Happy Halloween!

Thought I would post this purple witch for my Halloween greeting.  I will be gone for a few days to attend the Episcopal Convention in Oregon.  I am a delegate this year.  Really I was signed up to be an alternate but the people who were suppose to attend decided to go on a cruise.  Hmmm.   So, I'm off to Eugene Oregon for a few day of hanging around with some other wacky Episcopalians.  We are a fun bunch, I'll give us that.  Anyway, enjoy the trick or treaters and don't eat too much candy.

Feeling Better

Please let me apologize for ranting on and on yesterday about my tooth ache.  I'm fine now.  The dentist did a root canal (OMG) and I am pain free. Thank the blessed madonna.  Anyway, I think I'm back to normal.  Well, normal for me anyway.  So, now I need to get some of these projects I've started finished up.  Work, work, work.  Oh, and the lady at my dentist office was not mad at me, she thought I was being funny.  So, that worked out well for me too.  This little painting was  created several years ago but really looks like Oregon this time of year.  Happy Tuesday everyone!

I'm staying Indoors

Well, it's stormy in Oregon.  I had to dig out my long sleeve sweaters and my good socks.  I think I'll make a nice potato soup tonight.  That sounds nice and snug and warm.  Last night I got a tooth ache.   I hate it.  I haven't had a tooth ache since I was a kid.  And let me tell you, that was a long time ago.  Anyway, I called the dentist this morning.  The regular nice lady was not there.  So, I talked with a new person.  She kind of put me off.  Now, let me just say I don't think I am a pushy person and I'm not rude but this little lady was getting on my last nerve.  Long story short, I'm going in this afternoon.  Gosh, I told her I was in pain.  Sadly, I think I might have offended her.  Now, I have to go in and apologize.  Oh, well  I'm just happy to get in to see my dentist and if I have to grovel at that silly girls feet, so be it.  Why are tooth aches and ear aches so awful?  They really are horrible.

The Last Sunny Day of the Season

From what I heard on the news this morning, this may be our last sunny day for awhile.  It's okay, I was born and raised in Oregon and I'm used to rain.  Probably wouldn't know what to do with out a bit of rain in my life.  So, here's to enjoying the last sun beams of the season.  Hope it's nice were you live too.

Going to Pots

I worked this weekend as a volunteer at The Going to Pots Sale in Albany, Oregon.  It's lots of fun and pretty easy to run.  Not that I was in charge.  I was not.  But, I'm a good worker bee.  Anyway, potters from around the valley show up with pottery they need to get rid of.  In other words they put a really good price on their items.  The Albany Arts Commission gets 20% for putting on the event and the potters get the rest as profit.  Pretty good deal.  I found some Christmas gifts as well as a new sugar bowl for myself.  I think I'll go make a pot of tea.  Have a great week everyone!

Cat Magic

I applied and was accepted into Watercolor Wednesdays.  So happy to be part of this group.  I hope I can keep up.  I will do my best.  Not much else I can do.  Anyway, this is the first design I think I'll submit. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

The Holidays Continue

For those of you who may not know, I have a little greeting card company.  Yes, it's true and it is small, I'm not kidding. We call the small little company, Melissa's Art.  Anyway, in the card biz you take orders for Christmas in the Spring and send Christmas orders in the Summer.  So, I don't really understand what's been going on lately.  We continue to get Christmas orders.  Just sent another one out today.  I don't know, maybe people are just waiting too long or they got busy doing something else while they should have been doing the Christmas order.  I'm not complaining, although it sound like I am.  No, I really am happy to get any order I can get. I guess I'm just not used to getting the orders so late in the season.  Here is a small sample of some of my holiday cards and enclosures.  Thanks for taking a look.

New Art

Well, this is a new piece of art I finished a few weeks ago.  I've shown it to some of my artist friends and they don't think it should be in my portfolio. I also showed it to an art director from Little Brown and she said the same thing.  Hmmmm.  So, I thought I would ask some real artists what they think.  This piece really looks like my daughter Meg when she was about 8 years old.  Such a funny little face.  She is all grown up and married now but, she is still my little funny face. I have often used my kids as models and still try to reach back in my memories for ideas and inspiration.  Anyway, tell me what you think.  In the portfolio or out?  Thanks!

All Signed Up

Well, I just signed up for the 2011 Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Winter Conference in New York.  I'm giddy.  Truth be told I have been twice before, and both times it was wonderful from start to finish and well worth the money I spent.  At least I tell myself that it was worth it. I did learn a lot.  This year I'm going not only to the conference but also to the Illustrators Intensive, which is a fancy way of saying workshop.  I am meeting my cousin Robin in New York and we'll attend together.  I grew up with Robin and we always have a wonderful time together.  Mostly we giggle a lot.  Anyway, that's my news and now I think I'll go put a cold compress on my head.  I'm not use to spending money fast and loose.  Cheers!

Happy Harvest

Well, I've been digging through some artwork and came upon this little scarecrow.  Thought I would share. I think I need to work a bit on his legs and feet.  Then again, he is a scarecrow and he might not have perfectly formed legs and feet.  Anyway, happy Monday everyone.  Enjoy the rest of your week.

Wonderful October

I love October.  What's not to love.  It's not too hot and not too cold, it's just perfect.  Lois (my dog) and I take two good walks everyday.  It's good for her as well as for me. Of coarse it might help if I would stop eating like there is no tomorrow. But, that's another story.  Anyway, we have noticed that all the apple trees are ready for picking.  Just walking past a ready to harvest apple tree is almost heaven.  The smell of fall and the slight hint of apple in the air.  Well, it's wonderful.  Hope you are enjoying this fall weather.  Now that I've gone on and on about how nice it is around here, my husband tells me it's going to rain like a son of a gun this weekend.  Oh, well we do live in Oregon after all.  

My Wish for You

May the light always find you on a dreary day.

When you need to be home, may you find your way.

May you always have courage to take a chance,

And never find frogs in your underpants.

Just Quilting the Afternoon Away

I don't think I have mentioned that I am a quilter.  Well, I am.  I'm not a really good quilter but, I give it my best.  Here is the thing, I'm not real fussy, so sometimes my seams don't match up.  I don't really care about that.  I just like playing with fabric and color.  I'm almost finished with a house quilt I started awhile ago. So, thought I would show you pictures of my quilt so far. The pattern is from the book Piecing the Piece O' Cake Way by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins.  They have a wonderful web page with lots more info about them and their projects. www.pieceocake.com Anyway, I've been having a lovely Sunday afternoon in my sewing room. Yes, I have a sewing room.  It also doubles as a junk room.  I like it in there and now that summer is over maybe I'll spend more time in my sewing/junk room.  Oh by the way my daughter Meg is a wonderful quilter and she has a blog as well.  Stop by and take a look sometime.  Her corners match up.  She didn't learn it from me but I did try and teach her lots of other cool stuff.  Her blog address is:  mmccafferty2010.blogspot.com

Happy Sunday!

Had to hurry back to Church this afternoon for the Blessing of the Pets.  I attend St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Albany, Oregon.  We had a really good turn out.   I think I counted 20 dogs at this years event.  It's a very nice service and it's pretty short which is nice if you are trying to keep your dog calm.  I'll try to get my hands on some photos of the event and post them.  Now we are home and Lois thinks she will take a little nap.  I'm not far behind her.  Have a blessed Sunday.

Beneath

This is my illustration for this weeks Illustration Friday.  I hope I can figure out how to post this to their page.  Well, at least I'm trying. I love looking at all the wonderful artwork that gets posted.  Really fuels my fire.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!