Beach house

This is a watercolor sketch of the beach house I called home when I was growing up.  Such fond memories...

Check out the inspiring interview with featured artist Liz Powley of Gumnut Inspirations as well as the beautiful artwork of all the other artists who link to Paint Party Friday.

Have a great weekend!

Black and white flower zendoodle

I don't watch a lot of television...and when I do, it's mostly movies.  But I am completely unable to sit in front of the television and JUST watch it.  I have to have at least a pen and notbook in hand.  Tonight, we went to the movies, which has been one of my favorite things to do since I was a little kid, sitting through a summer of Disney double features.  But, I think I've been ruined for it.  I found myself getting antsy halfway thought the movie because I couldn't be drawing while watching.  How sad! 

Linking up to all the fun over at Sunday Sketches! 

Summer fruits and the Graceful Envelope

Have been thoroughly enjoying delicious summer fruits lately.  Managed to take a moment to sketch one before feasting on its sweet, sticky goodness!

Also, received an exciting letter of congratulations from the folks at the Washington Calligrapher's Guild for my Graceful Envelope submission.  They were delighted to inform me (not nearly as delighted as I was) that my envelope has been chosen as a winner.  I received a lovely certificate and the winning envelopes are going to be on display, beginning in September, in the lobby of the National Association of Letter Carriers building in Washington, DC.  How cool is that?  I am so excited, especially since this is my first time submitting anything.  The other winning envelopes are available for viewing here.  When you see them, you will see why I am absolutely humbled (but still so excited!) to be included at all.   You can see my original post about this contest and my submission here. 

Linking to Paint Party Friday for some weekend inspiration!

Grids of zendoodles

I'm still rather intrigued by the idea of zendoodles.  My jury is out on how zen I find them to be... but I am truly amazed by the intricate artwork that I've seen created with them.  I have been playing with the different designs a little bit, but have not quite figured out how to create something where the patterns run together in amazing feats of escher-like perception exercises that I've seen others create.

The one above was just doodled into my sketchbook.  The ones below were done on separate zentangly, 3x3 squares and then just arranged and rearranged loosely against a piece of cardstock.

Linking up to Sunday Sketches for a closing-out-the-weekend treat!

Condolences and the Yankees

Last week, I got the sad news that an old colleague and friend lost his beautiful baby granddaughter to SIDS.  She was 8 weeks old.  This kind of loss is just unfathomable to me and my heart goes out to any family that has to live through this. 

I wanted to send a personal note and whipped up a card to send.  In looking at it now (and I apologize for the terrible picture), I'm thinking that perhaps the writing is a bit too whimsical for a condolence card and that I might do better just going the Hallmark route. 

 

On a more lighthearted note... my sweetie has been traveling all week and while I have missed him terribly, I was also tickled over the many texts I received from him earlier in the week.  You see, he is an ARDENT Red Sox fan... and, as a native New Yorker, I am a die-hard Yankee fan.  We definitely live in a house divided and get lots of comments when we are out and about together, he in his Red Sox cap and me wearing the Yanks.  Now, he truly is a huge baseball fan.  I, on the other hand, am a New York fan... which means that I am, by default, a Yankees fan. 

Well, this week, while in New York on business, he organized a group of guys for a field trip to a Yankees game.  For two straight days, I got texts and pictures about how excited he was to be there.  I was amazed that he was so excited about being at Yankee Stadium.  He even bought a Yankees cap and jersey, which is pretty much a sacrilege for  a Red Sox fan.  Of course, I'll never tell! 

Hightailing it over to Paint Party Friday where this week the talented Nicola from Pointy Pix is being featured.  I absolutely love her amazing animal art!