Verdant Views

I love this time of year and one of my favorite things about it is the glorious color of all the new young growth.  I'm especially fond of the soft green and blue tips on the evergreens that line my driveway and overhang my studio.  What is today soft and vibrant will soon harden into mature, often prickly, foliage.  But today I could run my hands over the tender new shoots and find glory in the touch.

As I made my way into the studio I had to pause and look, as I always do, out my window and across the green fields of the neighboring farm.  I am greatful for this view, the soft growth of spring and the renewal that I find in them.

Touched By Angels

When I started my blog I thought it would be a great place to meet other artists and flea market junkies.  It never occurred to me that it would become much more personal than that.  But, the challenges I've faced recently have taught me it is personal, deeply personal.  So many of you have reached out via comment and email to lend your support.  You have touched me with your offers of help with my blog, kind words of encouragement, and the lovely photos of two fairytale gardens posted by Laura at http://52flea.blogspot.com/ that allowed me to escape for a few difficult moments today.

So thank you, you have come to mean a lot to me and I look forward to getting to know each one of you.

Here are a few more quick peeks into my studio.

This is my main work space.

The table is an old school table from a science class.

I love the large document case in the back, here's a peek inside its drawers.

I also have an old bow front dresser filled with bits of vintage millinery,

ribbon and lace; and a growing collection of baby mitts and booties.

I hope you have a pleasant night dear friends.

A Place For Art & Solace

Every once in a while life has a way of pulling you up short and making you pay attention to what is really important.  So it has been with me lately.  I guess it started about two weeks ago, a series of happenings that made me screech to a halt and think about what I'm doing and where I'm headed.  It began when I lost my retail space in a charming antique store that is now closed.  This event was followed by trouble with my blog, a diagnosis of Lupus (I didn't even really know what Lupus was) and most recently a death in the family.

Suddenly I was overwhelmed, I realized that I wasn't making art, or spending time in my garden.  In short, I was unhappy and had been moving in that direction for sometime.  So I headed to my studio.  There is something about being there that soothes me, even if I'm not working.  Sometimes, all I need to do is wander around and touch things and soak in the calm.  It's not the prettiest studio in the world, nor maybe even the most functional, it seems I never have enough light, but it's mine and it's filled with the things I love. 

This is the desk where I paint.

To the left - a dog leash; to the right - a cat bed;

up top is "Daphne," my bunny muse.

Behind my paint table is a wall of inspiration.

These are shelves I purchased, for next to nothing, from a video

store that went out of business.  I love, love, love them.

Here's some of the goodies you'll find.

These are from my Halloween section...

Everyone should have a set of chattering teeth, don't you think?

And these are from my Christmas section...

There's lots more to see in my studio. 

So dear friends, I hope you will come back tomorrow to

take another little peak inside.

Good Grief Charlie Brown!

Well, one problem appears to be fixed and another has appeared.  After spending so much time working on a new header it's a little frustrating that it appears to be causing so many problems.  So I'm off to the HELP forum, or whatever it's called, to see if I can figure it out.  Here's a little sketch that I did, to remind myself to keep things in perspective and just keep moving along.  I was thinking of using a series of sketches as my headers.  However, if it sends things into a downward spiral every time I edit my page - I may have to rethink that plan.

Don't You Simply Adore Donkeys

I don't know if this will post because I'm getting a funky error message after editing my layout today, so this is really just a "Testing 1, 2, 3" kind of post.  But I'll leave you with a an adorable image just in case. 

This little guy guards a flock of sheep that graze near my home.

Number 0154 didn't want to be left out.

Keep your fingers crossed, I'm about to hit "Publish Post."

Flea Market Treasures - the inside stuff

Mostly I've been looking for vintage garden treasures, but you know how hard it is to pass up something that speaks to you even if its not on your list.  Well, here are a few of the things that somehow made it into my shopping bag.

Here's the whole bag of loot spread out on my dining room table.

Two carved wood display shelves with creamy, chippy paint; and

a terrific tourist postcard from Florida.

Lovely snowy white linens, Yo-Yo quilt piece, toy truck and

a sweet bisque kewpie doll (sans arms.)

For some reason this little cutie has had her feet bound with a silk ribbon.

But look at her sweet face!

This is an old embroidered felt advertising patch.

I'm going to applique it onto a pillow.  I think it's very cool cottage style.

Also very cottage, this tin lithographed plate with my favorite birds - Swallows!

Flow bue china plate (for my mom) and this charming postcard photo

of  a demure lady at the shore. LOVE it!

And last, but not least, Kisses & Hugs dear friends.

Garden Treasures

Spring is definitely in the air and I've been out hunting for treasures - rusty, crusty treasures.   Some came from the centennial farm auction I attended with my hubby last weekend.  Others, I picked up this morning at our local flea market and some I bought from the owner of the antique shop where I have, or rather had, my booth.  (She's decided to close her store so I'm back to square one.)  Anyway, here is a sample of what I've found.

Old cast iron fire boxes make great planters.

I may have to keep this one for awhile.

Look at that cool perennial that I found at the farmers market.

Don't you just love old clay pots?

The pretty iris is a Mother's Day gift for my mom.

Checkers anyone?

I'm not sure what the (wooden) ball and hook were used for, but..

I love the color!

This carrier is one of my favorites.  I love the bent willow handle.

A great set of baskets.  They look very old, but anytime I find sets

of things I wonder if looks are deceiving.  What do you think?

Here's a close-up of the handles.

Well there you have it; the first batch anyway. 

Thanks for dropping by dear friends, I'll post more photos

tomorrow and I hope you'll stop by to have a look.