Strawberry Fields Forever

When the strawberries are in blossom I know that delicious strawberries are right around the corner.  Every year in June, I participate in the Cedarburg Plein Air Paint Out in Cedarburg, WI.  The week of painting, culminates with the Strawberry Festival Weekend and art sale.  There is nothing like Wisconsin strawberries in June!  Go to www.cedarburgpleinair.com to follow the competition blog.

My subject for this still life had to be replaced several times during my painting session.  The studio spot light wilted my 'model's', the strawberry plants, leaves and blossoms.  I took the wilted plants back to the garden and re-planted them and then dug up a new fresh 'model'.  Hopefully, my strawberry fields (actually a garden) will be there forever. 

May Lilacs

I enjoy going to flea markets, estate sales and antique shops to find just the right vase for my still life arrangements.  I found this vase at an estate sale with our sons in Detroit.  This vase had evidence of heavy use by its former owner, which made me wonder if it had held lilacs before.
My palette for this painting was viridian, cadmium lemon, cobalt, alizarin, and cadmium red.  The perfume scent from these lilacs infused the entire cottage studio as I quickly mixed these beautiful pigments to capture the lilacs before they wilted. 

Embroidered Cloth

Generations before Martha Stewart, women were enhancing their homes and families lives with beauty.  I love to go to garage, estate and flea market sales where I search for these women's creations of years ago.  I am drawn to the tables heaped with the needlework of women.  They used their rare leisure time to embroider, tat, needlepoint, quilt, knit and crochet their visions.  After buying this little cloth embroidered with violets and daisies (with a finishing touch of crochet on the edges  :-)  ), I was excited to place it on my table with daffodils in a tea cup.  This unsigned lovely needlework cloth now enhances the beauty of my painting and my home.