Golden Moments

The Princess Chair

~  my alteration and embellishment  ~

for a special little Princess at Christmas

 {After and Before}

Spray painted, then 3 coats of glitter mixed with matte medium (mod podge works too)

The chair pad I made from a gold leather mini-skirt

found at an estate sale

{of course I bought it for the fabric!}

It is also coated with gold glitter

_____________

and below, the Saturday before Christmas I decided how

FUN it would be to have a PUPPET THEATRE

and my dear husband made this for me

that very day.

I painted it and we wrapped it and on Christmas morning

some little ones were quite excited at what they found.

This DEER girl

~ DAZZLE ~

made it through Christmas, which was my prayer.

I haven't talked about it here yet, but the day after Thanksgiving

we had some very sad news: cancer

~ and she won't be with us much longer ~

My heart is breaking, but I know from past experience

that God will help us through this, as hard as it will be.

I cherish every GOLDEN MOMENT we have shared

~ Christmas Day ~

Like every dog owner, my dogs are such a huge part of my life,

and my love for these dear Afghan Hounds shall be eternal.

My husband gave me a most cherished book for Christmas called

"The Heaven of Animals" by Nancy Tillman.

Her illustrations and poem are exceptional, you can find it here.

~ Wishing you all many Golden Moments in 2015 ~

How I hope each one who reads this

will be touched by God's great mercy and grace,

that you too may know his comfort in difficult times

~ and joy eternal ~

His gift of love revealed through Jesus is

Larger than our fears

Deeper than our sorrows

and lasts longer than our temporary afflictions

and the JOY he gives is

E T E R N A L

to those who put their trust in Him

___

Blessings dear ones,

~ Violet ~

Christmas Spirit. Deer. Dogs. Decor

The Spirit of Christmas Abounds

Sweet Sweet Girl

~ The fairy and the swan ~

{ 'twould be a great book title }

Are you giggling like I am?

{thanks Jeanne for coming over in these.... where can I get some?!?!}

~ Our Christmas stockings this year, vintage 60's long haired boots ~

~ My buddy who always wants to be in the photos ~

~ Whimsical studio deer ~

______

Even though I started early, at least with decor,

I have 2 weeks worth of work to fit into one.

And yet I sit here blogging.

because I had to wish you a

Merry Christmas !

~ May the beauty of this holy season fill your heart with wonder ~

How silently, how silently,

The wondrous gift is giv'n!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of his heav'n.

No ear may hear his coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

(3rd verse of  'O Little Town of Bethlehem')

~ Violet ~

Mermaids and Unicorns...

on a delightful trip to the beach

~ where summer was extended with September's warmth and sunshine ~

a mermaid appeared

and long haired dogs were filled with joy

we enjoyed the sun setting on the ocean

{and I decided to be Queen of the Beach}

and one golden evening a unicorn pranced on the sand

~ Violet ~

Studio Dogs and What's on the Easel

My Constant Studio Companions

I have several images in the works,

most started before Christmas and put on hold

with the busy-ness of the holidays.

~ I will share them as they progress ~

I've also been inspired by the beauty of Downton Abbey.

Awe-struck by the gorgeous sets and lighting,

many of the scenes look like masterpiece paintings.

So I think it's fitting to come from

Masterpiece Theater!

My newest painting features Lady Mary

and I am painting in the 'Grisaille' technique,

in which an underpainting is done in shades of gray.

When this is dry, thin color glazes are applied

one over the other, drying between each layer of color.

Actually, this painting is going to be more about

light and shadow than an actual portrait.

The image above on my easel (not Lady Mary) is further along

than in the photo now.  It too, is along the lines of the

Grisaille technique, as I paint in the shadows first.

It is more time-consuming and I am about to

go with a more Alla Prima technique

and get some thicker paint applied.

I don't have the patience required for the more drawn-out glazing process,

at least not on such a large painting.  Lady Mary will be 11x14.

The weather is creating the desire to stay in

and paint.... when the sun comes and blue skies,

bringing warmth and beauty,

I get rather distracted.

Oh Summer!

Biking

Catching Grasshoppers

~ A boy must explore ~

Catching Bees and Butterflies

Catching the Light

Roses from my garden

fairy wings 

~ the sparkle of summer ~

~ Violet ~

sweetHEARTS

I was overcome by cake

Do you ever buy a cake just because it's pretty,

and you want to take its picture?

(no, that's probably just me)

Okay, so I was going to share some and eat some too,

but if it hadn't been heart shaped I wouldn't have brought it home!

The dog closest to the cake made a trip to the emergency vet yesterday.

Today he is feeling much better!  

~ I am so thankful ~

Somehow he hurt his neck, but is on the mend.

No chocolate cake for the dogs, but some doggy treats for sure!

Because they are sweet hearts!

So, anyway, I was overcome by cake while buying groceries today.

{Sadly, it didn't taste nearly as wonderful}

This is a heart shaped box with a mosaic on top.

Someone local made it and I found it at a craft show a few years ago.

Pink glitter paper heart

On my Valentine tree

Calling this after-Christmas-sale white tree

"a VALENTINE tree"

has allowed me to keep it out for at least

another week, when spring will be

knocking on my hearts door.

May sweetness and hearts

fill up your pre-Valentines week!

{and something chocolate too}

xoxo

Violet

Putz Houses ~ Shop Windows

These were in a Christmas shop

I'll take the one below if I can only choose one.

That pink poodle makes me smile.

Sigh, none are at my house.

But they want to be, I just know it.

These next two photos are of shop windows

that caught my eye as I walked by.

Gasp!  That gown!!!

I'm wondering if this one

is what inspired my white, silver, and aqua tree.

My dogs haven't gotten much exercise the past few days

Rain   Rain   Rain

This weather is making us all rather sleepy.

{I wish they were trained in wrapping gifts}

How many days til Christmas?!?!

don't panic don't panic don't panic