Cold January mix...

Very, very cold here!!  But I love this and everything about winter {anything but slush and ice rain}, and today was a fantastic morning for a long walk in the woods -20c with windchill it was -28c.

Didn't have my camera with me again and boy do I wish I have {picture above is from last Sat}, I don't know how to tell you how it was and I wish I was good with words a poet or something.  But it was cold so everything had this frost look to it, the sky was in a soft pale yellow hue with the sun trying to peak through, all the trees in soft browns and greys and the land was covered in fresh snow.  And on top of it all, it was snowing with these tiny snow specs that looked more like pixy dust as they glimmered from the sunlight that got through the clouds.

To me, heavenly!!!

And here at home and while trying not to fall in to the cabin fever mood, my daughter and I have been having fun putting splashes of colour here and there.  She made this little flag garland that I tied on to two chop sticks and I put them in the pot that holds one of our hyacinths that are finally in bloom. 

I have been busy with different upcoming art shows, but today after my walk I sat down first looking through a magazine for ideas for my work space, studio...  Igloo {yes, its still very much frozen and shut}.  So many great ideas for storage, wall colours and lots of other goodies and there is one thing that I cant wait for when it comes to my space and that's for spring to arrive. 

But for now its our dining room table and that's fine.  And while fixing my lunch I noticed the little rosehips we bought for Christmas are still hanging on, well almost, and I loved how the berries casted shadows all over the white pitcher.  So I put my work stuff aside and I drew and painted for just the heck of it.  Felt great!

But now, back to work and get things organized and sorted {didn't know how messy things got around here...}  This painting below is one of the things I'm handing in to one of the upcoming art shows/displays.  I think I posted this one before, not sure, but here it is.  Its a mixed media piece I did for a different art show many years ago.

"Concrete Jungle" 30 x 30, mixed media

Felt good to just do something that I didn't plan for, relax and enjoy the beautiful sun that's pouring in through the windows. Now, I'm going to clean up and then maybe get some work done again.

Happy Tuesday everyone, stay warm!!!

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Decorations, Traditions and crafts

 I love this season, snow, frost, fresh greenery and berries brought in, decorations, spending time with family and friends and traditions.  Above on top right is my Advent star my parents bough for my first Christmas.  Below is a vintage Tomten (Santa in Swedish) and a Sami doll from Finland, these dolls we put out each Christmas when I grew up and now I have them here.  And in the middle is a print of one of my favourite Swedish painters Carl Larsson.

Next picture below, is from the Ikea Santa Lucia show and it was as always heavenly to hear all the lovely Swedish Lucia and Christmas songs, so glad I was able to enjoy this with my son and daughter.

Of course there is nothing like home bakes goods and treats during the holidays, so cant wait to get started again... {As my first stash of saffron cupcakes were eaten up before I could blink}.

 Done a little bit of Christmas crafts and drawing.

As most of you know, I love printing and gone bit crazy about it,

but I also have found washi tape being a lot of fun.

Who knew sticky tape could be this much fun : )

Its snowing outside and we are waiting on ice rain to arrive and pass through the night.  So stuck in the house no matter of what, what is one to do?  Well listen to Christmas music, sitting near the fire place, sipping tea and wrap some presents.

 

Happy 3rd Advent everyone!!

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Inbetween

working, cleaning the house, preparing for Christmas (cooking, baking, more cleaning and decorating) and running around... I have found time to create a bit. These wooden Santas, I made out of pieces of wood I found in the forest while walking with Charlie. So easy to make, you just cut them to the length you want, paint red on one side and white on the other. Then you use fake snow paint for the beard part, drill a hole and tread through wire or string, and you have a Santa stick. If you want a real rustic look to them, don't cut them but rather break the stick.

Then yesterday I had a day off from work at the store, and what do I do on a day off... Well I waved bye to the kids as they left on the school bus, I took Mr B's car to the garage and had an oil change done, came home, took a shower, picked up a friend and we went to a meeting at the gallery, then dropped her of and I took my car to the garage for snow tires and oil change... I tell you, I know how to have good old fun and relaxing time. Any how, while waiting for my car to get done, I sat in a coffee shop and sketched a bit. I started to play around first with this "Let it snow" cube set (saw them at work while in a box a few weeks back) its just not going in the direction I would like to see it go and I don't like it and not sure if I will keep it and try to fix it.
Mental note to self: Start drawing lines and drafting again, I'm so out shape with that stuff.

And I drew this little girl with her Christmas tree and treats, just something I thought of. Thinking maybe I should try to make that in to a painting and or a print (start carving again)...

Tomorrow is Friday again, I'm so excited... Not only its the weekend ahead of us, but I'm going to have some time to paint and be in my studio. Saturday its girls night in at my place, and on Sunday we are expected to get a lot of snow... I want snow, a lot of snow, it just makes everything feel so much more like Christmas and I cant wait to make snow lanterns again.

Happy Friday everyone!

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