Candylei's Art Blog

"Frida's Mother Crow" painting is now up for sale on ebay. You can see below what came from an idea that I sketched out on paper to check for composition and to see how it would look in an 5 x 7-inch area. I liked the idea of Frida being raised by a crow surrounded by natural bouquets of flowers. She is still in the egg shape but with arms and a little braided bun on the right side that Mother Crow braided.

I am my own worst art critic. My drawings are usually cuter than the final, but then again I want it to look folky.

Link to painting here.

Scottie, Cat, Doll & Frida Kahlo Candylei Painting

A new little painting with our westie's cousin in it for sale on ebay now by seller: colorist_painter. Scottie is so cute in the right hand corner. Kitty has a face with white fuzz on it from playing with the white cotton yarn. I have this exact little old-fashioned singer sewing machine! I also made a Frida doll to sell coordinating with this painting. Check back tomorrow for that picture.

Spinach Salad, Simple and Elegant

I had this salad for lunch and it was a treat. The tart richness of the balsamic dressing and the sweetness of the dried cranberries were a winning combination. It also is a nice color combination and doesn't need many embellishments. It is tossed with gorgonzola cheese, pine nuts and sundried tomatoes and bacon.

Spinach is one of those wonder foods that carry alot of goodness in their leaves. Did you know one full cup pressed down has 6.0 grams of protein in it? Yes. There are many other goodies in it too.

Surprise Rabbit and Bunnies Cabbage Garden Art

Little Bluebird was jumping from cabbage leaf to cabbage leaf singing with all it's might. Wanita had to come out and lift up the cabbage leaf expecting to find a fat worm for bluebird. What she found was little bunnies playfully scampering about...and a very proud mother rabbit. Bluebird is a great detective. Yes, the garden is producing well.

Painting is 5 x 5-inches and up for sale on ebay.

My Westie Dog and Toy Frog Video

Three Homesteaders/Primitive Girls Painting by Candylei

A new painting that I listed today on ebay.
Link to auction. I feel there is a misconception about the term homesteaders and what they might look like. No flannel shirts here! Homesteaders are very crafty, creative and artistic lot. These homesteaders are little seamstresses and their hearts are made of gold.

I shall tell you about the little black kitty who is named "little crow" because she likes to play with shiny things...like marbles. Crows love to gather little glimming, glittering things that man leaves along the road and adorn their nests with them.

So many people who have "made it" are turning to little farms with chickens, goats, and sheep. Reese Witherspoon is one. I could name many others. It is a beautiful thing to live so close to nature and I feel it fuels the creativity in a person. And, okay, it keeps the washing machine busy, but there is fresh flowers on the table.

Duckie Cow Costumes Westie Painting

Westies have a great sense of humor most of the time unless they are half asleep. Here is a painting of another brother and sister dressed in a duckie and cow costume. It is listed and up for grabs on ebay here.

Brother went costume shopping with his dad and they bought sister a cow costume. Sister would rather be anything but a cow, but after a little sweetening of candy she was in a grand mood. The evening out was a success.

First Lady Michelle Obama Washington DC Farmers Market

How exciting First Lady Michelle Obama will be helping open a farmer's market in Downtown Washington DC. on Vermont Avenue. They will be closing the road and the First Lady will be there. Today! I won't be able to go as my son is sick, but I'm anticipating being there another week.

We love going to farmer's markets and getting to meet the variety of vendors and get some fresh veggies, honey, goat cheese, cupcakes....you get the jist. You leave with vegetables that did not have to be picked before they were ripe. Most have been picked that very morning. Now that is fresh. Fresh food, fresh air!

We feel our First Lady has choosen healthy foods and growing your own organic vegetables and fruits when possible as a noble cause. Let's get healthy together! I hope she is there next Thursday, too.

Celosia and Ginger Flower Arrangement

This arrangement is on my table. It's an unusual combination, but it is beautiful. The celosia or cockscomb looks like coral under the sea and the white ginger makes us think we are in Hawaii. I sat it on my Eugene Savage painting tray to make a nice little eye-piece. The best part is this bouquet was homegrown and hand-delivered to me from Florida!

Dog Tote Around Town

Yesterday I was standing in line and the lady at front of the line had a few totes on her shoulder. One moved slightly and then this little yorkie poked it's head out. It had all of us smiling and made waiting pleasant even if we were in an office. Little yorkie never made a peep or a woof. I began to wonder what could be in her other totes?? Any other cute pets? Our Sir Salty westie weighs in at 20 pounds and I don't know that this would work with him.

Serious Siamese Cat Godiva

Here is Godiva who has that look like he has been stirring and tasting the chocolates. His eyes are are like the seven seas combined, color-wise. They are not crossed like some siamese cats. Godiva loves to watch butterflies and moths. He pats the toads, when he finds one, with a soft "tap tap" to see if they will hop for him.

Westie Rabbit Chicken Gardeners

Mr. MacGregor, the westie, is a generous gardener who gardens with his plaids. He shares his gardening plot with Bunny and Chickie and they make up the title of this painting "Gardening Think Tank". There is alot of wisdom combined in this team.

Do you know why Mr. MacGregor gets on well with Bunny?? Because rabbits are not, I repeat, not in the rodent family. They are in the Leporidae family.

I just found that out this week. If I knew before I forgot. Sadly to say squirrels are in the rodent family. There has been a rift between westie's family and the rodent family for years!

Bunny is a a bit shy, but has alot of experience with gardens! Chickie does too, but chickie is the opposite of shy....struts all around!

I listed this painting for sale on ebay today. Have a look-see at it.

Redskin Football Game Partners Suite

We got to go to one of the Redskin's preseason's games at the Fedex Field Stadium These were not normal seats, but we sat and watched the game in one of the Partners Suites for 24 people. Which is way above "good seats" because the staff feeds you and they pamper you and it's your own private party going on in a very huge stadium. Air conditioning is so nice, too, but the large windows open out so everyone's cheers come in and mix with your own group's hoorays! Two or three televisions show the game without commercials because Dan Snyder's people are televising it into your suite. Your own private bathroom is included. It's rather like having your own condo right at the stadium. My son said after he ate, "But when are we going to our regular seats?" We found that amusing.

The food was great and kept warm at the buffet above. They even served lots of fresh fruit to us dieters along with cupcakes. That rather cancelled out my diet. The phone is right there in case you want to order anything. It's just a call away. The staff was wonderful! They couldn't have been better!

I wore heels my black pencil skirt and blouse. I felt quite elegant until a family member told me I had tape on the bottom of my skirt. It reduced me to the size of an lego person as I ran to the restroom. Thank you everyone at Fedex field and the Redskins for the fun time. We hope you win the super bowl!

Secret Log Cabin Garden & Tea

Surprises like this secret log cabin are always welcome. This one is old and full of character. The garden around it has dwarf peaches and apple trees, plus a bunch of other annuals, perennials and herbs. Kids love this little fairyland place. There are tiny cement fairy houses for sale. The door is open at the cabin so one is curious, of course, and must walk up to take a peek inside. The cutest painted checkerboard floor is there inside and a child's-size table with a ready tea set.

It's good that the kid in many of us is drawn to this place where we seem small again and bent on discovering new things.

Designer Plant and Shrub Combinations

I brake for gardens even when my camera is not working properly. It is a feast for the eyes to drink in a lovely mixed border. A combination of shrubs, evergreens, perennials and annuals...can't always see the bulbs in summer, but they've already had their party in the spring when no one can miss them. The above garden is in Maryland where we take gardening seriously. It has green, gray, burgundy, and variegated specimans in a pleasing mixed border.

Then there is boxwood my personal favorite for topiaries, hedges and all year beauty. Look at the pleasing formal design yet they mixed hydrangeas, ornamental grass, and out of the picture is some spirea. Spring, summer, fall and winter are covered in this pleasing design.

Remember the golden designer landscaping rule: 2/3 of garden to be evergreens!

My Westie Dog is Living a Fairytale Life

A new painting that I listed
for sale on ebay. My westie dog lives this life. He walks in the human world and walks in the animal world depending on which is better in his judgement at any given moment. Yep, he is living a happy ever after fairytale life and loving it with us.

This painting is about big sister finding a turtle in little westie brother's backpack and making him take it out. They vote on if he can keep it and little brother is the only one in favor. He is telling them to run ahead so he can say goodbye.....actually he wants to tuck the turtle back into his backpack safely. Boys!

You know how they have those groups on
Flickr.com What is in your bag? They take everything out and take a picture of it. Little brother could take a picture of his turtle next to his backapack.