Hello again as fall is here one can hardly tell when today it was 96 degrees and JUST plain HOT. Not very fall like at all. I was working over at the kitchen today I was thinking about all the cold days we have and how much that extreme cold is so painful to me. My fingers and toes just can't take it, I make HOT HAND sandwiches for my toes and fingers at the markets. Wear layer after layer and still I am COLD. Today however that cold was miles away and I was asking myself is it really this HOT and yet I LOVE the heat...but it just seems without the moisture that we normally have (we are in a mild drought) it just seems so much more hotter and more like a baking feeling. Yet I do believe that the heat is probably much more easily tolerated than the cold is, with heat ya sweat and that cools ya off a wee bit.....anywhoooo to the painting. THIS WEEKEND IS THE Newport News FALL FESTIVAL at the Newport News Park. My pickles made the post. SO we have been super mega busy....Now I have been back in my studio it has been much easier to create, but since it is on our third floor of our house....it is harder as it is not as convenient to just run out on the porch and slap a coat of paint on. So in between something whatever it is I am doing or we are doing, from goats, to chickens, to pickles, to cheese, to just life (you know mom stuff) I run back over to the house run to the third floor and slap a coat of paint on. I quite enjoyed this painting....I guess more my style as I love painting faces and watercolors. If you would like to learn more about this class go to Donna Downey 48 Weeks Online Workshop
My journal is a large Moleskin 16 1/2" x 12" which is why I use the shoes in the pic to show how large it is. It has become my most favorite surface, it is strong and large enough to paint and draw on easily. It is amnestying A3 size if you would like to get a journal like this. The A3 Size Moleskin Journal
In the class Donna tells you how to paint and uses Kate Thompsons techniques in this one, I have several classes with Kate at Art and Soul Retreats and have greatly enjoyed them thoroughly. So far I have pretty much been lucky enough to have most of the supplies, I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.....when my girls lived here they would help me organize my supplies. Bruce now helps me with it and will even come look for them if I can't find what I am looking for.
She created a life. Yes I did!!! I found so many wonderful quotes on this a life
The wings are so shiny with Stickles and of course such a great color.
she turned out so nice and like I said a joy to paint
I don't know if the pics can show it is but it has such nice texture and details
I really like this part, you can see the light and the power of the star, as it fades into the sometimes not so great times, to this beautiful soul working so hard and following her dreams and despite the days and moments of difficulties SHE remains Strong, Hopeful, and Radiant.
If you would like to check out some of the other weeks you can do so here
Go to Donna Downey's site if you would like to JOIN
I made candles last night I will be taking them out of the molds today. We go and set up today in Newport News.
Just a day in the Life :o)
Dusty and me Friday on SnapChat
More pickles YUM! We have all of our products ready Colten boxed soaps last night.
Colten boxing soap last night, behind him are the drying racks. We worked extra extra hard to get ready for this show.....plus I have had lots of calls asking us if we are going to be there. Colten will be going to Smithfield Farmers Market tomorrow. However keep in mind he will only have one table and mostly eggs, pickles, and some soaps. A very limited selection. That way he doesn't have to drive the trailer with him. He will only have one tent too and will be in our usual spot.
Come out to Newport News Fall Festival we are going to be located in the Country Store Section space 1 and 2.
Remember to stay POSITIVE, Happy, smiling, and kind.
Dawn Gallop
Some of the videos from last year at Newport News Fall Festival
Hello and a HUGE Happy Friday.....TGIF! I love Fridays and get so excited to see some of my customers tomorrow. You guys really make me sooo happy I have been hearing good things and them telling me they came here just for me......which is really AWESOME!! Last weekend at Hickory High it was wonderful to see so many of my customers and all the great people I met too. I even got invited to some upcoming events and looking forward to those shows.....HAPPY HAPPY Dance!!!
So if you can they are calling for even more rain tomorrow. I know........its like a mud fest hear on the farm. Thank goodness I got my Muck boot!! Really don't know what I would do without them.
If ya can stop by tomorrow to see me that would be super duper!!!
This week was yet a crazy one....low temps in the 20's again at night which is really hard on my little greenhouse, I do have seeds coming up....YAY!
We drove to Raleigh to pick up our ABC Producers and Special Events License for the Mead.
I made several items this week....more roll-ons which I know you want more and more types I did do one more....one with wintergreen and the sweet birch and birch tar....and some peppermint....this one is my relief on as you asked for... so you got it!
We had another baby goat born this week another Oberhasli boy which Colten has named Dumbo.
We extracted more honey. Which as I type Bruce is actually doing more right now. Colby helped too.
I made more of the salves that I have been out of.
Plus made cheese Sunday and Tuesday......
Milk goats
clean and take care of the boys....as ALWAYS a BUSY LIFE!!! LOL!
I also had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy which I had to start prep for on Monday night and the test was Thursday at 2pm soooo all I can say I was in need of food after that!
Had to order more soap boxes too, which now they have went up again. I need more jars too for canning but they have all went up more than a dollar a case. Almost two dollars....
Geezz! Sigh!
Filling the roller balls
Our Mead (of course you see my watercolor art) wink!
Bruce giving Colby and explanation of how the honey is released from the extractor.
The gray box on the table is the uncapping tank.
We still have even more boxes to extract thankfully ur of our friends loaned us the large extractor which holds ten frames at a time, this extractor only holds four frames.
The honey coming out of the extractor
A video of some of my beekeeping pics
Next week we will be at the Daffodil Festival in Gloucester Virginia which is a huge event and we are excited to go. You can view their Facebook page on the Daffodil Festival for exact times, etc.
We will be at the Smithfield Farmers Market on the 30th of March. I know my customers will be so excited to see us.
I told you I would show you some Little Shamrocks
(last year)
Skylar two years ago
One of my favorites Skylar with Boomer last year, we lost him not long after this pic. He had Lyme disease.
Skybear at Walmart last year in what she calls our twin coats.
My little sweet granbaby.
The art work on the Mead bottle from my watercolor journal
Every year I make Irish Soda Bread which the boys love
And of course a corned beef
Usually cabbage but this year I did more sauerkraut
This is the Sauerkraut
Well have a wonderful weekend and Have an EXCELLENT HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY
This is one of my favorites so far....I felt so accomplished after painting her. Enjoyed it as well.
I have been super busy and this is the time of year I start to plan for the spring and summer, as to what I am going to plant, what shows I am going to attend or hopefully attend as some you don't get into. They will say we already have that or we already have this....blah blah but then if that's the case why do we put one drugstore beside or across from the other one??? When what I have is totally different than another. So sometime s getting into certain shows can be difficult. So I have been planning a lot. Creating new ideas for other products or things I would like to do. Selling stuff on Ebay. The boys have been home a lot now from the holidays, snow, MLK Day, and now the forecast of more snow. So when I get to create something it really is a much needed and I am so thankful to do so. I also have been taking my aunt food, getting her groceries, and of course taking care of all my duties here on the farm. As you know you stay busy and when you have that time to just let your mind and heart flow into your art it is just SIMPLY AMAZING!!!
As a lot of you know I am a mom to nine children and "yes" I had them all, and "yes" they are all from the same dad. Yes I get those questions all the time when someone ask me about them and they ask why too? I feel like really you ask that why? Sometimes folks those are questions you just don't ask..... (WHEW I got that off my mind) but as a mom to nine I have certainly seen a lot, done a lot, and worked a lot. Let me tell you, WORKED a lot I have and still do, but I know ALL moms do. I am super amazed by "celebrity" moms (these moms don't have to be movie stars so to speak but moms that are more known) and blogger moms. I will read their stories etc. and be like WOW. It really astonishes me that we as moms can accomplish so much and just handle things so well. Able to plan and execute the activities, the meals, the laundry, parties, of my gosh its endless and yet still share all this. I have been trying to find the time to complete all this myself but sometimes that inner critic says "you can't do all this" but my new attitude is I CAN DO ALL THIS. I miss all my helpers from the when the older children were here but on the other hand I am so thankful that my adult children are all successful and have left home with confidence and independence and soaring on their own. I can't believe sometimes how amazing they have all developed into thriving and clearly marvelous adults.
I don't give myself any credit for this but people always remind me that this is a true success and an art, that raising children isn't easy but the rewards are all WORTH every second. I can honestly say that I put my heart into raising my children and all though they may never see that or see it now. I see it in ways that you would never expect. It makes me happy to see them mature and grow into interesting, and prosperous adults. With the older children gone from the nest and soaring with their own little bundles of joy. I don't have the help I once had where I could escape into my art studio and create and try to push all my limits and express myself to the fullest. I can remember when I could tell Alexis to cook our dinner for a family of eleven. Crystal to do laundry, Amanda to fold the laundry and mind you there was a TON of laundry. Have Cody help with the younger children. Jr. our oldest was always with his daddy working. I could create right in the center of all that was going on. The older ones helped with the homework and later we usually would go for a walk or finish up chores together. This wasn't everyday as there were all kinds of sports, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H, school projects.....games....appointment...you know LIFE. Now my life is so different yes I have four boys still at home, but I don't have the help as I once did and I work even way harder than before....I mean way harder! Some nights I am so tired that I can barely even lift my arm to read or even think of water coloring. Which it what I do mostly now since I can carry it with me anywhere and it requires very few supplies. I am no purist at it but I certainly do enjoy it and that's all that matters. With running the farm, the long hours and the markets I am so thankful to be able to make any art (on paper) Bruce tells me that my jams are art, my pickles are art, the honey, the cheese, the soaps.... and so on. It is all creating and that in itself is just fine. I wanted to share some of my watercolors as most times I don't as that inner critic comes to the surface and says NO! Honestly I put my heart into the paintings and enjoyed every step of the way and THAT TO IS all that MATTERS. One thing I want to convey in this message is to enjoy every minute of all that is going on in your life even in the hard times and the good times as you will look back on them and reflect all that you are today. As the old saying goes Rome wasn't built in a day.
This is the full layout of this watercolor girl I use Lukas watercolor paint in the half pans I carry it in my bag pretty much everywhere I go, because I don't like to be idle.
I actually used the Jane Davenport stencil to outline the perfect face. I bought those stencils several years ago which I really hadn't used as I mostly just draw them myself (although they are far from perfect) but I enjoy it and one less thing to carry with you or have. Remember My life is geared to simplify.
This was a watercolor I did while on a hike
This was the making of the girl on the hike watercolor It just makes me happy!
I like to try to random stuff and sometimes it doesn't always work out but something else is always learned along the way
Just more play
Fun stuff and a great message
This one I was inspired by Lindsey the frugal crafter on YouTube she is an AMAZING watercolorist
I love turtles
I am a Reiki 1 and 2 Certified I tend to make the symbols quite often and it comes out in my paintings ( a way to keep my skills up)
Choku Rei
Playing with color
Flow was my word for the year in 2017
Always enjoy painting bee related stuff
This was just a watercolor background and a Jane Davenport rubberstamp
One of my absolute favorites I painted while Bruce and the boys were fishing and I was sitting water coloring
More favorites I love painting sea creatures and beachy things
Some of my really early work
This was like the third or fourth watercolor I ever did and I love it
Another favorite
More backgrounds and Jane Davenport stamps
Always love sons and mushrooms
This one I painted one day while waiting on Bruce to finish a job straight from the heart
This one I think I was inspired by something on Pinterest
This one came from my inner Mindy Lacefield I have had many classes from her in the past and on her website
This was my first ever watercolor from a class from Janelle Jacobson
Some of my older work
Painted this one recently
Much more recent stuff
This one was one I created from one of Mindy Lacefields classes creating a watercolor of Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice I created this one with her camera. Mindy has the best classes affordable like $15 -$20 bucks kinda affordable. You learn a lot and who doesn't love Mindy she is wonderful. I probably told this story before but I went to an art workshop at Donna Downey's (which are AMAZING) and it was smaller event that time of year so there were two of us at one of the tables and we all got to working and I was looking over at Mindy's stuff and it hit me like a ton of bricks.....this is Mindy Lacefield sitting across from me at the same table. You know that feeling when you see someone famous and you just beam. So I say your Mindy Lacefield oh my goodness I can't believe this. I had been sitting with her a day and didn't even know it. I knew of her work but not really her face or story. So I beamed like the shiniest star in the sky the entire weekend!!! I was sitting across from one of my most favorite artist. She is a wonderful person and so very talented.
I did this one at the cabin I stayed in Crozet Virginia
I drink a lot of tea so it came to me one night to paint a tea cup
I painted this one while at my friend Jane's house, she painted a flower that night.
I love mountains and trees and this one is also one of my favs.
This is a quick video of one book
Another video of another book
As I was putting this post together I got that same feeling of that inner critic saying don't share these no one wants to see them......but I didn't listen!! I hope you find some inspiration in some of these watercolors. I feel like I am progressing as I am much more successful with acrylics and other mixed media and enjoy them all but as I said this is simple and you can take it anywhere like a sketch book and it doesn't require much stuff.
This week alone I got a lot of soaps poured and batches cut and drying I had to order more supplies as with all the soap making supplies since I use almost all organic and therapeutic it is very costly. Thankfully with the items I have sold on Ebay I have been able to buy more supplies. Winter is even harder with farm life. On the good note when you love what you do it all works out!!
Getting ready for the springtime.
I hope your New Year is going great.......! Keep up those resolutions and reading those books, keep those goals and dreams in mind and keep up the excitement and anticipation you had for the new beginnings. Each day can be a new beginning if you loose site. I know how that can be sometimes. Stay POSITIVE and ENJOY the process whatever your art or passion may be.
