Christmas Westie Dog in Cool Holiday Colors

Christmas colors in cool tones. While I was weeding amongst august moon (lime green) hostas and african hibiscus (red/plum) the other day I marveled at the colors. It was Christmas colors in warm tones and 98 degree weather. I came in and used those colors in this painting but in totally cool tones. You don't see any yellows in westie, just cool shadows. Red colors can either be warm reds or cool reds. We gardeners work with colors all of the time. Sometimes to amazing achievements and other times a few disappointments, but we learn from each combination we try. Too much fertilizer can almost change a flower color from warm to cool or vice versa. Amazing. (Really gardening is the hardest art of all.)

Westie's other eye is hid from view because of the lush hair and head turned just so. Plus all westies love to roll around and fluff up their facial hair to the max!

We love to dress westies in red for the holidays. The great part about red is it's for both boys and girl westies dogs. And it stands for L_O_V_E.

For sale on ebay titled, HAPPY IN RED.

Sweet Looking Westie Dog-Not Looking

Westies are bright spots on a rainy days. Radar ears up and listening to every chirp, cricket, and squirrel chatter. Our westie, Sir Salty, is a bit camera shy. He does not like to look directly at the camera. I'll whistle, jump a bit, call his name and sometimes in desperation pretend to fall down to get him to look. (They could have a tv series called Desperate Photographers.) I can't get all black and blue just trying to get a good photograph that is for sure. I can see myself twisting my ankle and having to go to the doctor and it would go like this:

Doctor: You said you twisted your ankle taking a picture of your dog?
Me: Yes, I do it all of the time.
Doctor: Take pictures or fall down?
Me: Both.
Doctor: I'm confused.
Me: Now you're sounding like me. I think I'll go for a second opinion.

This could be downright embarrassing.

You are probably saying, "Call his name." I do that too. The problem is that there are alot of beauty and animal/bird sounds outside so Sir Salty looks quickly and then turns his attention elsewhere where he thinks its needed most. All the while my camera is still focusing.

I have a new trick though. Put the treat on top of your camera. A no-fail way to get his complete attention for a few minutes! And while I'm focusing to remember if I left the iron on or the water running in the sink.

New original oil painting aceo titled "Rain Gear" up for sale on ebay.

Christmas Santa Woodland Gnome ACEO Art

When you go deep into the woods this is what you see. Gnomes and wee folk with their pets collecting pinecones. (You also see poison ivy but we won't mention that.) This is a santa gnome with his pet squirrel collecting pinecones.

Aceo - Art Cards Editions and Originals which measure 2.5 by 3.5

For Sale on ebay.

All White Decorating or Gray White or....?

Just when I convinced myself to have everything totally white in one room I'm rethinking it. All it took was a visit to restoration hardware online to buy some glass drawer knobs. I'm calling this color taupe, beige, gray and well, awesome. Really it's the color flax and linen. The color of stone and sand. So natural.




These two "bookshelves" that are filled with china are around $6,000. each. They are new for sale, of course, with an antique finish and lots of appliques on the top. Altogether lovely. While our westie dog dreams of squirrels I will be dreaming about how to make some of these timbered showcases. Maybe I could manage a mini one for a doll!

Westie Dog Costume Painting

Our westie lets us dress him up. Doesn't make a sound as we slip clothes over his head. Even rubber raincoats. Sir Salty is very domesticated. He also knows there is a treat on the way after we get the clothing on or take it off. One for you puppy and one for me. We both get rewarded for our efforts! We'll work the rewards off all week. Accck!

This original oil painting measures 4 by 4-inches on canvas. It's titled "RAINDROPS". Yes, they keep falling on puppy's nose and he keeps wiping them off. I love the colors, swirls and the dog's sweet face.

This small painting is up for grabs on ebay. Collect original art. It's an investment.

Dog Clothes Can Be Cute

Girly girl dogs always catch our attention. I've seen lots of ribbons and lace on girly girls. What I want to know is where do they get the cute sweaters and clothes from in a size medium? Every where I look for my boy doggy clothes they never have a size medium. It's the most popular size in America! I don't believe it could be a discontinued size...no, just plain sold out! Which is why I now have some dog clothes patterns from Simplicity, Butterick and McCalls. Tomorrow maybe Vogue. Think of me this week as I sew up a little wardrobe and prick my fingers.


Here is a sweetheart westie dog oil painting up on ebay, titled, DRESS UP. This west highlander westie even wears a hat with roses on it. So sweet!

French Rose: Marie Folk Art Painting

History is full of interesting people. Fictional books are written about their lives interwoven with some true facts and that makes the person even more fascinating. Take Princess Marie Antoinette who had an arranged marriage, missed home, loved flowers and ate cakes. (We do share those last two loves.) She also made powdered grey hair very popular. The more the merrier and we thought it was the 60's that gave us that look of teased hair and ringlits cascading down.

I painted this folk art portrait of Princess Marie because she loved roses and wee animals. It's titled "FRENCH ROSE: MARIE" and you can read more about it here.

Westie Dog Portrait Vintage Colors

My westie sleeps half on his bed and half off and sometimes in between those variants. It's like he is learning fractions....1/4 on and 3/4 off....2/3 on and 1/3 off...and these all make a WHOLE nap. As I type he is sleeping at my feet and his legs are moving and he is no doubt flying through the air to catch something.

Do you ever have dreams where you find out you can actually fly like a helium balloon? And you are dumbfounded in your dream that you can. I have and in my dream I think, "I can fly. Why haven't I ever done this before?" Of course I have other dreams where I am falling and always wake up thank goodness.

Back to my current westie oil painting. It is titled Vintage Westie. It has that old world look that I think would look great in a soft cream or white room. I purposely used vintage looking colors to get an antique look. And you know who is/was the model, Sir Salty, my doggy boy. This is him to a tee!

Painting Wood White Wednesday

A sad, dreary writing organizer got a new look this week. This was a thrift shop find and I almost missed it because it was so dark and lighting is usually dismal at these stores. Out came the white paint and wow, I'm loving this piece.

I put it on top of a table to hide all of my goodies in. Doesn't everyone have seeds and plants on their tables? And bits of fabric, paper and lace? Tea and a teapot?

I also found a paper mache box that held 6 smaller boxes and a spool of thread fits neatly in it. They would also be good for button collections and to hold seeds.

These vegetables I have to plant today. They are beets and their foliage is a gorgeous burgundy. Their name is less lovely, Bull's Blood Beets. After I plant these it will make room for something else pretty and leafy on my table.

The before picture. The way the sun is reflecting off of it it looks lighter. Under our pines trees is where I painted it and now when you look out the window you see "white clouds" there on the ground where I've been spraying bits and pieces of furniture white.

Don't you agree it looks much better white? I am linking over to fadedcharmcottage for her White Wednesday fun. Do link over for some inspiring painted white items.

Back to home page.

Westie Dog Halloween Costume Art

My westie is a westie wizard on halloween and any other day. In costume and out of costume. He can sniff out chocolate and candy. He can sniff out cakes and baked goods. Our westie gets especially excited when there is fresh baking bread.

Do you dress your pets up?

This original painting is an aceo, 2.5 by 3.5-inches on linen canvas cardstock for sale here.

Shabby Chic White Westie Painting

My westie dog has his own family of toy ducks. One larger mommy and two smaller babies that all squeak when carried around. Sir Salty guards this family closely. They are more than toys to him. He is their guardian.

I've been trying to lighten my colors this week in my oils. Lately I've come across so many beautiful chippy white and shabby white room photographs that it makes me ache for them. I want to rent a spray gun and spray everything white in one room here. That notion is quickly struck down by the (few) wiser cells in my brain. "Do it properly," the wiser cells whisper. I have some white things, yes, but not a complete white room yet.

With this ideal room in my head I have painted some new small aceo paintings that I think would look good in a shabby, white decorated room.

You are looking at one such painting above. It's titled "MORE THAN TOYS." More about it here.

White Wednesday Artist Diary

Another lovely White Wednesday today. Here is what I did in one hour today.

I tried to take some pictures of lace and leather which happens to be my skirt and my cowgirl boots. I think it's a great contrast of textures. My husband is not too thrilled when I wear these boots out to town with skirts. "Aren't they hot?" he'll ask. Psychology is amazing; isn't it?






Soon we had fur, lace and leather. More white textures. (I also found out you can only bend over so far and take a picture before falling over.) I made a mental note to get a tripod and use the timer next time. Hopefully I will not forget the camera and run inside. The mind is amazing; yes? Mine is full of goings-on and at times I think it's unraveling, but I graciously gather it back up and keep going.






Our little romp outside turned into a fur party. Just sit down on the grass and everyone climbs on board. If someone would have opened the gates the sheep would have been upon us too.






Sir Salty, our westie dog, is being patient and trying to share the love, but it's hard. Etsy says to share the love.

I can't believe how fast the kittens are growing up. They used to be these fluffy "antique white" balls just a few weeks back!







I ended up looking back on my camera of all the stored pictures there. There are about 60 percent animals and 40 percent people.

What came of our day was a little aceo oil painting of our siamese kittens. I paint rather fast and all in one sittng. I feel that gives a better impression, better brushstrokes and it's not overpainted. You have to simplify, just put on the canvas what's important.

Do visit the other white wednesday ladies and gents posts here.

Vintage Roses ACEO Oil Painting

Roses are very calming. There is something so beautiful about the old fashioned cupped roses that we are at a loss for words when we see them. Only quiet smiles come forth from our mouths and ohhh's and ahhhh's which say more than any one word can. They are always the center of attention in every handpicked bouquet, that is if roses are in it.

I painted this 2.5 by 3.5 canvas with roses and other sweet companions in the softest, sweetest colors, and it is for sale on ebay

Damask, gallica, portland, or bourbon roses I love them all.

ACEO Westie Dog Painting Oil Miniatures

Miniature affordable original oil paintings are what we all want. Myself included. I've painted some to sell to other westie lovers, and I believe there are a good number of westie doggy boys and girls out there who all have wonderful parents that care for them.

These originals are painted on canvas that is stretched over a small wooden frame and looks just like the larger oils with the painting going around all edges for added appeal. Small and beautiful. Kind of like the real thing! By that I mean the real westie dog who:

Always have a smile for us

Never say they are bored
Set at our feet like they are connected to us

Cheer like crazy when we come home...and so on

The holidays are not that far away and with that in mind I am now offering these small aceo size paintings. Do you belong to a westie club? Let me know.

MARIE ANTOINETTE Versailles Original Folk Art Painting

Did you know that young Marie was quite the artist herself? A princess artist. You can see her drawings online and her sister painted as well.

I finished this folk art painting and it is listed for sale here. It's titled DANCING WITH PUPPY. As you can see she is dancing with cupcakes as well! I am in love with a hint of pink old fashioned roses and the french seem to have many, many of them.

ACEO Frida Kahlo Red Fox Art Painting

Red foxes are fluffy and cute. Sly and swift! Frida mothers this red fox. Fox feels he's never been loved like this before!

This painting measures 2.5 by 3.5-inches. I use my bigger brushes and it gives it that folky look. If I thought small stitches were hard on the eyes so are small paintings. So today I'm getting out my needle and threads. My eyes are used to very small things, I do believe, now.

For sale on ebay.

Original Fox and Rabbit ACEO Paintings

Boys will be brave especially if they have company. These two scouts have camped out by themselves all night for the very first time. Yes, they are very happy to see the sunrise. I tried to make this one those colors somewhere between night and morning. This is an aceo which measures 2.5 by 3.5 and it is an original small acrylic painting.




More boys, bunny boys, mind you. How can you read a book when you are next to a ball field? This bookworm bunny can. Another aceo original acrylic painting. Up for sale on ebay.

I really love baby animals. I might chase out the rabbits and ground hogs from the gardens, but when you see the babies, it brings you to your knees. They are so cute!

Collect White China with Roses

Sugar bowls are the most inexpensive items to collect. I'm going to share a secret.






First this little pink dianthus. I love how it looks like someone used pinking scissors on them, but that is how God made them. So perfect and a wonderful spicy clove fragrance to go with them.







I've also loved roses forever. A wonderful way to collect them is on castaway vintage sugar bowls and china plates at thrift stores. The best part is that I use them for small vases on the table pictured here outdoors. You could even put in a name card in each bouquet if you have one for each guest. The secret is they are beautiful and all very inexpensive vases, but all the things we ohhh and ahhhh over. The one above was 1.50







Another beautiful white china plate with rose wreaths on it. 1.50 The back of the plate is stamped FRANCE Depose.






I love these roses too. 1.50 This one is stamped WINSFORD, England, W.H.Grindley and Co. on the back. All ready to serve little tea sandwiches or tiny confections. They really set the country white mood with their blush of pink roses. Now for tea.


Do visit other funWhite Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday posts.

Original Hula Girl Painting Aceo

We here on the east coast are only one shell away from Hawaii Nei. Just pick one up and listen. It dials directly and instantly to hawaiian beaches. Even when the electricity is out...Hawaii is there. It also sounds alot like standing on top of the pali lookout. The wind snaps your hair around, but you don't care because white gingers are blooming all over wild in the woods. All you do is inhale Hawaii.

Moonlight Hula is an ACEO painting that I have up for sale here. They are small works of art 2.5-inches by 3.5 inches and they are original paintings. Often you can purchase from different artists cheaper than a larger painting. You may matt it and frame it or slip them in a album specifically for trading cards.