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Thursday, August 6, 2009

My First Watercolor Painting, Buttons, and Gardens

This lovely Summer is pasting way to quickly. I have spent endless hours in my gardens this year. Creating new ones and adding lovely plants to the old ones. I am also in the process of creating my first patio block walk way. It has been a bit of a challenge but it is coming along nicely. I had blood vessel break in my right middle finger from lifting all the heavy patio blocks which has delayed me a bit.Oh, it was so swollen, black and blue and so very painful. But hopefully I will be back at it this coming weekend.


Along with all the gardening I have found some time for stitching too. Sometime ago, I fell in love with Karen Raune from "Contemporary Embroidery" lovely work which she is so well known for around the world. Karen creates the most beautiful unique embroidery creations I have ever seen. Please have a look at her lovely blog, "Comtemporary Embroidery"! I bought some lovely things from here awhile back. I wanted to create something special for my Dear Friend Lyn whose birthday was at the end of July. Because Lyn also loves to do stitching too, I decided to try and create some embroidery buttons for her pressie. I have been stitching for a very long time but it took 4 attempts to create these buttons for Lyn. One is supposed to be a Hydrangea Flower and other a BE Daisy. Not as pretty as Karen's work but Lyn loved them.
After watching the movie Miss Potter, and admiring Laurie from "Laurie's Charming Designs", lovely watercolor hearts and roses and other wonderful creations, I decided I would like to try and learn how to do watercolor paintings. Well, this is much harder than it looks. After 4 classes this was the result. It is suppose to represent the Lake Michigan Beach with its lovely beach grasses not far from my home. Of course it is not done yet, and hopefully I will get back to it oneday and finish it. But I truly think I will stick to stitching. LOL

My August Gardens this year are truly lovely. I never saw my Asiatic Lilies bloom last year because the deer ate all their buds. But NOT this year thanks to my wonderful Sweetie who has been the protector of the gardens this year. Thanks sweetie for all your endless efforts they have results in endless lovely blooms to admire this year. This photo is an up close look at them. Aren't they truly gorgeous? Click on the photo and it will get much bigger.

Another photo of my Asiatic Lilies and in the background my new Limelight Hydrangea.

A couple of weeks ago our local quilt shop at a small quilt show. I love stitching and this was the only quilt that had lovely Twilling added to it. I do not know how to do Twilling but it is on my list of things to learn.

A lovely American Robin searching for food in our lawn.

A Black-capped Chickadee searching for food at our bird feeder.

I planted this Summersweet Clethra just a few weeks ago and it is already blooming. It loves the shade and I could never get anything to grow and bloom in this spot until now. Love it.

I have several places in my garden where I have Lavender Blazing Star blooming. They are so beautiful.

My Butterfly Bush is now blooming in all its glory.

More Lillie's along side a Red Butterfly Nesting Box that my Sweetie build for me.
In a couple of weeks I will be celebrating my Third Year of Blogging. It is amazing how quickly the time has passed. I had no idea what a wonderful experience I would have blogging or how many lovely and kind friends I would meet along the way. I have made some special things to give away so I hope you all will come back and see what I have created for this event. I will be posting some photos by the middle of August and the drawing will be at the end of August.
I hope everyone is have a lovely summer or winter. Have a great weekend everyone.


Hugs,

16 comments:

Jane said...

The buttons are lovely and well done on the watercolour. I've always wished I could paint and draw. I just admire what DS2 does instead

Karen said...

Hi Judy, what a lovely post, lillies are one of my favourite flowers, I just love the scent. Thanks so much for my mention here, your buttons are delightful, any one would love to receive them. x

Carol Schockling Lawecki said...

Hi Judy, Hope your finger is feeling better now. Fantastic job on the water color. Your gardens are beautiful. What a peaceful setting. Love the little chickadee photo too. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day!

Maggie R said...

Goodmorning Judy,
Well what a lot of eye candy you have to see ..
LOVE the buttons.. and your garden is absolutely gorgeous. I think those lillies are the prettiest variety ever..
Congrats on the watercolor. You did a great job. I use to do watercolor paintings. Have been thinking about it myself lately. Such a neat and tidy creative thing to do....Not like crazy quilting where i have a real mess going!!!!EEK!!FUN THOUGH...
Anyway I hope your finger is better now and you are enjoying the summer. It is going fast!!!
Take care...
xoxo
((((hugs))))
Maggie

Charmingdesigns said...

Your watercolor is fantastic!!!I would leave it alone and start another, practising adding another layer of dark in areas in the water so its not all one color. Maybe I should be emailing you instead of here...Ok, I have a question...so I'm going to email you.lol

Heather said...

Judy, I think your buttons are wonderful... you have done a great job on them! Didn't you know that all paintings, doesn't matter what medium you use, always go through an "awkward" phase? This is well on it's way to being a wonderful painting... I think you should keep at it - and you can always lift some of the paint off in areas where you don't like it.... you go girl! As usual, your gardens are beautiful.... wish mine looked like that, this year they are sad indeed, I am envious! Hugs.

Deb said...

Judy, Your garden is sooo beautiful. I miss having one like yours. We have gardeners for our gated community here, and can only plant a few things...roses, nightblooming jasmine, hybiscus (peach colored w/red inside), and gardenia. Really lots of white and some color in the roses and hybiscus. I so admire what you've done with yours.
Love your embroidered buttons. Just so lovley. And, your early attempt at watercoulors, too. It takes time and practice...and not thinking with words in your head to paint. You'll get it!
Hugs, Deb

Cathy said...

Judy, I think you did a great job on those buttons! And I LOVE your watercolor, and admire your "go for it" attitude. In March I'm taking a watercolor class at the John Campbell School (would rather have painted with acrylics), but your picture truly inspires me. And talk about inspiration, I'm so totally jealous of your BEAUTIFUL garden. You must really have a green thumb. Love those Asiatic Lillies - I guess I'm going to have to order those, because I can't find that color here at all. Hugs, Cathy

Unknown said...

That quilt is lovely! I love the lilies.
Your watercolor is very nice! Good job!

I LOVE the buttons! They are so pretty! :)

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

Hi Judy,
Have fun on your felt making day.
Your buttons are lovely.
I'm on hols next week so may miss your give away.
Michala x

Laurette said...

Hi, Judy..Your buttons are great,good work on them.I am sure they will be appreciate. Your water color is coming on good. do not give up yet. Any kind of painting takes time to learn.Be patient with yourself. I admire from here your beautiful garden and I am envious of such lovely flowers.
Laurette.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

My Dear Wonderful and kind friends,

I thank you all for visiting my blog and leaving your very lovely comments for me to read. They are all greatly appreciated.

I am off on a holiday for the next couple of weeks sooooooooooooooo my time a bit short in trying to chat with you all separately. I hope you all will understand. I will do better after I get home.

I wish you all a Very Wonderful Day Hugs Judy

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

My Dear Wonderful and kind friends,

I thank you all for visiting my blog and leaving your very lovely comments for me to read. They are all greatly appreciated.

I am off on a holiday for the next couple of weeks sooooooooooooooo my time a bit short in trying to chat with you all separately. I hope you all will understand. I will do better after I get home.

I wish you all a Very Wonderful Day Hugs Judy

RagJó said...

Beautiful gardens and beautiful buttons you made!
Have you tried watercoloring on a white fabric and then stitch onto it? ;-)
It is always so good to visit your blog. It is always so positive and uplifting with your beautiful work both on your art and garden.
Best friendship wishes to you
Rags

MOMENTS Designs said...

Ohhhhh, O love your flowers!!!
Especially the Asiatia lilies (had them in my wedding bouquet)
I just bought some to plant in our garden...do they come back every year or is it a one shot pony ???

I also love your painting....WOW, you can paint !!!
Keep at it ...you got talent :-)
Hugs,Liz

Unknown said...

your lilies are certinly beautiful but i wanted to let you know they are not asiatic lilies they are oriental lilies stargazer to be exact oriental lilies are much taller and more fragrant and the flowers are bigger but yours are certinly beautiful ty......denise p.s. you have very nice website my email addy is okiesissy1110@gmail.com

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