December sketching

November and December fly by and I feel lucky to find time to sit and meditate while sketching.
In November we went to the Olympic Mist Alpaca Farm, learned how to make eco printed silk scarves and make a not so quick sketch of the lovely and surprisingly friendly alpacas.  It was a standing up, freezing my fingers sketch, but the girls were wonderful and hung out with me!

One of my favorite subjects is the Fossek Farm and the view while at St Hubert's at 3rd and DeBruyn.  I was driving up the street one morning and the light was so unique that I pulled over and sketched a couple of different views while sitting in the sunshine-filled car.

This was sketched and shaded with water-soluble walnut ink.

Yesterday we went to Debra Campbell's beautiful home and had our pick of wonderful vignettes to sketch.  I managed three!
So, let's see if I can get these sketches on the page so they make sense...

Uncluttering my desktop

Duck duck goose?

Gordon the goose- still can't make the neck long enough.8-(

Annie Hortons Hollyhocks

I've been too busy lately to give this blog the attention it needs.  Many of the recent sketches have been sitting on the desktop waiting for their day of glory.  Some of them are more than a month old. Its been so nice to be able to sketch outside, even though the weather will change quickly and we bundle up more or run inside for a different point of view and to stay warm.

Topless lighthouse ;-)  I might add a fold out for the roof!

Starting with the  Annie Hortons country garden all the back to Ferry Coffee trailer and Mukilteo Lighthouse, then Bob Bowling Sheds.  Here goes!

Quick sketch of the cheery coffee trailer at Clinton

bobbowlingrustics.homestead.com/

Little shed, pretty garden
Bob Bowling Rustics

shovel weather vane and other decorative items

Sandri's playhouse

Sketchers spent a delightful afternoon sketching at one of the homes that will be on the Whidbey Island Garden tour this next weekend.  Susan and Kevin invited us to see the completed project.  We were there earlier this year while they were still building the Rose Garden.

Yes, they will be known as Tutu and Pappy!

One of the new additions to the garden is a cute Bob Bowling playhouse that their grandchildren will use.  They can't wait till the first little girl is old enough to enjoy playing there.  I channeled Emily Carr, with the big trees to try and show the small size of this cute shed and its location on the property.
When the weather turned chilly and rainy we headed into the house for a bit of Happy Hour.  What fun sharing stories and meeting Todd Eugene who created the gates for the garden.
Thank you Kevin, Susan and Mikey for such a terrific day!

Susan and Mikey for such a terrific day!

Top of the pizza oven outside and glass bottles inside

Looking down on The lion fountain from the porch.

Dancing in the Garden

There is a story in this garden, the bed is so colorful and the plants harmonize with the added art that
you would have to wonder.. who lives here?  There seems to be a story....there is!  This sketch is from the garden of my friend Louise and Dave who love to dance!   When I saw the dancing couple in the very colorful bed with glass flower stems, a bear and horse & rider in a row, I couldn't resist because I love stories.
The garden was a part of the Whidbey Island Garden Tour this summer.  It is full of beautiful nature related treasures, like the stacked stone I blogged about on June 25.  Please check out the Whidbey Island Sketchers blog for more images from this garden.

Dancing in the garden; meditation room in the background

A peaceful home

There are places where you feel like you are home, even when you have never been there before.  Last week we were in such a place.  Marian and Phil have created a peaceful retreat where you can take a nap even if clock ticking bothers you.  This is not to say I noticed a clock ticking, can't remember, but its such a restful home, filled with memorabilia, furniture with history and beauty and each room beautifully decorated for Christmas.   Enjoy these chairs and don't mind the crooked lamp.  I was sitting sideways!  Ha, ha.

Blue chair

Santa pillow

Pineapple Christmas

I just had time this week for one sketch this week and chose Cynthia's wonderful pineapple candlesticks.  They remind me of living in Virginia where the pineapple is a symbol of welcome. These say welcome to the Christmas Holiday season.  They are embellished with metal leaves that represent that diamond shape that you see on a fresh pineapple.

Welcome to Christmas

Back in the Saddle

We have been traveling to visit family, but I took the trusty sketchbook along and had some quiet times in the local coffee shop.  We celebrated the Superbowl at a lovely home with friends and all the kids were enthralled with my sketches.  I hope I inspired a few of them to do some sketching!
Since returning, I've added a sketch of the Langley Fabric and Antiques store and our trip to Judith's Studio last Friday.

Judith's love seat with sun stripes

Langley Fabric & Antique Langley WA

Set up at Judiths Studio

My view of the TV at Superbowl

A beautiful light pattern

Drought tolerant garden, view & color!

Beautiful layers

Meeting this past week with the Sketchers was at the home of a friend who has a garden design business on Whidbey.  I haven't seen Deb's garden for quite a while and even then, I think it was in the evening when it was too dark.  So, imagine my surprise to arrive with the Sketchers and discover, the most beautiful drought tolerant garden with views of the Sound in the distance.  It was peaceful, colorful, and a joy to contemplate.  My thoughts: holy smokes, where do I start?  I finally settled on a river of Miscanthus and Mexican Feather grass with Yarrow and a tall Straw type purple flower whose name escapes me.  What fun!  Many thanks to Deb for allowing us to enjoy her beautiful garden.

River of grasses

Sketching in Private Homes

It's always interesting and fun to be invited into someones home.  It's even better when their home is beautiful, eclectic, art-filled and memorable.  For the past two weeks we have been sketching in a couple of homes that fill all these categories. Check out the Whidbey Island Sketchers blogspot for other versions of these homes. Enjoy the view!

Cynthia's still life

Gallery Amy and Bill  

The windowsill at Amy and Bill's

Looking out the window from Cynthia's