A few nice things

Hey, how's your day going? Good I hope. Here's what my life looks like at the moment...

 A basket of kittehs.

 A drawing of leaves

 The Curvy Closet Sewing Club is back up and running. I finally had some time yesterday to do some sewing. Here's Vogue V1197, a cowl neck tunic. It was pretty simple to put together. The pattern had long shirred raglan sleeves but they were too fiddly for me so I cut them off at the elbow.  I also cut a kimono jacket out last night out of scrapes of fabric. 

 "Old Lonesome" out by the pond. 

The fish seem happy enough. 

Hugs and kisses to you!

Marilyn.

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“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things

makes home happy and life lovely.” 

~ Louisa May Alcott 

 

By the Sea, by the Sea, by the Beautiful Sea....

I had a lovely birthday on Monday, dinner with family, lolling about, cards, presents, well wishes. It was a delight. I also spent a good part of the morning drawing, over sixty doodles in all. This little batch of seashore drawings were my favorites of the day and so with summer right around the bend, here you are....



Sometimes it's good to just let your pencil wander and follow your fancy, don't you think?

Marilyn.

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To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.

~ Anatole France (1844 - 1924)

 

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This Week's Flower Study

I don't know what I'm going to do with these little flourishes yet. I like to keep a file going of my drawings that I can use to decorate toys. I drew these while talking on the phone to my best bud, Julie.

The sun came out this morning and there were lovely wisps of steam rising off of the lawn as the the rain evaporated. There is snow on the mountains and it's clear for miles. Definitely a beautiful day. 

Okay, Spring... come on, will ya! 

Marilyn.

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The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think -- rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men.

~ Bill Beattie

Ink and Brush Work

Last night was cold and rainy. It was a nice night to be indoors where it is warm.

My fascination with flower patterns continues so I painted this.



It's good to try new things, don't you think? My friend JR talked about "skating in the middle" When he took up rollerskating most of the people just went around in the outside edges in one direction, but the cool kids would dance and do tricks in the middle. At first he thought he would never be able to do that but after a while there he was spinning and groovin' with the best of them. Now whenever he needs to learn something new or take on a challenge he thinks back on that learning experience.

How about you? Are you an autodidactic? Do you like to learn new things? What new skill or hobby have you taught yourself?

"It's good to be creative!"

Warm thoughts, Marilyn.

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The things that one most wants to do

are the things that are probably most worth doing.

~ Winifred Holtby

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Ducks, Hearts and Bugs

Some kind and generous person sent me a gift card to Art Supply Warehouse. There wasn't a name included in the envelope so I'm at  loss as who to thank for such a thoughtful gift. This did not stop me from trotting down and spending it. Nope, not for a minute, art supplies are the siren call of every artist I know.

Most of the work that I do doesn't take more than pencil and paper, scissors and glue. But I still love wandering up and down every aisle, mooning over Winsor & Newton paint boxes and inks. I bought a cutting map, new exacto blades, four bottles of Daler and Browney pearlescent ink and some new drawing pencils. (Staedler Mars Lumograph 2B and 4B if you are curious, the kind that my friend Bob Singer uses.) The cutting matt allowed me to try some more intricate cutting techniques, so I made these...

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What is your art supply vice? What makes you swoon? What item do you have too many of but can't resist? (Mine is rulers.) 

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Wishing you a creative week!

Marilyn.

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There is an artist within each person, and everybody has the capacity to find creative genius in themselves.

~ Annette Moser-Wellman

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Tiger goes on an Adventure

This is Tiger. She is going for a walk in the forest.



There will be squirrels and trolls. There will be other tigers too.



What do you think will happen? 



Perhaps Tiger will find something new. Perhaps Tiger will make some new friends.

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What do you think will happen next? 

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Marilyn.

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"Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination,

your creativity, or your curiosity.

It's your place in the world; it's your life.

Go on and do all you can with it,

and make it the life you want to live."

--Mae Jemison

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