If I paint a wild horse ...

"If I paint a wild horse, 

you might not see the horse ... 

but surely

 you will see 

the wildness

~Pablo Picasso~

It's been all about horses - particularly wild horses that have been on my mind & art table lately.

In the past, I think I've painted a half dozen horses. I remember being filled with such joy seeing the wild horses in England and their wild knotted manes , the look of pure contentment in their eyes and absolutely no fear of the cars that drove beside them. Such a sense of being! Perhaps I'm channeling those emotions when I paint, for all their manes are wild! 

this is Sadie and this is her story, written  underneath all the paint 

Sadie

Sweet Sadie

like an angel on this Earth

Won't let anyone tame that wild spirit

her gift since birth

You can't conquer

a heart like hers

One that has the unsettled gene

who leaves the moment it stirs

You won't tame her

don't even try

She will leave so quickly

you'd swear she could fly

She loves her freedom

is only one with the land

A lover of the soil

and dry, soft sand

~deb dunn~ 

Shiloh

An older horse, Shiloh is well traveled. While painting Shiloh, I thought about all the amazing Muskoka views taken in over the years driving to the cottage. Always beautiful, but especially so this time of year with the changing leaves. 

Shiloh

She's a well traveled girl

knows the paths so well

There's a look in her eyes

Oh, the stories they could tell

Having walked through the hills

grassy fields and lakes

Through the joy of the journey

she has what it takes

And she'll explore the unknown

for as long as she can

She's a solo traveler

her mane is her wind span

~deb dunn~ 

Much like the mythical winged horse Pegasus. Shiloh & Sadie are travelers with wild, mystical manes.

 "Blame it or praise it,

there is no denying the wild horse in us"

~Virginia Woolf~

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

for my ears

the sound of soothing water

{and happy, happy birds splashing about}

for my eyes 

the colours of the leaves are changing ... oh what a glorious sight they are! 

 for my soul

early morning walks and fog

walking gently on the Earth

for my mouth

I treated myself to a food processor a couple of weeks ago. A sale was on and after years and years of chopping (which I actually enjoy), I decided to finally purchase one.

I love making soups and plan on eating lots of them through Autumn and Winter. Tonight's is going to be red lentil which I haven't made before and looking forward to tasting. I've already made the bread (brown bread with cornmeal and molasses) for dipping! 

for my hands

a pocket full of peanuts for the squirrels and chipmunks.

I had quite the giggle a few days ago. Archer and I were walking along quietly and slowly when out of the corner of my eye I spotted what I thought was a skunk digging for grubs.  Archer is deaf and his sight isn't the best but the two of us manage to communicate. I will stroke his face to get his attention & I certainly wanted his attention :-)

As we crossed the street, I realized that it was in fact a squirrel ... one with a leaf on it's back!!! 

for my feet

this gorgeous bridge, the view of the lake on one side, woods on the other

black capped chickadees that will feed from your hands * swans, ducks and geese * squirrels and chipmunks galore. It is a little slice of heaven at my feet.

happy October!

d xx

 

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

for my ears

**

sparrow serenades

for my eyes

**

Watching the birds/squirrels/chipmunks eating treats on their own little picnic table.

My daughter Kate & her partner  Kevin designed and built this sweet table which we attached to our fence.

While we enjoy a meal on the sunporch we can watch them enjoying theirs.

for my soul

**

finding heart shaped nibbles on the honeysuckle leaves

they forever make me smile

for my mouth 

***

homemade cornbread baked in tiny little loaf pans (oh yum)

and apple slices that look like little Owl faces :-) 

Archer loves cornbread and apple slices too!

for my hands and feet

***

long woodland walks picking up leaves/pinecones & acorns

"... and then, I have nature and art and poetry,

and if that is not enough,

what is enough?"

~Vincent Willem Van Gogh~

 

that Fall feeling ...

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous lately. Cool mornings, warm afternoons and even cooler evenings perfect for staying home and being cozy.  I've filled a large wicker basket with crocheted afghans and a few favourite blankets to snuggle up with in the evening watching a bit of tv or reading.

I've got that Fall feeling!

Putting away some of the summer garden items and bringing out the Scarecrows.

I can never resist picking up leaves as I walk. Our Maple tree will drop lots in the next few weeks so I won't have to go far to have leaves to twist into little leaf roses.

Our garden has been filled with birds and birdsong. We've had a variety of Sparrows, Crows, Black capped chickadees, Yellow Finch, Woodpeckers, Carolina Wren, Nuthatch,  Blue Jays and  Doves.  Found the nest sweet Dove abandoned on a vicious stormy night, inside were 2 perfect little eggs. She made the nest in the eaves and was totally exposed. She'd nested there before and we could not believe that she was able to fit inside let alone babies, but that time all was well and when I would head out in the morning to walk with Archer, I would see tiny little heads poking up as I said my Good Mornings to them.

Our garden is looking pretty wild at this point - which is how we love it! Watching the bees and birds at the still blooming flowers and nibbling at the dried seeds is food for the soul. 

 "I acknowledge my feelings 

and gratitude for life 

by praising the world

 and who ever made

 all these things" 

~Mary Oliver~

Celebrating *everything*

Life

should not only 

be lived,

it 

should be

Celebrated!

Celebrating my Vintage Sparrow Studio Etsy shop's Birthday this month

((from my Etsy shop listing description)) 

***
I've chosen my One - of- a- kind woven wall hanging ~ Sparrow~
Woven in Shabby Sparrow style ♥ offering *FREE TRACKED POSTAGE* on this special item only.

For your serenity corner * above your altar space * bedroom * yoga studio * family gallery wall

Created using a variety of yarns of different textures, weights & colours, and a variety of weaving techniques.

A watercolour image printed on high quality Hahnemuhle archival paper printed from one of my original paintings has been hand cut and stitched (with a sewing machine) to the front.
A small piece of vintage sheet music has been layered with a quote and stitched to the front.
12 small beads have been attached to a small fringe above the watercolour image.

white * gold * navy blue * pale blue * orange * green * grey * brown

Wooden dowel with 2 small beads and "Sparrow brown and white" twine are attached for hanging.

Measures approximately 5" W x 9" L
Measures approximately 5" W x 11.5" L with fringe

Will be posted as a tracked package.
I will give you the tracking number once posted.

woven with love ♥
deb & the sparrows

Little did I know when I opened up my  Etsy shop that I would meet so many lovely people through my Art. Over the years I have received the kindest, most wonderful notes and photos showing where pieces of Art I have created now call hOMe and it is humbling. 

The Covid 19 pandemic has thrown us all for a loop ... changing the things we "took for granted".  As a small shop owner, I chose to put my shop on stay-cation mode for a few months as I wanted to avoid as many trips out as possible. Now, I still keep my shop visits to a minimum and trips to the post office are normally once a week. Shipping delays are inevitable and packages may take longer than normal to arrive. Things that are unavoidable. 

So, in celebration of my shop's Birthday and postage delays :-) I have chosen a one of a kind weaving with my Birthday gift of Free Tracked Postage xo  Link to my shop is on my blog side panel.

Happy Saturday

Spirit & Sage ...

I keep a piece of (recycled) cardboard on my Art table to sit underneath the paper I'm painting.

It's the cardboard backing from the art paper pad, saved once all the paper has been used.

Over the years, the cardboard has picked up lots of brush strokes.

They always looked like little pieces of art to me, so I saved them.

At one time, I thought about framing them just as they were.

Looking at two of the pieces, I could distinctly see images of horses.

I seem to be thinking "horses" lately!

Not wanting to loose any detail gathered, I simply and organically painted ...

no sketching, very little use of a paintbrush, preferring to use my finger tips ...

simply following what I could instinctually see already there.

I love that within the image, you can see all the "imperfections" gathered over months and months and many, many paintings that have been on top.  This particular piece of cardboard had a crease in it. It looks as though Spirit herself caused it as she galloped! 

Spirit

***

She is a wild one

they said

Has crazy thoughts

dancing in her head.

Doesn't go softly

runs, never walks

Will only tell you the truth

when she talks.

She's her own 

kind of breed.

Not a follower ...

only wants to lead.

In her chest

beats a heart of gold.

But as kind as she is

you know, she won't be told.

Never stays

where she doesn't belong.

If you don't treat her right,

she'll be gone.

Her wild mane

dancing in the night.

Mind, body, spirit,

guided by moonlight.

~deb dunn~ 

And then I painted Sage

A print for those who are loving and embracing their crone years (as I am) will enthusiasm, gratitude and joy! Loving the freedom being in my 60's brings!! 

Sage

***

They call her

by the name of Sage

She's reached

that magical, crone age.

A mane of silver

flows down her back

Along the way,

she's left many, deep tracks.

Never would she have imagined

the freedom she'd have at this time

Walking the smooth path now,

no more mountains to climb.

Wasting no time on regrets or disappointments

there's nothing to resent.

Her mindset now is to focus

on what makes her happy and content.

Youth felt still

within her heart

Wisdom of age

Sets her apart.

~deb dunn~

~happy long weekend blessings~

d xo

from paper to stone

welcomed visitor ...

I hadn't noticed this little sweetheart resting on the ledge of our bedroom window when Archer and I headed out for our morning walk.

It was only until we reached the road and I looked back at our home that I spotted him/her.

When we returned home, I went inside, grabbed my camera and took a few photos.

I initially thought Owl, but after going through the Audubon Guide, coloring, shape, size, feathers etc ...  I'm thinking  Common Night Hawk.

"Primarily solitary* medium/long tail* small beak* perches horizontally on a roof (or ledge)

well camouflaged * with grey, white, buff and black feathers

Nature is not a place to visit.

It is home.