Monday Musings

(beautiful vase in my studio that inspires me...vase was a gift from my art penpal!)


I just love summer vacation...I can sleep in and leisurely sit around and drink my coffee while I blog away! I am almost done with my summer classes so I have been painting away in my little studio. Here are some new paintings I am working on:

This painting is not finished but I wanted to post my progress. I am trying a new style where I paint an abstract background and more realistic birds. It kind of makes it more surreal..what do you think?


Up close:




Here is another little painting I am working on, the bird has not been collaged on yet:


I recently came across this vintage 1950's map of the United States:





I just love the colors and have already started collaging it onto some small canvases and a large canvas. I will post my results as I progress!

Lately I have been really inspired by anything vintage or that looks vintage. Here is a box that I keep in my studio that constantly inspires me (oh and of course it is French! I am such a Francophile)


I think today I will paint the Eiffel tower into some of my artworks....we shall see:)

Music I can't stop listening to...

Here are some songs that I am playing over and over on my ipod this week:


Fleet Foxes: White Winter Hymnal



Andrew Bird (looking very rugged!):Nervous Tic Motion


and finally Emiliana Torrini: Big Jumps (this pretty much is my anthem at the moment...)


Enjoy! What songs do you LOVE right now?

Happy 4th of July!

photo from capecodphotoalbum

Happy Fourth everyone! I wish you lots of cookouts, lemonade, fireworks and relaxation!

The husband and I might head to the beach today for some relaxation and also because it finally is sunny here!

If I could though I would be in Martha's Vineyard for 4th of July...I've always wanted to go..



Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers and if I had a house in Martha's Vineyard, my garden would be stocked with them!

photo from mvol.com

Lovely views

photo from Ballast



From New England Fast Ferry

I am pretty sure I would live here:

photo from Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce


And on Fourth of July in Martha's Vineyard (or anywhere!) I would eat this for sure!



photo by celebrations.com

Where is your fantasy place to celebrate the fourth?

Doodles and a painting!

Hello! I actually got to work in my studio today...yay! Here is a painting that I am actually working on for ME! It is going in my kitchen as soon as I finish it...here is the progress so far:



I still have collage elements to add but the background is pretty much done except for some touchups...it is not as colorful as I normally am but it needed to match my kitchen:)

Here are some doodles I have been doing...I am SO over drawing realistically...this is so much more fun.






Ok, well I am off to hang out with the husband...we are just chilling out this evening..it is raining and yucky here and we feel like being lazy bums:) What are you doing tonight?!

Hawaii Adventure

Here are a couple of pictures taken from my Hawaii adventure.
First up: As soon as you get to Honolulu's airport, you will begin seeing these signs for the ladies restrooms...I love it!


Here is the sunset view from our hotel room....isn't it grand?! We stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki Beach. Such a wonderful hotel!


We had many bird visitors on our balcony, they were super cute!


Here is me on our balcony...yay for a beautiful view!


Along Waikiki Beach you will see surfboards everywhere! I so wish I was brave enough to learn!


Here is a view from our favorite restaurant called Tropics. It was located right on the beach in our hotel...best food and drinks ever!


Here is my Waikiki Cobb salad that I ordered twice! It was quite delicious...yummy avocado!


Here is a beautiful view of the harbor that was right by our hotel...lovely isn't it?! I would love to ride on one of those boats!


Walking along Waikiki I saw a couple of these stores! I thought it was too funny!


More food pictures! The husband and I went to a wonderful Thai restaurant and I got the summer rolls...they were so pretty and delicious!



The husband and I had a wonderful trip...we just love Hawaii! We cannot wait to get our kayaking pictures developed (we used a disposable waterproof camera.) Hope you enjoyed looking at our pictures:)

Back from Hawaii!

Hello everyone! The husband and I just got back from Hawaii today and boy are we exhausted! I have not slept in awhile and it is time for me to get some much needed shut eye! I will post some pictures tomorrow of my little excursion but I wanted to post a video of something I did when I was in Hawaii. I am so proud of myself for doing it so of course I have to brag! The husband and I went kayaking in Kailua Bay. We did a four hour kayak trip through the company Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks, Inc. We had two of the most adorable guides take us to the Mokulua Islands where we had a picnic lunch. Here is a video I found from their website that pretty much documents what the husband and I did. However, the day we went it was super duper windy and the waves were huge! It was an interesting first kayaking experience for me that is for sure! If you are ever on Oahu I highly recommend doing this little adventure!

Hawaii Bound!

These were pictures taken last year when I went to Hawaii...I am very excited that I will be going back tomorrow! The husband and I will be in Oahu..specifically Waikiki Beach! So I will not be posting for the duration of our vacation...10 whole days! Hope you have a lovely week and I will post as soon as I get back!

Cottage Garden

Isn't this the most lovely garden? I just adore cottage gardens, they are so quaint and inspiring! I found this picture from the english garden a very cute website all about gardening (obviously!) If you want some inspiration on gardening, check it out!

My garden is slowly growing, usually in July and August it looks the best! Here are some pictures of my garden from last year:

The sketchbook project

Last summer I participated in arthouse co-op's sketchbook project. I sent away for a small little sketchbook and had to fill as much as I could with sketches, drawings, collage, etc. based on the theme, "How to Save the World?" Click
here to see pictures of my sketchbook from last year.

Well Arthouse just sent me an email about participating in their fourth sketchbook project. I am thinking about it...if you are interested in participating you should click here for more info!

Here is a cool video cnn.com did over the last sketchbook project...these guys at Arthouse are awesome and have such cool ideas:)

Wednesday Music Lovin'

Here is Feist's song Mushaboom....I know it is an older song but I just love it and the video! I love all of Feist's videos...every video on MTV and VH1 should be like hers...so fun:) Many of you who know me will recognize this song as being the song that plays whenever I get a text message. I have had it on my phone for two years! That is how much I love it:) Hope everyone is having a good week so far, I just finished a 12 page paper tonight so I have a lot to celebrate! The husband and I are going to Hawaii on Saturday so I still have lots of school work to do since I am going to be gone all week!

Have a great day!