sunday in the city. i set up my sketch desk when i came back from my morning tromp through the huntington gardens.
how good it is to be out in the natural world. where giant sprinklers toss diamonds across meadows and the plants catch them on their branches and leaves.
pam stopped in for a playdate and i moved us out to the outdoor table.
we gathered the tomatoes, pears, olive branches, and various other sketch subjects around us. yes i really put that tablecloth down to work over. i have so many and most are stained and worn.
wyatt joined us.
soon it became full with STUFF.
i like the way my pink marbled sketchbook goes with pam’s 4 books.
how luxurious to spend a sunday outside in the mild air together. poring over her sunny pages. yacking. painting. playing.
this chunky book is one of my most favorite of all her handbindings. she’s going to keep an eye out at next weekend’s flea market in italy for a similar one to carry back to me. that’s where she found this perfectly lovely book cover. and where she’ll be in in 5 or 6 days. she’s off to teach at kristi & bill steiner’s very last adventure in italy.
i desperately wanted to develop some sort of illness that would make working impossible, but traveling curative. alas, i could think of none.
and also i’m trying to work on being content in the here and now instead of constantly wanting to fly off to somewhere else.
this is her travel journal. a bundle of soft leather pastel patchwork. irresistible.
the inside covers…and a photo of her pop.
all day i was struck by the color palette in front of us: pinks, oranges, golden, bits of sage greens and aqua blue, and creamy white.
makes me want to design my next sketchbook so it matches my current (pink marbled on the bottom of this stack) as beautifully as these do.
send me a smoke signal. let me know when you’ve gotten above the arctic circle. i’ll just be down here. scanning the dark sky. looking for those puffs of white.
What a delicious array of books! Wish I was there. As it is, I’m still in New York’s Catskill Mountains and northwest New Jersey. I have to make a decision where to make landfall in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I can live vicariously through you in California. Thanks for the Sourdough tip (I have to weed through/pack up several thousand books). Give that old Wyatt a pet for me. (P.S. – Holly is doing really well!)
Hi from Wa cascades. We finally got RAIN. But now it’s hot again. Beautiful fall. Love working in the garden. Need to get back o to painting. Love all your wonderful colors🙂.!
i think i will head north into the cascades tonight. is there snow?
Not right now! I really don’t want what we had last year. Was 84 today Indian summer like, rain tomorrow.
Hi from HOT San Francisco. Where the heck is my fog?! Not much to report here as all I do these days is recycle, hound my kids about homework, and scan the horizon for that delicious, elusive marine layer. Oh, and now & again I draw something. Lately, I’ve been thinking about what kind of project to take up for the holidays–art wise. And also ideas for drawing in 2018 (holy catfish…2018, shakes head, sighs, disbelief). By the way, I think your illness is WANDERLUST. I have it too. I self-medicate with art supplies and succulents.
Xo, cortney.
oh it is a powerful illness!
read SOURDOUGH you will enjoy references to your fair city!
That photo of the two little girls is too adorable for words!
I wish I had a local friend to make art with. I’ve sent out feelers for starting a mixed media art group at times, but there never seems to be the right venue available. Perhaps it’s time to try again?
i was once without art pals so i totally understand. blogging changed all that.
i vote YES for another try!
If you live near upstate NY, I am in need of an art pal too. My sister has tried to be one, but alas, is not interested very much in art nor in the accumulation of art supplies. None of my regular pals are either. Sigh . . . .
Sorry, I’m in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Regarding blogging, I don’t think I was very good at it. I never felt like I was saying or doing anything worthwhile. If anyone wants to see my blog (and posts more than five years old), it is:
http://sandrasvintageheart.blogspot.com/
I will cross the Arctic Circle on 24 August 2018. Heading up north all the way to Svalbard! If all goes well and I have finished cancer treatment by then. But all looks good so far, and I see myself going on board of that ship next August in Bremerhaven, going north all along the Norwegian coast (including Geiranger on my birthday!) and then far far north, hoping to see polar lights and polar bears!
Right now we were supposed to be in Scotland, traveling the Outer Hebrides in our little caravan. But there are more important things to do right now. I am slowly picking up my paintbrushes. Autumn is so beautiful, with all my favorite colors!
Can’t wait to read more about your upcoming adventures!
may bright breezes be at your back as you sail forth! sending good wishes for a speedy recovery sabrina ❤️
Arctic is my home. Italy my next stop as you know.
wish i could join you!!xo
Hey, I have been in Zagreb since Sat., Sept 23…departing on Sept 28. Today will be spent at the museums. Thursday is the amazing Plitvice Lake National Park. Sept 29-Oct 10 will place me on a motorized sailboat meandering down the cost …. it has been chilly, good thing I have shawls to use on my head….
it is imperative that i get to zagreb asap and retrace your steps. please leave me a breadcrumb trail to follow.
Heavy Sigh.