Merry Christmas 2008

All our cards have been sent out, so I thought I would post a copy of the watercolor I put on the front of them. Last year my watercolor Guru (Catherine) painted a sketch of her Christmas Cactus which was pink-colored and my cactus had just bloomed bright red--so I thought to try it for myself. I was pleased with the result and decided to save it for our cards for 2008--and here is the cover. To anyone who sees this: Merry Christmas!

Grindelwald Switzerland

This is a watercolor sketch I did in 2003 when we were in Grindelwald, Switzerland--part of a 50th Anniversary trip--where we started out in Frankfurt, Germany and drove thru Bavaria and other parts of Germany. The view out of our hotel window was this Church steeple in front of the mountains--and I had a table to work on right there. I ended up using this for a Christmas Card picture that year. Brings back fond memories.

Lewis River Yellowstone National Park

This was a beautiful scene that we came upon after leaving the Tetons in Wyoming. We just entered Yellowstone Park after a huge snowstorm--I quickly sketched what I saw in my sketchbook, and my husband took a photo of the scene and this is the one I decided to paint. The reflections were awesome.

The Red Barn in Winter

We have a historic barn/farm 2 miles down the road from us and it looked so lovely one Sunny Winter morning that my husband took a photo of it--and I decided to watercolor it. This is the painting that is over my mantel in an earlier post (see below). Someday, I may use the picture to put on a Christmas Card?

Christmas Moods

As I was looking thru my Sketchbook--I saw these Christmas Ornaments that were painted several years ago. This will set the stage for Shopping????

Rocking Chair by the Fire

We were visiting Bryce Canyon in Utah and went into the Lodge to keep warm--I think we had a few flurries that day. I had my Sketch Book with me as usual and I took the time to sketch the rocker by the fire-- it gave a warm feeling!

My Family Room Mantle

We were watching TV one night and to keep my hands busy--so I wouldn't feel like I was wasting time watching the tube--I got my sketch book and "did" my mantle. Did I spell it right? or is it Mantel??? Also, that's a 'sketch of a painting' I did over the mantle.

New Note Card

I just put together my leaf paintings to be on a "note card" together. Now I will have to start thinking about snow--since the ground is now covered and my outside pumpkin decor is snow-bound!

ONE MORE AUTUMN SCENE

The colors this year seemed to be more intense than ever--so maybe I overdid it with my pictures--but here is one more. The leaves are all off the trees now and we even have a little snow today.

Mawbry Mill Blue Ridge Parkway

We visited this Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway and have pictures of it in different seasons of the year.I decided to do a painting of it after we arrived home. We were on our way to Blowing Rock, NC. Has anyone heard of the "Mitford Series" of books? They are based on life in this little town and are quite addicting.

Mingus Mill

Another place we love to visit is Mingus Mill which is quite South in the Smokies. I usually get my "Stone Ground Cornmeal" here.

OOh, that cornbread is so good. I'm really on the food kick today.

Maybe it's because I'm being careful how much I eat. :-)

OUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST

This is one of the places we make plans to visit when in Gatlinburg. The pancakes are so good--try the Pecan ones, or the Eggs, Sausage, and Grits with pancakes. You only need one meal on that day.

LEAVES

I'm posting all my leaf watercolor sketches from our recent trip to the Smokie Mtns.

It was beautiful down there.

Color, Color

A couple more leaf sketches

A PANORAMA OF COLOR

I should have posted the third picture down the line as the first one...but here is a photo we took down in the Smokie Mtns. last week. Keep scrolling for sketches. The watercolors were fun to do.

More Leaves

I might as well post all of my leaves, if you're interested--keep scrolling!

A PANORAMA OF LEAVES

We just returned from a week at the Great Smokie Mountians National Park. It was "peak" color! I couldn't stop picking up the pretty leaves, thinking I could make them look pretty good in watercolor. It was fun dropping colors and letting them mix on the wet paper.

The Autumn Color Season

We have a lovely MetroPark in our area and the trees this time of the year are stunning. I did find it hard to capture in watercolor--but I did a little sketch while my husband was taking some photographs. A lot of people were enjoying the day.

Window Box

I felt like doing a window and window box similar to those we have seen in Charleston, SC.

This is what I came up with...

Corn Souffle Pudding

This is a card I created to send to a friend (with a recipe on it). It's one of our favorites

Lily Pad Pond

This past summer at my Sketchbook/Watercolor Class, we were walking around Bay View, MI looking for things to paint. My husband was there and as we passed a very small lily pond, I asked him to take a photo of it--and I would paint my version of it later...and I did.

It was probably a little muddier (?) around it, but you know, "artist's license."

Ice Cream for anyone

I was looking through one of my old sketchbook/watercolors--and came across this ice cream shop located in Stratford, Ontario. It was so colorful, I couldn't pass up the chance to "do" my version of what I saw.

Pink Lady Slippers

Went back into my digital camera for this picture I took down in the Smokie Mtns. last spring. These are quite rare to find--and we happened on about a dozen plants while walking behind an old cabin. What a find! They grow only in Pine-Oak Forests among fallen dried leaves & moss.

Painting in my hand made Watercolor Book

I decided to do a couple more sketch/paintings in my new Watercolor Sketchbook. It's very satisfying to know that I'm painting in my own book.

HandMade Watercolor Sketchbook Journal

After my end of the Summer Watercolor/Sketchbook/Journaling Class, I decided to make my own W/S Journal Book. Carefully folding and tearing the Aquarius II Sheets into pages--I had it bound together and what a fine Watercolor Sketchbook I have now. The watercolor moves very nicely on this paper. Thanks Catherine!

Garden and Rain Barrel

This is part of a garden area at Williamsburg, Va. Never saw such a large rain barrel.

Lots of flowers in the old gardens.

The Thomas Edison Museum Port Huron Michigan

This little museum is located under the Blue Water Bridge where the St. Clair River opens into Lake Huron. As you can see in the sketch below, Freighters go through here thru and from the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Blue Water Bridge

This past Wednesday was a beautiful day--and my husband and I decided to take a day off and drive up to the Blue Water Bridge area and he would take photographs and I would watercolor.

We stopped on the way at the Park on the St. Clair River to have a bit of lunch on a park bench right at the riverfront. A slice of Pizza and a lemonade in our hand was just delightful.

Then, on we went up to Port Huron. The water was so Blue and there were freighters to watch.

A fun afternoon. We took the "long way" home all the way along the water thru Marine City and Algonac, and around Anchor Bay. Ended up at Sindbad's along the Detroit River for dinner.

Depot Day Festival

Our local Watercolor group that I paint with had a booth at the Depot Day Festival--located at the "Witch's Hat Historic Village" in South Lyon, Michigan. The depot (as you can see) has a roof at one end that resembles a witch's hat.

It was a beautiful day and our group had a fine time together--our "Tent" was right across from the Station.

Harbor Springs

A pleasant time beside the water on a Hot Day.

Mighty Mackinac Bridge

Took a side trip farther North from Petoskey to visit the Mackinac Bridge (It's five miles long!)

tried to capture it in a watercolor sketch. You can click on this website to see more pictures of the Bridge. Mackinac Bridge Home

Watercolor Sketchbook Class

Spent a week up North in Michigan last week--Painting with others in a Sketchbook Journaling Class. The last day, we painted along the shore of Little Traverse Bay. I chose to paint a couple of the summer homes along the shore (from a distance). It was a beautiful day and I didn't like that it was our 'last' painting session of the week.

Hollyhock Plants

I like the old-fashioned flower garden "look" when there are Hollyhocks of different shades all lined up growing tall along the brick wall. I had to cut mine all down after they reached their peak because of extensive leaf rust and holes.

The Hollyhocks I have growing along the side of my home were looking fine until deer came along and ate ALL of the leaves top to bottom. Hope they tasted good.

THREE FLOWER POTS

This image was painted right on a greeting card (by me). So since it was "gone" I decided to paint another. Hopefully I remembered how I did it.

WELCOME

I've been somewhat under the weather, but am starting on the way "up."

The only Yellow Door I've seen was in England, however it had Wisteria draped all around it. I wasn't sure everyone would recognize them............so come on in anyway.

HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR CORN?

Home-grown corn is just starting to arrive in the markets...What a treat!

HUNG OUT TO DRY

Saw this clothesline when we were down in the Smokies. We aren't allowed to put up clotheslines anymore, are you?

ALWAYS FRESH

We have a wonderful Farmer's Market in our area every Thursday. Love to see the fresh produce as it ripens and is brought in for our pleasure. Summertime is worth waiting for!

ANTIQUE TEA POT

My watercolor teacher published a picture of a recently-purchased antique tea pot--which I was sure would show up in one of her classes for everyone to paint...so I tried it! Had fun trying to make it look like the "real thing."

For the Birds

Enjoying the Summer Season--lots of Birds and Flowers

Just Peachy

Can't wait 'til the peaches are in our local Michigan fruit markets--they are excellent (with blueberries) on our breakfast cereal.

Anyone for Strawberries?

I hate to admit it, but we have had a few of these over Frozen Yogurt--Yum!

It's that time of the year!

Flowery Tea Pot

Flowers to Cheer..Hooray for Flowers!

Brainy Bananas

I'm into posting fruit pictures today

Time for Watermelon

Was looking through a Seed Catalog and thought the Watermelons would be fun to paint.

Wildflower Week--Great Smokie Mountains 2008

We spent a week in the Smokie Mtns. in April--the wildflowers were at their peak! Had a pleasant morning with my sketchbook and paints putting on paper what they looked like to me.

Field Flowers...

I started to paint today--thinking I wanted a "Field of Flowers" look--this is what turned up! I liked it, and it looks quite nice on a note card. It made me smile.

My Front Gate

This week I finished my note card printing for up North. Cards are fun!