Artistic Inspirations

 I have been busy with distractions like family, friends, volunteering, and enthusiasms with a downsizing move mixed in. Still painting, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest , which is really part of a package, the beauty inspires my painting. 

 View rowing in the San Juans, Reid Harbor, Stuart Island in July. I love the reflections on the water, and the geology of the shorelines. Sandstone, basalt, conglomerates. This may be a painting , but is hard to choose from a whole summer of island photos.

Teatime boating break at Murchies in Victoria, B.C. A must for us every summer. They sell amazing tea varieties, and coffee also, though we are not coffee people. Sometimes feel a bit out of step with that, here in the home state of Starbucks.

 Flora on James Island, San Juan Islands in July. Tiger lilies are hard to find anymore. Thistles, ubiquitous !

 

 Finished version of painting I posted a few years ago. This one I donated to a Boating Group auction, and it sold to people who love the salish sea as much as we do!

One of my other creative outlets, making bead jewelry.  

 Wild dogwood berries spotted on one of the Islands, late summer, and recorded in my sketchbook. 

 Low tide at Sucia Island, My favorite part of boating is exploring the coves, tide pools and trails. Not so much trails this year and last as one knee has been complaining about too many clumsy falls on rock or cement, but not ready for knee surgery! I rowed a lot instead. Below: more sketchbook pages.

Looking Back

Just a few photos of me and my loves from summer.
Swans from my sketch book that reside at Sidney B.C.

My  Sweetheart of 47 years aboard our boat, doing something serious, evidently! A bit of cabin clutter. The clam shell was for mixing watercolor paint. The rest of the mess is because i am not great at "ship shape".



Below: Time out for tea in Nanaimo B.C. where we tied up in the marina to ride out strong winds for a couple days.

"Crafting Calm"

I have been missing due to living life! So , so busy. Family, friends, painting, boating, enjoying the people and places I love. Time to take a few quiet moments in between to savor, appreciate, and be grateful. 

I just started a "Crafting Calm" workshop based on the wonderful inspiring book of that title. Yesterday was our first gathering, and there were 12  of us there. I left feeling happier, and I hope they did also. They will bring their own crafts to work on next week, but this time I provided necklace materials to glue in an affirmative word and an image of their choosing. Glue not yet dry makes for odd reflections, but it was fun and not challenging for those who are intimidated by the word "Art".

Images to recall on winter days

 The home of my heart, and inspiration for paintings. Decatur Island, my cousin's beach.

 Seascape at anchor. I call her my husband's "Mistress"! She takes us to lovely tranquil places.

This will be a painting. The view from my cousin's bay. REED bay, Decatur island It was named after our Great grandfather, who came to the Island in 1869 from Pennsylvania. sadly, the early surveyor of the island spelled it "Reid" 

Auction Jewelry

                       These are earrings and a necklace I created for a church auction in
                       November. I will be making others soon. I don't know why these
                       pictures imported from Picassa don't stay flipped in the right direction!
                       I wish I had more of these carved little face beads, but my source is
                       a bead store in Anacortes that is 90 minutes away, not to mention a
                       temptation to my checkbook!

My Garden September 2011

Clematis

Where The Sheep Live...

Home sweet home. This was actually taken in June when the peonys were blooming...just surfing through my photos tonight. Just discovered that my sweetie has not been paying attention to the credit card points piling up for the last 6 years on our COSTCO card, and I did not know we were getting any. Looks like I will be able to get a new laptop to replace the 10 year old one that was handed down from sweetie. Yay! Looking forward to being able to use it for viewing the photos I want to paint from. The photos are just a jumping off spot for painting inspiration. Another tool to help my memory.

I haven't posted enough art here, so this is a stand in until I do so! This is my daughter Heather's art! She baked this cake for her aunt and uncle's 50th anniversary picnic a couple weeks ago. It was not only pretty, but yummy!

Lovely swallowtail butterfly sampling the flowers. I wish I had photographed the Anna's hummingbird that flew into our entry way on the weekend! It was stunning. It couldn't figure out how to come down from the skylight! We tried luring it with a feeder on a long pole. it would stop and sip, but when I tried to lower the pole the feeder would sway, and scare it back up. Finally opened all doors and just let it be. It came down finally, but ws still trying to escape through a closed window. Caught it in my hand, gently, and took it outside. Took him a few seconds to realize he was free! What a thrill, seeing it up close.

Flowers on Our table

Wild combination from the garden, includes Blackberries
penstemon, roses, clematis, oregano and smoke bush.

The Night Before

Getting ready to head out on the boat tomorrow for our three weeks in the B.C. Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound. I feel better about leaving knowing that our daughter and family are staying here and taking care of our house and yard.

This photo is "Seascape" anchored at Cabbage Island on last summer's trip.

Have been packing bags full of art supplies and books, and even a goodly amount of my bead stash in case I feel like making something. The boat really isn't very big , and storage space is minimal. Unfortunately I always have overflow of my materials in carry-ons beneath the dinette, or on the seat beside me...just under that aft window! Clothes and food take up most of the out of sight storage space. Wish i was one of those people who can leave home with a few drip dry clothes instead of all the things I "might possibly" need.

Likely will not be able to post much enroute, as we will mostly be at remote anchorages.

Until August,

Sarah

This is the top of my desk, and a pastel painting I did of a forest scene. I rather like the sunny reflection, sunshine has been way too scarce these past few months.

Chuck bought the prints when he was in the Navy and in Okinawa.

This next painting is of Swankey my cousin Karens sheep, who also lives at Decatur. I have posted it before, but not in this context. ( on the fireplace mantel).

In early June Chuck and I drove down to Yacolt, WA, stayed with dear friends Linda and Fred. They served us a wonderful dinner, and we played a board game, "Settlers Of Catan" that we always enjoy together. I always lose, but it is fun, never the less!

The next morning Chuck and Fred headed out to a Tool flea market, and Linda and I went yard saleing for treasures! Found a few. Lovely big fluffy bath sheets for only 2 dollars each, and Linda got a whole service for 12 set of English ironstone dishes really cheap. I told her she must have a party now, and invite me! After we ran out of yard sales we drove into Portland Oregon on the back roads, and wandered through antique stores in the neighborhood our son Nat and Kari live in. More treasures!

Chuck and Fred met us about 2 at Nat's house, and Fred and Linda went home. Kari was at a graduation ceremony for the school where she teaches . So, Nat took us to The Rhododendron garden near Reed College. These were some of the flowers and scenery there, plus one of Nat and their doggy "Bella".

Went out to dinner with Nat and Kari at a restaurant in their neighborhood of Selwood. I really like the neighborhood, old Craftsman style houses and pretty gardens.

Birthday Flowers

My birthday is May 19th, and I think this is the perfect time of year, especially when the sun is shining as it is today. Flowers are blooming and all the summer is yet to come. We are supposed to have 3 or 4 days of sun in a row now, and after a really soggy spring this is such a joy. When Chuck was in the Navy and we lived in far away places I used to tell people that when the sun comes out in western Washington we say, "Oh, look! the sun!" Maybe I scared away a few!

I need to practice flower arranging for Cyndi's wedding table decorations next year, but she very sweetly told me she will love whatever I make. I am hoping there are still tulips in bloom on May 12, 2012. I may have to plant bulbs at staggered times to make it happen.

Lisianthus, white bleeding heart, lilacs, and bells of Ireland, the arrangement on our dining table at the moment.

Roche Harbor Trip

Last weekend we went to Roche Harbor on our boat, Seascape. Here is Captain Chuck at the helm as we are transiting the slough from LaConner marina to the San Juan Islands. The weather was calm on Friday, a few showers Friday night, but mostly nice on Saturday. The church is called "Our Lady of the Sea" and is part of the resort. This was our view from the boat: beautiful! The photos don't do the place justice so I may have to paint my impressions.

There were many large planters of spring flowers, including tulips and narcissus, arranged down the brick walkway that separates old Hotel De Haro from the gardens and the marina. Even on a cloudy day it was "sunny" with bright flowers. Chuck attended a few workshops with the Grand Banks Assn group, while I wandered around taking pictures.

The bench flanked with flowers was in front of "The Company Store".

Pretty well stocked for a small place. I was even able to find gluten free crackers, and some great olive tepenade to add to our lunch.

This arrangement was in the "Sunken garden", and there was a wedding there on Saturday. They lucked out between showers!

The hotel as viewed from the waterfront. we didn't stay there since we had our cozy nest on the boat, but it would be fun to sometime.

Here is Seascape, tucked in with mostly larger yachts. MUCH larger!

She is plenty big enough for two of us, however. (facing out, next to empty slip).

The trip home was in a solid downpour with mists resting on the island tops. I won't complain about rain when the water is this calm though. We were warm and dry in the cabin, and I got my art supply bag totally organized en route!

Painting On The Boat

Here I am, working in a sketchbook on our boat. this only works at anchor and on smooth crossings of the straights. The laptop was set up to view some of my photos.

My Grandsons: Kevin at age 4, Ryan at age 2 oil on canvas