Art and ideas for creative living
We met only once. Then the Pandemic hit. But so committed to our ArtistsU process, we continued to meet virtually for the next 6 months… then continued for an entire year. Encouragers, sound-boarders, jump-starters and as friends scattered over the whole state of New Hampshire, we are now going into our second year of challenging… Continue reading The Artist’s Challenge; February
I just couldn’t get there. I walked around, clicked the music on and off, sipped more coffee, stared into the woods, ate a cookie and still I could not get into the zone to start my art. It is a challenge for an artist to remain creative and inspired despite the circumstances, so sometimes we… Continue reading The Artist’s Challenge; January
Yep. Still here. And still inside by choice. If there is one defining thought that I took away from the events of these last 12 months is the importance of having a well-formed internal life. With so much turmoil and the accompanying assault on our in-take valves, it is easy to forget that we need… Continue reading Thinking from the Inside
The center of the home is where our heart lies, so they say. And in our home the kitchen is truly where all the action is. Since we spend so much time there, I always make sure it is dressed festively for the season because it lifts our spirits. Here are my creative twists on… Continue reading Decking the halls and the walls and the tiniest of places. PART FOUR: The center of the home.
The living room. Where we live? Actually we spend most of our time in our studios & kitchen but this room is where we live with some of our favorite collections while cozying up with a movie. This year I brought out new collections and Christmassized some of the older ones. Although I try… Continue reading Decking the halls and the walls and the tiniest of places. PART THREE: The living room
The Keeping Room. A term from the 18th century that refers to the room nearest the warmth of the cook-in fireplace where the family activities took place. Visit my Christmassy fireplace Keeping Room so see where we share our deepest conversations and keep our family memories warm and alive. With everything we all have gone… Continue reading Decking the halls and the walls and the tiniest of places. PART TWO: The keeping room
Magic. Its what we all want with winter holidays. And this year more than ever we need it! So follow my decorating journey this month to see what I can come up with to make this life of isolation a month of joy. Todays post; outside of my home during a snow storm. My chosen… Continue reading Decking the halls and walls and the tiniest of places. PART ONE: Outside
I started making English-style chutneys years ago because they are such a versatile condiment. Both savory and sweet, both tangy and complex, to my palette they are a great touch of umami to be used with any dish. My daughter and I worked out this Holiday version when she was just 11 years old. We… Continue reading Cranberry Orange Chutney
This time of year is my favorite for representational fabric painting. With my love of nature there is simply so much around me begging my brushes to mimic it. Normally I am teaching classes but since I have not opened up my studio for that yet, I thought you might enjoy a simple tutorial here.… Continue reading Painting fabric tutorial; autumn apples
It’s that time of year when I gather in the last of the herbs from my garden. The plants are nearly spent with autumn on its way. The first spring harvest of culinary herbs before they blossomed has long ago been dried and put away bearing their early tender flavor. Now is the time for… Continue reading End of summer tinctures; rose geranium
I once heard a “proper” gardening guru state that the color red does not belong in a garden. Huh? I understand that there are natural color relationships that would make a tomato red look out of place next to pale pink and lavender for example, but to rule it out all together? If you know my… Continue reading Gardening in Red
It’s been a nice morning here at my home and studio. Everything seems to know that summer is almost here. New babies emerged from their nests… …and their cocoons. And the peas are pea-ing…. …the beans are beaning… …and the rhubarb is standing tall with its hands towards the sun. It was time for me… Continue reading Morning musings
On this day of commercialized romantic love I want to encourage the idea of self-love, of appreciating and embracing our own unique self. As a creative, when I am in my full self I can be quite quirky so am often dismissed. How about you? Enjoy this poem I wrote around this time in 2014… Continue reading Heart yourself!
Nature is art and art mimics nature. Never more so than in the ever-popular Art in Bloom concept presented in galleries and museums. Last night, The Concord Garden Club worked in tandem with the League of NH Craftsmen to create a beautiful reprieve from the winter chill with a colorful and fragrant display of art… Continue reading Art and Flowers
Analytical thought vs perceptual intuition. Linear vs abstract. Bookkeeping/emails vs art making. Because these opposites require the use of different sides of the brain to formulate, it has always been a tug of war for me managing the “responsible” activities in my artist’s life while keeping the creative juices flowing. It literally feels like I… Continue reading Switching Gears: left brain/right brain
I know of no other group of people that are more giving than quilters. On November 8th my sister Niña called me from her car as she and her boyfriend drove out of Paradise, California through the flames of the now infamous Camp Fire, leaving behind her home to burn to the ground. The horror and… Continue reading The Quilters Christmas Gift
I routinely ask myself why I even bother to make artwork that hangs on a wall simply to make our rooms look nice. Really. When some folks have barely enough coins to feed themselves and others with no walls at all to hang things on, I question my motives. But the reality is that, like… Continue reading Why make art and coconut cake.
What is your color story? Bright hues told boldly because you were feeling summer? Or perhaps the barn-yard neutral saga because of your recent magazine reads? We are what we are influenced by; where we live and how often we see something affects our choices, even what colors we surround ourselves with. The commercial… Continue reading Color stories
It's all about the brushes and scissors and glue. But the what they don’t tell you about in “creative school” is your hands and neck and back. Conversation with myself: ME: Yes, yes, yes…color swirling, this way, blend, right-angles, numeric calculations, cut here, scrunch there… MYSELF: Ouch, no, dang it thumbs, ugh, no, bad neck… Continue reading The Ergonomics of being Creative
As David said, it wasn't cold enough in New Hampshire so we headed north to Montreal, Canada last week for a few days of snowy Christmas-y-ness in the historic old city. Cold it was—2º one morning—but walking in it added to the charm, invigorated one's spirits and burnt off a lot of calories! Let me… Continue reading Art and light of Christmas Montreal