Little Muses

I am SO looking forward to this show! Check out the Three Graces Gallery blog and website for information about the other lovely ladies involved. I am lucky to be a part of this event, and am very much looking forward to seeing all of the artwork together. Kim Ferreira owns and operates this inspiring gallery by the sea.

Ocean Isle

Ever since I was a wee-little girl, my parents would take my sister and me to the Carolinas. Whether they realized it at the time or not, this once-a-year trip caused an obsession in my heart that I refer to as the "Paradise Sickness". I can't get enough of that hot, sunny, tropical weather. That ocean scent. That feeling of contentment, adventure, magic... Well, you get my point. I love the beach.

Longer ago than I can remember, we started vacationing specifically in Ocean Isle, at The Winds. It was a quirky resort with tacky decor, a creaking boardwalk, and nothing but good memories. It sat on a slowly eroding beach front property which was frequented by hurricanes in the summer. We loved it there. So, upon moving back to the East Coast, I thought what could be more fun than sharing this second home to my husband? Then he could finally understand how the Paradise Sickness came to be.

Well, we took a road trip there last week, and there were too many photos to share. I uploaded them to an album that you can view HERE. Cool! Hope you have fun looking at our summer adventure :)

Mountain Biking Season

Has officially started. We went on a super fun trail in Norwich, Vermont and took some pictures.

Nouveau

Alright, yes, I do realize that I probably went a little over the top, but when a particular combination of elements pops into your life that's just too good to pass up, how can you?? A new digital camera with a macro view and a beautiful bouquet of flowers simply equals f-u-n. Click on the images for an even closer look.

Adventures in Charleston

Every year our family ventures to Charleston, South Carolina in April. The trip is arranged and executed by our lovely Grandmother. We venture down via Amtrak and spend a week absorbing sunshine, enjoying historic tours, and shopping until we can barely walk. It's lovely.

Charleston has a beautiful charm: the historic buildings integrated into the modern landscape, the secret alleyways with overgrown vines and cobblestones, and the water sitting at the edge of the city, allowing sea life to be closely admired by any who will take the time.





My Mum and me.

cuteness

So! I belong to the Applegang. We consist of four rowdy girls that grew up on an apple orchard together. The title was given to us pretty much at birth, and has traveled with me everywhere. Well, two of those girls are my lovely cousins, whom happen to be sisters, and they both just happen to be pregnant! I am so excited for both of them and couldn't resist designing them a card. I used the same layout but used the background to set them apart. Corey loves polka-dots and Kate loves butterflies. These cards were such a joy to make and I just had to share :)

the process

it's all about the process. this is my most recently completed painting: my heavy sand dollar heart.





i used watered down acrylic like watercolor for the octopus and sand dollar. i thought that would make them look more dream-like and fluid.




if you look closely you can see a clear stamp almost- in the middle right of the canvas. the light is hitting the painting just right in that spot. i actually stenciled a wallpaper pattern over the background of the painting with a gloss modge podge. it was more of an experiment than anything. it creates a cool effect that you won't notice at first. again, i was hoping this would give the painting a more magical, dreamy quality.