Navigating

Amy is looking for a home. 

Early Work Mercantile 

opened last night.

There are still wonderful pieces that I have available. 

This is Amy.

She is named after

one of the Little Women~

I always loved her 

insight.

" You don't need scores of suitors,

you need only one, if he's the right one."

A favorite quote of mine,

that I have often repeated to my daughters as they have grown up.

To say that I got involved in her dress,

is an understatement.

I had this pictured in my head for years now.

I attack my sewing simply

with an elegance to it...

and this was anything but simple.

I was able to get it,

driven by my desire to 

challenge myself.

It took some time. 

....and it was 

so very worth it.

Our Starling colony has

been arriving

as Spring

creeps in...

looking for homes!

And what says,

Spring is coming

as much as sheep?

The wee ones 

are arriving!

 Witch in white is still available.

I love pieces that 

I can tuck

in the dollhouse 

or 

hang on a cupboard door.

these are a perfect size.

of course...

Halloween does live in this house

year round.

....and with it a new 

mousel.

The Moss Witch of County Cork
is still available at EHAG

Mousies are an ever 

source of 

inspiration...

A friend

nudged me about 

adding more mushrooms

this year.

It's been a while...

These are inspired by the ceramic ones.

that my Dad

and I would make 

and sell to Vermont Shoppes

when I was 

a teen.

 As you can tell,

I have been deep 

in creating...

and for me as an Artist,

it is because a part of me needs

to escape

life at the moment

and create a balance

within.

Our family

is suddenly faced

with a member

that has a health crisis.

It has knocked the wind 

out of our sails 

at the moment...

"In Her Widow's Weeds" is still available.

and

I will be sharing

when it is decided to be shared.

Right now,

we are all

just navigating

the start of 

this journey.

Tenacity

When I was a young girl,

my Daddy told me, 

I could do anything 

that I set my mind to...

and

 I could be anything 

I wanted to be.

As I grew into a young woman

and entered the workforce,

I realized that it was still a man's

world.

I tossed that power suit

and heels...

and I made my own way.

I followed my bliss 

of family, children,

and my art.

Many a time,

 I would  hear that I couldn't

complete my vision

in the way or technique 

that I wanted.

I have always

stepped quietly away 

from those men...

and came back, 

proving them wrong.

Tenacity

has always served me well.

It keeps me challenging

myself 

to work out a

"can't" and make it a "can".

It pushes me

to grasp

the process and technique

in areas that 

I feel are not my strength

and own just a bit of it.

....in the end,

it comes down to problem-solving.

This year,

I am using 

my 

tenacity

to work on

human faces

and watercolor.

Who says

that you

just have to 

pick one???

Yawn and Stretch

February crept in

under a crisp,

starry night.

Quiet and without fanfare...

I peeked out 

to say hello, 

in the wee hours,

before I making my way

to my slumber.

With February's entrance,

our visit from

the arctic vortex is starting to retreat...

Imbolic brings a celebration;

we are halfway between

Winter Solstice

and

Spring Equinox.

we are ever closer to 

GREEN!

Last night, 

was also the release of EHAG '19.

I usually do

Skelly Girls for Bewitching Peddlers...

but you may see a rare one, 

here or there, 

to celebrate something special

during the year.

I have already

started my sculpts 

for

Bewitching Peddlers

as I work on my outline for the year.

While January

is a rather long feeling month...

I have kept myself

in clay

and hot tea beside.

As February

starts its day,

I feel a new sense of vigor~

knowing Spring will be here soon.

Time to shake January fully off of my shoulders

and get moving into February.

Cozy and Creative

Winter has certainly made its way

to our area.

This past week has brought

a big snow,

bitter cold,

winds

warmer temps

and 

flooding rains

with no place to go,

with all of the snow.

We know for certain that 

the Winter still

has a way to go,

so we stay cozy and create our world around us...

bringing bits of Spring 

in any way we can.

If you pop on over to my Etsy Shop

(click on the piggy picture)

I will take 15% off of your

pattern order

until the 28th!

I am spending my time

with my version of

Paper Whites!

EHAG and Early Work Mercantile are fast approaching

and

Bewitching Peddlers 

has me

sooo inspired

with 

my creating for September.

Simmering Soup and Sipping Tea

Anneliese

January is always exciting for me.

The Holidays wind down...

we rest up

and I pull out my notes

 from the year and start 

jotting down things

and 

making a basic plan.

A wink and a nod to an earlier time.

Early Work Mercantile

and EHAG

give me the ability

to create monthly offerings.

The Maker

and Artist

in me

knows that this 

keeps creativity rolling...

People have not been a comfortable subject for me...
I am more at home with bird and animal faces.

Bewitching Peddlers

gives me the 

opportunity

to create on

the level

that I have yearned for.

Whimsy is a good area to start the step...
but I wanted a little more realism.

In it all...

an outline

keeps everything

running well...

I am pleased with this group of ladies,
I have this thing about black hearts...

January

gives me the time

to create a workflow

and

a chance to 

see all of my notes and ideas

laid out.

Inspired by Mourning Art

I always 

make a challenge 

for myself...

I push myself 

to look at areas that my work 

needs to grow

as well as where I want it to go.

While

January brings 

bitter winds and snow,

I look forward

to cozy days

with a pot of soup simmering

and sipping

peppermint tea...

and as you can see,

I was 

excited 

to start creating

and challenging 

myself.

Comfort

A peek in my basket that hangs on my wall...
It shows a project for Early Work Mercantile this month
and a bit of a hint.

As the New Year rings in,

instead of making a resolution,

I will pick a word 

to guide me through the year.

This year,

I picked "comfort".

My trip to the Adirondacks this Fall
was a wonderful get away with dear friends...
and inspires my work.

At home, 

we will continue

to surround ourselves with that 

which brings comfort.

Embracing

Hygge (hue-guh)

From simpler meals that continue

our goals of 

cleaner and healthier

eating;

( I have lost 30 pounds so far,

just being more mindful)

The view of Main Street, from our hotel room in Lake Placid.
Love the view of Mirror Lake. This village holds so many memories for me. My year of art school was an amazing dream come true.

to enjoying 

gatherings with friends and family.

Somehow, birds are my thing.
In college, I had to pick out a filler course for graduation. I didn't have much to choose from in that time spot and Avian Biology fit. It wasn't anything that I was drawn to. Who would have thought, it would be so important in my work all these years after. 

Even in my work...

I am harkening back

to what brings me comfort and joy~

As an Artist,

I know that while comfort

can be nice to settle into...

I need to push that comfort level to grow.

so 

"Comfort"

will certainly be taken out

of its zone!

Oh those Sleepy mice! It is fun to see that they still inspire other artists! They are so fun felted

A new year

and a new trip 

around the sun 

is exciting.

I know it will fill itself as years do;

 a balance of good and bad,

happy and sad.

I will be settling into a coziness,

surrounded by what is important

and making it all

memorable.