Blogs that ROCK!

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Laura&Tina

Dear Tina & sweet friends,

I have been in creativity OVERLOAD and LOVE IT! I just finished a rockin’ three day webinar on Creative Live with James Wedmore about You Tube and I couldn’t take notes fast enough. It was so inspiring I am actually entertaining learning how to create videos of my work. As you can imagine it will be a learning curve but one that juices me up when I think about it!

I am also taking a wonderful class called, Blog Boss with Holly Becker of Decor8. I have been learning, watching, absorbing and inspired, hoping to make our blog better. I am also entertaining starting a second blog and researching ways to make it special & meaningful (more to come!).

This weeks homework was to closely examine blogs we love and do a case study on them.

Here are 8 blogs I LOVE & why I think they ROCK!

Jessica Swift’s blog, Treasuring is amazingly colorful and FUN. I imagine her to be genuine and sweet and I am in love with her creative work. She shares her inspiration, snippets of her current work, the different series she writes and little bit of her daily life. She is one gal I would love to know.

Alyson Stanfield’s blog is wonderful not only for its ease in navigation but for the content as well. Her blog is about art business and she is amazingly generous with the information she shares. Alyson is current, stays on top of trends and is always re-evaluating, assessing and updating her own blog and business. She makes me strive for the same commitment to excellence she empowers.

I recently discovered Alisa Burke and love the clean layout of her blog. It is easy to navigate and her pictures are uniform and engaging. She has a unique font she uses for her titles and I am drawn to the sweet, hand drawn social media buttons with her artwork on them. Her many creative projects (which I LOVE) are photographed beautifully. This woman’s creativity never stops! SO very inspiring!

Kelly Rae’s blog rocks in so many ways. Visually, I love the white background with a pop of color in the border. You know right away what the blog is about from her description and get a sense of her style. Her social media buttons are in several places making it easy to navigate and she has created a clever list documenting her journey as both an artist and business woman. Kelly Rae is brilliant at authentically marketing her work, making you want to cheer her on in her journey.

I am a huge fan of Mae Chevrette’s artwork and since her blog documents her creative journey it makes for an inspiring read. It is well written, clean and inspiring. I also love her photographs and the cute kitties that she photographs in her studio. It makes me wish I had a studio cat!

I have followed Marisa of Creative Thursday for years now and am always inspired by her unique, authentic voice. She always seems to know just what I need to hear and is clear in her vision. She follows her intuition and shares the many different ways her artwork has evolved. She like me believes in the “thriving artist” but is realistic and honestly speaks about the ups and downs of being an artist. Marisa is thoughtful, encouraging, always evolving and refreshing.

I learned of Annetta Bosakova’s blog, Inspired from my class and I am blown away with her photographs! Her compositions, color and subject matter really resonate with me. I will enjoy following along in her journey and getting to know her better.

Now who wouldn’t like a blog named, “Likes to Smile“? It makes me wish I had thought of the name myself! This blog celebrates the good things in life. I really appreciate Stacey, the authors creativity and sense of style.

Hope you enjoy these blogs as much as me! What are your favorite blogs? Please share with us in the comments or if you write one of your own let us know and leave a link. We always enjoy learning and meeting new friends!

Sending cheery smiles your way…Laura

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Finding the holiday spirit within…

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Laura&Tina

some of my handmade holiday gift tags

Dear Tina,

I have been feeling slightly glum this past week, trying to keep the holiday spirit in my heart when everyone’s heart is so heavy thinking about the Newtown tragedy. It makes things like not being able to decorate my house for the holidays completely insignificant, yet these traditions are what often grounds us, don’t you think? Unfortunately this year it is just not possible. Our house is under construction and with setbacks from Hurricane Sandy things are displaced everywhere and there is no hope for us even getting a Christmas tree. Although I was disappointed I am choosing to carry the holiday spirit in my heart and put my focus on others, knowing this is where the magic of the season truly lives.

Here is a picture of what our living room presently looks like. We live in one very small, old house. Brett is pretty sure it was a Sears Kit Home. He bought this house, gutted it and did a great job renovating it long before we got married. I am quite proud of him and glad I didn’t have to live through that renovation! Living close to Bluff Point makes it all the more special.

Bluff Point

Because it is so small we are always trying to find ways to add a bit of extra storage and charm, so when our street converted to natural gas this summer we jumped on the bandwagon. Because of this we are now able to have a fireplace! Although not a real wood burning fireplace like the one I grew up with I am really excited about it. We picked out a really nice one that looks as close to the real thing as we could get. Not only will it save us money on our heating bill it will make the room feel really cozy and warm.

Since we had to rip the wall apart to do it we decided to add built in bookcases for storage and display. The transom window above the entryway was an added addition to ventilate the room. It is already letting in SO much more light! I love it! The only window in this room prior to our renovation was a nice large window with a perfect ledge for my plants. The only problem was that it was just a big piece of glass that didn’t OPEN! Not ideal for steamy, summer New England days! If you look closely in the back of the picture you will notice two spots left for regular sized windows~yippee! I will have more to share so stay tuned!

love, Laura

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Laura, a picky eater?

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Michelle’s famous Tuna Salad

I have always been a picky eater and certainly struggle with in the cooking department so it was shocking to both Michelle and I that I would fall in love with her tuna salad. I ate it every day for lunch while she was here working on our collaborative painting along with some fresh summer fruit & vegetables drizzled in sweet balsamic vinegar from the Mystic Market. (You can refill your bottles there which is great and even save a dollar in the process) I love this recipe so much and wanted to share it with you as I rarely have anything to contribute in the food department and I think you will like it!

Jazzy Tuna for one

one can of tuna I prefer Bumblebee solid white in water (drain the water)
2 celery sticks chopped
some zucchini
some dill
some pickled ginger ( gari)
1-2 tablespoons mayo or Vegenaise
mustard of the spicy variety
chopped spinach or lettuces you like
pinch cayenne pepper
splash of lemon
salt and pepper to taste

mix this all together and have with crackers

I enjoy some farm fresh tomato slices, avocado and perhaps some sliced peaches with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar~all so good for you and fresh!

This lunch will leave you feeling clean and healthy!

ENJOY!

Love, Laura

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what to tailgating & ART have in common?

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Our view at the Kenny Chesney concert! Can you find me?

Dear Tina & friends,

I recently went to see Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw with Brett & our awesome neighbors. What an AMAZING time! We tailgated before the show which I haven’t done since my last Jimmy Buffett concert. As I was packing up my artwork after RAW I couldn’t help thinking about all the musicians on tour like Kenny, Tim & Jimmy doing what they love. Even though it may be difficult being away from their homes and living on the road they do it because their music is their PASSION and they wish to share it with the world.

This is how I felt sharing my work at RAW. I hadn’t been in a bar atmosphere like the Russian Lady in years and wasn’t really sure what to expect from this venue. It turned out to be great! I felt honored to be a part of such an innovative collaboration and given the opportunity to share my work with a whole new audience.

*NOTE*

This venue was SO DARK so my apologies for how terrible all these pictures came out!

my booth at RAW

I was overwhelmed by how many people made the trek to Hartford! SO many wonderful friends came out to support me and I felt unbelievably loved! Below are my “homegirls” who helped me rock the night!

“my posse”: Krissy Rochelle, me, Sarah Acaveda & Sue Thomas
EVERY picture came out blurry! Can you imagine us not blurry?

I met so many amazingly talented artists including Ms. Kate who makes the most beautifully detailed necklaces which you can see in her shop.

I was super inspired by Tania Palermo’s work as well. Her photography is amazingly engaging, ethereal and thought provoking. I just love it! You can see more of her work HERE. There truly was something for everyone even my husband and his friend both bought tee shirts from Stock Boy designs. You can see all of the other artists as well as my artist profile HERE.

It was a non-stop magical night, alive with music, six fashion shows, fire dancers, roof top deck dancing, a vodka bar that would knock your socks off with the different varieties of infused vodka (I have to admit I tried the swedish fish vodka and LOVED it!~YUM!)

stage where they had all the fashion shows and music performances

I am still in awe of this night thinking back to my “rockstar” moment and welcome this kind of creativity, energy and adventure into my life as I stretch beyond the comfort of my studio. I wonder if this is how Kenny, Tim & Jimmy felt at the beginning of their careers…

Next up the “RAW Art Awards”! Details to come!

xoLaura

p.s. I saw a special on Kenny Chesney a while back and he talked about how he goes to the farthest seat at every concert and imagines what it would be like to be that person sitting there. It is his intention to reach EVERY person with his music. I loved hearing this and always want to be this thoughtful with sharing my work. It is my hope that my optimism and positive outlook will reach someone when they need it. Here is to music, tailgaiting and ART!

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First “shot” at Photography!

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Laura&Tina

©laura gaffke

Hello Sweet T & friends!

Soooooo I had my second photography class last night which came with the first “critique” of my work. Last week we were asked to take pictures in several kinds of light. I must say I really had to think for this assignment as there is so much to learn about my camera settings! Although my pictures are far from perfect I wanted to share them with you as you are always so supportive (thank you for that).

Here they are:

magnolia ©laura gaffke

white daffodil ©laura gaffke

backlit daffodil ©laura gaffke

Yesterday I posted “backlit” daffodil on my Facebook Art page and asked what people thought of my lighting. I knew “daffodils in window” (below) would be better for the assignment but there was something about the above picture that appealed to me. I am just curious which one you prefer?

daffodils in window

At any rate, I am getting some nice pictures that just might weave their way into some of my new paintings. I feel a time crunch balancing my time in the studio with teaching, upcoming deadlines and now my new photography learning endeavor. Only 3 1/2 more weeks until my Open Studio~yikes! I will have many new things to share with you and hope you will come out for the festivities. I have also been busy painting away for my upcoming SOLO show at Studio M in June! That’s right, I will be featured in this magical downtown Mystic gallery this summer! (just a little giddy!) More details to come but you can expect to see some new work I am creating especially for this show. I feel truly blessed and am looking forward to seeing your smiling faces so please consider saving these special dates!

xoLaura

p.s. Any feedback you wish to give me on my photos would be greatly appreciated!

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Just call me a life long learner!

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Laura&Tina

hello Sweet T & friends!

Happy day to you! I have to admit to being “secret jealous” as Tina would say of all the beautiful photography on the many blogs I read. I decided it was time to stop drooling and do something about improving my own. Although I have taken several photography classes in the past, it has literally been YEARS and SO MUCH has changed since then.

My sweet husband gifted me the most AMAZING, fancy-schmancy DSLR camera some time ago and although I get tons of compliments on it I have to say it totally intimidates me! So much so that I will either leave it on manual or revert back to my point and shoot camera. I KNOW there is SO much I can do creatively with this camera as well taking pictures for my online shop which I have sadly neglected. This is entirely do to my perfectionism and lack of knowledge with photography. (Please don’t judge the pictures of my artwork in the shop now~I had to start somewhere, right?)

Well, I made a decision to finally do something about my insecurities and signed up for a class with Brenda De Los Sanos at the Mystic Arts Center. I am beyond excited! Not only will my sweet love, Brett be taking the class with me, but two of my good friends will be as well! It should be 5 weeks of learning, creativity and FUN! I will look forward to sharing my work with you and hope you see an improvement!

Here are a few upcoming classes and workshops I will be teaching at MAC in case you are interested. SUPER EXCITED!!!

ADULT CLASSES

Fearless Sketch Journaling
Laura Gaffke
Have creative block? Haven’t touched paint or drawn since kindergarten? Learn how to express yourself creatively with a sketch journal, even without prior drawing experience.
Monday, April 16

Creative Flow
Laura Gaffke
Develop a creative project you have in mind, or re-energize a series you wish to complete. Work in your choice of oil, acrylic, watercolor, graphite, collage or mixed media on the surface of your choice. Abstract or representational styles are welcome.
Tuesdays, 1pm – 4pm
May 8 – June 5

CHILDREN’S CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Painting and Drawing
Laura Gaffke
Let literature inspire you. Create your own personal vision in paint based on Owl Moon by Jane Yolen.
Monday, April 23, 4:15pm – 5:45pm

Scratch and Sketch
Laura Gaffke
Scratch away the black coating on each page to reveal patterns, swirls, and holographic colors to make images appear like magic!
Monday, June 4, 4:15pm – 5:45pm

Nature Art Camp
DPNC and Laura Gaffke
Join instructors and campers at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center for three days perusing woods, ponds, and meadows- and for two days at the MAC studios to bring the wonders of the wild to canvas.
July 9 – 13 9am – 11:45am
Ages 7 – 10 Members $140 / Public $165
Call the Nature Center at 860.536.1216 to register

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Unexpected goodness…

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Laura&Tina

"Summer Zest" ©laura gaffke 2012

print available HERE

Hello Sweet T & friends~
It is always awesome when you start your day doing something that feels so right in your heart. Yesterday was one of those days. Although teaching at my studio feels most “at home” to me, I think of the Mystic Arts Center a second home. I swoon every time I pull into the parking lot and see the beautiful Mystic River lined with boats and a quiet peace falls over me. MAC not only offers a wide range of classes it has a beautiful gallery with amazing light as well as an ability to reach out to the community with creative and super FUN events that make the arts approachable. Artini Hour & Art After Dark are my personal favorites. I have met many wonderful people there both in the classes I teach as well as the dedicated staff whom I can now call friends.

The Arts Center just started offering Private Art Lessons in addition to their classes and I was recently reacquainted and paired with a former student of mine who I had not seen in years! She was just as I remembered, full of light, positive energy with an eagerness to learn. Time flew by and I was enlightened by our conversation, the warmth of her heart and this special gift of time she had given to herself. Not everyone allows for creativity in their lives and it is something I believe is necessary and comes in all forms from writing to cooking. It is important to nourish ourselves so that we can nourish others.

Later in the day I was delighted to receive an email from my new student (friend) saying that she had “a new passion: Making colors!” It made me feel so good inside and reminded me how a simple gesture can mean so much. She also shared this poem by one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver which touched my heart. I wanted to share it with you to give you wings and remind you of the importance of YOU.

xo laura

Landscape

Isn’t it plain the sheets of moss, except that

they have no tongues, could lecture

all day if they wanted about

spiritual patience? Isn’t it clear

the black oaks along the path are standing

as though they were the most fragile flowers?

Every morning I walk like this around

the pond, thinking if the doors of my heart

ever close, I am as good as dead.

Every morning, so far, I’m alive. And now

the crows break off from the rest of darkness

and burst up into the sky-as though

all night they had thought of what they would like

their lives to be, and imagined

their strong thick wings.

by Mary Oliver

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A little bit of a LOT going on…

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Collaborative painting with Michelle. Haley the wonder dog is looking all photogenic in the background. Can you stand how cute she is? I just love this dog! (Haley is Michelle's sweet dog).

Hello!

I just returned from an inspirational weekend in NH visiting my friend Michelle. We were delighted to have her as our guest blogger last week where she talked about her experience with this collaborative painting we worked on together. As you know we started it the last time she visited me and had agreed to look at it with fresh eyes when I visited her at her studio in NH. We made a few adjustments to tie the painting together and titled it, “Symphonies of our Souls” based on the found poem we created and incorporated into the piece. I am including the poem below (I had trouble getting a picture that wasn’t blurry for some reason! so sorry!)

The poem is about friendship and I just LOVE it….

Symphonies of our Souls

I recall and evening when the talk turned authentic

I laughed with delight life long friend

the thoughts we thought

affirmations of good

depth of feeling

most joyous

simple pleasures and small indulgences

essential for our happiness

symphonies of our souls

On another note, I promised you an “after” photo of this stool. Isn’t it cute all sassy in red? I spray painted it a bright orange first then layered on the red making it a fun tomato color.

I sanded it down to distress it and like how the orange shows through and that the steps look worn and vintage.

I thought it would look good with this rug that I fell in love with.

I can’t wait to do some more decorating! And to think this little stool inspired me to try spray paint on this painting. I am realizing more and more how my love for decorating feeds into my art practice.

©laura gaffke 2012

*original painting available HERE

I want to thank those of you who took the time for commenting on my Facebook page and my last blog post to help me come up with a title for this piece. When I got still and had time to reflect I found the title that resonated with me the most was “evolution of joy”. While painting it I thought about joy bubbling up from within each of us. It made me think about spring hidden below the earth’s surface waiting to burst with color, hope, renewal and joy. I think we all carry this joy within us and wish to share mine with you.

xolaura

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good patina, bad patina & the evolution of a painting

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Laura&Tina

: ”Untitled” acrylic, 12″ x 12″

Dear Tina & friends~

This painting was one of those paintings that didn’t come as easy as others. Looking back I realize it was an evolution of where I was in my life at the time and all started with this stool that I picked up at Brimfield some time ago.

It was happily sitting in my living room displaying plants by the window until I watched a Nate Berkus episode (I just love that man by the way) where he was talking with a guest about “good patina” vs. “bad patina” on old furniture. As I looked around my house I realized there were many things I would like to paint and this was definitely one thing that had BAD patina. Funny, but I had never thought to paint it. For some reason I thought I would loose the red, chippy paint popping through the old wood which initially drew me to it. In truth, I had never really liked the dingy, aged water marks on the wood.

I decided to paint the whole thing red and distress it. It would give me the perfect pop of color in my newly moved guest room/home office that I was looking for. The room had been given a fresh coat of warm white at the end of the summer and I had painted the ceiling a pretty sky blue reminiscent of a summer day. My goal was to keep the tiny room (and I do mean tiny) feeling spacious but not be just a big white box. I really like how it came out (thank you Brigitte for your help~can I get an AMEN for margaritas, patience and friendship!). I still have some work to do in the decorating department but it is all coming together and feeds into my grand plan of living an organized life. I am slowly taking a critical look around my home and changing or getting rid of anything I don’t love, choosing to live more simply and surrounded by things that inspire me.

You might be wondering how this relates to this painting, right? Well, while working with the spray paint on my stool I wondered how it would translate into my own work. I had always loved how my friends Marlene and Michelle used spray paint in their work and decided to give it a whirl. I layered flowers and patterns and loved the effect but still wasn’t feeling like it was coming together. It could have been that my limited palette of spray paint colors was forcing me to stretch a bit.

laura's working table: experiments with spray paint

I cannot tell you how long it took me to arrive here.

layering on the color

“Untitled” acrylic, 12″ x 12″

It wasn’t until I let go of some of the texture and color that it finally came together. That is all except for the title which I have been struggling with as well. I asked for suggestions on my Facebook page and was delighted with the feedback and creativity people offered. Here are some of the suggestions:

Boundaries

Floral Flow

Bridge over Untroubled Flowers

Listening

Below Earths Awning

Bridge over Bubbling Brook of Joy

Little Loved Ones

Spring

Spring Breaking Through

Third Eye

Simmering Sunrise

A garden By the Ocean

Bird Bath Floral Float

The Positive, Flowing Energy of Spring

Evolution

Guiding Eye

I am so grateful for all of these wonderful ideas! It was really fun getting feedback on my work as painting is often such a solitary practice. You never really know how your work will be received and I can feel tender and vulnerable when I do put it out there. Before I “officially” name this painting I wondered if you would had a moment to help me narrow them down? I would love to know which title resonates with you the most. You can leave me your thoughts in the comments below. I will share the “official” title along with pictures of how cute my newly painted stool looks in it’s new home over the weekend! Many thanks and a cheery day to you!

love, laura

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poetry, friendship, cupcakes, the Oscars and painting…

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Laura&Tina

building up layers in collaborative painting with Michelle

Dear Tina~
Isn’t it interesting how having guests, no matter how good of friends, allows you to see the world with fresh eyes? You learn things you hadn’t realized before~things like cinnamon raisin Ezekiel bread tastes delicious with peanut butter and honey, that not all honey is created equal, how to poach fish in the most delicious and healthy sauce, that cupcakes and wine are a fantastic way to watch the Oscars and that a gloss gel medium creates wonderful depth within your paintings.

tiny little hint 1

As you know my good friend and goddess sister, Michelle was here for the weekend. I know you have never met her but can appreciate the ease of a life -long friend and kindred spirit. She is the kind of friend I find in you, the kind of friend that will love you no matter what, that has seen you at your best and at your worst, that tells you like it really is and gives you permission to be yourself. This is the kind of friendship you and I share and one I value more than anything.

tiny little hint 2

Michelle & I met as undergrads (both majoring in education like you & I) and have maintained a wonderful friendship all of these years. We have shared a studio together (back when I lived in NH) and are life long learners. I have so many memories and could not have been happier having her at the studio this past weekend. It was the first time we had ever done a collaborative painting and I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. I had to allow myself to have no expectations and trust my intuition and “the process” just like we did at Goddard. What evolved was pure MAGIC~the kind of magic and ease that happens when we get together and made me miss you so very much!

"found poem" in the works~LOVE!

I learned a lot from Michelle and am happy to say that she agreed to be a guest blogger and share her thoughts about our time together. You can look forward to more “in process” photos of our mixed media painting as well as insight from Michelle soon. Can’t wait! Until then I am sending you ease to your week as I know you are always out straight!

xoLaura

p.s. I think it is time for a studio visit~don’t you think?

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A goddess in the studio!

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Laura & Michelle's collaboration

Dear Tina & friends~

My goddess sister and SUPER talented friend Michelle is here visiting for the weekend and I could not be happier! I was giddy all day friday anticipating her arrival and so far we have had a jam packed, fun filled weekend of adventures! Yesterday was a magical day of “ARTing”. I took Michelle to Old Lyme to see the artwork at the Lyme Art Association, the Cooley Gallery, Lemon n’ Lyme and my personal favorite the Diane Birdsall gallery (which was closed so we could only peek our heads in the window~bummer!). Then it was off to Mystic for lunch and a little shopping before heading over to the studio to paint into the night. We worked on these two paintings together and are anxious to get back into them today. I have many thoughts on the evolution of this work but wanted to pop in and give you a little sneak peek at the work in progress. Hope you are all having a FABULOSO weekend!

Creativity and love your way…Laura (& Michelle too!)

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grapes & gratitude…

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Mattebella Winery, Long Island

Hello Sweet T & friends!

My life seems to be a whirlwind of adventure and magical days spent with people who continue to inspire me and leave an imprint on my heart. Today I wish to start my day with gratitude and share a glimmer of one of those special days. For the past three years I have taken what is now an annual pilgrimage to the Long Island wineries. After the hoopla of the holidays it is a bright spot to look forward to in the (usually) cold, long, winter. Brett, my good friends Sue, Brian & I have been going there for the past three years to celebrate Valentine’s day. We head out early on the ferry with a pitcher of some delicious morning cocktail that my honey creates, a picnic basket that belonged to my gram stocked with an array of cheeses, snacks and other delights as we watch the morning set in. We have always been blessed with beautiful weather for this trip and this year was no exception. The sun was shining and the day bright.

Isn't this the cutest tasting room? It was so cozy inside! (Mattebella Winery)

Succulent Sue at Mattebella Vineyard

The boys at Mattebella~Don't you just love that barn wood table?

They thought of everything here~bread, water in pretty glasses and yes, even frosted brownies!

The first winery we visited was Mattebella, named after the owners children. Honestly, upon our arrival in the parking lot I don’t think we pictured such a quaint tasting room. It was like a little cottage with a modern decorating twist (my favorite style). The wood floors were beautifully stained a dark, rich brown making it ever so cozy. There was a long, rustic farm table with bench seating which added to the farmhouse/cottage vibe and the small, white leather couches created a fresh touch. I just loved it! We learned of how the vineyard came to be and how popular the outdoor patio is in the summer.

We ended up visiting all of these wineries (and I think I may be forgetting a few~I will blame my memory lapse on the vino!). The websites have lovely descriptions of the wine and more pictures than I could ever share here.

Sue and I were beyond excited to learn that the Winemaker’s Studio was right next to White Flower Farmhouse!!! We both follow their blogs (they have two) and are in love with all the vintage items they sell there. It was quite a delight to actually see it in person. We each left with treasures and had plenty of time to shop while the boys relaxed next door at the Winemaker’s Studio (which also happens to serve beer~FYI). It was PERFECT!

Sue bought me one of these AWESOME ball jars! We had a hard time deciding which one to choose as they were all so beautiful!

We ended our trip at Sherwood House, a place we had visited before and loved for the rustic coziness and grande stone fireplace. We sipped our wine while enjoying live music fireside. You felt like you were at home with friends on a magical night.

I am filled up with the splendor and magic of the day. Even traveling just a little bit off your beaten path can give you such a sense of adventure. This part of Long Island felt like I was in another world and I will hold my memories of the day and the people I was with dear to my heart.

With gratitude & love,

Laura

p.s. Where are your favorite places to visit? We all create our own adventures and we would love to hear about yours. You are invited to share in the comments below. Who knows, you might just inspire someone to create an adventure of their own!

p.s.s. Find out how these adventures feed into my artwork in a upcoming post. Here is a sneak peek:

The tiniest hint of a new painting. ©laura gaffke 2012

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Learning to Trust…

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Laura&Tina

"Trust Your Heart"acrylic, 12 x 12 inches, ©laura gaffke (available)

Dear Tina & dear friends,

I have always had a difficult time making decisions. I tend to question everything, carefully weighing my options. This can be quite stifling and can really hold you back and keep you from moving forward. Would it really be the end of the world to make the “wrong” decision?

I have been pretty focused on my word for the year, taking action, letting go of things as I work towards living a more organized life. For the most part I have centered my attention on physical things like addressing my clothes closet, but recently started thinking about how I could release things in other areas of my life. It is interesting to assess what no longer serves, inspires, or helps you grow. This comes with decision making which as we have learned I am not very good at! I am working towards trusting my heart and following my “inner voice” (you know the one that whispers to you when you get still and listen), which isn’t easy!

I lost a friend this past week which certainly makes you pause and put things in perspective. You see, we have this one precious life and for the most part we get to choose how we wish to live it. It is time to release things that no longer serve me so I can make room for new experiences to come into my life.

I just finished this painting titled, “Trust your Heart”. It is a reminder to do just that~TRUST in ourselves.

xoLaura

p.s. This is a favorite poem and a blessing to remember my friend. May it inspire you in some way.

(Steve Conn~You are thought of & loved!)

©laura gaffke

A BLESSING

May you awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.

May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.

May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon.

May the flame of anger free you from falsity.

May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame and may anxiety never linger about you.

May your outer dignity mirror and inner dignity of soul.

May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.

~ John O’Donohue ~

(Ana Cara)

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One Little Word 2012

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Dear Friends,

Ali Edwards has developed a simple project that we would like to hop on board and ride. It is called “One Little Word”. She has been doing this project and actively engaging her readers since 2007. As quoted from her website:

A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow. From my own personal experience, it can be a catalyst for enriching your life.

Last year Tina’s word was ‘steadfast’ and Laura’s was ‘mindfully aware’.

Below are our thoughts & “one little WORD” for 2012.

Dear Tina,

I really thought my WORD for 2012 was going to be LISTEN but as I started to journal more (which I had not been making the time for lately by the way) I realized that in order to truly listen I need to make room in my life and clear the mental and physical clutter that holds me back and keeps my mind weighed down. Alyson Stanfield calls these things “tolerations”, meaning anything that holds you back and keeps you from moving forward.

I have so many unfinished projects around my house as well as belongings that no longer serve me which are cluttering up my life. This is the year to release them! My hope is that by doing this I create room for new things to come into my life. What I visualize is a thriving art business, abundance, joy, time with family and friends as well as an inspired home. If you haven’t guessed it yet, my WORD for this year is ORGANIZE. I plan to share my progress with you and hopefully we can all inspire each other. Here is to a FABULOSO start of the new year!

love, Laura

Dear Laura,

Last year I did stay true to my ‘steadfast’ word. I remained steadfast with my convictions in my art practice, trained, tried-out, and made the roller derby team, continued honing my teaching practice at the college level, and consistently held my children and spouse as my primary priority through a busy year of work.

This year, my little word is HEALTH. Now that I am training my body on a regular basis as an active skater on the Lowcountry Highrollers team (I just made the Allstar team) by skating competitively four times a week, weight training and cross training, I have recently realized that my body needs a different nutrition plan for fuel. I am researching and changing my whole diet. Actually, in a recent visit with my doctor, she advised me to look at the South Beach Diet for it’s nutritional guide. She said it is one of the few diet plans that have been researched and proven for cardiovascular and overall long-term health (even Weight Watchers follows this diet). By including better nutrition I hope to build muscle, endurance, and energy.

I also see this word guiding me in my emotional, spiritual, and creative health as well. I have worked out how HEALTH will factor into my physical body this year, but will continue pondering and revisiting these other aspects as the year progresses.

Tina

(aka TNTina when I skate)

My first bout December 2011

We encourage you too to go over to Ali’s website, read about the little word project, and leave your very own little word in her comment section. If you did so and want to share it with us too, we would like to hear it.

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We ARE the people our parents warned us about!

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Laura&Tina

The people our parents warned us about!

This pretty much sums up how I spent my holiday! Click on the tunes and dream a little with me…

Dear Tina & friends~

Happy Happy New YEAR to you!!! The beginning of each new year always fills me up inside. I get overwhelmed thinking of the possibility that it brings. My mind has been racing so much that I haven’t been able to sleep the past few nights. It’s like I have this “excitement buzz” going on.

I have seriously been “unplugged” both mentally and physically from social media of any kind for the past week and half. After having a wonderful New England Christmas with my family in New Hampshire Brett & I set sail for the Caribbean to meet up with his mom & stepfather. They gave us the most generous gift of their time, relaxation, adventure and wonderment all rolled up on one “little” ship holding over 4,0000 people! I am still in awe of how this boat floats!

Our ship, "Freedom of the Seas"

"Christmas Island"

Not having access to the internet literally forced me to be away from my “normal” life in all ways imaginable. I think this may be why people enjoy cruising so much. There is no escape from listening to your hearts desire, whether that be relaxing and indulging in a massage, poolside cocktails, passes through the casino, catching a show in the huge theatre, meeting new friends, visiting the amazing islands of Labadee, Grande Cayman, Jamaica & Cozumel, excursions to exotic places or having indulgent dinners and thoughtful conversations. It was wonderful to give my mind a rest from my everyday life.

Jamaica

Brett & I on our balcony ready for dinner. Not often I can get my husband to wear a tie!

The food was not only delicious it was artfully displayed!

Shocking that we all would be at the bar!

Our favorite bartender, Sergio. Remind you of anyone? I wish we had caught a picture of him with his infectious smile!

Our other favorite bartender, Chris

We had a lovely cabin with a deck overlooking the ocean, room service every morning, cocktails every day (a few days even before noon! hey, “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” right?). I must admit to having “morning margaritas” at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville before our excursion to stingray city on Grand Cayman! In fact, I convinced Brett take me to Margaritaville in Jamaica and Cozumel! We probably would have hit Labadee too had there been one. The margarita’s were delightful at each port! “What would Jimmy Buffett do,” right?

Ahhhh bliss!

My heart is filled and grateful for having two very different but special Christmas’s. All gifts and indulgences aside what matters the most to me and always will is the gift of time spent with the people I love. Wishing you all the most magical new year! Lot’s of love your way….Laura

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Laura’s Working Table: Collaboration with a little LOVE

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Laura&Tina

Laura's Working Table

Hello Friends!

You might have been wondering what happened to the paintings Tina sent me for our new collaboration. Well, I have been sitting with them for almost two weeks now not knowing exactly what I was going to do with them. Sometimes you just have to pick up your brushes and GO FOR IT even if you don’t know where to start. Often this motion will catapult you into thinking about new ideas and the paint will lead the way. So this is what I did. I picked up my watercolors and started playing. The sepia tone Tina used made me think of change and how my own hydrangeas have turned from a creamy white to a brownish plum color so I started there. I wanted to try to capture the unseen moments of change in the garden as well as the last hint of summer. I am still working on them but I thought I would share how I started.

Laura's Working Table 9.28.2011

I have also been working on several new paintings. The one below was originally intended for the LOVE exhibit at Expressiones but it wasn’t quite “there” yet and I didn’t want to rush it. This painting is still a work in progress as well. Boy, do I have work to do, eh?

Laura's Working Table "Love Birds" (title at least for now) (in progress)

In thinking about LOVE for the show I was reminded of the painting I made for Brett as an anniversary gift. It is titled, “Love Song” and hangs above our bed like a headboard as it is quite large. I was thinking about how love gives you wings and started with a sketch of wings. The birds emerged organically along with the rest of the painting and I really love how it came out. The color is rich and vibrant and was the perfect inspiration to lead me into the painting above (which has already changed since I took this picture). I will be sure to share it once it is finished.

print of original available HERE

I am humbled to say that the “Love” paintings I was so delighted to share with you last week were recognized with an “Honorable Mention” in the show! I was TOTALLY surprised and felt swoony having my work shown with such innovative, talented, artists! I think Brett took some pictures at the opening which I will share if that is the case. Thank you all for following along with me on this journey. Moments like this make the perseverance worth it!

xoLaura

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YOU are loved…

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Laura&Tina

Laura's Working Table: Sept. 2011

Hello Sweet friends~

It has been a brilliant morning and one I am feeling UNBELIEVABLY grateful for. The sun is shining, I was greeted by a spectacular iridescent dragonfly while savoring my early morning coffee on my back deck. Lately these little moments have meant the world to me since I am usually in a swirl of ”what’s next on the to do list”. I have been feeling a little out of sorts and decided to pack up my journal, pencils and paints and headed to Bluff Point for a hike and a little painting. I used to do this at least a few days a week and although I walk there regularly I have found myself in my studio more than outdoors and started to wonder why. I think I had been feeling like I needed more of a routine and that if I was in my studio it would seem more like a “real job” since I had to drive to get there. I quickly dismissed that notion as I know these moments are what feed my practice and are essential to my growth.

I knew exactly where I was heading, the private little beach I found when I started exploring the park. I like to think of it as “my beach” as I am usually the only one there. I was greeted by the quiet waves of the ocean lapping at the shore along with their magical gifts from afar. This is where I am most connected…this peaceful place where I hear the rustle of the sea grass and the chatter of the birds…Today I was met with a little note held down with beach stones sitting on a large tree trunk that had washed into shore. It read, “I am a recovering anorexic. These were the 5 most difficult words in my life to write”. I was immediately filled up with emotion for this unknown soul as I was expecting a happy note like the ones I have left here in the past. This little piece of paper reminded me that you never really know what people are struggling with in their life. This includes both family, friends and strangers. Today I will look at everyone I encounter with compassion and LOVE. I painted a simple message on that note which I will leave all of you with today,

YOU ARE LOVED

pass it on….xoLaura

YOU ARE LOVED!

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What do they say about watching grass grow?

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Laura&Tina

L & B's backyard redo: the equipment arrives...

It’s funny how you try to simplify your life and in the end it becomes more complex. Wanting to focus more time on my creative business I had been thinking of ways I could simplify my life in order to create more time for this. I reluctantly realized my garden was eating up quite a bit of my time. Since my garden feeds my creative practice in so many ways I knew it would be impossible for me NOT to garden, but there were compromises that could be made. Sooooo off the list of summer loves were the gorgeous hanging baskets and potted plants that usually grace my back deck. Watering takes a great deal of time and this is something I could let go of. I also thought I try to not buy any more plants and just maintain what I had already.

This seems reasonable, right? That was until Brett had the brilliant idea of adding a built in fire pit to the backyard. It didn’t take me long to warm up to the idea but I soon learned this was not going to be a simple project. My mind raced as I thought about how to incorporate something like this into our landscape. As we worked with Jim, our landscape designer extraordinaire from Stonington Gardens it became apparent that we (although Brett would tell you that it was ME) really wanted to create another “outdoor room”. My dream has always been to create more privacy in our awkward backyard. I didn’t necessarily know how to do this but Jim’s creative mind made it easy. He took our ideas and collaboratively we came up with this rockin’ design that we are just in love with!

*Thank you Jim for all your patience and help! You were a dream to work with and I appreciate you putting up my indecision. You really understood our “vision” for the yard and brought everything together! We cannot thank you enough!*

Here is a little window into the “creative process” of our landscape design….

I was SO excited to see the rocks arrive and how they looked spread out all over our yard. Jim took me to the “stone yard” where I was smitten with all the choices. Who knew rocks could be SO much FUN!!! I chose weathered, warm gray stone for the stonewall seating and fire pit so it would seem like it had been here for ages. I just need the plants and trees to complete the look.

The pavers go in!!! I love how it looks like a giant puzzle.

I am quite partial to the big rocks that will serve as extra "seating"

"digging" the layout

After much discussion we decided on a half moon fire pit so it would look more natural in the garden.

View from the backyard looking in. The berm has started to go in on the left.

Here is a view of the side yard in progress. We had the old concrete sidewalk dug up and these beautiful pavers put in. This meandering pathway far exceeded my expectations.

lining the side pathway with hostas

another view of the pathway

Repurposing our fences for a privacy screen. The plants have already filled in quite a bit since I took this picture.

New walkway to fire pit. The matching stones tie in with the side pathway.

The plants are starting to go in!!! SO STOKED for more trees!

This is where we have been impatiently watching the grass grow! It has been planted in between the pavers and on either side of the pathway.

Maybe by the end of the summer we will have grass? Has anyone else been as eager as me for the grass to come in?

All set for our first fire!

Looking back towards the house from the new patio.

Almost done!

TA DA!!! All of the hardscaping is finally finished! I have moved around some of my existing plants and of course HAD to get some new ones, along with some trees. This winter I plan to spend time planning how to redesign the garden. I am going to try to use a lot of what I have as many plants are in need of dividing and reorganizing for a more cohesive look. Knowing me by next Spring I will be anxiously awaiting the local plant sales but for now, back to watering! Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Laura

p.s. What are your favorite plants that may bloom from now until the end of the summer? I am in need of a little more color right about now.

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The LUCKIEST girl!

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Laura&Tina

Have you ever felt like you don’t know what you did to deserve such good friends and family in your life? Well, that is how I feel right now as I write this. This past weekend was SO incredibly WONDER~FULL I can’t even stand it! Brett & I were surrounded by good friends all weekend, some dropping in for a brief visit and some like Michelle, Jesse & “Haley the wonder dog” who were staying with us for the weekend. I was reminded how special it is to be surrounded by people you can just be yourself with ~ even if they don’t completely appreciate your Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett addiction~ ha! We had a leisurely weekend, took the boat to the beach, made yummy food, indulged in fun cocktails, listened to an eclectic mix of music, sat by our new fire pit (pictures coming soon!), gazed at the blaze of candles and outdoor twinkly lights, took a hot tub, relaxed, read, and just enjoyed each others company. What could be better?

The weekend was FULL of JOY and LAUGHTER! Two of my favorite surprises were Brett unexpectedly bringing home several bouquets of flowers which I made into little arrangements and spread all over the house. He also enlisted the help of our friend Jesse to create THE BEST fireworks display right in our own backyard! It was PERFECT!!! They were SO GOOD! I didn’t expect so many or “the real kind”! I sat by the fire, looking around me feeling overwhelmingly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. I want to thank everyone for making the weekend such a delight!

Flowers from Brett. I especially LOVE the color of the gerbera daisies!

The first of many...

wish I had a tripod set up to capture the splendor better....

Too slow to catch the great colors, but you can imagine, right?

I just loved the ones that looked like sparklers!

What are your favorite moments with friends?

xoLaura

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Drastic color change!

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Laura&Tina

Dear Tina & Friends~

It is interesting to look back at some of my old work and see how drastically my color palette has changed. I just got back from Port Clyde, Maine and spent a night on Monhegan Island while I was there. Monhegan is a quaint little community abundant with artists and alive with color and history (I will share more about my studio visits with the artists in another post). It has been years since this last visit and at the time I was primarily painting landscapes. It feels like a lifetime ago. Although I am still very interested in the landscape I was looking at the island from a very different perspective this time around than I did back then. I had a deeper curiosity and connection to what I was seeing. I remember feeling the history of this magical island but not knowing how to interpret what I was feeling. It took me a long time to understand that I don’t have to have a literal interpretation of what I paint. It comes out in many ways.

I have been working on a little series of whimsical umbrella paintings. They started out as a carved block but I decided after I printed them, I wanted more color and started to hand embellish them, making each one unique. The splashy colored paint and patterns give them the look I was going for. Even though I felt they could stand on their own I experimented further by painting old book pages which I cut up and used for the backgrounds.

This series believe it or not was originally inspired by the tragedy in Japan. Wanting to find hope during such a sorrowful time, I began thinking about the brightly colored umbrellas Japan is known for. After researching their history I was surprised to learn they became popular in the middle of the 18th century as a way to stimulate the local economy after a series of floods. Each umbrella was handcrafted back then and provided a way to supplement the income of the impoverished lower samurai (warrior elite). I found this fascinating!

I have always loved the little umbrellas that came in the Shirley Temples of my youth. It was always a special treat to go to the Chinese Restaurant and allowed to order one. I remember many times being there with my grandparents. I had a special connection to my gram and as I worked on this series SO many memories flooded back to me. Happy times where I learned to just laugh and be myself. She would often say, “let’s laugh for no reason” and we did. I still do! These colorful moments are what I try to translate into my work.

I thought I would share a few pics from Monhegan. Such a MAGICAL place! I would love to know what your favorite places are to visit?

Cheery Smiles, Laura