Next to Normal

Just when a hard day seems like it might end with a bucket of Breyer's Vanilla Bean, a long phone call with my mom saves me the heavy cream. Nothing quite like it. Four--one, two, three, four--families connected to Side-by-Side lost their children this week. No words for that. And the regular stuff of life marches on too. Car repairs, tax returns, poorly dyed hair. What a world, eh?

Last night we trekked out to see Next to Normal at the 5th. As much as I love the arts, sometimes I get bored in musicals. Then I follow up the boredom with guilt about not being cultured enough. Blahblahblah.

Not this time! Maybe it's because it felt so familiar, maybe it's because I saw at least ten people I know from my NAMI class, but I was howling with laughter and dripping with tears until the lights went up. All. the. way. to. the. end. It was superb. And there was an UNDERSTUDY playing the lead!

Take a listen and then go see this show.

Janruary

I can't tell you how delightful it feels...

...to put some creative SPRING back in my step.

Even though my only camera is on my phone...

I think you can tell I've been quite busy.

(Ruby likes to observe the art up close. Preferably

while she's wearing adult clothing.)

I roasted a lady-like chicken for sustenance.

And I made a plum tart/pie/thing for dessert.

(I ate this whole thing by myself while Dustin

suffered through P90X in the other room. Sucker.)

Then I spent some time with a mismatched baby.

(I adore him.) (My use of parentheses is wild and rampant.)

Then we flew to California so I could hold my other favorite baby, Ike.

THE END.

Last Minute Lovin'

I have completely blown through my Christmas money already (even some that I'm hoping will come in the mail next week), but in case you need to do some last minute shopping, here are some goodies that make me pitter patter.

Charley Harper Prints, hold me back. And they are sold by his adoring son, so it's a family business kind of thing.

(Giant-looking) towels by Amy Butler. In the words of Rachael Ray, YUM-O. Fabric designer gone gazillionaire.

I love Rex Ray because he might be the only artist whom I discovered while he was still alive. And his art is psychedelic and friendly at the same time. Five framed postcards hang happily on my wall. Buy his book and learn from his genius.

Lookie Lookie

Isn't she faaabulous? Emily Barletta rocks my world.

PRIZES! FUN PRIZES!

One of my favorite artist blogs is Treasuring, and she recently linked to a contest on yet ANOTHER incredible indie craft site, Indie Fixx.

Here's the best part--Indie Fixx is hosting an awesome contest (ends Nov. 14) for the following sweet prize packages (full of inspirational craft goodies, the ones that haunt my dreams all night long). Heckuva deal, I say!



Or, this one!



Wish me luck, and don't forget to enter yourself, too! :)

That Was Refreshing!

Thank you for all the inspired comments about the crap you enjoy eating. It made me feel better about my own dirty little secrets. :)

Now I don't think anything's more fun to talk about than food, but here's my next best offer: Let's trade Etsy Favorites! I'm sure there's already a way to share your favorite sellers somehow, but my theory is that posting here on my blog will offer these artists just a sliver of publicity, and that may be enough to eventually win their hearts/make them want to give me free art. Somehow.


Because linking all of these would make my little head explode, just type in a name below, like this: "NAME.etsy.com".

sarahearn
jessgonacha
helveticaneue (as seen above!)
houseoftelsa
Bombus
OnePunkPosy
rachelaustin
AliciaBock
brookerpie
kellyrae
redrubyrose
sophiassweetspot
SEWNBYDCC
AmyGiacomelli
blurb
dutchdoor
galabent
rarrarpress
sarahridgley
kateendle
matsudabunch
MariposaAvenue
kristinemays
12fifteen
kwilson544
foundling
palomasnest
remarket
JennMaruskaDesign
piperewan
treetopstudio
tarajandrews
evapaul
BrassPaperclip
shelbyhealey
Mikiye
girlygirlpurses
yumiyumi
UglyKitty
hazelbrown

Now tell me your favorites, quick!

Art in Life

Even when I'm completely overwhelmed by the state of things--job, family, money, future--there's something that speaks CALM to me no matter what. It's art, just paint and canvas, but the hope that springs from it brings resounding comfort. Thank you, Miss Kelly Rae Roberts. :)

Oh JOY!

In the hubbub of wedding planning, I subscribed to an unreasonable number of design and planning blogs--most of them wedding-related, but some of them were just color, pattern, art-loving fools. And now, in my infinite internet ignorance, I cannot figure out how to unsubscribe. (No, I haven't yet googled it).

But here's the good news: Oh Joy is worth keeping around. Check out these ADORABLE doodads. They will be my first purchase once the income returns!

dooce has great taste in art

I love it. Wish I had one to hang over my new couch (although our art project turned out pretty nicely, I think).