Animal Wednesday: Spit Happens

We all know how camels, llamas and alpacas can and DO spit at people, but these two were very well behaved. My camera lens wasn't a target, at least that day.

This guy was a riot! So friendly and curious. 

Such a poser!

Their feet fascinate me. They're like discs on the bottom with no indication of those two toes. And they seem so fluid! Just plain weird.

Don't forget to embiggen all these photos :)

You talkin' to me???

This darker guy was a bit more shy.

hahaha! Can you read the words?

Awwwwwww. Camel ♥ love

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Love Nesting

I got myself into a bit of a commercial mode this afternoon by taking off on a thought I had a couple of weeks ago. Somehow that thought went right out of my head until I recaptured it today. I thought I'd better sieze the moment!

I call these little paintings "love nests" because the 2 eggs look like a heart. No really, they do. Don't you see it?

It's like making images out of clouds. Well, sort of.

Or that magical moment when you're in the middle of nature and you spot a heart in a tree or a rock! Too bad no one is there to witness it. But that's when you take a picture of it and bring it home, perhaps post it on your blog ;)

Anyway, I've been a bit absent. A bit spotty. A tad preoccupied.

I think I needed these little love nests today.

I hope you like them.

xo

Lolo♥

Illustration Friday: Surrender

Puppy Breath, belly rubs, unconditional love.

I surrender ;)

paper bag, fine point sharpie, colored pencils , ten minutes while sipping pinot grigio 

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 ♥ 

Fourteen on the 14th

KJ put out the sweetest challenge the other day when she walked around her house taking pictures of things with hearts. She asked us to do the same thing, promising we'd be amazed at how many we have! During my little stroll around the abode I noticed I also have a couple of "Love" items that are important to me so I've included them as well. Ready? Let's go for a walk.

Every day I wake up to my wonderful birth mandala made by my dear friend Marianne in the Netherlands.

This has 33 hearts of gold on it!

This is the sign on my studio door. No grumpy people are allowed in there. Only positive energy!

Still in my studio, I walk over to my memo board and zoom in on a card from my dear 75 year old second cousin whom I've never met. We've been writing for 10 years!

The wonderful raven ATC is from Marianne. Her presence is everywhere :)

Next up is a valentine present I bought for myself on Etsy. I just wish he came with my initial!

The people made a mistake and sent me another one but they told me to keep it and enjoy it when I offered to send it back.

 

Here's the other one. I should send it to my sister Pam :)

Speaking of my sister Pam, she bought this limited edition sculpture for me years ago.

She sits in my studio making sure I choose my colors right!

Lastly in my studio I happen to have a few heart items on my messy table.

Stickers for Valentines that never got sent out, and postage stamps of my Bloggy Doggy!

Let's pop into the kitchen on the way upstairs. Oh look! Healthy cereal! My husband must eat at least a box a day. I'm not a big cereal fan but I do like this one.

This sweet drawing was done by my 7 year old Great Niece, Alexandra who loves to draw with me ;)

I love to draw and color with her too!

My new workout socks and the cute (blurry) tag.

From my bedroom bookshelf. I recommend it!

This little pillow was given to me by my niece when I had to put one of my old kitties to sleep.

He was her favorite. His name was Forehead and he was a sweet boy ;)

This painting was given to me on my birthday by my dear friend Mary Helen. It's one of Rebecca Emanuel's "100 Pieces of Love" inspired in part by Dr. Masaru Emoto's research and photographs of water. He discovered that our thoughts, words and feelings have an effect on the water's molecules.

Rebecca's feeling is if we add the visual word "love" to our everyday space then it will have a significant impact on our consciousness. Her intention is to look at these 100 paintings as one piece scattered in many different directions, carrying with it the "chi" of love.

And finally, this tiny little wooden angel who hangs from my kitchen window reminding me that angels are everywhere;)

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Thanks for visiting!

Illustration Friday : Celebrate Little Things

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

for the turn of the key...

and then,

Emma does her happy dance

because I'm home!

That's enough of a reason for her to celebrate. Lucky me!!

( a sweet reminder by Val Gal who misses her loving companion, Ratty.)

See her tribute here.

Animal Wednesday : For Mim

My friend Mim had a dog that stole her heart and kept it. Some of us are lucky enough to know what that means.

They were our number one. Our 'main squeeze.'

The one that loved you no matter what you weighed or how you smelled or how many grades you completed. They didn't ask for a resume before falling in love with you. They didn't care about your salary or your obsessive compulsive traits.

They could care less if you wore designer labels or if you bought your entire wardrobe at Goodwill. They loved you.

When I asked Mim if she and Sampson had a favorite place she mentioned the old apple orchard behind their house. I pictured them there on a crisp fall day, not a care in the world. I wanted to capture that moment for her, and I hope I have given her even a little memory of it.

I stole a picture of Sampson from her blog last week knowing I wanted to do this for her. She started Animal Wednesday which I love participating in.

And I finally got my paints out again after closing the studio in September and

it feels good! So Happy Animal Wednesday, Mim! I love what Sampson meant to you, and I understand, truly I do. This painting will be in the mail soon!

Happy Animal Wednesday to all of you and your furry and feathered friends!

5"x7" acrylic on canvas

IF : The Horizon

This is the time of year when many people complain about what they don't have. They make huges lists of material 'must haves" for Santa to bring or for their parents to buy because they think life will be better with them.

For others, this is a time of year when we remember the less fortunate. Those without food, shelter or warmth. Those who are battling life-threatening illnesses. Those who don't have any family members left and feel totally alone. Big TVs, Ipods, computers, diamonds or fancy cars wouldn't fill their needs or their hearts.

What all of us need to keep in mind in any of these situations is that people care. I still believe that good outweighs bad. So let's remember the less fortunate in this season of giving. Let's show them that hope is always on the horizon.

Wishing you all who celebrate, A Very Merry Christmas. Sharing with you week after week is one of my greatest gifts of all!

( And for those of you who know my secret signature, the 3 cypress trees are always in my heart. They represent the 3 cats we drove from Rhode Island to California with 14 years ago. I miss them dearly and feel blessed to have had them in my life for so many years. Merry Christmas, boys.)

Done for the Illustration Friday prompt, "Horizon." acrylic, Prismacolor pencils on bristol. ( click to see hope on the horizon!)

IF : Missing you so much...

I worked all day on a painting for this topic today and ended up not using it. It just wasn't the right fit. I kept going back to one of my favorite illustrations I used for a promo mailer a couple of years back. This guy is really a heartbreaker, isn't he? Dogs miss us whether we're gone at work all day or just going to the bathroom with the door closed. They're missing us whether it's five minutes or five days, doesn't matter to them just as long as we come back. I feel sad for the ones who are waiting for someone who isn't going to return, ever. Thankfully a lot of those guys end up in new homes with someone new to miss! I have one of those rescues. Trust me, she never looked back! Now she's missing ME when I'm at work, or checking for mail, or out for dinner ...but at least I leave the bathroom door open. I know...too much information!

Fine point Sharpie, watercolor, and Prismacolor pencils.