EDM #301 Something Cute !

I haven't been on track with doing any Challenges in quite some time--

today when I saw the "Something Cute" theme I immediately wanted

to do the book that was sitting in front of me. I had just found it

hidden away and was happy to randomly pick a page to read and as

always a smile spread on my face just like on the spine of the book

Published in 1990 it is truly a book I will not find a new home for..

it's going to be fun to see what others do for this challenge!

The Rose Light

The close up of the rose was the main reason for posting

something "lovely this ways comes" this am.

I was stopped dead in my tracks with the way the light

hit the hallway angel holding the frayed rose.
Yes, I did move part of the fence that was

replaced into the hallway..and love the look of

"outside in"

each day holds these breath catching

moments, weather it be how the coffee

looks being stirred or the

telephone cord twist on the

crystal handle of the magnifier..

I often see floral works that

I feel in my own heart, would do

well to introduce the beautiful

light patterns---not always possible, I know--

for after all, you're in this place but once and here's

a flower shot with no shadows---

grab it anyway--it'll always have a story in your heart.

On The To Do List

I have been putting work on my flickr site
which you can get to by clicking on the upper left
area where it says to.....and neglecting
this one---
Here is a new journal page done with pencil,
Pitt Pens and watercolor pencils.
I sketched it at the table where it was
set up in top of a large sketch book...
then photo'd it to refer to, if needed, in
by the computer where I do my work of this type.
If you don't know who Wallace of Wallace and Gromet
claymation fame DVDs etc--well you've missed
some special presentations...all
the characters are marvelous and
quickly become great friends you love to visit.
You can Google them...

SCARYCROW CIRCA 1990

19 so 20 years later... I make a 5 by 7 of sketch Christopher's

scarecrow he made to sit on

the picnic bench out front for Halloween..

and leave it a colored pencil sketch as it just

says scary to me--more than a horrible

monster would--

YARD TEXTURES

LEFT CLICK TO READ

Hot and Cold

My icy cold water with

cool lemon slice is in extreme

contrast to my yellow VW out

there in 98 hell degrees !

"Whole Wheat Muffins and Vogue"

I couldn't find and whole wheat

round breads in the freezer,

so I grabbed English Muffins that were...

With sprinkles of seasonings and

drizzled honey they go so well

with the latest issue of Vogue

which is like picking up a dream suitcase

loaded with all sorts of delights..

My first inklings of a career in

'art' were for fashion illustration

and that whole world--and I have

never lost this love of all the trappings,

materials and endless possibilities of

design that the ages have created and

I can only hope that the future is not going to be

everyone wears jumpsuits with

a vee embellishment !

A Smiling Supper

(right click to see larger)

A very tasty super because the tomatoes

had a fresh garden flavor,

the grapes were very crisp and sweet.

the crock pot beef slices tender,the low

fat Mayo, Ancient Grains bread and

seasonings all combined for a

healthy aspect.....plus taking the

photo and nestling the very dear stone

French Guinea Hen I found in Eastport,

Maine,brought back a

smiling moment

in my life.

I spied it in a quaint, set back

off the road, attached to a

barn gift shop.

I had never seen guinea hen curios

before and had been on a mission to find

something as the neighbor's hens often

go on patrol in my yard.

I gasped...and probably would

have knocked anyone over that

had been unfortunate enough to

be in my path...

:-)

The piece reminds me of soapstone

that I carved with many years ago.

I recall the residue from this was talc .

Not far from here is Soapstone

Mountain, named for deposits long

ago diminished. Now I drive over this

mountain to a mall for art supplies

not available here.

BEE ON APPROACH

(left click to see larger)

I have been always in love with the Maine

coastal Ruga Rosa...wild roses....so what

I have by the kitchen porch I photo a lot..it seems an endless

cache of delights for me. Here a bee is approaching this

morning dew covered blossom and it thrills me to

to catch his little wings in the photo. Please click to the left to go on

my Flicker site to see a new Journal page

in my Out In My Yard project..

Inspirations Come from Many Places

the photo above is from the great book

on Craftsman Style by Robert Winter and

Alexander Vertikoff
...

it inspired me to chalk pencil on my

logo design for the name I use

to sign my work, Winna...on an upholstered swivel

kitchen chair. I Matte sprayed it

to to preserve it and like the look. My first name is my

father's name, Edwin (I was hoped to be a boy)..

with an added "a"..it is easy to sign works with,

being all straight lines :-)

"WONDERS"

A late in the day arrival of a photo from Kimberly Soucey

(Stafford Ct.)

She says she wondered how the new little chicks felt about

their survival as they had just lost their sister--

and also since Kodak was giving her grief with

her photo sending she wondered if this would

ever get to me....

*****************************

Thank you all ! This was a new Winnas World group effort

with the theme of "Wonders"

I found the photos such a joy to receive and enjoy !....winna

(left clicking on photos will show them larger)

*****************

By Sumner Fowler (Petaluma, California )

"...even weeds have wonder"

By Amber Soucy Lawrence (Stafford Springs, Ct)

...."I wonder how many times a day this tiger thinks about jumping

over the fence and ripping a tourist to shreds..."

by Edwina Jill Mordasky (Stafford, Ct)

..."I wonder if having five toes on each foot makes

it hard to find shoes that fit good ? "

Marilyn Scussel (Stafford Springs)

"I wonder where I will find Missy sleeping

next..she is worse than a two year old ! "

By Susan Pacora (Thorndike, Mass.)



"The fuzz on the right is from my Newfie/St Bernard



puppy. Even the birds are into recycling !"















By Ann Maulucchi (Bolton, Ct)



".... chairs on the beach...you just want to sit and wonder....."



By Pat Morris (Stafford Springs, Ct.)
....a child's
touch of wonder......"

FRONT DOOR TAG SALE SHOE CREATION

When I saw the red shoes, that's all I could think
of was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz
(there are some out there maybe
too young to know what this means)
clicking her heels together. and saying, "There's
no place like home"
This is how I felt a few weeks ago returning
back here from Eastport.
So, just now I put it together for
a front door hangydangy.

The shoes are stuck on with mounting tape
and the creation is on the top panel

of the front door...

..The tag I had made a while ago and love
the Victorian look.
This 50 year old door has had many a nail,
screw or staple in it and been speckled and painted over and over
so stapling this up seemed the best way to go :- )
The shoes could have sparkles added but I like
this look. I heard the woman having the tag sale, say to
her husband, "Those were Brianna's shoes and
she never wore them.."

CROWTATICS

while this is not a really clear shot, but it is so interesting

to watch the behaviour ...

********

don't forget the wonders photos are due by next Monday

(look below to see blog on submitting 'word inspired

photos)

*********

I shot a series of crow and buzzard photos having woodchuck for supper on my front lawn yesterday..so a telephoto lens was used...I am happy my son, Kevin, stopped by to warn this was going to happen and to be ready with my camera...I think I'd have loved doing this as journal page but using the photo this morning fit me better.

I sat and watched mostly one buzzard reconnoiter from a near-by tree..

then was joined by another plus a crow so it became evident I was going to witness a once in a life time scene of their antics.

I had to be patient (hard to do) and got some photos I will be invaluable to me in future creative works. Ya never know...the buzzard would not allow (his or hers) fellow buzzard to join in....but the old crow, whom I believed is the high pooh bah around here that uses a deep honky type crow call to all the rest of them from high perches was allowed to share after he had convinced the buzzard first with scoldings and touching maneuvers...here the crow is biting the buzzards tail which brought on instant flappings of wings---now that was a photo worthy of

being blown up---I'm sure others out there have other crowtactics in their memories..

The Catbird Clutches

I forgot to add this to this site--it is the finished

CatBird painting of which I showed the

original sketch before I went

to Eastport Maine this summer.
In acrylics, on 18 by 18 wrapped gallery canvas,

it is offered at $300.

A unique investment for yourself or

a gift perhaps? ( I did throw on the

towel to

cover the work while it was in

progress and it became painted,

to become an

important part of the symbolism...

**************

PS..."Wonders" (theme for this first one)

photos for the Inspired Word

blog are due by next Monday the 16th

see 2 blogs below for more information on this fun

project you make possible.

Purple Pottery !

Don't forget those inspired word ("wonder") photos

to be sent in by next

Monday as posted in the blog below...
a couple have been sent in already and
I'm sure you'll like seeing them later..
******
now.... here is a fun find from Eastport Maine this
year--some purple pottery from the Dancing Dogs
Pottery shop on Water St.....this tray I like to use for
making me feel pampered etc in the am usually for coffee
and wheat round. It needs a solid color mug and to find
a color that tied in with the tiny purply fruits was a little jump for joy !

Small Wonders

The word to use for this exercise is

"WONDERS"

******

Haven't been on this site in quite awhile....

I'm happy you came to visit and hope

those of you who know how to send me a photo

will join me in a creative exercise ---once a week I will

put up a photo taken by YOU that was inspired by

one word...
...take a photo that makes you feel the word

in some manner and write a sentence or two about

why you chose what you did.

The photos will be due on Monday, August 16th---

(strict rule) and I am so looking

forward to seeing this all come together

on Winnas World!

The first word will be "wonders"

The Start of "Catbird Etc"

Since I have packed most of my art supplies in the car for a

summer on the north coast of Maine... I have

but pencils to work with and an idea I want to

pursue..so here is the first cartoonish sketch

on canvas--at this point I am making all sorts of

choices and will probably change my mind

umpteen times. At first it was just the

Catbird then it started to grow into "my" catbird

with personal symbols
--will I have a crown?....will I add the

jewels?...is that the light to dark

life cycle in there?...which brushes

will I paint or will the tools change?

And what pray tell is one of the

seven veils doing in there? Am I going

to use subdued colors?

All the questions swirl around and will

be settled when I' am settled in Eastport.

I will be off the computer for awhile

when the trip begins shortly and

will be pretty far behind in seeing

your inspiring works...

See Oh Rita !

A sketch done on a day where I could

not concentrate well with some sort of

creative block--but I liked how it looked

so here it is---I decided I will finally

get into a book I always wanted to re

read and that is mighty unusual for me--

it is fruitless to bang my head up against

this rock bound block---many years

has taught me that the book

is the best way for me

to unfrustrate myself..
Rita is a great Border Collie---you may know

how they can be--

so eager to do what they do best.

***************

The 1927 Stage Musical Rio Rita

brought the title to mind---you can Google

Rio Rita Lyrics and see ol timey UTube

with dance steps...

nice old tinny sounding music

THREE STAGES

Left click on photo to see larger

**************

The flower gardens in this north central part of

Connecticut right now.....

are often in three stages of development

..the budding, the flowering and the demise
I see a lot of symbolism

in many aspecs of life in these Peonys....

*****

Take note of the Art Blog sites to visit on the

left of the site now--they are cool to see and read

for their creative work and minds...

*************

I Didn't Know That.....

This started as an all pencil journal spread but I

could not handle there not being any color on this one so added

bits of paper collage---
Over 6,000 years ago the Belly dance began as a dance for women

alone. Young girls were taught it to prepare for childbirth.

The motions helped to strengthen the abdominal muscles.

And here I always thought it was quite seductive ---live and learn..

*************

it's always extra special when doing

a journal page to misspell a word

such as Goddess :-)

On Cheat Day

each week I allow one cheat day for the foods I eat

and don't overdo that hardly ever. I've wanted

to make a banana wrap for awhile so here it is--

I ate all but two bites and should have stopped

sooner. The flat wrap is low cal.... the cream cheese spread

is weight watchers with sweet and low..the

chopped walnuts are alright---the sinful part

is a drizzle of maple syrup and a bit of Fig jam..

as good as it was, I thought immediately

after, that the banana all by itself would

have been enough with maybe some

oatmeal...live and learn.

MUSE VISIT #3 "BLUE 226876 "

left click to see large

I knew immediately I wanted to use blues and browns..

the watercolor background may look helter skelter

but a lot of time was spent on it and before I was

through I became more experienced with blowing

the paint around. Then I looked for a picture

in old magazines this time---and what I picked

was nothing I had in mind--they just said, "hey

take me, I'm what you want."---after they were

glued on, the meaning of the page became

clear to me-- it varies from time to time

when I look at the page---from words missed

by someone gone, to words that feel good to hear.

I almost titled it "The Right Touch Of Blue"

because that ticket was found in a hunt for a

blue 'thing' to go in that spot..

MUSE VISITS #2 Handy Advice

(left click on photo to see larger)

My 2nd loose journal page 9 by 12 on watercolor

cold press pad. It jump started with the

urge to use some of my white stuff on the mantel...
and seeing a color scheme in the photos I took

due to whatever lighting conditions were present

when I shot them--I do think the

side mantel lights were on, casting a glow.

Having a color scheme in mind set things

into motion---pictures are my photos of my cherished

collections , colors added are watercolor from

old small grade school tin, lettering with Pitt pens and

finally used the blob stamp from a massive

stamp collection thru the years...adding the

bird was something I do alot..the words

I wrote may have much meaning (ask my

Muse) or be quite

nonsensical !

Muse Visit #1

My first loose journal page on 9 by 12" watercolor paper when I

listened to the Muses---I was surprised with what I

heard...as the page grew I came to like what I

was doing---I will do more to see what their secrets are...

.

How To Not Miss a Donut With Your Coffee

In this series of 4 photos you see a treat being made

that can become addictive, especially with so many

ways to vary the toppings--don't toast the flat round,

it somehow doesn't want that done...I use the back of

a spoon to spread the ICBINButter as it works best---

also something I'd never done before in my life--but not

on my 'bucket list'........then

I sprinkled on some Curry seasoning which adds a unique

flavor---next it's drizzle on some wonderful good for

you in umpteen million ways honey....then add some

nuts---here you see sliced almonds on one side and

sunflower seeds on the other---

spoon them around---I use one plate that is a flat leaf

so the honey won't drip and when that is lost for some

reason or other I use a very small cutting board to

keep them flat. They taste like some forbidden treat

(which for me would be a donut) with your fresh coffee,

which by the position of the pig indicates

the coffee is ready to pour

Past Friends Past

I LOVED paper dolls and dressy dolls

and funny dolls etc. I imagine as a child

I wanted to grow up and wear these outfits..

....and maybe be a queen or at

the very least a princess.

The Spectral Visit

(click on photo to see larger)

Taken today across the street in the old Spencer

house now empty and for sale...this is

the back entry room with what appears to be a

spectral apparition that was

uncommunicable and faded away...

I am learning from a training CD how

to use some of the effects in a

new software I use---I would have perhaps

discovered this eventually but it was

great to see it demonstrated and then

go in to do it myself making my own

choices etc.... I am on a

mission of sorts to use

the program creatively.

Meeting a Poet/Painter

(click photo to see larger)

In her career as a nurse and her duties with

The Sisters Of Providence she must have helped

a multitude of people....

I think it is intimidating to post

a portrait of a person who might not

like being depicted speaking...

but such a speaker only is

a blessing to meet...

Hi Anne !

Now, if I ever get the urge to paint bricks and

a whole lot of them---this photo I took yesterday

of a friend going into an art exhibit , would be one

I would return to--I asked her to go by the words

which I love and she said asked "should I wave?"

.....I was too busy composing the shot to answer, so she

just did wave and I liked that interaction look, plus

her clothes have great color and shadows....

THE CAT AND I

Just took this on my front porch

for another window picture as

I am collecting them with my camera.

I liked the layers here . There's the cat

dummy board I painted long ago that

has become the Watch Cat for my house

and then there's me in the reflection

and across the street the old barn that

is for sale with the house of an old friend..

I love a mystery and here is one in a window.

You just have to use your imagination

here and cook up a plot.

Tees for You

Making a neck piece with old t shirts was a fun

thing to do--I saw the directions in

Martha Stewert's Whole Living... and HAD to try it

Here I have combined two sets of colors

with a vintage pin I KNEW someday, I'd

use in a "project" of some kind. The sky is

the limit in making these.

Perhaps, you can get the easy directions

on her site.

www.wholeliving.com/article/t-shirt-necklace

***************

Here One Day... Gone the Next

(left click on photo to see larger)

One day last week coming home from the post office in the Hollow I drove by this house about a mile from mine---then turned around to go back and take some photos--both sides of the lawn had the flamingos all over the place, there was something hanging on one's neck

by the sign and also a smaller sign with writing which I was not about to

go up in the yard and read...
It made me laugh to think of the people responsible for the display

and how much giggling must have gone on. I believe the next day

it was all gone. like it never happened. It is good to have

your camera with you !

Side Track Find

As often happens, I got sidetracked this am

going up to the old bigger studio where the

classes were held hundreds of years ago

it seems. After sewing on a patchy

pink thingy I hung up the coffee cup I

had brought up to hang back on the class

cup board which brought memories back

of a missed student, It was then I saw the

Vincent Starry Night Guy cup I had for

gotten about---well, that HAD to come down

to the little computer/art room at least for

awhile--so now it was photo it and

write this and be thankful I did get

sidetracked---the sunflowers on

the cup are uplifting to me...

Odd Dream From Long Ago #239

(left click on photo to see it larger)

This is an Every Day Matters group Challenge #239
with the theme of "Something that scared me."
In the dream I was at a deli counter
trying to buy some pearls when a policeman
stood by me with his gun holstered, looming large.
I was terrified he would shoot me mistakenly--
- thinking I was robbing them of the
pearls.....pretty nutty situation, but
a dream I never forgot. Now that I look
back I can recall a traumatic situation
where I was wrongly accused by an authority
figure--which crushed me to pieces
Maybe that's a rather late
dream interpretation....

you may notice I have a bandage

on my thumb--not in the dream--just

for the photo I took of my

hands to help me draw them

right--I recently stabbed it

opening a package--with a really heavy

duty sheet rock knife.

Guess What

I sent this out to some people I thought

would "get" the answer to "what's this

I am doing?"---

well one of them has tried with three

guesses---I finally gave a clue out...

it's really not hard.

An Art Journal Page Process

(don't forget to left click on photos

to see them larger)

"Juicy Fruit" began with a photo I had taken

of a handcarved crow that I stuck a strawberry on...

see it emerging below on a page in my small Moleskini

Sketch book...I've have drawn it in pencil and

then inked it in with a black Pitt pen

Now you see it spreading over to the left page and becoming a

'spread"----here you the the first sketchy look


Then that side is inked with the pen and it is now ready to add color
with watercolor pencils, waterbrushes and
some acrylic paints
,...Mellencamp has a good beat...

Here I used Black acrylic (in the bottle) paint for
the solid rich background I happen to
frequently use..
it's now ready for color...

I just hope the colors sing and bring the delight I felt.
You'll notice the fairly new winnaname logo I have designed
which goes on some works. It surely amazed me
how this glass container in the fridge keeps the berries
just like fresh ones