A Tale of Spring Bulbs--sort of!

First to bloom was the Amaryllis (from Walmart..)....one big bloom, light pink, when they were bought as deep raspberry pink, LOL!

 

I painted it!

 

Then I bought a bouquet of tulips! Barely past the bud!.....

 

I set up a still life and I painted them......a lot! Other still lives were involved....same tulips....for days! (I kept them out in the chilly garage when they were not busy posing for me!)

 

 

 

And more....

. 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, the Amaryllis was bursting out!

 

And I saw signs of life in the other Amaryllis which I had planed on Dec. 11.

 

I bought another bouquet...almost Valentine's Day....why not?

 

And painted them.....

 

The masking tape, while painting (it is only there until that paint dries...) ...is a fun technique....

A friend gave me a tea cup to use in still life....so I did!

Thanks, Donna Murray!

Notice the hyacinths beginning to bloom?

Here is a painting....

 

And here are those hyacinths today....

 

Wish you could smell them!!!

One little paper white just sat there, in the dish while all the others bloomed back in January!

However today, I noticed roots and a longer stem...so I put it in a glass container from French yogurt....they can stay here, until they start to lean over....

 

AND, that laid back Amaryllis, ....? .....here it is today....very promising!

 

More to come...eventually!

Watercolor and sewing, and amaryllis continued

This weekend I decided it was time to cut out and sew the Marcy Tilton dress, Vogue pattern 8813. I have had the fabric,,,jersey from the factory flat fold /remnant table.

 

I made it shorter, and used dark mother of pearl buttons on the big baggy pockets, to make a pleat and take them in!

 

I was going to wear it right away, but the weather turned nasty, cold freezing rain and icy roads. Back to warm woolens!

                                  **************************************************************

Last week, I had a fun visit to a vintage shop, The Cannery, in Bentonville, AR. There I found my angel wings!LOL!

 

And I found a lovely glass bowl which seemed to have silver metallic "angel wings" in the palest of pink glass! I had to have it....(and also the Laura Ashley tablecloth which it sits upon in the photo!)

 

 

Ah, I definitely have the pink vibe at the moment! And the Amaryllis and these tulips are that along!

 

The new sets amaryllis is getting bigger...and I can see pinks in there too!

 

Today was cold and 𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕘𝕣𝕒gray!

Time to dive into some color by painting watercolor!

I set up a still life.....

 

 

And played!

 

Perhaps this will be a study for an acrylic painting....semi abstract floral, of course!

April art times! And recap of life!!!!

This is now finished and hanging in my studio! Influenced by artist Faith Ringgold!

I am working to add patchwork and stitching on this art piece too!

Using a sashiko needle, I am able to embellish the painting with per level cotton stitches!

The patchwork border will come later...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week I have been able to do other art too!

Friends came and we did watercolor....

Featuring a fabulous tulip bouquet from the local farmer's market.

Moving from watercolor to acrylics ....

These are finished now....?...I think!

And 2 smaller ones...which may still see some finishing!

The store where I have a part time job is closing....so I will have even more art and creative time.

I have plenty of fabric, and am making scrappy quilts and quilt tops for various family members and for charity!

And sewing for grandchildren!

Sophie in a dress I made!
**************************

moving towards grey hair....saving $$$$ as we are on Social Security!
I thank God for my many dear friends, especially those with whom I share such good times!

With Karen at a birthday for Tracie!

With Gayle and her granddaughters, friends Sally and Liz, at a French restaurant in Carthage, MO.
April is great, and today is friend Sally's birthday!
Our lilacs...on a windy day!

Hope to be back with more good things soon!

Heavy frost and new kitchen range....

Monday night we had a heavy frost warning......I covered my plants...

Tuesday morning at 9:00 before going to work, I went out to uncover and see.... First of all, the water in the birdbath was frozen over. Frost was on the cloths covering the plants.

 

 

Lots of little flower sprouts survived, I will have to thin these, LOL!

Tulips were not damaged! In fact they look better than ever this year, they were planted several years ago!

The lilac bushes are wonderful! For years, they did't get enough sun and never bloomed. After an ice storm several years ago took out a couple of trees, the lilacs are getting better each year, too!

So, I found a bouquet this morning.....maybe a painting soon....

#########################

Remembering back to Saturday, I had a wonderful b'day celebration with my good friend, Sally. [It was Sally's birthday we were celebrating.]

Sally, I and 2 other friends went to lunch in Siloam Springs, AR. The restaurant is 28 Spring. Very nice!

I had my friend, Liz took a photo for me, of my Thai beef salad.....which was gluten free (buckwheat noodles) I think!

It was such a warm sunny day, windy though.....we walked around the historic downtown exploring a couple of flea markets and some shops. We had heard, though, that the frost was coming...

 

********************************************

Out with the old.....has this range been here since 1970? Maybe. I finally bought a new one....and ....

I'd say there is enough dirt here to be from 40 some years ago. [Don't look if you only like clean and shiny!]

After a quick cleaning.....they tried to install the new range yesterday when they delivered it. Of course the last century cut off valve didn't fit this century's hose for the gas line.....so as I write today, a plumber is fetching the right valve and will soon have me "cooking with gas"! [ which of course brings to mind " fracking issues" ....sigh...]

 

I have a feeling that my spring project will be to repaint the cupboards inside and out.....and maybe give away some dishes!

Here it is finally installed!

 

 

Let's look at those lilacs again....enough dirty kitchen talk!