the gang's all here

Three generations of my family (and our pets) from Florida, New York and England have descended on my parent's house in rural Virginia to celebrate the holidays. All those kids and dogs in one place can be more than a little chaotic. To make things even more exciting, Kimbo decided to roll in something *fresh* in the yard just before we started breakfast yesterday. Or, I should say, just before everyone else started breakfast because Kimbo and I spent that time bonding out back over a little shampoo and frigid water. Two rounds in fact. Plus a later swabbing with listerine. I'll be keeping a closer eye on her after that.

The kids have kept me busy drawing their new toys. It's been a fun way to try out some of my new supplies. Here is what we have cataloged so far:




More to follow....Happy New Year!

sing it baby

Do you have a theme song?

What would it take for you to know you're exactly the right person, at the right place, at the right time to get what you want? What song would you hear and sing when you've decided to be energized, unforgettable, and irresistible - and you hve only 15 minutes to figure out how? Here's what it takes: You have to find your song and sing it. Sing it for all you're worth. Why not? This is exactly the right time for you to step into the limelight. The world has been waiting for you to knock 'em dead. So, what's your song?

- from Gail Blanke's the motivator column in the January 2007 issue of Real Simple magazine

putting it all together

I've been finishing up my portfolio this week - deciding what stays and what goes. These drawings were from my freehand and perspective drawing class for a residential project. That was over two years ago and now I'm down to less than two weeks until graduation. Time has truly flown by.

But even though it's nearly here, it still seems an eternity and many, many hours at the computer and at school away in order to finish up our final team project. It's going well; there's just an awful lot to finish. Poor Kimbo, she's been sorely neglected.

Needless to say, I've been too busy to blog, too busy to think of anything interesting to say - even too busy to read my favorite blogs - which is oh so frustrating! Looking forward to being a free woman again ;)

Our Paris...

Guide France 90,91
Originally uploaded by Jan and Roly.

Whenever I need a mental break, I cruise sketch blogs to get inspired. I especially love travel journals as it mixes two of my favorite things: travel and art. And if food enters the mix then I'm in heaven.

Tonight's big winner for me is the "Guide France" series by Jan of the blog...in my spare time. Not only do the drawings make me want to dig out my passport but also her creative self-made journals have me itching to poke around musty old book stores in search of the perfect cover.

Now I'm off to bed for sweet dreams of foreign travels, sketchbook in hand.