I want to travel. I want to travel so badly. It seems like everyone and their mom went to Hawaii the past month and it made me so jealous. I don't really want to go to Hawaii, although I should go visit my sister. She lives there, on an old school bus.

No, I don't want to go Hawaii. I want to go to Paris. I know it's so corny and so touristy. I don't want to see the Eiffel Tower or even L'Arc de triumph. I want to go to the Louvre for four days. I want to walk down narrow streets. I want to see architecture. I want to eat croissants and drink coffee, wine and aperitifs. I want to use the 5 years of French that I paid good money for in college (that I'm still paying for). I just want to wander around an unknown city and get lost and feel small.

That's what I want.

I actually have enough money saved up for an adventure like this. But I'm scared. One thing you learn when you grow up without money is how to save it. The other thing you learn is that even a small emergency can leave you with nothing, so hold onto that money with a death grip.

I'm just going to keep holding on and stashing away and dreaming.

In other news I've been working on a new illustration and a commission. The commission piece is for a shop in New York located near Chautauqua Lake. I'm really happy with how this turned out and so is the shop owner.

Happy Blue Heron

It's Monday.

I actually don't really mind Mondays. Work is slow, we don't receive very much freight and things just seem more relaxed.

I also have three days of art making to look forward to.

Little Squirrel

Last week I received an e-mail from local shop Tilde asking if I'd like to be the featured artist for April. One of their scheduled artists couldn't make it and so I was asked and of course I said yes!

So, I have a couple of weeks to put together a show from all of the animal pieces that I've been working on. I'm really excited to show the originals. I've been loving this series and I want to share them with everyone.

I do want to create a few more pieces the show. There's always that chance of added pieces looking awkward with the rest of the series, but I'm going to try to avoid that as much as I can. Maybe I'll set all the pieces around me while I work. And maybe if I'm aware of the weirdness that sometimes happens, I can avoid it.

Narwhal Etching

I've been working on some new etching prints, and I'm experimenting with collage and maybe beeswax. I don't really know where I'm going with it, but I love the juxtaposition of the etching with the collage. I'm going to keep working with it and see what kind of results I can achieve.

fox. Etching with collage and paint.

I'd love to make a book with the etchings and maybe include some sewing. I have a lot of ideas about this and I wish there were more hours in the day.


Well, Monday calls and I have work to get ready for. Happy Monday, friends.

New Whales

When I was a little girl I would often think about becoming a marine biologist. We always lived rather close to the ocean because my dad was in the Navy. Almost every year my class would visit an aquarium, sometimes twice a year...

This little narwhal has sold, but he'll be back in stock soon!

I loved these trips to the aquarium. I loved learning about the ocean and what lived in it. It was always a bit frightening to me too. Such a vast expanse of deep water that could take you out with one swoop.

Whale.

A few years ago, Nate and I rented a little cottage right on the beach. You could stand out on the deck and see the ocean. At night you could go out and see the black, dark, ocean and it would give me chills.



I completed these two whale prints the other day and it got me thinking about all these memories. It also made me think about how important our oceans are and how much they've been suffering. I truly hope that we can help heal our oceans from pollution and human neglect. I feel like if we can bring back the blue whale from the point of extinction, we can help bring back our oceans too. It's just going to take some work and sacrifice on our end.

Things and Things

Well, another election year has come and gone.

I'm happy it's over. I'm happy with many of the results including gay marriage in Washington State and Elizabeth Warren as the Senator of Massachusetts. Elizabeth Warren for President? Hillary for VP? Too soon? I don't think so. My heart is also happy that Obama was re-elected. I still have hope for our country and I feel like Obama can continue his good work. I try not to get too political on my blog, but I feel like these are important times and shouldn't be ignored.

Two foxes.

Anyway, I spent my glorious day off making a new fox illustration and listed my little jerboa painting on Etsy. I'm trying to get as much done as possible before Turkey day. I'm planning yet another big sale in my shop the day after Thanksgiving and I would like it to be filled to the brim!

Little Jerboa

Stay tuned for secret coupon codes!

Tearing it up.

New Postcards

I've had little to no motivation to do anything today.

However, I pushed through and finished a second holiday post card. Yay! I've only been working on it for a month or so. I think it was the fact that it's Christmas-y and really I'm not ready for the holidays. I don't think anyone at this point is ready for the holidays. unfortunately, in the world of gift cards, and such things, holiday planning starts in about august. So really, I am far far behind.

Well, they're done!

I think they're pretty cute.

a co-worker gave me the idea of doing holiday post cards vs. a greeting card. First, it saves paper. No envelope to deal with. Second, it saves a little money. You can stick a post card stamp on it and save a few cents :) Brilliant! Thanks co-worker.

Unless, of course, you need to write a lengthy holiday catch up letter, I think post cards are kind of perfect. I never know what to say other than ,

"Merry Christmas! Hope you have a happy new year! -Michele "




So yeah. There you go.

New Things

I've been adding new things to my shop this week!
Hooray!

Let's Spend the Night

It's always so nice to update my Etsy shop with fresh new things.

Let's Discover New Things

 You can find Spend the Night  here, New Things here and owl cards here :)

I've got a few more little pieces of art in the works and I hope to have them done and listed next week. I've been working so much on paper I've forgotten that I have some small panels that I can paint on. I'm hoping to get around to working on those next week, and hopefully I can add some new paintings to my shop next month.

Owly card

Planning, planning. I seem to always be planning.

Let's Go

I started this illustration yesterday.

I'm still working on it, but I feel like it's coming together and will be done soon. I saw this beach wood structure on the beach during our camping trip last month. I loved how it looked and I love it when people create shelters like this on the beach.

Work in progress.

I always ask my self, "Why?", when I see things like this. Why did they feel compelled to put it together? Did they really need the shelter? Maybe they were bored? Maybe they needed a place to spend the night?

Inspiration.

Whatever the reason it is that they built it, I like it.

an owl!

Just had to draw this dude today.
Originally uploaded by michele_maule
I was finally able to sit down and work on this little owl yesterday.

I had so many other things to get done, but I dropped everything I was doing, turned on some music and put paint to paper. He's not quite done yet, but I like the beginning so far.

It was very much needed time for myself and time to make art. The windows were open and there was the loveliest summer breeze blowing through the house. It was such a nice hour and half :)

I'm still debating on which image to use for my upcoming dog portraits, and I am also putting the finishing touches on the American Gothic painting. I'm having a hard time painting hazel eyes, for some strange reason...

In other news, we're planning on going to see Susie Ghahremani's show at Land tonight! I've been a fan of her work since I joined Etsy 5 and a half years ago. I'm going to try to put my shyness in check so I can say hello to her. We'll see how that goes...

Friday!

New illustration in my Etsy shop :) "Come away with Me"

Friday is technically my Thursday, so I don't get that excited when it rolls around, but I do start thinking about what I'd like to do on my day off.

I'm not sure what our plans are for the weekend, but I'm sure it will involve digging in our year. We still have a lot of work to do and we didn't get anything done last weekend.

I also want to get some more work done on my commissioned piece. I'm looking forward to working on it!

also, I thought I would share a little sale that I'm having in my Etsy shop with you. It's buy two 8x10" prints for $30.00.

Well, I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Share Time

I'll Protect You

I have new art! I actually have a lot of new work, but I'll share that later.

Remington Rand Love

Chickadee 58

So here they are. New things! Maybe you'll like them. Maybe you won't. Maybe they'll make you smile, or maybe they'll make you angry. Maybe they'll inspire you. Maybe you'll think they're boring. However they make you feel, I hope they make you feel something.

You can find the Chickadee here and Remington Rand here. 

Happy Wednesday folks!

24 Little Hours

What a difference between today and yesterday.

Sometimes I wish someone would just tell me to get over myself. I forget to tell myself this, and so I just live in my head worrying and tripping over my thoughts.

anyway, things are going a bit smoother today. I got an illustration done and I am really happy with it. I'm planning on doing another today, I just gotta get myself to the store to get some groceries before it gets too late. I'm planning on making some potato leek soup tonight! yes, I will be blogging about it...

We'll see how this goes. I haven't made it for sometime...

It's such a lovely day outside. a bit chilly, but the sun is out and I went and tried to absorb as much vitamin D as I could this afternoon! :)

Oh, I also wanted to mention that I will be doing a craft fair this Saturday at New Seasons Market on 33rd and Killingsworth! Come say hi to me! It goes from 9-5.

Okay...gotta get some errands done!

Mmm...Easter Candy

I love Easter because in my opinion it has the best candy...I am currently munching on Cadbury Mini Eggs. The chocolate egg candy with the thin crunchy sugary shell. These are my favorite.

So my throat is feeling better. It's the Virattack I think. I do want to try that tincture Kick Ass that Linda suggested. That stuff sounds awesome! If it still hurts on Monday I will for sure go to the doctor, it's just that I don't have health insurance and I really can't afford any more medical bills...but I feel fine and I think it's going away :) Thanks for all your concern.

I finally got all caught up on my orders!

I started posting some illustrations in my Etsy shop. I am really excited about them. I think they look great and I am really enjoying making them. It just feels so good to draw. The whole process of mark making has made my day.

If you haven't stumbled upon Indie Pretty Perfect Blog lately I suggest you do. There is an interview with me! You can find out all about my secrets and some juicy gossip...well...not really but it sounds good.

It's Friday! That means I will be catching up on my Lost and my Survivor! Oh, and drinking a healthy amount of beer. I love Friday!