mermaids and moss

these things

This blanket has been on hold for a bit... I ran out of my supply of white yarn. The store I originally bought it from no longer carries it, but the owner did give me the name and company the yarn was from. I tried white yarns from two shops, ordered a few skeins online and ordered the same yarn from the original company, but none of it matched. Whites and yarns can be so different... it's amazing. Someone suggested trying to find the exact dye lot through Ravelry, but I'm too impatient. And doubtful. So, I've picked the best match and will keep the blanket out of direct sunlight. Just don't look too closely when you come for a visit.

And I started a new watercolor project that's been rumbling around in my head for a bit. Hoping to spell out the entire alphabet with sea creatures and mermaids, of course.

I've been admiring the red buds and thinking about my mom.

watercolors

My son and I played with watercolors yesterday. Mermaids were on my mind again, possibly because I took my daughter to see The Secret World of Arrietty last weekend. I'm feeling inspired to do some more... possibly an alphabet theme. Wish there were more hours in the day, I seem to be neglecting my household duties a bit too much lately. The fridge seems to be empty, and the dust bunnies are circling around the children. My son gave his finished piece to his dad. He said he could show it to his friends at work.

I've been admiring some beautiful art these days. I really love this by Tiel Seivl-Keevers of tsk tsk journal. And this by Susie Stubbs of flower press. I think my house would look so much better if those two prints were hanging on its walls, don't you?

Oh, and I've been meaning to share this super cool blog that my friend does called A childhood list. It's filled with so many ideas for craft projects and fun things to do with little people. It's very inspiring. Makes me want to get out there and craft, craft, craft.

pink and pink

I accidentally bought a darker pink yarn for the pink blanket. I was going to try to return it, but I'd already had it wound into a ball. I tested out a row of the dark pink last night, and I really like how it looks. I think the dark pink looks nice as a thin edging, it reminds me of Yvonne's dishcloths. But I'm going to keep adding rows of dark pink, because I'd like the blanket to be larger. It's a perfect baby blanket size, but we don't have any more babies in this house, well, except for Klaus.

Oh, and I'm so happy that my signed print from Geninne arrived from Mexico. Yay! Isn't it beautiful? I love her work. I don't think I'll be able to part with the stamped bird on the envelope either... it will need a home in my house, too.

And though March seems to have arrived like a lamb, rather than a lion, I was happy to see the March photograph on our kitchen calendar. Some of you may remember this post from last year:

on the grass

Tiny bits of progress have been made here and there on this painting. Klaus, the cat, was very interested in what I was doing, and decided to test the quality of the water in the brush jar before my painting session could begin. It was clean, I promise. He approved.

Seeking out bits of sunshine on these dark, grey days... waiting for February. In need of pink. And Valentine's Day projects are in the works, believe it or not. I'll share them with you soon.

this moth girl

So pleased with myself to have used my time to paint a picture and to have finished it. Yay! I think I'll call her moth girl. I'm envisioning a whole wall of these small square paintings... we shall see if I can keep up the momentum.

a new painting

Here's a new painting I've been working on the last couple weeks... it's a bit larger than the others. Hoping to have time to work on it tomorrow, maybe. We'll see...

swimming with mermaids

Feeling a bit surprised by how much painting I've been doing lately. I've been sneaking it in during naps and at night after the kids have gone to bed. I should be painting walls and ceilings but that's too much of a commitment to disaster-free time.

swirling and twirling in process

I started a new painting. It's very small. It's challenging to work so small.

mermaid and jellyfish

A little painting I did for the girl's fund raising auction night at her school. I hope someone will bid on it... I hope it doesn't just sit there, and sit there. At one of the planning meetings, someone apparently leaked the information that I paint. The director of the school asked me to do a painting. I couldn't say no. The girl was inspired by my mermaid work and painted one of her own. I love, love, love it.

mermaids on my mind

Thinking about painting mermaids these days. But first I should continue the laundry, maintain the dishes, chase the boy, pick up the girl, mop the floors, vacuum those crumbs, fight the clutter and then maybe paint some mermaids.