Painting My Spring

Well..... It's that time.  Gardening and spring cleaning.  Actually, I'm painting instead.  Although, I spent 3 hours in the garden on 3 different days over the past week and am paying for it.  Allergies for the first time ever!  So surprising and aggravating!  Spring cleaning is some sort of myth from the 50's, but I do love to throw open all the windows!  But I digress from the purpose of my post, painting......  I'm continuing with Jane Lafazzio's art class, and loving it.  This six weeks we're continuing to journal with our sketchbook and watercolors, only adding in some mixed media.  So far we have been planning pages with items from nature, then expanding with the designs.  I've done three pages this week.

I've been plucking things from around the yard for inspiration.

Also really enjoying Danny Gregory's book, Everyday Matters.

I took it to heart, and while we were on a little trip to Crystal Bridges I did a quick sketch of my jewelry for the day,  and one of a section of this fabulous art museum, built as giant pods resting on the water.

Everyday does matter!

And here's my guy outside 21C on his very special birthday!

I also enrolled in Jane's Cereal Box Journaling class.  I won't go into all that, other than it's creating journals with a watercolor surface from boxes, such as cereal, crackers, etc.  I made one to use when I'm out art journaling with friends.

These are all pages done while out and sketching.  The heart with the flip pages was done, again at Crystal Bridges, just the other night.  Was so lucky to attend a talk with artist, Faith Ringgold.  Her quilt, created for Maya Angelou, currently resides at the museum.  Such a treat!

xo
dulcy

Snowdrop Love

I'm a bit of a Galanthophile....  In other words I'm a lover of snowdrops.

It's that very short, but very sweet time of year, and my snowdrops are in bloom!

I only have five clumps of these lovelies, but have been transplanting from this mother plant and hope to have many more.  This little plant has been in this spot, most likely, somewhere between 30-50 years.  I'm just guessing by the age of our house.  Our house is actually 87 years old, but was moved through a creek bed about 50 years ago to it's current home on our little shady hill. We've been  here only 13 of it's many years.

I've used snowdrops in my hooking.........

I made this little pillow last winter.  I especially had fun with color on this project.

I painted this little snowdrop with a vase of flowers in my sketchbook.

This was a fun session last summer out sketching at B2 coffee bar with my art girls Tammy and Mary.  Nice memory.

My most recent snowdrop .....

This was a watercolor sketchbook assignment on flowers from Jane LaFazios class I'm currently taking.

Snowdrops are so tiny and delicate.  I also just love the green and white.  And I admire the way they can poke up their little heads during the worst cold and snowy weather, but still survive.  There's lots of varieties of these beauties, and some collectors pay literally thousands of dollars for just a bulb or 2.  Sort of like the tulip mania hundreds of years ago in the Netherlands.  I'm going to keep transplanting these darlings, and hopefully someday, be able to enjoy my own little snowdrop field right outside my kitchen window!

xo
dulcy

Keeping Up The Color

The first week of February is when I pick up something to force bloom inside.  I've still got winter in my bones, but can't help myself from adding just a wee bit of spring in my home.

I like to watch the blooms slowly appear.  These tulip buds were completely unopened when I purchased them up at the grocery on Tuesday, but becoming more gorgeous everyday.

I also cut a few limbs of forsythia..... those are my favorites to watch!  The tiny yellow flowers are so sweet, but it will be at least a week before they start to show.

February also means pinks and reds.  I ordered this beautiful Noro Silk Garden Solo yarn and made these two shawls for the library gift shop.

I love them curled up next to my hooked snowdrop pillow.  I have clumps of snowdrops just starting to sprout outside.  Sooo looking forward to their little white heads!

I've been painting my little green flea market metal teapot for Jane LaFazio's class.  This first is continuous ink line to paper.  No pencil or picking up the pen until done.

Then I played around with my first effort that I really didn't like.  Instead of trashing it, I added some design and a bit of washi tape for interest.  Sort of dressed the poor thing up a bit.

I'm my best when surrounded by color and art.  Looking forward to Jane's next class that combines sketch booking and water color in a mixed medium format.  Practicing flowers right now.....  more later.

Happy Weekend!
xo
dulcy

Making Things And Finding A Sparkle

Gorgeous day in the Ozarks!  Woke up to four deer in the yard and a groundhog on the brush pile.  Signs of a great day.

I got a bit ambitious this morning and finished my new Valentine's scarlet flirty ribbon shawl.  It's another fabulous Noro color in the cozy but lightweight silk/mohair blend.  Love this color!

I'm trying to decide whether to keep this beauty or take it to our wonderful library gift shop to sell.  Our gift shop, Between Friends, is just the best.  Money made from purchases go back to the library, plus there's no tax.  Win Win!

Having a blast in Jane LaFazios sketchbook and watercolor class.  I worked a bit with plants last week.

I picked some raggedy winter rose hips and rosemary.  Lots of improvement could be made, but I'll leave it alone for now.

Had a lovely evening of food, wine, and friends with my art group last week.  We took over the back room of Tea Bar and Bites and did some sketching and watercolor.

I did this little teapot.  Kind of sweet.

A good friend recently said "everyone's life needs a sparkle".  Well.... My sparkle came in an acquisition I made several months ago of a handmade primitive cabin (as in doll house).

My reason for wanting a doll house is rather long, and goes way back to childhood memories.  I'd lately seen several fabulous antique ones on Ebay, Etsy, and Instagram......but hugely expensive!  Then I found this one (well one like it but a different color) on Etsy made by the awesome company Gooseberry Creek Designs.  It's completely hand built, hand carved, with custom paint job and wonderfully distressed.  I just adore it!

Gooseberry also makes furniture.  Yesterday I received some new pieces.

I made a couple of little wool sheep to add some livestock.  I also added two little punch needle rugs that add just the perfect primitive touch.

The folks at Gooseberry (which I believe is just Candy and her husband) custom make all of it, and sign and date everything.  I'm getting ready to make my own little hand painted dishes out of clay.  It is my sparkle!

I'll end with this little gift sent to me by my friend Mary.  If you're a knitter or crocheter, I think you'll find this article very interesting!

Health Benefits Of Knitting

Have a lovely weekend.
xo
dulcy