summer days, dog days, cooling in the shade days

These late July days have brought some major heat and humidity all across the country.  Some days I find it hard to do anything but stay inside and be still.  The older I get, the less I can take of these high temperatures.  But some good comes of it, and Lord knows I ain't complaining because I love the summer with its sun and light and long days, and I am NO hurry to get through with this season.  So this afternoon, I made this fun little treasury on Etsy as a way to cool my heels while waiting for the evening to descend when I'll go out and let the chickens roam in the garden and sip on a cool glass of white wine.

I've been painting several times a week, and this morning I worked on this painting, Moo Cow, which I've listed in my Etsy shop.  You can find it here.

It's a 9 x 12 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press, acid free watercolor paper.  It was inspired by a trip we took yesterday to our favorite nearby winery, Chateau Morissette, up near Floyd, Virginia and just off the Blue Ridge Parkway.  There were several fields of cows grazing and lolling about in the heat.  Ever since I was a little girl, that has been one of my favorite sights... it makes me feel relaxed and peaceful.  Of course, the wine helped too!  Those little specks in the background of this photos are cows.

Here are a few other souls who were feeling a little relaxed yesterday afternoon.  This cat came to visit our patio table and she took a nap at my feet.  Quite endearing!

 A dear friend of mine who was our designated driver but who had fun anyways!

 His lovely wife.  They recently celebrated an anniversary, as did we, so Cheers!

And my handsome husband who definitely is a laid-back kind of guy.

I'll leave you with a few more sights from yesterday afternoon.  Enjoy, and raise your glass in celebration of summer and love and friends and all things good!



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!

Spring, Oh Spring!

It's just around the corner, at least for some of us. I found these in my garden yesterday evening and was so joyous that I danced a little jig and clapped my hands in delight!


So this morning I took my dog Foster outside with me and we did a little tour of the yard to check on things and take photos.





Because I wanted to celebrate my joy, I painted a new watercolor specifically for this gorgeous buttery yellow and blue frame... Spring Bunting has been listed on Etsy. It's small, perfect for a shelf or table top, measuring in outer dimensions just 4.5 x 5.5inches.


Until next time, love the season you're in, have hope, and be kind!

The Road Less Traveled

Where does that road take you?

This new watercolor is a reminder

to stay in tune with the natural world while we make our journey through life.

This 8 x 10 is titled Raven Song and reads:
Follow the road less traveled
into the colors
of a raven song.

Follow your heart, make time for a hike, listen to the birds, and be kind.

What are you waiting for?

Each of us waits for something ... for that special partner, for spring... or summer or fall or winter, for a better job, for a few minutes of peace and quiet. The list is as varied as the colors in our world.

I seem to be longing for spring lately, although I think I might be happy with one more big snow. But after a weekend of sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 50 and lower 60s, I definitely got a taste of spring fever. So this newest artistic creation speaks to that quiet longing for afternoons in the garden and morning walks in the woods surrounded by birdsong.

This piece, called Waiting for Calm, combines my love of birds with my passion for words and the visions they can create. The words were cut from magazines and catalogues and assembled, much like a ransom note (as my husband was heard to say), but their message is much sweeter than a ransom note.

Waiting for Calm

imagine a fresh summer dream
resonant with organic music
a voyage of soft
sweet, chiming
native sounds
blending true
floating
into the heart.

Find your calm, find your peace, share a song, and be kind to those around you.

Goddess of the Blackbirds

My newest watercolor, which I just listed on Etsy, is a little different than what I usually do. I don't often include people or human forms in my work, but I decided to do exactly that in this work... in fact, it's a statement of connection or bond between humans and the natural world. I think subconsciously it was inspired by the recent news story about the massive deaths of blackbirds (and other birds) in Arkansas and other parts of the country and world. It broke my heart to see those photographs on the news because birds hold such a big place in my life and in my art. We must remember that our acts trigger effects throughout our relationships, both human and non-human, and we must be deliberate in caring for our world and all its inhabitants.

Painting on a Winter Day

Temps in the low 30s, cold air and cold wind, warm fire, sweet dogs and kitty all nestled and snoozing, and a glass or two of Red Oak Hummingbird beer... all leading to new watercolors, framed and ready for sale! I have a little holiday bazaar on Sunday afternoon, and I'm hoping the new mini oils, such as Breathe Deeply seen above, and framed watercolors will find new homes. If not, I'll be listing on my website and/or Etsy next week. See something you like? Give me a shout!

Oh the dreams we dream at twilight, my favorite time of the day. I love the lighting. Twilight Wanderings is a 4 x 6 framed in black wood.

Under the Canopy is a 4 x 6 framed in pale blue wood and accented with a little carving of two open hands releasing a bird. It's a reminder of life, joy, and the warmth of summer with the trees in full leaf.

I simply was overjoyed when I found this gently-golden frame because it reminds me of the gold light of a winter morning just as the sun comes over the trees. And it's got a perfect line of red around it... I knew it was just what this 4 x 4 Winter Cardinals watercolor needed.

A view of autumn from the mountain up behind my house, this 4 x 4 watercolor is titled Autumn's Glory and is framed in reddish-brown wood.

Delight of Autumn, a 4 x 6, seems to be the perfect fit for this off-white frame with a brown border. I am quite pleased with the whole package.

A chubby warbler sits among the greenery of the forest, meditating on the day's affairs and the song he will sing. Meditation is a 5 x 7 framed in a lovely brown wood.

Two birds having a little chat amongst the twining leaves of autumn, Talking It Over is a 4 x 6 framed in pale green wood and accented with a metal half-moon with a vine motif.

Until next time, breathe deeply, spend some time in meditation, delight in the season, look for the winter cardinals, love the twilight hours, and celebrate friendships old and new and the wonder of life!

Thursday's Thoughts: Winter Dreams

With temperatures hovering at 97 and the North Carolina humidity high as a kite, my thoughts sometimes turn towards the cooler months and the brisk December air. Though I have truly been enjoying the summer sun and the wonderful greens of the garden and the trees, I feel a strong need for a winter reminder. So I'm sharing with you today some Etsy finds to cool us off a bit. Enjoy!

Polar Bear lampworked glass sculpture by koicreek

Gorgeous Winter vase, one of a kind by earthfired

Winter Moon ring by littlebugjewelry

Beveled Star window ornament by theglassmenagerie

Winter Storm photograph by SpruceConnect

Winter Birch watercolor by paintingsonpalmer

Chickadee in Snow by naturemandalas

Stunning ruffled felt jacket by cotylee

Winter Memory earrings by PoleStar

Sweet winter blocks for your shelf by lisabees

Breathe deeply, enjoy the moment, and remember to buy handmade!