Silly Photo

I know it's technically past Christmas, but this photo is so funny that I thought I'd share...It was a "self portrait" that I took last year on Christmas day. We actually had a white Christmas! Only one I can ever remember, so it was pretty special...
Hope you enjoy!
Marianne :)

Check out this New Zealand children's Christmas Story...Adorable!

We had this sweet, sweet video in church yesterday. It is the Christmas Story told and played by young New Zealand children. I know it's technically past Christmas, but it's worth it. It is sweet and funny and so adorable! Please click on the utube link below. There is not a photo below, but I tell you, it's so cute, take a look!
Hope you enjoy!
Marianne :)

The Christmas Story (HD version)

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zduwusyip8M&feature=youtube_gdata_player

M. :)
Marianne

Good enough to eat! December 22nd, 2011

Winding down to Christmas...Just a few days to go...wrapping presents, making cocoa, s'mores and wishing for snow...I know it's not going to happen, at least here in warm NC, for we've had steady rain and even lightening and thunder today! As you go about your errands, with a million things to do...don't forget what it's all about, a Gift for me and you!

...for unto you is born... a Savior, Christ the King...
Enjoy
Marianne

Twinkling H2o's

Love these Twinkling H2o's! Just discovered them recently and I'm having so much fun with them. The color depth is wonderful and the sparkles are fun. This is a recent page from my journal, see how the colors just pop?

Photo from untitled album-missing...

Marianne :)

LEAF...Oct. 20th, 2011

A simple, imperfect fall maple leaf, a few Scrabble letters, a bottle of Modpodge, a teacup saucer, and a camera... It doesn't have to be perfect, or all set up. Just a few items and you can save a lovely or fun memory...
Let go of the perfect, so the wonderful can begin... mvw
Enjoy my little imperfect set-up and photo ;)
<3's to you
M. :)

"Penny Girl"...

This a my "Penny Girl" in progress. I can't call her a Curly Girl. Yet. ;) Her crown is one of my photographs, of a South African penny, with an American penny to top it off. She is "in progress" because there is so much to be done yet...background, a canvas would be nice, details, maybe some hair, paint, wax...Humm, lots to do, but I still like her. Especially her eyes and mouth...
Enjoy.
M. :)

Leaves of Splendor...

Water color leaves again, I couldn't resist! They will soon be gone so I might as well enjoy them as much as I can now. Hope you enjoy too!
M. :)

Fall Drawing, painting...

I did a little fall drawing, painting and photographing yesterday...So relaxing. Don't you just have a NEED to make something sometimes? I do! It was stunningly beautiful yesterday, as it usually is here in W.N.C. in the Fall. Perfect, crisp, sunny, slightly windy weather...with leaves floating down to the still very green grass. The mountains, trees, leaves and ground are turning shades of: saffron, pomegranate, salmon, ocher, vermillion, scarlet, golden, crimson, ruby, rust, peach, cherry, apple, coral, terra cotta, tangerine, and garnet! The leaves are spotted, swirled, lined, halved, and marked with varying patterns of these colors...What a masterpiece by the Master Artist. I've heard it said that all art is an imitation of nature. I couldn't find the exact quote or author, but it's pretty "spot" on. ;) Oh, the leaves on the left are "mine" (copy of nature!) and the leaves on the right are God's...
Enjoy.
M. :)
ps I used a fine Sharpie to draw the leaves and water color to paint them. This from the girl that could never write or draw anything unless it was in pencil. In case I made a mistake. Oh well, glad I out grew that one! ;)

Brave Girl Lake Photo & Lara Blair

Here is the awesome-freezing-lake picture that I mentioned the other day from Brave Girls Camp. It was taken by the amazingly talented Lara Blair of Lara Blair Images and http://modernprairiegirl.com Check it out, you will love it! She said that I could share this pic with you. I am the Brave Girl in red, with the pony tail flying out and the arc of water! I love this photo! It gives me such a sense of freedom and brings back wonderful memories...isn't that why we take photographs? To capture a single, wonderful moment in time, to preserve memories, to bring back memories, to have proof of something...Lovely...
Enjoy.
M. :)

A little mess...

A little mess in my art room, but a lot of fun!

Climb...Pic O' the Day (PO'D) Sunday, Oct 9, 2011

First of all, I want to say that this quote is Melody Ross' from www.bravegirlsclub.com/ . The pic and tag on canvas are mine but I love the words, so inspiring. I'm feeling very nostalgic today. A year ago, I went to the amazing and inspiring and wonderful, lovely, delicious, artistic, healing adventure that is Brave Girls Camp! Wow. I can see it all and smell the smells and feel the wonderful feelings all over again... The chilly Idaho air, the cozy and beautifully decorated cabin, the delicious food, the smell of Mod Podge, every tiny, little detail in that art room. The music, the singing, the sharing, the wonderful, accomplished and artistic women! They need a few more exclamation points!!! I love you ladies! (and miss you and wish we could do the whole thing over again with every person and detail the same) Ahhh! ... I didn't even mention the lake! That freezing lake that Margie wanted to jump into and I said I'll go if you do, and we did! Several of us. Freezing, absolutely freezing but it felt so exhilarating and freeing and like such an accomplishment. Really. There is an awesome picture, not mine, but if I could get ahold of it, I would love to show it to you...so that is what I am thinking about today, remembering, longing, hoping to go again some day...but until then, there is always BraveGirlsClub.com and the online classes that they offer. I'm really wanting to do the Soul Restoration 2 classes...check it out...
M.

Pic 'O the WEEK! Spilling...

As one of my friends says to me, even though she has lived here for 10 plus years..."Can you BELIEVE we GET to live here?" Yes, we get to live here! For us, it is Western North Carolina. For you, it may be England or California, or Wales, or Holland...Austria or Australia, New Zealand, Texas somewhere in Asia or Africa, a beautiful island, or hot and blistering desert. Earth. We share the same sky, sun and moon. Oceans and rain, light and darkness, in it's millions of variations... We get to see things like this everyday. Because, no matter where you live, there is some combination of the above. Light. Dark. Wet. Dry. Sun. Moon. Good weather, bad weather. Mountains. Plains, valleys, dips and swells in the land and landscape. We GET to enjoy the seasons and the ever changing weather, AND the beauty in all shapes and sizes that it produces. We GET to see the light, the sunshine: spilling, poking, glowing, dabbling, shining, heating, radiating, lighting up the sky and day and setting it ablaze, into a color palate as it lowers in glorious Golden Hour...GET out there! Enjoy. Consider. Take a few pics!
M. :)
When I look at your heavens, the creation of your fingers, the moon and stars that you have set in place- what is man that you remember him, the son of man that you take care of him? Ps 8

Lavender Blue, Lavender Green

lavender blue, dilly, dilly, lavender green, if I was king, dilly, dilly, you'd be my queen...

I always think of this child's verse when I see this picture...I know it's not Spring, but I just couldn't resist. Went through some of my old favorites today and wanted to share this one with you. Don't those bright colors make you happy? They do me! I'm a color fanatic, addict, enthusiast, and lover of all things colored! How do you feel when you get a new set of paints or markers or pencils or pastels or paper?!?! Doesn't it just thrill you to drink those colors in with your eyes? Or how about an incredible sunset or sunrise, tinted clouds, a rainbow, birds, eggs, leaves, flowers? I can't get enough, and I don't want a cure! :). Last evening, we were driving home right at magic hour and I was marveling at the low setting sun, how it's bright yellow rays slanted across the Blue Ridge Mountains and how it just lit them up to a delicious orange! Orange! Orange mountains, really. I hope you've seen a sight like this before. Pure pleasure to the eyes, mind and soul! Even the thought of it now gives me joy...
Show your colors! And truly
Enjoy!
M. :)

Little is Much... Michael Nobbs... and Copic Pens

Just tried Copic pens for the first time this week! Was so excited to try them and they did not disappoint! They are so colorful and controllable. Meaning, it almost feels like painting but with a pen which IS easy to control. You know already that I love doodling, and they are perfect for filling in those doodles and making them come alive! Oh! I even colored a Curlie Girlie with them. (no pic for that yet, sorry)
I've been enjoying a website, http://www.sustainablycreative.net/ by Michael Nobbs for some time now. I was searching for "Drawing Blogs" , and his site came up. Not only did I love his drawings but I was so intrigued by his words and methods of getting things done. He has little energy but keeps up his work, blog, drawings and even write books by just doing a little at a time. Check out his site!
When I was reading one of his books tonight, I thought of this little chorus that we used to sing in church years ago, Little is much...Little is much is much when God is in it, labor not for wealth or fame, there's a crown and you can win it, if you go in Jesus' name...
Hard day. Very hard day. I said I would be honest here, so there it is. Super tired. Like uber, can't even explain it, tired. Didn't get much done, read, sang one, yes one tiny little chorus. Had a nice dinner with 2 of my favorites guys and blogged this post. Nighty all.
M.

Oriental Bittersweet Vines...P'OD Sept 27...

Bittersweet. Beautiful, but invasive...How can one resist the Curlie-Q vines, the lush green foliage than melts into lemon yellow leaves, or the icing on the cake: a yellow papery covering that bursts open to reveal cherry red berries...I can't! I love them! If they are not a sure sign of fall, I don't know what is! ;)
Enjoy!
M. :)

Another on the "Keep Calm" Series...

Keep Calm...I've been needing that reminder lately...I've also been enjoying learning about and experimenting with some digital drawing and altering... ;)
Enjoy...
M. :)

Snap...

> Snap, draw, doodle, play!
> What are you going to create today?
> A little paint
> A brush or two
> It doesn't matter
> It's up to you!
> Be it art, or family fun
> A lovely walk in the autumn sun
> A good book, a cup of tea,
> It may just be a nap for me!
> Lazy, lovely Sunday noon
> Mid September, who cares for June!
> Snap, draw, doodle, play!
> What are you going to do today?
>
> mvw 9/18/11 :)
>

Create On... P'OD...9/17/11

A little digital creating fun. My photo, drawing and words...
mvw :)

9/16/11 P'OD Romance in the Mountains...

P'OD 9/24/11 Mnts in Utah

Never be sorry for tears, either happy or sad, for they are healing and always serve a purpose.
mvw.

Pumpkin No Show!

So, I did go to my "local" grocery store, to get my Pumpkin Spice Latte...And I asked if they had PSL in sugar-free...no, they said...ok, I'll just have the regular then, decaf and with soy milk...ok...whip? No...I watched as he foamed the soy, sprinkled the topping on, snapped the lid, and...I walked happily to my car, not taking a sip so as not to burn myself while I was walking...Got in the car and drove away to my next appointment...Took a quick sip, a longer one...Guess what? The pumpkin was a "No show"! It was hot, it was decaf, it was soy and even had a little spice on top, BUT, it was NOT a Pumpkin Spice Latte! Argg. Ok, IF I believed in Murphy or his law, I would say that this was pretty suspicious...But I don't, so it was a simple, although sad, mistake that I hope to remedy tomorrow!
So many words for such a sad little drink ;(
M. :)

Pumpkin!

Today I think I shall have my first "Pumpkin Spiced Latte" of the season...Yeah! Why the heck have I waited so long? Oh well! Hello Fall, I look forward to drinking with you...and wearing sweaters...boots...leggings...hats...Chocolate chip pumpkin bread! Yes, I have the recipe, I've shared it before, but if you ask me nicely, well maybe I can be persuaded to share it again...oh shoot! I'll have to make it gluten free this year...ok, I can do it, just a few adjustments...
Anywho! Hope you have something to look forward to this crisp, beginning of fall season...(even if it IS a Monday!)
Enjoy!
M. :)

Open to the possibilities...PO'D...9/11/11

Here is an open tulip, "painted" from one of my photographs... It's open because a few of it's petals have fallen off...Instead of making it ugly or incomplete, I think it makes it more beautiful! Now you can see what's inside of it, it's inner beauty, it's details, what its "made" of...They were there all along, you just couldn't quite see them clearly...
Is that not true about people too? Ourselves? A few "petals" have fallen off...the years have had pain or hardships, lessons learned, loved ones lost...but wisdom and beauty were growing too...
All those possibilities...all that inner beauty...let it show...
M.

9/10/11

Beautiful wedding today...40's theme...lovely weather...lovely neighbors...amazing flowers...beautiful old chapel...

PO'D...Smile...Sept 9/9/11

We came
We saw
We ate
Yum.
Loved this wall and thought you might too. Saw this little famous pizza place on FoodTV and got a chance to go there, Little Italy, NYC. It was as good as they said it would be!
Enjoy! Too bad you can't have a slice of pizza with it! ;)
M. :)

Tea for me...PO'D...

Mini teapot, photo, altered to painting...Tea for me...I like mine hot and sweetened with honey...
M.

Lazy Clouds...Morning Glories

The clouds are lazy this early autumn morn. They don't seem willing to push themselves past their mountain beds of blue. They are choosing not to skirt the skies today on the brisk winds, but rather are content to nestle into the shadowed valleys.
Everything seems slow and quiet in these wee hours...Are they trying to decide if they should untangle themselves from summer's warm nest, or fully grasp fall's splendid glory?
The crickets song is even softer and less assured...Corn tassels have turned to amber, waiting for their turn with the rusty, red farm equipment, to be stored away from the coming breezes and chill...
The last rose bud peeks it's perky face up for the tiny drops of dew, glowing with her find...
Only the Morning Glories still shout, "Summer, Summer!" , with their magenta, heliotrope and lily white faces turned towards the struggling sun...They have had almost their last warm dew bath...but do not let them know...The frost will come soon enough and shock them back into their earthly hiding places, where they will wait patiently for the next spring and summer to show their vibrant faces and twist their vines up towards the rising sun.
MVW 9/7/11 8:24 am

Oops! 2000+ PicsO' the Day... Sept 7th...

While looking for a photo to illustrate my (following) poem, I thought I'd make a little collage with some of the photos in that file...it's a very large file....a very, VERY LARGE file, and somehow, when I just wanted to add one more photo, the others all wanted to come along. This is the result. Strange but interesting. I can pick out so many photo sessions, people, flower favorites and specific events...
Anyway, even though it's technically a mistake( I make a LOT of those ), I hope you still
Enjoy!
M. :)

A Monday Doodle...

My First little "Curlie Girlie" Creation...

Cute little " Introduction to Music " Curlie Girl...

Curlie Girl Details...

Background canvas details ( black embossing paint ), tiny painted butterfly, vintage book page "hair", and the words of how I feel we should be treating each other and what it does for us...The lemons below will also give you an idea of her size...she's on a tiny canvas, whereas the Curlie Girl above in my banner is quite large. ( I know, I know, I just don't remember the size of canvases! It's a minor, unimportant detail to me! )

Curlie Girl side view

Here's a side view so you can see how her hair, wings and little butterfly "pop" out...

Pic of the WEEK!

Yes, I've been neglecting you. Yes, I've been busy. Yes, I do have a very good excuse! One of my daughters got married this weekend in a beautiful ceremony in our yard! Now I'm too tired to say anything else...except...
Enjoy the photo... ;)
M.

Tomorrow, well almost today, is...

...a very special day in our family...it will be crazy busy, as the last several have been...it will be beautiful, it will be rewarding...I'm sure it will even be tiring, but tomorrow will be full of friends, family, hope and laughter...work but with a lovely rewarding end...
Can't wait to tell you about it, and oh, the photo opps! ;)

Nothing is...So let GO! Aug 30th...

Geese!

Oh nooo! Just stepped outside and I hear geese! It's still August! Please tell them that they really don't need to leave for a while. Thanks...

M. :)
Marianne

Pink Peony turned White...

Oh, I couldn't resist! Here is the same peony, the beautiful pink one, from below, that turned white as it aged. Love it. Hope you do too... (Wouldn't these make awesome postcards, or canvas' or pages to work on?) I've wanted to do this forever and see, you've inspired me without saying a word! Look for artistic updates soon...
ps. By the way, I have been painting and creating, just not showing you yet because I'm working on the major project of my new ART SPACE, ( boy, that's a lot of work!) and some BIG family news that is requiring my time and attention at the moment. Sorry to, nah... it's kinda fun, to keep you in suspense! So, we, I mean you, will see or hear soon! Also, I really can't wait to show you the finished product of my art room! It's awesome! So colorful and eclectic! You are gonna love it, almost as much as I do! :)
M. :)
Shhhhh! Leave a COMMENT and we will have a quiet, little contest for one of the above...

Some "Old Fashioned" Eye Candy... P'OD

Notice how the "Pic of the Day" saying is getting shorter and shorter... ;) Here is a digital of today, made to look like an instant Polaroid of the past...The wave of the future is the puddle of the past...What goes around, comes around, ect... I say poTAYto, you say poTAHto...I say Pea-Oh-ney...Do you say, Pe-on-ee. I wonder if thats a Southern thing, or country thing or what...Any way you say it, they are beautiful! This one went from a hot pink bud, to bright pink petals, all the way to almost pure white petals. Many photo oops!
I hope you Enjoy!
M. :)

First... pic'ODay...Aug 27th...

This is one of my first attempts to draw digitally. Silly but fun...Happy weekend...
M.

Wish...pic O the day...Aug 26th...Friday

Wish I could follow this advice tonight...hope you can and have a wonderful weekend...

Different is Good...

Do you ever think about variety? Just take a moment and think of all the differences in this world...spices... from basil to cinnamon, lemon sage to saffron, cumin to nutmeg, mint to chili...flowers and trees and all the different sizes, shapes, colors and fragrances...birds and insects...I mean, there are ostriches and humming birds, worlds apart...and stink beetles and honey bees! And colors, we can't ever forget about the shades and tones and subtleties of blues and greens ands reds and oranges! Oh, how about music and the stirring rendition of a powerful march to the soft gentle sounds of a lightly played violin...Whats my point? There is beauty in it all! Every change, difference, color, shade, taste...different is good! I'm in a lovely art group in a social community and I just marvel at how different everyone is and how different and beautiful everyone's art is! It fascinates and impresses me..If we are all so different and the things in this world are all so different, shouldn't we appreciate those individualities and celebrate those around us? Can you even begin to imagine how boring the world would be if we didn't have choices? All grays, and bland foods...See, there is another example, did you know that both grey and gray are correct? grAy is how it is spelled in America, and grEy is how it is spelled in England...lovely, and fascinating! Celebrate the differences and varieties and people and art in this world! You are different from me and I am different from you. Yeah! Yea! Yay! (Now, those are not all correct...I'm going to let you guess on that one...)
Enjoy!
M. :)

1978...( inspired rose)...Pic'O Day...Aug 24th

Just 'cause...
Just cause I loved it, just cause I waned to share, just cause I hope your day is great...to my friends, everywhere!
Enjoy!
M. :)

Mini Travel painting kit...

Just wanted to show you what I have been taking along with me lately. It's a simple, tiny, cheap watercolor pallet. I believe it was six dollars and change at Walmart. I thought of putting water into an old medicine bottle because it won't leak. See, I set in upside down to show you. The colors are very vibrant as you can see in the little (Suzi Blu) inspired mermaid painting. Love the brightness of her hair and tail! I'm not finished with her yet, but will update when I am... Also, I take one little brush with me, this is my current favorite. I have taken these three things in a very small purse, on a plane and the time just flew by! When I'm home, I leave the paint set, brush, med bottle of water and a journal next to my chair. Then at a moments notice, I can be painting and relaxing...

M. :)

>

Write on

I'll write on anything...post-its, scrap paper, the newspaper, church bulletins ( I'm listening, I promise! ), napkins, receipts, um, I've been known to write on a table(check out doodle table)...
Journals, journals galore! Calendars, date books, you name it. When an idea strikes, you've got to get it down. It could be a poem, as in this case...I'll "translate" it for you when I get back from the grocery store...a song, an art idea, story line, doodle, drawing, or decorating idea...If I don't put it on paper, I'm libel to forget it...I have learned, most of the time to carry a little notepad with me, which helps, but if I don't have one, then anything will do! So, when an idea strikes, write on!

Flexible Beauty

Isn't it fun how "old" is new again? Rusty and crusty is valuable. Vintage is The thing. Antique is even better than brand new. Retro is moving forward, and used, reused, and repurposed is the best. If it's scratched, worn, used, bent, rusty or broken, it's beautiful. This seems to be particularly true of artists or anyone who appreciates art and history. Beauty IS in the eye of the beholder, and I for one appreciate this trend and am glad that "beauty" is so flexible!
Enjoy!
M. :)

Peppermint...Pic of the Day...Aug 22nd

Peppermint Patty with Lemon and Ginger...
Enjoy!
M. :)

So this is Heidi...Pic of the Day...Aug 21st

This Curlie Girl is named Heidi...none of the other girls have names, but hers came easily...Do you name your art if there is a person in it? I name most of my photos, well the ones I'm going to show, otherwise I would be busy for weeks coming up with them...Heidi has a colored pencil drawn face...(I will have to say I do love her face the most). Her eyes are liquid and she seems to be looking right into your thoughts...her hair is, yes, you guess it, felted balls! I got this idea at Inspired just looking in the quilt store...This is actually just a detail of her...she is on a full canvas, 36 x ?... She has a full outfit, with a lovely flowing skirt...will have to see where those photos slipped off to...she lives in CA now, otherwise I could snap a few right now...She is also on a painted, mixed media background....with the words, Forgiven and Loved, a song I love, sung by Jimmy Needham...Any questions?
I hope you
Enjoy!
M. :)

Encapsulated...Pic of the Day...Aug 20th

Not sure what to say about this picture...other than I ADORE it! I love the COLORS, the flower REFLECTED in the RAINDROP...the SWIRLS...the SUNSPOTS shaped in, humm, hexagons? No, I can only see 7 sides...I DO hope that you...
Enjoy!
it as much as I do...
M. :)

Bumper Snicker...seen today...

HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED TO THINK,



...AND FORGOT TO START AGAIN?

Silly, but this one seriously made me LOL!
I hope you are having a good Saturday...
Enjoy!
M. :)

#1 Altered Pic of the Day...Aug 19th...

I'm loving how the "plastic mode" on this app is turning my photos...

#2 altered...

...turns my photos with blues and reds all funky!
Enjoy!
M. :)