rainy day

Well, I am enjoying a beautiful, quiet, rainy day today.  It's been raining steadily since last night and there's just a fresh, wet, quiet peacefulness in the air today.  So I took a walk through my neighborhood and garden this morning and thought I'd share some of what I saw with you.

As you can see, summer's blooms and blossoms are still to be found, but the colors of fall are also starting to make their appearances.  This is the time of year when days are still warm and sunny, but the mornings begin to carry the first wafts of fall's fragrance and chill. 

I actually enjoy rainy days.  I guess they make me slow down and savor the sounds of trickling water and puddles splashing.  It's a good day to be still and reflect and enjoy the beauty and miracle of the change of seasons.  I hope you get to slow down and see some miracles in your day today, too.

blessings and happiness,

Athena

on the needles

Well, besides loving to do

I also love to

So today I thought I'd share with you what I have on the needles and what I have waiting in the wings.  Currently, I'm working on a pair of leg warmers I'm hoping to wear this winter with boots and skirts.  I'm using a gorgeous yarn hand-dyed by some friends of mine, Madeline and Megan.  It's from a local yarn shop Madeline owns called, Knit One Weave Too.  It's a sock yarn and is knitting up so beautifully.  The pattern is just simple stockinette, but I think it really shows off the variegation of the yarn.  The pattern is from: 

Book 1:  the Knit Stitch, Inspiration and Instruction

by Sally Melville. 

Waiting in the wings are 3 more beautiful yarns I bought while Rob and I were vacationing in the Pacific Northwest earlier this summer.  The first one is my Seattle yarn, by Ty-Dy socks.  I got it just a block or so down from Pike Place Market at So Much Yarn. 

My plan was to make socks out of all of these, but I may end up doing leg warmers if I like how this first pair turns out.  The next yarn is from KnitPurl in Portland, Oregon.  I forced myself to buy something that did not have purple in it.  But upon closer inspection this actually does have a teeny smidge of lavendar.    =) 

This is Pico Accuardi hand-dyed by Larissa Brown. 

Lastly, a yarn from a shop in Cannon Beach, Oregon called, Coastal Yarns.  This is Socks that Rock by Blue Moom Fiber Arts.

See?  I just can't get away from purple!

Now, as if that's not enough, I stumbled upon the fall/winter issue of Debbie Bliss knitting magazine in the bookstore that had a really cool sweater pattern in it.  The pattern is called Point Edge Coat.  It's an assymetrical style tunic length cardigan/jacket.  I've been wanting to make myself a cardigan and this one would really suit me, but I think it will have to wait for a while. 

So I have quite a lot to keep me busy at home and at soccer games all fall and winter long...  Now, the question is could I possibly finish the sweater before spring gets here?!

Well, I hope you have something fun to knit, sew, read, create or enjoy today.  Maybe you could let me know what's in the works for you.  Until next time,

blessings and happiness,

Athena

an artful journey unveiled

Well, I promised I'd share some of what I've been working on and here it is.  What I've been trying to do is create something I could use as banner art for this blog.  I also needed new business cards, so I created new art for those as well. 

I started with some basic sketches, some for the banner art and some for what I think will eventually become mixed media works.  Now bear in mind I have no idea how to actually make this magically appear on the computer as a banner yet, but hopefully, I'll figure it out soon.  If not, I may end up needing to turn to professional help.  (Did you know there are 173 pages of graphic designers on etsy?!)

I don't know where the little lamb and horse will fit into everything, but I like the way they look.  We'll see...

My little table covered in ideas and half finished drawings...

The piece above with the gypsy wagon is what I want to use as a banner.  It's done with pen, art papers, colored pencil and watercolor.  I really like how it turned out.

This is the piece that I used for the new business card:

I'm also planning on doing some sort of "about me" page and an artist's statement page.  This is all a pretty big deal for me, because a few months ago I didn't even have my own camera, let alone know how to download and upload pictures or run a blog!  Now here I am figuring it out as I go along.  So I'm kind of excited because all these little things that are probably totally easy for most people, are really huge victories for me.

So you're part of my artful journey now, too.  You'll get to see this all unfold along with me.  I can see in my mind how I want it to turn out, and I'm hoping I'll be pleased with the results (read:  I hope I can do this without screwing up.).  So wish me luck and until next time,

blessings and happiness,

Athena

reflections

Dearest readers, before I begin I must share that my eyes are filled with tears as I read all the kind and loving words of encouragement you have blessed me with.  But none more so, than the truly special words from Mr. Anonymous -- my faraway Rob.  He is currently out of the country on one of his many foreign travels and I am brought to tears by the love that has reached so far across our planet to me today.  :)

So today I was reflecting on what a treasure I have in my family and thought I'd share some photos from much earlier in the summer.  I had just gotten my new camera and was still learning how to use it

and what it ( or I ) was capable of. 

I was spending a peaceful, quiet morning in the park with young Sean.  His sisters were otherwise engaged (taking a fun painting class from a friend of mine) so we had some time together just the two of us. 

Seany loves to swing.  At home he'll go out in the yard and sit quietly and swing and swing and swing -- all by himself -- just really peaceful, and hum or sing to himself.  Those moments are so precious (read: valuable) aren't they?

Those first warm May days of summer seem so long ago now.  Here we are in September!  And Fall is just around the corner.  I do really enjoy Fall:  the color, the cooler air, the crisp newness in how I see the world, the distant beckoning of holidays and family celebrations...

But for now, summer is still holding on, not wanting to go away quite yet.  Still turning tomatoes and peppers in our garden red, still making me wish there was shade at soccer games, still causing me to squint in her bright afternoon light as I wait for the children after school. 

 

So I leave you until next time when I'm hoping to share something I'm really excited about.  So many new ideas and creative thoughts have been spinning in my little noggin since the creation of these gypsy-girl paintings (what should I call her?).  Any way, I'm hoping to get a clearer vision of where

she will lead me on this artful journey and am hoping

you will come along on the caravan ride. 

blessings and happiness,

Athena

soaring to new heights

Doesn't this just give you a sense of freedom and empowerment?  Sometimes I feel very unsure of myself when I want to do something really big.  Like when I wanted to dip my toe in the pool.  But this painting reminds me to just be bold and step out in faith, that I can do it and I really can soar to new heights if I give myself the chance. 

That's me...half the time knitting without a pattern, and the other half, modifying it so much I'm not completely confident it will actually to turn out to be what it's supposed to be. 

Maybe that's how it is with life sometimes.  I just have to be true to myself and let my own creative spirit lead the way.  I always am incredibly inspired by other people's work, but I never want to copy.  I know we each have something unique and special and precious inside us.  I guess the joy of the journey is just letting it come out and seeing what it turns into.

Well, I hope you like it wherever you are, and that today you'll have the opportunity to just sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy the view for awhile. 

blessings and happiness,

Athena

new paintings

Remember when I shared this with you the other day?  Well, this is one of six paintings I worked on last week.  Remember how I was telling you they're so different from other things I've done up to now?  You'll have to tell me what you think of her, and whether she should keep coming to life in future paintings.  I'm hoping you can read the words, but if not this one's called, "she always loved the smell of rain".

Don't you just love the fresh, cool smell of rain?  Sometimes you can smell it in the air, before it even starts raining.  And around here, where summers can have oppressive heat and humidity, the smell of rain is always good news!

 

The girl in this painting is sooo my daughter, Brooke.  From the day that girl was born, she's had a smile on her face.  She is totally, completely, and eternally full of joy...  She's a constant reminder that,

"a cheerful heart fills the day with song".

The last one I'll share for today was inspired by an art journal page I did sometime last year.  I was contemplating how to be happy.  And I thought, if I just plant my "happy seeds" (regardless of how I may feel at the time), and just be thankful for the simple things -- my day to day blessings -- and pray for God's peace, He'll send the blessings. 

All I have to do is just plant the seeds,

He'll do the rest.

So, this painting is kind of about hope.  Hope that the future always holds a promise of something good to come. 

Like the seasons of the year.  I'm not a big fan of winter, the bitter cold and ice storms and seemingly eternal grey skies, but I get through it by remembering there's always the promise of spring.  

These paintings give me a sense of hope, expectancy, empowerment, and joy. 

I hope they bring you some joy too.    :)

blessings and happiness,

Athena