This part of my blog is all about the things I collect or the things I make myself. I love so many things, I paint and draw and want to learn oils and pastels. I knit and crochet but want to learn tatting. I embroider and can turn my hand to most things given a chance. So much still to learn and do. I live in hope of some day reading all my books, learning all I want to learn and now I am learning to blog. You will often find my original poems, poor as they are I offer them here. I also appreciate other people art and will feature things I find that I have enjoyed. That includes pictures of fairies and fantasy or maybe just anything beautiful.
I try to use my own photo's as much as possible, sometimes I borrow from the web. If I inadvertently use your picture without giving credit, please do let me know and I will either credit or remove it, I hope you will do the same with mine.
If you wish to leave comments on my blog you can do that by joining google if you do not have a blog yourself, please comment if you can I appreciate that.


Friday, September 26, 2014

Sketching outside.................

Today was a beautiful day. I sat outside on the deck with my paint box and sketching book. I had already drawn most of the pictures and this was a perfect day to fill them in. Good light.
Well they will be fiddled with from now till I close up this book but you can take a peek as they are now......I will go back through the pages and add some words as they come to me.
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Sometimes I get an idea from other blogs, sometimes from books and some just come to me.
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some things I just can't explain. (above) This little lady is way too stiff, but not as bad as she started out, I must read up a bit on this technique. I could not get her to relax.
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Pouting cherub
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Flowers
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More faces and stuff
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Practice with eyes
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More stuff
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more birds and flowers, never get tired of them
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unfinished
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more sunflowers
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nearly done
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Animals always a great subject for me, now to get them lifelike without overdoing it

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That is not easy, some people can just make them live with just the colour and mix of the paint. I am not there yet
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more critters
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Frogs from a book I have..........
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Unfinished
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and lastly
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............so thats that.
By the way, that is hay, not his rocket boosters



Thursday, September 25, 2014

More Bizzy Bees.................

Bumble Bee.....
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I just love the fuzzy little buzzers. I think this may be a carpenter bumble bee. I find it difficult to get good information with pictures to ID them.
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The green ones that glitter are sweat bees, don't know why they are called that. Too pretty for a name like that.
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This is a Honey Bee, this is the one who we like to keep to make honey for us. This is an endangered species, or soon will be. Glad to see them busy.
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The following two are Tri coloured Bumble Bees.

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Wasps do the same job in many ways, but they are not as friendly. They can be bitchy.
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hips and haws a sign of Autumn for sure. Hips are oval and the haws are round.
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Another Bumble
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Well this was a dud of a post but I wanted to use my bee pictures.
How about I throw in some seed pods LOL.... Tickle weed and lambs tails (grasses) no idea what the real name is. I am going to have to get some nature books for next year. When I was in England I knew all the wildflowers and grasses but not here in Michigan. I am on a mission though and Tristen is going to know the woods as he grows, and know what grows there.
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I liked how the light shone on this grass, and again I don't know what it is but I will learn
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These stick to you as you walk through the long grasses, a smaller version is heck on a dogs coat.
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Queen Annes Lace
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well, thats it for now, not a normal post for this blog but I wanted to use my photo's so for now its going to be fine. Maybe later I will change it over to the Garden Blog but for now......here it be.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

sketch books......

It's been awhile since I posted anything from my sketch book. I really have not done anything worth posting. I gave it a break for a time but found myself back at it. After a break I seemed to have lost the knack. I really have not done anything any good. Still, I must post the bad with the good, so here are a few recent ones.
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Some things just do not photo well but thats OK. My sketch book is something I work on continually until its full. I go back and add to each page as I am inspired. I copy things from books and I like to put inspirational verses and sayings on each page too.
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The purpose has changed through each book. I began by trying to loosten up my paintings. That is still a goal. I am not trying for realism here, even though that is my preference.
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I am very inspired by other blogs who do painting or drawing. Some are just so good, they can not help but inspire.
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I don't know where this journey will lead me but I am sure enjoying it. What will I do with all the sketch books?
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simplicity.......I would like to illustrate childrens books. I would actually enjoy writing one with simple pictures.
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Well that's enough for now.............I finally got my photobucket sorted out again. So now I have to get down to getting my other blogs done.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Autumn Yellows.............

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Soon to be orange, but now it's yellow. Such a pretty yellow.
The Sunflowers were just so pretty
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It was the icing on the cake when I saw this Monarch.
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Sunflowers, what could be better than sunflowers on a clear day with a brilliant blue sky.
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Goldenrod.............
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At the farm market there were some very pretty Zinnias.
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A yellow Butterfly on a yellow Sunflower........
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Yeh that blue blue sky
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This post is in lieu of a craft or art project. I have been so busy with the walks and outdoor adventures I have not got into my projects. SO much I want to do and get done before Christmas. It's not that far off. I just want to make the most of this last of the great weather. It looks like tomorrow its going to rain. Who knows, I might just get something done that I can show ya........
Sharing with Creative Country Moms Tuesday Garden Party
Also with Cottage style party
Sharing with The Dedicated House Make it pretty Monday
Sharing with Ivy and Elephants