Pink...

Hello, out there!

I type to you from my patio paradise! Oh, don't you just love, love, love Summer?!!!

I find much inspiration, right here.

 

Paul and I have been working in our gardens. One particular garden has been named, "The Rock Garden". It's on a slope, along a side of the house. We went shopping for the perfect plants and bushes...

But then something fabulous captured my full attention! PINK.....

Oh, yes!!!! I had to have a pair of those retro plastic, pink flamingos!

I couldn't wait to add them to a page in my Molskine art journal!

Of course, I like to color coordinate. Can't have a pair of pink flamingos without PINK flowers, don't you agree?

The rose bush that we planted, my very first Summer here, is also blooming pink! Yay!

We both really enjoy our patio.

Inspiration does come when we travel too. I quickly did another page in my journal...

Arkansas trip, Memorial Day weekend 2013.

Enjoy your day!

 

A Cabin... And The Woods!

For days I have been in my "art world"... Painting and painting. One commission piece getting closer to being completed, another just started. It's been pure bliss, but I'm so very anxious to play with some new art supplies. (I feel guilty if I goof off too much when I have people paying me to paint for them)! Oh, sigh. The new toys shall wait.

I still have more layers to lay down, but it will be ready to ship this week. I must soften the sky and add colorful wild flowers to the foreground. It's not to look realistic, but instead, "my storybook style", the buyer said to me. I'd really like to add twinkling stars to the sky and fill the entire foreground with mushrooms... Hmmm.

With time consuming pieces, one must walk away from it for awhile. Well, my sweetheart told me to pack a bag! We left town for a couple of days!

It has been lovely.

Our first night was spent in a beautiful casino hotel. Pampered, pampered, pampered. Then, on to Arkansas to ride the Polaris RZR deep in the woods, where we explore and snap pretty pictures. (And sleep in unknown places, without pampering services).

 

We stumbled upon this abandoned shed. Open fields surround us. Not a soul in sight.

I can't get enough. I'm on the ground, clicking away with my camera when HE sneaks up. "Baby"!, HE says (trying to get me away from the camera). I stop. I look up at him. He has picked beautiful flowers for me!!!! ( I quickly snap a pic while I'm still on the ground). I love capturing these precious moments!

I then ask him to take my picture, while holding the flowers!

We left the flowers behind, just as you see...

We took with us, some wonderful memories and great photos.

Yes, I walked away from my painting!

Back home now, after I enjoy our garden and this Memorial Day holiday, I will return to the art studio again.

Blessings to you all and thank you to our troops!

 

Priorities...

Once school was out I thought that I would have more time for the neglected things, such as my blog...

NOT!

(However, I cannot deny the fact that blogging is no longer high on my priority list).

Of course I love sharing, reading other artists' blogs when I can, and being a part of this whole blogging community...

but I also love so many other things in my life such as working in the garden, reading a good book, cooking, and spending time with Paul. I find that I no longer want to sit in front of a laptop screen! I want to be in the NOW and live joyfully in these other moments & interests.

Yes, I think about shutting down my blog. Closing this chapter...

I have blogged since 2006 (In a Shabby Kind Of Way blog), so I've "been there, done that". I have met wonderful friends/ artists just by blogging. It seems that many of them have also closed their blogging chapters and moved on.

I shall continue to ponder this. 

I have been on the go and keeping busy ever since that final week of school!

May 18th, 19th, & 20th Paul and I went back to our hometown to see my only niece graduate from High School! It was great to be around family again!

Then, on May 25th through Memorial Day...

EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS where we met my dear cousin, Tonya, and her hubby, Garry.

The 4 of us shared a condo, got crazy dirty while riding the beautiful trails...

got wet in crystal clear spring water!

Us gals also spent a glorious day shopping in the historical downtown district! We dined, we laughed...

we loved! (Even with a dirt-covered face)! 

(Paul & Garry).

After our lovely get-away, I settled into an art routine at home.

I have had 2 custom paintings for clients to work on. One completed...shipped!

Of course I DO make time for my art journal and some fun paintings! I just love the bright colors on my silly owls!!!!

There has also been time for shopping for patio lights and a big hammock, decorating the patio, cooking out, shopping for a new car, making gifts, planning our family vacation with my parents, un-boxing more of my belongings, baking fluffy cakes...

laying in the hammock.

Yes. These things are all very high on my priority list!