birthday celebration

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

As I celebrated my thirty-something birthday with friends old and new, I was glowing. Experiencing a new restaurant in my favorite city, we enjoyed the food and the waiter's recommendation for a free bottle of wine, appropriately named: 'Sienna!'

We talked more to our waiter, he was full of excitment because he was leaving soon for a trip that he has always dreamed of, to live in a castle in Scotland. He said the name is "Dalkeith Castle" -- the same castle that I lived in for a semester in college!

My friends and I could not believe the coincidences. Later in the evening we had drinks on a rooftop bar, loving the unseasonably warm weather. We asked the group next to us to take our picture and I realized that one of them was the 'little girl' that I babysat almost 20 years ago!

What a fun evening of nostalgia, new memories, and a feeling of thanksgiving...exactly what birthdays should be, right?

branches

Some photos of a recently completed master bathroom by Sienna Lynn Studio. I painted the mural in a dark umber paint to resemble the silhouette of branches.

high line

I had an amazing weekend in New York. I was in awe over the High Line, a suspended park in Manhattan's West side. Built on an old railroad line, landscape architects created a gorgeous urban park above the city. Check out the website: www.thehighline.org

On a side note, the architecture made me think of a friend who is an architect in NY. About five minutes after I finished talking about him and wondering where he lives and works these days...we ran into him! What are the chances of that happening in a city of millions and millions of people?!

vision

I saw the angel in the marble
and carved until I set him free.

- Michelangelo

one talented mama

I always enjoy my visits with Stephanie, a good friend and owner of Stelie Designs. She does such a great job balancing her creative card & invitation business with her role as mama to two beautiful sets of twins. Such an inspiration!

http://www.steliedesigns.blogspot.com/

autumn cabin weekend

A weekend away to a cabin surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Crisp Fall weather, walks, campfire, winery, good food, conversation, and great company!

sunsets

"Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer to your goal."
-Elbert Hubbard

great mn race

Last weekend my brother and I participated in our 3rd urban scavenger hunt: http://www.greatmnrace.com/

Described as a scaled-down version of "The Amazing Race," teams solve clues and challenges while racing to 8 checkpoints throughout the metro area. Teams are allowed to travel by foot and public transportation only.

Exercise, fresh air, and an adventurous way to see the city!

now

"Live in the moment and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering."

-Fanny Crosby

surrounded by butterflies

After our recent visit to Como's Blooming Butterfly Exhibit, I felt so refreshed. In the midst of hundereds of butterflies, flying happily and freely, I realized just how how much my life has changed since then.

tilt-a-whirl

This commissioned piece hangs in a master bedroom. Inspired by the nostalgia of my favorite ride, "tilt-a-whirl" is a fitting title for this painting (and sometimes my life in general)!

for the love of dirt

I have a whole new appreciation for all the trucks I see each day. Who would guess that every single dump truck and roller truck sighting could create so much excitement for a little boy? Down the block we watch the trucks move dirt: free entertainment daily! And the newest construction toy set allows this little boy to be a "real guy working!"

zoo crew

I'm working on a series of paintings called zoo crew. Rad rhino and hip-hop hippo are my favorites so far. The vibrant backgrounds and colored edges make these funky animals pop from the square canvases!

home fries

I was so excited to receive my first etsy purchase in the mail from 3squares! I ordered a custom necklace which shows the Twin Cities with a Swarovski crystal at Minneapolis:


Etsy showcases thousands of artists. By ordering directly from them, prices are very competitive and you have the ability to request anything that you can dream up! Check out the pendants from 3squares:

http://3squares.etsy.com/

wow...

Such a gorgeous "painting!"
A view out the window during my last flight.
Breath-taking.

glow in the dark

"Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what's next or how. The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark."

-Agnes De Mille

(neighborhood moonlight, 7.24.09)

sunny happy days

gerber daisies &

sand castles

inspiration

Looking out an airplane window I found inspiration for a painting. Here's what I saw:

Do you see the tree pattern within the patch-work fields? It immediately sparked an idea for this painting, titled trust:

summer moon

I just wanted to share this shot that I took of the moon last night -- so brilliant and bright!

monday design event

Last evening's design event for IIDA (International Interior Design Association) was the innovative space created by friends at 20below. A couture boutique by day, fashion show venue by night, OPM recently won a retail design award for this unique space:

back to the future

(photo of the old Wagner's Drive In circa 1995)

Wagner's Drive In, a neighborhood icon since 1951, will re-open soon as Galaxy Drive In.

I'm so excited to go there when it opens! My niece will be working there as a "car-hop" just as I did when I was 16!

I have been talking about it a lot lately and unexpectedly was able to work with the Designer and play a small part in it!

After my nephew's birthday dinner this evening, I drove by and snapped these two photos of the new signage:

serendipitous

Last week I was working with clients to select the paint colors for the exterior of their home. When I got to their house I said, "I've been here before, I did the faux finish in the lower level!"

The textured painting that I did for the previous owners (more than 10 yrs. ago) was still in their home and they told me I could come back and take pictures. What are the chances of that?!

They were excited to update the look of their home, including the door which is now fireweed red:

I'm working with another couple to transform the exterior of their home with color, new stone, and some minor architectural upgrades. She asked if I would continue to work with her on the interior design. The exterior will be complete in a couple weeks.

one tree

"Language... has created the word 'loneliness' to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word 'solitude' to express the glory of being alone."

-Paul Johannes Tillich, The Eternal Now

the coolest invitation ever!

I received this invite in the mail:

My brother has out-done himself -- his daughter's birthday invitation really is the coolest ever! A "Live Turning Five" Rockstar theme, complete with a CD to reveal the location & map of the party and a song included!

(If you ever want a creative invitation or logo etc, here's his email: kpaulson713@gmail.com)

Isn't it cool?

looking up

"I think the world really boils down to two types of people - those who see shapes in cloud formations, and those who just see clouds."

-Danzae Pace

Here's a related entry from one of my favorite blogs. Liv has an amazing ability to capture and express what many of us are too busy to notice each day:

http://oneyearofbeauty.blogspot.com/2009/05/may-22-2009_22.html

little boy modern

Here's a peek at one of the rooms that I am working on:

Before: After:

main wall color: latte sw6108

accent wall color: yam sw6643

custom window valence: dwell studio fabric

custom painting (in the works!): sienna lynn studio

toilet under water

Under the sea toddler bathroom...

and another child's bathroom mural by Sienna Lynn Studio artist:

sculpture fun

I finally found a spot for my favorite metal sculpture! The metal toothbrush that I made in college sits prominately on a shelf in my 1/2 bath. The obscure assignment was to create an object from an unexpected material. I put my wood-working and art metal skills to the test by making a toothbrush mold out of wood, setting nails in the bottom for bristles, pouring metal into it, and filing it down. A little odd maybe.

Even more interesting was the assignment to show a found object in an unusual texture. My green astro-turf sink was a great compliment to a classmate's fur toilet. Unfortunately I didn't capture a photo of this! As soon as the presentations were over I pitched it in the dumpster. I did manage to keep a few of my sculptures around. Instead of "form follows function," I turned my forms into functional items!

This linear, non-figurative form is now a coat rack:

and the organic+geometric combo piece is now a book end!