Carla Jimison

Gouache and Pen

Here's a new piece, it's very small about 4"x6".

We finally got enough snow yesterday that we had to shovel! I hope there is more to come soon.

 

 

 

Strange Winter

It's January and we still don't have snow! Not only that but it is about 40 something degrees every day. You have to understand that it's not uncommon to get a foot of snow by Halloween here in eastern Idaho. We should be having below zero temperatures. I'm not complaining just expressing how strange the winter is this year.

We like to hike during Christmas break, as you can see we had beautiful weather for that this year.

As we were hiking in the nature park we discovered this great new tree fort. I have always loved this sort of thing. I spent many hours of my childhood building and playing in forts. This one is large enough for grow ups and very sturdy. I'm looking forward to playing, I mean visiting it again soon.

Where shall we hike next? With warm weather and no snow there are so many possibilities how will we choose?

 

Jolly DIY Christmas Presents

Who doesn't love Christmas gifts that someone made for you? It's like getting a small part of that person to keep. And if there is some humor with the present that's even better! I am blessed with some very creative friends so I thought I'd share a few of the gifts they have given me this Christmas. Above is the Christmas card that Allen and Jenny sent with their presents to us.

Allen's drawing and humor. Love it.

Jenny designed and wrapped this present, it's my favorite under the tree.

Lizzy House sent these beautiful cards and fabric she designed along with some of her amazing quilt patterns. I can't wait to start sewing!

Lucy enjoyed the new napping possibilities that the presents brought.

Every year our neighbor Tauna Egan makes the most delicious chocolates and everyone in the neighborhood waits with anticipation in hopes of receiving some.

This presents was delivered to me by one of the professors I work with. This is the reappearing tennis ball/dog toy....It has a long history. But my first experience with it was on an early morning walk with professors and students along Crissy Field in San Francisco. Someone spotted it abandoned and started kicking it as we walked. We took turns kicking it almost to the golden gate bridge and back. At the end of the walk Jerry (the lead professor) was sick of the game so he hurled it toward the bay and then he headed to the van. One of the students ran and got it. So on our way home while at a rest stop it appeared on Jerry's seat where he found it upon returning to the van. That was the beginning and since then it has traveled between our offices being hidden for the other to find.

Does he really think that note will detour me from hiding the ball in his future some where? Not a chance.

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!

Buch du Noel

I am getting so excited about Christmas. The shopping is done, the presents are wrapped and sent, now is the time that sugar plums start dancing in my head. This is a Buch du Noel that we made for Christmas eve dinner last year. It was gingerbread cake with custard whipped cream filling and chocolate ganache. The little meringue mushrooms were my favorite part, they are so fun to make. What treats shall I make this year?

Cute Gift Wrap by Isabelle

Isabelle decorated these presents for her 8th grade orchestra white elephant christmas gift exchange. Pretty cute, I just had to post them.

Playing with Spray Paint

These are some very small images about 5"x6 1/2"from my recent sketch book. Jennifer Barton suggested that I try using some spray paint in my work. I've never used it before so I had to give it a try.

I used the abandoned spray paint left in the spray booth and some paper stencils I made of ancestors.

I layered the application of stencils and paint until I felt satisfied. Next I responded to these images with pen, gouache, graphite, washi tape and more paint stamped on from the wet painted stencils. It was fun, thanks Jennifer for the idea!

 

San Francisco - My Favorite City in the US

I've been on another trip to San Francisco with students. It's always hard for me to leave that city because it's beautiful, inspiring, and has so many great places to walk or bike.

We visited Saint Mary's College of California to see the William Keith exhibit. The paintings were nice but I was impressed at the beauty of the school. They have created a gorgeous campus, what a wonderful environment to learn in!

 

These two were my roommates and the best ever!

On this trip I was inspired by the handmade artists books I saw in the Legion of Honor. I love the hand written type in the one above, wish I could write like that...maybe I'll practice.

The books were handmade and hand printed as well. Wouldn't it be fun to find one of these books full of original prints in a thrift store? Not likely but no harm in dreaming.

 

 

 

I know it's a gross generalization to say that people living in or near this city seem to value art and creativity more than people elsewhere. But look even the safeway has a poetry section!

 

Happy Halloween!

 

Summer Overview or What I did for My Summer Vaction

It's been a while since I've posted about anything really and that's because so much has happened since the beginning of summer, I just haven't been able to focus on this blog. Sorry about that.

To begin with there was the engagement of Allen and Jennifer. So great to have Allen part of the family.

There was another fun birthday party for Isabelle. This looks much more subdued than it was in real life.  After all it was a room full of 13 year old girls on a sugar high...just think uncontrollable giggling and you'll get the idea.

There were two graduations.

Allen's which I don't have any pictures of and Jennifer's down in Utah.

And there was the wedding.

They were married in the Rexburg Temple, it was so beautiful!

How wonderful it was to have so many of our friends and loved ones at the reception to celebrate with us. I always imagined that my daughters reception would be quite nice but very stressful and exhausting and by the end of the evening I would be sooo glad it was over. But that is not the way it was at all, thanks to all of the help from our friends and Allen's family. Their help was an expression of love and made it possible for us to have a wonderful day of pure joy.

Lizzy House made the wedding cake, it was simply delicious!

Well, those are the big events of the summer, but there were many other things sandwiched in between as well like Mid Summer celebration with may pole, swedish dancing, singing and food. Weekly farmers market booth, huckleberry picking in the mountains and sending work off to a show. Clearing out both garages(not a small task). Dinner at Sharon Morgans complete with canoeing on the Snake river, and conversations around the fire under the stars. Crossing Jenny lake and hiking up to hidden falls.

What a summer!

 

 

 

 

Leif Eriksson Day

 

Is it spelled Erikkson, Erikson, Ericsson or Ericson? Anyway happy Leif Eriksson Day!