Happy Earth Day!

The birds and the bees,  the water and the trees, flowers, rocks, mountains…..whats not to love?
It inspires me daily.

Happy Earth Day!

Some paper-cut art patterns in honour.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

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Seed and Pod Inspiration

Looking for a little seed and pod inspiration? I have some for you!
These are courtesy of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Interesting shapes and shapes within shapes. Great texture. Lovely ,earthy colors. I wish I knew the names of some of these as I am very intrigued by them and curious to know more.

For more seed and pod inspiration you can visit Pinterest. I have started a board Inspired by Nature where I pin my images of objects found, in real life and in my virtual one too.Lots to see there!

Sketching ~ my take on seeds and pods. I have my most fun drawing objects found in nature. I love playing with organic shapes and adding in my own textures. I have no patterns made with these to date, but they have found their way into alot of my paintings and collage work.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with! If you would like to share, post to #shareyoursketch on Instagram.

I am heading off to NYC to walk Surtex this weekend. I still can’t believe I am going.

I have been hearing about this show for the past year and am super curious as to what it is all about. I get the added bonus of a trip to NYC and the chance to meet up with lots of art and design friends that I have met over the years.Will keep you posted on my adventures there!

Have a great weekend!

Finding inspiration on a winters walk

Last week I was thinking that spring is just around the corner. Once again, I have been fooled by Mother Nature. We are expecting 30-60 cm of snow this week in Whistler, B.C.

It is usually at this time of year that I start to crave color, lots of color, in my life. I am surrounded by many different shades of gray and white and while I still find it beautiful, a little pop of color would be a welcome change.

Todays walk had me trudging along, eyes downward, in search of some sketching inspiration. I was a bit surprised to find a bountiful of old, decayed foliage around. Lots of different shapes, colors and texture all supplied by a bit of cold weather and snow.

I was a little amazed at some of the little tidbits of nature I found.

Twenty minute sketch time ~ no thoughts on perfection just some fun mark making, paying attention to the different shapes and textures. Some more marks and hopefully some inspiration for a cool motif to add to my ever-growing collection.

This is also very nice to come upon in the middle of winter. Yarn bombing is alive and well in Whistler.

This still beings a smile to my face every time I see it. I am almost tempted to learn how to knit.

What am I thinking?No.

My husband is still trying to convince me that it would be really cool if I got a black sharpie and doodled all over our front yard birch tree. I think he may be making fun of me.

My walking companion, Cariboo, patiently waiting for what he feels is rightfully his. I swear he was rolling his eyes during the photoshoot.

Inspired by…sunlit sugar magnolia

One of my all time favorites…

Sugar magnolia, ringing that bluebell, caught up in sunlight, come on out singing I’ll walk you in the sunshine, come on honey, come along with me.

Shes got everything delightful, she’s got everything I need,
A breeze in the pines and the sun and bright moonlight, lazing in the sunshine yes
Indeed.

Everybody loves a bunch of flowers ..here is my bouquet for you!

Wouldn’t you love to have a branch or two of these in your entrance way…

And thats only from one tree! Imagine a boulevard lined with these…

Only in beautiful Vancouver , B.C. ~ April showers brings an explosion of May Magnolia flowers…

Do you have some flowers to share? Anything goes.. print, paper, paint and even jewelled.

Head on over to Lori Moon’s blog and join in her May Flower Challenge.

The sun is shining here. The birds are singing. I can even here a lawn mower…

Do I dare say spring is here!?

Inspired by…april showers,may flowers and a little skunk

April showers bring May flowers. Well one can only hope..

Around here all my flowers are painted…not planted. Forecast calling for snow flurries tomorrow. I smile only because it’s almost funny. I dare Mother nature…

In our neck of the woods April showers also brings Skunk Cabbage! A sure sign that more spring is right around the corner..followed by more spring like weather. Lots of spring around here.

Pretty~ Pretty smelly.

Western skunk cabbage is also known as swamp lantern. How pretty is that name?  Want to take a guess as to why its called skunk cabbage? Thats right…for the skunky odor it emits. A favorite saying around our town

You know you’re a local when….when you actually love the smell of skunk cabbage swamp lantern.

I do! For me its Whistler…its spring. A sign of summer to come.

I went for a dog walk yesterday to take pictures of things inspiring me. I knew that once I was out in the fresh air all thoughts of warm breezes,sunny days, bluebird sky would dissipate. Because, truth be told, I am actually quite inspired by death and decay.

I don’t know why..I love the antique, distressed feel, the organic shapes formed?? Maybe its just the experience of getting out there in the rain, at one with nature (insert eye roll).
Soft smelling skunk, a light mist rolling over the mountains and lake, many shades of gray, the anticipation of summer, my goofy dog…..or maybe it’s just my rose-colored glasses. Whatever it is ~ it makes me smile.

Whenever I need a hit of inspiration I get out my camera and start with my birch. I love my birch. They have been the subject of many a photo shoot. Look at all the lovely layers of paper…which of course have made their way into my daily collage.



It’s all good. I don’t know if I could imagine a life without seasons.

Thanks today goes out to Lori Moon. I started this blog post to participate in her May Flower challenge. Look where it led me…to a fine, appreciation of this gloomy rainy day!
If you would like to play along or just need a dose of prettiness, go on over to her blog and have a look!
I hope you have on your rose-colored glasses today! (especially if you live in the pacific northwest:)

Inspired by…a little creative license

When nature calls I come running. I work well with the sun shining, windows wide open, birds chirping and lots of life surrounding me. My perfect world.

My reality?

Dirty snow, mediocre temperatures, drizzle, socked in by low-lying clouds.  I love my home, but  I lust Hawaii. (Unless of course I can have a bluebird, spring ski day…)

I give Whistler the love it deserves most of the year, but I just have to work a wee bit harder to find inspiration during this time of the year. Spring is long and summer short. The grass is always greener…

Call it my own personal creative license, but as I slowly work myself back into my reality I am just going to keep dreaming (and blogging) of Hawaii.

Ahhh…doesnt that just make you feel better!?? All the senses  are activated by a little ocean time…

Lava tube formed by hot lava flowing down into the ocean. Looking for an active volcano and a goddess to go with it? The Big island has it!

A little heaven on earth. Ranch land, lush, tropical rain forests, waterfalls,volcanic desert, snow capped mountains…

The Big Island has 11 of the 13 ecosystems. Its the youngest island, but the biggest and still growing, thanks to Pele, the  volcano goddess. Home of the most active volcano, Kilauea, the tallest sea mountain, MaunaKea. ~ and it also has a Walmart, Target and Pier One,scheduled to open in September!

Still working on my comfort level in the water having lived in the mountains for over 20 yrs now… waves get my heart  a thumping. I will conquer them.

In our backyard~ free! $15/stem at my local flower store, here in reality. Mango, papaya and avocado ripe and ready to go.

And always more flora and fauna…

 Big Island graffiti ~ lava rock and coral. The perfect contrast.

A perfect end to a perfect day.

Bear with me a little longer as I transition back into my real world…but a girls got to dream!

Where’s your perfect world? The internet makes our big, beautiful world so accessible…I would love to check yours out!

Inspired by…a walk on the wild side

Solvitur ambulanto ~ it is solved by walking.

I love to walk. It is one of my favorite pastimes.  It is rejuventing and refreshing. The body moves, the mind calms. Some of my best problem sovling comes when out for a walk.

You’ll find the answer as you go.

 I have been hitting the trails for a good couple of hours daily. It has been a winter wonderland here in Whistler.We have had over 8 ft of snow alone in March, 4 ft of which fell last week. More snow is on its way….

I have mixed feelings about snow in March. The days are longer and the hope of Spring is in the air.I actually let myself daydream about long summer days. Something I would never allow myself to do in February! It is important to embrace the  weather here otherwise it makes for a very long cold winter.
Bluebird days make the going a bit easier.
Taking time to notice the show that nature provides.

Stocking up the creative well with images. Love walking and paying attention to all the detail around me.

My favorite walking companion…Caribooo

Take the time. Admire the view Enjoy the journey.

 

P.S. Sorry Flytribe girls…no cute shoes here! Its all boots,ski boots or snowshoes over here. I have come to the realization that I am a bit of a barefoot kind of girl. I am either in ski boots or barefoot….or flip flops when life is really good!
If you want to see some really cute shoes check out our blog hop over here at The Creativity Tribe.
I feel some online shopping coming on…