A Fresh Bouquet

My neighbor grows beautiful flowers in her yard. She recently brought me this fresh bouquet that brightened my day!

I decided to sit outside and paint it in watercolor.

I had an unexpected visitor who was buzzing with happiness!

I am pleased how this painting turned out and plan to give it to my neighbor as a thank you for her kindness.

Whose day can you brighten with a little unexpected kindness?

Cheers! 🙂

Hello Friend!

My husband and I had to travel to Detroit, Michigan recently.

I messaged my blogging friend, Patty Anne who I knew lived in the area for suggestions on good restaurants.

Not only did Patty Anne have some great food ideas, she rearranged her schedule so we could meet in person! I was thrilled!!

Hello friend!!

We met for dinner and each of us brought an art journal or two to share. We had a blast! I so LOVE Patty Anne’s art!! Seeing her creativity in person was an extra special treat!

And speaking of treats, she made me this sweet little birdy in watercolor:

She even tied it with a bow and added a couple of her special flowers!

I am so touched by her kindness.

We were having so much fun that we forgot to take a photo of us together which just means we have to get together again!

I have been practicing art in “Patty Anne’s style” so I can make her a little gift.

Thanks Patty Anne for such an enjoyable evening. Your friendship across the miles was the highlight of my trip!

Cheers to Blogging Friendships! 🙂

PS. I do hope you check out Patty Anne’s art if you aren’t familiar with it! She paints with JOY!

A Little Mending…

I was having computer issues yesterday so wasn’t able to post my weird bird…

However, this bird is “sew” much more so I wanted to share it with you today! 😉

I started with one of my Gelli-plate prints that I made from a recent online class with Carla Sonheim.

Next, I added a little collage and stitching:

A Mending Birdy

I think we could all use a little mending now and then…

Perhaps your heart, body and/or spirit could use some special care.  I hope you can be extra gentle with yourself today.

Cheers! 🙂

P.S. Thank you for all the kindness you have shown me with your comments and likes.  It means so much to me! ❤️

A May Day Basket

I remember as a young child making paper baskets and filling them with a simple bouquet of flowers from our yard.

Next, I would hang them on an unexpecting neighbor’s door handle, ring the doorbell and run!  It was so fun to give a gift of kindness…

My watercolor reminded me of those simple times as I worked on it yesterday:

Perhaps the swirls of color could be ribbons on a May Pole?

Happy May Day!

Cheers! 🙂

Sonnet 43

How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways…

Today’s weird bird was inspired by Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43:

In the book, Finding The Gift by Angela Howell, she writes; “Be the love you wish to receive…  Love you!  Love your life exactly as it is right now.  Happiness is an inside job!”

How do you love YOU?

Happy Valentine’s Day to someone special – YOU!

Cheers! 🙂

Dear Friend…

Have you ever written a letter to yourself?  In your own handwriting?

I have been updating my MIL’s address book on my computer.  (A great gift idea BTW for a family member!) And it got me thinking about writing a letter to myself.

Have YOU ever done this?

I wonder what my letters would say if I addressed myself as a friend?  Would I be more kind to myself?  Would I show the same kindness I do to others?

And then I wonder, what seems so important now… would it still be… a year from now?

I have decided to write a letter to myself today and treat myself as I would a friend.  In one year, I will mail it.

I encourage you to do the same!

Cheers Friends! 🙂

P.S. I used purchased stationary here but it might be fun to create a border with your own artwork for your letter.

Sing Joy!

I drew this Angel with black ink and a dip pen on hot press watercolor paper:

Added a light watercolor wash and a bird on her wing:

Finished with color pencils:

She says:  Sing Joy… Give Love…Be Kind

Wishing you a Sunny Sunday, Friends!  🙂

You Rock!

Remember the “Sweetheart” conversation heart candies?  Well, according to a Reader’s Digest article, the company, NECCO has been making them with the same simple recipe since 1902 when the candies were first introduced. However, early in 1990, the then vice president of the company decided to sweeten the mix by adding some new sayings.  You can find some of the new sayings, here.

Here is an example using a few new candy messages in a sentence:

A sure recipe 4 love may be a table for 2 so you can chill out with your top dog in style – a purr fect ever after class act – so start now!  😉

My sweetheart surprised me with these beautiful flowers in my favorite colors:

Happy Valentine’s Day my friends!  You Rock!  🙂

“Every Time A Bell Rings…

An angel gets his wings,” says Zuzu Bailey in the movie, It’s A Wonderful Life.

This classic movie starring James Stewart and Donna Reed is one of my favorite holiday movies.  So I created this doodle today in remembrance:

I used a bell cookie cutter shape (see yesterday’s post) for my stencil:

I think what I like most about this movie is the message.  Sometimes I don’t feel like I make much of a difference in other people’s lives but the movie reminds me that it is the little things that I do that can have a big impact on other’s lives.  A smile to a stranger, mailing a card to a friend who is sick or perhaps buying a bag of groceries for someone who is hungry.

It isn’t the big expensive gifts that people remember but kindness shown by a stranger.

Cheers Friends!  🙂

Feeling Thankful

I found this quote on the internet the other day:

It says, “It is not happy people who are thankful…  It is thankful people who are HAPPY!  😊

it was a good reminder to me.  I hope you like it too!  ❤️

Giving THANKS for all of you today.  Thank you for your encouragement,  friendship and JOY you give to me!

EnJOY your day!  🌈