Monday, September 26, 2011

Etsy Wedding Treasury

 Custom wedding forks from PrettyParis on Etsy
 
I am still staying with Mom during the week, but while she drifts off to sleep I pull out the laptop and thumb through Etsy looking for items that would fulfill my wedding dreams. Above are some adorable forks from my  list.  Check out my  Etsy Wedding Treasury, here, to see how my red and white winter theme is coming together - at least as a vision.  I have to admit - this is fun!  And when she woke up today, I showed Mom some of my treasures.  She loved it.

xoxo  lulu

Friday, September 16, 2011

Portrait class

I've been working on the first painted project from Jane DesRosier's portrait class.  The collaged and tinted background sat for awhile as I gathered courage.  I've never done a painting with under-painting before, but I'm eager to see how it will go.  Here she is with the under-painting.

(She makes me think of the Violent Femmes - "Big hands, I know you're the one...")

: )

Friday, September 9, 2011

Portraits class

Having fun in Jane DesRosier (aka Gritty Jane)'s Portrait and Papers class.  Check it out on her blog - the link for class info is on her sidebar.  I think she's my favorite online teacher, in that I actually do all of her lessons!  And yes, I learn!

Here is the best profile I've ever drawn, thanks to Jane's help with proportions.

ok, so she's not perfect, but she's still my personal best!

Other happenings in my semi-retired life: I've been busy polishing my condo into a shiny gem that someone would want to buy or rent (PLEASE!), and dreaming up my perfect funky wedding!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Happiness is...

Love!



On August 21st, my sweetie Rob asked me to marry him.  He had given me a big hint the day before by telling me that if his team won the championship game, there might be another miracle on ice after the game.  Well, they didn't win the game, and I was very worried about him changing his mind, but after team photos he stayed on one knee and popped the question.  As you can probably guess, my response was an enthusiastic, "YES! YES! YES!!!"  I love that he asked me on the ice, and that our friends were there to witness and enjoy it.

One week later (last week) we went to Minnesota to meet his family.  I was nervous as we were flying in, but I very quickly felt like I was gaining a wonderful new family.

 (Me), Rob, his mother Kimiko, sister Diane, and sister Sally.  I also got to meet his brother Tom and the respective spouses, children, and grandchildren.  Such a wonderful, generous family!

 I also got to meet Robbie's dear friend Mel.  Mel could tell you the history of every corner of St. Paul!

As we explored St. Paul and areas near by, I caught glimpses of Rob's childhood - the places and the people who helped make him the man that he is today.

A house in Rob's old, downtown neighborhood.

The suburban home his family moved to when he was in third grade.  This is where he skated down the backyard in the winter to the pond where he played hockey with neighborhood friends.

The beautiful St. Croix River.  We took this tour on sister Sally and her husband Gary's boat.

The botanical conservatory at Como Park. 

The great big beautiful Belgians at the Minnesota State Fair.

More from the state fair.

Happiness is....


 this life that we are growing together.


xoxo  lulu