I will miss this little face.

One of my favorite traits of the Boy is his collection of cables. When we first met he had a suitcase full of them. (since then they have slowly whittled down to a duffle bag then a plastic bin, now they are in a traveler’s bathroom bag.) I always felt like they were biding their time and waiting to wind around my legs and pull me down in to the abyss, since I did mock the cables anytime they made an appearance. The funny thing is I am in awe of the cables. In awe how the Boy can just pull out the ones he needs from a pile like the one above.  He grabs a handful and drapes them around his neck and walks into his music space. I am awe how he just knows how to put in all back together. I would at least need the cables to be marked, but he knows by just looking - how awesome is that. Which is great because another trait of his that I love is his constant moving around of his desk area, searching for the perfect layout. Which means unplugging all his equipment and making a pile of cables for Trixie to lie on.
Going to miss the Boy's face too.  
But I get to go to the beach in Belize.
I'll be back in the country at the end of the week and back online monday - hope you had a great three-day weekend.

I was supposed to be on a plane heading to the beach, but a vicious cold sideswiped me.  All achy and unable to breath.  So I slept all day yesterday and am going to do the same today, but I just wanted to thank everyone for your thoughts and ideas regarding my not knowing.  I guess really I am not supposed to know, and I have to begin to be ok with that!  And since I am not standing still…I'll keep moving forward.  Right now it is back to bed, going to try to sleep it away to catch a plane and meet up with my fam on Monday.  Wish me luck.

I am 30 and 31 is biting at my heals. It is just weeks away and I don’t know what I want to do with my life.
The Boy is so happy working. He is working so hard.  Working like crazy, and he is exhausted, but really really happy.
That makes me aware of how unhappy I am at my job. Not so  much unhappy, but aware there isn’t any where for me to go. I don’t seem myself working there five years from know. I don’t really see myself working there through this year. I know how lucky I am. I get to play in paint every day, but at the same time it is not the ideal job.
My problem is that I don’t know what the ideal job is. What I want to do with my life. I am worried and scared. Trying to figure out my future, while my present is flying by. I feel like I have been on hold for a while. And I am afraid, afraid that I have allowed myself to be trapped. Allowed myself always to get jobs where I have nowhere to go. I feel like I should be working towards something.
Like on a career path, but I know I need to work in an art environment.
I love to work with my hands but I also have computer skills, but I have a love hate relationship with the computer. Over the past couple of years I have come around to depending on the computer, and respecting it. But definitely begrudging.
I love the freedom at the painting studio. And I am learning so much. I can see it in my own paintings, how the work I have been doing since I switched to the painting assistant job are so much better than the previous paintings. But that isn’t a good enough reason to stay. But right now I don’t have any idea of where I want to go. What the future holds, or rather what I want from the future.

Made by Friederike (with help from Sandra Monat!). He traveled all the way from Germany and the first thing I did was make him take a photo shoot on the roof of my building. Isn't he the cutest! And my view from the roof - how could I have missed the chance to take photos up here. Oh I am such a slacker. I already have plans for more photo shoots - a special one after I finish all the softies for the renegade show.

He was tuckered out after posing for photos, so he just slipped into my bag and we took the train home.  He sits with my growing collection of soft creations….

renegade update: 

I made a limit to how many softies I am making, I was driving myself crazy trying to figure it all out.

The penguins are ready to be stuffed
Inside out are also waiting for filling
Long birds have been cut out (might take them to sew on the plane)
Need to cut the bellies for the 'owls'
I am going to make some prints of my paintings - any must dos?
Need to get some containters for tuesdays - going to have solid perfume at the fair
Need bellies and eyes for the backdrop softies

(and lisa, punk is not dead)

that seems fair

I would say that the clouds were inspired by my renewed love for Flash Gordon, but alas that would be a lie.  Really the clouds were inspired by a stormy sky we were painting for a job, only I really wanted to use that phthalo blue that I am so fond of.  

And here is the close-up of my sad (maybe mute - the writing half of the la power couple has written a really sad story for her) girl.

My favorite mail has got to come from mav.

I can never do her amazing letterpress justice, and I can't tell you how excited I am about her upcoming card club membership.

You can buy her stuff here.  It only lasts as long as the limited print run.  I love that.  It lets you stay fresh. It also means that I am always getting something new in my mailbox in her hard brown envelopes. My heart does a little leap when I open my box and see her bright tape.  

My painting will be coming later today.(which makes it look like I did like five posts today - oh well) A friend of my boss is having a wedding at the studio this weekend and we have for the past three months been painting and cleaning like crazy, but it is down to the wire. So yesterday we numbered and found a home for all the new backdrops that are going into stock. 

And on a sewing note - for the first time ever in my life. I have finished a spool of thread. I mean before the first Plush You. I didn't even have thread in the house. And even though it is only the white, I am proud to say that I finished it, the spool is bare. So that means renegade is coming along nice. My goal is to get pretty close to done before I leave the country next friday. 

(also I updated my posts so if you missed anything….) 

I never thought about purchasing one of Natalie's pieces until mav's post about art. I can't tell you how glad I am to do that. The line work. It is crazy delicate and so beautiful.   feel like this piece has a secret part - the iridescent. You can see it when the light hits it the right way and when you get up close and admire the work. I love the subtleness and beauty of her drawings.  I can gush on and on!  

Abby and I both grew up in the valley's of California and her imagery plays on some of those memories.  Like the  amazing water towers.  She just started a really sweet newsletter, so sign up!  Or go to her store where you can buy her creations for a steal!

Is it wrong that I LOVE Flash Gordon?
The song…FLASH….ahahhhhhhhh….
I love the miniatures.
The crazy colors of the skys and the different worlds.
I wanted to be Dale Arden.
I secretly wanted to by Princess Aura.
The costumes were intense.
But I think my favorite was Prince Vultan.
He could fly, plus he had the best laugh!

Well something server related broke, so I lost all weeks posts and I don't backup myself (obviously)….I'll update this week's posts this weekend (I don't keep the ideas anywhere else, so it'll all be a little different. 

I had been talking about wonderful things in the mail and the above photo is my purchase from Hammer & Daisy. I love the name and my first ever zines from Gracia and Louise!  Crazy talented those two!!

car robot

This little guy (16" x 12") was painted for the Car 69 fundraiser. It is being held this Saturday, so if any New Yorkers are curious about coming to the party just email me at wendy(at)greengirlart(dot)com and I'll give you the info.
I feel like I have come a long way with my paintings. I can see my growth and that makes me really excited. I really appreciate all the feedback that I get here, my own personal art school. Thank you all for that!
Have a great weekend.

I am from books and seashells, from Disney records and too many figs on the tree.

I am from two homes hours apart - one with long sweaty summers and the other with cool fog rolling in.   

I am from the ocean air, the salt on my skin, and the rhythm of the water.

I am from fishermen and dairymen and stubbornness from Charlie and Cheryl and Bill.

I am from arguments and laughter.   

From kiddo and little rug-rat.

I'm from isles and coasts and fisherman, chocolate and ice cream made from scratch on the porch.   

From the brother who raised his hands to make the story begin, the drives to the theater, and the brother to whom I was simply a sister.

I am from downstairs carefully stored in folders.  The family tree reaching out and beyond all borders.  

I was a little girl escaping into books; I am a girl (still) finding her way. 

Inspired by Amy  (who has so such a cute cute house!) via Alicia.

This was really hard, because I have a really spotty memory, but fun nonetheless. 

I didn't follow all the rules but you can find the template here. 

It's based on the poem by George Ella Lyons called "Where I'm From". You can read it here.