Two more for the Picnic Cookbooklet.

 

This is the first one.  Keep Calm and Have a picnic!  Jumping on the Brit Keep Calm Bandwagon.  I kind of love it.  I used salt on the side reds to give it some texture.     It's kind of shabby chic, but is the writing dark enough . . . probably not.  Then my niece Lisa messaged me a url where I could purchase the proper font etc. for a right proper keep calm poster and so . . .

I did this with the proper lettering and crown.  I'm not sure which one I like best.  What do you think?  Which one appeals the most to you??  I really want to know!  I think this will be a printable for the last page.

 

Then I did this.  The writing says, "among the delights of summer were picnics to the woods."  Todd says this is his favourite.  I rather like it myself, actually.  It is a little red mini, with the British Flag waving and a picnic basket tied to the top of the car.  The family is going on a picnic!

These will be in my new cookbooklet of course, and I think I will also offer these two as greeting cards and prints.  

Thank so much for stopping by to have a look.  I'm sure I'll be back soon with more.  It's like an addiction this painting of mine.  I just can't keep away from it!

Happy Day!

Paint Party Friday and the Great British Picnic

I began work on a new project this week.  Another cookbooklet.  This time it is on picnics.  Who doesn't love a picnic and picnic season is just about upon us!

With the beautiful gorgeous weather we have been having here in the UK just lately, my mind has gone to thinking about picnics and drawing picnic thingies. And cooking picnic thingies. 

I love it when my art and my love of food and cookery mesh together.  I am not just painting little girls and inspirational thoughts.  Inspiration can come from many avenues, don't you think???

At any rate that is where my inspiration has been coming from this week.  Sunny skies, warm temps and fabulous picnic dreams!

Submitted for this week's paint party Friday.  Do hop on over to Paint Party Friday and check out all the other talent on offer this week.  Prepare to be amazed.  I always am.

Thanks for looking!  Call in again anytime, you never know what I'll be up to next!

WOYWW . . . A Million Little Things

I was walking around a garden centre a few weeks back and I spied these words on a garden plaque.  They resonated in my soul and so I scribbled them down onto a piece of paper that I found in my purse.  I need to remind myself to carry a notebook with me.  I can't tell you the number of times I have ideas and then lose them because I quite simply forgot to write them down, or didn't have anything to write them down on or with.

Yesterday when I went up into my craft room to paint, I spied the scrap of paper sitting on my desk top and so I sat down and this is what came out from the anals of my mind through the tips of my fingers.  Anyhoo . . . that's what's on my work desk this Wednesday morning.

Do hop on over to Blue Chair Diaries to see what's happening on other work desks around the world this week!  You shall be utterly amazed!

Thanks for looking!

Sunday Sketches . . . Wither Thou Goest

I think that Ruth 1:16 has to be one of my favourite scriptures.  It speaks to the heart in me and I was feeling very inspired when I did this little painting the other day.  I have a real heart also too for the Amish and their simple ways.  I have always admired them their simplistic and honest view of life.  It is my dream to one day visit "Amish country" . . . who knows if that dream will ever come true, but for now I visit with them in my heart.

In any case this is my entry for this week's Sunday Sketches.  Do hop on over to the Blue Chair Diaries to see some more.  There are really some incredibly talented people out there.  There truly are.

Thanks for looking!

Paint Party Friday . . . Whatever Thy Hand . . .

I've always held a particular fondness for the Amish in my heart.  My favourite paintings of all time are the ones of the Amish children done by Nancy Noel.  I know this one I have done here today comes nowhere near what she has done, but I still get a very tender feeling about it when I look at it.  I think I may do some more Amish ones.  I kind of like the way it turned out, especially when paired with the scriptures.  What do you think??  Any constructive criticism is much appreciated!

This is my week's entry into Paint Party Friday.  Why not hop on over to the Paint Party blog and check out all the other lovely entries.  They are a very talented bunch of gals!

Thanks for looking!

WWOYWW and a Very Royal Tea Party

 

I haven't posted a lot of artwork on here over the past week, mostly because I have been working on a special project and I am happy to say that it's finished.  This is the front cover of it, which I photographed as that was the only way I could get it on here.  Not a great photo, but you get the picture I am sure.

It's a Cookbooklet!  Yes, in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year I have created a little Cookbooklet entitled "A Very Royal Tea Party!"  It's 23 pages containing over 20 recipes,  including  recipes for everything from delicious savoury offerings, to delectable puds and delights. 

Also included are my own delightful water colour illustrations (Rule Britannia!), Teatime prose and folklore, Hints and Tips to make your tea party the very best that it can be, 

Teatime etiquitte, several crafts to help make your day special and unique, and your very own Tea Party Invitations that you can print and send out to your friends.

It's available as a download for a limited time, so that people can have their very own copy.  I put ever such a lot of work into it and I have had some very good feedback from it thus far, which is always appreciated!

If you are interested in purchasing, it is available at a cost of £5 and will be sent directly to your e-mail withing 12 hours, allowing for time differences, and in most cases almost immediately.  You can find a button on  my food blog, The English Kitchen, if you are interested in this limited offer!

Anyways, that's what's been on my work top this week.  What's been on yours???

Hop on over to The Stamping Ground so see what everyone else has been up to!

Thanks for stopping by!!

WOYWW, Go Forward with Purpose

I was recently contacted and asked if I would do a special card for a young lady who is graduating this year.  She is a sweet young woman, who has been in a wheelchair for most of her life due to having been born with Spina Bifida.  She's also LDS like I am and so her Gran wanted it to have a touch of her own faith in it as well.  I was honored to have been asked, and is what I came up with.  Instead of having her seated in her wheelchair I wanted to show her seated upon the seat of learning.  Too often people are labeled by the tools of their disability . . . and when you see a person in a wheelchair, or with a cane, or braces . . . that is too often all that you see, and what they are identified with . . . but . . .  they are so very much more than that wheelchair, or cane . . .

I chose a quote from the late President of our church, Gordon B Hinckley.  He had a great heart for the youth of our church and I believe they held a great fondness for him in their hearts as well. 

That is what is on my work desk this week.  Making cards today.  Hop on over to Julia's page to see what's on some other work desks.  You will be surprised and utterly amazed!  Trust me on this!

Sunday Sketches and some Food For Thought

I've been working on a special project this week. A cookery book. This is my first one, which will be a catalogue of Spring and Summer types of recipes. I plan on selling them as PDF's on my Cooking Blog, if all goes well. They won't cost a lot either, which is another bonus.  I thought using a Primrose would be a nice touch for the cover for Spring . . . and of course the humble Bumblebee, the harbingers of spring over here in the UK.  When you see one of those fat little creatures bumbling along in your garden . . . you know Spring has truly Sprung!

This is one of the recipes that I have gotten done for it. My, my . . . Chicken Pie!  Who doesn't enjoy a good old fashioned Chicken Pie!  I know I sure do!  I love the little pie bird sticking out of the pie.  I have a lovely pie bird that my good friend Susan (Not Quite June Cleaver) sent over to me once upon a time.  I treasure it!  I do, I do!! 

Anyhoo . . . this is my offering for this Sunday's Sunday Sketches!  Do hop on over to the Sunday Sketches Blog, Blue Chair Diaries to see some more delectable offerings.  I am always so amazed at the talent I find there!  It's just awesome!

Thanks for looking everyone!  Happy Sunday to you!

Paint Party Friday . . . Weeds Are Flowers Too

I saw this quote by A A Milne the other day and immediately thought of Dandelions.  To a child Dandelions are flowers.  How many mothers have not been blessed with countless bouquets of these beautiful yellow blooms each year.  I know that I have both picked a few and been bountifully blessed by a few in my lifetime!  It is only when we grow up that we cease to see them for the beautiful things that they are . . . and class them as weeds.  I am thankful that I am one who loves them in any guise.  When in bloom, they delight my eyes and when they go to seed, they delight my soul, for each one makes me think of wishes blown upon the wind and childlike faith.

I think these two are sisters, but I'm not sure . . . in any case they are lost in a world all their own, admiring the beautiful . . . Dente De Lion . . . 

My entry for this weeks Paint Party.  Hop on over and check out the rest.  Your soul will be delighted.

WOYWW Keep Me in Your Heart

This is what was on my work top the other day. I really love Raggedy dolls.  I've always loved them.  I was sewing quite a few of them a few years ago, but haven't done one in a long time now.  I need to fix that and make another one soon.  Watch this space!

I love this Winnie the Pooh quote.  It's one of my favourites.  I never know what is going to spring from the end of my pencil when I sit down at my work table.  It's like magic kind of . . . a blank page, a pencil and voila!  Out it comes.  It amazes me every time.  I never know what colours I am going to use either.  They work like magic too!  I rather love the red, white and blue thing I have going here. 

Available as a print or as a card as always.  Do hop on over to Julie's page to check on the other WOYWW entries for this week.  You will be amazed.  I always am!

Thanks for visiting!  Have a happy day!

Give Me Understanding

A friend of mine asked me a few days ago, would I please do her a picture with a little girl and a boy in it, which had her favourite scripture on it.  I was only too happy to oblidge.  I do so hope that she likes it.

I am showcasing this in this week's Paint Party Friday.  Do hop on over and see all the other fantastic talent that shows up at the party every Friday!

Thanks for looking!

WOYWW . . . Prayer Changes Everything

This is my what's on your worktop offering for this week.  A little girl in deep reflection.  I think she looks very content.  I'm not so sure about that cat however!  Somehow I think he's eyeing up his lunch!  As usual this is available as a card or a fullsized print.  Just message me to find out how.

Thanks so much for looking. If you would like to catch up with some more talented artists do check out the What's On Your Worktop page.  They're all pretty wonderful!

A Traditonal Victorian Sponge

I am having so much fun doing these recipe posters! This is the third one I've done so far. I am enjoying the challenge of deciding which ingredients to paint and how to break each recipe down into parts, so that both the written and the painted come together in a way which would make it simple for any cook to follow and yet be delighted at the same time. I plan on continuing with this series, interspersed with my regular works of course, until perhaps at some point I have enough for a new recipe book. Who knows. IN the meantime, this one, along with the others, is available as a print, suitable for framing.

In the meantime, this is my entry for this weeks Paint Party Friday. Do hop on over to the blog to check out the other entries. There are some incredibly talented people out there!!

Thanks for stopping by and having a look!

WOYWW, Lemon Curd

I thought I would do another recipe poster to go along with the salad one I did last week. This is my recipe for Lemon Curd and I have to say that it is the best Lemon Curd I've ever tasted. I love Lemon Curd. I love painting. It was only a matter of time before I combined the two.

As always this is available as a print or a card.

Submitting this for this weeks WOYWW as well. Pop on over to Stamping Grounds to see the rest! Thanks for looking!

Sunday Sketches . . . Leave a Trail

Here's my offering for this week's Sunday Sketches. "Leave a Trail." I'm quite happy with the way this little graduate turned out. I think I will have to do a boy graduate to go along with her.

It reminds me of going back to Canada about 6 years ago to my son's graduation. Of course it has been many years since I graduated from highschool. I'm not going to tell you how many, but it's over 40! Anyways, I was so surprised at how much highschool graduations had changed since I had graduated. I really enjoyed the experience to be sure. Another proud mama moment!

Anyways, as usual this is available as a card or a print for your favourite graduate.



Do hop on over to the Blue Chair Diaries and take a look at the other talent that's out there today! Thanks for looking!