Saturday, January 31, 2009

January 31....a photo a day....

Last day of our photo a day challenge.... I think we all enjoyed it. It was very handy for me to have a ready made motivator ... something to keep me moving in a forward direction for the month following the silly season. Yes, I did also get to do my usual major "spring clean" as I call it. I like to do it reeeellly early.... so I don't miss out on any good weather.
North of the 49th, we like to be outdoors in any good hours... unless you are a winter sport nut....then... all year round is outside weather I suppose. I never had a hankering to ski.. riding up the mountains freezing my butt ... .... not really my idea of much fun.










I've been admiring my two beautiful small oil paintings for years. ..... bought them in Victoria when I used to fly there to visit my Mom.

Finally got them framed and then they sat another few years... being admired on the floor in various spots.... but, ... today, we got them hung. Yaaaaaay!

Mr. BV is pretty picky and prefers me to wait for him to help hang things. If I did it I would stagger them or hang them higher or lower than he wants to view them. If I didn't feel like going out to get the hammer from the toolbox..I'd just use a shoe to bang in the nail. What's the big deal? .... oh, well... I don't mind if he likes to level and measure ... they definitely do look perfect when he's done. But... sometimes it takes forever to nail him down. But, .... finally today I said... let's hang pictures and he had no excuse and nothing pressing it seemed. Hah! Handed him the picture hooks.... had the level and hammer at the ready..... et voila!

My seaside vignette.













I want something larger than my mermaid on that corner of the table... something more or less flat but heavier.... to balance the effect.











But, for now... she is part of my display.. although I hate leaving my dolls out to gather dust.














This is Mertika.... a distant cousin of Echlin,














a little elfin doll I made in an online class. A tail instead of legs and she became a sea creature.... shells, seaweed and even some pearls complete the ensemble...














Some of you may have checked out my picturetrail site and will have seen her already. Some people are not as nosy as me and don't hop all over looking at the goodies.... I always laugh when I look at my clever idea for earrings... dainty little snails .....

her face is done with watercolour pencils....
the face drawing was what drew me to the class ... this is one of the first three faces I did after getting my class information.... still love her face....

Our daily photo group hated to give it up totally....so.... we are going to continue, but only do one a week. After feeling obliged to keep up and then getting right into it and really enjoying the challenge.... ... I somehow got energized ... I have also managed to do some workouts daily...and now... feel ready to get on with "something".... I haven't a clue what yet....but.... something......









Perhaps something besides baking which seems to have become my latest passion and hobby... which reminds me.... please check out my latest.. ... Blueberry Coffee Cake... mmmm....

14 comments:

Draffin Bears said...

I have enjoyed looking in to see your photo a day. You always seem to manage some fun pics.
Your oil paintings look good hanging on your wall and so much better than on the floor.

Also love your little Mermaid doll - so cute.

Hugs
Carolyn

JudiA said...

It has been a GREAT thing to keep me from sliding into my usual "January Nap"! I have always wanted to own some real paintings other than my own -- those are exactly the style I love best. When an artist piles on the paint with a shovel so you can see the texture as well as the color. Yeah... good stuff!

sandy said...

I enjoyed reading this, seeing your darling dolls. and hearing about your Mr BV ...and picture hanging, ha.

I've enjoyed following along here and will keep coming by.

It's been fun and you always write such fun posts.

Cheryl said...

Veronica, this is the first I have seen Echlin as a mermaid. She is adorable and as usual you do such great faces. Love your pictures too. My DH is just like yours when it comes to me hanging pics or him. I have learned that he will never do it if I leave him to his own devices. I motivate him by getting out the pics, nails, hammer and heading off to to it myself. Boy, does that ever get him moving. LOL

Serena Lewis said...

Congratulations on finally getting your two paintings hung...they look perfect on the wall.

Your dolls are so beautiful, Vee...I love their faces...so soft and angelic. I particularly love your mermaid...she's perfect in every way!

Anonymous said...

I love you paintings and the vignette you set up, but I adore your mermaid and Echlin also, both faces are so well done and very innocent looking, just beautiful work!!

Gina said...

They're gorgeous paintings!..your husband sounds a lot like mine..he still has many pressing things..and says that's a rainy day job! (I have 2 prints in cylinders going back 15 years..waiting for M to frame them lol) Love your dolls and the clear jar arrangement too! Gx
p.s I've tagged you if you feel like playing :D

Timaree said...

I like those paintings too. I end up doing stuff myself because my husband always has something "more important" going on. I won't wait forever anymore - I'm at an age I don't feel like I have forever anymore.

I love your face on the doll! And you did it with water color pencils - only? Or is there more to it? I may have to take a class like that to learn how to put a face on with those pencils.

Baking sounds like a very good hobby during winter. It always warms up the house more than my husband will let the heater do.

Jennifer Rose said...

the paintings looks really nice hung up and your dolls are very pretty. I would be to afraid of someone getting them dirty to keep them out from behind glass.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't find an email to reply back to your message about Echlin, I hate to admit I don't remember you from the class, about the only one I do remember is Linda. What an honor that you liked my Echlin, thank you and I think both of your's have perfect faces, you do lovely work!!

Mrs Mac said...

I can't bang nails in straight, and every time I try, I am always surprised and amazed and even amused that nail after nail bends in half. No matter how or where I hold the hammer or how hard or softly I whack it or tap it it goes crooked.

But I can't hang about waiting for K to hang them.

Xmas 2005 he bought me two prints.
Xmas 2006 he got them framed for my present. LOL! How do you like that?
This summer they were still sitting on the floor so I hung them myself.

It took about 40 nails. In the end they are balancing on some crooked ones smashed into the wall so hard there's no way they are coming out before doomsday.

I wonder what I'm doing wrong though? :)

Unknown said...

I enjoyed seeing your photo a day even if I didn't leave a comment a day! LOL! Your dolls are lovely!

HElen said...

Beautiful paintings and gorgeous mermaid! Very nice photos!

Linda Fleming said...

Love those paintings and they look fantastic up on the wall. Your Echlins are adorable- first time I have seen one made as mermaid- very clever, Vee! And the snail earrings are perfect for her.