No More Red

I've been concentrating on red on the canvas this month. "Red" is my Creative Companion group's topic for August.

But,  I've been concentrating on not-red on the walls.  I've had a red kitchen and bathroom for 22 years... Not any more!

Before...

During...

After...

Then two bathrooms...

Goodbye to some gold too...

Giraffe Family

I painted some giraffes! 
Well, that's different... what was I thinking!

The Weekly-ish challenge I was given was "Starts with the Letter G."  That's pretty wide open... geranium... green grass... gem... guitar... goldfish... gift... grapes... goat-girl-goo-goo-goggles-g-g-g...

Besides Dr. Seuss's, nearly every ABC book I know of has a picture of a giraffe beside the letter G.  So... Some giraffes! 

I don't personally know any giraffes, but if I did I'd want it to be this guy with the attitude.

Original Palette Knife Oil Painting on 12"x 16" Wrapped Canvas
Click Giraffe Family if you'd like to purchase this painting.

My Garden Harvest (August 1-15)

Holland Pouches

Several months ago while reading a post from Wendy at Pieceful Thoughts, I came to a quilted, zipper bag that she'd bought a pattern for and made. It was called a Holland Pouch. I had my new sewing machine that I hadn't really quite made friends with yet and thought this might be a good opportunity.  I bought the pattern.  I'm pretty sure I got my $10 worth out of it.

I made a few.

I made mistakes and figured out how to do better.

I made some more.

I learned a lot about my machine and what it would do.

I got pretty good at it.

I made a lot more.

I found the act of sewing the quilting lines so relaxing.

I loved using up scraps of material.

I made so many of them!

But I needed so many of them!  I had 36 grandbabies, grand nieces, & grand nephews who come to The Lake every year and wonder if Aunt Helen remembered to make Lake Bags this year.  I always ask the oldest ones (now 17, 16, 15....) if they're too old for a Lake Bag, and they assure me that they are not.

They got to choose their favorite bag then choose the goodies that would go inside.  

Their moms got to choose a Lake Bag this year too!

I love it!

And.... I'm not sure I'm finished making these Holland Pouches. Hmmm....

Choose Joy

I've been dreading doing this painting for a while.

When I first started painting back in February of 2007, I never ever dreamed that I'd do as many as 100 paintings. But... I just kept painting another then another then another.

Eventually I had to change my numbering system so that each painting number had three digits. And... I kept on painting.

I got to #500 and did a self portrait.  I got to #600 and did another self portrait.  Then I got to 660 and thought, "Yikes... I'm getting close to that dreaded number with all the sixes."  I finished painting #665 and knew what I was going to do for #667, but what to do between??? Skip it? Paint a canvas black? I knew I wouldn't want to sell it.

When I was spending some time with my sister, we were talking about personal mantras.  She and I both love "Choose Joy!" or "Today I Choose Joy!"  That's about as positive and opposite of the painting's sequence number as it can be.   

Perhaps I'll let this one dry then wrap it up and send it to her.  It will be a nice surprise. (Unless, she reads my blog, then she'll be watching for it.)

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 8" Wrapped Canvas
[GIFT]

I Like Thursday 8/23

Thank you to Leeanne of Not Afraid of Color for reminding me to notice things I like. 

I like going to the garden filling my little gathering basket every day.

I like growing herbs.  I'm learning to use fresh herbs in cooking.
Basil... Oregano Rosemary... Chives... 

I like that this little mama decided that my peace lily

would be a good place to raise her family.

I like doing an art project with the middle schoolers at my church each summer.

I like putting a fresh peach in the blender, pouring it
over vanilla ice cream, then adding slivered almonds.

I like these six tiny humans who call us
Gram-E & Pop-E and make our family complete.

I like looking out the window first thing in the
 morning to see what the "neighbors" are up to.

I like this crazy cat who paws out fabric to make
just the bed he wants...I've put that fabric back dozens
of times and have told him not to do it again.

I like having butterflies visit the flowers.

Do you like to attend county fairs? Yes!  As long as I can remember, the county fair has been a part of life.  When I was a kid, the week of the fair was a big deal.  We bought carnival ride tickets at school. I think it was 10 rides for $5.00. My parents judged at the fair.  Dad judged livestock.  Mom judged in the sewing and canning sections. My friends and I ran around until our money ran out. It was much like when Fern and Avery spent the day at the county fair in Charlotte's Web. What kinds of things you like to do there?  Now the fun of the fair is going with grandkids, pushing a stroller, holding a hot baby, sending a toddler on the little merry-go-round, pointing out the pretty chickens, sheep, and cows. What is your favorite "fair food" What food do you only eat at the fair, or look forward to?    We're pretty good about not eating fair food.  But one thing that is so tempting would be funnel cake, hot, right out of the grease, and topped with powdered sugar. Mmmmm...  What about Renaissance festival or regional festivals?  We've only been to one.  It was in Maryland when our son-in-law and daughter lived there.  We had no idea what to expect, but had such a good time!  What a shock that more people dressed up than didn't!  What fun! Tell us about a local festival/fair you've attended and what it's about?   Our city hosts Bikes, Blues, & Barbecue.  It's a motorcycle rally.  Since we have a Harley, we always go join in the crowd of bikes.  It's crazy loud and fun to be a part of. 

Backyard Butterfly (In the Good Old Summertime)

I snapped this photo in my neighbor's yard.  I loved it so much that I recreated it... and recreated it... and recreated it... and recreated it...

Oil

Watercolor

Collage

Quilted Fabric

Original photo

Songs that have been running
through my mind this month.

This month's Creative Companion challenge was "In the Good Old Summertime." 

Original Oil Painting on 9"x 12" Wrapped Canvas

[GIFT]

Original Watercolor Painting on 9"x 12" Watercolor Paper

[SOLD]

Original Collage on 9"x 12 Art Paper

Original Quilted Fabric on 9"x 12 Panel

Oh, I suppose I'll eventually put this painting in my Etsy shop and sell it, but I think I'd like to enjoy the group of pieces together for a while.