Show off your Cottage Monday

I am joining in on some fun and sharing some pictures of a taste of our cottage home started by a house in the roses. Each Monday you can post a picture of your garden, home or items that bring happiness and that cottage feeling.

We have some sweet siamese kittens that are purrr-fect. Look how she's looking up and enjoying our company! ...And we just bought a serger sewing machine on Saturday (my first one ever!) so I added my rose skirt fabric under my gardening hat which is under one of my siamese kittens. Layer up your display items with love and you usually end up with a nice little arrangement.

Won't you join in on the fun?

Kiparoo Farms Yarn for Knitting/Crocheting

We went to Kiparoo Farms and met Annie Kelley and saw her beautiful studio. It's on a working farm of sheep and cattle. She has 150 head of sheep and if you raise sheep you know the work that involves. Annie is as petite as a clothes pin, but has more energy radiating from her than the lit White House Christmas Tree. She is a fine example of hardwork, a love for what she does and a super personality! We had such a good time there.

This is Annie's helper who lived on the farm before Annie did and now lives royally. Friendly as can be. The lacey crocheted tablecloth...gorgeous. When can we move in?

This is Annie above on the left. Her studio is in several rooms of the old farmhouse. She refinished the floors and the walls are white with high ceilings. It's decorated in her beautiful scandinavian-heritage style. Lots of bright whites and beiges with a little pink here and there.

She sells her own wool yarn from her sheep in every texture and color combination imaginable. A real bonus is that there is the actual handmade item next to each of her patterns which really sells them. Some with more than one color variation to show the possibilities. Look at these little cute purses above.

I didn't begin to capture the ambience of her shop, Kiparoo Farms, you have to experience it yourself. Then you will know what a joy it is. Her website is here.

Westie and Girl Art Collage Painting

Soft romantic linens that have that washed slightly faded look...well I am in love with them. They say, summer in the country, in such a sophisticated-romantic way. So if my clothes are like that so are my girls in my paintings this week. When you live in the country, are a gardener and raise sheep, have quite a few linen dresses lined up for a day so you can change when:

the lambs jump up to say hi and soil the front

puppy jumps up to say hi and soils the front

you spill coffee

you spill orange juice

you start painting and forget to change

you snag it on a rose bush

you get the idea... ironically sometimes all three happen at once when you are carrying orange juice and coffee

The title of this painting is "Sharing a Walk." It looks like she is sharing her hair bows, too! Walking with a dog is like having a listening friend who never questions or berates what you are saying. I remember reading about Robert Pattinson practicing, telling his westie what he was going to say to his girlfriend the next day....and Patti, his westie, was very patient and a good listener.

For sale on ebay.

Sedums For Everyone

Sedums are grown for their foliage and are getting more popular grown in pots. They look like succulents, but are very winter hardy, first to come up in spring and die down last in the fall. No green thumb needed.

Gather up a few different varieties and plant them together in a large pot or for the center of your outdoor table that gets full sun. They are super in sunny windowboxes. This year I am going to put a few cannas in the very center, for height, with the sedums. You could use ornamental grasses with them with wonderful results as well. Or a small topiary shrub. One thing about gardening everyone creates their gardens a bit differently and that is exciting.

My cannas I started earlier are starting to finally get going and stretch upwards. We've had so many cool rainy days the last two weeks that has almost put them back to sleep. Yesterday afternoon it got up to 80 and today is to be hot so they will shake a leg and get moving now. I think they give the garden a tropical exotic touch.

Singing Chicks Original Folk Art

Songs that come from the heart are the sweetest and cannot be held back. Do you recognize a song when you hear it? All the little wonders of nature singing to us and when you live in the hustle and bustle of the city you often miss these little sweet songs.

My new painting is full of color! Like a song with the notes going all over the scales.

More about my current paintings here.

Westie Oil Portrait Painting

I had to paint our sweet clean westie again! He is loving the warm weather today and drinking lots of water. After how many days of rain (which was great because I didn't have to water any of the potted perennials outside that need to go somewhere in the gardens) he can roll and run in the grass and not getting soaked and dirty.

The title of this painting is ''CHEERS.'' Westie is toasting the arrival of summer. I am happy too, but my metabolism needs to hike up a couple of gears to keep up with the greenery and garden outside. But I say "Cheers", too, just like our puppy.

Learn more about painting here.

Recycling to Art Sculpture Mixed Media

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I saw this lovely work of art today... And I am inspired! We have lots of little of old hardware pieces tucked away that were here when we moved here. Now the possiblities are becoming very clear what to do with them. Here they've used a crate, old watering can, a faucet spout and it's adorable and hanging on the outside of their old smoke house turned potting shed. The weathered colors are so calming.



Have any of you made anything like this before?

Planting Marigolds

Children love marigolds and marigolds love children and can put up with about any conditions except frost and total shade.

I got to go on a fieldtrip to an agriculture fair with little kids who were more excited about planting their own marigold to take home than they were to see the cute baby animals and the farm equipment. It was even more exciting than the free ice cream! We are raising some very excited gardeners these days in school!

This painting is titled "BIRD WHISPERS." Have you heard bluebirds whisper? They are ever so quiet because they don't want to wake up the cat. Actually the cat is Adriana's cat doll. And Adriana has planted her very own marigold plant.

Bid here.

Siamese Kittens Secret

I have a secret that has been so hard to keep! We have Siamese kittens! They are unbelievably cute! And what is this little kitten saying you might ask? She's saying, "Love, Love, Love" and "All you need is love". I think she is a Beatles fan.

West Highland White Terrier Dog Westie Art Painting

"THE HAPPY ONE"

Westie Art comes from my westie and my heart combined. I try to get that westie personality which is the breed's top trait, I think. Every time I lean down towards puppy he meets me halfway with a kiss. So when I look down at him this is the look I always see. In this painting Westie has on a dandelion head lei-wreath. He doesn't have a problem with it because he's soooo happy to be with me.

The colors are light and the lighting was such that the light, shadows and reflections all collided and it made a beautiful sight to paint. The painting is a great collectible size 4 x 4-inches that can be displayed about anywhere to spread a little happiness.

Bid here.

Frida Kahlo Sisters Folk Art Painting

Love is easier painted than told unless you are a writer. This painting is titled, "Let's Paint" as Frida wants to paint her sister's portrait... And kitties want their portraits painted too. All kitties love chairs because they know eventually you will want to sit down and they can sit on your lap. They are wise. Their little purring motors get louder when we are around. My own sister and I both love cats.

Original painting for sale on ebay.

German Iris Flowers Perennials

Usually on Mother's Day's all of my irises are blooming and full of ruffles. (I hope all of you mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day.) Yesterday I had to take pictures of some of them since they are magnificent. Their blue-green sword foliage is some of the first up in spring and the last to die down in the fall. So all around they are a great addition to the gardens. Some bloom in spring and fall now and are called reblooming irises. I do have a few more different varities and I'll try to get their pictures up soon. What is blooming madly in your garden?

Happy Gardening!

West Highland Terrier Painting with vintage feel

Everyone who has a westie dog knows about westie love. They love to be with you and race you to wherever you're running even if it's just to get out of the rain. So the title of this one is "Westie Loves You". The westie face says it all.

I say this one has a shabby, vintage feel because of the choice of colors. Color is important, composition is important, and subject matter is important...I always pick someone or something that I can relate to. Plus I feel the colors are romantic especially if you like white on white decorating.

This painting is 4 x 4 and would make a smiling bright spot on your wall!

For sale on ebay.

Westie Painting Dogs Vintage Roadster Car

My westie has gotten behind the wheel here with a friend. Close friend. In fact the title of this new painting is JUST KISSED. I leave it up to the viewer to determine who stole the kiss...her or him. I combined a few loves in this painting ...classic gardens, westies, vintage cars, topiary, and painting! I like restored old cars brought back to their original glory.

I combined my folky style in my oils...a first for me as normally I only do folk in acrylics and small canvases. There is a first for everything and now I know there will be a second, too! ;-)

This painting makes a large impression on the viewer. It's size is 40 inches by 30 inches and on a deep gallery wrapped canvas. The colors I made to look vintage so that the westies are the most brilliant part of the painting. All kinds of wonderful warms and cools in their beautiful white coats. Can you see the storm brewing in the background just like passion?

For sale on ebay. Search candylei.

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival part 2

For one hundred twenty five dollars you could have purchased one of these angora kids/goats. Aren't they adorable and look at their fleece. Or if you want something smaller ...

The cutest angora bunnies were one hundred twenty five dollars each as well. French Angora rabbits with papers. The lady holding them purchased one and my son was a little jealous.

These yarns looks like dreads, but look at the colors. Forget about crocheting the scarf I could just put the yarn around my neck and it's an instant accessory without stressing over directions.

This yarn was so delicate...every inch there was a dainty circle..just like some crocheted a circle flower. How they spin it to look like this I don't know but I'll find out soon. Kelly of Kiparoo Farms is not that far away and has a studio she sells her patterns and yarns from. I want to go there!

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival Yarns and Fibers

Saturday afternoon I did get over to the Sheep and Wool Festival...everything there was eye candy if you love sheep, llamas, angora goats, angora rabbits, fibers and yarns galore! This shawl and sweater caught my eye. Aren't they beautiful? Made from wool. The one on the right...so vintage looking, but it's brand new.

These yarn colors I just oohed and aahed over. I did buy one crochet scarf pattern. The exciting part is that some of these vendors also sell online and some on etsy! I have more pictures and will get them posted soon. When we left my head was spinning with ideas and wanting to learn new techniques.