yum!!!!!!

I just spent the last half hour looking at pictures of fried pickles. I'm so hungry!
More beautiful images and the delicious sounding recipe here.

festive

Any fun plans for July 4th? Our little town of Bodega Bay puts on a small, but super awesome fireworks show over the bay funded by our BB bumper stickers (Kai and I both have one). The beautiful blues above are: Polaroid Print 8 x 8-Amsterdam Entrance, Hemp Tie Tunic, Marine Stripes on Oatmeal Japanese Fabric, and Vintage 70s Lattice Scoop Swimsuit.

a little navy

Vintage Dress, Bodalla Ruffle Sleeve Top, Floral Band Print and Cardigan with Seahorse Print

tie-dye

Did you ever go through a tie-dye phase? I definitely did when I was thirteen, and often paired it with striped leggings and combat boots and sometimes flannel and black lipstick. Good look, right?!
Well, these three are far from grungy and are definitely lovely: Reversible Tie Dye Tote by Urban Revisions, i tried to grow up but i loved the disco by Dirty Like the Weeds, and Tie Die Printed Bell Skirt by Anoushka

two new paintings

 Favorite place & Summer girl

grey grays

1 & 2

3 & 4

5 & 6

Today is a bit gray and windy, just the way we like it in Northern California! Here are some of my favorite gray things:

1. Mid Century Chair from Shaving Kit Supplies

2. Pigeon Figurine by Handy Maiden

3. Silhouette of Cypress by Windy Lane Studio

4. So Long as Nothing Changes I also by Kai

5. Pumpkin Field by Postal Modern

6. Vintage Handsome Horses from Elizabeth Wren Vintage

happy weekend, and thank you oaxaca

We were drinking my favorite beverage, Tequila on Cinco de Mayo, and RR said to try Mezcal.
Mezcal is from Oaxaca, and has a distinctive smokey taste. It also makes you feel light and happy, (I  deduced) and has health benefits such as aiding digestion and acting as an aphrodisiac (I will not tell you if that has been deduced)! All I can say is I have a new favorite beverage, and if any of you are Tequila fans and haven't tried Mezcal, get to it, it's delicious. And have a happy weekend!
(image from the New York Times)

summer colors: turquoisey teal and pinky red

 Turquoise Ruffled Swimsuit + Turquoise Waterfall Painting + Vintage Teal and Sage Cinch Belt

Grapefruit Vegan Mineral Blush + The Shuffleboard Striped dress + Vintage Red Leather Flats + Tin Toy Cups

Two finished commissions

The first is a portrait of the adorable Gabriel commissioned by his mother Rachel to capture him as a growing boy and pay tribute to the time they spent with Gabriel as a baby in Antigua, Guatemala while adopting him, before bringing him to the US. 
The second is a buoy from a very beautiful beach where Analisa's husband Eric's family had their  cozy beach house for many years and multiple generations. Kai is working on two additional paintings for Analisa and Eric which capture memories from this special place.
I had so much fun working on both of these, and I have a few more commissions which I am close to finishing up and will share soon.

beachy

1 & 2

3 & 4

5 &6

1. City Lamp by Umbu
2. Madrid Shirred Dress by Meemoza
3. 1970s Vintage Wicker Wedge Sandals from G.O.R. Vintage
4. Beach 'Brellas Polaroid by jerseymaids
5. Catch a Wave Fine Art Photo Print by Little Gray Pixel
6. Mediterranean Porcelain Large Sea Urchin Sculpture by Blue Room Pottery

summer memories

It has been two years since we left Florida, and while I love Northern California and wouldn't want to live anywhere else, there is one thing I miss... the beaches. These photos were taken on one of our trips to the Keys, where the water was so shallow you could walk in the perfectly clear, bath tub warm ocean for yards.
(Kai hates that photo of us, but I think it's cute).

two favorite summery shops

my dear thing

&

hier apparel

Reality Bites

Though it doesn't get the greatest rating on IMDB, Reality Bites will always be one of my favorite movies. I watched it over and over again in junior high until my video tape wouldn't play anymore, and I am pretty sure I had a whole scrap book dedicated to Ethan Hawke, although it might have been shared with My So Called Life's Jared Leto. Last night I convinced Kai to watch it once again, and it definitely held up! Oh how I wish I could rock Winona Ryder's sweet 90's haircut.
(photos from rottentomatoes)

happy summer: camping

 Kai and I were going to go on a camping trip today, but it looks like we are both too busy painting...which is a good thing! So I am living vicariously through these wonderful Etsy items which evoke the happiest camping feelings:
 Vintage 1920's photo. The Mountain Climber Woman from Toby Creek,  Campfire Limited Edition Print by Groundwork, Vintage Red Lantern from Nostalgie Europe, A book about moss and lichen vol. 1 photo by Roger J. Porter, Cotton sleeping bag quilt by good intent, and Dreamy Beach photo by Jessica Torres.

I think Big Sur, CA is my all time favorite camping destination. Do you guys like camping, and if so what's your favorite spot? I would love to hear!

ps- I am eternally on a search for the perfect hot springs...

summer colors

Painted Flowers Fabric by Liz Scott and Sasstronaut Necklace by Leili

Bright Teal Tagua Nut Necklace by Veronica Riley Martens, Grey Heron by Elise Mahan, and Bitter from Felt by OS.

summer countdown- rosy

I am not a big lipstick person because it generally makes my lips feel sticky, but this tinted lip gloss by Sweetpea & Fay is something I could totally handle. I want those lips! Does anyone have recommendations for tinted lip gloss, or not to sticky lipsticks? I would love to hear.
Also pictured above, the perfectly summery White Prairie Blouse by donkey + lemon, beautifully named Her Very Own Sea photo print by Caryn Drexl and sweet little painting from my new favorite series by Caroline of coolranchstudio, Wildflowers no. 12.

Have a fun weekend!

 Any fun plans this weekend? I will be weeding the garden (see below photos). Above:
The Wannabe's Photographic Print by sfgirlbybay,  Pogodaini bikini by SolinDesigns, and magnet set /// 3 by sunday punch.

june 17th

Four days until summer, and I am dreaming of far away beaches. I love this warm and pale drawing by emerson's bookcase, and this awesome Tyedye One piece from Ani bikinis. And Kai would sure look cute in these Vintage 1960's Swim Trunks from Second Wind Vintage!

summer countdown

To Boats 8 x 8 Photograph by Diem Design Photography, My Moon My Man tee (Kai has one of these in charcoal...his favorite shirt) by Blackbird Tees,  and the lovely FRANcis bathing suit by plhi which comes in all the best colors.

And I especially love Samantha French's At the beach print above. I believe the first day of summer is June 21st, right? Any fun plans? We already have some sunshine, and if Kai and I get enough painting done this week we are going on a camping trip and bringing along our big tire tubes for river floating, fishing poles and fancy camping whiskey!

Magritte!

 The Lovers, by Magritte is one of my favorite paintings, and a big inspiration (okay, I might be blatantly ripping him off- hope not) for my work. I was so excited when I saw the photo below on Etsy, and even though we have zero wall space left in our tiny house, I will probably have to get it!

 Love this Kiss Me Magritte Poster by Designfest!
(Magritte image via wikipaintings)

I'm back!

 

We returned last night from my little brother's graduation in San Diego. It was a fun weekend, and I am very sleepy as I get to work today!
The beautiful photo above is Diver by Jena Ardell. I have seen it multiple times on Etsy's front page, and long to be that girl!

Poppytalk giveaway!

Check out my giveaway on Poppytalk, for a chance to win a set of four ocean sewn prints.

Three things

 Clockwise: Alpine CA 8.5 x 11 Fine Art Print by Amanda Friedman,
Medium Gloss White Pinch Pot by Pinch Me Ceramics,
'Isopognum' Print by Stacey Rees.

New sewn prints

I just listed a new batch of sewn prints and large image sewn prints.

Graduation

My little brother Johhny is graduating from college this weekend! Though I wasn't so crazy about him when we were younger (I mean hey, there are only so many times you can handle being beat up by a tiny devil boy wearing a cape and goggles) I am happy we are buddies now, and he has traded in his cape and plastic swords for surf boards and golf clubs.

Crocheted socks

I wish I knew how to crochet. But since I don't, and probably won't ever learn despite the hooks and yarn waiting patiently in my closet, I might have to get these cozy looking socks!

Hand painted

 I love these one of a kind, hand painted silk tees from Rachel Rose. Wouldn't they be perfect on a warm summer night?!