Milestone Blog Anniversary/Giveaway

                                                                     Sunrise
 Hi Everyone,

When I started this blog my goal was to blog for ten years.  I have no idea why I picked that number, but it seemed like the thing to do. Like most people, I felt a lot of different emotions when I hit the publish button the first time. 

What I like best about blogging: the people I've met along the way.  And it's always fun to jump my blog ship and steam over to have a look at what other people are doing. I've seen so many gorgeous photos of beautiful places, marvelous gardens, wonderful animals, birds, great food, and so on.

 Anyway, to cut to the chase a big thank you to all who stopped by, left a comment, and have continued, over the years, to read and say hello from time to time. I really do appreciate you, your beautiful blogs if you have one, and, of course, all your wonderful comments.

So let the bells ring out and the banners fly because ten years rolled around in April--the 24th to be exact.  Imagine that! :)

I had a look through the archives and the following post received the most views. To view  click here

                                              

                                               Arrowhead, Sumac and Loosestrife.

               

                  In case you have trouble opening paint tubes this nifty little gadget/tube opener comes in 

                  handy. It works well, and is made by Golden. You can buy one on Amazon.

                  It opened all my stuck tubes except one; that tube has been run under boiling water, and 

                  and my son tried opening it with plyers. It remains stuck. So...I reckon it's time to toss it.

                                                                            * * *

                           Giveaway...                                       

                                                                           

Art print made from my original pastel painting. 

 Will fit a standard square 14 x 14 frame with mat 8 x 8.

                     Calla Lilies                                                          Bloodroot Wildflower

And two cards made from my original watercolours. Calla Lilies have a gloss finish and the Bloodroot is on matte paper.

If you follow along, or have been a blog hopping visitor, or are following here now or on Insta please leave a comment to enter the draw. If you would like to leave a comment, but do not want to participate in the giveaway just add Oo for opt out after your comment.

Many thanks to all of you for reading along over the years.

'Till next time...

                                              Cultivate your Dreams

                                  Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

                                                Thanks to all for hosting.  

Watercolour Card

 May 31, 2016

I've been doing a little blog spring cleaning. After three years and just a few changes here and there it was definitely time. A favicon would be nice too.  I've also been thinking of starting an art blog, but as you know they do take time. For me, time probably better spend painting since I can't seem to stick to one subject.

You may remember the Maestro from an earlier post.  Because the painting was not working for one reason or another, I ended up painting three versions.  I didn't want to throw out the birds because I put a lot of work into them. Thanks to a suggestion from my lovely friend, Soma I decided to make a card.  My rotary paper cutter is small, but I managed to cut the card stock and it looks straight. (I've seen so many beautiful cards on blogs that I visit. I could use a lesson.) Thankfully, I was lucky to find card stock in my craft supply suitcase and an envelope that fits.

Although this suitcase looks new, it reminds me of old travel cases.

I love the pictures on the inside.

I may make another card and paint the background, or perhaps I'll make a shadow box. Watercolour paper would work too. Perhaps I'll find a treasure to help me out inside the suitcase: a case full of surprises, almost magical it seems, because I toss a few things in now and then and rarely look inside.

 

I added a few original watercolour flower cards to my shoppe yesterday.  There's one left. I am hoping to add more prints to the shoppe this fall, so I better start painting.

Enjoy the week!