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One of my tree paintings has been selected as part of Art Melt 2009, taking place at the Shaw Center for the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA - July 10-20.
A mustard seed is (has been said)
All that men will need
A filthy boy in a bowery lane
Under the times in a drowning rain
Stealing bits of sleep again
Has heard this comon creed
Grows into the tallest tree
To cool down the sinner's heat
I know this man, he's much like I
A doubter's cusp, a braggart's pyre
Sweltering in brandy-mire
And selling bitter meat
Exemplary of faith I guess
Starts with naught but soil
Upon the shoes of wayward men
Ministers will not befriend
Smite the temple yet again
Spill their precious oil
I've thrown my seed out the window
Down in the dirt below
I'll water it with my distrust
My blatant well-worn rough-hewn crust
I'll mojo it with voodoo dust
And pray that it will grow
song by: Kelly Joe Phelps
Back in New Orleans, I start by shucking the beans from their light green and faded yellow pods. I then soak the beans in a little water to clean them. They are not dry and hard, like the ones in the cellophane package you get at the grocery, but I soak them anyway. I'm not certain why, but I was told to always soak my beans for about 30 minutes before cooking them. I then chop a white sweet onion, fresh garlic, and a little green bell pepper and sauté them in a black iron skillet with a little dab of pure butter from a creamery that still operates close to our farm. Next, I cut and brown a link of Andouille sausage and reserve it to the side for later and add a number of my favorite spices to the pot. The red beans go into a cast iron dutch oven with the sauted veggies and the mixture is brought to a roaring boil. I think about how the cast iron pot has been in my family for generations as I turn the gas flame down and begin to gently simmer the beans. While it cooks, the rice is put on the back burner to add to the aroma that fills the kitchen and then rolls from room to room through the breezeways of our creole cottage . It makes my mouth water. It won't be long, given the soft and sweet nature of these fresh red beans, before they are sliding down a white mountain of Louisiana long grain rice and the juices ceremoniously mopped up by a piece of French bread cut from a loaf that has been baked in this city for well over one hundred years.
Sometimes we go through motions in a kitchen that are based on time-tested recipes handed down through family and friends over generations. That's particularly true for red beans and rice in New Orleans. I'm not certain when the first plate was served up in New Orleans, but they have been on our menu for centuries. When we move from acquiring raw foods from farms and begin acquiring processed food in mass from grocers - sometimes it can change the taste, texture, aroma, or even how we prepare the food. (i.e., the recipe). Sometimes we even loose track of why we handle and process food the way we do. For example, why do we soak red beans in water before cooking? Dry beans are often soaked because we believe that a dry bean will cook faster and more evenly if first soaked in water for 30 minutes. That's true, but we may have lost the real reason we soak beans, fresh or dried. Check this out - common beans (raw or soaked) contain a toxin that is degraded when soaked in water for several hours and then boiled for at least ten minutes in fresh water. It is called lectin phytohaemagglutinin (see the structural image). The toxin causes sever gastric upset in humans and is especially concentrated in red kidney beans and Cannellini beans. Outbreaks of poisoning have been associated with the use of slow cookers whose low cooking temperatures may be unable to degrade the toxin. Sprouts of beans containing this compound should never be eaten.
Last night as I was riding home on my bicycle, I spotted this homemade CD on the ground. For some reason I decided to pick it up, tote it home in my basket, and pop it in the stereo for a little late-night musical discovery. I didn't listen long, but this home recording is only half bad. The beats are elementary and sound like presets from a casio keyboard or background music from a haunted house, but some of the rhymes are actually street poetic. The first track begs the listener to let him (young beast) "get in the door" at which time he claims he will "get at your throats." But a slice of social responsibility creeps in as he instructs others not to talk about murder because we New Orleanians see too much of it on channel 15. In street culture style, he claims his jeans are fresh and his money is long, but I can't help but think of how his words really describe us all, claiming if we get our chance we will shine, that our taste in clothes should impress you, that we are tough enough for life. He even slips in a line about reading your testaments when you're scared, and that his dirty south hands are clean.| the endowment of nature, inanimate objects, etc., with human traits and feelings, as in the smiling skies; the angry sea. |



I am honored and thrilled to receive the award, and can now safely say that I will return to show at Jazz Fest again next year. But that's a year away! So much can happen by then.


This will be my last showing until Jazz Fest. This festival has really grown in recent years! 3 music stages, food, beer, art, craft, thrift, produce... wow, I wish I were shopping. Come on out tomorrow, the weather looks grand for a day on Freret St, shuffle to the music, with a nice big sturdy fabric tote on your shoulder for all your findings! (don't worry, I deliver. :) I'm looking forward to: Zydepunks, Kermit Ruffins, Jeremy Davenport, crab cakes by Food from the Heart (mmmmm), pepper jelly, Pontchatoula Strawberries, and ice-cold gelato from La Divina... and of course showing my art you all of you! (my favorite thing ever ;)
The sweet little yellow balloon I posted as a studio-peek last week is already gone to a new home. Thanks to Caroline of Perch, New Orleans.

a. i've noticed that recession rhymes with depression, which also rhymes with aggression. coincidence? i don't think so.


This little drawing of mine is included on the Chic Geek blog post today on Fierce and Nerdy! Thanks Delia. Check out her post right here and get some ideas for revamping your home on a budget in the new year. And of course, if you're interested, you can purchase a print of this piece for just $20 (free shipping) right here.
I began the Art for Breakfast Blog Project in June of 2007, when I was working as a graphic designer at an ad agency. The project arose out of an honest desire to keep making art, even without much "free time". I have loved making art for the blog for the past year and a half, but as the saying goes: all good things must come to an end. I'm happy to say that retiring the Art for Breakfast Blog will make "room" for me to focus on some new projects for 2009. Please stay tuned to this, my main blog, for what I hope to be a plethora of content, posts, projects and yummy items available for download, purchase, or just perusing. Time for Lunch!!
I'm sorry to say that I will not be going on the road this year. :( Due to the evil "E" word, my efforts will decidedly be placed close-to-home in 2009. To my many beloved customers and fans all over the country: Many of you have written thoughtful emails to ask if I will be passing through your town any time soon. Your inquiries do not go unnoticed! Believe me, if I could I would drag this honest soul and art all over the country and meet you all for tea!! It's not in the stars this year. What that means though is that I need your online support more than ever! Please stay tuned to my website and especially my blog, which is like the big heart pumping my career daily. And whenever you are able, purchases through my site and on my etsy shop are always an option.
Admittedly, I don't wear any jewelry, but how cute is this popsicle necklace?? Just my style of colorful half-eaten sweetness in the form of wearable art. Available from NYLON mag and Urban Outfitters.
These ADORABLE little owlies are available from fellow crafter-artist-friend and blogger Rosetung, on her exquisite Etsy Shop. My long-time blog readers might remember the photo of me posing with my very own Rosetung owlie about a year ago. The darling still sits on my shelf at my desk, and occasionally, like a child, I will toss her in my bag for a day-trip (for luck and friendship). :)

I have visions of wrapping all my gifts this year in recycled brown kraft paper, and attaching these adorable (and reusable!) felt gift tags. It's a gift on top of a gift! These are available at SpoonSisters.

Book: Treehouses of the World. Available at this adorable shop and online store: ReForm School
My brain is reeling with how I'm going to fit it all in! It's like Mardi Gras for the Art world, during one of New Orleans' best costume-affairs: Halloween!!
Come on out to the Art Market of New Orleans tomorrow at Palmer Park. 10am - 4pm. To find me out there, enter under the big arch and veer left. Booth number 97. I'll be showing lots of new work from my recent residency, Rare magazine, and other fall-inspired paintings. Hope to see you out there.
Join me under the trees of Coliseum Square Park on Sunday from 11am - 4pm for the Lower Garden District Home Tour, and the neighboring Festival at the International School. The Lower Garden District was just named a Louisiana Cultural District, and the Coliseum Square Association has re-formed its efforts in this historic area (which is where I live!). It's a beautiful weekend. See you out there.





stitched words on fabric. (borrowed from hemingway). there will be a number of these stitched word pieces sprinkled throughout the show. some are quotes, some are my own writing, and some are just words or phrases.
a simple rain scene (in progress). 9" x 12" on canvas paper.
announcing the title of the show: "salt of the earth". this is the handmade "poster" for the show. stitched words on fabric with paper backing. duplicates will be available on various fabrics in limited quantities, all handmade. about 8.5" x 11". $10 each. email me to reserve one for yourself.
pin-cushion soft sculpture made with quilt piecing and red yarn. about 4" x 4" x 3".
new LARGE tree painting. (i think it is finished.) not yet named or priced. it's a big one at 48" x 72". i'm lovin this one.
A little glimpse into the studio (I took this pic just a few hours ago) after about 3 weeks of daily work. (looks a little different from that first shot). Lots of projects in progress, with one week left to pull it all together. I'm sailing along, and very excited about the range of media that I've been able to put into this show. Stay tuned for the final result. Show opens one week from today! Sadly, this begins my final week in Hot Springs (I depart on Oct.5, headed back to New Orleans). Before I leave: more hiking for sure, another round of thrift stores and maybe another soak at the bath house.
Another great sign. this one is an old hand-painted building facade.

Empty slab at the top of a grand staircase up from the street.
Hot Springs (hence the name), has these great public-access spring water spouts round town. You are free to bring your own jugs and fill em up... take as much as you want. My fave is Happy Hollow, which comes out cold instead of hot, and has the faintest sweetness to it. This is a sign with the breakdown of mineral content. I love seeing the locals at the spring, with all their mismatch bottles they've collected over the years, loading up the whole truck with fresh water. :)













Storm-tracking on the i-phone.
Borrowed games.
Walking down to the Red River in the rain.
Great old country house spotted on a drive.






Hello world!
New piece that I painted while in Jackson Hole.




After an eventful stint in the mountains of Yellowstone and Grand Teton, I have arrived in Jackson, WY for the ART FAIR at JACKSON HOLE!
We slept beneath an immaculate display of stars last night beside a lake in Montana, on the edge of Yellowstone.
Aaahh Denver. What can I say?








The Red Balloon Painting in this pic was sold to a wonderful couple in Des Moines, and I just have to point out how sweet it was... I met them, and told them the story of the Red Balloon french film, and my own red balloon valentines story, we shared in our affinity of its perfect round red friendship symbolism, and they decided to purchase the painting. They said they would come back the next morning to pick it up, which gave me time to box it up neatly and write a thank you card. The next day was a beautiful sunny and windy hopeful day, and I was sitting in my tent, when they walk up, happily hosting a sweet little red balloon as a parting gift for me!!! It was the sweetest thing a customer has ever done for me. Thank you Steve and Karen! I hope your red balloon brings years of happy lightness.





























I ran out for a last-minute errand on the day before leaving for my big trip. A sudden downpour was a welcome respite from the heat... and soon the city streets were steaming. These lost ballet shoes were poetically laid out on the sidewalk, and this house in the Irish Channel was a lone reed of gleaming white and green. I love this city.




I am the featured artist today on CasaSugar. (Check it out.)

