Vacation Inspired Art

Hi there. How are you?

We recently returned home from a lovely 10-day vacation.

Traveling to Tampa, Florida, Matt (my husband) and I embarked on a 5-day cruise with a group of old friends. We witnessed the beach wedding of our friends while docked in Key West. (Matt served as officiant!) From there we headed to Cozumel, and back to Tampa.

After the cruise, we drove down to Naples, Florida and spent a few relaxing days visiting Matt's parents in their winter home.

Ten days of sun, sea, and leisure does wonders for my psyche.

In the words of my Dad, "It didn't suck."

My vacation drawing was influenced by the tropical color palette of my travels.

Our tropical travels inspired this drawing.

My sketchbook comes with me everywhere I go, especially on vacation. Though this trip was packed with activity, I did manage to get in a little drawing time. I drew out by the pool on cruise days and in the Schooner bar when we had our pre-dinner cocktails. If I don't get in a little drawing most days, I just don't feel right.

As you can see, the tropical colors of my travels inspired the "bird of paradise" color scheme. I had intended to use this drawing as the backdrop for a new card design, but I haven't decided how to use it yet. (Thoughts?)

My vacation drawing is available as a print. Click through to purchase.

My vacation drawing is available as a new 8" x 10" print.

Here's the print, shown mocked up in a frame. Doesn't it look sharp? This print, along with several others is now available for sale on my website. These vibrant, abstract prints are sure to give a little pop of personality and color to your space.

That's all for now. I've gotta get busy making! Ciao.

Get Out and See Some Art this Weekend!

Hi there. How are you?

I was asked to exhibit my work at the Carbondale Public Library this month. (Did I mention that I now work at the Library?) Yep, I'm the new Teen and Youth Program Coordinator there. I spend each morning at home in my studio and then spend the afternoons at the Library. Love it!

So back to my exhibition.... A collection of my my current mixed-media works are on display in the Library. All pieces are for sale and a portion of the proceeds go to the Library. If you're local, hope you can stop by and take a look! If you can't, well here's a little look into the show.

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Paducah + Bricolage = Fab Day Trip

Bricolage Art Collective is a fabulous art gallery/shoppe, in the heart of downtown Paducah. I'm happy to report that you will now find a collection of my original work, embroidery hoop prints, pillows, and cards there.

Though Bricolage has been open for some time now, they are having their official grand opening on Saturday. Let me tell you, Bricolage is beautiful! They have curated a lovely collection of local and regional artist's work, Paducah centric gift items, and vinyl records in a gorgeous space.

Friends, if you have never been to Paducah, it's worth checking out. The downtown/Lower Town Arts District has a great mix of shops and restaurants, an art house cinema, and galleries. There is also a fab new brewery about 10 minutes from downtown. Paducah makes a great day trip from Southern Illinois! (Can you tell I love Paducah?)

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Well, that's it for now.

But do expect to hear more from me soon! Ta-ta. Oh, and one last thing, if you'd like to be the first to hear about what's going on in the world, do join my mailing list!

Coachella 2015 - Fashion Fails of the Festival

Hi there. How are you?

A few weeks back, Matt and I attended Coachella, the huge annual music festival in Indio, California. Someday I'll write about the music, but first I must tell you about the fashion scene, or lack thereof. Maybe I'm just getting old and don't understand, but we saw a lot of bad trashy style and not much good.

I couldn't get over how many young girls were dressed almost exactly alike. It's like Coachella had a uniform/dress code that I wasn't aware of.

I made a Polyvore mock of the Coachella 2015 "uniform." 

The Coachella 2015 Uniform

1. It's hot and sunny in the Indio desert, so you if you must wear a hat, it must be black, floppy and made of felt. (Makes perfect sense right?) If you decided to deviate from the black hat, you must wear a flower crown.

2. The desert is dry and dusty, so wear a bandana over your nose and mouth. Makes you look so mysterious and gangsta! Show a little American pride by wearing one featuring the star and stripes.

3. Underwear makes the best outerwear at Coachella. The skimpier the better......It's too hot for anything else. Visible side boob is a plus.

4.  Add a touch of bohemian to your look with a practical fanny pack. (Actually, this is the only sensible part of the Coachella uniform. You've got to do a ton of walking and standing at Coachella and a purse gets hot and cumbersome.)

5.  White, high-waisted lace shorts make perfect sense when sitting on the dusty ground, waiting for the next band to start. The only other acceptable form of shorts are acid washed jean shorts. Extra points if your shorts are cut so short that your butt cheeks are exposed.

6. Gladiator sandals make the most sense for the many miles you will walk during your weekend at Coachella. If you must have a little more support, wear ankle boots. If you're a real slob, wear Chucks.

Here are some of the actual pics I snapped at Coachella:

Don't worry, I picked on the boys too.

And lastly, here's what I wore. Aren't I so hip?

Though this post was incredibly fun to write and I so enjoy people watching, I post about the current "bare it all" trend because it alarms me. 

Do young girls think this it's necessary to be scantily clad to attract the male gaze? If you ask my husband, he'll say that all a girl needs to do to catch his eye is a wear a sundress. It doesn't need to be super short or revealing, just a well fitting, flattering dress.

Girls, you can be sexy without being skanky.

So readers, what do you think? 

Am I old and and just overreacting? Is it just a generational gap? (I went to high school and college in the 90's when oversized overalls and flannel were all the rage.) Do chime in!

That's all for now. Enjoy your weekend. Ta-Ta!