Cat naps

Now that the weather is getting colder, not only do the cats sleep more, but they are hip to warm places.
Yes, this is a scene from "Sweatgrass" a movie filled with bleating lambs, which may be the other reason Meg cozied up to it. Oh hey, yeah that's my new computer!

Watercolors

As a way to stay warmed up I've been forcing myself to work on something, anything, for a few hours every day. I recently came across a stash of Daniel Smith watercolor paper samples. These are just a few of my favorites.

Paper will always be my go to medium, that's why, when I was offered a thrift store's entire collection of dress patterns for $4 I had to say yes. This pile is 4' x 4' and is about 1foot high with another stack of unfolded patterns on my desk that Meg likes to sleep in. The last two nights have been cutting, folding, gluing, fun. Maybe another Trashique dress is in the works.

Into the Woods

“Always in the big woods when you leave familiar ground and step off alone into a new place there will be, along with feelings of curiosity and excitement, a little nagging of dread. It is the ancient fear of the Unknown, and it is your first bond with the wilderness you are going into.” -Wendell Barry, naturalist

Thank you Keri Smith for some gut-punchingly great quotes. I am currently committing to and processing some very big life changes. Barry put it all in perspective. I'm simply bonding with my future.

Insider/Outsider Art exhibit

Zach and I ambled up to Walnut Creek this weekend to catch the Insider/Outsider Art exhibit at the Bedford Gallery. Many of the works blew my mind about what art is or about techniques and materials. As someone who works with art on a regular basis this exhibit was absolutely refreshing. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees, the young woman at the desk told us many people were horrified and disgusted by the work.

 Much of this work came from the collections of John Turner and the collection of Bonnie and Sly Grossman and the Ames Gallery. You can watch a walk through of the Ames gallery works here for more. Images are of the particular pieces I couldn't stop enjoying.

 matchstick house with matchstick lamp.

Russell Childers

Handpainted dentist and tailor signs

catnaps

I'm not usually home to witness this part of the cat routine, but I could easily get used to it.

Scout posed for this shot. She is not sleeping, just a real funny cat.