Long Earred Love

Oh my, how can life not be soaked in sweetness when you find bunnies spooning each other and basking in the sun, ha ha...ahhhhh talk about a squeeze your heart with happiness and love moment... ...I had just come upstairs from my studio with the intention of finding Ella Luna and Roo Boo for a snuggling session when I found them in the dining room like this. Roo was awake and just laying very quietly and 110% contently and Ella Luna was conked right out, she doesn't sleep alot, not like the others, but when she does she makes it count, ha ha...I had time to run back downstairs for my camera, change the lens and tip toe close enough to snap this photo and she still didn't wake up, ha ha... ...than I quietly and slowly stretched out right beside Ella on the left, and laid my hand on her belly at which point she opened her eyes, saw me, decided to stay put and took a deep content breathe and fell back asleep. Roo fell asleep too and he's such a fidgety little sleeper that I always have a hard time not laughing cause he's just so silly in his sleep, he actually digs in his sleep with his little front paws tucked under his chin, ha ha.... ...I laid there for what must have been awhile because I had the BBC radio on and listened to 4 songs and 2 interviews whiles the buns didn't move...it was moments of perfection, I could actually feel my heart expand and smile...such a simple recipe too: sun pouring in, two sleeping gloriously beautiful bunnies and the chatter of the baby squirrels just outside the window....ahhhh.... 'Tis Happiness...ha ha...my life with rabbits may seem lacking or seem a mystery to many, especially to those with the noisier human variety children, but I guarantee you my life is so full of blissful moments like this, so full of warmth and just pure pure simple goodness that I myself, rarely question it nor find it lacking in love and joy:D.... ...For, I am One Of The Long Earred...I am In Happiness.... (Heh I think that might have to be the title for my upcoming exhibition:D)

A New Wee Whispy

Here is a new little pretty in my 'Wee Whispy' series, the 4th one so far, it's not really a series I have plans for yet, other than just to enjoy making them, imprint my energy and favourite messages onto them and hoping some like minded soul out there wants to adopt them...I don't even know if I'll do prints of them for my shop since they are hard to scan in because of the buttons, etc...I do plan to put any originals that don't sell at the gallery, into my Etsy shop, but so far they seem to be selling through the gallery (however if your interested you can always email me and I'll pull them out of the gallery and ship them to you)...anyhow the colours feel so cozy to me and the words on this one I adore and well I think will definitely speak to any kindred spirit out there...it reads "Those Who Are Willing To Be Vulnerable Move Among Mysteries"...

In other news, you all know I've been pretty busy getting things ready for the Grand Reopening of Art On Main, well that whole thing happened on Friday night and I am so pleased to say it was a huge huge success (lots of photos to share with you soon). I admit, I had my doubts and concerns about the new location but others in the collective saw things with a clearer, more positive vision and they were right...the new spot it incredible, warm, artsy, beautiful and I am so proud to be a part of it all. We also just received a large Fednor grant to fund further improvements, so that's very exciting to us as well.

...now that the new store is up and running and looking fabulous, we can all sigh breathes of relief and see lighter workloads ahead (regarding the gallery)...The rest of our weekend was lovely, well no actually Saturday unfortunately I was rendered pretty much useless because of a bad migraine but Sunday was pain-free and sunny (literally:D) and we did nothing but hang out in the yard and garden with the buns and that was ohhh so lovely and had me feeling very very grateful...we got some great shots of the buns and Jon captured the most adorable one of Jaks yawning...I'll share that soon too.

Well, my week ahead is looking good and clear of appointments and I plan to spend most of this day on the Taking Flight e-course, which I am just loving. Have a great one everyone. XO M.

Not Eating Meat Is Easy...

I think that my love and awe of the natural world and it's inhabitants are a pretty big part and inspiration in my artwork and wanting to lead a kinder lifestyle is a big part of it all. Jonathan and I are lacto-ovo vegetarians, but usually we just say 'we don't eat meat' instead of calling ourselves vegetarians because we do eat dairy and some fish (being the lacto-ovo bit). We are lucky in that we both love to cook, so when one doesn't feel like cooking, the other happily picks up the slack. We both cook different types of foods and we both have our different ways, Jon never uses recipes and is great at whipping things up from whatever is in the kitchen but I on the other hand need recipes, every ingredient on that recipe and nice big pictures, oh yeah and defiantly I have to have jazz playing whiles I cook, ha ha. I always find it funny when people say 'it must be hard to be vegetarian'...well yes it is somewhat more difficult in a meat and potato type of town such as where we live, but it's so worth it...to have that whole less-guilt thing going into our tummies. I also laugh when I hear people try to knock veggie heads down with things like "Oh you must starve" etc...well just look at some of our recent delicious meat-free meals we've enjoyed... This was a dish Jonathan made, it had mushrooms, zucchini and veggies mixed with red rice, topped with sauteed garlic 'chicken' strips with mushrooms and spinach with a side of homemade minestrone soup... mmmm good:D I made this potato and leek frittata.with a side of hot house tomatoes it was sooo good... I made this zucchini, red pepper and breadcrumb spaghettini not long ago, it was easy and so tasty... Jonathan makes great noodle dishes, this was a fantastic noodle soup with crispy won tons....you can get vegetarian soup base that tastes like chicken stock, we usually get ours at any bins & bins store....

Our first landlord/friend in Toronto was Jewish and whenever we were sick she'd bring us a pot of mottsaball soup, since then it's always been a comfort dish for me...but now I make a vegetarian version of it and it tastes just as good...

A couple weeks ago I made some homemade sauerkraut with 'sausage'...sided with my fantastic lentil soup...there's usually a pot of lentil soup on at least once a week in our house...

And this is my favourite recent dish of Jons...more noodles but this time with stir fried veggies and delicious basmati rice topped with curried tofu and almonds....soooo delicious and he whips it together pretty quickly too.

So really! does it look like we starve, ha ha...not with all this goodness and yumminess going into our bellies ...We feel healthy, we feel strong and we feel pretty good about what we put into our systems, espeacially when we face four furry little hearts everyday:D

Just wanted to share this little tidbit of our lives....Have a great and extra kind weekend all.

A New Funky Fish & Thankies

One of my favourite Funky Fish creations so far...

It has felt like the past couple of weeks have been kinda crazy with very full and busy days straight through each week, especially with the move of the gallery & creating new work and an entirely new set up, etc (I'll show you some photos soon cause I am so happy with my new section). I am really hoping this weekend is abit calmer and not quite as busy.

p.s. my 'Miss Penelope Posy' was included in an Etsy Treasury recently, yayyy:D doesn't she look oh so cute down there on the bottom row amongst all the other cute skunkery...

It's such a simple thing but I always find it exciting when people put one of my images/products in their treasuries, especially when Etsy is overflowing with amazing stuff....I am sending out happy heart squeezes and thankies to those who like my work enough to include me:D

...and wishing you all a happy and calm weekend as well. See you soon...I have so much to share, I think I could pre-post for the next month!

A New Funky Fish To Wish A Happy Birthday

A new Funky Fish...this one is a bright one, a kind one, a sweet one, an extra lovely one:D...

...just like my mom...who today celebrates her birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM. I LOVE YOU OH SO MUCH XOXOXOXOXOXOX p.s. I am submitting this colourful fishy of mine for Theme Thursday's Colourful them:D

Another Old Piece Reworked....

Aside from the previous 5 oldies I recently showed you, I also reworked 2 others, this pink flower one, which I stuck in a lovely frame from India and there is also a Buddha which I'll show you soon too...What do you think? This one was a watercolour from a photograph I took at the beautiful Allen Gardens, when we lived in T.O. it was a place we frequented alot, a place to realign our tender souls when they felt abit battered by the big city!...it was nice to remember one of our old haunts as I reworked this piece.

To refresh the oldie I added some acyclic paint, especially gold and abit of black coloured pencil...it's now at the gallery but if your interested send me a comment or email.

...and I ask your opinions again...do you think I should add this one to my Etsy shop???

Happiness At Dusk....

...Ahhh....those lovely summer evenings, when the heat starts to abate and a tender soft coolness drapes over everything that is overheated...that magic time of day when I open the doors wide and call out "Doors are open babies, let's go in the grass"....OH the loveliness and pure joy of watching my sweeties run for the stairs, ready for sweet cool grass and room to leap and jump and run at sonic speeds:D...ahhhhh......

....Tis Happiness:D....

Tiny Love Rabbit...

Hi Everyone, hope your long May 24 weekend was a great one. Ours was very good (except for a bad headache Friday and a piece of glass finding it's way deep into my foot late Friday night so I couldn't walk on it till I finally got it out late in the day Saturday, ha ha!), other than those draw backs we got loads done, relaxed lots, ate lots of yummies, spent alot of time out in the yard with the buns and I of course am always happy to have my man home for 3 days instead of just 2. So yeah on Friday my head was pretty sore, I wasn't able to move around much until 2 in the afternoon, at which point I dragged myself outside into the yard with Jinny and Jaks with my coloured pencils and supplies and conjured up this little cutie...

First I tried him in this sweet little green frame...but this is one of my favourite frames that I didn't really want to sell...

Than I tried him in this other frame and I think he looks great in it...it's at the gallery right now...but I am honestly perfectly fine if no one wants to buy him cause I'd love to bring him home again, ha ha...

Do you guys think I should add this one to the prints in my Etsy Shop????

It's super hot here lately and with any super hot days the house is darkened with blinds and curtains pulled and doors and windows shut, in an attempt to keep things cooler for the buns...it's always so lovely in the evening to open things up wide again, to romp around the yard with the rabbits in the dusk of a cool evening whiles we cook our dinners outside instead of in...ahhh the simple blissful routines of summer:D

My New Buddy...Tilly The Squirrel

My precious buddy Chapman, the grey squirrel and her mate Puff seem to be gone:C.....BUT this new little gal has been my new outdoor buddy...her and her 3 babies. She isn't as friendly as Chapman but for a red squirrel she's pretty good and very very sweet, I kept finding her here on my bookshelf, ha ha...she would grab a peanut from outside than comes into the house to eat it on our bookshelves, I'd fine her here almost everyday soon after I open the doors for the rabbits...

And just the other day I came upstairs from my studio and found her sitting at the table eating my leftover mash potatoes! She's so entertaining. We are trying to keep them out of doors, but they seem to be very comfortable running through out our house! I guess we're used to it, they been coming into our house for over 8 years now.

I've recently had neighbours threaten to throw rocks or to let this sweety drown in their pool because she's apparently been digging up their plants to hide her peanuts! (Even nice people often have a cruel hearts). Sure it's annoying to have some plants uprooted but they are just plants after all...I just stick em back in the ground. Squirrels and chipmunks are a natural beauty, entertaining, sweet and yes mischievous, sometimes bold and sometimes very annoying BUT thats how they are, they are a lovely natural wonder with just as much right to be around than we do. Anyhow, I like my neighbours but I like Tilly too so what I did was I stopped giving her peanuts and now just give her and the babies a couple raisins and small slices of banana and apple....all of which they eats on the spot and don't take away to dig and hide into someones garden, so I think it's a win, win, win situation, the neighbours won't have plants disturbed, the critters still get their treats from the nice human lady, ha ha and I still get to enjoy some of my favourite furry company out in the yard...and okay yes, often in the house too!

Which reminds me, it's time for the rabbits yearly dose of 'revolution' flea medicine, because they spend alot of time outside and digging in sand all summer, the doctor suggested it...none of them mind it, it's just a tiny bit of liquid applied to the back of the neck but Roo-Boo, oh boy my big boy hates the stuff and I always feel horribly giving it to him, I don't know if it stings abit or if it's the really strong smell, probably the latter because he usually has a very sensitive nose...do any of you guys dose your rabbits and if so what do you use????

Well, I am organizing the food/beverage for Art On Main's big grand opening so I must hop on email and the phone to beg for some food! wish me luck, ha ha and have a great weekend.

Some Old Watercolours Revisited...

I did some works in watercolour pencil wayyyy back in 2004. I was tired of looking at them in my studio but still liking them enough to not entirely pack them away and forget about them. Than last week I pulled some work from the gallery and needed to fill the space, so I thought 'why not try to spruce those oldies up abit'...so I did, I added some coloured pencil and acyclic and I think they are refreshed and looking good. I put corrugated mats on them and with a foam core backing and cellophane wrapping, instead of putting them in frames I am able to keep the selling price lower... They are all from photographs I took during our 2004 East Coast trip...

So all of the originals are available at Art On Main or if your interested you can email me or leave a comment...the originals measure about 5 x 7 inches.

If your interested in print versions, you can now get them in my Etsy shop here....

What do yous think, was it worth revisited them?

A New "Funky Fish"...

I think this Funky Fish is my favourite one so far...but I think I've had 5 or 6 'favourites' so far so I guess that title is pretty transferable/transient, ha ha.

It's been pretty busy around here, with some house reno, computers not working, spring cleaning, getting things ready for the new gallery location and of course with beautiful summer days finally appearing comes 4 little bunnies demanding alot of time outside in the yard BUT my head has been very good, I don't know why, I am not doing anything differently but I also will knock on wood and not complain, ha ha...so onto a pain-free, bunny-filled, art making by day, house tidying by night type of day...have a good one everyone.

Join me Wednesday for some old watercolours newly reworked, I am pretty happy with them.

...I think I hear the baby squirrels running rampant in the house, better go check!....

p.s. I was so happily surprised when I was visiting on one of my favourite blogs this morning and Katalin kindly showcased some of my work in one of her posts...thanks Katalin:D

Another New Funky Fish...

I just got home from a morning coffee/chat with my mom and dad, who I love oh so much:D I sometimes wish to live in a nicer/bigger/artsy-er city like Portland! But I do enjoy having my parents so close and don't think I could stand living plane rides away...and at this very moment as I sit down to write this post, all 4 bunnies are outside on their decks eating their lunches al fresco, ha ha...I often say it's the small pleasures in life that make my heart swell with squealing happiness and this is defiantly one of those days... I also had to pop in to show you all a new funky fish...the original is available for anyone interested and prints coming within the next 2 weeks, probably next... I am so excited to have taken the leap and signed myself up for Kelly Rae Roberts e-course on how to grow a creative business....I really need some tricks and tips on how to get the "Beautiful Birds" and "Funky Fish" and well the rest of what I make into a wider audience/market...for I've yet to find that very special 'niche' that is apparently out there just waiting for me to stumble upon, ha ha...wish me luck!

This weekend I look forward to getting outside to some yard work and gardening, I am sure our neighbours hate every summer with 'that young couple who just never mows their grass'!!!...ha ha but we honestly think dandelions are quite pretty!...I hope to get some more spring cleaning done in the house...to have ample time to watch bunnies romp in the yard...I look forward to the cooking of some new vegetarian dishes and of course the consumption of those dishes:D...and defiantly I think some reading is on the agenda AND if I am super productive, hopefully some stuffie making will be had as well...those are my current plans for the weekend anyhow:D Thanks so much for all of you guys who are commenting...it so makes my day to log into blogger and see some new little love notes waiting for me...thanks:D Does anyone know how to track a comment back to a particular blog post though, without having to scroll through every old one until you find that particular comment your looking for? cause often new people comment but it's on an older post and I always like to return the favour and visit their spot in blogland but sometimes the post is months back and it takes forever to find...any suggestions my fellow blogites?

Now off to the rest of the day and sending out "Happy Weekend Wishes" to all, XO Mandy and the buns, Ella Luna, Roo, Jin and Jaks:D....See yous Monday, I have lots of new stuff to show you:D

A New Funky FIsh

I couldn't wait any longer to show you all one of my newest "Funky Fish"...I am really happy with this serene beauty. I am so loving this new technique of coloured pencil mixed with paper and wood and paint, etc...it's giving me alot of movement to play and create without having to worry about framing.

A print of this guy is coming to the shop very soon but in the mean time the original will be hung at the Art On Main Gallery this Friday and is selling for only $92.00 (plus shipping)...so again if your interested in grabbing the original of this guy shoot me a comment or email...

Some of my Wee Whispy's have already gone to new homes which makes me so happy, I have 4 more almost ready to show...some of my Funky Fish have swam off to different places as well...I just LOVE packing up orders, filling them with good mojo, positive energy and happy wishes. In other news, I WAS suppose to be booked for a co-exhibition a couple months ago at the WKP Kennedy Gallery but through a unfortunate lack of communication the show is not happening as planned BUT I have been offered a slot next year May-June of 2011 and it will be a solo exhibition. I wasn't happy about the screw up but I am happy the director of the gallery offered me another slot at a later time. This is a beautiful gallery and I'll be proud to show there, it's also where I slaved as a gallery coordinator many moons ago, ha ha...so it will be incredible to go back as one of the showing artists:D wow...it will be a big space for me to fill but I am already pretty excited about it because I am pretty sure I will be doing the whole exhibit with my "Beautiful Birds" and maybe my "Funky Fish" too...it's going to be so colourful and whimsical that I bet the eyes of passersby will just pop:D ha ha.

Another Sick Rabbit BUT Now All is Good...

Hi All, sorry to disappear on you last week...I was suppose to post new prints and new work etc but things got away from me and than sometimes over Thursday night Jinny got sick because Friday morning when I went to say hello and give her and Jaks their breakfast, she wouldn't eat or move which told me something was wrong right away cause Jin is a rabbit who always eats and always greets me with a good morning nudge and "Where's my breakfast" look. Jinster hasn't been sick a single day in the 4+ years we've had her so it was a shock and a difficult stressful couple of days...

...Jon was home in a flash when I called him to say she wasn't eating, and by 3 that same day she was at the doctors getting x-rays for at that point we all feared a blockage, which we had never really dealt with before...long story short we discovered a new inert over the counter human drug that is a great help to bunnies, it's called Gas-X and after 2 'bunny' doses (I'll give detailed info later on this) her tummy made a really loud gurgle, the swelling of her belly when right down and 2 super sticky tiny poops came out which told us it wasn't a blockage but most likely really bad gas which we have experienced once before with Ella so we knew abit better how to deal with that...she was back at the doctors Saturday afternoon and the doctor was smiling huge and very pleased to see her tummy swelling totally gone and to learn of a new drug, etc (we have a great vet whose always open to learning new things even from his patients human slaves, ha ha). Now on this beautifully sunny but chilly Monday morning, she's eating normally again and looking like her sweet beautiful lovely self...thank goodness...so yes, that was about 42 hours of no sleep, stress and most likely more grey hairs, ha ha but she's doing great so we're doing great....

Apple Jaks took such good care of her whiles she was ill...he was constantly washing and kissing her and snuggling up to her to keep her warm...he was soooo sweet, a good little partner and we were so proud of him....Jinny has really taught him how to be a bunny and he indeed pulled out all his new found skills to help her out as best he could :D

...and today Ella and Roo are doing perfectly, as I write this they are all stretched out in the sunlight upstairs, breathing slowly, tummies full...I just found this older shot of the two of them I just had to share, that was the sweater she had to wear when she had all those stitches from her surgeries, don't worry, we don't dress up our bunnies, ha ha... So today I can breathe easy again, I can smile and laugh and feel wonderful...and I am, I am indeed...cause when the buns are happy and healthy, everything with me is all good:D

....Ahhhhhh.....

Oh yes...Happy Belated Mothers Day to all my lovely girlfriends who are mommys and especially to the first timers like my friends Alicia and my bestest gal pal Judit....and to my own wonderful mom who also just so happens to make the best guacamole in the world...LOVE YOU MOM....and well to myself to ha ha cause I am too an alternative type of momma:D

...it will be a good day, especially when one of my favourite Stacey Kent songs is playing to reinforce today's sentiments:D....

....Ahhhhhh.....;D

Some New Work At AOM...

I took down some older works and put up some smaller newer works in my space at the gallery/store(some of the pieces in this photo are now sold). I think even though we're moving quite soon, that I will try to bring some more work in later this week, some older watercolours I just spruced up abit and that I want to get out of my studio as well as a couple new Wee Whispy's hopefully... I just like showing you all what I have up at AOM...

My Beautiful Birds will make their public debut as mounted prints not at this location but in our new spot and I have abunch of new Funky Fish originals to bring in but most artists are planning to 'reveal' new work and new groupings for the big grand opening of our new place, so I think I'll hang onto those for that.

I plan to get the 5 'Avian' illustrations as prints into my Etsy shop by this Friday so stayed tuned for that.

A New Beautiful Bird

Getting back to my Beautiful Bird Series, here is my newest one #17...this ones looking abit more serious than some of the others, I figured even in an imagined world they wouldn't all be cheerful and happy go lucky!

The originals for the Beautiful Birds are not currently for sale but prints are coming very soon. I've had such a hard time with my head this past month that I am really just hopping onto my computer for email and these quick blog posts and haven't taken time for the Etsy shop or putting listings together because that does take a fair bit of time. When I have a sore head I like to stay away from my computer as much as possible and also I hate being on the phone, that always seems to aggravate things even more. My friends are pretty patient in knowing that I might take days to call them back!

Well that's about all for today. Thanks soooo much for taking time out of your busy days to pop in here and see what I am up to...my Etsy shop sale is over but I renewed some older prints in the store and the Avian series will be available this week as well, so if you've never been there please do pop by.

Art On Main Is Moving To New Diggs...

I think I forget to mention that the arts collective and art gallery that I am a member of and feature artist in is moving! I've only been with the group for a year come this May but AOM has existed for over 5 now and everyone figured a move would revitalize the store and also give us room for new members.

The new place is just a few doors down from where we currently are and it has loads of potential but also needs loads of work. Most of the members have been pretty good about chipping in time and energy to get in there and help with the renos and a handful have been superstars shouldering the majority of work.

Unfortunately we can't afford any type of hardwood or laminate so industrial carpeting must go down but that goes in in a couple weeks time and soon after that we can begin moving everything over.

My first job was to paint over the ugly brown wallboard until a grant comes through and gives us money for drywall and proper gallery wallage! but in the meantime we'll make due. When I was in last time I scrubbed down the kitchen area and gave it a coat of fresh white paint.

I am not sure how much longer I'll be with the collective but in the meantime I love getting to work alongside, splash paint on and spend time with my fellow member and friend Rachael, we always have a good time together....

So send me and the AOM group some good mojo for the new location. Oh yeah if you've time check out my artists page on AOM brand new website, I am happy with it.

AOM's April Windows...

I like showing you the window displays at Art On Main. My pal Rachael always does a great job. These are April's windows... ...and my sweet Nubbin "Ellie Ebben Grey" made it into the showcase, hooray! I've heard quite a few times that these little art dolls of mine are what prompts some people to come in the store so that's always great to hear.

The right side window looks great too...(the big blue textile on the wall is one of Rachael's, I am trying to convince her to open an Etsy shop because she makes fantastic jewelry)...

...and my little birdies look great hanging in there too:D

Also, making life at AOM much lovelier these days is my new friend and our new intern Jenn...I am so glad she's joined us and I look forward to my shifts much more knowing I get to spend some time with her...and she's just as huggy as me, ha ha.

There are ups and downs to being part of an art collective...alot of different temperaments, work ethics and personalities and well honestly things don't always jive together quite as well as they should but I assume it's like this in most collectives and it's a learning experience that I welcome. For the most part I feel pretty lucky to be part of the organization because it's the only one of it's kind here in our Northern Area. There are only 15 of us, with only 8 more spots for new comers in the new location and half of those are filled up already...so if your local and interested send in an application cause spots are very limited.

Wee Whispy 3...

This Little Gal is full of sugar:D Ha ha, I think she's pretty darn cute...

I think they look pretty great all grouped together. This little lady is the last one I've made, but I do have a few more drawn up and ready to go. It's not going to be a large series, I don't think. (The original for this little sweetie has just sold, hooray;D)

Well that's it for today, short and sweet:D Have a great day everyone.

Wee Whispy 2...

This Wee Whispy is wishing you love and light... Another mixed media piece on a wood block measuring approx. 5.5 x 9 inches.

Once again she's up for adoption for $60.00 plus shipping and she's really anxious to go to a new home and inspire someone other than me:D Email me if your interested.

I think in a couple weeks I am going to do 'Rabbit Week' and that week I will do posts on things I've been wanting to chat about such as G.I. Stasus in bunnies, Tummy Sludge in bunnies and also Adding Bunnies to you family and what that really entails.

Hopping back to my sweeties now but join me tomorrow for a 3rd Wee Whispy.