Take Heart!

I listened to a great podcast from Tara Reed the other day - an interview with Mary Engelbreit . Tara asked questions for an hour about Mary's life, career, work schedule, and how she balances it all. The nugget I walked away with is that Mary Engelbreit CHOOSES to draw at her table at home after she puts her 9 year old to bed.
I'm always trying to carve out studio time in my day that maximizes my Mom Time so after "bedtime" can be the start of the work day!
It makes me smile knowing that as I sit at my table after I put my son to bed that the Queen of Licensing is also at hers!

Here's a link to Tara Reed's Art Licensing blog,

http://artlicensingblog.com/2010/03/18/mary-engelbreit-was-amazing-on-the-art-licensing-ask-call/

A Merry Christmas Sketch

Let's just say that my studio is an organizational challenge on a good day but especially when things start chugging along. This week there are stockings stuffed and hanging from my easel, yards of braided wool, white pine and hand-carved reindeer adorning my desk. Christmas has come early and this time in the form of a jolly polar bear.

The new addition to my holiday collection is inspired by home spun items in tribute to my Great Grandmother Marinkas. This small Hungarian woman would come to stay at our house for a week at a time to teach my mother how to make braided rugs and crochet. She said little as her small hands braided and crocheted at top speed - we watched in fascination. She would kiss our cheeks goodbye and leave us with the gifts of her labor, a blanket and a rug.

Grandma Marinkas seemed magical - just like one of Santa's helpers!