I found some interesting books at the library this week on early folk art, I think I will have to find a used copy online to add to my little library of art books the title is The Flowering Of American Folk Art and another one which is just as nice is American Primitive Painting, which has so many pretty portraits and silhouettes in them. I was inspired to do some more painting after reading through the pages, here is a little child silhouette that I have done in 19th century style using a soft colonial blue instead of black for a different look, it reminds me of Wedgewood china. I will be working on a few more original pieces just little ones, the silhouettes do look so pretty in the tiny frames and on the boxes so I plan to paint up some others using different colors. It is a cool day here makes me think of warm sweaters and hot mugs of tea.

The Toy Rabbit & Lady Emma Silhouette

These two paintings are my reproductions of originals from the 19th Century. A silhouette of a 19th century lady featuring a lovely detailed lace collar and hair bun set on a background of fawn umber paint. I have painted this on wood using acrylics and gave it a matte finish. In the Toy Rabbit painting, I have a little girl in her red dress holding her favorite pet toy rabbit set against a traditional 1800's style background. They each have a wood painted black frame, see photos. This, and all of my paintings are handpainted, I do not paint over a print or a photocopy, I start out with a plain piece of wood or canvas. I have signed the front of this paintings and the back is covered in a rose calico vintage paper with my studio seal. I am offering these originals on ebay through auction here if you may be interested.

Comedy Break

The Primitive Gathering Aug 15th Update

I have been reading a sweet little book by Laura Ingalls Wilder and it is so light and refreshing, I prefer stories like this about simple times and life in the past. Here is a little quote from her book On The Banks Of Plum Creek

"For going to town Ma made a new dress for Carrie, from the pink calico that Laura had worn when she was little. There was enough of it to make Carrie a little pink sunbonnet. Carrie's hair had been in curl-papers all night. It hung in long, golden, round curls, and when Ma tied the pink sunbonnet strings under Carrie's chin, Carrie looked like a rose.
Ma wore her hoop skirts and her best dress, the beautiful challis with little strawberries on it, that she had worn to the sugaring dance at Grandma's long ago in the Big Woods."



I have finished a little watercolor that depicts a little girl from that time period dressed in a calico pinafore with a pretty berry apron and her little sewing pocket and strawberry emery at her waist, her name is Hitty. This little picture I have framed in black and finished the back with pretty rose calico paper and burlap twine for hanging.






I have a few little new works that will be available on The Primitive Gathering update Aug. 15th.
so please visit.

Queen Anne's Lace and wild growing Yarrow, the other little flower is a wild small daisy, they looked so pretty together in a old mason jar, then I placed it next to my finished silhouette box and they seem to live happily together on the small braided mat. I love these little candle flame bulbs and when I find them usually at Christmas time I stock up on them so they last me till next year. I do have many lights in my house, I hate really bright lights so I have lots of little night lights and small lamps, they create a nice cozy feeling snug, warm and dark like a chipmunks nest.
I am doing a few of these little boxes for the next Primitive Gathering Update on the 15th as well as a new watercolor of early schoolgirl dressed in a calico print gown.

Saying goodbye to July this weekend, for me that sort of was a welcoming thing to do, this month has been quite busy, sometimes life goes on that way where everything needs seen to at once! Well I feel that August has some relaxing energy in her winds so lets hope for that. Our weather here has been quite unusual and stormy/floody this past month, my garden has taken the toll, must read the farmer's almanac next year before I plant anything, I must say that my daughters pumpkins are doing exceptionally well, she threw the whole package of seeds in near the fence in the spring and now I have monster vines trailing across my backyard....with huge orange flowers blooms on them, we made need to open a pumpkin stand in the front of our house this fall!!! I will show you a picture of them soon!

I have taken a small break from drawing this month to work on some folk art painting on my little pantry boxes with a few new stencil designs and colours to try. I use these little boxes for so many things, one on every table, for sewing, jewelery, crayons, candies and whatever on my nightstand.

I have also made a pretty set of earings for a trial on myself, I had ordered the sweetest little brass doves and ear hooks, so soon they will be for sale in my shopling.