Robin's Egg Studio

A toast to the New Year

2012-01-08T17:40:00.001-08:00

Happy Toast buttons by hownice on Etsy
French Toast earrings by TheTinyFig on Etsy

Kawaii Plush Toast Buddy by TheNerdsNest on Etsy

There are so many adorable toast items on Etsy that it just seemed right to use them to ring in the new year...besides, my celebrations lately are more tea-and-toast than champagne toast. Mr. Robin and I had a nice, quiet new year celebration which included Chinese food, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (American version), and bed by 11:00. With two little girls who were staying at their grandparents' house, the stakes were too high to risk being on the road late on that particular holiday. Besides, we had to see what the "other" Lisbeth Salander was like! She did not disappoint. I've already rambled on about the Dragon Tattoo trilogy so I'll stop here...

...so that I can ramble about the newest trilogy I'm reading, The Hunger Games. Such a huge following but I'm holding out on a final opinion until I finish book three. I started it this morning so I should know by tomorrow sometime! Ha!

Boo!

2011-11-01T11:53:00.001-07:00

Halloween was a bust this year! The costumes were ready: a store-bought nerd and a hand-stitched bat. Then BAM...we were hit by an unexpected snowstorm a few days before, and the power was out all over the place. Many towns canceled trick-or-treating, though our officials suggested using our own judgement. Since we were out of town keeping warm, we skipped it. Not worth tripping around in the dark! Would've made things extra-spooky though. Hopefully there will be a do-over at some point, so my little goblins aren't too disappointed. Besides, I need a treat bag to surreptitiously poke through after lights out! Boo.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

2011-08-09T18:52:00.001-07:00

...or is it? The parents I know are pretty much divided into two camps: those who cannot wait to send their children back to school, and those who want to wrap their arms around their Carter's-clad "baby" and never let go. I think I've got one foot on each side. We have had our adventures, we have had our summer reading battles and bribes, we have had enough ice cream to sink a ship. They've had enough of each other, and enough of me. Enough already! Time to get back to a predictable schedule, order, seeing friends on a daily basis, and getting adequate sleep. (I was referring to them, but on second thought I may be referring to myself here.)

This year is different. This will be the first time that both of my daughters are in school for a full day. That means from approximately 8:45 until 3:15 there will be no one here but me! Should I laugh hysterically or mope and inhale their pillow scents as I make the beds? I confess that I am looking forward to having more uninterrupted time to work. Another upside is that the house will stay cleaner because there are fewer hours for them to rip through it like tiny tornadoes. Tiny, cute, rosy-cheeked tornadoes with high voices and marker on their fingers and chocolate on their chins. *sob*

Maybe I'll finally paint the master bedroom after living here for 7 years. Maybe I'll take a class! Maybe I'll adopt a dog! But first I think I'll take a week or two and enjoy the day-long calm I mean emptiness I mean peace I mean loneliness. We'll see how long I last...

Dark and Stormy

2011-07-22T20:10:00.001-07:00

Two very different pieces...the last items created before setting up my exhibit this weekend! (both sold now)

Get Your Squeak On

2011-07-18T04:59:00.001-07:00

I am now six days away from my first-ever art exhibit, and a solo exhibit to boot. That seems like a miracle to me, considering that three years ago I had never sold a single piece of art in my life, had only shown my creations to a select few friends and family members, and I am completely self-taught (and still learning with each painting). I am slowly still working my way out of the shyness cocoon, gaining confidence with every little step. It is amazing to me how my friends and family have gathered around me to support and encourage my work, especially my husband. He gets excited about my sales and projects and turns a blind eye to the mounting piles of scrapbooking papers, art store receipts and messes! I tell everyone he is a master at networking. He has a natural friendly way with people that is slowly working its way into my own personality. He's not afraid to talk to anyone about anything, and his enthusiasm has definitely boosted me up.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease is going to become my motto, maybe I'll even put it on a t-shirt! I'm no longer holding back about my art business and it is already working....recently I contacted a state-wide parenting magazine, telling them "Here I am and this is what I do if you would ever like to profile an artist mom!" I was so excited when they contacted me shortly after to arrange an interview. The worst anyone can say is no...alright, they can say much, much worse if they choose, that is a bitter fact of life. So far I've been lucky to be dealing with civilized people who hold their tongues if they are not fond of my work. And, I've been so so lucky to have the most handsome and friendly business consultant and husband by my side. Look how cute he is!

F-L-Y

2011-07-06T05:38:00.001-07:00

The mega-talented Lulu has been posting such great photos of giant insects on her Facebook page this summer, I've had them stuck in my brain, fluttering around in there. What happened after I saw this.....

was this!

Luna moths have always held such mystery for me. One of my earliest memories is of being outside our house with my mother late at night, watching as she tried to catch a luna moth for her butterfly and moth collection. Her love of insects of all sorts definitely rubbed off on me.

This piece will be for sale in August if no one adopts it at my exhibit.

More love? Yes!

2011-06-14T04:04:00.000-07:00

I suppose I've had a theme going here but you can't go wrong with love! Here's a couple I've created for my summer show...two little children playing near the sea, sharing a moment. I'd like to imagine that they're off playing on the lawn while their families play croquet on the grounds of a grand oceanside home. This pair began with the patterned paper I spied at the store; her dress is made of it. As soon as I saw it I knew something nautical was about to be created. Do you like his little boat shoes?

In Love

2011-05-23T16:03:00.001-07:00

....with The Civil Wars. It is so typically work-from-home-mom-ish of me to have first heard their music on VH1, while folding my laundry. Specifically it was the video for "Barton Hollow" which is completely mesmerizing. Their bluesy folk style has a stark desperation to it. "Barton Hollow," along with some of their other songs, is emotionally wrenching. To watch them interact, either in a video or performing in front of an audience, is really interesting. She looks like a young Dana Delany and he is a dead ringer for Johnny Depp -- the scruffier version. He is intent to concentrate on his guitar playing most of the time, while she cozies up to him with so much intensity that you are sure they have a passionate connection both on stage and off. In fact, I was sure they were a couple until I read differently! Hmm.......

She's So Bad

2011-04-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

I recently devoured all three books of the series by Stieg Larsson. Yes, the first book was difficult to get into, as I'd heard. I promise you that if you can make it to page 60 or so, you'll be hooked and will sail through the rest. Some of the Swedish surnames are very similar-sounding; sometimes if there are many characters to differentiate I'll jot the names and identifying characteristics onto a bookmark for reference. If that makes me the ultimate book-nerd that is okay!! I know what I am, ha ha.

The heroine of the books, Lisbeth Salander, is a take-charge kind of girl...she is a victim but doesn't "play the victim." Instead she just lives her life and does what needs to be done instead of whining about it. She does exact revenge on a few targets in very scintillating ways that I would only dream of. I especially love the ending of the third book. She uses her resources wisely! It's unfortunate that Larsson died shortly after delivering the manuscript for the last book in the series, but what a swan song.

Eye Candy

2011-03-24T18:36:00.001-07:00

What are the things that you just love looking at? Whether it's for artistic inspiration or just admiring, I'm sure there are certain objects that catch your eye more than others. Mine are:

Mica chips

Velvety emerald moss

Colorful macarons

Insect collections

Shiny feathers

Vintage rhinestone brooches

Soaps wrapped in fancy patterned papers

Old LP covers

Crystal chandeliers

Bakery displays

Pastel parakeets

Japanese maples

...what's on your list?

♥ Japan ♥

2011-03-18T03:15:00.000-07:00

Last week I spent quite a while watching and reading about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, until I was overwhelmed by emotions and tears. It is so devastating and the damage is so catastrophic that it seems impossible. Being so distant from the site makes me feel almost hopeless. I began to wonder what we can do from halfway around the world.

We can each do what we are able, whether it is a small or large gesture. I already had this painting in my shop, and thought it was perfect for raising money to send to the Red Cross. I attached a note to it indicating that all profits would be sent overseas...little did I know that there is an entire movement on Etsy of shop-owners prepared to donate their earnings to the cause. There is a way to search for them: to find sellers donating proceeds to this cause search 'artistaid' or 'joyforjapan'. Here is a direct link to the search window.

I hope that everyone will consider sending what they can. Together even small amounts will add up to something that makes a difference. My heart goes out to the people of Japan. ♥

Frida at the Cinema

2011-03-05T17:22:00.000-08:00

We're in sick bay here, both mama and daughter. In between long stretches holding the couch down, we're managing to do a little bit of art, a little bit of reading, and a few games of checkers. I made this petite Frida painting, size 5" x 5". I'm imagining that she's at a showing of "Dracula," which was released in the United States at the same time she and Diego were staying in NYC (1931). I'm not sure of the historical accuracy of the popcorn, though!

Friedrich Enjoys the Beach

2011-03-01T08:04:00.000-08:00

Friedrich feels positively dashing in his new swimsuit, the height of masculine fashion. He enjoys playing horseshoes, quoting Oscar Wilde, and scanning the water for damsels in distress.

The Collector

2011-02-27T11:30:00.001-08:00

I have a new favorite painting...

"The Collector" is a really fun piece that I've created for the Grafton Fine Arts and Music Festival, which is held each March. It's a great way to see what the crafty folks in my town have been up to. Such a lot of talent for a little spot on the map! I've gone back to something I started doing a few years ago: painting on fabric. This is a toile Waverly fabric that I had to have, but didn't do much with. I dug it up and it was perfect for what I had planned. The little redhead is sporting a real fabric rosette in her hair, and the fern is framed with a teensy, real-wood frame that I picked up at my new favorite craft-supply haunt right in town.

I absolutely envy her collection of birds' eggs, feathers, exotic insects, nests and shells. If you look around my own home you'll find mounted butterflies, small clusters of interesting pebbles and rocks, and seashells, but I try to keep it to a minimum. Don't peek inside some of my drawers though, or you'll find lonely but pretty feathers, walking sticks preserved in boxes, broken robin eggs, and other natural curiosities that I can't bear to part with, but cannot find a permanent place for.

Wouldn't it be great to have a special spot in one's home for all of these neat things? It reminds me of being a kid again and scouring the woods and fields for treasures. So jealous.

My husband says this is a self-portrait, and I think he's absolutely right!

First Day Jitters - Silver Lake

2011-02-23T13:18:00.001-08:00

Silver Lake is a peaceful little spot in our town where we have been spending quite a bit of time each summer. The girls have swimming lessons while I get to catch up with the parents in my community. Some days we end up spending a happy six hour stretch there. Last summer there was a tiny little girl standing on the dock, trying so hard to muster up the courage to jump into the kiddie area, like the other kids were doing. She looked absolutely petrified and utterly adorable, and luckily I had my sketchbook with me so I scribbled a quick drawing of her. Now here she is, reminding us of the warm days to come. There is a light at the end of the cold, snowy tunnel!

Something Worth the Wait

2011-02-20T10:59:00.000-08:00

Here is my first piece created specifically for (drumroll please).....my first art exhibit! Although I have plenty of art in my shop right now, I'd prefer to have most of the pieces coordinate somewhat with one another. Since the venue is a book store, I've created Little Red Riding Hood (above) to partner with the Princess and the Pea, finished last year. The exhibit is not until summer, which will give me plenty of time to paint my little heart out and be good and ready! I've tried to make the wolf not too scary here. My sister grew up with a "Peter and the Wolf" painting in her bedroom which she says gave her nightmares! I certainly wouldn't want to be responsible for scaring little children.

I Want Spring Soooo Bad

2011-02-04T15:56:00.000-08:00

As I am snowed in for more and more days, I find myself making these silly and very spring-y paintings full of cheery colors. It is my only escape! And what kitties don't love spring, anyway?

On my to-do list while I wait patiently for the little green buds and bugs to emerge: shop for good rain boots. I am thinking that mud season is going to be very long and merciless this year.

A friend told me about Bogs. Wouldn't these look cute with some leggings and a trench, or with a dress and cardi?

Monday is Wash Day

2011-01-17T16:57:00.000-08:00

"Laundry Day" - now in the shop.

During the 19th century, Monday was the day for washing clothes. I've often wondered how chores were assigned to certain days....apparently, doing laundry the old-fashioned way involved lots of hand-scrubbing, hauling water, and carrying heavy wet clothing out to a clothesline to be hung. Monday was the obvious choice for such hard labor because the women were well rested after Sunday. Here at Robin's Egg Studio, wash day falls on any old day of the week, and sometimes every day of the week when things are getting really out of hand. I do appreciate my electric washer and dryer each time I use them. I have never had a clothesline of my own but I know that the smell of air-dried sheets and clothing are supposed to be irresistible! Perhaps someday when our back yard is more secluded, we can try it.

Michigan......check!

2011-01-13T08:08:00.001-08:00

This little Frida painting is happy to be making its way to Michigan. I just love being able to add new countries or states to the list of "Where My Art Lives" (see sidebar). Maybe one day I'll have all 50 states in my collection! I currently have 3 out of 5 continents...getting there slowly but surely!

Another Chocolate Holiday is on the Way

2011-01-09T11:22:00.001-08:00

"Special Delivery"

Christmas has been over for a couple of weeks, and there is still an offensive amount of chocolate in this house....a rare occurrence considering that I personally exceed the average annual consumption rate by at least 300%. We've been treated to peppermint bark -- both homemade and store-bought, chocolate-covered sea salt caramels, Godiva milk chocolate bars (three varieties), chocolate-covered peppermint marshmallows, and tins of dark chocolate and truffles.

And.

Valentine's Day is about 6 weeks away. Even if I proclaim to friends and family that I do not, under any circumstances, want ANY chocolate (which they will think is a big fat lie anyway), I cannot help the fact that my two little girls will be gifted with all sorts of candies from friends and grandparents. Must! Have! Willpower!

I'll have to make the switch from chocolate to cookies, just to keep things interesting. I found these on Etsy today in the Cukor Cookies shop..... how hard will they be to resist? The lace details are so unique, and the cookies are organic, to boot. Sweet!

Halloween Anticipation

2010-09-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

Any holiday that centers around candy is okay in my book. As I get older, though, I get pickier. Kit Kats and Almond Joys no longer interest me. I think I'm going to have to make my own private stash of Halloween candy. In it I will include: Dove dark chocolates, sea salt caramels (difficult to find around here without ordering from the web), milk chocolate/cashew turtles, and swedish fish. I really should avoid all the chewy candies unless I want to pull a crown off again (!) and pay a visit to my dentist, as entertaining as he is. Maybe if I just take tiny bites and chew with my front teeth? Do they make rabbit costumes in adult sizes? Hmmm....

Happy Swatches

2010-08-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think that choosing paper patterns and paint colors for a collage or painting is half the fun of creating them! The little squares of color are almost a work of art in themselves. I often pin them up on my inspiration board even when I'm through with them....they make me happy.

Tie One On

2010-08-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

I'm a stay-at-home mom and messy artist with a dash of frustrated fashionista. I love beautiful clothes but with all the scrubbing, dishes, laundry, meal prep, painting and coffee drinking I do all day, my clothes take a beating. I'm thinking that this fall I'll buy myself a nifty new apron to protect my threads. Here are a few tempting choices from Etsy!

From Great Goods

From Modern Vintage Designs

From Pig & Company

From Mudhoney Boutique

Knowing me, I'll probably run out of the house still wearing it, but at least it will look great!

Use The Force

2010-06-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

My little 5 year old is not only a great artist but a huge fan of Star Wars. Seen here is her montage of lightsabers, with dashed lines and scissors around each one as a reminder that they can be cut out of the page. I will try to post her hedgehog astronaut/strawberry-shaped spaceship soon!

Finally....a Facebook page!

2010-06-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

I decided to finally set up a Facebook page, even though my website is not at the place I want it to be. If you'd like to see more photos of my work, there are lots of them to be seen there!

Click the highlighted link above, or look for Robin's Egg Studio - Art by Sarah Ziegler.

Until next time!

I ♥ Portland Maine!

2010-06-01T04:21:00.000-07:00

My husband and I just returned from a long weekend in Portland....the first trip in a loooong time that we've taken without the children. It felt like a second honeymoon! We drove up, stopping in Portsmouth, NH and Ogunquit, ME along the way and devouring every sort of local seafood. It would be tough to decide which place I liked more. Each is bustling with all sorts of crafty activity, shops and restaurants. We visited the Portland studio of painter George Anderson and promptly fell in love with his work. Owning an original is now at the top of our priority list! Anderson also has a studio in Rockport, MA.....be sure to take a look if you're near either location.

Tiny Dancer

2010-05-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

This is the beautiful Miss Ella....her sweet mom and I were great friends during those awkward, sometimes painful years of fifth and sixth grade. She managed to find me after so much time has passed, and asked me to create a painting for her little ballerina. Such fun!

I have been patiently awaiting the time when my web designer can update my website with a fresh new look. When that is done I will be adding a Facebook fan page as well! Please send me an email if you'd like to be notified when they are ready. See you then!

Pintora Linda

2010-01-24T06:29:00.000-08:00

(6/27 Update: Frida has been sold and is now making her home in Tennessee!)

Frida Kahlo Kitty is now in the shop. Choosing the colors for this was fun since we don't use too much bright color at home -- just in our art. If you haven't yet seen the Frida movie starring Salma Hayek as Frida, you need to put it on your Netflix queue now! I love her personal style...all those dresses, braids, chunky necklaces and earrings! I am waiting for a Halloween party so I can go as Frida. Maybe I should keep a lookout for shawls and skull earrings now. I think my husband would make a dashing Diego Rivera, though assuredly less portly and much less of a romantically lecherous rascal!

Fashionista

2010-01-09T18:43:00.001-08:00

I had never heard of Lynn Yaeger until I saw her in an Oprah magazine article about individual style. She certainly is individual and so charming! I have to admire her for sticking to her fashion guns even in the face of ridicule (something she has admittedly endured). She must be doing something right, since she writes fashion articles for Vogue and (formerly) The Village Voice. Her image is so charismatic I had to make a little doll of her, which I may send to her just for kicks:

The Jello Mold Mistress of Brooklyn

2009-12-26T13:21:00.000-08:00

I was happy to find the Jello Mold Mistress through Cute Overload and I am amazed at her ability to continually reinvent gelatinous desserts! Check out this eggnog jello for the holidays. This woman has a serious obsession and she's quite skilled at assembly and presentation. I especially appreciate the jellos made with spirits. Heh. Maybe she wants a taste-tester?

OMG

2009-12-22T22:43:00.001-08:00

This tote was donated to a raffle to benefit the Grafton Food Bank. Our town is excellent at organizing various drives for this cause. Recently I was able to pay off my fines at the library with donations of canned goods. Lucky....they were pretty hefty! All you have to do is check out one kids' movie, then add in holiday busy-ness, sick kids, zillions of errands and appointments and *poof!* you owe your child's first tuition payment in library fines.

3 in 2

2009-12-13T17:26:00.001-08:00

I have just finished three custom orders in two months, just in time for a little pre-holiday relaxing. We will not be hosting any dinners/brunches/parties this time around, only the Christmas Eve cookies and milk placement, and Christmas morning chaos that is so much fun with two little girls in the house! I just can't wait to hear all the squealing and "Oh my gosh"-ing.

This painting of a wren surrounded by London landmarks and other fun items was a new challenge for me. I spent a lot of time peering at photos of Big Ben, London Bridge, and phone booths, among other things. The customer requested that the bird be wearing red and white striped socks -- the part of custom orders which I absolutely love, collaborating and imagination and a little kookiness thrown in once in a while! I can't decide if my favorite part is the little guard or the fish and chips. Okay maybe it's the socks.

Next up we have the little bespectacled fairy with her purple tulle skirt. I love making these skirts because I always wanted one as a child. Now I can dress my paintings in them and it adds such a nice 3-dimensional effect...I went a bit over-the-top with this one: it has an underlayer of glittery pink tulle, with a lavender tulle layer on top and lastly a darker purple tulle layer. FUN!

Now here's a portrait of Mattie, a much more realistic style than I usually attempt. I emailed the finished scan to the customer and held my breath. Luckily she was very pleased and I could relax again.

Well the tree is up and decorated, the shopping is half done and I'm feeling happy! I would love to have time in the new year to work on my personal art projects. There is a very modern painting of Alice in Wonderland floating around in my head...curiouser and curiouser considering I've never read the book. Maybe I should add that to my list of New Year's resolutions! Wait -- is it time to start thinking about those already?!?

Neigh!

2009-11-10T14:47:00.001-08:00

E-I-E-I-O...this painting was done for my dear cousin, in anticipation of her first baby. She and her husband live on a large farm in Vermont and just adore their animals, so of course...

it is on the large side, over 24" across, so I could not scan it successfully. The details in the pic aren't showing as well as I'd like, but luckily I have a pic highlighting the blue chicken!

And why not a blue chicken? Better to fuel the baby's imagination right away.

Grrrr...technology

2009-11-01T19:36:00.000-08:00

This is why I paint and have not yet plunged into the world of digital art...because I've spent the last six years and eleven months being Mom and about 12 minutes of that time has been dedicated to learning the ins and outs of the computer/flatscreen/dvd player. I did manage to add this adorable border to my blog today and I looove it! At least I can say I'm a few notches above my mom, who called me shortly after receiving a cd player from us for Christmas, to say "It won't play the B sides." Love her!

Spook-tacular

2009-10-31T12:57:00.001-07:00

The pumpkins have been carved, the chile-spiced pumpkin seeds are baking in the oven and the bat and Spiderman costumes are ready and waiting...oh and don't forget the 10 pounds of Halloween candy sitting in the kitchen! I painted the little skelly above for a fund-raiser at my daughter's school...his heart is a little button sewn on. Or is it a she? I glued an orange-with-white-polka-dots ribbon around the edges and it was pretty adorable. Happy Halloween!

On Hiatus

2009-09-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break from the blog...but not my business! I am still working and taking orders through my Etsy shop and my website. However, until I'm on better terms with my camera and computer, I need to suspend my blogging activity. Please check in regularly for my return. Thanks!

A Happy Fourth!

2009-07-08T11:21:00.001-07:00

We had a great Fourth of July weekend. Lots of socializing with family and friends, and waaayyy too much food! The whole family got to ride in a parade on the back of this very cool antique fire truck, owned by my brother-in-law. He put in a lot of work to make it parade-worthy. It was a "wet parade," and all of the onlookers had squirt guns to shoot at us as we drove by. We had a hose and buckets full of water balloons to launch at them! The girls especially enjoyed that. Luckily the weather was clear and sunny. We've had about four thunderstorms since then.

We also met the new brood of chicks living in my dad's barn. They are only four days old and pretty adorable! He has kept chickens in the past, for their eggs. He hasn't had any in over a year, but when my oldest was disappointed that she could not collect eggs any longer, he decided to order some chicks. She doesn't have her grandfather wrapped around her little finger, does she?

r.i.p.

2009-06-28T16:11:00.001-07:00

Yes, he had his problems. The sudden media flurry regarding MJ's death has brought back so many memories for me! Most strongly, the "contest" I had going with my 6th-grade friend and neighbor across the street, Denise. We wanted to find out who could plaster the most pictures of MJ on our bedroom walls. Anything was game, from a poster to a 2 inch magazine cutout. My parents were pretty amused by my obsession. I had a very impressive collection going and for the first time in my life, began buying "Tiger Beat" magazine and others like it. Once the MJ photos were hunted down and painstakingly cut out, the rest of the mag went right into the trash. I had no use for anyone else. He was so cute at that time, wasn't he? Before the much-longer hair and surgeries of the "Bad" album era. Anytime I hear "Rock With You" it brings me right back to the rollerskating rink. Those were the days!

Jellyfish Crop Circle!

2009-06-04T07:59:00.001-07:00

This is a brilliant piece of art. I've developed a fondness for jellyfish lately, for their interesting organic shape and graceful underwater movements. I've only drawn/painted one teensy specimen so far, for the huge map made for Bridget (seen in older posts) -- see it floating there on the left side? These teeny-tiny drawings are clickable if you want a better look.

I also have a fondness for crop circles, so imagine my happiness when I came across this image on the web today. Here's the accompanying story. Clever Brits!

Paring Down the To-Do List

2009-05-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

I've had several pieces to do for a customer that I've been working on for a few weeks now, in brief moments between caring for two kids, a sick husband, a back injury (better now), a wedding out of state, etc.... Finally I'm done with the work and just need to scan the other pieces for the client before sending them off. Here's a peek at one of them; it's an acrylic painting. My sketches are so minimal, sometimes I think it must take courage for the clients to give the go-ahead on them! Here's what the sketch looks like:
And here is the finished product:

Just a tad better, eh? Note the Green Monster-colored border! This was fun to make, though the teeny-tiny letters had me shaking my fist at whoever decided on such a complicated font for the Sox logo. I was using a brush with about four hairs in it, squinting a lot, and taking breaks to breathe...I tend to hold my breath when I'm doing detail work so I don't move the canvas. Probably not such a great habit. If I get too oxygen-deprived my work will evolve into some kind of surreal, Dali style.

Wild Memorial Day Weekend!

2009-05-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

Not because we partied a lot, but because of the weather! Sunday was a gorgeous day, then clouds began creeping in, then out of nowhere the wind whipped everything into frenzy! It seems as though half the leaves on the trees landed on the ground.

Then the hail came down, very suddenly and an awful lot of it. I've never seen anything like it! Once it was safe to go outside, the girls collected a bunch of it and Andy took photos to post on the local town news website.

The entire neighborhood spent a good portion of Monday cleaning up. Cars were dented, vinyl siding was destroyed...I can't imagine what the delicate garden greens and buds must look like. One of our floodlights got smashed and we have a couple of small dings in our car hoods. I think we got off easy, considering!

Happy Anniversary

2009-05-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

My better half and I recently returned from a little weekend trip to attend a friend's wedding. I must say my husband looks absolutely dashing in a tux, and we danced the night away until 3 a.m., which hasn't happened in ages. What a nice little break to get re-acquainted with each other without the distractions of housework, phone calls and children (though we did miss them a ton and talked about them constantly while away).

Once we returned, prince charming was immediately felled by some awful virus (no, not swine flu) and was bedridden for days. He was still lying about when our 9-year wedding anniversary came around, so we decided to just put celebrations on hold until another time. Later that night he had to go out for an errand and returned with a gorgeous Coach bag for me (see above -- mine's brown). He is very sneaky and I love it!! It was pretty risky of him to do, since for Christmas 2007 he bought me a Coach which I returned, feeling guilty of the expense. Not this time though....um, I don't want to hurt his feelings. Yeah, that's it!

Now it's time to get cracking on a few custom orders: some large-scale drawings based on the aceo I did (shown here), which are finished but need packaging, and a painting of two brothers dressed as Red Sox players. Once they're done I can concentrate on some summer marketing plans.

Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend!

A Little Spring in My Step

2009-05-08T14:31:00.001-07:00

Spring has finally arrived in our yard! For some strange reason, our plant life is always a week or two behind the regular blooming schedule. It may be the way our house sits on the hill and the path of the sun. Patience is a virtue around here. I've been eyeing everyone else's lilac bushes with envy, as our teeny buds are still being shy. At least there's some action going on.

I have columbine to plant, and some red-flowering viney thing which I don't remember the name of. I need to wait a few more days until my back heals...who knows what the heck happened to it? Almost done with some custom work, then I can begin a huge mermaid painting that I hope to be done with just in time for the hot weather.

Have you ever eaten fiddleheads with hollandaise sauce, or just some butter? If not, now's the time to try them! Trim the cut end a tad just to get the dry part off, then throw them in a steamer basket for a few minutes, until you can pierce them with a fork...don't overdo it. You can find them at most large supermarkets. Delicious!

p.s.: Photos courtesy of my talented husband.

Under Construction

2009-04-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

My website has undergone a few changes this week, in particular the "recent work" page which was formerly called "sold." I wanted to be able to show off a few items that are complete, but not yet for sale or not yet sold. I love having the thumbnails lined up on the left! It's a great setup. Next up is a new font, if I can make up my mind. I'm a little surprised at the disdain for Papyrus I've seen in the online art community, but hey -- I'm flexible!

Right now I'm up to my eyeballs in yardwork and planting. I have some beautiful columbine to get into the ground asap, but I'm about to melt away if I'm out there for much longer. Ninety degrees in April?!

Weird Cat Lady

2009-04-15T05:45:00.000-07:00

I'm not a weird cat lady, I swear! Then why do I keep making cat art? Maybe it's the spirit of my old cat Ernie whispering into my ear as I create. He was a sweet little guy who disappeared about 5 years ago. The dog officer and highway departments never found a body; they said it was very likely the coyotes had done him in. At the time the coyote population in my little town had been expanding and causing a lot of grief for pet owners. We have no pets now, and no plans for getting any. I can barely keep up with the care and feeding of the human population in this house; bringing in an animal would be sadistic! Someday, maybe. I do enjoy being pet-hair-free.

Until then I'll be making cat portraits. They've been very popular, so I'm not exactly being discouraged here. Above is Bookworm Kitty, collaged onto a vintage book cover. I used a scrap of an child's old cardigan to make her sweater. I was going to attach a hanger to it but when I saw it sitting on a table with its pages fanned out a bit, I decided to leave it as is.

I'll have another piece, called Marie Antoinette Kitty, available in the shop soon. It's my favorite work of kitty art so far.

Meh

2009-04-08T14:44:00.001-07:00

I should have listened to the inner voice that whispered "but it's Madonna" when I picked this up at the library. I was much more interested in the illustrations than the story, so I figured I'd bring it home and read it to my 6 year old, and it would entertain us both. As it turns out, the inner voice was right. The story is pretty mediocre, at times annoying. The illustrations are pretty fabulous though! Knowing that, take a look at the cover of the book. Notice anything? Yep, it just says Madonna. The illustrator, Jeffrey Fulvimari, got a small recognition on the title page and that's it. Nothing on the front cover, nothing on the inside back cover, where I usually look for biographical information on illustrators I admire. If you ask me, he got a raw deal here. I doubt he's crying into his pillow though, as he's done loads of work for lots of chic clients.

While I'm at it, I'll mention some of the other illustrators I've been admiring for a while:
Lauren Child, author of the Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean books
Marie-Louise Gay, author of the Stella books and Sam books
Melissa Sweet, brilliant illustrator of many lovely children's products, some of which are featured prominently on my girls' bedroom wall -- see below.

What Cupcakes Do When The Bakery Closes

2009-04-07T18:45:00.001-07:00

A dear friend of mine, who is a very talented baker and chef, has asked me to create a cupcake design for some business forms. I have to say, it was one of the most fun assignments I've had in a while! Who can resist a cupcake, especially a smiling one? My older sister makes some of the best cupcakes in the world. I have made sure to request them for my birthday next month. They are the kind of cupcakes that you can eat half a dozen of without pause. Maybe I'd better get some extra miles in on the dreadmill in anticipation?

Mean Girls

2009-04-04T10:07:00.001-07:00

My kindergartener is on the brink of having a very packed schedule. I usually don't encourage that, except on the weekends, if there are birthday parties she would be too disappointed to miss. As it turns out she has two to go to in one day (Saturday), on top of her piano lesson. That's fine with me. My biggest issue is resisting the cupcakes. Good thing I'm really picky about frosting!

So there we were at a party full of first-graders, and I stayed with her (as inconspicuously as possible), sitting on the sidelines and observing. There was a LOT to observe. The snide comments, the insults, the tongues sticking out. I can't believe how early it starts! I wonder where they pick it up. Older siblings? Or just being surrounded by other kids so often once they start school? It's a little sad, but I suppose it's part of the learning process, growing up, blah blah blah. I wish I could stand next to her at all times like a Secret Service employee, ready to deflect mockery or snobbery at a moment's notice. Somehow I don't think that would improve her popularity so I'll restrain myself, and throw her to the lions each day as I send her out to the school bus.

Shoe Lust

2009-04-01T12:48:00.001-07:00

At times like these, I (almost) wish I had an office-y job again, just for the excuse to buy adorable shoes like these. They are the perfect shade of springy, not-quite-blue and not-quite-green, and would look fabulous with an ivory pencil skirt or beige suit pants. Or some sort of wrap dress. Of course, they'd look great with long, dark jeans, but I have too few occasions for an outfit like that and too many other neglected pairs of heels in my closet. It is my right to drool, though, so I'll do that for a while...

Coming Soon to a Party Near You

2009-03-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

My little girl is turning FOUR on Saturday (sniff). We have some fun food planned for the kids, with puppy cupcakes for the finale. Of course, the moms and dads who are staying to chaperone their little partiers must have sustenance, in the form of strong coffee and chocolate croissants. It seems everywhere I go I'm reading about these from Trader Joe's...you just let them rise overnight and pop them into the oven. Easy, right? We'll see. I'm happy to be a guinea p-- uh -- tester. After all, we have Funfetti cupcakes to fall back on if they're horrible, but truly, how horrible can a croissant be?

Love That Dirty Water

2009-03-07T18:11:00.001-08:00

While working his you-know-what off in Boston this week, my honey carved out some time to snap some pics around the city and took what is now one of my favorite images of one of my favorite buildings, the Boston Harbor Hotel. There are some other great photos which I won't post now, since I almost blew a gasket just trying to convert this one for posting! I'm definitely not as tech-savvy as my better half. The girls and I really missed their Daddy while he was away and were so happy to spend some time together as a family this weekend at one of our favorite outdoor spots. It was a balmy 60 degrees today, and the girls happily spent a couple of hours stomping through slush, inspecting animal tracks, climbing rocks and plunking stones into a little pond. All with snow boots and snow pants on to minimize sogginess, but of course they were still soaked from their toes to their waists by the time we were done. Below is proof that I actually spent time outside breathing fresh air...it seems like it's been months since I've done that!

Happy Spring (almost!).

I Cannot Get Enough

2009-03-04T13:02:00.000-08:00

My two little pixies could not get any cuter...or could they? We recently had the honor of having a very talented friend come and photograph the girls at home, doing what they would normally do, with a few exceptions. Turn on your computer speakers and click on this link to see a few examples of her gorgeous work! I have to admit that I've already watched it a gazillion times.

Here we are again

2009-03-02T04:56:00.000-08:00

We're all cozied up together for another fun-filled snow day at home! In March! Yaaaaay!!! Good thing I was able to gather the essentials during my quick trip to the store yesterday: coffee and Play-Doh. A survey of the cupboards reveals enough ingredients to whip up a batch of cookies, and we have playmates just two houses away, already on standby. I'm sure there will be plenty of drawing all day long. Check out the adorable turtle done by my Noelle. Not bad for a girl who is not yet four years old!

Give me what I want and no one gets hurt

2009-02-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

I don't ask for much in life. I don't demand exotic vacations, expensive jewelry, trendy vehicles or designer clothing. I don't smoke, do drugs, gamble, overspend or shoplift. I don't spray-tan. I don't real tan. I do drink, but rarely. I pay all my taxes, on time. I call my mother regularly. See? A model citizen.

So why is it that I can't have one crummy little vice that doesn't come with annoying side-effects? One...teeny...vice. Just let me eat my chocolate chip-pecan cookies in peace. I'm chewing quietly. I'm not letting crumbs drift onto the sofa cushions. And I'm saving some cookies for you, too. Let me have my little (ok, medium) bowl of ice cream after dinner. Let me have half a box of sea-salt caramels in one sitting. I am not bothering anyone!

However, the Land's End swimsuit catalog is calling and the skirted suits are looking pretty good right now. Some of the artwork on my walls has begun to shimmy as I walk by. Winter will be over soon and the need for extra warmth will be gone. I'll be spending my days at the lake with the girls, in full view of many other Grafton moms. Let me tell you, some of these moms are hot!

I know I need to surrender to a lifestyle almost devoid of sugar. I even like healthy eating. I'm just not ready. I'm annoyed that an otherwise vice-free person can't have her cake and not have to wear Spanx. I will end my rant here; I need to click onto the Land's End site and order me a skirt suit before they're all sold out!

Another School Vacation Survived

2009-02-22T11:47:00.000-08:00

The week-long February vacation is almost at a close. It will be good to get back to the routine. I have to say, I woke up earlier each day this week than I usually do -- isn't there something backwards about that? I have to say, the kids were well behaved. We didn't do anything too exciting other than a couple of playdates and a trip to a local museum which turned out to be a yawn.

I was able to finish up this owl painting and collage, but I have to keep them away from the shop for awhile; they're intended for display at the upcoming Grafton Fine Arts show. I'd love to do a series of paintings based on the colors and patterns in this one, so I'd better get cracking!!!

Eye Love You

2009-02-08T14:58:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is approaching swiftly, and we're smothered in layers of doilies, heart stickers and glitter here at the robin's nest. The girlies and I have been having lots of fun creating valentines for each other. One of them, an owl made from a white doily, was particularly cute and would've been featured here if it had not been stuck fast to the counter with a blob of ketchup. Just a typical occurrence at Chez Ziegler. Instead, here's one that I made for my husband a couple of years ago, when I was creating just for fun and not for profit. It pokes fun of the fact that both of us have wonky eye issues: he uses just one (extremely expensive, panic-inducing if lost) contact lens, and I occasionally have to break out the eye patch for my double vision (insert pirate joke here). The card cornily says "Eye Love You" inside! This year, I'm busy painting things for my shop, so I'm pretty sure he'll be getting a store-bought card. If I hop onto Etsy this minute I might be able to get one shipped to me in time!

Bridget's World

2009-01-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

This world map has been my biggest project to date. It measures 2 ft. by 4 ft. and I am so glad I don't have to ship it! It's for a local client's little girl, who was born in China. If you click to enlarge the second photo, you can see a little heart on China, noting the town she was born in.

The prep work for this painting was very tedious but the last bit was very fun; I'm actually a little sad that it's over! I'm completely caught up on my geography at this point.
I finally have more art to post in my sparse little shop, and will try to get to that this weekend. Enjoy yours!

I'm Almost Done

2009-01-26T13:27:00.001-08:00

I've been painting a world map for a little girl's room for about 2 months now, working on it a bit at a time when I could steal a few moments. I am so happy to say it's almost DONE!! I had the idea to add native animals and monuments to it but was petrified of wrecking the canvas. Instead, I drew them on bristol, cut them out and glued them on. Here they are before being glued (above). In a few days I'll get my husband to take a photo of it with the new camera, and I'll post it then.

It's a sad thing to say that for the next 2 or 3 weeks I won't be making any new art for children. Until the CPSIA ruling is finalized and put into effect, I don't want to (potentially) waste my time. If I won't be "allowed" to make art for children without expensive testing of the product, I am going to work hard on some new styles targeted to a more mature audience, and expand the dog portrait options. Time will tell.

Snow...and more snow

2009-01-18T12:54:00.000-08:00

Today is the perfect day to honor Ezra Jack Keats' beautifully illustrated book. It's also the perfect day for endless cups of tea, cookie-baking, and roast chicken. With any luck I'll be getting all of those done. Right now, I'm going to put my worn-out, well-loved slippers on and snuggle up with a book.

A Good Cause

2009-01-15T16:46:00.001-08:00

Goodbye, Snail! Our faithful friend the snail has been donated to the upcoming Worcester Food & Wine Festival, set for February 9. A silent auction will be raising funds for a local scholarship program. It's a good cause and should be a fun event. Snail has been with me since the early days of opening my shop and I'm a little sad to see him go.

More excitement...this happy bumblebee will be flying off to a little girl as her christening gift. Her name was painted onto it and I hope she'll enjoy looking at it for years to come! My shop is getting a little bare and I really, really need to buckle down and get painting. Today during some free time, however, I chose to drink a really good mocha and peruse a book about Chuck Close. His work is absolutely amazing! Another book I enjoyed looking at this week contains adorable illustrations by Jennifer Plecas. Her website is under construction but should be worth marking for later. We'll see....

Happy New Year!

2009-01-12T13:34:00.000-08:00

STILL HERE!

I've taken a quite long and unexpected leave of absence from the blog, and I do apologize if you've been checking in to find.....nothing! Thank you for coming back. This year I'm going to experiment with some ACEOs (art cards, editions and originals), the fun and collectible little works of art. The bunny prowling the castle halls, above, is the first to be offered in my shop. I have purchased an absolutely adorable ACEO this week from Lauren Alexander, another Etsy artist. I can't wait to display it in my studio for a pop of color and cuteness!

I can feel myself gearing up for a great year...last year was the first time I had ever offered my art for sale, and I had some very unexpected yet pleasant surprises! Looking forward to more fun.

God Must be an Octopus

2008-11-19T17:05:00.000-08:00

As we were driving on a major highway this week, my daughter said "God must be an octopus; that's how He can hold up all these roads for us." Very interesting. I wonder how He'd look if she drew a picture?

Just a short post to share that, and plans for gingerbread baking, now that the snow is near. With fresh whipped cream, of course! Why not tint it pink while you're at it? Stay warm.

La-la-la-la-Lola

2008-11-13T06:57:00.001-08:00

Here's another dog silhouette painting of a friend's dog, Lola. She's a beautiful long-haired daschund living on Cape Cod, where I grew up. It's a good thing I have her to post here, because I've been doing nothing for the last 4 days but whimper quietly on the couch with another annoying cold. I think I'm going to order myself a hazmat suit and maybe a couple of teeny ones for the kids. From now until New Year's, no one is allowed to get sick in this house! I'm off to wipe everything down with bleach again....

Bon Voyage

2008-11-06T13:55:00.000-08:00

The beloved French Kitty, one of the first paintings I created specifically for sale, has found a new home! I think he needs some friends...the kitties have been awfully popular. Off to the studio!

Halloween for Clumsy People

2008-11-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

Halloween was a smashing success! My little witch and Power Ranger did very well, charming the neighbors and (mostly) remembering their manners. This is the perfect age for trick-or-treaters, in my opinion. Of course, we're now eating candy before breakfast, but it's only once a year right?

Our festive weekend continued with a dinner with friends, for which I made this dolled-up apple pie. I pressed the holes of a lemon zester into the side to create the pretty dotted pattern.

I lost my appetite for it though...my little one got her second toe stuck in a treadmill (unplugged) and it was quite the scene for about 5 scary minutes. This is shortly after she stabbed herself in the eye with a plastic sword. She laughs in the face of danger! She's fine....but my lifespan has been shortened a good few months.

Woof

2008-10-25T19:26:00.001-07:00

It seems that I have become a bit of a dog portrait artist without ever aiming to be. I love it! Here is my third doggie painting and certainly not my last. Orders are waiting in the wings. May I present the lovely Abby (this is a portion of the entire painting)...

Her original photo...

I hope her "mom" is pleased. Have a great weekend!

Finally, An Update

2008-10-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

Shortly after E.T. was created, he was chewed up and spit out (literally) by my youngest, and then I got sick. I had laryngitis for the first time, which my family found to be hysterical. The grownups took every opportunity to mimic my pathetic whispering, and the children found they could just walk away from me and I'd be unable to shout for them to "come back here this minute!" So, the blogging and creating have been scarce, but I'm back on the scene!

I finished up a painting of a long-haired daschund for a friend, and began another of a Papillon. Those will be posted soon. I felt better enough to get the prickly-clawed Beetle off to his rightful home, to a talented artist in New York. There is nothing like knowing your work is where it will be truly appreciated!

I am happy to report that the series of children's portraits I've been developing is also going into the shop and onto the web site. They had their public "premiere" Friday night at the Women's Night Out event in my hometown of Grafton, Mass. It was a great night and I was able to connect with many fabulous people in my own community! Below is the little skating boy. If you look closely, you'll see that his shorts are eerily similar in pattern to the Beetle above! His partner is a ballerina girl with a glittery 3-D tutu. She deserves a better photo before being posted. Both kids received many compliments and had folks interested.

I am also excited to have received my first international order, from a customer in Australia. I'll be doing 4 large dinosaur-skeleton paintings for her, based on this one from the shop:

I am definitely going to buy a world map and some pins to mark my territories! Bye for now.

E.T. Phone Home

2008-09-30T14:27:00.001-07:00

I introduced my daughters to E.T. this week. I was unsure how scary it would be for them, but they didn't seem rattled by anything in it. It does seem pretty tame once you watch it again as an adult! Of course, after seeing it we had to make a little E.T. for our Playmobil bmx guy, and re-create the police car chase scene with matchbox cars. These kids have great imaginations!

What a Day!

2008-09-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

The Spirit of Shrewsbury craft fair, held this past Saturday, was such a fun learning experience. Take a look at my display, which cost next to nothing in money but plenty in labor! That's because I made the tablecloths and bunting sign myself, but I'm happy I did. I think it looks adorable! Many people stopped to comment, and of course, eat the candy we had set out. I have to give many thanks to my husband, who helped me load and unload everything (and listened to me fretting over all the small details for a solid week or two before), my sisters, who sat with me and helped entice customers, and my in-laws for watching the children while we got everything ready. It truly was a family affair...my father, aunt and grandmother all stopped by. What a great support system I have!

I got to meet the highly talented Amy Gaines, who also has not one but two shops on Etsy. I had hoped she would be there as a vendor, but it turns out she was there as a shopper, and adopted Victorian Kitty! This piece was my most well-received item on Etsy yet. I'm very flattered that such a creative person has chosen to put it in her home. Please be sure to visit both of her shops online.

I'm now looking forward to my next art/craft fair, which is yet to be determined. Thanks to all who helped or gave me advice or support, I couldn't have done it without you!

Craft Fair Countdown - Update

2008-09-26T04:08:00.000-07:00

24 hours left until the craft fair, with flood warnings on the way! Luckily, my display area is indoors. I'll still be lugging all my supplies in through the pouring rain, and I'm contemplating brining a hair dryer with me. Don't want drowned-rat hair on the big day. The past day my preparations have involved Elmer's glue, a hot-glue gun, scissors, velcro, hem tape, duct tape, Scotch tape, a hammer, dvds for the kids, failed trips to various stores, coffee, Coke, Advil, Febreze, and gin (although not for what you'd assume). I'm thinking tomorrow will involve lots of trash bags and tarps to keep the goods dry. I'll post an update afterward, and hopefully great photos, too! Off to get more coffee.....

Craft Fair Countdown

2008-09-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

Spirit of Shrewsbury Craft Fair
Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 am - 4 pm
If you're a local, stop by and see me at the fair this coming weekend! The Spirit of Shrewsbury is a huge event that closes down a good part of the town center and offers tons of fun, food and activities for children and grown-ups, all weekend long. My brother-in-law the firefighter will be serving up chili and helping kids through a fire safety obstacle course. A friend of ours will be getting kids involved in greening up the planet. And yours truly will be peddling her wares at the indoor craft fair. Wish me luck!

My Husband the Genius

2008-09-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to report that our laptop is up and running again, thanks to the genius I married. He can pretty much fix anything he puts his mind to. I'm thinking that a batch of thank-you walnut brownies are in order! I really need to go full-force in preparing the displays for the upcoming craft show. Since I already wasted precious time attaching velcro to the wrong side of the table skirt this morning, I'm going to have to work extra hard to avoid last-minute anxiety.

Take a look at the canvas totes I've painted to offer at the show. A little mermaid...

And something perfect for hauling masses of sugary goodness around...

Check out the dot over the "i": that's my favorite part!

Enjoy watching the game, or whatever else it is you're doing on this cozy, rainy Sunday.

We are Experiencing Technical Difficulties

2008-09-09T17:43:00.000-07:00

Do I own any pets? Why, no, I don't. Then how do you think a hole got chewed in the laptop charging cable? Hmmm...it must be Baby Vampire, aka Little Carnivore, aka Fang. She usually answers to Noelle and she's my 3 year old daughter. We were sitting peacefully together while I checked my emails and she suddenly said "I'm sorry Mommy, I'm sorry." She then held up the cable, which had a tiny hole pierced in it. I was about to give her a gentle scolding and leave it at that, when sparks began flying out of the hole. I unplugged it and ended up giving her a not-so-gentle scolding, full of the typical dramatic mom "you could have DIED" rants.

The laptop is now out of juice and I'm without a cable. I'm stuck at the old, sloooooooow computer posting this to let you know that it may be a few days before I'm fully up and running again. The keyboard on this thing doesn't even type exclamation points anymore, that's why the story seems a bit monotone instead of full of gasps and shouts, as it should. I'm just glad the little devil wasn't hurt.

I'll be back soon when I have better equipment and access to all my photos.

The Last Piece of the Puzzle

2008-09-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

This is the last piece of the custom order which included the bear, elephant and frog (two posts ago). I used small individual canvases to spell out the little girl's name. They're going to look so elegant and girly hanging in a row on her bedroom wall. It would be fun to be able to see where my little paintings are living once I ship them off. That's not always possible, but in my sister's case, I saw the gorgeous nursery she has created for the wee visitor she's waiting to welcome. The painting I made to coordinate with the decor is hanging over the crib and looks great! I'm going to post a photo asap. Maybe if I persuade her with a decaf latte and a delivery of freshly-washed and gently used baby clothes I can sneak in there to take a pic. No pressure though.

Exposed!

2008-08-31T11:25:00.000-07:00

It is my dream to live in a perfectly ordered, gleaming and impeccable Martha-like home. My reality, however, is that I'd rather play with the kids and let the laundry pile up. And up. And up! I do manage to keep my art desk pretty neat. I have to or else chaos will take over within minutes. The space is pretty small. Take a look...I'm the featured artist on Etsy Studios today! While you're there, be sure to check out the generous host's gorgeous shop packed with great gift ideas: The Red Door. Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

Custom Order Fun

2008-08-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

A thoughtful mom in New Jersey asked me to create artwork to coordinate with her daughter's bedroom. These were a ton of fun to make -- check out the teensy, sparky tutu on the frog! I had the chance to dive into my drawer stuffed with patterned papers, which I always love to do. Up next will be the crocodile collage made with shiny green croc-embossed paper. Watch for it!

The Countdown Begins!

2008-08-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

If you pay attention, you'll notice that a few trees in our area are changing color already. It's time to dig out the tea kettle, buy early-variety apples, and go school shopping. Now that we're back from vacation, we tackled the new-shoes shopping trip with great success. My five year old chose black sneakers and some black and grey clothes to match. "I look like a teenager now," she has declared. Oh, help! I don't mind allowing her to choose her own wardrobe colors, as long as nothing is revealing. Luckily my littlest one is happy with pink clogs and doggie shirts. For now.

The other countdown I'm excited about is the Spirit of Shrewsbury craft show on September 27. I've heard it's great fun and there is something there for all ages. I will be displaying my gallery of paintings for sale, along with custom-order information. I'm also going to be giving out these cute coloring pages for the kids (which I had a blast making) and may have a coloring table if space permits. I love Halloween! I'd love to do an entire Halloween series, possibly for next year's show.

Glad to be back!

Hard-Earned Vacation

2008-08-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

Yessss! We are getting away from it all, or most of it. We're about to embark on our second family trip to the beautiful Jersey shore. A perfect place for families with small children. Personally, I'll be eating fish tacos every chance I get at the laid-back Surf Taco. We'll be crabbing, boating, building sand castles, and being beach bums. I may even get to sneak in a date with my husband. I am hoping when we return that I'll have some great photos to post, and my new Frida pendant will be waiting in the mail for me! I can't wait to see her; she's going to be my good luck charm at my upcoming art fairs (dates to be posted).

Have a great week!

Thank You

2008-07-30T18:43:00.000-07:00

I would like to say thank you to the people who have been so supportive of this artistic endeavor. Friends and family have been encouraging, and have generously spread the word of my business to others. Many sellers who are on Etsy with me have given great advice, critiques and compliments. My first Etsy customer, Linda (see her blog link over on the right) is such an enthusiastic, creative person and has me all fired up to keep doing what I love. And I do love it! Thank you, everyone, for supporting cute, original, handmade works of art.

I think my daughter is going to follow in my footsteps. She cut this out to business-card size and printed the words by herself (I added a few bits she requested)...see the www.audrey.com at the top? So cute.

I Steal Books

2008-07-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

I am only willing to admit this to you, dear reader. I am such a voracious consumer of reading material that I can only feel at peace when I am swimming in massive amounts of books, magazines and newspapers. Because my habit is so intense, the only way I can afford to support it is by....going to the library religiously. Okay, I don't actually steal anything, but being able to walk into the library and come out with armfuls of new bestsellers, how-to books, DVDs and CDs is so thrilling! It makes me feel a bit like this lady. It's been a while, though, since I read something I couldn't put down. Feel free to pass on suggestions! One of the books I checked out for the girls today is Orange Pear Apple Bear. The watercolors are very sweet and the wordplay is a lot of fun for kids. It's a welcome change from reading one of the current favorites, Arthur's Underpants. No disrespect to Marc Brown!

Today's Post is Brought to You by the Letter T

2008-07-23T14:49:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last frustrating 48 hours being dragged down by a mystery illness that has been going around our group of friends. I think it's almost over, thankfully! My wonderful, life-saving mother-in-law has taken the kids for the day and is going to feed them dinner before their return. She's the best! She is so devoted to those little girls. I was able to spend some time sketching ideas for a couple of custom paintings I'll be starting soon, including one in which I need to make a cute cow. For me, that's going to be a challenge, but I'm up for it! In between cups of tea, doses of Tylenol, and peering at tornado warnings on the tv, I've been sewing teeny-tiny tutus for the upcoming art fairs. I probably should've been resting, but my brushes and fabrics were calling me. Now I'm looking forward to the girls' return and a long bedtime-story reading session.

Happy Monday

2008-07-20T17:56:00.001-07:00

This past week I've been working on a couple of exciting projects. One is getting things ready for a few art/craft fairs I'll be displaying at (dates to be announced). This calorie-free bookmark is one of the freebies that'll be at my table. It's not quite done yet, but when it is you'll get a nicer pic to look at.

Another project up my sleeve: customized paintings of children enjoying their sport/hobby. The prototype, a little ballerina wearing a sparkly 3-D tutu, got rave reviews from my elite group of previewers. I made it look like my Noelle and painted her name on it. I should've known she'd make a little face and ask for one of her on a skateboard instead! No problem.

I hope no one melted over the weekend. I'm scraping myself together to get ready for the week ahead. Happy Monday!

More Paint-y Goodness

2008-07-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

These pieces were created months ago but have been patiently hanging on my wall until I was able to photograph them clearly.

Since we stayed home allllll dayyyyy today nursing my daughter's fever, I was able to sneak in a little photo session. They're now up in the shop, too.

Have a great weekend!

Chicago or Bust!

2008-07-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

Squirrel has found a home...but not just any home! He is going to an incredible house near Chicago, full of funky vintage finds, artwork made by the owner, and amazing collections. Her home was featured in Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion Magazine. Here's the link. I've added her blog to my list, please take a look! This family is dedicated to creating a very interesting, stimulating environment to live in. I love it. They have so many great display ideas. I'd like to thank the buyer for being the first to purchase my artwork from Etsy. Squirrel packed his suitcase full of nuts last night and got dropped off at the post office this morning. I hope he arrives safely!

Giant Bugs

2008-07-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend my sister and I took the girls to the fantastic Big Bugs sculpture exhibit at Garden in the Woods. It was excellent and I'd recommend it to adults and children alike. Bring your insect repellent, walking shoes and camera. Oh, and don't feed your kids chocolate donuts on the way there, because they'll just have a sugar crash later and want to be carried through the winding trails. Just eat the donuts yourself. That's called good parenting.

No new camera yet, but a bright new painting, called "Penny." I'm really happy with the color scheme and the cheeriness of it. Here's a little preview to perk up your Monday:

Dog Days of Summer

2008-07-08T15:56:00.001-07:00

Here's a piece created for some dear friends who have a very sweet daschund living with them. It uses a pattern of circles similar to the piece in my last post. I think this isn't the last you'll see of the technique. It's fun and has a playful organic look that I love. The Ziegler household is in hot debate over whether to invest in a new camera...care to put your two cents in after seeing this? For some reason the focus is still off, no matter what we do. Further research is in order, check back for improvements (hopefully)!

Bother

2008-07-07T04:22:00.000-07:00

Here's an abstract piece done for fun, not with children specifically in mind, although it would look cool in a kid's room with a modern theme! I'm going to hang it up in my store today. This is the second painting I've made with lots of circles placed close together; I rather like the effect. I will post a photo of the other one this week. I named this painting "Bother" because the fact that the circles don't cover the entire canvas really seems to bother a few people I've shown it to! That's funny to me.

Let's Pretend

2008-07-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

Pretend that you've just landed your dream job as designer on Extreme Makeover: Celebrity Home Edition. Marilyn Manson is looking to remodel his master bath. So, he brings you stills of the basements from The Blair Witch Project and Silence of the Lambs and says "Like these, but creepier." And what you dream up is exactly like the basement I took my daughter to today, when she desperately had to use the ladies' room during the parade. I was very glad to have an escort and to not be left alone with her down there. I will say that amid the doom, gloom, dust and rodent traps was a very sparkling-clean potty for her to use. I'm thankful for that. She had a fabulous time at the parade and brought home a lovely plastic trumpet that sounds exactly like an emperor penguin's call. Great for the nerves. Especially since her sister is the owner of its twin! They have been creating their own little parades all over the house. For some reason I keep wishing we had spent an additional $10 for helium balloons instead...

I am trying to work out some photography bugs. I got a good shot of this dinosaur, listed in the shop today. Much more to come!

Creeping into the Store...

2008-06-21T18:59:00.001-07:00

Yep, I love bugs, and this prickly guy is one of two added to the shop this week. I just love those spiky legs! Today was interesting...we got to find out who our new ice cream truck driver is! Somehow I didn't picture a woman with a lit cigarette hanging from her mouth as she served the children their goodies, but hey. What are you gonna do? I'll overlook a vice or two if there's a Dove bar in it for me. That's the kind of girl I am.

New little Etsy painting

2008-06-15T18:55:00.001-07:00

This sweet little seahorse is going to be swimming over to my Etsy shop this week. Hot summer weather is finally here! The number of popsicles being consumed in this household is astounding. My pre-schooler is officially done with school until fall...we have our ears open and jar o'change at the ready for the ice-cream man's siren song. The piercing shrieks that run through the house and out the open windows when the kids hear it are truly deafening! I'm surprised packs of dogs aren't appearing on our lawn. We actually scaled a stone wall and ran through the yard in back of us once to catch the truck, which had mercilessly skipped our street for weeks in a row. Not acceptable to the Ziegler children. So we had our little adventure and told him he must never forget again. It worked. He was a very nice ice cream man...he probably won't be back though, I assume the turnover for that job is pretty high.

Chicks and Otters

2008-06-11T17:41:00.000-07:00

I joined my mother, aunt and sister on an overdue trip to Peru, Vermont last Saturday to visit my cousin and her husband. After a very long voyage which involved two different car trips, one instance of getting lost (oops, my fault) and crazy hot temperatures, we made it to their beautiful farm. Just imagine acres and acres of green rolling hills, mountain ranges, and a gorgeous two-story white house smack in the middle of it. Their road is even named after the farm -- that is how secluded it is. So peaceful. Ted prepared an excellent, multi-course lunch for us which included farm-raised turkey roasted on the grill. Delicious! We toured the farm which includes many chickens, some ducks and geese, several horses including draft horses and a stallion, and cats and dogs. We attempted to take some group family photos before leaving, the best of the bunch being the one during which the chickens started flapping their wings wildly...

I had another fun lunch on Sunday when I took my mom-in-law out for a Japanese birthday lunch. We had some excellent sushi and dessert, and we gave her a beautiful dahlia to plant and this canvas tote I painted for her.

What a spoiled girl I was last weekend. Good thing Father's Day is coming up so I can give my husband a turn!

Swimming in a Sea of Creativity

2008-06-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

This week I've been on Facebook catching up with some long-lost friends from high school and college. Many of us had creative pursuits then; it's so heartwarming to discover that most of us have continued down that path and have made careers of it. I'd love to find more people out there that are doing the same! I also recently found out that my very close friend Chloe plays (or played) flute, like me. Dust that piece of tin off, Chloe, we're going to blow the roof off with some duets asap. Not that we have time to practice...which is why I quit the group that Karin and I belonged to several years ago. She kept at it but I was just too bushed all the time with the youngins. My bro-in-law asked me today, "do you take naps while the children are napping?" I almost spit out my wine. I told him I am too busy watching General Hospital and giving myself french manicures. I mean, really. Children napping. That's a good one.

My Etsy shop is officially open!

2008-05-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

On New Year's Eve 2007, I made the decision that 2008 would be the year to improve myself. That would include: being more optimistic, cutting b.s. out of my life, and working toward a career I love.Ta-da! Five full months later, my first items made specifically for sale are up on the fabulously crafty site Etsy!Click here for the link: http://robinseggstudio.etsy.com/