Lovely Spring Days, Good Stuff and Art, Art Art ~

Do you love Spring?

I love Spring.

This is the time of year when the Morning Glories are the happiest ~ 

Pinks and purples are best friends ~ 

and baby squash announce their own arrival ~ 

Uh-oh...the puppies have discovered the boysenberries ~ 

Springtime has a way of opening secrets.

This Praying Mantis egg sac has been attached to my eaves since last Fall.

Finally, the babies are appearing ~ 

Just the size of a grain of rice ~ 

Soon, they will grow to be mighty protectors of my garden ~ 

Spring evenings call me into my studio.

I created a "Little Red Riding Hood" inspired piece for a local art show ~ 

My daughter modeled as "Little Red"...

We just happened to have the perfect costume on hand ~ 

This piece is called "Be Still My Little Red Heart" ~ 

It's a companion piece to last year's piece entitled:

"Mi Corazon por Alicia"

The show I entered is the only local show I do and it's really fun.

My friend, Shell, and I participate in this show together every year ~ 

So much fun.

Good memories.

Free wine!  ;-)

Last week, my son was honored for his achievements in college ~ 

Game Student Spring Showcase ~ 

He's an amazing artist and has dreamed of working in the video game industry since he was old enough to hold his first Game Boy ~ 

Now...he's making those dreams come true ~ 

These pieces were created for his "Materials and Lighting" class ~ 

"Pirate Still Life"

"Environment"

"Photo Realism - Ibanez Guitar Angle 1"

"Photo Realism - Ibanez Guitar Angle 2"

This kid just blows me away.

So talented and went into school self-taught.

Now, he's learning how to refine that talent and making connections in the gaming industry.

So proud!

Spring can sometimes lead me to the kitchen.

Busy days lead to late night suppers.

Grapes, cheddar and homemade French Bread.
(This bread recipe is to die for.  I got it from the always lovely Vanessa from A Fanciful Twist.  Delicious and simple.  Only 5 ingredients).

The perfect Spring meal ~ 

I have a busy art schedule this Spring and Summer.

While working on 20 illustrations and a book cover for an upcoming book about "Tylwyth Teg" (Welsh Faeries), I am also working on illustrations for my own book.

This work in progress depicts "Odessa."  She grows up to be the songstress in the fairy tale I'm writing called "Gerushia's New World" ~ 

Here is the first illustration that shows "Odessa" at a little older age ~ 

Spring is a busy time in the garden, the kitchen and the studio.

My favorite time of year.

I'm having a little Springtime sale in my Etsy Shop right now!

Springtime is the best time to have a sale, don't you think?

I need to make room in my studio for all the new work to come.

This sale includes every single item in my shop, originals, prints and, well....everything!

Just use coupon code SUNNYDAY to save 30%.

Gosh, I love my little studio.

I never get tired of this simple view ~ 

Thank you for sharing a little Springtime with me.

I hope you're enjoying this lovely time of year.

Before I know it, summer will be upon me and it will be hotter than Fred's Flame in my neck of the woods.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

Quiet Treasures and Memories ~

What do you treasure?  Memories?  Beauty?  Family?  Isn't that a big question?    


For me, I treasure memories.  Sometimes to the point of sadness.  I treasure my southern heritage and the simple things left behind by my mom and dad....


I treasure this photo.  The last photo ever taken of my mom when she was still able to help in the kitchen.  The last batch of potatoes she was able to prepare ~ 

Memories of my dad creating acorn pipes.  When I was a little girl, my family would venture out to "The Apple Orchards" every Autumn.  To me, it was a magical place that smelled of warm fall leaves, country air and bear poop.  (Yes, I said bear poop).  We would picnic under the big oak trees.  After lunch, my dad would search out the biggest and smoothest acorns and the straightest sticks to create these little pipes for me.  He would cut off the tops with his pocket-knife, clean out the inside....make a wee little hole for the stick and, just like that, I had a pipe.  I have quite a collection of pipes, actually...but this photo shows the last pipe my dad ever made. He made it for my son ~ 

A single lace glove, worn by my grandmother....many, many years ago ~ 

Recipes for southern goodness....Fried Green Tomatoes ~ 

Chicken Pie ~

....and Boysenberry Pie ~ 

Taste, smell, sound....built in senses that rush memories through your heart and mind.  Cutting and healing both at the same time.  


The sound of a distant lawn mower conjures an image of my dad, slowly, meticulously mowing the big back yard of my childhood home.  My dad...the sensible guy who loved grape Kool-Aid on a hot summer afternoon ~ 

Treasures....memories.  The last quilt my mom hand-stitched.  Never finished ~  

The needle is still in the same place she left it  ~

There are new treasures too...not just childhood goodness and memories.  




Breakfast....fresh from the tree on an already overly hot morning ~ 

Loyal and true....Morning Glory.  Growing, growing, growing up and over her familiar arbor ~ 

There are quiet treasures and memories all over our Everydays.  Some are embedded in our skin, in our bones like a piece of our body and soul.  Some are carefree and fun and easy.  Some are colorful and new.  


A new memory a new treasure...a confetti of color ~ this bouquet given to my daughter by the sweetest of friends.  A memory forever, long after the colors have wilted ~ 

What is it about a hot summer day that makes me remember?  Makes me thankful for memories, old and new?  Every muscle and pore and sense remembers and treasures on these days, these summer days that drag and fly all at once.


Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Let's Do This Again ~

So....hello there.  It's been a long while, hasn't it?  I almost gave up my blog.  Over the last year or so, it's slipped away from me, mostly because no one has been able to leave comments.  I've gone 'round and 'round with my settings, I've talked to the good folks at blogger, and still, the comment issue was on-going.  Now, it looks like the comment issue may have been because I was using an older template, so, I've chosen a new template.  Let's see how this works!!


Where to begin?  Well, let's begin with today.  It's HOT!!  Ever so hot.  The kind of licking flame hot that makes you thankful for air-conditioning!  


I stepped outside this morning to take care of a few garden chores and found this ~ 

A wasp enjoying a delicious meal of cutworm!  This makes me happy for 2 reasons.  1:  because that's one less worm on my tomato plant...and 2: because this season has seen a very sad decline in wasps and bees.  This is actually the first wasp I've seen this year.  The bees are  virtually non-existent in my backyard garden this year.  As a matter of fact, without the bees to pollinate my vegetables, I've had to pollinate them myself.  Especially the squash ~ 

I won't go into detail about what I have to do to pollinate my squash...but let's just say it requires a male blossom and a female blossom.  I do the rest!  :-)


Ohhh...and look how pretty...pretty in pink.  The first Sweet Pea blossom of the year ~ 

After all these years of growing these pretty flowers from seed, they are still my favorite.


We've also been spending a lot of time hand-transferring our baby Mantises all around the garden ~ 

Hmmmm...what else has been going on in my world?  Oh, I know, I picked these ~ 

....and turned them into this ~ A deep dish Nectarine pie!  So, so, so good!

You'll have to excuse my very plain and simple photos.  My computer finally gave up the ghost, and I lost my favorite photo program along with it.  Thankfully, Mr. Gerushia was able to retrieve all my art files and photos!  So, for now, I'm posting naked photos.


Since last we spoke, we've had a birthday celebration, an anniversary celebration and all sorts of fun stuff.


On the art scene, just for the fun of it, I entered this piece in a local art show ~ 


Mi Corazon por Alicia  (this piece is currently for sale in my shop).

and I actually won a bit of money!  It's always fun to win money, right?  

It was a fun evening and I got to hang out with my pal, Shell ~ 

I have another piece in a show opening up next weekend.  The theme of the show is "Fan".  I created this specifically for the show.  


"Fanning the Flames" ~ 

The original is not for sale, but you can get it in print version right Here.


I also have a new original in my shop.  A wee bit darker than my usual pieces, but I think I really like it.  It's called "The Burning of Eulalia" ~ 

For some reason, I felt the urge....the need to make this piece.  The name "Eulalia" means well-spoken. The name was borne by a 12 year old Spanish martyr who was burned to death because she refused to renounce her faith.  I know it sounds weird, but when I created this piece, I was drawn to use the name Eulalia, but had no idea about the story of the burning of a 12 year old martyr.  Something made me connect the name with fire.  Curious, yes?


The original is now offered in my shop.  Just click right HERE.  Once the original has sold, I will offer prints.


So...as you can see, I've been keeping busy.  In between working in my studio and working in the garden, I've also managed to read a few books, go to several author signings with my daughter and start a Pinterest.  Feel free to follow me over there if you like!


Ohhh...and one more fun thing coming up.  I'll be having an art give-away for a couple of my print sets, but it won't be on my blog.  More information on that in a day or two...but I'm over the moon excited for this give-away!  It will be "Fanciful" for sure!  :-)


Until Next Time:
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia's New World


P.S.  Ooopsie....forgot to mention that I'm having a "Buy One Get One Free" sale in my art shop.  Buy any 4" x 6" print and get a second 4" x 6 " print of your choice for free.  Simply leave a note for me at checkout telling me which print you want for your freebie and I will include it in your package!  Easy Peasy....just like that.  Click HERE to see all the prints included in this sale!  


xoxo