Happy New Year's Eve everyone!
xoxo

Gifts and more gifts.

This week I found out that I'll have another show the entire month of February. I had an idea about showing with two other painters and mentioned it to a couple different gallery owners. One of them had the space and time. Details will be forthcoming.

Although I don't work Fridays, I spent the day in the office because it's the final business day before the calendar year ends and there are a few donors who like to give on the last day. I was in an email exchange with a donor who had forgotten he hadn't given this year and really wanted to donate. I responded that I could take his card # over the phone, and even sent him a link to our web donate page. He emailed back with his credit card # and donation amount saying he was currently in flight. In my 11.5 years at the Foundation, having a donor give while flying was a first. And it made it a super fun gift to process.

All the paintings from my last show are hanging out in the office. Yesterday, an artist whose work I totally love came in to choose a piece. She and I are doing an art trade.

Also on yesterday, I received an email out of the blue from someone who stumbled upon my website. He fell in love with the studio series. Today, he came in with his checkbook and spent a little time with all the work and purchased one of the 18"x24"s. Something felt truly perfect about ending the year with a painting sale. And it increases my moving fund.

Three mornings ago I'd been feeling kind of down and was talking about all of it with my therapist. That very afternoon things began to turn around. It's been a phenomenally difficult year with great losses in all aspects of my life. That is, except for the art. Painting seems to be the only place that's made big strides.

I'm looking forward to 2012.

My coworker's office...a little decorated.

I'm feeling incredibly better today. It was the first day in a week that I wasn't dealing with a crazy nasty hacking up a lung kind of cough. But, energy is still somewhat down and so no new photo. I've been going through my photo library this evening and here is an image I took in December 2007 of my all time thus far favorite place that became my public living room for many, many, many years...Cafe Septieme (RIP).

A darkened apartment
the lights of a little pink tree
steaming hot chocolate
in my Vermont snowman mug
curled up in a blanket
watching "Miracle on 34th Street"

the perfect way to end a Christmas Day when one is sick.

Merry Christmas everyone!

For the last three days I've been in the throes of the worse chest cold I've had in over five years. I was hoping it would be mostly gone by today because I had two wonderful gatherings to attend. But, walking down the stairs leaves me winded and coughing and the most I'll do it head to the grocery store later on for a little treat.

The downside is, this is probably my final Christmas in Seattle and I really wanted to share it with friends and loved ones. The upside is, not only have I not put on the holiday pounds but have lost a few.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday, filled with peace, joy, love and lots of silliness.

Just a few of my ornaments. I choose objects that remind me of people in my life, or of special times. Sometimes it will take me years to find the right one and so I don't rush it. They find me.

In honor of solstice...Raquel Welch and crazy costumes doing Aquarius and Let The Sunshine In.

It is solstice.

I brought my little tree home from the office. This is my kitchen/living room/studio. As I was setting it up, I thought of my sister who underwent a lumpectomy today. She has breast cancer. A little pink in my home is perfect right now.

My little pig with wings ornament.

Little angel ornament gifted to me by my Leather Mentor many years ago. I couldn't bear tucking her away for most of the year and so she's lived on my kitchen window sill.

A little Capitol Hill holiday cheer...

There is lots of magic in the air today.

A super quick little (3"x4") ink drawing.

And seeing it's the season, here is lovely little snowman video.

I really hate being sick. Nyquil, a hot bath, sudafed, iboprofen, vicks vapor rub, many cups of Gypsy Cold Care and Ginger teas, a pot of water simmering on the stove and for a treat...a slice of chocolate cream pie.

This photo of my used kleenex is probably the most creative thing I'll do all day.

The little pink tree, which used to reside in my studio during the winter, is now at home in my office, on my desk. The office is currently decorating for a holiday open house this evening. My cold has gotten worse and I'm currently at home but hope to make it in later for an hour. My coworker decorated her space with Garland garland. (I'm really crushed out on this)

I'm still pretty sick but this encourages me to do a little creating tonight.