Adventures in Pretty

Autumn Walk & Coffee House Sketching

After teaching both Saturday and Sunday, it was my turn for a weekend. Yesterday afternoon, I went out for a restful walk. The sun was out- startlingly bright after several cloudy days of rain. It made this pumpkin stand glow almost neon. Happy Halloween!

 It was windy and all the leaves were tossing and blowing about in the air.

 My destination was to a cafe to have a treat and sketch. I headed to the Ballard neighborhood. Seattle's reputation for coffee and coffee houses is well laced with truth. The coffee house I wanted to go to had closed, but across the street there are three others, all in a row, each doing a brisk business.

   Inside it was cozy and lit with autumn sunshine.

       Some of the chairs were really cool, they had taken burlap coffee sacks and used them on the chair backs.

   I set up camp with a hot chai, Russian tea cookie, and my art supplies.

  Notes from my journal: "Sitting on this high bench, escaping for awhile. Letting time wash over me. Coffee/Tea a timeless respite from the "to do" list. Flashes of autumn sunshine, people coming in, people leaving...a quick coffee break, a pause, a breath between sentences. Letting the noise wash over me. Laughter, music, tamping of espresso, hissing of the steamer, voices rumbling into eachother weaving a specific melody." 

May you find a bit of peace today to take a deep breath and relax into the moment.

Bath Time!

Rub a dub dub- a bath for dirty birds! On my shed roof, the metal has sagged and created a bird bath that has been empty for the last 3.5 rainless months. But now... the rain is back, the bath is full and the old crowd is back!

A party of goldfinches (the yellow shape on the top left is a leaf).

 

Oh isn't this fluffy one just dear?

"Hey, everybody turn around and smile-she is taking our picture!"

 

Don't these two look like they are getting all spiffed up for a party? 

This one just makes me laugh! Oh! What a fluffy one! I imagine the bird in front is saying, "Don't worry I got you covered! I can't believe she is taking your photo!"

These little guys (and gals) inspired me and I decided to do a quick ink sketch on watercolor paper.

Here I added in more gray tones with watercolor

Finished sketch with more watercolor added.

And here is a close-up of our very cute model!

I would like to thank my model above and I apologize for making you floofier than you really are! 

Wishing you all a happy, splashy, sunshiny, feathery day!

Celebrating Autumn in Watercolor Class in Seattle

 

Last weekend's Celebrating Autumn in Watercolor class was a full class! This is a beginning class in watercolor. Many of the participants hadn't ever done watercolor since they were little. I am so impressed with what everyone was able to create in just a few hours. I talked about how fun watercolor is and that it is not hard like many people are led to believe. You just need to know how watercolor works, and how to get the most out of it. Everyone chose their own leaves to paint. Each table had leaves for visual reference, but I encouraged everyone to just use them for inspiration. It was a very fun group of people and the paintings are amazing for just beginning!

For this watercolor class, I made special palettes that use Daniel Smith PrimaTek paints which are made from minerals such as: amethyst, garnet, turquoise, lapis lazuli and one called "Sedona" which is made from stone from Arizona. Because these paints are made from minerals they all granulate. Granulation is a quality of some watercolor paints where the paint naturally settles into a stipple pattern. Perfect for leaves and other things in nature.

 

    

I love this photo- it takes a few seconds to figure out which leaves are painted and which are real!

  

   

If you are interested in learning watercolor, consider joining us in Seattle for the Watercolor 1: Testing the Waters class on Saturday, October 27th, 10:00-3:00. No experience necessary! I provide all the supplies so you can try it out and see if you like it before investing in materials. It is an easy and fun class where you get to learn about the many qualities of watercolor and cool ways to work with it. You can get more info and my current class schedule here.

Wherever you are- I wish you a lovely Autumn Day!

Vintage Yumminess

When I was in Omaha we went shopping at the Brass Armadillo- a collection of antique stalls. I found some treasures that I thought I would share with you. First off I have been collecting old children's books. Some to make into journals, some to leave alone and just treasure as is. I've decided to make a few themed journals (these are long range plans!). The journals will be: "Circus", "Horse", and "Christmas". As I'm still busy working in my current journals-these may not happen for several months! 
 

 My next treasure is an old celluloid cabinet card album I found in downtown Omaha. I love the metal work, the colors and how worn it is. If it was in better condition I would feel badly about my plans to alter it. But since this has a large chunk torn out of the front, the spine is falling apart, and the cabinet cards are torn-I know that I can rescue and transform her into a thing of beauty. I'll preserve most evertyhing-but just add some light embellishments. Again-this is a long term project!

 Front side, with a very wonderful clasp.

 Back Isn't this just asking for some wonderful fairy land of some sort? Hmmmmm.......

  I was delighted to find a whole box of vintage postcards. I wish that I could have bought the whole box! They are so wonderful!

 
 

"December 26th, 1930

Dear Harvey and Ella we received your card glad to hear that you are all well. l am glad that your dad is feeling fine. we are both well. we are having fine Xmas weather and the crops were good and the roads are in fine shape. wish you both would make us a visit next summer. how are all the rest of the folks. Wishing you both a Happy New Year
from Fred & Louisa"

This card is so heavily embossed, I took another photo to try to show you how much depth it has. This one reads:
"8-25-14
Dear Friend will drop you a few lines and congratulate you to your Birthday and I wish you 1000 more to come. we arrived home all ok after an 5 hour drive found roads very muddy from Scheyler up here had more rain than we need. how is Will by this time has he gone to help Germany yet? Think I must stop as room is scarce [ed. on postcard] hoping to hear from you soon Your Friend, J.B."

 

"Dec. 24th 1908
Dear Lillie, Are you snowed in? We had a fine snow today. It makes it look like Christmas. I guess you will have some nice sleigh rides. Did you tell Cousin Mart that you almost were persuaded to stay here? Wish you all a merry Christmas. I am your loving cousin. Carrie." 

"August 11, 1918
Dear Freind
I don't know whose turn it is to write but I guess its mine. Well school will begin again pretty soon and it seems as if it just stoped.
Rita"

This postcard actually has a little envelope on it, and had this note inside!

"July 13, 1909
To Eugene Stoddard
Hello old boy. plenty of rain down this way. The high water Saturday night took the culvert out at the creamery and took the pasture fence out. Uncle Joe is sick with tonsilitis. Pa, Ma and Glenn went down to Uncle Joe's Sunday. My chickens have all hatched. I am cutting out quilt blocks today. The kids went to church last night but I didn't go because there wasn't room for all of us. from Clara" 

"To Teacher
Best Valentine Greetings
from Martin"

 Another..
"2-3-1911
To Miss Anna Jacobson
Would write a letter but haven't time as I take my lesson today. Last night we had a party at the dining hall, they served doughnuts, cookies and kisses. Mr. Cleven baked the kisses after we got there. They also had a program. We didn't get home until twelve o'clock. Yesterday we had an oral exam in bookkeeping we had it in the business half. Tomorrow I am going to wash again, have quite a bit to wash. Love from Lillie "

"October 4th 1910
Dear Emma, Your card was rec'd and glad to hear you arrived home safe. It is thundering and lightning to beat the [cans?, cats?] to night. I guess it will rain before long. .... I cleaned the school house yesterday and now it has to rain. to get it all mud again. I was to a show last night but did not like it very well wasn't much to it. With Love Lillian"

Wow... email just pales in comparison! It is much faster, but I can't imagine anyone saving them for 100 years!

Have a wonderful day!