Tracy Porter Blog… be inspired!

Hello lovely souls! Hope you had a most memorable weekend! Wishing all you mamas happiness + goodness by the bushel!  So, here’s a question for you!? Do you ever see your life as a sketchbook? ..a journal of experiences that you collect and treasure…and somehow manage to store..in your brain, in your soul…or in whatever way it feels right to you? Photos of course  help me with much of it. Whenever  I look back through my digital files I find they instantly take me to that moment the photo happened.Well…I like this sort of thinking..gathering as you go…making “sketches” ( as in photos)  of all things around you….I find it to be terribly inspiring for any new project I am working on as well..and most weeks I am juggling a hearty handful of things  much like everyone else!! This last week was a most inspiring one with lots of  thoughts on new designs flying through my brain…Many of my thoughts you see as photos early on that inspire something else later.

Color , color….as you add layers to your world..your sketchbook of life….consider the way color will play a role …the language it can add to you life is remarkable to me..and often something you never forget..much like a scent that lingers in your mind. This vignette on our mirror is in our powder room..the rich colors dance so beautiful with the light throughout the day..then when night falls the light on the colors becomes even more extreme..it makes me wild…makes me want to add even more colors to our walls. I have been stuffing bits of life on my mirrors since I was a teenager…then you really look at these things…give it a try!

This week our garden is exploding in color and splendid irresistible beauty. I find myself in the garden before I begin my workday ( kind of a wonderful way to start my day) ..I also go to the garden at the end of my work day….it’s all there…all the luscious layers for the taking….do you see them?  It’s a layer in my sketch book that is very personal..and so healthy in mnay ways! 

The flowers are blooming wildly now..and I find myself gathering them daily…I love setting them around the house….anywhere..everywhere..they add magic  , they add another layer of happiness in their untamed fanciful ways…I love adding in the random long branch that makes the whole lot feel a bit wonky…it’s so good when the eye finds something a bit off…..ahhh..divine nesting!! 

Even the rhubarb inspired me this week ( and yes, I made 3 rhubarb desserts…) I may need to do more..I love, love rhubarb..the taste, the colors, the texture…..

A dusting of confectioners sugar on any dessert ……….. like angel powder for the fairies….and so pretty in a photo..no?

I also did some digging this week..found this sketch I had done quite sometime ago…I have had elephants on my brain..then I found this in one of my baskets….see the elephant, see the peacock..see the goat…..another layer to life’s lively sketchbook…..somethings never change…they just evolve as new luscious layers!

Seashells….they seem to always find a way into my world…..so I had to document this….the top of a mirror….it inspired another piece of art that I’m still working on. Then more digging…in the garden..thinning out the radishes….that I cannot toss…..so lovely with their bits of dirt and ever reaching roots….

We went to the beach for mothers day. It was so beautiful!  It was 99 degrees when we left our house for the beach..and 85 when we got there…bikini weather…whoa!! We stayed until the sun was nearly set … we were the only ones left save a few evening beach combers.

I only wanted one thing for mothers day…a photo with my four delicious boys….My sweet friend Nina took this one…you can see how golden the light was….the sun was going down ansd we were just packing up.

I found these the other day…a random mix of goodies….my hoarder tendencies ( while I poke fun at them) serve me well when I go back through baskets of goodness…I find layers of life…bits and pieces of my own sketchbook.

So what about you? what about your life sketchbook…how do you keep it…..? I’m so very curious….

Hoping your spring is adding an irresistible bit of joy to your days….the smells, ahh the smells…do you keep your windows open at night to breathe in all that goodness…?

Cheers + goodness to you !!

xx,

T.

~ live your poetic wanderlust !….with love, from our studio + ranch~  in the California countryside …Tracy Porter~

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Labels: behind the scenes,more Tracy Porter

Hey Darlings! Hope you had a splendid weekend!! Were you were able to get out for at least one adventure?..Always a good weekend thing in my book…near or far…it just keeps you on your toes…and keeps your eyes, heart and spirit open to the next!!  We went in to the mountains to this lovely spot near the river where a perfect swimming hole sits beckoning you to sit with blankets.. picnics..dogs, kids..wine , bikinis and the like…It was about 90 up there..which made the icy water feel stellar when you jumped in…our boys climbed up the huge rocks to jump off of those…I remember doing this when I was a kid…such fun…sort of scary..but really freeing too!

Do you ever make candy at home? It’s always been a fantasy thought for me…is it for you!? We made lollipops last night…it’s so simple…2/3 c. karo syrup, 2  1/2 c. sugar, 3/4 c. H2O. Put in  a pan on your stove top mix it just a bit , stick a candy thermometer in the syrupy mix…let it get to 300 which is the hard-crack stage. I then pour it into 3 separate smaller pans, let the kids add flavors and food colors..then they pour it onto lolly sticks that are sitting on a parchment paper covered jellyroll pan. It’s really that simple…I’m sure you could complicate it…but why…homemade lollipops….such a fun thing to do..no matter your age! Be super careful with the pouring part…this stuff is hot, hot..as in burn your skin hardcore hot!!

These are Gus’s free pours..I like doing it this way rather than molds….shocking isn’t it?!  Yes, you can add other candies etc….let them cool completely before you lift them off the paper…

Do you ever plant a bush or tree that will provide fruit later on?!  I have always been smitten by fruit bearing plants and trees….This is one of our wee olive trees….I am just so excited by the idea of these…my list of trees to plant is so long…is yours? What are you growing that bears fruit?  Please you must try it…such fun…..! REALLY!!

Do you ever buy baby kale..sprinkle it with olive oil , a bit if balsamic + salt….pop it into a 350 oven and let it go for 10-15 minutes….I have always done this with swiss chard…but baby kale is crazy this way. Bonus is kale is #1 on the super food list….as in…super for your health!!! Worth a spin eh?! Also worth growing some in your garden this year..or in a pot near your kitchen!!

Do you ever pick flower heads and photograph them..or paint a watercolor of them  , or sketch…or just make an arrangement to admire..or to let dry….It’s all good, all creative….I like to then take the flowers apart then make my new version of flowers all petals mixed up this way and that way….big, little etc.  It’s lovely mindless puttering  + creativity…good for the soul!

Do you ever need to cover up a bush that is being decimated by critters? Deer…rabbits..or chickens in my case!! I took and old tomato cage, flipped it upside down then wrapped chicken wire around it. I added an old cast candle-holder to the top…a wee bit of folly…..This is a 10 minutes project tops!!  Happy rose bushes = happy gardeners!!

Do you ever….make a nice spot for yourself outside….a lovely place that beckons you to come and sit…? Mine is on the deck outside of my studio. I love working outside..so I moved a table, some chairs etc. and made a place ..I love it so much….I love when the chickens and ducks come over to snack with me…I keep a tin of old crackers for them….( I am now officially my grandmother…..it’s out. )

Cheers to you..to a lovely week!!

I am posting several times a day on instagram and Facebook, but I know many of you don’t use those…I am trying to then take all of those bits and share them on the blog and pinterest as well…hope this is working for all of you..trying to cover my bases and all the place you love to go to….. Thanks for following..for commenting..for being here..and there!!  I love my connection with you guys!!

xx,

T.

~ live your poetic wanderlust !….with love, from our studio + ranch~  in the California countryside …Tracy Porter~

Labels: more Tracy Porter

Bonjour!!  Hope you all had a splendidly luscious weekend! I know lots of you were planning on getting out into your gardens yipee!! So glad that you were able to dig around a bit! Even the clean up of a spring garden is exciting…fun to see what sits beneath the leaves etc!  I just wanted to share a few fun pics!!….We went to a really roaring  Midnight in Paris party Saturday eve! The perfect theme as The great Gatsby just opened up in the theaters ( I need to go this week!! Tell me if you did…and did you like it?)  I naturally love the 1920′s flapper style ( I added a bit of boho to mine..cannot help myself no matter the era!) …I also channeled My french  grandmere  Lucy and had a postcard of her on my mirror in front of me when I did my makeup …

Here she is..in a costume she made…. she was born in 1901 so as you can see she was in the thick of it here!!

Kind of fun to pose with a classic Vintage Cord ! My darling girlfriend Tonya and I having cheeky good fun with poses!!

Our sweet  friends ….The Nina…and her beau Jason..looked so very 1920′s classic…darlings !!

My girlfriend beautiful Jen all bejeweled and a very good sport as she is pregnant!! I loved seeing her all dolled up..she is my cowgirl girlfriend…she often has on her spurs when fetching the kids from school…I LOVE, love this about where we live..it is cowboy country!

The Nina..going to claim her prize as most authentic flapper!! Bravo sis!!

I will say..people really got into this theme..so..if you are planning any parties soon…you may just want to think about this idea….it was some serious rollicking fun!

We took 2 car loads of boys to the beach on Sunday to catch some nice waves + sunny rays….It was the perfect way to spend our day after a late over the top night! ….I’ll share some pics this week!!

Cheers + Love!!

xx

T.

~ live your poetic wanderlust !….with love, from our studio + ranch~  in the California countryside …Tracy Porter~

Labels: more Tracy Porter

You guys know by now pretty much everything we do I find some sort of inspiration in…( most). Which is why I am always wanting to explore a bit… especially nature  ( so broken record of me..) I am my own walking national geographic…but I cannot seem to stop being overwhelmed by each piece of nature I see. No matter how many times I go to the mountains, or the meadows or the ocean..it always seems fresh..and oh so relaxing. We were up quite late this past Saturday eve…having a rollicking good time with dear friends…we woke up late on Sunday for a lazy Swedish pancake breakfast.  Then rather than clean, do laundry and all the other things one typically fills their day with…we went with lovely friends to the beach! Between us we took along 9 rascally boys and one darling bohemian girl! We packed picnic-y food stuffs…then spent the whole day lazing in the sun. Such a healthy..relaxing, breathtaking.. wondrous….sleepy sort of a day.

What more does one need at the beach..I do all I can to  keep it simple..bikini, head wrap, cowboy hat…sun screen and sunglasses.

Look at the gorgeous sea treasure the kids found clinging to a rock..she was a beauty..all purplish-red….we always put live sea treasures back where they came from once we all get a peek! 

Another spectacular find left behind by someone lovely..a palm frond hut. The little boys had a blast playing in and around it. Such a simple luxury.

There was a nice soft grassy area just beside the beach where we could grill hot dogs…that tasted so perfect after sitting in the sun!

The boys found this shady area of deliciously  climb-able trees…then like a faerie garden the entire floor under the trees was covered in blooming edible nasturtiums….all that drinkable  lime along with vibrant pops of yellow and orange was mouthwatering….( literally) .

Most of the day, when not exploring the tress and shoreline was spent in the chilly pacific ocean…trying to catch waves!

My week has been all about my next mix of designs! …so coming off a weekend of ocean inspiration has my mind racing..and my spirits soothed by the salt, the sea and the sun.

Hope your week is luscious..I see spring is happening in all parts now…thank goodness for everyone….go out and breathe it in..all that goodness…ahhhh!!

Cheers and happiness to you!!

xx,

T.

~ live your poetic wanderlust !….with love, from our studio + ranch~  in the California countryside …Tracy Porter~

Labels: more Tracy Porter

Hey loves! Hope your week was smashing in any way you were able to make it so! We have been busy around here…this week felt like a blur it flew by so quickly! Just a quickie to share…these galleries from our website have been updated…with some old good stuff and some new good stuff. Thought you might like a peek! If you want more behind the scenes check us out +  follow me on instagram  . It’s the most no brainer bit of inspiration and fun a girl with a camera can have- without getting into trouble!  It’s like 5 seconds of candy…or whatever your fix is…as you know I seem to have loads of vices…( ever staying open minded is key here!) If you are an instagrammer..please do leave me a comment on the blog or on one of my instagram photos so I can follow you…! Ok then….happy weekend goodness coming to you…any fun plans to share?  I’m thinking the beach at some-point , as it’s gonna be a hot one here..I’m craving some weekend beach time..and most likely a cosmo later on tonight! I’ll toast each of you!!

Cheers and happy trails!

xx,

T.

~ live your poetic wanderlust !….with love, from our studio + ranch~  in the California countryside …Tracy Porter~

Labels: behind the scenes,more Tracy Porter