My blog has moved

You will be automatically redirected to the new address.

If that does not occur, please visit http://umberdove.com/blog;.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Working Girl (part 2)

Today the sun is teasing us with shine and my maple trees are sashaying in the wind. All my projects seem to be floating above like elusive little puffs of ideas, but I am unable to catch any of them. So it must be list time. Here goes.

A few items from my ever revolving list o' life...



1) Get to the studio and finish stretching / gessoing my new canvases - after all, when its time to paint I must be ready.

2) Finish three more pillows for my little etsy shop (oh yeah, did I mention the shop is open for business once again?).

3) Send my sister her birthday gift - better late than never!

4) Print up new pages of paintings for my revamped porfolios - I think they will be fantastic, but I guess the curators I plan on leaving them with will be the ones with the final say!

5) Finalize my outfit for Ladies Night Number 2 - I've got all the elements, just need to make sure its as sassy as I feel.

6) Find a new design book over at Half Price, I am terribly bored with the status quo of our home and have been reading a bit too much of my lovely Emily's blog asa well as sfgirlbybay's amazing blog and must redo SOMETHING!



Ok, I think this has helped already. Time, time, here I go. Wish me luck and creative energy!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Euphorbia love affair


Its a conundrum, why I love euphorbia so. I think its a two part affair, the plant is Dr. Seuss-like oddly beautiful and the name is just so addictive (yep, just wait, you'll be saying it in your head all day long, just waiting to work it into conversation - its almost as fun to say as podacarpus, but now I'm just turning into a botany nerd).

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Uhm.... Right



Yeah, this is exactly what it looks like. Sewing machine drama. I tell you truly, there was never an invention that could inspire such emotional upheaval as this. One moment you are nearly cooing with pleasure over a newly finished piece, the next you are eyeing the machine wondering how much you could get from parting it out. Worst of all, its usually (secretly) your own fault (not that I would ever admit to that. Especially publicly. Like on the internet. Oh, wait a minute...)

Ah well, ten minutes later and I was back to a state of delight. The finished pillow, will make its etsy debut in just a few short days, along with some fluffy friends. Soon, soon, I'll let you all know!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008



One there was a girl. She was not made of rainbows and sugar, but of rain clouds and spice. Oh she loved the colors of light bouncing along the waves, the warm sun rosy on her cheeks, the fine powder of white sand, all these things brought her great joy and inspiration. But her soul was made of evergreens and her strength came from the blackest earth between her toes.

That girl had a beautiful trip to Florida, left a piece of her heart there with her kindred spirit and returned with a rejuvenated sense of purpose (and a new painting to begin).



My Ti, forever finding the tiniest bits of wonder.



My toes, forever Barbie doll shades of poppy.



A window, forever finding these little holes through which to see the world.