Sunshine Studio Musings.

This looked like sheer mud to me yesterday when I got through beating it with a stick for forty seven long hard hours.


But today I'm not mad at it.  It even made me happy to come into the studio and be greeted by it.  Ok then.

And this 2000 pound wonder of all wonders.  Isn't it lovely??!?  My beautiful teenager carried it up the stairs for me with all his muscles and all his extra energy.  Actually I shouldn't say all.  He used very few of his muscles and next to none of his extra energy.  All I know is its up here and its plugged in and it sews!

The sound it makes when it sews is the best sound in the world, it truly is.  I love that it is truly 2000 pounds plus of heavy turquoise steel.

I got it at the flea market from the sweetest couple.  She said "oh yes honey, you'll be able to figure it out".

Behind it on the window ledge is my new nursery.  The babies live in here now.

This guy is so pleased with himself that he's going to bloom.  See the white bloom at the bottom?  I'll keep you posted.

My mom and I both had to buy these white ones.  I hugged mine all the way to the checkout the year before last during the holidays.

And this.  This splendid beauty is taking refuge here in the Dreamery for a spell. It just doesn't get any better than this.  Look at the colour!  It will hypnotize you if you stare at it too long.

Ok so all my tops are too short.  Its making me cry.  I got some new leggings and I really want my tops to cover me up because ain't nobody needs to see that.  But, all my tops are too short.

So, I became a fashion designer last Saturday.  I had help from some experts.  We sewed all afternoon while the sun shined right in the windows.

That plaid is from a jumper I am embarrassed to admit is from 1982.  Gosh do you think its time to upcycle it yet or should I wait another million years?  Too late...done.

But even more important is this darling ironing board, also from the flea market.

Now you realize I'm doing that thing where I do every single thing that there is to do to avoid the canvas.  But, as they say, the best way out is always through so I'll keep on going...

This was happening in the late morning sunshine.

Then the kitten got brave.

such body language

her ears are hilariously flat

kerpow

We did this for quite a while until somebody fell back asleep.

Time to paint.  I've done everything else, its the only thing left.

Warm Wax and Entertaining Snow.

Warm wax in February, it just doesn't get any better than that.  It was pure bliss in the studio yesterday.  This piece is 12x12 encaustic on birch panel.

I wish my photos would do encaustic justice.  I was so happy with how it turned out but this photo doesn't show how pretty it looks in real life.  It looks etherial and snowy and dreamy.


Maybe these details will show you...??

I painted two pieces and this one is 12x12 birch panel as well.

Once again, the photo doesn't do it justice but maybe these will help...

Here's some photos of the beginning stages.  There's a lot of layers on these pieces and I'll admit, I forgot to take photos of each step.

There's a quote somewhere on the world wide web about how when you're painting there are a lot of people in the room with you.  And if you're really painting then one by one they walk out.  And if you're REALLY painting, you walk out.

Yesterday, I walked out of the room too.

I love it when that happens.  

I also love February's entertaining snow.  The kind that one minute you look out the window and there's a blizzard and the next minute the sun is shining and there's one lone flake swirling and swirling never quite making it to the ground and so you watch it to see if it ever does land and you watch and you watch until eventually you snap out of it.  Or not.

I love it when that happens too.  Yesterday I had both of these things going on and it was bliss.

You can't see how hard its snowing in this picture unless you zoom it in.  Oh, and look at the view, specifically the trees.  Do they look like my trees in these paintings?  I'm just now realizing that!  I did good:-)

Yes, these trees do indeed look just like the ones outside my windows.  And that snowflake looks exactly identical to one of the snowflakes from yesterday too! Incredible.

Mermaid and Marabu.

The intention was to make her look as if she's swimming towards you, tresses flowing.  Tricky, since its tiny-maybe an inch and a quarter diameter.




This one seems to be some sort of not-so-magical banana tree.  Again, tiny.

Slightly larger, maybe 3 inches diameter.

Thinking is good.



This bliss box was a Christmas gift from someone very very special.

The fabulousness can not be contained.

All the colours.

More teenie tiny watercolour circles.

Her hairdo did turn out particularly splendid.

I have plans for these little circles so I'm trying to teach myself how to paint them.  It seems as if everyday I'm learning how to paint.  Isn't it wonderful?!!?

Winter Flowers.

Playing with paint.

It could not be any yuckier outside.  Its rain-snowing, cold, wet, gray, drizzley, dismal.  So I'm self-medicating by painting flowers.

dets...

This one will be expanded upon somehow someway.

I read this quote yesterday mere minutes after I came in from outside holding the sweetest little perfect bluebird feather.  When I picked it up I couldn't help but admire how perfect it was.  "Undamaged by the elements."

These little plants needed some pen.  Better, right?

Yes, remembering to snap pictures along the way is proving to be more difficult than I expected.  I did manage to get one...

These wonky imaginary flowers are keeping me sane.  Very very sane.