April 29

Wow... April's almost over, and then May and then school's out and less art for two months! Yikes and Wow! I can't believe how fast things are flying...

I've been painting more - once or twice a week with Liz. Just finished this girl:




At least I think she's finished. Last night at dinner I asked the kids what they thought of the painting. Olivia thought she needed something on her tummy, and Ethan wanted to know how I was going to scan it ('cause it's 16 x 20, instead of my more usual 9 x12 or 6 x 6).

I love her colors, and her background texture, which is a departure from the usual style. Duct tape to the rescue!

In other news, I'm thrilled to welcome a couple of new retail shops to LadyBirdLand. DabberDoo is located in a trendy area of Atlanta called Virginia Highlands. I used to hang around in the Highlands for years, and in fact met my dh there. I remember saying, "He can come visit me in town, 'cause I am NOT going all the way to the suburbs!!" Fast forward 15 years or so, and I've been comfortably ensconced in Suburbia for a while. Oh, the shame. Well, I guess now I have an excuse to get back down there. If you're ever in the area, stop in and say 'hi' for me, willya?



Let's save another shop for tomorrow, or the excitement will be too heady!!

Sunday morning...

Aww.... I had a bunch of things in my head that I wanted to post about, and now they're all gone! I need ginko biloba or whatever that medicine is for people with tiny memories...oh, yeah, ART.

Here's my big struggle: I really really REALLY want to make a good 'Friends' saying. When I go back and look through my earliest pages of sayings, the friends ones are there, incomplete but there from almost two years ago! Here's the conundrum - it's all about the pronouns. If I want to give my friend a pendant, then who is the "She"? Here are some of the ones I've been thinking of...and the only way to get around the 'she' ness is to avoid it, I think.


friends til the end

they finish each other's sentences

they will always be friends

two friends for ever

their circle of friends is a straight line

best friend is her middle name

all time bestest friends

their friendship is 14 miles long

she's a very special friend

she's a true blue me and you friend

she dares to be the best friend

she's her bestest friend in the whole world

she loves her crazy happy delicious friend (ship)

she is the mint jelly on the peanut butter of their friendship

HOW can I get around this (insert dramatic pause here)?

Friday!

Yay! Today was a brilliant day! I'm practicing my British accent - brilliant!

First, I went to Elizabeth's house and we painted and painted and painted! It feels so good to paint.. I tried a new background technique featuring duct tape. Yummy - turquoise and duct tape! I'll post pictures soon.. like Monday, when I go back to E's.

Thursday!

I just discovered an amazing woman, Brene Brown.She visited my shop, and when she emailed me, of course I clicked on her siggy. It took me to her site, where I I became instantly mesmerized. I ignored my seven year old's morning needs (yes, honey, you look fine in gym shorts and a button down shirt), didn't unload the dishwasher, and barely tasted my own breakfast, and forgot about my coffee, all because Brene. She just seems to know me, and I loved this article especially. Her blog, Ordinary Courage is inspirational. Can't wait for my book to arrive!