Natural Magic

 Hi there,

Thank you for the lovely comments on my last post. I was excited to have a painting chosen for the juried art show. From the vernissage, to the day I hosted along with another lady, it was fun and I learned a lot. The best, of course, was chatting with people and admiring the wonderful paintings that covered the walls at the show.
 

My framed entry. Snowdrops--a slight obsession of mine.

 * * *

The crab apple trees and lilac trees are in bloom. And the newly hatched, fresh-faced leaves are waving in the breeze.  When I look out the window, there are so many lovely hues of green--rich, deep, subtle, and, well, the whole landscape looks gorgeous. All those spring greens do animate the spirit.

The birds woke me up at 4:45 this morning. They were singing their hearts out. How industrious and celebratory they are. After opening the window, I crawled back into bed and found myself imagining spending an afternoon under a fragrant crab apple tree, drinking tea, knitting and/or sketching. I even  fancied I could feel a lovely soft breeze blowing in from the river. (Time to make that reverie a reality, I reckon. Even an hour would be lovely.)

Wild honeysuckle.

Yes, Emerson. "The earth [ really does] laugh (s) in flowers."

 Ms. Squirrel dressed to the nines.  Hurrah! She made it through a hard winter and is in fine form.  I think I have mentioned before that it takes about 3000 trips for this little one to fill her pantry with enough seeds to get her through the winter. She's an independent wonder.

  I am contemplating painting a bearded iris. Just look at the colours...as rich as a fine tapestry.

It was raining the day I was out taking these pics. It's still raining and that's okay. Blossoms need moisture. I'd like to get a few closes ups with my big camera; I hope to go tomorrow rain or shine.

A red-winged blackbird searches the area for a mate. (I love to hear his discordant melodies.) Since it's breeding season, the red bands on his wings are brilliant. What a charmer. I hope he soon finds his lady love.

Speaking of charmers/charming, how about that royal wedding? I loved it. Wouldn't it have been grand to be a butterfly on the wall at the receptions at Windsor castle and Frogmore house?

'Til next time...

Cultivate your dreams.

A Path to Meander Down

Hi there,

Sharing a few lovely spring pictures today along with some good news, which I will leave to the end. Hang on your hats...here we go. :) 

Waking up the senses with fresh greenery and bird song.

There's something marvelous about a meandering path in the woods. On a lovely spring day, I could keep walking forever. 

White Trillium

Because of the warm days, most of the early wildflowers have come and gone. I've caught them in my mind's eye because I often leave the camera at home.  

I adore the red trillium, but they are in another area. I hope to go there soon.

Darling violets in the leaf litter. We are blessed a bumper crop this year.

I only noticed a few little yellow violets.

Caught in the act...sunbathing. I think she said, " Ahhh. This feels so good." :)

The very rare bell flower.

Solomon's Seal

And who can forget the ferns?

Finally, the good news. My little botanical snowdrop illustration was chosen for the art exhibition to be held in the mall. The vernissage is Friday night. 

I don't have a picture of it framed yet.  And that's another story...I had to have a mat cut twice. The first mat was cut crooked, but, luckily, a lovely lady at a framing shop in town fixed it for me, and I was able to pass it in an hour before the deadline.

Cultivate your dreams...

They do come true!

Touched by Spring

A bit of green along the edge of the trail. O, and that sky blue!

The much anticipated and wholly appreciated spring season has arrived. In just a few days, nature has thrown of its icy cloak. It has been touched by the sun, and it has responded in celebration.

Now the days are radiant with sunlight and bird song, and I can't possibly express how delighted that makes me feel. The longed for radiance of the sun brings with it a heightened sense of freedom, wonder, and, well, just plain old joy. As heard below, that joy trickles down to every level of the awakening world.

Love's chorus.

Trillium  shoots. 

From what I can see, we may, if it stays cool, (although so far it's been quite warm) have a bumper crop of Trillium this year.

           Reaching for the light. I love the texture, form, and stripped bark on this sycamore.

 I'd like to paint the blue shadows and textures of the birch.

                                            From the eye of the birch. "Here's looking at you kid."

 In the marsh, the ravenous, spry squirrels and chipmunks are scurrying about. The red wing blackbird courts a mate with his flat off key song, the geese are honking merrily and even their quieter cousins the ducks are honking along as they fly overhead. And if all that isn't enough, you can smell spring in the air.

And the willows, the willows are blushing too because it's all brand new.

 * * * 

Sometimes a painting just doesn't work out. Might be a colour issue, a spill, an over reach for the high bar of perfection. (I'm learning to get over it and just paint. After all enjoyment is the name of the game.) So, if unsavory things happen, I now cut out whatever is salvageable and fashion unconventional bookmarks. I will tuck them into cards etc.

A second painting of the Snowdrops on lovely 300lb Moulin du Roy paper. White flowers are a challenge.  However, I like the lighter grey I used this time around. (A mix of permanent rose and viridian green.)

* * *

Before I sprint off to the drawing board, I'll leave you with a few spring quotes.

"It's spring fever. That's what the name of it is. And when you've got it you want--oh, you quite don't know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache you want it so."

Mark Twain

"Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love." -- Sitting Bull

"Come forth into the light of things. Let nature be your teacher."

William Wordsworth 
 

'Til next time...Cultivate your dreams...

Blog Anniversary and A Free Bookmark

Looks like spring inside. So I'll keep that positivity going. Actually, the temperatures are due to rise by the end of the week. And they will go up again the following week so we will soon have lovely weather. Speaking of spring, the robins have arrived. I haven't heard any singing yet though, but I bet they will be singing next week. O, can't wait!

A cheerful faced pansy.

Besides painting and drawing, I've been making a few items with paper clay. Trinket dishes and  needle minders painted with acrylic paint. Now, I'm on the lookout for thin magnets for the needle minders.

On April 21st I will have been blogging five years.  I wish you could all join me for tea and madelines to celebrate. What a lovely day that would be!

Over the past while, I've been thinking about what to giveaway to thank all of you, and since I would like everyone who reads along to have something, I decided on a printable bookmark.
Since I am not savvy with Photoshop type programs, there was a definite learning curve. Thank goodness for You Tube videos. I wrote everything down so maybe, just maybe, I can repeat the process sometime.

Once you've printed the bird on card stock, cut the "Spread the Love Birdie" out along the dotted line. If desired, use a hole punch to punch a hole through the top and thread with pretty ribbon.

Print Birdie Here 

 Nary a straight word in sight. An adrift day. Perhaps. Because the paper is delicate, and even though I wrote the original quote in pencil, I could not erase it. But I like it anyway.

Thank you my lovely blogging pals and readers for reading along! 

 Enjoy...

xo

Cultivate your dreams.

Planning Ahead

Dazzling sunshine streams through the windows and on the table potted daffodils help to ring in the first day of spring. The sun, the sun has returned. What a blessing! It has a bit of that wonderful radiating fierceness to it too, even though today is crisp and cold. But we have stepped over winter into spring and there's no turning back.

Out in the woods, they are busy at the sugar camp where the maple syrup flows. It's time for a hearty breakfast. (I am thinking tomorrow morning.) I have visions of eggs and pancakes dancing through my head.  Although I rarely have maple syrup, it does have a myriad of health benefits.  I recently read that they are thinking of using it to enhance the potency of antibiotics.

My seed order arrived, so I am making plans for my containers. These seeds are from the amazing floret flower farm. I am expecting great things, especially since I read that the sweet peas will grow from 6 to 8 feet. Wow! They require full sun which I don't have, but I do have morning sun and hopefully that will be enough to spark the process. If not, well I know a few people that might be persuaded to plant a few seeds in their garden. After all, who could resist?
Love-In-A Mist looks like another wonder, along with Icelandic and Shirley poppies and malope.

Currently reading floret's wonderful book. I'd love to take the gardening course, but then I would need at least an acre of land to cultivate that dream.

The pottery: a flea market find from the weekend.

                                                Along with these salt dishes or, salt cellars.

                                              As you can see, I've been working with paperclay again. I've made a few small dishes and these will be needle minders.

    I love to draw on small cards. I may get a few of these printed. I am slowly planning my order.

'Til next time... Enjoy your early spring or fall weekend. . .  
 
                                                                        Cultivate your Dreams.
                        

All About Wildflowers

Hi there,

I've noticed that certain wildflowers like to create a statement by growing in great drifts. The trout lilies form a carpet and Solomon's Seal seem to drift like clouds through the woodlands. On a good year, they are a sight to behold. But there are several varieties of wildflowers here that I have yet to see. For example, I 'd love to see a yellow Lady Slipper and the Bluebells.

One of my co-workers used to bring Mayflowers to work. What a heavenly scent! I may be able to find them in the woods along the Parkway. I hope to go exploring there this year. In the meantime, I decided to create a few wildflowers of my own.

                                                                   Wild Geranium

Ontario's flower: the Trillium

 Definitely hands on. Since it won't wash off, I'm hoping it will wear off by, say, July.  :)

                                                     Gift tags and envelopes.

                        Trout Lily ~ sienna and black ink on Strathmore mixed media cards.

I ended up carving two trilliums stamps. Apparently, precision counts.

 

      White gel pen on Strathmore paper.

            Wildflowers: Solomon's seal, Trout lily, Trillium, Bloodroot, Turk's cap lilies, ferns, and a Monarch butterfly.

Just now, I hear the geese overhead. Music to my ears. ( Running to and throwing open the window.) I heard them a few times recently. They are flying home for the season.

Next: A sample of what was and is yet to be. 'Yet to be?'

Sounds familiar? Googling.  Ah yes. I remember now. "The best is yet to be." Robert Browning's full quote: "Come and grow old with me. The best is yet to be." Lovely! ( But I digress...)

                                                               Solomon's Seal
                           

                                       "Do you suppose she's a wildflower?", said the daisy.

From Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ~ Lewis Carroll

"Wildflowers are the stuff of my heart."
Lady Bird Johnson

* * *

And finally, to give a nod to the green. A Shamrock ~ Happy St. Patrick's Day!

'Til next time, lovely people. . .Cultivate your dreams.