ONE SPIRIT GARDEN

I took an afternoon with Pat Brookes to return to the serenity of One Spirit Garden for some free time sketching. I love this little potting shed that sits at the back of the property. Charming. 

One Spirit Garden

A fine place for deep breathing as the season changes. 

Thank you Glo for another afternoon of nourishment.

Tea and Sketches at One Spirit Garden

It was the perfect late summer day, between 11am and 1:30pm at One Spirit Garden on Whidbey Island. I am grateful to Whidbey Island sketchers for including me at their weekly meet up for sketching, chatting, laughing and tea. There were 19 of us. Some found a spot in the garden or at a table on the covered deck, while Glo, the owner and her assistant treated us to a fabulous afternoon of pampering. You two outdid yourselves! Thank you!

(Click or Pinch Zoom to see larger images)

I kept adding sketches as the dishes kept coming.

Sketching during a tea party is an artist's version of time lapse, uh, sketching!

Then, before catching the ferry home, I dashed over to see the new exhibit at the Bayview Cash Store's farm show, "When Your Plow is a Paintbrush II" opening that evening, Friday, Sept. 5.

How great! A farm themed show mounted on chicken wire!

One more detour to The Goose to pick up the last issue of Whidbey Life Magazine in which there's a wonderful article about the Whidbey Island Sketchers and the current show. (Are you women going to tell your mothers that you made it to the centerfold at last?)

Incidentally, I made some origami business card holders to give to fellow sketchers that day, but I ran out! For those who wanted instructions on how to make them,  please follow this link.

Tea and (good!) Company

At "One Spirit Garden" today with the Whidbey Island Sketchers. Glorious weather at Gloria's place! And we were almost ALL there! 19 of us! Wow! Here are two impressions of the day - one is based on the infamous Sketchbook Skool exercise "Paint Your Teacup" (very English, very traditional), and the other, from the opposite end of the spectrum, a lovely toned bell, a string of temple bells and some "Chakra tags" in the gazebo. Very eclectic.

One Spirit Garden

I guess I'm just a sucker for a cute little shed. I painted this same shed the last time we were at One Spirit Garden....but I simply couldn't help myself. I loved peeking through the door to the adorable and inviting scene inside. It seems our sweet morning at this delightful place was over way too soon. I had had my tea and my soup and my cake and was just getting into the groove.......and it was time to go. What a great turn out today! 19 of us gathered to enjoy and sketch these sweet environs. 

Being One with Spirit at One Spirit Garden

We all had a lovely afternoon  in this inspiring garden. The Chocolate cake was heavenly also.

One Spirit

This grass was perfect!

Shed was cute with an antique egg box inside.

Many decks to sit on and enjoy.

It was almost a zen experience, the sun, the quiet, except for our giggles, sketching in a beautiful English garden.  Add the most delicious soup, tea and gingerbread and I can't wait to go back!

One Spirit Garden Oh My!

  

Okay, so it started with picking "our cup" from a selection of charming china tea cups, and then a choice of tea from an exotic list. I went for chai. A pot covered with a cozy arrived. And then a choice of soups. Yum. Would I ever get around to sketching? The day seemed long and lazy, filled with color, texture, shape.....so many places to choose from. This little garden shed had my name written all over it. Barb in her big sun hat called to me. And even though I don't much like drawing flowers and greenery.....what was I to do? I find it interesting that every sketching session involves sketching other sketchers somewhere along the line. I guess it's because they are generally all over the place....usually right in front of what I want to draw. Sketching is such fun! Oh.....and then the lemon cake arrived. Our hostess found me where I was sitting and delivered the very most delicious lemon cake ever. Does it get any better than this? Hard to imagine. 

at One Spirit Garden in Clinton

What a perfect afternoon! After what seemed like months (because it has been) I joined the Sketchers at One Spirit Garden in Clinton for tea, soup and delicious cake (oh, and to sketch) The weather couldn't have been more perfect (sunny, bright, warm, blue sky - in a word, perfect!) Our hostess, Glo, has made a little piece of total serenity in her garden, from the trickling waterfall, to the butterflies and dragonflies, to the brilliant blooms all around, to the peaceful background music in the gazebo. So peaceful - like a total, overall massage, mind and body. Wow!