A time for all Seasons

There is a definite advantage to living in Wisconsin to experience the distinct 4 seasons. These trees surrounding the pond at the bottom of the hill to our home just lost it's leaves of brilliant colors. What glorious days for plein air painting! It seemed just a few short weeks before, the same pond area was this verdent green.

In a few more weeks I will show you the same pond in ice and blinding white snow.

While I admit, this Southern gal from Texas finds the winter months long, the other seasons almost makes me forget about those cold months. I find myself wishing I could capture it all in little glass bottles, just to open and smell the green when the cold stretches on. But, then I remember that there is a time for all seasons.

The nesting has begun.

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
—Epicurus (341BC-270BC); ancient Greek philosopher

to thine own self be true

http://rachelashwellshabbychic.blogspot.com/

This journal entry is taken from Rachel Ashwells beautiful blog. I respect Rachel's business savvy. She has always been her own person, without copying other artist's style. That is true integrity -to be admired.

Textile Art Challenge

My first challenge at K.C. Willis' Collage Camp. She called for a challenge-a textile wall hanging - all recycled! Of course, my studio is overflowing with recycled treasures.
I wanted to do something just for fun, so I started with a sweet little black and white photo of my Aunt, entitled "School Days - 1939".

She told me that the darling little coat she was wearing was made by a friend, and that she still has it in her "hope" chest.

I transferred it onto muslin, but wasn't happy with the result, so I painted the school days photo on a piece of discarded canvas, then added an old pattern tissue paper using Diamond Glaze. I also used recycled/vintage fabric, ribbon, buttons, unfinished quilt-top piece (from my now-deceased, mother in law), tatting, a single earring my aunt gifted to me that belonged to her Mother, and then used alphabet stamps to print "A Blue Coat" and "ABC".

The challenge was really fun, but more importantly, it
was dear to me and from the heart! I hope she likes it! Thanks K.C. for including me!

A New Retreat

K.C. Willis over at Lipstick Ranch has announced a new art retreat in her home in beautiful Colorado. K.C. is one of the most generous artists I know, and now you can actually saddle up next to her and pick her creative brain. Click on this textile piece by K.C. for the details.

freebie every month

This time I am giving you a heads up on a blog that gives monthly freebies! Check out the details at:
http://theartinyou.blogspot.com/

another give-away

K.C. Willis of Lipstick Ranch is giving away a $300.00 shopping spree of her work. K.C. placed several of her pieces in my shop, Nest, back when I lived in Ft. Collins, Co. several years ago. I recently happened upon her website. She is still doing what she does best. And YOU can learn from her now. Check out her collage camp here.

http://collagecamp.ning.com/

freebies

Look what I got !- this beautiful collage sheet for FREE from Kirsi over at Cute n Cool Blog Stuff.
She also has lots of other choices and you get to pick which one you want!


Get 2 free collage sheets here: http://www.digitalcollagesheets.com/free.aspx

scent of a rose

The beauty of Mother's Day lingers.

Mothers' Protection

A MaMa robin has been letting me know in no uncertain terms that I best stay away from her nest in the tree out our back door. Communicating with me in any method possible, she made it obvious that she would protect her babies at any cost to herself. Her devotion made me think about the inate sense of protection a Mother has for her offspring - no matter what species, nationality, religion or age.


I will leave you with a few images of Mothers' love at any cost.

"Nothing" doesn't exist

Have you every allowed someone to make you feel "small", feel like "nothing"? Sometimes less is more! Watch this.