I love the smell of sawdust,  all forms of nature, and having a good time no matter where I'm at.  I can single handedly thank my Dad for all of these things.   He taught me everything I know.    The man was born full of mischief and wonder, 

and he passed those things on to me. 

  He taught me at an early age about gardening.   we were always doing something in the yard when I was a kid,  planting things here and there.   we'd spend hours and hours at the Botanical gardens,  or in the woods where he'd teach me about all of the kinds of trees,  learning to recognize each one by the leaves.  We'd poke around logs, where all the bugs and critters might hide, or hunt for puff ball mushrooms that he'd poke amazing me  by the cloud of pollen that would shoot out.   Endless weekends were spent on the Huron river in a canoe.  In fact, This is how I learned to steer a canoe,  by the years of torment he put me through on those rivers. He would always be in the back steering us extra close to shore because that's where all the interesting stuff would be,  snakes,  turtles, spiders.  He'd steer us straight into cobwebs,  where spiders would fall into the boat,  or land on my body and I'd flip out.  He'd always laugh,  while I wanted to kill him.
I lOVED being on those rivers mind you,  he taught me all sorts of things, like being able to paddle without making a sound…. but from now on, If  I am in a canoe, I'll be the one in the back of the boat doing the steering.

    He's always had that kind of silly humor,  messing with us to rile us up.  He'd wake us up in the morning when we were kids by banging on the door like a gorilla,   pulling us out of bed by our feet.  It used to make me laugh,  my sister,  not so much.
  He's always been that way,  curious and kind of naughty.  He told me stories about things he used to do when he was young,  one of them involved cutting off the braided tail of a prize winning horse. 
  I think that kind of mischief comes from an active imagination,  and bright mind.  My Dad in my opinion is brilliant.   He was an eagle scout,  and track star.  A valedictorian and voracious reader.  He went to Yale, and then to the UofM to work on a PHd in Linguistics.  The man speaks Chinese fluently.   Ever the Scholar, he  reads books about the constellations, and does complicated math problems and equations just for fun. 
I did not inherit that math part at all.  nope,  not one bit.

  I did however inherit a love of other kinds of Learning……reading his Auduban books about birds,  visiting museums and learning new words. I also  learned to make things with my hands.  He taught me how to use power tools,  and as a Man raising a daughter,  I think that's pretty cool.  You gotta love a dad that gives his daughter a table saw for her birthday.  just my kind of guy. 
  we'd spend hours in his shop when I was a kid,  He was a custom cabinet builder for years,  installing some of the most beautiful kitchens you've ever seen.  Working with exotic woods,  and crafting things with fine details.
I learned about dove tails,  and mitre joints when I was young.  In fact,  when I was little I had a bird that died. I was so upset and sad.  my dad made me this tiny little coffin  out of wood with a fancy sliding lid and an engraved top.  I know that sounds kind of morbid,  but it was so special.  the fact that he'd take that kind of time,  and put that kind of detail into something that was going to be buried in the yard meant a lot.
  There is so much more I have to say about him, but the words escape me,  go figure,  A linguist's daughter being wordless.
  So on that note, I thank my dad today on fathers Day for all of the wonderful things he's given me over the years,  A love of
dogs, digging in the dirt,  a sense of humor,  and enjoying a cold beer.  

  Simple things, but things that made me who I am today.   I am so proud to be your daughter,  I love you more than you know Dad.
Happy Fathers day to you!
XOXOXO

 There's nothing that makes me happier than hitting the open road. 

The sense of freedom I get from jumping in my car and heading out onto the highway gives me such a rush for some goofy reason.  Maybe because I feel like I'm running away, or maybe it's because I feel empowered by driving somewhere by myself.  who knows.

I know I just love it. 

In another life I probably was a gypsy or ran away and joined a circus,  in this one,  I am just living in one   ;-)

So for the past couple of weekends I hit the road and travelled 4 hours north to my friend Kamala's resort,  Wandawood.

  Kamala and I have been friends for a very long time (since Highschool) we are two peas in a pod,  that is for sure.  We are both wild women who love music,  Art, and being free spirits. 

Don't fence us in,  no no no!

About a year ago, after she took over running the 15 cabin resort for her mom,  we started to talk about ideas and directions the resort could take under her new management.  we talked about doing simple things like making new pillows,  and paintings for each of the cabins. Giving each individual cabin a little bit of an update,  while still maintaining the old school charm of the place.  We also talked about more involved things for the place such as making some of them available for off season renting in the colder months,  and doing Art retreats in the fall seasons as well.  SO many ideas passing between us over cocktails and blaring Dance tunes.  it was super exciting to think of being a part of this amazing place that i've been coming to for over 20+ years,  and something that's been in her family since the 1800's!  seriously!

  So starting last fall I made the first trip solo and we started work.  buying rugs, and making pillows,   discussing things I would make in the coming spring.

 Last memorial day weekend I made the second trip up here spending 4 days painting from the minute I woke up until late at night.

  It was a ball.  Creative ideas Flowing like the water I was painting by. 

It was exciting to see some of our ideas coming to fruition and the hard work paying off.   I enjoyed doing this for my buddy.  good for her,  and good for me!

one cabin in particular was my favorite,  It just had, by it's natural layout,  an Arty feel to it.  so I made quite a few pieces for this particular cabin called "Postscipt"

3 paintings to hang over the bed that were made to coordinate with the pillows.

This piece now hanging over the dining room table....

and some flowers made to go on the mantlepiece.....

I love the feel of this place,  with it's transom windows and open feel to the space.

Each cabin is unique in it's layout.......they are all older cabins,  but one was built a few years ago,  and has all of the modern conveniences for the people that are into that.

half of them are on the water,  the rest,  just across a private street just feet from the lake.

with docks leading down to the beautiful lake...

so beautiful

my little traveling companion loves it here

I mean,  who wouldn't .

I made one more trip the following weekend,  this time I took my daughter Fiona with me for an all girls weekend.  it was nice.

each of us creating our own thing.

Fiona was working on Fish for her upcoming Art fair at the yearly townie street party.

among other goofy things she's working on......ohmyword.  XOXO

she kills me.  seriously. 

while she was occupied,

I managed to make 4 more paintings on the second trip for another cabin called "cheerio"

a series of boats.

each one made with layers of paint, and paper

All in all,  I made a ton of work in a short amount of time,  but it felt good

it inspired me to create some other things when I blew back into town for my own shop.

 a little bit darker piece for me...kind of moodier.  I guess it's kinda like how I'm feeling I spose.

Going through all of these changes with the shop and dealing with life has made me a little bit tired and  Kind of grouchy lately...not to mention Raising a teenager, ooooh.

they're ALWAYS grouchy!  ;-)

So my pieces may be  a tad bit darker,  but that isn't neccesarily a bad thing.  I kind of like them,

and I love change.

plus i'm not THAT grouchy :)

so on that note,  I am off to race to make dinner and schlep people around.

it's no roadtrip to an exciting location mind you ,  but it is fun to drive these clowns around in my very own personal circus.

it's exciting to see my boy and girl back in the pool for the start of summer swim practice...

it's my favorite time of year honestly,  I just have to figure out how I'm going to get it all done,  but you know I will.....cuz i'm a circus performer.....I can pull things out of my hat,  or something like that ;-)

XOXOXO

 I was born from a true pioneer Spirit.  A woman who came from a very a hard childhood.  But despite all that told me fantastic stories about her life, and family,  and made me appreciative of all the little things in life.

  Stories about learning to drive at 12,  her grandfather peeling oranges in a perfect spiral plucked fresh from a tree.  watching Chickens laying eggs, swinging from rooftops, and almost setting her house on fire. 

  All of her stories used to keep me glued to the kitchen table as a kid,  wanting to know more and more.

 She's always promised she'd write a book,  I hope someday it will come true.

  She left her Texas home at 18  to join the Army,  travelled to Germany, and across the states never looking back.  She used to take us on trips cross country to Texas every summer to visit family.  It always amazed me that she would do this as a single mom with two young girls.  she never seemed afraid.   Those were honestly the best memories, staying in hotels,  seeing where she grew up,  eating fresh tortillas, and tamales made from scatch by my aunts.  Listening to her laugh and speaking spanish with her sisters and brothers. 

  Even though she struggled to support us as a single parent,  we never really noticed that we didn't have much because she gave us so much.  private music lessons,  sending us to camps, taking us out to restaurants and raising us with an appreciation for the finer things in life,  even though we would have been considered poor by today's standards.  I never felt that way.  my childhood was rich.  I ran free,  just like she wanted me to.   We were raised in a household that celebrated culture, and the Arts. She encouraged us to read,  and listen to music.  Always emphasizing the importance of education even though she only had a highschool diploma.

  So it's from her that I inherited a generous spirit,  big heart, and the desire to be my own person,  and a strong woman.  I am Lucky beyond lucky to have her in my life still,  and happy that my kids have her too.   She may not always know it that we appreciate her, but  we do.

 A woman with a true Texas sized heart and wild spirit,  who even though at times we don't always agree, and I want to strangle her most days,  she still manages to make me laugh,  or cry at the silliest of things..continuing to teach me things and making me want to be a better person.

bottom line,  she always believed in me,  and taught me how to believe in myself.

Love you mom,  more than you know

Happy mothers day!

XOXOXO

 Oh Spring......it's so hard to concentate when you're here.

The garden calls my name, 

the flowers distract me......

  and then inspire me.

There is something amazing that happens when you dig in the dirt.

the simple physical nature of working the earth and soil is good for you.

my mind completely lets go of all negative thoughts and energy and is seriously restored by nature.  I have been playing in the dirt since I was a little kid,  I can thank my parents for that.

of course that was a billion years ago when we didn't have all of the distractions like we do now.  we actually played outside until the street lights came on....we WANTED to be outside.  I mean how can you not?

climbing trees,  riding your bike.

I'm thankful I have kids that like to do these things.

I've been busy working in the garden here at my little apartment.  I am so lucky I have this amazing green space right in the heart of the city.  I even cleared out a space in my backyard that overlooks the town below,  it's pretty awesome sitting under the trees at night by candlelight.

so when i'm not lured into the garden,  you will find me in the studio.....I've been busy working on paintings, jewelry,  and pillows.  gearing up for next week when we re-open the shop on Thursday the 26th of April!

when I first opened the shop 7 years ago,  I had two birds.......people used to make trips just to see those silly little birds.

sadly my last remaining parakeet, tulip, died a couple of weeks ago.

we buried her in the garden under the trees and Tulips,  Fiona made a lovely shrine for her....

with her little bird bell,  flowers and bird seed sprinkled around.....just about killed me that child. such a sweet soul.

So,  being the animal lover that I am,  and my fondness for birds,  it just seemed fitting that we should have a new bird when we start our new Red Shoes venture.

So meet our new bird........

a sweet little Diamond Dove.  that we named

mr. pink, chicken,

Pat,  button, and now t-bone.

who knows!  we can't decide!  but I will tell you,  I adore this little bird,  and being able to hold him.   we are working with him slowly to get him used to us,  but oh. my. word.

love him.

so not only are we inspired by the garden,  but we are inspired by our birds as well......

finally finished my hanging birds,  after oh,  about 8 years.......

i'll get around to the projects eventually,  been busy working on a lot of things,

Fiona as my constant studio companion and inspiration.....

she's back to creating things for the Kids art Fair in July......tiny folk art fish that honestly,  I CANNOT PART WITH......gonna have to reproduce some copies,  because these are mine,  I can't let go.....

I mean,  these are the ones I made for a special order for the cabins up North at Wandawood....

and this is what Fiona churns out next to me......freaking free spirited artistic genius! oye,  she KILLS me I tell ya!

click on them to see them larger if you'd like :)

my little buddy girl. 

 So on that note,  I am off the get back into the studio,  this child and the garden as inspiration.......

lots of things will be happening soon.....

going through my own personal stock of vintage things I am ready to let go of......

vintage kewpies,  fun toys....

tiny little carnival ducks...... (not the letters)  sorry,  gotta keep the 'Lucky' letters to remind me how Lucky I truly am!

but I do have other letters and pretty plates and teapots I am letting go of......

and other  wonderful things rolling in slowly but surely to the shelves of Red Shoes,  like the fantastic handpoured and fabulous smelling candles from my sweet friend Michelle at Blackberry Briar,  these scents she concocts are seriously AMAZING.

fresh lilacs,  green grass,  oh my word,  once again......

garden fresh and awesome.

yes indeed...it's all good....and soon,  you'll be able to walk back into our doors and see it all for yourself again,  so pencil us in.......Thursday April 26th.......from 11-5:30

you know we will be so happy to see you!

XOXOXO