Sonnenberg Gardens

Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, New York

A journey through time that will fill every sense~

Alaina and I enjoy summer drives...

Summer gardens...

Historic places...

The glass houses filled with succulents...

Orchids...

Tropical treasures...

If you click on the link above you will be teased by the

story, history, architecture... gardens... fountains...

Our visit of this historic mansion and gardens left us~

Restored...

Inspired...

Relaxed...

Hope your day is wonderful~

Bunnies... Teddy Bears... Linens & Labels!

I hope your Monday is off to a sunny start~

We had a dear bunny friend munching on an apple

near the bird feeder this morning!

Little nibbles...

Taking his time...

Until a Chipmunk began moving in!

Then he nervously chowed down...

Laundry is hung on the line...

My art palettes are wet down and ready to go...

Thankful for the little things~

After a weekend of remembrance and reflecting.

I'm going to list these treasures and more in my Etsy shop

and then get to work on calendar deadlines!

Hope you have a wonderful day, Sweet Friends~

Sweet Smellin' Friends~

Just outside our kitchen window~

This little friend is on a mission to get home...

 We have not found where home is yet!

If he could see inside my sketchbook "he" has an

adorable bonnet on... the cutest Victorian boots...

He has a little bird on his shoulder~

Hmmmm... I'm sure payback wouldn't smell too sweet!

Hope your day is filled with SWEET visitors~

Written in our hearts~

September 11th

Hearts filled with gratefulness...

Hearts filled with remembrance...

Harvest Owls...

Whoooooo is stopping by to say hi?

Sweet harvest friends...

Hoping your weekend is relaxing...

Filled with fun memories...

I have been in an owl-drawing-mood during our

family movie nights!

Last night, when I took our pup out for one last potty stop~

My storybook owl was perched in our White Pine.

So I had storybook dreams again~

Hope you do, too!

Owl Theme Hand-Carved Stamps...

Sometimes I need to move away from my palette

and stand in a different position... straighten up a bit.

With traditional watercolor, an artist paints flat.

No easel or angled surface to help with back fatigue.

Puddles of color would occur!

Very pretty... but not very practical~

While I was warming my lunch yesterday...

I stood at the kitchen counter top and carved these little friends.

I have wanted to try Moo Carve. Available at hobby stores.

It is VERY soft. Many will enjoy the ease of carving...

I prefer the pink carving medium I have previously blogged about.

I've been trying to purchase a Staedtler carving block.

The Staedtler consistency is similar to a white art eraser.

It is a very popular product... frequently sold out.

More owl designs will be in my Etsy shop tonight~

Thank you for all of your sweet comments... they mean so much!

Hope your Friday is sunny and warm!

Blackbirds... Crows... Pumpkins...

When cool air and damp clouds hover...

I want to paint everything honey brown or cinnamon red!

I spent part of the weekend soaking, washing, scrubbing

old linens and fabrics~ stain-free, crisply ironed and bright.

I sat down with six of the linens to draw

crows and pumpkins...

The linens got dirty again!

(giggle)

They just didn't look right all pressed and pretty!

My hands smell like coffee...

The house smells like coffee...

At least a few times a year!

It smells so delicious~

 We keep a jar in the house for our coffee-drinkin' friends...

When the jar expires it becomes a natural stain!

Hope your day is warm and cozy~

Songbirds in color...

 

Feathered friends in full color on natural muslin!

Some of the designs are on a darker~ tea stained muslin.

I selected several friends from my original watercolors...

Printed them onto Strathmore brand transfer paper...

I couldn't resist adding a few pen and ink details!

They can be framed, used as quilt pieces...

Little patches to add to fabric purses~

Oh the fun!

My sweetest Wren friend perched next to a

basket of Forget Me Nots~



Sweet Chamomile surrounded this Purple Finch...

He is from one of my original watercolors selected for

the 2012 Outside My Window calendar!

Thank you for so many sweet comments!
~Artists love to bring joy to others~
You bring joy to me!

Owls

Little owl faces that sit in our white pine tree at night~

Well, at least my interpretation...

We have not been able to see the owl that

shares a long story with us from time to time.

There is a little round profile...

A silhouette against the moonlit sky.

We've been checking his song to samples to identify.

I'm convinced it is a rare, storybook owl.

The little friend that lives inside my children's stories~

Hope your day is filled with wonder!

Outside My Window Calendar 2012

"Outside My Window 2012"

A little peek at my new calendar!

Artist samples arrived last week and local shops

have started selling them already!

I have not purchased any of these to offer for resale...

...I hope to in the years to come.

Most of our friends and family purchase them from

shops that carry Legacy products or Ebay.

I have my 2014 designs all sketched and ready to paint...

Little feathered friends at our feeders have been

holding on tight with these hurricane edge winds!

We're praying for all that are affected by Irene.

This image is April!

My birthday month... and favorite flow blue~

I set one of my pins next to the calendar page

to show you which original watercolor I worked from!

These boxed Christmas cards are also from Legacy...

I love how they bring my watercolors to product!

Another box of cards... and this is the December image

for the 2012 calendar, too!

Hope you have a wonderful evening~

Thank you for stopping by!

Quilt Labels...

When I saw this piece of fabric I fell in love!

I didn't know they were quilt labels...

They are the most beautiful vintage frames...

Just waiting for empty spaces to be filled!

The fabric frames so beautifully...

I'm thankful for the piece I found...

I have been searching for more~

The local quilt shops had a few labels...

They are Christmas theme!

They had never seen this fabric pattern.

This music frame was perfect for a songbird friend...

I'm still working on a few special orders...

We're enjoying the last few weeks of summer~

School will begin in two weeks...

That is when I will begin working on my watercolor calendars!

Deadlines this fall for the year 2014!

I will share pictures of my 2012 calendars in my next post.

The samples arrived last week and warmed my heart.

Hope your August days are sunny and peaceful~

Wishing you every joy!



Pins & Purse Patches from Originals...

Summer is a great time to play!

I love having our children home from school~

Alaina LOVES to try new art materials...

She is the courage in my designs!

(I hope you have stopped by her NEW BLOG)

These pins are made from my original watercolors!

There are several transfer materials on the market...

Strathmore allows the fabric to feel natural, soft and washable!

Use with Ink Jet printers... permanent and vibrant~

I printed the images onto the transfer paper...

Ironed the image onto muslin, linen etc.

Washed the little pictures in Tide...

Pressed them...

And then HAND stitched each piece!

I treasure every hand sewn, machine sewn piece I own...

People who love to stitch~ you're amazing!

Not my strength... but I love the folk, prim look of these~

The little print is stitched to a beautiful piece of color fabric...

Then I stitched them to a piece of wool felt...

Then I stitched a piece of natural muslin to the back...

(to cover up my messy work...)

Stitched a pin in place and hand signed them!

These sweet purse pins will be in my Etsy Shop... tonight!

Hope your day is perfect!