Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Looking for Spring?

My mother in law called on Monday just as I was out in the yard, phone in pocket, camera in hand, taking some photos of the amazing things happening in my yard. She said that in Pennsylvania, there had just been new snow and it was sleeting. Eegads... I sure felt blessed to be out in the sunshiny 70 degree weather of North Carolina and enjoying the first day of a promising spring season. And it made me realize that so many of my web friends are still in the throes of winter. So I decided to share some of those photos I took the other morning, as well as a couple from over the weekend. Hope it brings cheer and hope to those of you who still are experiencing the cold weather of winter.

                                               Apple Tree Blossoms

The Many Faces of Daffodils

Our Peach Tree, still hanging on with one branch of blossoms

Pear Tree Blossoms

Our Much-Loved Home

And what would March be without kite-flying on a Sunday afternoon?

Here's to spring, rebirth, colors, and hope!







Monday, March 21, 2011

Finding Fine Art in Spring


This year on Etsy, I was accepted into a new team... Finding Fine Art. It's a terrific group of fine artists who sell original work and who work together in a variety of ways to support each other.

Here is what this team is all about: The Finding Fine Art team was created to provide a unique shopping experience for fine art collectors seeking original art on Etsy. Members of the team are visual artists with outstanding, gallery quality original artwork, a high level of professionalism and presentation, and a positive standing in the Etsy community. Buyers are encouraged to look through our members list to discover new artists or search the tag “findingfineart” on Etsy for a dazzling, virtual gallery experience.

I spent some time looking through the amazing art this team has created and decided to feature some work here... with a theme of spring, of course, in honor of the first day of spring. I considered subject, color, and title, and came up with this mix of abstract and realism, watercolors, oils, and acrylics. Follow the link to see the work up close in the artist's Etsy shop.

Wild Garden by JessicaTorrant
Renovation by heronkate

Ladies in Spring Rain by karensfineart

Spring Fantasy by watermediaworks

Happily Ever After by aliherrmann

Spring Scene by PrankePaintings

Signs of Spring by MDaisleyMoffitt

Little Chick by WaterInMyPaint
Stay tuned for more fine art... and until then, enjoy the new life growing all around us, and kiss the ones you love.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

The Birds of the March Thaw


The days are getting warmer, the trees are budding, the daffodils and forsythia are blooming, filling my garden and everywhere you look with bright bursts of yellow, and each morning there is much bird song in celebration of it! I am rejoicing after a very long and cold winter, and my color palette is filled with spring shades. Here are a few new birdies in springtime colors that have been brought to life in watercolor. Most of these have already been listed in my Etsy shop, and some of them are framed. Some will be listed today.







While you're here, don't forget to check out my Springtime Giveaway of a 4 x 6 watercolor. Just click here for easy access. Good luck, and Happy Spring!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Springtime Giveaway!


As promised, I am sponsporing another giveaway. I'd posted on Facebook that when my Etsy shop reached 1000 "hearts", I would do a giveaway in celebration of that. Kneedeeporiginals now has 1028 hearts, so I'm just a wee bit late, but better late than never.

So here's what I'm offering in this giveaway.


Love Me Tender is a cheery 4 x 6 original watercolor that will easily fit into a standard mat or frame. It was painted on 140 lb cold press watercolor paper and will be packaged a protective sleeve between sturdy cardboard for safe delivery to you.

So how do you win?

1. Go to my Etsy shop OR my website and check out what's for sale. Then return here and leave a comment to tell me which item you like best and why. This will count as ONE try at winning.
2. Are you following me here OR on Facebook? Please leave a comment that tells me that, and you'll get ANOTHER try at winning.
3. If you purchase something from my Etsy shop between now and the end of the giveaway (paintings, scrimshaw, and CD) or my personal website (paintings, scrimshaw, CD, and jewelry), that counts as TWO more chances at winning. Please be sure to let me know here that you have done so. If you buy more than one item, that's TWO more chances.
4. Share this giveaway on your blog or FB page, provide YOUR link in a comment here, and that counts as ANOTHER try at winning.

So all in all, you can have SEVERAL chances to win. This giveaway will end at 8:00 PM on Thursday, March 24, two weeks from today. Good luck, everyone!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Random Shots

I've been working really hard on music for the past couple of weeks. I have a solo gig this evening that I'm pretty excited about (and maybe there will be photos to post from that later on), so all my creative energy and focus has, for the most part, gone towards music. I've even done some at-home recording so I have a couple sampler CDs for sale. But this morning, under a gray sky and light drizzle, I went a-walking round the property with the dogs and we played a little chase too. I took my camera with me, so here are a few photos from my North Carolina home.

Here's a familiar sight for me. Every day, this is my lovely view, though, of course, it changes with the season.

And images from the front yard... our pear tree just beginning to bud, and our bottle tree.



And here's Foster, playing his favorite game... "I've got the stick; now chase me!" He has become a wonderful companion and he's so very loyal. He loves our walks.

In the side garden, near our main entrance, we have daffodils and irises coming up by the score.

Going on up the road on the way to the barn, there is this sign hanging on the back side of my studio. I love its weathered look. It's from a shop my husband used to own but which he closed many years ago.

And a couple other images from further up the road.


At the barn where my husband's forge and bladesmithing workshop is, I found these manly shots.


And then, alas, my camera battery died. There were so many birds... cardinals, chickadees, wrens... flitting between and congregating in the trees, and I was disappointed that I couldn't try to get a few photos of them. But there's always another day.

Until next time, practice patience, sing a little, and go create!!