Whoohoo!

So I'm starting to find my rhythm again and got some work done last night. I think it's really a matter of adjusting to this new schedule...

Thanks for all the recipie suggestions too! I really appreciate it :)

Here are my two newest illustrations. I'm hoping to have some more posted by the begining of next week.

Okay! I have to go. Work calls and it's going to be crazy in the store this weekend!
Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Realization

I've come to the realization that I don't know how to cook.

I can cook some things...mostly soup, or stew, or pasta dishes...some pasta dishes. I'm really good at cutting things up and throwing them together, mostly. I've never had any real interest in cooking, or baking, really.

Often times I get so bust with other things that I forget to eat, or I just don't have time to make anything with substance. So mac n' cheese, tomato soup, and grilled cheese sandwiches are my staples.

So, I've decided that I am going to try to cook something for myself at least a couple of times a week. Hopefully...I got a bunch of free cooking magazines from work, and I'm hoping to study them tonight for some inspiration.

I'd love if you would share some of your quick and easy, no fuss, recipes with me! :) What are some of your favorite things to make? What do you rely on during busy times? Please let me know! I would love to hear them.

Hope everyone had a great Thursday!
ps this is one of my newer illustrations!

Yes!

So..I've been really down lately about my Etsy sales.

This time of year I'm usually so busy I don't know what to do with myself, and I start to seriously contemplate getting an assistant. However, things have been very very quiet in my shop.

I'm not sure if it has to do with the fact that I've been working at my other job more, if it's the economy, or if my work has just gotten stale. Maybe a combination of all three. I don't know.

This afternoon, however, I sold a painting! I haven't sold a painting in my Etsy shop in eons and it totally made my day. I'm really going to try to make more of an effort to work on my shop. I've been mostly neglecting it and I don't think that is something that you can do and still expect to get sales...

It is hard to do while working full time however...but...I'm just going to have to stick to my guns and work through it.

So I worked on two new illustrations and two new paintings this afternoon. I'm feeling pretty good about them. Hopefully I can get them posted tomorrow! The illustrations, that is..the paintings might be awhile. I did manage to get these two new illustrations up and ready to go in my shop :)

Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!

Fall and Loving it

It was a lovely fall day today.
I love it.

Not a whole lot of news. Just getting work done. It took me a long time to get motivated today.

This song helped.



Thanksgiving is next week and I find that so unbelievable. Really? Is it really that soon?
Wow, and then Christmas...

wow!
Ok.

Time to get back to work!

Here

I've been spending a great deal of time alone the last couple of days.
It's been good. It's been hard, but it's been good.

I did manage to get to my studio this week, but all I did was read and clean.

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. No where really. I just felt like writing something.

The rain has started here in Portland, and I'm not planning on seeing the sun anytime soon. although, when it does come out, it's such a nice little present.

I have another month and a half of working at my job full time. I'm looking forward to spending more time in my studio and with friends. I didn't think working full time would have such an effect on my work. I guess I forgot how tired I am after working all day. Most nights I just want a quiet room with a good book.

Oh well. It's almost over. Things will be back to "normal" soon enough.
Hope everyone had a great week and hope everyone has a good weekend!

ps. I've officially had Chloe for two years this week, so I thought I would share her baby pictures today :)

Thinking

Drinking tea and looking through old journals in my studio today. It's a cool grey Portland day. I found this and thought I would share it.

"For one human being to love another is perhaps the most difficult task of all, the epitome.

It is that striving for which all other striving is merely preparation."

-Rainer Maria Wilke

That's all I've got today.
Hope everyone is having a good week so far.

Suddenly Everything Has Changed

I take Chloe for an early walk most days.

This particular morning the sun and the clouds were really amazing.

I picked up my paintings from my show yesterday. I wasn't expecting it to be a very successful show, but in the end I was pleasantly surprised. Expect to see many many paintings to make appearances in my Etsy shop soon.

Well, it's a really nice day here in Portland, and I'm hoping to get out there and enjoy it before the sun goes down.

Hope you're all having a good Wednesday!