"I Have Been Diagnosed..."

...with an acute case of

Echinocereus Triglochidiatus fever...

or

as they say in layman's terms:
an unbridled passion for claret cup cactus blooms!

WARNING:

These blooms are very potent...

vivid and alluring...tempting and seductive....

especially to the eyes and spirit

of the beholder.

It has been noted that

they actually force the uncontrollable breaking out

of cameras and sketchbooks.

Imagine that!

Often, vocal noises like
"Ooooh's " and "Aaaah's" and "Mmmm's"

have been recorded as symptomatic of this fever.

Once there has been exposure to this plant...

there is little, if no, hope for recovery.

Past medical cases indicate that

intense sensory stimulation caused by these blooms

may become embedded

in one's memory bank forever.

Even Sunset Jack has succumbed to their powers.

He refuses to come home until well

after nightfall...

and

would rather sit with his new lady friends...

bejeweled by their blossoms...

and bask in the heat of the desert sun

than

be indoors nestled within in the protective arms of my

Artist Trading Card binder.

Hmmm...I guess I really can't blame the guy..;)

and so...his story continues...:)

Happy Cactus Monday...from Sunset Jack,

his "ladies"...and me! :)

(Click on any image to enlarge...)

"Washed Silk..."

...a new texture I have been playing around with...

This is actually 2 layers of the

"Batik Effect"

and

then, of course, it was flipped for more fun.

The result in real life has a

very soft and well worn feel to the piece.

Have a great Sunday!

"Peace..."

...is NOT something you wish for;

♥

It's something you make...

Something you do...

Something you are...

and,

Something you give away.”
~Robert Fulghum

Lace, Lines, Loops...

...and "lotsa" swirls all drawn lead free

and

lavishly linked together...

not only in a leafy labor of (zen journaling) love

but also in
another last minute Illustration Friday prompt. :)

Illustration Friday : "LINKED"

"We begin to die as soon as we are born,

and the end

is linked to the beginning."

~Bret Harte

"Tangles...and Geisha...and Alice..."

...Oh MY!!!

...from Caroline in Australia...
...from Janet in Texas...
...from Melody in Utah...
... and from Deborah in Canada.
What a treat to receive artforms so beautiful
and so varied in format.
It really makes one appreciate all the different styles
and artistic talents there are!
Thanks again to each of these fine artists...
...just click on their names
and you will be wisked away to a Wonderland
of imaginative treasures!
Don't forget to click on any image to enlarge...
maybe even have a cup of tea...but then
things might get
"Curiouser and curiouser."
"Have a cup of tea," indeed!
Well I'm sorry, but I just haven't the time!"
~Alice

♥HAPPY ♥BIRTHDAY ♥

♥VANESSA♥!

XO:)

"Some Well Chosen Words..."

"Live with intention.

Walk to the edge.

Listen hard.

Practice wellness.

Play with abandon.

Laugh.

Choose with no regret.

Appreciate your friends.

Continue to learn.

Do what you love.

Live as if this is all there is."
~ Mary Anne Radmacher

"Where the Wild Things Grow..."

Groggily she awakens from

being sequestered between the stark white pages

in the depths of my Zen Journal.

Seeded from the black ink of a trusty Pitt pen

and

shimmering with wild metallic highlights

she reappears here...

impetuous...flipped in persona and hue...

rebellious...

all passionate, mysterious

and dramatic!

:)

“Every woman is a rebel,

and usually in wild revolt against herself.”
~Oscar Wilde

"The Arizona Adventures..."

...of the infamous Sunset Jack!

He was born of Cactus Monday fame-

birthed in a happy little art studio in Rhode Island

and sent to me weeks ago

as a get well "smile bringer" from Laurel.

First...his formal portrait...

...then out to play in the Agave...
...and to bask in the Bougainvillea...

...later, only to frolic a bit in the Baja Fairy Duster...

...then, from being perched in the Canary Island Palm...

Sunset Jack spots a comfortable(?)

and shady little hideaway

in the sweet green buds of a prolific prickly pear.

What fun he is having in Arizona! :)

You KNOW more adventures are surely to follow!

So...Stay tuned...there's lots to explore!

Have a happy Cactus Monday

wherever you choose to hideaway.

Adios...for now...from

me

and Sunset Jack!

"Hmmm..."

“To imagine is everything,

to know

is nothing at all.”
~Anatole France

"Six Word Saturday..."

"Painting

with strawberries...

Gladys' legendary recipe...:)"

See other Six Word Saturday's here...:)

As always...

click on image to enlarge...:)

"Taking an Artistic Dip..."

...into the clear blue seas

for a focused and flipped...frilly and frivolous,

far fetched and funky

take on an Illustration Friday prompt.

:)

Illustration Friday: "Dip"

“When you shoot an arrow of truth,

dip its point in honey”
~ Arab Proverb

"Six Splendid Selections..."

...to share with you today...:)

...a fabulous "Blockhead" mixed media card

from Cynthia in Kansas...
...an origami Sphinx from Carey in California...
...some painted sunflowers from Debi in Illinois...
...Two oriental maidens on embossed paper
from Cheryl in Utah...

...a magical "Sky Unicorn" from Maricela in Mexico...

...And, lastly, a tea bag fold origami paper design

from Janet in Texas.

It never ceases to amaze me

to see all the varied styles and types of art

people are making.

I am very thankful to have so many beautiful

examples in my collection.

Pop on by and see the more comprehensive work

of these

lovely artists if you find some time.

Enjoy!

"Spiritual Insight..."

“He who experiences the unity of life

sees his own Self

in all beings,

and all beings in his own Self,

and

looks on everything with an impartial eye.”
~Buddha

"Beautiful Bling From Tiffany's..."

...didn't always fit into that signature

turquoise blue box. :)

Some of the best treasures to me are the legendary

Tiffany windows

so meticulously designed

in gemlike colors of stained glass.

So...in light of that fact...

I present here

a Louis Comfort Tiffany inspired piece

made as a precursor for a multiple card ATC

"Tiffany Window Panels" swap

at Illustrated ATCs.

What an artistic family!

Louis Comfort Tiffany was the son of

Charles Lewis Tiffany (1812–1902),

known as the "King of Diamonds" and

founder of Tiffany & Company,

the fancy goods store

that became the renowned jewelry and silver firm

with the most spectacular diamonds

and

the famous blue boxes.

♥

Happy Blooming Tuesday! :)

"Target: Cacti..."

Cacti, Oh! cacti! wherever I go...

I wish all the names of these plants I would know.

I found them at Target

on Lake Pleasant Road...

Now, they're a blog post...Cactus Monday to show!

♥

Have a wonder filled day...so glad Spring's in the air-

(Unless you're "down under"...it's autumn o'er there.)

So, get out your sketch stuff

and find some nice plants...

Maybe draw them or paint them...just let your Muse dance.

♥

Let's meet next week Monday...in blogville alright?

At Teri's Painted Daisies...we can share with delight...

all our succulents, cacti

and exotic plants too!

"Cactus Monday" is such fun...let's all shout WooHOO!!

♥

Click on any image to enlarge...:)

"Resurrection..."

Wishing

you and your loved ones

blessings, joy, peace, and light

during

this glorious season of renewal and promise.

"It is the hour to rend thy chains,

The blossom time of souls."

~Katherine Lee Bates

"Six Word Saturday..."

Hula skirted palms are performance ready!

Click on image to enlarge...:)

See other Six Word Saturdays here. :)

"Two Buds Left..."

...nakedly leafless...trimmed down to the very nubs

and

currently propped up in a squatty bit of a

hand made vase.

Happily rescued from the inevitable

and

terminal fate of the rest of their

droopy headed sisters...

they now enjoy a fresh new life within

the bulging pages of my red

Hand.Book. journal.

Illustration Friday: "RESCUE"

"Rescue me...

Oh take me in your arms.

Rescue me...

I want your tender charms.

'Coz I'm lonely and I'm blue...

I need you...

and

your love too...

Come on and rescue me!"

~Sung by Aretha Franklin

"More Amazing Trades...No Foolin' :) "

...from Joanne in Kentucky...
...from Teresita in Malaysia...
...from Laura In Georgia...
From in Lela in Utah...
...from Elaine in New Jersey...

...from Nadine in Germany...

...from Cheryl in Utah...

...from Janet in Texas...

...from Heidi in Canada...

and last...from Julie in Texas.

It has been a wonderfully busy trading season.

The work is intense...

but the rewards are immense...:)

Thank you

each and every one!

Pop in on these artists if you have a minute to spare...

Fabulous "eye candy" is everywhere!

Click on any image to enlarge...:)