Thursday, July 25, 2013

Green Wagon

 
This is a photograph that I took in my front yard.  My sister Polly gave the wagon to me - she bought it at an occasional sale.  I love things old and well-used.  It gives them character, and makes me wonder about their history.  I enjoy the feeling I get when something speaks to my nostalgic nature. 
 
What stories would this little green wagon have to tell?  It may have brought smiles and laughter to a little child, or could have been used by a gardener.  If it’s anything like my childhood wagon, it’s full of happy memories of my little brother Jimmy and me taking turns pushing each other on the sidewalk around our house as fast as we could go.  It would also have witnessed the many “accidents” and tears we shed as a result of going around the corners at full speed!
 
Jesus Loves you.
 
Until tomorrow…
 
May the love of Jesus bless you always!
 
“For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”  Psalm 57:10
 
Feeling Loved By The Creator,
Jane  <><
 
 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Color Swatches

I’ve seen (and pinned) many of these “color swatches” on Pinterest.  I love how they take the colors from a pretty photograph and use them as color inspirations for decorating.  Just for the fun of it, I thought I would try doing my own swatches with photos that I have taken.  Here is what I came up with…
 
Color Swatch - Daisies
 
Color Swatch - Yarn
 
I did a few more that I will share later.  I might do some using my paintings too.
 
Until next time…
 
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord almighty.  I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.   Psalm 84:1,2
 
May God bless your day,
Jane  <><
 
 

Friday, July 12, 2013

By The River

I took this picture at my Uncle Tony’s restaurant in St. Cloud.  The restaurant is called Anton’s, and it is known for it’s unique ambiance, beautiful view, and great food.  Many geese and ducks make the lovely “back yard” their home.  This sweet little family of geese just looked so happy…who wouldn’t be happy in a setting this pretty?
 
 
Jesus said…
 
“Whoever believes in me, as scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  John 7:38
 
Until next time…
 
May you thirst for the living water that is Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
 
God Bless,
Jane  <><
 
 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

30 Days of Creativity…Day 30!

For my last day of the creativity challenge I’m going to share a watercolor that I did for my mom for her birthday.  My mom likes hollyhock flowers – she says they are an “old fashioned” flower.  When she was young, she said that there were hollyhocks everywhere.  You don’t see them much anymore (not in Minnesota anyway).  So, I thought that I would do a painting for her of this pretty flower.  The original painting is an 8x10 done on Arches hotpress watercolor paper.
 
Hollyhocks for blog
 
This is a photograph of hollyhocks that I took at Munsinger Gardens in St. Cloud...I used it as a guide when doing my painting.
 
Hollyhocks
 
So, that is the end of my challenge.  I really liked doing this, and I’m sure that I will give myself more challenges like this in the future. 
 
 
Until next time…
 
Church for blog
 
I’m hoping everyone will have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend!
 
All Praise to the King,
Jane  <><

Monday, July 1, 2013

30 Days of Creativity…Day 29

Today I’m sharing another black and white photo.  This time I added the color to it in Photoshop.  Gregg and I came upon this bicycle outside of an antique store.  It wasn’t in front of the picket fence, so I asked the shop owner if I could move it there.  It just seemed to be the perfect place for it.  The bike was actually a worn out reddish color which was nice, but I decided to turn it into a turquoise bike (my favorite color). 
 
bicycle
 
I like to leave most of the photo in black and white, and just add color to the main subject.
 
Here is the same photograph, but I gave it a different look and feel.  I gave this one a sepia tone and gave only the flowers color.  This photograph is available for purchase in my Etsy shop
 
bike by fence
 
Tomorrow is the last day of my 30 day creativity challenge…I’m almost there!
 
Until tomorrow…
 
“He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;  He is my God, and I am trusting Him.”  Psalm 91:2
 
Feeling safe in my Father’s care,
Jane  <><