Today was the first day of school.  They were both so excited to start the new year. My little guy did so well. It makes my heart swell and ache at the same time. He is so brave and little and I just hope I never forget these moments. My little forth grader immediately flocked to his buddies to catch up on summer events and  my little guy bravely explored his new stomping grounds.  I love this school. The teachers, the environment and kindness everywhere makes me feel so confident that they are in the right place.

1. Summer / bee / white flowers / blue background / nature / colorful / photography, 2. California / Los Angeles / city / Santa Monica / color / blue / circus / ferris wheel / amazing / sky / summer / background / clouds / fun / photography, 3. Nature, 4. Untitled, 5. summer charm bracelet, 6. Landscape / blue / sky / summer / sunset / wave / clouds / sky / beach / sea / ocean / water ripple / photography / light, 7. Summer / white flowers / blue background / nature / color / macro / butterfly, 8. Hold on Tight, 9. it’s been a while…, 10. scalloped fabric garland, 11. {s t i l l: body} Friday, 12. tone on tone, 13. Bubbalicious, 14. Lavender, 15. museum, 16. Orange rose on turquoise plate, 17. turquoise-living-room-lulupainting, 18. Café de Flore, 19. Vintage Blue, 20. Turquoise china, 21. Untitled, 22. everything’s coming up turquoise, 23. Turquoise Ladder Scarf, 24. ENJOY LIFE necklace with turquoise tagua nut , 25. turquoise and cream, 26. yes., 27. new cushions, 28. spectre, 29. Avrebbe potuto essere una bella giornata (It could have been a lovely day), 30. The Ocean, 31. Untitled, 32. Sailing into the Sunset, 33. I can’t stand the rain, 34. dar el makhzen palace, fes, 35. Lake Pukaki, 36. Stay

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

Turquoise is the color this week for the Color Challenge that I am participating in. Oh, how I love this color. It’s right up there with yellow.  It’s another predominant color in my home. It’s in my bedroom, my bathroom and on my living room cabinet.

I have no idea what I’ll be painting in this color quite yet, but I do love flipping through flickr looking for inspiration. I just never tire of looking at picture after picture.

I worked at a baby fair today promoting breastfeeding for the hospital I work at.  I love promoting breastfeeding, sharing what I know, answering questions and soothing worried soon-to-be mamas.

I made these little flower brooches for me and the other lactation nurse to wear. They are made out of long strips of fabric, a bit of fancy yarn, paper and some stickers we had in the office.I used my cool little flower loom to make them. I really want to make more. They are really quite fun.  Maybe next time with some buttons in the middle instead.

oh, and the little book is by Amy Spangler. It’s one we give out for basic info on breastfeeding.  I love that squishy little baby face on the cover and had to get it in the pic.

This is our new favorite dinner. I make brown rice with frozen organic corn then set up lots of toppings and everyone can make their own customized bowl. The toppings include sauteed tofu, black beans, tomatoes, shredded carrots, sprouts, cilantro, and avocado.

We will sometimes add salsa or I will make a super yummy sauce that we will add.

Once everyone has made their bowl exactly how they want, then the yummy bowls magically disappear.

I think the sauce is key. It’s zesty and creamy and so good when combined with all the other ingredients. Here is the magic sauce recipe:

3 tbsp tahini
juice from 1 lemon
1/4 -1/2 roasted red pepper from a jar
1 garlic clove
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp turmeric
salt to taste

Combine everything in a blender and whiz together until smooth. Yum!

front

I made this bag for my hubby so that he could carry his bike gear when he goes riding. He’ll sometimes have to drive a bit before he can get somewhere to ride. This helps keep all his stuff together, which he likes.

back

I love, love, love this fabric–don’t you? I just couldn’t resist it when I saw it.  The colors are just too perfect for my guy.  He’s been using my eggplant tote, which just isn’t his style.

There are two pockets inside and two on the outside. One of them for his water bottle.  I think he could probably use another water bottle pocket. I might try to add that on later.

raspberry red bouquet
4 x 4 canvas

Here are my contributions for Louise’s Color Challenge. I really love how I am being challenged by colors I would not normally use. Like red. I don’t normally use large amounts of red, especially an entire painting full.

raspberry red girl
4 x 4 canvas

I find it a little difficult to paint with a limited color palette. Just red, black and white which I morphed into many pinks and grays. Still, I think it is good to stretch the creative muscles in new ways.

To get me started, first I did my usual flickr search for inspiring red ideas. It’s always the first place I go.

1. Red Raspberries II, 2. Crochet red scarf Morning Rose, 3. our red/raspberry wall, 4. Red Buttons, 5. SWAPBOT – RED WINE PC #2, 6. Study in Red – for Jules, 7. Fiesta Detail, 8. Raspberry Kiss, 9. Inspired by Red Roses, 10. Oh, Frida…, 11. i think these were salmonberry flowers, but i can’t remember, 12. White Chocolate and Raspberry Pie, 13. the angels wanna wear my red shoes, 14. A Mexican Dress Huichol Art , 15. i-scream with jam, 16. raspberry limeade

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

We are back from our weekend getaway. It was so so much fun. The weather was perfect and we ate ourselves silly. We just had such a great time being together. Bike riding, walking around different parts of town, a movie, some dinner and wine–things we don’t normally get to do. We even made it to a craft supply shop that I really liked and of course that was really fun.

I made those two little felt owls above, for my two little fellows, before we left on our trip. We sure did miss those boys. We’d often find ourselves saying, “oh, the boys would love this” or “I wonder the the boys are doing right now”.  But, they had a great time with their grandparents and cousins. I think we should make this an annual thing, don’t you?

I’ve been experimenting with paper and paint on wood with a layer of clear encaustic wax on top.   I like the texture and feel of it, but I’m not to crazy about the paint colors I chose for this.  I have more little pieces of wood that I am planning to work with.

So,this will be my last post until Monday. We are heading out of town, just the hubby and I, for a romantic getaway weekend to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. We are going back to Portland for a more adult version of our last trip there.  The kids are staying with grandma. It should be a good time.

Until I see you again, please stop on over Dana’s to see an interview she did with me in her Art Biz Mama series.

I wanted to share a project I made for GreenCraft Magazine. It’s a cardboard portfolio for pretty papers, important papers, artwork, or whatever you like.  Above is my portfolio before I sent it off almost a year ago. I had almost forgotten what it looked liked.

It is completely made of cardboard, cereal box board, maps and old papers and scraps of ribbon, fabric, fringe and buttons. Oh, and a bit of paint and glue.

I really love this magazine. Beautiful photographs, and so many wonderful ideas and contributors.

I am also in the new issue of Somerset Home, but I haven’t seen it yet!!  I’m hoping to get my copy in the mail soon or I may just have to go out and get it myself. I’ll wait a couple more days…

I made this dress a few weeks ago and am finally getting around to sharing it. I made it from some old fabric I bought at a thrift store about 6 years ago.  I don’t usually wear orange, but I like the print and it felt like it was screaming to be a dress of some sort.

I was going for the Heather Ross Mendocino Sundress, but I knew that I wouldn’t like the shirring all the way around (causing the very unflattering uni-boob). I know this because I tried a store made version of this sundress and didn’t like it. SouleMama talks about this problem here.  So I made some modifications that I was hoping would help. I think it did.

Instead of shirring all the way around, I did about 4 rows all the way around, then back and forth down the back another 12 rows, then all the way around again for another 4 rows.  I also shirred the straps so they would be stretchy and stay in place better, which they do.

Next I want to make this really cute top.