I thought I would have nothing to show for Paint Party Friday. (Severe Pout.) But the accountability of the PPF check-ins inspired me on to finish up my May page for Kat's sketchbook as part of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Sketchbooks. Soon it will be on its way to Nicola in Australia. (If our postal service isn't disrupted, that is...)
My page spread shows some of my Spring Garden along with a few tools of the trade for this time of year. (As always, double-clicking on the image increases the size.)
My Saucer Magnolia, Tulips, Daffodils and Lilacs
Flowering Crab, Irises, Poppies and Purple Sandcherry
Really though - the weeds won. When it wasn't raining I was weeding and pruning and digging up dandelions and cleaning/raking garden beds and this is what I had to show for it on "yard waste" day.
And I have only done a small fraction of the garden. Sigh. Not sure how productive my painting will be when all my non-work hours are spent weeding!
What about you? Does gardening take away from your painting time?
Here are some photos from my garden that inspired my pages:
Forget-Me-Nots
Purple Lilac
Flowering Crab (a bit past its prime)
Tulips
Purple Sandcherry
Poppy
Poppy
Saucer Magnolia
The mint has started to grow, so please help yourself to a mojito and keep me company while I weed! Have a great time at the party!
Nice sketches. I am SO loving the Sisterhood of the Travelling Sketchbooks!! :D
ReplyDeleteAnd beautiful flowers. I don't have a garden anymore. Not by choice. Had to leave it all behind when I moved. If I had one, not sure if I'd have time to paint/draw as much as I do now! :) hee
Sketches wonderful, and the pictures also! Reminds me of my mom's garden. I haven't seen it yet, since I moved away.
ReplyDeleteI can see how you would be distracted by your lovely garden. Beautiful! Your traveling sketchbook sounds like great fun! Happy PPF! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh isn't northern spring the most delightful time of year. We get spring here in NZ but its not the same because we have so many evergreen trees. Good hard work weeding and you got to paint too. Well done.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty sketchbook spread! So light and refreshing like a day beneath those beautiful trees would suggest :)
ReplyDeleteWeeding is a neverending job, isn't it?!
such lovely pages. and so wonderful that you are being inspired by spring. weeding does take a lot of time.
ReplyDeleteThe journal spread is wonderful! And no, I don't garden so it doesn't take my time away from creating. :)) But other building stuff does. There is always something to fix or build around the house. We're doing an outdoor thingy for the cats at the moment so it takes time away from my creating.
ReplyDeletegreat sketchbook pages! i love the sound of the travelling sketchbook. that is some amount of garden waste-you must have an enormous garden! i don't do any gardening-thats when it is handy that my husband has his own tree surgery and gardening business!
ReplyDeleteI love the journal pages (big smile) and I adore poppies, they don't grow well here on the Sunshine Coast, I've planted a million seeds but I think it's too hot :( if we ever have a prolonged cold snap our yard will be covered in them :)
ReplyDeleteWell¡¡ when you get tired quickly becomes the inspiration ... these are beautiful flowers in your yard .... and has done a good job. Saludos
ReplyDeleteGreat journal pages...MAGNIFICENT FLOWERS.
ReplyDeletecheers, dana
Wonderful sketchbook pages. It's a toss-up with me between gardening and painting, either is going to make me happy, but I can only focus on one at a time. Your flowers look amazing.
ReplyDeleteNice sketches! and I love the flowers! :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty, pretty page, Eva, the flowers are so realistic, all of the different types, so good!
ReplyDeleteI know...rain=weeds. I always tell myself, being in the garden, doing meditative work, is when I get some of my best ideas...but then I want to "throw in the trowel" and make art!
♥♥♥
Thank you Eva!! BUT, how do I change to chrome? I am only blogging for 4 months, so I am soooooo not ccomputer literate!!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like the best idea so far!!!
Please write back and let me know!! THANKS!!
Your art journal spread is AWESOME!! I art journal too, but seem to have fallen behind lately. I know you said it is for a sketchbook group, but it looks like art journaling to me!!
I think I'm all artsy now, because i joined Creative Tuesdays!! You are in a bunch of sketchbook groups. Your art is amazing!!
xxDaniella
your journal entry is awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteI love beautiful gardens! & your journal page with quote!! Hmm, sometimes gardening takes me away, but are garden is not that big. Thanks for passing on the drink, happy PPF! Theresa
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your travelling sketchbook pages! And no wonder they were so beautiful with such inspiration to guide you. What a garden! Such gorgeous flowers! After looking at all of that work you did weeding, I don't know how you had energy left to do anything else. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on Chrome. I am giving it a try!
HA!! You my friend are a GENIUS!! It worked!! I changed my password, and installed chrome!!
ReplyDeleteChrome is really quick! I have to get used to the tabs thing. I can't figure out how to chose the window to get to the last. If I click the x, it all goes away! And I have to start from scratch.
But, I think this really is better! THANK YOU sooo much for everything!!
I'm going to add you to my sidebar, and tell everyone you are awesome in my post today!
xxDaniella
Love your sketchbook pages and the views of your garden! We just moved onto a little farm at the end of August last year. The weeds are definitely winning here. There are some very lovely garden beds all over and all of them are totally overrun. It will probably take us all year to get everything weeded and the weeds continue to GROW!
ReplyDeleteWorking in the garden seems to feed by creativity.
ReplyDeletethough, those garbage cans of weeds is a great deal more then what I have to handle!
Happy Painting Friday!
Oh wow you have done a lot of gardening, have never seen so many bins in one go........lol
ReplyDeleteLoving your journal pages, so pretty and delicate. Happy PPF, Annette x
It looks like your garden clean up may take a little away from art time! LOL! LOVE the flower images you shared. Sooo pretty! HAPPY PPF!
ReplyDeleteLove your journal pages, and your garden is looking great! But what a lot of hard work you have done there! Valerie
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing the beautiful flowers from your garden, your lovely sketch is truly inspired.
ReplyDeleteI've been weeding a bit every day and it's no fun.
Great sketchbook pages! I love the colors. Your flower in your garden are lovely!!! It makes me laugh all those trash cans!!! You were working hard!!
ReplyDeleteI like how you incorporated the tree trunk into the spiral of your book...cute!
ReplyDeleteQue suerte tener un jardín para inspirarte. Me encantó el resultado.
ReplyDeleteBesos.
I love how peaceful this piece is with its open airy composition. Beautiful. :)
ReplyDeletesuch lovely sketches,, no wonder with such inspiration,,htankyou for visiting today, I did have a mouth guard fitted,, just one from the drug store,, until mine comes in from the dentist.The mouth guard from the drug store fits beautifully hardly know its there,,I think I clench more than grind,, how embarassing,, shouldn't have been so open maybe,, TMI,,lol,, blogging is about our lives so,, this is mine,, the good ,, the bad and ugly!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful pages, EVA! It's a great quote... This May I think it may be "possible" to float away ;)
ReplyDeleteYour garden is beautiful (it has to be to make all of that weeding worth it, right?!? ha!)
xo
Kristin
Eva - Thanks for the Chrome tip - it appears to have worked so this will be the 3rd time I've written comments here. You must have a huge garden to have all those cuttings! But what a source of inspiration - love your journal work - very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteAll the weeding is worth is when You have beautiful flowers in the garden like this and to inspire such lovely work to (Your garden must be huge) that's a lot of weeding lol
ReplyDeletelove Dawn xx
Such pretty pages Eva! And I love the pics of your garden.
ReplyDeleteso fresh!!!
ReplyDeleteI love to paint my garden, so I have to plant !!!!!
So gorgeous...the sketch book and the garden, not the trash bins. LOL. Happy PPF.
ReplyDeleteOh what a treat to see your garden- both in the pages of your journal and in real life! PLEASE feel free to continue sharing your garden when my journal gets to you- I LOVE it!
ReplyDeletePPF Hugs to you, my sistah!
Stephanie
Gardening definitely takes time away from painting, but I love it so much that I don't worry. However, my garden is way smaller than yours... I love your sketchbook pages (espceially the birds) and the photos of your "real" plants, they're gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteCharming drawings. I love the daily artistic and yours pareceprecioso. They are also beautiful pictures of flowers. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteLove your sketchbook pages and the photos of your inspiration are gorgeous, wish I had your garden, then looked again at all the debris you removed and thought maybe it is best to admire someone else's garden. My DH does our gardening.
ReplyDeleteOh my look at all those trash cans! I wish I cared about having a green thumb. I was glad when my husband said we would have to put off the planting because he will be roofing and all the debris will be in the plants.
ReplyDeleteI love your sketchbook layout. The name of your group is so fun!
Nelly Eisenhower
Lovely sketchbook pages, they would make a beautiful card. THanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you were able to get the song out of your head. I won't say the title so it does not stick again.:)
ReplyDeletelove your sketch book pages! Painting at the moment takes precedence over garden work; besides much of mine has died of neglect so there is less to maintain ;-) Thanks for stopping by my place, Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteSisterhood of the traveling sketchbook sounds like SO much fun! I love your garden pages - especially that you were able to incorporate the spine of your sketchbook which sometimes sticks out like a sore thumb!! And your red poppies - to die for! I might need to come back and visit them for paint inspiration! Happy PFF!!
ReplyDeleteGardening and yard work do take away from my creative time. But then so does TV, too much company, cleaning house, and laundry. Terah. From CED
ReplyDeleteWow, this is an absolutely gorgeous sketchbook spread! I love how the pages flow together so beautifully. Wonderful choice of colors!
ReplyDeleteEva
ReplyDeleteNice colours. Feels like spring! Wow, you have been hard at work in the garden. Gorgeous flowers - you must have green thumbs.
Happy weekend, Ev
I really like how you've used the spiral of your journal as part of the tree! Lovely pages and beautiful flowers. Working on a garden is great therapy for me...always something inspiring going on:)
ReplyDeleteThe garden sure is an inspiring place to be... well, when not digging weeds at least... XD
ReplyDeleteAwesome work on your journal!
Hey Eva, lovely journal entry. It's funny how we're in completely opposite seasons at the moment. I love both for lots of different reasons. I really like the personal touch of the flowers from your own garden in the piece. The tulips and purple sand cherry are my favourites amazing looking flowers :0)
ReplyDeleteWow, Eva you have made me think I need to start weeding again seeing all those trash cans! Those sketches are great and the trees and flowers very beautiful which reminds me what you had asked me last week....those blue creeping flowers in my garden......yellow tag...no name! Well, if you remind me later in the summer I'll give you some....whatever way you like to receive them. In the mean time I'll search out their name.......
ReplyDeleteCreeping Veronica..http://www.paghat.com/veronica.html....
I think that's what it is. I bought the plant last year at a garage sale from the post master in town so next time I'm in the post office I'll ask her if it was from her garden. In any case you are welcome to some of mine if you can wait till later in the season.
Annabelle
Yes, I spent most of today planting flowers today, but I got smart and bought all perenials instead of annuals so life will be much easier next year. Wood chips help with the weeds, but there is still some weeding I have to do yet. Love your flowers and your artwork!
ReplyDeleteWow, you've been busy! I actually am taking out a portion of my perennials this year and returning the space to lawn because I dont have the time management skills to do both the larger garden and all the other things I'd like to be enjoying over the summer. I still have a decent size flower bed, but hope it'll help.
ReplyDeleteLove your May entry for the sisterhood book. I've always loved when the apple trees blossom. Those are my favorite.
Eva: LOVE your journal pages! (sorry late check in for PPF - had to work all weekend). Amazing garden work ... the fruits of your labor are beautiful! thx again for putting PPF togther!
ReplyDeletehttp://sprinkledblessingsstudios.blogspot.com/
...not sure why I'm still having problems posting comments :( gotta go with anonymous