Mermaids Rule

I'm not sure why the muse came to me early but it's put me in a very Christmassy mood. I've been pumping out ornaments like mad. Here is one of the new ones. I guess thinking of vacation in Florida and seeing the Christmas displays going up in the stores is to blame. But whatever the cause, here is the result. I'm looking for any feedback or suggestions you might have so send them on over.

Happy Stitching!

Cindy

New Kid on the Block

This is Sophie the new kid on our eclectic block. She and her friend Olivia the Octopus (not to be confused with the OctoMom) like hanging out together. In fact Sophie has mirrored Olivia’s fancy art deco border. Friends for life? I think so.

Bon Appetite!

Let's do lunch! Percy just couldn't wait for everyone to join him so he sidled up to the sushi bucket and got started. The canvas is 13x13 inches handpainted on 14 mesh Zweigert Mono Canvas. What's left to add but wishes of Bon Appetite?

Welcome to my Pad

It's been quite a while since I've posted, and I'm sorry for that. It's been a hectic year. But now that I've finished grad school I have a little time to get back to the business of painting. So without further ado let me introduce you to Brice, the newest member of my minagerie.

Brice is very popular with the ladies. He has his own waterfront pad and a sunny outlook on life. Does it get any better than that?

Happy Haunting

Isn't this just the most frightfully fun time of year? All the little ghosts and ghouls are out and about. The smells of carved pumpkins wafting through the air. Is that a witch flying through the air? This is also the time of year that the scary old house at the edge of town takes on a whole new aura of creepiness. You just KNOW there are ghosts in there making strange noises and waiting to scare all passers by. It's the house where NO ONE would dare trick or treat. Even the full moon seems a little scared.

Distelfink

Hello All! After a recent trip out to Pennsylvania I felt creative juices really start to flow. There were so many traditional items that inspired me to get painting again. So, here is the first piece, the Distelfink.

For those of you who are unfamiliar the Pennsylvania Dutch (actually Deutch or German) people have a tradition of painting hex signs, commonly found at the peaks of barns in Pennsylvania and the surrounding area. These circular hex signs have much mystery surrounding them. What I have learned is that they are considered "painted prayers," asking God for the blessing of protection for home and farm, good fortune, abundance and prosperity or inviting guests to be welcome.

A distelfink is a stylized goldfinch often used in Pennsylvania Dutch folk art represents happiness and good fortune and are a common theme in hex signs. I have followed the traditions and kept to primary colors on these pieces.

I'll post more pieces as they are finished. As always, I am open to suggestions for new pieces so let those suggestions flow.

I know he has nothing to do with needlepoint but I just couldn't resist showing off my boy. This is Cabot my 2 year old Standard Poodle. Isn't he a cutie? We decided to take a cruise up the river before the 4th of July boat traffic got crazy. Yes, he is sitting with his butt in the passenger seat! So, we took a ride up the Shrewsbury River toward Sandy Hook Bay. There is a pod of bottle nose dolphins that have taken up residence in the river. Keep in mind this is New Jersey, not exactly a hotbed of dolphin activity! They come up and down the river daily feeding on Bunker as the tide comes in. They have even made the news a few times and have federal protection now.

I'm not sure if they can be seen in this shot, the dolphin (about 3 of them) had surfaced right in front of that boat. I took this shot with my cell phone so it's not the greatest quality. Cabot sat on the boat and watched as the adults surfaced and the 2 calves did the flipper leap and dive from the water. Marine experts have come from as far as Massachusetts and North Carolina to help get the pod back out to open water. So cross your fingers for my very smart finny friends.