Looking Back

I am sure you have been there...
desperately looking for some missing
something, sort of remembering where
it might be located, only to discover it
is not.

So you continue to look, and look and
look some more... shuffling through
various boxes, nooks, bins, other dark
recesses. Yet during this mad hunt, you
run across long ago items that completely
sidetrack the task at hand and start you
reminiscing!

I thought it might be fun to carry you down
memory lane with me. Each sketch is at
least ten years old. All of them rendered
during my days in art school. I love the
variety of styles. This was definitely a
period of exploration and finding my
artistic voice.

Hope you ENJOY!

In The Studio - UPDATES

Already, we are almost at
the end of April. However,
I am excited to celebrate
this upcoming month,
brimming with wonderful
holidays to come, such as
May Day, Mother's Day,
and Memorial Day.

I am spending lots of time
in the studio over the
coming weeks wrapping up
some exciting licensing
projects and beginning
other new adventures.

Just in time for Mother's Day, I am happy to
announce the addition of several new items
in my little shop.

Over the years, the opportunities to offer
original works of art have become less and
less due to the need to hold on to pieces for
various projects. So, I am extremely thrilled
to have just a few exquisite Nest Shadow
Boxes for purchase.


These delicate and beautiful pieces are one of
a kind. Each is truly unique and captures a small
scene from this wondrous world. There are two
sizes available small and medium, ideal for any
budget. Inside is a real bird's nest along with other
dried flora, and vintage ephemera. These odes to
nature are perfect inspirations for any space in a
home. And make an excellent gift for someone or
simply a wonderful treat for yourself!

There is also a Brand New! design available from
my Nature Inspired Collection by Windham. This
particular fabric has been sold out since the very
beginning, so I am super excited to finally be able
to offer it for purchase.


And finally... A SPECIAL OFFER!
Let me create a fiber inspired gift box beautifully
packaged as a surprise for Mom's special day, filled
with 10 fabric fat quarters from my Nature Inspired
Collection and 5 covered buttons, plus free shipping.
I will be sure to include one of my custom greeting
cards with your personal message, all for only $50.00.

Requests must be received by Saturday, April 30th
and quantities are limited, so contact me directly at
TheRedDoorStudio@yahoo.com to order.

Heavy Hearted

It is with a heavy heart I share this news,
that the sweet baby birds are gone today.

Unfortunately I fear the worst as one of the
fledglings was found dead.

I know this is a part of life and nature, but it
does not make the discovery any less sad,
painful, and very heartbreaking. My husband
will help me bury the little one tonight.

I am a complete puddle of tears. All I can
think to do is to hide away in my studio and
paint to help preserve those wonderful moments.
I am ever so grateful for the brief time I had with
these miracles!

A last remembrance and goodbye.

UPDATE 4/21: We buried the remains of the little one
last night at dusk, near the grave of the Indigo Bunting (see
post, here).

Initially, I removed the nest but decided to put it back in the
wreath. I don't know if there will be another visitor this year?
If not, then perhaps next year we will be blessed with more
miracles. However, hubby and I have formulated some ideas
to thwart off predators for the next time.... hopefully, giving
the little ones a better chance.

I have asked my dear friend, Katherine Dunn, to create a special
stone to mark their resting place. Katherine has a wonderful
post about this topic that is currently up on her blog.

Babies and More Babies!

Just an update... before I left on my recent travels,
there were seven little eggs nestled in the nest on
the front door wreath. (Although as seen in the
picture above, I was only able to get a picture of five)

Mama was diligently sitting on them almost every
minute, and I was hoping the eggs would not hatch
until I returned.

Well... I got my wish! Little ones began to appear
one day after I arrived home, perfect timing.


Mama and Papa bird are now busy, busy trying
to keep mouths fed, and I am enjoying catching
brief glimpses of the fledglings between their
feedings.

Here are some of the images I have been able to
capture so far.




More updates coming this week. I have some
lovely new treasures debuting in my little shop
just in time for Mother's Day, so stay tuned!

ArtFest Inspiration!

Home again from my travels to Seattle/Port Townsend,
and teaching at Artfest.

The retreat was AMAZING! Every year, I am always so
inspired by the entire experience. I especially love the
Show and Tell Event on the last night. This is when
participants can display what they created during
their classes all week.

As a way to capture a bit of this inspiration magic, I
thought I would try shooting a video of Show and Tell
to share. You will see wonderful artworks, along with
everyone, students and teachers, having fun talking,
mingling, and saying their last goodbyes.

*just a note... Although the video is amateur quality,
I think you will find the art inspiration and positive
creative energy generated definitely shines through!

Life and Art Collide

These days from late February to now have been very
serendipitous, as I have, quite often, experienced life
and art colliding.

Nests have been such a reoccurring theme as I am hosting
a lovely pair of visitors that have temporarily taken residence
in a wreath decorating the front door of my home, while at the
same time preparing to teach two nest inspired workshops,
EGG-ology and Of Nested Visions, at Artfest.

The time has passed so swiftly, days turning into weeks, and
before long the weeks becoming a month. As I embark upon
my travels, I leave you with glimpses of both the life and art
nests, that have filled my life with such joy...

First there was one...

Then two...

Next three...

And four...

Perhaps five...
And to-date there are seven eggs in the little nest on the door.
Mama has been sitting on the nest day and night, so I have yet
to find an opportunity to capture a photo of all seven miracles.


See you when I return!

Captured in Time

I am rounding out this week of highlighting friends
from the artist community by sharing some beautiful
journal pages by artist and author, Ann Somerset Miles.

Ann recently published a story in Grow It! magazine,
about using your own garden and/or your surrounding
natural landscape as inspiration for journaling.

Within the five pages of her story, Ann eloquently describes
the joys of journaling and keeping a visual record to potentially
a whole new audience of gardening enthusiasts...
which is very exciting!

I especially love the photo below of Ann journaling in
her car. It is a perfect example of how it is all about
seizing the moment, no matter where you are.



If you have the opportunity to read her article,
"Captured In TIme" in the January 2011 issue,
I highly recommend it, and to follow along on
Ann's latest adventures, be sure to visit her blog.

A Tutorial SPRING! - Final Day

My friends and I are having some seasonal
fun by hosting a Tutorial SPRING!

Spring from one blog to another and learn
something new! It is the final day of the blog hop.

Today, be sure to visit -
Judy Coates Perez - Making a Faced Binding

*This image courtesy of Judy Coates Perez


We hope you were inspired by our Springtime
Tutorials and Many Thanks for joining us!