I love you more than all the waves in the ocean

Art inspired by my handsome brave boys...

after our first ever family trip to the beach.

A year ago I didn't know them... and now,

I love them more than all the waves in the ocean.

Prints available here.

The Torpedo Factory

The Torpedo Factory is one of the largest visual arts centers of its kind in the U.S. 

Located in Old Town Alexandria on the banks of the Potomac River, it hosts more than 150 artists who create work in open galleries throughout the factory. That would be a dream come true, my friends. A dream come true.

The building was an actual torpedo factory many years ago but the only thing created there now is amazing art in every imaginable medium.

My photos don't really do justice to the scale and quality of the artwork. This horse was almost my size.

This fish was most certainly my size.

Of course I had to include the dancing dogs.

If you are ever in Washington D.C. it is worth the trip to Old Town Alexandria to see it but give yourself a few hours... I went during lunch and did not have nearly enough time.

Old Town Alexandria

On a recent trip for work, I went to Alexandria, Virginia. If you ever get the chance, visit Old Town Alexandria. It feels a bit magical.

See? Magical.

Hooray for books... my sentiments exactly.

There are all sorts of quirky shops. 

Or maybe they aren't quirky... I'm just assuming that because honestly, how could you be a very serious place if you were dressed entirely in periwinkle or lime green?

Second chances

I was driving down Kavanaugh Blvd. in Little Rock in search of frozen yogurt & just LOOK what I happened upon.

Remember this post?

Well the knitting goddesses of public art have smiled upon me... it happened again & this time it is quite literally hugging a tree.

Just when I thought there couldn't be anyway I could love it more...

It is colorful, fun & quirky- some of the best things, if you ask me. (or my friend Pat, who was sympathetic to my missed opportunity to photograph the last bit of knitted whimsy)

It made me smile to stop the car, get out & walk around each tree until I was dizzy.

This time I get to share it with you- don't you love it? I knew you would.

Aren't second chances wonderful? Almost as great as a tree wrapped in knitted art.

More magic from the hot air balloon festival

Just a little more magic for you from the hot air balloon festival... next year I hope I get to actually go up in the sky in one of these... flying through the air in a big basket, being carried along by a giant balloon? Now THAT really does sound like magic!

A little color...

Some days you just need a little color...

Flea Market Love: Nesting Tables Week 1

Have I ever told you about the dark corner in my garage? On the other side of where the cars are parked? It's full of treasures. Like these nesting tables from a flea market... I try to be good & not buy a bunch of stuff unless there is room for it in my house, but sometimes it just seems like things are too good to pass up. So I buy them & they sit in the corner of my garage. I try not to look at them because I feel bad that they never get the attention they deserve... sanding, painting & a life in a cute home, where they may preen as visitors walk in the room & shower them with attention.


It's been a dream for a while to set up my own booth of re-purposed flea market finds, but in an effort to be realistic... I have a full-time & part-time job plus the pet portraits & Etsy shop. It doesn't seem like there is time to add another layer of creativity to my life even though I would love it. Having your own booth means that you need to be prepared to keep adding new items pretty quickly if things are selling. Paying booth rent for a mostly-empty booth makes no sense... which is why I was SO excited last week when I was contacted on Etsy by a designer who is opening a brick & mortar shop about an hour from here. She asked about putting some of my art in her store. During our conversation I mentioned my love of re-purposing flea market finds & asked her if she would be interested in any of those items... she said YES! 


I pulled these tables out to work on first- I'm planning to sand & paint them & then do something special on the tops... some sort of pattern maybe. Check back the next few Mondays for updates on this project each week... & buckle up, buttercup... there is about to be some serious flea market love around here!

Thea Foundation Arts Festival

Over the weekend, I went to the Thea Foundation Arts Festival in downtown North Little Rock.

There was dancing...

 and sculpting...

 and painting...

I love downtown North Little Rock. I love this cafe... and these chairs... people, I have serious chair-envy over the chairs at the Starving Artist Cafe. The food is great too- but man, I am crushing on these chairs.

 I seem to have a thing for old signs too. Funny how you don't realize how much you notice & photograph certain things until you look at the photos on your computer & see the trends. I have an embarrassing number of random photos of old signs. 

 Is it just me, or does this building appear to be sprouting teeth over the windows? Just me? Ok.

 This little library looks like it's in an old firehouse... if it is, I wonder if there is still a fireman's pole in there? If so, I'm jealous of the librarian who gets to play on it every day.

The art festival was cool- it was small this year but I believe it was the first time they had it. Hopefully it will grow each year- it made my hands itch to go home & paint. Have you ever heard of the Thea Foundation? It's a fantastic foundation that does great work.

On the best afternoons

 On the best afternoons, I race home after work & take paints, brushes, canvas & Maisy out onto the deck.

I will admit there are entire days that I spend more time than I should painting in my head.

 It seems that the sun starts dropping faster the minute I pick up a brush.

 Sometimes it slips away so quickly that I realize it's time to stop- and then my heart slips a little too.

 Until I remember that I can do it again tomorrow & until then I'll just have to make do with painting in my head.