First Brush of Spring!

Spring Beauties, 8x10, oil on panel
See www.marioncorbinmayer.com for purchase information

Last weekend my husband Rob (aka "el Patron") and I drove to New Harmony, IN, to attend "The First Brush of Spring" - a plein air painting competition sponsored by the Hoosier Salon and the Indiana Plein Air Painters Assoc. (IPAPA).  It was a really fun event, even though the weather did not cooperate.  It was cold!  We rented a golf cart for one day and froze as we explored New Harmony.  The artists who braved the weather to paint looked far colder though.

 I only painted one day and kept very close to our B&B.  In fact I set up on the porch and painted the pansies.  Coco, one of the resident cats posed very briefly, so I utilized photo reference to add her to the painting.  She just wouldn't hold still!

First pass on ms Coco the cat

Transparent underpainting

 New Harmony is a very picturesque town on the Wabash River in the southwest corner of Indiana. Originally started as an "intentional community" it continues in spite of economic ups & downs as a destination for artists, musicians and writers.  It has attracted many baby boomers as a retirement community as well. The town really welcomed the invasion of artists for the weekend.  Since the weather was iffy people were painting in restaurants,  book  stores & wine bars.  The local ice cream parlor featured wonderful handmade flavors.  (http://newharmony.org/)

We stayed at Cooks on Brewery (http://cooksonbrewery.com/) and had a fabulous time.  Cooks has three rooms to offer and we lucked into the first floor accessible room. This was great since my knee had gone “wonky.”  It also featured a huge closet perfect for my stash of painting supplies.  The bed was comfy, the linens smooth and the shared living areas cozy. Each morning the breakfast was amazing and provided a terrific start to each day. Jonathan and David were excellent hosts.  We enjoyed the company of the resident cats as well but no cat hair. Wonder how they manage that?  Sure doesn't work that way at my house…

Cooks on Brewery B and B

It was fun to hang out with so many talented artists for the weekend. There was a fabulous art sale Saturday morning.  So many great little paintings for sale by many of the artists who attended the event! I did not enter the competition, but maybe next year. I was too busy exploring New Harmony and soaking in the art energy...

We plan to return next April.

R.I.P. Louisa McEwain

I was stunned to learn that artist Louisa McElwain died suddenly last month.  I have admired her work for years as it was promoted in Southwest Art Magazine.

Sage Of Worlds, Oil
Louisa McElwain
(clipped from www.louisamcelwain.com)

Please watch this YouTube video to appreciate her bold brushwork and HUGE plein air paintings. I paint outside, using 8"x10" canvas panels.  She uses 3 ft by 5 ft canvases bungee corded to the back of her camper!  Totally different experience.

Here's the link:  http://youtu.be/fIbOQwuh2fk

Pondering Mortality is a strange place to be.  Louisa's obituary states she lived from 1953-2013.  I was also born in 1953, as were many other Baby Boomers.

I intend to stop living as if I have all the time in the world to paint what I am here to paint.  I have let myself get distracted once again by the endless rehab project in my home instead of taking the time to actually paint.  After completing the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge it seems harder than ever to carve out time to keep painting.

At least I am taking the time this month to learn more about creating better blogs and websites through fascinating online course: www.webinarts.net with Leslie Saeta.  Feel fee to use the new subscription box to get this blog delivered directly to your email IN box   Also please explore the other blogs I am following... (I just learned how to put those gadgets on this page!)  

You may also want to check out www.marioncorbinmayer.weebly.com - my "under construction" website.  There are several functioning "Buy Now" features there that would make it easy for you to add my work to your collection.

I am also looking forward to spending two days with Leslie next week in Carmel, IN, learning more about painting with a palette knife.  Stay tuned!

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

SOLD!

I am so happy February is over! March came in like a lion with cold blowing snow flurries but so far no accumulation.  Annoying but not life threatening.  March 1 & 2 was the Early Spring Essex Studios Art Walk and Creative Catalyst Studio was open for business!  We had a lovely weekend meeting both old friends and new.  I was really pleased to sell my latest painting to a collector.  This work was still WET because I created it on February 28th!

Poppies!, 12x12 oil on panel

(Private collection)

I was blessed to spend an additional three days with Dreama Tolle Perry last week, learning more about making juicy, colorful paintings. (www.dreamatolleperry.com) I traveled to Carmel, Indiana (not to be confused with Carmel, CA) for this workshop and had a blast. Carmel is a really interesting suburb of Indianapolis with great galleries and shops.  We spent Tuesday - Thursday painting and learning more about marketing our art.  I could easily become a Dreama groupie because her teaching style is so gracious and caring.

Day 1 - Tulips!

Day 2 - Sunny Courtyard

I'm really happy to be slinging paint around again. It seemed like I would never get back to it after completing the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge.

Starting this week I am going to learn more about adding a "BUY NOW" button in the blog to make it easier for YOU to collect my art!  Stay tuned!

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Copying the Masters @ CAM

Yesterday I participated in a "Paint IN" at the Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) with the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association (IPAPA).  The Ohio Plein Air Society (OPAS) was supposed to be there as well but I didn't see anyone.  It was a blast to schlep my painting stuff into the museum (good thing I knew where the handicap entrance ramp was!)

Of course I headed to the gallery where the impressionist paintings are.  The painting I had wanted to copy was missing. It is a HUGE pastel night scene of sheep on a hillside that only gets to come out every now & then since the museum is interested in preserving the paper as long as possible.  They are afraid that extended exposure to light might damage it.  I looked around the gallery and decided NOT to attempt Monet or Renoir.  In fact I cannot remember the artist who painted this piece:

There is a very poorly painted bench and a sketched in figure in the foreground that I decided to ignore.  Looks like the artist never finished this piece.  (Thus illustrating the danger of leaving incomplete work in your studio where your rotten heirs can find it after your death!)  I was attracted to the light patter and the spring azaleas.  Although this is in France it reminds me of Savannah, GA, this time of year.  I am really sick of winter at the moment.

Rather than try to copy the work, I used it as inspiration.  The rules at the CAM are that you need to use a different size from the original when you copy it.  I used a square format:

"The Terrace", 8x8, oil on gessoboard

It felt great to be shmooshing around with my paints again.  This image is a little bit faded with a bit of glare. I will try to repost a better image.

I have been busy prepping for the Essex Studios Early Spring Art Walk next weekend. Since completing the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge in January I have been framing the work produced.  It is amazing how much time it takes to cover the backs with paper and create the hanging wires.

Monday I leave for Carmel, Indiana to spend another three days with Dreama Tolle Perry.  Her workshop last November really energized my painting efforts.  Can't wait to see where I go after this!

By the way, the "Watercolor for the Truly Terrified & Paint Avoidant" workshop was great fun!  Two brave souls showed up to play around with paint for an afternoon.  As promised, Mary & Donna left with actual ART created by their very own hands!  It is amazing how matting & wrapping turns a watercolor into ART!

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Red Dot!

I am thrilled to report that my painting, "Florida Dreaming" sold this weekend at the Cincinnati Art Club Signature Members Winter Show.  Congratulations to new collector, John T of Cincinnati.

Note the "Red Dot"!

It is such a thrill to sell my work.  I appreciate the opportunity as a Signature Member of the CAC to show several times a year.  Yesterday I "sat" the show with another member and we had a blast.  She sold a piece as well while we were there. You never know who is going to come look at the show so we had a chance to answer questions about membership and share the wonderful work with others.

I have also heard that my work "Pomegranate Pleasures" has been accepted into a show in Covington, KY, later this month called 50/50.  Fifty artists will offer fifty pieced of work for $50 each.  All proceeds go back to the artists.

Pomegranate Pleasures, 7x5 watercolor

Since this was my first 30 in 30 effort, I am happy to see it go to a new home! The entire 30 in 30 experience has stretched me artistically and has resulted in 10 sales, 1 commission and more "followers" here on my blog.  Since January 31 I have been involved in framing and delivering work.  I miss smooshing around with paint each day.  Hopefully today will be the day!

Don't forget, Watercolor for the Truly Terrified & Paint Avoidant is happening this Saturday from 1-4 pm at Creative Catalyst Studio.  ($30, supplies included.) We still have room for a few more people to come play with paint! 

Email me asap if you want to come!

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Watercolor for the Truly Terrified & Paint Avoidant!

I am excited to announce a "returning" playshop  at Creative Catalyst Studio:

Watercolor for the Truly Terrified

& paint avoidant!

"Dreaming" watercolor collage for Secret Artworks

 Saturday, February 16, 1-4 pm

$30, supplies included

                 

Remember how much fun art was in kindergarten?

Come splash around and play with watercolors!  Supplies are included.   Basic techniques will be covered and then we will play with color! 

 Lack of experience expected. No one will be asked to “draw a straight line” or “stick person”. 

Remember, it’s only paint & paper!

Space is limited!

Email marion@creativecatalysts.net to reserve your spot!

A wondrous grid of paintings!

February 1

Brrrr.  10 degrees.  Snow.  Wind chill advisory. (thinking thoughts of Belize right now.  Pina Colladas...snorkeling...sand...sun...sigh)  Sipping my morning breakfast smoothie instead.

I figured out how to make this grid, thanks to Leslie Saeta posting the ling to ww.picmonkey.com, a really fun photo editing site.  Here is a grid of my 30 paintings, in fairly random order...

If you click on the image you can see a larger version.

I have to admit, I'm pretty impressed!  Amazing what happens when you don't listen to your inner critic, wet blanket or whiner.  Now I'm off to the studio to get some framing done!  And repair the chaos that this challenge also created...

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

TA DA! 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge complete!

January 31

I am so amazed that I managed to keep up this commitment. I tend to start things with great enthusiasm but lose focus easily.  Since we were posting our images daily on lesliesaeta.blogspot.com it gave me a goal that was short term enough to work.  My intention for this challenge was to loosen up my painting style and step away from "total slavery to reality."  Don't worry if you don't get the concept.  I really admire the Impressionists and expressive artists that sling paint around with abandon.  In the past I tended to dab-dab-dab with my brush and use tiny piles of paint.  I enjoyed this foray into smaller works as well.  The largest image I painted was 11x4.  Most were 4x6 or 5x5.  Too small to be scary, right?

Today's image is a dog that lives with the dog I painted in "Gotta Love Me".  It's a household of fluffy caramel colored dogs.  The reference for this painting had "debil eyes" - when the flash catches dogs pupils and changes them to scary green. So I had to fudge it a bit.

1/31/13 "Liam", 5x5, oil on Gessoboard

I come away from this challenge with 30 pieces of new art. I have a strange appreciation for the oddness of dog noses & tongues.  I feel much more at ease with my art supplies and much more aware of the mind chatter that holds me back.

Years ago my painting motto was "People, places & pets".  Now I think it is "Pets, places & people".  Most of all it is "Paintings that touch your heart."  Thanks for being on the journey with me.

Many of my paintings are for sale.  Please email me with questions.

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Got It!

January 30th

I am redoing this post because I discovered that the Ipad App for Blogger does not upload images that fit into my blog format.  This image ran over into the right column.  So I decided to redo it.  Sorry for the duplication to those of you who get updates via email.  There will be another post forthcoming...

Today's painting is of my friend Diann's insane black lab (rescue). Diann brings her to the studio when she comes to paint and she gums up Bubba's toys. Of course he steals whatever treats might be around when he can. You should see an 8lb. poodle trying to chew on a lab sized rawhide bone...

1/30/13 "GOT It!", 5x5, oil on Gessoboard

Painting a black dog is really challenging.  You can't just squirt out a tube of black because black is a pretty "dead" color.  I struggled with finding interesting colors to put underneath and also to combine to create the illusion of black.

here is the transparent underpainting 

working in some of the darks

adding the eyes always helps...

I wanted to throw in the towel in several spots but kept on painting.  Amazingly I ended up with a piece I was happy with.

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Ohio River Dawn

January 28

Another 4x6 today but NOT a dog face or sunset-by-the-sea.  Rather it is a painting of dawn over the Ohio River near Cincinnati, OH.  My friend Kay Hurley (http://www.mkatherinehurley.com/) posted this view taken near her home in Hyde Park, a suburb of Cincinnati.  I am grateful for her inspiration.  Winter trees are always a challenge because their branches are so fine against the sky.

1/28/13 "Ohio River Dawn", 4x6, oil on canvas panel

Inspirational photo by Kay Hurley

Artists interpret what we see, rather than duplicate it. I had a teacher once who said, "God already got it right, all you can do is put your spin on what you see."

How very true.

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Gotta Love Me!

Had a lot of fun with this image!  The eyes just seemed to be saying, "I'm so cute, you gotta love me..."  Hopefully the owner will think so as well.

1/27/13 "Gotta Love Me!", 5x5, oil on Gessoboard

I may make some adjustments in the future but the eyes are exactly right.

I continue to fight valiantly against this respiratory thing.  It is draining to not be able to sleep so I invested in some Niquil today.  I remember it tastes nasty.  Hopefully it will knock me out so I can sleep.  Next step is to dust off the lazyboy and bring it in from the garage.  I'm sure we can fit it into a corner of the bedroom.

I am heartily tired of this rehab project.  It seemed like such a good idea last year to add on a deck and a 3 season room in the back of our house.  And then we decided to switch from wood burning to a gas fireplace and rip out the carpet & put in hardwood...

It will be fabulous when finished.

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Gulls over St. Somewhere

January 26

Made it back into the studio today.  Since I continue to feel a bit puny I decided to do another sunrise/sunset rather than go for a dog likeness.  Hopefully this cough will go away enough so that I feel up to the challenge soon.  I have a backlog of cute puppies to paint!

1/26/13  "Gulls over St. Somewhere", 6x4, oil on canvas panel

Rather than go all OCD over the dune fence I simply used my trusty "WIPEOUT" tool to scrape the fencing in.  That way it doesn't compete with the sunrise.

This 30 paintings in 30 days challenge has shown me that YES, I CAN paint every day.  No matter the excuses. I can find something in this beautiful world to paint.  I have enough reference images on my Ipad to keep me busy for years to come.

I am feeling the urge to move back into larger paintings again.  Perhaps that will be the February challenge for me.  We will be posting our work each weekend at http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/ instead of daily.

I am humbled to be dealing with flu like symptoms myself.  I am a wellness coach. I market a wonderful supplement called ASEA that generally keeps me in tip top shape.  I can only imagine how sick I might be at the moment without it.  Rob brought something nasty back from his trip to England earlier in January.  It took me a week to manifest symptoms.  I am taking good care, drinking lots of liquids.  Unfortunately the LazyBoy recliner that I would usually choose to sleep in when having a cough is in the garage due to our construction project(s).  I think today I will work to get it into the bedroom for tonight.  Just can't seem to sleep flat without coughing. *sigh*

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Purple Sands

January 25

Back in the studio today working with oils.  Feeling a bit puny so I decided to do another sunset rather than a pet portrait.  Less concentration needed.  I am having fun working in this 6x4 format.  Makes finding frames oh so much easier!

1/25/13 "Purple Sands", 6x4, oil on canvas panel

SOLD!

I think I have created a series called "St. Somewhere".  Or as Jimmy Buffet would say "I wish that I wuz anywhere other than here..."

I received my "Cowboy photo studio" from amazon 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MYASTG/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00

so now I can start getting good shots of my 30 in 30 paintings.  My Ipad does well enough but I want to do better.  I'd like to have the capacity to offer prints of my work & in order to do so I need good, non glare, color accurate shots.  I am tap dancing at the edge of my techno capabilities as it is...

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Pelicans @ Sunset

January 24, 2013

Today I got caught up in shopping since snow is predicted.  Had a dental appointment, went to the pool for exercise (this twice a week occurrence keeps my body flexible - very important at my age and part of my getting back into shape goals.) Lots of reasons to delay painting.

Also our contractor continued on his quest to locate all of the water damage.  To our chagrin once he removed a portion of our basement wall he discovered that YES there has been a leak for probably 30 years and YES the damage was about the worst he had ever seen with crumbling wall studs and particle board.  Luckily the mold impact is minimal.  Amazing what the former owners could hide under paint and drywall.  *sigh* unfortunately our home owners warrantee ran out last June.  The important thing is we found the damage & are fixing it, before our fireplace fell into the basement...

I didn't settle down to paint until around 8 pm.

1/24/13  "Pelicans @ Sunset", 5x5 watercolor on paper

My niece had uploaded this photo to Facebook recently:

It gave me the reference for the bird shapes.  Much better than making up "M" and "V" birds.  Another friend uploaded this photo:

I combined the two images to create my watercolor.  As an artist, you can get inspiration anywhere. Not to COPY photographs, but to catch the feeling of time & place in paint.  In this dark night, I was dreaming of the beach yet again...

And now it is snowing.

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Grand Dog in a Boat

January 23

Today's painting is based on an image sent to me by a friend.  Love those cute fluffy dogs. I seem to have a theme of white dogs as well this time around.

1/23/13 "Grand-Dog in a Boat", 8x8 oil on gessoboard

SOLD!

Here's the underpainting

Only 8 more paintings to go!  Winter has locked in Cincinnati.  Just cold but snow is predicted for tomorrow. Nothing like what they are having in Colorado but still I am grumbling as I walk our dog.  We moved to a community with no fences so I am out walking at all hours.  Of course we also have hawks, owls & coyotes so I wouldn't let him out unattended anyway.  8 lbs of puppy looks too much like a snack to those predators.

AND I am grateful to have a lovely home, wonderful husband and family...

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Sunset Beach

January 22

You may have noticed that I post a day late. That's because the image I upload to lesliesaeta.blogspot.com is from the day before.  I am working a day ahead. Tomorrow I post the painting I did today, so I can post it early in the day.  Unfortunately I am updating this blog after 8 pm, so it is 12 hrs behind Leslie's. Oh well.  We have been having extensive work done on our home & I was a bit more distracted today...

I was inspired by a sunset photo posted on FaceBook to paint this little 6x4 work:

1/22/13 "Sunset Beach", 6x4, oil on canvas panel

Just like "Winter Moon", this panel had an undercoat of dark Indian Red that was totally dry.  I think it peeps through nicely in the sunset.  I continue to dream of Florida & points south as we experience temperatures more "January-like" for Cincinnati (10 degrees today).

Painting every day is helping me fight off my winter blahs.  Not as well as a pina colada in Belize would, but ya do what you can do, right?

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Poppies!

January 21, 2013

Every Monday I meet with several lovely ladies at my studio for "open painting studio" sessions.  I provide the space for people to bring their art stuff & reference materials to paint & offer coaching as needed.  We have a lovely time together discussing the problems of the world & what happened on Downton Abbey Sunday night...

As I was approaching the door I noticed several canvases next to the dumpster as well as a small one near the door.  Someone had obviously moved out of the building over the weekend.  I picked up the small canvas and proceeded to use it for today's painting!

Because there was already something on it, I chose to get out the palette knife and plaster the paint on thickly (impasto).  It was fun.  I also used a photo a friend had taken in Normandy, France, and sent to me on FaceBook.

1/21/13, "Poppies", 7x5 oil on canvas

Another friend commented that my painting was very "Monet-esque".  I can live with that!  There is something hypnotic about great masses of poppies & chicory scattered across a field.  Probably hearkens back to childhood memories of the Wizard of Oz...

inspiration

Hard to believe that only 9 days remain of the 30 in 30 challenge.  More amazing is the fact that so far I have painted more paintings in January than I did in 2012!  I really intend for this to continue, but at a 3-5 paintings per week rate of speed.  Maybe I will then expand to larger works again and count my daily progress as a daily painting experience.

I have solicited "cute pet" images from my friends on FaceBook.  Its fun to paint images that people already like.  Certainly makes selling easier.  One of my goals is to figure out how to put a "Buy NOW" button on this blog.  Most of my images are for sale.  You can email me at marion@creativecatalysts.net for information.  (I can process credit cards via Square or PayPal.)

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Winter Moon

January 20

Great day in the studio today. One of the advantages of a sick husband is he doesn't notice if I'm not around!  He came back from England with "flu-like symptoms" so is taking extra ASEA (www.mcmayer.teamasea.com) and drinking lots of fluids.  I am keeping the fridge stocked & tossing food at him from a safe distance...

Today's painting is a simple 4x6 abstracted winter landscape on canvas panel.  The under painting is a coat of Indian Red, which is visible in places.  Sort of a play on warm & cool colors.  I think I got the reference shot from a post by "The Lodges of Olympic National Park" on Facebook.  Facebook is proving to be an excellent source of reference images.  By the time I paint them they barely resemble the original image but it is inspirational in any case.  Just don't have Hurricane Ridge, WA, outside my door here in Ohio!

1/20/13 "Winter Moon", 4x6, oil on canvas panel

Original photo reference

Since I am an artist not a camera, I feel just fine changing the image with paint.  The downside to commissioned portrait work is the client wants an exact rendering.  I am not a photo realist. I like brush strokes & marks to show in the finished piece.  Its all good! 

Morning Pages are going well.  I keep feeling nudged to teach The Artists Way again. Maybe its time. That book contains some of the most empowering material I have ever found.  When I taught groups of folks (1997 - 2008) I saw miracles occur. One woman cleaned out a closet in week 3 & was moved to a new house by week 12! Took my breath away...

I have a studio and a life as a working artist thanks to Julia Cameron's book as well.

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

The Yawn

January 19

I'm updating a bit late today.  Actually I paint and upload and get a bit confused as to which day is which!  I am keeping up (barely!)

1/19/13 "The Yawn", 8x8,oil on gessoboard

Ivy is another Havanese.  I sure do love painting fluffy dogs! I find it a challenge to see how many colors I can use to portray a white dog.  Here's the first (dark, transparent) layer of this painting:

I am really enjoying this method of painting.  I am also enjoying smooshing around with oils again after taking a watercolor & pastel break.

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can

Purple Rain

January 18

Once again I almost wimped out on my daily painting. I got to the studio for a meeting, roughed in a pencil sketch for a painting then felt I needed to leave to lock up our house after the workers left.  So my panel is sitting on the easel, waiting for paint.  Luckily I have my trusty stash of supplies at home and got out a piece of Kitty Wallis sanded pastel paper to play around with.  I chose a photo reference of a storm out to sea, probably taken around Tybee Island, Georgia.  I was using my limited kit of pastels so had to be creative with my color choices.  Funny thing about painting - if your values (light to dark) are right, it really doesn't matter what colors you choose!

1/18/13  "Purple Rain" 10x8, pastel on paper

I was looking at ready made frames the other day and noticed that a verticle rectangle is called 8x10 and an horizontal rectangle is called 10x8. Seems kind of strange to me...

Here is a shot of "Mr. Myoghi" framed and ready for delivery to its new owner:

Framing is something I really love to do, although I know enough to be dangerous but not professional.  I know it is important to use the best materials you can find, but not necessary to pay the "custom" frame prices, even with a coupon the fee is too high. (IMHO) My motto is "make the mat a standard size.  Paint an oil a standard size. Standard size saves $$$ and there is always another frame sale somewhere!"  I am terrified to cut glass though.

If I should ever find myself in a gallery, I may change this thinking. Right now it works for me.  The beauty of working small is that "photo" frames work out just fine! I also find terrific frames at our local "Snooty Fox Furniture Den" resale shop.  I just toss the designer print out and use the lovely frame for my work.

"El Patron" is back from his business trip to England.  Of course the airlines had to squeeze the life force out of him by delaying the flight out of London just long enough for him to miss his connection from Dulles to Cincinnati.  United routed him on a Useless Air flight out of Regan airport, arriving here at midnight (5 am England time). Heavens knows when the luggage will catch up.  It's good to have him home in any case.

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life as it is today. 

Start where you are

Love what you have

Do what you can