Painting Early Spring in my Studio

Welcome.  I am so happy that you stopped by. It  seems like ages since I posted and visited with you.  I have been super busy painting early Spring flowers and getting ready to re-open my little ETSY shop as well as preparing to teach art  classes in the garden at the beautiful Sherman Library and Gardens - www.slgardens.org.  Please come into my studio and sit and relax for a few minutes with a cup of hot tea.  Bentley, my Studio Assistant, is waiting to show you what I have been up to.

I have been inspired by the beautiful early Spring flowers at the Farmers 

markets - especially the Tulips and Sunflowers.

I collect vintage turquoise Ball jars and love using them in my paintings as well as using the color in my Spring art.

This photo was taken of my paint palette at the end of the day that shows all of the colors I used in my paintings. 
Thank you for stopping by.  I sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those of you who follow my blog.  

Have a lovely week.  Blessings,  Erin


                                            "Let your good spirit lead me on  level path." Psalm  143:10

Panting Pansies In My Studio

Welcome.  I am so happy that you stopped by.  We have been having much needed rain and cold weather and it has been to cold to enjoy the Winter Pansies blooming  in our garden.  I brought some inside to my studio to paint and you are invited to come to the studio with me to sit and relax for a few minutes with a cup of hot tea. Bentley, my Studio Assistant,  is waiting to show you around.

Thank you for stopping by.  I sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those of you following my blog.  

Have a lovely week.  Blessings,  Erin

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."  Corinthians 5:7

Bringing the Outdoors - Indoors

Welcome.  I am so happy that you stopped by.  We will have tea inside today as we are having unusually cold weather here in Southern California and are hoping for more rain by the coast.   I like to space out planting bulbs so we will have some Paper whites in bloom into January as it is a nice way to transition from all of the colorful Christmas colors and decor.

It is a little too cold this morning for us to go into the garden so Bentley, My Studio Assistant, is waiting at the door to welcome you inside for a cup of hot tea  and to share with you how we bring the outdoors - indoors this time of year!

                                The Paper Whites do well inside and add a lovely fragrance.

Winter white Hydrangeas and the addition of a bird house and watering can give the feel of bringing the outdoors - indoors

Delicate plants do well inside to protect them from our recent frosty nights.

              
Delicate herbs also do well in our sunny kitchen green house window and add some much needed green color during the winter months as well as fresh herbs for cooking.

Thank you for stopping by.  I love hearing from you and sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those who follow my blog.

                              May you find Joy and Peace in the New Year.

Have a lovely week.  Blessings,  Erin

"For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord", plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29: 11

Christmas Cottage Garden

Welcome.  I am so happy that you stopped by.  My garden gate is always open for you to come in and sit and relax with a cup of tea.  The recent rains and cold weather really helped our gardens in Southern California and Christmas flowers are now in full bloom.  Let's join Bentley, my Studio Assistant, in the garden to show you some of the plants and flowers we are growing and ideas for simple and inexpensive Christmas gifts for our garden friends as well as fun ways to add pops of color to your winter garden.

The white Campanula's make wonderful little gifts for a teacher or neighbor and bloom for a month or so in a pot - add a cute gift tag and red bow for an instant little gift from the garden.

The living Christmas tree made it through our drought and is ready to be taken inside for a few weeks.

I love to use ladders in the garden for display and to add height .

The little snowmen paintings are a fun way to add a touch of Christmas whimsy to the garden and also made fun little gifts.  There are lots of instructions on how to paint them under Art 101 that can be found on my blog header.

Bulbs planted in cute containers make great gifts and the containers can be reused.  The Asparagus Ferns are so pretty and fluffy and look so festive with a cute pick, Christmas tag or red bow tied around the pot - they are one of my favorite gifts to give and I grow lots of them this time of year. Primroses are starting to bloom and they are fun little gifts to tuck in a basket of goodies.

Vintage boxes are great to use as containers to hold potted gifts.

Containers of herbs also make great gifts.

A cute tea pot with a missing lid makes an adorable container for a small ivy plant - this one is for a teacher friend.

I bring out the red and white check indoor/outdoor cushions for Christmas.  The reindeer cushions are new and I purchased them at a discount store.

The wooden sleigh purchased from a discount store  with several pots makes an adorable gift for a garden friend

A burlap bag makes a fun container for Christmas greens - wrap greens with damp paper towel and put in a plastic baggie to keep them fresh.

Another ladder adds interest and height to a corner in the garden.  The old funnel makes a fun planter for a pot of winter Primroses.

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I found the vintage bird house welcome sign at a flea market for $5.00.

Thank you for stopping by.  I sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those following my blog.

Have a lovely week.  Holiday Blessings,  Erin

                              "Let your good spirit lead me on a level path."  Psalm  143:10