More plein air shots

Here I am, sitting on a bench in an indoor shopping mall near the Half Moon Bay harbor, painting in my sketchbook. You can see my very complex set-up, with a small travel paintbox balanced on my leg and a bottle of water in my left hand. The other photo shows the shop window with the orchid that you can see on the left-hand page of in the same sketchbook. On the same day, I also painted the watercolor of green plants that is shown in my last blog post.

Quick update

I have been busy, really! But someone borrowed my camera so I have not taken many pictures recently. Here are a couple of watercolor and ink sketches I did with the plein air group. Hope to do a lot more next year!

I'm a sketching fool

I did all of these sketches, except the unfinished eucalyptus leaves at the top, at last week's plein air group. From top to bottom: a colored pencil drawing of eucalyptus leaves that I started today during my local "saturday painters" group, using some leaves that I found in the community garden. Next is a pencil sketch of a scarecrow. Below that: me, working hard in the community garden (drawing, not gardening). Next, corn stalks drawn in fine-tipped sepia marker. Last, a partially shaded-in pencil drawing of an artichoke plant.

Another plein air outing

Last week, the plein air painters met at a small community garden in El Granada. After a couple of hours, we set up our work in a wooden table there. My color pencil sketches are on the right (back row). I'm trying to learn how to do layering as my botanical art teacher has explained it, this is not easy.

Tree tunnel

You can see why I call this the "tree tunnel." It's the same place I sketched last week, only this time I concentrated on a wonderful avenue of bent-over trees. The photo shows the view that I drew in my ink pen sketch.

Weekend fun

Here I am last week, sketching in the shade of big gnarled trees near the beach. I broke off a small branch of one of the trees that had a lot of interesting round pinecones on it, and brought it home to sketch later. You can see my efforts in the second photo.

Plein air by the beach

Today I did two sketches with the plein air painters at Poplar Beach in Half Moon Bay. The other sketch is from my botanical art class, we did a lot of experiments with colored pencil.

More recent drawings and paintings

This is a mix of ink drawings and watercolor sketches done at my botanical art class and during the plein air group at Farmer John's Pumpkin Farm in Half Moon Bay.

Pacific International Quilt Festival

On the same weekend as the Pumpkin Festival, I went to the huge Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara. Here are just some of the wonderful artworks on display there. An "evil" cat face quilt (sorry, I didn't get the artist's name), a wonderful 3D beaded frog made by Thom Atkins (about 15 inches tall), and a layered pumpkin wall quilt made by Sarah Roberts.

Pumpkin Festival 2009

Last year, I was in Atlanta during the Pumpkin Festival. So this year I really enjoyed it (it's good to take a break from the madness). Just two photos for you: the little tie dyed shirt I got for Baby J, and a guy wearing a very scarey mask at the Half moon bay Yacht Club's calamari booth. I also got two fimo-clay switchplate covers for our house, on sale for $5 each. The weather was perfect and the craft and food booths were not too crowded.

Finally, some artwork

Several things happened this week to get me drawing and painting again. First, our little local Saturday Painters group got together again, and I did a quick "flower vase" painting in watercolor, from a photo I took during the summer of flowers from my garden. Second, I began an 8-week Botanical Art class at the SF Botanical Gardens, and made a quick ink sketch of holly and berries from the gardens. Third, I joined the Half Moon Bay Plein Air painting group at Farmer John's Pumpkin Farm and did some quick watercolor studies in my sketchbook. Tons of fun!

Finished Victorian Lace Shawl

I've been totally neglecting my blog, sorry about that. But I have been busy knitting, last night I finished this Victorian Romance lace shawl. It was a mystery knitalong designed by Renee Leverington of Goddess Knits. The group received the pattern for free, but it is now available for purchase.

Sanchez Adobe on my birthday

Today I went to lunch with friends for my birthday (Portofino in Pacifica) and afterwards we checked out a fascinating show at the Pacifica Art Center. Each artist made 50 small pieces of art in 50 days. Here's a few photos to give you an idea of what the show was like.

A new painting and my talented son

I finally finished a floral painting I started awhile ago. Instead of tracing the photo, I sketched it and didn't paint in every leaf in the background, so this is a big different style for me. The other artwork here was created by my talented son, they are all based on the "long cat" Internet theme.

Back from Atlanta

Here's the cat quilt I showed you earlier, with Baby J! I just got back from a week in Atlanta to visit her. Such a cutie! I have more pics to share, but jet lag is catching up with me, time to retire for the night.

Cats in the window

This won't be much of a surprise if my son sees it, but I made this bright quilt to send to baby Jeannette. I used the "envelope" method of sewing the backing, batting, and top together and then turning it right-side out, so there is no binding needed. It still needs machine quilting and then I will pop it in the mail. I also finished the Mola Quilt that I had pieced together a few months ago.

First grand baby, first clothing design

I looked all over but could not find a christening gown that I liked. They were either way too elaborate (I had only a few weeks to make it) or too simple, like white play dresses. So I did what any thinking knitter would do, and designed one. Using creamy cashmere laceweight from my stash--I don't need a white lace shawl for myself, after all. Here it is! I am posting the pattern for sale on ravelry, and if you do not belong to ravelry, you can send me $5 via paypal and I'll send you the PDF pattern in exchange. Pictures of actual baby wearing the gown will be posted as soon as I have them.

I'm a grandma!

This little face is the reason I am now a grandma! My oldest son and his wife have been trying to adopt for a long time, and last week they were finally lucky enough to bring home this little charmer. Her name is Jeannette and I am now madly knitting a christening gown for her.

Marina rose in full bloom

I don't think this has ever happened--my Marina rose (that is its real name, the same as mine so of course I had to plant one in my garden) had four blooms at the same time! I waited a bit too long to take the pictures, so two of the flowers are falling apart, but you can still see their petals on the bush. The other picture is a wood sculpture garden that is along Main Street in Half Moon Bay, they are all made by the same artist. I can't remember his name right now, but he is a well-known local artist.

happy mother's day

This lovely bouquet just arrived, sent by my wonderful son and daughter in law who live far away in Atlanta. It came with a box of chocolates, too! What a wonderful day :-)