Entries Tagged as: cats
Happy Friday!
July 30th, 2010, Comments (7)
Happy Friday! I've been working on some creative things, but nothing to share yet, so in the meantime, enjoy this picture of my sweet Emma, enjoying Animal Planet, up close and personal. Hehe.
And get ready for the month of Fire! I'm excited about it and hope you are as well!
Links to make you smile
June 29th, 2010, Comments (11)
I love a good laugh and this month of bliss has made me note where my laughter is coming from. I find it in the ridiculously cute antics of my cats (like this oldie, but goodie above, of two of our kitties, Tabs and Sadie, being very bad on top of the kitchen cabinets in our old apartment), the fun photobooth session I had with the hubster that had me laughing so hard, I nearly peed my pants, and in the funny pictures and websites I spot online. So here are a few links (some funny, some interesting, some just because) that I thought might make you smile. Enjoy!
*Catalog Living is a new to me site that totally cracks me up. I had a good laugh when I read this one.
*I've known about Cake Wrecks for awhile now, but it's always good for a giggle, as is one of my favorites, I Can Has Cheezburger.
*Andrea of ABCcreativity is offering a free Creativity 101 e-course, which you can sign up for here.
*For my fellow Harry Potter fans, The Deathly Hallows trailer is out and it looks awesome!! So excited!
*Lastly, I received an email this week from Liz Miller, who runs the Hope Notes project, which "invites anyone to create a card, write in a card, or simply donate a card that will be given to a client at Helpmate, a domestic violence agency serving Asheville, NC. The goal is to give each incoming client to the shelter and new support group members a card, a "Hope Note" that is empowering, encouraging and positive to keep them feeling supported and thought of while they transition."
The cards will be on display at a fundraising benefit on July 15th, and attendees will be invited to write their own hope notes. You can learn more about the project here.
To participate, simply mail your cards to:
The Hope Note Project
PO Box 2263
Asheville, NC 28802
I'll be mailing in some cards and I hope you will too. What a beautiful idea!
Do you have any sites, links, songs, or videos that make you smile? Feel free to share in the comments!
More Little Bits of Bliss
June 16th, 2010, Comments (12)
Thank you everyone for all the kind words regarding my recent loss. I truly appreciate all the love and support you sent my way! I'm still feeling a little quiet, but I'm taking special care to notice all the little bits of bliss in my day, like my totally adorable kitties. Above you can see Emma lounging in my window seat. Super cute.
I've also been loving walking outside and watching the birds, which has got me planning some new art about birds. Fun! Hope to post some of those soon.
Itty Bitty Kitty Stories
March 13th, 2010, Comments (17)
I'm working on a new series of itty bitty kitties for my shop and these are the latest, "First signs of Spring" and "The Yarn Basket." As I create these little kitties, I'm always thinking about the little stories that go along with them. The Spring cat was inspired by a neighborhood cat with the same spots that I saw on a walk the other day. He was proudly carrying a mouse as he trotted down the sidewalk towards his house. I saw him again today, standing guard in front of his owner's garage. All cats have such distinct personalities once you get to know them, so I imagine that each itty bitty kitty painting has it's own personality too. I'll have them up in the shop soon.
In the meantime, some more links for you!
- I was interviewed this week by the fabulous Jennifer Hofmann of Inspired Home Office. She's doing a series about the everyday organizing habits of creative entrepreneurs. And while I would never think to interview me about organizing (ha!), I did have a fun tidbit to share that makes keeping track of my to-do list a lot more fun. You can listen to the interview and read Jen's post about it here.
- To celebrate the launch of Red Dress Studios, Ana Ottman is offering a fabulous (and free) ebook of advice from female entrepreneurs about how to build your confidence muscles. You can grab yourself a copy here.
The Soul of Your Home
February 12th, 2010, Comments (22)
"I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul." -Jean Cocteau
I've always loved that quote. I adore my kitties and do feel like the bring so much life to the home the hubster and I share. We've got 4 (yes, 4!) cats and they never fail to make me smile every day. Love em.
But this quote also had me thinking about what makes up the soul of a home. I think a big part of it is the people, the hearts there, that make up its soul. But there's also the life we bring into it, with our creations, the little nooks and crannies filled with the things we love, the ways that we represent who we are with our space.
I love seeing those little nooks in the homes of others, little altars (intentional or otherwise) filled with photos of family, sweet smelling candles, favorite books, bowls of sea glass. And even the messy stuff can say so much, the magazines mixed with a random sock, a cat toy, and a purple pen. Yes, I think there's soul in the mess!
What is the soul of your home?
Before we moved into our first home this fall, the hubster and I were in a run-down, rented apartment. I think we both were hesitant to put much too much work into the place because it wasn't ours, but even so, when we did make the effort in some areas, it felt great. In our home now, everything feels like a big, blank slate. At first it felt like we were house-sitting for someone else. But little by little, as we put up pictures, made cozy places to rest in, and just lived there, it began to feel like home, like a place with soul.
If you feel like your home isn't representing you, what are some simple ways you can bring its heart back?
You might try starting in one room, in one small area. You could clear off a surface (like a bookshelf) and while looking at each item, ask yourself, "Do I love this?" Keep the items that say "Yes!" And release (throw out, give away, donate, or sell) the items that don't. Perhaps frame a favorite piece of art and put it up somewhere that will bring you joy and inspiration every day. Simple, small shifts can make a huge difference in how your space feels. And that can radiate out into how you feel in your home and then how you feel all day.
Beyond the appearance of things, I think one of the biggest places I feel the soul of my home is in the laughter. the silly dances in the kitchen, the snuggles. It's also in the creativity, the love, and home-cooked meals. And yes, in our four fuzzy kitties, which I enjoyed drawing in little houses. How about you? Where does the soul in your home reside? Where does it show up? How can you bring more of your heart and soul into your space?
Itty Bitty Kitty Art: Cat in a Bag
November 25th, 2009, Comments (27)
Oh, today was long. But the service for my Grandma was very nice. My sister read a lovely eulogy. And it was great to see family I hadn't seen in a long time.
Tonight, the hubster and I and two of my siblings will be driving to New York for Thanksgiving. It's going to be pretty busy, but I will do my best to post some art while I'm away. Today, after a nap, I did this itty bitty kitty about another favorite cat hang out, the grocery bag. Cats in bags crack me up, so it was fun to paint this little 3"x3" canvas. I did the final touches with an actual cat (Sadie) in my lap. I wish we could take our kitties to New York with us, but they would not like the drive. 
I wish you all a beautiful Thanksgiving!!
Itty Bitty Kitty: Laundry Basket
November 24th, 2009, Comments (20)
Another 4"x4" Itty Bitty Kitty today. This orange tabby is napping in a favorite napping spot of all cats, a basket filled with warm laundry. If I were a cat, it would be my favorite napping spot too. Actually, while looking through old photos this weekend, I saw one of myself as a two year old, napping in a pile of freshly cleaned laundry. Heh. Perhaps I was a cat in a past life!
Itty Bitty Kitty Art: Bedtime Cat
November 17th, 2009, Comments (24)
I painted this cute kitty earlier today, but then my camera ran out of batteries, I couldn't find the charger for awhile, and it took some time to charge, but (phew!) it all worked out.
I got these teeny tiny 3"x3" canvases (and a little easel) at Blick Art Supplies last month. The other itty bitty kitty art was 4"x4" and I think these 3"x3" pieces will be as small as they'll go.
My cat Sadie loves to get under the covers and put her head on the pillow like she's a little person, especially when I'm in bed. It's so darn cute that I had to make this little piece in her honor. I'm sure she's not the only cat who does it.
Check in tomorrow morning, when I'll have a great interview with Chris Zydel all about intuitive painting!
Itty Bitty Kitty Art: World Traveler
November 11th, 2009, Comments (11)
The second in my series of itty bitty kitties, this one is a world traveler. Sort of. Well, in reality this orange tabby really just likes to nap in luggage, like all cats do. It's 4"x4" with acrylic and ink on panel. Meow, meow, meow!
Did you ever hear that story about the cat that got accidentally closed into their owner's luggage and went on a wild adventure? It's pretty wild.
What’s Inspiring You Lately?
September 3rd, 2009, Comments (15)
Yes, I'm curious. What's inspiring you at the moment? Are there any books or tunes or artists that are lighting your inner fire?
I'm constantly adding to the list of what juices me up and I plan on sharing some of those things throughout the month. I'm super excited about and inspired by the wonderful guest posters who will be sharing stories of inspiration here throughout the month. Jen's post yesterday was fabulous!
I've had a fairly quiet day today for the first time in a solid week and so I thought it'd be a great moment to share a few things that are inspiring me and ask you about your current inspiration!
Nature: I'm feeling inspired by and grateful for the gorgeous weather. I took a walk down to a nearby river where I ate my lunch and wrote for an hour. It was lovely. I'm always inspired by sitting in nature and near moving water.
Books: I'm currently reading: The Wishing Year: A House, A Man, My Soul A Memoir of Fulfilled Desire by Noelle Oxenhandler and absolutely loving it.
Music: Somehow I missed out on the music of Arcade Fire, but the song "Wake Up" in the trailer of Where the Wild Things Are (also very inspiring, check it out below) was haunting me, so I got the album the song came from and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
Inspiration Journal: I keep a nifty inspiration journal by my bed. It's one of those thick, red, canvas-covered, blank journals you can get in book stores. I keep it to do very light, low-pressure, playful collages and doodles in whenever I feel like it. It's fun sometimes to tear through catalogs and magazines, ripping out images of whatever catches my eye. I glue them in in a pleasing fashion and sometimes write words alongside them. Looking back through it today, it felt like I had been writing a visual love letter to our first home. Sadie helped me flip to this page today. I like all the muted colors and textures here.
Interview: I loved this video interview of Dirty Footprints Studio's Connie on Darrah's blog, artcetera. Connie is too cute! I loved when she said, searching for your artistic voice is like searching for your own nose, it's already there, you don't need to find it!! Ok, she said it better than that, so go over and listen for yourself. And if you'd like to hear more of Connie (and me!), tune into Connie's blogtalk radio show this Sunday, September 6th at 6pm EST when she'll be interviewing Jennifer Lee and I about our Creative Play workshop in Boston this month and lots of ways to add creative play to your everyday life. You can even call in and say hello!
Writing: I love Eileen's writing. This post about the times between our creative pushing and the meanings behind our obsession with Buffy (or whatever it is you're obsessed with) is saying about you, is a great example!
Podcasts: I love to listen to podcasts, so I'm super excited that the fabulous Jamie Ridler has started her own all about creative living! Check out her very first podcast here.
And the list could go on and on and on...But for now, I bid you adieu.
p.s. Please send some good kitty vibes to my kitty Sadie who is having an itty bitty lump removed tomorrow. Thank you!!
