Bags of Candy

I've been collecting beautiful things to photograph, draw, paint, and

write about.  What can be better than candy?

The price is right, 99 cents a bag (or less) at the local Grocery Outlet.

I'm not even sure what these are, but the pastel shapes are pretty!

These models will sit still for me hour after hour...

...and then we get to eat them :).

Pink Perfection

 This gorgeous packaging, a gift waiting in my mailbox,

is evidence of a scarf from the mightily talented

Marian of Beautiful Place on Etsy.

 A pink confection, a cascade

of sari ribbons, sequined trim, and tassel berries.

 Wearable works of art that add that intangible pulse of comfort

on a chilly evening.

Plus they are just so ridiculously cute on :).

Cornbread Cafe

 We headed down to Eugene to enjoy one of our favorite new finds:

Cornbread Cafe.

 Delicious comfy vegan food, this is the breakfast Country plate:

Chicken-fried tempeh, split biscuit, seitan sausage gravy, & home fries

Behind the Caffe Picori coffee with coconut creamer is the Chik n' Waffle:

a Belgian waffle, breaded & deep-fried seitan, cashew gravy, and

even maple/agave syrup.

The perfect amount of energy to go Goodwill book hunting :).

Bored Biking Buddy

I'm back on the exercise bike, and every evening

I pick up a spectator.  Vladi can watch me for well

over an hour, making occasional sad mewing noises.

Vladi is our only boy that seems to get "bored" in the

times between eating, sleeping, and chasing his brothers.

Now he's watching the hissing cockroaches instead,

my endless peddling was a bit too dull.

Inspired Ideas

I just discovered the fabulous Inspired Ideas on-line journal

written by Amy Powers with a slew of talented artists.

 If you like happy, bright, and well-made whimsical delights,

you need these journals.

I had a dastardly migraine that lasted for three days

(first, and hopefully only, migraine in over a year!),

but these luscious layouts kept me distracted and happy.

 The projects have clear and concise directions.

 I'm itching to get out my rick-rack and embroidery floss.

I could curl up inside this colorful world

and be perfectly content.

Kate Greenaway

On one of our 49 cent, fill-the-shopping-cart Goodwill book hunts,

I found a children's picture book illustrated by Kate Greenaway.

Her illustrations of young people are superb.

The watercolor sketches have a delicate air about them.

Children dance and spin across the pages.

Figures are classical and whimsical at the same time.

So simple, and so very memorable.

Ogden Nash

There have been so many wonderful writers in the world,

I just discovered Ogden Nash, maybe most famous for

the line "Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker."

 Nash may have been known primarily for wit, wordplay,

and humor, but one of the first poems I ran across is

"The Anniversary."

My relationship almost crumbled at the 20-year mark,

but like this poem, it was "comely in courage" and...

"Raise twenty-one cheers

To the silly young years

While I sit out the dance

With my dearest of dears."

Whoa, I need to read more Nash :).

Coffee Cake Oddity

Sitting in the Safeway bakery was a single enormous coffee cake.

Over a foot in diameter, with three different fillings scattered like

lakes throughout the dough: raspberry, lemon and cream.

They may have had cameras trained on customers to see who would

buy this monstrosity, but no surprise, it was me.

Spreadsheets

 Just like I have a spreadsheet for my lexicon of favorite words,

I've been building a spreadsheet of ideas for my Christmas book...

...and a spreadsheet of design ideas for future Art-Show-To-Go projects.

Kimono Colors

 I am designing fabrics, and have turned to some of the prettiest

for inspiration: historical Japanese kimonos.

The embroidered designs are intricate, and colors balanced

to highlight both bold and delicate elements together.

 Nature motifs are prevalent and timeless.

An amazing balance between white and primary colors.

 The pinks are strong and subtle at the same time...

The petal pink background to this design is gorgeous.

Getting to Work

 My route to Vivid Vignettes is learning more about whimsical writing,

bold drawing, and luscious illustration design.

My instructional book piles keep growing.

Small Things

 I adore little things; sweets and treats, notions and sundries,

berries and cherries, anything small and cute.

There are so many words that mean small things,

my latest favorite is "miette," French for little crumbs.

Rip the Page!

 Here's a book guaranteed to boost creative writing:

Rip the Page by Karen Benke.

From the first activity on, this is a winner:

inspirational, challenging, and a lot of fun too.

What do I write with?  Candy and other little joys!

Let it Pour

Hiking the trails at Silver Falls kicked my butt,

its going to take a while to get back in shape,

but oh the water spray felt so good!

Christmas Every Day

I've been browsing through my Christmas books,

images as cute as these make me happy every day.

Fab Fruit

 Today was graduation, and our department had breakfast for the

graduates and their families, including trays of succulent fruit.

Ahhh, spring is sliding into summer.

Framed

From the new issue of Cottages and Bungalows magazine, a

3D framed indoor windowsill, feels like Trompe-l'oeil painting.