On my desk...

...But not for long!

Getting back from a big break is usually the pits. Laundry, unpacking, going through mail, and adjusting to boring "REAL LIFE." This time, I got to get busy filling orders, and let me just tell you...It is good to be back. Thanks to so many of you for patiently waiting for your orders. I really didn't think that I would get any orders while I was gone. But, 35 packages and 67 orders later, I guess I was wrong.

This stack would have taken me like 73 hours to fill 7 months ago when this all started. Not only was I working in a crammed corner of my bedroom (shhhhh...don't tell any one that) but I was just getting used to all the ????

?What shipping materials are best?
?Return address labels?
?How should I pack multiple items together so they are safe?
?Where is the tape!
?How many sharpees can I go through in a week?
?Am I out of cello sleeves already?
?The post office closes in 13 minutes. Can I make it?

Wow. I still consider myself in the 'start-up' stage, but those days were the REAL startup days. Yikes! I have learned a lot about shipping and packing since then! It still is time away from drawing or creating, but I love to see all my prints making new homes somewhere else.

So thanks to all of you who made orders while I was gone. They have been sent on their way, and I can officially start getting artsy again. Ahhh...yes. My sketchpad and I have a date:)

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We're back!

Wow. Let's just say wow. It is 10am, and my kids are still asleep because they still are on Hawaii time. I think I still have sand in my hair. I couldn't fall asleep last night because I couldn't hear the ocean. I didn't know what to have for breakfast because we don't have fresh papaya on the counter. I wanted to walk to the grocery store this morning...barefoot. My typing is really bad because i haven't touched a keyboard in two weeks. I am looking for rainbows out of my office window. We had to buy Ian new crocks before getting on the plane because they were too small...but we didn't realize it until then because he hadn't worn shoes all week. I can't smell plumerias outside my front door. There is no ocean breeze to keep the hair out of my face. My husband is leaving for work right now, and I had to remind him to put a shirt on. There was no rooster to wake me up this morning. And I may not make complete sense yet...Red-eye flights with toddlers and a four hour time difference takes a while to adjust. But then, so does coming home from a tropical paradise.

I could write novels about our trip, but here is the abridged version:

We stayed on the North Shore of Oahu for two weeks for a family reunion on my husband's side (benefits of my husband's parents) and RELAXED. We also did a lot of this

and this

and this

and this

and this

and this

and every day, my eyes were filled with images of this

and this

and this


If the North Shore is a familiar place to you, then the words Ted's bakery, Giovani's shrimp, Sunset Beach, Wiamaia Bay, Ke Nui road, Chocolate Haupia pie, Huuala Korean BBQ, PCC, Rosalani ice cream, Turtle Bay, Sharks Cove, giant sea turtles, beached seals, rainbows, liquid sunshine, Motsumotos, Kua Aina, slow driving, malasadas, lychee, kuhuku land farms, red raiders, and sunset surfing are words you don't ever want erase from your daily vocabulary.


There is nothing like watching your children fall in love with the sand and the ocean. Especially when I have 50 years of history on this Island, it makes me so happy that my kids are creating memories of sand and sea. Addie cried all the way to the airport " I don't want to leave Hawaii alone!!!!" Oh, we cried with her. The land and ocean here speak to me, and teaches me how to just "BE". The people here are beautiful because they are so open and genuine and take care of eachother. Remembering these things is always the challenge when I come back from this place, but I am determined to carry the ALOHA spirit...even in a world full of deadlines and filled-to-the-brim living.

But, now we are BACK!!! and as sad as I was to leave my favorite place on earth, I am really excited to show you all the exciting projects I have ahead. Two weeks of a vacation is long when you are soul owner of a business...but can I tell you: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!! I am refreshed, renewed and rejuvinated. I can't wait to dive into all the ideas I have flooding.


So...thanks for checking in, and sorry for the pause. But come back, pull up a chair and have a chat. Lots of new exciting things in the works. Hope to see you around!

The most precious Angel.

Today I want to pay tribute to a very special person. Three years ago this week (June 14th, 2005) Kennedy Linton, age 20 months, passed on to Heaven in her parents arms. This sweet little girl struggled courageously for 7 1/2 months with a very rare form of Brain Cancer, and though she went through multiple operations and treatments, she was the bravest little warrior through it all. Kennedy had so much spunk and personality, and though she lost her ability to communicate verbally (because of the Chemotherapy) she learned sign so well! She was so smart for her age...so grown up and yet so tender too. She loved books and animals, and loved learning of any kids. She was constantly pointing to everything in her world. She loved her parents and wouldn't leave her mother's side. She was a true little angel and yet, a warrior at the same time. We love you Kennedy.

Kennedy was the only child of my dearest friend Laura. This week I wanted to share with you Kennedy's story so that you can say a little prayer, or have a little thought on their behalf. Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare, but I have watched Kennedy's parents show as much courage through their personal grieving process as Kennedy had while she was here. Though it has been three years, I don't think that it hurts any less. Her parents are truly the bravest people I know.


In honor of Kennedy, her parents, and this very special week for them, I wanted to post some prints that I made a while back to celebrate her life. I will always miss this little princess, and wonder about the friends Kennedy and Addie would have been. This week my prayers are with Laura, Ryan and Kennedy, and I hope you can offer up a little thought too.

May this week be a celebration of a small life, but a BIG person. We love you Kennedy.

Battles and Bridges.

Still here. Heading out soon, and wishing I was there already.

Found this last year, and forgot about it until today. We all have these thoughts. Well, at least I do, and I am in constant change and motion as an artist and person that I sometimes fall into these traps. You? Call it the perfectionist in me fighting with the free spirit in me. They go to battle every once in a while (ok...a lot). Who wins? Who ever I allow.

OK, so can you tell I have had a hard battle this week? The hardest part is recognizing these mean evil ideas that creep in and having the confidence to push them away. Or in some cases, when they really don't want to leave and it seems like they are setting up camp in your brain, burning their villages down. These thoughts are ALWAYS a trap, and I have to admit that I fall in more than I would like to. This week's battle, I think Mr. Free spirit won. I hope.

Enjoy your weekend!

PS: found on Keri Smith's illustration/author blog. She posted this last year. You will find lots more deep/humorous thoughts on her blog. Enjoy!

TIME.OUT.


Ok. It's official. I am going on vacation. Not just any vacation. Hawaii. 2 weeks. No email. No computer. Husband's orders.

My husband's family is cramming all together in a 2 week vacation on the beach. I am more than ecstatic. My mother's side of the family has lived in Hawaii since the early 30's. So my roots are deep there. But this is a first for my husband's side, and I can't wait!

But this translates into a few things:

Shop will be closed June 10th -June 23rd.

This is the longest break I have ever taken.
(In my 7 month career on ETSY).

But it is much needed.

Sometimes I wish I was like these dear artists who have a lot more time on their hands to make make make. But then I pinch myself and realize that my time is filled with diapers, dressups, tantrums, tickles, messes, lullabies and kisses and I wouldn't have it any other way! My time to be creative is limited to a couple hours a week (which is not enough for my art brain that doesn't ever shut off!). But though I wish I had creative time everyday, I would be wishing my truest joy away: being a mom.

Everyone needs breaks from the go-go-go of real life. Charging the battery is key. Being truly alive is everything. Breathing and listening is vital to any scheduled day.

So, folks. There are just a few more days to order before I leave for two weeks. If you have been itching to get something, my last day at the post office is on Monday June 9th.

Oh, and a lot of you have been dying to see my studio...well, I drew a picture of it for you above. Isn't it cute?? My bike is parked on the side and you can borrow it while I am gone. Just bring it back.

French cuties.


Well, I never thought that I would be adding more to my little french animal series, but I have....and I like it. I am working on a licensing project with my "Maman" and "Papa" elephant and giraffe series, and they just looked so lonely to me, I decided to add some more.


I like that these can go together as a foursome, stand alone, work as a pair or work with other prints in my shop currently.


Stay tuned for more! My husband (a school teacher) is done with teaching for a bit and I am in "crank it out" mode. Crank it out, meaning, lots of creative time at night. Too bad I am up so early with the kids, that by 9pm I am falling asleep on my computer tablet! But oh well. Stay tuned!