Me llama Bella

Born May 28th, 2009
Current weight 1.5 pounds

Creative Credit

A few weeks ago L's parents stayed with us on their way to the Oregon coast. Mom wanted to surprise a friend with a little gift, so we had fun creating an altered journal for her. Mom told my nieces she helped hold things down, and spread glue...

I want to set the record straight...


Mom collaborated with me in every step of the creative process. She chose the color scheme, the fabric, the ephemera, the layout, and the embellishments...and she helped assemble and glue!

Mom has an artistic soul...she appreciates beauty wherever she finds it, and she sees that beauty in things that can frequently go unnoticed...like people... and nature...and beach rocks.

She introduced me to the joy of collecting agates on the Oregon coast, and then she learned how to create jewelry that celebrates the agates simple charm.

She sees the potential beauty inside unassuming stones...and then helps uncover it.


She's not afraid to try new things..


Moms latest endeavor is creating beautiful bowls from clay.



Can't wait to see what she tries next!

Moose sightings in Park City

In 2003, local artists decorated 20+ fiberglass moose for a fund raising project Park City Arts titled "Moose on the Loose".

The moose were auctioned off, and brought in over $400,000.

Lane and I only found a few of the sculptures that are now scattered around town, but we had fun giving each one its own photo shoot.

Happy Fourth!

We had a perfect view of the fireworks from our room...

The Canyons by night

We went out after dark to capture the lights....

This chandelier was amazing...


As was the moon earlier in the evening...

The Canyons by day

We're staying two nights at a resort in 'The Canyons' near Park City...

Beautiful flowers...

...tall trees and mountain views...
...a free tram ride...
...fresh air...
...a free concert...
...and lots of people watching.

On My Curiosity Table

I love my coffee table. Lane found it at a thrift store years ago for $20. There's probably not an inch on it that's not scratched or scraped...and it has a big crack running from one side to the other. Some day we'll refinish it...but until then... it's 4.5' x 4.5' of surface to display the things I enjoy looking at.
This month is a bit more minimalist than usual...an amazing crow sculpture and wire nest by artist Tory Brokenshire, beautiful rocks collected and tumbled by Lane's mother, an inkwell that takes me back to a calligraphy weekend shared with good friends, an antique map and books, and an old scrapbook that has poems and engravings pasted inside.
What's on your coffee table?

On My Mantle

I try to change what's on my mantle and coffee table every few months. It lets me enjoy some of the things I've collected without getting bored of them, and prevents the living area of the house getting too cluttered.
This grouping has some antique bottles, a glass insulator, brass boxes, an old copy of Shakespeare, a mandolin, a tiny stringed instrument with bow from the former country of Yugoslavia, and some of my antiquarian books that are edged with ebru.

Inspiration Wall

I've moved my studio upstairs...
I had more room to spread out in the basement, but I found being down there depressing and avoided any activity that would prolong it.
I've been decorating the wall over my main work table with art, papers, and small treasures that I've either made, gathered, or been given over the years...things that inspire me and that I enjoy looking at. I used removable clear mounting squares (Scotch brand), and some push pins for a few of the heavier items. The wall (& room) will be a work in progress, but that's part of the fun...

Quiet Moments at Sundance

Yesterday we drove up the canyon to Sundance resort and lingered an hour with nature...
hearing the murmur of the creek,
walking amongst the trees,
viewing the miracle of flowers....
quiet moments to be tucked away and treasured.