Thankful Thursday: Abundance

I honestly am lost for words sometimes.

I don't even know how to describe how blown away I am by the deep friendships I have made on this blog.

My mailbox was brimming today with more gifts from dear friends, old and new.

The top drawing is a postcard Marianne's son Felix drew for us. On the back is the sweetest message for all of us to get better soon and that we are close in his heart.♥ 

He also told our dog Emma that she is one of the nicest dogs and he loves her!

That is one special boy, let me tell you.

We love you Felix! We will see you again.

  

In the same package was this ATC made by Marianne wishing me a Rainbow Day!

She also included a CD by Alisha Keyes!

And this beautiful ATC was in the package too!

Hummingbirds have a special meaning to our friendship.

She also sent a "Leo" bookmark from Egypt I believe. It's made from papyrus.

And then...

She painted this picture to cheer me up. Well, it made me cry!! But it was a happy cry.

This is a picture of our cat Bliss that Marianne took when she visited.

This touched me more than you'll ever know, especially after nearly losing her last week.

This painting will be framed soon and will hang in the living room where the photo was taken. Marianne, you are so very special to me. I love you♥

Thank you so much for everything!

Next we move on to sweet Lori. All I did was mention that I loved the banner she made for her daughter Hannah and sure enough one showed up in my mailbox not long after!

I was beyond touched by her kindness and generosity.

This will have a place of honor in the guest bedroom which is done in a vintage style. It will be perfect there. 

Here's her signature ♥ card with the sweetest note on the back.

And another view of the assortment of fabrics.

Thank you, dear Lori. Your heart knows no bounds.♥

I finally got to meet Suki at KJ's YART this year. It was a short but meaningful meeting.

Suki came bearing bags of gifts for all of the bloggers!

Here we have her wonderful Peace card, a pretty umbrella photo card, a magnet from New hampshire and a lovely porcelain ♥ from Annie, the Blissful Bohemian, and a felted bear she bought at a craft fair.

Suki also gave me two of her handmade books and a handmade card. The pictures don't do them justice! The colors and textures are delicious, truly!

I hope to fill this purple one with ravens and then perhaps have a blog giveaway!

Thank you Suki. I love all of these thoughtful gifts and I'm thrilled we finally got to hug for real! Hopefully there will be more visits.

~Namaste~

xo♥

And last but not least, this wonderful "Raven Queen" print came today with a plush cat I ordered from Pam at Yoborobo.

I love this!! It is SO Lolo!

I'm not showing Vernon the cat because he's wrapped so nicely and I'm shipping him to Canada. Trust me, he's adorable!

Thank you Pam, new friend and talented artist.

♥xoxo♥  

I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. I get so many gifts and I don't always have time to make a post. If I have forgotten any of you I apologize. I love every card, letter and gift that graces my mailbox and my life.

Thank you for your friendship, all of you.

xo

Lolo

Animal Wednesday: 100 on the cuteness meter!

I was on my way to Tiverton the other day to drop off more paintings and cards to the gallery when I decided to go down a side road to look for photo opportunities.

Look who I found!

He's such a short, stocky little guy and soooo friendly!! He wasn't camera shy at all.

This is his beautiful friend. She was protective of her little guy ;)

Awwwwww! 100% on the cuteness meter!

Rhode island has many beautiful marshes. I took this shot to hopefully use for a painting one day soon. I'd love to live in one of those houses and have this quiet view.

I believe this is Sapowket Marsh. Many of the names are from Native Americans who were here first.

This is a small pond in someone's front yard. Such pretty reflections.

It was a wonderful day followed by clam chowder and beer battered fries for lunch.

Happy Animal Wednesday and happy Fall!

xo♥

Selling Originals

I have been asked several times if I was ever going to sell any of my original Illustration Friday pieces, so today I decided to go through them and list a few on Etsy.

This is NOT a sales pitch!

This is me branching out and and letting go of stuff.

All of these images are now available in their original state.

Thanks for prompting me to let them go ;)

xoxo

Illustration Friday: Racing

~Racing To Rabbit Moon~

                                       

This is the only racing Greyhounds should have to do.

Race free and happy in fields and beaches, or like this chap, racing in his dreams.

I'm trying to get back in touch with my children's book style because of a book I'm about to begin.

I have to admit this was crazy fun to paint this today!

Watercolor, graphite and gouache

 For Illustration Friday: Racing

Illustration Friday: Spooky

Oh yeah, real spooky with that embroidery Mr. Ghosty!

I was wondering where my hanky was, pesky raven.

Hey, this is also for Animal Wednesday. What the heck!

~acrylic paint, micron pen, colored pencil and a scrap of cardboard~

Healing Friends

Most of you know this has been a tough couple of weeks at our house.

Hubby and I have been crying "UNCLE!" for two weeks now because of a nasty virus that has chosen us as hosts. Today I finally feel like a human being and he is close behind me.

That didn't come out quite right!

 

And our dear kitty Bliss sent us on a spin to the emergency vets for the past six days when she became covered head to toe in blood as she was grooming. She was severely anemic with a chance she wouldn't pull through. She barely escaped transfusions because she stayed borderline critical. She has been poked, prodded, ultrasounded and xrayed to the max and we still can't find a single reason for the bleeding. Unfortunately we were finding other things of concern which had us going back.

Long story short, miraculously, as soon as we got home from the hospital last night she turned the corner to wellness! I personally think St. Francis hitched a ride with us and I'm not a particularly religious person (in the traditional sense.)

Every leg is shaved in a different pattern but vain as she is, Bliss could care less.

She's happy to be home in the studio listening to Debussy and watching the rainbow maker dance across the room. And Mom is very happy ;)

Thank you all for your prayers and love for her recovery. Let's hope we're home free.

Now here are some other reasons why we're all getting better in this house.

The love ♥ of friends!
 

This wonderful orange polka-dotted box was on my front stoop this morning.

That Mim!! She emailed me and told me she was sending a little something my way, "kind of a Jewish mother thing" she said.

Look at this!

A wonderful container of homemade chicken soup, a big cup-shaped bowl filled with an assortment of mini brownies, a big thing of hot cocoa mix and a chocolate/espresso cake!

And oh, a chicken cookie complete with a little chickie.

How sweet and caring is this??

Thank you Mim! I'm looking forward to all of it. I feel so much better already!

This is definately chicken soup for the soul♥



More love arrived in the form of friends buying from other friends to send to friends!

Marianne bought this wonderful coffee cozy from Lori and asked her to include this note.

I love that she chose the Bonsai for me.

Lori wrote the note and tag on recycled cardboard which makes it extra special.

Thank you ladies!!

BUT how did you know my friend needed a ...

New sweater?????

xoxoxo!

So here we sit in the studio, candles lit, Debussy and rain playing~me, Bliss and Emma. So nice.

And this beautiful pomegranate cloth was given to me from Marianne when she visited me.

She saw me ogling it in a gift shop and the next thing you know it's mine.

That's how she operates!

I found white tulips at Whole Foods to complete the calmness I feel right now.

Thank you, everyone. I hope to catch up soon!

xoxo

Lolo♥



Pumpkin Pictures and Emma chooses winner

A local church in the center of town has an annual Pumpkin Patch sale for the kiddies.

Yesterday was a clear, beautiful Fall day and the pumpkins beckoned me.

Here are a few shots I took.

And now, drumroll please as Emma chooses the winner of my notecard giveaway...

She inspects the bowl to make sure all the papers are folded.

"Are you peeking, Em?  No cheating now!"

It's official. Suki is the winner!!! Congrats Suki!

Please email me with your 4 choices after browsing Etsy.

xo♥



Illustration Friday: Transportation

~Transport yourself to higher ground~

English Springer Spaniel :)

(for Illustration Friday and The Sketchbook Project)

Animal Wednesday: Three's a charm-er

I've been busy with this little project today and I feel like I'm in the zone.

As I drew this sweet mutt, I noticed I was making his nose and markings look like hearts, so that's how I decided what to write above his head.

I actually can't stand this cutesy saying, but I think it fits him to a tee.

Besides, I really, really ♥ him ;)

Animal Wednesday: Part Deux

I figured since I was on a roll I may as well bang out the back cover.

Besides, cats hate to be second ;)

Happy Animal Wednesday again!

Animal Wednesday: I have begun!

Many of you know I've joined the Sketchbook Project revolution with thousands of other artists across the globe. Please click on the link to learn more about it in case you don't have a clue what I'm talking about.

This blank journal has been on my desk for a month. I know it will be filled with both realism and whimsy. My theme is "It's Raining Cats and Dogs."

This morning I looked at that darn blank cover and decided to just jump in!

I won't (for once) criticize it and say what I see wrong with it. I'm just going to fill these pages and let them be what they will be.

So, many more Animal Wednesdays to follow will show the progress of this little book.

I look forward to sharing it with you! 

Happy Animal Wednesday ;)

xoxo♥

Illustration Friday: Beneath

OH NO!!!!  Dorothy is in BIG trouble now!

One witch down, one to go.

I loved this idea but I obviously struggled with it because it's NOT very good.

We can't just post the pretty stuff though, now can we?

micron pen and colored pencil on brown paper

YART 2010: behind the scenes in pictures

Sweet, Exhausted Stella with her new toy from Aunt Robin.

What a weekend! Very magical and delightful.

I'm so glad I was a part of it, and to think I met even more bloggers in person as well as other non-blogging wonderful friends.

It was my pleasure to spend this time with you.♥

Here are just a few pics behind the scenes because yes, I always forget to take photos during the event. 

party goers!

Hi Pam :)

pets allowed, all shapes and sizes!

Oh so shiny sista-shoes!

an exhausted Emily rabbit in the pumpkin patch

~keeper of the wine~

(Thank you JB)

Beautiful Tess, much-loved member of an amazing family ♥

Hallowed-Hall



mesmerizing melodies

Cyrano??

or Pinnochio?

(doesn't matter. He stole my ♥)

Heading home on the back roads and finding painting inspiration...





...and objecting residents! He mooed as if he were a watch-cow!

(look at the evil eye I'm getting.)

And finally, back in my studio a gorgeous afternoon glow to welcome me home.

This was one helluva beautiful weekend!

Thank you KJ and JB♥