Wow this month is whizzing by!!! I was thinking on painting and how I procrastinate starting new projects. I was wondering why? I guess it's physiological really. I always find the first painting strokes are the hardest when I start. I guess it kind of goes through the what I call (yuckie stage). And then as I add more layers of paint I find it hard to stop. Funny eh? I have had people ask "how do you come up with ideas?" I think we are all influenced by what's around us. Maybe that season's birds, flowers or whatever.
I have just started on a little owl. On the weekend we were visiting friend and they were talking about the owl they hear at night. So hence the idea and they seem to be so popular right now. Everywhere there are cherry blossoms billowing forth where I live. So that's where he will be amongst the cherry blossoms. Sometimes you just have to go with an idea. Sit down with paper and pencil in hand and scratch some ideas out. It will come to you and then have fun paintin and creatin!

Well finally the hummingbirds have arrived. I just love watching them. They are so amazing such small birds and yet so quick darting here and there. There isn't much food right now, so I quickly put out the feeders. If you want to create your own mix it is one part sugar to four parts water, boil a minute or two, not very long, as too concentrated a mix is not good for them. Skip putting dye in as it is not proven whether it is harmful. As long as you have a little red on the feeder they will find the food, especially now when pickings are slim. They will stay all summer if you fill the feeder regularly. If it gets hot, make sure to clean the feeder regularly or it can get moldy and be harmful. Here is a picture my brother took of a few on the feeder we had out last year.

Well ti's April. Thinking on the tough economical times people are facing and trying to save some coin is just about on everyone's mind. Along with that is the environmental concerns.

Myself included I have been trying to revamp some of the older pieces that I don't use anymore.

I have found by using Americana stucco medium it can pretty well go over anything with very little prep, which is great for those of us who don't have a lot of time. It is also great for creating that shabby cottage look that's so popular now. You can blow dry it to add even more character by giving it cracks. Drying it fast will do this. Just be careful when working on canvas as too big of cracks might chip off.

Lately I took out an old box I had sitting around and re revamped it with some crocus's. It had been painted with a solid background, so I sanded it a little and then applied Light Birch Stucco (my Favorite color), let it dry and tada it was ready to be designed! No cash went out and I got a new accent piece.