Animal Wednesday: Sumo Wrestler

Lately our cat Bliss has been wanting to cuddle up with our dog, Emma.

Not long ago Bliss went into attack mode when we first moved back to Rhode Island. Bliss wasn't well and she took it out on the dog. Emma won't soon forget that!

So when Bliss wants to cuddle, Emma gets up and slithers away.  

Not so yesterday. I was at the computer and heard a low moan come from Emma. My first reaction was 'she's having a seizure' because she has epilepsy. (We call it Emma-lepsy)

Anyway, I turned around to see Bliss pinning down Emma like a Sumo wrestler! Bliss is twice Emma's size and weight.

Bliss was determined to get that damn dog to cuddle!

Emma extricated herself after I snapped this picture:)

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Now go cuddle!

Blooming Tuesday: meditation

Exactly a year ago I decided to try painting mandalas. This was my first one and I had such a pleasant time getting lost in it. The original is quite tiny (and missing at the moment!) It must still be packed away.

This past weekend I planted my nasturtium seeds in their starter pots hoping for blooms like these. When/if they bloom I'll share the pictures on another Blooming Tuesday.

Have a wonderful week!

Six Word Saturday # 11

Weathered and aged

yet

beauty remains.

For more six word saturday posts, click here to visit!

Thankful Thursday : Earth Day 2010

"I have come to terms with the future. From this day onward I will walk easy on the earth. Plant trees. Kill no living things. Live in harmony with all creatures. I will restore the earth where I am. Use no more of its resources than I need. And listen, listen to what it is telling me. "- M. J. Slim Hooey

Happy Day, Mother Earth!

I promise to keep trying to do my part.

The Blues

I thought it would be fun to see my blue ABC/ATC's so far.

I'm having such a blast with this series trying to keep them all in shades of blue!

This week's "N" will have to go in the next batch.

Click here to see the blog and the cards by the other ladies. 

This post counts for Blooming Tuesday and Animal Wednesday!

Six Word Saturday # 10

Follow me

to see

the daffodils!

click on this link to see more!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/studiololo/sets/72157623682553695/

Blithewold Mansion Gardens and Arboretum is having their annual Daffodil Days event this weekend. I took myself there Thursday before the crowds. Just me and nature and it was grand! And to top it off, the gift shop took two of my "rejected" paintings ;)

Life is good!

For more Six Words, please click here!

Thankful Thursday: Smatterings

This week I'm starting with gratitude at home. My landlord asked if I had any use for this counter. I knew right away it would be perfect for the studio so I could have a place to sit with friends and draw or paint. I recently bought comfy stools in chili-pepper red (not shown here) and they give the studio a little pizzaz! Come on over!

Here's the view from the dining room doorway.

I have to tell you I'm in the studio all the time. I just love it and feel very lucky to have stumbled upon this place after the first fiasco we lived in. Things happen for a reason!

This is my memory board where I keep treasures from all of you. I have to constantly change it because I can't fit everything on it!

Right now it has things from the following friends: Soulbrush, Renee, Marianne, KJ, Mim, Teri C, Debra Kay, and Lynn. Can you find your art? (click to enlarge)

Beieve me, all of you who have ever given me anything has been represented here and will be again. Thanks so much!

Many of you recognize this beauty by Marianne! She sent it to me recently with my amazing letter "P" from our abc/atc swap. I can't show it yet because it's not time. Besides, I don't usually show things from the other blogs I participate in on this blog. 

I probably should because not everyone goes to the other places.

Thank you Marianne! You know I love this dragonfly in my colors ;) ♥ 

I was lucky to get a popsicle stick bookmark from Teri C! She even put crows on it. And she also sent me this cute puppy! I love his wonky ears! Thanks Teri! I love them. ♥

 And finally, Miss KJ sent this Easter raven to me from Babs etsy shop! It was a real surprise! It hangs from my paper storage cabinet which is right where I can see it all the time. Thanks KJ! You're always so thoughtful and generous! ♥

One last note, I entered 3 paintings in a local art guild show which I recently became a member of. Not one of them was accepted! Funny, they raved about my work when I posted it on their site, but for some reason none of them were selected.

That doesn't make me feel too welcome. Still, I'll continue to paint in this wonderful studio and have my own damn shows! ;)

Today I'll pick up my rejected works and hold my head high and thank them for their consideration. It's a tight knit group there. I'm sure no one knew my name and that was that. As long as I know who I am, that's what matters ♥

Animal Wednesday: Nesting

I went looking through my archives to see if I had an appropriate image to use for today.

I did this painting five years ago when I rented a musty old room in someone's house as my first studio. I wanted to paint a nest, but then I thought about a little sparrow bringing an 'offering' to my painting because he thought the nest was real! Talk about self-flattery!

Anyway, five years later I see a lot wrong with the painting. Still, someone in Southern California is enjoying it as part of their bird art collection.

Apologies to those of you who may have already seen this. I haven't had a whole lot of time to do new stuff lately. I'm working on changing that though ;)

Happy Animal and nesting Wednesday!

Illustration Friday: Dip

Snake dip anyone?

I love symbiotic relationships.

A little weekend whimsy to wish you a happy spring ♥

Six Word Saturday # 9 Easter Humor

Time to

take down

the tree!

Easter Blessings to all. For more Six Words, run over to Cate's place here!

Animal Wednesday: How Many Bunnies...

As I was bopping around the house the other day I noticed I had quite a few little bunnies here and there besides the dust variety. I remembered KJ's challenge of seeing how many hearts we all had around the house, so here's my Easter/Spring challenge.

Take pics of bunnies around your place, real or otherwise but ones that are always in plain view. Here are a few of mine!

The top picture are some love buns in the kitchen over the glass cabinets.

Here's a closer (yet blurry) view.

These buns are on my baker's rack in the kitchen. The white one I bought at a yard sale in California for five bucks. It's some kind of Italian porcelain. I love her!

The two little stone bunnies were rescued here and there. I always keep these two little girls together.

Here's my pretty Italian girl close-up. She's definately centerfold material!

  And the little girls in front of a tureen. They're quite shy! The little black one is really old and worn so she's hard to see clearly.

I love blue and white pottery. I bought this ages ago. It holds many packets of seeds to be planted now that we're settled. Of course we have to make sure no more snow is on the way as well as no more flooding. Good grief!

I adore this little guy! He's always up to something. Doesn't he look like he was caught in the carrot patch? He sits near my kitchen window and keeps me company as I do dishes.

Remember my frozen buns this winter? Well now they're my soggy buns from all the rain we've had. (Thanks for all the calls and emails asking how we are!) The basement is flooded but not much was lost.

And look...daffodils are coming up! I knew there'd be more surprises!

Here are my love buns that I showed last week when Emma was running through the crocus. if they keep smooching I'll have more bunnies pretty soon!

Speaking of Emma...where is she?

hahaha!! I can see she's been editing photos again to make it into my post!

Happy Animal Wednesday, bunny style!

And Passover and Easter blessings to those who celebrate ;)

xoxo

Blooming Tuesday : Mini Tulip

I've been busy painting these little miniatures and listing them in my Etsy shop.

I think spring in New England has hit me!

And you can see I'm making use of many stamps that have come on my mail this past year. Fun!

Anyway, first time doing Blooming Tuesday!

Illustration Friday: rescue ( an encore piece)

Quite sometime ago Portnoy and Biff met at a no-kill animal shelter in the middle of America.

It seems Portnoy was a renegade that escaped a truck headed for the slaughterhouse. Afraid to go back to the farm, Portnoy walked for days until he met a kindly old gentleman who told him all about this shelter. Unable to properly take care of a pig, the old man gave Portnoy a ride to the door and waved a tearful goodbye. The volunteers at the shelter welcomed Portnoy with open arms and hearts. They brought him to his new quarters but on the way there he noticed by Biff, an old-timer stray dog with a twist in his tail just like his!

The shelter worker saw the connection between Portnoy and Biff right away and asked if they'd like to be roommates. Biff's spirits soared by having Portnoy around. They shared stories of life before being rescued and celebrated every day for the strange twist of fate that brought them together.

Two peas in a pod, those two. Old souls embracing a new lease on life.

(This was used for "IF" in 2007 for the word "twist."  I thought it was time for an encore!)

And I just noticed this is my 500th post!!!

Sunday Book Giveaway # 1

I'm starting a new tradition at studio lolo which is to pass along books from my shelves so that others may enjoy them. Some I have read, some I have started and not finished and some I bought because I thought the cover was beautiful! I know, don't say it.

This particular book is one that I was halfway through before we packed up and moved cross-country. By the time I unpacked it I had forgotten the characters and the thread of the story. I admit, I don't hang in often for starting books over even though I know I was enjoying this. Here's the premise of the book as stated on the back.

This is a story about family, community, and the shared values that underlie and sustain human relationships. And ultimately, it is a tale of profound loss, human falibility, and the love~romantic, neighborly, or familial~-that can sometimes blur our line of vision. 

I will draw the name of the winner and post it with next week's book giveaway. The only 'rule' is that you pass it along to someone when you're done with it. I like the idea of paying it forward ;)

So go ahead and leave your name, and good luck!

Six Word Saturday # 8

Spring

gives me wings.

I'm soaring!

For more six words, click here please!

(The stamps in the piece are from Caroline in Malaysia, my cousin in New Brunswick, Canada, and Jossie in London!)

Animal Wednesday: Tiptoe Through The Crocus

We haven't lived in this house for too long so imagine my surprise when I looked out the window the other day and saw at least 500 crocuses! At first I wondered what 'all that stuff' was in the yard, thinking somehow that litter of some kind blew in. The yard hasn't seen any love for quite sometime, I'm sure, but on this day it was very special to me. I can't wait to see what else 'pops up!'

As I was taking the shot little Miss Emma spotted a squirrel and began the chase!

I think maybe she was happy about the crocus-fest and she couldn't contain her enthusiasm! Well, she did trample a few of them.

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Six Word Saturday # 7

Blue skies,

black cloak,

watchful

friend.

for more six words, stop by Cate's place!

Illustration Friday: Expire

"The Funeral"

8"x8" acrylic on canvas

painted today for Illustration Friday's prompt: expire

Thankful Thursday Part Two: The Visit

,

Okay, this is a mindblower to say the least.

Most of you know I have an Etsy shop and that I love ravens.

I came across this artist last week and I fell in love with her whimsy and her wares. I asked if she ever did ravens and she said she was thinking about it because she loved them as well.

Long story short, this is the one I comissioned, but she apologized for it because there seemed to be a tear coming from one eye.

I told her it was perfect because I had just lost a friend who called herself my raven sister and I miss her dearly. This raven is going to sit next to her flowers in my studio.

I'm taking this as a visit from Renee telling me (all of us) not to be sad.

Blown away twice in one day. The Universe works in amazing ways ;)

Please visit Jill's Etsy shop. She does wonderful work!

Thankful Thursday: Mellow Yellow

This post has taken a turn from my original plans. I was going to post some goodies I was lucky to receive from some of you wonderful ladies, but now that I opened my mail not fifteen minutes ago I knew I had to make this post about Renee.

I promised myself to always keep fresh yellow flowers in my studio as a way of always having her spirit with me. Yellow was her favorite color and she adored fresh flowers.

So after putting the flowers in water I go to the mailbox and there's a package from Margaret at Waterblossoms. Most of you already know her and love her as I do.

She did a post about Renee (here) on March 15th. Margaret really picked up on the essence of Renee's spirit immediately and conveyed it beautifully in her post and in the beautiful ATC she painted.

Today, as part of the package she sent me is the original ATC and printouts of the post and all the comments and a beautiful card thanking me for introducing her to Renee.

This is the original ATC in all its glory. It's a sight to behold in person, really.

Peg said that as she painted it it was as if she had a butterfly on her shoulder telling her muse what to do, line by line, brushful by brushful. She went on to write,

"It sang of renewal and light and rebirth...it sang of the lessons I personally gleaned from Renee...it sang of a free spirit and serenity. This original belongs to you~I will have it no other way...thanks for sharing Renee with me!" Peg ♥

Thanks so much Peg. You have no idea how much that moved me.

This is the stunning card and envelope it came in. Sorry for the shadows, I was just trying to find some natural light and the kitchen was the only sunny spot.

More goodies from her (and more shadows!)

This wonderful tin box really intrigued me. I opened it up and saw a string hanging out which contained this little pink package with a tag that read: "Handmade bookmark~I use mine in my sketchbook. The beads on yours reminded me of your clarity and focus and spirituality. Notice one bead is for your life in California too!"

I wish the pictures were better, but I think you get the idea of the beauty!

And look what was inside the box besides the little bookmark. Another stunning ATC of one of her amazing hearts. This one is called 'Rhapsody in Blue.'

It reads : Thinking of you and the love and positive energy you give to all. Thanks for your insights and freshness. I always feel a warm wave of serenity from your art." 

Ditto Ms. Margaret (Peg) Waterblossom! ♥♥♥

Here is the stunning original!

And here is a wonderful ATC print that was in the butterfly card saying "May your artistic muse continue to flourish and grow in this season of renewal."

I can tell you it flourishes because of all of you and your continued support ;)

On a closing note, KJ is putting together a chapbook of what Renee meant to all of us. If you'd like to know more about it and would like to be included no matter how briefly you knew her, please let KJ know on her blog. The book is "Renee's Book of Love."

I haven't been too well for some time now and one of the gifts Renee gave to me is when she said she wished she had taken better care of herself. I've heard those words from so many people, myself included, but it was just lip-service. This time I heard them loud and clear and decided to do what it takes to get back in the race and be healthy. I've had a lot of tests lately, some results are not so great but I can turn all of it around.

I'm on a good pace and I'm not looking back. I'm looking ahead to at least 40 more years!

In her dying words she gave me the gift of life. Maybe because I was ready. Or maybe I was just waiting for the right messenger. Either way, I'm on my way to good health and I'm grateful.

Please run over to KJ's!! Thank you, and lots of love from me. xoxo ♥