Turning a new page....

Well, its been something I've been thinking of doing for, literally years. I've decided to give the ol' Audrey Eclectic blog a new and fresh start. I've agonized over it for a while, because I know that so many of you come here every week to visit me (Just look at the follower's list! Hundreds!) but I think a good fresh start is important ever so often and I feel the need to declutter. I also feel like my blog name and address should be more in line with my business and really, when I began this space, i didnt even have a business, let alone the brand 'Audrey Eclectic.'

It is my hope that we can just slide on over to the new place and not miss a beat. You can find my new blog here, http://audreyeclectic.blogspot.com/ and I hope you add my blog to your blogroll! If you've got this blog linked on your own blog, I would appreciate it very much if you updated the link.

Obviously, I dragged my feet on this for 4 years, so I dont anticipate changing up blog addresses for a good long while.

Again, thank you for being my reader. Let's start a new adventure, what do you say?

PS: I've got some good news to share on my first post at the new blog! Come see! :)

The story of a bathroom

There once was a girl who dreamed of living in an old house. With high ceilings and wooden floors and built in bookcases and mysterious stairwells and maybe a benevolent ghost or two. However, the girl didn't live in an old house, but a modern little house, with central heat and air, and builder's grade amenities. So she decided...she'd paint it old.

You know who I'm talking about ;)

I consider myself genetically predisposed to decorate. You can literally see it coming down the generations. My grandma tells stories of her grandma, a little old lady who lived in a rustic little log cabin in the Missouri Ozarks. There was a woodpile stacked high against the outside wall where grandchildren would ride goats. There wasn't running water, there wasn't even an indoor bathroom. But inside it was decorated to the hilt with little doodads and as much frippery as one could get on the side of a mountain. Perhaps its a magpie nature to constantly search out the pretty. Who knows. But all I know is sometimes I get the overwhelming urge to paint over the 'builder grade' vanilla I live in and make it something more myself :)

Take the bathroom, above. Its pretty standard, a small master bath with white cabinets, vanilla walls, and nothing to make it special. Add one can of 'hand cast pewter' Home and Garden paint and voila....

It's a whole new world!

You wouldnt think painting a small space an extremely dark color would make it feel larger (honestly, I couldn't imagine it feeling any smaller, so I had nothing to lose!) I think what helped was painting the ceiling so that it feels like the color reaches higher than it does.

To go with the dark walls and match the white cabinets, I decided on a white cotton shower curtain, which aside from the paint, was my only new purchase. I hung a black chunky frame from the hallway and surrounded it with doilies stretched on embroidery hoops (my new favorite decorating trick!) and it really changed up the whole space.

Ah, I love a fresh coat of paint!

Another thing I learned (and it should have been obvious) is that bathrooms need a different type of paint than the rest of the house because of the steam and the wetness. Our builder evidently didn't think of this, and so we had some crackling going on. But now that its this lovely water resistant semi-gloss, I think we'll be able to enjoy this new color for years, and many baths, to come :)

What do you think?

What Would Ma Ingalls Do?

Well, I've not only dusted off Tasha Tuesdays but "What Would Ma Ingalls Do?" as well :) in fact, I have given it its own blog :) I thought it would be fun!

For a while I've thought WWMID? should be its own entity, set apart from the regular art stuff of Audrey Eclectic. My idea is to make it more humorous and 'every day life' based, with an emphasis (of course) on motherhood/family/life issues. Not too serious, but some good food for though. I'd also like to take contributions from those of you who also love Ma (actually, I'd be up for contributions on Tasha Tuesday as well, just send me a message if you'd like to contribute!)

And so, without further ado, I give you the blog "What Would Ma Ingalls Do?"

Be sure to follow if you like, and share with your friends! I also have the blog button I can share with you if you'd like to post it anywhere :)

Thanks so much dears!~

H

Tasha Tuesdays Post # 46

Well guess what is back this summer ;) Tasha Tuesdays! I thought it would be a fun return, and have had some comments about how much it was enjoyed. And so here we are :)
This Father's Day weekend found me doing a strange amount of baking. With me, it has to be something I'm in the mood for. Usually, I need to to be hungry for it too ;) and with it being a holiday to celebrate my husband and Audrey's daddy, what better way to tell him he's special than to stuff him with homemade goodies, right? ;)

Making things from scratch always makes me think of Tasha. I love to get out her cookbook and try something new or an old favorite. It still blows my mind that she did so much of this stuff by hand--- not just the cooking but the animal care, the housework, the child raising, and also managed to have one of the most successful illustrating and writing careers of any American writer/illustrator. How did she do it all? Surely they had some soup and sandwiches for evening meals, just like the rest of us busy families ;)

I made this spiced plum cake from a recipe in the latest issue of Victoria Magazine. It was a bit of an experiment because you bake the cake in a skillet in the oven. I'd never had plums in a cake either but oh....goodness. Are they good. I think the recipe would also be really good to make little tarts in cupcake tins, putting a slice of plum on the top of each.

Of course, Victoria Magazine is also a Tasha connection, as she was featured in its pages several times over the years, I think she was their 'resident artist' at one point? It's just so funny how things start to overlap sometimes....

That coffee cup is my new favorite blue-and-white china purchase! Anyone read Russian? Surely is says something nice, right? hehe...

EDIT: My savvy husband was able translate it online and the cup says "Christ is Risen" :)

When I was baking the cake on Sunday my husband was watching some war/outerspace/lots of shooting movie, haha, so I shut the door and put in the Take Joy dvd. It was good for ambiance ;) watching it is always inspiring, and is it just me or do you get a little teary eyed when they show the photos of her children as little babies and that bittersweet music? Ah, I digress ;)....

It's spoken of a lot about how some people think Tasha was leading a life of huge escapism. They disdain the fact that she wasn't, like many people, just wallowing in sorrow and whatever the modern world threw her way. There's an idea that, in order to be a real part of the world, you have let the world, particularly its ugliness and sorrow, be part of who you are. But is that really true?

I can't help but wonder if the world would, in fact, be a better place, if we all chose to create our own worlds like Tasha did, instead of let the world form us. There's the idea of 'fake it til you make it.' What would happen if we decided we wanted a world that was beautiful and sentimental and inherently good? What if we chose kindness and compassion as if those were the only options? Treated others as we wanted to be treated? Took joy instead of misery? If we lived in a good fashion...after a while...would that lead to more good in the world?

Well, something to think about, at any rate? ;)

Hope you're having a beautiful Tuesday morning. Here it was actually cool outside when I went to feed all the animals. I couldn't believe it. Its like I'd forgotten how it felt to walk through air that was cool and light, not hot and as heavy as a steaming blanket. I wish it would stay for always! Until then, I guess I'll keep popping in the DVD and imagining myself in Vermont until Autumn, haha!

Happy Tasha Tuesday.

Not familiar with Tasha Tudor? Visit her family website HERE.

Monday's Winner...

Hello and Good Monday everyone! Hope you had a good father's day weekend!

Just wanted to thank those of you who posted on my 'getting to know you' post and entering to win a free print :) As of this morning, a winner has been chosen!~.....

...And the winner is: Dakota!

So come on up to the print trunk, Dakota, and pick yourself a print! :)

(And dont be scared of the creepy dolls....although if you're like me you'll like them ;) )

Print selection can be found HERE

How is everyone this morning? The sky is clear and blue here, and the wind sure is sweeping down the plain! The rabbits are complaining its messing up their hair. Picky rabbits.... ;)

China Blue

This may sound odd, but I really didn't realize my love affair with the combination of navy blue and white until I reorganized my closet a few weeks ago and found these colors took up a large chunk of my wardrobe.

They're great for summer, with their nautical feel, but also so timeless. I think I resisted blue in my decor for a long time because when I was a kid we got wall-to-wall blue carpet put in our house (this was during the country cutesy phase of the early 90s) and we were all sick of it by the time we finally moved ;)

But the love for blue seems to be seeping back into my life, and I really dont mind :) I find that I am really drawn to old blue and white china, and had collected a few cups and saucers a while back with a blue and white pattern (English countryside patterns, of course!) Not only would they be cheaper to acquire than an 'official' set of dishes, but they'd have more personality.

Yesterday though I had a sort of epiphany about china! You see, I often complain about the mysterious mountain of dishes that pile up in my sink. How do they get there? How on earth do three people, one under 4 foot tall, use so many dishes? It was ridiculous. I also broke yet another of the dishes in the set we got when we were married (nearly 7 years ago) and that left us with only 3 dishes in the set. So. I had an idea. I would collect old vintage plates, the more mismatched the better, and I'd use them as our everyday ware.

I'm a firm believer that everything tastes better in pretty dishes (hence, the start of my own ceramics line! lol!) and I realized that when you use a dish that has to be hand washed...you wash it after one meal, set it on the rack to dry, and then its ready to use for the next meal. No languishing in the sink or dishwasher waiting for the next wash cycle. Perhaps this is genius?

I bought the dishes shown above at the antique mall for $5 a dish (out of all the blue and white china I saw, they were of course on the more expensive side...but I couldnt live without those sail boats. The back says its a harbor scene of Bristol, England.) Then I needed something fancy to serve on them for their inaugural meal.

I knew the perfect thing! Recently Shayla had made this post about brown butter strawberry banana bread and I knew I had to have some too. The bread with its pretty red strawberries on the blue and white china were quite patriotic, don't you think? :)

It's perfect with a little blue and white china cup filled with coffee or tea or even milk. Because, even though it really didn't need the help, it all was marvelous on a pretty dish....

Come, sit a spell

Henry and I take a rest and people watch during one of our walks

So. Have a seat. Tell me, what have you been up to? How have you been? What's new? I'm always so glad you stopped by :) I don't know if you know, but one of my favorite things about this blog is seeing when people come to visit and where they're from, even if they don't leave a note. However, imagine me luring you to the comment section with a big slice of homemade cake and maybe some coffee or tea ;) aw, don't be shy!

Let's be friends!

It's one of those lulls in the week where I need to go grocery shopping and clean out my house. I hate doing it, but I'm always so glad when its done. Its sorta like a clean bathroom ;) but even with no painting on the table, we can still chat! Tell me about yourself :) want me to go first? ok!

I love art. I love it so much I can't imagine what people do with themselves if they dont do it. What do they do? (thinks hard) it's such a cliche but yes, I started drawing when I was little. At the dining room table, I'd write all sorts of badly spelled stories and illustrate them. My parents provided me with all the notebooks I could ask for. I thought maybe they thought I was a prodigy--- as a mother now I'm guessing they were just relieved they'd found a way to get me to be still and quiet!

I failed math in college. I married an accountant. So it worked out.

I seem to be genetically predisposed to decorate. It's a family problem. I now see it coming out in my daughter. I wonder, what prehistoric impulse created this? Is this how cave paintings came about? lol....more about that later though :)

It recently came to my attention that I am fair-skinned after two medical professionals told me this. What? You mean me being .0000000064% Cherokee wont guarantee me a good safe tan? Oops. So on goes the sunscreen and sun glasses. I'm embracing the pale. I guess it was a bit much to think that one Native American great-great-great grandma could undo the paleness of generations of English and German heritage ;)

And speaking of....one day I'd really love to visit Great Britain. Obviously, it's my homeland ;) I enjoy rainy foggy weather. I like tea. I'm evidently rather pale. I own a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (see above) and was recently confirmed Anglican (Episcopalian on this side of the pond) I look good in hats. Seems meant to be, don't you think? ;)

(I've noticed too I get a lot of visitors from England.....I'm especially curious about you darling folk....)

And so. Now it's your turn :) and because I really cant give you a piece of cake and some tea, I'll give you another sweet deal. From all the comments gathered here in the next few days, I will select a winner to win a free print. Any print in the shop. How does that sound?

So....about you.... :)

Book Love: John, Paul, George & Ben

Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite children's books, "John, Paul, George Ben." For those who think children's books are just for, well, children, you have obviously never been held captive by a four year old demanding a series of dramatic readings before she blesses you with bed time! For all those mamas and daddies who ever approached a busting bookshelf and secretly schemed "tonight we're gonna read my favorite..." well, here's one to add to your list:

"John, Paul, George, and Ben" (plus a rouge Tom) follows the silly childhood antics of five precocious little boys in colonial America. You probably know them and John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Each little boy has a silly habit or does some silly thing that we learn, ultimately, helps them become what made them special during the American Revolution and founding of our nation.

This book was written and illustrated by author/illustrator Lane Smith, who has written and/or illustrated several amazing children's books.

What makes this little book so fun to read is the tightly written comical stories that blend so well with the beautifully drawn illustrations that only enhance the comedy of the story. And yes, there are some slight Beatles references ;) (John, Paul, George...you know those guys!)

And although there is mch to love about this book, I think what I personally love most is the way Smith has taken the idea of Early American folk art and traditional 18th century illustration and given it his own twist and created a world that is once unique to his personal style but at the same time so very familiar.

This book is also special to me because years ago when it came out (2006) I was able to interview Lane Smith about it because he's something of a 'local boy' with his parents living in the area. In fact, I first reviewed it off a copy lent to me by his mom ;)

He was gracious enough to let me use images of his book here for your enjoyment, because I knew you would love it! Art lovers, history lovers, comedy lovers....it's got something that will entertain just about any discerning four year old and her very weary reading parent ;)

You can find a copy of this book at your nearest bookstore (Locals, I found several copies of this at Books A Million) or online. For more information about Lane Smith and his latest projects, you can visit his website, HERE.

Enjoy! And have yourself a little revolution!~

*Images used in this post copyright Lane Smith, Hyperion Books For Children

This That and the other....

Well, it may just be mid-June but it feels like full-on July. Perhaps its my English heritage, but I get a little testy when things are too bright and too hot. I like a little rain and mist to mix things up. I get a little whiny when the forecast is just a generic graph of mind-numbing blue and 90*+. How uncreative, weathermen!

Of course there's nothing like a little patriotism to make the heat a little more bearable ;) This General Washington folk art painting is just one of several that are now available at Blue Heron Mercantile Antiques in Jenks, Ok.

Also, just a reminder, my auction of the little angel painting with all the proceeds going towards the American Red Cross is up in less than 24 hours! So get your bid in while there's time! Who doesn't like to buy a little art and help those in need?

The auction is still going on HERE and I thank those of you who have already placed bids! You're the loveliest :)

Very Good Things.

So some very (very) good things are going on in Audrey Eclectic right now! I wanted to share them with you :)

First, I just listed a little Guardian Angel painting that I have now listed on eBay in order to offer the proceeds of the painting through eBay Giving Works. Lately episodes of extremely violent weather have made a huge impact on many of my fellow Oklahomans, neighbors in Missouri and others on the east coast. I'd like to do what I can to help through my art, so I'm offering this painting, with 100% of the proceeds going to The American Red Cross. Bidding starts at just $8! Click here for more info.

Another very good thing is that you can now buy original Audrey Eclectic artwork at Blue Heron Mercantile Antiques in Jenks, Oklahoma and I'm so excited about this endeavor! As far as I know, Blue Heron is the only place in Oklahoma where you can buy quality early American antiques, and they also offer a variety of handmade and American made folk art and decor. Their items range from the curious spooky (an antique rocking horse made out of....a real horse!?!) to sweetly homespun (beautiful samplers, candles, handmade stuffed animals in the vintage style) I've been a shopper for years, and now I'm happy to be a part of the magic :)

You can find out more about there store HERE.

Well, at the morning its a lovely cool and cloudy morning. All the critters are fed (Henry would never dream of letting me forget that!) and it looks like it might rain. I wish it would stay like this forever....but I know that a steamy 92* day awaits. Tomorrow will be 87* though! Oh my, I'll need a sweater, surely?! ;)

Thanks for your visit!~

h

Folk Painting: Mary and Martha

These girls came about on an unexpected free afternoon :) I hadn't initially meant for them to even be twins, but they sorta came out that way :) And so I decided to name them after the only other set of girl twins that were in my family--- Mary and Martha. They were my great-grandma Emma's little sisters. Number 11 and 12 of the Reid brood. Sensibly, after that, their mother decided that that was enough kids ;)

Inspiration for these girls came from my trusty copy of The Way They Were: Dressed in 1860-1865 which I picked up a few years ago at the Pea Ridge Civil War battlefield museum in Pea Ridge, Ar. The book is a photo reference meant for reinactors, but I find it priceless for inspiring art. Just looking at all those little children in their perfectly combed back hair and off the shoulder dresses....like tiny grown up folks, what must their lives have been like in the midst of such a life and culture changing time?

Still have more paintings on my brain, and its still hotter than hot out here. Guess that just means I'll stay in and paint....

Pretty Adalaide

I seem to be getting my second wind with painting, and of course that's a relief! Call it a growing pain, a funk, whatever it was, I am happy to be working through it. I'm also falling back in love (was I ever really out?) with the more old old Americana style of painting and subject matters. While it's always ok to dabble a bit, it's good to revisit these old fashioned portraits like this new one, Adalaide:

Some nice spring colors for a change, and I've been trying my hand at creating portraits that look like they are old family heirlooms. You know, found in a trunk after a house fire and an indian raid ;) that's my art aesthetic. This painting has such gritty dark detail to it, I wish the camera could really capture the depth to it.

I am very pleased with this little painting though, and its always a relief to get that first painting down after a difficult period. So now I am happy at the painting table again, and even happier to share with you this pretty portrait that Andrea over at Little Big Head (where Ada Shares) has made the sweetest little portrait for me--- of me and Audrey! It is the cutest and I love it so! You can see the portrait and the rest of her lovely and whimsical art HERE.

Hope its a good week for you. I'm hoping for steady and productive :) I'll get it done one thing at a time....

Tea Time with Jane Eyre

Yesterday on the news they said we're having the hottest June since 1911. We're beyond the Dust Bowl. I'm hiding inside with tea and cookies :)

My shop is nicely stocked with pretty little mugs for your perusal. I'm always thinking of new designs, and always willing to take suggestions! My only stipulation is that with literary characters, they must be classic (public domain works) so that I can respect copyrights.

Anyhow....its surely hot here. I have a frozen water bottle snuggled in with the bunnies and a fan on them. My lettuce has grown 8 feet tall (perhaps a slight exaggeration) and is sprouting the prettiest yellow flowers... my husband asks, "is it supposed to do that?"

I think I'll spend this sweltering summer in complete denial and just paint halloween paintings ;) I need a good stock of autumn items anyway, because this year Indie Emporium is Sept 30- Oct 1, and I'm super excited! It's going to be in a completely new venue as well and my plan is to have a large booth this year.

So...In other words...this mama needs to get painting!

Thanks to all of you who've been so sweet and supported my little shop. I appreciate it so much :) Every new order is always a treat, and I love sending my creations all over this country and world. At least a part of me is well traveled, right? :)

Have a good weekend and stay cool!~

h

When all else fails....go Halloween.

So yesterday was one of those days. Audrey was at preschool and I hour upon precious hour to create. And nothing would come. It was hard and completely frustrating. Some times I get in this funk where its like there is just too much coming through the filter and I just freeze not knowing which direction to go in.

And so, that afternoon, I grabbed a bunch of old autumn season magazines and just leafed through them, soaking up some images and ideas. And that's how I got Eugenia:

She's super old-timey, bonnet and all. And you know I can't resist a good pumpkin. It's been a while since I've painted a painting this old and home spun. I've been lost in the 30s for a bit. But its good to do a change of pace. And I do love some old timeyness....

I've just listed this painting on etsy if she strikes your fancy. I dont know about you, but I love halloween all year 'round. It's never too early or late for a pretty girl and her pumpkin, right? ;)

See the listing HERE

Inspiration....?

Nothing left on this corner but some old front steps....

It's one of those days. I've been sketching and starting and stopping paintings for hours. Nothing is coming. Inspiration is...gone. Dont you hate that? I know enough to not worry too much...it'll come back. I think I am worrying too much about what others will want and not what I want to paint, and that always saps up the inspiration like no body's business.

Pondering if I should start on halloween. Or something else all together. Maybe I need to go to the antique mall. Surely the answer to all the tough questions in life await in a pile of discounted old tattered goods?.....