DISCOVERY IN THE GARDEN

Working in my garden, I saw a robin making multiple visits to the climbing hydrangea.  She didn't seem very happy that I was nearby, and was vigorously scolding me.  Then I saw why.  Hidden, far up at the top of the vine, was her beautiful little nest.  Inside, I saw what she had been protecting - several blue eggs.

Thus began the idea for a series of small paintings based on my favorite books from childhood.  The verse surrounding the watercolor is from the children's book, The Secret Garden, by Francis Hodgson Burnett.  Seemed a fitting verse, considering the prize she was protecting on this summer day.  "The robin flew from the spray of ivy to the top of the wall and opened its beak and sang a loud, lovely trill, merely to show off!"  She is definitely proud of her little clutch and rightly so.  What a pretty little painting to hang near a child's bookcase to bring the classic children's story to life.  A perfect accompaniment to a gift of the book itself!

A Nest In The Hydrangea

4 x 9 inches

watercolor and ink

Available on Etsy

This ink and watercolor is done on Sennelier Cotton Watercolor Paper - on a 140# block. So, it is stretched and ready to be matted/framed. Finished size is 4 x 9 inches.

BIRD TAGS and A SURPRISE IN THE HYDRANGEA!

I was watering the flowers on our patio the other day and admiring the climbing hydrangea going up the trellis. We planted that hydrangea about 10 years ago and it looked pretty pitiful for about 6 years, - plenty of vine growth, but no flowers.  But the last few years, it's been busting with blooms!  

So, while I'm looking up into the hydrangea I see this nest, way up at the top of the trellis!  Too high to see inside.  Curiosity got the best of me and I got out a little step stool and took a peek.

And here is what I saw!  

Inspired, I got out my watercolor journal.  

I've also been working on these little bird tags which can now be found in my shop here.

They are ready to download and print for your gift giving pleasure!

ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR GIFT TAGS

NEW IN MY SHOP . . .

GIFT TAGS MADE FROM MY ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS!

With the high cost of greeting cards these days, I've taken to using a tag printed from one of my paintings instead.  After printing a painting on heavy card stock, you just cut it out, punch a hole, and write your message on the back.  Tie it on to a package and you have an original and unique gift tag that can even be matted and framed.  Purchase the PDF in my Etsy shop here,  then you can print as many as you like.   All for $4.00!  Not bad when you consider that $4 may not even cover the cost of one greeting card!

Print the tags onto heavy card stock paper, then tie a bundle of tags as a gift in itself, or use them on your packages in lieu of a card.  I even use them to attach to a bouquet of flowers I'm delivering to a friend.  They add a little extra touch to any gift.

(PDF will be emailed without watermark.)