Home again, home again, jiggety jig!

We returned home today from Mount Vernon’s Colonial Crafts Fair, and had a wonderful weekend! The weather was much more cooperative than last weekend’s… not a single drop of rain! There were so many wonderful crafts, fun entertainment, talented musicians, and we especially enjoyed the Virginia hospitality!

When we pulled into the driveway, we were greeted by freshly washed clothes hanging on the line, a “Welcome Home!” note on the door, fresh flowers on the table, and new homemade curtains… Somebunny had been busy… and somehow managed to hide those curtains from me as she was sewing them! Thanks Kate!

And… tomorrow at noon, American Folk Art is updating it’s theme! Head on over there to see some pumpkin-inspired folk art!

Hot, Hot Hot… American Folk Art Update!

We are officially having a heat wave here on Delmarva!  We really can’t complain, since we’ve had such a lovely summer, but the past week has been HOT. The stay inside and crank the AC sort of HOT. Which is a perfect opportunity to work on papercuttings. My current work station is sitting on a little kid’s stool at our coffee table…

The air conditioner is in the window six feet behind me, and I alternate between having in on and freezing my back, and having it off and getting HOT. (Note the air conditioner remote control thingie sitting right in the middle of the muddle.) It’s a delicate balance. Just ask my family.

Kate’s little corner of the world is across from me at the other end of the coffee table. She’s working on some cute fall stitchings to put in the store…

Perched between us is a stack of inspiring magazines… we’re currently into self-sufficiency sorts of magazines. Most likely because we know the electric meter is spinning around in furious circles as I flip the AC on and off. Maybe we can come up with a solar-powered air conditioner. Hmmm….

Of interest on this HOT day… today at noon, American Folk Art is updating it’s theme! The theme of the day is Dog Days of Summer, which I think is incredibly appropriate. Pop on over and check it out!

Apples of Gold in Settings of Silver…

Hello folks! Just wanted to let everyone know that American Folk Art updated it’s theme today at noon! “May Apples” is the new theme, and I know there will be some great folk art to check out over there! Go take a peek!

Apples of Gold
11″ x 11″ Framed Size
(Frame is Burnt Umber Hills & Valleys with Swirled Corners) 

This is one of my favorite verses from Proverbs! I think still life paintings are my favorite to do… but the silver bowl was a challenge! (Especially on paper that’s been stained brown to look old!) The frame wouldn’t fit in the scanner, so I scanned it frameless!

Our other contribution is…

 

Paradise Lost
8″ x 10″  Framed Size
(Cranberry Folk Swirl Frame)

 What a lot of trouble those apples caused! The biblical story of Adam and Eve is one of my favorite themes to use! (It’s a bit of a challenge to keep them modest though!) Here it is in the New England Primer… homeschool families are partial to early primers! We actually used a lot of these old readers when teaching the girls to read. McGuffey’s was our favorite!

Sweet and Sour…

Hello folks! Still plugging away with papercuttings, and my head is full of paper snips! So… I took a break from regular duties the other day and drew a lemon…

Sometimes it’s fun to do something that is not on your “to-do” list. I got inspired by the latest issue of Victoria magazine… there was a great article about Catherine Watter’s Botanical Illustration. If you love pretty things, you will love her artwork! I want to draw like that when I grow up. But for now, I’ll have to be satisfied with a lemon.

Lemons are sour, but if you click here you will see something really sweet! Jackson is 18 months old!

And a new project… In Edward Hicks’ later Peaceable Kingdom paintings, there are these interesting girls sort of in the background. Some are more visible than others, but they usually have a dove and eagle with them, and sometimes there’s a sheep as well. I really like this version, where Hicks explained the symbolism…

She’s going to be a papercutting in the next few days, but she’s also on her way to being a watercolor painting… that is if she turns out! Here’s a start…

A little bit of a re-make. I want her to be pretty, and sometimes Hicks’ faces weren’t that pretty! Couldn’t figure out what she was holding, so she’s getting an olive branch. And a Federal-looking drape just because. Can’t wait to spend a little more time on her!

And a little child shall lead them…

Good morning folks! Just wanted to let you know that American Folk Art is highlighting Lions & Lambs in folk art! The theme will be updated today at noon… be sure to check it out! The Peaceable Kingdom is one of my favorite folk themes. No, it IS my favorite. And Edward Hicks is one of my very favorite artists of all time. For a little bit of history on him, check out this old post! I often yearn for a peaceable kingdom… don’t you?

Oh… and Kate created a very gaudy, really cool, pretty/ugly (or pretty ugly?) messenger bag sort of thing yesterday afternoon. You’ve got to go take a peek. I’ll bet you dollars to donuts, that if she wears it today, somebody will ask where she got it!

Hope you all have a great Monday!