How Soon is Now?

Exactly one week from today will be the opening of my first Seattle Gallery Show.
Wow.

I have oscillated between feeling ready and confident to completely panicked. Lately I've just tried to take care of one loose end at a time all the while keeping the panic pot on a low simmer. Seems to be working alright.

Last night I varnished all the pieces that were ready for varnishing which was a fun experience. I had to leave a patchwork of panels all over my floor which made for some bedtime acrobatics. I nearly sprained a limb as I precariously perched and twisted to turn out the light which I had blocked off by a tightly packed sea of paintings. Was one of those moments that makes a girl think a separate studio would really be a grand idea. I was pretty darn amused. Waking up this morning to all my work laid out at my feet looking grand however was pretty magical.

This is it - this is really happening!

Retreat from it All

My weekend was spent wandering the incredibly beautiful grounds of Fort Flagler. It was SO nice to step away from everything into wide open spaces, sea air and greenery. I went with my household and what had started as a structured time for the group to be together morphed into just casual good ol fun.

We cooked and ate well. Very well.

And we clocked plenty of beach-combing time in.

And long rambling hikes where we subsisted on Salmon berries...

And what trip would be complete without campfire stories and s'mores?

It was completely apt and totally perfect for me to be able to step away from it ALL this past weekend. Despite getting ready for my first solo gallery show AND the EDGE program both just a few short weeks away. Perfectly perfectly timed.
I now feel recharged and ready to rock my to-do list. Sometimes you just gotta step away.

Summertime Fun and a Show that Should Not be Missed

Ahhh.... FINALLY dress weather!
Just in time too for a little weekend getaway to the Peninsula with some of my housemates.

If you find yourself sticking around the Seattle area for the weekend then you should NOT MISS this opening at the Ballard arts walk. My friend Betsy is fabulous and amazing and her embroidery drawings blow my mind. Check them out at La Dolce Vita this month or head on over to the opening on Saturday from 6-9. Be sure to give the artist a hug for me =)

Massive Website Update oh My!

Cheers to the stars! Rekoj has FINALLY updated her website!
A majority of the new paintings are up along with the addition of a brand new portfolio page of illustration work. Bout time!

www.RekojDesign.com

There is something marvelous about seeing the piles of work you've done collected into one spot. Makes a chore such as html coding bearable with the treat of seeing it all come together in the end. Whew!

I've been absent with a balance between adventures in Olympia and getting things ready for the upcoming show. I'm astounded with just how quickly time has been passing. That is spring in the NW for you I guess =)

Choosing Path

Sometimes life up and throws a fork in your road and you find yourself unexpectedly having to chose a path. This past week and half was one of those times for me. An increase in pay at the day job brought forth my yearning for more workspace. With all the exciting things coming up in my life I had decided that I would look towards moving my studio at the end of summer. But then I came across this hook and grab heading in the artist's listings of Craigslist:
Attention Artists: Live / Work Space in Phinney Ridge!
Curiosity got the better of me and I responded to the ad. And then of course I fell in love. The house was a darling craftsman (they get me every time) with a HUGE built in workspace with a shop sink and tons of storage space in the basement. And it was located in one of my favorite Seattle neighborhoods with an easy commute into downtown. On top of that I really liked the housemate. AND on top of that there was a full time artist who worked from the attic. The energy of the house felt good and I felt that it was time - I was ready.
I agreed to move in and I left my first month's deposit.
All the while thinking that this place will be perfect to work in for the remainder of the year until Andy & I can get a place together.
So I had chosen my path and started walking down it. But then something happened to me. Throughout the week I started feeling more and more achy-stomach regret. I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone in my current household that I was moving.
I stopped sleeping.
Sometimes your heart and body have a much better clue than your head does. I thought I was ready... and it turns out I wasn't.

Yesterday I had to crush the excited expectation of a stranger I had already begun to care about. It was THE hardest phone call I have ever had to make.

I will be moving from the co-op soon - maybe even as soon as the end of summer. I came to the realization, along with Andy who had initially supported my move to the live/work house, that when I move it will be to finally join households with my best friend.

This is one of the more deeply personal blog posts I've written. Part of me just wanted to get it all off my chest - to let it go. And part of me wishes that my no-longer-future-housemate is reading this - just so I can say one more time just how sorry I am. I so wish I could have figured this all out 5 days sooner.
And the last reason is in hopes that maybe, just maybe... one of you readers out there has been seeking just such a live/work space. Have I got a super sweet spot just for you... Get in touch if you want to know more about the house that nearly snagged me.

Blog Worthy Newsy

Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA

In little over a month from now - with my studio newly emptied after hanging my art show - I will find myself back at Fort Worden. This time I'll get to stay for a week though because I just found out that I get to be a 2009 EDGE Program participant!!!
Squeeee!!!
To those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about it is a week long intensive career training for artists put on by Artist Trust. It is kind of like getting a grant into a mini-Grad school. It is kinda exciting. They only select 32 artists every year to participate so I feel pretty darn honored.
It has been a busy month only getting busier as I prepare for the art show in July and also the Punk Rock Flea Market in June. And to top it off I've had my head full of ideas for a pretty serious studio remodel. Yep - we're shaping up for a busy summer season round these here parts...
Oh yes... and in other Blog Worthy news it will be my birthday tomorrow. I've been so busy that I seriously keep forgetting. Seriously. So much so that there is a joint party going on for myself and my friend Kirsten that I have yet to invite any of my friends to. Seriously. Bad Sara.
And to think things are only going to get worse...Wheee!

The Myth of You and Me: A Novel by Leah Stewart

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book struck me so deeply i had no choice but to log into Goodreads just to update it. Not a book I would have normally picked up but I enjoyed the story of discovery, reconciliation and the message to love without fear in equal measure.


View all my reviews.

As I find myself spending hours and hours at a time at the easel these days I had begun to wear myself out on music. Which then led me to finally wearing myself out on archived episodes of "This American Life". Which brought me to the library to give myself another try with audio books. Oh sweet audio books!
I had tried them in the studio years before only to find myself constantly staring off into space dreamy eyed and locked in the depths of story - without painting. So I gave them up. But this recent go at them? Working fabulously. I'll be off to the library again soon to scoop up some more. Isn't it funny how sometimes things just click? Like magic.
To get to participate in two of my most favorite pastimes simultaneously? PRICELESS!