Sharing some of my COVID snail mail. These have added JOY and LIGHT to my life. I know there have been others, some were shared as part of an exchange. If I have forgotten anyone, I apologize. Just know that your card was very much EnJOYed and appreciated! Thank you all!
This hand painted card was oversized. There are silver circle details throughout. It’s really too bad metallics don’t scan well. Delightful!
May you stay safe and well as we begin the return to “normal”.
You knew I would paint him sooner or later. When I worked up the courage.
Calling this a study, as I feel I learned a lot in the process. I am going to paint him again. It was fun. I lightened the image I used as a reference after I did the painting. So you would be better able to see details. He appeared much darker before.
I botched one of the ears. And I edited the lighter ear areas digitally, as they looked much lighter in the scan. But, not thinking, I should have gone back in and darkened the outer edges more. My values are muddled a bit as well. But I am really happy with how he turned out!
Finally did the color chart for my larger palette. This small task was very meditative.
I have three colors on the lid. (center top row)
Not so clean after today’s painting. Haha.
After many months, I finally finished painting this small table. My plan was to do a wood grain effect, to compliment my bed. But the raised panels would have required extra prep work. I applied the base coat and then put it off.
I wasn’t sure which direction to go next. When I bought it, it was a distressed, rustic white. It was a perfect size and a bargain. And I knew I could easily change the finish. I had an abundance of this blue, more indigo than a royal. And in a fit of wanting to get it done, that is what I went with.
I can always paint it again if I change my mind.
Three layers of paint. Two of a satin varnish that turned out to be much too glossy. And an additional layer of matte varnish to fix that mistake. Thankfully, I was chatting online with Sea Dean. I was bummed about the finish and decided to ask her opinion. I knew she would have some helpful suggestions. While we talked about the options, I remembered I had the varnish I used on the legs to my desk. Well, If I could find it. Haha. Being organized doesn’t always help when you are forgetful. Hahaha!
Blessedly, thankfully, after a few minutes’ search, I had my hands on it. Yes!!
THANK YOU, Sea!!!
I painted the “antique brass” handles a crisp metallic silver. And then aged them a bit with a watered layer of brown craft paint. Sealed them with the matte as well. Three full days of painting. Whew! And WOO WHOO! Laughing here. The table is only about a foot by two feet. I am so pleased with how it turned out. All of this with what I had on hand.
I am not sure if you can really see the difference, but the glossy is above, and the matte is below. I highly recommend this product. It is creamy and easy to apply. It dries quickly as well. It feels wonderful to the touch.
I have been working on this post for about a week. The evidence is in the mishmash that follows. I hope you are well and keeping safe.
Mom brought home a new plant. None of the photos do it justice. It was glowing and gorgeous. Heuchera, Southern Comfort Coral Bells.
They had to run to Home Depot because a pipe burst in the master bedroom. It flooded half the room, the carpet was soaked. The water flowed all the way into the master bath. This on a late Sunday afternoon. Perfect timing.
We found a plumber to come out, but he told us that if we could wait until Monday, it would save about $300. Definitely wait. The water damage crew came in and set up fans, moved the furniture, and pulled up the carpet. They were all great and as quick as could be. But it still was almost two weeks of people in the house, and dust and mess.
I was quarantined x2. Or quarantined squared. Haha. I stayed mostly in my room because the blowing dust was making me sneeze and cough even more than usual.
It’s been a long time since I have spotted bunnies in the yard. I saw this one, and managed to get the camera ready in time. Almost. Haha. He was fairly tiny. A young bun. He ran across the yard, across the street to the Pampas bush. They like to chill under there. Out of sight from the hawk and crows.
I went out on Friday, for my infusion. (It’s a shot, for my lungs. I have to sit there for 30 minutes to be sure I do not have a reaction to it.) Most of the trees are done blooming. On to the next stage. There was a lot of traffic. Some stores were busy. But many were closed. So strange to see. Bizarre right? I never would have imagined I’d see aisle after aisle, empty in a Walmart. Unreal. It felt like a luxury to be behind the wheel.
I’ve been working on a project I hope to share with you soon. I’m going on the second week, haha, we shall see how soon, soon turns out to be. This is part of it. And it has been in my mind lately. Enjoy!
God bless and keep you in his loving care!
The house was quiet and the world was calm.
The reader became the book; and summer night
Was like the conscious being of the book.
The house was quiet and the world was calm.
The words were spoken as if there was no book,
Except that the reader leaned above the page,
Wanted to lean, wanted much most to be
The scholar to whom his book is true, to whom
The summer night is like a perfection of thought.
The house was quiet because it had to be.
The quiet was part of the meaning, part of the mind:
The access of perfection to the page.
And the world was calm. The truth in a calm world,
In which there is no other meaning, itself
Is calm, itself is summer and night, itself
Is the reader leaning late and reading there.