Beautiful Veggies

It's not often that you hear someone say " These vegetables are delicious." This definitely has never occurred in my house - - though I dream of the day when my kids will eat some form of vegetable other than a carrot or something I have hidden in spaghetti sauce.

Maybe you are one of those people in the produce aisle, enamored by the sight of seasonal fruits and vegetables, ripe and luscious in their prime. Maybe not?! Well, you should be! Bask in the blush of an apple, picked in a local orchard, or a giant head of broccoli fresh from the field. You shouldn't have to wander far to find a market with local faire.

I photographed these beauties at Holla's Produce and Greenhouses while on a getaway up North.  I never knew veggies could be so photogenic!

There's something so satisfying about growing your own food. When I  think of all of the time and effort put into a garden over a season - - I find it amazing that fruits and vegetables don't cost more money.

After months of watering and pest control and weeding - - you end up with a beautiful plant that will be harvested and consumed rather quickly. (Which, come to think of it, makes me feel extra guilty that I let that last head of lettuce wilt in the fridge.)

Beach Feathers

Loving this feather. Inspiration/Reference for another feather painting!

 I don't know what it is about feathers at the beach...they seem to have an "ick" factor that other feathers  do not hold for me. I know, most feathers contain gross bird germs, and I do wash the feathers that I collect and sanitize my hands after I pick them up - - but, wet shore bird feathers kind of gross me out. They look neat scattered on the beach, but I do not want to pick them up and take them home. Why is that?!

We went to the beach this evening and picked up smooth stones and ran in the sand. The boys (My husband included) skipped stones and tossed/launched/dropped and threw a great deal of those washed ashore, back into the Lake.

A great " I Love You, Daddy!" moment. 

Hoping to get to the beach more often. We do not take advantage of what is all around us. Must do this on a weekly basis!

Frans Rood

I recently had the great pleasure of meeting Potter, Frans Rood while I was showing at the Art by the Lighthouse show in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Situated across from my tent, I had a perfect view of all of his pieces. Many things sold before I had a chance to walk over and have a good look. When I did wander over, I found beautiful variety in shapes and colours.

Frans was engaging and honest about his work. Refreshingly down-to-earth, he made the days more interesting through conversations about skill and craft - - and I am ever so glad our tents were so close!
(Plus, his pieces were so much fun to photograph!)

I'll let you have a look...

I purchased this beauty for my Mother-in-Law as a Thank you for watching the boys while we set up and took down at all of my shows recently. I was fairly reluctant to give it to her, because it would look great in my own home. LOL. (Was lovely to touch, and feel and hold, as are all things made by hand)

Interested in Frans' work? Check him out here Frans Rood

Good Mail

Nice surprise in my mail slot. It's not a Bill! 

Joel's postcard mailers and the Andrew Wyeth card "Winter"

A nice surprise in the mail today  - - an 'ole classmate friend of mine, and fellow Wyeth "enthusiast" sent me a postcard he purchased on a visit to the National Museum of American Illustration.

This little card based on Andrew Wyeth's "Winter, 1946" 

Andrew Wyeth (American, 1917 - 2009)
Winter, 1946 
Tempera on board, 31 3/8 x 48 in.

Joel also sent two of his own postcard/mailers. I really enjoy seeing his work.

Check this piece out. He did it for Outdoor Life Magazine, and he totally killed it. I love the details here. A real beauty of a piece. 

Ice Dancer

Another piece that I really like by Joel was this one for the Boston Globe Magazine "Fall Travel Guide" 

I can imagine the amount of research and references that went into making this, and then the design itself!? 

He rocked it. 

Fall Travel cover for the Boston Globe Magazine

So, as you can imagine, Joel's work is in high demand right now, so I'm very glad he had some time for a "working vacation" with Chantal (his awesome wife, an illustrator herself and the owner of Papillon Press). 

Check their work out here:

Joel Kimmel

Papillon Press

Chantal Bennett