Happens every year. I spend plenty of time thinking about how I could be, should be, oughtta be better, kinder, work harder, be neater, go running, give blood, save more, and make more art. I'm up to the resolution game again but this time I'm going to be a bit easier on myself.

I hereby resolve to make more (better) art and show it.
Send more letters and packages (like this one I sent to Mark).
Read more books and stories and poems.
And as my little photoshoppy doodle tells ya: travel.



take good care,
Rachael

Our new furnace is so lovely. It's warm and wonderful and I have no complaints. I'm sleepy right now but want to share some great subversive things:

Mary's former son-in-law's collaborative project Illegal Art's Suggestion Box is truly public public art. I suggest everyone should have heat and food and kindness to share. I suggest you make a suggestion. I suggest you change something.

Julia and Kye's Best of the Yellow Springs crime report is illustrated and lovely.

And Banana Boy's (from Glens Falls, hometown) scuffle with the law inspired the banana bread I will enjoy before going to bed.

So kids, if you have to break the law, do it nicely and don't really hurt any boys girls or bananas...

stay warm,
Rachael

Christmas came and went in a lovely swirl of colored paper, lasagna, and laughing with children. It was warm at our families houses and we feel really connected, calmed, and confident about the place we are, the people we are surrounded by, and our lucky luck.

There's a lot of hodge podge in my head and on my desk and I am feeling particularly sharing so:


I'm dreaming of Penland...
There's a fun design contest you should enter with your champagne bottles.
The Bul Ma Min song on this CD is lovely lovely lovely!

There are opportunities to make and show artwork all over the place,kids! They need diary comics in Athens (scroll down to see the call for entry) even!

and finally, I did write a poem on the occasion of our big furnace purchase:

The icy answer
cold reality
the chilly truth is
simply
we are nicer warmer.

be nice, be warm, be good, be in touch, will ya?!
Rachael

It's cold in this house but we're warmly wishing you a merry and a happy. I'll share my favorite old xmas-y picture...a snowfamily in a truck in little five points in Atlanta a bunch a years ago.

You prob'ly will also enjoy Keri's guerrilla Xmas ideasAnd how
Anna's post gives great insight on how a group of artists look at political art. All sorts of good stuff lurks on the web, and more is in my attic studio and in little conversations with all sorts of people. So, I'll share more soon, when it's warmer.
Make good, work for peace, be nice and have a wonderful holiday,
love,
Rachael

Happy winter, happy cold, happy re-growth, happy keeping warm. It's been a while since I posted a painting and even though this is an oldie, it seems to fit as I see snowflakes falling and I am still reading about gardens...

You can look at the weeds in New Jersey here. Botanical illustrations abound here and here.
I have more stories to tell, more pictures to post (and yes, an attack teapot), more wishes for you but the bread needs to bake and I have more paperdolls to joint before I sleep.
take good care,
Rachael