VALENTINE!

Feb. "F's" - FEBRUARY FOURTEENTH - Enjoying a Valentine Fabrication Party last FRIDAY at Whidbey Island Sketcher FAYE’S House - FABULOUS FRIENDS FOREVER with a FONDNESS for SKETCHING!!! (And FOOD, wine and FRIVOLITY, of course.) And the fruits of my labors with all the materials every brought for the Make a Valentine Day. Such FUN.

Hearts, Flowers and a Kitten on the Keys at Faye's house for Valentine's Day

Derelict Poster

To all of you Whidbey Sketchers who post promptly, apologies to posting etiquette. 

Might these smiling Buddhas help my case??

These lovely sculptures are  in Arayashiyama, an eastern section of Kyoto,

Japan. My husband and I discovered many happy figures throughout the city

on our recent visit.

We were thrilled to be there during Sakura! Luxurious cherry blossoms everywhere!

Back to Whidbey Island  and Paradise Found Alpaca Farm! More happy faces, mostly...

Sketchers were welcomed into Second Street Salon for an afternoon!

May Day in Judi's beautiful back yard!

More  May blooms at Meerkirk Rhodendren Park

I sat on the grass in the warm sun surrounded bu glorious color!

And  last week's Sketchers in the sun at Double Bluff Beach!

Color and Couture

                     

                         It's Spring! Almost.  Color from Bayview Nursery can brighten any day!

Our sketch afternoon  at Brenda Lovie's Studio was completely delightful! We were all                 graciouslyaccepted into her workspace as she continued  creating in the midst of all the pens and 

watercolors. Spools of colorful threads were like a flower garden.

                                            Elegant ballroom gown and "Turquoise Tango"

All this followed by Happy Hour at Paula's!

Sketching at Faye's Life Drawing class

Maple Ridge

Its always such a pleasure to be invited to join the friendly

 folks at Maple Ridge and get to know a few of them.

Danny Ward making music during our sketch visit to Maple Ridge!

Jim greeted us in the library 

                                                               Sketchers in the midst!

                                                         Dottie at our table

Kalakala Afternoon!

We have been waiting for Kalakala to open their new location doors, and it is absolutely great!Very inviting  and creative space, good coffees and teas, can't wait to sample the beers and wine! Not to mention yummy healthy food! Welcome, and thank you for hosting the Sketchers!

Wi Fi Coffee

On a cold day, casual sketchers at the casual Wi Fi Coffee Bar. 

Warm and comfy!

Halloween at 106!

Food, fun and sketching other sketchers at 106

Italy with a Sketchbook

This is the Whidbey Sketchers site, but the sketching addiction extends far and wide!

But, I couldn't resist trying to put it all in....including the pomegranite tree. Much time spent

gazing out on this over dinners and wine!

Color and boats, how could I resist? 

Italy is simply filled with light and color, windows, doorways,!

This is a small fragment from  the Abbey of Sant Antimo, near Montalcino, that dates back to the year  814. It is near the Via Francigenia, the old pilgrim route from Cantebury to Rome.

Thrilling to hear  Gregorian Chant from the interior.

An icon of Tuscany between Montalcino and Montepulciano.

Its a traffic stopper, we stopped, sat on the hillside, sipped wine and sketched.

Pitigliano,  I could not do it justice..like stepping back into the middle ages.

One more icon, the Roman Colosseum

 And the blue blue Mediterranean, this is the Bay of Naples from a rooftop on our last night in
Sorrento, the cloud is hanging over Mt Vesuvius.

Chelan

 We just returned from a completely delightful family week at Lake Chelan! I managed 3 little sketches in the crazy fun mix  of 3 generations and 3 families. Completely wonderful week!

 I found a few quiet moments sipping an elegant rose at Benson Vineyards. Smoke from wildfires colored the distant hills. 

                    Another oasis with cool breeze under a peach tree at Vin du Lac Vinyard and Bistro

Quick sketch from the boat with my 4 color minibox!  Delightful company, refreshing

swim, memorable!

Buffy and Bruce's Place!

Buffy and Bruce's house is an installation! Elegant, quirky, inviting, 

creative in every way, everywhere... and just fun! So appreciated  

the opportunity to sketch on a sunny Whidbey afternoon. 

Thank you!

            Yard sculpture...I didn't see the daisies inside until later.

Laughing and Sketching! That's what we do!

We finished the afternoon at Baily's Corner Store, more laughter, some eating 

and drinking and some detritus.

Port Townsend!

Port Townsend is just a walk-on ferry ride away, and offers hours of exploration

and intrigue to sketch! 

But first I had to catch the camillias blooming just outside our bedroom window.

They are a little late this year, tho ever cheerful! I have been playing with my

quill dip pen and black/brown mixture of ink.

First stop off the boat is  generally lunch at Sirens,  with its upstairs vista over the water, warm

cozy nooks and delicious food! I liked the line weight possibilities with the quill pen, but am not totally

comfortable carrying around jugs of ink....

A high point for me in Port Townsend is Joglo Indonesian Imports, just across the street.    http://www.joglonorthwest.com/

 Two floors filled with imported decor all crafted with renewable or reclaimed materials. Exquisite hand woven baskets of all sizes, fabrics, sculpture. It is filled with beautiful and fascinating objects and furniture. We are always made to feel most welcome in this enchanted space. Not to be missed on a    Port Townsend visit!

This ink mixture has a little flow, interesting how it blended with the watercolor.

Balinese Offering bird sketched on a previous visit.

Mexico Light!

 Mexico in March! Two weeks with nothing to do but swim and sketch! Light, color, birds,

bougainvilea and hibiscus and a fresh gentle breeze. 

It was a complete step into peace and relaxation.  

                                        Every morning the sun would explode over the bay and
                                                        the multicolored bougainvillea!

I could sketch this view to the south from Casa Amanecer

a hundred times and it would not be the same twice.

                                                          Bougainvillea, of course!

If the sketch doesn't work? Play!

                                             Two for One Margarita Tuesdays at El Oasis!