Sunday Sketches - April Showers

Welcome to Sunday Sketches! This piece (albeit on the last day of April) is called 'April Showers', featuring a colourful polka dotted umbrella. It's done on cardstock (4 1/2" x 6 1/2") with my sketch markers.

Spaghetti Squash with Chicken

This was my first time making spaghetti squash and the dish with chicken in a kale and tomato sauce turned out to be delicious. Have you ever made spaghetti squash?

Paint Party Friday - Trees in Shadow

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! This piece called 'Trees in Shadow' is done with my sketch markers on cardstock (4 1/2" x 6 1/2"). 

Sample Pack

I received a second sample pack from SampleSource and we will eagerly try them all. At some point they will require us to submit a review of the products, which is not a big deal. If you are interested you join as a member and it's easy from there.  I had blogged about this when I received my first samples last November.

Scribble Picnic - Tree

It's Scribble Picnic time! This is my 'Tree' themed piece on textured cardstock (6" x 6"). It's always fun painting treescapes. Wouldn't it be wonderful to walk through this forest covered with spring flowers in bloom?  The piece is done with my new sketch markers.  I bought this 12 pack of 'essential' markers but I am already wishing I had a wider range of colours $$$.

Window Shopping

I guess I was window shopping when I took these eye-catching clothes photos for you when I was at the mall recently.

Thumb Typing

My daffodils started blooming last week, it was a happy day!

So my daughter taught me to type on my smart phone using only my thumbs, just like young people do!  It's kind of neat and now I am hip!  The other thing older people do is hold the phone far away so they can see better, that's more my husband, in addition to one-finger typing.  So are you hip with your thumbs?

Sunday Sketches - Antique Shelf

For Sunday Sketches, I did this Antique Chinese shelf on cardstock (4 1/2" x 6 1/2") using my sketch markers. I got the idea when I was at a Chinese dim sum lunch recently and saw these shelves on display in the restaurant, storing these cute teapots.  They wouldn't be more than 2 feet by 4 feet in size.  Needless to say, I was trying to think of what I should paint next and was happy for the inspiration.

Beet Slaw

I got this ready made beet slaw for my Easter luncheon last weekend and it was a delicious, healthy addition to the menu.  It has broccoli, carrots, cabbage, golden beets and kale.  It's interesting that the golden beets are 4th on the list of ingredients yet they call it 'beet' slaw, good marketing. 

Paint Party Friday - The Gown

I did a pretty gown for you today, inspired by a photo I saw. It's done using sketch markers on cardstock (4 1/2" x 6 1/2"). Happy Paint Party Friday!

Easter Luncheon

Shrimp Fried Rice

Shrimp Scampi

Honey Garlic Salmon

My Plate

My Dessert

We had good friends over for an Easter luncheon this past weekend. All my dishes were successful as pictured above and the weather was beautiful. After lunch we all went for a walk.

Scribble Picnic - Ladder

It's Scribble Picnic time! Here is my 'Ladder' piece for this week's theme. It's done on a memo sheet (3" x 3") in watercolour pencil.  I went with a fairy garden today.  The photo below gives a sense of the scale of the piece.

Steamed Brussels Sprouts

I had great success with steaming these halved brussels sprouts, it took just 8 minutes. Then I seasoned with salt, pepper and a dab of margarine. It's something I plan to make more often! Do you like brussels sprouts?

The Cucumber Slices

I was walking by the kitchen and noticed these 2 slices of cucumbers lying on a plate. Daughter L told me she was going to place them over her eyes for hydrating purposes, like they do at the spa, lol.

So it's time to start weeding already, there are so many coming up in my yard.  It's time to get the snow tires off the cars if you haven't already.

Sunday Sketches - Pensive

Happy Easter if you celebrate!

It's time for Sunday Sketches! This is a pensive girl today. The piece is done on an index-sized card (3" x 5") using my new sketching markers and outlined with a PILOT fineliner. The sketching markers are permanent markers that bleed through the paper, so I had to be careful. Unfortunately they stayed on my fingers for awhile!  They have a nice rich colour that I love and can blend nicely, but that's something to try on another day.

Spring Crocus

I am delighted to see the spring crocus finally showing up in the garden!  Although it was just last week when I woke up one morning to see a winter wonderland outside, the cars and trees covered with snow.  It didn't last long however, all the snow was gone by the end of the day.

Here is the cutest Easter video just over a minute long, smart little girl. 

Paint Party Friday - The Rose

It is Good Friday today, Easter is just around the corner if you celebrate!

For Paint Party Friday, I painted a rose on cardstock in acrylic for you today (8" x 8"). It is being made into coasters and cards as I received a good offer from Shutterfly.   Last week, I showed the original pencil sketch which I printed onto cardstock.

Sushi Burrito

Daughter L sent me this photo of a sushi burrito she had for lunch recently. It looks good, and unusual.  She said it was delicious, she would have it again.

Have you ever wondered how to make your own ketchup? The Southern Lady posted her ingredients recently. It's basically a seasoned tomato paste, with quite a bit of honey/sugar. No wonder it tastes so good.

Scribble Picnic - Rabbit

It's Scribble Picnic time! This week's theme is 'Rabbit', I went with a toy one in the window. The piece is done on good quality blue textured cardstock (6" x 6") in acrylic.

Interesting Gift

One of my sisters told me that a member of her coffee group handed out these keychains containing chewable aspirin that they could have handy at all times in case of a heart emergency.  I suppose it's a good thing to have especially if you are over 50!

Daughter L and I went to visit my mom's niche at the mausoleum on the weekend.  Her framed re-sized photo and inscription are complete and were installed inside her niche.  She passed away on January 4th this year.  My dad's niche is in another building nearby so we went there as well.  He passed away 23 years ago.  I had a sense of peace with this visit, sort of like visiting home.

The Bean

Daughter L had a 4-day getaway to Chicago with some friends recently. Son K asked her to bring him a souvenir of the Bean. It has quickly become a landmark in Chicago since the sculpture was installed in 2004. K was delighted that they found him this cute keychain.

The unfortunate thing was that one of L's girlfriends had to abort her trip and fly home the day after they arrived.  It seems the girl's boyfriend's father went into cardiac arrest the day the girls arrived in Chicago and died 2 days later.  He was only 55.  The man had seemed healthy and was in fact lifting new furniture into the house.  This is so scary and shocking.

At the funeral people were told it would be a celebration of life, were asked to wear colourful clothing as opposed to the colour black.  Daughter L was glad she attended in support of her friends.

Sunday Sketches - Greeting Cards

Shutterfly had a free offer recently so I had these 12 greeting cards (5" x 7") printed of some of my recent work. Taking advantage of their free offers, I just have to pay the postage. Canadian postage rates are expensive unfortunately. I was very happy with the way these turned out and decided to show them for this week's Sunday Sketches!

On Breakfast

Husband M will occasionally make pancakes for breakfast. Daughter L topped her pancake with almond butter for protein, and strawberries. She loves almond butter. How do you like your pancakes?

Paint Party Friday - Rose

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! I did a detailed pencil sketch of this rose on textured beige cardstock (6" x 6"). My intention was to paint it in acrylic, in shades of pink. I was a bit nervous to start in on the original and my daughter suggested I copy it (using the printer) onto a sheet of white cardstock and work with that one. So I've made a fabulous, enlarged copy as pictured below. Now I don't have to be afraid of ruining the original sketch for now.

Easter Toys

Easter is almost upon us. I picked up these small Easter toys as gifts.  Which is your favourite?

Scribble Picnic - Grandfather Clock

Welcome to Scribble Picnic! It's a 'Grandfather Clock' theme this week. My piece is done on textured blue cardstock (8 1/2" x 11") in acrylic. I chose a Swedish grandfather clock design because I love its curves and simplicity.

A Long Line

We were leaving the mall after 9 pm on March 31st and noticed these kids lined up outside in the rain. It was 2C (36F) but the wind had died down. I had to ask them why. They said it was for 'Jordans' at the Footlocker store. They must have been waiting for an April 1st release so I googled these Air Jordan running shoes, it must be what they were waiting for. I wished them good luck.

The Security Guard

This security guard stood in the station at our movie theatre. We went there recently to see Beauty and the Beast, which we loved. So he is made of wax and people always go up to him with questions and are subsequently startled. I realized I wouldn't enjoy Madame Tussaud's wax museum, somewhat scary.

Back to Beauty and the Beast, daughter L found the movie soundtrack on youtube so we are enjoying listening to it. The music is so uplifting.

Sunday Sketches - A Pretty Girl

Welcome to Sunday Sketches! This sketch is done on a random piece of scrap paper (8 1/2" x 2 3/4")outlined with a black Pitt waterproof artist pen and coloured in with watercolour pencil.

Spring Salad

Daughter L wanted me to take a photo of this pretty salad she made for herself the other day. She said 'mom it will be great for your blog!' These crunchy little mini cucumbers have been on sale and are great for salads.

And welcome to April!