illustration #121

Well, I can't believe this is my last illustration for the year. Boy did this year go by quickly (or is that something old people just say?) Anyway, I have accomplished what I set out to do and that is create an illustration every day from September 1st to December 31st. One hundred and twenty one of them. So, that being said, I wish you all a very healthy, happy and prosperous new year. Some words of wisdom or a bit of advice? Hmmmm, don't spit in the wind.

Illustration #120

Hoping the simplicity of life finds you curious.

Illustration #119

So, so very glad this part of the holidays is over. I tried so hard to keep Christmas small and not so commercial. Every year I get better and better at it. But somehow, I end up making lots of little late night trips to the shops because I forgot one more gift. How can it get simpler? Shall I boycott shopping and gift giving all together? My sister and I decided that for our birthday (we share the same one as we are twins) we are going to buy gifts for each other at second hand stores. No large and expensive new items allowed. If that goes over well, maybe we can extend that into the Christmas season. Not sure some of my friends and family members would be that into that idea. Maybe a handmade Christmas next year! I don't know, got a whole year to think about it!

IF_Soar / Illustration #118

Buster, the best dog one could ever ask for left this earth two and a half years ago. He now soars the sky, waiting for our reunion. Soar little one, soar. We'll soon meet again!

the squeaky wheel gets oiled...

We have a dog and a cat who live in an almost harmonious state in our little home, so I thought. Well, today, Teva the dog was waiting patiently for her breakfast and Scratty the cat kept walking by her meowing very loudly and turning around and sauntering by her again and again. I was getting annoyed at the obstinate behavior of the cat so you can imagine how the dog who strongly dislikes small animals was feeling. After about the 50th time the cat teasingly strutted by Teva, she couldn't hold back anymore and almost attacked the cat. She knew better not to fully accost the one with daggers and sharp claws but she was very disturbed by this small animal teasing her. I couldn't believe her. I thought she had come to terms having the furry thing known as a cat in the house for two years now. Apparently I was gravely mistaken. She is only tolerating the cat. I thought they might grow to be buddies. I guess not. I suppose I shouldn't feed the noisy one first anymore and maybe Teva will feel better about that, maybe that will give her a little more sense of being the more powerful one. Just when you think you have it all figured out...

illustration #117

Santa, I've been a very good girl this year.

IF_Horizon / Illustration #116

There is something so inviting about a vacant beach and nothing but blue skies out on the horizon.

End of Year Itch.

Today I am really looking forward to starting the new year. I took down some Christmas decorations and started going through closets and stacks of magazines. I love the start of a new year, especially when the previous one has been unpredictable, bad or unlucky. 2007 was none of those but I still am looking forward to a new beginning, starting fresh. The start of a new year holds anticipation for me, much like a brand new book filled with unread words ready to jump off the page and into my mind. I can't wait to see what 2008 has in store for lil' ol' me. I bet it's gonna be a good one! I can just feel it.

illustration #115

Have a holly, jolly Christmas! Wishing you cheer and joy on this glorious day!

illustration #114

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas Eve!

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing...

Ah, finally it's Christmas Eve. I have been waiting for this day because this means I won't be running out late at night picking up "just one more" present for someone I have left off the list and because my son will stop talking about Santa and asking me questions like "Mama, do you love Santa?" and "Mama, how will Santa get in the house because we don't have a fireplace?" Yes, it is Christmas Eve. Sigh of relief.

We went to a Christmas Eve church service at Eastlake Community Church. It is contemporary and very, very comfortable there, no pressure to sing and wave your hands in the air if you don't want to. I have been there a few times and really, really enjoy it. I just wish it wasn't so far. After the service, we had to rush home so one member of the family could see the rest of the Charger game that he sacrificed watching (like a bleeding lamb) so we could go to the church service to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas as a family. Then, my son and I went out for take out food and rushed around trying to find an open restaurant to only rush home again to gobble down the food and then make cookies for Santa. We made Rice Krispy cookies (the quickest sweet treat I could think of) and left some out for Santa and some carrots out on the porch for the reindeer. (This means I will be eating Rice Krispy cookies late tonight and making little nibbles and bites out of carrots!) Now, I just gotta finish sewing a present for my nieces, wrap a last minute gift and try to get some sleep. Big gigantic sigh of relief! Despite all of this, Life is good!

illustration #113

Tonight we went driving around looking at Christmas lights in different neighborhoods. It seemed like such a Christmas-y thing to do. Most people throw up a few lights around the perimeter of their roofs and call it a day but then there are the daring, innovative individuals who go all out and are the Griswalds of the block. Those houses are the gems when you are twisting and turning in strange neighborhoods hoping with every turn there will be something spectacular to look at. So, thank you Griswalds for making our Christmas light adventure ever so worth it!!

Illustration #112

Shaken, not stirred. Louise and Norbert felt so safe in their little round, white world, but every once in a while a big storm would come and they would be flung about like the answer block in a Magic 8 Ball. It only happened once in a very great while and the snow fell so pretty whenever it did happen that they didn't mind so much. They still liked their little home.

Could You Call This Addiction?

Today I treated myself to a long power walk along the La Jolla coast line. I have shirked my daily exercise these past few days because I have been really busy lately with work projects, Christmas hoopla and well life in general. As I walked in the brisk morning air, I thought about the new year that is readily approaching and what is in store. I am a little sad that my Daily Illustration Challenge will be coming to an end and this lead me to thoughts on what to do with my restored energy for my work and this blog I have created. I know for a fact that I won't be giving up this blog and I most likely will keep doing my daily illustrations along with some other creative ideas I have brewing because I have come to the realization that this blog is sort of my "crack". I am not only addicted but I definitely get a sort of creative "high' from it. I know that sounds weird to some folks, but it makes perfect sense to me. Call me a bucket full o' crazy then because Life Without Novacaine is here to stay. There, I said it. It's out there in the universe.

illustration #111

Santa and his reindeer out for a trial run. The big night is coming!

illustration #110

Winter Wonderland.

IF_Backwards / Illustration #109

Elaine knew, just knew as she looked backwards over her shoulder she was being followed. This time it wasn't pretty. Always look backwards as you exit the restroom!

illustration #108

Today I was driving in North County after I had completed a mural job and I drove past an area that had a shopping center with a few restaurants. Seeing that area hit me hard, like a bag of cement, as I realized that one of those restaurants was the last place I had eaten a meal with my father before he died. He has been gone six years, 6 months and 29 days. I never realized how hard it was going to be to lose my father. I wish I had an inkling because maybe, just maybe I would have payed more attention to the little things. He was a great dad. I always, always knew if I needed anything or just needed someone to believe in me, I could turn to him. And that is the one thing that hurts the most, having that security gone. Just gone.

Today's illustration is of a redbud tree. The color is a deep plum in the spring and summer and the leaves turn to yellowish green in the fall, eventually falling to the earth. The really special thing about the tree is that the leaves are shaped like little hearts. My father loved these trees. A small bit of his ashes are buried under a redbud tree in Lake Tahoe, a place he truly loved. I have a redbud tree in my yard, a gift from my mother. I love that tree. This illustration is for you dad. I miss you terribly.

illustration #107

This illustration is for a story I am about to share with you. Looking back, it is so funny but at the time it happened I was mortified. Here goes... Last week I went walking with my sister, which I often do, and after our long, long walk we treated ourselves to a nice cup of coffee at a place called "It's A Grind" (which by the way has great coffee and blows Starbucks away!) So, having been there a few times, we have gotten to know a few individuals who work there and we were chatting away while the "coffee guy" was making our iced decaf americanos. WELL, apparently he has not been coached with the simple rules of what not to touch while making a coffee drink because as he was cluelessly talking away, he had his hand on my drinking straw with his thumb on the top of it trying to repeatedly stab it into the drink lid. Not only did he fail miserably by touching the part of the straw I am supposed to PUT IN MY MOUTH but he had black stuff under his fingernails which led me to make a snap judgement of how clean his hands were. As he is making these repeated stabbing movements with my straw, my sister and I are just staring at the cup of coffee with eyes open wide as they could go. You see, I am sort of a germ-a-phobe and my sister is even worse so as you can imagine the horror we were feeling at that moment. I couldn't get past the picture of this big hairy hand with black gunk under the nail beds touching my straw! Of course, being the non confrontational whimp I am I didn't say anything but you can bet as soon as his back was turned, that straw came out of that cup so fast and in came a new clean one. AHHHHHH, why did I have to see that? If I didn't see that, I'd never know what goes on behind those big espresso machines and I could live peacefully in my own little sterile world without a germ in sight! Ha, as if life could ever be that simple. It would be just my luck that the straw he was using was the one that had fallen on the rubber mat on the floor with out the paper wrapping. Would serve me just right!

Good Dog!

Here is the larger painting to go with the set of three. Wish it was going in my house because I love dogs and although I have one already, three more would be nice addition (and these I wouldn't have to walk, feed or pick up after!)

There is one other dog painting I did but I'll have to post later as it is a Christmas gift and we don't want to spoil the surprise, right?

Caught in the act!

Here is a photo someone captured of my son NOT paying attention during the Christmas program at his school the other night and not only is he not paying attention but he has a grimace on his face from something his little friend is telling him. What in the world was he saying and what were they thinking? Totally caught in the act I would say! I suppose I should be horrified as this was going on in front of hundreds of people, but actually I find it a little funny. When I was little, I was up to the same shenanigans.

illustration #106

This set of paintings I did today are for a series of dog themed paintings I have been commissioned to paint for someone. These paintings are 11"x14" each and will be hung on the wall as a set.I will post the large painting tomorrow that will complete the set. They are for a little boy's room.

illustration #106

These are hawaiian luggage tags for our upcoming trip to Maui. We will be flying across the Pacific ocean on the very first day of 2008. What a great way to start a new year! (Although my very favorite color in the whole world is green, my tag is the orange one, which I am really loving right now.)

Too cool for school!

Occasionally, my husband and I will stand back and observe my son when doesn't know he is being watched and we get a glimpse of his real personality, his true self, when he is feeling uninhibited. Well, today my husband saw my son in the bathroom, looking in the mirror. This is what he saw. My son glanced at himself in the mirror, bent his knees just a bit, making a little dip while sort of nodding his head at his reflection, tilting his head back just ever so slightly while giving himself a little wink and pointing his finger with his thumb up (like a little gun shape.) I am sure there was a little click of his tongue for sound effect. This was all as if to say "Hey there" or "Whaz up" or "You got it goin' on!" All this from a six year old. I find this hilarious and wonder where in the world did he get that? Will there be more stolen moments of him practicing social behaviors in the mirror? Most likely yes. I would love to be the fly on the wall each and every time, but I'm sure that isn't going to happen any time soon for me, if ever. Kids. Gotta love 'em.

illustration #105

Angels We Have Heard on High....

Last night was the Christmas program at my son's school. They have been practicing very hard for weeks and it showed last night when the whole school was singing. This is our second year at this school and twice now I have been astounded at how nicely the production comes together. It was a really, really nice program. Hooray CTCS!!

illustration #104

RRRiiiiibbbbiiiittttt!

illustration #103

This is a dog illustration from a photograph for a painting I am working on. It's Bobo to the rescue.

illustration #102

Rudolf is looking a little dazed and confused. His nose may be bright but now I wonder about his brain. Do you think he really could lead those 8 tiny reindeer?

home is where the heart is...

I was doing some late night Christmas shopping with my sister tonight and there was a Christmas tree with little cards with people's names and a brief description about them that you could take and purchase a gift in the store for them. The store in turn would make sure the correct person received the gift. Well, we were looking at the tree and took one of the cards for a 54 year old developmentally challenged woman who likes to do arts and crafts and who lives alone. We wandered through the store for a while trying to pick out a gift for this person and found it was actually a little harder than we thought it would be. Was some of our selections too juvenile, too advanced, not challenging enough? We ended up with a drawing kit that I think would be appropriate but it got me thinking about her. Who is this lady? Does she have family? She lives alone so she can care for herself but what sort of challenges does she face everyday? I wish I could get to know her.

illustration #101

Santa knows when you are sleeping and when you are awake. He also seems to know when you are thinking about eating that extra piece of pie so you better be good!

illustration #100

This is illustration 100! Wa-hoo! It's beginning to look alot like Christmas..........

There's Magic in the Air in Anaheim

OK. Here is my Disneyland story. My sister, her two daughters and my son and I went to Disneyland on Thursday. It was such a magical day. It was not very crowded (a very big plus for me), the lines were somewhat short and everyone was having a really great time. We all got along, there were no meltdowns and there truly was some magical dust being sprinkled on us that day.

Well, I suppose every story has to have an unhappy ending of sorts and here it is. We had left the park to eat dinner at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel so the kids could meet some of the characters. On our way back we walked through a section called Downtown Disney where there are lots of shops and restaurants outside of the park. We stopped in one of the stores so one of the kids could pick out a toy and while we were walking through, a little girl was whining to her mom and said, "let's go to the girl section." I thought that was funny and gave a little chuckle and kept walking. Well, when we got out of the store, my son told me the little girl had jabbed him in the neck. My niece saw it and said the same thing. I was torn, do I make a big deal out of it or just say it was an accident and blow it off? I wanted to just ignore it and keep walking because we were missing the parade but they insisted it was not an accident. So, I thought to myself, I should be a good mom and stick up for my child and go confront the mom.

That is what we did. We went back into the store and looked around for the two unsuspecting bullies and couldn't find them, much to my glee. BUT then the room seemed to go dark and a spot light snapped on and highlighted the little girl with her mom across the room. Everything stood still and you could almost hear crickets chirping. Gulp. Here was my opportunity to set a good example. I held on tight to my son's hand and ever so nicely went up to the little girl and her mom and said "Excuse me but my son told me you poked him in the neck, do you remember doing that?" The little girls eyes opened as big as saucers and just gave me a blank stare. Her mom then asked me very sarcastically when that could have happened and I told her when it was. Then her mom proceeded to suggest it was an accident, I asked the little girl (very, very nicely because I am not mean) if she could have done this accidentally. All I got was a blank stare again. Well, I wanted to drop the whole thing and run far, far away because this was getting uncomfortable but I looked at my son and said that it very well could have been an accident. The incident was ALMOST over. But then the mother had to give me an exasperated sigh and start to WALK AWAY. I'm sorry but you don't just walk away. This is an opportunity to teach your child that if you bump into someone, poke someone or step on someone, you make sure that you didn't hurt that person and maybe say "I'm sorry." So I had to chase the mother and confront her because now this was getting personal. I could tell she was irritated and tired. I remained calm and still was very nice but more insistent this time. Our conversation proceeded with the mother explaining her daughter was only four and a half and she was having a hard night and was suggesting that this didn't happen. I asked her if I should not believe my child and after a few words from her I realized this was going nowhere so I looked at my son and niece and explained to them that this mother does not want to take responsibility for her child and we should go. So we did and the only thing that I can say was good about this incident was that I stuck up for my child. I am not a confrontational person at all so this was WAY out of my comfort zone, but at least my kid knows I have his back when he needs me to. And that's all I have to say about that.

We then went back into the park and went on another ride before we headed home. Overall, it was a great day. Too bad for rude people but I suppose they are everywhere ... even at the happiest place on earth.

illustration #99

Some jelly for a jolly season.

IF_Little_Things / Illustration #98

Yes, it is the little things that keeps us bursting with laughter. However, the dog doesn't find our antics so funny all the time.

the happiest place on earth...

Yesterday, we went to Disneyland. It was such a great day, however, I have a post Disneyland hangover (too much magic and stardust for one day) and I must save my story for tomorrow. I have one, trust me.

illustration #97

This is the last belt buckle design. Mmmm, red and turquoise, what a combo!

We just got back from Disneyland so I'll have something good to blog tomorrow. As of right now, I am headed straight to bed. ZZZZZZZZZZ

Belt Buckles Galore!

Here are the final belt buckles my sister makes. They are so cool and very unique. She sold them at the vendor party tonight where I sold my painting. Love, love, love them.

illustration #96

This is a painting I made a few days ago and tonight I SOLD it at a vendor party. It's called "Feed My Soul." Yipee for me!

IF_Excess / Illustration #95

There were too many choices at the corner coffee house. All she wanted was a little jolt to get her going that morning.

The weather outside is frightful...

Today we finished our snowman. In San Diego, our chances of making a real snowman are very, very slim so Kainoa and I spray painted our Halloween pumpkins white, stacked them one on top of another and decorated like a snowman. He guards our home while we are away. Watch your shins when you come to the door, Mr. Snowman takes his job very seriously!

illustration #94

This here is Wasabi Man. He came from the tragic event of eating wasabi peas and then rubbing his eyes. Take it from him, DO NOT rub your eyes after eating wasabi peas. EVER! Equate it to cutting into a raw onion and hovering it over your eyeballs. Your eyes will water like there is no tomorrow! So unless you like that kind of pain, eat your wasabi peas and then head directly to the washroom and thoroughly clean your hands. Your eyes will thank you.

(Did this really happen? Well, yes. But not to anyone else but me. I wasn't going to confess this because how many pathetic stories can I tell about myself? Apparently, quite a few but I just thought a new character would be a little more fun. So there you have Wasabi Man!)

Party Schmarty.

Today I was such a crab. I am not sure why but it was nothing that a nice strong cup of coffee couldn't fix. So I made sure I had 2 really large cups today. Ah, the beauty of caffeine when you are nicely weaned off the stuff gives you a lovely jolt. I had to have one this afternoon when I took my son to a kid's birthday party. I don't know about most adults but for me, the kid birthday thing can just be so excruciating. I know it's for the kids and they are having fun, and I could look at it a whole different way but when the invites come around, it certainly is not my favorite thing to do. In fact, I think I would rather re-organize my filing cabinet. I do pretty well in the parent department but I will readily admit this is one of my shortcomings. It's a noise level thing I think.

illustration #93

Yet another belt buckle. I am so loving these!

illustration #92

Another belt buckle design. I will show you a photo of the actual product when they are done drying (should be just a few days!)