I've declared a time out here at malarkey central.

What does that mean?  A daily artist date, a studio reorganization and painting a Little Free Library for the front yard.

Artist dates are the invention of Julia Cameron.  An inspirational adventure to recharge the muse, fill the coffers of ideas and create a play date mentality that deeply satisfies an overworked artist.  Cameron recommends we take one weekly, and it is surprising how hard it is to make sure that happens on a regular basis.  With the goal of one per day, this week is a fantastical feast of decadent overindulgence, and also a real challenge. But the muse is happier with each passing day. :)

An afternoon at the Kenton Street Fair lead me to meet the artist behind Mysterious Others, otherworldly and peculiar art which sometimes includes antlers (be still my wild child heart!) and also energetic crystals held by protective pixies and plant people.  She inspired me to begin creating "Ten Minute Monsters" with my intern each week.  I can't wait to bring some of them to life in the studio.

We've been in Portland nearly six months now, and it is already time to move things around in the studio.  Chasing the perfect light, best use of space and also throwing darts at what will work best ergonomically for a post-surgical body.  I have high hopes of getting it right one of these days.

Ever since artist Carl Stoveland posted the "Barbar the Elephant" Little Free Library he painted a couple of years ago, I've been enchanted by the LFL's and longing to make one of my own.  So this week's project is painting a modern architecture version of my own LFL and adding malarkey to it for our front yard.  It is nearly done, and a stack of books is waiting to fill it to the brim.

The Little Free Library system is bountiful here in Portland, with one on nearly every street.  Folks help themselves to books and then leave behind some they are finished with.  I've watched our neighborhood's LFLs empty and refill all winter.  The honor system works here in the land of neighborly neighbors.   I am tickled to add copies of The Storyteller's Apprentice and Becoming SUNRISE to our whimsical library and spread the love here in our new city. 

And for this afternoon's adventure - vegan cake.  Yum!