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???

The White Wall

The white wall is taunting me....
I just stretched a new canvas and even have the perrrrfect plan for its transformation and there it sits in my studio...
taunting me.

I don't have much to say about this dilemma except that I can't not mention it... since this canvas is always lurking after me, begging me to put something on it... reminding me that I really do need to begin new works for close and upcoming shows... while I am not too pregnant to be on my feet for hours and hours working on paintings. I know this...but my hands don't seem to. hmmm

All I really seem to know is that my issue of finishing a work seems to have been replaced by the inability to begin a work. I guess this is the turning of tides.

Laughfer & I

I love these pics of two girls amusing themselves through one of the only rainy days we have had in a long time.

I have to say I love the way these look kinda like photo booth pics. If I ever find a photo booth like the ones we used to make stupid faces in at the amusement park, I would totally buy it and put it in my house.

Nevertheless... here is my pretty girl and her silly mommie.

Last night's Feature

Last night we checked out this flick, it's called Fur..... Yes, I know, Fur.... ummmm hmmmm... uncomfortable sounding title, eh??? Well, the title is appropriate. The film has a constant uneasiness that sneaks its way through just about every frame...

But, I liked it.

This flick has some tricky subject matter (probably not a good idea to watch with tha kiddos... very intimate subject matter), but it has so much to enjoy... this movie is for artists or art lovers... for those who love texture... for those people who ponder how their favorite artists might really have lived their life... this movie is for someone who has a fantastic imagination and loves Alice in Wonderland...

altogether very enjoyable for me.... although I absolutely did not feel or respond to the main character the way I think the director was intending the audience to respond.
I, unlike my hubbie, don't really care too much about that... I want what I want out of a film and that seems to be that for me... however, Josh - a film connoisseur, finds this situation to mean that the film missed the mark and was not successful... and ya know, he's right I'm sure... I think I just take what I like and leave the rest (I know this is not a cohesive, thorough or dedicated way to view films... but this is what happens in my head).

One last thing... Josh and I thought that there were some shots that looked a little "Lifetime TVish" which was sooo strange to see after with some very Lynchian camera work...

Watch it and tell me what ya think!

Laughfer in tha Curtains

HEERE'S LAUGHFER!!!
I just love these Laughfer in the curtains pics... you can tell that I took them a while back, but I just realized I didn't post them... and hey, how could I not with a face as cute as this one???

It is so lovely to see this little face all angelic-like and even more to see the joy that simply playing in the curtains can bring.
Why aren't we all so easily amused??

Kate & Eden

Just look at these two beauties! I love these firelight pics of mamma and daughter... love these girls.

Memorial Campin'

This memorial day it was decided that conveniant camping was the way to go... What is this thing called conveniant camping you say???? Well, it is also know as backyard camping (and lucky for me and Joshers it was in our backyard!).
Sometimes with kiddos and all the gear that you realize you need, you just gotta cut yourself some slack and do what's going to be the easiest and most fun way to camp, ya know.
So that's what we did.
Campfires, tents, mallows, kids running wild, and nature walks all came together at once in that way that simple, great things do....which somehow just doesn't seem to happen enough... Thank you, three day weekend!

New works!

Here are some new works for those of you guys who couldn't make it to Clothesline. I should have posted some of these guys much much earlier, since a lot of them were done just before the show... but, anyhooo.... here they are!!!
I hope you guys like these new square canvases as much as I like making them. I think they are going over pretty well since a lot of them found happy homes this weekend... The first two birds pieces and the penguin have found new abodes in our little Chatty town... However the airplane, zebra and polka dot birds are still looking for theirs...
If ya want one just let me know!!! Some of the 4x6 corky collages with the antennas are still available too... but you just gotta ask if you're looking at one in particular....

For those techy art appreciators... the square canvas works are done with a process called beeswax collage, where no adhesives are used... all the components of the piece (whether drawn or a series of various textured papers) are dipped in beeswax and and adhered to the canvas with heat.
A very cool process... very eco-friendly, virtually weather resistant (although I wouldn't hang outside - the sun is a big bleacher), kid resistant, drop resistant and does not melt unless it hits almost 200degress!! so cool!!! These pieces are also portable since they are only 4" x 4" and 2" deep. I am such a fan of this new thing, if you can't tell... I guess that's what happens when you spend 10 years of your life dipping every collage in polyurethane!!!!!!!!!!! he he

Clothesline Success!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are a few snippets from the Women's Clothesline show that took place this past weekender at Laura's house. For those of you who didn't make it... it really was a pleasure to be there...and to participate. For me, being with other women artists whom I respect in such a lovely stress free environment was a treat... truly. Those of you cats who have been to Laura's home, you know a thing or two about the peace & comfort that envelopes you when you are there. At one point I thought that my feet might just have grown little roots that connected them to Laura's blue garden chairs. The experience of this show was colored with good conversation, great food and so much visual stimulation. Lovely.... just lovely, i say.
This weekend just reinforced over and over again that this is the kind of environment in which art was meant to be viewed. I just think that people need to see art living with people...they need to be in a comfortable place... a place where conversation isn't stifled and they can meet artists and be themselves.
Perhaps the gallery scene is just not always the right fit for every artist...or every viewer, for that matter. I know that the older I become the more weary I become of going through those motions. And perhaps I should take note b/c my sales this weekend were grrreat! Thank you everyone for coming out and supporting us!

Spidey

So, this weekender Ty, Jess and I went to check out the new Spidey flick. What a treat for me... I just love big release actiony movies, don't you...

Anyways.... I must say as far as great Marvel comic flicks go, this Spidey was by far my fav. I love the good verses evil story... especially when the character battles it in himself. Rockin!

For those of you who have not yet seen it.... Stop reading here... I am about to say a thing or two about the END - I hate it when people spoil the end, don't you??? At least I warned you, right?
Anywaysies.... I would love to know if any of you out there wish that Spidey would just stay bad.... or perhaps that Mary Jane would be so pissed about Harry that she turned all dark and devilish and kicked nice little Spidey's butt.... Some how I just think it would be sooooo fun to smash up the whole good guy Spidey image and piss off everyone by making such a dark and unsettling slap in tha face ending.

Who knows what this secret desire says about me... hmmmm. Tell me what you cats think!

Celebrating the PhD Chicky style

So our good friend Andy now has Dr. in front of his name! Yes, yes, a PhD has been earned through much dedication and hard work and we are all so proud of him!
In fact, we thought that such an achievement must be celebrated... and celebrated well. So, the Green house was once again the site of much laughter, beer drinking, grilling and camping. So much fun!!!!

This time was so lovely... full of my favorite things... good food, convos by the fire, naked babies running through the field, and remembering how blessed we are to have these good friends.

Check out the good times...
and one more thing... the ring around the rosie pic was not even staged! They just started doing that... super cute, though, right?

Sorry no real pics of the grown ups...unless you count Poppa Joel as a grown up... he he! I guess that is a symptom of mommiedom.

Down Home Days

So you cats are about to get a glimpse into a small town USA phenomena called Down Home Days !!!! This is a little celebration that has been going on in this one horse town for as long as I can remember. It used to be a relatively small event with one stage hosting cloggers, southern rock bands and beauty pageant contestants fighting for the grand title of Little Miss Chickamauga. However the most popular site of the event was a parking lot with one lonely junker car, I remember it being an El Camino, where you could pay one dollar to bash it to bits with a sledge hammer....

But now.... it has grown into quite the thing to do... the whole Chicky population seems to come out to enjoy an assortment of activities that include going down big inflatable slides, riding mechanical bulls, getting their hair teased and spray painted into wild shapes, eating BBQ and fried oreos and taking in a wide assortment of music or perhaps even purchase a handmade doll or quilt.

I know it all seems funny, but I love living in a town where you can see kids riding down the street on 4 wheelers, vendors dancing together outside their videalia onion tents and people carrying anything from dogs, kids or snakes in their arms... it is so unexpected... so unpretentous... it just is what it is and there is no where else like this town I know.