The Getaway...

Saturday after work my husband and I headed out, for a short adventure, over one of Oregon's most beautiful passes, to visit his sister in Bend.  Believe me, traveling through this most amazingly, gorgeous part of the world...  Oh, you just really need to experience it.  It's amazing.  Here are a few pictures that I snapped coming home, trying to capture a bit of the magic. 

There's a section of the forest that was infested with a beetle, but they weren't allowed to spray, which meant the trees died...and then...a forest fire.  These next pictures show a dead forest in the background and the new growth.  It's very hauntingly beautiful.

And, then there is Bend...  A beautiful city, surrounded by snow capped mountains.  The Three Sisters being the most famous.

We didn't float down the river this time, but we have joined in the fun before, and will again.  It's a gorgeous setting.

Lots of things to do, including a brick firepit, outdoor dining, concerts and lots of charming little shops.

The desert is beautiful, too.  There were lots of flowers...all colors.  These are our favorite.

Hopefully, there will be more short Getaways this summer.  We had such a great time!!!

  

Busy...Busy...Busy

Just when you think life can't get any busier!  It does!  It's been fun, but I am ready for a quiet, slow, creative moment.  Maybe tomorrow...  I am closing the coffee shop on Sundays and Mondays through the summer.  The plan is to paint on those days.  :-)  Painting with my granddaughter is in the plans, too!  She's amazing!

I did finish, "Oscar And Izzy", a commission that I have been working on.  Very sweet cats, and my first abstract-ish, commissioned, pet piece.  It was so much fun, and definitely a style I feel I need to explore more.  

On a different note...  Has anyone been in an airport lately?  Oh, My!  We took our daughter to an airport two hours away...(so we were up at 2 am)...and I didn't know that there were that many security guards in the world!  They scan each and every drivers license now, too.  It was very interesting, and felt...strange.  I think it would make a great surreal painting.   I may have to give Surrealism a try.

Happy Sunday!

Hello

Hello!  I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post!  Life is very busy, too busy!!!  I've really missed reading blogs and posting.  I've, actually, tried to read a bit and post, but I've been so tired...things just don't come out right, so I go to bed.  I've been running the Espresso shop by myself, so that's pretty much all I've been up to.  I have been able to paint a bit at the shop, and finished this little guy, that I named Sherman, after a crazy cat that I owned 30 years ago.  He was fun to work on.  I painted him on wood, using acrylics, watercolor pencils and I used my new favorite stamp on the background and around the edge.  I'm, also, working on a commission, which I will share after I give the owner the first peek.  

Well, I guess I had better get to bed, so I can get back to making Lattes!  :-) My favorite is a coconut latte, at the moment....It's so good!   I will be back....  

I hope everyone has been well and having a great time! 

First 3/4 face...In a very long time

I have avoided the 3/4 face for most of my life, so when I saw Suzi Blu's 3/4 face class, I decided it sounded like fun, and why not give it a try.  Well, I am so glad that I decided to make the time.  Suzi is a great teacher and it's been fun learning a new technique, with very different materials.  Wow, there are a lot of new products out there!  So, while I have been waiting for my back-ordered wooden canvases, I did a little painting, and started to experiment with some of the new, to me, paints and inks.  I think, when I really get going, I am going to love this new journey!  

Blue Calico and My To Do List

I've set a few goals for myself lately, because I seem to be so busy...I find myself standing, wondering what to do next.  Do you ever do that?  I can be so scattered.  So it came to me...make a list for each day, which  MUST include exercise, and I HAVE to do everything on that list.  It's working pretty well! 

Here's my new little colorful cat.  I love the combination of dioxazine purple, light blue violet and gold ochre...throw in Mars yellow, quinacridone burnt orange and a touch or burnt sienna, finish off with golden's iridescent bright gold (which I absolutely love).  One of my favorites.  I LOVE color!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Edible Flowers For Kitty

I opened the door the other day, at the espresso shop, to find Kitty having an afternoon snack.  She seemed a little miffed that I interrupted her, but forgave me after I gave her a backrub.  I have to admit, the pansies do look yummy! 

Hello

Hi!  I'm still around...Just very, very busy.  Business at the Espresso Shop has picked up a lot, so more of my time is spent there.  I signed up for a couple of art classes, to learn new techniques, and they are amazing.  I love Jane's 'prints on wood' class,  and I am very taken with 'Suzi Blu's Piety and Passion' class.  Great new techniques that I can't wait to start.  A lot of new supplies, for me, so I've been having quite a time finding everything, but I think I'm set now.  I  don't want to know how much I spent...it'll be worth it.

I  have a new little FOX painting to share.  He's now in my ETSY shop.

Have a great evening!
Deb

Jane's Prints on Wood

Here is a link to Jane's Prints on Wood tutorial.  I'm excited to learn her technique!
http://www.grittyjane.com/blog

Happy Easter!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful, loving Easter!  We're going to my Sister-In-Law's, so I won't be cooking.  Well, I am making a couple of salads, which I love to do.  The grandchildren are excited, and coloring their eggs today.  I wish I could join them, but it's off to the shop for me!

Before I go...I have a new abstract kitty painting to share.  I thought of bees the entire time I was painting him, so his name is, "Bee Cat".

MOM

Spring, babies and Moms all go together for me.  It's a special time of year, and with Mother's Day right around the corner, I wanted to create a painting depicting the love between a Mother and Child. 

Robin and a Cat painting

I'm off to the espresso shop...but wanted to share my new Cat and Robin painting before I go.  I really enjoyed painting the robin, and since I love birds...I don't know why I haven't painted more of them. 

I hope everyone has as beautiful a Saturday as we are having in Oregon today! 

What have I been waiting for?

My friend, Lisa, decided to take her treasured dishes out of her china cabinet and enjoy them.  I thought she had a great idea, why not enjoy them!  That was probably two years ago... finally, today I decided that I should start enjoying my collection too.  So I baked some raspberry scones, which turned out so yummy, placed them on a  pink depression glass platter, and poured my coffee into a fun, pink, glass cup, as well.  Kind of makes you feel like a princess at a tea party.  Having three daughters, we had lots of tea parties over the years.  I think it's time we started having them again!

Meet Daisy and Tucker

We have two new loves in our family...Daisy and Tucker...adorable little beagle puppies...they are sister and brother.  My niece and her husband (my new nephew) have to watch them closely, so I don't take them home with me.  Believe me, I would love to!

Two New Colorful Cats

I have two new and very different cat paintings to share.  The little "Soft Kitty" painting was inspired by the quirky little song..."Soft Kitty"...which Penny sings to Sheldon in The Big Bang...one of our favorite TV shows.  If you haven't seen it...it's a must watch!  So funny! 

The next painting is my newest Color Cat.  A true stress reliever for me...just picking up a canvas, putting paint on my palate, letting my mind go blank (The hard part)...voila...a cat appears.  It's not always a good cat...I have another cat I'm now trying to save.  But it's so relaxing.........

Off to watch the Oscars and sketch!

It's FRIDAY!

What a Friday it is, too!  I am very excited about being included on EBSQ Friday Five blog! (www.blog.ebsq.com)   Thank you, Amanda!  You made my Friday extra bright!  Happy Birthday, too!

I've been extra busy with the Espresso Shop, lately, so I've been away longer than I've wanted to be.  I want everyone to know...that I really appreciate your posts and your wonderful comments!  I, also, enjoy your blogs, so very much!!!  I can't wait to catch up!

When I'm shopping, I always have to check out the flowers...first!  I posted the pretty lime green flowers that I had in my kitchen window, a while ago.  Well, here are the flowers, white with that lovely lime green in the center, that are making me smile while I do the dishes now.  How can you not feel wonderful when you have pretty flowers all around you!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  (I hope to post my newest Colorful Cat, soon, so check back later.)

Deb

Spring Flowers

It's really looking a lot like Spring around here now!  I just  had to buy a few flowers for the Espresso shop's shelves, and they inspired this little painting. 

I love gardening, and plan to do a lot of it this spring and summer.  There's nothing better than growing your own flowers, vegetables and herbs.  I Can't Wait!

Frida Inspired painting

Frida Kahlo is one of my favorite artists.  I love her use of color and her love of animals.  Over the years she has inspired me and the results have been whimsical Frida pets.  Here is my latest inspiration...

I wish everyone a great weekend! 

Mr Moose

I started out with a black canvas for Mr Moose.  Something a little different for me and it was fun.  I found that it was more difficult to bring the color out, of course, so Mr Moose looks better under a light.  I love experimenting with color and can't wait to try the dozens/hundreds of ideas I have going around in my head.  Need more hours in the day!!!  It would, also, help if I weren't so scattered.  I'm one of those.  I head to the table to paint, see the cat, stop to talk to it, hear the dryer go off...go down stairs,  run across GusGus, play with him a bit...and it's time to get to the shop!  Oh well...that's where I usually paint.

A Glimpse of Spring

I couldn't believe my eyes!  Beautiful apple blossoms and daffodil buds surrounded the espresso shop today!  I grabbed my camera to document the fact that Spring is very near!  I'm thinking a spring flower abstract would be a lot of fun to create!

Tomorrow I will post my latest painting...Mr Moose.

Have a great evening!

Deb

AND...THE WINNER IS!!!

CANDY !!! 

Congratulations, Candy!

Rory picked Candy's name out of the bowl!  I need to learn how to post videos...it was very cute watching Rory.  So, I will send the, "FOX" print off as soon as I get your address, Candy.

I really enjoyed reading about everyone's birthdays...  I hope you had fun too!  

Have a great Friday!

Deb

Birthday Drawing

Good Morning!
The first time I saw another blogger do a drawing, I thought..."What a fun, great idea!"  I want to do that!  Well, today is my Birthday and I'm thinking it would be a good day to finally have a drawing.  The drawing will be for one of my matte prints of  the Fox.  All you have to do is leave a comment about a Birthday that was special for you.  I'm hoping I can get our Jack Russell, Rory, to draw a name out of the hat on Friday.  She's pretty good at tricks.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!

Deb

A new Fox painting

I am having so much fun painting Wildlife!  I just finished, and listed on eBay, my new little Fox painting, and I'm working on, one of my all-time favorite animals...a Moose! 

Well, it's really late, for me, and GusGus is falling asleep at my feet...I think it's time for bed!  Yay, tomorrow is Friday!

Night!

Oppea's New Home

Our sweet little Oppea decided that she needed her own place.  Rudy took the bed under the table with the long tablecloth, Rory has the comfy kennel and GusGus likes the bed under the desk...all Oppea had was a dining room chair...until now.  Her new home is private, quiet and warm...she's very happy.