Oh, so green!

Hello out there!

How is your week?

All is wonderful here, as we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our parents!

I'm having a hard time focusing on much because of my excitement! I still get terribly homesick.

I got out my sketch pad a few evenings ago.

I suddenly felt an urge to paint bicycles so I wanted to practice a bit on paper before actually tackling a canvas with acrylics.

When I think of Summer bliss, I have lovely visions of bright colored bicycles, blue skies, and grass oh, so green.

I chose those chunky 4" x 4" canvases and have every intention of painting several different bicycles.

You know...

Bikes by the water.

Bikes by a tree.

Bikes by a white picket fence...

and possibly even one resting beneath a clothesline?

How cute would that be?

And of course, each bicycle will have it's very own basket...

with flowers on board!

It's been so much fun!

This one is up for grabs.

You may read the details on my Facebook fan page here.

Just to let you know, I am also doing a give away next week! I just reached a goal of 300 "likes". I think that is cause to celebrate!!!

So, won't you please head on over there and join in with a page like? (My next goal is for 500 and even a bigger celebration)!

Okay. Speaking of bigger...

hubby and I have some very BIG news!

We have just purchased our own magical forest!

We have seen this property many of times and have been so intrigued by it's Tom Sawyer kind of landscaping. The type of adventure park that Disneyland has with the tree house, surrounded by trees...

it reminds me of that.

Only this property has multi decks that stagger (through the trees), all the way down to a pond.

Well, we bought it!

We just closed on the property yesterday.

Many more photos and magical things to come!

I do wish you a perfect weekend!!!!

I will be loving on my parents!!!!

Until next time,

XO

 

Happy Summer!

Oh, dear.

I have done it again.

I have allowed myself to get swept away by Summer bliss...

losing track of days gone by.

 

Instead of blogging, I have been sipping organic tea on the front porch...

day dreaming.

I have followed crazy vines, searching for surprises.

Squeeling with joy when the first white pumpkin was spotted!

Did I tell you that I planted oodles and oodles of pumpkins?

Blue pumpkins, white pumpkins, tiny ornamental pumpkins, and of course, traditional orange pumpkins.

Two very plump, orange pumpkins have made their appearance since these photos were taken!

I never thought that I would say this because I am such a Summer girl...

but I am wishing for Fall to hurry and come.

I'm already thinking of creative Fall to do's!

But this Summer has certainly been a fun one.

I have tried on cool clothes in this very cool dressing room!

Bold colors bursting with bohemian designs...

it's enough to convince me to purchase all of the wonderful pants and tops, some having this same kind of flare!

It's so much fun to twist around and twirl while wearing big bell bottom pants and ruffled sleeves!

I never feel too old to do just that.

If clothing makes me smile...

it's meant to be.

After a sushi lunch with a nice, new girly friend...

I returned back to my prairie home, swinging my large shopping bags!

I have also changed up my routine this Summer.

Hubby and I wake early and enjoy our coffee together. He then goes a few yards away to his work.

I put on my athletic wear (no, I'm not at all athletic)...

and head out for a morning jog and walk.

I do both.

Jog.

Walk.

Jog.

Walk.

 

I am trying to live a healthier lifestyle and even going organic around here.

I will share more on that in a different post!

Some times I even have two fur babies tagging along!

I love this new routine. It's working well for me and has actually made my work days so much more productive.

Once back home, (and still early in the morning), I get my shower and get busy in the studio.

I am more inspired, happier, and even more creative. Really.

I think that because I am so observant of the wild flowers and colors that I see while out, it changes my whole frame of mind! I want more and more color, beauty...

and I can capture all of that again and again with paints and a brush! (In a sense).

Yes, I have also kept quite busy with work.

More and more commission work comes my way and I am still pinching myself just to see if this is all really happening for me!

Friends, I'm currently blessed with the biggest commission piece that has made me nervous, stressed, excited, eager, then joyful! I have remained focused on this piece- Monday through Friday.

A few evening hours were spent on this commissioned piece.

I love the stories that comes with each request.

I have also enjoyed simply being married to my best friend.

Today we had a lunch date out...

More sushi for me...

along with some sugar free dessert!

Note: this was not one of my choices!

Happy Summer to you!

 

Greetings!

Just a quick hello, as promised!

Can you believe that it's the end of the week already?

Oh my, it has gone by so quickly!

I have taken just a teensy break from acrylic paints.

You see, I really truly love watercolors.

I have missed my watercolors terribly.

So, this week I have been painting 5" x 7" watercolor greeting cards.

They are for sale soon, over on my "Missy Trent Art & Offerings" facebook page.

Please, join me over there!

I would love to see your lovely face!!!

Shhhhh.

I am also going to offer a give away soon!

Do you have any weekend plans?

I will tell you all about mine after I get some photos to share!!!

Until next time...

XO

 

Free To Play (and watch pumpkins grow)...

Hello, out there!

It's officially Summer!!!

We have had so much rain and just perfect temperatures here. I really need to start doing more of my painting outside, on the patio.

 

Summer will pass me by if I do not come up with a brilliant way to work outdoors.

I do not have any commission pieces due until August, so...

today, I allowed myself time to just play with paint.

I am taking quite an interest in abstract painting and wanted to try my own hand at it.

It sure feels fabulous...

to not have a plan, or even an idea.

I did not want to waste any of these beautiful, bold colors, so, I kept an art journal near by and once I was finished using that paint color on my canvases, I then added the remaining paint to the pages of my journal. Love this idea and will continue to work in this manner...

working on two entirely different art projects at the same time, in the same colors.

As I got further along in the paintings...

Umbrellas popped into my head!

Oh, yes!!!! Umbrellas indeed!

I have yet to finish them and since these are not commission works, I may list them in my etsy shop, once done.

Do you sell on etsy?

I would love and appreciate it if you would share your experience with me.

I have listed many items...

and have only sold just a handful over a few years span. I'm just not sure if etsy is the market place for me. I wish that it were because I could reach out to more potential buyers, in different states. Some days I think that my etsy days are simply over. Been there, done that. Other days, I remind myself to never give up!

I have been doing rather well through my facebook page!

Please, look me up and give me a "like"!!!! (Missy Trent Art & Offerings)! I will be forever grateful!!!!

Did I tell you that I planted pumpkins?

Take a looky:

The vines are now growing under the garden fence! Squeel! I can't wait!

I hope that all is going well for you in your corner of the world!

I plan on blogging more this week so I will see you very soon!

Xo

 

June Ponderings...

Hello to you!

June is such a wonderful month, don't you agree?

This June has started off rather busy for us...

but a perfect kind of busy, indeed.

I recently had a best friend come and stay with me for five days!

Oh, dear.

We stayed up very late most nights!

Painting until 4:00 am on this night.

Well, she had gone on to bed...

but I continued to paint until my eyes would no longer stay open.

Moons seem to be everywhere lately!

As girlfriends do...

We also pampered ourselves with oh, so yummy grilled foods, conversation, sharing stories and secrets. These days, she and I often discuss our aging bodies!

We did matching manicures and pedicures!

She has joined me in the nail wrap business and is already enjoying it tremendously!

It's so nice that she and I share so many common interests, which leads to even more fun things to visit about!

She went back to her world on Wednesday.

I, back to my life on the prairie, with husband by my side.

(He had gone on a trip for some RZR riding with one of his best friends).

There is always much to do around our prairie home and rolling hills...

however, over the weekend, he and I chose to take walks with our fur babies, down to the pond.

I even squeezed in a couple of brisk, solo walks.

We were both a little blue on Father's Day this year.

It was the first Father's Day without his sweet dad on earth. We could not call him on the phone.

And of course, I always pine for my dad who is miles away,..

But I am so grateful that I can still hear his voice and make plans to see him.

I will probably always be somewhat homesick.

We kept ourselves busy throughout the day of fathers.

I baked a pineapple upside down cake, worked on commission work.

Hubby also went to work for half of the day.

We were glad that we did so because being self employed has it's stressors. If we do fall behind, we lose money and only we are accountable. We never want to lose a customer and word of mouth is our best advertisement.

So, we both got a nice jump start on this week's work...

and yes, each job does have a deadline.

At the end of the day...

he picked a pretty pink rose from our rose bush...

Just for me.

A reminder.

Why I am here.

Enjoy your day, dear ones.

Xo

 

A full moon in June?

Hello!

I heard a rumor...

That soon, there will be a full moon.

Of course, when it happens...

I will grab my camera and try again.

I never can seem to get a good, crystal clear shot of the moon and all of it's glory.

Can you?

I welcome your tips and suggestions!

I sure do enjoy painting the moon!

Today I completed this commission piece.

Shhhhh.

It is a surprise gift for a high school classmate who really loves the moon!

Whenever there is a full moon in the sky, she posts a picture on facebook, along with a caption that reads, "Oh. Would you look at that"!

It has become her "thing" on fb!

Cute & clever, don't you think?

That angel who has commissioned me to paint for others for an entire year is behind this one as well!

I have added 16 treasures in this mixed media moon painting!

Can you find them?

I will be doing more hidden treasure pieces!

I may even do one for our home!

We have had lots of rain here on the prairie!

Yay!!!!

All things are growing well and I do believe that I am going to have some lovely pumpkins!!!!

Looking forward to company this weekend and most all of next week too!

My girly friend, Lori, will arrive on Sunday.

We are going to do our nails and our usual creative stuff!

This is my current mani and pedi...

What do you think?

Oh, so much fun!!!!

Lori has joined my team of independent consultants!

You can too, if you'd like!!!!

We would certainly love to have you!

I think that we all need a variety of fun hobbies, and I am so happy to have found this one that also provides me with a bit of fun money too!!!!

I do hope that you have a wonderful rest of the week!

I will see you soon!

XO

 

Happy June!

Hello, friends!

And hello, June!

I sit here on this beautiful night...

Listening to the rain outside.

Burning indoor candles with tropical scents.

Going through photos on my iPad and just thought I'd share!

On our way home from our family visit last weekend, these retro gas pumps caught my eye!

As did this old church.

Our prairie yard is always a fun place to romp...

With a camera in hand!

Some guests dropped in to greet me!

And then they had to dash!

Did I tell you that I'm growing pumpkins?

Oh yes!!!!

Even white pumpkins and blue pumpkins!

Our flowers are blooming beautifully.

It's patio season all over again.

 

Beautiful skies.

Playful fur babies.

This is our life right now.

I hope that yours is beautiful.

Hello, June!

Until next time...

Savor each day!

Xo