Charleston!

So happy to be here with my girls. This is Maddie and she is singing today with her acapella group- so excited!
I will catch up on my gratitude project later- I'm going to soak in all this amazing southern charm and hospitality while I'm here, and for that I am grateful!
Y'all have a good week.

Gratitude #111

Cupcakes have really become the little starlets of the times.

We painted red velvet cupcakes in the "painting white" workshop at the Art Complex with Carol O'Malia last night and last thursday. The two part workshop taught us how to see white in values and not reach for the tube of white. Last night she showed us how to glaze our dry paintings and then pick out the lights. I used the strongest blue- pthalo- and it was electrifying!
Not going to frame theses any time soon (ever) but I learned a lot and cant wait to try more.

Gratitude #112

I am so grateful for my car. It gets me there safely.

This watercolor (still unfinished) is about 12"x30'' on Arches 300 lb paper.

I scored a bunch of this paper at the North River Arts recent "yart sale.

I have never painted so big with watercolors and the paper makes all the difference! 

This will be framed and hanging in one of the houses on the

  Duxbury Newcomers club house tour

in May.

Gratitude # 111

I have a little hammer- Its a girlie hammer but it does the job!

Gratitude #110

This forsythia bush is so bright- It startles me in the morning as I round the corner and see it out the window!
Its so cheerful. I love it.

Gratitude #109

The Weeping Cherry tree is in bloom!

It was given to me when my oldest daughter was in first grade-as a thank you from the school to me for illustrating the fundraiser cookbook. Another time marker...

Here's the picture of my daughter in Charleston yesterday after her race ( it didn't attach yesterday- sorry!)

She's on the left. 

and lastly,

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Gratitude # 108

My Mother always kept these on her dresser. The large one has some Bermuda sand in it ( shhhh)
It reminds me of a magical trip we took the kids on when they were little-These jars hold sweet memories for me.

I'm so proud of my daughters. I need to brag a little- forgive me! My oldest is working long hours at her job in New York and decided to also volunteer for the New York Cares program. She is awesome.

My youngest ran a 5k this morning in Charleston in a remembrance for the marathon bombings.

Gratitude # 107

Thank you to all the policemen out there who worked all this week and finally captured the suspect. My heart goes out to Sean Collier's family and friends. He sounded like a great guy.
I am so sad for all these events and the victims killed and injured. This has been brutal.

Gratitude #106

I planted a lot of seeds the other day in my gardens- my daughter had gave me some packets.
"Grandmothers cutting garden mix"- and butterfly mix- and poppies. Hopefully they will come up!
I also moved lilies, hostas and grasses around- they keep multiplying and make great filler.

Gratitude#105

chick-a-dee-dee-dee

chick-a dee-dee-dee!

Gratitude #104

The other day I bumped into one of my best friends in Stop and Shop. She looked like a million bucks, I didn't... even her groceries looked better than mine too. But I didn't care because I loved seeing her. (Sometimes I will secretly hide when I see someone I know if I'm not in the mood)

(I'm the old looking one in red LOL)

I am grateful for the 1,000,000 things to choose from in the squeaky clean stores. Truly.

 How lucky are we!

Gratitude #103

Gratitude for those who are safe and the first responders.

Prayers for those who are not.

Gratitude # 102

                                                               I love the Buddha.

I was turned onto this documentary about the Buddha  from Chris Peters ( thanks Chris!) I watch it a lot. Richard Gere's voice is soothing.

Gratitude # 101

My friend Carol Jankowski has a tee shirt that has a glass of wine on it and the caption reads

 "more book club please"

I chuckle every time I think of that....

Indeed, I do like wine. 

I was painting this at a gathering friday night ( uh -huh... I bring my paint stuff to parties sometimes)

My friend Linda Evans asked me if I ever painted with wine. I poo poohed it -"my pigments are superior to wine!" I said snottily - and then I dipped the brush in it anyway. LOL Linda it was a good idea!

It was a very good merlot. Tasty pigment!

Gratitude #100!

I counted my paintings in my book. 100 today ! Somehow I messed up the numbering...
not surprising- math was never my strong suit.

My mothers mother, Mildred Brooks Chipman, was an artist and my inspiration. She went to the Vesper Gorge School in Boston to be a fashion illustrator.

When we lived in her old house in Norwell for a time growing up, she had a studio in the upstairs called the "crows nest" where she painted on trays and furniture. I can still smell the oil paint. I loved it up there.  She never stopped being creative.

My rendition of her drawing- from 1926 when she worked for Hoveys.

NEWS!

I am designing a POSTER of the first 100! Email me if you are interested in buying one- I don't know the price yet but will let you know. 

One of you who requests will win one!

Gratitude #98

These beauties always bloom in a neglected weed patch on the side of my house ( this year I will tackle that area I hope!)
I forget they're there until they are in full bloom.
Happy Happy little guys! And I don't feel bad picking them.

                                                Thank you Daffodils- trumpets of spring!

                  Last nights class at my studio grouted their mosaics. Here are a couple...

Gratitude #97

My friend Linda has chickens.

She gave me these eggs. Unbelievably pretty colors but the best part is the yolk. I like mine poached.

Gratitude #96

I'm in Portland , Maine ,at a coffee shop. I love to drink good coffee and paint in cafes. I'm alone but not by myself.
My husband and I came last night to see Lori McKenna ,one of our favorite singer songwriters.

Gratitude #95

I have always loved Rembrandt.
I am hoping and praying that they get the missing ones back to the Gardner Museum.

Thanks for all the well wishes for my ankle.
It's much better now- I can drive and walk and its not hurting too much at all!

Gratitude# 94

My dear friend Sue gave me this little Willow Tree sculpture. It's message is perfect for Spring!

Gratitude # 93

Grateful for the medical professional!

I took quite a tumble the other night. Long story, but I learned that walking while looking up at the stars in the darkness can be dangerous. My foot rolled of the edge of the cement pool deck- enough to send me sprawling! I went to the medical center

 and initially they said it was a sprain but later called to tell me it was a fracture. So I get to go back to the Doc's again today! It's really not very serious at all, doesn't even really hurt, but kind of annoying as I can't drive....

Lesson learned... be present.. and stargaze in a stationary position!

Gratitude #92

This is a statue of a boy at Kennedy's Garden Center. I love how kids always want to do grown up stuff because its fun.

Gratitude #91

My sister-in - law Anna makes a great asparagus risotto- we enjoyed it at Easter time!

Below is my  8'x8" oil painting for this months Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge- the theme is "sunlight"

The one on the challenge blogsite is a bit unfinished- I worked on it a lot !

I for one feel as if I am just waking up after this winter like a big ol' bear!

Gratitude #90

I loved the book "The Magic of Findhorn"

I invite the fairies to my garden to help me this spring!

Gratitude #89

These are supposed to be raindrops but my brush played an April Fools Joke on me and they look like asteroids....