Tree Branches Pattern

This is a patterned piece using Tree Branches. It is done on purple cardstock. It shows a charcoal coloured tree trunk at the right side of the painting. Its now leafless, snowy white branches extend diagonally across the page.

I did this piece on Instagram recently for @alexandrasillos #patternedthingsbyalex, a prompt Alex is running for all of January.

Bubbly Champagne and Stars Pattern

This is a piece I did recently over at Instagram for @alexandrasillos #patternedthingsbyalex and thought I would share it here. It is done on lilac cardstock and features 2 champagne glasses tilted toward each other at an angle, filled with bubbly champagne. I drew a meandering line of stars across the piece for a simple design.

I decided to print these up on Shutterfly for use as congratulations cards.

On Life

I was still receiving Christmas cards last week.  One of them was a shock to me.  My girlfriend had passed away  last March, shortly before turning 61.  Her surviving older sister had sent me a card notifying me of her passing and thankfully with a phone number.

 My friend started having abdominal pains Thanksgiving 2018.  It seems the cancer had started in her ovaries, spread to her colon, then stomach and she died of cardiac arrest March 2019 a day before she was to start chemo.

We had not really kept in touch beyond exchanging annual Christmas cards.  But it is a shock to my system, a wake up call if you will.  Life is short.

This seems like a good time to say how thankful I am to my blog community for their lovely, often supportive comments, they really make my day.

Blue Cheese on Toast

One morning, I toasted and buttered this whole grain farm style bread that I got from Panera Bread. I melted a couple squares of blue cheese on top, it was so flavourful. Do you like blue cheese, a little goes a long way.

Husband M refuses to try this and one of my sisters said it looks unappetizing, haha.

We are expecting a lot of rain today with the possibility of freezing rain later in the day.

Paint Party Friday - Turtle Pattern

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! I recently posted this piece on Instagram as part of @alexandrasillos instagram challenge and wanted to share it here with you. The turtle piece is done on cardstock (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") in permanent markers outlined with a PITT pen. It is a month long Instagram challenge with the theme 'patterned things'.

It is an eastern box turtle with a pretty brown and yellow patterned shell on its back.

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Snow Creatures

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art Date "Snow Creatures' challenge! My 'Arctic Fox' portrait is done on cardstock (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  A Sharpie Water Based white marker was used to colour in his white coat.  The shading was done with a black PITT pen. Its golden brown and blue eyes are coloured with permanent markers.

Buddha's Hands

The photo above shows a bunch of buddha's hands gifted to one of my sisters who lives in California, by a friend who grows them. They are new to me. It is a variety of citron fruit with finger-like sections extending out like a hand. She made candied buddha's hand citron with them as pictured below.  You can make candied lemon peel if you don't have buddha's hands.