Out WIth the Old and In With the New: The Art on our Walls

I am happy to say that Aaron's been selling quite a few paintings as of late.

I am sad to say that I miss them when they go.

To see him making his art, the things that are inside him and who he is, and to know that people get it and like it, well, it's wonderful.

Making art makes Aaron happy.

Making art that people enjoy makes Aaron happy.

All of this makes me happy, too.

I guess it's just that even when it's for a good reason, it's still always hard to say good-bye.

The first big painting he did for us, one that hung on our walls through James' first 3 years of life, and then sold to a friend, is still missed.

It was a pair of giant Converse high tops.  (see it here)

James learned what a star was from that painting while it hung in our living room.

He still talks about it sometimes.

Then there was this painting that Aaron sold a while back.

James actually cried when he found out Aaron sold it.

We recently said goodbye to our trailer, Bambi.

Many of our friends expressed dismay that it was for sale.

"It is so you!' they said, "you can't sell it."

But Aaron took it off our walls.

Still, when Aaron got the call that it had sold, he said he felt just a little bit sick to his stomach.

It was a real favorite.

That's the hard thing about the art on our walls--it becomes a part of us, and thus, it is hard to say good-bye.

It's exciting to watch Aaron's paintings sell, and to know that people love them like we do.

But I won't say we don't miss them.

The above painting, "I Like Eich" is Aaron's newest.

I love it so much.

So, so, much.

If you are at all a fan of mid-century architecture, then you are probably familiar with the name, Joseph Eichler.

You know his houses.

And, if you are like me, you wouldn't mind living in one some day.

This painting celebrates the classic Eichler houses.

The windows, the roof lines, and the clean, modern look that makes them so special.

Eichler was not the architect, but the developer of the communities that bear his name.

But because he had an penchant for modern design, his houses all share a similar design sense.

It's one that Aaron and I, and many other people, like very much.

Aaron designed the painting and it is all painted free hand.

He is amazing like that.

It's perfect for someone who really Likes Eich!

Right now, there is only one painting, but he hopes to make prints like it soon.

Which is good news to me, because he took this painting off my kitchen wall this morning and took it to sell at Just Modern in Palm Springs.

Hopefully I'll at least get a print, right?

If you've been reading my blogs for any amount of time, you might remember some of the other paintings that we've had hanging in the house.

First there was ICE.

I loved ICE and we had it for a couple of years before Aaron thought of selling it.

He sold it ast week.

Getting this note from the new owner helped:

"Just wanted to let you know that I'm the new owner of "ICE" - just purchased it today from a shop in Palm Springs.  From the second I saw it, I loved it! "

That's the kind of thing that makes an artist's heart happy.

And his wife's heart swell with pride.

After ICE was gone, Aaron made the Bear, which he titled Promised Land.
I also loved this one.
We didn't have him up for too long.
He sold at Aaron's recent show.

I suppose the reason we love these paintings so much, aside from the fact that Aaron made them and we're his biggest fans and think everything he does is great, is that they are just a part of our life in our home.

We do a lot of living with these paintings.

See?

And now that Eich is gone, the wall in the kitchen looks awfully bare.

Good thing I know an artist who can fill it back up again.

At least for a while.

You know what they say, the cobbler's children never have shoes, the doctor's children are always sick, and the artist's home always has bare walls.

Perhaps it's time for me to commission my artist for my very own piece.
The kids want their own paintings too.
We all thought it high time Aaron make each of the kids their very own painting to keep for always.
He was going to do it for Christmas.
But in the hustle and bustle of it all, we both forgot.
I think some birthday paintings are in order.
I guess I'm going to be keeping my painter busy for a while.
That is the fun part about all this, I do love seeing what he's going to come up with next.
It's always such a good surprise.

If you're still bothering to read this blog, thanks!
I'm hopeful there will be more regular posts in the new year.
The new year is nothing but full of good hopes, right?
So, I hope I'll be seeing you soon!

Love from,

Greta

PS.  Aaron is working on getting a website up and running where he can show some of his hand carved, linoleum block prints, paintings and hopefully silk screened and giclee prints as well.  

I'll let you know when it's operational.

Meet Our Vintage Canvas Tent

In his relentless pursuit to vintagafy our entire life, Aaron has been scouting out vintage camping gear.

We have our picnic basket and lots of vintage camping dishes, we've got vintage thermoses, and some vintage wool camping blankets.

But there is so much more out there.

I found this set of vintage pots at the thrift store.

Aren't they awesome?

Part of me wanted to keep the labels on, and save these pots to display in the trailer we're going to get someday.
Just display, not use.
Collecting vintage can become a sickness.
So I resisted the urge and we used them on our most recent camping trip.
Even without the labels I love them and was happy every time I used them.

We also used our vintage canvas tent!
A vintage, canvas tent has been high on the list of coveted camping accessories for a long while now.
Aaron put out the word that he was looking for one and a friend of ours said his parents had one they'd sell us.
It's in perfect shape even though it's 40 + years old.
The tent is the colors of the Swedish flag and it's huge.
The 6 of us fit in with room to spare.

Why don't they make canvas tents anymore?
Yes, they're heavy, but it's not like I'm backpacking with it, so who cares?
Canvas tents are vastly superior to nylon.
Unless you're backpacking.
Or caught in a rainstorm.
But we weren't.
So it was awesome.
And, it's been approved by Sir Edmund Hillary.
Definitely a keeper.

Aaron, along with a lot of help from James, got the tent up easily.

The kids raced inside to check it out.

They approved.

But the best part of the tent is the awning!
Isn't it the cutest thing you've ever seen?

I was dying about that awning.

Do you know how many vintage trailers I've seen with awnings like that and just longed for one of my own?

I never dreamt of a tent with an awning!

So until that day when the trailer of our dreams comes along, cute awning included, of course, I'll rest happy under the awning of my vintage, canvas tent.

The tent was pretty popular at the campsite.

We got lots of questions and compliments on it.

But the rest of our campsite is in need of work.

Right now it looks like this:

But we have dreams of making it look a lot more like this:

Are we crazy?

Maybe just a bit.

Crazy for vintage camping gear!

Aren't you?

Love from,

Greta

When Men Craft: a Diorama Party

I know it's been forever.

There has just been too much going on to keep up with blogging.

No matter how I try, I just haven't been able to find time for it lately.

And trust me, I've tried.

But I am just so excited about the birthday party I had for Aaron this weekend that I am staying up all hours to blog about it.

Being married to an artist can be difficult at times (you've no idea how long it takes him to commit to a paint color) but mostly it is lots of fun.

Aaron loves creating all sorts of things and I wanted to have a party for him that capitalized on that.

Given our mutual love of dioramas, I decided a diorama party would be a perfect fit.

It was.

Also, it was probably a bit of a risk.

Invite 10 or so guys for a diorama party and you could have a real disaster of a party on your hands.

But these guys all came through with flying colors.

We have some very creative friends.

They even participated in voting for "best of" categories and the handing out of trophies.

And they could have all been lying, but I do think everyone had a great time.

So yes, men can craft.

And they can do a darn fine job of it.

Take a look.

(The numbered ribbons are not place value.  They were for voting purposes.  Each diorama won an award for a specific category voted on by each party guest.)

Craftsmanship

Most Bizarre

Most Colorful

Funniest

Most Creative

Most Artistic

Best Theme

Most Unusual

Honorable Mention

The Sweepstakes Winner!

Aren't they amazing?

Everything was crafted on site in our back yard using all sorts of random materials, much of it recycled "trash".

James stayed with the big boys and took part in the party, as did one other younger party guest.

They were so thrilled to be a part of it all.

Obviously a diorama party works for multiple age groups.

He had an absolute blast and he, William and Lilly have been busy working with the leftover diorama party supplies for the past 2 days.

We've started them on the diorama love too!

I have lots more pictures and info on the supplies we provided and how to set a party like this up.

Also more details about each amazing diorama.

I'll post that info as soon as I can.

Until then, enjoy all this creativity and maybe take a trip to the Natural History Museum to get some diorama inspiration of your own.

Happy crafting!

Love from,

Greta

April Photo a Day -- Week 1 (and some musings on creativity)

I'm on a roll here.

I guess it's feast or famine.

Actually, what I find happens to me and my creativity is that it ebbs and flows according to my output.

When I am in a creative groove, finding the time to take and edit pictures and write posts, then there is an actual need to do more.

I feel like I can't get enough.

Ideas spin round in my head all day long.

I long to write.

I actually enjoy editing photos.

But then, life gets busy and I fall out of my groove.

For the first few days, my fingers still itch to type.

I am still trying to find a minute in my day in which to write.

Then another day passes in which I can't get a moment to write or work on my photos.

Then another.

Until enough pass that I feel my creative juices start to dry up.

It's awful.

My motivation wanes.

So much so that if I suddenly find myself with free time, the last thing I want to do is write.

Eventually I make myself, and then, the floodgates open again.

And I remember how much this feeds my soul.

And I'll do it as much as I can until I get thrown another curve ball and loose my mojo.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

How do you keep your creative juices flowing?

Besides Pinterest.

Because I am the one girl in the entire known universe not addicted to Pinterest.

I mean, it's fun and all, but I just don't have a lot of extra time in my life, and for me Pinterest just seems like a time suck.

I use it for special occasions.

So besides Pinterest, how do you get your creative juices flowing?

These photos are one thing that have really helped me.

Although there have been days when I've been in a slump and I can't come up with a single, creative idea for a photo.

But mostly, these prompts have been encouraging me to think outside my photo box and to be creative.

It's fun!

So after all that, here's my first week for April.

April 1, 2012

Reflection

We have had Aaron's computer set up in the living room since all the kids had influenza.

Fevers up to 104.

Moaning.

Tossing and turning.

And a Davy sicker than I had ever seen him.

It was a bad time.

On the weekend, the kids usually watch some Netflix on the laptop.

They so love their weekend tv fix that they don't care how tiny the screen is!

But when the whole lot of them are sick, then all bets are off.

TV rules go out the window.

And we brought in the big, ol computer to watch heaps of movies on.

I can't believe how dirty it is.

Just  like every other window, mirror, wall, door frame and finger-printable surface in my home.

Kids.

April 2, 2012
Color

Long ago,

when I was a mom to just 2 babies,

I bought 4 Easter buckets.

I was pretty sure we'd have 3 kids,

so I had to be prepared.

I bought 2 blue for the boys, and then a pink and another blue,

for the mystery 3rd child.

How funny that 3 blue and 1 pink are just what I needed.

Although James now prefers the hideous blue camouflage Easter bucket 
someone gave him.

This year he didn't carry his darling bunny rabbit one.

Oh well,  the boy is 8 now.

He might be too old for a bucket as sweet as this one.

No matter.
I'll always remember and love these pink and blue Easter buckets.

April 3, 2012
Mail

We have a mail slot.

It's right in the middle of our front door.

It used to be an ugly brass eye sore in the middle of our ugly green door.

But when Aaron painted the door, he also painted the mail slot.

Because it is all in the details, my friends.

April 4, 2012
Someone who makes me happy.

Blue jays are a dime a dozen.

But this little guy, smaller and infinitely sweeter than the jay, 

is harder to spot.

Bluebird.

Just the name is sweet.

Whenever I see him or his friends, 

I am happy indeed.

April 5, 2012
Tiny

Lilly changes clothes many, many, times in a day.

From dress up to play clothes, to her nicest ones, 

to all sorts of combinations in between,

she's got it going on in the fashion department.
She also likes to accessorize.
She went outside in this getup and climbed the tree.
I think she's the perfect blend of tomboy,
and girly -girl.

I looked at her this day and had a glimpse of the future.
My tiny girl,
but not for long. 

April 6, 2012
Lunch

Roasted squash, roasted mushrooms

and a salad.

This is a nearly perfect lunch.

I love vegetables.

A lot.

April 7, 2012
Inside my wallet

First off, I love this wallet.

It's an Orla Kiely.

And I love Orla Kiely.

LOVE.

But I cannot afford Orla Kiely.

Because and Orla Kiely wallet like this one costs about $100.

Sooo, when I saw this one at Buffalo Exchange,

and discovered it was only $12.00.

I gave a little squeal of joy.

Think I'll ever find one of her purses for such a steal?

I'll keep hoping.

April 8, 2012
Shadows

In the afternoon, the sun shines through the avocado tree in our backyard.

And it makes these lovely shadows on the white wall behind it.

They dance about, every time the wind blows through the leaves.

They look like a filter for your intsagram photos, 

but they're not.

They're the real deal.

I think they're so beautiful.

I never tire of watching them.

I think they're a little bit magical.

I'm pretty tired now.
I've fallen asleep, sitting up, twice now.
And had to erase the nonsense that I wrote.
Seriously, I startle myself awake and look at the things I wrote and they make no sense whatsoever.
It can be funny.
My creativity is waning due to extreme fatigue.
Hoping I can keep this ball rolling.
Love from,
Greta