Back To Work And A New Print Series ~

Good Morning:

Slowly slowly I am finding my way back to work.  I have been shuffling through some images and playing around with my favorite 1920s Ballerina photo.  She is calling to be used in a new piece ~ 

Much of my time has been spent on a copy-editing job for a middle grade trilogy.  But, that's a different story!

Anyway, I've been working on getting a 4 print set together which focuses on my "Weeping Woman" series.  I am happy to say that this new set is in my shop right this very moment!

You see, I have been fascinated by the weeping woman myths and legends all of my life.  Growing up in a Hispanic region, I found my way to the legend of La Llorona at an early age.  I have been in love with her since I was a little girl.

Of course, this love of mine naturally led me to create art pieces that included images of the weeping woman ~

This 4 print set includes:

"The Haunting of La Llorona"

"The Burning of Eulalia"

"Lida's Swan Song"

"Plentyn Newid (A Welsh Changeling Story)"

I admit, I'm partial to these pieces because my daughter is "The Weeping Woman".  She is an amazingly patient girl and is always willing to model for my art.  Also, if you look up top at "Lida's Swan Song", you'll see a gal playing guitar.  That is the actual Lida.  My friend, Shell, was kind enough to let me scan and use this image.  Lida was Shell's great grandmother!  So...all of these pieces have extra special meaning to me.

Anyway, I do hope you like this set.  It feels right for the upcoming season.  A little dark, a little spooky, a little mysterious.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

A Little Pick-Me-Up ~

Well, it's been a long couple of weeks.  A quiet couple of weeks.  Since losing Junior, I've realized just how vocal he was.  Anytime someone knocked on the door, he would yip and yodel.  Now when someone knocks, I expect to hear Junior put up a fuss....then, nothing.  Just a knock and then silence.  I can hardly stand the silence.

I've been staying busy and trying to get back to my studio.  In the meantime, a couple of fun things have been going on.  I am the Featured Artist on Zibbet this week ~ 

I had fun doing the interview and I am hopeful that I can help people become aware of Zibbet.  It is so much like the early days on Etsy.

I was also asked to donate a piece of art for the "Mayor's Ball for Arts and Innovation" in Riverside, California.   It will be offered in a silent auction, which terrifies me to no end.  What if no one bids?  

 I wanted to create a new piece, but I just haven't had the heart to find my way back to the studio, so I am donating one of my newest pieces ~ 

"The Guardian of Minervia's Secrets"

I'll be framing it up this week, and off it will go to the silent auction!

Since the original "The Guardian of Minervia's Secrets" is no longer in my shop, it is now being offered in a print version. 

Otherwise, things have been mighty quiet around my neck of the woods.  Very hot and very quiet.

Thank you so much for all your kind emails regarding Junior.  

Until Next Time

Kim

Gerushia's New World

An Unexpected Loss ~

I am sad.  So so so sad.  We had to say good-bye to our sweet little Junior Bug ~ 

He was fine last Sunday night.  Then, Monday morning he wasn't fine anymore.  We did everything for him that we could, but he was diagnosed with acute Pancreatitis.  Before we knew it, he was too sick to save.  His little heart gave out in a matter of hours.

He was a high-spirited, sassy, loud little guy.  He brought joy and laughter to everyone who knew him.

He is the third fur-baby we've lost in less than a year and a half.  For the first time in 14 years, we have no pets.  

He was my baby.  He was my friend.  He played next to me while I gardened and stood under my feet while I cooked.  He kept me company in my studio and his personality inspired my artwork.

I miss him terribly.  I don't like good-byes.  It was so unexpected.  This time last week, he was fine.  Now....he's gone.

My heart feels lonesome and I'm still trying to make sense out of the loss.  But, I am so very grateful that he was such a huge part of our life.  He made us smile and laugh everyday.  

RIP Junior Bug. ♥♥

Kim
Gerushia's New World

Rabbits and Wasps and Johnny Appleseed Skies ~

Well, Hello There ~ 

Oh my goodness.  I can't believe how crazy busy it's been in my neck of the woods lately.  Have you been busy?  Maybe it's something in the air....this constant fluttering about and busy-ness!  I crave the luxury of long days at home...working in the studio ~ 

In the last few days, I've been to 3 author panels and a writing workshop.  The workshop was fabulous and I learned oodles about the writing and publishing world!  Later today, I am off to another author panel in San Diego.  Like I said....busy!

In between the panels, I did manage to get my hair done.  Decided it was time to go purple. Plus, I needed some new photos for some arty events as well ~

A few evenings ago, we were blessed with Johnny Appleseed skies.  Those vibrant colors invite me to stop and just breathe.  Delicious!

Here's a funny little thing...we found some unexpected visitors right on our very front porch ~

These guys actually attached their nest right onto my hanging ivy plant...which is only about 4 feet from the front door.  I don't know how in the world we didn't notice this earlier in the season. Go figure!!

Ohhh...and, I did finish another rabbity piece.  This piece has super special meaning to me.  You see, over the course of the last few years, I have lost a lot of family.  Actually, I have very few aunts and uncles left on this Earth.  A few weeks ago, one of my mom's older sisters passed away, leaving only one sibling left out of 6 siblings.  She was my aunt Ola Jean.  

So....I created this piece in honor of, not only Ola Jean, but of all the recent losses within my extended family.

"A Serenade For Ola Jean"

If you're interested in this original, you can find it right here in my Zibbet Shop.  I think this piece can speak to people in many different ways.  For me, it's about loss, but also speaks about the freedom of going onward and escaping pain.  Plus....I just love rabbits!!  Sometimes, it's that simple.  Art can speak in serious tones, but it can also be fun.  Just....simple....fun!

Well, I guess I am out of here.  Off to San Diego.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

Minervia's Telling Secrets and Old is New Again ~

Good Morning:

What a busy day I have ahead of me.  Busy in a good way.  We have another birthday in my house today, so I will be heading off to make a cake very soon.

It's still hot in this dry and dusty place that I call home...but, not as bad as it was a few days ago.  I am thankful for the little relief we're getting!


So...this weekend, I decided to pull an old cabinet and vintage window out of the garage.  The cabinet used to sit in my family room ~ 

but that room is now serving a different purpose, so this pretty little hutch/cabinet has been living in the garage since 2008.  

I also have a beautiful big window that came from a local vintage home.  Some of the panes are missing, and the remaining panes are in bad shape, so, I'm taking the panes out.  I think the cabinet and the window will look fabulous together in my studio ~ 

My intentions are to collect 6 pieces of small format art from some of my favorite artists, frame them each in a different frame...a hodgepodge, and hang one piece of art in each section of the window.  I think it will be dreamy!

Oh my goodness, such a busy day today.  

Ohhh...I just finished a new piece last night.  It's been awhile since I worked with my rabbity models!  I adore working with rabbits.  Actually, I adore rabbits altogether!  Anyway, here's the new piece...

"The Guardian of Minervia's Secrets"

I think I rather like this piece.  I love it when my rabbity models wear yellow striped stockings.  I wish I had a pair of yellow striped stockings!

Well, if you are interested in this new original, you can click right HERE and it will take you directly to the listing in my Zibbet Shop.

I am off.  Such a busy busy crazy busy day.  

Guess what I'm making for the birthday dinner...Yep, homemade Chicken Pie.  I love it, but I only have a small portion because it is full of goodness and calories!!

I still love my old green Jadeite baking dishes.  They are tried and true, that's for sure.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

P.S.  Minervia has a secret, but she won't tell me what it is!  Shameful.

Clara and Lucy's Curious Visitors ~

It was a  warm summer morning...heading into the kind of day that blankets you in furnace heat and dampness. Clara and Lucy were off for a walk. 

Oh they had a lovely time, each wearing their sun hats and pretty lace up boots. They strolled by the creek, picked bouquets of wild flowers and had a taste of Mr. Stepp's plump and purple Huckleberries. 

Clara and Lucy were the best of friends, they were sisters. They both had dreams of great adventures and spent hours telling each other stories. 

As Clara and Lucy made their way back up the dirt road that led to their little wooden house, they skipped and held hands...they were so happy to be together. But, as they arrived back home, something felt askew ~ static air and a yellowing sky...they each broke out in goosebumps and were so very curious. "We have visitors" said Clara. "Yes, but who are they?" asked Lucy.................................     



Now   ~   the end of the story belongs to you ~



You can find this brand new print in my shop by clicking right HERE.

"Clara and Lucy's Curious Visitors" is an older piece, but it has never been offered in my current shop. So....I figured today was a good day to do so.  It is a simple piece but has great sentimental value to me.  And....it prints up super nice!

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

P.S.  It's hot outside!!!

Earthquakes, Heat and Busy Busy Busy ~

Hello There:

I am inside.  It is where I've been all week.  It's too hot to do anything outdoors.  I run out in the morning, water the garden and find my way right back inside.

It's hot....so, so, so hot.  It's hot and jolting and rumbling with earthquakes.  Not huge earthquakes, just big enough to make you stop what your doing and wait to see if this will be "the big one".  But no, just a hard jolt and a rolling shake and it's over.  Until the next one.  So...this is life in Southern California.

I have been crazy busy.  I am copy-editing a middle grade trilogy.  Each book is about 300 pages.  I am also keying in the revisions as I go.  It is slow work.  Slow but fun and I am really enjoying it, because I am a reader and a dedicated wordie!

I am also just starting to play around with the illustrations for a children's book about 'possums.  Just starting...but it is in my mind all the time.  I'm not the author, but I was asked to do the illustrations.

Through it all, I am trying to keep up with my own work and I have so many projects going all at once.  So, I work a little here and dabble a little there.  It's nice to be in the studio during these long, furnace days.  What more can a gal ask for?  

Even though I'm crazy busy with all sorts of bookish stuff, I decided to list a set of my Gnarly-Dolls yesterday.  

 Zeb and Essy

For those of you that are familiar with my Gnarly-Dolls, you can probably see that Zeb and Essy are more traditional than my normal doll-extravaganzas.  They were made because a friend challenged me to try and create a set of dolls that were more traditional.  This is what I came up with.  Yeah...not so normal, but it's the best I could do ~

Both dolls are completely hand-stitched.  I don't use a sewing machine.  I don't own a sewing machine.  I am terrified of sewing machines.  They're too fast and chaotic for me.  I prefer the rhythm of a hand-stitch.  It is truly meditation.

Essy ~

Zeb ~ 

You see, when I was a little girl, I loved the show "The Waltons".  I especially loved Grandma and Grandpa.  Their names have always stuck with me....Zebulon and Esther.   Zeb and Essy for short.  Yep, just a little nod to my childhood and to Grandpa and Grandma Walton.

Just so you know, Zeb and Essy have removable clothes ~ 

These two characters were really fun to make, and now it's time for them to go onward.  I am hopeful that they will find a new owner that will love them and take grand care of them.  

If you are interested in adopting Zeb and Essy, you can find them in my online shop.  Just click right HERE.  

Also...please note ~ Zeb and Essy are not toys.  They do have buttons that could be pulled off and cause a choking hazard. 

Well, I am off to bake a birthday cake.  We have a birthday in our house today and another one next Tuesday.

Like I said....busy busy busy!

Ohhhh....and the winner of the art print giveaway is comment #5 ~Jaybird.  

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World