Weekend in Seattle!

I just returned from the beautiful city of Seattle.  My first vacation in...um...how long?  5 years?  6?  I only had a few days, but I spent every moment exploring the city, taking photos, finding hidden treasures...and now I get to share it all with you!
Today I'm sharing photos from the sites at Seattle Center.  Above is, of course, the Space Needle.  Celebrating its 50th birthday this year!  Look at that blue sky!!! 

Check out these photos of the outdoor exhibits at the Chihuly Glass Garden.  Yes, these are all made of glass!  How cool is that?  I hadn't realized glass blowing was such a popular art in Seattle.

Got lots of pics of the EMP and park sculptures, but I'll finish my post with these photos of The Birches.  Again, beautiful art made even more stunning by a perfect blue sky!

I love this city!  I've been fortunate to visit Seattle four times and to never see a single drop of rain.  So, I might be a bit biased.  But the art, culture, friendly people, fresh/local/artisan foods, outdoor activities, little doggies everywhere....I could live with that.  Especially if I had one of these amazing rooftop gardens....  Okay, back to reality.  I had a great time and can't wait to share pics of Pike Place Market, Watson Kennedy, All Saints (my new favorite store, sorry Anthro!), local architecture....  And I came home with so many great project ideas!

I hope you had a happy Memorial Day weekend and took time to remember the men and women who gave their lives for our country.

Michelle

New Guestbooks Just Listed

I finally managed to carve out a little time to create books in my studio this week.  It's such a therapeutic task:  measure, cut, glue, smooth, press, sew.  And the best part is digging through my stash for just the right combinations of paper, bookcloth and seam binding.  I just listed these on Etsy.

Ooh, la la!  Eiffel tower print on recycled cotton paper

Black-on-black printed lokta paper

White on white hand-printed vintage wallpaper

White-on-white printed lokta paper

 Grey-on-white vintage wallpaper

Check my Etsy listings for more details and views!

Have a happy day!

Michelle

Great Day

I thought I should follow-up my last post with one that was...just the opposite!  A day with my beautiful children at the beach...that's just plain perfect!  Add to that a fantastic lobster roll at the Beach Plum in Hampton...

...a successful state gymnastics competition for my daughter...

...and an unexpected yard sale (sorry kids!)...

 This huge suitcase was locked and without a key.  A few old dental tools later and...well...lock was picked and here is the inside...

My first thought for this suitcase is to add casters and turn it into a coffee table, but, we'll see...Also found this great crate.  Large, green...perfect for summer entertaining supplies!

And...I'm leaving for a long weekend in Seattle in a few short days!!!  Haven't had a vacation in...well...um...hmmmm........

Hope you, too, had a happy weekend!

Michelle

Bad day

Okay.  You know when you are going to have one.  You know from the very first moment you wake up.  It's going to be a bad day.  Well, today was one of those days...

First, the kids slept an hour later than usual.  Depending on them as my alarm clocks as I do...well, this was not a good start.  The Keurig was out of water.  No half-and-half.  Kids couldn't agree on breakfast.  Dog wanted to be walked the moment I moved.

Ugh...

Tucker was late for school.  I didn't even get to take a shower.  But the worst of the morning came as my dog lunged at the unleashed chihuahua at the mill....i dropped my IPad.  Yup.  Dropped it.  The magnetic cover popped off.  Had I had it in one of my handmade IPad covers, I would have had nothing to worry about.  But, I didn't.  Just the magnetic Apple IPad cover.  This is what happened...

Those of you who have an IPad know how heartbreaking this is.  No, they can't fix it at the Apple store.  Not at "Small Dog Electronics" either.  Best Buy wouldn't even look at the thing.  I was told that "someone" who was "unauthorized" to fix IPads may be able to help me, but that they couldn't give me a referral because, well, it's not "authorized."  Argh....Any of you out there know one of those "someone"s who might be able to help me?

So, I did what the Apple institution wanted, and reserved my "new" IPad to be picked up Friday, when I still won't have the money for it.  I'm an artist!!!  Extra money?  What's that?????

Well, tomorrow's a new day, right???

Michelle

Mother's Day Gift

I pray all the moms out there had a beautiful Mother's day.  Mine was topped off with this lovely rainbow!  A reminder of what a wonderful gift it is to be a mom.

Have a happy day,
Michelle

Creative Space

Thanks to all of you who stopped in this weekend during the Nashua Arts Open Studios weekend!  It's always a joy to share my creative space!  With two shows behind me now, I'm looking forward to spending the next week in my studio exploring new ideas and techniques.  I can't help but be inspired in this space, surrounded by so many beautiful things...


...drawers filled with creative supplies...

...apothecary jars full of vintage treasures...

...old shoe factory racks stacked with antique books...

...and beautiful antiques, vignettes and display spaces.

My studio is truly my happy place!  What does your creative space look like?

Have a happy day!

Michelle

Open Studio this Weekend

I've been so busy getting ready for the Nashua Artists Open Studios this weekend that I forgot to blog about it!  Come by my studio this weekend for a bookbinding demonstration and, well, who knows what other creative projects I might dive into!  And don't forget to visit the other artist studio's in my building and across town!

Nashua Artist Open Studios Weekend

Saturday and Sunday

May 5 and 6

11-4

55 Lake Street

2nd Floor

Hope to see you there!

Have a happy day,

Michelle