggled
to keep the creative flow moving
and have missed out on prime
opportunity. never quite knowing where to
begin, what to put my time into or where
my talents will fall.

too many days, my home life interupts
my studio life, each holds a deep spot
in my heart. i can feel the beaches calling
my name, the brushes yearn for more
action and the cherubs continue to grow
so fast before my eyes.

i have finally gotten the studio in a good
flow pattern. things are put away, odds
and ends have been sent to the trash,
old magazine have been pitched. does
anyone one else hoard magazines? do you
buy them because of the colors or artwork
on the cover? holy crap - i have a true
disorder.

i guess what i am trying to say is that
since squam, i don't quite know where i
went. i feel like i am finding myself again.
but it has taken a bit of time. it is confusing
because i came home so full of energy, ideas
and goals.

the gypsy in me yearns to find a new space,
but right now, it is not to be. so i will walk
to my fridge door each day and look at my
little photo of the airstream i dream of, the
one with the little prayer flags draped across
the awning, parked somewhere near the water
with two rickety chairs in front, an ice cold
beer nestled in the grass....listening to a little
marley.

peace.

5 things i am grateful for....

happy 53rd mr. nelson

each day, i remember why i am so blessed and for that i am

grateful.....

1. my most beloved friendships, many of which began over

20 years ago and we still get to celebrate birthdays. mr.

jeff nelson is one of those friends. he is one of the last great

card warriors. each year on all of our birthdays, we get a card

from jeff in the mail. he sends them to our group of friends and

our children. we love him for it.

2. my little tribe of chickadees, who continually push me, cheer

me on, and tell me to suck it up when i am whining. you know

who are and i love you for it.

3. my studio. it brings me lots of warmth and now that i have

it flowing.....i love it even more.

4. my kids who many days drive me crazy, but through that fog

they also have me laughing hysterically

5. my hands.....that glide across the canvas and page allowing

me to create.

what more could a girl ask for.

what are you grateful for?

peace out.

self portrait excavation....it's a retreat!

..the be present retreats..

"The Be Present Retreats were born from the belief that creating
is a meditation of the soul. Each retreat will be an invitation to
pause in your life and gather in a supportive environment filled
with like-minded individuals in a creative, playful, and meditative
atmosphere.The first retreat is this June and registration has already begun.

The June retreat is called Self-Portrait Excavation and is a retreat
centered around the journey that is the self-portrait. Gathering at
The Lodge at Gearhart's Little Beach on the Oregon coast
(about 10 minutes from Cannon Beach), we will immerse ourselves
in paint and mixed media, words, photography, and the beauty of
our surroundings under the guidance of Judy Wise , Jen Goff and

me" {me is the incredible and multi-talented who is alright in my

book - liz elayne.
-------------------------------------------

note....liz is one of the kindest chicks i know. i am very
attached to this girl and i know, she is working so hard to put together
a very creative gathering. so if you are looking for something to do
and you want to find something new, deep within - then do this!

and just to remind you - registration is now open and the deadline
to sign up is april 17th! you can go directly to this page for more
info

cmon.....double dog dare ya!

sneak peek

"bad fog of loneliness."

squamettes.....please please please - do this

for anyone out there, who attended

the fall 2008 squam session then all i can

say is -submit! [2009 attendees, will be

included next year!]

yes, yes - i know it is scary. true it

is. but if you don't - it is even worse,

because here is what will happen...

regret shall set in.

do you feel scared, inadequate?

do you have clammy palms just

thinking about, are you suddenly

biting your nails? just flick that

little man of doubt off your broad

shoulders and simply send in your

submissions.

this is what squam art workshops

are all about and this is the perfect

opportunity to have your work shown

in a gallery and not only a gallery - this

gallery is special. it is owned and operated

by our very own squammie....the lovely

miss schwake. you can check her out here

and here. not only that, but my dear

liz kalloch has had the vision to dream up

this show and share it with each of us. so

lets show her our thanks and send in our

artwork.

i am sure many of us feel like we aren't ready,

we aren't yet an artist, that maybe only a specific

group is submitting - oh contrar. we are all in

this together, so jump in with me....really the

water is fine!

speaking of water, the water on squam lake

is absolutely sparkling clear. i plan of taking

a dip this fall! so if you haven't heard of any

of this and you are looking for a special gift

to give to yourself.....skip this way. there

is literally something for everyone.

[if for some crazy reason, you can't talk yourself

into this, i am available for pep talks via email,

phone or facebook.]