Taos, New Mexico

On the road again. This time heading west to Stateline, NV by way of New Mexico. This was taken with my phone, but I'll post more pics once I get internet on my computer again. I've signed into google latitude again if you wanna watch our journey out west.

[Late addition by Nick: Jess had trouble getting this message posted earlier today. She's driving now so I've been learning her phone to help get this posted and to pass some time in the passenger seat. So glad to figure it out finally. Anyways... We were going to take a backcountry route from Taos northwest past the Four Corners and either up to Moab or past the Glen Canyon dam. We changed those plans after we ran into some heavy snow up in the mountains west of Taos. We backtracked a bit and now we're heading south to I-40. It will be a longer and less scenic route, but hopefully less snowy too. We had some fun stops in New Mexico. Jess will enjoy writing about it when she gets back online.]

wow. sorry ive been so absent

10 whole days since my last post. wow! that's unusual. i have been busy visiting friends and family. i'm also making most of my christmas gifts this year so i am busy doing that (and unfortunately cant post pics of them til after christmas... hopefully ill remember to take some). and some not so exciting home maintenance. i have now been in my crawl space... like 3 times and just this week... and it wasnt that scary after all. and may i just say, i love my renters! they are the best.

here's a cute video from my nephew's 5th birthday party.




and a cute pic from my favorite dav (no, i didnt buy it)

Applique Project

Mr Moose (my nephew) had his 5th birthday this week and today is his party. I made him a special gift I want to share with you. The story starts back a few months ago before I hit the road. I wanted to show the boys the Keeper of the Plains at night with the fire pits roaring and also surprise them with a hidden sculpture near there. I live pretty close to both attractions so my sister, BIL, and nephews stopped by my house before hand. It was starting to get chilly with the sun going down, so I supplied them all with jackets. The two little ones each wore one of my hoodies. I remember Mr Moose making the cutest comments. "Oohhh, its so warm and cozy in here." and "its smells like you auntie Jess" hehe. Soooo, that leads to my idea for his gift. I found this really cute green and white striped GAP hoody that I customized for him. The hoody is oversized so he'll be able to wear it for a few years (if mama's washings dont kill it before then).

My idea was to applique (a first for me) his favorite animal or another favorite something to it. Unfortunately, I wasnt really feeling kitty cats so I went a different route. I used his favorite song instead. Can you believe its "Funky Town." :) I put "funky" on the front and added elbow patches, and on the back i added some of the lyrics. some of the pictures were before I stitched it on. I have washed it 2 times (only washed it a 2nd time cuz it hung dried the first time and I wanted to dry it in the dryer so it was softer before i gave it to him) so, mama, no need to wash it for awhile, OK?.

i had first considered putting it on the back

before stitching

after stitching

click to enlarge and read some of the lyrics

Art Auction Friday Nov 4th

I am back in Wichita, Kansas for the holidays. While I'm here, I am participating in an art auction to benefit Kelly Moody. He is the owner of the Firehouse Art Gallery and has recently under gone surgery to remove a brain tumor. The art community is coming together to hopefully give a little back to him. For more information, check out the link below.

http://www.tangentlab.com/current.htm


I am donating a painting to be auctioned and possibly volunteering at the event on Friday.

(i think this one)

If you'd like to come check it out, it will run from 7pm to 10pm at Tangent Lab.
143 N. Rock Island, 3rd Floor

It's on the west side of the Farm and Art Market Square - directly across from the River City Brewery and Mort's. North and upstairs from Suede and Finns.