ticklishmermaids

I have Been Away from my Studio for too Long!

2011-10-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

I have been away from painting for so so long that I am afraid I will have forgotten how! LIFE has been so busy as I have two kids off to college now and one lone highschooler, four dogs, two cats, one husband and a partridge and a pear tree.

Hopefully, soon, I will be back in the studio after one last college football game and one more highschool football game and one class reunion cocktail party at my home and and and....

I Hope Everyone in Blog Land is well!

Downtown Lakeland Florida - A Little Mecca of Cool » Fancy Flea

2011-04-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

I have a booth at the Fancy Flea this Saturday! I will have a wide variety of paintings including mermaids, Cats ,Dogs, and even Frogs!

I have included the link! I hope y'all can come out and keep me company!

Downtown Lakeland Florida - A Little Mecca of Cool » Fancy Flea

It's Raining Cats and Dogs!

2011-04-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

I have been on an Animal Streak!

I don't know about ya'll but I am Streaky. I get on kicks and off I go! This month has been a feline/canine month with a few ticklish mermaids thrown in for good measure!

This is my friend's dog, Otis! He is a beautiful boxer and this was my birthday present to her! She is a crazy dog person like me!

I painted this for my new friend, Suzette!

This is of her recently passed away, Bailey.!

I think I was watching Kathy Bates on her new tv show and must have been thinking of "CUJO" by Stephen King. Do ya'll remember that movie??? SCARY I named this painting angry dog. I don't think I do angry very well...not my style!

I was feeling a

little blue !

This reminds me of a gray cat that we used to own when my kids were small named John. Or John John the super cat as he was aptly named. I got him at the SPCA after I had a grove rat jump on my leg under my long skirt one morning. We had rats chewing through the ceiling and staring down at us as we laid in bed; and rats chewing holes through loaves of bread. We tried traps and they scoffed, exterminating services and they giggled, poison and they died in the walls. None of these things worked until we got a kitty. Our rat problem was solved in a week and we will now never be without one!

We now have two calicos,LILY and MILLY! They are twins as we rescued them together.

Red Kitty to go with my Blue Dog!

And we always have MERMAIDS!!!

I Really have gone red with my hair! I go on streaks with my hair too...LOL ..no pun intended.

Thanks for taking a peek.

I am about to go on a froggy streak so stay tuned!

http://www.ticklishmermaids.com/

Too Busy!!

2010-11-30T06:51:00.000-08:00

There is no paint drying right now in the Mermaid Shed!!!

I'm too busy with Puppies!!!

Everyday is so filled that I cannot even think!

We are now a household of 5 humans, 2 felines, and 12 carnivorous dogs!

www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com

We LOVE our PUPPIES!

These are the pictures from our last litter. Daisy and Moses blessed us with an unplanned pregnancy and we know have 8 one week old PUPPIES!

It's your Fault! No, it's your fault!

Here we are fighting, no heatedly discussing who let the Stork in our house with 8 Golden Retriever Puppies in it's sack!

Fashion

2010-08-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

Work Jorts!

I have a new post on www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com! Please read www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com

Bad muffin top

A discussion on the JORT a cautionary tale.

Don't miss the awfulness....

My Days with Daisy: The Glimmer Twins

2010-08-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

My Days with Daisy: The Glimmer Twins

Happy Birthday Mr. Magpie!!!

2010-05-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a Little Shout Out!

Happy Birthday Fred!

You are one of the nicest guys around! Hope you had a great Day!

Memories of Bonaventure

2010-05-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com

And Then There Were Three

I had to put one of my precious puppies to sleep today. It was becoming apparent that she had a birth defect. At first, I thought it was a "swimmer puppy" which means its legs are splayed out and it has trouble walking. This can sometimes be corrected. Sadly, it was more serious. It was Pectus Excavatum which is a deformity of the sternum also known as funnel chest. Basically, her chest was malformed making it hard for her to breathe and a host of other problems.

If she had been born in a larger litter and if we had not taken such good care of her and helped her nurse etc. she probably would not have made it as long as she did. It is normal to sometimes lose a puppy and I can't decide if earlier or later in the process is better. Daisy was a good Momma and the puppy did not suffer.

The other two girls and boy are doing great! They are starting to walk, bark, and have little personalities. The boy is by far the most vocal. I think we will name them soon.

No pictures of puppies this time because well, my heart is not in it...but I wanted ya'll to know. I have thought about a name for her since we had not yet done that and all day I have thought about the story of Gracie at Bonaventure Cemetary in Savannah. Forgive me as I wax nostalgic for a moment. When I was a girl every Sunday, we would make the rounds at the cemetary. I know this sounds morbid, but I think a lot of people did it back then. Everybody would squeeze into one car and go to ride...to the graveyard( and my kids wonder why I'm crazy!). Either before or normally after Sunday dinner depending on the season, we would go to Bonaventure and put flowers from the yard at the family gravesite. If there were no blooms, we would rake or pick up sticks.

Anyway, I would often get bored and walk around and right down from our plot was Gracie's plot. It now has a fence around it, but when I was a girl it did not. You could go right up to it. It was and still is a lifesize monument of a little girl who was beloved by her family who died very young. For some reason it always scared me especially because her nose was chipped a little.

The cemetary itself is filled with old oaks draped in moss, huge imposing cherubim monuments, various crypts and mausoleums all beside the Savannah River. It is so quiet that everything seems muffled and the modern world melts away when you are there.

I think as a kid somebody scared me with a tale of if I walked around her three times then I would hear her talk. I may have been confusing that with Tomochichi's rock. But whatever, I loved and feared going to Bonaventure.

Funny how the death of a three week old puppy can make you stop, reflect, and remember.

ps. The obelisk above and below is my Grandfather's familys.

Great Art Show at All Good Things!

2010-05-07T05:29:00.000-07:00

Art is Alive and Well in Lakeland, Florida!

My friends at All Good Things, a great gift shop and design studio, hosted several local artists this week The art was diverse and the company was excellent. I saw people that I had not seen in a while so I spent most of my time chatting with friends and partaking of the delicious refreshments!

Some of my favorite pieces and sold to fabulous people who will love them like I do.

Of course, everyone loves roosters so they "flew out the door" ( sorry could not resist!).

This painting of my precious Daisy Delilah of www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com fame graced Blake Scarbrough's delightful room. He has WBS designs and is very sought after for his impeccable taste and style.

More later on all the great artists.

Sorry, I have not been on for a while but I'm trying!!! I have a lot of puppies, kids, life etc. right now.

xxxooo

We are having Golden Retriever puppies

2010-04-12T06:27:00.000-07:00

I am back KINDA!

Hello! to all my sweet blogger friends. I know I have been gone for so long, but this has been a trying year. My oldest son is a Senior in High School this year. Last summer was spent helping him apply to colleges....that is a quite an undertaking these days. It is not at all like when I did it. I had no idea and I feel bad for kids who don't have parental support! The Fall was spent working on Senior year activities and highschool Football! My second son is on the team and my husband helps coach.

Then came Christmas and then we got a diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease/ ulcerative colitus for my Senior son. It has been an awful struggle with a disease that I had never even heard of really. It is called UC for short and it is a disease that attacks your colon. He missed a month of his Senior year and lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks. I think I gained it through stress eating I am sorry to say. I found great solace in Salt and Vinegar potato chips! He is up and down and we are praying for remission so he can go to college this Summer. I had to cancel all painting events and close up the Mermaid Shed. I really can't focus right now.

THE BIG NEWS in all of this is that my Golden Retriever, Daisy is having puppies! This will be out first litter and we are sooo excited! I am posting about her on www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com.

If you have time please follow Daisy and share in this happy time with our family and hopefully I can come back to painting Mermaids and sharing with ya'll again soon!

Kim

Art show Thursday

2009-10-07T18:14:00.000-07:00

See Ticklish Mermaids Art!

Thursday, October 8th 7-9

Live Music

Black and Brew

See Kim's art

Come by and say Hi and listen to some great Music!

http://ow.ly/sqa9 Info about Black and Brew night!

Info. on The Vine!

www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com

2009-09-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

I do not know how people manage two or more blogs!

I cannot find time to blog about Ticklish Mermaids and my new one. Friends, please be patient while I figure it out. I am painting lots of dogs and flowers and mermaids of course. In addition to being a wife and mother and a ME!

OH Yeah! I think Daisy is preggo!!! Please follow her...Her blog seems so lonely with so few friends!Also, please send me good dog blog links.xxxooo

My Chicken Wall

2009-08-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

I know I am supposed to be painting mermaids in The Mermaid Shed, but....

I Love Chickens!

What is it about chickens that make people want to collect them? I cannot tell you how many of my painter friends love to paint them. I know I am supposed to be painting Mermaids in The Mermaid Shed, but I can't help it. I was just watching a gardening show on PBS and lo and behold the woman had a beautiful formal garden and....A Chicken coop!! I almost wept with jealousy. I would love to have a chicken coop. I did have a single chicken once. I agreed to let my son bring it home from kindergarten. We named it "CHICKIE CHICKIE" It rode on my shoulder. I loved that chicken, but boy did it smell. I still loved it and would love to have one now.

This is my chicken wall as my children call it. The large painting is by a really great artist, Madison Latimer. I love her vibrant colors and her unique take on the rooster! Very creative. She did an art show at my home and I was in heaven with wall to wall poultry! If you ever see a giant box truck on the road with painted chickens all over it, that will be her!

This rather blurry picture shows my two latest paintings. I prefer the yellow one. I need to work on the tail on the black and white one. The way I work is that I hang my paintings around my house in various places and live with them for a while. Usually, I see some thing that bugs me. My husband does not understand the point of this... he thinks everything is great and does not enjoy discussing the nuances of a rooster's tail!

Really, I love him. I need to name him. Henny Penny??

I like the texture that I put around his head, but his tail needs to be larger. I like the background. I used some new colors.

Well, I hope you like my chickens....maybe the next time I can share about a chicken coop in my own garden!

Oh and if you have time check out my other blog, www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com or my new Squidoo lens, www.squidoo.com/ticklish-mermaids.com

I Just Squidooed! Have you?

2009-08-24T08:08:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy here at Ticklish Mermaids!

I know I need to paint but the computer keeps singing it's siren song to me! I just discovered Squidoo. It is a cool site where you can learn and teach. It is like a blog for experts. Hard to explain I know, but check mine out. I wrote an article per se on Increasing your online presence. I put on my school teacher hat so please read http://www.squidoo.com/ticklish-mermaids

I just started a new blog devoted to my precious dog Daisy Delilah. I am about to breed her with Moses, my English Cream and I thought it would be fun to document and share our journey. Please check it out...she needs followers!

I have really missed everyone! Thanks for all the sweet emails!

http://www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com/

www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com

2009-08-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

I am starting a new blog devoted to my precious,Golden Retriever, Daisy! I know the blog world does not need another Dog blog, but I just could not resist! I would love for her to have followers so help pass this on to anyone who enjoys the antics of a house full of dogs. Thanks!

xxoo

http://www.mydayswithdaisy.blogspot.com/

It's Been a Long Hot Summer!

2009-08-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have been away from my sweet blog for so long! But, I have not been idle! I have been painting my latest inspirations...tropical flowers. Don't be impressed ! I live in Florida for goodness sake. It really is the only thing I can grow with any modicum of success.

I love my mermaids and I have to admit that I do feel rather guilty when I paint other subjects sooo I incorporated them into my newest beauty.... a tropical maid no less.

I love Picnik. I cannot resist playing around with it. If you have not tried it you really should!

Purple Rain Hibiscus! Color known to man?? No idea!

Blue Orchid??? No idea...but I really like the background and the bluish color!

Red Hibiscus...ok I have seen that!

I am so sorry! I have been an unfaithful blogger and I need to do penance. Let me know what I can do to make amends??? I promise to blog more later about.....LIFE!!

xxooo

Savannah or Bust

2009-05-18T17:35:00.001-07:00

36 Hours in Savannah

I had to take some new paintings to the Atlantic Beacon Gallery on Tybee Island this weekend so I combined a little business with pleasure! My sweet husband booked a room at The Mansion on Forsyth. It is really beautiful and worthy of its 4 star ranking. As we walked up, I realized that part of this beautiful building used to be a funeral home. I didn't tell sweet husband and not surprisingly it was not mentioned in any of the promo literature.

The picture below is at the hotel entrance.

This is the entrance to the great restaurant and also the old funeral home, but I kept it to myself for a while...I am really not good at keeping secrets.

This is the ceiling of the elevator...the light shines from above it illuminating the image. This is the fountain across the street in the park!

The walls in the lobby were covered with silk and had these fabulous paintings. Very Modern and avant garde. It is a perfect combination of modern decor with historic architecture.

These are the hallways leading to the guest rooms. I could not believe all of the great paintings!

Interesting Sculpture by the elevator...picture is a little blurry...sorry!

Ok, I loved these chairs in the restaurant... so unexpected and comfy too!

More Chairs! This one is guilded with gold lame back and leather seat. It sounds horrible, but it really works. Whoever decorated this hotel had guts and creativity! Yes, that is blue crushed velvet on the drapes in the background. I know, but it really works.

I can eat my weight in fried green tomatoes!

They were the best that I have ever had and I loved that they were offered for breakfast! I love them, but you know I hate the way the house smells after I fry. Nothing like a cast iron skillet, some cornmeal, and Wesson oil! I just wish it wasn't so bad for your diet. I did not tell my trainer today about the fried food.

I also did not tell her about the Chicken fingers and spuds that Spanky's is so famous for.

More Mayfaire Memories

2009-05-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

I Felt the Love in Lakeland!

Maya did a great job this year. She along with countless volunteers really put on a great event!

The day started off with a lot of laughs.

Brenda is a joy to work with at the Museum. A Great Professional

These girls bought two of my favorites.

Tom is a true Renaissance man.

Everybody had so much fun chit chatting and catching up. It really was so much fun. I saw old friends from my teaching days, Bible Study friends, former students, artists friends, and blogging buddies!The group was eclectic, fun, and joyful! Even though we were literally burning up!

Meet Phyliss! She was my sweet neighbor at Mayfaire! Look for her on the circuit. I could not keep my family out of her tent. I do not even want to know how much they spent. Great art!

Lorrie on the right was my great other neighbor! I got a beautiful silver bracelet Mother's Day Gift from her booth. The world Famous Koko Brandao is on the left. She had a fabulous booth filled with beautiful paintings. Why is she not in her Booth??? Her sweet husband must be watching.

Mother's Day brought them all out....almost.
Hank and Moses had to stay home.

Thanks for letting me share these memories. When I started painting a year or so ago, we were all joking wouldn't it be fun to get in Mayfaire. Who would have thought??? I guess dreams do come true.

My First Mayfaire!

2009-05-11T09:59:00.001-07:00

I was Topless at Mayfaire!

I have so many things that I want to share about my weekend at Mayfaire that I am going to bore ya'll with all of them over the next few posts so please hang with me!

Episode one... and these are not in any order... I was so excited and overwhelmed on Friday that I forgot to tell dear sweet husband to strap on the top to the tent!!! We left to go check on the children and when we returned the top plus awnings were draped in the front. I apparently had everyone buzzing and sympathizing about the TOPLESS tent!

My sweet friend Koko, sent her husband over to help and the tent went back up....another funny story about this later!

This is me checking in with my good friend Carey....I am on the left.

Here is my good friend sweating it out in my booth helping me in the 100 degree heat! I think I owe her a kidney!!

I will talk about these pictures tomorrow!

Reflections from Winthrop Art Festival

2009-05-05T05:47:00.000-07:00

I had a great time in Riverview, Florida at the Winthrop Art Festival The Rotary really did a great job, as well as, the other organizers.

The pictures above and below are close-ups of my booth.

In the pictures below, I am in the back of the booth. I am wearing one of my t-shirts( my 13 year old daughter informed me it was too small or I was too big to be wearing it) which were a big hit.

My booth was across from the Kettle Korn tent and I have to say as hot as I was in 90 degree heat, those Korn cookers had to be 10 degrees hotter. Needless to say, I ate way too much Kettle Corn. The Italian ice tent was also right down from me so it was not a diet weekend for me. Maybe that is why my t-shirt stopped fitting???

Next Week, Reflections from Mayfaire in Lakeland, Florida.

This is why I am MIA!

2009-05-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

I have not been on because it is Art Festival Season in Florida!

This weekend I will be in Brandon.

Susan Boyle Stopped me in my Tracks!

2009-04-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

Stop and Smell the Roses and Follow Your Dreams!

I have had several friends send me messages about Susan Boyle on Britain's You've Got Talent; but quite frankly, I am swamped! Too swamped to get on youtube for goodness sake. I mean I am getting ready for two art shows, my oldest has prom this weekend, my youngest is trying out for cheerleading today, and I live in Florida and my airconditioner just broke again for the third time in as many weeks. No time for fun things like blogging...but I got on and you have to do yourself a favor and look. She made me want to laugh and cry at the same time! I may have to make her into a mermaid.

She is the classic do not judge a book by its cover.

Check it out and Let me know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

"when the world is puddle-wonderful"

2009-03-24T18:52:00.001-07:00

Spring Time Means Sustainer Parties!

I went to a fabulous, beautiful, and fun Spring Party . I asked my friends if I could blog about them and they all said sure, but I had to use famous names...sooo On the far left is Tippi Hedron. She has 5 beautiful blond boys and 1 pretty little girl. The oldest is 15 and she always looks this beautiful. No, ladies we cannot hate her because she is so so nice and sweet. She volunteers a ton, loves the Lord, and homeschools. I wonder if she sleeps. I am really impressed with "Tippi".

Here we have Cameron and Lucy. I love these girls...smart, fun, and beautiful. If I were in it I would

be Jacqueline Smith and we could be the new and old Charlie's Angels.

In this picture, I have a cousin, a neighbor, an old friend and a new friend and me. Can you guess which one I am? Somebody called me Betty Rubble. Now do you know?

The table was beautiful with delightful little sandwiches, cheese wafers,and all the customary food. You know here in the South, especially if the hostess is a Georgia Girl, we will have salted pecans, homemade cheesestraws, and chicken salad or pimento cheese, and little pecan pie tarts. There was more of course, but I was too busy "shooting the breeze", "chewing the fat" "chit chatting" to notice.The red Gerber daisys were so vibrant.

The title is from an E.E. Cummings poem, In Just- Spring.

Lions, and Tigers, and Twitter Oh My!!! I am not in Kansas anymore.

2009-03-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

I am having such a great time with all of this new technology that I am finding little time to paint, clean, cook, or worst of all grocery shop! I am suppossed to be updating my website and instead I just learned how to add twitter to my blog. Maybe, I will addict the rest of you. I don't want to twitter alone ya'll! Isn't that the first sign of an addiction? I don't think talking to your girlfriends as you have a nice glass of Pinot at 5:00 is drinking alone. Do you??? I hope not...I still have no computer with my pictures. I am using teenagers laptop...they would be irritated because I don't let them use my computer. They think all I do is eat bon bons and paint all day. Today, it is salt and vinegar potato chips and TWITTER. I feel like Dorothy...Lions, and Tigers, and Twitter Oh My!

I am back...

2009-03-09T17:55:00.000-07:00

I am so glad to be back blogging. Thank you to those of you who checked on my wherabouts. I have been on a trip, preparing for an art show, doing an art show, unpacking from the art show, cleaning out The Mermaid Shed, and LIFE with husband, kids, and dogs.

My husband had to install an external hard drive for all of my pictures and istead of being faster, it is now slower !!! I am about to be without a computer for a few days so I just wanted to say hi!

I am learning how to do a slide show!

2009-02-17T07:46:00.001-08:00

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Gardening is not for Sissies in Florida

2009-02-10T18:49:00.000-08:00

The Freeze Hit Me Twice !

A Cautionary Tale about Gardening

In the spirit of Outdoor Wednesday, I am wallowing in my distress over my frozen burned up yard. I did not cover as some of my friends did because the stuff at Lowes was too expensive and I did not want to have to wash every sheet in my house. My male friends used their sheets because they knew their wives would wash them!! So, for the sake of minimal laundry, I gambled that it would not really get that cold in my little, beloved yard. I mean, afterall, it has been 3-4 years since it has been cold and with all the talk about global warming.... well... he who hesitates is lost, and yes I am crying over spilled milk!!

This is a collage of before and after pictures of my backyard in sunny Florida. (I love this website, Picnik, for fun and easy picture editing).

I did not cover my hybiscus on the far left or my bouganvilla standard in the center. Nor did I cover the podocarpus on the far right.

Here is a tip, do not lay new St. Augustine in the Fall because it will look like this IF it freezes.

In an earlier post I showed this view of my spathyphillums, ginger, and crotons....before they were burned up! What is it they say about pride going before a fall???

This is one of my Traveller Palms. It will look like this until the middle of summer. I am growing to like khaki. It is Florida's new green.

Happy Wednesday!

Shirley Temple Watch out!

2009-02-09T17:40:00.000-08:00

Introducing

Little Miss Personality

Olivia knows how to brighten a garden!

Olivia is beautiful in her parents' perennial garden. I hope it made it through the freeze!

Posing comes naturally to Olivia ! Both of her parents are talented performers. Mom is a professional Opera singer and Dad, in addition, to being an accomplished pianist, has his Phd. in Music. The family is a fixture in the local arts and music scene.

This is not a great picture...sorry! In my Christmas rush, I failed to take good pictures. This was a gift for Dad for their beach house in Florida. I loved incorporating the "Diva" crown, the ballet slippers, and the wonderful culy hair. Sorry you cannot tell from the shot, but it is really cute! The text overlay is from Picnik...I just discovered it and I love it!

I swear all she needs is some tap shoes and the Good Ship Lollipop and she is a star!

The Frisky Mermaid!

2009-01-25T19:31:00.000-08:00

My Latest Florida Panhandle Mermaid!

Introducing the Frisky Mermaid!

I meet so many nice people through my mermaids, that I feel compelled to share the love so to speak. Also, people always enjoy reading about themselves or at least I think so. I know I like to read nice things about myself and especially my family.

A lovely school teacher called me right before Christmas, just as I had closed The Mermaid Shed for the holidays. Well, as you all know, I was a school teacher sooo I could not refuse this last commision. Alicia from the Panhandle wanted a gift for her mother-in-law for Christmas. She described her Mother-in-law in such glowing terms and with such genuine affection that I felt priviledged to paint her. Fun-loving, beautiful, full of life, energetic, delightful, happy, and sporty are the words she used to describe her. I think everyone would like to have or be thought of as that kind of matriarch !

She mentioned that her in-law's beach house was named The Frisky Mermaid. I thought this was rather apt based on the apparent good nature of all involved. It is always so funny how my paintings evolve...thus The Frisky Mermaid was born!

Here we have the original Frisky.... opening her painting.

Alicia was so kind to send me pictures because I love to see people's reactions. The internet is great, but it does have some limitations soooo Thanks Alicia!!

Alicia wrote a lovely ode to her Mother-in -law that I cannot find for the life of me. Sorry! Anyway, I did a little cutting and pasting and we were able to add a little gift with purchase. Haha, don't we all love Buy One Get One? I'm just like the grocery store.

And last but not least...The Frisky Mermaid herself. I hope she will always be a sweet reminder of the love, admiration, and devotion of a sweet daughter-in-law. Thanks again Alicia, the pleasure was truly all mine!

I hope I am so blessed and I really want to be FRISKY!!!

The Dogs in my Life...a Retrospective

2009-01-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

I am a good Southern girl and like most good Southern girls with permissive parents, I had dogs...lots of dogs. My first dog was a Collie, who I reportedly named "Peppy". Apparently, I had a bit of a speech problem and I was trying to say "puppy" and the moniker stuck. Peppy was a good dog who roamed the neighborhood in the days before leash laws, and all sorts of other laws and dangers that have sucked the fun out of childhood. I used to run around my house with Peppy chasing me. Invariably, I was in socks on the hardwood and I always ended up either getting nipped like the girl in the old Coppertone ad or I slipped and hit my head. You know nobody went to the hospital for CAT scans in the 60's, so why I am I so worried about my children??? Were our heads harder back then?
My next dog was part Schnauzer, part Wirehair Terrier. I could recite that on cue at around 6 or 7 years old and I said it with such pride. Why??? I named this puppy too...Bambi...I was so original even then. She had puppies with the toy poodle from across the street...he was quite a player. You know how those Poodles were back in the day...they were all that and they knew it too. This one was white and had those drippy eyes...I was never a poodle fan, but to each his own. I got to pick a puppy and I chose a white one and named it, "Poo Poo" I am assuming and hoping it was a play on the name poodle. I obviously was not being guided by any adults. Poo Poo was... part Schnauzer,part Wire haired Terrier, and part Poodle. I was so proud ha ha! There were also other litters and I cannot seem to remember any others staying around very long. They must have decided that the names that they were bound to be stuck with would limit their prospects so they did not stay long. There was a short lived Irish Setter...probably named Red who ate the sofa and was promptly dispatched to some farm in the country, or so I was told.

The following pictures are of the animals of my adult life. Some have gone to doggie heaven and some are still with me. I reminisced too long and I will have to save them for later.

Thank you for letting me indulge in my trip down memory lane. I would love to hear your animal stories from childhood. I am such a believer that pets enhance our lives and have great healing abilities .

My Florida Garden

2009-01-14T13:23:00.001-08:00

Welcome to my little slice of Florida!

I do not love the Ocala brick that my house and Mermaid Shed is built with, so if you look in the corner you will see the creeping fig. I have discovered that it loves it here and it can cure a multitude of ills. I am covering everything in this house that I do not like with it. Be Careful if you plant it on the ground around trees because it will quickly climb and overcome the tree. Trust me... do not ask... but it cost me a lot of money!

My new Christmas puppy, Moses, is standing in front of my beautiful Ginger. I was supposed to cover it today because we are supposed to get in the 30s and 40s here over the next few days.... I didn't. These tropicals are really good until it gets in the 40's .

This is in my backyard and I get great joy looking out at it.

I have a viburnum hedge, then I have a combination of spathiphilum (Peace Plant), crotons, and ginger. I used to loathe croton because they are done to death in the Florida landscape, however, I really like them combined here. I think this is a perfect trio, but it will freeze and did I mention that I did NOT COVER THEM TODAY!!! I am going to be so mad at myself if they get burned.

Being from Savannah, I love dogwoods, Magnolias and hydrangeas. I have planted them numerous times and moved them all over my garden and I cannot grow them here. I do have azaleas and a lone Magnolia... they are holding their own, but certainly not flourishing. I keep telling them to bloom where they are planted, but they won't listen.

Here is the thought for the day, Lets all bloom where we are planted!

Meet The California Mermaids!

2009-01-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

Mermaids are commonly thought of as mythical sea creatures of the Siren variety. However, a Ticklish Mermaid is something so much more! We are women who support and embrace our friends. We value the wisdom of our elders while retaining the fun of our youth! We know how precious life is and we strive to enjoy our lives and our families. We can find joy in the mundane and we are always friendly and polite. Life is too short to be ugly and we put a high value on creativity and originality. Ticklish Mermaids bring a lot to the table! We are fun, smart, devoted, witty, stylish, sassy, maybe even a little flirty and definitely ticklish!

I would like to introduce Dianne and her California Mermaids and they are definitely of the Ticklish Variety!

My new friend, Dianne , on the right found me on the internet in her search for a gift to honor and delight her friends ...the Mermaids! Here she is with her handsome instructor wearing a Ticklish Mermaid t-shirt she commisioned for Christmas. These beautiful women and handsome instructor below are a part of a swimming group who meet to swim, have fun and support each other. They are an excellent example of what I mean when I talk about being a "ticklish mermaid"! These women are smart, loving, strong, stylish, and clearly have a strong sense of fun! They are truly the embodiment of what my art expresses. I think the t-shirts were a hit and I love the caption that Dianne decided on..."Sea Stumpets...Mermaids Gone Wild!" I painted this after talking with Dianne about her swimming group. She described them as beautiful, fun, culturally diverse, strong and devoted. I was trying to pick a favorite out of these three girls and I really can't. I do think today that I am feeling like the girl in the middle.
Try to figure out which ladies in the two pictures above that I chose to be my models and you might when a prize. (Please excuse this shameless enticement to get you to write me back. )
This is Dianne and her bestfriend, Sandee. They are so blessed to have each other and I am reminded by looking at them what a true and valuable gift a good friend is !!!

Dianne is so sweet that she commissioned "Best Friend" paintings for both of them. I love them both! Below is one of them...the other is floating around in my computer somewhere hiding from me!!! I will be posting more this month on some of the terrific people that I have met through Ticklish Mermaids: and I pay tribute today to Dianne and all of her California Mermaids! Well done ladies for lives being well spent! Thanks Dianne for finding me!

Christmas Party for all my fellow Mermaids

2008-12-20T17:43:00.000-08:00

I had the best intentions... I layed out the camera and I made sure the memory card was in...all of these were quite a feat for me and once again for the 6th year in a row, I forgot to take pictures at my annual ladies or should I say mermaids only Christmas party. I only have the day after pictures...sorry. These are my favorite bells of Ireland in the kitchen. These are a no brainer...everyone comments and all you do is pop them in a vase! This is my new "C" . I bought it in Tampa....simple but great!

My dear sweet friends bring me great gifts and my daughter opens them. I would like to open them but it has become rather a ritual for her to open them. Oh, to have my 13 year olds life!

I felt compelled to show this one. My fun, "Santa Mermaid" surrounded by the old empty remains of a life well spent. Lol aka wine bottles. I am waxing poetic tonight...perhaps, it is because I am watching an English movie and they speak so eloquently.

This my kitchen... a wreck!

Next blog will be on my Christmas 911. :)

I love Garland!

2008-12-11T13:24:00.000-08:00

This garland is so simple, but I love it. I would love to say that i made these ornaments but I did not. I bought them 4, 5 or 6 years ago from Pottery Barn Kids and I love them. I think they are so cute and llok good on my hutch . The hutch and the majolica are a story for another day. This garland incorporates some of the same elemenys accept I have jazzed it up a little with this cute mechy ribbon I found in a craft store aptly named Southern Hospitality. I also used raffia because it goes with everything.

I got myself in this picture for fun wearing my painting clothes....because I am supposed to be in the studio working on Christmas orders and instead I am BLOGGING! I love The Nesting Place's contest too much not to do it. i hope I did it right. I was so excited that i did not really closely read it. Oh well...I am off to be good???

I was inspired by Confessions of a Plate addict!

2008-12-11T06:49:00.000-08:00

This is dedicated to Debbie at Confessions of a Plate Addict. Hello...I am Kim and I too am addicted to porcelain. Lol, I love her last post from yesterday and she inspired me to do a post on my collection of Blue and White. One of the things I collect is blue and white. A little lesson for those of you who are not "addicted" Blue and White is a term that can mean a lot of things. It can mean English Transferware like Blue Willow by Spode; it can refer to Chinese porcelain which is often called Canton. Canton is the region where most was produced. It can be Japanese porcelain called Arita, this is the region like Canton. In the pix below the large platter in the center is Blue Willow. The Surrounding plates are Canton and the smaller rectangle plates are Arita. The plates below on the wall are all Chinese Canton.

This is an old plate mixed with some reproductions. I like to have a knowledge of what I collect, but I am not a purist! I believe if you love it mix it and do not worry if it matches. It is all in the mix right!?!

Thanks for letting me put on my old school teacher hat today!

First Christmas Delivery! Adrenaline Rush!!

2008-12-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

I am so honored to have been able to share my art with my new friend Carol! She is holding her new Ticklish Mermaid Family. It was so much fun meeting and painting her. She is pictured with her precious daughter and grandchildren. All of you artists know how fun it is to meet and paint truly creative people. Carol is a poet and a nurse practitioner, as well as, a Mother and Grandmother! Vive Creative Women! I am feeling rather French today haha! The bottom picture is better...I should have turned off the flash! I hope Santa or my ticklish husband brings me a new camera for Christmas. I hope it will be like Kim's @ Daisy Cottage...hint hint...

One of my first Christmas orders has been delivered! I have quite a few more orders and I am cranking. I think I work better under pressure??? Does that make me procrastinator or an adrenaline junky???

Milly Loves to sit in Bowls

2008-12-04T18:20:00.000-08:00

Joie de Vive!!

2008-11-21T05:58:00.000-08:00

Last night was really nice at Picture Perfect. It was in fact "perfect" lol. There were so many fun and interesting people. I have to say that people who love and collect art are usually the most fun and entertaining. They usually have such a "joie de vive" I think I need to title my next painting that. In fact, that needs to be the motto for the rest of the month at least. We all should strive to have a zest for life on a daily basis. We are just a breath away so to speak. I think I need to retitle today's post.

Art Opening Tomorrow at Picture Perfect Frames

2008-11-19T10:43:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am tired! I am having my first opening tomorrow with a truly great and well educated artist, Jane Bryant. Next to her, I feel like the generic potato chip sitting next to the high end designer chip like " Miss Vickie's" Haha I am a little nervous, but I have had to learn so many new things in this process like printing, mating, and measuring backer board. I owe Marlene a big hug for having patience with me. I am not a stupid woman, but I could not measure! We finally settled upon a new method instead of saying 4/8ths she would tell me to count 2 little lines 1 med. line and 1 big line etc. I am a visual person.... not a number person! It was so fun for me, not for my teachers though.

I love some of the new things I painted...hate to sell them and say goodby.

I was inspired by a Magpie!!

2008-11-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

My friend, Sheila, just restarted her fabulous, inspiring blog, the quintessential magpie, and I was so inspired by her love of books and poetry that I felt compelled to share one of my favorite poems. I feel like I can hear his Mother speaking directly to me. I was raised by a wonderful black woman, Alvenia White, and I cannot express how much I loved her. She was essentially my Mother until I was eleven years old. I will never forget how I cried when I was going to have leave her and go to kindergarten. I was so miserable that after two days they let me come home and stay with her. Back then, you know kindergarten was optional. I could cry just thinking about the love and comfort that she gave me. She taught me everything that I ever needed to know like how to be joyful, fun loving, and respectful. You did not disobey nor did you really want to because you did not want to risk her displeasure because life was so fun when she was around. I can remember as a child struggling over the fact that I loved her more than my actual mother. It was only as an adult that I realized what a gift it was to have a white Mother and a black Mother. I am truly blessed and now that I am a mother, I say and teach my children things that flow from the well springs of both of these ladies. They are both so intertwined in my life that I cannot really differentiate between the two. To close, God is and was so great to have given me such a life.

A Mother to Son By Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you:Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.It's had tacks in it,And splinters,And boards torn up,And places with no carpet on the floor --Bare.But all the timeI'se been a-climbin' on,And reachin' landin's,And turnin' corners,And sometimes goin' in the darkWhere there ain't been no light.So boy, don't you turn back.Don't you set down on the steps'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.Don't you fall now --For I'se still goin', honey,I'se still climbin',And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Auctions, Auctions, and More Auctions!

2008-11-13T18:57:00.000-08:00

This is my Margarita Maid that I donated to Resurrection School for their big "Night In New England". I am so happy that it raised a nice amount of money and I need to find out who bought it. It is hard to let my girls go without knowing where they are going. I guess it is a good thing that my paintings aren't puppies because I would have 101 Golden Retrievers!

I cannot believe that I have not posted all month! It seems like I have been going from one thing to another all month. I donated a lovely orange haired mermaid to my children's school and she brought a great price to help fund their building project. Here she is and I cannot remember her name??? Somebody said it reminded them of Lucille Ball. In the painting I posted a while ago of my kids, the one on the left reminds me of Nicolas Cage. I have no idea why.

Happy Halloween!!!

2008-10-31T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is one of my all time Halloween Favorites!!!

These are my wooden, whimsical witches!!!

I think she reminds me of Elphaba from "Wicked" I loved that play and the first part of the book. I did not finish it :(

Happy Halloween Ya'll!!!

My Mermaid Family

2008-10-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

I painted this of my three little children. They are not so little anymore...17,15, and 13. I do not know where the time goes. I remember when I thought it would all be so easy if they could all put on their own shoes. Now, I love it when they are all home and safe for the night. My life was filled with "Barney" and "Power Rangers" now it is ESPN and Reality T.V. and 17 years later, I still do not get to watch PBS...( my favorite)I am painting more and more children and "best friends" I love it! On a literary note, I am reminded of one of the kids favorite childhood poems.."The owl and the pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea green boat..."

Life is short!

2008-10-11T16:55:00.001-07:00

A boy died last night in a car accident Lakeland. He was a smart beautiful boy. He was one of those kids who shone brightly. You knew him; you liked him; you wanted him to succeed; you worried about him and you never wanted this to happen. Death comes to us all, but when it comes early we grieve a little harder. On this day, as I comfort my family and myself and I hope that everyone is right with God and at peace with all that they love. Once again, I am reminded that life is short, too short to sweat the small stuff. I am reminded of the poem by Shakespeare...." The Seven Ages of Man'...All the world's a stage, and a man in his time plays many parts ... each with it's entrances and it's exits... This is from memory so forgive the mistakes. This boy had an early exit.

Beacon Gallery in Savannah

2008-10-10T18:49:00.001-07:00

I had such a good time down at Tybee with Debbie in her over the top Gallery! I am so sorry that I did not get a picture of her and her shop! It is such a surprise to find such a great quality shop on Tybee. I swear I have to laugh because she is right down from where a corner bar named "Kitten's Corner"used to be. I remember as a kid the door was right on the corner and it had that 60's black siamese cat on it. You know the one that looked kinda sexy. You could not see in the frosted door and I always wondered what it was like inside? Right down the street was a small amusement park... really small... a tiny ferris wheel is all I remember. All of this was on Butler Avenue. People used to walk up and down the beach selling boiled peanuts in little brown bags for a quarter and you could rent these huge rafts for $.50 a half hour.

Great Road Trip to Savannah

2008-10-08T17:48:00.000-07:00

The Tybee Lighthouse

I went to Savannah. I went to take my mermaids and witches to a gallery on Tybee. The shop is owned by Debbie and well worth a visit. She has a little bit of all kinds of art. I love it! I took two of my kids with me and we shopped on Broughton Street ate in the City market and did a lot of people watching!

Metal Witch

2008-10-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

I just drew this witch today and I am starting to rust it. This was step two and it was supposed to show the rust, but it is too hard to see. I am going to Savannah on Sunday.

Rusted Mermaids, I love instant Gratification!

2008-10-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

I have worked for three days reading about how to create RUST!! I am shocked at the number of sites that discuss how to create rust! It is a very interesting process....it feels a little like a Junior High Science fair project. First, you have to burn the Zinc coating off the galvanized steel. I did this using muriatic acid. It smelled awful, but I was gloved up and wore a mask and glasses. It was a little scary, but it certainly was effective. Then I washed it off and sprinkled it with table salt and Clorox. Who Knew?? I left it over night and then sprayed some peroxide on it, as per instructions. I was mesmerized by the whole process. I had to drag myself away because I am... "Instant Gratification Girl" and the whole thing started rusting right before my eyes.

Japanese Imari and Things I miss.

2008-09-30T08:47:00.001-07:00

I am still playing with my camera. This is a pix of my Imari. In the background, is a painting by Allen Fireall. He is one of my favorite Artists from Savannah, Georgia. I have three of his paintings. I love his vibrant colors. His art speaks to me because I am from Savannah and I miss it terribly. I love Florida and being in a great small town, but it really is not the same. I miss fried oysters from Williams Seafood. ( It burned down). I miss people saying "Yes Mam" and it not being commented on or thought strange. I miss the change of seasons where it is cool in the morning and hot in the afternoons. I miss the leaves changing even a little. I miss everything being old and familiar. There are just some things that don't change in Savannah and in some ways that is very comforting. I need to turn off the news...it is making me too sad and nostalgic for a simpler time.

I got Adobe Photoshop!!

2008-09-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

I am trying out a new camera tonight, as well as, Photoshop. As evident by this first attempt, I am having trouble focusing. I seem to have that problem a lot... These are part of my collection of Chinese Canton. I liked the pattern that the iron wall made. I collect Antique Chinese blue and white porcelain. I love it because each piece is different and made by hand. I also like the timeless beauty and the intensity of the blue.

I am excited about Halloween!

2008-09-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween. I think it is the colors and the whimsy. I have been meeting so many creative people lately. It inspires and humbles me daily. I am going to learn how to make a banner this week... maybe.

I had a tree fall!!!

2008-09-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that a tree fell on a calm day w/ no wind. My family was so blessed that no one was hurt and there was not much damage. It really was frightening since it fell right where my family hangs out and it crushed out trampoline. It missed my Mermaid shed and my house by inches!!! Mark me down as thankful today!

Halloween

2008-09-23T18:15:00.001-07:00

I love Halloween ! Here is the only Halloween Mermaid that I have had time to paint so far and I have already sold her to a nice lady in Tampa. I have so many fun ideas and not enough time to paint. I am ready to get all my decorations out...I had a tree fall this weekend and it has thrown me for a loop.

Hospice Fundraiser

2008-09-16T17:38:00.001-07:00

I cannot say how much fun I had at the Good Sheperd event! I met so many nice people from Tampa and Lakeland and everyone was so nice! It was great for me also because it forced me to buy display racks etc. Thanks to Georgia, Marlene, Angie and of course Blake! for all the help! Angie, I love the Vintage clothing form...very cool!!! I am ready to do another show!

Things are really cranking around here.

2008-09-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I am very busy with Ticklish Mermaids which is so great, yet so surreal at the same time. I have met someone really nice at a new art gallery in Lakeland. Georgia is following her dreams and has started a great retail and teaching studio. It is called Burst... I love it and I think that it just what we need.

Newest Super Mermaid

2008-08-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

I just spent the weekend painting a new type of Mermaid...the super hero.

Newest Best Friends Painting!

2008-08-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

I I just finished my latest "Best Friends Mermaids" for my friend, Mindy from Atlanta. These are three beautiful Phi Mus from Ole Miss. This one was so much fun because I was a Phi Mu at Mercer a long, long time ago :0 But really it does seem like yesterday! I have to say that college was a blast...even though I found my degree in Communications absolutely pointless ! Oh well....life is still good!

Summer

2008-08-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe summer is almost over and I have hardly painted at all. I am going to really get going tomorrow. I have been having so much fun ... I know it sounds trite, but I love Summertime. My kids have some friends from The Vineyard/ Mexico. Here they are... we had a lot of fun!

Happy Fourth!

2008-07-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

I am down in Anna Maria for the holiday weekend. Many thanks to Marlene at Picture Perfect Frame for the great job framing my newest mermaids.

2008-07-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

Really Sad about Tim Russert

2008-06-15T06:18:00.000-07:00

I want this to be a happy blog, but I am really sad about Tim Russert. I am one of the millions who felt like I knew him. The quote that keeps being repeated is, " He walked with Kings and yet retained the common touch." I think that is so apt. His love and interest in his fellow man came through in his smile, his eyes, and his voice. Wow! What a loss....

I have finally finished the Mermaid Shed

2008-06-11T06:12:00.001-07:00

I have had so much fun converting this old work shed into an art studio. I wish I had taken before pictures...but I never seem to get around to it. I installed air, painted,added new lighting, and added a new window and a new door for more light. I like the mermaid on the front. It reminds me of the signs from Colonial and early English times when shopkeepers advertisied their wares and professions via signs due to the illiteracy rates. I guess not really relevant now...but it looked good and it matched the trim..haha. Take it either way. I had fun with the checkerboard. It was really easy and I did not fool with taping. I never tape as i do not have the patience. My husband saw the process and had to leave as I was painting b/c he is a measurer and a perfectionist. It only took me an hour and it would have taken all day. He said when it was all over that it was the best looking most inexact floor he had ever seen! I took that as a compliment.

Pictures of My Mermaids

2008-06-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my baby, Daisy and my mermaids. I cannot figure out how to rotate this image:( It is a pix of me and my two friends as mermaids!
If I can get this figured out, I will post more.

Me Posing with My Mermaids

2008-06-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

This is me posing with one of my mermaid cutouts at The Restless Native on Anna Maria. I am having a lot of fun working with wood and using my new skill saw. I got saw horses and a skill saw for Mother's day. I have discovered that the possibilities are endless with a saw and a big piece of plywood!

I am Blogging!

2008-06-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that I am blogging! I have created a website, I am just now getting better at Texting. What is next? Facebook? My Space? It really is fun and a whole new world. I am embarking on something new everyday.