Happy Memorial Day!

Today, in Riverside, there was a bike rally to the National Cemetery in honor of our Veterans. Over 7,000 motorcycles took part in this tribute as we lined the streets and cheered them on! It was a great way to start the day. The procession took over an hour to pass by and we were occasionally buzzed by Navy helicopters.

My International Postcards

Some of you know that I am involved in an International postcard exchange where every month we have to send a sketched/painted postcard to one of 14 people from around the world. It is so exciting to go to the mailbox and be able to hold some of my favorite artists work up close. I am enjoying the process so much but realized I haven't been sharing the cards I am sending. The first postcard went to Katherine, I did post that the card was later made into notecards by the hospital that I had painted. The next card went to Liz, and then the last went to Martin. My next card is getting ready to mail but I wont post as I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. If you would like to see all the amazing postcards being sent from around the world click on the logo of the walking feet and it will take you to "Postcards from my walk" blog. Enjoy

I can't seem to find Liz's card, with more than one computer I can't remember where I put it, may have to add later!

The Rose Garden

Our rose garden is so amazing this year. We decided to not prune as severely as normal and then my husband, the closet rosearian, applied his secret fertilizer mixture. It been an explosion of color! The Sally Holmes is amazing, the clumps of roses look like huge ice cream cones covering our metal columns. It is eye candy and that is not even to mention the smell over there.

I am playing in the studio again!!

I have been playing with Copic markers in the studio again. They are very interesting and artists are able to do some amazing things with them on paper. I however am playing with them on fabric. Its another place where I can get that watercolor feel I love, loosing the control I like to have and just letting the magic happen. I am trying different fabrics like silks and muslin along with different methods. I will be playing with a negative painting approach next time, using glue as my resist. The copic markers and even some other markers come alive once I apply this alcohol solution to them, their colors pop but they bleed everywhere. I am also playing with regular sharpies and getting similar results. I am trying to use brushes etc to control some of the bleed. Here is one of my projects.

My Create Art Applique class in Costa Mesa

I met some amazing women and sadly only got to visit with each of them for a few hours. I love the opportunity to teach in these venues and meet lots of creative, artsy people. Being an artist almost forces you into a bit of a hermit like existence. Locked away in my studio or on location I get into a zone, my own little place where I create. I find that I often even talk myself, sometimes good, sometimes bad depending on how things are turning out. We did my colored pencil technique on pre-quilted blocks. It is a lot of fun and can be very relaxing if it hadn't been for the pounding of metal in the next room.  Seems as though we were placed next door to the metal embossing class and they banged on their bracelets and charms all class long. We laughed about it as we were often trying to talk over the noise coming from that room, good thing I wasn't trying to play music! So much for their Zen experience. Here are some pictures of my class working on the project.

The pictures turned out a bit yellow due to the lighting in the room. I also was filmed by Jen Mason from Cloth Paper Scissors for a snippet on their website! Hope all of you had a great day today!

If any of you would like to order a pre-quilted block just email me and I will send you pricing, I have these larger blocks and then smaller 6"x6" blocks!

Back from Market and on to my CREATE Class!!!

We had an amazing time at Spring Market in Salt Lake City. The city is beautiful and I enjoyed taking photos and painting while we were there. My newest quilts were a hit and I loved seeing all the art quilts at the show. It left me very inspired and motivated to get busy.

my newest patterns were received very well by everyone and I have lots of orders to get out, I just finished shipping today.  The art quilts in the show were beautiful, lots of new methods that always peek everyones curiosity.  Then we were on to Zion, wow, another beautiful spot and the weather held until we left and the rain started coming down.  

I now am excited to be getting ready to teach at the CREATE weekend retreat in Costa Mesa. I have been getting my blocks ready and I made my students name tags today, fun fun! All ready, even had time to play with my new copic markers and created a new quilt!!! Marianne inspired me with her beautiful sweet peas she brought over at our last sketching meeting.  We started a sketching blog for the sketch group, I am calling us the Sketchy 5150's, or crazy sketchers! Come over and visit our new blog.  

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, a photo by ddhabicht on Flickr.

Our view quickly sketched and painted this morning before the show.

Spring Market

We are having an amazing show! Lots of interest and we are making lots of new friends and seeing lots of old friends. The drive into Utah was some of the most breath taking views I have ever seen. Huge, snow covered mountains and clay foothills lined the drive into Salt Lake. Once there we were delighted to see hundreds of tulips blooming everywhere we looked! Its a beautiful city and we are having a great time. Jenn and Kylie even went to watch the Mormon tabernacle choir rehearse!

Happy Mothers Day

I wanted to be the first to wish everyone a Happy Mothers Day!! I know I am early but with my crazy schedule it is the best time for me to post. Before I forget! I hope that all the moms get to do something special for themselves. I booked Happy Feet appt's for me and my favorite moms, my girls! My mom is to far away to join us but will be thinking of her and missing her as I do everyday. Enjoy

A day at the Wild Animal Park

We took three of our grandchildren to the Wild Animal Park in San Diego today. The park was overflowing with baby animals, nesting birds and a special butterfly exhibit! It was perfect weather and the kids had a great time. I took tons of pictures and brought along my trustee sketchbook. I took everything home and painted a few things. I was inspired by all the wildlife, and I do mean animals not grandkids, to paint. Here is one of the Lorikeets that the kids fed while there. 

Watercolor 5"x7"