Trick or Treat.

This is a little Frankenstein made out of Play Dough, a bit of a shake up from my traditional illos. Happy Halloween!

Friday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for silly little celebrations that get you out of the house and out in the neighborhood walking around, bellowing for candy.

Young at Art.

Instead of posting an illo that I have done, I am featuring a drawing my niece (who is nine years old) made of my son and I a little while ago. She has some talent there and I hope she pursues it will all of her heart!


This is some packaging for some Halloween Spiderwebs I made for a Halloween costume company a few years ago. I found it while cleaning out my studio/office. I personally like it better than other packaging I have seen out there lately so I thought I'd post a closet resurrection and then tear into it so I can decorate this joint!

The Ghoul Bus Rocks!

Finally made it to Barnes and Noble today to pick up my copy of Jannie Ho's illustrated book called "The Haunted Ghoul Bus." Not only is she a very, very talented artist but she is a very, very nice person as well AND she has the best Halloween book out on the market! Now I have a copy all for me, yipee! (Oops, I mean it is for my son, so he thinks!)

Thursday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for the lovely walk in the sunlight this morning, while drinking a great cup of coffee and chatting with my sister.

Attention Political Candidates...

Listen closely. I don't know if anyone has told you but calling people's homes to play a recorded message is REALLY annoying! If you cannot make a personal call, please do not dumb down and give us all the same canned recording. It has got to stop. I do not know one person who listens to your messages all the way through OR likes them. Please stop doing this, it is the kiss of death. I pay attention to your names and will be sure to NOT vote for you AND I know I am not alone in this thought! THERE! I hope that shows you!

(I just had 2 mini Three Musketeers and 3 small Tootsie Rolls. Do you think that has had any effect in the post I just made? Ummm, heck yeah. Candy coma, here I come...)

So how is your book coming along?

This is a question someone asked me today. I don't even remember who it was that asked me that but it stopped me right in my tracks. How is that book coming along Deborah? Well, I have left it by the side of the road and am hoping it will be there when I drive by it one of these days. That's how it is doing. I think I have abandoned it for a few months. I didn't mean to, life just kind of got in the way. I suppose that is what a lot of people do with their dreams, they just shelf them until a more "convenient" time comes along to dust them off and take a look at again. Well, I can't do that. Tomorrow, my number one priority is to take that book off the shelf and read it and do a round of editing. In fact, I think I'll start that right now. No more cast aside dreams for me. I've had a few decades of practice doing that!

Do you know your neighbors?

Wonder what Hansel and Gretel thought as they walked up to this house?

Wednesday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for a chance to go see a movie tonight, although the ending was so very sad. It was a great escape from reality for two hours.

Whoo gives a Hoot?

Whoo goes there? This watchful owl sees you sneaking by with some chocolate! Have any to share? Halloween is coming up fast!

Warm and Hearty.

It is unbelievable how the warmth and kindness can flow through the wires and cables of the internet connection. I have "met" the most endearing and kindest people through the blogging world. Why just today, I received a little package from the lovely Pam over at Doodlestreet. Inside her package was a little token of angelic love, a small sign of security to hold while walking through the forest of uncertainty. My life at this particular time has been turned upside down by an illness of someone very close to me. I haven't spoken of it much on this blog but there are a few who do know the details and have been outstretching their hands and hearts through the waves of the web. Thank you my friend, my heart has been warmed!

We Live We Love

This song really spoke to me today...

Superchic–We Live

Candy Strollers.

Candy Corn and Candy Apple strolled along, sharing stories of Hallowed Haunts of yester year.

Monday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for the generosity of people I barely even know!

Oooo, another publicity nod!

The very lovely Karey over at www.mackink.blogspot.com just bought a print of mine and wrote about it on her blog! Thanks Karey, you are the bloggy best! Love your writing style too!

Friday's Haunting Escapades...

My friend who throws the most elaborate parties, had a Halloween bash and here are a few delicious photos...

Scaredey Cat!

Not one to stick around for small children running amuck for candy, this little kitty high "tailed" it out of there lightning quick!

The Alpha-bit Race.

D chased K around and around, only to realize that E, F, G, H, I and J are always in the way!

Missed the Saturday blog boat!

Oops, Saturday came and went and I missed making my regular post. It wasn't an extremely busy day and, although I did go out for the evening, I was home at a decent hour. For some reason, I just wasn't up to making my illustration. Disturbing. I find that a little disturbing, only because I am finding myself in a sideways funk right now. Actually, all week long. It seems that all the major life junk has slapped me up one side and down the other and sat me down for a real hard look at my own little life. My own little life that seems to have been picking up speed after a year's worth of deep personal work to only be stalled right before the finish line.
I am not here to vent my problems or complain (because that is not a nice side dish for the daily gratitude now is it?) Being a downer is not what this forum is for. BUT it is a platform to discuss being stuck, which I am, being pissed off, which I am, being uncreative, which I felt this past week, being scared, which I am, being tired and spent, which I am. To top it all off, I ate sugar and candy this week. A LOT of it. This is not good.
So, realizing a new week is starting, I am back on the fast track. Picking up the pieces of dropped freelance work, getting back to my regular scheduled program of exercise, forgiving myself for eating horribly and being emotionally available for others is on my list for this coming week. I may fail at a few of these but I know I will succeed at most. I can feel it. It's gonna be a stellar week!
As His mercies are new every morning, so are our chances to change for the better.

Saturday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for a group of really great friends to eat and drink with.

Sunday's Gratitude:
I am really grateful for the ability to look at my life and step back to figure out a new game plan. New opportunities are awesome. For this I am so grateful.

All witches are not wicked.

This little witch was not too happy at the Halloween party. Apparently, all the little devils, angels and kitty cats wanted spells and wickedness but all she wanted was a spoonful of sugar. Next time, it's Mary Poppins for her!

Friday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for a Halloween party to escape to! No wicked witches to be found though!

Turn it off!

My little illo of the day is a television, one that remains off! For over a year I have been choosing to pick up a book or do something creative instead of turning on the TV. It has made my life so much richer. Now I just need to work on the other big and little persons in my house and we'll have peace and maybe a lot more artwork!

Flip it to the otha side sista!

OK. While driving today, my son tells me from the back seat, "Oh, no you diii-nn'tt! Flip it to the otha side sista!" WHILE doing the three snaps in a circle!! This is my little sweet seven year old who was just a little baby only yesterday. He surprises me every single day with bits like this. My life is good!

Thursday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for chances of laughter!

Someone wrote about me!

Daisyjanie over at www.scoutiegirl.com wrote a little bit about my paintings at Etsy. I think I heart her! Jan, thank you so much for the publicity!

Wednesday's Gratitude

I am so grateful for nice long power walks, the smell and taste of coffee and kind thoughtful words from friends.

Illustration Friday_Late

Ginny instantly regretted the lies that came spilling out of her mouth because her homework was late. How was she going to dig her way out of this one?

Mistakes are usually success on the wrong road.

The person who doesn't make mistakes is unlikely to make anything.

So with that being said, here is my attempt at using my new Walcom tablet. It is soooo much harder to use than I thought it would be and I need a whole bucket load of practice. But, you have to start somewhere. So I bring to you a drawing of my ginger blossoms that smell like heaven. The fragrance is enough to make you forget anything bad in the world. My drawing of them however, not so much.

Tuesday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for some new gloves and scarves I bought today for cooler weather. Yipee!

Tomorrow became today.

I likey. This little pumpkin face would be darling painted on a bucket or a candle. I am really itching to make one!

Well, like usual, tomorrow turned into today. This was one of the longest days of my life. Long and hopefully not too memorable. It's not easy being in a room full of chemo patients, all with their own stories and lives and loved ones. Here's hoping tomorrow proves to be a better one. I think I'll go to bed right now so I can find out. Goodnight!

Monday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for my son's very kind and understanding teacher.

Will tomorrow just wait a while?

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. A close family member starts chemo tomorrow. I have a few deadlines due. I have deliveries to make. Prints to create. Web sites to build. Can tomorrow just never come? I'd like that.

There is a lesson in days that have too much going on in them. The lesson is to just let it all go and not stress. Nothing gets done faster because of worry or stress. Nothing is accomplished because of worry or stress. I think I'll try letting go and just let the day happen. We'll see how that pans out because that is SO not my natural style. A style I'm trying to adopt but it doesn't come easily or naturally. How about you? How do you handle stressful days?

Candy Boy.

This is Candy Boy. He is a character my son and I have concocted and are looking to build him into a comic strip. He reigns supreme on Halloween night!

Sunday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for lots of design work to keep me busy and my mind occupied.

For the love of?

It was love at first sight, stitches and all.

Saturday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for a lovely glass of wine to close off the day.

Growth.

Those who lack courage will always find a philosophy to justify it.––Albert Camus

As I was cleaning my office today, I came across a lovely book called "It's not how GOOD you are, it's how GOOD you want TO BE!" by Paul Arden. This is one of those books that you keep around and pick up once in a while and read a quote or two because it is interesting and somewhat uplifting. Inside of this book is this particular quote.
This quote really struck me today because I have been bothered by a conversation I had with a certain individual who refuses to grow mentally. He/she knows that it takes work to strive to be better, to stretch and grow and spread your wings but he/she simply will not do the work. This bothers me so much because it is perfectly acceptable to complain about things and cast a negative spin but still not see the diving board above the deep end. Well, maybe the diving board is in sight but the courage to climb the ladder is not there. Excuses come so readily as to why he/she cannot change.
I should have a little more sympathy and understanding. I really should. But a lifetime of excuses is getting really, really old. So that is why this quote jumped out off the printed page and captured my vision for a moment and engrossed me into reflection. (I feel safe saying this because he/she doesn't read my blog.) Sigh.

It's that time of year!

Trick R' Treaters are just around the corner! It seems that everywhere I look there is some sort of Halloween decoration looming. This little vampire is looking for some chocolate bars but little does he know that this household hands out raisins and hand sanitizer! Bummer.

Friday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for another painting sale! Yipee!

It's feeling a lot like Autumn!

Today was just a gorgeous day, delightfully warm yet a hint of cooler days to come. I was thinking of changing leaves, woolen scarves, pumpkins and crisp apples this afternoon so I invited a few acorns and falling leaves to this post. It may not seem very much like Fall in San Diego, but that doesn't mean we can't dream a little!

Thursday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for a long time standing issue to be worked out! Accomplishment feels very nice!

One lonely backpack.

A little illustration of my son's backpack while at football practice. Maybe I should have been watching the practice though so I could have actually seen the 4 touchdowns he claims to have made! Just a tad more interesting than staring at a backpack! The other moms and dads were either watching the game or reading gossip magazines, so this group needs at least one backpacking sketcher!

Wednesday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for the opportunity to be an art teacher for a day!

Photos from reception.

This is the LAST post I'll be doing about my art reception because I am tired of seeing photos of myself but this post is for my beautiful peeps who attended and made this a spectacular evening for me. Just ignore me in the pictures, please! Over the top grateful for my possé of lovely friends and family!

Grateful on a Tuesday.

Tuesday's Gratitude:
Wow, today was a beeeaaauuutiful day. The light all afternoon had a hint of yellow to it, just fabulous. For days like today, I am grateful.

Illustration Friday_Strings

Not having posted an illo for Illustration Friday for quite a while, my heart was pulled by strings to participate this week.

Squirreling Away.

These porcupines are foraging for some food or any Halloween candy that could be scattered about!

Like these porcupines, my sister and I popped over to our local large bookstore this evening to forage for knowledge. I wandered away for a while and then set off to find her again after I had claimed the books I was looking for. Well I found her in the meta-physical section talking to a stranger who happened to be a psychic. At first I thought, "OK mister, say what you want to say and then scram." But after listening to him talk for a while, our conversation became very captivating. He was very open to other people's ways of thinking and not being judgement at all about anyone. He pointed out some good authors to read in that section of the store while at the same time having an ongoing discussion with his "guides" who happened to be hovering to the left of me (they were invisible of course!) I could tell he had so much more to say after our two hour conversation but for some reason felt the need to hold back. Never the less, he was a very interesting person. In fact this past week I have met the most interesting people. People from extremely different lifestyles and ways of thinking from myself but they all happen to be falling onto my path. Really. There is some energy that is drawing in the weirdos. It's great!

Monday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for good books, good coffee and good conversations!

The party of the month!

Last night my very, very good friends Barron and Tom, hosted an art opening and reception for me and my series of paintings. It was held at the Mission restaurant and was coordinated to be timed with North Park Nights. It was such a great evening and so many of my lovely friends and family were there to support me. I met many new friends who happened to stop by for the festivities in North Park. Seriously great people! It was wonderful and I felt like I was floating on a cloud the entire evening. I sold seven paintings last night and numerous prints. I am dazed and amazed by this. I was hoping to just touch one person with my work and that would have made me a success, to touch many... well that is above and beyond anything I ever expected. My words cannot express the humbling gratitude I feel at this moment.

Z is for Zebra.

This little zippy Zebra is quite happy to be the caboose on this alphabet train. More room to kick up his hooves!


My alphabet cards series has come to a sad, sad end. It was really fun doing these set of cards, here is a photo of them all in one place. Maybe I'll have to look into doing something with all of these!

A Few Highlights from NYC.

These are just a few of my favorite things. Oh, and the food. There are THE best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in NYC, WAY better than San Diego. You'd think that we would have gorged on pizza, bagels and saucey foods but no, we ate so well. Very good restaurants!! Here are a few that are at the top of the list:

Gobo
Rice
Candle 79

Today I was thinking, was I really in NYC or did I dream it? The week there seemed to go by at a nice slow pace because when you have a child or two, a week with the only thoughts of what shall I eat today, should I sleep in late, or let's go shopping and then stay out late are all luxuries that seem so decadent. AND it was! But now that I am back, I feel like I blinked and NYC is gone. All that planning and training for my race just up in smoke now. I guess I'll just have to start planning something else!

Y is for Yak.

There is a rather large yak stifling back a long yawn while standing on a yellow card. That's a lot of Yakin'!

Friday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for the really lovely day San Diego brought right to my doorstep!

Cell phone panic.

I have a cell phone like almost every single person I know. I wish I didn't though, I dislike my phone very much. It bothers me when I am involved in something and the phone rings. The interruption this phone of mine represents bothers me to no end. However, I do like to have connection with my family and friends so I do keep the phone.
This new law about "hands free driving" had been a welcome change but now I am really having a hard time with the ear piece. My phone doesn't have the regular connection for the head piece so I need to have an adapter and sometimes my adapter shorts out and really it all is a big pain so I just don't use my phone in my car. (Or if I do, I am searching desperately for cops while I have a quick chat.)
People tell me to get a blue tooth ear piece and be done with it but having that wireless device so close to my brain really worries me. I know, seems silly but really there is some cause for concern. AND today I found evidence that my worries are not so out of left field. This article out of the New York Times states that some brain surgeons do not hold their phones to their heads. The concern is having microwave emissions right near the head and with the blue tooth ear piece the concern is having a transmitter in your ear. Thank you NY Times. I am not crazy. Well, maybe just a pinch of crazy but not so looney. I think I'll be using my cell phone even less and moving my worries and concerns along to something else.

Art Opening and Reception.

For anyone who will be in the San Diego area on Saturday, please come by my art opening, hosted by the multi talented Barron Henzel and Tom Fitzpatrick. Free food, free drinks, live entertainment! I'd love to see you, it'll be a blast!

X is for Xray.

My son came up behind me tonight and said, "Mom, you totally should do an xray for X!" Well, thats exactly what I did. I totally drew an xray for the letter X. Thanks Kai!

I think I may be fighting something from my plane ride. I am so tired, I think I'll be going to bed very soon. I promise to post more about New York tomorrow for those of you who have asked. Thanks for asking!

Thursday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for the opportunity to get up in front of a bunch of people and talk. About myself. Ack!

W is for Whale.

Alphabet cards are back! It's the towards the end of the alphabet but oh well, it's good to be back. W is always for whale!

Wednesday's Gratitude:
I am so grateful for a fabulous trip to NY and a warm welcome home!

Wicked Good!

Guess where we went tonight! Yes, that's right! We saw Wicked, a play I have been itching to see for several years now and it was showing at the Gershwin Theater. That theater just happened to be right across the street and around the corner from our hotel and this morning as we walked by I said, "Let's just see if there are any tickets." There happened to be TWO left! It was meant to be! What a great show, it was fabulous!!

We also saw Young Frankenstein which I have to say was equally as fabulous. Highly recommend both, especially if you are here in NYC. There is nothing quite like the theaters here!