Happy Anniversary...

...Happy Anniversary to my greatest guy! I love you!

Sorry I am not posting a Ta Da today, but I have a good one for next Thursday and I am thinking peacocks may be involved.  Today is our anniversary. I won't say how many years because if I typed that out I would feel old all day & I don't want that today! hahaha  Let's just say it's more than 1/2 my life. (My husband took me to my high school prom.)  Sometimes when people ask what's the "secret" to being together so long; we, or I fumble for an answer. But here's the answer, this is what I'll say next time ~  Love, Forgiveness & The Golden Rule, that's it, I think :)  We didn't plan anything big this year, just kicking it, going out to dinner & maybe a movie.

.  Last week he took me on a  sweet spontaneous impromptu day trip to Daffodil Hill.  

Pretty awesome. We had the best time.  In the many years we have lived here we have never been and it's close by.  Getting to go through Sutter Creek is always a bonus. I love that little gold town. The daffodils were beautiful.  Did they bloom  a little early? If so, it was probably because of the wonky weather, there were a lot of dead heads. The place is so huge and there are so many varieties that there still was masses blooming so it was not disappointing.  I got a lot of inspiration from that little day trip.  The place was so country cute and I loved the peacocks. I had recently embroidered a beautiful peacock on vintage turquoise tiny ribbed corduroy fabric and now that I have some photos.... humm...   I painted a little "Inchie" with tiny tiny daffodils.  I had not heard of "inchies" until my sister started making fairy gardens and working with miniatures.  You know my favorite paintings are ACEOs so I had to try painting some "inchies"!  Here's one I started. This is the first coat of an acrylic wash on watercolor paper.  It measures 1" x 1".  I am going to come up with some fun ways to use them other than doll houses.  Maybe an "Inchie" book of some sort for a collection? If you have any ideas I'd love to hear them. 

Instead of roses I got beautiful daffodils and believe me that was just as much if not more romantic than roses! 

If I don't kill them first, we can enjoy them next year on our anniversary too! 

I love daffodils.  Isn't yellow the happiest of colors?! 

Blessings!

Wordless Wednesday

Party on the Patio last Saturday

A Little Word on Wednesday

"Nothing But Blue Skies From Now On"

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

It's Beautiful...

outside today. The trees and shrubs have all burst into bloom. I had to grab my camera and snap a few pictures of how spring has sprung in my front yard!

Boring? No Beautiful!

Those of you who follow my blog know that I do not have a green thumb and too much dirt for my gardening abilities. One thing I love, not only for their beauty but because I can't kill it, it grows no matter what, is Oleanders. Yes "Freeway Flowers". They go unnoticed most of the time, they are unjustly disliked by many, thought to be boring, but I love them. I think they are beautiful. I know that they are poisonous which makes them all the more interesting to me. Deadly Beautiful. When I'm driving down the freeway they make me feel happy, almost as happy as the wild Black-eyed Susans. Although I have pretty roses blooming I couldn't help but pick some oleander this morning. Freeway photo by mistergoleta

I've Got The Fever?

Maybe spring fever has been my problem lately for the lack of painting I have been getting accomplished? Maybe but I've been painting this week and it feels good. I have lots of new paintings in the works and surprise! they are not all Angels!

I have been hearing about Artfire so much that I have decided to list my new little sprout paintings there and give it a try. If there are any of you out there that sell on Artfire I would really like to hear from you.

These little paintings were inspired by my new sprouts that I grew from seed. Yes you heard right. I did it. Now if I can remember to water them... Sandypetals shared with me the easiest way to start seeds. You put some soil in plastic ziplock bags, zip them up and in a few days WA LA! Sprouts. I carefully transferred mine into some old plastic 6 packs that I had. I really wish I had saved more of these. My house sits on 1/3 of an acre which is way too much for my gardening ability. I have lots of room for plants and I am really motivated now. Maybe I can do this! I just started some more yesterday, lime green zinnias, if they are as pretty as the picture I am going to love them!

I'm going back into my studio then later I'm off to Sacramento for a Swell Sister meeting. I've missed the last few and it will be nice to see all my "sisters" and get a good shot in the arm. They are all inspiring, interesting, creative, artistic, talented & supportive women.

In My Studio

Yesterday went by in a blink of an eye. I cleaned house, even planted some trumpet vines in the back yard while it was raining! Hours went by without notice while I was painting. I'm feeling better so it felt good to be busy.

I'm having fun painting little ACEOs. These I called "Cotton Fields" and are now listed in my shop at Etsy. Done in "Martha" colors. I plan to a lot more this week. I think these flowers would be pretty on canvas.

Maybe it's spring fever but I'm in a flower mood. Last year at this time I painted lots of flowers in clay pots which sold really well, but I am having fun doing these funky abstract flowers.

I listed lots of originals on Ebay this morning! I was holding off on listing originals for a gallery show and selling mostly prints, but I need more room around here, I've got paintings everywhere!

I haven't painted my mermaids for a while but I painted a little one on a denim canvas tote yesterday that came out so cute. I'm going to give it to my mom for Mother's Day. It will be a good beach bag for her and she loves my mermaids. She lives just blocks from the beach. Hope she doesn't read my blog today! haha I also finished an angel painting on an altered book I had prepared a long time ago. A collector of mine asked me if I ever did paintings on paper or collage papers. I don't very often but decided to give it another try. To my surprise it was pretty fun and the paper was more forgiving than I remember.

A Glorious Morning

Another beautiful day. Hear tell, it may not last long but you know me, I won't mind the rain. This morning I got out again today and ventured to the post office but didn't do any yard work. I stayed inside and painted a garden instead. I also worked on my commission piece and finished another garden angel. This one is called "Morning Glory". I guess I am just painting all my favorite flowers first! I love morning glories. A friend of mine has 2 story trees that surround her property along the back and side and the wild vibrant morning glories grow up those trees and it's breath taking to me, they make my eyes pop open, to her on the other hand they are obnoxious weeds and tries her hardest to get rid of them. Every time I tell her I love them she tells me I'm crazy and we both laugh. A print of this painting is now listed on Etsy.

Thursday's To Do's

I got out of the house and went to the printer today. It was so nice I almost felt like doing yard work. Almost. I am working on my portfolio for a gallery in Sacramento. I have been working on it in bits & pieces this week and hope to get it finished tomorrow. I also finished up a little painting on wood I have been working on. This is the first of several flower garden angels. I hope you like her. This one is called "Angel in my Hollyhocks". If you cover one side of her face she seems to say "don't even think about picking one of these flowers", haha, the other side is sweet as pie, lovingly adoring you for wanting to pick one! haha Tomorrow I am beginning a commission piece, mailing, & helping my husband with his band's promo package. I have listed the print of "Angel in My Hollyhocks" at Etsy.

I received a really nice email inviting me to join http://www.bluecanvas.com/. I don't have anything to sell there yet and honestly haven't spent the time to fully check it out, but I did post a few pictures. I am juggling my time at the moment trying to find balance and squeezing in time to Stumble on Stumble it! I'm hooked and have found some great art there which I will have to share. I'll have to start posting some of my weekly favorites. I have Project Wonderful ads now too. I'd love to have you advertise your site here with me. Be sure to check out my new & wonderful sponsors!