today's painting...

after my last posting, the painting "lady in the street" SOLD! so I am trying to paint faster than ever so that I have enough inventory for my approaching show in Birmingham in 3weeks!! it is a good thing that I can paint under pressure, because I sure feel the pressure as the sun sets on another day in the studio.

from the easel....

NEW! images of paintings that I have recently been working on in the sTUdIO!

Memphis Blues . . .

aN aDventure for sUre! tHat lEft me sInging the mEmphis bLues...

I drove to Memphis this week to visit my sister and help her unpack at her new apartment. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with my sister and parents! Two days of shopping, decorating, and eating good BBQ! The return trip to Nashville, however, was less than wonderful. 40Miles outside of Memphis my car overheats and begins smoking!! I end up at a Huddle House parking lot, where I sit for 5Hrs while help comes to the rescue! What a blessing to have "team A" on your side. My parents met me at the Huddle House and waited it out with my while Kyle, Hunter, and Adler brought a truck and trailer from Nashville and towed us home! I am keeping my fingers crossed that the issue with my car is fixable!

more from "designs by M.E."

... the "Apron Party" was a hUGE success!! and tons of FUN!!! A big thank you to my two wonderful hostesses, Ali and Beth!

. . . designs by M.E.!

I was so inspired by the sewing class I took this summer, that I have spent the last two weeks churning out cutesy aprons. ( I will be showcasing the finished aprons in Birmingham on Tuesday, August 12, under the designer lable "designs by M.E." ) And then there was this "GREEN" fabric that turned into a nightmare when trying to incorporate with the aprons, so I decided to make truly "GREEN BAGS" (after following an online sewing demo created by my former photography professor at Belmont, she has started an amazing "Green Bag" project of her own that has morphed in to this incredible nation wide project. Check out her project at http://www.greenbaglady.blogspot.com/ , and see my very own 'spotlighted' GREEN BAGS)

. . . and then there were all these bits of ribbon, fringe, and rick-rack scraps, that I didn't want to waste, and I needed a cute "Baby Shower Gift" , so I went to embellishing BURP CLOTHs, I mean if you have to be using a BURP CLOTH, why shouldn't it be cute too!

Lazy Lake Days . . .

Lazy lake days at Kentucky Lake . . . this summer I have learned to "wake surf", actually riding the boat's wake on a surf board!

bird watching . . .

I have enjoyed watching the birds around my studio through the winter, spring, and summer (when I haven't had to chase them away from the tomato plants). I have had the opportunity to see their bright red and blue feathers stand out in contrast to the fresh snow; I have watched in awe and wonder (under the protective watch of both mother and father) as their babies hatched and learn to fly; I've observed in delight as they playfully chased one another and splashed in the puddled water from the spring showers; and I have endured the most bazaar calling from an unknown bird that perches in the eave of the window to my studio (thank goodness he doesn't make an daily house call!) I all this to say, that I have begun to sketch these feathered friends and perhaps will do a small series of paintings. Inspiration!