She's Here!

A new arrival was waiting in the mailbox after work yesterday!

Welcome home Rosalie!!!

Illustration Friday - Enough - Palette Knife Painting

Sometimes the shade of a tree on a hillside in a sunny day is enough.

One of the things I struggled with when I last painted oils was getting enough paint on the canvas. I preferred to paint in thin layers and build up color slowly. I always marveled at artists that could use impasto and expressive brush strokes, and wondered how they could get so much paint on the canvas with a brush. Turns out they were using palette knives all along.

We tried palette knife painting in the last painting session and I was fairly satisfied with my painting at the end of the day. I never thought I could paint like that! I think I'll be trying this technique again!

Enough, Oil on canvas, 8x6 inches.

Curiously, the cake decorating classes I took came in handy when trying this new technique!

Ripple Blanket - Coming Along

I am really enjoying watching the crocheted ripple blanket grow. I had originally planned on deciding the color sequence ahead of time but now I'm just adding whatever I think will look best. The pattern is easy and relaxing. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Tuscan Countryside

Here is my latest painting. I haven't had much success with landscapes (looks like that is still the case...), so I'll need to practice as much as I can. I can't believe there are parts of the world that look like that - it's almost like a dream.

Sweet

Strawberries have been in season for a while here. I hadn't had much success with my previous attempt at chocolate dipped strawberries. Rather than some fancy recipe, this time I just melted some Ghirardelli chocolate chips and dipped the berries in the melted chocolate, then melted a little white chocolate chips for the decorations. They are not perfect, but they sure were tasty - and doesn't practice make perfect?

Illustration Friday: Sour

When life gives you lemons... paint them!

Oil painting on canvas, 6x6".

More Gifts!

A friend's birthday last month had me at my sewing machine again, this time making a small bag. It's my second one ever and my first without a pattern (totally winged it!) It's made of linen with cotton and a layer of flannel in between.


I added a pocket on the inside. I hope she likes it!

Lonely Pear

I've been wanting to paint some pears for quite a while, and this time we got to paint fruit, so I took the opportunity and did this monochromatic piece. I tend to use very little paint on the canvas, so this is my most painterly one yet! I want to paint some green pears soon.

Chocolate 40th

A co-worker recently turned 40. Upon discovering the imminent milestone, I asked what her favorite cake was and she immediately replied: Chocolate! So I made these the day of to celebrate. I love cupcakes, I make some with sprinkles, some without, regular size and mini ones (which are much appreciated by people on diets who can still have a treat.) Now quite Saturday Pudding, but close!

More Than Two!

I have finished my third painting. I decided to go with a landscape this time. I had painted one landscape years ago, and I was not happy with it at all so I had avoided them ever since. Looks like a few years have helped a little bit! I am thrilled to be back to painting with oils again.

Placemats

A friend has a sunny yellow kitchen, along with smiley face dishes for leisurely, cheery Saturday morning breakfasts. I made these placemats and matching napkins as a gift to go with those Saturday morning breakfasts. They are made of linen and cotton with flannel in the middle. I embroidered their initials on the napkins before mailing them off.

Back to Painting

For a variety of reasons, I haven't painted in over 12 years. I've been meaning to get back to it but the past few years I have been riddled with fear that I've forgotten how to paint, a real shame considering how many years I'd spent painting and drawing before the painting hiatus. So I finally signed up for an oil painting class, and although not extremely pleased with my work so far, at least it's better than nothing. Here's my second painting (the first was absolutely hideous and it's not going online...)

Back to Sewing!

I have been absent from the ol' blog, but that means I've been busy with lots of projects!

I made an apron as a gift for a friend. She loves to bake and loves lime green and frogs, so when I saw this fabric, I knew it'd be perfect for her!
It's brown linen and cotton fabrics. I made the neck adjustable with D rings.

I couldn't decide if all frogs or just a frog detail, so I made it fully reversible with pockets on both sides so she'd do whichever one works best for her.

I hope she likes it! I'm just happy to be back to sewing, it has been a while!

Breakfast

I love weekends: I actually have time to cook and eat more leisurely breakfasts, like this Dutch Baby I baked recently.

Busy lately

But the garden is doing well and I'm full of ideas. I hope to post some of my progress soon! :)