Staying on course...

Oh my... it has been TOO LONG since I wrote a blog post!  It isn't that I have been idle... just so many things swirling around in my life.  One of the main reasons for my delay has been making some of my little Christmas surprises for family, friends and those that need a little pick-me-up.  Making many of my Christmas cards took lots of time, too... so I have really been a busy little elf for quite a few weeks.

Thanks to the inspiration of that cutie-pie girl, Christy Tomlinson, I have gone nutty making canvases (large and small) of some whimsical, fun winter pals.  Most were created on a smaller scale, but I mustered my courage and bought a wide-edge 16 X 20 canvas. Wow, that's a lot of white space!!!  "Staying on Course" is now the focal point of my grouping of winter whimsies.

Out came paints, gesso, and fuzzy yarns... He's quite a character, for sure!

Penguins are such sweet guys, and I had fun creating this one with the message~ SHINE...  Since I don't knit (but love to collect yarns), I found a great way to use that drawer full of funky, fuzzy yarns.

"Finding Community" is a special sentiment for me... Throughout the years, I have been so blessed to meet and find an extra-special community of like-minded creative spirits... My little owl pal and snowman are finding their connection...

For as long as I can remember, I have adored bears... collecting them over the years in all shapes and sizes... Love their sweet faces.  This "dressed for winter" bear boy speaks a timeless message...  "Love bears all"... Particularly at this time, we are all more mindful of the love of the season.

I need to get back to the arts and crafts store to buy more molding paste.  Can you tell I've used a whole jar???  

When I'm not in my art studio, I'm out and about. I've made the commitment to stay active, even during the shorter, colder days.  Whenever possible, Buttons and I put on our coats... and over the hill we go.  A brisk walk around the block makes us both feel so much better!  Buttons is a real ham~

I can hardly believe that Christmas Eve is one week away! YIKES!!! I'm off to the post office this morning with two big sacks of presents to mail to dear pals.  Hang on, Christmas is just a few days away!!!  

Silly autumn sketches...

For any of my art pals who might be interested in a fun autumn online workshop... I HIGHLY recommend THE ART OF GOODNESS with Junelle Jacobsen.  I have taken almost all her classes and she is just the best teacher... love love love her talent and spirit.  I've been back to my beloved watercolors with the autumn theme...

With pumpkins everywhere this time of year, they are such an easy and fun subject for sketching~

Last week we had some really cold mornings...with frost on the pumpkins!

Ole Buttons became a subject for adding some real silliness to the watercolor images...

He's a little ham and loves posing ...

Hope you have a lovely last few days of October.

I am so thankful for all the good in my life~

Always...

Seeking after treasures of precious gold...

With the changing of the season has come a commitment to getting healthier...which for me means eating high quality foods... and MOVING more...  My dog Buttons needs the healthier regimen, too.  So every day (when the weather is good) we are out and about in the neighborhood.   A new pair of running shoes has made the journey so much better...

The newest wonderful online class with Junelle has begun this week. Our "homework" for  week one is to collect some delicious leaf samples for use in our art.  All our color in my neighborhood is not full-blown just yet, but I found some sweet samples.

My current art journal is a re-purposed children's book with some darling illustrations... some of which I will incorporate into my work.  Tucked in my coat pocket were some collected specimens that I spilled out onto a chair... and my watercolor sketch took shape...

"May you seek after treasures of precious gold and find them within the hearts of others."  Mary Summer Rain

I LOVE LOVE LOVE texture in my art... So this spread has some yummy elements to "touch"... wooly yarn, cotton, linen, scrim, wool, deli paper... and of course there has to be some glittery BLING!

"Look for a lovely thing and you will find it."  

Sara Teasdale

Getting in shape is hard work!  Just ask Buttons.

October joys...

This October has been filled with birthday-celebrating, getting several "home chores" done (to get ready for winter), and "nest decorating" for autumn.  I found these darling little "carvable" pumpkins at the dollar store.  They are so easy to work with... so with my favorite paint colors I just HAD to do some stripes and polka-dots!!!  I did some a couple of years ago with real pumpkins, but these will be great to save for another season.  I loved popping them atop moss-drissled pedestals to stand by my front door.  They will be there to greet friends and neighbors throughout the fall season. 

 A large pansy pot stands on the other side of my door with a little white birdie overlooking the garden.

I found a metal pumpkin to hang on my baby-jane blue door... love the contrast...

We have had a few chilly nights, but no frosts yet... so I still have gorgeous roses.  These last lovelies filled this delightful "birthday vase" from my dear pal, Kristie.

My dinette table is ready for the season, too...

Come by for a cup of cider and a cookie... We'll have a sweet time~

Hopefully my next post will have some autumn art to share... I'm starting a new class with the ever-delightful Junelle... Today was our online open house... I can hardly wait!!!  

I hope all your autumn days are filled with the beauty of this delicious season... savor every moment~

Welcome autumn 2013

The cooler evenings...the shorter days... the scurrying squirrels running to and fro collecting food... are all heralding the beginning of one of my favorite seasons... AUTUMN.  After so much rain and gloom in early summer,  I have basked in these glorious early fall moments.  With the changing season came the desire to get some home improvement tasks done before winter.  So we've been pressure-washing the house, sealing the deck, hanging more energy-efficient doors... all in anticipation of the colder days to come.

The home tasks have kept me pretty busy, but not too busy to work in my visual journal. Since our days are still sunny and warm, we have some gorgeous blossoms for cutting and displaying inside.

I love this old verse...

"Do not wait until some deed

 of greatness you may do...

Do not wait to shed your light afar...

To the many duties ever near you

now be true...

Brighten the corner where you are."

Wonderful Junelle inspired my recent pages... I totally related to the idea of "layers of life"... using delightful translucent layers (I used stitched-down deli paper)... fiber blossoms... silk streamers... and thumbnail photos peeping under the layers...  I loved the symbolism of these pages... as the layers of life represent the metamorphosis of the spirit.  

My journal is made from an old discarded book... I sometimes use the existing pictures if they fit... this drawing was perfect for my feelings on self-judgment... It is so refreshing to garner the courage to be free to be me~

Some of my colors reflect the 

richer tones of the season. 

"For the beauty of the earth..."

This spread features a clear bag filled with paper treasures... tied with a hand-dyed ribbon...

All those who know me well know that I ADORE home... all the time... home is my refuge.... Autumn does give me even stronger feelings of nesting... in this case my nest is quite a wooly, messy, but funky nest...  

Here's hoping you're fluffing your nest and drinking in all the delights of these early autumn days~

Gathering the last flowers of summer...

Now that September has arrived, the crisp nights and cooler autumn days are just around the corner.   This watercolor sketch in my journal commemorates the final gathering of summer's glorious blooms.  Even Buttons was included in the action!  Wherever his Mommie is... he wants to be right there... "helping" all the way!

I do usually use my wonderful front-loader clothes dryer... but couldn't pass up the idea of the heart-felt line-up~  home... family... friendship...love... faith... and hope...

As we change the seasons, 

I try to be more mindful of all the gifts of the season...

So grateful for daily joy...

More wild art bliss... 

sharing faith, hope, and love...

How about a cup of coffee or tea???  

Come... Sit... Stay...

The last few weeks of summer... ahhhh...

I can hardly believe August is almost over.  I have been basking in the last few golden weeks of summer.  Our weather this past week has been "perfect" for me... warm days and cool evenings...just delightful.  Finishing my "Wildflower Summer" journal has been bittersweet... I have adored all the fun it has been... but I'm a bit sad that the lazy days of summer, with the extra daylight, are coming to a close quickly.  To commemorate glorious summer times, I watercolored my vision of a sweet cottage with wildflowers blooming and a huge oak tree adorned with a tire swing...  

I found a clipping that spoke to  my love of houses and "home"... so some collaged row houses were fun to create.

The cover of my church bulletin from a few Sundays ago inspired the watercolor piece that is the close to my summer journal...  Nothing could have said it better...

My vintage book is in the softest blue color, and I could barely stand to cover it... but I found a few adornments to give the look I wanted...  old linen, lace trim, a butterfly button... a velvet leaf, and some polka dot posies...

For every journal I create, I always HOPE that I will make it flat enough to close easily.  That NEVER happens, because I can't stop with the layers and textures... it would be NO FUN at all if everything was totally flat.  So once again, my book needs to go on a diet, but it's just the way I love it... "Baby Jane style"!

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer... the shorter, crisp days and nights are just around the corner.  Perhaps an autumn book is on the horizon... who knows???

Ever blooming...

I can hardly believe that August is almost half gone... where has summer gone???  We have generally had a much cooler, and for sure, wetter summer than I can ever remember.  The sun hasn't seemed as bright in early morning, with so many afternoon showers and clouds... But it has been a bright, sunny wild art summer in my little studio.  I try to savor every moment ... appreciating the gifts of the day...

On the sunny days... donning a hat and puttering outside is such a sweet thing...

A jar with a flower from the garden brings joy to my home... and my soul...

Taking time to watch all the little birdies taking a bath... a break on a steamy day...

A vision of these little "buds" sharing a moment at the bird bath...

Wouldn't I love to squeeze this little cutie???

There hasn't been much serious art here... but for sure... SERIOUS PLAY!!!

I've been metaphorically "packed and ready" for the journey... wherever it takes me...

Wherever your journeys take you in these remaining days of summer... may you be "ever blooming"!!!