Time for a FREEBIE!

What a gorgeous European Clock Tower face ... but of course I'm very partial to anything to do with time and time pieces.

Make something gorgeous!

Best... Canace

Forget Me Not

I have a huge case of Spring Fever! The air was so crisp and sweet this morning and the sunlight coming through the new leaves so beautiful. I thought I'd take a little walk through the gardens to see what is blooming... and share it with you.

Oh... btw... the Mallard is back... and she brought her mate. I'm afraid to go look to see if my fish are still there. Our dog Dakota decided he'd send them on their way so I don't think they'll be back. Sure would be nice if they nested and had little babies though wouldn't it?

Have a great Spring Day!

Best...

Canace

P.S.

Right after I posted yesterday I went into the studio to start  a new project. I was deeply engrossed in my work but still the sound I heard was totally different than anything I'd heard before in my back yard. .... Quaaackkk ... Quaaackkk ... Quaaccckkk. I grabbed my camera and quietly slipped out to the side porch which overlooks the back yard and the bigger of the 2 water gardens. Lo' and behold....  a female Mallard duck had claimed the water garden! She was pleased as punch with her new little kingdom but I don't know how the goldfish felt about it. I took a few pictures with her watching me like a hawk... then she decided it wasn't such a great little pond after all and flew away. Quite a surprise for me.... right up there with the day the heron stopped by for a gourmet meal.

Build it and they will come....  ;o)



Best...

Canace

Can you hear them singing?

One of the most enchanting aspects of spring is to hear the songbirds returning to their nests, many of them inhabiting the same nest that they occupied last year. The Phoebies, House Wrens, Goldfinches, Robins, Doves... even the Cowbirds are more than welcome in our little sanctuary. I think one of the main attractions for them ... well.. with the exception of the feeders... is the water gardens. It makes all my hard work worthwhile to see one or a pair of our birds frolicking in the waterfall, taking turns with their drinks and showers. Sometimes even the tiny Hummingbirds buzz through the mist from the falls. When I hear them singing and attracting their mates or when they move into one of our bird houses in the gardens to fledge their young, it makes the whole world and all its troubles go away.

On that note I thought I'd share an antique bird print.. in celebration of spring and all the lovely songs that come with it.

Take time to hear them singing.... 

Best...

Canace

Guess What?!

Jeanette Janson has opened a new Facebook page called Vintage Supply Company. It's all about flea  markets/collecting and a general love of vintage. It should be a lot of fun and interesting too.  AND... she's having a giveaway drawn from the first 100 fans... so dash on over and be a fan! 

Best...

Canace

Terrific Color Tool

This past weekend Janet, Anne and I went to New Paltz to check out the new(er) art supply store and go to the Hudson Valley Materials Exchange which I've posted about before.

The Materials Exchange was great fun since you never know what you're going to find there. I got over 100 glass lenses there ... *kabuke dance* and the ideas are spinning in my head on how to use them. Also, they had about 30 or so silkscreens. I've always wanted to try silkscreen so I bought one to play with. It's awesome! The one that I picked out was of an old postcard and it prints out crisply/clearly/beautifully. Now I want to silkscreen everything in the house. (Maybe the dog too!)

The art store was terrific too. It's housed in an historic house in the village so it has lots of little rooms and character and a wide array of supplies. It's the Rhinebeck Artist's Shop 


The manager told us about a website where you can mix colors that I wanted to pass along to you. If you have ever had a problem mixing the right amount of one color paint to another it's an invaluable site. You can obtain the CMYK .. the RGB, hex codes, monochromatic, complimentary, shades etc. I believe it's sponsored by Adobe and it a fascinating tool to work with. Kuler Adobe.

Have a creative day!

Best...

Canace

Tintype FREEBIE

A good friend gave this tintype to me and I thought I would share it with all of you. I'm sure her cranky little face will inspire some interesting things... lol

Have fun with her...

Best...

Canace

Feelin' Steampunky

What is it about Steampunk? Is it the history? Is it the gorgeous brass and deep rich oaks? The quirky functionality? I can't quite put my finger on it but I absolutely love anything Steampunk. I've done a few pieces in the past... mostly jewelry and assemblage... but this time I decided I'd like to do a graphic.

So here's my latest....  'Up and Away'

Happy Steampunking!

Best...

Canace

Determination

Soooooo.... I hear this thump on my side porch and go to investigate. Looking through the glass door I see this squirrel .... (I've named him Bonkers)... checking out the glass jar that I keep the sunflower seeds in for the birds. 

Totally oblivious to me he dances around the jar this way and that trying to figure out how he can get it open.

Ah! Tipped it over! I wonder if anyone heard that???

 Now if I just grab it with my teeth I should be able to just open it up .....

Hmmm... maybe if I roll it around it will open???

Now one more vice grip on the lid ....

Tah dahhhhhh! (with an echo)

Determination has it's rewards!

Best...

Canace

A little imagination and a permanent marker

Shows you what a little imagination and a permanent marker can do. Enjoy!

I'm not sure who to attribute these pictures to so if anyone knows I will be glad to do so.

Cute eh? :o)


Best...

Canace