Happy New YeaR 2013!!

Take a nice thrifted car coat.

Add a warm fur collar. Sorry, but nothing fights the bitter cold like real fur! Plus, this collar may be older than I am. How do you like that duck tape body double?

Now you are all cozy. HOly toledo, how can it be 13 years past the millenium!?

Slap on a seasonally inspired hat and go celebrate at First Night or something!

Check out how other people are ringing in the New Year at;  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2012/12/visible-monday-78-lets-close-year-out.html

Downtown Abbey Delrium--- armistice blouse

I am re-watching Downton Abbey seasons 1 and 2. I liked it the first time but had missed the first two or three episodes. Now I understand the "great scandal". And I have become hopelessly hooked.

This blouse is what they call an armistice blouse. I used the Folkwear pattern and made some revisions. For one thing, I added significantly to the length. The original design shows it being worn outside with a little tape around the waist and being worn rather like a peplum. I knew I would always wear it tucked in, so I just made it long. I used a light weight cotton with multi-colored embroidery sprigs. If I made it again, I would make it a bit smaller (I may take the sides in a bit). I also thinking of adding a larger bit of lace at the neck to make it a little less revealing. It looks ok in the photo but if I bend over.....

I would consider making it short-sleeved so that it resembled Lady Mary's blouse.

When the sun hits the mountain tops.

Lake Windermere    16x16    SOLD

It always amazes me how brilliantly the setting sun can light up the mountains. Throw a foot of snow on this image and you would have our weather for today. 

I keep promising myself to take my pastels outside and make some color sketches but I am too busy currently chopping and bringing in wood for the furnace. I need someone to lay hands on Bruce and make him functional again (he hurt his back). I have to take a sick car to the mechanic today. Perhaps, I'll be lucky and get him into the clinic. That's about as amusing and technical as taking a cat to the vet.

From our house to yours!

Merry Christmas!

Have you ever tried to get a dog to look at a camera?

Rats...but Happy Tib's EVE!

I made a great post for Visible Monday and then found out, urk, no visible monday this week. Oh well, Have a wonderful Tib's Eve.

December 23rd. In Newfoundland tradition, it's the day you get drunk and celebrate Christmas with all of your friends, before having to spend all of your time with your family. A sacred practice, you don't miss Tib's eve lightly. B'ys are gettin' smashed fer Tib's eve wah?

From:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tib%27s%20Eve

 

Pinkie's Prom Dress 16x16

This is one of the first figure paintings I made and is still one of my favorites. It was based on a photo of one of my cousins. I just love the glasses and the sense of expectation.

Mom used to buy those lovely old prom dresses at the Goodwill for a buck. My friends and I would put on makeup and swan around in the formals playing "Miss America Pagent". I wish I had some of those dresses now!

Shaken, Not Stirred!

 
Wow, 40% off on tasers,  accessories and tactical clothing! This is an ad that ran in the Flathead Beacon that we picked up in Eureka, Montana yesterday. These are not hunting weapons, unless you are hunting humans. I don't see ads like this in Canada. Merry, creepy Christmas. Although I would kind of like to have a taser.

Warning

Be very afraid!

For those that don't know, a troika was a fast whirling folk dance with three people. This was a painting that more or less "appeared" at a Burridge workshop. By that I mean that I was just having fun slopping around creating texture and saw figures suggested in paint, sort of like watching zombies appear out of the fog.

Howling at the Half Moon

 Alpha Pair   24x24  

I seem to be on a wolf kick. The Alpha pair takes the high ground on a twilight evening.

A christmas jumper

I mad this up with a remnant I found in my stash. I think I will try it with a smaller belt. I see now why people wear wool for warmth! It is actually red and forest green although it looks very blue in the photos.

I'm rather proud of the little flounce in the middle of the back hem. I've been wearing it to my Christmas craft sales.
  

**CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!**

If anyone would like to win a 8x10 matted print of one of my paintings, just leave a comment and mention you would like a print. You can choose from any print that I have blogged. I will draw names out of a hat on Dec. 23rd.

Last week's winner was Lisa (dreamz-n-wishz)?

Now go check out visible monday at :  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2012/12/visible-monday-77-blast-of-color.html

Lioness

Lioness 12x24 acrylic collage

I have had the good fortune to see cougars at least three times, twice from the safe vantage point of being in a car, once in an unnerving encounter on foot. They are gorgeous and big.  When I walk, I always pack bear spray and pay attention to my dog. Fiona knows better than to tangle with a cougar. I can tell when she smells one by her behavior and the fact that her dorsal ridge hairs stand at strict attention. 

We have a resident female that raises her family near town. One of the local guys chases her with his dogs when she becomes a little too familiar with being in town. I don't mind her for a neighbor as long as she restricts her diet to non-humans.

Luna

 Luna    16x16 acrylic collage

A snow wolf for a long winter night.

Short grey days are driving me crazy. I can't wait for Winter Solstice.

Better Late than Never: Tulle and a teacup

I may be slow but I get there. Inspired by Melanie's beautiful ballerina skirt on Bag and a Beret:  http://bagandaberet.blogspot.ca/2012/10/everyone-needs-ballerina-dress.html I decided to photograph my own version. In front of my studio with a cuppa to warm me. There is also a great post on tulle skirts at:  http://vintagebirdgirl.blogspot.ca/2012/10/tulle-teacups-turquoise.html 

 

**CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!**

If anyone would like to win a 8x10 matted print of one of my paintings, just leave a comment and mention you would like a print. You can choose from any print that I have blogged. I will draw names out of my furry hat on Dec. 16th.

Now go check out visible monday at :  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2012/12/visible-monday-76-spot-of-animal.html

the "M" word

Dreaming of Ghost Ranch   acrylic collage

I'm working on marketing, that is....thinking about it, reading about, doing something about it. It's the artist dilema that painting simply isn't enough, you have to work at marketing too. I am making plans for what I want to learn in 2013, what I want to paint and new ways to sell.

Currently, I am checking out the Artist helping Artist's blog:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artistshelpingartists/2012/04/12/using-pinterest-to-sell-your-art

I find the interviews long but worth listening too. Get a cup of coffee and take the time. And as for Ghost Ranch, I would love to stay there for a month and just paint!

patchwork jumper

I made a patchwork jumper.

Too Ma Kettle?

Is it better with a belt?

Or minus the long skirt?

Now go look for inspiration at :
http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2012/12/visible-monday-75-aunt-of-groom-wore.html