Some new barns. I tried some fabric barns for the first time.

Here are the last 2 barns.

All together I painted 6 barns this summer in Catherine’s Studio. I’m so happy she chose  me to watch her space. These barns would never have been painted if she hadn’t. She’s back now and it’s time to hand back the keys, and I feel a little heart broken about it. I think it may be definitely time to find a space of my own…

These days have been full, very full. A lot of going back and forth…

from things like this,

and this,

to this,

and this.

In July my attempt to get more childcare backfired…and I ended up with no childcare. My children were both miserable in the new places I put them and begged to stay home with me. After weeks of fighting them, and lots of tears and stress, I gave in. I ‘ve had them home for 2 weeks with me and it has worked out amazingly. I ‘m with them during the day and my husband is with them in the evening and weekends (when I whisk myself off to my (Katherine’s) studio, aka heaven). I’m actually getting lots done and more importantly …

look how happy these two are (man, I love them)! It’s been nuts, but so totally worth it.

These barns are a bit bigger than I usually paint. Each canvas measures 16″x16″.

My biggest challenge in motherhood so far has been finding that ever elusive life-work balance. In my perfect world I would have a few days of doing this…

followed by some lovely days like this…

The hard part is not feeling a little resentful (for not having time to work) when I’m doing this…

or not feeling really guilty (for not being with my kids) when I’m doing this.

It’s especially difficult in times like this when my girls are having a hard time.  I know things will work out. If we are patient and easy on ourselves, the perfect balance will come.

Been painting more barns…

Wishing you all a very happy and relaxing holiday!

I’m missing Sosi like crazy. I feel silly for being so sad,  as she’s been going to preschool for over 2 years. Something about this feels different, like I just put her on a path that’s going to just take her farther and farther away from me each year, and there’s no turning back.

I keep thinking about the movie Ponyo, how her dad squished her inbetween his hands and magically turned her back into a fish when she was changing herself into a girl. I wish I could squeeze her and turn her back into my little baby. She’s so eager to grow up.

I’ve been distracting myself with work. So happy to be part of an upcoming show with the Jupiter Project. Here’s a sneak peek.

My barn paintings have been selling over at the lovely Cottage Industry shop here in Charlottetown. This  makes me so happy… mostly because I got to paint more barns! We dropped these happy little ones off today.