Flea Market Meets Fall...

How can this be?

Just a few weekends ago, the husband and I were out and about, in sleeveless tops...

enjoying such vintage goodness at a big flea market event in Kansas City!

And at home...

Painting beach themed commissions!

The bright sun peeking through our large windows.

A gentle breeze on wind chimes, producing a most tranquil tune.

Still holding on to Summer. Tightly.

Today is different.

The mornings are quite cool and I have thrown on a sweatshirt!

Reality has quickly set in.

It is Fall.

Hello, October!

Are you ready?

Xo

 

Celebrate Halloween!

The wind is howling just outside my windows.

A crisp chill has made it's way into the house. That old familiar chill that forces me to quickly jump out of bed in the morning hours and grab my fleece robe that has hung on the bathroom door hook for months.

 

It's such a beautiful season, indeed.

I cannot even imagine living somewhere else, where there are no Fall colors and the sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet when I venture out.

 

To me, this is the season that excites and reminds me that the holidays are soon upon us!

Here in Kansas, it usually begins now.

Halloween.

Start digging out the sweaters, mittens, boots, and ear muffs because it's coming.

 

But let's not jump to far ahead.

In leu of this wonderous, spooky time...

Let's stay in the moment and celebrate Halloween!

I have enjoyed many opportunities to play and prepare for this "holiday".

Shopping with friend from Texas...

(Pure silliness and fun as we tried on masks and hats)!

A trip back to my home town recently led to more dress up fun with my special cousin, Tonya...

and, of course, my immediate family whom I miss so much, especially during holiday months.

Yes, life has been blissfully busy lately.

Art sales.

Some substitute teaching.

Friends. Family. Chores.

A trip to Arkansas. Flea markets. Off road riding. Dining.

Selling out of Hand painted Christmas ornaments already!

 

I even watched my very first World Series game on tv!

(I have never been a fan of sports, but did enjoy game 7)!

I try to be a very open minded person and expose myself to new things. Watching the game with hubby made it even more enjoyable!

I wish each and every one of you a safe and happy Halloween!

Stay warm!

Xo

 

*Pumpkin Love*

Orange, yellow, purple, gold, red, and brown.

Are you seeing them too?

I'm finding these lovely, rich colors of Fall here and there...

on a morning walk, I have stumbled upon resting leaves beneath the trees.

Every market has pumpkins now, in all shapes and sizes!

Because our pumpkin patch failed us...

I purchased some pumpkins for our home. I am particularly fond of these white pumpkins.

Of course, I bought an orange one too...

and I really love painting them, as you may already know about me.

Most evenings are spent in the living room with hubby. He watches television while I play with my watercolors. I must confess, I have quite a collection of watercolors since they are my fave. I have itty bitty field sets, medium size sets, tubes, half pans, watercolor pencils, hydrus watercolors, and even that very expensive 48 color palette in a metal box.

I love them all equally, for different uses.

I want more watercolors, can you believe? Not to be a greedy or snobby artist... But because I truly get so very excited to try them all! (and I still use each and every set)!

For Halloween art, I really like the iridescent watercolors and Twinkling H20's.

Do you have a favorite medium or hobby that you just never can get enough of?

During the day I am still plugging away with commissions.

 

An Irish Blessing in honor of a man who turns 80 years old in October. His grown children asked me to do the painting, which will be donated to their church. Isn't that so nice?

The man was also a wheat farmer.

I absolutely enjoy hearing the stories that go with each commission. These are real people with real events...

and I always feel so honored myself, to be a part of.

God is good!

By night...

I'm right back here, in the living room...

 

Yes, I got the Halloween decorations out...

Even the lights!

*pumpkin love*

Xo

 

A Country Fall with Mr. Pippin...

Oooooooh, don't you just love Fall?

Although we still have some 80-degree days in our forecast this week, the Fall festivities have begun here on the prairie.

Country living is simply wonderful.

Neighbors and friends live fields apart, but still remain close should one need a helping hand or wish to share a cup of coffee.

Every Fall is welcomed with the annual Bon fire, a few dirt roads South of us. Many of the town folk gather, with a covered dish in hand...

for a night of visiting, eating, and a live band for some dancing, for those who desire to do so.

This goes on until 1:00 in the morning...

but hubby and I could never last that long!

It was a nice evening.

 

I have completed, "Mr. Pippin". Doesn't he look festive in his orange and black?

I am now eager to decorate the house for Halloween!

It's always so much fun digging those boxes out of the basement and admiring each decoration, one by one...

deciding on it's placement for this Fall year.

For now, "Mr. Pippin" hangs from the fireplace mantel. He needs more friends, and once that I get caught up with commission work... (Or in between),

I will sculpt a Mrs. Pippin, for him.

At last!

This piece will ship to it's new home tomorrow!

A painstaking piece of art that has undergone many transformations.

Mistakes were made...

and layers of acrylic paint were added to fix them.

I'm doing the happy dance today because it is time to move on to the next!

I hope that your weekend has been wonderful as well.

We will meet right back here again, real soon, ok?

Xo

 

Spooky, Crazy Fall...

Hello, friends!

Please, forgive me for being absent for days.

Pour yourself a cup of something hot. Sit for awhile and I will explain.

October is our month to explore and behave oddly. You know...

Full moons in the sky.

We like to prowl and explore.

My mom-in-law came for a visit so she tagged along on this adventure.

First stop was to a pumpkin patch. My sweetheart and I go every Fall. We buy homemade jellies and pumpkin butter!

I run around, with my camera, playing "Miss Photographer".

I nearly ran into this spooky, poor soul. Oh my.

We studied each pumpkin...

Green ones, lumpy ones, fat ones, tiny ones.

I like this shape best.

After romping through the pumpkin patch, we took a day trip to Weston, Missouri...

taking in all of the Fall surroundings. Quite beautiful.

Shopping, dining, and more shopping. I even purchased some wonderful witchy socks!

I always feel so inspired after a trip...

And oh, how I love painting pumpkins!

In my art journal the memories are recorded...

although I failed to mention the hot apple cider and the Irish food!

So many details and a whole lot of playing...

I came home with a cold.

Sniffle. Sniffle.

So, I put on my witchy socks to warm my toes.

I have my tissue box handy and a hot cup of Joe.

Halloween thoughts fill my head. Don't you just love this spooky, crazy time of year?

I must rest and get well soon because I'm going on another Fall outing this weekend with a girly friend!

I can hardly wait!!!!

I will share again soon!

XO

 

A Bit Spooky...

Hello out there!

How are you?

All is well with me.

Although I continue to wear sandals to work each day, the air is cooler and the mornings are darker.

Fall is upon us and things get a bit spooky around here this time of year.

I tend to create wacky Halloween items.

Kneading balls of clay and then sculpting them into candy corn shapes. Once they were baked and cooled, I painted each one.

A dozen candy corn necklaces are now scattered on my work table. Fun!

Big, furry insects...

Orange and purple lights.

Candles galore.

Magic potions ( a creation from last Fall).

Ghosts, goblins, pumpkins.

Yes, things get a bit spooky around here this time of year...

And I love it!

Here's to Fall!

Until next time...

XO