The Canvas are Calling ...

the Artemesia is drying nicely ...

just sitting on my art table in the sunlight

 ~ it has a distinctive scent I find very lovely

my watercolour pencils all needed a good sharpening ...

pencils sharpened, brushes cleaned, sketchbook open ...

the canvas are calling

♥

~have a wonderful weekend~

D

xo

Texture Tuesdays ...

Under the Weeping Willow

Texture : Aurora (Kim Klassen)

***

 

We met some sweet barnyard friends this past Saturday at Art in the Vineyard craft show.

They had a lovely shady spot under a beautiful Weeping Willow.

 

Joining in today with Texture Tuesday.

Monday moments ...

I was quietly sitting at my kitchen table this morning, sipping tea and writing out my morning's to-do list, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted the woodpeckers.

While this is nothing new ... they visit the suet baskets many times a day ... I had never seen them feed their babies ♥

The window blinds were only pulled half way up and I knew that pulling them all the way up would scare the woodpeckers away so I left them as they were.  I had a kitchen chair blocking most of my view, but my camera was at hand, so I didn't want to miss the opportunity to at least try and get a picture. 

Like baby Woodie I felt happy & content.

On our weekend walk, I came across this beautiful Hawk feather .

yes

♥

I thought what a beautiful smudging feather it would make.

We have large patches of Artemesia growing in our garden. The initial few sprigs were gifted to me in the early 90's... and have spread rapidly over the years.

I will make some bundles & let them dry.

I found this beautiful piece at a charity shop.  I think it was originally a tiny frame, although the back was missing. There was something so lovely about it that I had to buy it. 

Artemesia ~ Artemis ~ Goddess of wilderness & woods who traveled the woods in the company of dogs.

The piece was found years ago, and I still have not filled it.  I thought of maybe using it to hold a little pressed flower, or clover . I found a 4-leaf clover in our garden shortly after our Lab Bentley passed. He had a favourite spot in our garden and I was thinking of him, looked down and there it was. I have that clover framed next to my studio desk {now yellowed, faded and paper thin}.

You never know what treasures will be bestowed upon you ♥

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

One of the reasons I love doing a Thankful  (things I love} Thursday post is that I can recap my week of gratitude in one post.  I've been doing a TT post since I started blogging {with my 1st posted from home blog in 2006)

This weeks thankful loves are ...

my chippy garden statue ~

she stands guarding, nestled in a flower patch in our back yard.

our  courtyard garden

mostly left to it's own doing

our little English country garden

we've had 2 hummingbird spottings (still hoping to catch a photo ... have been trying for years)

 a beautiful yellow swallowtail that's been in our garden since the lilac bloomed

lots and lots of bumbles

blue jays and crows, doves, black birds and

~sparrows~

♥

the perfect veggie lunch

with fresh farmer market ingredients

 tomatoes and spinach

avocado

hummus (homemade)

rye toast

couscous

red cabbage

and a handful of cashews

~yum~

our walking spot is filled with Swallows

one spot in particular finds them in clusters along the wires

a lovely little community

we had to be careful at one point where we stepped

there were random eggs here and there

since there are a lot of Killdeer in the area, I wondered if they belonged to them ♥

will have to do some research :-)

Monday musings ...

After seeing how many blooms were on our peony bushes this morning,

I felt they were giving me permission to clip a few to enjoy indoors

at this time of year I love being able to rely on my own little English Country garden to supply posies for indoors & brought out a few vases to fill for the kitchen, family room, living room and studio ♥

which is where my next "to do" item was on my list ... upstairs to the studio.

I have had quite a few projects going on at once recently (completed now I am happy to say)

 which resulted in creating a bit of a mumbled mess!

things began to look much better in no time.

But of course, as I was going through beads and trinkets I started thinking of new ways to incorporate them :-)

I purchase brown paper shipping paper by the rolls - I love using it for tons of purposes, one of my favourite being covering my art table.

It feels lovely and fresh when I pull the roll down to cover the table.

Perfect for jotting down ideas as I sit and paint and/or craft... because that is when more often than not the ideas come :-)

that, and I am such a doodler!

It is so economical and makes clean up a breeze.

When it's time to change the paper up, I like to have a look at all that's jotted down ... all the little sketches and thoughts, splatters of paint ... all that's happened in Sparrow Studio ♥

working on some exciting projects ...

hope to share SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON.

must remember my own words

♥

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

the peony are in bloom

each year it seems I watch and watch

wondering when it will be that the first bloom appears

and then in the blink of an eye

the entire peony bush is filled with scented flowers

we had quite a downpour last night

with thunder and lightening

the garden is well watered

and little birdie drinking areas

filled to the top

this one is a favourite with the sparrows

tucked in amongst the peony, hosta and larkspur

 ranunculus

and red geraniums

I know that a rule of thumb says peony take a while to re establish themselves once moved.

We lost so many bushes and plants due to the harsh Winter and especially the ice storm that moving this particular Peony was necessary.

It has never looked so good!

I think it prefers it's new spot.

both Peony bushes bloomed at exactly the same time this year

Later this afternoon,

when the garden has dried,

I will pick some blooms ... just a few ... to put on our table ♥

working on a garden project...

close to my heart ♥ ...

When Managing Editor Christine Stephens contacted me a few months ago

 regarding writing an article for my Stitched Hearts, I knew that I would include all the little things that are close to my heart.

The very reason these little hearts were created in the first place ...

to be given

to the one (s) I love

One of my very favourite heart creations

vintage lace, buttons, fabric rosettes & stamped message.

Thank you so much Christine for the opportunity to share my crafts & thoughts.

It is always an honour ♥

My Stitched Hearts article along with directions to make the stitched hearts can be found in the newest Sew Somerset Summer 2014 issue.

garden bunny Beau

as in Beau tiful ♥

he actually walked up to my hubby as he was gardening over the weekend.

we had lots of rain last night

starting late in the evening and continuing all through the night

the peony

are almost ready to open.

we have 2 peony bushes ~ one normally blooms a week or so earlier than the other, but this year, we had to move one of them (the later bloomer) and it looks  as though they are both going to bloom at the same time.

the lilac is still looking

and smelling

amazing

joy at the suet basket

the squirrels left a little bit for the birds :-)

abundance in our garden

a perfusion of flowers & birds

all

close to my heart

♥