Sycamore tree

Who says there are no seasons in southern California?  This sycamore tree sits in front of my house up on the hill.  During the spring and summer when the leaves can camouflage them many species of birds rest in the tree waiting for a turn to snack at the feeders I have.  I have had finches, hummingbirds, beautiful orioles, doves, a hawk or 2, and most recently small flocks of kingbirds.  It is a fairly young tree.  I enjoyed sitting out on my front porch sketching it on a cool(65 deg) winter's day.

Mustard on the coastal hills

I have started a new art quilt (12" by 12") of my local landscape.  The mustard blooms on our local hills in early spring starting with the western facing hills, followed by the south and finally the east and north.  It is a gorgeous display of yellows. (If you don't know the history of the wild mustard read my journal note on my previous post)  I wanted to remember this landscape in fabric.  This is my first step.  One of my earliest watercolor sketchings (below) was my inspiration.

mustard in bloom, March 30, 2008

mustard in bloom, March 30, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

This was my 1st attempt to sketch my local landscape while the mustard was in bloom. 2008 was a great year for mustard to cover our local coastal hills. After I did this sketch I realized that the mustard blooms first on the western side of the hill where the afternoon sun drenches the hills.

Lemon detail quilt

lemon quilt, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

This is a small (4" by 5") art quilt. It looks a lot like my previous entry. Two years ago I took my 1st art quilt class with Jane Lafazio at the Oceanside Museum of Art. In the very beginning of the class Jane recommended that we have a sketchbook to jot down our images. Although I love my quilting I really did consider dropping out of the class if I was going to be forced to sketch. I knew I just couldn't do it. Six months later I decided I would learn how to do a little sketching. Again Jane was my teacher. I have been keeping a sketchbook journal ever since. Three days ago I took 2 Meyer lemons, sliced one in half and sat down with my Moleskein watercolor sketchbook and drew a simple sketch. Tonight I finished a little quilt on canvas, painted with acrylic paints and then hand embroidered, beaded and embellished with vintage buttons this little quilt. It makes me smile. I hope you enjoy it too.

Meyer lemon study

Meyer lemon study, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Yesterday an orange. Today a lemon. Mmmmm there is a lot of citrus sitting on my counter

Guess what I had for breakfast

study of an orange, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

I asked Ella (age 5) " Why do you think they named an orange an 'orange'?" There was a pause and then a giggle. Well why didn't they name a lemon "yellow" and why didn't they name an apple "red"? I guess it's 5 year old humor but WHY?

Ella and the bungie

Ella and the bungie, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

At the FunZone, risky Ella tries the bungie bouncing. She loved it