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.

Wee Whispy 1....

This is a new little series I've been having fun with. Mixed media on pine blocks and I think they are so sweet. I wanted to come up with something abit quicker to sell for abit cheaper at the AOM gallery BUT they still took me a fair amount of time and I've faced the fact that I am just not an artists who can 'whip' things out willy nilly, quickly or cheaply...and I think that's good to realize and come to terms with because ultimately it's me first who has to appreciate my work and than hopefully everyone else will follow!

But I also really like the ideal of once in awhile making some 'simpler' pieces that are still unique and in my style, that still contain my heart and are still made with quality that I am always a stickler for but that are also very affordable, (well I think I price most of my work very affordable actually but anyhow, ha ha) this little original is ready to hang and ready to inspire a new person and is going for only $60 u.s. plus shipping (Note: This Wee Whispy is now Sold)...so if your interested please email me and I'll create a listing in my etsy shop just for you to purchase it with ease and than it'll be packaged up and sent to it's new home.

I call them 'Wee Whispys" cause they are teeny weeny and measure only about 5 x 9 in. and because the words they are whispering are inspiring and bright. Hope you like them, I'll be showing you the other 2 I have made this week as well, a few more will be coming after that.

They may be prints as well but I am not sure about that yet as I don't know how the buttons will translate to a print, once I do some test runs I'll let you all know.

If you have any suggestions for words or very short quotations you'd like to see on a Wee Whispy do send a comment and I'll possibly use it on a future ene:D

Some New Rabbity Treasures..

Told you I couldn't stay away for too long:D! I've gotten sooo many illustration sketches underway and I am so excited to get back to some of my more serious conceptual work so it was defiantly good to take some time off from my normal routine. Today I am hopping in cause I just had to show you some new treasures that I've been spoiled with over the last couple months and which I finally got around to taking some shots of... These beauties all come from Etsy shops... I can't believe the tiny carving detail and I have 1 other necklace from this carver and I just love his work. Jon said he had to get me this one cause it looks like our Roo all curled up. This little guy is from the Lavender Rabbit's shop. ...and than a couple weeks later these beauties arrived. Hand carved wooden brooches from Barabara and Marcos Suarez, I love their shop and you can see abit of similarities between their quirky style to Elsita Moras, if you a fan of her, I sure am...I have to say these are the top of my favourite rabbity things list. I haven't attached them to anything yet cause I want to make sure they are in a safe place and not in danger of falling off and getting lost. This etsy order was one of the most nicely wrapped orders yet...

and okay now this one IS my current favourite....I love the symbolism, it reminds me that all our bunnies are angels just here to visit on earth for a short time so to enjoy that time everyday no matter how long or short...this piece is beautifully made and has a nice heaviness to it...I still have to find out where this one's from, it was unwrapped awhile ago and it's the one business card I've misplaced!

That guy of mine sure does have good taste in rabbity thingies:D

Join me pn Monday for some new work and those 'wee whispys' I was telling you about.

Well, I am off to a busy day; I will bring bunnies outside for a quick romp (Jaks is finally mastering the stairs, oh I was squealing with excitement and my heart was squeezing with pride the first time he went down and up all on his little own self:D ha ha ) it's abit chilly so I'll have to bundle up. Than it'll be time for a tussle with tax papers, but I promised myself only a few hours of that crap and than on to working some more with my new linears but first before all that some lunch, some yoga and a than a cappuccino:D

Have a great day too everyone.

4 Years Ago Today....

Four years ago today we brought Jinny home. At the time it was Jinny and her two sisters Hazel and Snicker-Noodle (aka Noo Noo). They were in a pretty bad place, not being properly cared for and really needing a kind, warm and forever home, so Jonathan and I took them in gladly. I could get into a really long story here about what they went through and how we adapted them to our home and bonded them with other bunnies, etc etc...but really all I want to say today is that I am so glad 4 years ago today we decided to add this precious heart to our home. She has lost two sisters, Noo Noo about 2 years ago and her bonded friend and sister Hazel just last summer (Oh my heart still aches for Hazzy), now she is buddies and seems pretty content with Jaks but I know she misses Hazel alot...she's such a tough nut, a real trooper, very intelligent, very strong, very gentle, very very sweet and we are so proud of her as the wonderful bunny that she is and as one of the integral and warm parts of our family. We think Jinny is about 6 now...she was apparently around 2 when we rescued her but there's no real way of telling. I hope she's with us for years to come. Today this blog post is dedicated to her, to our sweet girl Jin....Happy 4th Home Coming Jin Jin, We love you:D XOXO.