Lucile Prache

Lucile Prache's Lucile's kitchen, loving her flowers and lovely kitchen art and of course her blog.

Weed Killer

Yesterday I poured boiling water over all of my little weeds thriving in the slate walkway ... but I was wondering if some vinegar would work too? More money saving homemade cleaners at The Frugal Girls.

Line Juhl Hansen

I have been dying to pick up my paint brushes lately ... and this painting by Line Juhl Hansen certainly inspires me to do so! Don't miss her blog. Found via Pinterest.

Flagging the dining room

I hung my flags inside this year ... I need a change and haven't had time to repaint the art in the dining room yet.

Wanted to spend the holiday weekend making paper mache things ... but worked instead. Sears replaced our refrigerator (that has had some problems the last couple of months) which sent me into a cleaning frenzy. Mainly cleaning up after the puppy ... she is discovering all kinds of things to destroy = vacuum.

Almost finished wedding invitations. And finished up some CD packaging covers for my sister (note to self, wrap them up and put them in the mail!) And of course did serious freelance "work" for next week's meeting. Working with Rick on an attorney website this weekend too. Whew, I need a vacation from my unemployment. ;) Okay, off to vacuum more puppy mess in the family room, then off to studio to enjoy the last of my holiday. xoxox everyone!

Happy Memorial Day

Saltwater Fish Series

I think I know what I am going to get D for Father's Day, something to go with our fish collection by John Golden. Aren't they wonderful?

Jeremy Cowart

The more I watched this video of Jeremy Cowart drawing, collaging and photoshopping 'A Portrait of Christ', the more I couldn't stop watching the process. Adding many, many textures and body parts does seem to meld together in the final image. Found via Dave Conrey's very interesting blog.

Woods Davy

Loving Woods Davy's sculptures made of stone at Craig Krull Gallery. They feel impossible but there they are! Via Pinterest.

Rocket Busters

When I win the lottery, one of my first purchases are boots for David and me from Rocketbuster Books. Yee Haw!

National Treasure

Artist Ross MacDonald makes the coolest stuff, like props for National Treasure. That is not his only avenue of talent, and he does seem to be a national treasure.

Bubble Party

This is such a sweet idea - Bubble Party Birthday Party Ideas from One Charming Party.

Fiber Tree

Progress photos of the Tree Project via Pinterest.

Echinacea

I am easily distracted by emails containing images of flowers, which happened this morning when I opened Better Home and Garden's, Garden Notes newsletter. There, screaming at me was a different coneflower I had never seen, a double-pink! Anything that says "double" for the yard -- I want it. Off searching I went - for different varieties of coneflowers! If the sun ever returns to my yard, I might just plant a couple of these!

Echinacea Pink Double Delight, fragrant, double-pink coneflowers butterflies love! White and pink seedlings!

Crossword911.com

Crossword911.com - emergency crossword help, I am adding this to my link love.

jung jung

There is something so delicious about the work of jung jung. Not only the crocheted pieces delicate and delightful, the graphics for the patterns make me smile, a very big smile. Found the lovely blog, blue clouds.

More crochet fun ... how about crochet wall art? Some art crochet on Flickr. A crocheted brain or beautiful sea creatures? Crochet art car, too much fun!

You're in the doghouse now!

Dogs taking over my house right now, I really enjoyed Sunday Morning's segment - World famous architects are scaling down their designs to accommodate man's best friend designing contemporary, and sometimes outrageous, doghouses.



Creative architects and designers create one-of-a-kind doghouses for Austin Barkitecture 2010 and Barkitecture Houston House 2010

Recycled Fence Doghouse

Cubix Modern Dog House by Dogs Best Friend (go check out their other "dog mansions").

Pet interiors beds for dogs

And this Doggie Duvet is an "eco-friendly Fill 'Er Up Pet Beds include a preshrunk, cotton cover + zippered, do-it-yourself insert, which organizes the inside of your bed cover making it easy to use old blankets, pillows, clothing, etc. to stuff your pet bed. Isn't that a terrific idea?

Fritz Scholder

The other day I saw a painting in Ralph Lauren's house in Architecture Digest. There above the fireplace was a colorful image by Fritz Scholder. More about this brilliant Native America artist here.

A self-portrait, a timeline of his life. Sadly, he passed away in 2005.

Dawes Design

Oh my gosh. How much do I love these rings by Dawes Design via La Feem.

Pinterest

So when I begin pinning images to my Pinterest, I didn't think I would have so many pins! When I start looking at what I pin it becomes even more obvious what I am attracted to. Vases, flowers, chairs, nature at it's most mysterious, trees, lanterns, dogs, tables, teacups, dishes and bowls. Of course all things sticks and rocks. Paintings, business cards and packaging. I didn't think I would have too many clothes pinned, but as it turns out, I do! The other day I realized I really need to add more categories and organize my images a little better. So I spent a couple of hours obsessing over that. I love my Rings and Things. I have lots of other beautiful images noted, gardens, lighting, quilts and typography. Go have a look!

Gabriela Ibarra

I love Gabriela Ibarra's floral paintings ... interesting, subtle details, light and airy, the feel of not 'over-worked'. Really lovely!

First bath

Trying to remember to document the new, small adventures of the new puppy, Sophie. She got a bath and Pixel was very concerned about her well-being. Pixel mothering instincts have taken over and she is very protective of Sophie.

Thank you!

Thank you, Kathy! Thank you, Gerrie. A little visual present for you both for all you do for me.

Stephan Zirwes

Fantastic aerial photography by Stephan Zirwes, zones and fields, snow, ice, cultured land. Abstract beauty and peaceful. Makes me a little dizzy looking down. ;) Via My Modern Met.

Playtime!

Sophie is not afraid. Sophie leaps off tall buildings chairs with a bound. Sophie is perpetual motion. Sophie darts from room to another in seconds. Sophie chases Pixel around the house for hours. Sophie finds all of the holes in the fence and races over to the neighbors yard before you can catch her. Two days and we are all exhausted ... especially Pixel.

Simon Wild

I am WILD about Simon Wild's fun and colorful illustrations! And a great Photoshop tutorial by Simon: Design a pop-up illustration.

Good day had by all, humans and animals

We "baby-sat" Sophie today while Matt and Bri were at work and school. Mom and I laughed so hard our cheeks ached at the end of the day. 2.5 lb Sophie is terrorizing Pixel and Pica ... they would jump on the sofa, hide behind Mom to escape her enthusiasm to 'playing' with them. Eventually, Pixel was enjoying chasing Sophie around the family room. I am hoping for a 'good relationship' between those two. Pica will never warm to a small, furry stranger in his house. We will live with that. Tonight, all animals are passed out from having played very hard today.

And I worked hard today, too. My pay-off was watching Glee tonight and crying like a baby. I don't know how I missed Glee the last years ... but I am now totally addicted. Actually, I am addicted to many shows I never heard of 6 months ago. Translation: I watch too much TV. Castle. Love! But I didn't really get last night's season finale. Good characters died, or got shot ... dream-sequence next season? Castle finally uttered the words that we knew he was feeling ... "I love you".  Blue Bloods. I record to watch later, usually when I wake up at 230a. Of course, STARZ Camelot, Treme, Games of Thrones, HBO's Bryant Gumbel's Real Sports, Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, History Detectives and many others. Absolutely Fabulous reruns. Peep Show. Too much TV! I swear everyday, I will watch less TV. Hazards of staying home all day.

Then tonight, PBS' Frontline, The Meth Epidemic, is such a great piece of investigative reporting. For me, with a drug-addict brother, really hits home. And is totally worth watching.

So good night to you all! Hoping for a another productive day tomorrow. (Let me check the TV schedule).

Mary Delany

I discovered this wonderful post at Anthology Mag about Mary Delany and Molly Peacock’s book on Mrs. Delany’s life,'The Paper Garden'. New York Times book review is a must read and an excerpt from 'The Paper Garden'. More delectable collages by Mary Delany at The British Museum.

Here is the best part, she didn't start creating these wonderful pieces of art until she was 72! And that gives me hope.

Meet Sophie

Bri and Matt are the proud parents of a 2.5 lb long hair chihuahua. Say hello to Sophie. Pixel and Pica are trying to figure out who she is and what she wants. She is busy chasing Pixel around the house.

Leafing out and finding my new groove

I can't explain why I feel so removed from life the last 9 months. I know when it began. My routine got lost. Cleaning house was no longer a priority. Job search, learning, resumes, websites ... all took over. Then I took on jobs, free and paying ... and those took over. My clothes pile continued to grow into a mountain on the bedroom chair.

Finally, I changed out my winter/summer clothes. And cleaned the bedroom! I must have vacuumed for an hour. I am hoping my routine will return. My need to have a clean space! Orderly, clean, vacuumed, mopped space.

I also changed out and cleaned out my purse. I found 14 lipsticks. Ticket stubs, notes, ephemera from our California vacation. That is when it my life came to a standstill.  So with a tidy purse, ironed clothes, colored lips, I soldier on ... the clean the bathroom!

I have been trying to get up from my computer and walk at least once a day. Collecting treasures along the way. Enjoying the smells, the green, remembering when I would pull Matt in his red wagon to Hummingbird Park, four blocks away. 

Woke up the last two nights at 245a. After an  attempt to go back to sleep, found myself at the computer, experimenting and having fun making brushes and patterns in Adobe Illustrator. I really, really, really love that program.

I have so many things to do today, gotta get rollin' ... YOU have a great one!

Garden Design

Gallery of Ferns and Greens Glossary makes my mouth water.

Moss Guide is wonderful! I think we should embrace the moss, maybe replace the grass!

Creating a raised bed.

Room service!

Hong Kong's vibrant past reflected in these rooms of Hullett House Hotel. I would stay in and order room service :0

Post-It Illuminations

Post-It Illuminations: post on Patch - "The writing is on the wall: Unexpected lessons for parents of teens found in classroom activity.

Passage Quilting

I have blogged about Sherri Lynn Wood's Passage Quilting back in 2008. "Beginning with the architecture of the clothing, these quilts are pieced without a predetermined pattern. This process provides the maker an opportunity to examine his or her life patterns." It is such a lovely idea, I wish I had my grandmothers clothes to make a quilt! Via Haute Nature.

Material Obsession and Joe the Quilter.

The Royal Blooms

I have to admit my favorite part of the royal wedding was not the dress, but the trees in lined up in Westminster Abbey! More about the trees at Can You Dig It.

Visit Arbor Day Foundation's flowering tree list, I wish I had a Crapemyrtle and I love the fall color of Baldcypress.

My friend, Maggy, sent me this terrific link this morning, Fiore Fresco: The Royal Blooms!

What Katie Ate

What Katie Ate for Mother's Day Lunch ... looks very yummy!

Betsy McCall

I loved Betsy McCall's paper dolls and illustrations as a child! This is such a great place to relive history. Via mer mag.

Television-licious

Okay, my mom doesn't venture far from PBS, Oprah or C-SPAN so you can imagine my surprise when I came upon her watching a segment of  How Do I Look, followed by Jerseylicious the other day. Something she just flipped through and wanted to see the end of the story. I explained to  Mom, this is American culture, reality TV of our time ... something my Mom knows nothing about. We set through an hour of these two shows, amazed at the length of the fingernails and the circumference of the earrings. All pretty astounding, silly, can I say, stupid? We laughed and swore we wouldn't waste any more minutes watching, ever.  She doesn't stay up late enough to watch any of the popular shows I like, HBO's Game of Thrones, my favorite at the moment, Castle or Camelot. Thankfully, I have them on my DVR for afternoon viewing, when all else looks thin. Needless to say, that night I had a dream about teasing my hair sky-high and killing rats. The pun? Rat's nest? 

We decided to stick with Masterpiece from now on.

Mother's Day Garden Gift

Mother's Day Garden Gift, my first Edmonds Patch post.

I love Mother’s Day. Not just because I get a lovely bouquet of roses from my wonderful husband; that I can also enjoy the company of my own mom who lives nearby, and that I can hug my son who graces me every day with love and pride.

The other reason – CLEMATIS montana 'Elizabeth' (Clematis) blooms on this day without fail. Small, delicate pink flowers climb right up to my family room window and delight me for weeks. It fills the backyard with an enchanting scent of vanilla.

We always have at least one bird family raise their chicks hidden deep under the mass of vines. I have often thought how magical it would be to have a little nest among the blooms this time of year. Do you think the birds enjoy the fragrance?

Watching the flowers go to seed creates a spiral of golden furry orbs of delight that is just the cherry on top. I also enjoy them in the dead of winter.

Clematis are very easy to grow as long as you remember to plant with roots in the shade and allow it to grow in the sun. By accident, I planted mine in the perfect location. Keeping the fast growing deciduous vine under control can be a challenge. I have had it grow to my rooftop, taking over the windows along the way. That is when I started taking pruning more seriously.

So next Mother’s Day, consider CLEMATIS montana as a wonderful gift for any and all gardeners.

See more flowers in a vase, flowers from my garden.

Green tops

My S-I-L sent this to me this morning. Foliage-Covered Green Roofs at Inhabitat. Aren't they wonderful?