Moonwatcher

This is a little 4 x 6 watercolor notecard I did as a thank you to my friend Inez for letting us paint in her garden last week.  My favorite statue in her garden was a little statue she called the "Moonwatcher".  I hope she enjoys it!

Clean-er Studio

Before and after photos of my studio.  I usually have several projects going at once and in different stages of development.  I worked a long time organizing my supplies and books and throwing away dried paints and paintings that didn't work.  My next goal is to get my photographs arranged so I can find them easier.  I want to preserve the old photos and put family photos in albums. I need to organize my other photos into different catagories so it will be easy to find when I want to paint.  I also have a couple of scrapbooks I need to add to.  So I have my work cut out for me!  I feel good about cleaning out on this last day of school.  I always loved the last day of school and the beginning of summer, long hot lazy days.  I looked forward to my kids being home and the prospects of new adventures and projects.  Now they are all grown and going their own way.  They have their own projects and adventures to discover.  And I have a clean studio in which to start a new project!  

Fetch me a Shrubbery!

While trimming my crepe myrtle in the front yard, I noticed Daisy, our almost 16 year old jack russell, carrying around some of the trimmings.  It reminded me of the Monty Python movie when the knights had to fetch some shrubbery!  She was sort of aimlessly walking around with branches stuck in her leash and couldn't figure out why she was getting stuck everytime she turned around.  She's back inside on her chair taking a nap now.

If you want to see my movie on Youtube about the Woodstock Memorial Day celebration click here.

Happy Memorial Day

We spent the morning in downtown Woodstock at a dedication to a new War Memorial in the city park.  During the national anthem these two cute little kids were standing on the wall around the fountain and holding their hand over their hearts.  Notice the little boy is also saluting.  The two men in the middle photo are standing next to the new war memorial in downtown Woodstock, GA.  Notice how straight and proud these two warriors are standing.  One was at Iwo Jima and the other was also a veteran of WWII.  It was a very moving ceremony and I was amazed at the number of people that showed up to celebrate these brave men and women who fought so we could be free and safe.  And the top photo is why we celebrate Memorial Day!  This brave young man who made the ultimate sacrifice was in Special Forces in Afghanistan.  I salute you and all that served and thank you from the bottom of my heart.  God Bless you all!

Inez's Garden

Friday, our local group of artists painted at Inez's house in Roswell.  She has such lovely gardens filled with ferns, geraniums, hydrangeas and wildflowers.  The gardens have a Japanese feel with a beautiful little bridge over the creek.  She told me that she designed the bridge after a trip to Alaska.  She had seen interesting boats in a local museum there and made a mental note of how they scored the wood to make it curve.  I have included a close up of the detail above.  Since she is 90 she doesn't get out and do a lot of the heavy work anymore.  I did see some begonias that had recently been planted!  We had such a nice relaxing time sitting and painting in her gardens.  I commented on the little statue and she told me it is called a "Moonwatcher".  Love it!  I started a watercolor of the bridge and plan to so several more.

Memorial Day

SOLD!

Color Complements

I am working on understanding color.  Specifically Stephen Quiller's color wheel.  Last week in Monteagle, a friend brought a Stephen Quiller video for us all to watch.   He stressed that by mixing the exact complement of a color you will avoid mixing a muddy color.  I have only a few minutes today to play around.  This is my beginning of mixing true complements.  I am using some of the brands he suggested and some that I already had in my collection.  Colors vary by manufacturers but I think I have a good start.  The colors in the middle should produce a grey.  You can see some warm and some cool greys.  I remember doing this exercise in college but I didn't have quite the appreciation for it then as I do now.  

An Artist's Studio

This studio belongs to my friend Inez.  She invited me to lunch today.  She wanted to share some of her fabrics with me because she knows I love to sew and she doesn't see well enough to sew anymore.  She showed me around her house pointing out paintings and remembering paintings she had obtained at workshops she attended around the world. Oh, did I mention that Inez is 90?  The photos are from her studio.  I loved the jars of paintbrushes each standing tall and stoic.  Notice her winning ribbons behind on the wall - not flashy or bragging.   All four walls are full of framed paintings with a story behind each one.  What happy memories! 

Clutch for my niece

Front and Back

I've just finished a new little clutch I made for my niece.  She is graduating with her Master's Degree and I'm sure she will need something to keep all of that money in that she will be making!  We are very proud of her and hope the best for her!  Congrats Cel!  The clutch is about 8" x 5", zippered top with contrasting lining with a pocket.  The fabrics are from Anna Maria Horner "Drawing Room" fabrics, all seams are finished and it is lined with quilting batting.  Now I need to make one for myself!

Mother's Day Flowers

Oh My!  I just looked over at my kitchen table and saw the flowers that my husband had given me for Mother's Day bathed in light.  My kitchen faces the west and I get to see the most beautiful sunsets.  Aren't they beautiful set against the dark background and outlined in the splendid sunlight? Enjoy!!!

Finished Mother's Day Tote

Just finished my Mother's Day Tote for my mom! Kelly and I had fun sewing together and here she is modeling the finished product.  I used Anna Maria Horner fabrics from her Drawing Room collection.  I made the straps a little shorter and think it turned out really cute!

Mother's Day Tote

My daughter and I had a great day first going to the Apple Store at Perimeter and then sewing a tote for my mom.  We used an Anna Maria Horner pattern and fabrics. 

More pictures from Monteagle

There was a small bed of irises in the Assembly.  We stopped and painted them the first day that we were there.  We set up our easels around the irises.  It was interesting to see all of the different versions.  Each night we critiqued the paintings.

Above is my friend Inez who is 90 years young!  She is an inspiration to all.

Here we all are with our easels and umbrellas set up around the patch of irises.

One of the cottage gardens we painted in the Assembly.

Love the name of this cabin!

I'd love to do a painting of the Monteagle water tower. 

Painting in Monteagle

This week I have been on an artists retreat in Monteagle, TN painting with 9 other artists.  Each day we paint in the mornings and then go back out in the afternoons to paint.  This week it rained everyday.  We painted everyday either in our rooms or under a gazebo at the Assembly in Monteagle.  We were leaving today and of course it was a beautiful day.  After we checked out of our rooms we decided to stay and paint for a few hours.  Above is my painting of the cottage "Thistle Dew" in watercolor.  This weekend was Sawanee graduation so the Assembly was packed with parents, graduates and their friends.  We met so many nice people I can't wait to go back in the Fall.  Enjoy!

Silent Auction Clutch

I made this clutch out of Anna Maria Horner fabrics.  It was made specifically for a fundraising event scheduled for May 12th by the International Special Events Society.  The event will be held at Twelve Atlantic Station and will feature wonderful cocktails and entertainment.