HomeContact MeSeasonalInspirationGardens

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Grow Your Blog Party-Meet and Greet




Welcome to Grow Your Blog  Meet and Greet Party hosted by Vicki Boster at 
www.vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com. For those of you who don't know me my name is Erin Houghton - I  am retired and a lover of  gardening, painting, photography, re-purposing and finding vintage and flea market finds for my home and garden - some of which end up in one of my paintings. 

 Part of the fun of creating is sharing  and I started my blog to share the joy of creating all things that make my heart sing.



Along the way blogging has become a fun way for me to make new friends all over the world who share similar interests as well as open my eyes to new and interesting ideas for my home and garden.
It changed my life in ways I never dreamed of and as a result several magazines have published my photographs and used them to write articles about my home, art and garden and I was invited to be a Contributing Editor to a new on line life style magazine Southern Guide to Life  www.southernguidetolife.com . Just goes to show that you never know who may discover your blog!!


Meet Bentley, My Studio Assistant, he is a rescue Soft Coat Wheaten Terrier and was 2 when he became part of our family and is almost always involved in my blog.










                 My garden gate is  always open to welcome you.  My blog takes my readers on seasonal tours or visits around my small space garden that is divided into rooms and gives tips on container gardening and using flea market finds in the garden. We also leave the garden to explore - here - there -everywhere!


Spring with the container flowers in full bloom.

          
                          Summer on the  kitchen patio with newly painted "faux" flagstones and flea market finds.
                                                                   

                                                            



                                           Fall  in the garden with my metal dress form "Blossom"



Winter/Christmas - note Blossom traveled to a new spot in the garden for Winter - she moves around a lot and likes to wear different outfits.



Sometimes we have "art in the garden" where I share with you the flowers or vintage items  that inspired my art.



                     
           

My mother's family was from Ireland and I grew up in a family where sharing a cup of tea with friends was an act of friendship, and it has become part of my blog to offer you a cup of tea.

Sometimes we have tea in the garden or the kitchen if it is chilly outside. 

Some times I share my re-purposed  flea market finds in my cottage home with my readers.


                  I live in Southern California just over a mile from charming Balboa Island on beautiful  Newport Bay across from the Pacific Ocean. We may take the ferry to Balboa Island to my visit the annual art show (where I sometimes show my art) or look at the charming cottages for inspiration.





               






We may  go to Rogers Gardens in the fall to look for pumpkins or inspirations to paint and if you want you can join in on my art 101 class and paint something yourself.






Some of the easy Art 101 paintings we have painted  together..




                        At Christmas time you are invited to my cottage home and garden tour and  if you want you can  join in and paint a cute snowman painting in one of my Art 101 classes.






                              My art studio in my garage where we have our Art 101 lessons.

                               Sometimes we go to Old Town Orange to visit charming shops.This is the studio of my friend  artist Libby Williamson who is a designer, teacher and fabric artist.



                                                        Some of Libby's fabric creations.



                                                          GIVE AWAY

  I am a lucky 13 year breast cancer survivor and use my "pink"  art to help raise money to find a cure during October Breast Cancer Awareness month. To celebrate Vicki's fabulous Grow Your Blog Party I am giving away one of my most popular original  8x10 paintings of a pink bicycle in a lavender field.  All you need to do to enter is leave me a comment that you would like to be in the drawing - everyone is eligible including international visitors.  The winner will be randomly picked and the winner announced on February 15, 2015 on my blog.










Thank you for stopping by.  For those of you new to my blog I am delighted to meet you.  For my regular readers I sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those who follow my blog.

Thank you to Vicki Boster for hosting the Grow Your Blog Party.  Please stop by her blog to join the meet and greet party at www.vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com where you will be able to visit lots of new blogs and meet everyone participating.

Have a lovely day.    Blessings, Erin

I always end my blog with a Bible verse or Psalm.



         Peace be to you, and peace to your house, and peace to all that you have."  1 Samuel 25:6




61 comments:

Shroo said...

Happy Blog Party Day! You have a lovely home and garden and your work is simply enchanting! I'll look forward to reading more of your posts and enjoying your wonderful work!Best wishes for a lovely day - Shroo :)xx

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

And peace to you dear. Lovely post, your garden and home is always so very lovely. And of course your Assistant Bentley. You can tell that he loves his mom. Aren't rescued dogs the very best. I have two and they are the best lovely dogs. The Border Collie, Waldo is never far from me.
Please enter me into your give away. What a lovely gift for someone to receive.
Enjoy our lovely weather as it looks like we are going to get rain off and on all next week. YEA. I was playing in the garden this morning and can hardly wait to get in and dig in the dirt - just a farmer at heart.
Blessings to you dear blogging friend.
Mary

Maggie said...

Erin, it has been a delight to meet you and visit your beautiful garden such colours and variety, no wonder you are inspired to capture it all on canvas.
Enjoy the party and if you have the time do please pop over to Normandy for a visit.
BTW I'm now your latest follower.

Beth in NEPA said...

Wow, your blog is BURSTING with color today. I enjoyed it so much. I am a "former" S. Cal Gal (from San Diego) who now lives in PA. I am also an almost 13 year survivor of Breast Cancer and thankful for every day! Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Sami said...

HI Erin, I'm already a follower since the last Blog party. I would love to live in your home, so cosy, so artistic, so colourful, everything looks so wonderful!
Wonderful that you've been cancer free and are enjoying life to the max!
Love the give-away painting and I hope I can win it!

Stephanie Faris said...

Your home and garden are both AMAZING. So colorful. I just want to move in and sit out there forever!

Clare said...

So much wonderful colour, your garden is stunning such great inspriation for your painting, stopping by on blog hop.
Clare x

Shauna said...

Hi Erin, I'm one of Vicki's helpers checking all the links for the Grow your Blog hop. Ohh my your garden is AWESOME and I love your paintings. I wish I had that kind of talent. Have a great day.

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Your gardens are so lovely! Bently is just adorable. Thanks for participating in GYB!

Gill said...

Lovely to meet you!
Your garden is beautiful and so is your painting!

Anonymous said...

Hello Erin,
I see Bentley is still eager to help in the garden ! You already know I love your art, your way of living, your spirits and your photos. Particularly those of Balboa Island. They make me dream. Who knows, one day I might visit California.
All the best
Hélène Gléhen

Anonymous said...

Hello! Such a fun blog, I love all of the pictures and your puppy is too cute! Thank you for the opportunity to win your beautiful painting. It would look lovely in my daughters room. :) I am so very glad to have found your blog via the GYB Hop. I am a new follower via Google Friend Connect. :)
-Brittany

Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

Lovely, lovely gardens and joyous art! What fun to get to meet you through the GYB party. Bentley is adorable and you know from your visit to my blog how much I love a canine companion. Happy to meet you Erin.
Patrica @ Dogwood Lane Rambles

Suburban Girl said...

You are one busy girl, following from Grow Your Blog. Rebecca

Kathy L said...

Your gardens are beautiful. Say hi to Bentley for me.

kathyinozarks said...

I am stopping by from the party-your blog is so gorgeous-love the gardens and the artwork-I will be a new follower your blog is so inviting.
thank you for giveaway
enjoy the party
Kathy

Jeanie said...

Hi Erin,

Well, of course I would like to be in the drawing but I also want to say how much I enjoy every visit to your Painted Garden, your beautiful work, bright colors and especially sweet Bentley. It's always a treat!

THE SHOPPING TOOTH FAIRY said...

LOVE YOUR BLOG... LOVE THE PINK BICYCLE PRINT. CONGRATS ON BEING A SURVIVOR!!!!

Debbie said...

Hi Erin,
Your blog is inspiring! Bentley is awesome. I look forward to following your blog.

CatieAn said...

What a beautiful post. I love the heart of your blog and the vibrant colors. Congratulations on being a cancer survivor. The print is so sweet and so is Bentley. I am a happy new follower and look forward to learning and sharing more in the new year

Cherie said...

I am delighted to have found your blog through the GYB party. I am utterly enchanted by your beautiful photographs and paintings. I will visit often. xxx

nicolesender said...

I would like to be in the drawing! Your garden is beautiful!

Marilyn said...

Your home and garden are so inviting and I love your artwork. I have lost friends to breast cancer and have also some who are survivors and I'd love to win your bicycle.

Julie's Lifestyle said...

Hi Erin, I'm here visiting from the Grow Your Blog Party and I love your blog and you are a talented artist! I just joined your blog via google friend connect. I look forward to becoming blog friends. I do hope that you will stop by my blog Julie's Lifestyle to visit and enter my giveaway too. I love the painting you made for the giveaway.
Julie at Julie's Lifestyle

Thearica said...

Bentley is so cute and Blossom, well she is just fun and makes me smile!

I am participating in a blog hop on Friday and our pattern is for breast cancer awareness. I would love to send the quilt I have made to you for you to raise funds with it if you would like for me to. Check my blog on Friday and then let me know. :)

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Hi Erin,
What a wonderful, colourful blog!
I love your paintings! And your garden is a delight.
Joining...

Monique (A Half-Baked Notion) said...

Hello again, Erin! I live so very far from your amazing and garden-friendly climate; it is truly a treat for the heart and soul to peruse your lovely blooms, art and surroundings. You have been blessed with talents, and have chosen to bless others by sharing of them :)

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."
1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Kim Stevens said...

So nice to meet you Erin, love the garden! I raise monarch butterflies and am always trying to tweek my garden for them. I'm looking forward to following the seasons in your garden! Kim

Anonymous said...

I love the way you capture your art in the garden - lovely! I especially love the painted stepping stones - such a novel idea. - Elizabeth

Threads of Inspiration said...

Your blog is such a colorful place - a welcome sight for my cold Wisconsin self!

Quirky Homemaker said...

Congratulation on being a 13 year survivor! You have such beautiful things! I love your cottage style and paintings. Stopping by from the GYB hop. Hope you have a wonderful week!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

What fun it's been to visit you! It's bitterly cold here at the moment and to see all the bright colours in your pictures just made my day (oh yes, and seeing your beautiful furry puppy sure helped too!). Thank you for the invitation to visit!

Laura Quaglia (Fun With This and That) said...

You are one lucky gal .It is so bright and colorful
Have a fun Grow Your Blog
Laura

Cyndi, Don and Lucas said...

I would love to enter your give away. Thanks!
Cyndi
Cyndi_r44@yahoo.com

Kim said...

Your blog is beautiful and your photos are fabulous!

Roses, Lace and Brocante said...

Hello Erin

It’s lovely to meet up with you again at Vicki’s Grow Your Blog party!
Your beautiful colourful world is such a joy to visit!

I love the mirrored blue window and shutters on the wall – you’ve inspired me to do something similar on a brick wall in my garden – thank you!
The wrought iron seat with blue canvas cushions is so attractive.
You have created such a charming home and garden.
Artistic touches everywhere – I’ve decided I need more colour in my garden too!

Whoever wins your giveaway will be over the moon to have an “Erin” original – please include my name!

Big cuddles for Bentley and hugs for you!
Shane x

Jeanne said...

I have so enjoyed visiting you from GYB that I have joined your blog... your newest follower. Your garden spaces are so colorful and inspiring. Will look forward to visiting you often! Congratulations on being a breast cancer survivor! and love your art to support others. Best to you from Texas and look forward to seeing you more.

janet said...

I found you today while sipping hot home made soup and watching the Atlantic Coast blizzard going on outside my window - what a great splash of colour- love your paintings!

Sue Kosec said...

You throw a great party. Thank you for inviting me!

So that you know, I've become a Follower and when time permits, I'll be back to see what other beautiful things were made by your hands!

What this party is all about is to GROW your blog and I'm hoping to do the same. When you get to Section One, check out A Country Chic Retreat and SuZeQ Creations, my personal blog, in Section Fifteen I'd love for you to follow and subscribe to.

Happy crafting!
SuZeQ

Sylvia Anderson said...

An hour in the garden is good for the soul, and from the looks of yours', you must spend many hours a day creating and planting all those lovely little rooms. Thank you for offering your 'pink bicycle' painting as a giveaway opportunity.
lv2bquilting2@comcast.net

Peggy said...

What a beautiful painting. Love you gardens and garden art.
Thanks for a chance to win.
Peggy
peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

ShirleyC said...

I've loved your blog for a long time. Your paintings are always so bright and cheery.
I love the bicycle painting and what it represents. I've already been lucky enough to receive one of your paintings not long after I had tongue cancer surgery. It sits on the chest in my bedroom.

Barbara Lilian in France said...

Erin how lovely to meet you on the GYB party. It was a delight to see your vibrant garden, and your lovely paintings. Your interests are so similar to mine. Maybe you might like to pop over and visit me. Your give away sounds a lovely gift.

The Country Witch said...

Your photos are stunning! Just popping by from the GYB party and couldn't resist the lovely images!

deborah lyn said...

Peace back to you Erin! I love your blog, your paintings and your photos! They are joyful inspiration! Of course, I'm your follower!! hugs, Deborah http://deborahstanleyinspirations.blogspot.com/ thanks for your encouragement on my blog and via emails!!

Anonymous said...

I am so happy to have found your beautiful blog. Your photographs and garden are so lovely

love Lauren
a new follower
from
www.artramblingsatlavinias.blogspot.co.uk/

Sandra Cox said...

What a beautiful blog! And good for you for having a rescue.

Linda aka Crafty Gardener said...

I'm still going through the huge list of participants in the Grow your Blog event. Your gardens are gorgeous. I'm a gardener and a crafter that lives in Canada.

Kathy H said...

I am glad to have found your blog. I enjoyed seeing your flowers, the fresh ones and your painted ones. I will enjoy reading about them and your dog too.

Stephanie said...

Hello, my dear! I am visiting from the Grow Your Blog party.

Were do I begin... your blog is full of beauty and charm and each photo brought a smile to my face. I had a delightful time scrolling through your posts and it was a joy "meeting" you and sweet Bentley :)

I am a happy new follower and I look forward to visiting again. Hugs! Stephanie - The Enchanting Rose

Dreaming of Vintage said...

Hi Erin! I'm so glad I found your blog! Love your art, gardens, decorating and of course Bentley! I'm now a follower!

Diana said...

Hello Erin, Your garden is lovely, I particularly like blossom and love Bentley.
I'd love to go in the draw for your lovely give-away.
Thanks,

Diana

AppleApricot Wen said...

Hello Erin and Bentley :) Thank you so much for your sweet visit. Wow your art is stunning Erin! I love love the one you're giving away, so generous of you! And your home and garden are beautiful and so cheerful. I'm happy to meet you through the GYB party and am going to follow you through bloglovin. Wishing you a peaceful day and sending you happy smiles! Wendy of Apple and Apricot blogsvanwendy@live.nl

Sanderella said...

Oh my!! Everything is so beautiful on your blog!! I loved all of the primroses, Bently, and your place is just lovely!! You do beautiful, beautiful paintings!

I truly enjoyed my lovely visit and my walk through your gardens!! Stunning and so bright and colorful!!

Sandy of sanderellascrochet.com

Angela Perez said...

Hello, I enjoyed meeting you and your blog. I enjoyed learning about you and your passions. I've became a new follower. Thanks for giving us a chance to win your giveaway. My contact info is per7867@yahoo.com.

Esme said...

Ok, this is too funny. We are neighbors. I love Balboa Island. I am due to take my dad to Rogers and I know your friends store. Of course I am also friends with Vicki-what a small world. I like your paintings-and have to laugh as I am a huge cyclist and eyeing that bike. Congrats on 13 years as a survivor. My girlfriend works at Susan Komen in OC. I love Mr. Bentley. I cannot believe I have never seen your work as I try to go to different art exhibits.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

What a lovely colorful happy blog you have; so glad to visit via Vicki's GYBP! Any blogger having a dog is head's up in my book; animals make my life better and fuller.

Rose Santuci-Sofranko said...

Your Blog is GORGEOUS! I'm not entering for your lovely painting, I leave that for somebody else...I just wanted to tell you how beautiful your blog is and that I am now following you on GFC. God bless you and yours!

Jean Tuthill said...

Please enter me in your drawing....I absolutely love your blog and colorful paintings and photos! I am a 12 yr survivor... and thankful for every day!

Carol D. said...

You have a beautiful blog. And it looks like you have so much fun going to flea markets and decorating your garden and home. Your paintings are so cute. Wish I had that talent.

Dodie said...

I know that it's too late for the giveaway (darn), but I have to tell you how enameled I am of your work. I wish we had a similar flea market in our neck of the woods. Your garden and paintings are delicious! I am now a follower of your blog.