As of writing this Cory and I are at 56 and 61 hikes respectively, with our goal for the year being 100. We have been trying to catch up from a lot going on, and in so doing have spent some nice time outdoors. We camped recently at our favorite spot, this time bringing a friend. We brought along a black light and took some fun pictures using it at night, capturing lots of glowing lichen on trees.
Read moreHalloween Project
It’s no secret I love making my own decorations for holidays. I’ve made wreaths, paper flowers, potholders.. With my recent quilts I have made I saw a bunch of neat Halloween material at the fabric store ( I love Pioneer Quilts here in Portland. They’re in an old house that’s fun to visit and have a HUGE selection) and I thought quilting a Halloween throw would be a fun way to decorate my living room for fall.
Read moreA Hiking Artist?
If you have been following me for any length of time you know my husband and I hike, a lot. You may have wondered why a painter like me is putting so much about her hikes on her painting blog. Fair. I try to share who I am, the why behind my painting, and for me that means a lot of hiking related posts. It wasn’t always that way.
Read moreTunes for Working
When I work I like to have something to listen to. I either listen to Gilmore Girls (I have seen it so many times I don’t need to watch to follow what is going on), listen to music on Spotify, or once in a while Nat Geo’s podcast, Overheard. I thought I would share a playlist I made that I listen to while I paint, just some music that I find fun that keeps me focused on painting.
Mt Rainier, Summer
A couple of weeks ago we went to Rainier for what turned out to be a beautiful summer day after the clouds lifted.
Read moreI Know, I Said I Wouldn’t
I’m at it again, a second (larger, for our queen bed) quilt with material for matching shams and a throw pillow cover.. So I’m asking myself why am I digging this and still saying I am not a quilter? I think I know why now. When I paint I am ALL about the details. I want it to be a super clean, “perfect” piece. I have a hard time loosening up. Quilting for me is the opposite and lets me be creative still.
Read moreA Collection of Cutouts
Between stocking my new web store and Lady Fern in Parkdale, I have been working on a ton of new cutouts with Cory. He had set me up with 6 buffalo to work with, so when I got started I requested more animal variety. He got to work. I keep a folder of templates we have made and we use those to make new frames. Cory sometimes projects a sketch to make it larger and he does all the frames on his scrollsaw. They are certainly a labor of love and a fun collaboration between us.
Read moreUpcoming Restock!
I am in full on project mode right now, with nothing finished to share but a lot of half finished things going on. Being a full-time artist (for me) is making the art, working on the website, posting to share the work so people see it (hopefully leading to some sales- while never wanting to be sales-y ), keeping up with inventory for shops, blogging, and sometimes in my spare time crafting and hiking to get some exercise.
Read moreAdirondack- A Project by Cory
A- I wanted an Adirondack chair. I really wanted an Adirondack chair. A few places we have gone hiking and there is some old beautiful lodge with these perfect wooden Adirondack chairs outside for you to relax in that beautiful outdoor space after your hike. I wanted that at my home. (I mean I do kind of day dream about living in a lodge type setting) So I requested Cory make me one, as I knew with all the things he has made he could. He did it without plans, btw.
Cory- Thanks, there were no plans, which certainly had me confused at various points along the way. I’ll admit it, I wanted this to be a fun project. For me, part of the fun is figuring out the design and experiencing the journey. Especially with this project, I figured I’d have to feel the sturdiness at various points to know how to proceed. Also since I made my own plans, I feel quite confident, that I can safely name this design the , aridondack chair.
Read moreBackyard Pond
I thought ponds were largely sort of permanent fixtures and were all exceedingly expensive, but it turns out that really doesn’t have to be the case. We made a pond we plan to take with us whenever we one day move to our own house, but can enjoy for now.
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