{Posted from} Home

The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest ~ Sir Thomas Moore ~


hOMe is where the heART is …


Friday, February 27, 2015

Woodland Weaving ...

A little "V" shaped branch, some yarn and twine and an afternoon of lovely, meditative weaving was happening yesterday. 
I am thinking of doing a few using different sized found branches and creating a little wall in Sparrow Studio of branch weavings ♥
Can not wait to get a loom now!!
I think I've found a new hobby :-)
 
~Have a wonderful weekend~
♥d


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Snow drops ...

Hard to believe there are just a few days left in February.
Frigid temps and blowing snow have kept my Nikon safely nestled in the camera bag and thus, there have not been many outdoor photos taken.
Most photos these past months  have been taken using my Ipad .
 I am really enjoying my Instagram account & find it is wonderful for adding a photo and a few lines and keeping in touch.  
My link is on the sidebar ♥
Even though outside my window is a scene of white ~ on my painting table, it has been snowdrops of a different kind.
  Along with nests and mossy fields, hopping bunnies and happy birds,  Snowdrops are being added to my latest painting "Through fields and woods".
Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday
♥d

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

 
I love the theatre.
 This afternoon we had the absolute joy of watching Angela Lansbury star in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit at the beautiful Princess of Wales Theatre.
I've been a huge fan of Angela Lansbury for many years. Murder She Wrote was a favourite show of mine {1984-1996}. Jessica Fletcher was a mystery writer who played amateur sleuth on the side. I loved everything about the show from her gorgeous home, the town and her adorable bike with basket which was just like mine :-)
Playing along side Ms Lansbury was Charles Edwards also known for his role as Michael Gregson,  Lady Edith's publisher/love on Downton Abbey!
A wonderful, funny story, incredible cast ... standing ovation was much deserved.
 

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Tuesday's trail ...

along the water's edge
I love spotting nests
such beauty in grapevine and frozen pods
bare trees
company
walking partner
l♥ve
xo

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Let's go for a walk in the woods ...

Thinking of the quote
"Life imitates art
far more than
art
imitates life"
~Oscar Wilde~
& hoping my Art is a blend of both. The way things are & adding a bit of how I'd love them to be.  Walking with a Wild Hare in my arms and Sparrow in my pocket :-D
"Let's go for a walk in the woods" is a good example I suppose of Mr. Wilde's quote.
The scene I've painted is very similar to our favourite walking trails in the Spring/Summer.  The grass is a rich emerald green and wild flowers grow prolific  in lovely lush patches. When you stop to admire them, you will see, ever so slight movements as  Lady bugs, dragon flies and grasshoppers move about. Birds call out to one another.  Swallows swoop overhead & come so close to us we often feel the need to duck.  When the berries appear in the bush, great big flocks of Cedar Waxwings can be spotted.
I love to watch the birds with nesting materials in their beaks & look to see where they are building their nests as we walk, although it is on our walks in the Winter when we can really spot them and marvel at their building skills as they sit now as empty cavities simply  gathering snow ♥
We've seen our share of Wild Hare and even the occasional Deer as we walk.
"A Leap of Faith"
Another print with Hare and Sparrow ♥
Both prints just added to my Etsy shop.
I love to jot down my walk discoveries in a journal.
My favourite Sparrow brown paper gathered inside.
A simple hole punch has been created, threaded and held on with a button.
Can be seen in the newest Somerset Life issue ♥

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

10 things ...

After stumbling across blogs (and blogging) serendipitously ♥ 8 years ago,
I have met so many lovely people all over the world, many whom have become dear friends.
One of those being Mandy, a fellow Canadian who shares her home with the most precious bunnies and cares deeply about the welfare of animals as I do.
Jaks, Emmett, Elsie, Henrie, Flynn, Yuuji, Frenwyck and Teela serve as wonderful inspiration for Mandy's gorgeous  art!
This past Christmas, I was the lucky recipient of one of Mandy's one-of-a-kind felt bunnies which hangs from my inspiration board in Sparrow Studio.  She sometimes sells these in her Etsy shop and they are stunning!
So when Mandy posted a list of "10 things you may not know about me" and added a challenge to do the same, I thought it was a great idea.  Thanks Mandy xo
 
"10 things you may not know about me"
 
1.  I was born in England.
When I came to Canada, my accent was so thick that no one could understand me!
To this day, more than 50 years later, I am still asked if I am from England, Ireland or Australia :-)
I guess the accent is still there :-)
2. I love living where there are 4 distinct Seasons.
Fall and Winter are my favourite.
I especially like rain, snow and cool temperatures.
Heat ... not so much.
3.  I love taking photos
you will usually see me with a camera.
4.  Love snail mail 
and turning photos I've taken into cards to drop a note to a friend.
5. While I live in the City, my heart is and has always been in the Country.
Long walks with our Lab Archer in the country are a necessity for me ♥ I return home feeling refreshed, refueled and at peace ~ always.
6. I love being & living near water.  Maybe it is in my blood having being born near the Sea.
7.  I was involved in a  serious automobile accident.
A fully loaded transport truck ran a red light and t-boned my vehicle.
It left me with multiple injuries including ruptured discs in my neck, nerve damage, years of rehabilitation and chronic pain.
My life was forever changed in that split second taking away from me things I loved and never dreamed I would no longer be able to do (such as garden, which I was passionate about)
I put away my paints and brushes (and at that time, many of my dreams with them).
Years later, when I picked up a paint brush again my "style" of painting was completely different.
The images above are from stories I wrote and illustrated for my children.
Having them published was a dream way back then.  I was working on putting together a "dummy book" when my accident occurred. 
8. Sparrows play a continuous role in my life, and art.
I've written my Story of the Sparrow with a link at the top of my blog if you want to read more ♥
9. Black Labrador Retrievers ... oh how I love them.
Readers of my very first blog posted-from-home will remember Bentley.
We adopted Bentley when he was 3 1/2 and he was simply a joy.
Blessed with 10 years of pure Lab Love ♥
When my husband and daughter headed out to the Shelter that afternoon, Ben had just become available for adoption! Meant to be xo  Having Bentley began our life long love of Labradors.
 
And then we were asked if we were interested in adopting Ernest.
He was 11 years old.  After loosing Ben, I was so afraid of adopting an older dog. I didn't know how I could go through that again!  My wise and very kind husband simply said "lets give him the best senior years possible".  He was right, except Ernest gave US his best senior years.  He traveled all the way from Quebec to join our family just days before Christmas ... what a gift!  I always thought that the spelling of his name should have been EARNEST ♥
Ernest loved to walk ... and was a huge part of my healing process too.  When I think back to all the mornings that I did not want to get out of bed in the morning in such pain let alone walk, he was the gentle nudge I needed.  I think every day, I thanked him for getting me outside and being my faithful companion.
We often say that the only negative to adopting an older pet is less time with them.  The only negative. The above photo was published in our local Newspaper.  We dressed Ernie up in a Canadian bandana in anticipation of the Olympics that year.
 
And now we have Archer.
Archer was found wandering the streets.  When I look back at his photos when we first adopted him I barely recognize him.  His fur was like a bristle brush and skin hung on him.  With shelter dogs you often don't know their story ... sometimes I think that's a blessing.  When I look at him now lovely and filled out with fur that shines like a diamond sleeping at the bottom of our bed it breaks my heart to think of him on the streets or in a cage.  He is my shadow.  Adopted near Valentine's day & because he (and his story) touched our heart and soul we named him Archer.  Our 3 year Anniversary "gotcha day" is coming up.
10. I always wanted to be a Mum.
Now I'm living the saying "If I knew grandchildren were this much fun, I'd have had them first" ♥
Pure joy.
I thought it would be hard to think of 10 things ... but in keeping with my Twenty Fifteen Guiding Word which is Grow, this is perfect timing.  For years I had  tried to form a balance with how to put my Art out into the world AND remain anonymous.  Very difficult :-) 
Here's to always Growing xoxo
d