Mornings

As I sit here this morning the sun is pouring in the windows and all the flowers in the backyard are in bloom- English roses to my right, peonies in front. And there's this new songbird at my feeder I'm pretty sure is a Warbling Vireo. It's a drab grey in summer and would be tricky to identify if I wasn't sitting here all day long listening to it sing. Our neighbors have lots of trees and bushes in their yard where all kinds of bird families live, including (I'm assuming) this vireo. Listen to it singing here and tell me it's not the prettiest thing!

This week it's all house portraits for me in the studio. Yesterday I got up early and worked late to finish two. I get so lost in painting sometimes that I forget all about the time until my stomach starts to rumble, and I realize I missed a meal and nearly missed my bedtime! I love those long uninterrupted painting days.

Charlotte

Meet Charlotte.  She's a pretty blonde with an intoxicating fragrance and a charming disposition.  And she is, thus far, my favorite all the roses.  I say "thus far" because kind sweet Mr. David Austin has just opened my eyes to an entirely new world of roses to behold.  Tree Roses, English Climbers, Ramblers, Shrub Roses?  My gentle Charlotte is just the beginning!

I first spotted her at the hardware store near my work.  Her tag said "David Austin English Roses: Exquisite cup-shaped blooms with a tea fragrance.  Bushy, free-flowering shrub.  Exceptionally healthy."  She was staring me down from across the greenhouse.  I literally gasped when I saw those "exceptionally healthy" blooms.  And then again when I saw the price: 70 bucks.  Yikes.  Not today little roses.  Then the next week and the next I kept seeing her in each stage of her summery bloom, gently luring me in with those soft creamy petals and fruity perfume.

I love roses.  And English Roses are my favorite.  If Seth would have handed me a bouquet of English Roses on our first date, it would not have taken us almost 6 years to get married Icantellyathatmuch.

But Seth wasn't the one to give me these roses.  The moment I saw that 70% off sign I nearly fell out of my car, knocking down every old lady in sight, just to get to them.  Ain't NO granny coming between me and my roses.  I've waited too long!  (No offense granny.)

And now, after so much tender love and care, they've finally bloomed again!  I am already thinking of the possibilities...a rose tree painting?  In. My. Dreams.  A portrait of a girl surrounded by buttery blooms?  Oh my.  And do you want to know the best part?  Mr. Austin named this flower after his granddaughter, Charlotte.

I think I just came up with the name of our first girl.  ;)

*On a different note entirely, I just wanted to mention my blog redesign.  I needed something simpler, less cluttered.  I appreciate your patience as I change things around.  It needed to be refreshed!

weekend images

My weekend in images include...

1&2. my brilliantly beautiful English roses I've been dreaming of for months

(practically a steal at 70% off) 

3. purpley and pinkish hued stained glass from a local artist- now hanging in my kitchen window (kind of matches the colors of my roses!)

4. our kitchen with a new light and new window art (painting the ceiling is next)

5. the start of a bathroom makeover

6. three new projects in the studio- Ulia, whales, peonies

7&8. studio inspiration boards include bright and playful colors next to neutrals- a nice balance.

The temperature has dropped a bit this morning thanks to a nice thunderstorm this weekend which means I'll be spending some time outside today.  Then, it's back to the studio for painting, packaging prints, sending emails, and doing laundry- all the essentials before my next show.  Hope your week is off to a great start!

(Go team USA!  I am loooooving the Olympics and losing so much sleep.)