True Seeing is Within

I take many photos and life is so busy at times that I end up with images that I don't get a chance to really look at until a good deal of time has passed. That is the case with these two. My daughter and I had taken a drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Peaks of Otter Lodge. We walked the path that travels along the pond and into the woods. It's a wonderful way to enjoy a bit of nature when you may not have the time or be up for a hike. The "sea of ferns" that we came upon in the woods stopped us in our tracks. It was lovely and that beautiful new green of spring that made our eyes happy after months of winter.

“After all, the true seeing is within.” ― George Eliot, Middlemarch

A Sea of Ferns 

This patch of ferns made me think of a spot behind my aunt's house where I would sit as a child, a book in my hand and my dog only a whistle away.

Like the Moon I Will Rise

Like the Moon I Will Rise  
Created with the thought of strength in mind, of not giving in even in the face of hardship or negativity. Of rising up and shining.
5x7 
acrylic and graphite on canvas
$60 (am happy to ship) 
Message if interested or need more info. xo

I managed to squeeze in a walk this morning. So glad I did. It was chilly but magical, listening to the crows calling overhead, the leaves crunching underfoot. And oh those leaves. I love them. So much beauty in every single leaf. #leafportaits

Isn't it lovely?! 
I took part in a really neat collaboration. First we all started with a stick, or a brush, (or something along those lines). I had a knitting needle in my bundle and two old dried up "oops" brushes. I bound them with some wire and thread and then it was sent on to the first artist in my group, she added to it, and then sent it to the next, and so on. I'm thrilled to say that my wonderful "traveling stick" has returned home adorned with blessings and good juju. So much beauty! I just need to figure out where/how to display it so I see it everyday! Thank you so much to artists Jan Bumm Aughey, DeeDee Catron, and Camille McCoy and to the artist who arranged it all-Tina Walker! xo

When Orville Dreams

I still need to take better photos but yesterday I finished my nutcracker that will be auctioned off at Southwest Virginia Ballet's Nutcracker Ball along with several other nutcrackers! 

“When Orville Dreams” acrylic, wire, paper, resin, stone, fabric, foam, wood 

“I got more thrill out of flying before I had ever been in the air at all- while lying in bed thinking about how exciting it would be to fly.”- Orville Wright. 

I love this quote and it felt like a wee touch of serendipity that I came across it last minute, after the piece was close to finished. I love how it fit the theme so much that instead of painting the ocean waves of Kitty Hawk on the base I decided to stamp the quote.
Throughout the year I’ve been thinking a lot about rising above, about flying, about planes and flight and space. That in combination with my deep love of the Outer Banks seemed to come together in this nutcracker.
I chose to paint Orville and not Wilber because Orville was the shy one who made candy and played the mandolin. Plus, I liked his mustache.
I made the origami birds from map pages and painted clouds on his hat because I pictured him daydreaming with his head in the clouds, imagining himself soaring with the birds in the sky. A red stone heart was resined in his chest, dragonflies painted on his sleeves, and wishes as stars placed in a jar and wings on a red string. I painted a plane for him and a tiny suitcase. Then, once all of that was done, I stitched a tiny aviator scarf for him as I also read that he was a dapper dresser.
“"No bird soars in the calm. If you want to take off, you have to take off into the wind. You need the wind. The wind will make you." That’s my favorite quote from his journal and those are the words I now have written and placed in my art space as a reminder to use difficulties as stepping stones to achievement.
And here are a few photos of nutcrackers I finished in the past for the auction:

Apples Galore!

Sunday included a wonderful visit with my mom and then a nice peaceful drive out to Johnson's Orchard. I can almost taste the yummy apple pies and crumbles. Autumn is my far my favorite season. October my favorite month. There are so many things to do that I hope I can fit them all in before the month is done. Pumpkin patch. Pumpkin and apple themed baking. Long walks in the fallen leaves. As many of those walks as I can manage. Sipping cider by an outdoor fire. Perhaps even a haunted house this year if I can convince anyone to go with me!

Wordless Wednesday