Winter frost & Hints of Red

"Winter House"

 Winter came early this year and it has arrived with a bang,

snow storm followed by really cold temperatures.

Brilliant days for nice walks in the woods and staying inside painting and creating. 

Did another small painting in water colours and ink

and then I have been making some new stamps

This year its all about the Fox

{you might remember this fox from my last post}

Today Mr B and I went for a nice long walk in the woods

{snowman was by a house next to the forest path}

I loved how the frost covered every little detail 

Happy First December & First Advent

{Första Advent}

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Little bit of this & that...

Well it has not been easy times around here since we got back from vacation, tell you the truth it has been very rough.  But everything has to have some kind of silver lining, right...  Or the light in the end of the tunnel, its always there, no?  

Any how, all in all it has been a bit hard to get my art stuff going, and what kind of sucks about that is that I'm taking part of a "art in the park" event on Sunday and I don't have much ready for it.

So I'm here in my {super messy} studio trying to get things ready for it.

Making some extra cards

&

I found some time in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep

I painted on fabric just to try some different designs, not sure if they will mount to anything but they were good therapy while making them.

I did find some time for window shopping therapy the other day, and I found this plant {no idea what its called or anything} and it has the look of a cactus, but no thorns or needles and it had one really cool looking flower pod on it.  So I bought it {so much for just window shopping} and brought it home.

It has been really warm again so I left it outside and thank heavens for that!

Because, the cool looking flower pod opened up, and out came this almost stomach turning looking thing.

And it has hair, looks like the insides of something and it stinks, oh and attracts flies to no end.

As if that would be all, nope, no Sir!  This flower also makes my dog growl at it, bark at it and act odd.

  

I guess I brought home something from out of space, an alien life form

that only flies can love.   So it sits in our back yard, in a corner far away from the deck where we sit.

Blooms on its own, entertains flies and makes us wonder what will happen to it when fall comes.

Any how, that's it from my end, troubles getting things done, housing stinky plants and pondering over the silver lining, it is there I'm sure of it...  I just hope its not covered in hair.

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My art for the show...

The word finally came in and this is what made it to the juried show that I tried for this year.
"Passing By", its a ink and water colour painting 12 x 8. And I was not going to put this one in for it and only changed my mind in the last minute.

"Passing By"
water colour & ink

And here is the two paintings that didn't make it, but no worries, I have two other shows coming up and they will do fine there. Tell you the truth, I'm just happy I have been able to finish some paintings during this time, that has been the best winner for me in this case. 

"Oak Town"
Printing & water colour

And this one, I had to put in two pieces here as its a bit odd size to take picture of and when I worked it in to photoshop it became too big and I gave up after a while trying to shrink it...   Arrrrr, arnt machines fun when you need them...
 

I had a lot of fun working on this one, I was using the stamps I carved out and doing things in layers.  I used two different kinds of ink, one of them are acrylic ink { I have a bit of a love and hate relationship with that stuff}, water colours and sandpaper...  Yep, sandpaper, it gave the surface a really neat texture to work on (although you have to be careful or you can make the paper far to sucker happy when it comes to water colours, not good).

So now on to next project, or should I say projects...  I got my plate full, but that's what keeps me happy and I rather be busy than not.  And wonderful it feels when the sun stays up longer each day and even with this cold snap that we have right now {-34c in the wind}  I have been able to get out and get some good vitamin D in me...  Yesterday, I sat out back on a lawn chair, few blankets and a very fluffy warm jacket and hat {lets not forget sexy long pants, wool socks, double mittens and my artic boots}. 

Sipping tea and watching the birds visiting the bird feeders,  I might try that again tomorrow, will see.

Here's to happy sunny winter days!  Stay warm

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From a very grey day...

It has been warm (very unusually warm) here and its grey, blahh and wet slushy yuck!! So I have had some time to do a few things here inside, going through some of my pictures I took over a week ago, when we had normal good old cold winter days. And here is my 2013 take on "Hints of Colour", and this year a lot of red stood out. I never seen red/orange fungi growing like this during winter, but what a brilliant colour that was and of course rose hip and other berries that are my favourite.

Another print painting I made, again just playing around with my stamps I made and I still cant get enough of them, so I keep enjoying them until I find something new to get all obsessed about : )

I mentioned in my last two posts about my new studio space, well this is what it looks like and feels like right now All Frozen over and under.  Some days its so darn cold in there that I just cant be in there working, and one night I went in there for only an hour and then gave up...  I left and forgot my tea mug, and this is what I found next morning, all frozen solid...  Ice tea anyone!!!

So I have been working all over the house, I have stuff spread out all over our dining room table and downstairs in my new temporary space.  And I'm doing about twenty different things all at once {yes, I have a bit hard time doing one thing at a time}, and most of it is for an art/crafts show I'm taking part of in February.  One thing is driving me totally bananas, nutters and insane...  Are these mega stupid wood tags I bought from a craft store, the price sticker they stuck on to them are almost impossible to remove and I have blisters on my hands from just doing that.  Like why on earth would they stick something like that on them and if that was not enough, but they had to pick the stickers that are as big as the tag it self.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

 

But I'm okay, and its good when I can take my frustrations out on something, so it may as well be stickers and not a brick or something else.

So I will just keep doing my stuff here and hope that I can get all my stuff ready for the show, and I only have one thing left to do for the juried show I will try out for {will post the pictures of them after the jury has given their thumbs up or down...  Fingers crossed one will make it in}.  

And before I sign off here again, I just had to share this with you.  I'm not sure if you saw one of my Christmas posts and how we put out seeds, berries and apples for the birds and squirrels and for all the other creatures in our back yard.  Seeds are being eaten by many different birds, and the berries are being eaten one by one by the little red squirrel that lives under our deck.  Not only did he eat the once in the pot I left out for him, but he also went for the once we hung up.    So cute!
 

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Hello Im back {I hope this works}...

"Tree Houses" Print from lino cut & watercolours

Happy New Years!!!

This is a just a quick post, I have been having issues with getting pictures on here {not even sure if this will work}...  And it was the holidays and I had no real time to draw or paint, or any space to do any art on, and then I was hit with a nasty artist block.  But I'm back and this is part of what I have been working on this past three days {finally got back on track with things, my work spaces however is a totally different story...  But more about that later}. 

Picture above is from something I'm working on, and I'm also trying to get last bits done for an upcoming art show {juried show}.  Picture below is something I took today during my morning walk with Charlie to the dog park, I love it when the frost covers every thing.  Its like everything has been sprinkled with sugar.

Morning frost

Happy New Years & Gott Nytt Ar!!!  I really hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas holiday.  And may 2013 bring all of you joy, lots of great arts inspiration, peace and good health.

Mari

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Mixed bag of December goodies...

Hand printed & painted card

 Been busy around here, art wise it has been about making a mad change over...  Meaning as its getting cold out, I finally had to give in to it and realize that no matter how much winterizing I have done.  My studio space is just too cold to work in right now {sigh, grrrrrr, ugh and blahh}, but thankfully we do have some space downstairs and I will have to move a few things down there for now {until spring}.  The little wood stove cant be used because it cant be insured and those windows with all that wonderful natural light, well all drafty and the floor is so cold it feel like I'm standing on ice blocks. 

So for now I will have my small desk downstairs and just come up here when I will paint on large canvases, see the trolley with my paints?  I got that last fall from Ikea and its fantastic for holding all my paint stuff, it rolls around and I can lift it in to the house when needed. 
And below is two books I got from my mum for my birthday {that was months ago} but its never too late to get something fun in the letter box.  Thank you mum, great gift and its like you knew I need to clean up my space and I been a bit hooked on stamp making... 

Because Christmas is practically around the corner, I have had to clean up around the house too.  So this has included me having to actually move my art stuff downstairs and stop using the dining room table {well, I'm working on it, slowly but shortly I'm sure I find my way down there to the desk that's waiting for me}.   Did a little bit more printing and some small water colour sketches.

Hand printed & painted {acrylic ink, ink and watercolours}

The weather here has been one crazy ride this past two weeks or so, one day we had a booming +17.6c here in Ottawa, a whole new record for this town.  Most people were super happy about the warm weather, but to me its just too strange for this time of the year, its just not normal.  Then today after we had ice rain last night, we woke up to -17c in the wind and every single bit and piece outside were covered in ice.

It looks fantastic, magic and beautiful all at once its like everything is in glass, all frosty and well, to me a dream world.  And when the sun came out, oh...  Just look!!!   Can you see it, every single branch and pine needle covered in ice giving everything a silver glow when the sun hits it just right.
 

Now on to more cleaning, Christmas time planning and hopefully get some of things crossed off my list of things to-do.

Happy December!!

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Christmas Blog Giveaway...

I have been having so much fun with the stamps I made and I made a new Christmas line for this year, I know its too late to book in to any art & craft shows for this year, but that's okay I still wanted to make them and why not share some with you.  After all that's what Christmas is all about and its not too late yet to mail some out...

I'm also doing this, because I have had a lot of fun with this blog and all the people that I have met through the years this way, both through my own blog and other great artists and crafters blogs {and so many other great bloggers, decorators, cooks and even a camel farmer}.  I have met people from all corners of the world, people that I would not have met if it had not been for the "blogger world".  I know I don't always answer back to every comment I get here, but I want you to know that I do read them {each and everyone} and I really do enjoy them all. 

So to all my dear followers and visitors, this is what I have for you....

A chance to win 6 of my new hand printed & painted Christmas note cards, and all you have to do is place a comment and tell me what is one of your favourite moments of Christmas or the holidays that you celebrate {one of my favourite moments of Christmas {Jul} is when we light the first Advent candle...}

That's it, just a small comment and on the 25 of November I will pick a name and it will be mailed... or I should say my trusted secretary Charlie the dog will do the picking {he loves digging through paper for some reason}.  Good luck and thank you again to all of you for all your past wonderful emails, comments and for visiting my blog space : ) 

Happy November everyone!!! 

Mari

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Little fat Robins...

Little fat Robins {hand made stamps and prints, added watercolours}

Well, its clear I cant get enough of stamp making!!!   And birds, and especially birds I love to see around this time of the year, little European Robins {they are much smaller, rounder and brighter red than the North American Robins}.  I also love the Bull Finch that's also very bright coloured bird and the not so bright coloured but very funny bird Magpie...  They bring a lot of great memories from when I grew up in Sweden, and I miss seeing them over here.

Little closer look at the Robins {I think they're looking for food} and below is my stash of stamps I have done since last year {there is more, not sure where I stuck them while moving things around in my work space}...  I know I have to clean them up, I just put some colour on them so they can come out better on camera.

I use different media stamping, for testing and just having fun I use small inexpensive ink pads {Studio G} and for more permanent ink I use {Brilliance, Adirondack Brights by Ranger}...  But I also use FW acrylic artist ink {in bottle} and or I mix my own acrylic mix that I soften up a bit so its easier to apply on the stamps.

Picture below is of tiny rosehip branches I bought from my favourite flower shop Tivoli.  Sometimes when I can have that time to my self , I drive all the way to the west end of town and walk along some old streets looking at window displays and sit in a cafe sketching. 

And then before heading home I just have to go in to Tivoli to see whats new, and boy each time I go in there its a fantastic feeling, every green shade you can think and dream of mixed with bright coloured flowers, its crowded and packet with plants from floor to ceiling, like a mini jungle in the middle of the city.  And I cant forget the scents in there "heavenly", there is nothing like fresh flowers scents in bundles.  So of course I have to get something to bring home and this time I bought a healthy bunch of the rosehip branches.   Which reminds me, I have to start painting more rosehips again...  maybe carve some stamps too.

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Fabolous Mess...

 I went in to my work space to see what I could do, started with looking at few sketches I have done of plants in my back yard and then it went in to trying to make a few stamps again...  Shortly after Lindsay came in and she wanted to give it a try as well.  She drew her designs and I carved away while she kept telling me about all her princess dolls {there is a lot of them}...  One stamp after the other and we had a great fun making a mess.

And I love seeing Lindsay enjoying her self, creating and those designs she makes are brilliant, full of great details.  But a bit hard to carve with out nicking a few lines here and there, but she was a good sport about it and was very pleased with her prints {a very nice day indeed}.

Here are my two stamps I ended up with, the top one is a design/drawing of Garlic chives and in the stage before the blooms open up.  Now they are all in full bloom and covered in happy and hungry bumble bees.

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Art & Crafts Sale and Happy Thanks Giving

                                            Been busy this past week, with trying to get ready for a (last minute) Christmas art & craft sale that I got invited to take part in.  Its this in two weeks and there is a lot to do.  I have done a lot of printing cards (same prints as what I used last year, and I have made new once for this year, picture will come later)...  And I tried out a bit of a different way to print, on fabric and then I sew them in to small ornaments, my dear Alexander volunteered to pose with a handful of them while I took a picture.

 And its been a bit of a mixed bag of emotions again this past week or two, a lot of things has happen besides from being busy. So needless to say, I been stressed out, and then one day after coming back from a walk, I found this by my door.  A parcel from my dear friend Sandra in UK.. OMG!!!...  This so hit the spot and totally made my day.  Full of treats and a lovely card, thank you so much Sandra, thank you, thank you!!!

 Then a few pictures from our first real heavy frost, almost everything was coated with beautiful crystal like ice, like here each grass blade looked like its been brushed with sugar.  The next day, we had our first snow and it was like winter wonderland, of course had to take a few pictures. First one is from my walk in the woods near our house, and the second one is from our living room window early that morning.  I just love how it looks when its snowing and the orange street light glows on everything snow covered.

The snow melted away and now its raining, but it was beautiful while it lasted and I'm sure we will get more again.  I know its late, but I wanted to wish all my dear blog readers and fellow artists south of the border, the very best and Happy Thanks Giving holiday.  May you all have a wonderful weekend.

Cheers,

Mari

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