cottage retreats

Rendering from Ronald F.DiMauro Architects

How many of us would just love to have our very own retreat?  For you only,  a place to go to for yoga, for art, to design, to write or to do anything you want.  A good spot for "Book Club" or a spot to go to when you want to get away right in your own back yard.  Take a look at this site.

(Click on cottages- Small pleasures.) Elements of Style posted it and I just cannot stop wanting my very own place to be.  To be or not to be!  I am aiming for my very own studio in the near future!  Click on the one you want and scroll down to see the anything you want rooms.

giving

I have a gift for each of you.  Click here.  I was inspired and signed up for 29 gifts here.  Giving has always been part of my life, but I never thought of giving as a way to bring about change.  Give for 29 days to make a change.  Sign up and join in giving. 

Giving brings about a new face, a smiling face!  Try it and you will see!

baby check

Babies and checks fascinate me.  I love babies soft skin, the rolls, and the dimples.  Tiny fingers curled, bright eyes, small button nose and lips that will soon give meaning as they say letters to form words, D,Dada.  Why do they all seem to say Dada first? 

Checks also remind me of babies.  This check pinafore was a lovely pale grey check with a white bedford cord collar, cuffs and front, a hand-me-down from a wonderful friend.  On the front was an embroidered bear face.  My baby will be turning nine and when I see a baby, I do a "baby check" and my husband says, keep moving.  ( I illustrated this of my baby girl and her father, my husband. ) He loved the baby years and was an expert swaddler.  He would wrap them so tightly and then proclaim, "See, they like it."

Now he sees a baby and the next day, he will say, "that was a cute baby" and I say, "keep moving!"

Is it just me, or do you do the baby check thing too?   

land beside me

Another master-piece by my sister Liz. I am enjoying seeing her work evolve and take on a new meaning. In order to be an artist, the work lies in the actual doing and letting one's work find a way by utilizing new techniques and working them through just as one would with a new exercise or diet. The results finally appear worthwhile. This is one of my favorite paintings that she has done. (Hint, Hint.) I see the calm before the storm in this work. I know that Liz has been working hard to use a limited palette and I love the end result. It is easy on the eyes. What do you see?

what do you do?

The world would be so much nicer if we wore shirts with words explaining what we do! 

I found this great t-shirt with the above image over here at Veer. What would your shirt say?

My printer has a great sense of humor, and he said his would say, I run around in circles, chasing my tail.  

So tell me, what would your shirt say?  Leave a comment, I know you want to.

Memorial Day tribute

Many of my illustrations have All-American Flags hanging proudly.  They remind me to be thankful and to remember those that have served our country.

Flags flying on Block Island for an all American Island Parade.

Flags flying high for a parade on another Island, Nantucket, and below on a yacht circling the Island of Manhattan.

Memorial Day tribute 2008

agent 99

Thanks to everyone for all your comments and advice.  I feel so much better that I opened that door.  So many incredible ideas and great thoughts for me to ponder.  Ponder this photo from none other than urban grace.  She said that pair of boxwoods makes her smile.  I have a grin from ear to ear.  I feel like I have my very own agent 99.  I love that "Get Smart" steel door.

Good to have an open door for comments and visitors.  Drop in!

green thumb

My quest for plants brings me to the local plant nursery.  There is nothing more inspiring than a trip to a florist full of fresh green plants and items that make one want to get dirty!   This year the plants and the pots seem even more amazing than ever!

Some hard working design devil is tempting me!  Even the gloves this year look fabulous.

The colors, the containers and all the items that make my green thumb start to shake.

upside down haven

Step on up to my stairway to my mid-century modern haven.

We have the blueprints from the Architect. circa 1949.

Nearly twelve years ago, I found the "one page" deed in the driveway which we needed for the closing which may not have happened without that important document.

Sweet Karma.  

Welcome to my stairway to heaven.  The rose bush to the right is tethered on a suspension wire and in a few weeks there will be ravishing roses in full bloom.  Pale and velvety roses.

But these planters need tending to and so many of you seem to love to give advice.  Free advice. One planter has an evergreen, the other is empty.  What about boxwoods or grasses?   Holly bush to the left always has a nest or two in the spring, Paracantha climbs up and in the fall bears orange bittersweet berries.  Any gardening thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated.

Located on a hillside, the view is heavenly.  Upstairs is my kitchen, living, bedrooms and back porch and patio. Downstairs is the hot bed working inferno, my work space, tv, computer and kid heaven.  Eyes on my work and an earshot from devilish angels. Photos taken by my writer buddy.  She has a brand new camera.  It's good to have friends with good equipment.

Thanks for the photos and any advice.  As my mother always said, "If you do not have anything  nice to say, just don't say it."  Sometimes it is still a hard rule to follow and I know I am not alone.  Go ahead and leave me something, like a comment or a hell-0!

catch of the day

Here is my catch of the day, "Annechovie!"  

Fresh faced beauty, blessed with incredible artistry and a graceful way with words.

Anne has a penchant for creating and inspiring an artful life.  Sound familiar?

Happiness radiates from Anne's work.  Having the pleasure of getting to know Anne is like adding sunshine to my day.  She has been a great friend to talk shop with about paint, and life and all that it entails.  

If you have a minute, here is one of Anne's chairs, have a seat!  Anne has a penchant for chairs.

Anne has a way of making things groovy and fresh.

Matisse also had a thing for chairs.  Anne adores Matisse and this is one of his paintings that

 has inspired Anne.  Anne adores the way Matisse used color.

The photo above is one of Anne next to this urn.  I think this color is so Anne.

Anne also loves to paint urns.

Fresh, cheery and exquisitely stunning!

   Anne was kind enough to say yes to send me some of her work for our annual Holiday school boutique and I sent her back a box of goodies to thank her, and this was my "cheeky" illustrated tin of annechovie's card that I enclosed.  If I knew back then, I would have sent some pumpkin seeds, some headbands, and some fresh coffee beans because Anne loves to have those while she works from seven to eleven.

Picture her at her desk, sporting flip flops, chic headband or pony tail, listening to words or music and painting fresh work!  

I hope you will get to know Anne if you do not already. 

As artists, we are all in this great big pond, swimming upstream together and since much of what we do is alone and isolated, it is always good to know that you have someone who adores you and thinks you are one great catch!  Extra annechovie's for me, please.

Order some Anne's work to inspire you!  Her work may even hang next to Matisse!

Word has it that he adored everything with "anchovy" - having painted on the Riviera it is only natural along with rose wine.