Playing Catch Up, A New Store and A Wonderful Gift

Hi Everyone. Sorry I missed posting yesterday. Wednesday was full of gloom and rain on the outside of the house, but inside I battled the constant headaches with a full belly of Tylenol! some rabbit snuggles, lots of painting and some Poncho Sanchez albums...over all a really good day. I just didn't seem to find the time to blog yesterday and again I was surprised at how much I missed it.

Blogging has begun to open up a more abundant world for me, it really has and I am so happy about that. I've been able to get in touch with people and feel a connection with so many wonderful bloggers out there and I feel really grateful for that. Marisa, over at Creative Thursday sent me a very sweet note which was very encouraging and positive and I just so appreciated that response Marisa, thanks so much.

I am still not happy with my blog readership however, the numbers are too low for my liking, but I will keep at it, and take further steps to ensure that my readership grows...with that being said, back links are always appreciated, you can request them of me also, and please do pass my URL around if you truly enjoy what I am doing here.

I had a really busy day today outside of the studio, running abunch of errands, so I didn't get much painting done. I fear alot of paperwork, planning, organizing and scheduling is on my agenda for the next couple of weeks, I've been abit tardy and lazy with such things so I guess I really can't complain that it's come about again, it always does and it always will and I do actually enjoy the administrative part of being an artist/illustrator...most of the time anyways!

So just a couple other things for today...

A small selection of my art cards have been picked up by "The Little Shop" art shoppe. Located at 150 Main Street East in North Bay, Ontario Canada. You can browse the gallery or email any questions about the shoppe to the lovely people here. They also carry a small selection of my glass-mounted prints. Thanks for giving me a link on the site guys, that is fantastic.

I was utterly gleeful yesterday when I opened up the front door and a big package flopped down onto my feet. It was a package from Akita, Japan so I knew what it contained...my beautiful new purse that (and yes, yes I know I am super spoiled!) my Jonathan surprised me with. He knew I was looking for a new bag and this one seems to fit me perfectly, I am so in love with it.

We found it on our beloved Etsy of course. It is handmade in Japan and made of Kimono fabric. I am really really pleased with the craftsmanship, it is so beautifully put together and sturdy. There is a beautiful orange/reddish pattern on the inside also. It is made by Naomi Tagooka, from Tago Design & Crafts. Thanks Jonathan, again...and thanks Naomi, I just adore it and feel proud and excited to sling it over my shoulder whenever I go out.

Well that is about all for now. I should be able to show you a new painting tomorrow. Until then, Be Well and Happy Creating.

New Painting

Good Tuesday Everyone. We've been having such a rainy summer so far, but I don't actually mind too much because I find it very cozy and it gives me an excuse to remain inside and fully concentrated on my artwork. The only downside to all the rain and the temperatures bouncing back and forth is that it wrecks havoc with my head and I seem to have a constant stream of headaches, but I continue to work, which is the important thing.

Here is a new little painting, it measure 6 x 6" and is acrylic and coloured pencil on canvas. It will be available for sale shortly, when I put a whole lot of paintings up for grabs at the same time. The new website is coming soon, I promise! We just have rabbit priorities to deal with first...I'll explain later. Be well and have a great and cozy filled evening.

Some More Older Portraits

Good Monday Morning. After a busy weekend of 'playing' outside, having my mom over for lunch in the gazebo, letting the furry hearts run around the yard and visiting a friend in the hospital, I am really looking forward to a busy and productive week in the studio. However, I must admit that part of me is over in Germany with my dad right now, so in that vein I thought I would show you a few more of my old portraiture work and then we'll get back back to some brand spanking new imagery. The above portrait is my grandma and grandpa.

This is a dog portrait that I did years ago. The family had it commissioned as a surprise for their dad, it apparently hung in his office for years.

I love doing couple portraits, this was a local couple whose daughters commissioned me to make this as an anniversary surprise.

This was another commission which was unfortunately not accepted or paid for! The woman wasn't very happy with it but in my defense the reference was horrible and I did the best I could with what I had to work with. Regardless, I think it is still a pretty nice couples image, apparently it was taken shortly after this couple was engaged in 1944.

And I'll end with another family portrait. This is my dad's great great grandmother I believe. The background of the photograph was very cluttered and busy so I just added a few of the simpler items which I think brings the eye towards the lovely woman and her handcraft.

Well that is about all for today. There is alot to catch up on and get into so I shall get on with it right away. Be Well everyone and happy creating.

A Few Of My Portraits

Hi Everyone, I don't have time today to conjure up a new painting unfortunately, but as I tried to sleep last night I did conjure up two more possible children's book ideals. I am so excited to have started work on them, though it took me a long time to decide which one to work on first as I've had many ideals over the past few years. However, I probably won't want to show anyone until it's all complete, that's always been my way!

Anyhow, today I am busy getting some things together for my dad to bring to my grandpa, just some old black and white portraits I've drawn up over the years. I love drawing from old black and white photos. After I am done this, we'll head over to my parents place for lunch and to hang out abit, before we go to the airport to see my dad off, he'll catch a flight here in North Bay to Toronto and then from Toronto straight to Zurich. I wish that I was able to go with him for support and to my beloved Germany and our people there, but there was simply no time for me to get my passport in time so I stay behind with a heavy heart.

The above portrait is my beautiful grandma Katie when she was quite abit younger, maybe in her early 20's. Let me show you some more (don't forget you can click on the images for a larger viewing)...

This is a picture of my grandma with my handsome grandpa, when they were just a young beautiful couple.

This is my grandma again (as you can see my grandma Katie is one of my most favourite people to draw from) here she is with her youngest son and my uncle, Rolf.

And here is my uncle Rolf as a little boy again. I just loved the composition of the old photo and though I changed it slightly, it's still pretty true to the original.

p.s. I do indeed take portraiture commissions.

Well, that's all for today. I think I'll share a few more portraits over the next couple of days. But for now, I just need to let myself be how I need to be and I look forward to an evening of just cuddling up with my honey and watching some movies. Take Care Everyone and until tommorow or Monday, Be Well....and stay cool!

Some Favourite Old Photos Found

I recently found two of my all time most favourite photos. Unfortunately, they are just black and white photocopies that I found, but it's better than nothing. The originals were digital photos, we never got good print outs made and now sadly all of those old photos are gone, which is upsetting because there was alot of imagery of our lives in Toronto with our very first bunny Beanie.

This one is one of my most favourite shots of my handsome sweetheart, Jonathan.
And here is another of my favourites, me taking a snooze on the floor with Beanie in my old studio in our Toronto apartment on Leslie Ave...Ah good bunny-filled old times:D

My best friend Judit is always saying people like to put a face to the name and work. So in that spirit I am sharing these with you today.

New Painting "Flower & Words"

Original painting "Flower & Words", acrylic, coloured pencil, collage on canvas, measures 6" x 6"

Original will be available for purchase shortly.

A print will also be available shortly.

Hi everyone. I've had a few sad days recently which I haven't really felt like talking much about, but my heart feels heavy, so I've been happy to dive into these 'daily paintings' to help ease my mind abit. News of my grandfather in Germany is not good and I am thinking of him constantly and of all my beloved German family actually. I was last in Germany when I was 12 or 13, and though I am 30 years old now and many years have passed since I was last there, I remember many nuances like it was yesterday. Lighting of certain vistas and hills, my grandparents house, smells, sounds and just special feelings of special places and people follow me closely in my heart like I just experienced them yesterday. Even though it's been a couple of years since my dear grandma Katie passed, I can still feel exactly what it was like to hug her, she loved to hug people, she had this sweet little voice, a contagious giggle and a honest to goodness sparkle in her eye...I just adored my grandma and I miss her. To think of my grandpa leaving us soon, with my never getting a chance to spend time with him because we were so far apart, just makes me feel very sad and somehow lost. I've always kept in close contact, writing lots of letters to my Aunt and Grandma, my grandma loved stickers so I'd often send her letters full of sticker sheets. Since she's been gone, I've continued to write to my grandpa with the simple message that though we are miles apart, I've always felt very close at heart.

Well, I am going to get too emotional if I write on about it right now. My message today is a simple one...Love your loved ones well; be kind, have patience, hug lots and let them know often that you care for them. Until tomorrow, be well.

New Painting "Sticky Frog"

"Sticky Frog", acrylic and coloured pencil on wood, 9" x 10" x 1.5"

Original will be available for sale shortly.

A print will also be available shortly.

As promised, I have a new painting to show you today. "Sticky Frog" was so much fun and I am really happy with the colour scheme. I did a similar design as a lino cut years back but this version is much better I think. It's funny, as I worked on this frog, I felt almost meditative, I get that feeling when I paint, a calm and serene feeling like I am doing what I am suppose to be doing. I don't think I get that as much with any of my other mediums or styles. I wonder what that means? Perhaps I am meant to paint more. But it's funny, at the same time I always have a negative nag in my head saying "That's not right, that's not what good painting is". But I am learning to tune that little nagging bugger out more and more now and just let myself bask in the beauty of the colours I am working with and allow myself to just simply create with no agenda.

I shall go for now. It's a very rainy day and I promised myself I'd let me curl up with my book for awhile before I get down to work. Plus, I have to go clean rabbit pee! The bunnies are being very naughty this week....when I say bunnies I mean mostly Ella-Luna! Happy Creating everyone, until tomorrow.

I am just fine and an old image "African Tea"

Good Monday Evening Everyone. I wasn't going to post today because I didn't get my painting finished and I really really wanted to keep this blog for new imagery only, but I have been assured by many friends that old images would be welcomed and embraced by my viewers and readers as well. So once in awhile, when I really have to I'll post one of my favourite older illustrations, like tonight. I've had a few friends ask if I was okay, because I missed my blog post on Friday as well and I just want to assure everyone that I am fine, thanks for worrying though. Friday I have no excuse but I was mostly stuck in bed with a really bad migraine, the temperatures reached almost +40 with the humidity and that didn't help matters.

We had an excellent weekend though. On Saturday we went for a beautiful bike ride with our friends Becca and Darren, we biked to Callander, back and forth was probably about a 40km run. We stopped at the beach for a waterside picnic which was a hit with everyone, we filled our tummies nicely and our hearts with good chuckles and friendship, I know that sounds cheesy but it was really just a lovely time. We then proceeded to the Callander gallery/museum to take in a retrospective by our dear and beloved friend Arlington Hoffman. (I've asked Arlie for some jpegs, so I can hopefully blog about the work we saw there soon). Despite the fabulous day, we all got pretty sun burnt and I found myself suffering that evening with badly burnt knees and all day Sunday I had a case of heat stroke, it was all worth it though, ha ha.

We've also be abit sidetracked with our sweet velveteen bunny Hazel. Even when it's tiny things we get stressed out. Somehow she hurt her right front foot and wouldn't walk on it for a couple days so we've just been diligently watching her and trying to decide whether x-rays are needed or not. But as I spent a few hours painting upstairs today, I was able to watch her very closely and I was able to determine that she doesn't need a vet visit, she just needs to keep off it and relax abit.

This older illustration is one that I conjured up after drinking a rich, earthy roosibos tea. It gave me flickers of an African scene so that's why it's called "African Tea". I choose this image to share today because I am thinking of my beautiful and greatly missed dear friend Vicki, who lives in Victoria, who was born and raised in Africa and who still greatly carries with her that lands beautiful spirit.

Anyhow, dear friends, that is about all for today. I promise a new image tomorrow...promise, promise, promise! Good night, sleep well and lovely dreams to you all.

New Painting "Rainbow Swish"

"Rainbow Swish", acyclic on wood, 11.5" x 9" x 1.5"
The original will be available for purchase soon through my new website.
A print of this painting will available shortly on Etsy.

My post is abit late today, but better late than never is my positive attitude for today. On this extremely gloomy and humid day, distant thunder can be heard slowly approaching, the clouds seem bloated with rain and even the mosquitoes and bees seem heavy in flight with less hum, I wanted to do something extra bright and fun...so I give you my painting for today "Rainbow Swish".

I adore painting on wood, I have for as long as I can remember. I like to cut all of the wood about a year in advance and give it a good chance to dry up properly inside the house but today I fear that my wood supply is getting low and I am anxious to get into the garage and cut more to stock up again.

I am off to watch some "Lost' episodes with my sweetheart and with some cups of hot cocoa, as the rabbits snooze peacefully, I bid you a good evening, take care and happy creating.

A Great Mail Day

I was so excited today when I received a package from Estonia, for I knew what magical little handcraft it held within. This is my new and one of my favourite necklaces, which my sweet Jon bought for me after seeing me freak out when I saw it on Etsy. I swear there is abit of the artists energy still tingling on the piece. Thanks Marianne, I just adore it. To visit Marianne's blog please click here or to visit her Etsy shop click here.

"Sundance" has gone to it's new home

Hi Everyone, it's finally a nice and sunny summer day here in The Bay, after a weekend of thunderstorms and rain, it is quite welcome as our gardens and yard are screaming for some attention. I just realized that I never showed you all my finished 'Sundance" painting, admittedly one of my most favourite paintings yet. It is sold, which is a wonderful thing of course, I am so very very happy for the sale, but that didn't make it any easier when it came time to deliver it to it's new home this past weekend, ha ha. It struck me again, very vividly, of how much I do put of myself into each painting. As I drove away, it felt like there was a ribbon attached from the painting to me and as I drove farther away that ribbon tugged quite abit, the sense of leaving something important behind was quite strong. But I must say however that it's gone to the best home and I am so very pleased with who 'adopted' it. And it's a new day, a new start and I am over it, ha ha...now I am just happy that it'll bring the purchaser as much joy as I had in making it...on to the next painting, but first my neglected studio needs some attention, cleaning and re-orging. Have a great day everyone, until tomorrow.

New Painting

"Leaping Spotted Rabbit", acrylic and coloured pencil on wood, measures 8" x 5" x 1.5"

Original will be available for purchase shortly. A print will also be available shortly.

Good Afternoon Everyone, well it's Friday and I am really looking forward to it. It's suppose to rain all weekend but I really hope it clears up for Saturday because I've arranged a small biking party to a nearby town to take in my dear friend and adopted grandpa's exhibition, we'll see I guess. I am not one of those people who watches the weather channel etc, I prefer to just get up, look out the window and see what the day looks like.

I look forward to my day. I have a few hours in my studio this afternoon, then I head out for an Italian lunch with my wonderful friend Maria. I usually take off early from the studio on Friday afternoons. Tonight will involve some yummy food as we conjure up something extra special and tasty every Friday night, and some movies are lined up, so I am really looking forward to just taking it easy tonight as I've suffered abit this week with lots of headaches, some arthritis and bad allergies.

Well here is a new little painting I painted yesterday. I am on a pink bunny kick every since Maria suggested it, ha ha but this time it was fun to add some spots. Hope you like him and have a great weekend everyone, till Monday stay safe and be happy.

New Painting

6"x 6" acrylic on canvas, the original will be available for purchase shortly.

I had fun with this little one yesterday. When I paint, whether it's big or small canvasses/wood, I work in my upstairs studio, which I share with Jin and Hazel. They always seem to enjoy having me in there and I just felt really content sitting there working away on this picture whiles the girls played and hopped about the room and took short snoozes on their sun-dappled window bench.

Some days are just so lovely. I am lucky enough to get alot of those 'surges of happiness' where you feel so content that your heart squeezes, or you feel so happy your sure that it's got to be oozing out of your very own pores. Yesterday was a day like that for me. It started with a beautifully sunny day and a wonderful rabbit snuggle with Roo & Ella out on the deck. I got to spend my whole day painting which I think I'll never stop feeling grateful for. And in the evening Jonathan and I went for a nice bike ride with my pal Julie, we went about 15km which was pretty good for our first time out. I admit to having my eyes glued to the sides of the path for any little creature that might need rescuing!

Here's my favourite photos of Roo napping on the deck yesterday.

I really feel like I need to say at this point that I am not trying to give the impression through my blogging, that I live with rose coloured glasses, or that I don't have my own bad days and trials and tribulations to live through, I do, we do...as a hyper-sensitive person, I have alot of those hard and sh***y days. As many of my artist readers will know, just being an artist comes with it's own confused kit and caboodle. But I think we are both very positive and strong people so we bounce back quickly. I want my blog to be positive and inspiring and yes still authentic to me and my true life, which is also very very full of those wonderful heart-squeezing days. And since I have always been a positive person, that is the vantage point that I want to write my blog from. I don't know why I am saying all this now...I could go on...I just want all my readers to know that I am being true to them...and ultimately I just really want everyone to enjoy my posted artwork, to get glimpses into my personal life which you don't get through my website and to simply share in my growing collection and accumulation of inspiration, surprises and beauty.

With that said, I am off to paint...with a slight headache I must add, so we'll see how much I get done! Thanks Everyone and until tomorrow.

Stickers Made By Yours Truly

Well, I got side-tracked from 'Miss Penelope' and a couple other illustrations I have going and ended up making some stickers, which I've been meaning to do for quite some time now. I made them to adorn some of my packaged orders going out in the mail this week, but now I am wondering if packs of them might do well in my Etsy shop, what do you all think? Anyhow, they were fun and relaxing to make and I've already packaged some up for a few friends.

Yesterday, I had a quick tea with my friend Becca and she adored the stickers. She sponsors a beautiful little girl out in Africa and she is going to send a set of the stickers to her and I just love that ideal. My friend Becca is opening up her own organic bistro soon...so to all my local readers out there, watch out for it, the place is going to be hopping cool and 'the place to be'. We went to look at a potential location together before our tea and I am so very excited for her. Becca is a wonderful example of a woman taking charge of her future and dreams and I really admire that. Becca, if your reading this today I am so proud of you my kindred friend.

And with that I am off to get some work done or try to at least! Last night I had a creative/happiness rush. You know when you just feel really happy about everything and you get excited and then you think about your art and suddenly the world feels open with tons of possibilities and you feel like your doing exactly what your suppose to be doing and then you want to jump out of bed to get to work on a hundred things at once, but you tell yourself to stay in bed, to go to sleep so you can wake up really early and get to work then with a better schedule but really your still so hyper that you don't get to sleep at all cause your mind and heart is still reeling about wondrously. But then you fall asleep, getting only about an hours worth of rest and when you wake up feeling like your dragging your legs around and you wonder where all the energy and spunk went, ha ha I am having one of those mornings. So I gotta go find my 'spunk' and wake up abit more, I think a bunny snuggle will help, until tomorrow Happy Creating and Be Well.

Another Great Mail Day

Getting treats and letters in the mail is one of life's pleasures for me. Things arriving in my mailbox are like delicious little visits from beloved & missed friends. I remember when I was a teenager, my goodness I had so many pen pals, I would get a letter almost everyday of the week it seemed. But as I got older those pen pals dwindled off, as people got busier with their own lives the letters stopped coming. I never quite got over that, having lots of mail I mean, I still run to the mailbox everyday in hopes that there is a treat there awaiting me. So last Friday when I got Maria's sweet letter I was thrilled and I had the pleasure of being surprised and utterly thrilled again this Monday afternoon when I received a package with this adorable little critter inside. My sweet-as-can-be hubby bought me this necklace from "Motley Mutton & Gangly Goats", hand-made felt work by Nancy Bevins. I am so enchanted by her work and anxiously awaiting for her to make some more of her wonderful felt rabbits. Check out her shop on Etsy, her creations will surely bring a smile to your face, as my Jonathan always brings a smile to my face (as all your surprises, it's so sweet and wonderful, thanks baby). And Thanks for the speedy delivery Nancy, I love my sweet little possum.

A Good Mail Day

Good Monday Morning, it's a gloomy and wet day here today but that's not dampening my attitude towards work today. I plan to get alot done on my newest image "Miss Penelope Posy" and she's so sweet, I can't help but smile as I work on this image. If I get it done today, I will add another post because I am excited to share her with everyone.

This weekend was an excellent one. I planned to get alot of drawing done but in reality the weather was beautiful for a change so we were beckoned outside for the whole weekend. Ella and Roo enjoyed the yard and ate lots of grass, whiles Hazel & Jin enjoyed the back deck with their hand-picked and express delivered grass, ha ha. Flowers were planted, new garden tool purchased, dandelions picked, grass mowed, composter set up, etc...It was one of those wonderful first days of summer when you come inside and your body is just exhausted, your hands hurt and your legs ache but it feels great because you know you accomplished something and that your yard looks that much nicer and is that much more enjoyable. I also spent some time curled up on the front porch with my current read "Maid Marian" and had the pleasure of watching a zealous robin bathe in the bird bath, I just loved that. So overall a great weekend.

Last Friday was a great mail day. My lovely friend Maria sent me this beautiful card (above). I don't know where she finds these rabbit-filled cards but I adore them. She also included some photos of her with her old rabbit name 'Bunny'. I just loved seeing these photos, I loved putting a face to the name of this furry heart and I was touched to share these memories with her. I feel so thankful for the friendships I have, the strong women that surround me make my days so much better and blessed.
Well, I am off to fulfill some orders, respond to emails and get to work on Penelope, but first a tea and bowl of oatmeal with Hazel & Jin await me upstairs. Until Tomorrow be well and happy creating.

New Image & Adventures in Huntsville

Here is a new illustration, just a tiny little guy measuring 6"x6" done in coloured pencil.

It's funny and lovely how our techniques grow and change. Just last year I would have said 'no way' to using any kind of black outlining for my work, if I needed black in any area of my pictures I would mix it using browns, blues and reds. Now, without really knowing where I veered off from my 'no black' policy, I find that a nice even black outline on some of my newer imagery really helps them pop and I love the effect. It just goes to show you that even when we think our creative minds are closed to an ideal, they may not be closed tight, ha ha.

So last Friday, on our way home from Toronto, we decided to take a break and spend a few hours in Huntsville. It was a perfect, sunny day and though I've been to Huntsville before, I just fell in love with the place during this short visit. We strolled up and down the main street, went into amazing furniture stores, one of my favourites was 'Saturday Afternoons". We ventured into an adorable local bookstore, had a wonderful lunch at "Aroma" and topped it off with an ice cream cone before hopping back into the truck and continuing the rest of the way home. I could just envision myself moving to this idyllic town and opening up my very own "Bijou's Whimsy" Gallery. It had a wonderful mix of quaintness, dense surrounding forest, and near by water making me feel very at home and cozy. One of my favourite places that day was the amazing 'Shutterbug Gallery', owned by Kelly Holinshead, a local and very talented photographer. This gallery also featured work from some other local people and I was enchanted with the needle-felt work by Sherry Peddie, after seeing her creations I know I will soon have to try my hand at this new artform/craft. Not only did the artwork in this gallery win me over completely but also the building itself, it was so inspiring to see how some one so perfectly turned an old building into a creative gallery space.

Another thing that struck me with this adorable little town was the Group of Seven inspired public murals scattered throughout the main street area...here are some of my favourites.

I hope these mural photos inspire you as much as they inspired me. Until Monday, Take Care and Be Kind to One Another.

New Illustration "Bodhi The Elephant"

To buy the original please click here.

To buy a print please click here.

Today, as promised I have a brand new illustration to show you. This is a coloured pencil, 9"x12" and is called "Bodhi the Elephant". It feels really good to get back to my style and just to do an image for love of the subject, I mean who doesn't love elephants, they are such incredible creatures and this image is meant to celebrate them. May the enjoyment I had making it be passed onto you. Have a wonderful day everyone and until tomorrow Happy Creating.

On another note, Wendy Baylis over at Dharma Designs Blog has written an article about me and my work over at my Etsy Shop, thanks so much Wendy.

New Mini Lino Cut "P.S. I Love You" & Phantom Pregnancy Again!

Something new and simple to show you today. A new mini lino-cut printed on handmade paper, with abit of white coloured pencil added and some thread stitching up the two sides. The scan doesn't do it justice somehow, but I am very happy with the original, it already has a home in a frame in our dining room. The message is a personal one, as simple as the image is, it does have meaning...it will act as a reminder to me...but I want you to see your own story in it so that's all I will say.

Okay Okay, ha ha...I have not kept up with my 3 new mini lino-cuts per week. Mainly because well other creative things have side tracked me and in my mind, as long as I am being creative I am letting myself off the hook. And because my lino supplies are quite low and I've heard that you can't buy the same stuff anymore, yikes!

Our fuzzy sweet Ella-Luna has 'phantom pregnancy' again. This is the 10th or 12th time. Yesterday afternoon, I dragged some supplies and fresh mini canvasses outside but instead of getting much work done, I ended up chasing Ella around to stop her from pulling all of her belly fur out! You see female bunnies, usually twice a year suffer from what is called 'phantom pregnancy', this is when they think they are pregnant but aren't. During this twice yearly occurance our Ella Luna pulls out (herself) all of the fur off her belly and she gathers this in some dark and protected corner of the house...why does she pull her fur out you may ask...it is so so sweet actually, she is building a nest for her 'phantom babies', so they'll be nice and warm when they are born! I know it sounds weird, it is kind of weird, the first time it happened I freaked out and ended up calling Jonathan home from work ha ha. Because all you see is this tuft of hair hanging out of her mouth, but then you notice she's running all over the house (or in yesterday's case, the yard) to find the perfect nesting spot. The first time, I caught her and plopped her on the bed, then proceeded to get the hair out of her mouth, but much to my horror the hair kept coming and coming and coming...like a magician's scarf, it's very surreal. We've finally learnt that she pulls out alittle less hair, if we collect it for her and put it in her chosen spot. Usually if we throw old dishtowels or bits of cloth and clothes on the floor, she'll collect these too and bring them into the 'nest'. In the summers, like yesterday and today, she'll run around the yard collecting all of the long grass, until she has this huge mouth full and she bounds over to her burrow and puts it all in there. It is quite the spectacle and part of her magic but also with it comes abit of worry about hair balls of course, so over the next week we'll be giving her fresh pineapple juice to help smooth and pass any hair balls inside her precious tummy. Oh Our Ella-Luna, you do keep us on our feet sweet one, ha ha.

And with that rabbit story told, I shall say 'until tomorrow blogging friends, Happy Creating & Be Well'. Please feel free to leave comments on any of my posts, I love to hear from the people reading my blog.

Back in the Studio

Good morning Everyone, I hope to find you all well. Over the past 3 weeks, I have driven almost 4000km and let me just say I am pooped and also excited to be back in my studio. All of those kilometres were going back and forth between Toronto and home, we ate in some wonderful new places, saw and did some neat and fun things and I got to spend alot of time with my best friend, so it was a wonderfully busy and full past month.

Today let me share with you some of my photographs from the R.O.M. We went to see the Dinosaur exhibition, which was very good, but I equally loved the Shanghai Exhibition and the one on Darwin was great as well (unfortunately no photography was allowed in this section).

So here's a couple of shots on our stroll to the museum...

Here is the beautiful new addition to the R.O.M. Alot of people hate it, but I just love it, to me it looks like something emerging from the ground, just as equally solid and despite the very unusual design, it's natural somehow.

Now some of the Shanghai Shots...This was one of my favourite parts a gateway to burial land. I can't remember what dynasty it was from, but a king had giant and beautiful gates like this built to surround the land where his prince sons were buried.

And some of my favourite sculptures...
And my favourite dinosaur bones...
and two of my other favourite shots from the day...

It was a good day...they were all good days. I have alot more to share with you all...but that'll be all for today, I am very anxious to get into some work. Until tomorrow when I promise to have a new print or illustration to share...happy creating.