Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

Ahh ... the Hummingbird

I wait yearly in anticipation of their arrival.

I remember last Summer while staying with our friends at their cottage watching in awe as one after the other took turns at the feeder.

At home I had 3 Hummingbird feeders out in the hopes that they would stop by.

My sweet friend Julie Marie knowing this sent me the most gorgeous Hummingbird earrings for my birthday, so the Hummers would always be near :-)

Such beauty and determination in that little body.

I've been working on some dream catchers for the past few days.

Dream Catcher Hummingbird is a tiny dream catcher created with a brass hoop, lots of long lovely ribbons and a tiny watercolour Hummingbird that is suspended from the hoop.

I noticed our lily of the valley was in bloom, and picked a few for bouquets to bring indoors (along with some more lilac) ... oh the sweetest scents & hung Dream Catcher Hummingbird in the pussy willow tree.  It looked so pretty as the breeze caught the ribbon and twirled the catcher.

but this paper bird can't stay outside

it's too delicate

I've added a Dream Big affirmation to the back

because like the Hummingbird,

the smallest birds can have the biggest aspirations and dreams♥

The Dream Keeper

Bring me all of your dreams,

you dreamer,

bring me all your heart melodies

that I may wrap them

in a blue cloud cloth

away from the too rough fingers

of the world

~Langston Hughes~

Weekend Woodland Walks ...

This past weekend while on our Woodland Walk, I kept thinking that all my photos were looking as though they were taken in the Fall :-)

the colours were very Autumnal ...

lots of browns

and sepias

the bark of trees

and barren areas

and then, all of a sudden, this happy surprise ... a blast of Yellow ♥

May ...

 

Hello May

a brand new month

lots of ideas

... my Art table has been divided into 2 sections this week

one for painting and the other to hold some stitchery ideas I've been working on

 

"All of a Flutter"

we opened up our garden pond yesterday and within minutes of the pump being started up, the Sparrows arrived... oh the joy that came from their little bodies which were all of a flutter.

Their wings were flapping, they were singing, as more and more friends arrived to join in the celebration :-)

I'm not sure who was happier about the pond - me or the Sparrows :-)

you are as welcome

as flowers

in May

~Charles Macklin~

late morning journaling in the sunshine ♥

The air is like a butterfly

with frail blue wings

the happy Earth

looks at the sky

and sings

~Joyce Kilmer~

The Seasons are shifting.

The Winter shades lifting.

The springtime is filling

Earth's children with mirth.

The daffodil yellow

the South wind, so mellow.

The gentle rain falling

upon the green Earth.

The song Sparrow singing

new life

quickly springing.

All Nature is telling

a tale of rebirth!

The deep wells of being

beyond each day's seeing,

O'er flowing

with new life,

restoring the Earth.

~David Bumbaugh~

 

Earth Day ...

Beauty

of whatever kind,

in its supreme development

invariably excites

the sensitive soul

to tears

~Edgar Allan Poe~

♥

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

I have been watching in pure delight and awe, a Robin creating her nest from scratch.

She has been diligently flying back and forth with just the right material as she weaves a home to place her precious eggs.  A spot to house, protect and nurture with found treasures.

It has been quite windy lately, and her poor nest was a bit disheveled this morning. Robin was quite comical as she wiggled about getting things back in order.

Thankful {things I love}Thursday ... inspiration for paintings at my own back door ♥

I hope I have done you justice sweet Robin.

Feather and Found Treasures is now in the shop

Vintage Sparrow Studio

just in time for Mother's Day

♥♥♥

Bird Watching ...

So often on our Woodland Walks

we can hear the birds but can not spot them,

so time to bring out the binoculars.

I have a little birding journal

small enough to fit in my coat pocket or camera bag

to bring along too and jot down the birds we see.

The Red Winged Blackbirds have been one of the most spotted birds thus far.

And of course ... picking up treasures along the way is a walking must too :-)

twigs for weaving and heart shaped stones ... pretty leaves for pressing and feather messages ~ ♥

Spring

would not be Spring

without bird songs

~Francis M Chapman~

The Mindful Artist ...

The Mindful Artist

 

The way we look at things

has a huge influence

on what becomes

visible

for us

~John O'Donohue~

 

I love this quote.  In fact I adore all the writings of John O'Donohue. His words have found their way into many of my Quote journals.

Ironically, so many of my paintings that include people, have them in a sort of contemplative mode ... peaceful facial expressions, eyes often closed or letting in a slight crack of light, being present in the moment ... in a mindful manner.

I painted The Mindful Artist a while ago.

She sat off to one side of my Art table for a bit.  I knew she was not finished but in a Mindful manner, did not want to rush that moment when you are able to lean back and know that what you are looking at is how it was meant to be.

These past few weeks have been filled with chronic pain flair ups and time in my Studio has been limited (and normally the reason why I have not posted as frequently) . 

 The Mindful Artist was finished sitting quietly in a favourite spot in my home, with my hand made Art board, my beloved white pen in hand letting it flow as it wished.

Now available for sale at my Etsy shop. 

I'm going to frame a print for my Studio too :-)

♥

d