Sketch for Painting Storefront Windows in Lebanon, PA

So, I'll be painting the storefront windows for the holidays at the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce. It's part of a downtown awareness promotion for the town over the holidays. Votes will be taken for the favorite window via a Facebook contest.



More information about the contest will be forth-coming. Check my artist Facebook page for more updates.

Thanks for stopping by!

My Art Table at Carlisle's Shop The Block

On Saturday, I participated as an "artist in residence" at Camellia's Sin Tea Parlor & Gift Shop, during a "Art, Music and Wine" event. It was held at the gift shops along Pomfret Street in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

It was a beautiful day, so I got to set up in front of the tea parlor.



My dear friend Jacqui stopped by to see me. I love her new shawl that she bought at the gift shop! It matches perfectly.



Jacqui and her Mom enjoyed tea.



The afternoon gave me the opportunity to work on a Christmas card illustration project that I'm in the midst of creating.



And, it was fun to talk with folks as they stopped to look at my work.



What a great day! A special thanks to Jacqui for sending me her photos! ;)

Sketch - Creek at Stewart-Laughman Sawmill in Spring Grove, PA

My hubby is a fishing fanatic. I like to fish too, although, I have to admit, not quite as much as he does. So, over the weekend, he loaded up his fishing gear, and I decided to grab my sketch pad and pencils and head out with him.

We went to a creek in Spring Grove, PA. I plopped down on a wooden bench beside the creek and Black-eyed Susan's caught my eye.



Needless to say, we only had about an hour to enjoy the quiet time beside the creek before we packed up and enjoyed dinner with friends.

Petunias Galore at Grunthaner's Greenhouse in St. Marys, PA

I went with the Mom-In-Law this weekend to Grunthaner's Greenhouse. It's on a back road on the outskirts of St. Marys in Elk County, PA. What I saw was petunias GALORE! And, in all shades of pinks, purples, stripes, and double-blooms. Plus, a few other interesting annuals. What is an artist to do, but to take in all of the eye-catching color, snap a few shots and share it with you!

If you like this post, you may also enjoy strolling around my home gardens in Carlisle, PA in these recent blog posts:

• Mid-May in a the PA Garden
• Color of Spring Everywhere!
  

Alexandria's Spring Blooms a Few Weeks Before Central PA

Yesterday was the Alexandria Home & Garden Tour and the blossoming trees were in full bloom. Alexandria is about 2 hours south of home, so I feel like I was treated to a sneak peak of Spring a few weeks ahead of Central PA's schedule. I learned a few more plants myself...have now fallen in love with Camellia's and Quince. Here are a few pics for those in Zone 5 that will hopefully tide you over until the end of April. Although we were not permitted to take photos of the private homes and gardens, we did stop at Green Spring Garden in Fairfax, VA enroute. See my previous post of the Nature Lady made of tree bark, magnolia leaves, pinecones and Spanish moss from the same garden. Enjoy!

A gorgeous, 7 ft Camellia - a Zone 6 plant that I sure wish grew in PA

Quince - first time I have ever seen this beautiful shrub and am already in love with it. What an incredibly beautiful salmon color

Interesting texture in the rock garden

the bees were a buzzin' in the Flowering Pear

Sunshine filters through a Flowering Cherry