THE PART OF ROUND TOP I MISS THE MOST

MY ROSES!!!
The table cloth...well, the red check one was from Annie Banik's garage sale....I miss seeing her. And the floral roses piece was a remnant from last year gleaned at WalMart! Round Top has black land and in a drought the cracks in the yard could swallow a cat!! But boy does that dirt grow good roses!!  We are nearer the Colorado River in LaGrange, and the dirt so far has been a difficult one to figure out....so I'll go to the Ag Agent to see what he says for hopefully some rose blooms next year!!

The Fall has brought rains and needed moisture to our county and it shows most in the flower gardens ... Especially my gardens in Round Top!!  I've gone there several times this month to bring home bundles of antique roses.  The aroma is so wonderful.  It tempts me to move back to our wonderful and spacious old house and just live on the porches!!   The roses are Ducher, Cecile Bruener,  Arche Duke Charles, Lafter, Champney's Pink, Old Lincoln , Zephrine something and Croimseur Superior . I would like the same in my new yard please.  Guess I'll have to cut a tree down for some sun.  OH WHAT A BLESSING FLOWERS ARE!!  TRULY A BLESSING!!!  THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT and LOVE!!  Enjoy!!

PLAYING WITH A NEW PAINT

Behind the pink flower, top left was a piece I grabbed to use last night, not reading it, but then saw what it said today and I LOVE IT!! It says..."seeing her he said, "Take heart daughter; for your faith has made you well." Perfect for the report from Doctors was really good yesterday for my hubby!  We did lots of praying ..... but no matter how it turned out He has a plan for us already! Got home and my new paints were delivered.....so had to play, pray and give thanks!









I got some new paint colors and played with them a little to see how they play. And they played nicely.  Can't wait to play more just spreading the colors and finding what is there!!  Enjoy! Feeling blessed!! Actually everyday is a blessing from God who created it all!!

And just NOW ....do you see the "DOVE" in the gray cloud?!! BELOW!!!! JUST NOW SAW THIS!!! WOW!!!

TALK ABOUT FOUND ART IN THE ATTIC .. or local junk shop!

This is the BEAUTIFUL recently found painting by VAN GOGH....found in an attic after 100 years, I believe in Norway.  We are all excitedly looking in our old attics and local junk shops for newly found treasures as well!! You may not find a Van Gogh, but you could find a small treasure or watercolor by an unknown artist like the one I found in yesterday's POST below and applied to the back of my new visual journal cover!  Happy hunting!!  IF YOU HAVE ANY FOUND ART ...post it through September in honor of the found VAN GOGH!!         If you read this...it was NOT ME who found a Van Gogh...incase you didn't hear it in the news!! I only found the little watercolor below...but a treasure to me!
  http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/09/10/arts/10vangogh2/10vangogh2-popup.jpg

STARTING ON WALNUT ST ...

I'm learning how to make journals for painting and writing in.  I learned most of it so far in classes by Mary Ann Moss.  I had purchased this small watercolor that appears very old and it was very glued down to a heavy mat so I decide to make it into a journal cover.  I used some very old slightly brittle wall paper to make a border.  I had to put a clear medium on it to preserve it...the border.  The little painting has no date but has initials or name of "eng"  I think it is a lovely little watercolor!!  Kind of reminds me of a few of Van Gogh's drawn water colors with the loose and waves limbs but I am sure it is not his.  It does have oriental or Japanese style. But may be a local's effort too. Any way enjoy it and comment if you have any ideas about it!  I won't tell you how expensive it was...ha.  It has three numbers with a decimal way towards the left.  Did you guess five whole dollars?!  True and happy am I withy new journal cover.  Stay tuned for the finished product...Blessings!!

IT FITS NICELY in this antique frame...hmmmm that might have been a better thing to do!!

WE ARE ON OUR WAY

Why do I get this long space before the pictures?....keep scrolling down to see what's up!!  There she goes...on her way to Amsterdam!!

Mary Ann Moss that is!

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Yes, we've been inspired by another artist teacher and well on our way to more creativity and ideas. With new ideas swimming in my head here are a few goodies found around local shops with old stuff that I plan to use someway in new visual journals. Thank you Mary Ann Moss for your artistic mind and direction in the journaling process.  I've learned so much!  Also here are the cards I made "mail art" to mail to each member of our class exchange.  And a book I found of old stencils.  And albums to turn into journals etc.  The fabric is old and beautiful. Was that Mary Ann in the buggy on her way to Amsterdam?!  That trip will mean a new class I hope!!! God's blessings to you. Enjoy!

PLAYING WITH COPIC MARKERS...

I bought some COPIC sketch markers last year or two ago and didn't like how dark they were, so I packed them away!  Mary Ann Moss of dispatchfromla.typepad has been talking about them and uses them in her beautiful work!  So I retried them and really like the very light colors I have and will order a few more!! You can layer the colors building deeper, mixed or toned down colors. Which paper to use is another post completely and I am researching that.  I have used regular sketch paper/90lb here. Hope you enjoy this.  The quote was on one of my very favorite artists and past teachers called MYSTELE.   

The Initials AMP stands for Amplified translation....of that particular proverb. I like the way it reads....