a. t. whim

I got a book of postcards from work full of illustrations by William Heath Robinson. I just LOVE it. It’s called City Living, and it’s just full of *creative* living solutions when living in a small flat. I was so inspired by the above picture that I painted my own version….

I may do another in acrylics this time. It’s been so long since I’ve used my acrylics. I wish it would warm up in my studio already!

I wanted to show you those Arthur Rackham silhouettes I’ve been gushing over. But now I’ve misplaced my book. It happens fairly often when you live in a house with 2 bibliophiles and piles of books everywhere. One day my house will be a library, that or an animal shelter. So anyway, maybe next time.

Tomorrow is the first day of March, my favorite month of the year! Only 22 more days till my birthday. I can’t believe how quickly it came. I’m still figuring out what to do that day. 30 is kind of a milestone right? Am I officially an adult now? I don’t feel like a grown up. I’m still awkward and clumsy, like I’m still growing into this body.

Outside it’s hailing.  My toes are very very cold walking around on the hardwood floors.  I think I need more rugs.

Chinese new year is coming up very soon, and my house is a complete disaster!  So as soon as I’m done here, I’m going to start cleaning from top to bottom.  But first I was looking through my studio and online in my shop and I started my new year’s cleaning there.  First I retired many older (and not so old) prints.  Sorry if you had your eye on one.  I can still make a special posting for you if there’s one you absolutely must have and I’ve gone and deleted the listing.  I don’t like having TOO many listings in my shop, it gets overwhelming.

I then went through my stacks of originals and marked some down for the SALE SALE SALE section of my shop, and deleted other listings to just give away to my peeps.  Purging feels good!

I don’t know if I’ll finish cleaning before the new year.  Really, this place is a pig sty, it’s so embarrassing!

Take care everyone, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  (year of the rat, if you were wondering… not usually good for us horses)

As I was re-alphabetizing the Fairytale section of the Kids’ room at Powell’s today, I (of course) had to stop and flip through all the Arthur Rackham books. The man was truly an amazing artist. I especially LOVE his silhouettes. So inspired by him, I did a couple of silhouettes myself today.

I’ll Lend My Heart to You

Tree Tattoo

I’ve also been wistfully thinking about the many tattoos I want. Like a tree above and the mermaid tail below…

But unfortunately I have too many practical things that eat up my money.

And tonight, as I was watching a Frida documentary, I was thinking how nice it would be to visit Mexico. Visit Frida’s home, take in some sights, and add more little goodies to my Dia de los Muertos shrine. It’s probably been about a million years since I’ve taken a real vacation! Just for fun I’ve been looking at travel books, checking flights, you know…. pretending I’m fabulously rich and can take a vacation whenever!
Perhaps one day… But for now, I’ll just draw myself with prospective tattoos and stare at books of Mexico.

Oh yeah, and the illustrations above will be in my shop sometime this weekend. Have a good one!

YAY! Snow day!

Hello everyone! I had the best holiday ever! There was good food & good drink, good company and nice gifts given and received. The best part would have to be my BRAND NEW CAR!!!!

She’s my big bright cherry on top of a lovely holiday. I’m completely smitten with this car. I’ve never had anything so nice, or anything that wouldn’t leave me stranded at anytime, anywhere. I’m not afraid to drive anymore! YAY!

The little shop’s been doing nicely! I’m trying to think of ideas to bring some variety into the shop this year, and also won’t take up too much time in my already packed schedule. Thank you everyone for the kind holiday wishes (and purchases!). I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for you lovely people. I’m getting all sentimental.

A couple new pieces that were done days ago, and I’m just getting around to post. I’m really loving the sea horsey girl.

Happy New Year!

Today I finally found a present for everyone on my list.  There’s a few more that I have to stitch together, but I’m almost done!  YAY!

I finished these 2 ornaments for my mom and my brother’s wife (who just became a mama recently!).  It features Emma (my new niece) and August.

August and I hung out with the Grinch at Powell’s last week.

And many thanks to my friend John who wore that hot and heavy furry green costume!  He was wonderful!

I also finished these two watercolor & ink pieces, which I will be posting in the shop shortly.

peculiar neighbors

unfinished road

I’m just waiting out the rest of the year.  It seems everything is trying to fit in to the last few days of 2007, but I’m so overwhelmed I can’t deal with any of it.  So I’ll just wait and take my time….

Happy December everyone!

Oh lovelies, I’ve been wanting to write for so long… but my mind has been a jumbled mess with all the holiday chaos.  After Thanksgiving, the people have been swarming to the book store for their holiday shopping.  I’ve been tearing my hair out trying to think of presents for everyone.  I finally got gift certificates posted in the shop, something I meant to do months ago!  My studio/kitchen is SO SO COLD!!!  The thought of painting at my easel sends shivers through me.  If it’s going to be cold, it should at least snow.  A few days ago, someone from Etsy Admin told me they used one of my prints for an article in the Storque!  It’s one of my bundled up girls in my favorite mustard yellow coat!!!  It’s the opening title image, check it out!  I’m so pleased.  And of course, I did get a little painting done too….

*Cloud Girl*

And *White Rabbit*,

who really reminds me of a little cute Totoro.

Well, I still haven’t finished that painting I mentioned before that a friend commissioned me to do.  I really should get to it.

Stay warm everyone.  Do all your holiday shopping on Etsy, and you won’t have to battle the angry mobs out there!

Today the role of my heart will be played by a little red bird. Sweet isn’t it? I wish everyone could have a little red bird for their heart.

I’ve just discovered a new Children’s picture book that I must have. It’s called *Chester* by Ayano Imai. It’s so cute! There’s a little dog named Chester looking for a place to call home. He walks around with his dog house on a leash and a little birdie friend follows him everywhere.

I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! and soon it will be mine.

So it’s already November! Can you believe it? I’m so unprepared for the holiday madness. On Halloween the most I could bring myself to do was my Medusa hair (which turned out pretty neat), but I didn’t have a costume. Here’s the only picture I have…

Hope you all had a good one. August got all kinds of sugary sweets at school, a bucket full of candy at night, got sick and vomited in his pirate hat…. then bounced right back and said, “This is the best Halloween ever!” It’s good to be a kid.

Two pieces done.  The first I finished today and the second finished last week, but I never got around to posting it…

entitled: It’s Quiet in the Middle

entitled: She’s a Birdhouse

Now I have to get started on a commissioned piece before I even think about working on anything else.  I’ve been putting it off for too long.

Look at what I bought myself!

It’s an amazing specks necklace made by Star Willow Studio . I got compliments on it everywhere I went.  It’s so freakin’ cute!

I just saw *28 weeks later* and it didn’t disappoint me.  Still bloody, gruesome, suspenseful… not as good as the first, but still a good sequel.  I just love horror movies! Of which I also watched *Cigarette Burns* a short John Carpenter horror flick.  Some of the imagery was body cringing, and gave me crazy dreams.  But overall I was a little disappointed.  It could’ve been really good, but it was missing depth and some of the subplots were unnecessary.  It did have Norman Reedus from Boondock Saints, and it was worth watching just for that.  mmm… he’s yummy.

*Extras* the newest book in the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld is out.  I think I’m going to recommend this series this holiday to all the silly teenage girls who think sci-fi books are so boring.   I’m almost done with *Extras* and I’ve really enjoyed all of them.

Okay, now I’m going to make some peanut curry with tofu.  Yum.

This is all I’ve got for you on new work. Sad isn’t it? I’ve got 2 paintings just sitting on my easel being completely neglected…

I look at them longingly, but I can’t seem to get to finishing them. Maybe this weekend. Right now I’m searching for something. Inspiration? Emotion? I don’t know. I’ve been going out with people, asking them questions, writing things down in my book; buying music, movies, books… I think I’m trying to get back in touch with the world. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own thoughts, and I forget there are things going on outside of my little world. I did just apply for the November Crafty Wonderland. I’ll know on the 22nd if I get in. It’ll be so nice to do a show!

I have been sick these last couple of weeks. My body is still tired and recovering from it. Of course it didn’t help that I wouldn’t slow down for it. So after a few days of denial, it finally knocked me out and forced me to stay in bed for a couple of days. I hate being sick. It wastes so much time.

Anyway, I’m getting back into the swing of things. Made myself happy by buying a whole bunch of stuff I didn’t need, but had to have…

The movies: Frida, Cry Baby, Naruto. Music: Mazzy Star, Helio Sequence, Tori. Books: I will never forget you, Angry Little Girls (the little angry Asian girl is just like me!), Frida’s Diary. and I still have a million more on my list.

One day I need to win the lottery.