Apple Pie, Garden Goodies & lots of Art

Here's an apple pie, I made with early season fresh local apples. There is nothing that makes the house smell better than baking bread or apple pie. Yumm. And the fact that we got to share it last evening with friends and some of Mike's great homemade ice cream was even more special. Thanks to our friends for a very special evening to celebrate the close of summer!





Fresh green beans picked in the garden about 5 minutes before this picture was taken - I LOVE fresh out of the garden green beans - these were still warm when I couldn't wait any longer and eat several right out of the bowl!


Art Unraveled was tremendous - a wonderful gathering of great people. I got to reconnect with people I see only once a year there, and made some great new friends!


My classes included "Sumptuous Sumi" with Jill Berry, where we worked with Sumi Ink. This was my first time with this wonderful product, and I loved working with it's dark rich color and ease of application. I also loved her paper choice. Both 'gotta gets' on the list!


Sumi ink done painted on this yummy paper with a feather

Sumi ink "symbols" drawn and then painted in with washes of color.

I also took a two day class with the wonderful DJ Pettitt. She is a great teacher, and all of our paintings came out looking so fabulously different! My table partner made a great pair of paintings that are as different as mine as night and day, and they are fabulous. Alas, I didn't get permission, yet, to post, but as soon as I do, I'll post them here!






Another great class was with Judy Wise - Art Journaling. I got to use the journal I had made before I left for Arizona, and I got to use some of the painted pages I had made in Kelly Kilmer's Color Theory Class (a wonderful class, by the way!). It was fun to see Judy's journal pages in person and then sit and try new techniques in a relaxing, nurturing atmosphere!

My joy for the day spilled onto the page. It was fun to draw and paint like a kid again!


Using several techniques we learned/practiced in Judy's class, combined with some of the extra paint colors I had put in my journal from Kelly's class - although not finished, I enjoyed doing this. Aren't the carved stamps yummy?

It's the end of the Labor Day weekend, and for we teachers, it means the beginnings of the new school year, and the end of summer. Beginnings and endings. Each has their place - I have had such a wonderful summer, I hate to see this come to a close. However, the opportunities that a new school year brings are always exciting! Here's to a wonderful summer and a school year filled with possibilities!