Resisting Autumn

I've been playing around with this canvas for a while... 

Started with a couple layers of green acrylic paint, then lightly stenciled some leaves

I decided I wanted some script in the background, so layered with script stamped on tissue.

I applied beeswax to meld in the tissue, and added a die cut tree. I liked it. 

I decided to try out a friends favorite technique of applying Diamond Glaze over the beeswax... I'm not so sure I like it so shiny. Hmmm...
You'll notice I added some paint dyed ribbon and beads to the canvas.

I'm not sure it's quite done... but it's getting there. :)

I've been resisting the thought of autumn arriving, as I'd rather have a bit more summer weather, thank you very much! However, since I love the colors of autumn, I may as well embrace it's impending arrival.

Happy Friday, everyone!

I'm sharing with Eva and Kristin at Paint Party Friday. I hope you have time to see what some of the other artists have been up to this week. 

HuMp DaY Haiku - Seed Pods!

Seed pods shaped like globes! 

Little treasures do appear

on a woodland trail. 

Photo from our recent excursion wandering the trails of Rasar Park. Aren't these lovely seed pods? 

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 

Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 

You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello. 

Rudbeckia with a side of blue

Rudbeckia, also known as Black Eyed Susan, blooming through the Oregon grape. Signs that autumn is indeed coming.  

The Oregon Grape berries are extra heavy this year. I'll have to check the farmers almanac to see what that means. 

In other news, I've been adding new things to my Vintage Shop on Etsy. If you're looking for fun vintage ephemera or embellishments, have a look! 

Happy Monday! 

Blue Bird

It's Friday, and I'm playing with Paint Party Friday again this week, hosted by Eva and Kristin. I'm showing a new little 4x4 mixed media canvas I finished this afternoon.

Available in my Etsy

The colors are much richer than the photo shows, more yellowy green in the background. Ah well! 

This little bluebird has come to bring me, hopefully, a better frame of mind. I've had a rough week or two, and am a bit in the doldrums today. Among other things, (long boring stories) our weather has turned chilly again, and we're headed into Autumn without actually having summer. (I don't count 2-3 days over 80 as summer, sorry!)  It makes me grumpy to have to wear socks to keep my toes warm at the end of August.
And since I'm in such a funk already without sufficient sunlight, I'm going shopping for SAD lights: one for my office and one for my reading chair and one for my studio. If I'm this blue at the end of August, December will freak me out! *tee hee*

Check in with the other Paint Party Friday artists and see what beautiful art they have created this week.

Thanks for stopping by!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/NaturesWalkStudio

Faerie Apartments

Old growth wanderings

staying to the posted trail

protects the faerie homes

I LOVE old growth trees! They fascinate me, and exude character and amazing energy as you wander by. This tree, obviously well loved by the forest creatures of all types, stopped me in my tracks. It could be faerie apartments, don't you think?  Do you see it's heart? 

Sharing today with Clytie at Guest Heart Thursday and

Rebecca's Haiku My Heart at recuerda mi corazon

HuMp DaY Haiku - Impatience

backyard impatience

gold finch waiting on a branch

feeders out of seed

I messed up what I intended to do with this canvas, but here it is anyway. :) I couldn't get a photo of the gold finches hovering around waiting for the feeder to be refilled with sunflower seed. They are quite spoiled! Even though the feeder is filled once a day, they'd prefer more, please!  Backyard bird watching is delightful! 

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 

Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 

You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello. 
 

Spotted

Noticed along a trail at Rasar Park in Skagit County, Washington... a spotted leaf with interesting shaped spots. Can you see the heart? 

P.S. I'm ignoring that leaves are beginning to change color. I'm keeping summer for awhile, since it took so long to get here in northwestern Washington state. 

Linking to Straight Out of the Camera
& Macro Monday

Forest Primeval

dappled sun lit trail

 in this forest primeval

 energy flows here 

natures message board

sun on glistening spider web

we are connected

The pictures aren't the greatest, but the energy was amazing walking through two of our favorite state parks, both off Highway 20 in Skagit County, Washington. Rasar has a mix of second growth timber with trails down through a large meadow to the Skagit river.  Rockport is an old growth forest with fabulous big trees and amazing energy you can feel as you walk the trails. Camping is no longer allowed but the trail system and day picnic area are open for use. 

This was a day trip this Tuesday for my husbands birthday. I forgot my camera but remembered the picnic! The day was too sunny for great pictures, but I did manage a few acceptable ones. Photos are from my cell phone are just not as clear as I'd have preferred. I was amazed to catch the spider web, the sun hit it just as I walked by, and then did not light it up again. Imagine how cool it would be with a good camera. *wink*

Joining today with rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart

In memory of Uncle Warren

We lost our Uncle Warren this morning, a week after surgery to repair his broken hip. 

My Uncle Warren and his sweetieface (also known as my mothers sister Ethel) soon after they were married in 1946. 

Uncle Warren served in the Navy in WWI, and later developed lung issues from the chemicals used to clean/paint the hulls. He was on oxygen the past several years, which didn't slow him down too much. He kept himself busy in his wood working shop and with his volunteering until recently. 

With a great sense of humor, he was always kind and patient with the myriad of nieces and nephews that happened by. He was the first man I knew who drank tea; Early Gray, if I recall correctly. I thought it was cool. Perhaps that's one of the reasons I began drinking tea rather than coffee as I got older. Hmmm...

As a teenager and young adult, I remember Uncle Warren being a sharp snooker player, (there was a table in his basement) and although he helped me figure out some shots, he never "let" me win. 

He and Aunt Ethel "retired" to Myrtle, Idaho 20ish years ago, to a lovely place on the river just a quick drive up river from Lewiston, where I lived before moving to Bellingham. Did I mention he made a fabulous gin and tonic? Perfect for a summer evening sitting on the deck watching the river go by and waiting for the night hawks to come out. 

Warren taught his kids and many of the cousins to play cribbage, which started the marathon cribbage tournaments at family reunions. They are now always included, it's just the thing to DO! :) 

He also began making beautiful wooden cribbage boards for the tournaments, as the "winners" trophy. It's made competition fierce; everyone wanted to win one of Uncles boards! The last board he made was "won" by his son Patrick at our cousins reunion the last weekend of July, just two weeks ago. A fitting reminder of his beloved Father. 

Uncle Warren March 2012

We'll miss you and your sweet smile, your gin and tonics and cribbage games, your kindness and patience and love. We will carry you in our hearts always. 

Rest in peace, my sweet Uncle! 

HuMp DaY Haiku - Continuous Cycle

lilies show daily

 blooms of brilliant red and gold

  art in the garden

fading blooms replaced

 by new blooms in the morning

continuous cycle. 

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 

Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 

You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello. 
 

Love of Vintage

One of the things my husband and I like to do together is go to estate sales. Yep, you heard it right. Getting up and out early, for the best deals, of course! We have fun exploring and talking with folks, sometimes in amazing old houses where you can feel the love that has existed within. It doesn't matter that there may be nothing that catches our eye, we still enjoy our "visit".  I'm always on the look out for things I can use in my art, hubby for things to use in his shop. 

Recently I found some cool vintage items that I decided would be fun for my Vintage Etsy Shop. Here's a couple of them:  

Vintage Italian Wall Plaque Trio

These wall plaques were made in Italy and had been on their owners wall for decades, I was told. They were souvenirs from a trip to Italy some 50ish years ago.

Antique Tin Box

This tin was from the same estate sale. I found it on a shelf in the kitchen on the "tea shelf" with a few tea bags inside. The other teas were in old (really old) Tupperware containers. 

As an aside, this house had an upstairs converted attic that reminded me of my Grandma Rose's bedroom, where I occasionally got to spend the night. She always made me feel especially loved. (We lost Grandma when I was eight.) Things like this are an example of the delights one can discover at estate sales. 


So, now that you know one of my favorite ways to spend a few hours on a Friday morning with my husband, I want to know what you do for random enjoyment. Come on now... let us know! 

Words to Live By

I've been working at my "day job" more than I'd hoped this week, which is taking quite a bit of my planned art time. boo! However, I HAVE been prepping canvases, (gesso layers) working with my vintage Etsy shop, (adding a few new items) and also finishing an altered book for our local art group exchange. 

The theme of the altered book is Words To Live By.  I used a quote by Charles Dubois that has been my guiding theme since the mid 1980's. The background is painted with yellow-green and citron paint, stamped and stenciled with leaves, and pages are tiered to display the quote in segments. The colors in the scan are not quite accurate, the pages have more green to them. 

The important thing is this: 

to be able to sacrifice
at any moment
what we are

for what we could
BECOME

The butterfly image is collaged onto the page. I have some more embellishing and doodling to do on this, and then it's ready for the exchange on Sunday. 

This is the cover created by the owner of the book, Wendy: 

Joining in with Paint Party Friday again this week, hosted by Eva and Kristin. I hope you have time to check out what the other Paint Party Friday artists have created this week! 

HuMp DaY Haiku - Scented Geranium

soft to brilliant pinks

blending of natures colors

quiet morning view

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 

Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 

You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello. 

 

Red, White and Blueberries

Red, White and Blueberry Salad with Fireworks Dressing

from “Fresh from the Garden Cookbook" by Ann Lovejoy. 

This time of year, everything is ripe and perfect for this salad, which I discovered while reading Fresh from the Garden Cookbook by Ann Lovejoy. It has become a favorite for our summer dinners. I served this at our recent family reunion, and folks seemed to like it. Yay!  

Red, White and Blueberry Salad

4 cups young salad greens

1 bunch red arugula, stemmed

1 cup flat Italian parsley leaves

1 cup shredded fresh basil leaves

1 Walla Walla sweet onion, finely diced

1 cup finely diced extra-sharp white cheddar cheese

1 pint blueberries, stemmed

1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, stemmed

In a salad bowl, toss the greens and herbs gently. Top with the onion, cheese, blueberries and tomatoes. Pass with the dressing.

Fireworks Dressing

½ cup virgin olive oil

½ - 1/3 cup cider vinegar or wine vinegar

1 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 teaspoons pureed chipotle chilies in adobo sauce OR Thai green curry sauce

Combine olive oil, vinegar and garlic in a covered jar and shake well. Add the pureed chipotles or Thai green curry to taste, starting with 1 teaspoon. You will have about 1 cup dressing. Save any remaining dressing for another use.

Note: I use whatever greens are in the garden… assorted lettuces, red romaine, red veined sorrel, red shiso. We tried balsamic vinegar in the dressing this last time, and it was tasty, although I prefer cider or red wine vinegar for this recipe. I’ve only used a Thai green curry paste, and have chipotle chilies on my shopping list to try next time.

Shades of Blue and Green

Playing with my beeswax this week... when I finally got a chance in the studio. This piece is on 4 inch x 4 inch canvas board, acrylic painted background with tissue, napkin images and ephemera. Now available in my Etsy shop. 


I've been inspired by shades of blue and green this week, and created a treasury on Etsy by that name to highlight a friends lovely piece from her shop. It's the first item in the treasury. If you have time, take a look. 

Also take a look at what the other Paint Party Friday artists have created this week! 

Sedum Heart

Sedum flowering

purple blossoms bursting forth

with a show of heart

Sharing with Guest Heart Thursday

and 

Haiku My Heart Friday