Art Walk Saturday...

George thought I was crazy as I walked out the door on Saturday to attend the paint out and sale in Pilgrim Haven near South Haven.  It poured rain, at times torrentially, during the hour long drive to the shore.  But, I love to paint out there, they have gone to a lot of trouble and were counting on the artists being there....so here I was.  And the tent was up with everyone scurrying around to set up grids and get the art hung and tables ready for the demos.  Light rain continued until almost noon and I sat in my hatch sketching for a while just to keep busy.

Finally radar showed the rain moving on and the artists came out to begin the days work.  It is a beautiful piece of property owned now by the SW Michigan Land Conservancy.  The shoreline is picturesque and there is a stream running through the deep woods.  Formerly a camp, it has been preserved over the time.

Able to paint for about three hours, I enjoyed the view from the bluff not far from where I painted last time.  I posted it on Facebook earlier but worked on the painting again yesterday.  It's coming along!

I was happy to find out my calendar painting  sold today.  Yea!!

  A bit crooked in photo, no the horizon is not slanted!!    Ludwig's Landing, Pilgrim Haven, MI

A busy August...

 

 

Of course at the end of July we had the beautiful wedding of Paige and Thomas.  It was a very busy time for me as I was helping with many aspects.  Peaking behind Steve's head below you can see the window Karen and Steve made from my idea. It simulates the windows in the courthouse where the event took place and made a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony. 

 

 

Many details made it all look lovely with dozens of roses to grace tables everywhere.  400 cupcakes flew off the plates both before and after the delicious meal served.  The DJ kept everyone dancing including the bride and groom.  George and I were the couple married the longest at 48 years.

 

 Steve, Paige & Thomas Hankins, Karen

 Allie Buelow and Jillian

  Kris and Jeff Getting

 Me, George and sister Dana

 

 

 

It took me a day to recover from all the work and festivities but I was happy to have been able to make Paige's day so special.  I think I used all my skills, sewing monograms on bridesmaids robes (machine), hand painting roses on the table chart, cooking, designing the centerpieces, decorating the tables for the reception and being a scullery maid in the kitchen. 

 

 

We took on painting the living rm kitchen here which entailed removing all the tchotchkes  and at the same time I edited out a lot.  A trip to  donation  bin and library helped clean that up.  It looks great now but I don't even want to think of doing it again!!!

 

 

And finally I was back painting a bit on Saturday.  It misted rain but I persevered and did a small study of an interesting tree.  Not sure if I will leave it as is or add in a couple more branches and perhaps a swan.  This was the Bird Sanctuary and is home to about 70 trumpeter swans.  What a noise they make!!  I did learn that water soluble oils drip in the rain. Makes sense but not so good when you are painting. 

  8x10 oil

Another beautiful day painting!

Yesterday I was able to paint again with the PAAWM group out at Wau-ke-na North tract.  Despite the 85 degree heat, it was a beautiful morning up on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.  There were Monarch butterflies flitting all around me as I painted.   Fortunately I brought my beach cart to pile with gear as the walk was maybe 3/4 to a mile from parking to bluff.

Arriving home, I found the patio full with Kris and the boys with guests.  All boats went in the water, all squirt guns and two tanks of gas for the wave runner.  They had a blast jumping off the dock and paddling everywhere.  Mitch is practicing running the wave runner now and studying for his boating license in anticipating of cutting loose.  Yikes!!


Good news this morning...my painting of Pilgrim Haven Access was chosen for the 2017 Painted Sanctuary Calendar.  They will also have a reception on Sept 17 with an exhibit of all the paintings submitted.  Calendars will be available at the Art Walk for sale...$15. if anyone wants one.  Proceeds for SWM Land Conservancy to be used to purchase and upgrade properties.  They are saving some beautiful tracts of land for our children and grandchildren to come.

Catching up!!

Since Paige's showers we have been busy with so many events and projects!   Allie graduated in June and had a super fun party to celebrate in style.  A fun taco bar, ice cream treats and games everywhere kept the day busy and full of treats.  Her many friends dropped by for volleyball, which Allie joined in, dress and all! 

The boys have been here tubing and having fun in between baseball games.  It is almost over but now the try outs begin for next season...good grief!!  We hope to get a bit more lake fun before school starts so plan for a jam packed August.

The kids all had busy a weekend planned for the 4th holiday so we were able to host friends for an evening picnic.  We had a great time and said goodbye to Jane and Bob as another GG moves away and on with her life. 

In between the social scene I've managed to take two painting workshops at Pickle Street School and get out plein air.  Paintings were delivered to the Portage Library for an exhibit and to the Land Conversancy for their calendar competition.  I hope to be chosen again, but there are so many beautiful works done by PAAWM members and because they look for different seasons and properties to be represented, the selection is specific.  But I can hope!!  Here are those I submitted:

  Chipman Preserve

  Pilgrim Haven Path

  Hawthorne Hill Icon

 

I've been working in water soluble oils from Daniel Smith and love them.  Easy to clean up and handle like regular oils.  Still working on technique, selecting the right ground and using my brushes. 

 

The wedding is in a little over a week and things are looking wonderful.  I monogrammed robes for the bridesmaids and now my new task is to hand paint the seating sign with flowers.  I'll post some photos of this event as I certainly want to show the centerpieces and other items we've been working on as well as the beautiful bride and groom.  Stay tuned!!

 

Weekend at Nicks....

We were off to Troy to visit with dear friends and do a bit of damage in the local stores, which abound.  Having not lived in that area for over 30 years!!!!   Mary had me lost immediately.  What changes have occurred to the sleepy farm roads that crisscrossed the area when we lived in Washington  near by.

My goal was to see if I could find another dress for the wedding, a bit more festive than the tailored one I have here.  And right off the bat, or rack, I found one at Nordstrom's.  Aqua, lace, coat and sheath, with some sparkles....not really me at all but it looks nice per the women's consensus.  With the coat off it is more contemporary but I'll wait a while into the reception to do that due to not so perfect arms!!  George doesn't like it at all!   I cut the hem for a sample (because of course I must hem it) and there's no going back now.  Today I'm off to find some silver shoes and earrings.

No photo, wait for the whole outfit done right!!!

And wine glasses......with turquoise swirls...lovely. 

We laughed a lot, ate a lot, played cards a lot and had fun as always.  Wish we lived closer!!

It showered!!

 Adding the fiesta ware plates finished this off.

 Paige & Thomas

 

This past week and weekend has been devoted to the wedding showers for Paige and Thomas.  Kris and I held one in her home which was intimate and nice.  The little triangle boxes we made and put the bracelets in were a big hit.  Karen took the leftovers to give to those who hadn't been able to attend.  Maurice salad, dessert shots, cupcakes...all turned out yummy.  Everyone had a nice time and Karen coming on Friday to help me was really nice. 

 

 On Sunday Thomas's mom had another shower for local friends and held it in the church room where they first met.  It was nice and a bit different with the couple opening their gifts individually with each guest.  I missed seeing them all  opened, but it was nice to have some special time with them.  I made a couple of little paintings for their kitchen using graphics from my mother's 1946 cookbook and recipes from my 1967 book and painted on them cupcakes based on her graduation cakes which they plan to repeat at the wedding. 

 

These add a little color and memories of family in their kitchen. 

So today back to normal and hopefully planting some flowers.  Allie's graduation party is next and should give me a few projects once they start planning in earnest!!!

 



Getting Something done.....

  Navaho  mixed media

 

A chilly and cloudy Saturday that threatens rain was a good time to frame up the paintings for the guild show in June.  The one above has been hanging in my southern studio for a while waiting for it's frame.  This was a fun one with collage, paint, stamps and whatever on mat board.  I had thought not to frame it with a mat but like the white around it so did the standard.  It looks good I think.  This gives me three nice framed pieces for the show, plus the large on birch if they want it. They will go south for exhibits there.

 

I've got some sketching tools ready and hope to get out today or tomorrow for some much needed work in the field.

 

We spent last weekend in CP working on centerpieces and favors for wedding and shower.  It was fun to gather all the pieces, trays, teapots, candlesticks, vases, glassware, linens, and old books, all vintage and many from the whole family.  We set the dining table then built each centerpiece, determining whish pieces would have flowers.  Paige reviewed and Karen photographed and stored each one carefully to be reassembled on the wedding day for the reception.  I wish I had a photo to show you but forgot...in all we did 25 tables.  They are beautiful and I'll take photos at the wedding to show.  Paige's favorite design turned out to be one of the last ones and had something from each family in it just by chance.  Lovely!!!