Sweet little pumpkins... The perfect Owl perch... Pumpkin heads! Acorns to stash away for a mid-winter snack~ Sweet reminders of His wonderful truths~ Crisp & clear Fall skies! The garden activity that only happens at night... A little bit of harvest fun! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Sweet Friends! New treasures in my Etsy Shop~
Sweet little pumpkins... The perfect Owl perch... Pumpkin heads! Acorns to stash away for a mid-winter snack~ Sweet reminders of His wonderful truths~ Crisp & clear Fall skies! The garden activity that only happens at night... A little bit of harvest fun! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Sweet Friends! New treasures in my Etsy Shop~
Some of my favorites wishing you a creative New Year! I hope your hearts are filled with fresh & unique ideas~ I hope your arms are filled with supplies that inspire you~ I hope your days allow you time to work on your favorite hobbies~ Wishing you happiness, love, peace & laughter~ It is such a joy to still find buttons in antique & thrift shops! Sometimes the most amazing ideas started as daydreams! Thank you, Friends for all the joy you share with me! Wishing you great health and joy! Happy New Year!
Petals & Palettes
Petals & Palettes
Found this small piece of fabric in a basket at an antique shop~ It is linen-like... Cotton-like with a texture? I don't know my fabrics, I just LOVE to draw on them! Sepia ink on soft white~ Little faces very happy to have a sunny day! The hum of bees in the gardens~ The most welcome sound! I think of so many things when I'm heading to the garden! New designs... What's for dinner... laundry... dishes... dusting... Calendar programs... fabric collections... When I bend to pull some weeds~ those thoughts vanish. To touch the earth... Face to face with flowers... Bees swarming around my head... I'm content. My mind quiets~ My soul is fed. Friends in nature~ Loved, treasured and nurtured! Hope you have a few minutes to take a little walk today~
~My wool reference guide~ Through the years I have gathered a lot of wool stripes, plaids, patterns etc. I thought I would eventually use them for wool applique projects. Then I fell head-over-heels for wool hooking. I first saw this idea on Pinterest. Cutting a small swatch of your wool textures and hooking alongside of it for future reference. I LOVE the textures! Some of the hooked areas look just like the swatch~ Others are a great surprise. One of my favorites... The black and white diamond-like pattern. I really like the black & white variegated texture once it is hooked. I didn't purchase much of it... and now I wish I had more. I will keep adding patterns and plaids~ This has helped me recognize the possibilities! The textures will be fun to add to hooked pieces. Wishing you a wonderful & creative weekend, Friends! Thank you for stopping by~
For years I have promised original watercolor paintings~ With our sweet Alaina's help... I'm going to begin selling small originals! I am blessed~ My "daily work" is a joy! Deadlines have been keeping me happily busy! Yet... It's so much FUN to play!!! These wild lawn Violets caught my creativity yesterday... I couldn't stop painting them! Their sweet little faces in my beginning sketches... I start all of my paintings with soft, clean lines... They were getting thirsty with all that posing! Our window sills are filled with antique ink wells, vintage bottles & little blossoms... Touches of color... Sometimes I paint the blossom first... Sometimes the greens! I love how the light dances on the leaves~ I will share a link to the auctions/sales when our girl has them ready to go~ Just in case you would like an original watercolor of mine! Hope your day is filled with little "wild" (but sweet) surprises!
Little feathered friends reminding me of His wonderful promises~ Dancing girls in vintage dresses... Sharing my heart through these little fabric originals~ Each of your comments bring my heart joy! Thank you for visiting~ This little friend would like a little rest from all of our thunder storms~ Not sure why... when I started drawing this mouse her expression reminded me of an expecting momma~ This little friend is much more calm than I would be! A bird was flying along-side our car the other day... So very beautiful! ~ Love~ I just added forty new treasures to my Etsy Shop! Thank you for visiting! I hope your week is off to a wonderful start~
Bees, feathered friends, harvest perches and patriotic themes~ Pinkeeps! Pincushions! If you remove the pins they are f...
Found this small piece of fabric in a basket at an antique shop~ It is linen-like... Cotton-like with a texture? I don't know my ...
Petals & Palettes
Petals & Palettes
Doesn't this little guy look like he has a pout on? I just love how little sketches turn out sometimes... even surprise me! P...
Petals & Palettes
Petals & Palettes
Petals & Palettes
On these warm nights I imagine our feathered friends perched in the pumpkin patch... Sharing stories of their day... Wishin...
Petals & Palettes
Finished my Yellow & Blue Collection this morning... It is ready to take to the printer! Gardens are filled with beauty... Everything waiting months & blooming all at the same time~ Grape Hyacinths... Pale blue in the background, deeper blues up front. Painting green "behind" the nest grasses & hairs~ Butterfly... paint light to dark. Eastern Tailed-Blue has robin's egg blue, French Ultramarine & Indigo! All of my artwork is scanned & digital files are made for licensing. We are in the process of setting up a second Etsy store... Our 2nd shop will sell my original watercolors and prints of them! Hoping to have prints back from the city soon! My current Etsy will continue to have new pen & ink fabric treasures along with needle felted friends! We will share here when the 2nd Etsy shop is open! Thank you for your kind comments, encouragement & support! Hope your Monday is off to a wonderful start~
How beautiful to witness a Starling murmuration~ Hundreds of birds lyrically moving through the sky! (I think they each have somet...
I just LOVE the Christmas Season~ Yes... folks are in a hurry and traffic is crazy at times... We do our best to hibernate! To cozy in and spend time catching up with each other... To touch base and reflect on memories, stories and experiences... New friends and different paths! Watch favorite movies that make us laugh--- again and again. Watching movies together that require a box of tissues... Time to remind each other~ just how much they are loved! Little moments in nature... Hope you are enjoying quiet moments with those you love~ Wishing you a joy-filled season!
These little buttons are perfect for the bittersweet themed pinkeep! Pins with golden yellow & red heads... Vegetable ivory buttons look like acorns... This vintage gear button was perfect for my acorn wheel! So much in life starts small... Builds... Grows... Hard work and determination~ I had a teacher who taught me to have strong foundations. Build several sturdy legs to your table. If one leg weakens~ the others will hold it up. Then don't neglect the weak spot. Immediately work to restore strength. I hope your week is off to a great start, Friends! Stay strong & I hope you find a creative project, too~
Some of my favorites wishing you a creative New Year! I hope your hearts are filled with fresh & unique ideas~ I hope your ...
Petals & Palettes
Just sharing a peek! My favorite way to build snowmen... My toes stay warm... The only rosy cheeks are the ones I decide to paint~ Sweet little frames turn them into the perfect gifts! I will be adding these & more to my 2nd Etsy shop~ Hope you're having a nice evening, Sweet Friends!
Wishing you joy! ~2019 Christmas Stocking~ Three free applique projects to say Thank you! Thank you for your friendship! Thank you for your kindness! Thank you for your patronage! I have included all three years of stocking projects in this post. You can use the patterns for punch needle, embroidery, rug hooking, quilting, applique etc.! Personal use only, please. Carolina & House Wrens are with us throughout the summer and early fall. They cheerfully sing from dawn til dusk. Every now and then, one will perch on my studio windowsill~ Right click to save the above pattern to your computer~ My stitches are not the prettiest... It is always exciting to see finished works from all of you! Plaids, stripes, textures, over-dyed, mottled... so many options! (Quiver) Sharing a close up of my stitches... 2018 was a plaid red fox! Right click and save the above pattern to your computer~ I shared this jolly snow friend the first year! Right click and save the above pattern to your computer~ Black snaps as buttons & eyes... Twine or craft hemp for snowman arms~ Wishing you beautiful November days! Filled with creative projects~ Thank you again, Friends!
Bees, feathered friends, harvest perches and patriotic themes~ Pinkeeps! Pincushions! If you remove the pins they are fun to hang on a cupboard pull~ Teddy bears love to hold hearts in their laps, too! Chickadee and bee are discussing their sewing project~ This bee stopped by the firework daisy! How I love bee skeps~ Hives of all shapes & sizes! I love to draw bees in straight lines, too~ They are flying off to work together! I bet these little friends sing, "Whistle while you work!" They each have their yellow-topped pin... They're off to help in the studio~ Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Friends!
We had a heavy, cold, blanket of snow to greet us Sunday morning... I drew this little friend. Just a little reminder that Spring is just around the corner. I'm not sure which corner... but it is coming! The Red Wing Blackbirds keep reminding me~ Bunnies are still munching on the cuttings we toss on the compost pile... They're itching to visit the REAL veggie garden! We have had some beautiful night skies... Crisp & clear! Love how this little sparrow is sticking her chin out~ Lambs will be spotting the fields soon! I say a little prayer for you and give thanks~ This bunny has a sweet tooth! Wee mouse sharing her heart~ Hope your week is off to a great start!
Doesn't this little guy look like he has a pout on? I just love how little sketches turn out sometimes... even surprise me! P...
Sharing my progress! I found the prettiest Valdani thread~ #12 pearl cotton At first I was concerned that it would be too bold. The colors decided they would play nice together! I'm glad I chose a brighter, variegated, color for the flowers. I think I will keep the greens low-key and muted. I think it would make a beautiful fall jacket for a mouse, too~ Time will tell! Hope your week is off to a great start, Friends!
301 of them! They are enjoying a gentle & restoring soak~ I've been enjoying antique shows & shops for 30+ years. No matter how many shows, shops, festivals we attend~ There is always something fresh & new! The show wasn't that big... A high school gym & small cafeteria. It was packed with some of the most unique and unusual antiques! Butter paddles in bunches! They looked like bouquets! ONE was very unique~ it had a butter press on the handle end!!! All one piece~ It was very rare and very expensive... inside a case or I would have tried to capture a photograph. We brought home a few treasures... This collection of yoyo's was laying across a long table. It was dressed with an antique rocking horse, mounds of linens & table cloths, crocks & jugs... books... stuff... cool stuff... neat stuff... I just needed to find the price tag........ JOY!!! They are becoming harder and harder to find~ These most treasured patterns. Hope you have a wonderful Sunday, Kind Friends! Wishing your hearts every joy~
Petals & Palettes
Petals & Palettes
Snippets from Meadow Wedding~ Sweet little Rosie Emm with her handsome groom and dear maidens. Springtime brings the most beautiful blush-pink flowers to the meadow. They gathered a basket of blossoms for bouquets and head wreaths~ Tucked a sprig in Jameston's coat & called upon the sparrows to sing! (Copyright Meadow Wedding 1997 Michelle L. Palmer) When I watch West Side Story my little friends end up planning another wedding. My husbands sister sang One Hand, One Heart for our vows... it will always be one of my favorites. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Friends!
Petals & Palettes
'Blackbird on a Sunny Flower' Fraktur #2 of 6 copyright 2019 Michelle L. Palmer Illustration copyright 2010 Inspired by summer walks along the Erie Canal~ Poison Sumac leaves and blossoms are so pretty (from a distance) The leaves hang similar to the top arch~ turning crimson in the Fall. The blossoms are beautiful~ I made mine salmon, a little lighter than true. Every now and then a sunflower blossom will pop up along the pathway edge. Chipmunks and squirrels drop some of their bird feeder stash and they take seed in unexpected places! I included a photograph of my 'Fraktur & Flourish' pen & ink with watercolor illustration that inspired the summery piece~ The bird and I had a few closed door meetings. Feather colors were changed a few times and if I stare at it for too long I get thinking the wing could still be a different color! I just LOVE how the warmth and texture of wool is bringing new life to my collection of walnut ink illustrations! I draw my patterns by hand on primitive linen. Finished rug size is 24" wide by 22" tall (actual hooked area) 3.5" to 4" border around the entire design allowing ample room for your frame. I take care to keep the lines straight of the grain. Linen edges are taped to prevent fraying. I use green Frog Brand tape. It is available through my Etsy shop: "Blackbird on a Sunny Flower" It will be a while for number three in the series to be completed~ Free time is shared with gardening and sunsets... How we have waited for Spring to arrive! Wishing your hearts happiness~ Always!
When I started teaching myself watercolor (as a teen) I read every how-to book I could find. Experimented with papers... Purchased the best brushes I could afford... Most of the artists I studied used the same basic palette. That is what I followed and happily used for years~ It was economical and traditional. When I began licensing my art I started to expand my palette. Fabric collections, flag designs, calendar pages...greeting cards--- With so many varied products I wanted a varied palette. Through the years I have found my personal favorites... Windsor & Newton Holbein Daniel Smith A trip into the city finds me at the Fine Art Store on West Main Street~ fineartstore.com I become lost in the options. Held tightly by my very limited budget! That way I am sure to behave ;) My budget yesterday was for a green. ONE green. The greens on my palette are running low. I have been searching for something different for a while. I can make several greens from all the blues, ochre, golds & yellows that I have... Finding a 'nice green' will save me time. If a client decides to expand a collection, it is nice to have less mixing to do... more consistency. MaimeriBlu offered a sample card near their display~ It is a nice way to try out pigments. Do they stain? How do the colors behave on my favorite paper? Can I lift out highlights? Do they glaze nicely? Autumn colors keep me inspired~ Hope your weekend is off to a great start!
For years I have promised original watercolor paintings~ With our sweet Alaina's help... I'm going to begin selling small originals! I am blessed~ My "daily work" is a joy! Deadlines have been keeping me happily busy! Yet... It's so much FUN to play!!! These wild lawn Violets caught my creativity yesterday... I couldn't stop painting them! Their sweet little faces in my beginning sketches... I start all of my paintings with soft, clean lines... They were getting thirsty with all that posing! Our window sills are filled with antique ink wells, vintage bottles & little blossoms... Touches of color... Sometimes I paint the blossom first... Sometimes the greens! I love how the light dances on the leaves~ I will share a link to the auctions/sales when our girl has them ready to go~ Just in case you would like an original watercolor of mine! Hope your day is filled with little "wild" (but sweet) surprises!
Petals & Palettes
Many hands make light work! Teddy love is going to help me darn socks... When I was little I was given a 'pretty pair of knee highs'~ Cozy & well loved! They always had holes in them! With grandma's wooden sock darner & colorful threads from my moms sewing box... I would add patches. I cut tags out of my shirts & used them for the patches~ This little love is ready for the ball~ Ever feel like someone is watching you? Bunny looks as if he has a hand-puppet! Hope it is warming up where you are~ The numbers are rising! Thirty degrees will feel like a heatwave! Hope your day is filled with 'little helpers' and love~
Petals & Palettes
Petals & Palettes
Finished my Yellow & Blue Collection this morning... It is ready to take to the printer! Gardens are filled with beauty... Everything waiting months & blooming all at the same time~ Grape Hyacinths... Pale blue in the background, deeper blues up front. Painting green "behind" the nest grasses & hairs~ Butterfly... paint light to dark. Eastern Tailed-Blue has robin's egg blue, French Ultramarine & Indigo! All of my artwork is scanned & digital files are made for licensing. We are in the process of setting up a second Etsy store... Our 2nd shop will sell my original watercolors and prints of them! Hoping to have prints back from the city soon! My current Etsy will continue to have new pen & ink fabric treasures along with needle felted friends! We will share here when the 2nd Etsy shop is open! Thank you for your kind comments, encouragement & support! Hope your Monday is off to a wonderful start~
Petals & Palettes
When I started teaching myself watercolor (as a teen) I read every how-to book I could find. Experimented with papers... Purchased the best brushes I could afford... Most of the artists I studied used the same basic palette. That is what I followed and happily used for years~ It was economical and traditional. When I began licensing my art I started to expand my palette. Fabric collections, flag designs, calendar pages...greeting cards--- With so many varied products I wanted a varied palette. Through the years I have found my personal favorites... Windsor & Newton Holbein Daniel Smith A trip into the city finds me at the Fine Art Store on West Main Street~ fineartstore.com I become lost in the options. Held tightly by my very limited budget! That way I am sure to behave ;) My budget yesterday was for a green. ONE green. The greens on my palette are running low. I have been searching for something different for a while. I can make several greens from all the blues, ochre, golds & yellows that I have... Finding a 'nice green' will save me time. If a client decides to expand a collection, it is nice to have less mixing to do... more consistency. MaimeriBlu offered a sample card near their display~ It is a nice way to try out pigments. Do they stain? How do the colors behave on my favorite paper? Can I lift out highlights? Do they glaze nicely? Autumn colors keep me inspired~ Hope your weekend is off to a great start!
Bees, feathered friends, harvest perches and patriotic themes~ Pinkeeps! Pincushions! If you remove the pins they are fun to hang on a cupboard pull~ Teddy bears love to hold hearts in their laps, too! Chickadee and bee are discussing their sewing project~ This bee stopped by the firework daisy! How I love bee skeps~ Hives of all shapes & sizes! I love to draw bees in straight lines, too~ They are flying off to work together! I bet these little friends sing, "Whistle while you work!" They each have their yellow-topped pin... They're off to help in the studio~ Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Friends!
