lately

Alex and I took a walk around our land as darkness fell tonight. Greenish fireflies hovered close to the forest floor and a barred owl called out, interrupting a long winded story I was telling Alex.

I can't seem to pull myself together enough to show you a coordinated view of what I have been up too lately... but here are a few glimpses of life instead:

Hope you are doing well!

blue ridge mountains

I made this illustration in preparation for the Big Love Festival which celebrates all things local. Originally I tried to squeeze in some local building landmarks at the bottom but it looked too cheesy, so I left it iconic and simple.

the handmade market and the rest of the week...

Wow, it has been a weird week.

A crazy storm system hovered over Western North Carolina and dumped over 6 inches of rain which caused all sorts of problems. Flooding, mudslides, and also of the cancelling of The Big Love Festival which we were supposed to vend at on Sunday. I was relieved that we didn't have to vend in dangerous weather.... but it was a huge disappointment nonetheless because we usually do really well at it. Then, yesterday mudslides took out 4 of the 5 roads to leave our house, and the mountainside above us started to look unstable as well. If there had been a mudslide most likely it would have trapped us in by covering our road or taken out the yoga studio or my studio and not our houses... but I still felt uneasy all day. All seems to better now, albeit very muddy. We have heard that our main route to town will be closed for six weeks while they fix the road.  We are planning on camping at The LEAF Festival this weekend, but if we do it is going to be a very soggy weekend!

Last Saturday I drove solo to Raleigh NC to vend at The Handmade Market. I met some wonderful customers at the show and even got to squeeze in seeming some friends on the side. Here are a few glimpses of that show:

Lucky Accessories

Seed & Sky (me)

my next booth over neighbor: Paige Puckett Pottery

Hothouse Posey

Flytrap

Leopold Designs

Once Again Sam

I hope everyone else is having a nice week!

show prep

I have been busy getting ready for two shows this coming weekend. I always have a gigantic list of projects I want to get done before a show and typically only a few actually happen. One thing that has been on my to-do list forever that I am making happen this time is a new sign. I am making it out of this weird embossed faux leather.  It is challenging to paint on, but it looks neat!

the boys

Doing some yard work after dinner- putting down some mulch to keep the jungle and poison ivy at bay.

so many worms! 

Handmade Stamp

I pulled out my printmaking supplies today with the idea that I might make a stamp to print on the bags I give to customers at shows. I found this little stamp hiding in my supply box. I made it a few years ago of a moth and a butterfly, it is one of my favorites.  

asparagus

After waiting a few years to let them get established we are finally able to pick a few asparagus from our patch in the garden. They are crunchy, velvety, and  amazingly delicious. Feelin' pretty lucky. 

humpback whale

humpback whale :: kelcey loomer

I am working on a new jewelry project with this illustration. Stay tuned!

process today

Process :: Humpback whale illustration

baby oak branches

a collection of oak clusters that came down in the rain today. 

pip

Pip and I are always the last ones awake in our house. Most of the time she curls up near me and purs and snores until I brush my teeth and start turning off the lights. I lug her upstairs and under the covers with me. She touches her cold nose to my chin, pushes her weight into me, and we snuggle. Just as I am drifting off I always feel her slip out from under the covers and tiptoe out of bed.

the married couple

A portrait of two dolls a friend gave me from her trip to India. They are stuffed with newspaper and were made by a 90 year old man. My friend bought them because the one with the red hat reminded her of me. 

painting outside with kids

I pinned a big piece of paper to our outside fence today and blobbed out some washable paint for the kids. I gave them paint brushes~ silly me. After 30 seconds they started using their hands and I'll admit, it looked like way more fun. With this kind of project it doesn't matter what the end result is, letting them feel the movement of paint and the mixing of colors is such an important lesson for them to learn.

Had to stick them in the shower after this adventure!

today

playing around on photoshop :: my photo of a trillium

Today:

• My dad woke up at five and began the 17 hour drive back to his home in NH. 
• I served buttery grits and over-medium fried eggs for breakfast. It did not go over well with the kids. They refused to eat it.
• The car was filled with giveaway for the goodwill and we couldn't find Lili's penny whistle for school. Things got crazy and by the time I dropped her off at school she was 20 mins late (not a big deal, but still....)
• Seo and I had fun grocery shopping. I let him walk instead of riding in the cart. That made him happy.
• Saw a mom being horribly mean and physical with her toddler daughter in the grocery store. Made me tear up. Seo said "Mom cry? Mom, it okay." *hug*
• Got to see the new baby goats when we picked Lil up from her farm school. So cute! 
• Kids watch a movie while we have a work meeting. 
• News about Boston~ thinking of my friends there. Anxious. Saddened. 
• News of 30 Afghans killed during a wedding by US. Always feel deep sadness and frustration over news like this. 
• Eat tostadas topped with the very first asparagus from our garden (!!!) for dinner. 
• 7:00 kids asleep.

a peek at our spring garden

A couple of days ago we had some intense rain. The next day everything outside burst into action.

We spent today working in the garden and marveling at how fast everything is growing. It was windy and warm and the tiny green leaves speckling the forest look so delicate and pretty. Seo was in heaven with all the bugs and worms he found. He even held a grub in his palm and said "Hello baaaaaaaaaby" and gave it a kiss.