Jubilant Jubilee

Our canoe in the Thames flotilla. I love that the crew are dressed as voyageurs.
Next to them, a gondola from Italy....

Photo (c) CBC.ca

Happy Sunday!



Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Well, it rained all day.
Happy weekend!

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Usually, I keep my gratitudes to myself. Today I want to voice my gratitude here.

My family is moving from Texas to Cleveland (that's in Ohio) for a couple of years before they re-settle in Florida. That means they will be just south of me and much more accessible. Dallas is very expensive to fly to even though there are countless daily flights from here to there. Since I'm on the subject,  OKC is far more affordable than Dallas which is only an hour away. [I mention OKC because I will be returning in November.]

She's part of my family!

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Mixing it up.
A little diversion between the dense medical texts that I'm translating.
Happy Wednesday.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

It's much cooler indoors today.
Unfortunately I have to go out in the sweltering heat.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Lagniappe: a term I learned in New Orleans decades ago when I first started spending time there.
It means "a little something extra". You bought something in a store and they added a lagniappe to your purchase.
       I do that with my sales. I add a lagniappe to all my orders. This is one of them. It will accompany a watercolour sale.

Watercolor on ledger paper

 Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

I'm spending the day at my house in the country.
(Sometimes imagination is everything.)

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Still working.
And then there were three.

Detail

 Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Bonjour to everyone.

Still working...

Character Construtions paper doll head.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Working....

 
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

A package arrived from the Welsh Connection. They're called Sandra and Grace. Grace is Sandra's grandchild and she's shaping up to be a future artist. Sandra has an Etsy shop full of wonderful creations as well as these Welsh lovespoons.

Grace's cards

Grace's artwork; she knows I love robins.

Sandra's message.... Gwin yn y bol, twrw yn y pen! Welsh for Wine in the belly, tumult in the head!

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

How to get your daily vegetable servings. The easy way. I came up with this recipe because I wanted something easy to make that would also be delicious. This makes 4-5 servings.

Take a large saucepan, add a little olive oil and sauté a chopped onion and some cloves of garlic. As soon as they turn transparent and fragrant, add mixed vegetables (I use frozen baby Brussels sprouts, baby okra, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach...),. Cover with water, add dried or fresh herbs, touch of ground cumin and any other spice you like, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, then lower to simmer. Simmer, covered, for 45 minutes. give it a loving stir once in a while.
       To serve, ladle into a bowl, lace with extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
       To turn it into a meal, first place a slice of plain wholewheat bread (rubbed with a garlic clove) in the bottom of the bowl then ladle the soup over it. Add a dollop of Greek yogurt or a piece of soft cheese like Brie or Camembert.

Bon appétit!

Vegetable stew/soup

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 It's Monday.
It's a holiday.
It feels like summer.
Enjoy the day.

Paper doll by Character Cpnstructions.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Friday Stripes!
Enjoy the long weekend.

Assemblage on book cover

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

More rearranging and cleaning today. A little at a time. And it feels good.

I set aside my daily tag making to make these little postcards.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Last night I finally did something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I cleared my hallway of some dozen huge canvasses (my paintings) and moved them to my locker in the basement.

The empty space is exhilarating.

Now there's a pile of books and magazines that will go to our library off the Laundry Room; a good scrubbing of the floor and the entry to My Mess (studio) will be clear... Yes, that is a mail slot -- our mail is delivered to our door in this building.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Over here, it's back to work. I've restocked my shop and two article deadlines are looming.

This dress features a Canadian postage stamp (Van Gogh) and paper from Oklahoma City.

This wee tag features a pin from Mantofev.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 From Oklahoma City I took a very short flight to Dallas to visit my sister and family.
And there she was, my lovely, beloved Cleo.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 More photos from my OKC adventure.

Jackie taking pictures. Renee (Left) is in the current Somerset Studio. Mary (Right) knows the difference between Belgium and Belgian...

Renee's birdie.

Carolyn's birdie. (Left: Cindy, the owner of the Paper Crown and my good friend)

Jude's collage.

I have no idea how and when I took this shot. Mary's Carolyn's shoes...

  
Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 I want to start with a big, heartfelt thank you to my friends in Oklahoma City.
To say that they spoiled me is an understatement. It's rare to have a great time from beginning to end, but that's exactly what happened. I was sorry to have to leave. But I'm happy to say that I will be returning in November for the famous Glitter Market!

My lovely, lovely Jackie, who was behind it all.

Jemellia, my friend and quilter extraordinaire.

Robin, tender and with a fabulous sense of humour.

Cookies baked my master-baker Jackie

 The very talented participants: I gave them the basics, and they took off on their own and made it theirs. Which is exactly how it should be. I'm very proud of them.

 

More tomorrow!

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Just to let you know that I'm back from my travels, and will be posting my Paper Crown adventures in the next couple of days.
Meanwhile... The lovely Cindy (and customer) at the Paper Crown.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

This is my last post for a week.

I'm going to Oklahoma City tomorrow to teach at the Paper Crown, to meet old friends and make new ones.
Then a little side trip to see my sister and brother-in-law in McKinney, Texas. This will be my last visit to McKinney, as they are moving. Kansas City, short-term, then Florida. They will be so much closer to me, so that makes me happy.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Colour, color.
Because the skies are grey today.

Acrylic on watercolour paper.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Friday fashions

SOLD

Wishing you a calm weekend.



Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 The human memory.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

You paint something.
You put it aside.
You feel it needs something else to complete it.
So you forget about it.
You look at it once in a while.
Which is good.
You don't mess with it. You wait.
And then one day the finishing touch appears like magic.
Magic is the willingness to leave it alone and let it speak to you in its own time.

Gouache on paper.

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

Finished.

 And the daily tag

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Work in progress, almost there.

 And a little painting, using my carved rubber stamp (available at Stampington & Company).

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown

 Work in progress, continued.
So much more stitching to be done, and more appliqué...

Simplicity is the removal of the useless and the unnecessary--source unknown