I spoke too soon

Buddy's vet wrapped him up again and he's less than thrilled.

first grader

I taught a delightful 1st Grade class at a small private school in Solana Beach yesterday. They were a talented group of kids, and we did Klimt's 'tree of life' and here's one of the girl's work.

Buddy in a cone --by Janey in Florida

Janey, my wonderful friend who I only know through the internet and she lives in florida, drew this of Buddy. Don't ya love it? Good news, Buddy is cone-free as of last night! I think his little paw is healing well, and he is sooo much happier without the collar and the bandage!

California Quail

Poor Buddy

Buddy had an ingrown toenail and it required surgery. Poor little guy, he's miserable. He got to wear this collar for TEN DAYS! Until he gets the stitches out, see his right paw all bandaged up...I feel so bad for him.

Quail

Okay, I'm not happy with this, and I've kept on stitching to try and save it. I used the blue striped mattress ticking (when was the last time you saw a mattress covered in this fabric?100 years?) because I wanted to 'match' the bushtit...It's not working. I'm going to put this away, and start another quail.

Buddy UnderCover

I know, another kitty pic. I just can't help myself.

Buddy and BeBop

Buddy and BeBop watching for lizards and birds!

One-hour tree

I drew this in one hour in Lori's pen and ink class. A huge, very old tree in front of LaJolla Contemporary Museum of Art. For once, I don't think I'm going to add color...

bushtit on cloth

So, I'm clearly into birds this week! Here's my bushtit drawing on cloth. I used Melanie Testa's technique of drawing onto tracing paper, pinning the paper to fabric (and batting and backing) and, with my sewing machine, stitching on the lines. (I don't know how to free motion quilt, so this is with my feed dogs up and regular sewing foot.) Then I filled in some of the shapes with layers of tulle, also a Melly technique. It's not finished, I'll keep you posted.

bushtit

I'm working on lessons for Mundo Lindo, and that involves learning about and drawing the birds highlighted at Escondido Children's Museum. I'm painting these from photographs, which I don't usually like to do, but clearly, it's the only way to accomplish this. I'm having great fun with this project and hopefully will now recognize a Bushtit, from a Wrentit from an Orange Crowned Warbler!
watercolor moleskine.

mockingbird

western scrub-jay

wrentit

anna's hummingbird

a diverse day.

Morning coffee on the patio, preparation for Mundo Lindo, and the reception for the SDAI International show, where I have a piece, "Ralph's Envelopes."

ZEN Buddy

note: oh my. Janey made some wonderful drawings of Buddy here.

Pen and Ink class

I'm taking a 4 session class from my friend Lori. She sent us on a scavenger hunt to draw 12 objects in one hour within a one block area. We were in LaJolla, and it was a beautiful day, and it was a kick to see 16 people with sketchbooks in hand drawing intently in different locations. These were all drawn quickly (needless to say!) and with no pencil first, straight to pen. Then I added the color at home.
moleskine sketchbook with watersoluable crayons.

12 in an hour!

Here's the other six. She had us created the boxes on the page first, then go out and find the objects, from her list, to draw.

BeBop

Printer, scanner, daytimer, cat.... BeBop is a year old and--do I even have to say--adorable?
Note: I posted this and within the hour Janey on the East Coast did this painting!

EarthDay

Quail Gardens was a great place to spend EarthDay.

Quail Gardens

From our sketchcrawl at Quail Gardens in Encinitas. (The arbor is a little wonky, but hey, I was challenging my self.)

Sketchcrawl Today

About a dozen of us met at Quail Gardens in Encinitas today for our monthly sketchcrawl. Gorgeous place, beautiful day, great people. This is when we gathered for lunch and shared our journals.

A rose named BE-BOP

Our kitty is named BeBop, so of course we needed to own this rose bush named BE-BOP. I'll have to check to see if there's a rose named Buddy. Who, by the way, ate this rose before I finished painting it!

From Sunday in San Carlos

Here's a pic taken after the service for my stepfather. Left to right: Jamie, my brother's friend since kindergarten, my sister Elizabeth, my brother Rick, me and Marsha, my dear friend, since we were 10.

one year of blogging!

Japanese Friendship Garden

The view from the tea house at the Japanese Friendship Garden (established 1894) in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Laurel Street, San Carlos, CA

Husb and I were in San Carlos, the town I grew up in, for my stepfather's memorial service.

Marsha's House

Images from my dear friend's home in Sunnyvale. We've been friends since we were 10 years old! Husb and I stayed at her house for 3 nights.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Husb and I visited the fabulous deYoung museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. We also had tea at the over 100 year old Japanese Tea Garden. I'd visted both places many many times as a child...

5 pairs and counting.

more red shoes!

caregiver journal cover

Three times a year, I participate in a program called "A Space of Beauty" with SCRC. I volunteer to make a journal for a caregiver. I haven't met the woman, I just receive a sort of profile. This woman likes color, so I hope she likes her journal! I'm doing some pages for the inside too.

my new fave shoes.

All the shoes I own are either black or red. Got these from L.L.Bean and they are quite stylish, comfy and light weight.
watercolor moleskine

California Landscapes

I'm still working through my landscape phase. Teaching fabric landscapes to adults and watercolor landscapes to kids and I still can't seem to get enough of them! I did this from a photo. It's okay, but I wish I had taken a more painterly approach and not inked my lines.

Happy Easter!

My friend Terrilynn made this. "It's the same hot water that softens the carrot that hardens the egg." It's made from fabric and the carrot portion is about 11 inches. I LOVE IT!

Art Academy workshop

I taught a 2 hour workshop at the Art Academy of San Diego on Saturday, April 7. Ten people, including teachers, parents and kids. (The next workshop is on June 24, 10-noon.)

6 year old artist

Here's the start of the 6 year old's book from my workshop at the Art Academy of San Diego. I just love this.

student paintings

In 2 hours, we did 3 watercolor projects. Here are the landscapes and the tulips.

Five pages in 3 hours, including chatting.

another sketch at my museum demo.

some of my collection of found rocks

another sketch at my museum demo. I brought some stuff from home to sketch.

a green marble

"Draw my marble" the little girl requested.... I took on the challenge, but not very successfully.

what's in your purse?

another sketch at my museum demo. Nancy's garage sale pin and Jeri's keys.

demo at the museum

I was asked to demonstrate watercolor painting at the California Center for the Arts Museum in conjunction with an exhibit of watercolor paintings currently being shown. I thought I'd just sit in a chair, in the corner of the exhibition and paint in my journal, with people coming by to chat briefly. ----But instead, the museum set up a table and chairs so people could 'watch' my demo. I was nervous at first, but it turned out to be a lovely afternoon! I painted in my journal from 1-4pm and had an interested group watching and asking questions throughout the afternoon. Many stayed for over an hour and a half just to observe and enjoy the company of others. It was really fun, and as usual I encouraged people to sketch in a journal, and showed them how easy it was. I filled 5 pages of my watercolor moleskine, while chatting with the group the whole time!

first grader

The lesson was Cezanne. Whenever possible I like the kids to draw from life, so we use artificial fruit. I think this is gorgeous!
You can look at more of my student's artwork here.

ampersand series 1

About 4.5 inches by 8 inches on black cotton and stitched both by hand and machine. Hey, I've got an Art Quilt class starting May 11 in Oceanside, CA and it runs 6 weeks. Email me for details.

ampersand series 2

About 4.5 inches by 8 inches on black cotton and stitched both by hand and machine. Number 3 is almost finished.

Daley Ranch

This looks like a photo from a calendar, but it's not! Husb and I hiked today in beautiful Daley Ranch. This is the barn from the original family weekend home.

admiring the view

Here's husb, looking at the gorgeous view, on our hike today.

perfect weather

We hiked about 2.5 miles.

Sunday hike

A 3,500 acre ranch, open to the public for hiking, in Escondido, about 20 minutes from our house.