Thank you

Hello & Happy Weekend to you!

Thank you for your kind words and wishes yesterday for my studio visit, you are so kind! The visit was wonderful and I'm so pleased with how it went.

Now I'm officially on vacation [woohoo!] for the next week and hope to pop in from time to time here, at flickr & echoes and the Noticing Project will continue as usual.

In my shop I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of [unframed art] placed between AUGUST 2 - 11, during the time I'm away. I'll send out any orders on the 12th. Thanks!

Thank you sweet friends for being you! I'll see you soon!
H

a little ray of sun

[a blackberry from our garden : Noticing Project alternate]

Hi,

I'm popping in because I want to tell you 'hi' and wish you each a happy Friday and wonderful weekend!

I'm a little nervous... I have an important studio visit today, so I'll be cleaning and arranging my studio to prepare. Will you wish me luck?

This place looks dreamy doesn't it? Found via Poppytalk. I've been so inspired by Jan's posts this week.

Thanks for stopping by and !OH! you don't want to miss this interview with Karin Eriksson on Stephanie's blog today!

have fun,
H

as thoughts wander

Hi,
Yesterday on my walk home from the post office I stopped in the used bookshop at the sight of this in the window. It's "William Christenberry The Early Years, 1954-1968" by J. Richard Gruber, isbn 0817309608. I felt like letting my mind wander as I skimmed the images and then the other shelves.

I grew up in the 'south' as did he and so I feel a kind of familiarity to some of the imagery and yet a distance from that era. To me, Christenberry's work brings to light the southern vernacular in a way that is stark like the twinge of pain from a splinter and yet it's as nuanced as honey.

When I was in undergraduate school I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Christenberry in his studio while with a group of students on a business of art trip. I remember he had a piece of advice that really stuck with me. He said, 'as an artist, always save your best[favorite] pieces [from each series] for your own collection. so you and your family will have them.'

Next week I look forward to letting my thoughts wander some more as I read this book and sit in a beach chair with two of my favorite people beside me, overlooking the Atlantic.

Is someone inspiring you today?

till soon,
H

prepping

[preparing paper for new work : the leaves were used as inspiration for |new| |work| in the shop : studio journal]

Hi,

How are you? I feel like I've been so absent lately and I apologize for that. I've gotten horribly behind on visiting you. This week has been a little wonky, not in a bad way necessarily, just I've been called out repeatedly for something beyond my control and well, it's just been different.

Now I'm preparing for a number of things; new work, a studio visitation, and our beach vacation next week. Well in all honesty, I've not begun getting ready for that. Too much work here still needs to take place.

Now I need to work on preparing for an adult painting workshop I'll be teaching in the spring.

Have your weeks been busy?

I hope to share something nice with you soon,
H

Note to self : In the instance that we run out of milk, a little pat of butter is not a sufficient substitute in a cup of coffee. A spoonful of vanilla frozen yogurt works much better. Something I discovered this morning.

kindness of sweet friends

[wonderfullness : from Kylie, top, middle & from Shanna, bottom]

Good morning friends,

Yesterday was a long, strange, time-warp kind of day and I am so happy to be here today. The highlight was when I walked to the post office to find two yellow slips in my p.o. box. And you know what that means? Packages! Yay!

Sweet Kylie of paper boat press sent me a collection of things she makes, all the way from Australia. Kylie is multi-talented, making prints, ceramic art and writing poetry. She included her book of poetry "count me the stars", which I enjoyed getting lost in this morning. And of course, I'm smitten with her cloud pin. The whole package was filled with goodness. Every single item is meaningful. Kylie is also part of the Umbrella Collective, which "are six women artists brought together by the love of craft and the bond of friendship."

There was also a lovely puffy parcel from Shanna : two trees. Shanna sent one of her lovely pillows that has found a happy home on the loveseat in my studio. It's her 'barn pillow' which says 'take care of a piece of the earth'. It's sooooo nice. I also got a preview of two of her brand new collaborative letterpress pieces with Pistachio Press. Let me tell you, they are beautiful! And look at the balloon print! It makes me happy. And lastly, a lovely head band. I was showing my husband all these goodies and he said "I think that's one of those things you cover your eyes with when you sleep". I said "no, I think it's a head band." hee hee. Men.

Every little thing sent by these two super talented women was a treat, down to the string, paper, and especially the hand-written notes. I really feel spoiled by these friends. Thank you Kylie & Shanna! You made my drab day sparkle sparkle sparkle!

I hope your day has moments that glisten today.
see you soon,
H