Cottages and Roses Paintings #2

More Barbara Mock paintings for you to view.
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How luscious are these roses of hers on this old sideboard? Beautiful!

Or this one of a mother and her child in the garden by a lake.

A summer afternoon on the porch entertaining special friends.

Ooooh, the magic of vintage carousels in the park and times of yesteryear.

A beautiful teacup awaiting that special blend of herb tea to make the evening delightful.

A morning in the potting shed arranging bouquets for dinner.

An evening stroll through this garden path to meet with a beau.

A table set for a rendezvous for two perhaps. Aaaah, the delight of it.

Of course, you know I can't resist the birdhouses, poppies and bird nests.

A hummingbird wreath of roses and ribbons.

A Little Project and a SurpriiiIIIIiisssseee!!!

I've just been informed that it is Shannon who posted this idea about the framed plates. Thanks, Lyn!!! I appreciate it, sweetpea........

A little project I saw the other day. I'd give credit if I could remember who in the world it was! I simply can't because my mind can't keep up. Remember I'm an "old lady" and perhaps becoming senile, sweet chicks?!?! Hmmmmmmm, no matter.......

Anyway, she had some old frames she didn't know what to do with and put some little plates in them. I did the same thing only I did it with butter pats. I have about 7 that just sit in my china cabinet so I thought that since I had some extra frames sitting around here that I'd do the same thing. Little vintage roses and violets butter pats will now adorn my walls.........uhhhhh, somewhere in this house!

I think this is the very first bird's nest that I painted. Not too bad but I'm improving.

This is a special painting I did for someone as a surprise and she'll get it in the mail in a couple of days. It's a giant very whimsical cupcake!! I think she'll be surrRRrpriiiiisssSSSSeddddd!!

And these are my friday, 9/19, practice roses. PinkkkkkK!! When I say it this way it's like emphasizing the K at the end. Get it??? PinkkkkkK!!! LOL

Painting Roses

Okay, I have to confess - I am a rose-painter-wanna-be! Yep, I have practiced painting roses for about a year now - off and on. Mostly off!! I am soooo bad. I've tried Donna Dewberry and several less famous painters to no avail. I have to tell ya that she has nothing to fear from me. Sad, but true. I've always told my ebay groups that I'd share how I've progressed and you can see I use that term very loosely! Veerrrry loosely.

My style is a cross between Monet with his hand in bandages, Mary Cassatt blindfolded, Rocky Racoon using his feet and Grandma Moses on steriods. Not purdy at all. :-( I've just about given up. Sometimes they come out better than other times but this past weekend up in the mountains was one of the "pathetic attempt" times. But in the interest of completely humiliating myself I'll show you how bad it can get. There is no hope for me painting roses.

I do, however, do a decent whimsical faux cupcake and bird. And my bird nests are becoming fairly decent.....whimsically speaking, of course. The ones below hang in my home and will continue to hang in my home. They will go to my children and I hope they don't sell them in a yard sale for 25¢ and humiliate their mother further. I just know if they did that then someone would bargain them down to a dime!!

I noticed in the last couple of days that I've just gone over the 24,000 mark of people who have stopped in to view my blog. I cannot tell you how I appreciate anyone and everyone who looks in on my musings and my blessed life. I enjoy hearing from each and everyone of you. So, in that spirit, I'm going to be doing a painting for a giveaway when the time comes that will hit the 25,000 mark. Please don't let that scare you off!! I'll try my best, I promise. It may be whimsical cupcakes or a bird nest with perhaps a bird on it. I'm not sure yet. But I'll get busy on it this week and post how it looks when I'm done. I just ask that you hang it proudly in your home, even if it is the bathroom or the back wall of your clothes closet, and not laugh when showing it to visitors. It will be on canvas and in a simple frame.

So view the "paintings" below and get a feel for what you are in for. I'll announce the giveaway with the least amount of fanfare so as to not embarrass my family further. With that I wish you luck in winning or not winning, whichever you prefer, chickadees!! Well, at least it will be an original!! :-) Bonne chance, my little sweet chicks!

And these are the practice roses for the past year or so. I think I need to practice on a regular basis because there is a clear "backslide"! Painting roses is the hardest thing I've ever tried to accomplish. I truly TRULY admire anyone who can paint them; this is NOT an easy thing to do.

Roses & Easter Arrived Yesterday!

Oh my gosh, look what arrived in the mail yesterday for me! Some things I ordered but some were just a "gift" from Rhea and what a surprise. Just meander down and take a look!! I was sooooo excited that I forgot to take pictures until I was reminded. I had already hung some of these things on my lattice (thank you, Miss Rhea! :-) ) so I had to take them all down and put them on the kitchen counter to photograph.

First, there are the parchment roses I ordered from Lori and they are lovely.

Then some little millinery "posies" from sweet Rhea. A "bling" C - my initial, some little white plastic hearts, tags, birds and a cupcake.

Would you just look at these sweet chicks?!?! I call all my gals "chicks" because we really a gaggle of chicks!! Hah! Look that word up and it means: informal or disorderly or noisy group of people. Yep, that's us chicks!! Right on the nose!

Another shot of the little tags.

And theeeeennnnnn we have some sweet little birds in their own little white tissue nest. How cute. And notice how sweetly Rhea wraps them. I think I'm gonna take a clue from that and wrap better when I send something.

Now, the sweetest thing of all!!! A non-caloric cupcake (eye candy for us computer people......hah! I love eye candy!! Isn't he too cute? I've named him Mr. Ed - not after the old show by that name but after sweet Rhea's hubby who is not only a hunk but a really sweet guy......according to Rhea, of course, and she would NOT lie about that, trust me!!

And looooook at this cloche!! It's tiny but so adorable. I just love it because of it's tininess and look of fragility. The rose is under there for now but I'm thinking of other things to go under it also. I'm so glad I got it!

When I first opened the package and saw these I thought they were giant lollipops! Oh, be still my heart......candy?!?! So I opened them up and here's what they actually where. Are they not adorable?!?!?!?! Maybe even better than candy because I won't eat these up. Hah!

And just to keep some of you up to date on my office/crafts room this is how far I've gotten in a week or two. Pathetic, huh??? I'm still working on it though.

My 2nd Attempt at Bird's Nest and Roses!

This is my 2nd painting of my bird's nest with the roses. This painting business must have driven Monet and Van Gogh absolutely nutsy!! Anyway, I may give this one away since I haven't been able to sell anything on ebay yet. I wonder if I cut off my left ear would it help to become famous. Or maybe I should wear a silly little hat while painting. Of course, I'd look a bit silly since I'm indoors! Any suggestions??? I think I like this one better than the last one though. Next one coming up is chicks and roses! Hah, I'll bet you just can't wait, right?!?!?! Riiiiight?!?!?!?

Some Lessons I've Learned in My 6th Decade

I handpainted this little bird's nest yesterday. It's my first attempt at painting something other than practicing shabby roses!
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I've been in my 6th decade of life for several years now and life is funny because we keep on learning. I'm going to list a few that come to mind recently. I'm sure I'll be adding more to the list as I "age"!

* I'm learning to paint and am getting adequate at it. The above one is my first birdnest with eggs and roses.

* Sometimes I just wanna be a slob. I've earned it. I wore those binding tight pantihose for 35 years so it's time to let it all hang out.

* Bras are also optional. See last 5 words in above sentence!

* When shaving your legs and you cut yourself never ever use a "sheer strip" bandaid. It blends in too well and you'll forget it's there (especially when it's on the back of your leg) until the next time you shave your legs or for about 6 months, whichever comes first.

* When driving with "daughter" - who is 40 something - be sure you remind her constantly of the potholes in the road, make sure her tired are in excellent shape, be sure your cell phone is fully charged, make absolutely sure she has AAA, carry a raincoat and be absolutely sure you've gone to the potty before getting in her car.

* When you catch a cough be sure you've gone to the potty before you cough and make frequent trips. This is a must. Also making sure your undies are all laundered and stacked in your dresser helps a lot.......personal experience this past week.

* If hubby has a cough with you.....sigh....isn't that s-p-e-c-i-a-l.......make sure he knows which bathroom he goes to when you both have to go......his should be the farthest point from where you are sitting or laying down. And if he forgets it's his problem he gets his feet stomped on. He was warned I promise you!

* When you're having a new storm door put on by a handy man always make sure you've cleaned the main bathroom toilet. DO NOT put it off because it isn't regular toilet cleaning day! This will assure you of not being totally embarrassed, trust me.

* Do not torture yourself. There is always someone you know who will be more than happy to do it for you thereby saving you the stress! Hubby, daughter, son come to mind here.

* If your hubby gives you Dr. Laura's book on the Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands you'd better read it. Hubby has and he knows all the secrets so save yourself a lot of anguish and read it. You won't win this one unless you read it.