Simple joys...

A wee little Monarch...

Busy as a bee...

The Ladybug pictures are blurry...

This patch of weeds is the place to be!

We allow it to take over one side of our garage...

Our own little Monarch Village!

Hope your day is sunny and sweet~

Loads of Fabric Originals...

Our Crow friends are hoping for a rain puddle!

The storms and rains are all around us... nothing here~

This post is filled with new art treasures!

I had fun photographing them... I have not seen

the little bear faces and buzzing bees for weeks!

These are waiting room pass-times~

Honey Bees were enjoying our Milkweed blossoms...

I even found a wee baby Monarch caterpillar!

I never made it to the fields to pick strawberries...

They will taste twice as good next year!

Ooodles of bear hugs...

More beary~loving hugs!

The bears and bees will have Vegetable Ivory buttons

included with my little gift tags~ a way to say Thank You!

A little something different... I love the warm colors!

Hope you will visit my Etsy Store to find

these treasures and more!

I'm on my way to list them now!

Wishing you all the best, Sweet Friends~

He knew...

When I was away, daytime would roll into the wee hours

of nighttime without much notice.

The hum of moms air conditioner replaced the sounds of

my feathered friends who wake me in the morning~

I read a scripture that caught my heart.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped..."

Psalm 28:7

That afternoon I set out for my new palette~

This expense was not in my budget.
I gathered a hand full of tubes, just the basics...
Trying to think quickly, so the attendant could lock the case!
As I started down the isle a woman touched my arm
and asked if I had the coupon. I smiled and said no...
She sorted through a small collection of papers and
handed me a coupon. It wasn't a typical 40% one item...
It was 40% off your ENTIRE paint purchase!
I choked up!
Gave the woman a hug!
The kind woman asked if painting was a way to relax.
I tried to explain briefly about my projects & deadlines~
That I was visiting from out of town...
It is difficult to describe my job in one sentence.
When you share that you're a professional artist
some people nod and smile...
Others laugh and comment, "Aren't we all..."
Others are intrigued.
This woman was genuinely interested...
So I shared.
She was very kind. We talked for 15 minutes or more.
The scripture floated through my mind as we wished
each other a pleasant day...
I was helped.
God knew my needs.

I couldn't forget the woman.
I trotted back into the store to see if I could find her.
She hadn't left! I asked if she would permit me to send
her a small gift~ to thank her for the $50 she saved me!
Not sure I would hand out my address to an odd duck...
She did!
I think a mini 2012 calendar might be the perfect gift~
I hope she will be reminded of how much she
touched my heart... each time she peeks at the date!

Thank you, Sweet Friends... for so many uplifting
comments and for all of your prayers~
The world is good.
People are good.
God is so very good.

Hope your day is filled with  joy and love~

Winner and Make-do Palette...

Last night I returned home...

My mom has been fighting stage 4 breast cancer for

almost four years now. I have been out of town caring

for her after she suffered a Pulmonary embolism.

She lives in the city... a pleasant place to visit~

However I am a country girl and there is no place like home.

I think my flowers all waved to me when I drove in!

We have a winner!

Megan Chamberlain

The little vintage dress has been waiting patiently

for my return... eager to find a lovely new home!

Do hope you will visit Megan's blog~ a treat!

I knew this trip might keep me away for a while.

I thought to pack folders of reference material,

Several sketch diaries, pens, fabric squares, ink,

watercolor paper, triangle... ruler... but forgot the palette.

That is an expensive tool to replace...

As time passed and deadlines grew near, paint was needed.

While mom was napping I set out to pick up her meds.,

a few groceries and make a quick trip to the art store.

The palettes were all plastic.

You can see from the first image, my main palettes are

well worn, loved, messy... plastic. It takes time to break

in the plastic surface where I mix the pigments. I was hoping

to find an enamel tray or ceramic plate. Nothing.



I gathered a basic collection of Winsor & Newton tubes...

They had most of my favorites: Perm. Alizarin Crimson,

Cadmium Orange, Quinacridone Gold, Winsor Yellow,

Green Gold, Hooker's Green, Cerulean Blue,

French Ultramarine, Indigo and Sepia...

...and I needed basic brushes 6 round, 4 round,

a flat and a liner... I added a few extras for good measure!

But what to put them on?

An antique store... maybe they would have an enamelware

plate or old butcher tray! I only knew of one store...

The perfect palette was found!

The cover to this little container has a troth around the rim...

Held the paint away from the water & mixing area~

Success!

Mom is very weak but stable~

Can never express exactly how much I LOVE nurses.

They work wonders and their compassionate hearts

are a gift from God.

Wishing you  joy, Sweet Friends!

I will blog when I can~ always thinking of you!

Vintage Dress Giveaway!

Summer has arrived!

I hope your days have been filled with wonderful

memories... fun projects... creative moments and joy!

Thank you for your messages and emails~

I was away from my Blog and Etsy to care for family...

Also finished working on a very fun & exciting project!

My studio is back in order...

I'm catching up on special requests...

I have Oooodles of goodies to list later this afternoon!

But first... we have a new GIVEAWAY!

This tiny vintage dress caught my eye

last summer when we were in Madison-Bouckville.

Seems a bit too large for a Barbie type doll...

A bit too small for a teddy bear...

But JUST RIGHT for a Giveaway!

It measures approx. 3" wide at the tummy.

It is 7" long from shoulder to hem.

I drew the baby bird on this delicate piece~

Anyone can enter to win this little treasure!

Simply leave a message on this post and

your name will be put in the hat~

We will pull a name one week from today...

June 30th!

I look forward to visiting your blogs and catching up!

Etsy treasures will be listed later today~

Wishing all of you joy!

Reference material...

Hello friends!

Many things have kept me from saying hello and adding

new treasures to my Etsy shop~

I've tried to stop by and see what you have been up to!

My blog wouldn't allow me to sign in for several days~

We have that resolved and I can post about my latest

reference photographs!

I will share my finished designs once Copyrights are filed~

I have oodles of botanical books...

Late 1800's illustrations through present day~

There is nothing like gathering your own photos!

This common Dandelion was a wonderful model...

I need to find several seed heads to complete my series!

I don't have to search too far~

They LOVE to pop up in my flower beds...

Peering taller and bolder than the rest!

This spring I have added several studies to my collection...

With so much rain and growing family needs I have had to

take extensive notes, sketches and photographs for "someday."

No matter how careful, I break the root...

I'm convinced weeds grow to the center of our Earth!



Praying for all of you through these violent storms~

Sending love... You are not alone...

All the Buzzzzz...

Our flower gardens are all a'buzzzz!

We have had a few days of sunshine~ colors are popping!

I drew these a few weeks ago...

Finally a few minutes to take pictures and list them in

my Etsy store~



Our Lilac trees are loaded with blossoms!

They're all simply waiting for a few days

of warmer temperatures to spring open!

The bees drift by them, pause a bit, making note

of where they'll need to return to next week!

I have tried to move a few clumps of our

English LAWN daisies~ back into a garden scape.

They keep the Wild LAWN Violets and Grape LAWN Hyacinths

company until the lawn mower needs to tame the area.

Gardening with no boundaries...

There are more blossoms in the grass then in my garden beds!

Confuses my pup as to where her potty boundaries

start and stop (giggles)

Hope your week is off to a wonderful start!

Around the studio...

Favorite little things fill studio shelves...

I found a tidy spot to share!

My mom tucked $25 in my birthday card.

When I receive "cash" I try to purchase something

special... often it is spent on a needful item.

I hit the perfect shelf in a local antique shop!

Old botanical books, nature books...

Flower reference books...



With so much rain this is a bit of a tease!

I designed book plates that I glue in with ph safe products...

I make little notes on the plate~

The year I added it to my collection, who it is from...

Where I found it~

Hope your day is perfect!

Don't let the grass grow...

This past week was filled with joy, tears, uncertainty

A little sunshine... a lot more rain...

Violent storms have torn through many American lives.

We're praying for you!

We're praying for miracles!

A bright, talented and kind young man perished in a

house fire... he was 16... we heard the news Easter morning.

Almost 18 and Adorable 15 were numb...

Hubby and I have listened, talked, hugged, cried...

We are all blessed to have known him~

He lived each day!

He didn't let grass grow under his feet...



He was the early bird that got the worm...

We attended a memorial service to celebrate

the life of my husbands grandmother.

She loved to travel... the Red Hats... playing cards...

Family and friends... Forget-me-nots...

Oh! the full-life she lived~

Dearest Evy did not let grass grow under her feet!

I have fallen behind on a few very special orders...

Exciting collections are waiting for finishing touches...

My schedule is written in ink...

There have not been enough hours.

One day at a time~

I haven't been letting the grass grow under my feet...

They simply don't have time to touch the ground!

 There was a very special celebration early Friday morn.

With a stretch and a yawn I cut a piece of

left-over birthday cake... sat with a hot cup of tea~

Shared with the world... A Royal Wedding!

Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!

I hope your week is filled with joy and love~

Bushels of Bunnies...

"Gratitude is when a memory is stored in

the heart and not in the mind.”

Lionel Hampton

When we watch the news there are very few

reports sharing the positive nature of people.

We are good.

We are kind and caring.

We share our hearts.

We help.

We hope.

We pray.

We give.

As I sat drawing oodles of bunnies to busy my

mind, heart and hands...

I once again witnessed what I have always

believed in and trusted~

People love.

Cancer units are difficult for me.

I don't do well with medical stuff...

God has given each of us our own strengths & talents...



I am so very grateful for the nurses, staff, technicians...

doctors... secretaries... etc. that are caring for my mom.

Everyday these AMAZING hearts walk into

offices, hospitals, hospice, exam rooms to make a difference.

They have compassion, strength and understanding...

...to take over where family can't.

I am so very grateful for that.

I hope your day is sunny and filled with great memories!

Vintage~ Spring Baby Dresses...

Each little bunny with a face, personality and

loving heart of its own~

I have never had a pet rabbit... As a child, they were "wild."

As an adult, we have three cats.

Our children ask~ can we have a hamster?

"No, because of the cats"

What about a Chinchilla?

"No, because of the cats"

Maybe a rabbit?

"No, because the cats would stalk it..."

We have a bird cage... could we have a bird?

"No... because of the cats"

Perhaps someday...

When our current furry loves have gone~

I will have a bunny!

Until then, I will draw them~

Some of these little dresses are on their way home...

Others will be listed in my Etsy shop.

Hope your week is off to a fantastic start!

Doing good...

Hope you have a wonderful week~

Prints of my Fabric Illustrations...

I hope your Friday is off to a great start!

Remember the pen and ink sketches below?

They have been colorized!

I sketched my little friends in colored pencils...

Then watercolor brushes danced about!

Limited edition prints will be available of these~

My Etsy store could use a little color!

They have made baby shower gifts a lot of fun!

 I purchase inexpensive framing materials from a

local craft store. Once I have it framed I use a small

box filled with baby socks (my type of re-usable bubble wrap)

...then wrap the entire box with receiving blankets!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!