Garden Update - Apostle Flower

Neomarica Northiana

Also known as the Walking Iris.  I caught this right after it opened early in the morning, for the petals will start to curl back as the day goes on.  It will then droop over and "plant" itself to spread.

side view
Getting ready to "walk"

Garden Update - May the Fig

Manicure - OPI "Can't Find My Czechbook"

Every Day In May 2015 - May 4 - Bottle of Herbs or Spice

How about a tin and plastic container?  Of Wegmans Ground Black Pepper?
From my favorite grocery store in Rochester, New York - Wegmans!  When I went back a few years ago, I spent hours in their stores.  They are so well known for their store brands  (especially their brownie mix, too!).

Every Day In May 2015 - May 3 - Curtains

These are the curtains in my living room above the love seat.  I turned them into cafe' style by putting the spring rod under the first row of window panes.  They are three very sheer, bunched/scrunched together, curtain panels by Waverly, which I bought on clearance at Target when we painted the living room after Hurricane Ike.  At Christmas time, I hang green boughs with multi-colored Christmas lights along the top of the window, letting it hang down on either side. (Also bought at Target last Christmas)
(Don't even get me started on what I think about white Christmas lights...)

I love how I was able to make the windows look like glass!    There is something very freeing about doing this challenge.  It's just going into my sketchbook.  And just as in the A to Z Blogging Challenge 2014 wherein I did all watercolor flowers and herbs, I think it is great practice and an opportunity to improve my sketching and watercoloring skills.

I am also trying to work with a more limited palette - I'm using my three Qor watercolor palettes (Earth, High Chroma and the Introductory-6 sets), save for a few forays into my main Winsor & Newton palette for Sepia. (May 2)

Every Day In May 2015 - May 2 - A Nearby Tree

A Nearby Tree - Hacked up Hackberry Tree

We had our over 50 foot volunteer hackberry tree in our backyard taken down.  It was one of the tallest trees in our neighborhood.  It took them almost four hours to safely remove it.  Now we no longer have to worry about storms, particularly lightning striking and having it fall.

Hackberry tree - so tall I couldn't even fit it in the photo

Penzeys Spices - Free bag of 3/4 cup seasoning coupon

The Early Summer Penzeys catalog has your choice of free Chili Powder, Sweet Curry Powder, Turkish Seasoning and Original Taco Seasoning in the 3/4 cup size bag.  I can personally vouch for the Taco Seasoning, and perfect timing to replenish.   Along with more recipes to try and love -- sign up now to get on their catalog list!

Every Day In May 2015 - May 1 - Favorite Food

Favorite Food - Peanut Butter Cups

I do suffer for my artwork, as there is a bite missing. . .

Every Day In May - #EDIM or #EDM

One challenge ends, another begins!  A Facebook group started the Every Day in May page.
Here's the list of what we will draw/paint/sketch each day --

It is so fun to see everyone's interpretations and drawings.  I'm using my 5 1/2' x 8" Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal sketchbook from Hobby Lobby (thank you 40% off coupon!) so I can keep it sweet and simple, without being overwhelmed.  I like the size and it handles my watercolors quite well without buckling or show through. 

I am also using my QOR watercolors, not only for their vibrancy, but to see which ones I use the most to help create my traveling painting/sketching palette.  At the end, I will report which ones I turned to the most.

Que ce jour vous porte bonheur!

The French tradition of giving lily of the valley flowers (Muguet-du-Bois) on May Day is believed to have begun on May 1, 1561, when King Charles IX of France was presented with a bunch of lily of the valley flowers as a token of luck and prosperity for the coming year.

Who doesn't need a little extra good luck and happiness?!

Next to lilacs, lilies of the valley are one of my favorite make-me-happy flowers.

A to Z Blogging Challenge, Galveston Edition - Z for Zzzzz's

My room!

Sleeping well with the Galveston Gulf breezes in my favorite place to spend the night -
The Tremont House.  I love this historical boutique style hotel with the striped wallpaper, blue and white bathrooms and oh, so comfortable brass bed!

2300 Ships Mechanic Row - 409-763-0300

Thursday Tea Time - Very Vanilla

This week - The Steeping Room Madagascar Vanilla

Cost: $8 for 2 ounces
Caffeine:  Yes
Type of tea:   Black
Steeping time:  3 minutes
Mix ins:   A little bit of sugar, and milk
Fragrance:   Like Adams Best Vanilla Extract (another fine State of Texas product)
Ingredients:  Organic black tea, organic vanilla bean, natural vanilla flavor

Opinion:   If you could get vanilla extract in a tea form, this would be it.  It has to be the strongest vanilla tea I have ever tried.  And loved!  After the first brew, I will save the teabag and use it to combine with another flavored tea.  Recycling the yummy.

Rating:  5

Every Day In May 29 - Faucet

The slightly rusty water faucet in the kitchen garden...

Watercolor Wednesday Waiting - Out to the Jury ... The Jury is Back!

I submitted this painting to the Galveston Art League Spring Juried Show on Monday.  My first juried show entry!

Dewberry Blossom
Watercolor
5" x 7"

I "painted" it with a glob of this in a water container.

Richeson Casein - "Ivory Black"

Masking off a 5" x 7" area and using a photo I had taken of a dewberry flower from last year along Oyster Creek as inspiration -- I cut out the shapes of the petals with artists' tape to keep the white and contrast.  Then with a large flat brush, I wetted the paper with the Ivory Black casein wash.

I used a carving tool to scratch out the design of the leaves while the paper was still wet.  Where I applied pressure on the paper, it darkened.  Cool!  I wanted the leaves to stand out more, so I let it dry and then dipped my watercolor brush into the paint wash container and painted around the outside leaves, and added a bit of shading to the petals.  Then for just a bit of color, I brushed some Naples Yellow in the center of the flower and dotted some of the Ivory Black Casein straight from the tube for added value.

Wish me luck!

UPDATE 4-30-15 -  It was accepted!! : D

Rubus trivialis
A beautiful bloom and a tasty berry!
(And a watercolor inspiration)

A to Z Blogging Challenge, Galveston Edition - Y for Yoga

A haven indeed!

I love owner Kathleen's Yin Yoga classes so much I will drive 55 miles in morning rush hour traffic to get to the Island for them.   But many other forms (vinyasa, yin & yang, gentle, slow flow, restorative, basics, Nidra, prenatal and more) of yoga are offered at The Yoga Haven - including Laughter Yoga!   Bonus is is located on the same block as the Oasis Juice Bar and Hooked on Acupuncture, and just up the street from Maceo Spice.

2507 Market Street - (409) 770-9995

Location, location, location!  Right?
(I must admit sometimes my mantra is "cannoli, cannoli, cannoli")

A to Z Blogging Challenge, Galveston Edition - X Marks the Spot!

Jean Lafitte or Jean Laffite slept here
at 1417 Harborside

Pirate Jean Lafitte (or Laffite) built his home, Maison Rouge (Red House) as part of his fort in 1817 until 1821 or 1826, depending upon the reference source.  It was actually painted red.   Some say his treasure is buried in or around Galveston Island and Galveston Bay.

A to Z Blogging Challenge, Galveston Edition - W is for Watch

As in watch repair!   Gregory's Watch Repair

Gregory's Watch Repair

It's a family-run business in its second generation by his son, George. From taking a link out, changing a battery, to antique and modern clock restoration and repair, this is the place to go.  Call for directions, it is easy to drive right past.

1806 Avenue L - (409) 763-2707

Fig Green

New Pantone color consideration - "Fig Green"  

Sunlight backlight

A to Z Blogging Challenge, Galveston Edition - V is for Victorian Houses

Victorian homes in Galveston today

Beautiful Victorian homes abound on the Island.  And great timing -- held on the the first two weekends in May is the 41st Annual Historical Homes Tour so you can see inside and out these historical residences.

A to Z Blogging Challenge, Galveston Edition - U is for UTMB

"Old Red"
Ashbel Smith Building
Watercolor by Pam Heidt

The University of Texas Medical Branch was established in 1891, the first medical school in Texas and continues to be at the forefront of of educational, research and clinical excellence with schools of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences.

Designed by renowned architect Nicholas Clayton and completed in 1890, the Ashbel Smith Building of red brick, red Texas granite and sandstone was the first classroom facility for the medical school.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a registered Texas historic landmark.

Palm Beach State of Crazy Mind

I'm surprised they didn't grab this!
Probably because it looked more like a garden hedge instead of palm tree!
Seriously Target? You had 15 exclusive print designs...

Monday morning, this was all that was left of the heralded Lilly Pulitzer for Target collection.  Excuse me, #LillyForTarget
By Tuesday, the sign was taken down.
The hashtag still lives on to taunt.

The mug set caught my eye, albeit a bit pricey at $30, still could have been cool.  And being able to display on the counter next to the Keurig?  Bonus!  Move over bag of Trader Joe's Classic Potato Chips (*which might I add are the yummiest chips ever?!)

*If I had the Nosie Posey scarf
I could have
sang its praises better

Early imprinting

Or the head/hat/purse/totebag/hand-holding-singing scarf.  I do so love my scarves.

The $35 set of four plates?  Honestly, I have enough mismatched plates as it is.  Lilly and I are very on-trend!  On second thought, $35 spent at Costco for yet another dinnerware box of 4 place settings of two sizes of dishes, bowls and 4 not-quite-as-Lilly-colorful mugs included would probably be a fiscally sounder purchase.  Runners-up for consideration might be a lipstick or a nail polish for the "Funsies Under $10 category, Alex."

The print designs are pretty and colorful, but not all dead-giveaway Lilly-ish.   So I'm not crying myself to sleep over the missed spending opportunity.

I certainly would not have been dragging the hammock set through the parking lot!  But obviously,  people did.  (Thank you to those thinking they would not have put that past me)

Target should know by now their special designer collections will be popular and in high demand, and should plan ahead to have enough merchandise stocked and available, instead of fueling the frenzy of crazy.

Sigh.  Was it silky, too?  Please don't tell me.

What could taste better on these plates?!

Nice design kudos!

Pulitzer Prized Pink?