Bubbles

Sorry I've been so long without posting. I'm having fun with my new kitty and creating new pages in my art journal. Here's a layout I did today, thinking of bubbles as a spontaneously flow of God's love for us. I really like how the page turned out. I used Stickles glitter glue on each bubble after a light white wash of acrylic paint. I really feel the freedom in this piece, hope you do too. - verlene

Happy Anniversary 41

Forty-one years today my hubby and I have been married. It feels like forever, and yet it feels just like yesterday. I tell myself I'm not old enough to be married that long *LOL* We went out for Chinese food tonight, then came home and walked around the garden. I thought you might like to see my "writer's nook" I created in the corner of a flower bed.

Also I discovered something today. I took of piece of corrugated cardboard and separated the layers so I had one side with the ridges. I coated it with gel medium on both sides and let dry. Then applied paint to the ridges and stamped them on my prepared journal page and it made perfect little horizontal lines for writing on. I just love how it turned out...I'll try to get a pic tomorrow.

Gracie Mae

Ever since I found the new kittens in the barn, the momma has moved them UNDER the chicken house. Last Thursday I set about catching a baby and here she is...a spoiled little ball of fluff who is sitting in my lap as I type, trying to attack my fingers! I just love her! If you look closely in the 2nd picture you can see that her left foot is slightly pink. Well you see, I was painting today with her in my lap and she reached up to jump onto the table and put her paw right into my red paint and before I could stop her she had it on her ear, her lower leg and her tummy. After a nice warm bath, she's still a little tinted but warm and snuggly again. Needless to say I'm not getting much painting done for the time being.

Vintage Pink Windows

These are the windows of a little shop we pass on our way to CA, between Grants Pass and Crescent City. The shop never seem to be open so this time I took pictures of what I could see thru the windows. It's looks quite tantalizing and I love imagining what I would find inside! And of course I just adore the vintage pink windows!

Heart Ache

If you're a mom, you know that when your kids hurt, you hurt too. Well that's how I'm feeling tonight. Wish I could help but I can't. So I draw. - verlene

Home from Camping!

So glad to be home! Had a wonderful trip!

Here is a little robin's nest, I watched the DADDY gathering dried grasses, I didn't know they were that involved but sure enough, he was the one gathering the grass and flying with it in his beak to the pine tree by the lake where Mama was waiting for him.

I used my dh's old fishing guide book 2003, for images on this page.

This is my JOY page.

Back journal cover.

Front journal cover.

Here I drew a little map of our camp site.

I am the camping queen, I love to camp and build fires, and roast hot dogs and marshmallows over the coals!

I saw so many birds I had to do a bird page, there was still bits of snow around the lake the temps were warming up and the birdies were everywhere digging worms and building nests!

I really like the green on this page, I love forest colors!
We had such a wonderful time, every kind of mountain weather imaginable from 85 to hail, thunder, wind and rain!

This is my little art table in the shade of the trees. The bright white background is the sun on the lake, too bright for the photo. Well it's nice to be home, the laundry is washed, and the camper is tucked away for now and my new kittens are almost 6 weeks old and sooooo cute! I need to get a pic soon. Bye for now...verlene

Going on Vacation

This is one of my favorite photos, the reflection on the lake is so clear it's hard to tell which is water and which is sky. Our camper is packed, the fishing stuff is loaded in the boat, and my art supplies are tucked away in a vintage suitcase along with a couple of mystery novels. We plan to be back the 1st week of June. Make lots of art while I'm gone, I can't wait to see what you've created! bye for now - verlene

Broken People

I have been involved with a group of artists for the past 10 months while we learned to draw and paint pretty girls. I have made many friends during this time, besides finding out I really can draw. But now it seems my snug little group of friends are at odds with one another and I feel pulled in two directions, as I have friends in both groups. What is a girl to do? I know one thing. We are all broken people, not one among us is perfect. My son happens to be bi-polar. That is his medical diagnosis. But that is not who he is. He is a person, a son, a brother, a friend, a computer software designer and a genius. He loves to play chess and scrabble and basketball and take hikes in the mountains of eastern Oregon. To label him, bi-polar, and put him in a category with all other bi-polars would not be fair to who he is as a person, nor would it be an accurate description of him, as his attributes are not exactly like anyone else's, neither are mine or yours. When my son is on top of the world, he makes plans and then doesn't fulfill them because he crashed. Does this make him a liar? No. If he promises something and then gets too flighty to accomplish it, is he a criminal? No. Someone once said, "he who is without sin cast the first stone". I'm not holding any rocks in my backpack. How about you? What is a girl to do? I've made my choice. And it does not involve burning someone at the stake because they made a few mistakes. Life is so short, why spend time rehearsing negativity, for one thing it's not good for your health. There is so much about life to love. Be a positive influence wherever you are, spread a little sunshine and let people know they are loved. - verlene

New Kittens

I knew we had new kittens somewhere but I couldn't find them. The mama is wild you see, she was born in the wheel well of our pickup when the camper was on it so it was nice and dark and hidden. We didn't know about her (the new mama) until she was 6 weeks old, stalking towards the food bowl with her stomach to the ground and ears layed back. She won't even eat if our feet are anywhere in sight. Anyway, she finally had babies and hid them away in the dark recesses of the barn where hubby parks the tractor, behind a little rototiller, under the chicken nesting boxes in the hay with wire fencing rolls on all sides of her. While she was eating today I sneaked down with my camera determined the find them AHA! I do love the little girl with one white ear, she has a perfect black diamond on her nose and her other ear is all black. They are all girls except for a tiny little boy, the runt, who is just adorable. When I hold him he digs himself into the crook of my elbow to hide his face. All the others will look at me with their wide little kitty eyes. We have an awesome God don't we, just look how perfect these little baby jewels are, right down to the tips of their furry little tails. Want one? - verlene

Muse of the Woods

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for the lovely comments over my recent post. I do appreciate every one them and continue to read them over and over. Thank you.




Ever since we moved to Oregon (from California) in 1968, I have fallen in love with the woods of the Pacific Northwest. Between the woods and my little garden, inspiration is never lacking. I hope you like her, this was a really fun piece and I'm sooo in love with layers! - verlene