Up and Running Again

I know it's been a while. My computer was on the outs...but now I'm back and I have a week of sketches to show off!

It's finally warming up again in Miami. So yesterday I wore sandals...new ones that had been waiting for sunshine.

Monday I had to wear tights because of my nasty curling bruised knee. Curling was loads of fun, but very hard...and will cause bruising!

Saturday was a busy day. Hosting yet another baby shower for a fab friend in the afternoon and a fun curling lesson at night. The shower was such fun and we played Gift Bingo which made present opening sun and interactive. My lovely friend Melissa is due in May and was surrounded by 32 of her closest friends. ---Curling was hysterical fun...Teflon on the bottom of your foot is challenging! Trust me. I have the bruise to prove it....so does my friend Ashlee.

Friday was so much fun! After half a day at work, we drove down to Islamorada in the Florida Keys for my friend Robin's wedding. It was gorgeous, and I LOVED my dress...too bad it was about 54 degrees! Anyhow we ate and danced the night away...and drank one of my favorite beers, Shiner Bock from Shiner, TX.

Thursday was busy, after work D and I went to Miami Beach for the kick-off night of Dade Heritage Trust's Dade Heritage Days festival. Don't let the title fool you...Dade Heritage Days lasts nearly two months! Anyhow-- after that we stopped at Cassola's for my favorite pizza in the city.

Tuesday was Texas Independence Day...which use to be such fun to celebrate when I lived in the Lone Star state. I even have friends who get the day off! Can you imagine?

Saturday was a good time as we went to our friends Ben and Kate's wedding shower. Ben and Kate are much younger us than we are, having just graduated from UNC last spring. Actually I painted something for Ben, per a Kate commission last spring---you may remember. It was a nice night, and held at another friend's parents house, right across the golf course from us, so it was a nice stroll.

...and finally the final sketch...from the last day of the Olympics. What a day! USA loss to Canada for Gold in Men's Hockey...then a rather interesting closing ceremonies.

Anyhow---as you can see I've been busy. Tonight I started two custom bags that I want to have done by Sunday. I'll post pictures of those soon.

Educational Empire of Historia

In the fall of 2008, my dear friend M worked at the Miami Art Museum. The education team across the plaza at MAM is smaller than ours is, and during an afternoon of comic conversation, they decided to form an Empire.
Well, M brought the idea to me that we form an Empire as well, and that we have "cultural exchanges".
Our education department quickly rolled with this comic challenge and came up with not only an empire, but titles for ourselves, a coat of arms and a flag!
The Educational Empire of Historia.

To the right you can see our flag, a little reminiscent of the Florida flag, and the ever present Obama logo, which as you can imagine was everywhere you looked in November 2008.

M has since left MAM, but our empires still talk, and our coat of arms is still up on our chalkboard wall in the Educational Empire of Historia.

...by the way my title, Empress of Historia.

I love museum folk and our culture!!

Furniture Huntin' with Mom

My mom is moving. After 9 years in her current condo, she's decided its time to leave the island and come to the main land. Why? To be closer she says...this bothers me for the wrong reasons. Where am I suppose to beach?! Honestly...

Well the only fun thing about this is furniture shopping. She's looking for a wall unit for her "library". We went to a great place in Coral Gables called, Victoria's Armoire. I love it. We actually own two pieces from here, and I could easily refurnish my home at this store. Here are some of the pieces I loved. This small table was labeled a "Beer Table" can you see it in a beer garden? ...or my backyard (if I had one, alll front yard in this home). Anyhow-- I loved it, and it's Bank Street College colors.

This is the wall unit my mom is considering. I fell in love with it. I love the glass doors, and the hardware is really pretty. There's enough space for a TV and all your books. At $1200, this is definitely worth investing in.

I want a wall of books in my home one day. Not only do I want a wall of books, I want a laddered wall of books. Viola! Here you we go! LOVE this!!

I have these great orange chairs in my living room, and I have been hurtin' for a white one of these ceramic garden stools...the orange is to die for. $120.

The other thing I am hurtin' for...a table for 8! I can only seat 6 at my current dinning room table. This is not my favorite table they had at V.A. but I love the feel of it with this couch instead of chairs.

And how's this for a great bar on the go-go-go!

Finally there is this coffee table. I loved it. Yes, it is a wee low...but in the right room, it could be stunning.

So, next time you are in the hunt for great furniture...head over to Victoria's Armoire in Coral Gables.

Green with Envy

Green with Envy...

I love clothes as you know. I also like the funny things in life...

so here is a play on words.

Now I have to get back to watching Olympics and American Idol...

Martes, Tuesday, Mardi...

So as I said, I hadn't been sketching. Here are a few more I did last night and tonight.

I am quite the fan of this look I went with. All from Target with a few key pieces from my jewelry collection.

Today I was at it again, mixes a great Target find with pieces from other favorite haunts.

I hope you are having a great week!

Nautical Flags

It's been a heavy few days.

Tonight I sketched for the first time since last Wednesday.

I hope you enjoy my nautical flags. I want to start doing nautical initial/monogram paintings for people...what do you think?

Ash Wednesday--the deprivation begins...

Lent Day 1: No Diet Coke (no soda at all)...no red meat...no shopping for myself. Yes, I said it...no shopping for myself. OMG! How will I go without shopping for myself? This is going to be hard!

So far so good---I have had cravings for my fave soda---but have stayed strong. I think the wine over dinner helped with that.

Anyhow, here's my ensemble for the day. Wearing my fun new jewels from the St. Stephen's Arts Festival this weekend. Love it.