My Bird Library Grows...

I went for a country drive Wednesday...
Needed to get away from the studio for an hour or two...
Found myself about 45 minutes from home at one
of my daughters favorite antique shops.
Want to share this wonderful find with you!
Birds of America
Copyright 1917 by The University Society, Inc.
Copyright 1936, By Doubleday & Company, Inc.

If you have a chance to borrow this from your
local library or find a used copy... it is a treasure!

Details of eggs, nests, songs etc.

Pretty plates...

Sample of text...

I love when bird books share nest details...

The song!

Wrens and Titmouse... my favorites!

Purple Finch...

So very easy to use... arranged for an artist!
A few examples~
Order of Diving Birds...
Order of Long-Winged Swimmers...
Order of Shore-Birds...
Order of Pigeons and doves...
Order of Goatsuckers, Swifts, Etc.
Order of Perching Birds...

Hope your Friday is off to a great start!
More sketches coming later today~

Artist Samples Arrived...

It is always fun when artist samples arrive!
This coverlet and pillow came this morning...
The manufactures give me the opportunity to comment,
share feedback on colors etc. before production.

Our kitties were all sitting around my feet when
I was taking the photograph...
Perhaps ready to jump up and snuggle in~
or... licking their chops at the sight of such
huge songbirds! ha! ha!

Indoor kitties that love to watch songbirds!
When the vibrant red Cardinals perch...
I think I can see their little snouts smile~

Hope your day is perfect!

Look What Just Flew In!

Baby birds!
All shapes and sizes!
Oh the fun I had drawing these...
Sketchbooks all over my studio!

I just added fourteen new pieces to my
Etsy shop!
Click here to take a peek~

I'm looking forward to sunny days...
These are not very good photographs to share with you.
Gray skies make for poor natural lighting.

We have a few bird feeders close to the house.
When the kids are in school... hubby is at work...
It is so very quiet~
All I hear are the birds happily feeding...
Calling to each other...
I'm sure there is a Blue Jay out there playing
traffic police, keeping feathered munchers in order!

I was in the mood for fluffy, chubby and tender babies...

Hope you have a wonderful evening!

New Originals in my Etsy!

A few of you have shared FANTASTIC links
to minute-by-minute video of hummers
waiting for their little ones to hatch!
Inspired me to locate my wee bird sketches!

Titmouse with big black eyes...
They are such sweet friends~

Curious bunny...

Field mouse looking for something to munch on!

I just added fifteen different sketches to my
Etsy store... do hope you stop by!

Will be adding more and more each day...
Hope you have a wonderful evening, sweet friends!

Bonkers for Buttons...

I'll let the photographs tell the story...
These are the size of half dollars and larger...

They need to be cleaned...
That will wait for another day~

Because I'm finishing up on LOADS of
new sketches for my Etsy shop!

I'll post a few later today~

Hope you have a fantastic week!

MiMi is Going Home!

We have a winner!
Marilyn from Thistlebrooms!
I'm so tickled that MiMi is going to live with you
and your sweet daughters~

Thank you for ALL of your sweet comments,
following along, posting about MiMi...
Your blogs are WONDERFUL! So glad to meet you!
I wanted to give a few extra gifts... I will have
many more giveaways~ more chances to win soon!

No.1 Runner up...
Kristin from Kleas!

No. 2 Runner up...
Amanda from Pandy Potter Bears!

No. 3 Runner up...
Elaine from A Scattering!

Hope your first day of spring is wonderful~

Birdies... Eggs... Feathers and Fun!

Spring birds are arriving with their sweet songs!
Redwing Blackbirds have been visiting all day...
A little "yellow" is beginning to come back
on the American Goldfinch~
Out with the gray-green and in with vibrant!

I put several new pieces in my Etsy shop for you!
Thank you for so many sweet comments...
I have been trying to get to as many blogs as I can!
You are amazing people!
Each, very talented, creative, hardworking... fun!
I would LOVE to have dinner with you...
WOW you have fantastic recipes~

Since we now have over 200 followers!!!
Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!
I will be picking three extra "runner-up" winners!
The hat is getting full... sweet MiMi is getting excited!

I hope all of you have a fantastic weekend~
Wishing you all the best, with so many thanks!

Owls... Mice... and Chicks! Oh, My!

My little owl friend is as THRILLED as I am!
THANK YOU for all of your fantastic comments...
I welcome all my new followers...
and appreciate ALL of you that have shared
my sweet MiMi on your blogs!

Please keep adding your names for the
chance to win MiMi!
We have had such a great response...
I think I need to come up with a few
runner-up prizes! What do you think?
How much fun all of you are!

Just listed a new collection of owls, chicks & mice!
My Etsy shop is full of feathers, fur and fun!

I have them all packaged up...
I need to write in the measurements...
Add my name!

I'm having fun with these little treasures!
Thank you for all of your Etsy feedback and comments!

Hope your day is extra special!

A Giveaway to Celebrate!

Sweet Little MiMi, I set her and her buttons inside
one of my sketchbooks for her photograph!

The sun is shining... spring is busting out allover!
AND... I have sold 100 treasures from my Etsy shop!
Thanks to you!!!

Sweet Little MiMi
is my latest giveaway~
Original, signed illustration!
(I took these photographs before I signed her...)

MiMi measures 3.25" x 4.25"
The 10 antique pearl/shell buttons are included.

Name in the hat once~ Comment here.
Name in the hat twice~ Post about MiMi on your blog...
Name in the hat THREE times~ follow along!!

MiMi is one of my sweetest friends.
She has been around my back field
for many years.
She is Nana to many little sprouts!
She lost count~
MiMi is wise.
When you have cake and tea with her~
All of your troubles seem small...
All of your doubts begin to fade.
She will encourage you to step out and try!
She will walk along side of you.
Each of her stories share a
tender message...
MiMi shares her heart!

Thank you, sweet friends!
I love each of your comments...
Your blogs are so much fun & inspiring...
MiMi is eager to know the winner!
I will draw the winning name from the hat
March 20th~ The first day of Spring!

New Spring Originals in my Etsy Shop...

Pretty soon the bees will visit our
pussy willow blossoms!

Birds have been collecting bits and pieces
for their spring nests... eggs will follow soon!

During strong windstorms...
Soft, light-as-air, nests tumble from our hedgerows.

Geese formations have been landing in the
waters nearby... HONK! HONK!
They all say hello as they pass overhead!

These sketch treasures and more can be found
in my Etsy Shop~
Please click here to go visit...

Thanks so much for visiting!
Hope you have a wonderful night~

Ephemera to Share...

Sweet little faces...

Fantastic hats...
I imagine faeries wear them in the garden~

Sweetness...

I have a few blog friends who adore bunnies~
Saw this and had to share!

New fabric illustrations tomorrow!
I finished a mound of art deadlines...
Tonight I will sit and draw new pieces
to share from my sketchbooks.

Oh what surprises!
Canada Geese... wee field mice... teddy bears...

Owly... Thank You!

Owly

We love owls... and you can tell that Nia, from Owly blogspot, does too!
Please click on this link to visit her sweet, fun, unique blog and see the interview she did on me!

Hope your Monday is off to a great start!