Patriotic Garden~

Having a little fun by adding red and blue ink~

This blue cotton has been a joy to sketch on!

Daisy patterns~

Each one with their own style!

Have seen butterflies early this year~

Do hope the Monarchs find their way back to our gardens!

I have let common milkweed grow up...

Going to add Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Mildweed) this year, too!

Everyone is planting their gardens, beds and flower boxes...

I always enjoy window boxes~ interesting combinations!

Special spots on special days~

So many people work so hard, give so much for our great country~

Will never forget all you have given,

So grateful for all you have done~

Hope your day is off to a great start, Sweet Friends!

Watercolor palette

When I started teaching myself watercolor (as a teen)

I read every how-to book I could find.

Experimented with papers...

Purchased the best brushes I could afford...

Most of the artists I studied used the same basic palette.

That is what I followed and happily used for years~

It was economical and traditional.

When I began licensing my art I started to expand my palette.

Fabric collections, flag designs, calendar pages...greeting cards---

With so many varied products I wanted a varied palette.

Through the years I have found my personal favorites...

Windsor & Newton

Holbein

Daniel Smith

A trip into the city finds me at the Fine Art Store on

West Main Street~ fineartstore.com

I become lost in the options.

Held tightly by my very limited budget!

That way I am sure to behave ;)

My budget yesterday was for a green. ONE green.

The greens on my palette are running low.

I have been searching for something different for a while.

I can make several greens from all the blues,

ochre, golds & yellows that I have...

Finding a 'nice green' will save me time.

If a client decides to expand a collection, it is nice

to have less mixing to do... more consistency.

MaimeriBlu offered a sample card near their display~

It is a nice way to try out pigments. Do they stain?

How do the colors behave on my favorite paper?

Can I lift out highlights?

Do they glaze nicely?

Autumn colors keep me inspired~

Hope your weekend is off to a great start!

Studio desk doodles...

How I love sunny mornings~

They add a little extra energy to the day!

Wishing you a joy-filled day!

Western Journey~

Hello, Sweet Friends!

Hope your summer has been filled with relaxation, joy....

Laughter and fantastic memories~

Traveled across through this beautiful country with our daughter...

From New York to Arizona!

She will soon be starting classes 'Out West!'

We have family in Arizona...

It is so much fun to explore when you're with people who can

share in similar interests and find their way back home!

We lost a few hubcaps in three different states...

Broke down in Illinois due to a rusted radiator hose clamp...

We had brown dust on our car from the East.

Golden-brown dust on our car...

Red dust on our car...

The torrential rains from wild storms washed some of it away!

Met the most AMAZING people along our journey!

Enjoyed seeing the desert and its inhabitants...

The flowers...

Saguaros, prickly pear, barrel cactus~ so many more!

The days were filled with gorgeous landscapes...

Laughter, reflection, old memories & new memories with Alaina!

The colors are so inspiring!

Although I left our girl in the West to learn, grow & follow her dreams~

I brought home a vision of new colors!

A rich palette!

When the desert shares colors---

They are unfiltered!

They are brilliant!

They are rich!

On one of my last days in the desert it was 117 degrees~

It went down to 50 degrees here last night!

Brrrrrr....

The most amazing journey with the most wonderful girl!

I'm so thankful we made it across the miles safe & sound.

So thankful to have seen more of America~ how I love this land!

It was a joy to meet beautiful and kind people at every stop~

Off the beaten path is filled with wonder!

Hope your day finds you exploring~

My studio 'needs exploring!' 

What a mess!

Wishing your heart joy~

Bird song~

With the first peek of light... the choir started!

Singing from their nests!

Tucked in the eaves troughs... singing.

Waiting on limbs for their chances at the feeder... singing.

Perched on the feeders... singing!

Peeking out of their birdhouses... singing!

Hopping through the lawn searching for worms---

singing to their babies, "breakfast is on the way!"

Good Morning, Friends! Hope your day is off to a musical start~

ArtWalk & Watercolor fun~

Good Morning, Friends!

We have had a very busy week~ filled with wonderful blessings!

We enjoyed our son's Senior Recital mid-week...

I participated in Seneca Falls, NY 'ArtWalk' on Friday evening...

Our daughter graduated with her AAS degree in Graphic Design yesterday!

'Spring is busting out all over!'

It is absolutely beautiful here and green as far as our eyes can see.

Keeping our friends to the south in our thoughts and prayers as 

they clean up and rebuild from damaging waters & flooding...

Praying for all in CA... hoping the weather will help calm the fires.

Little bit of blue...

Little bit of yellow...

Little bit of orange...

Whole lot of nature!

It's wonderful to be in the gardens again~

I tucked some little watercolors in each of my Etsy shops yesterday...

Hope your day is filled with happy moments!

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope your day is filled with sweet moments...

Love...

Fond memories...

Remembering so many dear women who have been a part of my life...

Each one taking time to love, shape, mold, encourage, lift me up!

Many have passed without knowing the impact they had...

Some continue to walk beside me today & I treasure them!

Giving thanks to each of you~

As women we share our hearts, minds, experiences and ideas!

We share with our children...

We share with all children...

It isn't about giving birth... it's about giving love.

Wishing you a wonderful Mother's Day~ everyday!

Blue Jay!

This little guy caught me taking photos!

He was kind enough to pose and turn, tilt his head and lift his crest~

Dip down, look to the left,

Look up... tail up... tail down....

Great reference photos from a beautiful & smart friend!

Hope your day is filled with WONDERFUL!

Around the yard...

Our schedules have been keeping us wildly busy...

Each hour of the day is filled with wonderful!

I had to get on my belly and take some pictures today~

We finally have some color!

Has been a very long wait~

It is a joy to see our Orioles, Grosbeaks & Piliated friends again...

So many different songs...

Peonies!

They must love the sun on their faces...

Sharing sweet conversation~

Perfection...

Every sweet and delicate detail~

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Snowman fabric collection "Warm Wishes"~

Now shipping to fabric stores, quilt shops...

"Warm Wishes" by Michelle Palmer

Red Rooster Fabrics

How I LOVE working with Red Rooster Fabrics!

They bring my paintings & designs to their beautiful fabrics~

These images are from the Warm Wishes panel!

My palette was inspired by vintage Christmas ornaments~

The panel can be viewed on Red Rooster Fabrics site:

PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK

More of the collection...

Makes my heart smile!

Thank you, Red Rooster Fabrics for another WONDERFUL collection~

Please share photographs of your "Warm Wishes" projects!

It is ALWAYS a joy to see what you make~

Hope your week is going great!