Woodland Literacy
Just a little preview of a project I’ve been working on. It’s a rather large piece which will serve as the entrance to the children’s area in the Oak Harbor Library. I’ve been working on it since March. It’s been a lot of research and sketching up to this point, but I’m finally getting to the fun part. Shooting for an Oct/Nov install – Lord willing. There’s still a lot of work ahead of me but I can’t wait to share the finished work with the people at Oak Harbor. The librarians there have been so helpful and supportive during the research period of this project. I am so grateful.
Fair Warning
If you leave stuff at my house, it will get back to you. However, it may gain a personality in the process. 
Etsy Shop : And so it begins…
I recently posted about my desire to produce a line of stationary.
Well.
I just set up a small shop on Etsy, including a few new card designs! I’m working on expanding my collection, as well as putting together a portfolio for custom invitations, announcements and such. But it’s a start and I’m excited.
Also included in the shop is a small collection of “Silly Us” Creatures. A silly little line of crochet creatures. Each one is one of a kind, made on a whim.
Alistair: 3 months
I can’t believe he’s nearly 3 months old! Yesterday we put him in the little round play seat at my parent’s house and he seemed to really dig it. Thanks to ma and Janice for holding him while I finished this little portrait.
New Book: now available!
My new book “The Kid with the Red Juice Mustache and other nostalgic companions” is now available for purchase at piecemealpublishing.com as well as on amazon.com. Written by local author, Erik Korhel, it features 26 lovely poems about the life of a kid. Here is one of my favorites. 
China Painting
Every Thursday I go to my Grandma’s to paint. Sometimes we watercolor, but lately we’ve been china painting. It’s kind of a dying art as far as I can tell. Grandma got into it…well, before I was born. She paints anniversary plates for her children, and piggie banks and tea cups for her grandchildren. She has shared her art with us grandkids with great generosity over the years, not only making us sweet little delicately hand painted pieces, but also allowing us to try our hand at it from a surprisingly young age. When other kids were given finger paints and play-dough at grandma’s house, we were given a rabbit hair paintbrush and a teacup. I think I painted my first hot plate when I was maybe seven or eight. It’s an orchid, and is rather ugly (my mom still has it). Thankfully, a few years, and bit of art training has improved my painting skills a bit. My content, however, has become rather more…childish.
Stationary dreams
Over the new year I had a conversation with a good friend about my love for doing small personalized projects; cards, invitations, bookmarks, and such. Since that conversation I have begun to seriously consider pursuing that passion in earnest. I’ve done a lot of this type of work for myself and family or friends but to actually do it as a profession is a whole other story. I still have quite a bit of work to do, but its a dream…
Celebrating love, a day late.
Laundry Adventure
Some friends came to stay with us for a week over the new year. A few items remained behind when they left….this is their story.
You’re a Jem
One of my good friends is going away to school in another state today. I made this for her. She’s such a bright and wonderful person, I wanted to give her a reminder that that is how I think of her.
Safe travels today Lauren. I love you girl. I’ll be praying for you.
