Cosmos - Late Season Bloomers

I'm sure you avid gardeners out there have grown Cosmos before. They were my introduction to gardening back in my youth. They are the easiest flowers to grow from seed. In fact for those of you in a moister environment, they may be too easy to grow, and could possibly take over if allowed to. I don't have that problem here, so I enjoy them very much. Not only are they not picky, but they brighten up your late-season garden beautifully!


Most grow about 3 feet high, or so. This year I have one growing over 6 feet high! This one took it's time to bloom, and instead put it's energy into growing super tall. But now is blooming so lovely, and the height is amazing.


Another advantage of the Cosmos is that the bees love them! And with our much needed honey bees in dire straits, it's so helpful to them to have these vibrant, whimsical, easy-to-grow beauties in your garden.

The Martha Blog (Stewart that is!)

Have you seen The Martha Blog yet? I just read about it today, so I went to check out the industrious Martha Stewart's blog. She features some behind the scenes of her busy life. It seems like an easy way to learn of all of Martha's Good Things!

Leave a comment on her post entitled "How to create your own blog and enter my blog contest!" and possibly get featured on her blog. How fabulous would that be?!

More Beauty From Paul

I just had to post a bit more classic Paul Newman. As I was seeing the clips of Paul Newman on the news yesterday, it made me realize that a big part of his appeal was his charming personality. (That as well as his acting, looks, smile, humanitarianism) And I think this must be my first memory of him. It is hot, and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

RIP Paul Newman

How sad to wake up this morning to the news of Paul Newman's passing.

What a beautiful man, and person.

I didn't even know he had lung cancer. What's worse is he had quit smoking 30 years ago. It just goes to show you just how nasty that stuff is.

Since a small girl I've loved Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I don't know of another movie with more sex appeal. And Paul was still quite attractive in his 80s.

More important than Paul's wonderful blue eyes, and dashing looks is the good he's done for many people. I've always bought Newman's Own products when I've had the option, knowing the profits would be put to some good in the world. If only more people could (or would) be so helpful to the people of the world.

Yes I'm very sad to hear this news.

NibbleFest - Smiling Black Cats

The theme for NibbleFest this month is "Smiling Black Cats." What could be better?!

So here's my entry. So glad I got one done, and it's fitting right in with my quirky Halloween cat tradition I've got going.

It needs some bids... It's such a fun theme, you must check out the other NFAC listings by going here. You won't be disappointed!

-SOLD-

This is an ACEO (2.5x3.5 inches), done in acrylic.

TOC - Guitar

Jim Ladd's Theme of Consciousness this week was "guitar". Here's my Guitar Man. A little different than most, but I enjoy trying different types of art media and styles.

I actually doodled this last summer, while watching a local band play down in town. (For you locals you just might recognize MR). I enjoy TOC so much, and get inspired just to do any kind of art to go with it. So I threw this together. I digitally colored it and posted on Jim's site.

"100th Sale" Giveaway!

Yes, that's right, I'm approaching my 100th sale on Etsy! Yay, but it has taken a little longer than I'd have liked! Still I'm happy none-the-less. So I'm having a giveaway... Just be the buyer of my 100th sale and you can pick out up to $11 of stuff from my shop. So if you buy one little thing (any price), and you're the 100th sale, you get something free! I'm at 98 sales right now. So if you are #99 and #100, you get the free item, or items. Just be sure to mention in the note to seller what you'd like for free. Get a few magnets, or a print, or whatever, as long as it is $11 or under. And you'll only pay for the shipping of the original item you buy. And if you forget to mention what you want in the note, I'll be contacting you and asking what you want free!

I'm just happy to finally reach 100, and I want to get there ASAP, and give a little something in return.

Go to my Etsy shop here!

TOC - free

The theme on Theme of Consciousness this week was "free" or freedom, of course.

I painted a Free Form Freak. I also got some requests in, "Revolution" by Beatles, and "Blowin in the Wind" by Bob Dylan. Listen and you'll hear free mentioned.

Interesting that this week's theme was about freedom. I feel the new principal at our school is taking more freedom from the kids. And today I had an unsuccessful discussion with him. I'll be ranting about that probably someday soon. I'm pretty fumed about him, and I don't see my dissatisfaction ending any time soon.

Winter's Comin

Well, no it's not here already, but it is cooling off rapidly up on the mountain! I hear it's already in the 60s, in the day, up in Montana. So yes, it's time to start preparing for the hardships of Winter. And for me that means to start crocheting lots of arm warmers.

I've got a few new pairs in my Etsy shop now. And you can look for more coming soon.
I'm going to enjoy the few remaining warm days I've got. I've got some flower seed to collect in my garden...flowers and apples!

TOC - spirit

Last night's Theme of Consciousness was "spirit". Here's my very humble doodle. I realize I just don't have time to get a drawing done when I start at 9. I finished this at 12:30.

I did get a request played. It was "Come all ye rolling minstrels" by Fairport Convention. Where else can you hear Fairport Convention on LA commercial radio? That's why Jim Ladd is so great! I'm still waiting to hear some Willie Nelson, Old Crow Medicine Show and some Hank III. Then I'll know it truly is free-form radio! He plays Johnny Cash, so why not Willie?! And I always make a request for OCMC, maybe one of these days he'll think "wow, I should give these guys a try!"

Listen to Jim on the web, Mon-Fri, from 8pm-1am PST. here's the link to get to the stream.

and in case you haven't heard the magical Fairport Convention, hear ya go...

Fun at an Art Show

Sunday we got out and joined in on a local art sale, a few miles down the road. It was a lot of fun, and since it was free, it turned out successful. Wesley had a good day, and people truly enjoy his art. That's fun for me to watch.

This is the 2nd year that this art show has been going on. I hadn't been there before, so it was a learning experience. Such as there were good spots, and then others not so good. We were in the "back 40", and there was a little less traffic. But our neighbors were a lot of fun, and very nice. Next time we'll try to get one of the better spots, and I'll be sure to have more inventory when that happens. I had a busy week before the show, and it was a bit of a last minute decision to join, so I was lucky to have this much inventory. I'll also make sure to have a larger table... my booth looks a little cluttered!

Anyway, it was fun, and it helped boost my profits for August. Can't beat that!

What a find - Gisela Voh

I'm so jealous! My mom bought this adorable, original painting at an estate sale for $25.00! It was painted by Gisela Voh in 1965. I didn't measure it, but it's about a 11x14 size. It had a letter attached in broken English, and it seems it was sold to the original owner at a discount price... the reason having to do with the "heart."

Because of the seemingly professional sale that happened, I thought I could find some info on this artist. After a few pages of searching, all I found was some info written in German. It wasn't a lot of info, but after translating I found a Gisela Voh, born in Schmiedeberg (1906-1985), and yes, she was a painter.

I just love this illustration so much, I would so much like to see more from this artist. But for now, don't you think my mom should give me this for my birthday coming in October? I sure do!

Yosemite - part three - plein air

Yosemite is one of the most inspiring places to be, and I just love doing lots of art in my little travel journal while there. Here's a little sampling of this year's sketchings.

This year we attended one of the free art classes that are offered in the valley. This time it was a watercolor class (last time we did a class we did drawing). The instructor had us paint over by the Ahwahnee Hotel. Here's my little rendition. It's always interesting to get critiques, and the instructor gave one for my painting.

Some things I agreed with, some not ;) But since I don't paint a whole lot of landscapes I think it was pretty helpful.


This was painted from our camp looking at the little cliff below North Dome.

Yes, I do have a tendency to use "pure" colors. Maybe it's the palette I bring on vacation.


Or more likely, it's just my style. I can't seem to paint a landscape to exactly match it's subject. The instructor wanted us to use "fun" colors. And I did just that, maybe just a bit too much.

Here's Half Dome from the bridge near the campgrounds. It's a long tradition of ours to paint Half Dome at sunset. I'm not sure if I improve each time, or not.


Here's Yosemite Falls from the meadow just across from the falls. Well I actually had to imagine the falls, since they were pretty dry. This one looks a little incomplete because it started raining. We had to quickly pack up and ride our bikes to shelter. It was very beautiful!


Another quick pen drawing of Yosemite Falls.


Here's another view of Yosemite Falls as seen lounging on the river by the Swinging Bridge.


And my last painting. Yet another view of the famous Falls from the river right by our camp in North Pines. I've also done many paintings of this view, because we've camped many times in North Pines.

So what do you think? Is my landscape style just a little too colorful? Should I cut back on my vibrant colors? Do you have a favorite? I'd love to hear!

Yosemite and It's Wonders - part two

As promised I had to continue with the Wonders of Yosemite.

We hadn't been to Glacier Point in quite a while, so we made sure to visit the amazing spot this trip. Here's the view of Yosemite Valley. Not for those sensitive to heights! Hold on to your hat!


Here I sit with another extraordinary view from Glacier Point. You can see Nevada Falls way beyond, as you look to the left of me. Next to the falls you can see one of the many enormous pieces of rock, Liberty Cap.


And here's Liberty Cap again. This time we were sitting right beside it, at the top of Nevada Falls.


Yosemite has the some of the most relaxing bike trails, with spectacular sights every where you turn.


Including the many bucks that you see daily, lounging in the shadows of the meadows. In the early evening you'll see them get up from their rest, maybe to get a snack from the nearby apple trees in the Camp Curry parking lot.


Some of the best swimming is in the Merced River, with the natural beauty surrounding you. It is very awe inspiring.


I often wonder how so much beauty could be placed in one spot. It just couldn't be an accident. I can never get enough!


And finally, it just wouldn't be a vacation for me without getting a really cool shot of some kind of exotic bug! This guy just wouldn't move as I photographed him in the natural garden for the fairies... The Fen.

And tomorrow I'll post some of the art I created while in God's Masterpiece. No place inspires me more than Yosemite.

Yosemite - part one - The Mist Trail

I've been to the beautiful Yosemite and back. If you've never been, I have to say it's a must see, even with it's over the top amount of people! Since we were there in August of a dry year, Yosemite Falls was dry, but Vernal Falls is gorgeous as ever.


We took the Mist Trail up the many stairs to the top of Vernal Falls. It's called the Mist Trail because you can feel the mist as you climb the stairs beside the falls. Very exhilerating!


Once at the top of Vernal Falls you reach the Emerald Pool which you aren't suppose to swim in, but many do. Many people make this their destination, but not us. We followed the north side of the trail to the top of Nevada Falls. This side of the trail is shorter, but hot and very steep. You get some great views of Nevada Falls though.


We took the long way back down. Longer but more comfortable, less jarring on your knees, and less of a feeling that you're going to completely bite the dust! It's an all day event for us, with an over 6 mile round trip hike. After the hike, a beer and rinse off in the river is the best!

I'll share more photos, and Yosemite art soon... Like tomorrow.

Leaving for Yosemite!

Just a quick little post to say I'm going to the most beloved, Yosemite! We'll be biking and swimming the valley, strolling The Fen with it's fairies and other little spirits, and hiking the Misty Trail.

Are you enjoying the last fleeting moments of your summer? I hope you have lots of chances to play in the sunshine with the butterflies!

A Cozy Place for Tea

A cozy place for tea. Or maybe a beer!

I started this drawing in, believe it or not, 1999! I got the urge to finish it last night. This is a quaint sitting area for all friendly neighbors to come and enjoy. There's a real version of it in Silverado Canyon. Actually neighboring the house I lived in as a child, although this garden room sadly wasn't yet constructed when I was living there.

I finished up the pen and ink, then painted it quite colorful and finished it at about 2 in the morning. I went to bed a little too late last night. But I've always been more productive on a stay-up-late/wake-up-late kind of schedule. That's one reason the school year is such a drag to me.

Anyway I'm not sure... should it be made into a print, or card maybe? Just not sure yet.

Etsy Pick-O-The-Week - Sweetnellie

As promised, I've got a POW (Etsy seller Pick-O-The-Week!)... Sweetnellie. I adore this little bird!


And this dog!


OH, I'm also crazy over this elephant, cause elephants are always the cutest! I guess it's impossible to choose a favorite from this shop. The creations are so delightfully quirky and enjoyable!
Sweetnellie also has a wonderful blog, check it out!

TOC - Blood

Tonight's theme for TOC was Blood, on account of the KLOS Blood Drive in So Cal. I wasn't able to give blood this time, I just couldn't go off the mountain for it at this time.

So I whipped up a little vampire for the bloody theme. Not sure why I do these little pieces for TOC. Sometimes I just need an idea to kick me in the butt.

I'd better get to bed, I've got to get up in 6 hours. I hate early morning risings!!

Happy Birthday Jerry!

I'm going out of town tomorrow, early, but I wanted to post a quick Happy Birthday message to Jerry Garcia. Haven't heard much mention of it today. This is a very old painting that I did in 1987.. Good times!

Got other things to write about and post soon. I'm very overdue for an Etsy Pick-O-The-Week, so look for a fantastic Etsier soon!