Creative Energy

It takes a lot of energy to be creative some days, when life is throwing other things at you. 

I have not completed any of the paintings I'd hoped to this week, however I did get some much needed sorting and rearranging done. So that's something. :)

I do have these paintings in the works... an idea based on the Flower Crazy class by Carla Sonheim. (Yes, I totally love what I learned in that class!) They are still wet in this photo. More layers to come. 

In other news... my Vintage and Ephemera shop has a sale on select ephemera packs. Here are a couple to tempt you. (Note that I get these packs only from books that are torn, missing covers or falling apart.)

Old Picture Book Illustration Packs

Vintage Book Page Ephemera Pack

So what have you been up to this week? 

Sharing with Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristen. 

What's in my Studio - clean desk!

I've been sorting and cleaning and working on getting organized. It's a slow process when you also clear out old boxes of stored papers that couldn't be tossed/shredded yet... and now can. I've found a few fun things along the way, and gotten rid of lot's of stuff. It's still a work in progress. 

The desk and table in my office look much better! It feels SO good to have it cleared. My Etsy mail packaging station is now on the table. You can see the little scale and small pile of books that will be listed shortly. The blue thing is the paper cutter for cropping labels to fit small packages. A few matted prints are beyond, also waiting to be listed. Oh, and you can see a box under the table. It has additional books ready to be listed. 

In other news, we had snow over the weekend, and still have a bit. Here's a shot of our front yard on Saturday afternoon. 

Hope your week is going well! 

Sharing with Julie's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday. 

Tolkien memories

One of the advantages of going through and sorting old boxes of things I've hung on to, for whatever reason, is finding an occasional treasure.

I actually bought this calendar in 1980 for my then husband, and it has been stored and moved from one place to another for, um....... 31 years. Good grief! I also still have the entire series in paperback from the late 1970s. I've read it several times. (May I just say, that however entertaining, the movie rendition of The Hobbit has added bits and pieces to the story line that you won't find in the book.)

This cool old calendar is now available in my vintage Etsy shop.

Happy Friday!

Works in Progress

Abstract Monarda 

An almost complete painting... gesso and watercolor. I will add some highlights, I think, with white acrylic ink. The colors are not true, I didn't get these taken early enough for the good light. 

And these are very much works in progress, a few layers of watercolor in...

What are you working on today? 

Sharing with Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristen. 

Only Human - and The Mess on My Workdesk

Oh my goodness! I made the most monumental mistake last week. I managed to mix up the shipping labels on two orders from my Etsy shops, one of which was a large custom order... and what a mess! Both customers were understanding and are returning the wrong package (at my expense) and both now have what they actually ordered. 

The bright side is that both orders were of the items I have a lot in stock, rather than one-of-a-kind items. So I was able to resend their orders before their return packages get to me. Blessings! But sheesh! :)

In other news, I am in the midst of sorting my office and making an attempt to, yet again, reorganize. It seems to be a never ending process with me. Repeat after me... I am organized! I am organized!
Unfortunately, I am in the very messy midst and have papers and stuff EVERYWHERE! I was so hoping to share a lovely organized table with you all. But I AM getting to the bottom... if you look close you can see some of the table top. 

The shelves in the closet are looking better... 

These are the shelves for my Etsy shops mailing envelopes and small item storage. They are still being tweaked, but are getting closer.  

So what's happening on your desk?  

Check out what other folks are sharing with Julie's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday. 

Valentines Day Hearts

 Valentines Day! My sweetie and I had a mid morning breakfast/brunch at our favorite Old Town Cafe in downtown Bellingham. We love that place! Fabulous food and service to match. 

After our breakfast we drove along the bay to Fairhaven and took a very chilly walk along the shore at Marine Park .  Look what an earlier visitor left in the sand.... 

In my never ending search for heart rocks, I did find these. 

Do you see the hearts? Perhaps they are not true heart rocks, but they appear to be hearts from their placement and arrangement of sand. Works for me. :)

Happy Valentines! 

Blue Heart

Blue Heart 5 x 4
Block Print by Jason

Now available in my Etsy Shop: A fine art print of a Block Print piece created by my son Jason; a special needs adult. I'm honored to begin listing some of his work in my shop, and will have more listed over the next few weeks.

I have been without a muse since we returned from our trip, although I do have several paintings begun while on the road to complete. Hopefully by next week I'll be sharing some of my completed art as well as Jason's.

Happy Valentines Day, everyone! 

Sharing with the folks at 

Stay Warm!

Sunflower Whimsey Mixed Media
6 x 8 canvas panel

In this cold winter weather, I'm thinking fondly of warm weather and summer flowers. 

Stay Warm, everyone! 

Whats in my Studio... Or Painting on the Road

Poppies - Work in Progress

Poppies: A gesso and watercolor work in progress while on the road. This has been done in stages. I started in Mesa, Arizona just after the art retreat I attended. The other layers were added in Eureka California while hubby was watching the Super Bowl. 

WIP's drying on the hotel floor

May I add that this particular carpeting was the most unattractive of the hotels we've stayed in this trip. Everything else was quite adequate and accommodating. :)

I had to share the sunset from our hotel room window this evening (Monday). We've been to the dry desert area of Mesa and Yuma Arizona, and are finishing our trip driving up Highway 101 on the California and Oregon coast. 

Fellow WOYWW folks... note that we'll be arriving home after a long drive about the time this posts, and I'll be a very tired girl. I will catch up with you all as soon as I've had a really good sleep in my own bed. 

Check out what others have on their workdesks  Julie's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday.