I Heart Tabs and Friends

It's true.

I have the bestest friends here in my little town.

And they share with me in the most generous way. 

I ♥ Tabs and Friends

I'm still planning in this composition book.

When I ran out of the supply of tabs from my friend Susan, my friend Carolynn loaned me two punches. 

It is time that I return them so I'm going to make enough today to take me through 2013 planning.

I have lots of planning going on right now for 2013. 

Exciting planning!

♥ 

Bouncing Last Week

 Last week, I found my self bouncing. 

 From one thing to the next.

 It happens when inspiration and panic set in at the same time.

And when things are not going just right,

I abandon it.

Let it sit.

In a mess.

On the desk.

And then I calm myself with stitching.
Stitching dragons in moons.
♥
I'm thinking I will be taking a little blog break this week.
Unless I have time to paint a masterpiece that I simply can't wait to share. 
♥

New Art Supply

Moleskin Journal 5 x 8 page 

My friend Zorana brought along a little inspiration clipped from who-knows-what.  She said it had been floating on here art desk for quiet some time.   I know how that is and you probably do also.  Well since it floated along with her to Texas from California, we decided to use to as our first inspiration piece when we started painting.  The above journal page is my interpretation of the inspiration and Zorana is sharing her's on her blog.

She tells the story best on how we ended up with the same new supplies to try out together.   Gouache is basically an opaque watercolor.  Zorana paints faster than I do and I could have diddled with this little painting for another couple of hours.  But we had more fun things to paint.  Will show another next.
♥ Sharon

We Played Hard

She came. She's gone and we played hard.  I love this picture.....it is like she is "flying".

Well actually, she did.  But she is already back home now.

What a grand visit we had ....
non-stop
talking
bird watching
jewelry making
painting
painting
talking
bird watching

The Elephant in the Room

backdoor window

Dear Friend,
I'm so excited about your visit that I can think of nothing else. I am counting down and OMGoodness, it is three days and a few hours!!!

So I have decided to reveal my surprise before you get here because I know how you are. I know you are all in a dither because I said, "I'm working on a surprise for you. But it's not something you can have. It is just something to look at while you are here." I told you it is "no biggie".

Well, guess what?  It is a biggie. It is the kind of big as "the elephant in the room".

kitchen window

Although we call it The Garden Palace and it is not in the room, you can see it in view from several rooms.  When anyone sees it, they instantly want to go closer and go inside.  That happened last year when my friend Deryn was here.  It is a curiosity.  But I just could NOT let her go in.

The fact is, The Garden Palace is mine and I have neglected it shamelessly.  Here is the problem.  While I have not been tending to things over there, I have had some seasonal (winter) guest move in.  You might even call them squatters, of the furry type.  They found the accommodations to their liking but oh my they are a messy bunch.  I have been so overwhelmed, crushed and disgusted with myself for letting this happen, that I couldn't face it. So no one besides me has been allowed inside The Garden Palace for quiet some time.  

And there really is something quiet fantastic to see over there. And it is only natural that you would want to go over there.  And it is something that I love showing off.  And you simply can not come all the way from
California and then have me say, "sorry, no, you cannot go inside."  It is just a great big little play house full of  things and projects.  

It has a wonderful story to tell and I am excited that you are coming and I want you to see it.  I am  cleaning up the mess so it is somewhat presentable.  I didn't start early enough to get everything done that needs doing.  But I will let you go over and go inside and we will sit and visit about things.

That is my surprise.  The elephant in the room.  But now it really feels like it is more for me than for you. I think I'm confused.
♥

bedroom window

studio Window

At-the-moment

Hello friends and followers.  Creatively, I have mostly been stitching.  Mostly because I can do that while resting in the chair zone.  Lately, I have been inspired to do other things around this home.  Things that I am feeling a renewed passion for like the yard work and other little projects.

I have become very aware of the fact that I am content to do the things that inspire me at-the-moment. I'm not sure you know what I mean by that but I guess there are so many things that are always on my mind that I wish to do and sometimes, I let the weight of all of these thoughts slow me down.  That is not what is happening now.  Now I am just content with what I manage to do at-the-moment and let the enjoyment fill me.

Of course you  know, I would probably be sharing more with you if I could get use to my temporary replacement camera that seems to always need charging.  I'll be so happy when mine gets back from repair.

I'm off now for a secret project I'm working on each morning.  Because I'm expecting a Dear Friend late Sunday who will be here for a few days.

I'm blessed and so are you.
♥

Good Morning Hey Hello My Friend,
I thought you were daring me yesterday and so I went ahead and told about the snake.  It was  all true and I can't seem to stop thinking about it.  Today I just wanted to show the salad spinner.  I think I have a new routine of harvesting the lettuce each morning after I have been Walking In Beauty.  


You know that is what the snake was all about.  Don't you? "With beauty before me I walk.....With beauty around me I walk."  For me, my path is so spiritual and I'm realizing that is the tug that takes me out there each morning.  It is good.

Last night while watching A Idol, I sat with my huge Klimt book.  You know the one.  Guess what?  Remember I told you  that I needed to do what ever it is I do when the flood of inspiration hits me.  Well sitting with this book drinking it in is one of those things I do.  It is just like when I'm in the "zone" with a painting or doing something else creative.  It's like there is a part of my brain that continues to swirl in a magic state of something and has lots of cracks that lets little things drip in and then commingle with other things and then I feel it in the pit of my stomach and my heart and soul. I am going to take your advise and write down these floods of inspiration because as strong as the inspiration is, I lose the passion and forget the inspiration if I'm unable to act on it immediately.

I hope to show you my painting soon. I am slowly making progress.  The whole reason I was looking at the Klimt book was to study the closed eye.  Many of Klimt's ladies were painted with closed eyes.  I haven't done much of that and I especially was looking for one in profile.  But as I said, I was drinking it in and I never got to that page.
More later,
xo