Sketchbook Thursday

Wreath on Gates

More Purple Cone Flowers

A tree lined street I always pass on my walks.

It's springtime in my head... can you tell? I'm excited to report that daylight savings time is approaching on March 8th and Spring Equinox is March 20th... there is hope on the horizon :)

I have some fun new sketches /ideas for an upcoming show. We need to have at least one piece that has an East meets West or Asian theme. This has been a challenge... because I don't want to be too literal. (some of the ideas may pop up on the blog soon!) I'm carving some mini woodblock prints and plan to print them on linen. (Soon to be mini lavender sachets for the etsy shop.) I'm off to sip some chamomile tea.

Little Village Ink Drawing

A street scene in the village of Sospel - French Alps.

I've been trying to finish a lot of ink drawings on paper lately... love painting these with gouache. It's really armchair travel pour moi! But, things are looking up, it's been raining and the snow is slowly melting! There is a little grass visible in the front yard now and rings around the trees and bushes. This is a good sign. Hopefully I'm going to discover a few bulbs peeking through :)

A Little Progress

I didn't post on Sketchbook Thursday... so here's M. Bertrand on Monday.

The Bath... I printed it to see what was happening and painted with watercolor. So, now I know where to take it next.

painting by Hammershoi

Taking some time to think and recharge... be back on Monday!

Thinking, Painting...

My spot at the end of the table... this is where most of the creating goes on... but lately, just been staring out the window, daydreaming. ?? Maybe it's the winter that's paralyzed my art making.

Fighter Pilot ACEO

Just an idea...

Feeling like I have no direction... not sure what road to take. I have a show coming up in a few months - need to have a small but cohesive collection of something to show. But, I've been feeling kind of lost about what to make! How could it be?? I know it happens every once in a while but, it seems to be lasting a long time. Have retreated to my sketchbook to try and work out some ideas and just 'be'.

Finally posted on my painting blog, Take5!

A Little Gift...

Here's a last minute Valentine's gift for my husband. It took much longer than planned... but he unwrapped it this evening. Next time, I'll give myself more time, don't like feeling rushed. **Will get a larger frame for this one... because my son's heel is touching the edge. (hate that!!)

I'll be putting my new, organic lavender sachets in the shop tonight... they smell divine!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stumbled on this random heart leaving the parking lot of a neighborhood cafe. I get such a rush when I see things like this... something beautiful formed from age and use.... kind of like long-lasting, true love. Happy Hearts Day, whether you have a sweetie or not - celebrate the love in your life today :)

Sketchbook Thursday...

U-pick strawberries

Lavender farm... Grandma and Sadie

Grandmas are the greatest!

Probably my fave late summer bloom.... Purple Cone flower.

It's not official... merely an idea but I'm thinking about doing more in my sketchbook and posting about it on Thursdays. (oh, but that would be a structured, planned thing... which is really not me...not sure I could handle it! :) We'll see if I can keep up with it. Feels good to paint summer scenes and flowers in the dead of winter! I'm off the clean up the house like a demon - we're having a little dinner party with 4 kids and 4 grownups this weekend :). But, what to cook? Any ideas??

Foggy Figuring

Mini border

Yesterday afternoon, the couch was beckoning me...(my daughter woke at 3am to eat and 'play' which caused my drowsiness) so I brought my quilt stuff and began to sew as my son pushed his train table next to the couch so we could be 'together'. (so cute)

Continuing from yesterday's post... without much thinking, I just cut some squares in half and snipped off a bit on the end. Boom, my mini-square! Proceeded to sew it onto the woodblock - although it's not perfect, I like it. Still not sure how well it'll fit into the rest of the squares but will worry about that later. Amazing how being tired sometimes cuts out the 'middle man' of uncertainty.

Sewing Squares

I've been working on a new quilt... made from left over linen from the last quilt I was making. This time, a simple patchwork is just so pleasing to the eyes. I never use a pattern, but somehow I want to incorporate the woodblock hearts on linen. (hmm, maybe a mini checkerboard around them? But, how to make it fit??? I'll find out as I do it!)

My daughter is getting into arranging the squares in different patterns and tells me she's making a quilt too! I'm excited to see she's interested; this could be the start of something good :)

Bath Time

2nd rubbing

1st rubbing

Here's a new woodblock print I've been working on. I've been kind of slow carving it, I keep making decisions about where it's going. It's been a different process than usual... maybe I'm subconsciously changing my process(?!). One of my woodblock prints was featured in a treasury... music-themed. (it was Practicing Chopin). I'm so impaired when it comes to computers... I can't figure out how to link it. arg. Anyway, it's an honor!

Lavender Buds and BooBoo

The big harvest. But, first, some news about our cat...

Stop all the clocks, we had to say goodbye to our beloved BooBoo Kitty. He became very ill with Lymphoma and only lasted a few weeks. He is the only pet our kids have ever known and really 'one of us.' Even though they said 'goodbye', they keep asking when we will pick him up from the vet...

BooBoo Kitty - November 1994-February 2, 2009. Sending you lots of catnip and a big loaf of bread!

Stripped lavender stems.... make great kindling

Yesterday I printed on linen... I'm trading a woodblock pillow for a print with a fabulous Seattle artist! (Hooray!!) So, naturally I printed some other things since the ink was mixed and ready to roll. It was then the idea came to me... lavender sachets. My mom has a small lavender farm and there is a lot of the stuff drying in our house. I finally got around to stripping the buds. It was a long process... my daughter helped and later, hubby came home and chipped in. The sachets will likely end up in the shop once the ink dries.

Eclectic Weekend

Stamped by the kids... grocery bag envelopes for the valentines!

Kid food - homemade pizza!

Saturday was sunny so the kids bundled up and played at the sand table... but we forgot to push is back under the eaves and this morning woke to a dusting of snow.

Hummus... almost done.

Carrot, cabbages, (2 colors) onion and garlic melange... infused with Indian spices, so yummy.

Hubby was workin' all weekend so the kids and I stayed busy at home. Here are just a few things we made and did!