All About Summer

Brockville in the Thousand Island.

Sails up ready for fare winds! Or was he/she just in a really hurry for lunch and a cool drink.

Hi everyone,

Labour Day raced by and I am happy to report we are still in the throes of summer.

Although autumn brings with it so many wonderful sights, sounds, smells, and well, just so much beauty, I like to hang onto summer until the equinox on September 22nd. Autumn can wait.

As you know, August always rushes in the front door and out the back door before you can say jack rabbit it seems. But it did make a pit stop for my birthday. Yes! Completed another milestone trip around the sun. I'm happy to report my birthday was a red letter day too!

 Moving on...I do have a name for the draw, but more about that later.

 

 

 Oh, photo might have been clearer...

As you can see, I was at a red light in a purple and green, backfiring (putt, putt) standard jalopy on a very steep hill--need I say more.

                         

       Just love doors/beautiful entryways. This one in particular looks so cheerful and welcoming. It is a hotel, so a lot of signage going on, but nevertheless I love how it looks. And how about those reflections in the window.

I could easily spend a night there, I reckon.

    

    Took a stroll down this street because one of the windows in this old wall holds a surprise that I've been wanting to get a photo of.

 

And here they are--horses of all things! What a in your face look.  Could they be stallions with something to prove?

        

                                            A front garden. 

 Although bountiful, and even though it isn't really small it brings to mind a quote from the Pride and Prejudice movie: "You have a very small garden, madam." 

Brilliant idea to create levels.

                                                                 

                                                                              * * *

 

From the sketchbook...

 

First time using Etcher sketchbooks. Rather good sketchbooks, I'd say.

Painted using some metallic and regular watercolours on a background of indigo.

I've been watching a few you tube videos on indigo dyeing. An artform in itself.

                    At some point, I will make a card out of this, I reckon.

 ~ And now to the draw. Drum roll...please Figaro! Oh, Figaro... F-I-G-A-R-O

Figaro the Magnificent fired up the random number generator and... he's happy to announce that the winner is: Marilyn. Figaro insisted on two winners. He loves giveaways! 

So the Second winner is: Jeanie. (Second winner will receive same print but one card will be different.)

Please contact Dixie with your addresses via email/contact form, so she can zoom down to the post office in the jalopy (asap) with your packages.

 A big thank you to all for your lovely comments on my last post and for your visits. You are appreciated.

Until next time...

                                               Cultivate your Dreams

                                  Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

                                                Thanks to all for hosting.  

Planning Ahead

Dazzling sunshine streams through the windows and on the table potted daffodils help to ring in the first day of spring. The sun, the sun has returned. What a blessing! It has a bit of that wonderful radiating fierceness to it too, even though today is crisp and cold. But we have stepped over winter into spring and there's no turning back.

Out in the woods, they are busy at the sugar camp where the maple syrup flows. It's time for a hearty breakfast. (I am thinking tomorrow morning.) I have visions of eggs and pancakes dancing through my head.  Although I rarely have maple syrup, it does have a myriad of health benefits.  I recently read that they are thinking of using it to enhance the potency of antibiotics.

My seed order arrived, so I am making plans for my containers. These seeds are from the amazing floret flower farm. I am expecting great things, especially since I read that the sweet peas will grow from 6 to 8 feet. Wow! They require full sun which I don't have, but I do have morning sun and hopefully that will be enough to spark the process. If not, well I know a few people that might be persuaded to plant a few seeds in their garden. After all, who could resist?
Love-In-A Mist looks like another wonder, along with Icelandic and Shirley poppies and malope.

Currently reading floret's wonderful book. I'd love to take the gardening course, but then I would need at least an acre of land to cultivate that dream.

The pottery: a flea market find from the weekend.

                                                Along with these salt dishes or, salt cellars.

                                              As you can see, I've been working with paperclay again. I've made a few small dishes and these will be needle minders.

    I love to draw on small cards. I may get a few of these printed. I am slowly planning my order.

'Til next time... Enjoy your early spring or fall weekend. . .  
 
                                                                        Cultivate your Dreams.
                        

A Great Day for The Draw

We've been having a mixed bag of weather. Apparently, spring wants to take a little longer to arrive because we've had two snowstorms lately, but that's okay I can see the buds on the trees. I know things are happening underground and above it. All we need is a little more time and the cocooned leaves will burst out with glee after just a few warm days of sunshine.

But I digress this post is suppose to be about the draw, isn't it? Yes, it is. So without further adieu... I've pulled out my sun hat, dusted it off and dropped in the names; we gave it two or three shakes and my son, Jesse, drew from the depths Barbara Lillian's name. Congratulations Barbara! Barbara's choice from the above two prints (Marsh Wren and Ahoy) was the Ahoy birdie with his maritime flag, poking out from his sailor's hat that expressively says, "I wish to communicate with you."

He'll be winging his way over to Barbara hopefully as soon as tomorrow. I will be contacting her soon.
A special thank you to those who entered!

Enjoy the week...

Sketch in Blue and White

Because I love blue, I decided to expand my horizons and sketch in blue with white accents, although in these pictures, taken without a flash on this overcast day, the white area looks more like cream. I do, however, realize that sketching with a blue Micron pen might plunge me into the danger zone. Why? Because I may never change colours again. Seriously, though, it is fun. I also fancy blue and white porcelain, but, unfortunately, I do not own any. In the spring, when the flea markets open, I will look for a few pieces. At one point, though, I did own a blue and white vase for growing crocuses. Unfortunately, it got lost in a move. Blue windmills swept around the vase. It was lovely. Who knows maybe one of these days I may draw a few old blue windmills too.    'Til next time. Enjoy the week...

Sketching Flowers Part II

A little jazz for my new sketchbook. Top of the week to all of you!  I don't think I've every posted this early in the week. Because it was so drab, I decided to dress up my new sketchbook; that, no doubt, is probably the point of buying one of these books. (I bought it because the paper.) I am not sure how long these watercolour flowers will stay on the Kraft paper, but I enjoyed painting them. Over the years, I've heard many people say that they can't draw.  I don't think that's entirely true. Why? Because I was one of those people. It was only when I changed my mind that I managed to get something down on paper other, that is, than a stick man.  For me, drawing is a dream/wish come true! (Hmm, I wonder what else I can change my mind about ~ not sky diving!) To expand upon that thought below is a video that someone sent me. It's amazing ~  you can't believe your eyes.  As you watch, you'll notice the deep concentration going on behind that paintbrush. However, with that said, I do feel very ambivalent about this video. In many ways it's heart breaking because, of  course, I'd like all wild animals to be free, but that's not always the case, especially these days. (This elephant is also someone's bread winner.) We all know elephants are very intelligent, but should an elephant be taught to paint? We used to think that only humans used tools, this video goes well beyond that idea. On the other hand, perhaps this type of training will help the world recognize and cherish animals more, including saving their habitat. What are your thoughts?