HAPPY NEW YEAR!

it is a new year and a fresh start. i am happy to say that i am continuing to create and to sell. i hope that as the year unfolds, my business will expand and explore new opportunities. may this be a year of fresh beginnings, fond memories, and future adventures. HAPPY 2009 to all!

bigger and better things.

the show is over. thank God. it was not quite as successful as i had hoped, though the experience was great. i will not join that particular event again as i was disappointed with the layout and turn-out. i definitely enjoyed the process and have made some new connections. please visit my shop as i have added new pieces and prints! some are quite fun! merry christmas! the countdown to the holiday is definitely underway!

life is sweet.

.ellen.  

getting ready! the show is coming december 13!

i've been hard at work, preparing for the la habra high school christmas show on december 13. i have about 28 pieces which i will have for sale. i am currently working on card sets (sold in 3s) as well as other random things. if there is something you are looking for, let me know so i can perhaps get it done for the show. some of these things are already for sale in my etsy shop, but if you want to save the shipping costs, you can buy at the show (let me know if you want to reserve anything and i can take it out of the shop for you). have a looksie at some of my new creations...

freeway complex fire--firestorm 2008

it still seems surreal, but this last saturday took an unexpected turn. the plans for the day included dog beach with stella and my sister's family. we could smell fire in the morning, but went to the beach anyways (quite an adventure on its own if i do say so myself). when we got back from the beach, i immediately hurried to my car as we saw the plumes of smoke filling the air near the freeways. i drove home wanting to get out of the smoke smell and floating ash. 

little did i know that as i drove over the hill to my house, the fire was actually in my neighborhood. i watered down the yards and the side of the house with what little water pressure we had. i made a few phone calls, then stared blankly at my things wondering what would come of it all if fire struck. it is an eerie feeling.  

once my roommate came home, we walked to the corner and watched the many planes and helicopters fly overhead with water and such. sirens from passing fire trucks were a welcome relief. we saw engines from napa, fremont, alhambra, huntington beach, and monterey park all racing down birch street. 

my roommate and i packed our cars of all we considered to be precious, then anxiously waited and watched the fire come down the hill. after a few hours, many phone calls, and one long walk to the grocery store, we knew that by God's grace our house would be spared. 

not all families were as lucky. it is a devastating sight to see the smoldering ash and remains of what was. i pray for those people. as i washed the dishes left in the sink and dusted off all of the furniture, i did so with a thankful heart.  i can't complain that at least there are dishes in my cupboard. at least the furniture is still in tact and needing to be cleaned. and at least the roof over my head is untouched. God is good. 

back in the saddle...again.

well folks, it has been a slow go lately. i have not had the time to paint and create. what little time i have had, the pieces have not come out as i hoped, so discouragement set in. thankfully, i am back in the saddle...again. yesterday, i sat at my art desk, turned on the music and painted for a good couple of hours. these poppies were my final product for the day. i also progressed on a few other pieces, which is much needed since i have that art show approaching december 13. 

oh the circus! the circus!

lions and tigers and bears--oh my! actually, more like elephants, pigs, and giraffes. this circus carousel is a work in progress. i am creating the circus for a friend from my childhood. ironically, i had this idea sketched out already, so it is a happy coincidence. once the set is complete, i will post the final product. for now, you can see my paint process. 

tulips, my deary, tulips.

lately, i have been working on a series of flowers including tulips and poppies. it is a bit of a stray from my whimsical characters, however, i enjoy some sophistication every now and then. i will have some of my floral creations for sale soon in my etsy shop. for those of you that like the whimsys, the circus is coming to town!