On the trail and a bit of sketching

It seems the weekend went by in a blur. We were not overly busy, just nicely busy. On Saturday, I went to my sewing group, taking some hand quilting and coming home early to go snow shoeing. I went out on the trails again Sunday with a friend. I didn't get much sewing in due to the stretching and soaking needed after the activities. Bad weather days will bring more studio time. I'm just so happy to be able to get out considering that I was barely able to walk for a while because of my hip.

This is as near to perfect place as it gets for me. The air was cool, but not too cold, the snow perfect, and look at that sunlight glowing through the trees.

I went again this morning. It's going to get cold and we're expecting more snow on Wednesday. I am nearly ecstatic that I can now get my snowshoes on by myself! In the last few years  I've had to get my husband to do it, thus not being able to go out alone. Healing my knee and sticking to daily yoga have made it possible.

Today, I could take the camera, some birdseed, and stop when I wanted to.

On  the weekend, we were followed by some hopeful chickadees. Today, I was able to feed them.

 Since I have an appointment today, I must get going and won't have studio time. I did a little colored pencil and watercolor study at breakfast this morning of some twigs that I picked up.

I did the bottom drawing this morning with my tea and the top two yesterday.

Happy Monday!

Sketching and Painting on Paper and Fabric

You know I really do go through my day lost in my thoughts and musing about my fiber art pieces and how I might proceed. Since my word for the year is 'focus', sometimes it seems I'm not doing a great job. I have been trying to focus on being present when I'm eating, doing yoga, and exercising at least. The rest of the time I dream away.

Like many Atlantic coasters, we had a big storm yesterday; the wind and the drifting have continued today, and so, many things including highways are closed. I ventured out for a while this morning to clear the front walk and the bird feeder on the back deck. No sooner did I close the door, the birds swarmed in. While making my lunch, I got caught up in the antics.

This goldfinch was sitting on the clothes line right in front of the window and seemed to be watching me

I really felt the curious stare of this pine siskin.

My kitchen window is such a bright sunny place and I've often dreamed of having a small bay window filled with plants. While this isn't affordable at the moment, some pictures on Pinterest inspired me to add some greenery around the area.

I dragged out a macrame hanger that I made some 30 years ago! I've seen a comeback of them on the net. My husband put a hook into the ceiling and I put it up this morning.

He's also going to replace the pine shelves with wider and longer boards so I'll have more plant space.

I want to add another small shelf on the lower right and then I'll have lots of green space.

I often don't know just what I'll pick up to work on when I walk into my studio.

My intention today, was to add more thread painting to my current fiber art, but upon entering  the studio, I got distracted by my open sketchbook with the sketch that I did of more shanties yesterday.

Some white cotton fabric was still resting near my iron ready to be drawn upon. What could I do? I quickly traced a few lines onto the cotton and then used my Inktense pencils, The Neocolor II crayons and my water-brush to add some washes.

The photo above is still wet; there is some bleeding (it's a challenge to know just how much water to use on the cotton) and the colors will fade some as they dry. I never know if it will work, but often once it is dried and heat proofed, the stitching will add definition..

Happy Monday! I hope you're having a good one, maybe with a bit of creativity-- even it's hanging a plant or making dinner-- wherever you live. I'd love to know what you're up to.

Fiber art--the rocks

This morning after the big storm yesterday, all the birds flocked  to the feeders. I didn't catch the chickadees who flit about so quickly, but I watched the nuthatch on the suet and the flock of goldfinch on the feeder and in the apple tree. It is all endlessly fascinating to me, akin, I think, to being mesmerized by fish in an aquarium.

The nuthatch

Goldfinch

I went out this morning to shovel a bit more off the front step and walkway. Even though it had turned to rain, there was still lots of snow. I had to rest afterwords.

After my lunch, I stayed at the table and put most of the finishing touches on the small watercolor I'm doing as a gift. It makes me a bit stressed as I don't do them usually outside my sketchbook. I'm very critical of all the little details. Even looking at it now, I think I need to touch up the color in the water.

I want to take it tomorrow to have a mat cut for it.

I thought that I might paint a couple of sky fabrics today; however, I didn't have the energy, so I went into  my studio, where I cut out a few more rocks and a fabric that I may use as the background under the rocks. Most of the fqbric will be covered or cut as I add more pieces, iron them down, and cut around the shapes at the top.

I wanted to use a dark fabric so that I won't have to cover every little space. It will all be integrated with thread painting later, or that is the plan.

I'm saving all the tiny fused scraps to add later if need be.

Microwave pot holders, a small watercolor

Have you seen the microwave pot holders circling the net recently? A few members of our guild have been sewing these at our Saturday sewing days.

I thought they might be useful but wasn't sure until my friend Alice said she was making a set for someone who wanted to use them to take to the table. I can see how I might use it when I take my dinner to the TV room! The ones I made fit my flattened bowls perfectly.

For most of the day I've been puttering- washing, finishing up odds and ends like the bowls, and  repairing clothing. It's a cold grey day. I admit that I stayed a little longer in my PJ's today while I sipped tea and worked at the crossword.
Still, I give myself a little creative time. I picked up the photos of a few scenes that interest me, yesterday and I started transferring one to a watercolor pad and I've laid in a pale wash for the water and sky.
It's truly an experiment for me because I have it in mind as a little gift for someone. Generally, I only do watercolors in my sketchbook as references for fabric art--never for framing on their own. I get too picky and tense with watercolors, but not so usually with my fiber art. Isn't that odd?

I got a few pictures of a little nuthatch that has been frequenting the suet cage on our deck. They are so sweet.

Happy Thursday! Tomorrow I plan to swim, go to lunch, and get a few errands done.

A little autumn walk and a colored pencil/watercolor

I was able to take a short amble with my poles today along a short section of the trail. It was a lovely day and I wanted to get out before my trip in the morning. I'm optimistic that  the cortisone shot that I gto into the hip joint under xray at the hospital yesterday is going to help.
I found this little maple tree near the end of the trail. It was so beautiful that I went back with the car (I couldn't walk any further) and the camera.

The leaves were glowing in the dappled sunlight.

Then I came home and made myself a chai tea, laced with honey and cinnamon accompanied by my favorite rice crackers with cheese spread and tomato. These are the last form my garden and oh so tasty.

As usual, I didn't come home with empty pockets.

Just enough time to sketch before supper.
To my Canadian, readers, Happy Thanksgiving!

A beach day

I had a really low day yesterday, after a lot of hip pain and a poor sleep. In the afternoon I managed to do a little work in my garden and we drove to the waterfront after supper for an ice cream.
We continue to have 2 hummingbirds attending the window feeder. Their antics are so entertaining--they guard the feeder and noisily chase each other all around the yard from the apple tree to the honeysuckle hedge while we sit on the deck and watch,

We've spied a pretty little bird in the yard this week. It's quite elusive, staying in the leaves of the apple tree and the hedge.

It has been identified on a birding site as an American redstart. I've never seen one before.

 Today was a beautiful sunny day and we headed to the beach. For the first time this summer while I've been there, the surf was up. Our in laws live on the Chaleur Bay so we don't often get big waves, but when we do, I love to get in there.

We played until we were ready to drop. I tried to stay out far enough to float over the waves so I didn't have to get up and down. I did catch a few big waves and got tossed right up on the beach like a piece of driftwood. At the end I surfed in and my husband helped me out. What fun!
After supper, and a bit of a rest, I felt rejuvenated and took my paints into the yard to do a quick sketch of the cone flowers against the fence. I'm almost embarrassed to post the picture, but I am. I haven't painted outside in ages and need to get used to how fast the paint dries in the breeze. It is what it is; it's all about the process and the feeling of doing it. I want to do more. And of course I brought another piece of seaweed home from the beach. Endless possibilities!

My husband has another week off. We are enjoying our time at home, getting up to a lazy breakfast, going out when we feel like it, staying up until we want to. Tomorrow we're going to golf with our nephew.

Breakfast table sketches

My crazy hubby just called to tell me he' coming home early form work. I thought it was because it was too warm in the office but no, he's decided to try to get in a round of golf before the rain and thunder start. I stupidly agreed; we'll take a cart, just in case, and I'll get to see if my knee can hold up.
This morning, I finished one of what I now like to term 'my breakfast sketches'. Instead of doing the crossword right now while the wildflowers and such are in bloom,  I've decided to use my after breakfast tea time to do some quick little sketches. As you may spy in the background, other flotsam and jetsam from beach and woods make it to the table as well. It is an easy way to find the time to paint and a nice way to start the day.

I also did a tiny one for future reference. The attention to detail is meditative and relaxing.

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit a friend's garden and I thought you might enjoy a small peek. Her husband has spent years building it, making special little viewing and seating areas. I took several photos but this is my favorite

Here is another little seating area that overlooks the water.

It is a magical place.
I'm off to get ready. One thing's for sure; I'll either be wet from sweat or wet from the rain! Maybe both.
Have a great weekend and Happy July 4th to all my American readers!
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