Kitty Genius

Why, hello there

Can I tell you how much I have loved this spring so far? Being in a different city which has a COMPLETELY different type of spring has been so interesting. I am used to 80°+ by now and the fact that it is still cool but with blossoms everywhere is breathtaking to me. Also, FINALLY having some outdoor space. Mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, it's all been a pleasure because I can be outside in my own yard anytime I want!

I so so wish we had a patio but this is a rental, and I don't want one badly enough to pay for it SO I am thinking to start with getting this. Is it pretty? No. Is it functional, fun, and will provide some shade? Yes.

I'm 90% over this spring cold that seems to have gotten to everyone. It lingers… bleh. And I have been busy working on a few new things for the shop including new porcelain pieces that will be available sometime in May.

My house is filled with the smell of baking. We're making bagels for the first time and I have to say they smell like a success!

Alphabet cards

Well, good day! It seems as though whatever is going around (the first spring cold) has really gotten a hold of me. And it's not pretty. Luckily, I have my share of pretty things to look at, and I have to share one of them. I ordered this alphabet set by Julie Morstad and I am completely smitten with it.

Here are a few of the alphabet cards:

The back of each card is as lovely as the front:

She is one talented lady. Someone asked me on the last post what the book with the paper airplanes on the spine was… this is it!

Also, I wanted to let everyone know about The Incredible Print Show over at Artstream. It runs May 1 to June 27. It's a great way to get your hands on some affordable art!

Last but not least, I have set up a Flickr set of my portraits as I complete them, which you can see here.

Happening upon goodness

My, my. Today I had to run a few errands and we had to go to the bank and whatnot and I am feeling a little stir crazy with the whole working frenzy, not-leaving-the-house-much thing… SO, I convinced Drew to run with me very quickly to an estate sale. It was AMAZING. She worked for the paper for over 50 years (the ad said) and had a love of books, nature, and art (I gathered). I felt very sentimental looking through her watercolors.

I walked away with some amazing things. I have been very careful to only buy what I LOVE or NEED in terms of home stuff lately… because 7 moves in 7 years… you give a lot of stuff away.

I have always wanted a record cabinet like this (not for records though) and this one was in the basement for $15!!

Currently I have books on top with these amazing porcelain hares I'm using as bookends. Of all places they were at a Tuesday Morning that I wandered into. I don't think I will go back there but I found sunglasses and the two rabbits that are a bit too sinister and designey to be for easter. And they were $6.99 each! My, what long ears you have.

Also from the estate sale I picked up this piece. It needs a new frame but the colors are fantastic. It's a print of a de Staël.

Also only $15.

This little book:

And last, but certainly not least, this cuckoo clock.

Drew's holding it far away, in part because it still has a dead spider or two on the top. But it's lovely, heavy, made in Germany and reminds me of my grandparents.

For Drew there was an old camera and an old comic (figures). I really feel like I found a little treasure today.

More portraits

I have been working day and night (literally) on portraits and will be sending out a ton this week and next and working on a new group of them. I wanted to share just a few of the completed portraits (with their permission, of course!). I am still happily accepting orders, so drop me a note.

I looooooove making the baby portraits. The photos of that baby killed me!

Okay, back to work! To those in the USA, happy… urm… tax day. I am SO relieved to have them done.

Tidbits

I hope everyone had a fantastic Passover, Easter, and weekend!

For me, there was a little of this:

and a little of that:

Thanks to some friends we went to lovely seder and Easter lunch.

I bought this little book published in 1916 on Etsy and I had yet to photograph it. The cover won me over but that the little sayings inside are equally great.

"The best way to secure future happiness is to be as happy as is rightfully possible to-day."

"Be pleasant until ten o'clock in the morning, and the rest of the day will take care of itself."

"The first step toward happiness is to determine to be happy."

"Make one person happy each day and in forty years you have made 14,600 human beings happy for a little time at least."

"Blessed are they who are pleasant to live with."

Good work, 1916. I wish I could find more copies of this. It's filled with just the right amount of sentiment, sensibility, and snarkiness. And it's tiny and pretty to look at.

Happy Monday!

A fresh week

A second cup of coffee and fresh apple juice surrounded by pens is a good description of the day so far.

It is lovely here. And a little thing like work is not going to stop me from enjoying the weather. Over the weekend I spread a big blanket in the backyard, brought a thermos of coffee and all my work and drew until sundown.

One of my partners in crime has been in Seattle since Friday for the Emerald City Comicon.

While my other partner in crime is perfecting her imitation of a ground hog (seeing it's shadow, predicting spring, and whatnot).

 

This photo is from today. Everyday as it warms up she reveals more of herself. Here is the photo from two weeks ago.

All winter long she was completely hidden and I had call out to her and listen for a little mew and a little lump move slightly so I wouldn't hop on the bed and crush her.

I think when Drew gets back from Seattle this afternoon I will persuade him to have a picnic dinner in the backyard.