the Creative Thursday blog

happy halloween!

Seanie's pumpkin Halloween 2007

Well this holiday sure snuck up on us fast ~ oh that's right it could be that I've been moving this month among many, many other things. It's all good! We're going to rally tonight in celebration and join my oh so kind former neighbor for a little gathering/party at her place, assuming we can make it out of our neighborhood. We live a couple blocks away from one of the largest outdoor Halloween parties in the world on Santa Monica Blvd, seriously there are hundreds of thousands of people who come to this event. If you're new to LA and have never gone, you must. Honestly there's nothing quite like it and it can be a ton of fun, if you're game for crowds of costumed drunk people. The best!! :)
I've spent all morning getting pretty packages ready to send and I'm seriously missing my paint brush (I think it's been a whole week since the last painting) so I might be back later with a little halloween painting...
Have a happy, spooky day today and have fun with the kiddies if you are one of the wonderful parents out there! (Julie, you have to send me a photo of the ocean princess crown you made!)

this is what I’m working on…

This Creative Thursday, November 1st ~ I'm releasing a limited edition of my first ever calendar for 2008. It's turning out to be a such a sweet little calendar. I'm very excited to share it with you!
(and thank you so much for all the Riley love)

back home

Oh, I'm so HAPPY to report that Riley is back home!!! Just as we were about to go to sleep last night, we heard a muted sound that was a lot like a cat meowing. We went outside, Sean called for Riley, nothing. We went back to bed and there it was again, the same sound. We stood outside, listening and looking and still nothing. Maybe we just heard some kids playing, but it really sounded like Riley. Sean decided to look in the crawl space one more time with a flashlight and this time as he called for Riley, he heard a distinct meow. And, there he was, dirty and very scared. Riley is Sean's "baby". He's been with him for 11 years now, and the whole time Sean had this "hunch" that Riley might be under the house. It looks like his hunch was right. Riley may have been under the house all week, in a state of shock. Poor little buddy, he was more confused and scared than we thought. Well, he is home now, safe and sound and he's been sleeping a lot in his usual spot at the end of the bed, and just sitting by his rat puppet that he loves. And now he's hiding under the bed. He's eating well though and seems healthy otherwise. I think we'll be keeping him in for a bit until he feels more at ease again.
Many, many thanks again for sharing your stories here on the blog. I have to say one more time, how special it is to have this extended community right here within this blog. Your stories gave us hope and we really appreciate it. Now go hug your kitties!

I’m in Domino Magazine Online!

Yippy!!! Just a little dream of mine to be included in one of my favorite home design magazines. That's all :)
A very special thanks to Holly and the editors at Domino for including Lewis and Oscar in the Animal Art from Etsy.
Such a great way to start the weekend, have a happy one!

buttercup ~ and they’re up!

5 x 7 in.

Here they are, the newest daily paintings!

*Edit* October 26 ~ Buttercup is also available as a print over at Etsy.

let them eat cake!

How great is this? I recently heard from one of my lovely customers that the love birds inspired the cake for their engagement party. I think it turned out pretty wonderful. I LOVE it!! It's all about LOVE and a great cake!

more family love & Online Sale tomorrow!

7 x 5 in.

As before, I'll give my email subscribers first view of the new pieces and then post here on the blog shortly after that. Getting more settled every day and that is soooo nice. My office is still a mess, but what can you do ~ work is more important than the work space at the moment. We just got back from Ikea where we saw at least 20 other couples doing exactly what we were doing, discussing, negotiating, measuring, planning their new space. It's all fun and games until you get into the all to familiar "IKEA" argument between couples, which we managed to avoid all together due to our efficiency and smooth negotiating :). So, we did have all fun and games at IKEA and even missed all the LA traffic. Now I have some furniture to build!
So, I'll see you tomorrow. And many thanks for sharing your stories about kitties who return and for your thoughts on little Riley. No sign of him yet, but we have hope.
Oh, and in the meantime the little hedgie family is available as a print over at Etsy!

the costume kids ~ now at Twig!

6 x 6 in.
On a happier note today ~ you can find these cuties in their costumes over at Twig! (my first official painting created in the new house)

bittersweet

The excitement of the move and getting settled in our new home has been clouded by a bit of sadness. It's been 2 days now and our Riley is missing. We let him out as we always do, and he has disappeared. Riley has gone on "walkabouts" as I call them, twice before ~ but this is the longest he's been gone and I'm not exactly sure how we go about finding him. Every morning I wake up, I keep hoping he will just appear outside as he always does.

we’re home!

home sweet home ~ and this is my office, in need of some serious organizing

One week later and 3 weeks after we found out we were moving ~ we did it! And I'm not going to lie to you, it was a very hard week, especially since I am still dealing with a cold from 2 weeks ago. It all happened so fast, I'm not entirely sure it has sunk in yet.
I do know that it's all been worth it, because I already feel so happy here. And yesterday we WALKED to a grocery store (a little dream of mine, especially after living tucked away in a canyon for the last 3 years~ also my contribution to the environment and my health, to leave my car parked as much as possible.) Today, I'm also especially appreciative to have a place to call home with what my neighbors in Malibu are experiencing right now.

Well, I just want to say a quick hello to you all on this Monday morning ~ and now I've got a lot of work, cleaning and some serious unpacking to do, so I can have a space to work in and be ready for you this Thursday. I did find my paints though...a very good thing.

and this is what we did yesterday, take a very long NAP