Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

Roscoe & Kalvin

I adopted a new kitty.  He's 4 months old and already big for his age.  He's all white with a black cap, nose, and tail, with green eyes.  My daughter named him Roscoe.  My son adopted his playful buddy, a 3 month old tiger, and named him Kalvin.

We planned on getting only one, but the shelter was having an "Adopt A Buddy" Special.  After seeing these two playing together combined with my son's comments, "Oh, Mom, how can you separate them. They need each other."  Well, you know how it ends up: 2 kitties singing a duet from their cardboard boxes in the back seat, more cat food bowls set out in the kitchen, to extra thump-thump-thumpings up and down the wood stairs early in the morning as the chase each other.

The best part is all the extra purrs and cuddles they generously give.

Floral Teacup on Lace Doily

                                                                                                                 Artwork © Kimberly Shaw
8" x 10" Watercolor on 140 lb Hot Press paper.
The china pattern on this teacup is one of my favorites, usually unmarked.  I adopt whatever I can find with this design on it, mostly small plates and teacups.  And, as you know, I love painting the negative space of doilies.  This is second in a series of 3 originals I'm planning to sell in my Etsy shop when all 3 are finished. Although now I have an idea for a fourth.

Judy Shops at Pickets

Judy, a sweet Flickr friend and Blogging buddy, blessed me when she sent me a note saying, "Check this out Kim,"  with a link to these photos. While in Golden, Colorado she visited this charming store in historic downtown Golden, CO named "Pickets"  a  Home and Garden Shop.   Inside she found a rack of my Teacup Greeting cards and took a picture to share with me.  Isn't she sweet?  I hardly ever see my Teacup Cards in stores, so this was a real treat for me to see.  Judy is an incredible artist and gardener whose delightful blog Oobos, The Adventures of a Gardening Artist is a delight to read. I especially love her adorable Sumi-e birds and frogs.

Photos used by permission, Thanks Judy!!!

A Little Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak at the second in a series of watercolor paintings I'm working on, all with embroidered lace.  I don't use masking fluid when painting lace, because by the time I finish applying the sticky substance, I could already be done painting each little opening. Plus I like controlling where I leave more paint leaving darker edges.

But, to be perfectly honest, this part of the painting has been done for a while waiting for me to remove all the creative clutter I piled on my desk.  I'm hoping that by posting what I have finished so far will motivate me to clean off my desk from what's hindering me from having fun. 

Methow Valley Homestead

I just discovered how fabulous the Methow Valley Homestead is when Deb Stennes, 3rd generation orchardists, included her website link with a re-order of my Teacup Greeting cards she placed for her shop.

This place has it all: gorgeous scenery, rich history, family heritage, and acres of organic orchards where they grow Cherries, Pluots, Pears, Apples and Plums.

I couldn't resist sharing it with you. I haven't been here, but if I am blessed enough to be in North Central Washington State, I'll make a special trip to visit, but where do I start.

Their Gift Shop looks welcoming, the  Restaurant's menu is tempting, but then there is also the Homemade Ice Cream topped with fresh organic fruit, or Grandma Debbie’s homemade fudge, and freshly roasted Organic Coffee brewed into a yummy Espresso. 

   

Have you checked out their website at www.methowvalleyhomestead.com and discovered their rich history? Doesn't it look like a wonder place to visit? If you ever get an oportunity to go, or have been lucky enough to have been there, let me know about your visit.

All photos used by permission from the Methow Valley Homestead website. Thanks Deb!

Western Scrub Jay Painting

3' x 4' acrylic painting  on canvas © Kimberly Shaw

I painted this canvas for my son. While he was away at camp last week, hubby and I surprised him with a new room.  His older sister relinquished her slightly larger room, so we covered up the Cosmopolitan Pink with Durango Blue. The sky on this canvas was painted with the extra blue paint and white from the bead board. Since my son loves birds, I painted this Western Scrub Jay from a photo I took while at Fort Tejon recently.  As I pointed my camera at him, he ruffled his feathers and cocked his head for a pose.
 
My mom made this quilt for him a couple of years ago.
He very was surprised and loved it!

I lucked out on this huge canvas, only $2.  A local sporting goods business was redesigning their store selling their display boards covered in jersey fabric. I was there with hubby looking for a baseball bat for the son.  Wanting them only for the frames since I had a roll of canvas already I bought 5 in different sizes.  When I removed the jersey I found they already had canvas underneath.

Delta Farm House

8"x10" watercolor on 140 lb hotpress paper © Kimberly Shaw

This is my favorite view in the California Delta. From a boat on the Sacramento River this adorable farm house, I'm guessing was built in the 1920's, peaks over the levee road surrounded by spectacular trees.  Earlier this month I happened to be lucky enough to float by just as the setting sun filtered through the trees, when my son fell off his wake skate.  He had to wait a bit for us to go back and pick him up as I captured a few photos.  He wasn't in any danger, though, since we were the only boat out that day.

I was inspired to paint this view from my study of Jeremiah.  Chapter 17:7-8 reads, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the Lord.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."

This is our family's favorite wakeboarding spot because the water is always glassy and there are hardly any other boats all week, so I'm sorry but I have been sworn to secrecy not to reveal its exact location.  If you happen to be lucky enough to know where this is, you know what I'm talking about. Shhh

Stolen Design Work?

Found THIS posted at QUILT NEWS.

I'm speechless.

The Tea Winner is...

   
I folded each lady's adorable comment like a tea bag and...

put them in a tea pot, where  Georgia reached in with her

dainty fingers and pulled out a winner!   Congratulations!

Sarah B (pretty close to Boulder) you're the WINNER of the Celestial Seasonings Tea Give Away!!!

Thanks all for playing, it's always a lot of fun for me to give out of the abundance of what God gives, and then see who is blessed by it.

Sarah, please email me your address at kimberlyscottage@att.net and I'll be happy to send your bundle of tea right off to you.

Pink Teacup on Lace Doily

                                                                                                                 Artwork © Kimberly Shaw
8" x 10" Watercolor on 140 lb Hot Press paper.
I've been wanting to challenge myself by painting an embroidered doily.  I love painting negative space and by letting the white of the paper be the doily, I just painted the holes.  I couldn't resist adding a pink teacup just peaking in, as though it's waiting to be filled with a relaxing cup of tea.

First in a series of 3 originals I'm planning to sell in my etsy shop when all 3 are finished. This will be the first time I've sold original watercolor paintings.