HALLOWEEN POKES CRAFT NIGHT

It's time for another craft night with the girls.  This time we're making Halloween Pokes.  Here are just a few from Pinterest we're using for inspiration.

Check back tomorrow to see what we concocted!

INKTOBER DAY 4

Another day, another acorn!

I love these things - they just don't have a bad angle!

It's not too late to join in with Inktober.  Just do a little ink sketch of anything, and post it with a hashtag.  Be courageous! 

Cinderella Pumpkin Night

  The colors, the deep grooves, the shape of Cinderella pumpkins are beautiful.  And expensive!
So, my group of willing ladies and I are going to give it a shot.  We're going to make our own Cinderellas and ours will last forever!  My plan is to use canvas drop cloths for the shape, fishing line for the grooves, and grapevine for the stems.



Check back in a few days to see our masterpieces!

INKTOBER DAY 3

INKTOBER DAY 3

Today, a bundle of berries I found on a shrub at the coffee shop.  The colors are so beautiful, it was hard to stick with the Inktober guidelines and use only ink.  Maybe another shot using watercolor is in order?  

And, these days I'm loving drawing acorns so now to hunt down oak trees to find unusual specimens.  The challenge is to find the ones that made it to the ground in one piece before the squirrels get to them!

INKTOBER IS UPON US

INKTOBER  

"Every October, artists all over the world take on the Inktober drawing challenge by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. I created Inktober in 2009 as a challenge to improve my inking skills and develop positive drawing habits."   - Jake Parker

Day #1

Day #2

What a fun way to go into fall!  Small ink drawings are quick and satisfying.  After a wonderful summer full of gardening and outdoor activities, fall is the perfect time to nestle in and pull out the ink bottle and nibs!   

Today, a walk to find seed pods and leaves . . . and a video I've posted before.  This was one of my mom's favorite songs.  Melancholy, but so beautiful!

Autumn Leaves

-Nan

GRANDMA'S NATURE CAMP IS COMING!

It's almost here!!!

Jack and Lucy 

are coming!

It's time for some great books, fun snacks, painting, 
nature crafts, and marshmallows around the fire!

HURRY, Jack and Lucy!!!
Come back to see our Nature Camp in action!

ANOTHER CREATIVE NIGHT WITH THE GIRLS

It's the first day of SPRING, so a good time to make 

something to celebrate the end of WINTER!

This project was inspired by a recent trip to Anthropologie - one of the greatest places to find unusual dish towels.  So, this time we'll be doing a little creative painting on fabric.  All we need is a 1/2 yard of cotton fabric, a small amount of white fabric, and acrylic paints.  Everyone can make a towel that will perfectly match their kitchen colors.

I'll be sure to post a picture of the finished 

masterpieces - they are certain to be beautiful!

"Bearing Flowers Dish Towel"

by

Anthropologie

TIME FOR A SPRING TEA

I was talking to some friends about Pinterest recently.  Everyone says they save all the ideas and then rarely ever look at them again.  So, I'm pulling out ideas, some old and some new.  It's time to go through some of those Pinterest boards and do something with all that I've saved. With spring right around the corner, here's a start to planning a 

May Day Tea 

for a bunch of wonderful women.

"What potent blood hath modest May!" -Ralph W. Emerson

Following, are some of the ideas I'm using . . .

                                                                   crushculdesac.tumblr.com

youcouldmakethat.blogspot.com

youcouldmakethat.blogspot.com

   

                                                            

                                                                          indulgy.com

Spring needs to be celebrated - especially 

when you live in Wisconsin!

💗

STITCHIN' WITH THE GIRLS

There's nothing like spending an old fashioned, cold winter's night embroidering and chattering with your girlfriends.  What a night of camaraderie and fun, while making a project for Valentine's Day.  All were successful too - no frustrations or flops!

(Spring girls' night already in the planning stages!)

MORE VALENTINE IDEAS

MORE VALENTINE IDEAS FROM A FEW YEARS AGO . . .

There may no longer be young children in this house, but I think one still needs to decorate for the "other holidays", like Valentine's Day, kids or no kids!  Big people love the holidays too!

  So, today I made a valentine banner for the front entryway, and also put a little valentine tree in the dining room.  I typed out some love quotes in the typewriter font, cut them in strips, and glued one onto each piece.  Then you can embellish to your heart's content.  I just used ribbons and some cut out hearts, but you could add buttons, charms, lace, sheet music . . . anything!  I used these for gift tags also.

Enjoy . . . again!

And, of course you must have the essential Valentine's Day question . . .

Just a couple punches at the top of each piece, a little ribbon woven through, and you're done!  This is an easy project that would probably be even more charming if you let your young children help!

GIRLS' CRAFT NIGHT FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

VALENTINE'S DAY 

is right around the corner 

and THAT sounds like a

good time for another craft night!

I'm setting down the paints to prepare for a night of stitching with the girls.  Some red thread, red wine, and red velvet cupcakes are in order!

Come back to see what we've been up to!

IN THE LAVENDER - 8 x 10

 IN THE LAVENDER

8 x 10 inches

pen and ink

   

Available for purchase in my Etsy shop here.

LAVENDER PATH

Another English beauty, this is Avebury Manor, Wiltshire. 

Done for Day 3 in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge, my theme is Buds and Buildings. 
This one takes in both. The gray stone with the lavender, and the greens in the 
grasses and trees make a beautiful combination anywhere but especially in nature.  

LAVENDER PATH

5 x 7 inch pen and ink watercolor

This is a 5 x 7 original pen and ink watercolor.

It will arrive with an 8 x 10 black mat, in a clear cellophane sleeve 

for protection and ready for your frame.  

Ready to ship, you can find it HERE.

BEEHIVE COTTAGE

The subject of my Day No. 2 painting for 30 Paintings in 30 Days is Beehive Cottage, located in Branscombe, Devon, UK.  This home also serves as the village post office in Branscombe!  

Again, I used 300# watercolor paper.  This is a 5 x 7 inch original watercolor with a black 8 x 10 inch mat included.  

A light pencil sketch, followed by a watercolor wash.

BEEHIVE COTTAGE

5 x 7 inches, 300# cold press Arches watercolor paper

Wrapped and ready at my Etsy shop HERE.

Come back tomorrow for 

Day No. 3 of the 30 in 30 Challenge.

Image used for this painting is courtesy of pmp-art.com - a site 

that provides copyright free images for artists.

PAST HER PRIME

 From my boys bringing a seedling home from school when they were small, to cottage gardens bobbing with blooms, the sunflower is a favorite of mine.  So I'm starting off this year's, 
"30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS CHALLENGE" 
with this happy and easy to grow flower.

"Past Her Prime"

5 x 7 inch original watercolor

with 8 x 10 inch black mat

Packaged and ready to ship from my Etsy shop HERE.

HOME PORTRAITS with MATCHING NOTE CARDS

Home Portraits and Note Cards

Order a home portrait in January 2017, and your order will include ten professionally printed and personalized notecards/envelopes.   These notecards are great for regular correspondence 

but also make nice "We've moved!" announcements.

Click the photo below to order your own personalized home portrait and note cards.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS . . . AGAIN!

The new year looks to be full of new and interesting opportunities.  I have lots of exciting plans in the works - from trips to warm places, a watercolor/sketching workshop in a place I've never visited, garden plans for my own new home, and so much more!  Of course, all these things bring new opportunities to create art.  And an appropriate way to kick it all off is with Leslie Saeta's 30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS CHALLENGE.

Leslie always suggests choosing a theme for your 30 in 30 participation.  So I'm combining my love of flowers with my love of doing home portraits.

For the month of January, 
I'll be doing daily blog posts in a series entitled:

*** B L O O M S  &  B U I L D I N G S ***

All artwork for the 30 in 30 will be for sale in my Etsy shop the same day it is posted on the blog. 

So, sign up for daily blog updates with your email address right under my profile at the top of the sidebar.   ----------->

-Nan