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.]

gladys and peach

dream vespa on ebay

the other day we spotted a vespa and almost in unison, said we

wanted one with a side car so we could be the old eccentric chicks

of the ville and toodle around town together. then like the gods

dropped this from the sky, miss katie sent us this ebay link.

of course the economy sucks, we are each married to mr. practical,
but the girls can dream.

peace ya'll

little miss c

my little miss c is a sick girl.....mono!

in hindsight, i would say that it has been
lingering since around jan 7th when she
came home from her first day back and
had a terrible headache and fell asleep
at 3:30 and slept through the the nite.

in the last couple of weeks she has fallen asleep

after school and had headaches. by this monday
she had a swollen gland that is a huge mass on
the side of her neck. she also has a little
honey and i am hoping he doesnt get it! how
embarrassing. i don't like this teenage dating
stuff.

at 14, she is growing up. but going in to

check on her and seeing her laying in her
bed full of fever and pain, i just want to lay
with her - my arms around her to make her
feel better. but i know she is burning up and
doesn't want the added heat. so i fill her glass
up with ice and 7up and offer popsicles.

she is quite a peanut. now about 5'6" and a
perfect build, but i worry how much weight she
is losing. i don't want her to find the new loss
attractive and try to maintain that.

at the moment she is in a fitfull sleep. i need
to check on her, but don't want to wake her. the
drs. said to only wake her to have her eat. and
at the present, she has no desire to lift her head
off her pillow.

my kids are generally strong and healthy, and for that

i know i am blessed. but this poor thing is like her mama

and when she gets sick, her glands swell, her joints ache

and her body fights it with big fevers that come and go.

now go hug someone you love! and while i am thinking of
it after listening to our president yesterday, lets all find
something important in our little neck of the world to throw

our energy into and make a difference. maybe something
we aren't especially comfortable with, but needs to be done.

i am thinking about what i can do.

peace....

this land is your land....oh yes it is.

peace be to each each of us

in the windy.

weekend views from chicago.

dinner at ping pong
breakfast at the bongo room
trudging through the snow throughout wicker park
tapas for the first time
authentic mojitos...two!
new found friends and mike who i adore.

dip no. 6

collaboration with miss kiki.

if you would like to see more....skate over this way

*it's wednesday

commission..

diamond dust snow falling on our
middle indiana streets this am. it
was breathtaking seeing the twinkling
of the white against the dark sky, on
my early morning drive. if i am going
to have to deal with winter, this is what
i yearn for. pure snow, no mix of rain
or ice....perfect for a day of sledding.

happy wednesday to you.

dippy no.5

reflections on squam....dippy no. 5 with miss kiki

just two girls, in two different lands reflecting on
a grand old time with many other fine chicks and a

few roosters. if you would like to see some more

than follow me...

*may i be i

oh i am having fun today.

oh today is a DAY! here is what has gone on.

..photo session with myself

..emails from this chick and this one too
..a call from this sweet girlie
..naming a new painting
..hot tomato soup with a cheese toastwich

..feeling good about the new year

..new energy
..wearing true love + mati art

may i be i

pink

i carry your heart with me

i carry it in my heart

i am never without it
anywhere i go you go,my dear;
and whatever is done by only me is
your doing, my darling i fear no fate
for you are my fate, my sweet
i want no world for beautiful
you are my world, my true and it's
you are whatever a moon has always
meant and whatever a sun will always
sing is you here is the deepest secret
nobody knows

here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which
grows higher than the soul can hope or mind
can hide and this is the wonder that's keeping
the stars apart i carry your heart
i carry it in my heart

ee cummings

what to wear

leah apron - modern myrtle

i am loving aprons! they truly
can make an outfit. i just got
this one from modern myrtle
and it is so damn adorable. i
could wear them everyday.

if you are looking for a work
apron check out these from
the little room. today i am
wearing my natasha. liz does
such a great job and her soul
mantras go right along with
the aprons. go check them out.



happy shopping!

2girls, 2clicks *[no.4]

2girls, 2clicks [glisten no.4] with the most awesome kiki

just another collaboration with my girl kiki. if you would like to

see more happiness, then skip this way.

*[ on a yesterday note - i am fine. not laying in the fetal position,
really i am not! just needed to vent, lack of sleeps just sucks. but

a 2hr full body massage, finishing up new pendants and looking at

my little tree did the trick. okay okay....you did the trick. the

emails and comments were so sweet. i honestly felt bad about even
p0sting it. but thanks for caring. damn indiana gray skies!]

peace out.

today....a bit cloudy

moondance
Originally uploaded by indigochickie

not sure what is happening here. may be a lack of enough
sleep. little miss c, has slept with my the last two nites. b
is gone and she seems to think i need someone next to me
a i slumber, last nite she was tossing all over and that means
i didn't sleep well.

i often wonder if i am making the difference i yearn to make.

i want to be inspirational, but am i

i need to be creative, but i seem to be stuck

i want to create great things, yet i don't feel i do.

i am missing so many girls right now. i read your blogs
i look at your images and i yearn to head back to the trees
and drink a red stripe out of the ice box. i miss the morning
hugs, the walks over the muddy paths. i miss you. i feel
very alone here in the center of earth.

the days seems as if my hands are tied. i know it is just
the lack of sleep.

saturday we celebrate my family's christmas, meaning sibs
and all the little rugrats. this crazy aunt will make a new tradition
this year....every one gets their birthday gifts for the next year. i
am so bad about remembering that i thought - what the hell.
how fun will this be to see all the gifts on a table! i think they
will love it

our tree is up and so cute. i got her for $10! long scrappy limbs
a little frazier fur, lots of blue and pink glass balls and little drink
umbrellas grace the limbs. you know how i love to use drink
umbrellas!

more pendants on the way. there are 4 heading out the door
this week. so i am going to focus on that and move on.

hope your day is happy and warm, and if not warm then bundle
up and smile.

peace.

art pendant cheer

new art pendants!

boots artpendant no.1

i always forget how bad my lighting is here in the studio, until i have
to do more photos for the shop! ugh. and these little pieces of
sugar are encased in a glass lense....even worse! but i have four
on etsy, ready for homes.

i will be part of a month long exhibition at paper and stitch. brittni
was so kind to let me be part of her 3rd show. so YIPPIE! please

stop by and check out all the artists. the exhibition will be live
tomorrow.

greener pastures art pendant no.1

in the meantime...if anyone has any thoughts on the photography

i am all ears!

peace.

2girls, 2clicks *[no. 3]

waiting....photo collaboration with miss kiki.

she is waiting and my trixie twilight is waiting on a frame.

anyone have any instructions on making a box frame

to pop her in?

2girls, 2clicks [week*2]

2girls, 2clicks with kiki

week two and as she stated, you

can't say it without coming off

sorid....i've got topsy's and she

took the bottom.

curious? click here

5 happy tings

happy blue skys....rocky mountain high

five happy things this sunday am.

one..just found out that boho girl is now a mama. oh happy day!
cedar leon is here finally. welcome to this crazy world little one.
[peace to the whole boho clan]

two..two fun productive sessions with missie. lots of giggling
over art pendants, scrabble tiles and her painfully slow computer.
seriously you need to upgrade child.

three..a surprise call from girl liz, who i adore and how constantly
reminds me that five really good things are even better reminders
of the gifts i am given each day.

four..my three cherubs and hubby who are the lights that brighten
up my world.

five..the polaroid that was gifted to me by this chick and this chickies
new artwork that i am drooling over and hoping to soon be hanging.

i am truly blessed with such kind, giving girlies in my life, along with
a husband that is strong enough to give me space, understanding and

loves to laugh at my crazy brain, many days. three cherubs who are

all grown up and still hug me most days, laughs at my silliness and

say's "i need to talk. two adorable pooches and a warm big studio

that i so love.

in case i don't post before thursday....happy thanksgiving to each
of you. maybe you find peace this week. the crazy holidays are

upon us!

in between *[2 girls, 2 clicks]

2 girls [kiki and kelly ]. 2 clicks [gears and mountains silly]
collaboration with miss kiki

day late, but i finally got to it!

this past weekend was spent in the moutains of colorado. i am

not a cold weather person. but seeing the sweet moves of the

skiers as we drove in warmed my heart. a gorgeous simple

wedding and good friends who we don't see nearly enough of.

driving between the moutains was a reminder of the simple

life i am meant to live.

peace to each of you today.

tuesday ..peace..

new ..peace.. bullet cards

i have pretty much stopped watching the coverage, today is a huge
day in our country's history. regardless of the outcome i have
watched something amazing. something raw and beautiful. and
for that mr. obama, i say thank you. thank you for restoring my
hope in the world, in the people. no matter what happens at the
end of the day - i have faith that you have made changes and will
continue that journey.

if you are looking for a bit of inspiration today go visit miss
jaime. she has left each of us a little glitter.



bumper at squam.

"when the power of love overcomes
the love of power the world will
know peace."

peace be with our nation today. and that means each of you.

a tuesday morn pounce

sweet cassiopeia ring ~ jess taylor

an early morning pounce found this sweet bauble

by jess taylor. she has really fun jewelry.

not really a diamond kind of girl. have one and i respect the

meaning behind it. but not really me. i would pair this with

one of her silver bands for the complete wedding set.

just a thought.

peace.out.

44 - old habits die hard

me
Originally uploaded by indigochickie

i just began twyla tharps [the creative habit]
within the first 5 pages this is what i grabbed.....

"some people find this moment - the moment before creativity begins- so painful that they simply cannot deal with it. they get up
and walk away from they computer, the canvas, the keyboard;
they take a nap or go shopping or fix lunch or do chores around
the house. they procrastinate. in its most extreme form, this
terror totally paralyzes people."

44 years - i have a lot of work to do.

yesterday was filled with watching my oldest cherub toodle us around town in her new car. big smile didn't leave her face. we dined on scrumptous sushi and visited an art store where i bought
my first screen.

peace.out.

thursday *[bless my soul]

hey there...new notes on etsy!

so many things going on here in middle earth.

new cards finally on etsy.

big day on sunday

two eve's of happy with miss c

finally getting some work done, amen.

two holiday shows coming up

laughing through emails with the girls.

peace.out.

friday *[bless my soul}

go buy a pack of bubble yum, chew through the sugary
grit and blow the biggest bubbles you can.

cmon' i double dog dare ya. its fun!

happy friday.

peace.out.

thursday and some sweet peace.

oh sweet peace..mixed media..12x6 inches

i recently submitted "oh sweet peace" to the
"of peace of artwork" blog. i found it via the most
talented leah piken.

"an art movement for peace brought to you by
the 1000 faces of mother henna and artists all
over the world."

kara was so kind to pick my artwork as a piece

for peace. thank you miss kara. you made my

day so very happy!

if you would like to see more peaceful works

of art, please mozey on over.

peace!

a cornucopia *[indie fixx giveaway]

goodies galore #1

if you love a good giveaway, and we all do,
head over to indiefixx and check out the
indie fixx autumn cornucopia giveaway
sweet baby jesus - there are so many goods
to look at and drool over. jenn was sweet
enough to include two of my prints, so thank
you for that jenn. this happy girl truly
appreciates it!

goodies galore #2

so here is the plan. i am going to tell you what i
dig in the giveaway, you run over and post a
comment or you can even tell your thoughts on
your blog, you know give a little shout out to
indie fixx, like i have an then hop on over and
let jenn know. but first, head over and read
through all the fluff and stuff to make sure
you fully understand how to play.

contest ends november 14th. so hurry up,
go on now - get over there and play!

[oops, almost forgot! here is what i am
eyeballing.
-jewels karalee designs.
-jenny hart's sublime stitching
-funky journal from ex libris anonymous
oh, hell - i dig it all.]

go on - get!

..because...

mister j....the belly shot....canon rebel

many comments on my playlist and some questions.

intrigued? here are a few answers.....

momma don't let you sons grow up to be cowboys.

*urban cowboy came out my freshman year of high

school. i was dating 6pack abs, all state football,

wayne who is now a "joe 6-pack" still as cute as

he always was, but very different paths. he embarrassed

me so damn bad at that movie. karen and i totally

snubbed our dates, but fell in love with the movie.

needless to say waylon jennings was soon a fixture

at our swim practices. when you do nothing but

swim yards - you have to have something to

make yourself happy and prunie fingers get old.

limelight - rush
yes, i know. but seriously - i loved this group

and it wasn't because my boyfriend did. he

loved lynard skynard - remember, "joe 6-pack"

enough said.

and liz - i love his voice...wink

fat bottom girls - queen
are you kidding me???? you have to ask.
for the love of cheese it's freddy mercury!
and if you want to become a runner, but
don't know where to start - put this on
the ipod and just go.

in my life - dmb [beatles]
because i walked down the aisle to this one.

beautiful girl - jonatha brooke
daily reminder.

and because i love to dance in the studio....
say hey - michael franti
cmon eileen -
send me on my way - rusted root
i'm yours - jason mraz

and these just because of i am me....
beloved one - ben harper
redemption song - bob marley
love - john lennon
taxi - harry chapin
bartender - dmb

happy tuesday....