Spring Fever

Hello blog friends!

I can smell Spring in the air, and it's giving me new energy and vigor!
Yea(!), because I've been dragging a bit (a lot) since the remodel, trying to catch up and waiting out a few cough-colds things and the doldrums that followed.

Annie's beautiful singing voice and piano music has been filling the house these gray days, lifting our spirits, turning darkness into light, despite one rain storm after the next here in Northern California.

Little Harpo, below, is also showing some real vigor and tenacity. Just yesterday she scratched her way out of the house to chase the UPS man. She has a real thing for him. She chased him to his truck and then chased the truck five or six houses down on a very busy street, as onlookers pointed and gasped. You have to remember she is only about twelve inches tall!

As I write, the canaries we raise are all singing loudly, filling the whole downstairs with songs of Spring! It's all around me!

Hope you are feeling it too.

It is amazing how much things can change in just two short weeks! My studio has grown to more than double it's size with the removal of a few walls, closets and a hallway. New lighting, hardwood floors, custom shelving, tables and storage have been added, plus an already enjoyed snack corner. (See Clara, Asher and Alabama above, after they slurped all up the orange slices. Sorry you didn't get any Caliope!)

I left some original details, like the old built-in cabinet, above.

Added these new honey + amber glow oak floors...

And there was so much more room for all my artist friends this week!

I know how much I like to spread out when I work in the studio. Three cheers for more elbow room!

Just look at the light! Balanced and bright.

Annie went straight from her bed to the studio this morning. A My Little Pony accessory making session is still going strong over here.

I love the new custom shelves with a suspension rod support system designed and built by my brother, Master Builder T. Kern. He guided me through this whole renovation process and it has been wonderful working with him.

I'll post more pictures after I spend this weekend playing in my new studio!

A special thank you to
Annie Louise O'Farrell Hinz
William Hinz
LaLa Pat Sieler
G r a n d m a B e t t i e
Thomas Kern
Nieters Family

and all my wonderful artist friends and their families!

A Quick Visit to France!

The stories are true about France having a rich history, beautiful customs and thriving arts! Our homeschool Country Club brought it all to life today!

The presentations began with Annie (as SuperGirl Kitty photo 6, above) sharing about Marie Antoinette and Louis August, notorious King and King of France. Then Mathias (photo 3 above) and Asher (photo 7 above) studied then shared two books about French men, Marcel Marceau, and the famous tightrope walker Philippe Petit. Exciting and well presented!

Then Johnny (photo 4, top photo collage above) gave us some insight into the French Revolution and helped us to see the very real violence that come with upheaval. Aiden (above looking so handsome and so French, directly above) and Caleb (photo 5 top photo collage above) brought the Tour-De-France alive. I never knew it was over 2,000 miles long! Plus they added a review of the Red Balloon, making me want to rent the movie for Annie.

Then the delightful Scotts (Peter and Marianna above, and Elizabeth, photo 1 top photo collage above) brought with them the beauty, elegance and style of the French at their best! Food and a meditative approach to enjoyment and nourishment. They brought fresh berries, flowers, crusty baguettes, brie, olives, candles, and a wonderful dry champagne (Jeanette and Jen enjoying photo 2 above, as well as myself!), for the grown-ups! Wow!


Next month is Johnny's pick! Ireland here we come!

My Muse

Pat and I had an impromptu Skype date Sunday morning, lasting probably and hour and a half. How pleasant! It was almost like being together!
She was making refinements on a purse design and I was doing a Picasso inspired project for the kids in my studio, so I pretended we were working side-by-side in the studio. Because I had her right there, (on screen) I used her as my model, my Dora Mar. I can't wait to have the kids do the project.
Other than that, I'm completely obsessed with some construction work I'm doing to enlarge my studio. Really it's a dream-come-true making my studio twice the size, improve the lighting, add more outlets, storage...be still my heart! I'm sooo excited. I'm going to try some "before" shots, so I can show the improvements.

Fun House Photos

I think today might be one of those great days that will live on in my mind as bright, effortless and fun!
I love hanging out with these two...

Catch a Shooting (Rising) Star

What a wonderful and whirlwind few weeks!
Starting with LaLa coming to visit, then a week filled with dress rehearsals, tech and a pre-holiday celebration with Grandma & Grandpa, a coupla fantastic shows of Jungle Book (with Annie as the unforgettable Kaa, Mother Wolf and a stand out part as a Prickly Pear!) and finishing up with a wonderful visit with Grandma Pinky Mae Rose!
So fun!

A Pat Hog

I know, it's no fun in the re-telling.

And yet, here I go again...
Pat and I had the BEST time ever together the last three days.
I know I always say that.
It's always true!
And I don't think there is a way to translate exactly why it was go great without diminishing it.
So, I will just re-cap;

-We had a laugh attack at a hair salon, that quickly climbs to 2nd place in the history of all laugh attacks for us. (First place still has to be Reno, where our laugh attack continued, on and off for almost three days, leaving us weak and painfully muscle sore. ) This newest laugh attack went on so long, and was so embarrassingly public, that the stylist at the salon brought us a box of tissues. As she handed the box to us, the look on her face was a mix of pity and fear.

-A dynamite haircut for Pat, despite the above.

-A trip to Mastick (fabulous Senior Center thrift store) where we each found at least two great pieces.

-A fantastic Chinese full body massage. Four of us gals lined up in a row of massage chairs. It was Pat, myself, dear Jen and Kristin of West Vista Urban Farm School.

-Hot homemade apple pie as a punctuation, preface or in place of most meals.

--Tickets to Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne and Beyond. Just go see it. There were at least six works in that show that transcend this realm and spoke of pure vibrating communion with the creator. The Nabis works especially. Many brought tears to our eyes. I could go on, but really, words are pitifully insufficient next to these works.

-A sparkling visit to a park and a walk on the bay between rainstorms.

-Dim Sum at East Ocean Seafood. Fortunes were read in the tea leaves.

-And Annie! My darling! Despite calling me a "Pat Hog" she did a fair bit of hogging as well. She made Pat breakfast, decorated her bed and door to her room, sang, played piano, acted out scenes for her upcoming show, held hands with, draped herself on Pat, and told a million stories and got Pat to herself as well. Annie, your are wonderful!

I'll stop gushing now.
Love you Pat!