We have a Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep.... We are now a family of 4!!!!!!!!!
Miss Autumn Marie arrived on Wed. 11-21 to eagerly awaiting parents and friends.

Isn't she lovely???

I will spare you cats all the ugly details of labor and delivery... I'm sure you all wanted to know about that. Anyways, here are her stats.

Name: Autumn Marie
DOB : 11/21/07
Weight: 8lbs and 4 oz.
Length: 21 inches

And a few fun facts: She sports a full head of black hair and an uncanny resemblance to big sis, Lavender. You guys gotta check out Josher's bloggie and see "the Kring Baby template pics" HA!

Enjoy the pics... more later.

Induction Time!

Here it is Tuesday and I am 1 day past my due date. Yep Yep... everything seems to be swollen now, the blood pressure is up and I now do the "contraction waddle" as Josh Green hysterically imitates. It really is sooo funny that I couldn't even get mad at his imitation of me!!!
For all these reasons, Lorie (my midwife) has scheduled me an induction date for 5am ----- yes, 5am ----- tomorrow morning. So, for all you cats out there who have been wondering and wondering when this baby is going to show.... now we know!!! hoooray!

I know that my sweet hubbie, Joshers, will be ever thankful to see all my endless nesting activities come to a sudden halt. The 2 pics posted are products of such nesting urges. The first is a baby blanket my great grandma sewed for my dad... I thought it would look cute on the wall, so I put it on canvas via felt & lots of buttons, so I could enjoy its comical and charming ness. The other pic is of 2 snails (ma insists they are turtles - but, hey, whatev) that used to adorn my toddler swim suit when I was a wee one. It also was too cute to store away, so into the frame it goes. I think they look cute! Hopefully, these little girls of ours will think of these family mementos as treasures and not worn out relics... smile.

We will let ya know when this wee wittle girl gets here!!!!

Birds, Birds... everywhere Birds!

Hey all you crazy cats... I thought I would show off the results of my distracting myself from the oncoming LABOR & DELIVERY that is headed my way soon and very soon.... dunt dunt duuuuuuh.

Yes, yes.... my due date is monday the 19th and every night seems to be THE night with all the contractions and whatnot.... Augh... I am so weary of trying to anticipate when this new baby girl is coming that I have been a busy bee distracting myself as much as possible.

These 2 little bird works have already made their way to their prospective homes, but I thought I would show 'em anyways b.c. they turned out rather nice. I really like this family of 3 that went to live with my good friend, Jess. Hope you like it, Jess. I loved making it for you, my sweet.


As to all this birth business... We'll keep ya posted!

Halloween

Here's some snippets of our Halloween... Lavender and her good friend, Matthew scouted our new neighborhood in all their hallowed gear. Matthew sported the monkey suit, while Lavender was a "pile of leaves"... I'm sure she will appreciate the originality of the costume later in life... eh eh.
I think she looks more like a Keebler Elf than anything. So cute!!!

Nevertheless, the kiddos seemed to have a great time until they reached the "scary house" down the street. There was this dude slumped down on a porch chair with hair in his face, groaning into a microphone. Matthew was hip to this scary scene at once and Laughfer said she wanted to go to the house, but then completely lost it... Thankfully her daddy was there to make it all betta.

Hope you guys had a fun and safe Halloween!!! We sure did!

The dust has settled

The dust has settled after many many weeks of chaos and we find ourselves at the happy end of a very stressful house hunt. We are no longer Chickamaugians.... so weird!
So here is our new home... a mere 8 minutes away from our former residence. Isn't it soo cute??!!!! It may not be an expansive 8 acre homestead, but for us, it is paradise!
As soon as everything finds its place, we'll have an impromptu house warming celebration... if that doesn't happen soon, it might also be a "meet the new baby" party. heehee... fyi... we are at week 37 and some odd days.... we'll keep ya posted!

Choo Choo

Hey all you crazy cats!
I just wanted to share another recent work with you guys. This is a replica of a little collage of a train roller coaster that I did for the Clothesline show. Isn't it fun???

This is the first peek... I will be putting it in my Etsy Shop this weekend, but I wanted to let you locals get first dibs on it if you would like to purchase it.

It is 8" x 8" and delightful... if I do say so!!!

Another Clothesline Success!!!!

First of all... I would like to say a great big thank you to everyone who came out to the show this weekend! It was so lovely to have some time to lazily savor the good conversation, incredible food and great weather.

Also, I would like to say another thank you to all my patrons... I am forever grateful for all your support! You made this an incredibly successful venture for me. Thanks...

I just can't say enough how much participating in this show pleases me. I love the women who make this show what it is... the artwork they create and the artwork that is their lives. It seems there is never enough time in the business of everyday to smell the roses and enjoy art, people and life. This show is about celebrating all those things. I have treasured the 2 weekends of clothesline we have had this year and can't wait for the next one.

Also, to those of you awaiting your commissioned works... I am busy busy buzzing away at them in the studio... I'll let ya know as soon as they are complete... thanks for your patience!!

Clothesline Art Show is this Weekend!!

Yes, Yes... it is Clothesline time again!
If you're wondering where this little blogger girl has been, the answer is simple: the studio. I have been buzz buzzing away finishing up canvases for this show.

As you all know from the Spring Clothesline show, this event is by far my absolute favorite art event. There is simply nothing better than spending a few hours at Laura's lovely home chatting with some of the most interesting women I have had the pleasure of knowing.

If you cats didn't make it to the last Clothesline event, you really must squeeze this into your weekend. I promise you won't be sorry.... the artwork is amazing and the people are some of the best I've known.

The hrs. are as follows:
Artist Reception: Friday 9-7-07 5:30pm
Sat. 9-8-07 11am - 7pm
Sun. 9-9-07 1pm - 5pm

For more info check out the Clothesline Blog:
http://ourclothesline.blogspot.com

Hope I see ya there!!!

Mademoiselle

Oui, oui... Here is my little French girl... These pics make me think her name should have been Cosette or something.

This little girl just loves to wear hats these days. She is forever asking me to put them on her head and then she precedes to model them throughout the house to whoever or whatever her audience may be... Girls... so funny...

But, hey - does it get any more adorable than this???

I think not.. he he !!!

GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I had a follow up Ultrasound and we have SUCH good news...
The Placenta Previa condition I was diagnosed with has corrected itself 100%!!!! All those prayers were heard and we are thanking the Lord for this blessing.

And here are a few fun facts about this pregger....

1 - The placenta has been moved into its rightful place far away from cervical obstruction and it cannot move back down - YAY!
2 - All is well with the baby... everything is measuring perfectly and we are healthy!
3 - The babe is DEFINITELY a girl!!!
4 - She weighs a whole 2 pounds right now....
5 - We are wholly relieved and thankful... soooo thankful!


Smiles to you all

Without further delay...

NEW WORKS!!!
As you can see, this little girl has been buzz buzz buzzing away in the studio. The Women's Clothesline show is well on it's way and I want to show all new works.

I have had a bit of an epiphany about my art as of late...
And it is simply this...
I don't think I can keep toiling away on such serious subject matter (like the "righteous man" portrait series) and be content right now.

I've realized that my everyday is filled with stories of little girls or animals learning new things and having grand adventures in great lands...
And I really like that. I love the way my little girl has softened the world around me. I want to make work that reflects this... that takes people to other worlds and inspires them.
So here is the result of such thinking. More works to come!

New works for precious girls

Here are a couple of little 4x4 canvases I just finished up for two special little girls. My good friend, Jana Banana, came in town for a long weekend and brought her two adorable girls with her. I made these canvases to brighten up their walls...smile.

We got together this afternoon and let the girls play about. We all had so much fun watching the wittle ones play and frolic about with the horses, dogs and other farm animals. Lavender even got to sit on a pony named Button! She thought it was the greatest and immediately got scared.... funny girl.

Nevertheless, farms are fun times with little people!

Beethoven in Chicky town

I bet you guys didn't know that there is a musical genius in Chicky town, huh?!

Yep, yep, Laughfer discovered this new "toy" this afternoon and just could not get enough. She loved it!! Bang, bang, bang... tink, tink, tink... yep, a true musician right here!

Hey... she comes by it naturally, right? Perhaps she will be like her Grandad and her uncle Joshie....

Cardboard Evolution

A lovely box with my new baby's bedding arrived the other day... it was just begging to evolve... to become something greater than itself.
Laughfer and I decided it would make a nice mansion for her animals to live in... they gotta hang in style, right?? Anyways, here are a few snippets of the transformation.

I think I liked playing with the box more than Laughfer... what does that say??? i think I don't want to know... he.

A crack in the WHITE WALL

This is a terribly bad pic of a drawing that I am at work on... I feel a bit strange posting such an incomplete, very meager beginning, but nevertheless here is the fledgling.

I hope this is the beginning of the demise of the White Wall... I think my work is in a Purgatory type state... hmmmm....

will let you know what happens.... ..... .....

Before the White Wall

Here I am... ever so late in posting my last completed work before THE WHITE WALL hit. (Forgive the pic quality here. I will get a betta shot lata.)

This is a portrait of my Father-in-Law, David. He is one of the greatest men I have ever had the privilege of knowing. One of the few leaders I think I could ever follow. And for that reason, his portrait is in the "Righteous Man" series.

I am a bit disappointed that this series is so small... I think there is only one more portrait that would belong amongst these men. I guess a good man is truly hard to find... (anyone read Flannery O'Conner? )

Hopefully, this portrait will be a blessing rather than an embarrassment. I think it is probably the best in the whole series. I hope he thinks so too!

Ultrasound Explained

SO, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH LORIE, MY MIDWIFE THIS MORNING. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE WEIRD THING ABOUT MY ULTRASOUND IS THE FACT THAT I HAVE COMPLETE PLACENTA PREVIA, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THAT MY PLACENTA IS COVERING THE WHOLE OF MY CERVIC. SO, I AM GOING TO BE GETTING LOTS AND LOTS MORE ULTRASOUNDS AND I WILL BE UNDER THE THE MICROSCOPE FOR THE REST OF THIS PREGNANCY. I FEEL SECURE WITH LORIE AND MY HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL, BUT PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS PLACENTA GETS A MOVE ON... WOULD BE NICE NOT TO HAVE A C SECTION.


HERE'S SOME MORE INFO, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED....
What is placenta previa?
If you have placenta previa, it means that your placenta is lying unusually low in your uterus, next to or covering your cervix. The placenta is the pancake-shaped organ — normally located near the top of the uterus — that supplies your baby with nutrients through the umbilical cord.

Placenta previa is not usually a problem early in pregnancy. But if it persists into later pregnancy, it can cause bleeding, which may require you to deliver early and can lead to other complications. If you have placenta previa when it's time to deliver your baby, you'll need to have a c-section.

If the placenta covers the cervix completely, it's called a complete or total previa. If it's right on the border of the cervix, it's called a marginal previa. (You may also hear the term "partial previa," which refers to a placenta that covers part of the cervical opening once the cervix starts to dilate.) If the edge of the placenta is within 2 centimeters of the cervix but not bordering it, it's called a low-lying placenta. The location of your placenta will be checked during your midpregnancy ultrasound exam.

FOR MORE INFO GO TO http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregcomplications/830.html

Baby Girl to come

So this week we had our very first Ultrasound of the new babe... and here she is!!!! Yes, yes... SHE... it is indeed a sweet little girl!!!

We couldn't be happier...look how cute she is already! (Actually the face forward pics always scare me a little... they kinda look alienlike, ya know.... )

Nevertheless, the tech said all is well... the heart developing right on track, kidneys working, measurements right on track and the like. We were relieved.

I didn't post these right away b.c we got a call late on Thurs. day afternoon from my midwife saying that she needs to speak to me regarding the ultrasound, but not to worry.... which, of course, makes me worry. Since she is off on Fridays we have to wait to find out what that is all about till Monday... so thus.... we wait. But, God is good and we trust that he will protect & care for all of us... even the smallest ones. Enjoy out babe's first pics!

belated fathers day glory

A late word or two about Fathers day...
Here is Joshers & Laughfer after a fun filled Father's Day afternoon making forts and playing games...

Laughfer loves to give her Papa kisses... and who can blame her for that??? (he's so fun... and cute too!)

Anyways... I just wanted to say to the world that Joshers is the best person I know and I am so thankful for him. I love him more and more everyday.

I hope a measly new waffle iron (for me to make master breakfasts - our fav) and a Hair o' the Dog gift card says as much... but probably not... why do words and presents never seem to say enuff???