Be Calm

I've been painting more simple signs for my booth.





To refuel I make a pot of ice tea in my Rosanna Inc. chandie tea pot







Printing lots of postcards to sell individually for $2 each.







and If you like vintage caravan's visit my other blog Nora Pearl to meet some glamping girlies and their sweet wee campers. ox



Sea tidings,
Kerrie

Linen Comfort

I'm trying to take a rest from blogging. My left shoulder has been suffering pain and I am trying to rest it so it can heal. It is helping because it feels alot better today. But I need to continue on my break.



This room just sooths and comforts me. I think I have posted it before but it is worth gazing upon again. These are all photos from Atlanta Bartlett. The linen of the pillow above is like my new soda shoes...and the linen curtains in my studio.



I love the texture linen gives to a room. It adds comfort, does it not?



The curtains in Seawashed Studio ...



To see more of my messy studio at the moment click on the link. I am busy getting everything ready for Friday.

I also made an delicious spinach salad for lunch this afternoon and will share the recipe with you soon! It's almost September, can you believe it?

Sea tidings,
Kerrie

*photos~ Atlanta Bartlett, Seawashed.

Back to Summer...not school

How are you? It's Friday! It's been a long week and I am ready for this...



Back to school in August is still strange to me. How about you? My whole life 'back to school' was always in September...up until two years ago. Beginning in August makes the summer fly by. Yesterday I took a walk in the 98 degree heat to the park with Bella Bleu. It was completely empty...which I like, but I do miss my kids. Or any kids, for that matter. It's still summer weather, but no kids running through the grass. Makes me a little sad.

So after a full week of driving my son to H.S and daughters to college...and then turning around to pick them up again, I am plum tuckered out. I'm in need of a bit of R&R with a new magazine to dream over...



I won't get to rest long because I am getting everything ready for my booth at the First Friday Artwalk on September 2nd. I also wrapped this framed print from the shop...



Lemoni in grey.



I like how she turned out. I hope Ann does too.



and I finally printed 'Pelagia' to sell in my shop and booth. After scanning Pelagia I decided to crop her and my son suggested I print her like that. He really liked her that way...and I do too. Pelagia means 'of the sea' and was inspired by the movie Captain Corelli's Mandolin. She is one of my favorite Sanddollar paintings. Pelagia was also on display in our city's Fine Art Center last October. They have asked to display another piece of my artwork this Fall but I haven't decided which painting yet.



Everyone is healing from the cat bites. Lily is adjusting well to being indoors. She cries in the mornings to go outside, but not for too long. I don't know if she will remain indoors. Once the quarantine is done, she may get to go out. She's spoiled like that. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Happy weekend! ox

Sea tidings,
Kerrie

I just watched the World News and prayers to all those on the east coast. This is no time to be anywhere near the sea! Did you know Irene means 'peace'? Lets pray she is peaceful. Keep calm and be safe. ox

*photos~ internet, coastal living, sea cottage and seawashed.

The fragile love we share...

I did not make it to the sea. It is a long story so I will share the just of it. While we were packing our Dodge to go to the coast we heard a cat scream. By the time my husband got to the scene, Grace and Jeremy had been bit by Lily who had a back leg stuck in the fence. They were trying to rescue her. Michael(my hubby) was bit too. I called our Vet and then Kaiser. I took them into Kaiser early Saturday morning. They were all given antibiotics and strict instructions to keep watch on Grace. The Doctor was worried about the depth of possible infection from the puncture wound. She called and talked to the hand specialist and was advised to see her again Sunday morning. The antibiotics have been healing the infections and Grace is out of danger of surgery. Lily could not walk for twenty four hours, but after three days the swelling in her leg is down and she is crying to go outside. The Animal Control came today to inform me that she is not allowed outdoors for 7 more days. We are contemplating keeping her in for good. Don't know if we will suceed!

How do you like my linen shoes? I bought them for our trip to the sea. They are not Tom's but just like them. They are Soda's from Tilly's and only $20. I love them! They are so so comfortable. I have been making these starfish stamped notecards. the ink I use is 'london fog'. I have even written two letters while playing nurse to my wounded family. I hope your weekend was sweeter than mine. I do find that in circumstances like this, it always brings us closer as a family. I am reminded of how valuable the fragile love we share is...and my heart is grateful. The sea can wait.

Sea tidings,
Kerrie

Jane Eyre

"Awaken then." ~Jane Eyre


I'm off to the sea again. ox

Sea tidings,
Kerrie

Softness Of Sunlight

Hues in the softness of sunlight have been speaking to me. Can you see that in my last post?

The sweetness of buttercream...

Mmm, it adds comfort to any cottage.



Like this sanddollar in a warm lemon hue. I painted it this color after the name 'Lemoni' which was my inpiration. Lemoni is the sweet little girl in the movie "Captain Corelli's Mandolin." I first painted a grey sanddollar after the main character 'Pelagia', played by actor Penelope Cruz. Pelagia means 'of the sea'...which I found appropriate for my Seawashed watercolours. It is a movie that is breathtakingly beautiful and I have been able to let the beauty I take in to flow out into my paintings.

To be able to paint again is filling a longing deep within. Being an artist has always been who I am. I just did not realize how empty and barren that part of me had become. It's like roses are blooming in the wilderness again...all that was needed was some water.(-colour)



Everything in my etsy shop Seawashed has new lower prices for the coming Autumn/Winter shopping season. ox

Sea tidings,
Kerrie


*first photo~ Beach Studios.

Summer Into Autumn Mornings

"You can only come to the morning through the shadows." J.R.R Tolkien










Starfish- Winslow Homer 1882

I'm letting the summer morning light infiltrate me. Spending my days soaking up as much warmth that I can from these last days of summer's sun.

Sea tidings,
Kerrie


*photos~ Beach Studios, Winslow Homer Art.

Bleuets

"I am not bound for any public place, but for ground of my own where I have planted vines and orchard trees, and in the heat of the day climbed up into the healing shadow of the woods. Better than any argument is to rise at dawn and pick dew-wet berries in a cup." ~Wendell Berry








Bleuets~
Bleuberries

Mondays are my cottage-keeping days. Not that everyday isn't, but Mondays are when I do the bulk of the laundry, clean the bathroom, dust and vacuum(one day...it will be sweep. I can't wait for that day to come). Do you ever think about how much all this technology has changed the way we live. How much more complicated and energy consuming it is? Even the sounds have changed. I miss the sounds of turning pages, dialing phones, typewriters, swishing of a broom. I'm trying to live simple, but I have a Blackberry and a laptop and a flatscreen with blueray player. My youngest went back to school today. He is a junior in H.S. I drove him to school and then went to Costco to get lunchmeats and sandwich rolls so I can make lunch for him the rest of the week. I have not been to Costco in months, so I enjoyed it...didn't feel like a routine. I bought lots of healthy food and have chicken marinating to grill tonight. We have an abundance of veggies from our garden to eat on the side. I will broil bread from the bakery. And for dessert...

Blueberries.


Bleu tidings,
Kerrie

Simple Subway Signs

Subway signs with one word...Simple.

I've used acrylic on canvas painting in a way to create a driftwood(grey) and mahogany (dark brown) look.

These signs are 8x10, One Of A Kind, signed and dated by artist(me)on back, and for sale in my etsy and booth for $20.00. To see more of my signs visit my studio blog...Seawashed.





It was a warm summer night in Downtown Sacramento as we weaved through the crowds for Second Saturdays Artwalk. A full moon to light our path, strange art, happy people. In the Urban jean shop we watched girls wearing only jeans and bras dancing while an artist hand painted their jeans in a finger painting sort of way. Strange? Art? Attention Getting? Yes. The men liked it.

Moving on...we found our way into a new shop called Scout Living and who was the featured designer, Martin Mattox. I didn't even know who they were until this week when La Dolfina did a post featuring them. She did an amazing job, so pop on over to her blog to read all about this wonderful curator of style. My husband and I both loved the Martin Mattox style. A hug arched glass door caught our eye in their space...we both wanted it. The wood was heavy and sturdy in a creme color for $400.00. Beautiful.




And look what I found in the shop...



This European License plate has my maiden name initials K.A (Kerrie Albright). I got it for $16. Don't know if thats a good price but I really liked it and wanted to support the opening of this new business. Everyone was so friendly and the atmosphere just delightful.



Scout Living is across the street from Crepeville so I know I will be visiting it again, often!

Sea tidings,
Kerrie

*Correction~ Martin Mattox is not a man but a husband and wife design team. They were kind enough to leave me a comment and clarify. Thank you Tim and Linda.

In The Soft And Fresh Breeze

The Island Illustration by Ernest H. Shepard from the book When We Were Very Young by A.A Milne



"Elijah discovered God in the soft and fresh breeze and came out of his cave to listen to Him." ~Rodolfo Llamas

Calm Grey

The grey layers of the sea really got to me. I returned home and began painting in grey. I re-painted this vintage bedside table in our sitting room. It was robin's egg blue and is now stone grey. I have been meaning to paint it grey for some time now...with some distressing to give a sea-weathered, driftwood look.




Lovely vintage curves. I have not distressed her yet, but rather am enjoying as is for now.



I always adore crystal knobs.




Have you seen the new Fall inspiration catalog for Crate and Barrel? Well, it was full of inspiration for me and gave me the added nudge to begin painting.

I want this coffee mug.






I re-painted these rustic signs that my husband made for me out of old fence and wire about five years ago. They used to be white with robin's egg blue lettering.



Now they are stone grey with white letters. I made two. One for me and one for you!



I hung one on my front door and will list the other in my etsy shop.



I think I will have my husband make me somemore so I can paint and sell in my shop. I like how they turned out.



before distressing



and after





Do you remember the before



I'm sure I will miss it from time to time. It was such a pretty color. But change is always good.



Sorry the photos are a bit blurry, not the best quality. But you know I'm not about perfection here, just want to share my humble abode with you. ox

Sea tidings,
Kerrie


And one last thing...my Seawashed sign for my booth at the Old Towne Artwalk next month! I am going to dress my booth in a white table cloth with a big chunk of driftwood, seashells and starfish amongst my prints and notecards with my sign propped on a bistro chair.




Linking with Fabulous Fridays at Simple Daisy!