Last year I planted columbine. A year later she bloomed and very beautifully too I might add. But, the first year was a disappointment. I wondered if it was even worth the time and energy it took to dig the hole and plant. So much of gardening is a waiting game. Each year my perennials get bigger and better. They've adjusted to their new home and thrive. The garden teaches you patience. I really need to apply that patience to myself and others around me. Give it time, you will probably be MORE than pleasantly surprised.
Three Months
Three Months Old - three VERY long Months I might add. Phew!
Oh please don't think my blog is going to become a baby blog all about Daisy and a kazillion pictures of her. I promise you this is still a blog about creating and painting while still having a real life. I thought it was hard being an artist with a full time job. Well, now I have a great little boss, our Daisy, and the job is ten times harder.
Art? When will that happen?
I have great intentions at 9:00 in the morning but by 3:00, they are gone when Daisy is crying non-stop and not napping.
MUST MOVE ART TIME TO DAISY'S MORNING NAP TIME.
Dishes and laundry be damned!
My photographer,designer, decorator friend Krissy at MCK Designs told my little love story - friend love, boy love and baby love on her blog Melange. I couldn't help but shed a tear and of course there are more pictures of Daisy here.
And one of my favorite blogs My Messy, Thrilling Life is back - I just love her thoughts and writing.
And last but not least, just before I had Daisy I found this FABULOUS blog called Smart Creative Women. Monica Lee, a watercolor artist/illustrator herself, interviews other creative women who generously share their experiences and insight on how they do life and work in this crazy and sometimes economically challenged world we live in. I often listen to this while I paint. And sometimes I re-listen because there is some GREAT thoughts. I just love hearing an artist's story.
You CAN be Inspired and Tired!!!!
Wedding Maps
I just finished a wedding map for my friend Cara, LOVE doing these.
Mid- February in Need of Color
For many years, February hasn't always been my favorite month. It's a grey-brown month here in St. Louis and I pull out my garden books and do a little dreaming, a little planning. I think it's because I'm so thirsty for color and green. This is a floral I painted for my 2012 calender. I think home grown flowers look best in Blue Ball jars.
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing,
wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating;
there is really no such thing as bad weather,
only different kinds of good weather. -- John Ruskin
I've copied this quote as much for me as anyone. Weather does effect me I'm sad to say. If I see the sunshine in the morning, for some reason my breakfast tastes better and I'm in lighter spirits. Oh how I wish my moods weren't effected by the seasons, the rain, the dull cold days. It's a challenge some days to persevere. But I think that we all have the challenge to not let circumstance -- be it weather, traffic or even a mosquito bite ruin our day. This quote reminds me to see my life like weather. There are just going to be changes -- and really some of the best things in life have come from what I thought were awful. So the challenge is to get through February not with my head held down counting the days, but up and looking to see and find the good in the day and even in the brown and grey.
My Poster!!!!
Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely or admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - THINK ON THESE THINGS!!!!
Philippians 4:8
I look at this print and the words remind me to reset my thinking and the watercolor flowers help me to see beauty and change my perspective for the moment. When I've been churning the negative in my head for hours it is time to look up and choose something different to think about.. even if it starts with,
"I will think about this lovely pink peony... the fact that I had a meal today that I didn't have to worry about obtaining... I then think of my friend who called me today and made me laugh... "
you get where I'm going.
Size of the paper is 13"wide x 19" high with the watercolor in the middle with 1.5 inch border around. ETSY link here.