photo.jpg

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by ddhabicht

Marta and I had a wonderful day together at the Norton Simon Museum

More from Nature,

I am working on some things in my studio, I have been collecting many wonderfully beautiful pods on my nature walks. I also had a wonderful friend who collected some things for me on her walks. I have started to put some sketches and paintings together. I just started working on these pods from a physifolia, which is a eucalyptus that blooms red. It is done in colored pencil and not yet finished.

Our Nature walks

I love walking with Kylie and Randy. It brings things into a new light, and reminds me how beautiful life is. When I am in the car racing by I never notice the small things like flowers, and who is late mowing their lawns and which trees are blooming and which are sick. It puts me back into contact with my surroundings which is always a good thing. It reminds me of our last home. It was a modest California ranch style house on 1 1/4 acres. We remodeled it and landscaped the whole yard. We worked long hard hours out in our yard most days and all weekend. I loved it, our vegetable gardens , the rose gardens, the knot garden. Although we worked so hard we always did a walk at dusk through the whole yard. Before the sun set, in that warm glow of the last hint of sun we would walk the garden and inspect the plants. It kept us in touch with what needed to be done and which plants were sick or diseased. It was a nightly inspectionsI guess, making sure everything was well cared for before we went to bed. I loved it, I loved the time together with Randy, discussing things. If the sunlight held we would lay in the hammock and wait for it to set. So much dreaming, so much living was done in those walks. We are doing it again, differently, but its still good. This is a seed pod I found which had falled from a magnolia tree, beautiful to say the least.

Sam and Amber, this weeks challenge

This week we had a wonderful selection of pictures and although I started two I only finished this one so far. Sam and Amber.

I got spam comments so had to repost this one, why do people try to ruin the simpliest things?

Fabric Line

I have been working away on my fabric line, I am very excited about it. I have so much stuff already I will be glad when they feel I have enough and can start thinking of something else. I am already working on my next line. I love when you are in the zone and the ideas start flowing. I find I am not good company during those times, I become consumed with my task at hand. I did this little painting to go with all the fabric I have done so far. It is a childrens line, a western line, I hope it does well for me and for the fabric company. The brown horse seems so blotchy in this picture, its not? I don't get it.

Todays painting

I painted this goose, quickly, maybe 10 minutes. He is standing in a field of snow, next to and icy stream, looking off into the distance. Sometimes that reflects how we all feel and how I felt today. Alone, cold, looking out over a monotoned landscape. Unable to find any color, unable to see the beauty of things. Again, we had a hearing about Jennifer's benefits. Medi-cal terminates her health care monthly and we have been fighting to keep it. It a long story, and I wont burden you with details but I feel bad for the many people who,like Jennifer, are unable to fight their own battles and lose. They don't have an advocate and so, in their weakened state fall victim to the constant abuse, threats and finally termination by the government of their benefits. You always hear about the people who abuse the system and rip off the government and take money that isn't owed to them. I think this sets the stage for the way they deal with the rest of us, who are doing it the honest and right way. I thought this was all settled in 2005! I am just now seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. It does change a person, how could it not. It makes you cynical, critical, mad, frustrated and the constant stress takes its toll on our health and well being. I guess I will fight for her until I can fight no more and then pray someone will step up to the plate and take my place. Today I had a voice, I got to share my concerns with a judge, on record with the case workers present. I don't know if it will do any good, I don't know if it will make a difference, I have to wait and see. For now the fight continues.

Sidenote: In todays news there was a report of a 93 year old man who froze to death because the electric company turned off his power. They found him wrapped up in blankets wearing 4 sweaters. It was reported that there were icycles in his sinks. How can they do that in the middle of winter. Another story of no one to fight for the weak and sick, its just so sad.

Another day, another challenge

I love this blog called "Different strokes for different folks", its a group of artists that paint a challenge every other Wednesday. I just joined but was so impressed by the work being done, alot of oil painters. I did my first challenge, something I wouldn't choose on my own, a victorian house in San Fransisco. I did it but think its just mediocure and average but I like being a part of this group. I work well with deadlines, and since I have been avoiding doing the fabric line, I have welcomed the distraction. I have to focus again this week and get it moving again. Things can start out so good and hopeful and end up so messy!

My week to host the WDE for Wet Canvas

I select 16 pictures to post and then anyone who want to participate goes in and chooses one or more to paint. You have 30 minutes to select and 2 hours to paint. This is my entry so far, I posted a partially done piece at 2 hours and finished it within another hour.

Then I told them that as a challenge they should crop their painting to see if another mini masterpiece emerged. Here is my crop.

Still Life Duo #2

This is my second in the still life duo series. I decided to move the teapot forward and add another one I like. I also decided to add the element of doing each painting in a different medium. This one is done is soft pastels on a sanded board 9"x 12". I am not happy with the first teapot on this painting but I like the red one ok.

It sucks getting older... for Marta

LOL, it was Marta's birthday today. Dawn and I took her out for lunch at her favorite resturant. I worried that they wouldn't be serving since the weather didn't want to cooperate. But Marta insisted we go and we had such fun. When our desert was ordered the rain started and they moved us inside where we enjoyed chatting until the rain stopped. Dessert was wonderful! I wish we had painted it since my photo didn't turn out. I love these special times, special friends, special days. Happy Birthday to Ai and Marta today!

Inauguration Day

Yesterday we inaugurated a new president into office. It came with much hoopla and celebration. I must admit that although I didn't vote for him I am excited and I will pray for wisdom as he attempts to try and lead us out of this mess. Our last president was such a huge disappointment for all of us and I am glad to see him leave. This was the first time I have ever watched the inauguration ceremonies and felt proud to be an American and see all the people out to support him. He has a huge job ahead of him, he will need every ones support. Although I don't agree with him on many things he will need our prayers to do what he has to do. Here is a quick sketch I did yesterday of him laughing. Which he doesn't do much, he is always calm and I think shows great reserve and confidence. I know it doesn't look like him but I did it in about 10 minutes.

Reminants of the Holidays

Ok, so we have finally finished off all of the goodies that we never have any other time of the year. All the candy, cookies and cakes exchanged as gifts have been consumed. My waistline is suffering although I haven't gained more than a few pounds. Now is the challenge to overcome the cravings for all the goodies! AHHHH, withdrawls. Here is my tribute to the last of the See's candy, creams, which I don't like anyway!

Unnatural things on our nature walks

First of all, it feels unnatural to spell unnatural with two n's. Anyway, in an effort to battle the bulge and strive for a healthy lifestyle we decided to go green and walk Kylie to school. For myself, it seems the minute I make one of these commitments my mind spends the rest of the time trying to justify not following through! Every morning becomes a tug of war with my good intentions and my warm bed begging me not to leave. This will be the second week of walking, and I love it once I am up. Its brisk and a good long walk, about 3.5 miles roundtrip. If I don't make my bed before I leave it often talks me into one last catnap when I return. LOL We are bringing Jennifer's new dog along with us also. Since Randy has been off work he is walking with us and its been a nice time to talk and visit with Kylie(our granddaughter). Last week I noticed lots of discarded shiny metal objects along the way, so we started collecting, one each day. This is our weekly collection of unnatural objects from our nature walks.

A new little art quilt

I just finished up this little wall hanging. Its done with paints and I hand embroidered the panels onto the fabric, then added trim.

WC Still Life Duo Challenge #1

On Wet Canvas they are doing a challenge to set up just two objects and paint them, then remove one of the objects and add another. Paint again, then remove the oldest object and add something new, so that you always only have two objects. I think we are supposed to do a series of 6. I decided to join Marta and Casey in this challenge, I just loved what they were doing and I love a good challenge. Making just two objects come together to make a nice compostition will be a good lesson. I really need to think about the overall compostion of things as I set them up. Here is my first one, it is a teapot that my oldest daughter made in a ceramics class. I just love it although I have never heated water in it. I did this in watercolor and think that I will do the next one in Pastel.

Sketches from the sketchcrawl

Here are my sketches from today. Marta and I drove down to San Diego and met up with about 15 other artists. It was such fun catching up with Jane and making new friends. Jane shared Danny Gregory's Newest book in which he had featured many of the EDM sketchers. Congrats Jane on you spread in the book, you deserve it, you are so talented! We were warmly welcomed by the owners of the shops as we drew and painted. Then over to Guadalajara's for lunch! It was a perfect day, thank you San Diego sketchcrawlers for making us feel so welcome!

photo.jpg

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by ddhabicht

We arrived in San Diego to meet other artist friends for the 21st
worldwide sketchcrawl. We had a wonderful time!

The Three Musketeers

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by ddhabicht

Marta, Auden, Dawn and I all met the other day for lunch and to give Dawn our blessings on her trip to Florida. We had such a wonderful visit and Dawn couldn't wait to show off her new pink pimped out mobile! It was her Christmas gift from Mike and she looks so cute on it! Becareful Dawn cruizin around town in that thing! She is just too cute! She is on her way to Florida to run for lymphoma. Hip hip hurray.

Christmas Present IV

My oldest daughter Kim got me these beautiful gold earrings. They are very delicate. I noticed my pencils are dull and I am having a very hard time getting clean lines and good shapes. The softer the pencil the faster it dulls. I need to have a sharpener next to my bed too I guess. I usually use mechanical pencils which always stay sharp.

My New Years Gift to you!

One of my families favorite things I make during the holidays is my peanut brittle. It is easy and so yummy. I thought I would share it with all my online friends for the New Year. Enjoy!

Christmas Presents III

Another perfume bottle, these bottles are so small and cute! I haven't tried any of the fragrances yet but I will.

Christmas Presents II

Jennifer got me a box of small Ralph Lauren fragances, which I love. Each one is in a unique glass bottle. This is the first one, called Notorious, fitting for the New Year!

Christmas Presents

I thought I might draw some of my gifts as I go to bed at night. It is my drawing exercise for the day. This first one is a bar of hand made soap I got at a quilters Christmas party. I am also using my new sketchbook and graphite pencils that my daughter got me. I need to play with them awhile to figure out their value range. I will enjoy using the soap in my spa tube some night real soon! I have never heard of Olive oil soap, I can't decide whether to cook with it or bathe with it!

Finishing Up 2008

Ok admit it, this is the cutest picture so far! Nathan trying to hold his twin sisters on Christmas! Sorry I had to share it.

As the year is winding down I was glad to have finished some old UFO projects. I am going to start 2009 without all this extra baggage. I finished Nathan's pirate quilt which I have been working on for TWO years! I wrapped it again and gave it too him, unfortunately I forgot to photograph it so picture will come later. I also made that fleece blanket I have had the fabric for all year. I have so many art quilts in different stages of completion and although I am working on them I doubt I will make my Jan 1 deadline.

I am busy finishing up a quilt for the "Edges" challenge for the July IQA show in Long Beach, deadline is Jan 14th. There are a few of us in the art quilt group I belong to that are going to enter it. The challenge was to come up with our interpertation of what "edges" means to us. I thought it was going to be a really tough challenge but I love what I came up with. Shhh, its still a secret until I am finished. I will give you a peek then. The thing about challenges is that they make us think outside of the box and stretch. Monday I also received a two year contract to design fabric for Red Rooster Fabrics in NY, I am really excited about that! We are reading it over and checking all that fine print. How exciting to think that "Desiree's Designs" will be printed on the side of every yard of fabric they produce with my designs. Wow, another 15 minutes of fame! LOL I need to now work on the coordinating fabrics to go along with my panel I submitted to them. And then finally, my patterns got picked up by a big distributor and possibly a catalog company. These latest opportunities are directly related to our trip to Houston. THANKS HOUSTON!

It is turning out to be a busy end of 2008, a good time to clean up the old and welcome the new! I am hoping for many new and exciting opportunities for 2009!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Early Christmas Presents

I have gone to a few parties and so I have gotten a few wonderful gifts. One, from Dawn is still unwrapped under my tree. Another was opened at our quilting Christmas party, oil paint sticks and a book. The other day Marta called and asked if she could stop by with my present. She came with a wrapped gift, quite a surprise for Marta, our beloved scrooge. Inside the box was a pair of hand knitted socks! They are so wonderfully colored and warm. I have been wearing them everyday to keep my feet warm during our cold spell. The fire was on, a good Christmas movie was playing, I had my warm PJ's on and my new socks. As I layed on the couch I sketched them and then painted. There is somethings so special when someone takes the time and cares enough to give you something that they have made! Thanks Marta!

The Aftermath

OH the dietary trauma we all experience after Turkey day is amazing. I think I might be permanently stuffed myself now. The day was just about perfect, friends, family, games it was wonderful. I was so happy to have my family all together and mom was feeling fairly well, concidering her midnight fall! Now its time for fun parties, decorating and shopping. Phew, I am already tired! Hope your holiday was blessed!

Gobble Gobble

Well, its coming, its almost here, Thanksgiving! I love it because right after I get to decorate for Christmas. I love how Ronell has already decorated for Christmas but I have to wait. I don't want one holiday to overrun the other. My family is all coming this year, to be with mom, it should be alot of fun and very noisy! I recieved a challenge in one of my painting groups, they posted the head of a turkey, quite ugly by the way. No wonder they lose their heads. I thought I would take a few minutes and paint it last night. As I painted this little song started to come out of my mouth. It was a song from long ago, a school play that our youngest daughter was in. I sat and sang and painted. Jennifer said it was very creepy! LOL

Here's the picture, I challenge everyone to paint their own version of this goobler for Thanksgiving. Then post your link here, let us know how to come and see it! Here is the song... beware cuz its pretty catchy.

Gooble Gooble Gooble, Fat Turkey Fat Turkey

Gooble Gooble Gooble, Fat Turdeys are we

We're not here for living, we're here for Thanksgiving

Gooble Gooble Gooble Fat Turkeys are we!

Happy Thanksgiving

Christmas cards

Its that time again, even with so much going on I still really want to paint my own Christmas cards again this year. I think its so much fun to send cards that I have designed and printed myself. With the limited time I have had I haven't been really thinking about Christmas. Besides the fact that anything Christmasy that I might want to paint is still packed away until after Thanksgiving! Jennifer happened to find Pee Wee's Christmas dog collar as she was cleaning out her drawers the other day. When I saw it laying on her dresser I jumped all over it, its the closest thing to Christmas colors I have seen. Here is the little bells that are coming off of the collar. I might try some cookie cutter too, I should be able to find those!

Time slips away

My mom came down to stay with Jennifer so Randy and I could go to Houston. She got sick the day she arrived and after 2 911 calls and several trips to the hospital they finally admitted her and did some test. They found a mass in her abdomen and needless to say we have all been very upset and worried. After almost 2 weeks in the hospital I got to bring her home tonight. She is so weak and thin. They are going to let her try and build up some strength and then in a few weeks do a biopsy of the mass. They are not sure if its cancer or just a fibrous tumor but it is around the main arteries in her body and her kidneys. I haven't painted or drawn or done much of anything except just take care of her, and be with her. I have had family flying in and flying out, its been crazy. Its during these times that we remember how short our lives really are. We remember the things that are truly important and the things that aren't. We patch up silly family squabbles and overlook each others imperfections. Its a time when we all rally to support each other and be there to comfort. I am often amazed at how in the best of times people can be very ugly, selfish, petty and small yet in the hardest of times they can be generous, warm, loving and supportive to each other. Is it any wonder why God allows the hard times to come? I am praying that God gives her many many more healthy years with us, we all love her so much.

Houston Quilt Market 2008

Randy and I had the opportunity to have a booth at Quilt Market. I brought all my quilt patterns and at first the show seemed slow but as the days passed the wonderful opportunitys kept happening to us. I was approached by 4 magazines about submitting ideas and drawing for publication. I was picked up by distributors and catalogs. The most exciting thing for me was that a woman by the name of Nancy from Checkers introduced herself and told me she had seen my website and thought I should think about designing fabric. I have always wanted to do that, it seems like it would be a great fit for me. She then brought over Ann, who runs Red Roster fabrics out of NY and she asked me if I would be interested in signing a 2 year contract and I needed to get home and start designing! She wants my first line to release next year at Houston! WOW!!!! So exciting, if just a few of these things break open life would become even more exciting! What a great show we had even though I heard that the show was down about 50%.

We also went to Bernina's fashion show, it was incredible. The fashions were so exciting. Jay from Project Runway was there also, he was releasing his new line of fabric! Here are some pictures of our fun weekend.

The dresses are as follows, Galatea Adorned by Charlotte Warr Andersen, Midnight Waltz by Ludmila Aristova, Celestial Rendezvous by Janice Ellertson, The Body of work by Yvonne Porcella, Midnight Dance by Sandy Snowden. These were only a few of the many wonderful creations at the fashion show.

Friends

While I was at the art feastival this summer I love to just sit and observe people. People watching is so perfect when you are at large, outdoor venues like we were. There are so many different types of people, different colors, shapes, sizes, different lanquages, accents, clothes. Each one with their own opinion on what they like and don't like about the art. As I sat watching with my sketchbook I noticed two women sitting and talking. They were passionately sharing a story with each other, stopping to laugh now and then. I could only watch, unable to hear their story, I could only imagine what they were saying. I did notice that they both sat in very similar positions across the table from each other. Arms crossed on their chests, legs crossed sitting back against the back of the chair. I thought about how we tend to mimic some of the things our friends do the more we hang around them. The little things, probably unintentionally, but we do. I thought about my friends, the ones you can call at the drop of a hat and run out to lunch with. The ones that are available when you need to get something off your chest. The ones that will just do nothing with you. How blessed we are when are lives afford us those special people.

My birthday celebration early!

For my birthday the kids got us tickets to see Wicked at the Pantagas Theater in LA. It was a great play and now I know the real story!! After that we went to dinner at the Bonaventure Hotel in Hollywood, as we waited for our table we sat at the bar which turns in a slow circle to reveal a wonderful view of LA from the 35th floor. Then at dinner we had the same view but not moving. It made for a perfect day and night, this is our dinner view, taken with my phone. We were lucky that it was a nice clear day in Los Angeles. Today there are fires. I just love it when my birthday starts early then its like having a birthweek!

I think I am almost as old as Marta now! LOL HUGS

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by ddhabicht

Absorbed in the newness

I must say, I love helping with the babies. Its the whole thing, the bathing, the feeding, the smell of baby. Everything is so new, so fresh and so dependent. Everyday they change, their little heads and faces are changing shape, they are becoming their own person. Megan seems to be more needy and might need a pacifer where Rachel is happy to just lay there awake and look around. I wish I didn't have so much going on like the Trade show coming up, Jenns therapy, doctors appt. etc so I could just play at Kim's! LOL Oh well, I guess I will just have to run over as I can. The hardest part is that Nathan is not adjusting well. He is trying but for him its all changing. He is not the focus anymore. Everyone is trying to help him make the transition as well as possible. He keeps telling Kim that she need to stop taking care of the babies and take care of him now. Oh the saga of a three year old, only child who now has sisters.

The Babies are HERE!!

After the required amount of worrying, waiting and wanting the babies made their way into the world on Oct 5, 2008. My oldest daughter carried them for 38 weeks, which they say is very good for twins. They were born 6 and 6.5 lbs and withing a few minutes of each other. I never did see them cry, I hope that is a good sign for my very tired and apprehensive daughter. Today I watched Nathan, their three year old, and around 7:00pm they came to pick him up. He hadn't seen the babies yet. All he could say was "OH MY GOSH" as he tried to touch their hands and feet. He then looked at my daughter and said "Let me see your stomach!"

Back to a simpler time

This summer I have the wonderful opportunity to visit my mom twice! It was so nice to just get away and enjoy a different part of the state. It is very "country" where she lives, no fast food, one small general food store, farm supply. No hospitals just a small clinic. It is beautiful with surrounding vineyards and redwoods that stand like soldiers guarding the valley. Its one of those places that as you are driving through you are thinking " I want to live here!". But its a harder way of life. I often hear people say I wish we lived back when things were simpler and less complicated. Well simpler doesn't me easier. I think they must be referring to the lack of technology and their confusion with that. LOL But, with that said, there is something inside of me that is very homespun. I love all the things that revolve around the home, gardening, canning, raising our food, sewing, design etc. Just saying that makes me sound like a nerd! But oh well, that's me! I think I am a hip, cool, nerd LOL. I have often dreamed of living out in the country, doing all the things I love. With Jennifer now, that is out of the question, with the lack of doctors and sidewalks, being handicapped in the country would be tough!

While we were up there, enjoying the whole area, we went to Glass Beach which is along the coast. It is an interesting place, a unique area of shoreline covered in smooth glass. As I understand it, they used to dump all the glass trash out in the ocean years and years ago. The tide stirred up all the broken bottles and polished the glass and spits it up onto this one small section of beach. If you stand on the rocks overhead and look down the shoreline sparkles as the sunlight reflects off of the sand made of glass. People come from all over to gather the glass and they make jewelry etc out of it. Randy and I along with my youngest daughter and her husband decided to make the trip to the coast to see it. As we walked along the path to get to the beach there were hundreds of wild blackberries ripening on the vines. I could barely contain myself since the thought of blackberry anything sounds lushess. Randy promised he would help me pick them on our way back in. After a wonderful few hours on the cool shoreline and our pockets were full of glass treasures we made our way back along the blackberries. We picked a bag of berries and I went back to moms to make jam! Yummy, yes yummy. I brought home my goodies to enjoy and share. Here are the photographs of my wonderful find, and canned treasures. The question is " Is this the simplier way of life or would a run to the super market been a better use of my time? I will say that my emotional attachment to this batch of jam only became reality because of all the time and work involved in its creation. So now they sit on a shelf, being admired as though some rare artifact, I am even including them in my still lifes for painting before they are quickly consumed by my loved ones!