Enjoyed my second writer's workshop, hosted by bestselling author and journalist Pamela Des Barres. It was a great couple of nights, with some incredibly talented women coming together to write on topics and share while supporting each other's efforts. I can't say how much this event has colored my week with creativity and a love for this circle of amazing women!

Just finished the painting for my brother (who is an amazing musician/pastor/worship leader in Syracuse, NY) of his favorite guitar, Grace. It was different for me, since it needed to look realistic while maintaining the "graphic art" look that I love. I think it turned out well, all it needs is framing.

I also finished several more of the Scrolls series, using different color themes.

New painting started

Finally started the painting of Jim's guitar! I did a ruddy background with streaks of gold-it will be an expressionist version of his Taylor. He named her Grace, and I hope I do her justice.

Very excited to have picked up a bunch of new canvases last week on big time sale. I finished a 24x36- and may have to hang it in my own dining room. Almost ready to start my first guitar painting. We'll see how it goes............side note: much progress on my novel. It is really shaping up and chapters are finally flying by. It has dropped 10 degrees and it feels like fall-even though it is still 95. Go figure!

I met a really cool folk artist in Austin last week. If you like checking out artists, he has a website: www.patrick-earl.com called Deep Folk. I like his stuff, and enjoyed talking with him.

Picking up some new canvases tomorrow: 2 paintings need to be started! Have a line on a design client.

As I begin doing freelance design work, I am
posting some photos of my own home. I love textures, stone, iron,
contemporary color palettes and boutique styling;
specializing in color selection,accessories,
fabrics, and furniture. I am available

to assist in choosing both design elements (flooring,

paint, kitchens & baths) as well as decorative items (furniture, draperies, bedding, accessories & art).

I will post additional photos of non-copyrighted work as it is completed.

Please email me at narcissedesign@yahoo.com

for any questions or to arrange a consultation for

your design project!

Glad to be home from New York! Very excited Jim and Tara loved the paintings I did for the new house. The colors have set the tone for the rest of the house. It was fun to work on putting it all together. I didn't get to see the huge chocolate brown area rug I ordered for the Dining Room before I left, but they are sending photos. The house looks great!

Jim has commissioned a painting of his favorite guitar. I am excited to get to work on that.

Leaving for New York tomorrow (heading to Dallas today)....its going to be a long trip the kiddies. Just glad Maria is home-she starting to count as an adult, and me and her with the little ones is so much easier than just me. Maybe I'll be able to relax a bit. So much to think about on this trip. So much is Up in the Air. Where will it all land, and will I survive waiting for it to all come slowly spiraling down to settle on the ground?

A sad day, since most of my immediate and extended family are in Chicago for the funeral of my cousin, Nick. I am so sad, and will never understand his decision to leave earth. He was so young, 23. This has dominated my thoughts this week, and my heart is back in my home state.

I need prayers for my continued journey of figuring a lot of things out, and what my future is going to look like as I look towards working outside the home again, working through longstanding issues, and being a child of God.

I'm excited to soon be posting some of my original paintings and interior design photos.

I'm not sure about this blogging thing. I have never thought much about it, but my writing teacher suggested doing it just to keep creativity going and myself in the mindset of producing something tangible everyday. Feeling very creative right now, I didn't sleep at all last night. Put together cool book of photos from London, wrote a song on my guitar, and I have done 4 paintings this week. Tired now! Can't seem to listen to enough music today....it keeps me breathing I think. Lots of Dylan, Buffett (the good stuff, not margaritaville crap), Sheryl Crow, and my new fave newton faulkner. Took a nap this evening out of exhaustion, and now I think I'll go try to sleep til morning.