Following protocol...

About seven years ago I promised myself I would do my best to 'either wake up or go to sleep somewhere I had not before, on my birthday'. So following protocol I woke up in Ottawa, IL on a very rainy Sunday morning. Fortunately we had made the short trip to the Starved Rock State Park area on Saturday where we had a great time hiking on a very spring-like day with temps in the low 50's and lots of sun. No tolls between here and Chicago, the park is free and you can bring dogs (we did not)... Semi-frozen water falls, which up until last week you could climb.The trails were mostly planked with lots of steps to different lookout points, a little muddy in places but otherwise very easy to navigate. Definitely got our heart rates up! Towards the end of the trail we came upon a great lodge where we enjoyed a little refreshment outside before finishing our exploration.This is overlooking the Illinois River at the Dam:

That evening we went to nearby South Peru, IL to try Mark Allen's Restaurant, owned by my friend Ann Weisbrod and her husband who is the chef. Great food and drinks and Ann's fun art work for the decor!So on the rainy morning of my 43rd Birthday we opted to drive back home to Chicago and relax with the dogs, it was the perfect lazy day...

• 42 Cleveland, WI
• 41 Lake Wenatchee, WA
• 40 Venice, Italy...I can't believe I didn't blog about it!
• 39 Saugatuck, MI
• 38 Bedford, PA...enroute home from a show in Virginia
• 37 The Dominican Republic

The last week in pictures...

I purchase these beautiful tulips earlier in the week, yesterday they were in perfect full bloom and I captured this shot in the morning sun...

Meet Jason Loper...new House Tours Contributing Editor for the Apartment Therapy Blog, my home will be his first official House Tour feature on Monday, March 8th! Jason is also the fabulous designer behind Zola Jones Designs.

Izzy in the suns spot...
A fun card for Eva May and new ACEO's in the works: And artist Vivian Visser who came in to paint with me last Saturday...we made these stuffed pets last year at a "Make Day" party at the Bouzide's. Her finished cat: ...and my unfinished dog:
Hope you have an amazing weekend! Rich and I are off to Starved Rock State Park on Saturday for some hiking and maybe even some tandem biking on the I & M Canal Trail on Sunday.

So long February...

Some fun, random snapshots from the past month... Rich spotted a bee in our backyard a few weeks ago...in spite of all the snow!
I wish M&M's were always pink + red + white. Guess who ate most of these? I love the composition of this photo with Izzy...and of all Rich's guitars, this Danelectro is my favorite. Not only the best shade of blue but sparkly too. Snack spread for game night...really just showcasing how much better our island lights make things look with the right light bulbs. We had been using the wrong kind since installing 2  years ago! Rich modeling an 'ice mask' he lifted from the top of our rain barrel.

Content...less

I have to apologize for the lack of content here these days. I'm busy trying to tie up loose ends from 2009, that includes finishing commissions, closing the books, paying sales taxes to 4 states coupled with all the art fair applications deadlines in January. The added distraction of all the exciting possibilities in my "2010 File", Facebook, and not being able to pull myself out of bed before 10am are wreaking havoc with me. I'm a night person, but especially so in the dead of winter. I would be happy to start my day at 3pm and work until midnight. On Tuesday my day started with a migraine, I then decided to take the afternoon off in light of the fact that I worked every single day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The problem is I don't 'schedule' a day off, so I feel guilty and don't do anything memorable. Need to nip that in the bud. Will add it to my 'list'. In lieu of New Years Resolutions I just wrote a hastily scrawled list of "Hopes for 2010". I read it before I go to sleep at night and when I wake up....think that will ensure my hopes become reality? I do, at least some of them. When I found myself refinancing our mortgage yesterday I added that to my list because it was on the 2009 list and I never got around to it. There is no better feeling than crossing something off a list! If you are still reading this, sorry for my rambling, thank you and it's time for you to get back to whatever it is you are really supposed to be doing  ; ) PS Images...TOP: a very early painting from 1999 titled "Icons". A friend had found a bunch of canvases in an alley and given them to me, so I had the courage to paint on what was a very large canvas to me at the time without the fear of 'ruining' a new one. I love some of these older pieces, my style was much looser back then. MIDDLE: Random Izzy & Alice... BOTTOM: Trifle production, made for last Sunday's Art Girls Brunch, sorry no photo of the impressive looking end result.

grateful...

I had grand plans for a year/decade end post...but time is slipping away. At the very least I want to express my enormous gratitude for all the people I have met friends, clients, mentors (many on-line folks who I have yet to meet in person) and my very supportive family, especially Rich. (And the dogs!) I would not be living my dream without all of you. I am amazed and grateful for all the incredible opportunities that came my way and it excites me to think what wonderous things this next decade has in store. So, let's dream big, don't let another day pass you by wondering 'what if?'  Fear regret, not failure...and most importantly (and tough for me) remember that it's about the journey, not the destination.

Warm Wishes and Safe Travels to You...

Warm Wishes and Safe Travels to You...wherever you may be or are going this year for the Holidays. It's been a wonderfully busy season for me, but things are definitely winding down here. I have my last Pet Portrait pick up tomorrow (I'll share photos after all the gifts are given!) and I'll stick around the shop until about 3pm, hoping to help out any last minute shoppers! (Is it annoying that I sometimes say studio and some times say shop? Let me clarify, when the black cloth is on my work table it's a "Shop" and when it's not, it's my "Studio"...although I'm thinking of painting the table black then that all goes out the window!) Then we'll load up Izzy and Alice and hop in the car to head up to rural Warrens, WI to my my Mom's beautiful log house in the woods. It's the perfect place to visit at this time of year and I always have so much fun baking with my Mom, we will be creating our bi-ennial Gingerbread House.This is all providing that the weather cooperates... Before I go, I wanted to share this photo of Izzy from the other day...she is havingquite a rally lately, aside from the 'night time crazies' (a period of45 minutes or so every evening when nothing seems to appease her...Rich and I are working on a song). And here's silly Alice careening around in the snow...she loves the white stuff!
Merry Happy Holidays to You & Yours, Safe Travels, Peace and lots of Joy!!

"Tucker" one of the many dogs visiting my studio lately, with so many holiday shoppers out and about. We so appreciate all the neighbors who try to keep it local with their shopping!

I've been in overdrive since the day after Thanksgiving, juggling the storefront hours, many Holiday Pet Portrait Commission Orders and deadlines, special events like Winterfest Weekend in Roscoe Village and this past weekend's event with Young At Heart Pet Rescue. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to be so busy...but know when it's time to take it down a notch. I've been taking double doses of Airborne (I swear, it works) and vowed on Friday that Monday morning had to be a sleep in day. It made a big difference, I feel good and ready to tackle these next 10 days leading up to Christmas and have decided to let go of all the 'should of/could of demands on myself. For example should of done a better job of decorating my storefront windows, there was simply not enough time!

Wanted to share a recent Custom Baby Announcement Plaque... Here is one of the new designs now available in the 8x8 Float Back Print or 12x12 Box Frame Print format. Holiday Cards that I designed for the residents of Roscoe Village: Holiday Cards also available for residents of Evanston, I recommend ordering the matte finish after seeing some a customer had purchased on-line, they looked great!

Lastly, these are some porcelain ornaments I made at Lill Street from a mold I created back in the 90's! the color seemed way off but that seems to be the story with me and glaze. Just ordered some DAS Clay that I can experiment with in my studio and paint with after seeing the gorgeous ornaments that Michelle Allen made with it, she is so inspiring!

Ladies who lunch...

...must work into the night! I had no business going to lunch with these gals today, but you know what they say about all work and no play... We had a decadent lunch at my good friend Stephanie Samuels's wonderful Angel Food Bakery...I had the Chicken Pot Pie and had fun catching up with some of the original art girls...we all met doing the Bucktown Art Fest together back in the 90's! Check out these lovelies which I resisted, but of course Stephie gave us other surprise treats from the kitchen. It's always such a happy place to visit and if you're lucky you'll get to meet Madame Angel Food, herself! Finally finished all the portrait sketches and am heading home, yawn...and Winter has arrived in Chicago!