My Snow Nativity

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I only wish this came out a little clearer but I hope it is enjoyed as a sample of my little snow village under my little tree. The image below is that of the snow Angel I did yesterday. Unfortunatly it is warming up out there and it probably won't last long. I have been wanting to make a snow Angel for years and have finally managed to do it. I felt like a kid again playing out there in winter wonderland... I hope to do more snow sculptures this year cause it feels good and its just plain fun!

My Snow Angel

Delicious

I just got back from my vacation in Arizona where I enjoyed so many wonderful things from spa treatments to artist galleries and the scenery was awesome to say the least. I think I would like to go back out there as soon as possible where there is sunshine and something other to see than corn and bean fields. Although I loved being out there I missed my own surroundings and bed. If I could only make a home out there. My daughter treated me to this trip and I am grateful to her because it was indeed pricey. We also went to Las Vegas to see the Cirque de Solie . We saw Ka which was thrilling and had seats that were perfect. Saw Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesin West and so now I have visited both of his schools, East and West. The red rocks of Sedona were amazing and we enjoyed a drive through the dessert in our rented convertible Mustang. I bought a book on painting with vibrant colors at a gallery in Sedona and am anxious to experiment with some new methods. All in all it's good to be home.

Statue at the Chapel in the Hill at Sedona

We Canoe

I took this photo of myself when we were out canoeing and was lucky to get Kevin in there too. I had no idea!

One of our many canoes

My Hubby Kevin

New work in progress

I have been working on this for a while now and hope to finish it soon because I am notorious for starting paintings and then I get an idea for a new one and somehow I end up with allot of unfinished work. Now that I am retired I hope to finish some older works sitting around. I guess I work better if I have a deadline and a time frame in which to accomplish something. I started back to B.S.F. a few weeks ago and have allot of homework to do, so that is my priority. Looks like I may have to put the garden to bed this weekend. It's supposed to snow Sunday. I am always sad to see summer end but
really do love the snowy landscape of winter. I hope to blog more often since winter seems more concussive to computer world. Happy Fall you all!

Tears of Joy

I have officially fininished the first piece of work in the new studio. This combination illustration and poem will be part of a traveling exhibition that the Presbytery of Eastern Iowa is having and they will auctiion off the works online next spring and give the proceeds to the flood victims here in Iowa. I am also working on a sunflower painting which I must get back to. I can feel the creative spirit starting to flow within me once again. This usually happens around my birthday which has just passed, somehow I get a resurgenge of energy this time every year. I start back to B.S.F. this Thursday and am looking forward to this semester as we are going to study John. This is to be my 7th. and final year as I will have completed the program an will graduate in May. My daughter bought me a charm braclet for my birthday that has a charm for each of the different studies made by a jeweler in Texas that has also completed the Study. I read that B.S.F. piloting a study of Isaiah and may be adding it to the cycle so I may get to have a bonus Study in the future..... The gardens are starting to look a little dry and I have been cutting down and pulling up. So the cycle goes on........

Well it's about time that I get blogging again as most of the projects around here are winding down. Actually I made a new list of things to do today but I would like to pause and enjoy the fruits of our labor before the end of summer. The new room is just about finished except for some minor details and the old barn has a new coat of red paint . I really can't wait to see it against the white snow of winter but not too soon. I miss my friends in the blogging world and think about you often. Now I really have to get to creating some art again. This month is my birthday and I have some celebrating to do also.

Gwen Jones quilt artist

Just returned from a visit to my hometown and fortunatly was able to see the last showing at Peter Jones gallery which is closing after 25 years. This is a picture of Gwen Jones standing in front of some of her quilt works. I haven't seen Gwen for ages but it felt like yesterday that we were working on art projects together. I sent for a few of her mini quilts to hang in my new studio space for inspiration. I need to start working on an art project for the Presbytery of East Iowa which is based upon the bibilical story of Jesus and the "Woman at the Well" found in John 4:1-42. The show will be called Art as Living Water and will travel around the country next year. I have been formulating the peice in my head .Your prayers and inspiration will be appreciated. The windows for my studio should be in today and then the new art room can be completed . Hope it is finished soon as I must get to work on my art.Thank you all for your wonderful inspiration

As you can see the new room is coming along and soon I will be painting away!!! Not only will I paint the walls, there really isn't much there so I will soon be painting canvas and on old barn wood again. Thank you all my blogger friends for your inspiration. I hope to have a renewed season of creativity very shortly here.... Below pictures of my newly decorated computer room and dining room . Just had to throw in a picture of a few of the wonderful women in my group this year. I'll be missing them but will reunite in the fall to study John. I will have finished seven years in B.S.F. International next May. I am looking forward to the last semester and then who knows I just might start over again.

Some of the women in my Bible study group.

This is what my back porch was like before it was torn off today. It will soon be replaced by a 3 season porch where I can set up a nice sudio. I just can't wait. Below are a few pictures of the well that was discoverd. Too bad we had to fill it in because it was so nice, the workmanship amazing and to think that it's been here for almost a hundred years. I have missed blogging but I have been so busy with home improvement projects that I havn't had much time for anything else. All this work should be done by mid June and life can get back to normal.

I bought myself some tulips the other day because I just had to get a little spring going and the weather changed the next day . I think Old Man Winter took the hint. I hope you all are getting a hint of Spring wherever you are. I have Muscari blooming on the south side of the house and looks like the Daffodills aren't far behind. Yeah! Been cutting down vines and trimming trees and bushes. New fence to arrive next week so I have been clearing the way. I only hope they don't trample down all my spring flowers. This has been one busy winter around here so I am looking forward to the peaceful days of summer.

My Lenox "Sugar Egg"

Just a reminder of those sweeter days when we were children and Easter was one of those really special Holidays when you got all dressed up and went to Church with the whole family..... I still go to church but without little ones around to share the joy it just isn't the same, though in the past few years I have found a deeper and more spiritual reason to celebrate in the resurection and the light.

This is a painting that I am working on. It was a request from ny nephew. I hope to get it done by summer...but It too is on hold till this other work is finished...

I have missed blogging for awhile but I have been so busy around here. I just inherited this mirror and so I had to re-decorate my room. We are also repairing the ceiling in the computer/library room so the whole house is strewn with items from there. What a mess! I tore out an old bookshelf that was made from boards and have ordered new craftsman style bookcases and a matching computer desk. I am planning to paint the walls a color called Pawnee(kind of a burnt orange) and the ceiling Dakota Hills (golden tan). The ceiling has a way to go . After this room I move on to who knows where. My art work is on hold as I cant even get to my paints....Guess I'll settle for painting walls for now and enjoy looking at all of your creations.

Dandy Finds Himself A Home

This little frog that I purchased from Debra at Sparrow Grass finds himself right at home amongst the rest of my froggie friends here in Iowa. I think he is "just dandy" Thanks Debra! Have to go now or I'll be late for my stewarship meeting at church.....

This is a photo of one of my friend Cathies' creations. She does some very amazing things with shells as well as other things like mosaics, stained glass, paintings and who knows what she'll come up with . It's a fortunate thing we that we are friends as this town is so small and almost culture starved. She always gives me inspiration to keep doing art. Love you girl!! check out.. this girls art. Its a fun blog to visit.

Whweres my blog?

Blizzard Of The North

I have been scanning photos for my family on facebook and came across this photo of my dog that I had when I lived in Door county wisconsin. He was the sweetest dog ever and has been gone now for quite some time and is in doggy heaven. I had to move back to Chicago for awhile and I felt sad for him since he was a country dog so I gave him to my friend Nila who lived in the woods, because he would be happier. There he lived his life out in a place more suitable to his nature. I will always miss him!

My Recent Additions

I recently got some new furnishing for the living room but now I am undecided about what color to paint the walls. I was thinking maybe a sage green or maybe a sand. The color thats on the wall now has been there for at least 15 years and I have grown tired of it even though it shows off the rich tones of the woodwork which is all original from 1912. Amazingly when I first painted them I noticed that there was only two coats of paint on them. Hard to belive , but then the original owner lived here till he died and there was only one other owner after him. If any of you out there have an idea for a color I would appreciate the input. The work on the house is on hold until the new door is delivered and the new fence which is vinyl, because it won't rot , can't be installed till spring. All in all it should be nice to have a fence thats not falling down. I have been working on a painting for my nephew and have to get another done for my grandaughter. I am not sure what I'll paint for her something with flowers I think. peace to you all... Laura

I Have been so busy around here just trying to keep my house in order what with all the work going on and dirt to keep a broom to. Washed my entire kitchen down from top to bottom and it looks so bright and clean. My new basement windows are installed , insulation in the attic and all the walls.The new front door is installed but has to be re-installed cause they sent one that opens on the wrong side. It was custom made and now I have to wait another eight weeks for the right one to be installed. Woe is me. I've been swimming two days a week and it really helps with the tension as I feel so relaxed afterwards. The painting is one I did way back in the "70's" Just been reminising about the past allot these days. Looking forward to spring and have the sping cleaning bug already. Peace be with you all.

Old Time Gals