What did I do while I disappeared? Well, first of all, thank you for stopping by today. I brewed some special tea for me, and you and you and you ♥ I can hear your eyelashes blinking, I can, I can... That is how I can tell if you are here or not ;) Or if I am having tea alone...
I have been spending a lot of time working. Which means, new faces, new postcards, new originals... And when I go into that creative abyss, that far away place, time for me stops. I work feverishly. And, the longer I stay in, the more ideas that visit. Which is why, it is important to try to create everyday. Even if it is just a doodle on a receipt before you go to bed...
I love this little nook in my room, at the country house. I had put my dollhouse in this nook, but I missed my drawing and writing space under the giant skylight, that has windows surrounding it, too much. Lovely light is the best...
So, I find myself in the nook again. I ask, would you like to hear the story of what happened to me with the winged creatures whilst in my little nook?
You see, I had this woman, visiting me in my dreams for weeks. And, she has these beautiful wings... I thought I would sketch her out. She wore a dress, quite Victorian I'd say, and it had this ribbon folded along the edges, ever so beautifully... It all started with a few doodles...
And, once I was in a very peaceful place, she came together quite flowingly... Don't mind my bizillion eraser marks ;)
The Butterfly Collector...
I tested her out after being scanned (cleaned her up a bit), to see if she wanted to go live in my shop... She loved living on that soft supple canvas I make my prints on. So, she will become a part of the clan... She is ever so kind, and gentle...
Here is what the actual print looks like.
But wait, the story does not end right there. This is all true. You see, for days I have been visited by all sorts of winged creatures. On a level never before experienced. 3 white owls hooting for evenings on end, giant birds hanging around the yard... And of course, moths and butterlfies, that I got to have long chats with...
It has been extra rainy and thundery, so it added to the mystique of these weekend visitors...
A most beloved new friend visited me for two days. And, even let me get up real close for a heart to heart conversation... Oh, the stories this creature told!! Don't you just love that face!!
And those beautiful wings... Oh charming creature... This moth was enormous. Bigger than my munchkin hand, by far...
We do not get giant moths and butterflies often. I just don't think we have the right flowers and such... So, this is a very unusual occurrence for it to happen in conjunction with my drawing ;)
But wait, it gets even better! There were these two enormous birds hanging out in the back under a tree. I think they were smooching. So, I point at them, and Mr. Lovee goes, oh they are just buzzards. And, I go, I dunno, they look pretty different... So, when I zoomed in on this photo, we were both blown away... I couldn't zoom in anymore. They got up and flew way in the back, in our neighbors property. Look at those legs!! Any ideas??
Boy, they were huge... Mr. Lovee says, that isn't a bird, it is a Highschool Mascot, haha!
Like I said, we had a ton of rain over the last few days. This is the result of two days of rain alone... Tons for us, not used to so much lovely rain. But welcomed with open arms!!
I looove going outside after a rain, and taking pictures. On Sunday it was especially cool, and quite autumn like. Even the flowers are autumn like... So, I made a few flower bundles, and made little offerings around the garden...
I made this shrine a few years ago, but I really should keep it inside... It might fall apart one day, as I used terracota (which is a low fire clay)...
Of course, the dancing lady, needs her own autumn glow...
I am already celebrating my very own 61 days of Halloween. I know, it freaks out some people to start too soon, so, all I can tell you is, I am in Halloween here. And, I will break it to you gently ;) The way I look at it is, I wait all year for black and orange and sparkle and candy apples and carving pumpkins, and cozying up with Halloween movies, so, I can at least have 61 days of it, can't I? Oh yes, I can!! hee heee....
Ooooo, look at those yellow flowers next to the prickly pear. I tell ya, when the dessert (oops, I meant desert, but dessert sounds better) gives us color, it doesn't skimp...
So, during drawing breaks I go outside and delve into nature. And, when it is blissfully cool and dreamy, I don't think there is anything else one earth I can ask for...
Prickly pear collecting water... I almost drank from it, but then realized, I would end up stabbing my lips with the microscopic needles.
When cactus (or should I say, cacti) gets too full of water, it plumps up and starts to break off from the weight, or it droops down... Here is a rather new cactus guy growing outside of my little metal gallery outside. Droopy indeed!
Moss on treeeeeeees!!
And, probably poisonous Witch Berries, looking quite spooky and fall like...
The barrel cactus like to stay closed while it rains or is gloomy. They don't like to open up until they feel the warmth of the sun...
So, while they were cozied and shut, I went inside, and cozied up myself, and made breakfast. Breakfast in bed while it pours outside is so yummmy!!
On one of the extra gloomy days, I made potato latkes. I grated my own potatoes, and voila, precious brown latkes. I like mine with ketchup and basil. I like to make them for Mr. Lovee so he can have memories of his own home as a kid, every once in a while, ya know? Like his granny used to make... So, I put out apple sauce and sour cream and raspberry preserves too, just in case ;)
Here is a gloomy day shot...
While I was cozy enjoying my French Toast in bed, one of the weekend mornings, I heard all sorts of mischief under my little covered patio outside my room. Oh, I thought not too much of it. Birds. Until, my recent thrifted Owl find (I had left it outside), became totally mangled and used for part of this beautiful nest. Good thing it was for a good cause, because I love this nest! And, built right into my bell. Guess I won't be using it anytime soon...
Oh and, before I forget, after those moist barrel cactus flowers opened up, guess who I found inside of one of them? He was going mad. Almost like, an album collector going through millions of incredible albums at lightning speed. Arms flailing one by one...He was picking through this bud like a mad man, so funny!!! Yep, it was in fact, Barry the bee...
I got so many good photographs of him in those barrel cactus flowers... Thanks for the photo op Barry!! hee hee!
Now, after I got my fill of the outdoors, I went back to work. And, anxiously, I can't tell you all the details of what I did for the next 48 hours, because, I am waiting for a parcel to arrive with treasures, and for paint to dry...
But I can tell you that, I am working on some new postcards, WITH ENVELOPES (actually, as soon as the envelopes get here, today or tomorrow, all postcards in my shop will come with white perfect sized envelopes)!!
I like to make a few prototype postcards, before I make any decisions on which ones will become actual postcards. Plus, I design my own postcards front and back, so, it can be a huge long job sometimes...
But, I am still not sure which ones I will turn into postcards yet (or am I?)...
Before the 3 day weekend ended, I had another visitor in the form of a Merman! He had all these adventures to tell me about... I think maybe, I was listening to a combo of this song and this song, a bit too much? (that was the best clip I could find of that A-ha song)
Here he is on canvas...
And, here is what he looks like in full...
Anyhow, that is where I have been... But I missed my little space here. I know, it was only 4 1/2 days, but it feels like forever in blog time ;)
See you soooon!! Oh and...
♥, V
ps: We should have a blog party for our furry family members, seeing as so many of us have sweet faces in our lives!! Don'tcha think??
pss: Ready for another thriftventure giveaway??? Next time ;)
psss: If you have any ailments at all (like grouchiness or laziness), put on music and dance until you can't move! It works for me!! Mr. Lovee and I danced so much in the living room last night, I laughed so much! My abs are sooooo sore today, hee hee ;) Well, I didn't just dance, I jumped around alot!! hahaha! We danced to songs from here to here and everywhere in between...