Fresh Landscapes

I've been working on some more abstract landscapes. These are still in progress, using oil bars and poppy seed oil paints. Big inspiration in the backyard from peonies, new baby RI red chicks and spring rain that turns everything bright and pink and acid green. Can you tell Helen Frankenthaler has been an inspiration lately?

New Oil Paintings

I've started to find a way to get my new oil paintings to have the same feel as my watercolors. I do love my poppyseed oil paints. No odor. 

Airial Nudes

John Crawford is an Auckland based photographer who gives us nudes from another perspective. Where's that lupe when you need it?

More and more spring please

It seems like it all comes in one afternoon. Spring. The tiny pinks, pops of yellow, itsy blues, sprays of acid greens. And the smells. Because the daffodils are on the early side, the yellow they trumpet is the smell of new spring air. There's a little meadow of daffodils (thousands and thousands) with young sapling trees and wood mulch paths open to the public for Daffodil month in Dartmouth MA. Bit of a secret and feels a little like a chapel when you go. People talk in hushed voices, walk slowly with reverence, rejoice it's finally here. It's Parsons Reserve and worth the drive, walk up a hill and through the woods. More info here. Thank you farmer Parsons.

Up close in Parsons field via flickr by Adam Salisbury

Painter Lulie Wallace found here

Centerpiece inspiration by Bridal Banter

Some New Jewel Tone Quilts

I just completed quilts for two friends with birthdays days a part. I had some vivid jewel tone scraps, enough to make a scattered vertical design on one and a horizontal on the other. Pat, Gayle, Barbara and I celebrate each of our birthdays together. 3 writers who shower me with poems and they still seem happy and surprised when they get color from me.

Collar It

I've been noticing the fun designers have been having with detachable collars this spring. Having held onto a small vintage collection since I was a teenager, it's nice to see them as an easy way to alter a simple dress or top.  Here are some beauties I've posted on one of my Pinterest boards.

From Louis Vuitton Spring 2012 Collection

Hammered metal via this etsy site.

Cloth beauty from etsy here.

A cute DIY version from here.

From FreePeople

Gaga over Sophie's Dada

Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1989-1943) was a swiss artist who bridged the Dada and Constructivist movements. An early socially-committed feminist, she taught weaving and textiles at the Zurich School of Arts and Crafts, and expressed herself in painting, dance, tapestry, drawing, embroidery, furniture and interior design, photography, architecture, set design and puppet-making, all with equal intensity. To read more on this fabulous woman you can go here.

Meet Wallace Yikai Chen

Wally! Born March 1, 2012, in Brooklyn NY at 5:26 am, 6lbs 13 oz. 
Everyone is healthy, exhausted and proud as can be.

Wallpaper for a Snowy New England Day

“I love colors and shapes and if I have a choice I want to make them beautiful.”- Catalina Estrada

I think Barcelona based Catalina and I could be friends, we have a lot of loves in common.

Dense, lush, colorful her wallpaper seems to say come closer and play with me please.

Her wallpaper designs are especially suited for environments where there is lots large windows, letting in light and breezes. Perfect imagery to get me out of the February funk I'm in this morning.

Check out her website here and her photographer partner, Pancho Tolchinsky, here. Hmmm... a designer and a photographer nice symmetry there :)

Ryan Gosling Hey Girl for crafters

I just love these.