folk bliss...

Good to be back:) I've been away in the land of 'working without breaks' and the blog (and many other things) has been simmering on the back burner. Trying to finish all the projects before the 31st - which is the day I leave to San Francisco for a tiny 4 day vacation! Super exited about that... dizzy with anticipation! If you know of some exiting places in SF I can visit - please share!:)

What do you think of the new pattern? I've been thinking of Upper Canada Village while making it. Mike (my other creative half) has been invited to present (his guitars and his process) there in October. I might come with him... a taste of the simpler life.

a squirrels dream...

Behind my house the ground is covered in acorns. Crunching underneath my shoes... reminding me that autumn is just around the corner.

my tile factory...

You can tell I was thinking of ceramic tiles while designing this pattern. I wish I had my own tile factory right here in my office.

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A little doze of blind optimism for you today:)

avian flora...

Summer makes me want to spend all the free moments outside. It's difficult to find time for personal work lately... but not impossible:) Here are some birds and flowers to prove that...

made for me...

These two pretty mugs have joined my 'awesome mug' collection today. They are AWESOME for two reasons:

• Charlie and Lola is a great kids show.

• One of them says 'I will Probably STILL be perky at even midnight'

I believe they were made for me.

summer school...

Things I've learned this summer:

• Beets have a large family and taste good on their own (thinly sliced and uncooked)

• I love nature as long as it doesn't buzz around me or bite.

• My girls are going to be better artists than me (if they choose it as a path)

• Free time comes at a price:)

yard play...

Despite the heat and humidity, kids are spending almost all of their time outside with the little neighbourhood gang of 4-8 y. olds:) By now they earned a nice tan (I look like a queen of snowflakes beside them) and a dozen scrapes and bruises. They've grown so much in the last two months. Wishing the summer never ended.

lil' editorial fun...

Editorial spot illustration I did for the 'Family Fun' magazine.

chirp...

a new bird... I mean pattern... an avian color study.

UP...

This arrived today to brighten my day and bring in the spirit of adventure! The Art of UP! The book has such a 'Mary Blair' feel to it... I had to get it.

people soup...

New York during the heat wave... streets full of people soup... meat locker stores... melted chocolate on my hands... air-conditioned cab salvation... in other words - great fun in the hot, stinky and awesome city!

up up and away...

My head is in the clouds... and the rest of me would join soon. I'm off to my little vacation in NY:) I'll try to document and share some fun when I'm back. See you in 2 weeks:)

just popping in...

There hasn't been any time for personal work lately... no time at all. I'm trying to finish up work before my little New York vacation. Yep... I'm going to NY again. If you don't hear from me for the next 2 weeks... well, I ran out of time for blogging:)

Genmaicha Tea...

I had to break up with Mr. Coffee. He left... leaving a deep brown hole in my life that could only be filled with caffeine. It was sad and slow at first. Nothing to look forward to in the morning, nothing to open my eyes and get the engine started... And then...ta da!... Brown rice green tea asked me out, and we've been together ever since:) Mmmm, the best tea ever. It combines popped rice (sometimes popcorn) with magical green tea leaves. Rich in flavour and not bitter (like the regular green tea can be). Here's is to 'happily ever after'!

I want to join...

Today was Mike's birthday. Hooray!!! A good day to celebrate and become a member of the ZISSOU SOCIETY... don't you think? I got him these team Zissou adidas runners - to make it official. Now we have to move closer to the ocean and buy a submarine... or maybe, we'll just watch 'Life Aquatic' a few more times...:)

summer bloom...

Summer is in full bloom... hot humid colorful bloom. Kids smell like sunscreen and all the freckles are out... I love it! I love summer... and I'm going to take some time off and enjoy it:)

love in a cup...

I've been a huge fan of Yoshitomo Nara for years. He is the master of angry-cute and cuddly. I adore his wall art, puppy sculptures and everything... everything he does!

So it's not surprising that I had to have this darling pup in a cup:)

Next stop... the 'lonsome puppy' book...