I’ve been holding on to these for over a year and have decided to finally let them go. Two sweetly detailed originals up for sale in my shop. In sepia inks.
Forest and Sea
Trees Above and Coral Below
Taking it all in…the last day of autumn. I spent the night in my studio working on a new painting. Here is a little teaser:
Cold, cold hands. Winter came early this year. My hands are cold but my fingers are very very happy thanks to a beautiful ring by jade scott jewelry
The ring is sterling silver with a bit of red lace captured in resin. Its just big enough to be noticed without being too big. Please do check out her store…she is a girl on a quest to make pretty things!
I think that bittersweet berries are so pretty. These lost their little golden pods but are as bright as ever despite the snow and cold. I picked a few vines to make a wreath.
On a walk today, melting ice and the greenest moss…
I got home early from work, bought a gingerbread latte to sip and keep my hands warm and went for a walk. This time I walked along a little stream and it just so happened that my walk turned into a treasure hunt! Along the bank of the stream in the cold water were shards of old tea cups, plates and other victorian goodies long broken and forgotten (some might be even older too!). The colors, floral motifs and crackles on the shards are so, so inspiring. I even found a little glass doll (head broken off though). Oh, I need to take a picture of all my goodies! I’m going back tomorrow when more of the snow and ice melts to scavenger hunt some more. Tomorrow measures the start of winter!
Yesterday I sketched this two page spread in my moleskine. If you look carefully on the left side there is a garden behind the woman. In the garden are three sleeping foxes amongst paper ephemera sepia colored roses. They blend in all too well!
Right now I am jumping for joy! I have been eyeing these vintage lace up boots for weeks now. I could not get them out of my mind (yes, they are the reason my favorites were set to private!) I like to try on so I scoured the stores to find new ones like these but no luck anywhere. They are from one of my favorite vintage stores on etsy, Salvage Life. The store is blooming with subdued colors, my favorite. These boots are just what I need to wear with all my winter skirts, and I just love lace ups!
Etsy is just blooming with the best vintage things! Two other vintage items on Etsy, still for sale at JohnDoeDress. Lovely, lovely colors and shapes, lots of pretty things in the store too.
warm pumpkin and golden tones like those above have been inspiring me as of late. I guess its warmth that I seek. It is COLD here! Everything is covered in a thick layer of shiny ice. I am looking forward to the holidays when I can hibernate! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Now that the original sold I have decided to make this little one into a print. Here’s a little snippet, see full print in my shop.
The weekends are spent meandering around and exploring in nature. Now that the days are short, dark and chilly I have to squeeze in my long walks on saturday and sunday. I think in the wintertime I need to look harder for inspiration, but when I find it I am so happy! The sky is gray but the crabapples are plentiful…their ruby red fruit is a visual feast! Yesterday when I was walking I stumbled upon this tree…just look at the fruit!
The trail in the woods where I walk…
It was so snowy and magical the other morning!
A new favorite wool sweater to keep me warm. Not vintage but vintage-inspired and perfectly faded and soft. The colors capture my favorite tones as of recent. Reds, grays, brownish-greens.
When I walked by the crabapple tree on the way home there was a flock of blue jays and other little brownish birds perching in its branches. I stood quietly trying to get one to come close so I could snap a picture. This little gal was perched above me and againt branches and sky she was so pretty!
I’ve been collecting little nature things along the trail for inspiration. Usually when there’s snow my treasure hunt is useless, but yesterday I filled my pockets with these seed pods. They are so delicate! I put them on my book shelf
On a side note, my vintage dress came in the mail! It is so pretty and feather light, a billowy shimmer of gray with burgandy accents and cute little buttons. I am going to make a deep red sash for it. Its from the Etsy store of Stephanie Bracciano (and thats her in the photo below, modeling my new lovely dress!) She was such a doll and included two pretty little prints in the package as well.
And here we are…Monday. I have to admit that not all days are full of walks and seedpods. Some (or should I say most?) are full of to-do lists and trying very hard to squeeze even a sketch in. And here they are, scanned, to-do lists and sketches, worn and crumbled from my pockets:
~*~*~*
I just had to share these beautiful, feathery things…
Just how did I miss this little bird-bodied gal? I have long admired the work of Swanbones and I was thrilled to find that she has an Etsy store! Unfortunately, this pretty ornament is sold out but I am hoping to see more for sale.
There are more styles too (like little tea cups with faces) all hand sculpted by the artist, and I love how they look all dangling from winter’s finest greenery…
I love the paper in this print, not to mention the bird-headed lady. Quite opposite of the above.
Bird Girl with White Ruff by Oh My Cavalier
And just how magical would these be dangling from your ears? And so fitting for the season too! They are Sparrows and Snowbells by Luxe Deluxe
Well, I must admit I went a little crazy on Etsy the other day purchasing multiple vintage dresses! They are made of wool and floral prints with pretty patch pockets, buttons and tree branches. I already have so many ideas for them and I received one in the mail today and it is divine! I want to wear them with little vintage slips sticking out and many, many layers of wooley sweaters and tights. In addition, I dug up the most delicate faded peachy tulle party dress that I bought over the summer. It was crumbled up in an old trunk at a tag sale! I am in desperate need of daylight so I can take some pictures of my finds. By the time I arrive home from work it pitch black outside. I love the wintery days but I do not like the lack of sunlight!
Now up in my shop
I love this one. Its on a chunky canvas, so the birch trees and the ground wrap around.
All the pictures of Under the Cold Cold Earth…
Oh, what a beautiful day! And I have some other pretty things to share too. Very soon, very soon!
The wee hours of last night were spent exploring etsy and all of its wonders (and painting too, but more about that very soon!). There are so many beautiful things on etsy one would never ever have to step foot in a crowded mall again! And here they are… my faves, picked for their rich, earthy tones and lush textures.
I love this bag! It’s the When You Think Anthropologie Bag by Elsa Bags
I have had my eyes on the jewelry of Neile for some time. My favorite is The Monarch Butterfly Necklace a magical real butterfly wing captured in glass. And just in case you are concerned about this sort of thing, the artist states that her wing creations are cruelty free, taken after the butterfly has completed it’s lifecycle. I could imagine wearing this with a pretty vintage blouse in the dead of winter as a reminder of the warm weather ahead.
And another necklace, The Forest Fairytale Necklace by Aloha Dear. It would be so enchanting to dangle this beauty from ones neck!
In my never ending search for sepia-ish, earthy and textured vintage finery I came across the most beautiful 50’s skirt with pretty white rose embroidery at the hem. This one will be arriving at my doorstep very soon, to be worn with tights and lots of layers (as I don’t want to put it away til spring!)! Detail:
Purchased from Green Dragon Lady
Right now my little room is filled to the brim with patterned papers and splotches of paint. The sun poured into the windows and through my sheer curtains and I felt so grateful to have such a space to work. Today I went for a long walk in the cold and sipped warm coffee. This weather is my absolute favorite!
Although I bought this antique desk for my sketching I often find myself on the floor. It is covered in a drop cloth so messes can be made without worry. Some new things to inspire~ pretty luggage, ship basket and blue cup (I have been very much into cobalt blue recently). Going to glue some papers and whatnot onto the ship’s sails. The basket is just so perfect, like a dream.
I have been scouring Etsy for vintage clothing. This dress was the purchase the other night from AlessiaC
Can’t wait til it arrives! I managed to a huge lot of vintage tights and I think it will look pretty with the red ones.
New chocolate-y patent shoes from ebay. Very vintage and they even came in their original, tattered box! The laces will be replaced with a faded, satin-y ribbon, I think.
And…THE plate (and some new yard sale goodies too)
So I have been busy sketching, and more paintings are on the way. I am going to do more work along the lines of these which are not quick paintings. These larger, detailed and layered works make me so happy. I have just as much fun coming up with the concept in my sketchbook and exploring the many layers of paint and paper as I do with the finished work. Here’s a piece of a litte sketch for the next one up (the sheep was a last-minute-throw-in but now the field will be scattered with them, I think). It’s going to be a little darker and colder than the others but I do think it will be my new favorite…
Have a good night!~*~*
Chimneys, smokey swirls and folk art leaves, a new sketch Waiting on a Whimsy Leaf
I just finished this tonight and it is offered here in print form!
and some details…
I am in love with sketching. My hope is to further develop my sketches into large paintings. But for now I am sketching like crazy, storing up ideas for the long winter months when I am stuck inside.
Ah, October is finally here! I took a walk today through the woods and the acorns were falling like crazy. And speaking of whimsy leaves above, just look at this tri-colored acorn I spotted on the ground! Can you believe it? It wants to be a autumn leaf!
Have a good week everyone, and have a joyous beginning-of-October.
