Cafe!

This is a painting I am working on for my kitchen. It needs a lot more work but I kind of like the progress I have made so far. I love cafes and the idea of having a painting of a cafe in my kitchen makes me happy:) Alfresco dining all year round!

Scenes from a weekend...

Hello! I know it is already Tuesday, but I have been out of town and unable to post! Here are some scenes from my weekend...it was amazing and picturesque! I hope you had a lovely one as well!

On Sunday the husband and I had a fantastic brunch with my family at a state park located on Lake Erie. Afterwards the husband and I walked around and I took some pictures!

And yes there was a......


and of course some lovely sailing going on!


We also walked along this marina and gawked at the boats (we sooo want one!)


and I fell in love with the color of the docks...isn't the color so pretty and intense?!


Next time we go, we want to rent one of these canoes for the day...how fun would that be?!


We DID rent bikes with my aunt and uncle and had the best time ever:)

All of the bikes are yellow..they were awesome! I am so getting my bike out of storage now!

We rented bikes for 2 hours and rode throughout the state park. This is what we saw:








After the bike riding, my aunt and uncle took the husband and I out for ice cream (the only way to make the day complete!) They took us to the most adorable ice cream shop..I wish I lived close to it, I would come EVERYDAY (probably for the better that I am far away!)




Well that was my weekend...now I must get back to work (I have many lesson plans to work on for the upcoming school year!) Have a great day!

Video of the day: Of Montreal

I just found this video and had to post this! This is a song called Id Engager by the wonderful and clever band Of Montreal. The reason I adore this video so much is because it completely ties in with a Surrealism game I play with my drawing students called an exquisite corpse.
So much fun:)



Well I hope you enjoy your Friday and have a lovely weekend!

Summer Means 3....

Here is the third installment of my Summer Means series. If you missed the previous posts check them out: Summer means 1 and Summer Means 2
(or just scroll down my blog...they are there also!)


Summer means....

Beaches!

Here is one of my favorite beaches that I have been going to since I was a kid.




Isn't this red umbrella adorable? I want one for my next trip to the beach!


I also adore sunsets on the beach...it does not really get much better than this!




I took this picture of my brother last year on our family vacation. I love how he is staring out at the water, lost in thought.


*These beach pictures are all from Michigan City, Indiana*

Have a lovely day! I am off to enjoy my summer before it ends soon (school is starting up in a couple of weeks!)

Summer Means 2....

Picnics!


Yesterday the husband and I went on a little picnic at the park...just one of the perks of summer! I love being able to eat outside!



We both ordered some delicious salads from a lovely deli near our house and ate them on a picnic table at our favorite park.


Yum!


After we ate, we went on a hike throughout the park. Another one of my favorite things to do in the summer!




Tomorrow I will post the 3rd part of my summer series! Have a great day!

Summer Means... part 1

I will be posting a series on what summer means to me. I love summer, it is my favorite time of year and I dream about it throughout the whole year! When it finally comes I feel that I take it for granted and do not appreciate the true beauty of it until it is gone. So here begins my ode to summer...

Summer means flowers....


Here is a beautiful outside market of flowers...I want them all!


A little market on a boat..how fun!


Window baskets...so lovely!





Flowers blooming by this charming fountain

Relaxing...

Today the husband and I are going to be relaxing and getting ready for a crazy week tomorrow. A lot of life changing events are taking place in our household and it can be very stressful at times!

I am quite notorious for getting overly stressed out and my husband is very laid back. We compliment each other in that respect...er...maybe he just compliments me and helps me chill out!

When I get stressed out, this is what helps me relax:
1. Light a candle and put on Madeleine Peyroux or Norah Jones (the Norah Jones channel on pandora is amazing!)

2. I go running...I find this helps a lot especially if I have a great mix on my ipod.

3. Paint/draw...anything...mix colors, collage things, anything that is fun!

4. Read something mindless....like fashion magazines and home decorating magazines...oh and those chick lit books make me smile as well!

5. Chocolate...yep...no way around it. I prefer my chocolate with a big mug of coffee...this usually leads to numerous amounts of chocolate but oh well...it is only to help with the destressing process!

6. Writing letters to friends and family...something therapeutic about letter writing (not email...actual letters!) I have such a thing for pretty stationary also!

7. Shop...this is one I am going to need to stop! I adore shopping...online or in person!

8. Calling my mom. She totally helps me chill out and put things into perspective!

9. Hanging out with Mr. Jack Henry. He is my little dog and sidekick. He follows me wherever I go:)

10.Blogging! Yes, I love to blog! It helps me relax and I love reading other blogs...so fun...and addicting!

So what helps you relax?

The 3 Clever Vases

I just added a new artwork to my etsy shop called the 3 Clever Vases






Here is their story:

The 3 Clever Vases perched on a ledge in a charming cafe. They enjoyed the people watching and dished about the latest gossip. Some might say they were shallow but they prided themselves as being quite witty and wise.

This artwork would look great in a modern home or lovely little cottage where the 3 Clever Vases would have loads to gossip about!

Simple Pleasures 2

I did a post a couple of weeks ago called Simple Pleasures. Here is the second installment to this series!

This little still life:




These delicious strawberries in my favorite Michael Aram bowl:


This lovely container that holds my cooking utensils (that I rarely use...the husband does all of the cooking!) I love the color and the organic shapes of the pattern!


This photo of my dad and me from my wedding. I love how candid it is! I hate posed pictures...so boring!


This vintage book on birds...very inspiring!


My collection of shells...I just love their shapes and how they all look together.


What are some of your simple pleasures?

New Artwork!

Alas, I finally have gotten around to putting new artwork into my little etsy store!

I am quite excited and hope you will take a peek at my new items! There are many more to come, I think I am on a roll!

Here is a quick glimpse:

Vino III


Resting Red Deer


Lovely Blue Bird


Lovely Pink Bird


Well I am off to work in my studio, have a fantastic Tuesday!