What inspires you?

That's the question my friend Fiona asked of us. It took me a while to get there, simply because there's little that doesn't inspire me. But when I got down to it, I came up with birds, the color green, paint and stamps.

I live in a very "birdy" place. We're near a major stop on the Pacific Flyway, so migrating birds are frequent sights. My neighborhood is full of large old trees, and there are many barn owls. Crows are ubiquitous in Davis. In August, you can't hear yourself think at dusk for the noise they make.

These past few weeks, I've been really aware of the "dawn chorus," and I've seen sparrows, robins, scrub jays and mourning doves. Harbingers of spring, singing despite the still-cold mornings.

I also used various shades of green, from moss to pale chartreuse. Hands down, green comforts me and lifts me up, and I turn to it again and again.

The rest is just what I do: cobble stuff together. I find myself reaching for acrylic paints and still for stamps, though more sparingly these days, and mostly for the nature images.

Art journal

I've decided to continue an art journal I'd started a while ago, then abandoned. I tend to work on projects that I've promised to do (I'm a very deadline oriented gal!), but leave little time to just play. Here's a page I did with no intention, just grabbed whatever was at hand and went to town.

Sad day for the Labbe-Renaults

There is a hole in our hearts today, and it's in the shape of a crazy quilt of a dog with curious ice-blue eyes. We said good-bye this evening to Baloo, our beautiful furry Australian Shepherd kid. He turned 13 last month and has been on a slow slide downhill since. We were waiting for the moment to be "right," and for him to let us know, and today he did. We give our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Ramona Simko for her incredible care Baloo's whole life, but especially these later years. The acupuncture and herbs greatly increased his quality of life. And to Dr. Tobie Faith, who showed up today in our need and helped Baloo transition. We can never thank you enough.

Many of you who knew Craig and I "back when" might remember that we brought home Baloo as an 8-week old pup, with the conscious intention of seeing if we would be good parents. :) The universe clearly decided we would be and blessed us with three children, as well as an assortment of beings that meow, swim, crawl and slither, to keep Baloo company.

So dear Baloo, it has been a grand life, and a great ride. What will we do without you herding us from room to room? We will remember puppy days at the dog park, camping trips, howl-alongs with the harmonica, your tendency to use your nose as a snow plow in fresh powder, long walks, and an effervescent, ever-present goofy grin that let us know you loved life, and loved us.

Thank you for being such a huge part of our lives. We will miss you terribly.

More earrings

I've been getting back into jewelry design again. I've pulled out my copious selection of beads, organized them and spent time just sifting through them and playing. So far some earrings have resulted. Making jewelry was one of the first creative things I ever did (though sewing was first), and I still love it!

Bright colors, black & white checks

I'm playing catchup on some gifts to friends in my art world. This one is for Kathy, a.k.a. Sweetpea, who likes bright colors paired with black & white checks.

These are altered coasters (beer mats), covered in tissue paper that's been stamped with white gesso and sprayed with Color Mists (a la Aileen's techniques at Outside the Margins).

Didn't have a black and white checked ribbon so I painted white onto a plain black one.

Off to Sweetpea in the morning.