happy sunday

annie and her pink chucks
Originally uploaded by indigochickie

self portrait challenge mirror:1

quiet. canon rebel. october 7, 08

quiet girl

i would liken you

to a night without stars

were it not for your eyes.

i would liken you

to a sleep withou dreams

were it not for your songs.
~langston hughes.

looking for a specific reflections....look here.

beautiful girl

art altar
Originally uploaded by indigochickie

the first song i heard this am
as i sat here opening up my
blog was jonatha's "beautiful
girl".

i don't think of myself as a beautiful
girl, but hearing her lusty voice
sing those words, i felt beautiful
the corners of my mouth lifted
in a smile. i am sitting here
sweating from my cardio, crappy
workout clothes, a bit of bedhead
and i feel pretty cute, but not just
that - i feel good about me. i have
found so many creative souls who
surround me with support, kindness
and love. and today, for that, i am
happy, blessed.

here are my five happy things.....

1. purging the studio
2. the creative, nuturing souls who
each day, call, email - keeping me
lifted and on track
3. seeing each of you on your jouney
flitting through life - smiling and singing
4. my message in the phone from a one
miss jen gray - i am never erasing this.
i have one from swirly, 2 years old - can't
erase it!
5. empty canvas waiting for some color.

todays wish for each of you....color beyond
your wildest expectations.

flaming red rocket....not appropiate for the weak of heart

oliver, our dirty martini...

here is a happy little story to brighten your hump day.

last nite i worked out, played vball and came home around 7:50pm. little ollie
was out in the yard by himself and didn't run to greet me, so i start to head to
the house and realize...he still is laying in the yard. so i go over to talk to him
he stands and then lays down again. i realize something is wrong - so i go in
the house and ask bryce what is wrong with him and this is what bryce " the
mature one" says

"he has a flaming red rocket", very nice shakespeare, thanks for the editing.

so i go outside and he wasn't lying - poor ollie has the perpertual hard on!

so i finally pick him up to carry him into the house and go upstairs to call a vet.
god forbid the city of pets have an afterhours e.r. vet. oh no i have to call
lafayette. so i go to the studio to make the call and the kids ask what is wrong
and i say "he has an erection that wont go down. sir is in hysterics but then
little c says "bryce or ollie" she is half listening, god forbid she stops watching
tv. i said to her "why on earth would i tell you bryce has an erection. sir g at
this point is wetting himself.

so i call the vet, they tell me that i have to keep it moist with water or k.y. and try
to manually manipulate it to go back in. ARE YOU EFF-IN' KIDDING ME"!!!! what
the hell. so i go back down stairs toting my hair dye glove, get a bowl of water
to splash on the said "rocket" and my husband is giggling on the couch like a little
boy, because he IS ONE~!

nothing works, i make bryce go to walgreens for the k.y jelly - which cost $12!!!

i try that and realize that he has something bulbous protuding and it looks enflamed
and just bad.

so i call them again, i call a local vet to see if they have an after hours service
the vet tells me to put ice on it and doesn't offer to see him

so i finally tell bryce we have to take him to lafayette.

they have to put him under to get it in. the flaming bulbous issue was
the gland! so $200 later and back home at 11:30 - that was my nite
how was yours!

***upate*** [little ollie is fine, rocket again functioning in a normal fashion, i am sleep

deprived, but what the hell else is new.]

myself *[sacred]

myself : my favorite
Originally uploaded by indigochickie

my new little 50 mm portrait lens c
ame in the post yesterday.

oh happy day!

mornin' world

i must
Originally uploaded by indigochickie

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." ~ Buddha

can i just say i so love the dancing mermaid, images, rocks
and blog. and while there today, she led me to boffo panda.
two sweet blogs.

in the crazyiness that our lovely wall street and government has left us with - i wish each of you a day of solitude, peace and understanding.

we each will be okay, there is no other way. so hold tight, treat others with love. we are all frustrated and scared. so with that
i am sending out BIG FAT hugs.

peace.

some happy monday

cabin fever
Originally uploaded by indigochickie

since mondays can sometimes be crap and today it is cold and rainy in middle earth - here is what i am happy about

1. big bro's 6-0 football season, GO WARRIORS!
[ i love watching him coach]
2. my nieces who think i am okay.
3. little c participating in golf regionals as a freshman
4. new music on my playlist
5. a notebook gathering new ideas, goals and lists
6. opportunities
7. phone calls and emails with my creative guru...you know who you are.
8. yueng-ling beer
9. a gorgeous weekend
10. my new studio layout that will really rock once i purge old supplies, books and furniture. i am about 1/2 way there.

happy monday!

a thursday and a wedding

mavris art center ~ indianapolis photo courtesy of mavris

a thursday nite wedding, who does that?

that is all i could focus on yesterday as i drove to indy for this
wedding. miz c played club volleyball with the bride. i get up at
4:15am each morning - so the thought of getting home on a week
nite so late is not appealing. but this place made it all worth it.

the mavris is an old converted warehouse. three floors of exposed
brick and beam. a side yard terrace that would make anyone drool.
and as the music began and the first course served, the black blinds
in each window - raised to expose the gorgeous indy nite sky. heaven
is where i was last nite. i have to take the little jewels of moments,
as i get them. living here - we don't have options like the mavris.
all i could do on the ride home was plan my future store front. artgallery
and design shop first floor, reception hall 2nd floor, class rooms or
apartment 3rd floor. i swear this is the only way my athletic
department, loyal husband will keep me here in the little sleepy town.
we have the buildings to do it. we can downsize and become loft
dwellers, we really can! i just have to run it past the man! yeah
right - we all know i am the ruler of the land!

i also realized last nite that my nite blindness has gotten much worse.

i don't like driving at nite - because....I CANT SEE!!!! i about took

out a curb on delaware street. miz c asked if i had had more than

one beer, no only one - four hours prior. [insert - do you know how

good a cold heinie is, while vegging in a really sweet art center is -

the best!] after i dropped her off, i am heading down 116st, a

road i have traveled many days and nites. so i go to turn on

to 96th to head to the interstate and realized i am turning onto

the oncoming lanes! i had to swerve to get to my lanes, because

i have NITE BLINDNESS and can't see. i can't believe i didn't get

pulled over for suspision of drunk driving. i was mortified. and

laughing all at once. i finally pulled safely into town around 11:30.

looking for a nappie this afternoon.

the mavris is owned by john, nicely done john!

oh and happy weekend - woowhoo!

peace.

funky finds art giveaway

head on over to funky finds for the september giveaway.
the happygirl shop is giving away two prints of your choice.
all you have to do is leave comments for your favorite shops
so you can comment on as many as you want.

last month i won a $45 gift certificate from harrilu.!

I'm Yours

this song makes me happy every damn time i listen! hope it makes you happy too.

campbell turns two

i am campbell - september 2008

finished just in time for the birthday party.
of course her dad couldn't figure out the eye patch, but

he is always saying what a "shit" she is, so i had to give

her a bit of "rebel" oh how i love ruffling his feathers, it

is so easy.

process

campbell turns two - 3ft x 3ft mixed media

now drying and waiting for the finishing touches.

mindful

mindful
Originally uploaded by indigochickie

'if you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise.' ~robert fritz


miz missie shared this with me today.

..listening..

morning, lake girls, and a few boys...

image kindly borrowed from beth, photo take by heather

the sun is shining today in middle indiana, but squam cool to

say the least. i am curious if any of you have had an emotional

let down this week. yesterday i trucked over to wal-mart for a

few needed items and as i went in i felt like the world was closing

in. by the time i got home - tears. i cried all nite! much better

today, but i think reality set back in.

i miss my cabingirls, i miss my vintage sliding bedroom doors

and walking out to the view of squam lake. i miss the hugs,

i miss the smiles and the full acceptance i felt while there.

i just miss that. all that.

so no intentions of sounding woe is me, just curious if i am

the only and if you have felt this - know i am sending a hug

your way.

for anyone who is looking for a soul mantra, do i have a

place to visit. liz elayne....oh how i adore her....has some

of her mindful necklaces on her etsy shop. apparently they

are some hot potatoes, they seem to be flying out of the shop.

but i am sure she will have more....right LIZ?! go check them

out. HERE

happy thursday!

peace.

om

happy, a bit sleep deprived, blessed. sept 2008

it was everything i wanted and needed it to be. silly car

mates, cabin mates that i feel in love with. a dining hall

full of food and seconds! ice cream cones!

meeting those who i have only talked to via email, new

chicks who i adore and instructors who gave themselves

and their talents to each of us. i am not a wordsmith,

at this moment i wish i were. so when those, here at home

ask how it was - all i can do is smile and say "perfect"

if anyone knows where the hell lou is - shoot me an email!

the hugs, giggles, live music - the hauls to the dning room

and the magic swirls around in my crazy dark brain.

love runs deep for every creative soul who attened, this

gorgeous event, year one. history in the making i say.

for more happy, click here..

the camp off to soul camp...squam

squam art workshops

off to squam - no cell, no laptop - just re-plenishing
the ol' creative spirit. i am sure laughing, dancing and
some tears will be included and why the hell not....life
is short so lets paint!

for anyone attending, please stop by my table and
say hello. the number of creative chicks at this
camp is amazing - to be included this circle is
humbling.

see you next week.

peace!

check it.

head over and visit erin at
design for mankind and her
new mag.

it rocks!

..crap that bogs the life..

my brain spins....

not sure where i will end up with this post. today my

mind is full of chaos, things i wish weren't there, floating

around - banging into each other like bumper cars

at the fair.

last nite i got out of bed at least 4 times, to check my squam

checklist...do i need sheets, should i take a rain coat. do

i even have a rain coat, where the hell is that flashlight

and i pray someone didn't run down the batteries.

..chaos..

i have a friend that calls this monkey brain. gotta
go, got to swing - branch to branch, back and forth.

this summer - oh this summer. a huge disappointment.

we have not planted one flower, no garden. no lawn

cushions, no tiki lanterns or cookouts. my yard seems

baron. i need color, i need the cool breeze on a summer

nite on my face. we haven't even had friends over for

a cookout. not our normal summer

..swing, branch to branch...

too many obligations, too many jobs coming in

at odd times of scheduling [odd way to put it]

all we did this summer was work and do things

on weekends, that weren' t ideal summer fare.

with all of this comes so many other branches that

i swing back and forth too. dear friends who are

struggling to keep it together. where is our place

in this. when do we step in and say, please - let

us help.

we, as humans, have such a desire to be heard.

our feelings must be validated, justified. and

yet as we cry out. we tend to make terrible

decisions, hurtful decisions, that change our

whole course. why. why are we so self-destructive.

i am constantly amazed at in our nation, our generation

of information. we have every self-help, diy book

imaginable....yet - we still make decisions that are

so hurtful. how is that. ah yes, the whole human

factor. doctorates, masters, bachelors.....further

education. yet - it doesn't make the heart any

smarter, wiser or forgiving.

no no...for that we must dig deep into our character,

our soul and remind ourselves that sometimes,

we have to put the other in front of our own

desires, our validation.

one other thing. school is back in session. b is back

in the middle of fall athletics. some days, i just

wish my husband had another career. our town

is so small and it takes two seconds for the word

to hit the street. only this time, i heard it first.

and the info weighs heavily on my mind.

..chaos..

i so want to get through this week, box up all my

artwork and supplies and get on that plane. to

sit and paint, talk, dance, giggle and learn. to

meet a new dear soul, running into another friend

face to face. no emails back and forth. just sharing,

creating - growing.

mmmm.....wow, the mind is slowing down and i am

feeling calm.

thanks for the ear!

..sweet peace..

oh sweet peace..

12x6 canvas, mixed media art
ready for vendor nite.
hope to see you there!

studio is full of life.
squam two weeks.

workings

working towards squam

no panic here! just working in studio, putting all the pieces

of the squam puzzle together.

.happy.apprehensive.excited.nervous.elated.anxious.sassy.

how are you feeling today?

*on a squam note, if you haven't heard already - a girlie that i

really look up to and adore has self published a book. you can

find it HERE. mine arrived saturday and it is a gorgeous tribute

to the creative life. i love her for sharing it with all of us.
now go on and check it out....cmon' you know you want to.

..finished..

atra - auction extraordinAIRE original.

10x10x2

mixed media-gallery wrapped canvas.

vintage map of the midwest, acrylics,graphite

found papers and silverleaf.

off to the auction!

progress

donation for airedale rescue. atra fall frolic

work in progress. i have been spying alot of sillohettes

out there. i thought this would be something fun and

different to try.

i have to add my flowers and maybe a few targets

and it will be off for the fundraiser.

..happy tuesday..

spt tuesday..woohoo

recently someone told me about a little exercise
of looking at yourself in the mirror each day. you
know who you are and don't even deny it...you

started this!

of course, this makes me sooooo uncomfortable,

and so does having my picture taken. but there

is something about spt and a digital camera. it

is addictive! i take a picture and i look and then

i giggle or then i want to cry because my fluffy

cheeks are extra fluffy this tuesday. so out of
sheer madness - well hell, lets take another one

and then i look and then my eyelids are half

closed - so of course i laugh and i have to make

the next one better and so it goes.....

c'mon - don't give me that crap - you know

you do it too...and if you don't, i highly

recommend that you do.

now go laugh and enjoy your tuesday...

peace out.

ryan's peace

ryan's peace....finished commission

36x24x2

gallery wrapped canvas

mixed media

finally i am done! whew, this quickly became a hard one to finish.

but i am so glad i can now say it is done. they are picking it up

this afternoon. i couldn't pin point why i was struggling to finish

it. then i realized that i needed more space. so i put it on the

floor and it all came out. i had a sketch that i loved, but every

time i sat down to paint, i froze. then depression set in. you

know how it is you see the picture, but you cant get it wear

your vision is, on your canvas. ah finally, it came.

this is a gift for a son and husband. his favorite scripture

is ephesians 6:13-17...

"Therefore, take up the full armor of God,
so that you will be able to resist in the
evil day, and having done everything,
to stand firm."

like my home series, i used the color block on the side and

had all intensions to use the eph. 6:13-17, but i wanted something

a bit softer. so i added wings. i am always so inspired by

christine mason millers wings. hers are so comforting

and spiritual. i have some girls who earned their wings.

so these seemed to meld into the piece.

anywhoo. he is done and ready to go to his new home.

happy weekend!

peace.

oliver..the dirty martini

meet oliver...the newest member of this crazy house.

::stats::

oliver the dirty martini, or ollie for short.

huge paws, 3months today, pure black

and tan airedale.

we think we will keep him.

peace out.

fins to the left...

..buffett tour 2008 another success..

oh...he's was tigger :: dr. randy pausch

a little friday gift for each of you.

click here for a huge smile!

if you are willing to watch and digest, take
the time to learn and reconsider what life
truly needs to be.

thank a bunch randy pausch....my day
turned even sunnier by your words
and your life.

peace be with you and the ones that loved
you most.

stone soup...a little bit of everything

studio....sometime in may.

holy crap! 2 weeks - where the hell have i been!?

where i've been....

work, exercise, biking, work, dinners out, out of state

visitors, biking, vegging on a raft in the pool, exercise,

work, phone call with kim, catching up on emails - yours

is coming liz. supporting a dear friend, work, biking,

more dinners out. kicking as hard as i can to keep my

pea brain above water.......................DEEP BREATH!

whew - i am ready for SQUAM. not really, but i will

be.

where i am going....

class reunion pre-party

corinne...coming to stay! wow have i missed her.

pool party saturday afternoon.

25th class reunion - saturday nite!

buffett 2008 - tuesday nite.

and in the middle of all that. revise one website, create another,

layout magazine, finish up stationary. and please find time

to work on commission....and enjoy it!

crazy sweet life - simply stone soup.

peace, ya'll

beef jerky

..does it really cure cotton mouth..i doubt it.

we had a grand fourth of july weekend. several great meals
with friends, lots of laughter, several annoying moments,
where i thought my tongue might bleed from me biting it to
keep from going off on someone. another 50 miles logged

on pearl this weekend. and some good naps.

onto another week.

peace.

sweet octopussy..

this is sherbet..

i have seen this little guy before. i am so intrigued by all
those little suction cups. you can find more here.

and more fun links...

for the love of patterns - check out jess'
the new mankind mag - erin rocks!
i am now a proud sponsor for kellyrae
and the lovely christine at sparkletopia has once again been
a jewel of a friend and highlighted my new prints on etsy.

another 23 miles logged on the new bike, which i have named
pearl. she is so pretty and easy to ride. these jeans are finally
beginning to feel loose. i can't believe i poured this ass into them
as long as i did! shocked that the seams held that long.

feeling good in my old but newly refined body.

peace..

bless my soul *[goodness]

...some days we just need some added goodness.
here is some that i have received through the
week.

check these.

zen habits...morsels of the simple life

made by girl...want color and happyness, go here

peace within....hats and tees, that remind us

a dear friend kim is living without her husband
while he is in the middle east. she is so strong and
brave. in the middle of her crazyness she posted
about the zen in her life. such a simple gesture of
kindness that made me sit still and regroup. she is
a light in my world and i miss her. so here is my
zen, my haiku...

...the 30 mile bike ride yesterday with bryce and
two cool chickadees

..8 weeks of exercise and eating better. 4lbs fat
loss, 6lbs and toner musles - oh and loose clothes

..getting to meet up with kendra again with dawn
for lunch and a load of new purses.

..the commission piece i am frantically wanting to
finish up.

..little miss c growing up, still finding time to lay
her head on my shoulder and telling me that she
missed me. [this is my baby c, not big c.]

..my little studio space that i so love and cherish

where's your zen today?

peace..

..prints..

beloved one..print

4 new prints now available. go check them out!

..beloved one
..girl
..stella
..wander

bless my soul *[new]

one : on display at eagle creek coffee company

two : stella, girl, soul

three : beloved one and chaos

four : stella

finally - five new paintings, each 6x6 gallery canvas.

mixed media. bright, sassy and fun. prints of each

soon on etsy. originals at the end of the month.

see something you like? let me know.

peace..

gone to the dogs

delilahblue = rockstar

this dog owner was bored and

decided to add a new blog. so

for all you pooch lovers - delilah

has her own blog. yes, i know

silly but what the hell! we need

more fun in life.

peace.

..bless my soul..[progress]

busy happy studio..

things are really busy here. but

in that - i can find plenty of

blessings.

i have found out that i was

accepted to have a table for

squams vendor night. if you have

checked this art workshop out

please do so - i can only feel

that this is going to be life

changing for me. elizabeth

is such a endearing soul, so

helpful and kind. christine

will be introducing her new book

for all those attending.

i have been busy in the studio.

as always frantically trying to

get paintings started and finished.

i am hanging some of my pieces

at a coffee house in zionsville,

this sunday. it has been such

a rush to be able to paint again.

i hate when respondsiblities take

me away from that.

i have a little part time gig at

the local rec center. i have also

began an exercise and diet program

called [ body for life ]. i can't tell

you how good it feels to get up

and move. this computer has

taken control of my life for far

too long, yes - have to use it to

make a living, but i dont have to

be tied to it to the point of being

obsessive.

new laptop is finally primed for use.

that will come in handy when i am

basking in the sun on beckys pool

deck sipping an ice cold red stripe....

ah, its summertime and life is sweet.

peace, ya'll

..it' the little things..

I was recently blessed by an email
from miss lisa leonard. she makes
silver baubles and oh are they sweet!


i went with the ever so teeny tiny initials. s.o.u.l. after
my little studio. i figure i can wear this to gallerys, art
festivals and meetings. a simple way to remind people
of my business.


lisa also keeps track of her daily grind here.
she has a beautiful family story...


i don't wear much jewelry. i have 2 favorite
necklaces that i wear daily, my frida and my
superhero. i now have this soulful piece.

on a very impressive note. lisa uses her jewelry
to perform random acts of kindness, i know
this first hand. she also has special sales and
send off the proceeds to special groups. recently
she sent one here...in honor of this family.

please take the time to visit lisa. i have to say this
necklace is so well made, simple and fun. people
noticing it on my neck! because it is GORGEOUS!

now go see lisa!
[in case you forgot...silvery baubles here.]

peace.

as charlie would say....ugh!

delilahblue is two!

just finished another girl. i loved her so.

i had planned on posting her here, so that

you could see. my new powershot ate my

saved images. so if there are any canon

users who know how to recover images

off the sim card. please, i am all ears.

she is a pretty spunky and i would love

for the world to see that after three

dry months, kelly pulled a new piece

out of her tush. [ not literally, that would

hurt.]

finally finished up my wedding announcements

job. walked to the local ice cream shop and ate

a turtle [today is my cheat day] but i only

got a small. delilah blue went along for the

walk. today my sweet pooch turned 2. we

love her so. hopefully we will be adopting

a pooch sibling for her within the next year.

i think she would think that is swell.

my college grad has been here for a week,

working for me. pulling my arse out of the

trenches. she is fast and meticulous....two

things this mommy is not! but it allowed me

to get some painting done and spend time

with her.

the other two babes have spring fever and

they are driving me crazy. one talks constantly

and the other strums his guitar rather than

studying for finals.

big BIG class reunion coming in 2 months. one

of my dearest friends is coming in from san francisco.

i haven't seen her for at least 18 years. i can't wait.

i have been using the "body for life" system for 3

weeks now. i don't feel like i have lost weight. but

my fav button up didn't cling to my belly and i am

running 1/2 hour 4 days a week. so that is something

to build on. right?! you betcha.

my soul sister stopped by today, yes miss thang

i know you are reading this. see the drought has

cleared, i posted. you brighten my days, kindred

spirits i would have to say. now get on that

bike and ride!

peace to each of you. hope life is fine.

mr. rauschenberg ..pop artist..

Robert Rauschenberg, Read-Bleed

"I don't ever want to go," he told Harper's when asked about dying.
"I don't have a sense of great reality about the next world; my feet
are too ugly to wear those golden slippers. But I'm working on my
fear of it. And my fear is that something interesting will happen,
and I'll miss it."

thank you mr. rauschenberg for coloring the world.

happy

..life is crazy, i am happy..

the artistic block is about to
make me jump. but i got this
new ad out yesterday.

working on a magazine layout at
the moment. nice to have a big
project.

peace.