The 2012 Sketchbook Project...

I decided to sign up for the 2012 Sketchbook Project this year.  I heard such great things about last year's project that I thought it would be fun to put this on my list of things to accomplish this year.

I selected the theme, "In Fifty Years."    I'd love to hear from you if you are participating in the project this year.  And, if you have never heard of it, or are interested - go check it out.  It really is a cool thing to participate in.  You can read all about it here.  Last year over 28,000 artists from 94 countries participated.  I happy to be a part of it this year.

Did some more fabric painting and dyeing today.  It was a gorgeous day in North Carolina - perfect for drying painted and dyed fabrics out in the trees.  

After hanging the last piece out to dry - Sabrina and I headed out to the Farmer's Market where I picked up some strawberries, turnips, fresh spicy radishes and some snap beans. 

 The market was packed - tons of people milling around the herb tables, the German bakery and the vegetable stands. 

Tonight - off with my man on the Harley for a ride and a trip to Fresh Market to pick up some steaks for dinner.  The perfect end to the perfect day.

Outer Banks Girlie (f/k/a Clevelandgirlie!)

 With two more years until we can finally relocate out West - we decided that life is too short to keep "waiting" for dreams to come true - so we took a leap and bought a beautiful place over on Roanoke Island at the Outer Banks or North Carolina.  Close enough to get to in less than three hours - but yet - an "entire" world away.

 Nestled between the natural beauty of the salt marshes and the Outer Banks, our new place is situate right in the middle of Nags Head and Cape Hateras National Seashore -   where we can watch the sun rise over the ocean in the morning - and set over the salt marshes in the evening.  And with fourwheeling on the beach, boating in the ocean and  corgis in the sand - we will never be at a loss for things to do.  

There truly is nothing more beautiful, more spiritual, more inspiring - than the Outer Banks at sunrise, or sunset, or during a thunderstorm.  (Except for maybe the Rocky  or Sawtooth Mountains at sunset.)

We just received the signed contract back today - and with a three week closing date there is much to do in a short time.  I'm guessing the next month will be a whirlwind of activity.  Not like that's anything unusual. Bring it on!

But for today.... after having spent a lovely four day weekend with my husband's family - I have managed to squirrel away a little time in the studio.                             

I think I will do some painting - on a piece of Egyptian cotton I purchased a while back that I have been saving - setting the stage for some stitching later on.   I'm in the mood to paint sunsets for some reason - oranges, pinks, purples.  Yes - a sunset.  An Outer Banks  Sunset.  My very own - Carolina Outer Banks Sunset -   YOU and I are going to get to know eachother very, very well.