Sorry it has been so long.....

I am tired and happy at the same time...so that makes the days fly by. Maddy is 8 weeks old today....hard to believe....She is at that fun stage where she looks at you and smiles...It just melts you! Jill and I are both dreading the fact that she has to go back to work in a short time. I wish she could be home a little longer. I have had a couple successes with bottle feeding so I am a little less nervous about that. The breast pump came in the mail and so Jill needs to start stock piling milk in the freezer. OK that is the Madison news right now. I will post a picture from earlier this week of her in her wiener dog dress...soooo cute!

I sold a painting at Art Brut!!!! So happy! I think this is the first abstract I have sold. It is "The See Thru Garden" ( My header is a piece from it). I am busy getting examples made for ArtFest 09 application to teach and I am part way through my Art from Scrap Assemblage Show piece....plus try to get a few new things made for Dinosaur Caves Art in the Park in Shell Beach, which is every first Sunday through Oct. Also I am doing the 4th of July show in Santa Barbara again....BUT...drum roll...I got my self portrait journal back! It is soooo cool. I am so lucky to have been included with all these fantastic artists! I will post pics soon. For some bizarre reason it is raining today!!! They are doing the chalk paintings at the Santa Barbara Mission this weekend...hope it clears up for them.

belated mother's day....

Here is Jill's first Mother's Day ....she got a real smile from Madison...what could be a better gift?

Here is my latest painting....The 3 7 Club.....

Happy Cinco de Mayo

...imagine us all in sombreros....

Dinosaur Caves

Carol and I are headed for Shell Beach Sunday for the craft show at Dinosaur Caves Park. If you are in the area stop by.....

Latest paintings

These are my birdman series part 2....

This is another of my 'hood paintings....

Madison is one month old today

This is the day she celebrated the Queen's birthday....note: she is still working on the wave....

the latest dinosaur extinction theory

first outing with Grandpa

A trip around the block.

Meet and greet Madison and Jill's birthday

What a fun day! Just let the word out that there is a baby to hold and "shazam"....hords of women show up! It was so great to see that old familiar look come over them. Thanks everyone for making it such a great day for Jill.....especially Susan! She brought such a beautiful spread for everyone.

Susan is so sweet...

She made me this cute book and had all my favorite people sign it at ArtFest!!! I LOVE it! Thank you again Susan ( Goggie)!!!
Here is Melissa holding Madison at the Ballard School Jamboree Sunday. Madison's first trip in her stroller.

sorry I HAVE to post more Madison...

She was 2 weeks old yesterday. She and Mom had doc apt. and got good reports. Madison weighed 7 lb. 8 oz. and was the most beautiful and smart baby the doc had ever seen....OK I made that part up. Jill brought her by work so they could all awwwww over her. I just remembered I have photo booth on my computer so here is a pic of Maddy and I hanging out.

Here are all her bedtime buddies. She is starting to focus on them now...or a least look there way for a long time.
BTW...if anyone in our area wants to hold her I am having a meet and greet Madison the 17th at the Art Clinic....noonish....come by.

My baby collection....

This is one of the red winged black birds that are visiting my feeder.

What? Were you born yesterday?

Maddy day 2......

As a matter of fact...

Here is a wild one...My grand nephew, Brian, and wife Dana had their baby on the same day, in Santa Maria! There was a little problem and baby Gregory was delivered by C section. Then for safety he was brought to the neonatal at Cottage in Santa Barbara. So Maddy and Gregory are both here! Gregory is doing well, last report.

Madison Marie McCutcheon is here!

7 pounds 6 oz. 18 1/2 inches long....Born at 8: 30 AM. Mother and daughter are doing fine. She is sooooo pretty. Do I sound like a Grandma yet?

Here is proud Grandpa

Here is a happy Auntie Ellie...

I am sure you will see more photos but I am exhausted!
Thank you everyone who sent Jill and baby good thoughts and kind words. Much appreciated!

I love this

I not here yet...but almost!

Happy Easter Everybody!

We will be celebrating by preforming our usual annual Easter ritual of eating... sausage balls, Dutch babies, pineapple, raspberries. OJ, deviled eggs and cinnamon rolls. But next year we will have a little girl here to hunt for Easter eggs.
Jill's little girl ( no name yet) is scheduled to arrive by C section on Friday March 28 at 7:15 AM- ish..... We are all getting pretty excited! She already has a mind of her own ....she is breech....

Oh and my other news is I am published in the latest Haute Handbag..page 90, 91 and 92.


ENJOY THE SPRING DAY!

Our first ATC day at the ART CLINIC

Carol and I were so excited to have a good turn out at the first ATC gathering! Thanks everyone who came. I hope to see more ACTers the next third Thurs. which will be April 18 for those who want to get that on their calendar.....There are more photos on the ART CLINIC blog.

These are Susan H.'s..... who came early then did not leave hers so we could trade them for her. Everyone's loss.....

Here is Jill busy working on some ATCs....

The other news is several of the ART CLINIC artists are now hanging at Art Brut in Los Alamos. Sukie, Carol, Jo, Sue and I so far are on display. Here is the display in the adjoining Cafe Quackenbush.

Spring is here.....where I live anyway

It has been sooo beautiful lately. All the fruit trees are blooming, iris are out and the pig will move in soon across the street....But the best part of this spring like time is...the pink chicks are back in the store!I love theses guys!
GET OFF HER FOOT CHUCKY!

Leap Day at the ART CLINIC

We just had our first anniversary party for the ART CLINIC. It was a really fun night. Thank you so much everyone who came and all our supporters. Carol and I appreciate you so much.

It has been a big week. Sunday Earl helped me get my show at New Frontiers up. I was very happy with the way it all looked.


I had a challenge due, busy getting the studio cleaned up and helping Carol with some details for the student show for the local students put on by the Artist's Guild of Santa Ynez Valley. I am looking forward to a less hectic week.

back to back art receptions

Last night was a reception at Rehabiliation Institute Meisel Gallery in Santa Barbara and tonight it was the reception at Art from Scrap in Santa Barbara. Both were well attended events. It was especially fun tonight because I had no idea what everyone's art would look like. I only knew a few of the artists. I think Carol, Mary Price and I faired pretty well. Check out this crowd!

Over at the ART CLINIC blog I have more photos, but this is the first piece we did for the show....one of three. It was Mary who invited Carol and me. I am so glad ...not only to work with the both of them but also I have so enjoyed getting to know Mary better. It was really alot of fun and I am sorry our work together is over....for now anyway.

Nuno

Thanks to Mary and Barbara, we had a great felting day at THE ART CLINIC last Sat. We did Nuno silk and wool skarves and Mary taught us felt beads. This is a fun class. Anyone wanting to know when we are offering this class again leave a comment here or go to the ART CLINIC blog for more info.

ATCs for Feb.

This was our biggest group so far...21 artists. It was also a surprise ATC presentation for Jill and the baby. She was so touched by all the great ATCs. You can see them all here at the pink tomatoe blog I think this is the first baby that has been given ATCs.