Gratitude: Behind-The-Scenes

Some thoughts on how gratitude is perceived…with cartoon dogs!

Itchy // Shutter To Think

Everyone is itchy around here. Essentially: the opposite of "comfortable."

Buns, Interrupted. // Shutter To Think

More buns. (This week's Shutter To Think post after the jump.)

Buns // Shutter To Think

Speaking of dog buns...my response to Patrick's last post in our game, Shutter To Think.

Woe is me. // Shutter To Think

To Patrick as he packs up more boxes on this frigid February day...

I Ate a Nose in Queensland.

I Ate a Nose in Queensland (2014), in collaboration with N Masani Landfair.

At the Redmoon Winter Pageant, I met fellow artist, N Masani Landfair, who also had a booth in the art fair portion of the pageant. Donovan and I picked up a couple of her "Make Art With Me" packets – little envelopes full of found objects and scraps that she sells as a way to collaborate with other artists. I was very drawn to the packet I chose, and you can see the end result above. 

Doodlin.'

Hypno-Dog says "Gimme all your bones, man."

Upgrades.

Buried Treasures (2014). 

Wood, Polymer Clay, Acrylic, Scenic Cement, Fine Turf.

I made this.

Last October, we bought a little seafoam-green ranch home, with a little fenced in yard, a little kitchen, and the littlest of bathrooms (complete with Pepto-Bismol-Pink tile).

The first house I lived in was also a mid-century ranch home. My mom remembers it as a mess of a house, always needing one thing or another, crowded, dated, dirty. I, on the other hand, remember this house as being just right. In a town where the streets were alphabetically sorted, I grew up in the N's (that's Niagara for you Park Foresters that may be reading). Beyond the backyard was a steep, grassy hill. The grade school was at the bottom of that hill. I remember my best-friend-and-next-door-neighbor, Teddy, and I scampering down that hill towards the school, lunchboxes in hand. It's hard to tell if those memories are real or fictional, but they do seem nice.

Sometime after Teddy had moved away and before fifth-grade graduation, I found a box of partially-used cans of spray paint in the garage. This was also around the time I was fond of turning oversized cardboard boxes into living arrangements in the backyard. Rain, of course, had a detrimental effect on cardboard housing. So, after a heavy rainshower, here I am, hanging out in my decked-out box, in the garage, listening to tapes on my little pink boom box (the one with the blue button that my dad let me pick out at Radio Shack). Probably Pet Shop Boys or my sister's copy of Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward or that Elton John tape that Kitty left for me to play. I remember deciding I was going to paint the outlet. Something small, and I'll only be improving it, so, mom will love it. Sprayed it white, then polka-dotted it with black. Voila! A masterpiece.

Wait. I got white paint on the wall, too. I should make that look intentional.

No idea what I was doing or how to use spray paint, I went nuts. I covered an interior wall of the garage in spray paint. I felt proud and terrified at the same time. I moved from color to color, just trying to create patterns and balance on the wall. The more I painted, the more anxious I became at what my mom's reaction would be, and the more compelled I was to keep working on it, keep improving it.

See, I always wanted to be an artist. I did not always know what it meant to be "an artist," but it wasn't until grown-ups attempted to steer me in other directions that I considered "other" careers. "Don't be an artist? OK. I'll be a fashion designer. What? No? OK, I'll be an architect. Geometry, you say? Nevermind...how about singing?" I never knew how to be anything but an artist, but I don't know if I ever knew how to be "an artist" either. Confusing.

I don't remember what the wall looked like in the end. I remember neon green, leftover paint from my pink bicycle, possibly some oranges...I remember worrying that I was in serious trouble. This might be the best part of this story: I wasn't in trouble. My mom wasn't thrilled with the overall design, but I remember her telling me that she knew me, that she knew I needed to do these things sometimes, and that she was proud of me. I think this was also followed by some safety instructions for using spray paints and a little bit of a lecture about the wall being hers, something like "You probably should have asked for permission, but we should rebuild the garage anyway."

"Poems While You Wait"

My friend, Jenny, recently commissioned me to photograph her friends' wedding vow renewal ceremony. It had been kind of a while since I had done an event, and I was feeling a bit rusty. In fact, I was downright anxious about my equipment...so much so, that I went out and bought a new camera (Canon 70D, which I am very excited about - see above photo).

The couple, Maren & Dave, are really fun, new-to-me people. The type of people who don't know how cool they are. They filled the event space with all kinds of special details, down to the table settings – for instance, I was seated at a table with Jenny where the centerpiece included a book they had worked on together at the Chicago History Museum, and a little Kodak Brownie.

Another fantastic element of their party was "Poems While You Wait" (there was even a cartoonist doing custom doodles of the guests). Poets, seated at tables with vintage typewriters, took orders from the guests for poems on any particular subject. I chose "terriers," and I was told that there were a LOT of terrier enthusiasts attending that evening. Here is the result (it's like they KNOW him!):

I have been a photo-retouchin' fool the past week and a half. More pictures to come!

Dog Outtakes

Yesterday, I crossed the border into Indiana for a maternity photo shoot with Paula and Jason (you might remember them from their wedding photos). One of the fabulous things we have in common is that we are all crazy dog people.

Here is a doggy outtake from yesterday of their newest addition, Beatrice. Bea is a shy little French Bulldog rescue with a big snore. Look at that face! I love her.

(more pictures later.)

Dr. Watson: A Year in Pictures!

Day 1: Adoption Day!

Tomorrow, we are celebrating my Grandma's 91st birthday. I am mixing up a batch of cupcakes for her (thinking about Frango Mints to take her back to her Marshall Fields days), and it got me thinking: making all those cupcakes for Grandma's 90th birthday was one of the first things Watson and I did together.

Since then, he has proven to be one of the best decisions Donovan and I ever made. He's a comedian, a protector and a snuggle buddy, all in one (irresistably cute) package.

Looking good after his first bath.

If you think you wear a lot of hats at your job, just imagine being "the Wats," who holds several titles: 

• Sous Chef (my little kitchen helper!)
• Woodshop assistant (specializing in custom bass guitars.)
• Music Production Assistant (adept at adding realistic "barks" to
  any track.)
• TV Critic (current favorite shows include: Adventure Time, Vikings, and Game of Thrones.)
• Model (it ain't easy, posing for all of these photos.)

Hanging out in the yard. (note: length of fur.)

His first camping trip. "Time to wake up, Donny!"

Watson hosted his first annual Howl-O-Week gala event, and kept his eyes fixed on the Thanksgiving turkey as it was being carved (an act that paid for itself).

He missed a visit from Santa Claus, and his first at-home haircut quickly followed. It was an eventful holiday season!

In February, Watson begrudgingly accepted the role "Valentine," then, in early March, we celebrated his adoption day with a special Himalayan Yak Milk bone (his new favorite thing!)

It's plain to see: We love our Watson.

Hope you enjoyed this recap of our first year with Dr. Watson!

Vel, Ann, & Naveen (Ruby & Penny, too!)

Last fall, in addition to the 4M's, friends, Vel & Ann, asked me to do a family photo shoot with their son, Naveen, and furry-daughters, Ruby & Penny.

The leaves were falling, the sun was shining, and we had a really fun day walking through the park and taking photos.

For the second time that month, I had a photo lesson in dogs & toddlers! I need to do more cardio...you've gotta keep up!

Especially with this little man, who was SUPER excited about the new park we found. Who could blame him? Not me!

I had Donovan there to assist with dog-care and camera equipment carrying (what a nice husband!) and we found the leaf piles… ! 

Hibernation

Blackberry & Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes

Just sharing some cupcakes I have made in the past month.

Blackberry & Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes: Matcha green tea cake with green tea icing, injected with a bit of blackberry jam and topped with a fresh blackberry.

Has anyone else noticed all the delicious fresh berries in the grocery store right now? Where are they coming from?!

"King Cake" Cupcakes

"King Cake" Cupcakes: I was going to try my hand at making a King Cake for the first time, since we celebrated Mardi Gras this year with a pot-luck at work. Then I started reading recipes and felt overwhelmed...plus, I felt like the end product wasn't worth all that work. Looks like coffee cake; tastes…well…a bit like coffee cake. Instead, I made these little treats: lemon cakes with almond OR apricot filling (12 of each), topped with vanilla buttercream and festive Mardi Gras sugars.

Just look at my Watson, chest-deep in the snow! Instead of walking, he leaps around like a bunny. *

*(Don't mention the "bunny" part to him, if you should happen to see him.)

PS: Redesign! Yay!

dog vs. grass

Looks: similar.

Feels: similar.

If I had a yard, it would be fun to make him a "camouflage-zone" full of these plants.