Ahh Summertime!

Hi my friends!
Yes... it is summertime and I'm enjoying every minute of it!!

One of the first hi-lights of my summer was a little garden Birthday Party for a good friend of mine!
Here is a picture I took of my 3 friends in my back yard

I enjoyed there pretty pinks and green paperware that picked up the colors of the flowers in my gardens.

It was the perfect afternoon!

The gift our birthday girl is opening was a hypertufa 

creation that looks like stone. We filled it with wax and made a patio candle.   Dee and I made several hypertufa planters and candles but, I doubt if its something I will do again.

One other fun and beautiful thing I have been enjoying is the local Botanical Gardens at Tower Hill!

Just a stroll around the grounds and you will find yourself feeling calm and the sights are an artists inspiration!

Here for example is one path I enjoy.

Along many of the paths there are sculptures and urns like this one…

I plan on drawing this urn in pen and ink.

many of the wildflowers were in bloom this past week.

This iris is among my favorite flowers I plan to paint!

This is the view as you are leaving

I can't wait to return again soon!

When I am at Tower Hill among the lovely blooms and urns I feel I could be anywhere in the world! 

I will post some more pictures I took while I was there,

so stay tuned1

Have a lovely day all!

Hugs,

 Mary

Student Art Show

Hello my friends! How are you on this fine spring morning!
The weather is grand here!
Sunny and still a bit cool
A great day to go out and do some plain air painting!

BUT FIRST… as promised I do have some shots of my students art show from last week!


•Our gallery here at school is just so lovely!

Some pastels and collages

On the sides are the pinatas

In the middle are the Sumie paintings

Close up on one piñata

•Here are some drawings on tin

Clay sculptures

Oaxacan creations

Felted Birds and Wooden Birdhouses

Another angle of the gallery

Some wire and textile sculptures

Scratch Boards

Pastel Skeletons and 

Pen and Ink watercolors 

I can't believe I didn't take any close up shots of the Freshman Arts Oil pastels!

Oh well...

That was our spring show

Hope you like the works of art!

See you again really soon!

:O) Mary

Yesterday at Brimfield

Hi there my friends!
Yesterday was the most perfect day to go to the Brimfield Flea Market!
It was some what cloudy and a bit on the chilly side which made it just 
perfect for walking and viewing the many booths.
I was not seeking anything in particular this year just to go see what goodies I might find!

My favorite item I will save for last!
First I found a watering can-I was looking at many a watering can before I found this one that was in my price range. Can you just see Peter Rabbit hopping in to this can to escape from the angry gardener Mr. McGreggor?

I know just where I will hang my next item

It is a christening gown from the 1940's

(I believe)

My dear friend Eleanor collects antique buttons so I was on the lookout 

for something I could send to her.

I also bought some marbles that I think will be fun to feature in one of my realistic watercolors. The photo of these little beauties did not come out though…Maybe later I will try again.

Finally I am just so happy with my last purchase!

It is a china tureen with lid.

Isn't it a beauty!

I just thought this was so appropriate since the new little

Princess is named

Charlotte Elizabeth Diana!

That is all for now I hope to take some photos so you can see where all of these lovelies will find their permanent home!

Tomorrow is Arts Day here eat school so I will be sure to share with you some of my students lovely work!

Good night!

:O)Mary

Brimfield

Hi My friends!
Yes today as soon as I finish up at work I am off to the Brimfield Flea Market!!

The town of Brimfield, Massachusetts, home of the Brimfield Flea Markets is located in central Massachusetts just west of the intersection of Rte 84 and the Massachusetts turnpike ( Rte.90). Some say that the Brimfield Flea Markets are located at the crossroads of New England. State police estimate that over 50,000 people attend the Brimfield Flea Markets each week they are held.  The exhibitors who set up booths number in the thousands with May and September being the strongest of the Brimfield Flea Markets.

I am looking for small items to put in my cool  box of little compartments.  I think it was once a drawer used to store stamps and letters in for printmaking.

I will return with some pictures of my afternoon  and of course some items that I purchase

.

All for now have a great day!!!

Its My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To!!

Hey there my friends!
Yes... it is my Birthday!!!
But unlike the song there are no tears today!!

I had a great dinner with some dear friends last night

We went to the local Barbecue place.

I can't believe we didn't take any photos of the evening! (?)

But we all had a grand time!

Today(after work) I'm off to see my dear friend Judith in Albany!

The weather has been perfect -absolutely perfect these past few days!  Actually getting quite warm in fact!!

I have a potted rose plant I am baby-ing in hopes to put it out on my deck for the summer.

Well thats all for today!
I will be back with some shots of my student art show!
Have a great day all!!
:O)Hugs
Mary

The Daffodils Have Finally Bloomed!!

Yeahhh!! It must finally be spring!
The daffodils are in bloom!

I am thrilled to see more flowers in bloom everyday 
and the trees are even budding YIPEEE! 
Man it was a rough winter!!

But back to Florida- Here are some more shots of the beautiful homes along the inter coastal water way…

…And 

How about Jackie Collins (author) Yaught

                      Book Ends …Clever huh

That's all for now

Have a great day!

Vacation Time!

How much do I enjoy April Vacation?

Let me tell you …

Especially after the very long and snowy winter we had

going to Florida was an amazing treat!!!

We flew from Albany straight to Ft. Lauderdale.

Even with the daily showers and thunderstorms it was FANTASTIC!!!!

Here I am on the deck of our room..

I was thrilled to wake up each morning and 

gaze out into the ocean!

I will mention a few of the high lights of our visit.

                      Even with the rain clouds we found our excursion on the Water Taxi to be most enjoyable!!

We drooled over the many spectacular yachts (ships) and homes along the intercoastal way.

For example 

This is Steven Spielberg's yacht…

And this is the lovely home owned by the Pillsbury family.

More photos to come

All for today!

:O) Mary