Someone asked me if it's easy to use the torch, so here are a couple of tips for any pyros that might want to try it. 🔥

It's getting there ✨

Day 7 of wood burning this piece.

Time for a batch of walnut blothammers and irminsuls

Raw cloth fresh off the loom 😚 These silk and cotton summer shawls will be the last things I weave for a while, as I'm about to give birth to our baby girl! 💕

Day 9
(I forgot to post day 8)
Today, I started slowly building up some color before I go in and add the 24k gold leaf. 🌲

✨Introducing "Endurance"✨

This is the first piece in the "Against The Odds" collection I'm creating this year.

When I think of the word "Endurance," one of the things in the natural world that comes to mind is the mighty oak. Its ability to withstand harsh conditions, the weight of the Spanish moss, and to stay rooted over a long period of time despite the turbulent weather is really quite awe inspiring.

If the oak can withstand some of the harshest conditions, then so can we... and with time our roots will only become stronger and more resilient. 💕

Wood burned by hand on basswood. Embellished with fine art colored pencils and 24k gold leaf. ✨

Titian Study in progress.

A closer look at the 24k gold leaf.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you incredible moms out there. ❤️

One of my favorite mother characters from books I've read is Mrs. March (aka Marmee) from "Little Women."

She knew when to be firm, exactly what to say when one of her girls was struggling with something, when to be nurturing, and always came up with clever ways of teaching them important life lessons.

On days when my daughter is having more tantrums than usual and I feel like I'm struggling to keep my patience, I think: "how would Marmee handle this situation?"

Oddly enough, it really helps.

So with that said, I'll leave you with one of my favorite Marmee quotes:

"If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: Your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I cherish so in you."

- Mrs. March in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I hope you all have an amazing day. ✨

The test prints for my latest work turned out great! This will be available in 8x10 and 11x14. I might just hand embellish a few with metallic gold watercolor too. ✨

Bring back character and beauty into ordinary things. 😍