A Summer Quest

I never got around to making my annual batch of fried green tomatoes last summer so I wanted to be sure and do that this time around. I enjoyed them more than I usually do since I grew the maters! Delicious!

I'm now ready to start the glorious, huge and consuming sky in my painting since finished the ground today.  I'm waiting for a plan to hit me...

See my June post titled "Next Up" for the rest of the pictures.  I hope everyone has a fine weekend!



New Etsy Prints

I just added two new prints to my Etsy shop!  I haven't listed them as cards yet, but please know that all of my designs are available in packages of 6 cards with envelopes. 

Dolly Fun

I have to admit that I have yet to grow out of playing with dolls, especially when it comes to the fake food part of dolly play.  Yesterday, my very clever Alice made little jars of dolly sweets out of wax coated string to add to her bakery.  We both had a sweet time. 



Think on Things Above

I think this is a fair visual of what it feels like outside today!



The Spirit Within Us

Someone who was listening

I love these images and I love this story.

New Drawing

Evening Wind

The weather has been so oppressive lately and my family and I really enjoyed a wind that came up before a rain shower last night.  It gave me the title for my latest drawing that is waiting to be colored.

As Luck Would Have It

My husband was out thrifting this morning and found and old wooden stacking game that came with smooth wooden discs like the ones I just started painting a few days ago except they are a touch thinner and considerably larger!  Much to do...



A Midsummer Dream

Cooler colors for such a hot day.



Window Garden

I started today by collecting together a little garden for my kitchen window sill.  Big smile.  Time to get back to my painting spot...

I hope everyone has an extraordinary day!

Things Are Not Always How They Appear

I brought these flowers in from the garden last night and was so pleased with how they complimented the little world on top of my dresser.  As the evening wore on, I started wondering what the increasingly odd/bad smell was that kept meeting me.  By this morning it is official that these beautiful flowers give off a part moth ball, part bathroom smell. Their fragrance has filled the whole back half of the house.  Best to enjoy them in the photo!

Wooden Coins

I started a little side project yesterday painting wooden game pieces.  They are quite fun to do save the squinting required. 

The two that are finished were red coins.  I'm going to some natural colored ones as well.



I just posted the lastest update on my progress on Joy, Service and Vessels in the June 28 post titled "Next Up".  Check it out! 

Picture Treat

One of my favorite things to do is go to used book stores, thrift stores and book sales and look for illustrated children's books.  They are my idea of treasure when I find ones that speak to me.  One of my latest finds at an annual used book sale was a children's illustrated dictionary published in 1977.  There were a number of illustrators represented in it, but my favorite were the ones by Angela Adams.  Here are some samples...Just dreamy...

You can see more of Angela Adam's work at www.libbyford.com/adamsgallery.html

Friend Inspired Blessing

This is a painting that I have started and eventually will finish for a very dear friend of mine.  She sent me a note of encouragement this morning that could not have been more timely or appreciated.  Friends are truly a deep blessing from God. 

Painting in Progress titled You Are Blessed and Highly Favored

Sketch for Painting

Sketch Finished in color pencil titled I Am Your Daughter

Sketch Switched to Blue just for fun

All That Is Within Me

Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the Lord!

This is a piece that I did 2 years ago.  I was reminded of it this morning while I was having my coffee out on the porch and saw 5 different kinds of birds, a rabbit, a chipmunk, and countless new blossoms in  the garden. 

Harvest Rainbow

This is the first summer that I have tried my hand at veggies.  I must say that I am entranced !



Did You Know?

Did you know that dill blossoms make excellent parasols?

Yesterday's Sketch

Rebus Treasures

I found a beautiful book copy written in 1915 called Happy Half Hours With the Bible. It is full of  fantastic rebus drawings and beautiful paintings.  I'll be nice and share often!

Pocket Full of Sunshine



Summer Birthdays

Summer Art Camp 2011

Izzy

Alice

Garnet

For the past three summers I have hosted art camp here for young artists ranging from 4th to 8th grade.  This year was special in that it consisted of myself, my 12 year old daughter Alice and her dear friend Izzy.  Having such a small group allowed me to participate in the project along with the girls.  We spent a week illustrating a book from 1966 that I found at a sale called Attic of the Wind by Doris Herold Lund.  The illustrator, Ati Forberg did beautiful and airy mixed media paintings to go along with the verse. We tried to keep in that spirit with our own versions.  Here are Izzy, Alice and my efforts for the first page. 

What happens to things that blow away, like bubbles you blew one sunny day? Where did they all go anyway? To the Attic of the Wind!