a bright and colorful weekend...

A few days ago, during a break in the weather, I took the following:

The Rhodys are about done for. 

The bees have been enjoying them while they can.

Some thyme ground cover

a bit of hardy fuchsia

and the lupins are finally shaping up.

I don't know where these bachelor buttons came from, but there is a nice clump of them coming up the driveway... and speaking of bachelors...

More shades of grey practice.  I needed some ideas so I decided to sketch the book I was reading "Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast" - a fun little book about life at a bed and breakfast, with lots of interesting tidbits about books to read.

 Numbers 18 and 19 of the Artful Alphabets class. Finally getting into a little more color.

This one is called "waterfull".

I was a little worried today because I couldn't find my camera anywhere!!! I was racking my brain for when I saw it last.  I was sure it was in the car, I looked everywhere I could think of three times.  Then, on a hunch, I went into the garage, into "no-woman's land" just to take a gander...there was my camera! sitting on top of a tool box!  Serves me right for showing hubby how to use it.  I was really happy to see it and realized how much I would miss it if it ever were missing for real!!!

I hope you are having a bright and colorful weekend!

a walk through my wetlands...

Everything is to wet and lush!

 The flowers must be loving it...

The ferns are happy...

 the Iris, not so much

But today I picked up my first CSA box of organic, locally grown vegetables: Spinach, arugula, carrots, radishes, mint, baby bok choy, and red leaf lettuce and green leaf lettuce.  They have obviously loved the rain!

Now, my challenge is to use up all those vegetables in a week before the new batch arrives.

I have challenged myself to "no waste" this year.  Just to see if I can do it,  even if I end up chopping up the leftovers and freezing them for soup later.  Tonight I'm making chicken soup for dinner and I'm going to chop up the radish tops and throw them in for greens.  Have you ever eaten radish tops before? I certainly haven't, but I bet they are peppery-delicious!

Weekend Workout

I got a little bogged down in my room clean-up, but I do have a nice work table that distracts me into sitting down and working on my projects before I get a chance to do any cleaning/organizing!  I'm still working on my two classes: Shades of Grey, and Artistic alphabets

This is my latest page from Shades of Grey.  I'm really enjoying this.  This class is a little different, in that she shows you some techniques in a video, then expects you do practice! So, I've been doing that and it forces me to get a little more creative than in my other classes.

Above is an earlier page.  My drawing is the flower and everything else is stuff I've glued in.

 Artful Alphabets: "outliners" No. 15

Artful Alphabets "Color Out" No. 17

Saturday at my house

Friday I got outside and took a few photos around the house. My Rhododendrons are mostly beginning to fade out.  They really brighten our place up this time of year.  I decided I better grab some photos before it was too late...

Today, among other things, Phil mounted the photo ledges I have been working on for months.  Not steadily of course.  First I had to find some at thrift stores, then I painted them to match the wall. Naturally they were all dark colors and it took many many coats of paint to cover it.  We needed special hardware too.  It was not without problems, so I'm so glad Phil is so patient and capable in projects like this!

This will be my grandchildren gallery.  I have been collecting black frames to place on the ledges for a few months too  I have photos in some of them, but not all yet.  There isn't room for as many as I thought there would be! I may have to have a rotation going at all times. 

Walker is continuing on his bread-making project. 

 Here he is stirring some bread up for our dinner.

The finished product!  This is the one we didn't eat! Delicious.

And another flower from my garden.

I think this is Oxalis. 

 It has leaves that look like clover, and pretty little flowers.

Memorial Day

I wish I could say this image is mine,

but it is from one of the students of the Artful Alphabets class I am taking.

Memorial Day...a day to remember...

I started my May online class finally.  Its called "Shades of Grey"

by Pam Carriker www.artatthespeedoflife1.blogspot.com

My first page in my journal.

The instructor recommends a Moleskine Journal.  I found a Moleskine wannabe at Michaels for 40% off, and I am beginning to see why people rave about the Moleskines. The paper is thick and smooth. Your ink doesn't seep through to the back of the page. I might be hooked.

I am really enjoying this class so far.  All the materials are in shades of grey. I'm learning how to shade and shadow...the hardest part for me is imagining where the light source is so everything is shadowed consistently...

It's one of  my "favorite things" to be doodling like this.

What a peaceful way to spend some time.

 The baubles alphabet is No. 13 (of 25).

...and Basic Blocks, No.14.  This one is so easy and fun I've been using it on my Shades of Grey projects.

Sunday afternoon...

It's been a long time since I've been to a bridal shower. 

No silly pencil games for this crew. 

Each team was given 4 rolls of toilet paper and 7 minutes to "make" a wedding gown for one of the members of our team.  The bride-to-be was the judge.

My team consisted of very artistic ladies. We were so focused!

We didn't even look to see what anyone else was doing.

A hat, a necklace, a ring, a bouquet, even shoes.

glamorous, right?

Then we saw the competition!

That team really did deserve the prize!

That blushing bride-model is the real bride's niece.

The shower had a tea party theme.

Everything was so lovely. 

And many tasty treats.

A lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Samantha's home...

Samantha is my "model" doll for making doll clothes.

It's important that everything fits!

She needed a little "work".

I decided to splurge and send her off to the American Girl Doll Hospital to get her arms re-attached. They were coming loose and unstitched from years of being loved...making her shoulders very broad...

She came home in a little cotton hospital gown, with a wrist band and new socks.

I was so pleased with the care they gave my old Goodwill purchased doll!

I believe they replaced everything but her head! New arms and body for sure...

They phoned me to suggest I replace her head too, as she has a large bald spot in back.

When I said no thanks, they remarked that her head was an original German made American Girl.

They brushed her hair and put it in a ponytail with a pink bow.

I felt like a little girl with a new dolly!

Now I can continue making doll clothes for my granddaughters,

and try my hand at selling some on Etsy.